Balto: The Jenikian Journey Part Two
This story was inspired by Balto, (copyright 1995), Balto II: Wolf Quest (copyright 2000) and Balto
Intro
We left off where Balto had met Baltheis, Dragon captain of When and wielder of the white sword, Larkan. We listened to Baltheis tell the tale of how he received the rank Dragon captain and how he made When the way it is now. We now join the man and the hybrid where we left off: walking out of the morning lit office together as friends and now more questions are forming in Balto’s head…
June and December
Balto shook his head as he walked behind Baltheis. The ground they walked upon was green with short grass and it felt soft against his paws. They were walking across a field where other humans were sparring with each other with swords like the one Baltheis carried on his hip. Others used weapons such as lances and axes that Balto could identify. However, there were some who were using other weapons that the hybrid couldn’t identify. One man used a handle that had a chain and a spiked ball on the end. Another used a combination of a lance and ax. All were fighting with such strength and skill that Balto was surprised to see that none were harmed in any way. A breeze blew through the training field and Balto remembered the gust of wind Baltheis threw at him when they met.
“Baltheis,” he said. “When we met, you hit me with a gust of wind. How did you do that?”
The Dragon captain continued walking. Balto looked up at the human.
“Baltheis?”
The Dragon captain then said, “It was magic that I summoned from within Larkan that you felt.”
The hybrid gasped. “So you can do magic?”
Baltheis shook his head. “I can’t do magic,” he said. “I can summon magic from the sword for the sword itself is magic. It was made by the elves.”
This puzzled Balto. “Elves?”
“The race of Elves is a race of humans who, unlike us mortal humans, are immortal and can wield magic freely. Of how they managed to become immortal has been kept a secret ever since they became elves. They no longer counted themselves humans. So they called themselves the fair folk and began to claim they were the wisest and the fairest of all races. And who couldn’t say they were? They were beautiful, male and female alike and they knew it. Those are the elves, Balto.” He said.
“I’d like to see one someday.” Said the hybrid. Baltheis shook his head.
“Nay, you wouldn’t want to for they’ll see you as an outcast not a pure blood.” He said. “I know from experience.”
“You went to them?” asked Balto.
“Aye,” replied Baltheis. “Once and though they respected me I knew they despised me for I was born and raised on the plains, a place known to house many evils.”
Balto paused then continued walking. His life is almost like mine. He thought. He was once despised and shunned by all except for his friends. Then he proved himself worthy to all and was accepted.
Then Baltheis stopped and Balto looked up. Before him was the walls he had seen when falling through the sky. The walls of When stood before him. Made out of wood, stone, and earth, the walls stood strong and magnificent.
“These are the walls,” said Baltheis. “Come, and see the beauty they give.” The hybrid nodded and followed the Dragon captain up the stairs that were built right against the walls. The walls were built with enough width to fit three ranks of men and allow them to fight without hitting each other. The hybrid put his paws on the wall and looked at the view it supplied. It was beautiful. Green swirling grass rolled around When and into the distance. A bright yellow sun rose in the blue cloudy sky and birds flew about singing their songs. Balto saw Baltheis watching him.
“Was this the beauty the walls give?” he asked.
Baltheis nodded. “Aye, and much more. You just have to be there to see and experience it.”
Balto glanced one more at the swirling plains and was about to return to his feet when movement caught his eye in the east. Turning to his left he saw a whole herd of horses running through the green swirling grass. Though he had seen horses pull sleds and sleighs through
Baltheis followed his gaze and smiled. “That is the Whenian horse herd,” he said. “Unlike some of our people who believe certain breeds of horses should be bred, we of When believe that strength, endurance, and intelligence come from nature itself so we let the horses breed amongst themselves.”
Balto faced him. “Can I see them?”
The Dragon captain frowned. “The stallion and mare of the herd must meet you first so that they know you are not dangerous. I am not able to go to the herd at the moment.” The hybrid returned the frown.
“Why not?” he asked. “You are the Dragon captain are you not? Don’t you have the authority?”
“I do,” said Baltheis. “But my duty as a Dragon Captain has many—“ He stopped speaking and went to the side of the wall that over looked the town. Balto, puzzled, did the same. The captain pointed to the street. A red dog was walking on the road, looking around as if confused by his surrounding. His marking and color marks matched that of Jenna’s.
