Balto: The Valkar

Story(ies) in this story:

“A Wolf’s Rose” By Aljan Darkmoon

( http://baltosource.timduru.org/fic/A_Wolf_s_Rose/2-1-6787.html)

Chapter 1

Balto lay on the porch of his mate’s girl Rose’s house, his head in his paws. It was late morning and spring had come to Nome, Alaska.

He couldn’t believe how many days have gone by since…well, everything. Only close to three years had passed since the Serum Run of 1925; less than two years when his daughter, Alue, led Aniu’s Chosen Pack across the Pacific Ocean to Russia and his son, Kodi, and his mail sled team historically beat a bush plane in a race for the delivery service. It had come to be called the Dog-Plane Race of 1927.

Though in so little time, it seemed Balto’s life had flashed before his eyes without him knowing.

He had once been an outcast; kicked, spat, and jeered at because of his half-breed status and blood; and now he was one of many familiar faces whom everyone knows and respects. Even his children are recognized and respected by human and dog alike. He wondered if his mate; Jenna, a beautiful rusty colored husky with a milky underside; felt the same way. No matter adventure they had together, their love and teamwork had helped them through every event, conquering and overcoming obstacles whenever they came.

Balto’s nose twitched and he thought he smelled Boris, the Russian goose, and the polar bear cubs, Muk and Luk. He sighed. Boris had long since taken his leave of Nome and migrated back to Russia with his new found love, Stella, a goose who was on vacation during the time of the Dog-Plane Race of 1927. Quite smitten, the old goose was torn between Balto, whom he had raised since puphood, and Stella, a dashing and enchanting visitor from his home country. Balto relieved him of the pain by taking him aside and reminding him that he had stayed for so long until ‘Balto could stand on all four feet’ and until his sons and daughters could as well. “You need a vacation, Boris,” Balto had said to the grumpy goose. “Go on.”

“But—“

“Boris, there are few times in a lifetime you can find the perfect moment of peace. Jenna and I found ours. I believe this is your chance to find yours.”

The goose sighed. “So the chick has grown to a rooster. Alright, I will. “ He glanced back at Nome, where his ‘nieces’ and ‘nephews’ had grown, where Balto had grown. “But I’ll be back to visit. When that time comes I better not find all of you in pieces.” He wagged a fore feather at Balto. The wolf-dog laughed.

“Just get used to not having to be so weary of pups jumping on you. Where you’re going, I doubt any of my sons or daughters can pounce on you.”

The goose had left that Fall with Stella to Russia.

As for Muk and Luk, they disappeared the day ‘Uncle’ Boris left. Their absence brought a certain sadness to Balto; for he, like Boris, had grown up with them and shared great adventures with the cubs.

The door creaked behind him and he heard soft paw falls behind him. Soon he felt Jenna’s soft breast fur on his back and her gentle voice, a soft whisper, next to his ear.

“What are you thinking of, Balto?” she asked. “Memories?”

He grinned, closing his eyes in comfort. “You read me like a book, Jenna.”

“Boris?”

“Haha, too late, I thought of him several seconds ago.”

She nipped him. “Balto! Must you be so!”

He laughed and she joined him, nuzzling him lovingly.

“Have you heard of Steele?” he asked.

“I haven’t heard from him ever since Luna died.”

Silence for a moment. “Do you think he will overcome his sadness?” Jenna asked.

“I don’t know.”

“I never thought he would fall in love, much less a wolf. What do you think changed him?”

Balto didn’t know the answer and he doubted anyone in town knew, including Dixie and Sylvia, the greatest gossipers in town. All Balto could do was guess. He did know only one dog would forever know: Steele.

“Maybe because he saved her life.”

“How did he save her life?” asked Jenna.

Balto looked out to the forest, barely visible from the town. He could not forget that day. “I was there…”

Chapter 2

He was out in the forest hunting when he heard a gunshot rang, so close he ducked instinctively. There was a high squeal of pain, dog or wolf, and a thudding in the bush. Balto ran into the nearest bush and hid himself as a hunter walked into the open. Seeing no sign of his kill, the hunter went on searching. He didn’t stop searching until he heard the cry of a wolf pack. To Balto, it was song of mourning and possibly a call of hope for a lost family member, for amongst wolves, any member in a pack, no matter rank was a family. When he was certain the poacher was gone, Balto started to look for the wolf, he was certain it was a wolf, that was shot. He sniffed around until he found the scent of an unmistakable but unidentifiable scent of wolf blood. From the blood, he learned the wolf was around Alue’s age, half-grown and well fed. And very close to death. After a while of following drops of blood, he found himself following blood streaks; something had dragged the she-wolf, but his nose was so filled with the current scent he couldn’t identify the other thing, even if he wanted to. When the blood scent became so prudent hat it seemed like he was swimming in it, did he stop. He stood behind a bush near a rocky mountainside. There was heavy breathing and an occasional whine of pain. But there was another being breathing as well. He couldn’t smell anything else except the female’s blood so he dared to peek through the bush. It was obviously not another wolf for this creature had a curled tail, a common trait of a tamed animal. It had black and white coloring and very muscular build. It also wore a golden collar that Balto had seen only one other dog: Steele. When the she-wolf spoke and the other replied, it dashed Balto’s doubt that the dog before him was not Steele.

