RODEO IN NOME: Cella
My second fanfic that's not a poem, a continuation of the first, "The Beginning Of Rodeo." Now introducing four new characters: Cella, Ronda, Trix, and Honda. (I know, sounds silly naming it after a type of car, but the name sounds appealing...)
Balto, Jenna, Steele, Rosy, Aniu and Kodi property of Universal Studios, NOT MINE
The ones I created are all mine. As before, no stealing.
And I'm not sure if I can do stories for the rest of the dogs cuz I've run out of ideas, but if you leave a comment, please PLEASE give and idea, thanks. It should not have been used before, in fanfic or in the real Balto story.
And one last thing, enjoy the story, and believe in you.
Chapter 1: In Order To Succeed, You Believe
Cella, the quiet daughter of Balto's brother, was very excited when it was around her first month in the world. For, Balto's brother Rodeo and his love Domina were to take her and her sister and two brothers out of the cellar for the first time. Balto, Jenna, and Boris were waiting above, wanting to see Balto's neices and nephews. Ronda waited behind Cella as she hesitated a the door. Ronda yipped impatiently, "What are you waiting for? Let's go!" Cella yipped happily yet in a quiet manner, pushed the cellar door open, and led her brothers and sister out. Rodeo followed, with Domina beside him, with the pups playing and weaving around their parent's paws.
Balto looked down at his nephews and neices, watching their broad, yet almost clueless smiles. Rodeo chuckled at the puppies, who were staring up, fascinated with the face before them. "This is your uncle Balto, and who you will call Aunt Jenna."
Cella was the first to speak. "Hello Uncle Balto! My name is Cella, and you know, Papa told us lots of stories of you saving our home. You're the BEST, Balto. The most terrific!" Ronda nodded excitedly. "Yeah, you're the most amazing, most astonishing, most brave, most heroic canine of all!" With broad grins, happy yips, and with their tails wagging so fast their whole bodies moved, the puppies leaped about neer Balto's heels. Ronda put her paws up on Balto's front legs. "Will you teach us stuff? We wanna learn!" The others nodded.
Balto smiled down, remembering Boris saying that this was what Rodeo had said, that he could never get lost because he was the best and the most terrific. "Go along that way, pups. Take the traditional tour, that every new dog in Nome takes. Led by your's truly."
Cella tilted her head. "Whats... traditional?"
Cella's brother Honda looked confused. "And what's a tour?"
"You'll figure out when you do it. Patience, patience." Balto led the group of dogs to the Nome Central. The pups followed close behind, gazing into every nook and cranny that seemed so strange to them, but so familiar to the adults.
Balto led them around town on the same tour that he had led Rodeo on. Rodeo followed, and Domina went back home for rest. Trix seemed to like the idea of being a rescue dog very much, which was the newest trend in Nome. Cella wanted to be a wheel dog on a sled team, and Honda wanted to be the leader of a team and lead them to countless victories. Ronda was unsure, yet she hoped to work beside her sister Cella someday. Balto told them all that in order to succeed, they needed to believe.
Balto led his nephews off . Turning his head with a smile, he said to Boris, his goose friend, "Do you wanna watch the girls?"
Boris shook his head stubbornly and with a frown. "I've been tackled by two litters. I absolutely DO NOT want to get tackled by another. I am NOT babysitter!"
Balto laughed, and Rodeo led the girls off so they could see the rest of the town and meet their cousins. At twelve o' clock they would meet up at Nome Central and swap, then at one they would stop giving the tour. Even though Nome was a small city back then, there was more stuff to explore than to the eye.
/------------------\
Jenna had returned home and was tending to her newest litter. She touched the whimpering furry bodies and when they slept she let them sleep. She had to keep the wanderers from wandering, and she had to feed them too.
Jenna watched the door to the kitchen. She knew Rosy was soon coming to give her the third meal of the day. And still, the third meal was only lunch. There would be two more meals until the end of the day. Jenna half-closed her eyes. All this work was making her tired.
Jenna was always hungry now that her fiesty second litter was keeping her busy. Even five meals and the two bowls of water didn't keep her hunger satisfied enough. The five puppies were toppling over one another, and now that they were getting more active, Jenna was getting more tired. She set her head on her paws and gave a light sigh. Her bandanna covered one of the pups, and the pup sneezed it off. Jenna chuckled gently, and looked at the others frolicking about.
One puppy pounced on the other, pulling at the other one's ears with playful, wolflike growls.
"Radar, please." spoke Jenna with a soft, motherly voice. She watched the energized little pup lift his own ears and release the other pup with a bored sigh.
"Yes, Mama." they spoke together. Then they leaped about, giving wild, hyper little yips.