“Kodi!” cried Balto. A sentry near them started at the enthusiastic bark that came out of the hybrid. Baltheis waved him on and the soldier paid them no heed. Balto called to his son again but the husky had disappeared.
The sun had now reached its height in the sky and was beginning its decent. The afternoon rays hit Balto as he ran through the streets seeking his son. Baltheis had gone to other duties and told him if he needed help he was to howl. His words confused the hybrid for he was the only one Balto knew that could understand him.
Balto shook his head. It didn’t matter now. He needed to find his son.
He stopped at a corner and sniffed for a scent. Kodi was here… he thought and he continued on following the scent. He turned another corner and almost ran into a grey female dog that was walking down the alley. The hybrid, locked-kneed, came to a stop inches from the female’s breast. Their noses came within inches of touching. Balto’s mind flashed back a year ago when he done the same to Jenna. However, this female wasn’t Jenna, though, amazingly, this grey husky did have Jenna’s resemblance. She was a grey husky well out of her winter coat. Her eyes were that that he had never seen before. Her left eye was sky blue but her right eye was yellow. She retreated a few steps, surprised by Balto’s run-in as well as his appearance.
“You art a stranger are you not?” she asked, watching the hybrid, uncertain. “I have not seen any body of your built of color ever before in When.”
Balto shook his head, mainly confused by the other’s use of words. “I am not from here,” he said, finally finding his words. “I’m just looking for my son.”
The other looked at him more closely and sniffed up some of his scent. She then spotted his paws and her yellow-blue eyes somewhat widened.
“You have a different heritage besides…um…” she studied his size again. “Besides husky.” she finished. Her language shifting back from an accented one to a normal one that he could follow. “Pray, and tell me your name and your other heritage.”
Balto now studied her, seeking any sign for any deceit or ill. Seeing none he said, “My name is Balto and I have heritage of a wolf and husky in my blood and I am proud of that heritage.” He said the last words with all the pride he could muster. The grey dog smiled in a way he could not identify.
“I am Laren the Grey, daughter of Black,” she said bowing her head gracefully. “It is rare do we meet hybrids here at When.” she said eyeing his oversized paws. “To meet one is an honor.”
Balto returned the bow. “Honor has nothing to do with it. I was born that way.” He sniffed the air.
Laren sniffed as well then asked, “What do you seek?”
Balto sniffed once more. “I told you: I’m searching for my son.”
The Grey walked a ways down the alley and sniffed the wall. “What does he look like?” she asked. “And what is the hue of his coat?”
“He is a red husky--,”
Laren scowled as she tried to imagine a husky again for she had never seen a husky. She had been only told what they looked like by her father.
“All except for his breast, face, and under belly, which is white.” finished Balto. “And he looks almost like me.”
Laren scowled once more then shook her head. “Since I can’t imagine him correctly I’ll have to do with vision.” She walked towards the back of the alley. “I’ll take the alleys and back roads, if you want my help, because I know them the best.”
Balto nodded thankfully. “Where should I search?”
The Grey nodded towards the street. “Search the streets and the places you’ve been. He might be there.”
“What should we do if one of us finds him?”
Laren thought hard and asked, “Can you howl?”
“Of course.”
“That will be the signal.” she said and she bounded away. Balto began to walk towards the streets when she hailed him again.
“Balto, what is your offspring’s name?”
“It’s Kodi.”
With a bound the Grey disappeared from view.
Kodi, as it was, was in When. After going into the cave and then awakening to see he wasn’t in
Now he just wondered the streets looking for familiar faces while also enjoying what When supplied. Like
It was when Kodi came across a gate in the wall. It was open. He looked around for the humans who usually guarded such openings. Seeing none, he walked through the gate, out of curiosity.
The plains met him. Green swirling grass and the scent of flowers and the warm wind tempted him to run onto the plains. He closed his eyes and let the wind entrance him. Never before had he experienced such a thing before.
