Relationships with a Wolf Dog

Jenna wasn’t a normal dog. She was much, much better than that. She wasn’t a normal husky that would make fun of Balto just for him being part wolf. She was much, much nicer than that. And she was very different in looks as well, compared to the other dogs. She was much, much more beautiful. Balto watched her from his home, the old boat. She was playing with her brother and sister down on the shore. He watched them splash water at each other and laugh. Balto longed to play with her as well. He would love to jump down from the dusty old boat and jump around the beach with laughter and play with Jenna and her brothers. But he knew he couldn’t. Balto didn’t get along very well with Jenna’s brother or sister. They also, like all the dogs in Nome, hated him and thought he was a disgrace. They too, made fun off him and called him names. But not Jenna, no, not Jenna. Jenna was nice to him, ever since Nikke, Kaltag and Star left him for Steele. Ah, Steele. Balto growled to himself at the thought. Steele was the new dog in town, who stole away Balto’s only friends. He was the one who made up rumours about him, he was the one he made the dogs in Nome think even worse of him, he was the one that ruined Balto’s life. Steele had come on that dreadful day that the ‘best sled dog there is’ came to Nome and brought the dogs pup. The very first time they met, Steele just laughed at him straight in his face. But Jenna never changed. She never believed Steele’s rumours or believe anything nasty Steele would say about Balto. Balto could tell that Jenna disliked Steele just as much as he did. Though, Steele seemed to like Jenna and always wanted to play with her or walk down to the shore with her. Balto laughed to himself as he remembered one time when Steele asked Jenna if she wanted to go for a stroll on the beach. Balto was walking out of Nome and saw Steele next to Jenna. He had hid and watched them. Balto laughed hard and harder as he remembered Steele’s distraught face. Balto laughed and laughed until he couldn’t breath and fell over the side of the boat into the snow, still in hysterics. Jenna and her brother and sister noticed Balto fall. Max, who was Jenna’s brother, found a chance to go and annoy Balto. He grinned at his sisters and ran over to Balto. Jenna frowned and shouted to him,

“Max! Don’t! MAX!”

But Max ignored her and stood next to Balto. Balto stopped laughing and stood up immediately and the sight of Max. “What on earth are you doing?” He sneered at Balto. Balto didn’t want to tell him that he was laughing at a face Steele, who was most likely his friend (Steele managed to make friends with all the dogs), was making. “Um… I… um…” Balto stuttered.

Max looked at him, “Well? What is it wolf dog? Hurry up!”

But before Balto could say anything, he saw Jenna ran over and stand in front of Max and Balto. “Leave him alone, Max!” She shouted at her brother. Balto smiled at Jenna. Max sneered at him and the Jenna,

“Come on Ruby, lets go and leave Jenna here with her bestest best friend!”

Jenna barked at him as he and her sister walked of angry with her. Balto looked at Jenna, “Why did you do that?”

Jenna looked at him and smiled, “Because they shouldn’t be making fun of you, Balto. It’s not nice! My brother and sister are so annoying,”

Balto smiled back at her. But Balto couldn’t hold it in, a question that he didn’t really want to ask blurted out of him,

“Why are you so nice to me Jenna?”

“What? Don’t talk nonsense Balto. What are you talking about?”

“I mean, why do you like me? Know one else is,”

Balto sighed then walked off back towards his boat, depressed.

“Balto!” She shouted, “Balto wait!”

He stopped and looked back at her.

“Balto, I’m sorry. I don’t know why everyone is mean to you. You’re a really nice dog…” Balto interrupted her, “But isn’t it obvious? I’m part wolf, know one wants to be friends with a wolf dog,” He began to walk off gloomily with his head held low. “I do,” Jenna shouted to him. Balto looked back at her but before he could say anything, Jenna had walked off.

“Jenna, wait!” He shouted and began to run, “No, Jenna! I…”

But Jenna was already in Nome. Balto sighed and ran over to the old boat.

He walked into his cabin and slipped under his raged, blue blanket. Balto sighed. Suddenly, he heard a crash and a bang from outside his cabin. Balto lifted his head in shock and threw the blanket off him. He stood up and slowly walked to the door of the cabin. “Hello?” He said. There was no answer. Balto smelt the air. He caught a strange and new smell that he had never smelt before. He creped along the wooden planks of the boat looking about him suspiciously. “Anybody there?” He called, “Hello?” All of a sudden he jumped back in fright as something in the corner moved. Someone was muttering and struggling under a rubble of stuff. Balto stood back and watched as someone appeared from under the rubble.

