Balto’s Antarctic Adventure:
Journey through the Impossible
Akiak and Roan ran through the soft snow to the plane that had landed not far from Base. The plane was crusted with frozen snow and icicles hanging from below. They watched as the driver jump out and started to scrape it off the wings and base of the plane. But it wasn’t the driver they were waiting for. After a few minutes of waiting, finally they could see two large light brownish paws step to the door and Balto hopped out of the plane into snow. Roan immediately ran up to him yipping with joy. Balto laughed as she brushed against him in the way dogs hug.
“I missed you so much!” She barked and continued to hug and lick him.
“Yea, me too dad!” Akiak said as he walked over and licked Balto’s face.
“I missed you two as well!” Balto laughed, “Ever since you left me,”
Roan’s face nearly cried with joy. She couldn’t explain how much she missed her dad. And how glad she was too see him again.
“Let me show you around base dad,” Akiak said as he lead Balto into the base. The base was small, with lots of strong tents and unusual equipment Balto had never seen before in his life. “Here’s the main tent,” he explained. Roan added on,
“That’s where most of the humans work,”
Balto looked at the tent. It was a very large olive green tent, nearly brown, with ice and snow coated all over it. On top he saw many strange metal sticks with icicles hanging from them. He didn’t bother to ask. Through the tents, he saw many other dogs barking happily in the snow, many young. They ran around the tents and nipped each others tail. Balto looked saw some kennels by the main tent and asked,
“Is that where you sleep?” Akiak answered, “Sometimes, when the weather is bad. Most of the time we sleep outside,”
“Outside?!” Balto said astonished, “In the snow?”
“Yea, dad. Of course! They do that at home in Alaska don’t they?”
“Emm… well. Sometimes I guess,”
Roan and Akiak laughed and said, “Come on dad! Why don’t you come a meet some of our friends,”
“Dad, meet the team!” Akiak said as they walked up to a group of dogs playing together. “Meet Izzy, Silver, Scoot, Moss, Max and Aleska”
“Their our team!” Roan said, “Aleska is our lead dog,”
Many off the dogs came up to Balto and said hello and licked his face.
“Hmm…” Roan said,
“Aleska doesn’t seem to be here. I wonder where she is?”
“Never mind!” Akiak shrugged, “Will catch up with her later,”
From a distance, Balto could here shouting. He saw Roan and Akiak’s ears prick. “Oh, that’s our human calling,” Akiak said to Balto, “We have too go know dad, there’s a lot of work to be done! We will be back soon!”
“Okay then! Have a good time you two!” Balto laughed as they ran off to them. Roan jumped up at her human, attempting to lick his face. He laughed as many other dogs tried to do the same. Balto watched as they got harnessed and set off through the white snow. He sighed; it was so good to see them again. They had grown a lot since he had last seen them in Nome. Roan was as beautiful as her mother and had the same sparkling eyes, and Akiak; he was strong with a clever mind. He was a perfect sled dog. Balto was very proud of them. When he saw them run, working as a team, his heart soared like an eagle.
Roan, Akiak and the team had stopped at the main base in Antarctica. They were replacing equipment needed to drill ice out of the ground. Akiak panted with his breath looking like freezing steam when it hit the air.
“Snow’s good today!” he panted.
“Yea! Nice and easy,” Roan replied, also panting.
Moss, a brown husky with some black patches was just behind them.
“The snow may be good, but that equipment looks heavy you guys,” He said.
“We can carry that with ease Moss!” Akiak laughed, “Besides, a challenge is just what we need after those few days lying around base,”
“Yea!” Silver, a husky with a bright grey coat and beautiful blue eyes, said, “A challenge is just what we need!”
Akiak looked back at her and smiled. Mush!
The dogs suddenly sprung into action and began to run at top speed, barking and panting. The snow was sliced and pushed to the side as the sled cut through it. Aleska, the lead dog, was the fastest and was a great lead dog. She ran swiftly through the snow and was light but strong. Her coat shined, it was a gorgeous white. She had blue eyes that shone like the sun. You could see a beautiful power in her that told you, she was lead dog.
She was in charge.