Jenna watched the pups scamper around. She knew they would all grow to be proud leaders and know that their father would be there for them. She would be proud of them too, but one thing had worried her and Balto. Three of them looked more wolf than dog, and only two inherited Jenna's soft, silky burgondy fur.
Jenna lifted her ears. She heard the creaking of a door in the entrance room. Getting to her feet, she pranced into the entrance room, hushing her pups and telling them with a soft voice that they were to be quiet and good. She stepped to the door.
"Oh, hello, Rodeo dear. Come in, come in. Your pups are here to see their cousins, I presume?" Jenna gave a welcoming smile and led Rodeo and his pups into the living room.
Radar looked up questioningly at his mom Jenna. Jenna explained with a wide grin, "These are your cousins. They are like far brothers and sisters to you little ones, you might say. Every one of them are of the same blood. He is your father's brother." Jenna paused, lifting her paw to indicate Rodeo at the last sentence she spoke. "And those are his children." At this, she lowered her paw to indicate the young pups staring with wondering eyes.
As the pups leaped together to play and wrestle to see who was overall the strongest, Jenna walked over to Rodeo. "How long might you say you'll be here?"
Rodeo nodded at the clock. "About forty minutes. The pups have had a huge snack, so don't worry 'bout food for them. Just worry about your own pups."
Ronda was sitting off at the side of the living room, howling along with Radar. The two looked almost exactly like one another, with wolf looks, yet a mix of husky and wolf in their hearts. They began to tackle one another after howling, and then they rolled and tumbled in the living room.
Rosy came out of the kitchen, giving a well-mannered, calm smile even at the sight of nine puppies wrestling and racing and playing. She set down the food bowl and Jenna walked to it, laying down and crunching the food with care. Rodeo watched the puppies, and even as Radar pounced on him and growled, "Hey, Uncle Rodeo!" he kept his happy mood. Rodeo chuckled, watching the upside-down face of his nephew. Radar landed softly on the springy floor and began wrestling again.
Radar, being the oldest of both litters, stepped in the middle of the roughhousing and announced the overall stongest.
"The title goes to... Ronda!"
Cella was sitting in the crowd watching Ronda. Suddenly, she backed out, her ears laying flat against her skull in dissappointment. She began to whimper.
Rodeo went up to her, and said kindly and with wise words, "In order to succeed, you must believe."
Cella thought this over. With a brave smile, she spoke with newfound confidence, "I must believe."
Chapter 2: The Man In Green
That day passed very quickly for the families. Rodeo took the girls back to Nome Central. Balto and Rodeo swapped, and after the whole litter had seen both places, Domina came out of the cellar and led her pups back home. Then the starry night fell upon the small city of Nome, and Rodeo and Balto stood in Nome Central, chatting about the day. It had been a fantastic one, they agreed.
"You know, Balto," said Rodeo, "I reminded Cella your saying. She felt left out because Ronda got the award for the overall strongest. I told her, 'In order to succeed, you must believe.' and she felt better."
Balto nodded. "It helped me out. It should help your children too."
Balto said, "Bye." and trotted off.
Rodeo watched him go curiously. Then he saw a mysterious man walking nearby. He was dressed in green, a green suit, a blue shirt, and a white tie, with black pants. His green suit was extra thick to withstand the harsh weather, and he had a black cap on his head. He stared into Rodeo's eyes. With a snicker, the man walked off, and talked to the musher that had guided Rodeo in his career. The musher looked unsure, but when the man threatened him, the musher nodded meekly.
Rodeo could tell something was going on. He watched the man leave, and the musher went into his cabin. Rodeo's ears perked, and he scanned the area. No signs of anybody. For one last moment, he stood, the hair on his tail fluffing in the storm wind. Rodeo sniffed the air. It was definitely a storm coming. Rodeo moved back to the cellar, to check on his pups and his mate, then he flopped down on the carpet of the boiler room, for a contented sleep. Little did he know, that mysterious man could change everything...
/---------------\
Cella stirred in the night. She heard weird noises, not just the noises of the storm and the night noises. It was a strange, rustling, creeping noise. She heard a sound like someone was out there... or something...
Cella got up, listening again. The cellar door had swung open, and she slowly moved toward it, ears laid back, each step placed carefully and wary. Up the stairs she trotted, and the steps were covered in cold wet snow beneath her paws. She stepped out, and then sniffed the snow and the air with a sensitive nose. A familiar scent of human, but this was a new human. Very nearby. So close she could sense him... behind that garbage can... Cella stepped back, but too late... with a harsh blow to her head, she passed out, hearing sneaky human steps as she fell into the deep blackness's clutches...
