Balto (The Revelation)

Chapter 13 – Being Aniu’s Son

          Balto was sighing. Yesterday, he met his grandfather plus accepted his dislike too. He didn’t know what his perception about him. The old white wolf seemed kind enough, yet he seemed hated his father. He didn’t accept him because he wasn’t a wolf, but a dog. Balto then was thinking for a while. Would this help him? Living along with someone who dislike you just because the origin of your father. Beside, the brown wolf had more things to worry about. Was Jenna alright? Would his family be alright without him? Everything in his mind swirled around in his head.

          “Balto?” a young male brown wolf asked, making Balto came back into reality, “Are you really Balto?”

          “Huh?” Balto replied, “Yes, I am. What’s the matter?”

          “No, nothing…” the wolf replied, then looking back to where his friends were waiting, “Hey, it’s really him!”

          All of sudden, several wolves came to Balto’s place. It was quite silent before these wolves came to him. And now, everything seemed crowded. Balto never thought he would be visited by many of them, each of them was enthusiastic. Their color was different and also their eyes, but their purpose looked same when they gathered around to Balto. The brown wolf suddenly woke up from his place, not mentioning it would be many.

          “Look!” one of wolf started, “It’s Aniu’s son. I never dream any moment like this to meet him.”

          “Yeah…” another wolf added, “I bet his wisdom is same as his mother.”

          “Wow!” the other one continued, “I want to know him more.”

          The brown wolf didn’t want to disappoint them, but he didn’t know exactly what he had to do right now. In his town, he was an outcast. But in here, he was special. So special that many wolves admired him just because her mother. The fans were waiting and Balto could only stare at them.

          “Calm down, everyone!” Reina suddenly interrupted, coming in a way, “Balto needs rest now. You can interview him once he is done.”

          “Oh… okay…” one of wolf nodded, taking his leave with the others, “By the way, glad to meet you, sir!”

          “Sir?” Balto raised his eyebrow.

          Reina just smiled, understanding his condition. Being Aniu’s only son might be tough in here because people kept hanging around him, making you looked like special among the others. The female white wolf then took a walk with Balto. They just kept walking although many wolves were talking about him.

          “So, how it sounds here?” Reina started, “Do you like being famous?”

          “I don’t know,” Balto chuckled, “I never thought they are amazed in me. I guess I have to start getting used like this.”

          “Perhaps so…” Reina smiled, “Aniu have the most prestige inhere. Since you’re her child, they will keep looking you as Aniu.”

          “Well, it maybe quite bothers me…” Balto was kidding, “Do I have to give my autograph too?”

          “If you want to…” Reina replied, making both of them burst into laugh.

          “Oh, yeah! By the way, where is Luka?” Balto asked, noticing something was missing, “I don’t see him today. I thought you’re always with him.”

          “Not always…” Reina replied, “Perhaps, he’s busy with his new work to do.”

          “I see…” Balto replied, smiling, “When I saw you two for the first time, I thought you were his mate.”

          “His mate?” Reina was quickly confused, laughing uncontrollably, “What makes you think of that? We’re just friend. And actually, we don’t know each other until I and him are ordered to protect you.”

          “Really?” Balto said unbelievingly, “I guess I’ve already misunderstood you.”

          “That’s fine…” Reina replied, then began walking away in hurry, “I have to leave now. I have a work to do. By the way, Boris is in parental hall. He chooses to take care of kids than sit boring.”

          “Boris?”Balto thought, “Taking care of kids. He sure has a talent to do that.”

          Not waiting any longer, Balto soon received the message and trotted through another tunnel. For a minute, he was lost. The place seemed bigger than he thought. Once he went, he would be lost if he didn’t remember the map. Fortunately, he heard somone called ‘Uncle Boris’ from end of tunnel.

          “He might be there…” he thought.

          The brown wolf walked slowly between the cave’s wall. When he met the exit, he was surprised of what he saw. At a large chamber, he spotted Boris had already been chewing goose by at least 20 baby wolves. It seemed the Russian goose couldn’t control these babies.