Balto walked around the base. There was so many interesting stuff to explore. He felt like a little puppy again, in a new world. Antarctica was very different from Alaska. He couldn’t imagine living in snow all year round. And where were the trees and plants? Didn’t anything grow? He saw a playful puppy with a colour as red as Jenna. In fact, the pup looked just like one of his pups. He looked identical to Akiak.
“Hello,” Balto said to the pup, it’s head stuck down some snow, “Hello?”
The pup took its head out from underneath the snow and shook it about sending snow flying all over him. “Hey there!” Balto laughed, “Cut it out!”
The pup looked at him with a wagging tale.
“Hello!” It yipped, “Who are you? I’ve never seen you before?”
Balto smiled at him, the pup reminded him of Akiak when he was only a pup. “I’m…” Balto was interrupted by barking and the sound of rushing snow. The team was back. The pup ran off to them yipping and laughing with delight. Balto walked over to them. “How was it you two?” Balto said.
“It was fine,” Roan panted, “Good to get us up and running again after we had had such a long rest!” Aleska walked over to Balto once her harness was off.
“You must be Balto then,” She said in a gentle voice.
“And you must be Aleska!” Balto said.
“Why don’t you come and have some food with us dad?”
“All right then,” Balto said, “I am a little hungry!”
“Nice to meet you, Aleska,” Balto shouted back to her.
“Pleasure!” She said.
Balto was given a bowl of, what looked to be meat leftovers. All the other dogs plunged their faces into the metal bowl, with slimy meat gravy splashing out onto the snow and other dogs. “You guys seem to be hungry,” Balto said.
Akiak’s face raised from his bowl with gravy all over his muzzle,
“It’s been a hard days work for us dad. Besides, don’t you like it?”
Balto sniffed it for long time before eating, which he didn’t even think it was, food. It was now pitch black outside and a gale was starting up. He could hear the other tents rattling against the wind and the cold, haunting howl from outside the main tent that Balto and the team were resting in. It was a rough night so the dogs were aloud in base until it was time for them to sleep in their frosty kennels. Inside the large tent, it was warm and cosy. Some humans sat on some chairs around a low wooden table with coffee and dogs sitting next to them or at their feet. Some were still working at tables with maps, and some were at strange machines. Akiak, Roan, Balto and Silver were sitting in a corner by a window. Balto looked out and saw gusts of wind sending the newly fallen snow rising into the air. The gale was just beginning. Many of the dogs could tense a storm. Balto did too, but he felt safe in the tent with Akiak and Roan. Suddenly the door swung open with gusts of wind chilling the dog’s bones and forced them to shut their eyes from the snow soaring through the tent. A man in heavy clothing a bulky snow boots walked in followed by a completely white dog who looked slightly blue because of the snow crusted on her fur. The door slammed shut and the dog shook her whole body and uncovered Aleska. Icy water covered the floor from where Aleska shook the snow off. She walked over to Balto, Akiak, Roan and Silver. “Rough weather tonight,” She sighed, “I guess winter is finally here,”
“Yea,” Akiak said, “I heard it’s come earlier than usual and we need to get supplies quick before it’s too late,”
Balto didn’t entirely understand, but he listened in anyway.
“I bet we will have too go very soon,” Roan added, “The nights are getting darker, the clouds thicker and blacker and I haven’t seen the sun in days,”
“We may be coming up to winter sooner than we thought we would,”
Silver said.
“And I bet the weather is just starting up,” Aleska said, “It’s going to be tough getting to the main base in these gales,”
“I know!” Roan shivered,
“I hate running in wind, and in the darkness of night,”
“Yes, that’s why we are setting off tomorrow,” Aleska declared to the team,
“I overheard the humans talking about it. This storm is just the start of our worries. Tomorrow is the day we will set off for the main base for supplies. Just pray that the weather will be promising tomorrow,”
The weather was not very promising. The gales had increased in speed, the black clouds had covered the sun for good and the snow was becoming deeper and deeper by the minute. Balto was worried for Akiak and Roan. But he had faith in them. Besides, it wasn’t as bad as when he had to take the serum back to Nome. Balto raised his head to the sky. The black clouds were moving quickly and rumbling. Aleska was also worried. You could see the fear in her beautiful sapphire eyes. She knew something bad was going to happen, she could feel it in her blood and bones. Akiak tried to keep everyone’s gloomy faces cheered a little, “Come on guys! This is nothing. Remember when we were on that lake and the ice broke beneath Scoot’s paws,” Scoot who looked very nervous and unhappy raised his head after hearing his name. “But Akiak,” Silver shouted so she was heard over the wind, “This has never happened before! Winter has never come so early and we have been late. This is dangerous and you have to admit it!”