Unknown to him two creatures were walking towards him. Their hooves were silent in the thick green grass. As they saw Kodi they nickered to each other. Upon hearing their nickering, Kodi’s eyes snapped open and found himself looking up at two horses. One was entirely brown save for his forehead that bore a white star and his socks that were also white. The other horse was female and her color was a hue the husky had never seen before. She was white and covered with brown spots or brown covered with white spots. The two colors interlocked with each other and seemed to fade and brighten as he looked upon her.
Seeing his surprised expressing the pied mare laughed and hailed him. “Ho, stranger,” she said. “Come and tell us why you look at us so.”
Kodi shook his head trying to clear his head. “I’ve never seen any of your kind that color before.” He said.
The stallion smiled and whickered. “You are a stranger then to When, are you not?” he said. “I’ve never seen you in these parts before.”
“I am Kodi,” said the husky. “A resident of
At this the two horses looked at each other then back at Kodi. “I beg your pardon, Kodi, but
At that moment, Kodi realized they did not know of
The pied mare bowed her head, and Kodi caught the color of her eyes. They were blue and hue he knew not many horse had.
“I am June the Paint mare, and war horse to Baltheis the Dragon captain of the When militia.” She nodded to the stallion. “This is December but Decem for short, the First stallion of the Whenian Herd.” Decem bowed to the husky who returned it.
“We saw you standing with your eyes closed as if you were enjoying something.” said the stallion. “What was it that you were enjoying?”
Kodi inhaled the grass scented air again. “The feeling,” he said. “The wind as it blew over me.”
June lifted her head to the sky and let the wind blow her white mane playfully in its grasp. She faced the husky. “This is the first time you experienced warm wind of the plain, isn’t it?”
Kodi smiled. “Aye, and I wish I can enjoy it more.”
Decem whispered to June and she nickered humorously.
“What is it?” asked Kodi, curious.
The pied mare brought her muzzle down until it was inches from the husky’s. “Can you run fast?” she asked.
“Oh yes I can!” he cried.
“Fast enough to match a horse?”
At this Kodi paused. He had never raced a horse before and had never tried. But he said, “I don’t know but I’ll give it a try!”
June whickered playfully and knocked the husky off his feet with a hard shove with her muzzle. Kodi barked in surprise and quickly got to his feet only to see June and Decem already ahead of him.
“Do you not know the game of tag?” The paint mare asked playfully tossing her head, taunting him. With a bark of enthusiasm, Kodi leaped off after the two horses.
Baltheis walked out of the Main hall and sighed. The day was faring well despite the letter he received from the king. He eventually he would have to deal with it but now he wanted to enjoy the day.
Meeting the hybrid was the most unusual thing that happened to him thus far. He had seen many dogs, each a different kind, but Balto was one that he had never seen before. He was a heavy brown hue, not the color for a husky, and his paws and eyes gave away his other heritage, one that Baltheis knew very well. Balto had the blood of a wolf in him, which put him and an advantage and at a disadvantage. The heritage gave Balto the physical and mental properties of a wolf. But it also marked him and made him stand out from the rest of the dogs.
The man sighed again as he ascended up the stairs to the walls of When and looked onto the surrounding plains. The plains were dangerous despite the looks and feeling it gave. Bandits roamed the plains at will, predators and unknown creatures also lived on the plains.
Just then movement caught his eye. Looking down he saw three shapes running amongst the plains. Two were horses and the other was one he could not identify. Quickly he ran from the walls. A soldier going onto duty met him on the stairs.
“Sir, is something amiss?” he asked. Baltheis gave him a smile as he went by, an indication that everything was fine.
“Carry on, soldier,” he said. “I have my own duties to attend to.”
The sentry nodded and continued on.
Baltheis ran across the training field and to a side gate that led to the outside. Unknown to him, a man watched him from the shadows; a red sheathed sword glowed in his grasp. As the Dragon captain disappeared through the gate, the man followed, his black cloak flowing in the warm grass scented wind.
Laren was known to all the dogs of When to be the best tracker. He father said it was is heritage that made her a tracker but her late mother claimed it was hers. After her mother’s death however, which was recently, her father gave her the credit in her memory.
Though she was the best tracker, Laren was having some difficulty finding Balto’s son. She was used to having a scent or something that gave her a head start. But on this search, she had to start from scratch.
