Author's note: In this fan fiction, I have used a charecter (Kemo) who is copyrighted to Cyberwulfe. Kemo is not mine, but the events that do happen are mine. Balto, Aniu, Boris, ect. are copyrighted to Universal Studios. Tovah, Tag, Tara, Ringo, Shougon, and Yakkov are copyrighted to me, Kelev. Feel free to use my charecters and story ideas (with copyrights), but I would appreciate it if you ask me before hand before using them in fan art or fan fics of your own. Thank you!

Prologue

early June, 1928

Balto laid on the deck of the boathouse, watching the sunset. The evenings were usually his quiet times to think about the things that he normally didn't have time to think of during the day, but these nights were different. Tovah (his two month old puppy) was living with him until she got an owner like the rest of her siblings had. He smiled ruefully as he watched her scamper and bark excitedly. She was anything but quiet.

"Alright, time to settle down now. That's the last time I let you have sweet things before bed."

She raced by him, and he easily caught her and held her down as he tickled her. "Papa!" She giggled, "That's not fair! You can't do that!"

"Oh really? I'm doing it right now." He let her up and sighed as she jumped on his head to chew on him. Being a father wasn't easy, but he wouldn't trade places with anyone in the world.

Finally, Tovah tired of chewing on Balto's ears and slid down to his chest,  cuddling his shaggy fur. "Papa, can you tell me a story?"

"Oh not again!" Balto laghingly moaned. "You keep asking that, and one of these nights I'll run out of stories to tell. What'll you do then?"

Tovah though about it for a moment. "I'll ask you to tell real life stories." She brightened as her idea sank in more. "Yeah, tell me a story about when you were little - like me! Please?"

Balto's ears folded back as he looked away. Even though he told her about being part wolf, he purpously never told her about his past. He still had a hard time dealing with certain memories, and he wasn't sure it was a good story to tell to a small pup. "I don't know if you'd really like that story. Maybe when you're older."

Tovah's ears tilted back in disapointment. "Please? Just a little? I promise not to get scared if it's a scary story."

He finally gave in. "Ok, but I have to leave some parts out, and when I stop, it means you go to sleep."

Tovah smiled in satisfaction and snuggled closer as Balto's eyes took on a far away look. The visions of what had been filled his mind, things that Balto had forgotten and things he had chosen to ignore suddenly sprang up before his eyes. "You know, I wasn't always a hero." Balto said with a half smile. "In fact, I hadn't always been in Nome either. When I was your age, I lived deep in the wilderness..."

Chapter 1

"You're it!"

Balto laughed as he and his siblings chased eachother around outside the den. Life was good in the pack, and Balto couldn't think of anything better then being right here with his family and friends nearby.

Balto pounced on Kemo and the two toppled in a laughing, furry heap. "I got you good that time! I even caught you off gaurd even!"

The taller pup snorted as he pushed Balto off himself. "Only this time, my friend. I just tripped on a stone is all."

Balto rolled his eyes. Kemo was very proud, and didn't like to admit that Balto was faster then he was. "Uh huh, sure."

"You two aren't arguing again, are you?"

The two turned to see Balto's mother stride up. They shook their heads. "No Mother, we were just playing is all." Balto said. Kemo nodded in agreement.

Aniu smiled. "Alright then. Just remember to stay close to the den. Shougon is with your Dad on a hunt, so I want you to stay near by."

They nodded again, and Kemo ran to tell the others what she said while Balto stayed put. Shougon and Kemo weren't really Balto's brothers, but his cousins. Kemo's mother was Aniu's sister, but she died when Kemo came along. Aniu had come to help with Kemo, and during that time she had her own pups. Kemo's father let them stay, and though he adopted Aniu's pups as his own, he didn't consider her his mate. (That was just fine anyway, for Balto's father was still alive)

Balto shook his head to clear his thoughts, but now he began to think of his real dad. Where was he? How come he was a dog? Most importantly, why wasn't he here with them, like fathers should be? It didn't make sense, and the unfairness made Balto huff a sigh.

"Balto, what is the matter? You stare at nothing."

He looked up at his mother. "Nothing's wrong."

"I see." Aniu laid a heavy paw on her son's head. "You are upset about something. Your face speaks of it already."

Balto blushed. He hadn't meant to lie to her. "I was wondering about Dad. Where do you think he is right now?"