In a while, Cella stood to her feet, rocking, a bit dizzy. She found herself in a small portable crate in the back of a Ford truck. She whined, scratching at the metal grid of the door. She lowered her ears, and looked at the lock, a metal lock that required a key. She tried to unlock it with her claw, but her claw was too big to fit. Sighing a very lonely, dissapointed sigh, she lay down in the crate and began to cry and wimper. Where was her father? Where was he uncle, her famous uncle, the one who had saved Nome?! Who would save her?
Or would she be forever in this crate, forever with the man in green?
She hoped dearly that someone would notice she was gone. Even Balto's saying, 'In order to succeed, you must believe' did not help her. She was trapped. She closed her eyes, and fell asleep whimpering to the night stars.
Was this the way Aniu had planned it?
/-----------\
Honda woke in his safe cellar home. He barked good-morning to Ronda, who rolled over and gazed up at him. Ronda shook her head. "Honda, what is it? Nothings happening today... awhhh..." she yawned.
Honda laughed. "Silly! Only two days 'til Christmas! Aw yeah!"
Ronda giggled, and nudged her other brother awake, then was about to nudge Cella awake when she found Cella's spot empty.
"Oh no, no..." she gasped. Tears trickled down her rough wolf-like cheek. She whimpered softly, when Honda turned to her. 'What's wrong sis?" he asked.
Ronda sniffled, and spoke with a trembling, sad voice. "Cella's gone. And I smell a human's trail. It... smells dangerous."
Trix sighed. "Oh my." he complained. He went over to Domina, who slept soundly in the corner. "Ma..." he inquired, nudging her. Domina shifted, and snored louder. "Ma!" Domina stood up, and grinnned, only to see the solemn faces of her children. Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What is wrong, my dears? Ronda, tell me."
Ronda lowered her head with sadness. "Oh Ma, Ma... Someone..." she hesitated, tears in her deep green eyes. Trix looked up, and finished, "Someone stole Cella." He laid his ears back in his solemness.
"What?!" exclaimed Rodeo later that day. "Who could? Cella was always a fighter. It couldn't be possible."
"It was a human." Domina repeated what Ronda had told her. "She could have been taken by surprise. At any rate, you should go find her immeadiately." She lifted her head with faith. "I have faith in you. You can save her, it's in your blood."
I have faith in you. It helped Rodeo's mood a lot, what she had just said. Domina stepped forward, and gave him a sweet, long nuzzle. She took of her all-metal necklace and placed it around Rodeo's neck. "Faith is a great thing. And you'll need Aniu's, too."
Rodeo gazed down at the ring of metal hung around his neck. Aniu. How could Domina get the necklace that gave the ability to speak to a special spirit? Every necklace supported a different god, and this was Aniu's. But Rodeo didn't have time to ask, not even time to say goodbye to his children and mate. He raced into the snow, each foot placed determinedly. He stopped, thinking this over for a second. Human. That was who had stole his daughter away. Could it be...?
Yes, it was him.
Rodeo raced into the winds, following the trail of the man in green.
Chapter 3: Race Against Time
Rodeo knew that time may be running out for his daughter, and he was determined not to let anything happen to her.
It was a race against time, a race against the winds. A race against fear and hatred. A race that proved Rodeo had his brother's speed. A true race, possible but impossible.
Rodeo ran and ran and ran. He ran 'til his legs ached, but he kept running. His eyes were focused clearly on the path ahead, and each pawprint he left drew him closer to his daughter.
Around noon, he had to stop. He was tired, exhausted, and he slowly was freezing. Inching toward a abandoned den, he flopped down, and put his brownish-grey tail over his nose to keep warm. So tired... he thought very feebly.
A soft voice spoke gently to him from the necklace. "My son..." Aniu spoke with her wisdom and grace. "...In order to succeed, you must believe." Rodeo, surprised, said, "You have been watching me?"
"My son." Aniu then silenced, the deep gold glow emitting from the necklace leaving, and the necklace turned metallic gray again. Rodeo sighed. Way too tired... He then closed his eyes, and began to sleep, hearing the saying repeat in his head. 'In order to succeed, you must believe.'
He woke, to see that it had stopped snowing. The Northern Lights glittered in the clear sky. He stood up and hurried out of the den's wide opening. Again, he raced time. The wind whipped in his fur, the crows cawed as they took flight above him. He couldn't help but release a call into the air, clear and unwavering. He went to his top speed, his paws thudding at the ground, garbbing firm hold in the snow, and pushing him forward. His paws moved in a blur beneath his body, and his worried eyes stared down the path. He then slowed to a stop. Where did the scent go? He didn't smell the man in green anymore. All he smelled was... another dog.