Akiak didn’t answer. He had to face the truth. Silver was right, this WAS dangerous and the weather was getting worse and worse. Akiak was anxious, but he didn’t want that too get in the way. His spirit was not yet broken. He put a straight face on and got prepared too sprint faster than he has ever before. Roan was tense and anxious. All the dogs were barking and yipping, not in a joyful way. They were all restless and afraid, even Akiak.
Balto stood back from them with a worried face. Mush!
The team suddenly bolted into the darkness of snow. Aleska’s face had changed from worried, to determined. Akiak howled back to Balto, but it was faded away by the wind. All Balto could hear was a faint whistle in the distance. As they disappeared from his sight, Balto watched the horizon and sighed. He whispered to himself,
“Be careful you two. What would I do without you,”
The wind was howling in Akiaks ears and the snow was fogging up his sight. He was panting like he never before, and his legs were stiff and tired. The snow was deep and treacherous and he didn’t know how much longer he could take. Several times behind him, Moss slipped in the snow pulling him backwards. It hurt him to pull back on the harness so he didn’t fall back, but he couldn’t delay the team. Balto was counting on him. Soon after terrible running, they reached the main base. It was a heavy load to carry and the team were exhausted. Vets checked the dogs at base and all were fine. The dogs didn’t feel fine though. Akiak felt a dreadful sting in his legs and ears. Roan was still nervous and felt the cold worse than anyone else. Moss also had terrible pains in his legs. Silver was having trouble breathing in the frosty air, she was panting very bizarrely. Max had awful shoulder cuts from the harness, he was a massive husky and the harness was digging into him. Scoot, who was the youngest in the team, was worried and couldn’t control his nerves; he jumped and barked all the time, which didn’t help the team. And Aleska, she was aching everywhere and was incredibly worried for the team. But she was determined and didn’t let her pain and worry get in the way of the journey she had to make home.
Balto lay down on the floor of the tent with anxious eyes.
“Doesn’t look like I’m going to get any sleep tonight,” He said to himself quietly, “I wish Jenna was here,”
From the thought of Jenna, Balto thought of home and how greatly he missed Jenna. It was actually a good thing that she wasn’t with him, she would be so concerned she would run after them. Balto laughed at his thoughts, “It’s a good thing she’s not here,” But then he sighed and thought again about Akiak and Roan.
The time the team had to stop, was to them, merely a second. The next minute they were racing at maximum speed again through the bottomless snow. Aleska was faster than anyone and the dogs found it exceptionally difficult to keep up with her. “Slow down!” Moss called to her, “We can’t run like that Aleska, SLOW DOWN !” But Aleska ignored him and continued to run faster and faster. She was looking straight ahead with her eyes, never moving, strained on in front of her. They were running at the side of a mount. At the bottom was a sea lake, covered completely in slowly braking ice. The pain in Akiak’s legs was getting worse; he couldn’t take any more of it. He could feel his legs breaking down. Suddenly, Akiak lost his breath and tripped over in the snow. The harness snapped off and Akiak tumbled downhill. Roan barked, “Akiak!” as he rolled nearer to the sea lake and… smash!
Akiak crashed through the ice, but not into water. He fell through with ice that had shattered like broken glass into a frozen cave that had been covered by a thin layer of ice. Roan hurriedly struggled out of her harness and ran down the mount to where Akiak fell through the ice.
“Akiak! Are you all right?!” She shouted to him.
Akiak had no idea what hit him. Hid head rose slightly and found himself in a solid ice cave. To him it was more like a freezing pit with no escape. He heard his sister, barking his name from above him. Akiak looked up at her and smiled slightly. Roan laughed,
“You nearly gave me a heart attack! Thank goodness your alright!”