Aniu smiled sadly. "He's somewhere where there are humans. Perhaps he still thinks of us."

"But why isn't he here with us? Dosn't he love us?"

"Very much." She said softly. "Your grandfather didn't want me and your father to be mates, but I didn't listen, and when you and the others were yet unborn my father came and chased  your dad away.  I found out later that his human had found him, and now he works as a sled dog."

Balto's eyes were wide. He never heard that story before. So that's why  Mother spoke so little of Dad! He was still alive, and Mother missed him. "Well, I think you should go on a trip to look for him. Grandpa isn't here to stop you."

Aniu chuckled at the determined look on Balto's face. "And how do you expect to eat, with only me to hunt for you? Besides, Kemo and Shougon need a mother too." She pulled him in a hug. "I'm sure you'll find him someday."

Tara ran up. "Come on Balto, let's play!"

Aniu stood. "Run along now. It's best to play while the sun still shines."

As Balto scampered off with the others, Aniu sighed. She could never tell anyone jut how much she missed her mate. "Oh Tag," she murmered. "If only you could be here."


Chapter 2

"Oh come on, it'll be fun!"

Balto couched down in a 'let's play' position in front of Kemo. Tara and Yakkov had run off to play, and Balto wanted to race. Kemo finally sighed. "Ok, I'll race you. Where do you want to race to?"

Balto thought for a moment. "Let's race over to the marsh. Then we can dare each other to eat bugs!"

Kemo grinned. "Or we could bring back some and make Tara eat it!"

The two laughed, and lined up. "On your mark, get set, GO!"

The two raced through the forest, weaving through the trees and leaping over puddles until they burst into the clearing.

They skidded to a halt. This wasn't the marsh. This was the meadow that Mother had told them not to go near. "Nice going." Balto groaned. "You led us the wrong way."

"Me?" Kemo snorted, "I was following you!"

Balto smirked. "Oh yeah, I forgot. I was in first place."

Kemo shook his head. "Come on, let's go. It's too quiet."

Balto glaced at the silent sunny field, and all of a sudden it seemed forboding. "you're right, let's get out of -"

"What'cha doing?"  Tara asked loudly behind them. Balto and Kemo jumped in surprise, and turned to see Yakkov trot up too.  "Mother said it's time to eat."

Kemo held up a paw. "Shhh!" he motioned the others to be silent. "The birds are quiet. Mother said that we should never be in a place this silent. It could mean Danger."

Balto felt his fur stand on end as he suddenly heard ravens shrieking "Take flight! Man! Man!"

"Um, guys, let's go now." Tara wimpered nervously. "I wanna go home."

"Leaving, so soon?"  A new voice sneered behind them. They whirled around and saw three dogs advancing towards them. "You wouldn't want to miss out on all the fun we're going to have!"


Chapter 3

Aniu sighed again. What in the world was taking the pups so long? They should have been back at least five minutes ago. She stood and followed the path that Tara and Yakkov had taken, and stopped suddenly when she caught an alien sent. She peered through the bushes and saw three tall hunting dogs near her pups.  ..."You wouldn't want to miss all the fun we're going to have!"

"We're going home." Aniu heard Kemo say. "So if you'd just move, we'll be on our way."

"Oh no you don't!" The hound growled, "You're coming with us!"

The pups screamed and scattered as the dogs lunged forward, and at that moment Aniu crashed out of her hiding place and slamed into the dog that had grabbed Tara. With a stranged yelp, he dropped her and turned to face his attacker.

*********************************************************

Balto ran with all his might, but he stopped when he heard Aniu's feroucious howl of rage. "Mother?"

He turned to look, then he gasped and dashed away from the dog that had caught up to him. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him, and suddenly he accidently banged hard into something. CLANG! He shook the blinking lights from his eyes and saw he tummbled into an old rusty cage that had been hidden in the grass. The door slamed shut and locked on it's own accord just as the hound reached it. It shook the cage for a moment before turning and running after Kemo. Balto called out to him. "Kemo, RUN!"

Balto held his breath as Kemo turned to run. Tara ran along with him, and they reached the tree line in the nick of time. The hound gave up on chasing them and turned to jump on Aniu's back. Balto covered his eyes and huddled in a tight ball, and flinched when he heard a loud thunderous noise ring out. After the second time the noise came he peeked an eye open and uttered a horrifed gasp as he saw his mother crumple to the ground, with a bloody stain in her side. The hounds backed away as two men came over and picked up Aniu and Yakkov. Balto began to sudder uncontrollably in his cage, but he somehow managed to hold his tears inside. He would not give the evil creatures with the thunder sticks the satisfaction of seeing him dead too.