“Can’t believe it. I just can’t believe it,” The figure muttered, “Now how am I gonna catch up with the rest, oy! This is just great, just great!”

“Hello?” Balto said. The figure leapt in fright and stared at Balto. Balto saw that the figure was a stumpy goose. The goose sighed in relief as he saw Balto. “Who are you?” Balto asked curiously.

“Boris,”

“Boris?”

“Yes, Boris,”

“Oh, my name is Balto,”

“Nice to meet you… uh… Balto,”

Balto watched him as the goose stared to the sky. Balto followed his gaze and saw a whole gaggle of geese fly into the sunset on the horizon. Boris sighed and sat down on the floor. “What am I meant to do now?”

Balto wasn’t sure if this was a question for him, “Uh… well… you could live with me?” Balto knew the answer already though. Boris stared at him. Balto frowned, as he knew it was a stupid idea. “What a great idea!” Balto fell over he was so surprised and tipped right over the boat again. Boris flew done to him laughing. “Ow, second time I’ve done that today,” Balto, laughed. Boris laughed as well, “What a fantastic idea, no!”

Balto liked this idea as well. He would have a friend, someone to talk to. Balto yipped and yapped excited at this idea. But Balto stopped surprised,

“But, wait a minute. Why do you want to leave with me? I thought you would say no?” Boris smiled at him, “Sit, sit. I have a lot to tell you,”

So, Balto sat in the snow and listened to Boris tell his story. Boris was a goose from Russia who had never had a family of his own. He was flying south when he felt a sudden pain in his wing and fell to Balto’s boat.

“You see, I have lost hope now in following the other geese, too late now! What chances have I of starting a family anyway? Tell me! What chance?”

Balto always got confused when people said stuff like that, “Umm… well…” Boris laughed and ruffled his fur,

“You don’t have to answer that boy-chick!”

Balto laughed as well. Boris continued, “There wasn’t much happening in my life anyway! And I’m too old now to start a family. Besides, your on your own aren’t you Balto? You need some to take care for you,”

“And be friends with me!” Balto smiled.

“What? Friends?”

“You don’t want to be friends?”

“No, no! Of course, of course. But, don’t you already have friends?”

Balto’s excited face turned to a frown and a depressed look and Balto stared at his paws. “Oh dear,” Boris sighed the mumbled to himself under his breath, “Nice move, Boris,” Boris sat next to Balto and tried to make him feel better. “Of course we can be friends! We can be the bestest friends! Would it make you feel any better if you told me about his ‘no friends’ thing? You know, someone to talk to,” Balto’s face lit up. That was just what he wanted! Someone to talk to! So Balto began to tell Boris his life story. Balto was worried that Boris would also go against him, but he didn’t. “What? So, know one is friends with you because your half and half?” Boris said. Balto nodded sadly. “Why that’s silly! What’s wrong with being part wolf, eh?” Boris said, “And this Steele person? He sounds like an idiot!” Balto laughed. He liked Boris very much. Balto decided to tell him about the face Steele made. Boris laughed and said, “What was the face?” Balto made the face Steele had made and Boris too broke into hysterics. Balto joined him and rolled in the snow. Boris began to joke about it, “Hey Balto! I’m not friends with you because your half wolf! Hey, come for a walk with me Jenna!” Then made the face that Balto had shown Boris. Balto couldn’t stop laughing. He rolled in the snow in a frenzy of laughs. Balto was nearly crying. He had never laughed so hard in his life. He had never been so happy to have a new friend like Boris. “So,” Boris said, still chuckling slightly, “Who is this Jenna, then?”

Balto sighed and smiled. “Someone, we like maybe?” Boris chuckled.

“Well, she’s really nice and sticks up for me. She’s the only one as well as me that doesn’t like Steele and is the only one who doesn’t make fun of me,” Balto told him, “But, I… um… kinda upset her a little today,”

“Oh dear,” Boris said, “What did you say to her?”

“I asked her, why she was friends with me and know one liked me cause I was part wolf. But then she said that she liked me. I was about to say something back, but she ran off,” Boris looked at him, then began to think.

“Hmm… maybe tomorrow, you should go see her.”