Akiak laughed a little as well. He tried to get up, but rapidly fell back down with a terrible pain and his body slammed back down again onto the ice. “Akiak,” Roan shouted to him.
He raised his head so he could see Roan and said in a very tired and bewildered voice, “Yea,”
“Are you alright ?”
“Emm… I think I’ve broken my leg or something. I can’t move,”
“Don’t worry! We’ll get you out of there!”
Akiak didn’t say anything and looked at his leg. He had cut himself all over from the sharp ice that cut him like a broken bottle. Luckily it wasn’t bad. It was his leg he was worrying about. Soon he heard the bark of Aleska, she was looking down on him.
“Akiak, don’t worry. We will get you out of that cave in no time,” She said.
“Aleska, I’m really sorry,” Akiak said as he swung his head down and stared at his broken leg, “I let you and the whole team down. I’m wasting time,”
“No Akiak! It’s not your fault! If it was anyone’s fault it was mine,”
“It wasn’t your fault, Aleska. You were trying to help the team!”
“I was pushing you far too hard! I’m the one who should be sorry,”
“Aleska, I…” Akiak began to say but suddenly yelped out as he felt an awful pain in his leg. Roan reappeared, “Akiak!”
“It’s okay Roan!” Akiak shouted up too her, “My leg just hurt’s a little that’s all! Don’t worry about me!”
Akiak could hear everyone above him. He heard the clang on harnesses and the bark of dogs. They were wasting time. And time wasn’t what they had.
“Aleska!” Akiak shouted. He saw her worried face appear over the ice.
“Aleska, you have too go. You don’t have much time left before nightfall,”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean…” Akiak sighed, “You have to…”
Akiak was too afraid to say it. But he had to be strong.
“You have too leave without me,”
“What?!” Aleska’s said, astonished.
“You don’t have much time left. You must get the supplies and the team back before nightfall! You will never make it back in time with me. Leave me here and go on!” Akiak shouted, now determined. He was frightened and knew that he probably wouldn’t survive. But he had to do this for the team. Or then more lives would be lost. Winter was coming fast and soon, when nightfall finally came. The continent would be plunged into darkness until spring.
Roan heard what Akiak said and shouted to him, “No Akiak! I’m not going to leave you! You cant do this too yourself Akiak!”
“Yes Akiak! You’re the strongest on the team! You keep us together!” Aleska shouted to him, and she meant it. Aleska never thought she was most important or the strongest, she always thought it was Akiak and admired him for it. Akiak couldn’t have been happier when he heard those few words. But no! He couldn’t stop the team,
“Hurry up! There isn’t much time! Go now before it’s too late! I will stay here. You must leave me… please,”
Balto was right, he couldn’t sleep. He was too worried. He didn’t eat anything before and now he couldn’t sleep. It was unusual for him to get so worried. Balto didn’t know Antarctica or it’s dangers. He was told it had a lot of dangers and he just loved Akiak and Roan too much. What if he loosed them? What would he do? What would he tell Jenna? He didn’t want to think of Jenna and his home. What made him feel worse was that he never even said anything like “I love you” or “You can do it! I’m counting on you”. He tried to make himself feel better. But it wasn’t working. Other dogs tried to make him feel better as well; many dogs came up and told him, “Don’t worry, Balto! Their the best dogs you could ever get!” When Balto finally got to sleep, he started to have a terrible nightmare:
Balto was in a blizzard. Surrounded by snow and nothing else in the centre on Antarctica. He could see ice walls towering over him getting taller and taller. He was trapped in the centre. Balto looked around him and saw… Akiak. He was on the other side of the ice limping. He fell suddenly into the snow. Balto shouted to him and ran towards him. He tried to climb the ice but kept on sliding down to the bottom. Akiak disappeared under the snow. Balto ran up to the ice and crashed through it and fell through the snow as well. He fell through darkness until he saw a light below him. He landed in… the beach by Nome. He saw his home, the boat with Boris watching over the side. He followed his gaze and saw… his and Jenna’s pups. Alue, Kodi, Akiak, Roan and the rest… all playing in the water like they had done a long time ago. Balto watched them. He saw Akiak run straight past him. He ran to the top of the beach and began too howl. Balto stared at him, trying to figure out what was going on. All of a sudden, Balto felt himself being sucked out of that world and into another. He sank through the sand and into darkness again. There was no light, all he saw was darkness. Suddenly, he heard a wolf howl and he landed right in front of Anui. She was howling like she did when he was on the serum run. Then she suddenly changed to Alue… she was howling as well; with her wolf pack that she became the leader off. Then Alue changed to himself. Balto watched himself howling like he did with Anui, and then last he saw himself with Kodi. Kodi was howling like a wolf like he did many times before. Kodi was proud of Balto being part wolf. Balto was suddenly pulled out of these worlds and into darkness again. He could hear a howl, getting louder and louder and louder as if it was getting nearer and nearer and nearer. All of a sudden the howl turned into a sharp bark…
Balto suddenly woke up from his dream and bumped his head hard on the hard, wooden roof of the kennel.