“Where…am I?”

“A hunter had shot you.”

“You saved me?”

“Don’t you know who I am?”

“…..I can’t tell, it’s…hazy…and so—ah…”

“You shouldn’t be alive after all the blood you lost.”

“...then…how am…I.”

“ That is unknown.” Steele nudged something closer to the wolf. “Eat this. Then head into the cave over there.” He turned to go back to Nome.

“…wait.“

Steele stopped.

“Why…are you doing this?” she asked. “I am a wolf…you’re—“

“A dog?” interrupted Steele angrily. “I am not weak as some of the proud wolves say we dogs are. “

“I’m sorry…” said the she-wolf with effort.

The anger died in Steele’s voice and there was silence. Then, “Eat. I’ll be back later.” Then he was gone.

Where he was hidden, Balto could scarcely believe what he had seen. Steele helping another being, a wolf to make it more unbelievable.

Balto shook his head. What was he thinking?

Steele had some characteristics, yes, that were disagreeable and aggressive but he was a living being like Balto, Jenna, and all the other dogs. Deep down, he was the same as anyone else; living flesh and blood who had feelings, made choices, and lived with the consequences of the situation.

Though Balto couldn’t help but worry for the she-wolf being under Steele’s care, he now knew he didn’t have to. If Steele wanted the wolf dead, he would’ve left her where she had been shot or killed her himself. He had made his choice, now Balto made his: He returned to Nome.

He didn’t run into Steele until a good half a month had passed. When that day came, Steele walked to the Old Mill, a beautiful she-wolf at his side. White was her fur color, so white it seemed to radiate its own light. Her eyes were hybrid, her left blue while her right was yellow. All but Balto were surprised by this, though he was taken back he brought the she-wolf back with him.

After a few seconds of gaping, whispering, and gasping, Steele spoke.

“Everyone,” he said, speaking with a voice that was changed, “I’d like you all to meet my mate, Luna.”

The stunned silence was…what was the word: almost terrifying? As for Sylvia and Dixie, their mouths dropped and they fell to the wooden floor in a senseless heap. It was like a signal, Balto, Jenna, and all the other dogs leaped forward at once, shouting their congratulations and wishes. Luna blushed and Steele beamed, not in selfish pride but in happiness for them both.

Steele caught Balto’s eye in the mayhem; in their depths he asked remorse for what he had done: almost killing the very people he had been trying to save during the Serum Run and Balto and Jenna out of personal want and pride.

Balto smiled back, waving aside the past and telling Steele to enjoy the present. No longer enemies but neighbors, friends.

Later that night, Steele made his apology more formal and direct to Balto and Jenna. He stammered a few times but with Luna at his side, he completed what had been burdening him for three years.

“I never should’ve done what I did and it is something I’ll carry forever.” He said.

“Don’t,” said Jenna, gently. “Don’t carry it forever. It is not yours to carry anymore.”

“But it is, Jenna,” insisted Steele, his blue eyes find her red. “I almost killed Balto, Rosie, and everyone else in this town. There would’ve been nothing here for you if Balto didn’t return.”

“But he did return, love,” the reply came from Luna, who sat between Steele and Balto, her voice smooth and bending like the soft touch of breeze. “And you have shown you have changed. You, Steele, is the one who lives now. The old Steele exists only in the past. Let him go, and live.”

Steele looked at his mate, whom he had saved from death. Silver-white, she was truly what her name said her to be. Luna,goddess of the moon or, perhaps, the moon herself. When he first set eyes on her, he thought she was Jenna or her daughter, Alue. But when he looked closer he realized who she resembled: his first love, Tek. A black and white pied husky with enchanting blue eyes, Tek had been Steele’s first love interest before he moved to Nome. His musher himself would’ve stayed long enough for Steele and Tek to declare themselves mates for life if she hadn’t been bitten.

Steele sighed. She had been bitten by a mad wolf who seduced her, a being infested with rabies. She would’ve survived if her rabies vaccine hadn’t expired the day before. In turn, she became mad and almost bit Steele but Steele’s musher couldn’t and didn’t allow it. The human pulled his revolver and shot Tek twice; first through the heart and second in her head. To this day, Steele could still feel her blood and flesh that splattered on his fur, see her eyes of pleading before her death, and his distrust towards strange wolves.

