Balto (The Revelation)

Chapter 7 – Accept The Truth

          “What time is now?” Balto thought.

          Slowly, the brown wolf half – opened his eyes. He looked around at where he had been sleeping for a while. At his boat, he turned his sight beside him to see that Boris slept peacefully. Sometime, he grumbled at his slept, but that was okay with him as long as the Russian goose didn’t cause more troubles. He then turned behind, revealing Luka and Reina who was still laying and resting. They must be tired so much after fighting some enemies. And by the way, he still had some questions. During before, he realized something was hidden from him. But, he couldn’t wake them now in force. It would disturb them. He then left that place silently.

          “Maybe, I’ll ask them later…” he thought.

          Climbing down the stairs, Balto then headed toward Nome. Talking with Jenna might be able to warm his heart. Right now, he really needed some diversions in order to get away from these swirling problems. As soon as he reached the town, he quickly searched his mate. Right then, he found her with Kodi.

          “Hello, Balto…” Jenna started, “Did you oversleep because it’s rare to see you at noon?”

          “Yeah, I’m kind of having difficulty to sleep,” Balto tried to smile.

          “Well, that’s okay as long as you don’t have bad dream,” Jenna chuckled, “So, I guess we will walk now.”

          “Yeah, sure…” Balto replied.

          “Okay, then…” Kodi started, thinking his father and mother needed a time alone, “I’ll see you later.”

          “Kodi, wait a second!” Balto called, stopping Kodi quickly, “By the way, I think you should pay a visit to Reina.”

          “That white wolf?” Kodi looked confused, “Why?”

          “Umm…” Balto was hesitated.

          Balto realized he couldn’t tell a real reason. About what happened at Reina might cause Jenna started to worry. If that happened, she would take seriously by protecting him. That he didn’t want to happen. By putting her close, she could endanger herself. At that point, Jenna noticed something strange on his mate. He hung down his head, seemingly taking serious trouble. Jenna then began to worry if something bad happened.

          “What’s wrong, Balto?” Jenna asked, “You seem worried.”

          “Oh, what? Me?” Balto was startled, “I’m fine. You don’t have to worry me.”

          “So, dad…” Kodi demanded, “Why I should visit her?”

          “Oh, yeah… Kodi,” Balto tried to explain, “She is kind of having an accident.”

          “An accident?” Kodi was shocked while Jenna could only gasp, “What accident?”

          “She… climbed some rocks…” Balto explained hesitantly, “And she fell off.”

          “Is that true, dad?” Kodi asked curiously.

          “Yeah… Of course…” Balto lied.

          “Okay, then…” Kodi started heading to the boat, “I guess I’ll visit her, just to check out.”

          With the last reply from his son, Balto then watched he left, going to where his new friend was. But deep inside him, he felt guilty for lying. What he wanted only his whole family was safe. He had no choice, but to lie.

          “Shouldn’t we follow him too?” Jenna started, looking at Balto.

          “I don’t think so…” Balto answered her, “Beside, you already got your patient to take care.”

          “What? You?” Jenna was confused, “You don’t hurt, but Reina.”

          “Well…” Balto chuckled, “I just want to talk to you. I’m kind of having a problem.”

          “Oh, Balto…” Jenna nuzzled him affectingly, “You can always talk to me. So, what’s your problem now?”

          Balto was hesitated for a moment. He never thought that telling the truth was very hard. He tried to find out some useful words, but failed. Perhaps, he must lie to her. Beside, it was all for her good.

          “May we walk for a while?” he asked.

          “Of course…” Jenna chuckled, following him.

          While they were walking and talking each other, Kodi had already reached the boat. He then quickly climbed to the top, finding out that Luka accompanied the wounded white wolf. At first, he didn’t believe what he saw. There was no way she just fell off and hurt badly like that. The red husky could see clearly the blood was still there, covering Reina’s white furs. She looked weak with those all wounds. He then moved closer to her.

          “What happened?” he started, “My dad told that you fell off from rocks.”