He held his breath again as the men passed dangerously close to his cage, and though Balto jumped slightly when the men accidently dropped a sack beside the cage, they didn't take notice of him.

Then, at last he was alone.

**********************************************************

Balto paused at this part of the storytelling. He had greatly edited this part of the story for Tovah, but the memories were still fresh, and seeing them in the theater of his mind was almost too much to bear. "I never saw my Mother or brother again after that, but sometimes I dream about them. I suppose they're in heaven."

Tovah caught the look of pain in her father's eyes, and she laid a little paw on top of his. "You don't have to tell the rest if you don't want to, though I still want to hear it."

Balto shook his head and grinned. "Nah, I'm ok. I just havn't told anyone this story before, except for your Mother. Now where was I?"

"You were stuck in the cage."

"Oh yes, The cage. Now I was all alone, and no one was there to rescue me. I was never so lonesome in all my life..."


Chapter 4

Balto wearily opened his eyes.The sky was now lit up with stars, and he realized that he had fallen asleep. The memory of the events earlier flooded him, and he began to cry.

I'm alone!
I'm gonna die in this cage!


I'll never see Yakkov again.
Mother will never come for me.

He sniffled and wondered what could have called him out of his merciful sleep. At least when he was asleep these horrible thoughts were far away.

He thought he heard movment and curious, he turned to look.

Unbidden, the legends about evil spirits lurking around at night leaped in his mind, and he fearfully called out "Who's there?"

He backed away in his cage when he noticed that the movement was rightnext to his cage. It was the sack that the hunters had dropped. It wiggled around and suddenly it honked indignantly.

Honked?

Balto forgot to be afraid and crept closer to the side of the cage that the sack was by. "Hello?"

The bag wriggled in response. "Oy!" A muffled voice cried out. "Get me out!"

"I can't!" Balto replied, feeling upset. "I'm stuck in a cage. You're beyond my reach."

The sack wriggled until the rope binding the top lossened enough so the creature could poke his head out. "Aye, that's what I needed. AIR!"

It was a middle aged snow goose. Balto wondered if the bird could help him out of the cage. "Excuse me, can you help me after you get out? I've been in here for a while, and I wanna get out now."

The goose finnaly popped his plump body out and shook out his feathers. "One  moment." He waddled over to the cage door and studied it. "I know what to do." He said at last. Balto's heart gave a leap. "Give me paw of yours, and we see if it work."

My paw? How's that gonna help? He held it out obidiantly, and the goose stuck one of Balto's claws under the steel peg that held the one of the hinges together to the side of the cage. Then he pulled up, and the door began to be lopsided. They repeated this until the whole door fell out of the cage entrance. Balto leaped on the bird. "Oh thank you Mr. Goose sir! How did you know that would work? How can I ever thank you?"

"Thank me by getting off me! And call me Boris! No more of this 'Mr. Goose' business."

Taken aback, Balto slid off his rescuer. "I'm sorry."

"Now, to get you back where you belong. Where is Mother of yours? How you get tangled with hunters?"

Boris instantly regreted asking the youngster, because he began to cry. The pup managed to choke out what had happened, and now it seemed that there was nothing to do with him. "So what of those who escaped? Maybe they take you back?" He asked, a little too hopefully.

Balto's heart soared. He had completely forgotten that his uncle and his remaining siblings were still around. "My Uncle! He'll take me back!"

"Wonderful!" Boris said, relieved. Now he wouldn't be stuck being Foster Father!

**********************************************************

They got a terrible surprise when they reached the den site, however. "They're gone!" Balto wailed in horror.

It was true. Kemo and Tara had ran here to Uncle and Shougon,  and they immediatly left, going deep into Grandfather's territory. They had assumed that Balto had been killed along with Aniu and Yakkov, and there was no point in staying in the area. Now Balto began to cry all over again. "I'm all alone! No body's here to take me!" He burried his face in Boris's stomach and cried out for Mother.