“Steele, what is it?” Luna’s yellow eyes shown with concern.

“It’s…only memories…”

“Of Tek?”

“Yes.”

Balto and Jenna looked at one another. “Who’s Tek?” asked Jenna.

Luna shook her head. “It is not my decision to reveal.”

“It’s alright Luna, I can tell them.”

Steele looked from the husky he had loved and the former outcast he had once felt disdain for. “Tek was a husky who lived in the town of Anchorage, the city I lived in before I came here with my musher….”

***

“Tale of Tek”

***

As Steele’s tale ended, the husky felt Luna’s warmth beside him as she comforted him.

Silence for the longest moment, then,

“When she died, Tek’s death changed me. From that day forward I loathed wolves and didn’t want anything to do with them. When I first met you Balto, you seemed like a normal stray, not wanted by humans or owned dogs. Then I learned of your second heritage and that is why I distrusted you from that day forth.”

“Do you distrust him now?” asked Luna, knowing it was a question neither Balto nor Jenna could ask.

Steele met Balto’s and Jenna’s eyes. “No I do not. I was wrong to do so.”

“Let us put this behind us,” said Balto, holding out a paw. “Let the past remain in the past.”

“And live in the present,” Jenna and Luna said together.

Steele looked to his mate, who gave an assuring nod.

Then he smiled. His smile was like the dawn of a new day, warm and confident.

He took Balto paw. “Thanks.”

***

Chapter 3

“Luna changed Steele in a way none ever could’ve,” said Balto. “I never thought it was possible.”

Jenna laughed quietly and leaned into her mate. “Love, there was always good within him. It only had to be brought out.”

“I knew Steele had goodness within him,” said Balto softly. “I never thought a wolf would be the one to change him.”

***

In a parallel universe…

A man stood in the darkness of the study, his eyes resting on the book that lay in the hands of its most recent and late reader. As man moved towards the book, a voice spoke out from the darkness.

Fren, is it wise? Soul separation could impair us

“I am aware of what it can do,” said Fren, lowering his hood. “But with you outside my body and mind we can accomplish more.”

You mean, you will accomplish more said the voice, a touch of anger ringing in the air. You always cared only for yourself. Even your sister knows that

Fren sniffed. “At least it proves she isn’t ignorant as the others.”

You do know she will try to stop you

Fren took the book from the dead hands of Elani Valkar Karis and smoothly drew his sword from the corpse. As blood flicked onto the man’s face, he brought the sword to his eyes. Fren looked at the crimson blade, its hidden power reflecting in his eyes.

“I will be prepared.”

***

In the paralleled universe…Compassian Forest…

It was a calm morning, sunlight shown through the tree’s leaves like streaks from heaven. Birds flew and sang their songs, deer bleated, and insects of all kinds sang in their own way.

In the center of the forest, the clash of swords could be heard.

Years before, any clashing of swords would’ve been thought unusual and interpreted as an attack. But these sounds of a duel were now common for all who lived in the forest knew who was fighting: Thais and Claire Prisana.

The heart of the forest was a clearing of swaying grass, a rippling river, and a tall oak; it was here the duelists would fight and test each other’s skill.

Tais watched Claire as she watched him, her sword held to counter his first attack. Thais was an Asi, a nomad from the Great Plains; black haired, light brown skin and dark eyed human man with a strong built. Claire, a young woman with flashing dark dark eyes was also Asi, sharing the same traits: though slender but with strength equal to the man she was dueling. The two, some would say, were so alike that it was rumored the two were related. They were masters of the sword, well fit, and both were Valkar, wielders of the soul energy. But those who were close to the two would know they were not related. They were the same age, born two days apart, on the same hour.

Thais would swing and Claire would block. Their bodies moved fluidly like dancers, their blades moving along with their masters. Slash, slash, block, dodged, kick; the two humans went around the clearing; their robes rippling as they jumped, rolled, and ran. They moved with abnormal speed, their bodies sometimes coming within seconds of touching; only to twirl away and come together again. Sparks flew as their blades struck each other, grass rustled in their wake, and the clash of their blades echoed into the surrounding trees.

Finally Thais made a fatal error: he guessed Claire’s next move instead of reading her body movement. He brought his sword in her blind spot, expecting her to block. Claire, however, had expected this move beforehand; she was already attacking before Thais began his, swinging her sword on top of his; striking the hilt. Her sword’s momentum overcame Thais’s stab, sending the sword spinning into the long grass.

But Thais was far from defeated.