Balto didn’t like this idea, “I donno. The people don’t like me going into town. And the dogs make fun of me,”

“But you need to apologise to her, boy-chick,” Boris said. Balto looked at him, then decided that Boris was right. He had acted silly and needed to apologise to Jenna. “Should I go in the morning then?”

“I think that would be just fine, Balto,”

Balto was glad he met Boris. Very glad. Other than Jenna, know one had been this nice to him before. Boris was a real friend. He was glad to be living with him. He would no longer be lonely and depressed if Boris was there to make him feel better. Balto sneaked into town, making sure that nobody noticed him. He saw Jenna she was walking towards her house alone. No brother or sister, perfect he said to himself and ran over too her. “Jenna!” He shouted. Jenna looked over at him, “Balto? What are you doing here?” Balto stopped by her and said,

“Jenna, I had to come and apologise. I’m sorry about last night. I didn’t mean to say those things! They just… came out! I… “

Jenna stopped him smiling, “It’s ok, Balto! I understand,”

“Yea, I know, I acted… well, stupid… and,” Balto realised what she just said and seemed surprised, “You do?”

Jenna laughed, “I do! I don’t mind that you were like that. I don’t blame you,” Balto laughed, “Oh, right…. Oh! Good!”

Jenna chuckled and smiled at him. Suddenly, Balto heard someone shout.

“Oh, sorry Balto. I have to go now,” She ran into her house.

“Bye Jenna!” Balto shouted to her. Balto was so glad that she wasn’t angry. Balto didn’t want his only friend (well, other than Boris of course) to become angry with him. He trotted off, forgetting that he was trying to hide from the people and dogs of the town. He was too happy. All of a sudden, his life had become better. He had made new friends and could laugh and have fun with them. But Balto soon found himself back to the Balto that was made fun of and teased. He bumped into Steele and his trio. “Oh no,” He muttered to himself, but of course, Steele heard. “What was that, wolf dog?” He sneered at him along with Nikke, Kaltag and Star laughing with Steele. Balto still couldn’t believe how they abandoned him. But Balto didn’t hate them. He knew they were nice dogs, he just didn’t understand why they dumped him for Steele. It wasn’t to long ago when they were laughing and playing with him, and now they were against him. They were still laughing of course, but not with him, they were laughing at him.

“Why are you in town then?” Steele growled at him. Balto tried to walk around him but Steele’s trio blocked the way. “Maybe it was too see his best friend, Jenna!” Nikke shouted. Though Steele didn’t like this and growled at him, “Don’t be ridiculous! You wouldn’t find Jenna hanging around with him!” Steele sniggered at Balto. “Actually, you’ll find I do,”

Balto saw Steele’s face and looked behind him. It was Jenna. Steele didn’t look happy. Balto had to stop himself from plunging into hysterics again.

“Don’t be stupid Jenna! You don’t want to hang out with the wolf dog,”

Steele walked behind Jenna and pushed her towards the trio. Then he stood in front of her. Jenna was surrounded and couldn’t escape.

“Hey! Steele!” She shouted, “Steele! Let me out!”

Balto suddenly felt a rage burn in him and he barked at Steele,

“Leave her alone!”

Steele growled at him, “What… did you just say?”

Balto stood tall and shouted at him, “Leave Jenna alone!”

Steele laughed, and naturally, the trio laughed with him,

“What are you gonna do about it?”

Balto was stuck there. What could he do? He saw Jenna trying to struggle out. Balto had an idea. He growled at Steele and leapt at him knocking Steele out of the way. “Run Jenna, run!” Balto shouted. Jenna ran away. Steele was furious. He growled and bounded on Balto with the trio soaring in as well. Balto was pushed under a mound of dogs snapping and barking at him. Jenna looked back towards Steele. “Balto!” She shouted. She ran towards Steele and tried to push them off but she wasn’t strong enough. Steele pushed her over and she slipped hitting the ground hard. Suddenly Steele found himself being pulled off Balto. Something had grabbed his head and was pulling on it. The trio leapt of Balto and watched Steele struggle to break free what was holding his muzzle. Balto stared at him and saw that the thing that was holding Steele, was Boris! “Boris!” Balto yelled. Steele was shouted and jumping around in a panic, “Get it off! Get it off!” He yelled. Boris let go off his muzzle and shouted to Balto, “Move, boy-chick! Go, go, go!”