“Oww !” Balto barked, “Wow, what a dream,”
It was still night, and all the other dogs were asleep.
After shaking his head and laying it down on his paws, he thought long and hard about his dream. What did it mean?
Akiak was lonely. He could feel the cold getting to his leg. He felt frozen inside. Above him, he could hear the howls of the storm, and could feel the snow blowing down on him, freezing onto his rough fur. Outside, there was a raging blizzard. Akiak was worried, but not about himself. He was worried about his sister and the team. Had they got back? Were they lost in a blizzard? What was happening to them? He shut his eyes and tried to sleep, but it didn’t work. He could hear something outside, it sounded like a sled. Akiak howled and barked. He could see something, a head… appearing above him. Akiak starred at it then sighed with a tear in his eye, as it blew away in the storm. He placed his head back down on the ice and looked down at it. What hope did he have left? He rolled up and hid his face behind his tale and shut his eyes tight. There was no hope.
Balto ran outside the kennel too the sound of barking. Aleska and the team had made it back to base safely. They were all exhausted and freezing. Balto ran up to Roan, who was covered with snow and ice. Roan’s face lit up when she saw Balto and nuzzled his chin as he came to do the same thing.
“Oh, dad!” She said, happy but also extremely sad. What came next? How could she possibly tell him about Akiak? But before she had time to think, Balto said it, “Where’s Akiak?”
Roan looked down to her paws and then nuzzled Balto again. Balto was now worried. “Roan. What’s going on?”
Aleska came up to him with a tragic face and said,
“I’m so sorry, Balto,”
Balto didn’t want to hear what came next. He already knew. Balto’s thrilled face changed to a heartbroken face. There was silence and Roan couldn’t bare it. She ran away in tears. Balto didn’t say anything.
“He fell through ice into a frozen cave. He was all right, only a broken leg. But we had to leave him. We didn’t have enough time and he was slowing us down. He told us to leave him. Akiak was so brave, you should be proud of what he did. He will be remembered with honour. I’m so, so sorry Balto,”
Aleska said slowly with a grim face, then walked away into the tent.
Balto stood there, in silence. How could this happen?
Suddenly, Balto’s faced raised up to the horizon, disappearing in snow.
“He still out there,” He said.
Silver heard him and stared at his face, “What do you mean?”
“He is still alive out there,”
“Oh no. No! Balto you can’t!”
“I’m not going to leave him!”
Balto was now shouting. Nothing could stop him. He was going to find his son and bring him home. Know one could stop him.
“Please dad! Don’t do it!” Roan pleaded in tears,
“I’m not going to lose you as well!”
“I’m sorry Roan,” Balto nuzzled her, “I have to find him,”
“Balto this is far to dangerous,” Aleska said,
“Your not used to Antarctica. There is nothing but snow and ice here! You would never be able to find your way back!”
“Well I have to try!” Balto said walking slowly through the snow getting further and further out of the base.
Roan ran straight in front of Balto and shouted, “I’m not letting you go alone! I’m going to come with you!”
“No Roan! I don’t want to lose you!”
“And I don’t want to lose you !”
Balto couldn’t argue with her anymore. Roan was coming with him, and he promised himself that she wouldn’t be harmed. Aleska ran up to them and joined in the walk. “What are you doing?!” Balto shouted so he was heard, the wind seemed to be becoming louder and louder.