Boris shook him slightly, alarmed at where this was leading up to. "You are not alone! Stop crying, it won't help!"  He sighed as Balto gulpped back a sob. "I take you with me until you can stand on own four feet, yes? We find place to live together."

(Now, you mustn't think too badly of Boris. You must remember that he was not used to hysterical orphened puppies suddenly looking to him for comfort and answers, and since this was his first time we really can't blame him too much for not knowing how to deal with this sort of situation.)

Balto's sobs subsided to a few little hitches in his chest, but that wasn't really crying. He tried to make his voice steady as he whiped the remainder of his tears away. " 'Find place'? You mean you don't have a place already?"

The Goose rolled his eyes heavenward, exasperated. "What you think I am, Real Estate Agent? I only flew in last night!" Boris sighed. "Now, we find shelter, so follow me."

They walked for a long time, and Balto was almost asleep on his feet when Boris stopped. "Here we are."

With a yawn, Boris tucked his head under his wing, and Balto cuddled up next to him for warmth and comfort. Just as he closed his eyes, he felt Boris push him away. "Keep cuddly puppy stuff to yourself, ok boychick?"

"My name is Balto, son of Tag and Aniu." Balto said in a rather stern little voice. He paused for a moment. "What's a 'boychick'?"

Boris yawned. "It means 'friend'. Now go to sleep!"

Balto almost smiled as he curled up a few feet away from the older goose. Boris had called him a friend.


Chapter 5

A few days later, Balto and Boris reached a tundra. "I have idea of where we are going now, the trees were the hard part." Boris sighed. He cast a worried glance at Balto. The pup had hardly spoken a word during all through their journey, yet he would become terrified if he ever lost sight of Boris, even for a moment. "You hungry, boychick?"

Balto looked down at his belly as it rumbled. "Mmm hmm. I could eat a whole caribou if it was around. I'm tired of eating yucky fish gut stuff along the beach."

Boris got a bit nervouse. Balto wouldn't ever eat him, would he? "Just be sure that you don't develope taste for old goose."

Balto stuck out his tongue. "Yeach! Eat you? I wouldn't touch you even if I were starving. You stink like morning breath after you eat."

"What? I do not!" Boris squawked indignantly. "How could you say such a thing to your rescuer? Mind your manners."

Balto hung his head. Mother would never have allowed any of her pups to be so rude. He wondered if she was watching him even now, and whether she was displeased about his behavior. The thought made his face hot.

He quietly followed Boris over a hill, and they both stopped in surprise. Below them lay a rather small town, bustling with activity. Balto was so curious he forgot to be scared when he noticed men in the streets. "What is all this?"

"It is called a 'town'. Humans and their pets stay there. It's like a pack that never moves."

"Oh." Balto could understand that. He smelled some really good smells, and turned to Boris. "Can we go look? I'm hungry."

Boris was about to say no, but then he realized that he really didn't have anything for the pup to eat. They would have to take the risk. "Ok, but you stick close to me. I am knowing this place better then you."
***********************************************************

Balto couldn't believe his eyes when he got into town. There were so many humans, and dogs too. There was even some dogs that looked as small as he was, even though they were full grown. "Do you think they will make friends with me?"

Boris looked away, and coughed nervousley. "Best we keep to ourselves kiddo. Wolflings like you aren't liked around here."

"Oh."

Balto looked up at one of the buildings, and felt his belly rumble again. This building was full of meat! He dashed in before Boris could stop him, and snitched a hot dog. He trotted out proudly. "Nothing to it!"

Boris scowled. "Don't just eat it out in the open! We have to get into ally way."

Once in the ally way, Balto set down the hot dog. "Do you eat meat at all?"

"Of course not! Disgusting habit if you ask me."

Balto shrugged, and turned to bite the hot dog. To his surprise, his jaws clicked shut on a nose. "Oh!"

"OW! Watch it!" Bellowed the husky. He was terrifingly bigger then Balto, and they could see he was miffed. "Care to do that again, little coyote?"

Balto gasped indignantly. Wolves and Coyotes never got along, and it was a  terrible insult to call someone that. Suddenly feeling brave, he cried "Give me my meat back! It's mine! Besides, I'm NOT a coyote, I'm half wolf!"

The dog growled deep within his throat, and backed Balto and Boris up against a wall. "Well, I don't know who your Mamma and Daddy are, but I can tell you that they'd probably thank me for doing what I'm going to do."