She started from the place she had met Balto. Doubling back after the hybrid left, she searched for a scent. Finding none save Balto’s, she went to the street and her search gave fruit. There was a scent that was faint but was almost like Balto’s except it was somewhat different. Now she had a scent she went throughout the streets following the scent until she came to the gate Kodi had found earlier.
He has led me on this goose chase only to go outside where it’s going to ten times harder to find him she sighed. Well, I can hope he did not go far
She shoved the gate open and found herself looking at the plain. She walked a ways out and sniffed the grass. Kodi was here…and two horses as well she knew far too well what a horse could do to a dog if angry. It took one kick and one can learn how to fly very quickly then learn how it’s like to hit a rock or tree without any protection. She only hoped that Kodi didn’t anger the horses he met here.
Moving farther in the grass she discovered that Kodi ran off chasing them. I hope he only chased them because of a game she thought. Otherwise I would not bear to tell Balto if he died The Grey leaped into a run following the trampled long grass praying that the three hadn’t gone too far.
Balto crept to a side gate in the west wall of When. He had searched everywhere in the village for Kodi all the while staying out of sight of the town dogs. He had searched everywhere except the outside. He pushed the gate open and saw before him green swirling grass that rolled for miles. Never had he seen something so vast up close. A soft wind upon him and he welcomed it with a sigh. It was filled with the scent of flowers and grass. It so felt relaxing. Just then hoof beats nearby bought him out of his trance. Turning he turned to see the entire Whenian Herd thundering towards him.
The one who led the herd was a stallion whose hue was grey outlined with black. His muzzle had a black and white stripe that ran from his nose to his forehead. His eyes were outlined in white. His tail, mane, and socks were black as the night. The sight of him startled the hybrid.
Apparently, so was the stallion. He stopped locked kneed forcing himself to a stop and he stared at Balto. All the other horses stopped around him and followed his gaze. One of the stallions from the back said, “
“A hybrid from the looks of him,” said
Balto was caught unexpected but he replied, “My name is Balto the hybrid the blood of a husky and wolf runs through my veins.”
Many stallion and mares shielded and shied nervously at the mention of the wolf heritage.
“Are you able to control yourself?” he asked.
“What do you mean?” asked the hybrid.
“Can you control your wolf self?”
Balto realized that they were afraid that he would turn on them and slaughter them as a wolf would do when the blood rose in anger.
“I can.” he replied. Some of the stallions relaxed but some of the mares eyes him still, uncertain. “Pray, tell me your name Head Stallion.”
“Where is he now?”
“Why do you want to know?” asked one of the younger stallions whose color was tan, an edge on his voice.
“Peace, Nikoe,” said
“Why do you want to know where our Head Stallion is? Do mean to do him ill?”
Balto shook his head. “Nay, I wouldn’t. I need his help and his permission.”
“Permission to see the herd up close so that—“ Balto’s words were cut off as
“Balto the hybrid, can you not see that we stand near each other without fear? Come and be welcome among us.” he turned his neck towards those behind him. “No harm is to come upon him, is it clear?”
Whinnies and knickers responded with enthusiasm. Just then a foal that the hybrid hadn’t spotted before bolted forward before its mother could stop him. He was brown with white socks; his eyes seemed to glow with unusual intelligence. He stopped right in from of Balto and sniffed him. Balto did the same to the colt. Then playfully the colt knocked him on the side of the head and whinnied playfully. The mother ran up to the two.
“Vorgan, watch your manners!” She faced Balto. “Peace, hybrid, my colt did not mean harm.”
“He did not do me ill,” replied Balto. “I welcome his playfulness.”
Balto nodded and then asked, “Where can I find him?”
“I’ll come with you, for I would like to meet the two,” Balto said. “Especially June, for I’ve met Baltheis and is his shoulder friend.
“I a, honored to meet a friend of Baltheis,” he said bowing. “My master, Curn, is also his shoulder friend. The two humans are sometimes known as “The warrior who is two” because their strength, skill, magic, and master abilities are equal in both men.”