Balto and Jenna began to run. They were running towards Balto’s boat. It was the best place for Balto to be. “Steele! Are you alright?” The trio said and different times so it was a mixture of words. Steele didn’t answer. He just shook his head then growled, racing towards Balto and Jenna. Balto didn’t realise it, but he was running far ahead of Jenna. Jenna looked behind her and saw Steele racing angrily towards her and Balto. Steele pushed her out the way and ran straight ahead to Balto. “Balto!” She shouted, “Watch out!” Balto looked behind. There was Steele, in a fury, trying to catch up with him. Balto was fast. He ran and ran till her reached the boat and jumped in to it. Steele stopped at the bottom.

“Stupid wolf dog!” He shouted, “You’ve made a big mistake, I’ll tell you that!”

Balto panted and tried to catch his breath. “I’ve had just about enough of that wise guy! Time to give him a taste of his own medicine!” Balto watched as Boris flew down towards Steele. “I’m gonna get up there, you’ll see. And I’m gonna…” Steele began but his voice was muffled out by Boris. Balto gave a little chuckle as he saw Steele struggle to get free of Boris’ grip. Boris had grabbed Steele’s muzzle with his wings again and Steele didn’t like it one bit. Once Boris was finally shaken off, he dived in on Steele. Balto laughed at the face he was making. Boris was diving in and out between Steele making him jump in fright. The last straw was pulled when Boris caught Steele’s large busy tail in his beak and pulled on it. After that, Steele ran as fast as he could back into Nome where his trio was waiting for him. Balto fell over, but this time, into the boat. He couldn’t stop laughing. “That should teach him! Don’t come back to Boris spot again, do ya here dat!” Boris shouted to Steele. Balto couldn’t stop laughing. He managed to say a few words, but couldn’t help laughing between each one,

“That… was… so…. funny!”

“Go on then, off to bed boy-chick,” Boris yawned, “It’s been a long day for you,”

“Ok” Balto sighed then gave out a long yawn and stretched. He slumped to the floor and crawled under his blanket. Balto lay still without moving.

“Balto?” Boris said. But Balto was already asleep. Boris chuckled slightly then continued to mop the floor. He couldn’t believe how fast Balto had warmed up to him. And how fast he began to feel at home. It was great.

The next morning, Boris woke and saw Balto was already up.

“What on earth…” He yawned then continued to speak, “Are you doing up at this hour?!” Balto laughed, “Come on Boris, there’s a whole new day a head of us!”

Boris could tell that Balto was in a good mood this morning. He wasn’t half as depressed as the day before. “Where are you going?” Boris asked, still yawning slightly. “Into town, Boris! Com’on!” Balto said as he jumped down from the boat.

“Into town?!” Boris said, “I thought you hated it there!”

“Well, I did…” Balto said, “But I want to go see Jenna!”

Boris understood now. He laughed, “Ok then, Balto. Have a good day!”

“Your not gonna come?” Balto asked.

“No, no. You go have fun with your friend,” Boris said.

Balto smiled then ran off into town. Boris yelled to him,

“Just hope she isn’t still asleep!”

Balto walked into Nome. It was too early in the morning for anyone to be up and walking about, he was quite safe. Balto still looked around suspiciously. Balto barked outside Jenna’s house just hoping the only one who would hear was Jenna. Jenna did hear, but so did Max. They both walked outside and saw Balto. “Balto?!” Max mocked, “What do you think your doing here?” Jenna pushed past Max and gave him a grunt, “Go away Max! This doesn’t concern you,”

Max walked away angry with his sister and Balto had a chance to speak to Jenna. “Uh, Jenna… I… was wondering if… um…” Balto started to say. Jenna just stared at him waiting for him to say what he was going to say. “I was… um… wondering… if you wanted to come and play on the shore… with… me,” Balto finally said. Jenna smiled at him and said, “Ok then,” Balto and Jenna walked out of Nome and down onto the shore where he and his old friends would play. They splashed about in the water and laughed together. Boris watched them from the boat. As the sun was rising, Jenna and Balto stopped and began to walk along the beach back to Nome. “I better go back home now, Balto. Before they find me gone,” Balto nodded and smiled. “Goodbye Balto!” Jenna shouted to him as she walked of.

“Bye, Jenna!” He said back to her. Than walked back over to the boat. He jumped into the boat and sat up next to Boris.

“Real friend you have there, eh boy-chick,” Boris said.

“Yea… real friend,” Balto sighed.

The End