The dog adanced on them, when just as the dog was going to grab Balto a new voice rang out. "Leave the pup alone!"


Chapter 6

Balto was shuddering with fear, but he felt relieved when a new, rather stocky dog strode up to the other, fairly bristling with rage. "Ringo! Leave him be! You're lucky I don't deal with you right in front of him!"

"But Tag, he's a half breed!" Ringo whined, "You know what a shame it is to have one of those running around town. I was doing the mutt a favor by geting rid of him before someone else does."

Tag's mis-matched colored eyes glowered. "Do something stupid like that again, and you'll deal with me. As it is I will never let you out of my sight again."

"A wonder you can even see with those weird eyes of your's." Ringo muttered under his breath. He grudgingly left.

Tag's fur flattened and he turned to look at the goose and the pup. "You hurt?"

Balto shook his head, though he was still afraid. "No sir."

"What are you doing here in the middle of town, pup? Any one can tell by one glance at you have wolf blood in you. It's not safe for you here."

Balto's fur bristled and he felt as if his anger was suffocating him as he felt tears sting his eyes. "What's it matter to you whether or not I'm part wolf? Dogs will never understand! I'm hungry, my mother is dead, and I don't even have a place to live!"

The husky shook his head and spoke in a hurried tone. "Hush now! I have nothing against wolves, so calm down." He laid his paw on him, and though he could feel the pup tense, he didn't move. "I know what it's like to live out on the streets. I was a stray until I was half a year old when I became a sled dog. I know exactly how you feel."

Balto relaxed and Boris waddled forward. "So, you know where we can sleep and eat without being eaten? Oy, what are you dogs, cannibles?"

Tag's blue and brown eyes laughed, even though he didn't laugh out loud. "In fact, I know of a good place for you two to stay. Come with me."

He led them through town, and grabbed link of sausages for Balto along the way. "So, that's my story." He said, finishing up his story about himself that he was telling them. "Anyway, here is the place I stayed."

He halted in front of an old boat that sat on the outskirts of town. Balto wrinkled his nose sornfully. "It looks like it'll fall down any second."

Tag smiled. "I know it's a little old, but it'll do. It's far enough away so humans and dogs alike won't bother you."

Balto sniffed around the boat and pounced on a red cat shaped toy. "Hey Mr.! Was this thing your's?"

Tag laughed again. "Yep, sure was. So were these." He nudged a food and water dish. "You can have them. I also have a blanket or two here, in case you need them." He paused, and looked at Balto with a strange look in his eyes. It looked almost like he was hungry, but not in the physical way. "I hope you keep out of trouble. I'd hate to hear about you getting hurt or worse."

studying the look further for a moment, Balto thought it looked like the dog was lonesome, though he still couldn't seem to put his paw on what it. "I won't get hurt. Boris is good at keeping me out of trouble ...most of the time anyway."

Tag nodded. "I have to leave now. Me and my team are headed to Juneu for the summer. Maybe I'll see you around this winter. What's your name?"

"Balto."

Tag repeated the name to himself, and grinned. "Well Balto, I'll pop in tomorrow to see you before I leave, how's that?"

Boris huffed a sigh, but Balto wagged his tail. "Ok! I'll see you around". He smiled as he watched the dog leave. "Good bye Tag. I'll miss you." He whispered softly.

Boris rolled his eyes. "So are you going to stay up all night or what?"

"Coming!" Balto trotted after him into the cabin and laid down.  He smiled that smug smile that Boris knew would drive him crazy once Balto got older. "Well, you were wrong. I did make a friend today."

"Alright alright, so I make some mistakes. Oy! Such tsuris I am asking for, raising you! Who ever heard of a wolf dog being raised by a goose?"



Epilogue

Balto smiled fondly at he memory as he finished the story. Tovah had almost fallen asleep, but she managed to ask for more. "But what about Mom? When did you meet her? And how did you end up with Muk and Luk?"

"Go to sleep now!" Balto groaned. "I've been telling you this for over an hour."

He shook his head ruefully as he watched her fall asleep in his paws. He would have to spend many nights to tell all the stories she wanted to hear, like how he was reunited with Kemo and Tara, how he had met Jenna, and how he and Tag discovered the truth about the fact that Tag was actually his father.

As he laid down he chuckled to himself. "Boy, you could make a movie about me I've been through so much!"


THE END