          Both of Luka and Reina were startled. Why Balto lied to him? It might be to protect his family, but who knew. They kept thinking until suddenly, Luka got up, nodding to Reina as the sign of something.

          “I need to check around…” he started, leaving, “I’ll leave you two here so you can speak freely.”

          Luka then jumped out, going outside from the boat. Beside, he still had a business with Balto. He needed to tell him the truth. Whether he would accept it or not, he would think it later. Right now, he must find Balto.

          “So…” Kodi started, turning around to Reina after watching Luka left, “You must be very stubborn to get those wounds.”

          “I…” Reina wanted to deny, but couldn’t, “Well… Yeah…”

          “Now, you learned the lesson…” Kodi chuckled, “You have to be very careful later.”

          “Are you here just for giving me a speech or what?” Reina finally could speak out.

          “Hey, I was only asked by my dad to come here,” Kodi explained, “Don’t expect me more…”

          “Okay, I understand…” Reina sighed, then smiling, “Thank you for visiting me.”

          “Well… You’re welcome…” Kodi replied.

          While both of them were spending their time, Luka had a difficulty to find Balto. Wandering at the street wouldn’t be one of good idea, so he had to search him from outside. For a while, he kept searching until finally, he found him still talking to his lovely mate, Jenna. What he did next just waiting until he finished.

          “So, Balto…” Jenna started, looking at Balto, “If yo still had a problem with Boris sleeping, just talk to me.”

          “Yeah, sure…” Balto smiled sheepishly.

          Jenna didn’t know exactly the real reason from Balto. What she heard from him only a difficult to sleep due to Boris was always grumbling while sleeping. Even Balto tried to be honest, yet his afraid still haunted him. Telling meant making her fell in danger.

          “Alright, Balto…” Jenna started, nuzzling him lovely, “I have to go to my girl now. Take care…”

          “Yes…” Balto answered, replying to nuzzle her, “You too…”

          “Bye…” Jenna replied, taking her leaving with the last look of him while Balto could only watch from distance.

          Slowly, Balto then left from that place. He walked away, heading for home. He couldn’t wait any longer, he must know the truth. As soon as he got to the outskirt, an unexpected sight came into him. Luka had already waited him in front at middle of way.

          “Your mother possessed a kind of magical power…” he started, “Any wolf who knew her believed she was a goddess.”

          Balto kept silent, not quite understanding about what the grey wolf spook. He didn’t believe he had a supernatural mother. Even his last meeting with her wasn’t quite logical, yet he believed it in hard way.

          “Many years ago, a black wolf named Shogun was dominating every wolf he knew…” Luka continued, “He made them to become slaves with no hope, hurt their souls. But… your mother released all of them, setting them free.”

          “My mother…” Balto seemed unbelievingly, “Did that?”

          “Yes. He was defeated completely, still…” Luka looked hesitated, “When he lost everything he had, he swear to himself that he would take his revenge no matter what happened.”

          “So…” Balto replied, demanding explanations more, “Why they after me?”

          “Good question, Balto…” Luka smiled, “Because your mother is found nowhere, he thinks that he will get his revenge in another way.”

          “That’s why they chase me…” Balto hung his head down.

          “And the last…” Luka continued, facing to him, “I and Reina were ordered to protect you, to avoid you from harm.”

          Balto was thinking hard. He didn’t blame his mother, he just didn’t want all of this happened. He only wanted a peaceful life, yet sometime, life was full of mystery. Life needed to be revealed.

          “Then, who ordered you?” he suddenly asked.

          “That, I can’t tell you… Not yet…” Luka answered, “But, believe this… We will always protect you.”

          Balto chuckled after hearing it. He didn’t expect he was an important person. He thought his life would be simple, but actually, it was complex. Instead of worrying such conditions, he kept his own bright side. Who knew? Maybe, some of big adventures waited for him. Another great journey he kept in his memories. He then headed toward home, not in bad mood, yet in curiosity. Followed by Luka, he ran along the outskirt. He believed that someday, a better life came to him.