He leaped away from Claire’s next attack and threw out one hand, palm outright; white lightning flew from his hand. Claire’s eyes widened in surprise. She brought her sword about, the blade meeting the white light, as she tried to deflect the attack. This time, however, Thais’s lightning attack had the upper hand. The lightning exploded, sending Claire and her sword flying in two different directions.

Now both humans were unarmed, leaving both with only one weapon to use: magic; and increasing the likelihood this duel would become a draw.

Both man and woman looked at each other, waiting for the other to make a move.

It was said that valkar were beings of legend, people able to wield powers unlike the mortal human. Thais and Claire gave testament to this as Claire attacked first, flames dancing from her hand, flying towards her opponent. The inferno struck only bare ground as Thais rolled away, counterattacking with a fist of air.

***

Valkar are beings who have to ability to transform soul energy into an element of earth, depending on the person. For example, Claire her original element was lightning. Before she extended her studies to other elements, she could only transform her soul energy into lightning. The same applies to the other valkar and three elements of earth: water, earth, and air. Soul energy, as its name applies, comes from the soul of every living thing. From the mighty dragons to the smallest living molecule barely visible by the visible eye, every living thing has a soul. Testament to this fact came from valkar from ancient times, who lived in some of the horrid of places with very few plants and animals around them. They drew upon the soul energy of those plants and microorganisms to survive and live until they found food and water. Soul energy, in a sense, never truly runs out or ends except in death. A valkar can draw upon another's soul energy at will, if and only if, that person is a normal being; not a valkar, dragon, or inspir. If such a being is one of the three, then that being must give the wielder permission to use their soul energy. When a valkar or one of the three uses another soul energy, the host rarely feels any lack of energy or draining. But if the wielder is using another's soul energy for a spell or magic that requires mass amount of energy then the host will feel the draining.

The transformation of soul energy to an element or whatever a valkar, dragon, or inspir uses it for remains a mystery.

***

Claire cried out in shock as the fist struck her in the abdomen, knocking out her breath and doubling her over. Thais flew in, cracking lightning in his right palm. Claire, still grasping for breath, tried to create a shield between herself and her attacker but Thais ripped through it like a sword through cloth; and brought his hand down.

Claire blinked and coughed.

Thais breathed, his hand posed over Claire's heart.

Had this been a real duel, Claire would've been dead.

Claire was stunned. Of all the 'duels' they fought, she had either won or it had been a draw. Never had Thais been able to overcome her. A factor of her constant victories or draws is due to her seniority. She was a year older than Thais; and that, in valkar aging, meant a lot.

***

Valkar, though they seem mystical and heavenly being from somewhere beyond this word, are in fact, normal beings of flesh and blood who are aware of the power they are capable of and exert it when they chose to. Any living thing is capable of being a valkar; a tree, mouse, and wolf; they only need to become aware of what they can do, learn how to draw upon that power, and execute it.

Claire was a year older than Thais, or so she appeared to be in human age. In valkar years she was close to half a century while Thais was only half of that. With her seniority came faster reflexes, senses, and feats that make valkar seem so god-like. One such feat was Blessed Life, or prolonging life, and/or Heaven Beauty, the ability to keep one’s facial features and body at a certain age and keep it there or grow younger and older at will. Both Thais and Claire had these feats, their soul forever using the feats after weeks of meditation, prolonging their life with each passing year all the while keeping their bodies appearing around human age.

Aside from greater feats, seniority gave older valkar access to greater power because their soul had lived for the longest time, thus it produced more energy giving a valkar the ability to do things longer than it take a valkar below them.

***

Thais dropped his poised hand and gave it for Claire to grab. “A good duel, Claire,” he said, patting her shoulder, causing the grass and dust on it to jump in the air.

“Aye,” she agreed, as he began to dust her off, “with an ending I didn’t expect.”

“Me defeating you?”

“Aye.”

He smiled. “One day or another, dear Claire,” he said. “It would’ve happened.”

She smiled in turn, her eyes flashing jokingly. “Of course in your dreams!”

“Hey!”

She laughed as he tried to fake punch her but missed as she ran away from him.

“Come back her you little—“

“Little?” She pursed her lips. “I do remember being the one who is taller and, um, a day older.” She stressed the mentioning of their difference in age and laughed as Thais ran after her around the clearing.

He caught her by chance (he tripped over a root and grabbed Claire by the waist as he fell) and flipped her over so she was facing him.

Dirt was on her face. Gently as a lover would do to another, he wiped it off. Claire breathed contently as she felt her love’s hands, body, and warmth against hers through their robes. A cool breeze breathed through the glade, Claire’s and Thais dark hair dancing with air. Dark eyes met dark eyes, each peering into each other’s depths into the soul beyond.

The space between man and woman closed…

…and their hearts became one as they kissed.

To be continued…in Balto: Valkar Part II