“I’m coming with you. I won’t let you go alone either,”
So the three of them faced the storm. Soon, the whole team joined Balto. Scoot, Max, Silver and Moss all joined in the journey to save Akiak.
The wind was blowing harder and the snow was getting deeper. Aleska was in front with her eyes half closed so the snow didn’t blind her. She heard a crack and stopped, padded the snow with her paw in different places the pointed to the way that was safe. Aleska was an experienced sled dog and new the dangers, that’s why so was in front. The team followed her lifting their legs out of the cavernous snow. Balto sniffed the snow around him and caught a sent. It was Akiak! Balto, with excitement, ran straight towards the smell and, like Akiak did, slipped and rolled down the hill into the cave.
Akiak suddenly heard rushing from above him. He ignored it, thinking it was his imagination. Suddenly, something fell right next to him with a loud thud! Akiak swung his head round and saw… Balto!
“Dad!” Akiak shouted with astonishment, “Dad, are you alright?!”
Balto turned his head to Akiak and said, “I was about to ask you the same question,” Akiak laughed with joy and moved his body over to him with his front legs, dragging his back ones.
“Thanks dad,” He said, “For coming to rescue me,”
“Balto!” Aleska shouted, “Where are you?!”
Suddenly, the team heard a wolf howl.
“That’s him!” Roan shouted, “This way, come on!”
Balto was howling in the cave. It echoed around them sounding like there was a whole pack of wolves surrounding them. Akiak smiled and laughed. He loved it when his dad howled like a wolf. Akiak joined in. He wasn’t as wolf-like, but you could tell he was Balto’s son.
“Balto!”
Aleska was above them with the team, “Are you hurt?!”
“I’m fine!” Balto called back.
Balto got to his feet and called up to Aleska,
“Quick! You have the rope don’t you?”
Aleska grabbed the long rope in her mouth and showed it to Balto. Silver had brought the rope, thinking it was going to be needed to pull Akiak out.
“Alright! Throw one end down to me!” Balto shouted.
Aleska did. Balto thought for a while how he was going to attach it. The rope was long and strong, and that gave him the idea. Balto put the rope under Akiak’s chest and threw the remaining rope in his jaws up to Aleska. She grabbed it and gave it to Roan. The six dogs split into three for each end of the rope and pulled on it hard with their jaws.
“Careful Akiak!” Balto called as Akiak was lifted, quite wobbly, up to the team.
Balto smiled as he got up safely, and they threw the rope back down to him.
He gripped it in his teeth. It was going to be tricky getting him up.
“Pull,” Balto shouted to the team. The team pulled on the rope as hard as they could. Akiak watched anxious. They pulled and pulled. All Balto had to hold on to the rope was his teeth. He banged against the ice at the side of the cave. He dug his claws into it and scratched and clawed his way to the top, still holding onto the rope. With one last haul from the team, Balto was lifted onto the top. He collapsed into the snow panting along with most of the team. “Well done you guys!” Akiak shouted, “Thanks, so much!”
“It… was… nothing!” Aleska panted. Akiak couldn’t have been happier.
The team walked back with Roan and Balto carrying Akiak on their backs. Aleska looked around her nervously, trying to figure out which way was which. She sniffed about the snow. They carried on walking through the storm. Akiak was feeling quite drowsy, so Roan and Balto had to nudge him so he wouldn’t fall asleep. Aleska walked up to the side of a huge sea lake.
“We’re going to have to cross!” She yelled back to the team,
“Be careful and make sure you keep together!”
They continued to walk, now over the ice. It was icy and the dogs found it hard not to slip. Scoot did slip slightly and slid around the ice.
“Stay together!” Aleska reminded them. Balto slid slightly under the weight of Akiak. All of a sudden he heard a crack. Aleska heard it to and immediately swung her head round. Balto looked to his feet and saw the ice cracking like glass into tiny shatters at the speed of light.
“Quick! Get of off there!” Aleska yelled to them. Balto and Roan slid and slipped as they hurried off the ice. Balto had taken Akiak himself so they could get to safety quickly. Balto made it first with Akiak. Roan wasn’t very fast, she fell over again and again slowing her down.
“Roan, hurry!” Balto shouted to her, “ROAN !”