The stallion lifted his head and reared. “Come! Let’s go run for enjoyment and liberty!” he cried. He whinnied and galloped away through the long green grass. Whinnying and rearing as well, the herd followed, throwing up clogs of grass as they went. With a bark of enthusiasm, Balto leaped after them, his wolf heritage allowing him to stay with the herd as they ran.
(Story continues on next page)
Southern Fire and Southern Snow
Kodi laughed as he dodged Decem’s attempted to get him with his muzzle. Being small gave him much agility that proved very irritating to the stallion. June joined in his laughter as the Brown stallion missed again. Then she cried out in warning as a man came running amongst them. Kodi jumped back as the man drew a white sword from its sheath. June reared to meet the human, her hooves flailing.
The husky felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see a grey husky in front of him. His mother stood before him. He shook his head and looked again. She had the resemblance of his dam but her coloring wasn’t at all like hers. And her eyes were two different colors: her left eye was blue while her right eye was yellow.
“Are thouest Kodi, son of Balto?” she asked. Kodi blinked, not understanding, then he understood.
“I am,” he said, jumping out of the way of Decem who was circling the two men along with June. Then the grey husky caught sight of the two men.
“Behold Orliene and Patinr!” she cried.
“Lo! June! Decem! Hist away!” cried a voice.
The two horses and huskies turned to see the entire Whenian herd thundering towards them. The stallion who had spoken was a stallion colored grey, black, and white. A brown hybrid followed at his side.
“Dad!” cried Kodi.
“Balto the hybrid!” exclaimed Laren.
“Kodi! Jen-“ Balto caught himself. “Laren!” Then he spotted the two men dueling and he recognized the man wielding the white sword. “Baltheis!”
The man wielding the red sword paused as if in surprise.
“You can-arck!” His head made contact with an elbow that Baltheis threw at him and as the man was backing away, Baltheis weaved Larkan beneath the hilt of the red blade and disarmed him with a flick of his wrist.
June whinnied approvingly as the black-grey-white stallion walked over to the defeated man on the ground and knocked him on the side of the head with his muzzle. Then he faced Decem. “Decem Head Stallion, all is well. We just came to see you and June to check on you.”
Decem nickered. “All is well-“
Balto watched the two stallions talk to each other then walked over to his son, who was talking to Baltheis and Laren. A paint mare joined them as Balto neared. Baltheis smiled at the hybrid. “Well, Balto, today has been an interesting day. We meet, then you meet Laren, then the Whenian herd, then you see my sword play with my shoulder friend, Curn, wielder of Jerec” he pointed to the man in the black cloak who was picking up his sword. “And you meet your son as well.”
Balto nodded. “The day has been filled with many unexpected events, I must say.” he said. He looked at the paint mare who was putting her muzzle on Baltheis’s shoulder. “Who is she?”
This is my war horse and closest friend, June, the paint mare.” said the man nuzzling the mare affectionately. June whickered and knocked him to the ground with her firm muzzle then nodded to Balto.
“Aye, that’s my name,” she said. “Your son is a good shoulder friend, hybrid. I like his speed and endurance and agility.”
“The only thing I do not like is that he led me on a merry goose chase for half of the day!” exclaimed Laren, though she actually seemed delighted to meet the son of Balto the hybrid. Never in her life had she seen a husky of Kodi’s hue before. She couldn’t wait to tell her father about the days events.
Balto turned to Baltheis who was getting up off the ground from June’s ‘playful’ buffeting. “Are you sure you are friends with the other man?” he asked. “You were fighting as to the death!”
Baltheis reassured him with a smile. “Balto, Curn and I fight that way so if we do face an opponent to the death, we can over come him with at ease.”
June rubbed her head against Baltheis then cantered over to the Whenian herd where Decem and Lyon were waiting. Curn staggered over to them.
“You fought well.” He said.
“So did you, my friend.” replied Baltheis.
With a whinny, Decem reared and galloped out onto the plains. As the two humans and three canines watched them go, a soft breeze blew around them, forcing Curn’s cloak to flutter like a banner and Baltheis’s hair to dance on his face. \
The sun, now dying, slowly went to its rest and when darkness fell across the land the stars began to shine their light for all to see.
To be continued…
The end of Balto’s Jenikian Journey Trilogy Part Two