          “You seem to have fun here…” Balto suddenly came in, attracting all attentions included Boris, “Maybe, you’re suited to this work.”

          “What you say?” Boris asked irritatingly, “For your information, these kids aren’t cute. They’re crul and vicious.”

          “I thought you like to be uncle…” Balto chuckled.

          “But I don’t like being chewing toy…” Boris replied.

          Before they could talk more, many wolf kids were surrounding them. They were staring at Balto, their own hero. Soon, Balto and Boris halted their conversation.

          “Wow…” one of kids gasped, “Aren’t you Balto? I’ve already heard about you from my parent.”

          “Yeah! They said you saved the entire creatures in the world by leading the sled dogs,” another one added, “Isn’t that true?”

          “Entire creatures in the world? Maybe the town…” Balto asked sheepisly, “I’m not just one. My friends also helped me.”

          “And, the important is…” one kid cut off, waging his tail, “You eliminated the dark monster who confronted your way back.”

          “Yeah! Yeah!” all of kids were shouting happily.

          “Wow… Balto…” Boris whispered among the loudness of kids, “I don’t know your story was so much great, especially that dark monster.”

          “But, that wasn’t true at all…” Balto whispered back, “Besides, it’s not dark monster. Maybe they meant of Steele…”

          “Well, what I can do? Boris laughed silently, “You’re the star in this story.”

          Balto’s mood suddenly fell down. He didn’t think Boris raised him up, yet making joke of him. Still, Balto thought it was quite funny.

          “So, can you tell us about your journey?” a female little wolf suddenly asked at Balto, followed by many nods from other kids.

          “Umm…” Balto was hesitated, “Boris will tell the story. Sorry, but I have to do something.”

          “What?!” Balto, you can’t do this to me. Balto!” Boris called but he already left, then turning around to confront many little wolves who waited the story impatiently, “Oh, no…”

          Balto quickly left that place only to hear a loud voice from Boris echoed around, requesting some help because kids. He admitted he hated being useless, but at this rate, he couldn’t do something about it. He loved the kids, yet because everybody thought he was special, perhaps he had to stay away a little bit from many questions. He was going to smooth his plan, but bumped suddenly to several female wolves.

          “Oh, I’m so sorry…” he started, bowing his head down, “I didn’t see you before.”

          “That’s alright…” a female wolf replied, and then realizing she was looking at Balto right now, “You’re… you’re Balto, aren’t you?”

          “Yeah…” Balto answered, “It’s a pleasure to meet you…”

          “Where? Where?” several female wolves behind came up, standing before Balto, “It’s really, Balto! He’s quite handsome.”

          “Umm…” Balto said sheepishly, “I never know I’m quite like that.”

          “But you are…” another female wolf replied, moving closer to Balto, “Oh, yeah. By the way, can you tell us your journey?”

          “Yes…” the other one added, “Rumor said that you had a great journey before…”

          “I… Uh…” Balto was hesitated.

          Balto’s heart didn’t feel right, being around female wolves. He wanted to tell, but he was now surrounded by many beautiful wolves. If Jenna saw it, she would kill him in the first place. She might think that he had already cheated on her, yet he actually did not anything. They were just coming and coming endlessly, asking same questions about him. They all were enthusiast for Aniu.

          “So…” a white female wolf started after Balto didn’t give a word, “What’s your story?”

          “Yeah,” another brown female wolf added, moving closer to his face, “What is it? Tell us?”

          Before this Aniu’s son could speak, another several wolf were coming right to his way. They were wolf he met before until Reina interrupted them. They quickly took their own position, surrounding Balto.

          “Have the story already begun?” a male wolf asked, “Are we late?”

          “No…” the other one answered, “You just come in the right time. Balto just wants to start it.”

          “Alright!” several wolves shouted together.

          “Oh, no…” Balto thought deeply, “This is going to be a long day ever.”