Suddenly the ice gave way and it smashed and Roan plunged into the freezing water. “Roan!” Aleska yelled. She dug her claws into the ice and Aleska helped to pull her out of the water. Roan clambered out shivering.
“Are you alright Roan?” Aleska asked.
“Yea, I think so,” Roan shuddered.
“Good. Come on, we must keep moving,”
Roan nodded and carried on walking. She shivered and water splashed onto Akiak. “Hey!” Akiak laughed, “Cut it out!”
Aleska and the rest of the team were all ahead now. She called back to them, “Hurry up you three! We must keep moving!”
Balto was getting exhausted. But he was the strongest there. He was part wolf. “Are you alright up there?” He yelled to Akiak. Akiak was half asleep but answered quietly, “Yea. Yea, I’m alright,”
Aleska stared straight a head of her and so something dim in the distance, a light! Aleska gasped and a grin came across her face.
“We’re back!” She shouted, “We’re home everyone! We’re safe!”
There was an explosion of cries and barks. The whole team burst into a run to get back to base. Balto shouted to Akiak, “Did you hear that son! We’re home! We made it back!” Balto laughed and started to run as well slowly. Many dogs tripped over in excitement in the bottomless snow and bared and howled. There were many dogs outside the base barking to them. The team ran into base, triumphant! They had saved Akiak as well as making it home safely. Roan cried with joy and barked. The whole team jumped around camp and laughed. Balto stopped in the action to catch his breath. Him and Aleska (and of course Akiak) were the only ones that weren’t jumping with joy. To tired, far too tired. Balto panted then said to Akiak,
“We’re home Akiak! We made it. Tired?”
But he didn’t answer. Akiak was asleep.
Akiak woke up to a big slobbery lick.
“Huh?” Akiak yawned with his eyes half shut.
“I missed you so much!” Said a puppy sitting next to him, “I thought I had lost you!” The puppy looked just like Akiak. He was the one Balto had seen earlier. “Oh, I missed…” Akiak said the yawned, “ you too,”
The puppy snuggled up under Akiaks paw. Akiak smiled and fell back to sleep again. Akiak was in a tent, next to a fire in a bed covered with blankets. There was know one in the tent but Akiak and the puppy.
Balto looked around him, and entered the tent. He saw Akiak sleeping by the fire. Balto sighed and walked over to him. He whispered in his ear, something he wished he had said a long time ago, “I love you Akiak,”
Akiak looked up at him, half asleep, and said, “I love you too dad,”
Then he fell straight back to sleep.
“You get some rest now. You’ve had a long journey,”
“You have to tell him,” Roan sighed. She was in the tent with Akiak.
“I know, I’m just not ready,”
“Now would be a good time, Akiak,”
“Really? You think so?”
Roan smiled at him. Akiak knew that she mean ‘yes’. Akaik saw a bowl next to him with food in it. He licked his lips and slowly licked up some meat gravy that was in the bowl.
“Good. You will need your strength back,”
Akiak looked up at Roan. She cared about Akaik more than anything. She really loved him. Suddenly, they heard a shuffle from the door and saw Balto walk in. “Good morning father!” Roan said happily to him.
Balto smiled and said, “Good morning Roan. Morning Akiak,”
“Hi dad,” Akiak said to him. Roan looked back to Akiak, smiled and nodded meaning ‘now is a good time to tell him’. Akiak understood and sighed. Roan walked out the tent so Akiak and Balto were alone.
“How are you feeling this morning son?” Balto asked him.
“A lot better, thanks dad,” Akiak said,
“Emm, dad… I have something to tell you,”
Balto stared at him. He noticed something by his side. A puppy.
“Who’s that?” He smiled.
“Dad…,” Akiak sighed, “I would like you to meet your first grandson,”
By Highland Wolf
Authurs Note: Hi everyone! It's me, Highland Wolf, of course. I would just like to say, that i know that this story is a bit un-realistic and all (like how could Balto go to Antarctica and all that), but i wrote it because of my great love for Balto and Antarctica and i really love to wright story's about adventures and stuff. If anyone has any ideas how i could improve on my storys in future i would be delighted to hear them so please, send me a PM! Anyway, thanks for reading! Highland Wolf