Who was it? Lowering his heead between his shoulder blades, he released a snarl. No answer, but the scattering of animals nearby.
Someone was there, and Rodeo could almost tell who it was.
And it wasn't good.
Chapter 4: An Old Friend Back Again
A small grey and white husky three-year-old took a brave step toward Rodeo from the bushes. Standing over the small one was a feircer face, with the cold, ice-blue eyes of a killer, and black and white fur stretched over a macho frame. Rodeo couldn't help but whisper their names in astonishment.
"Metel... Steele..."
The smaller one stepped up with an evil grin and a defiant chuckle. "Yep, it's us, wolf-boy. Any last words?"
Rodeo growled. "Except that you're GOING DOWN!" Rodeo leaped onto Metel's back, tearing into the flesh over his shoulder. But Steele came and flipped him off Metel's back and he landed belly up. Steele was just about to slash Rodeo, when a familiar form lept onto Steele's back with a snarl of a hero. "Brother!" said Rodeo a bit weakly, as he got to his feet.
Metel leaped at him, and pushed him down to the ground. Rodeo roared in pain as Metel ripped his ear, and attacked his neck. Rodeo was helped to his feet by Balto, and Balto forced Metel to the ground. But Steele was still fighting, and he raced toward Balto, and threw him to the ground. Steele spoke with hatred, "Bye, half-breed." Rodeo leaped onto Steele.
Rodeo managed to overthrow Steele so he was very badly wounded, but a second too late. Balto tried to stand, and then he collapsed, his eyes fluttering closed. Rodeo rushed to Balto's side, and whimpered. "Bro, get up... Balto? Balto! Nooo!"
Balto wasn't breathing, and Aniu's voice spoke to Rodeo through the necklace, "It was his time, Rodeo. I have called him back, but he will forever be happy up here with me. Rodeo... I know you feel bad, but still, legends never truly leave our hearts. He'll be with you... forever."
"Forever..." Rodeo whispered, as he noticed Metel standing over the body of Steele. Metel was whimpering too, nudging his own father's body.
Rodeo walked up to Metel, watching. Metel snarled furiously at Rodeo, and said bravely, "Wolf-boy, I'll get you for this. Truly I will." Then Metel raced away, tears brimming in his eyes.
Rodeo felt his own tears for his own father fall down his cheek. Why? he asked himself. Why did this ever, ever happen? This was terrible, just the worst!
The necklace lit again. "Rodeo my son, let me tell you something. Time is running out for Cella, and you must move on. Or else you might lose two lives today."
Rodeo sighed, and jogged in the direction of the scent as soon as it touched his frantically-sniffing nose. Aniu was right. He had to hurry.
The old enemy had come and gone, and so had Balto. But Rodeo had to save his daughter, whether that had happened or not.
Rodeo sighed as he trotted, his head low, when he heard the bumping of a truck. Perking his ears up fully, he quickened his pace, hearing a familiar whimper.
Chapter 5: The Journey Home
Cella was getting rather impatient now, even though the truck was almost at its destination. She perked her ears, thinking she heard a howl. "I must be having hearing illusions." she groaned. Looking out the door, waiting, she thought she saw a glimpse of silver and peach fur. Cella whimpered softly, scratching at the door. "Rodeo?" she yipped, but the wind carried away her voice.
She sighed. There's no Rodeo here now... she thought unhappily. But she was wrong, as Rodeo leaped onto the back of the truck. "Cella my daughter, I thought I had lost you."
"Really, you did, but I didn't die." giggled Cella. "Now how do you plan on getting me out?"
Rodeo laughed. "Simple." he said, picking up the keys in the other corner of the truck's back. He picked it up and tried one key, but it didn't fit. Then he unlocked the door with the other. He whispered for the man not to hear, "Let's get out of here, and fast. He was taking you to an illegal battle arena so you could fight for him to earn money. If they see us, he will take both of us into the arena with him. And then no one could save us."
"Isn't there Balto?" Cella asked.
"Long story, come on, let's go!" Rodeo answered, holding back the tears that threatened to fall at the mere thought of Balto. He lept off the truck with his daughter clinging to his back so she wouldn't fall off.
When they hit the ground, Rodeo let Cella off his back, and they raced time... just to get home for Christmas.
They were almost halfway there when a blizzard began. Cella whined softly to Rodeo, "I'm scared. And cold, hungry too..."
Rodeo nuzzled his daughter lightly. "We'll be there soon, and I know we'll be there in time for Christmas." Back home... back to the family. But oh, this will be the saddest Christmas ever. Rodeo thought sadly. Cella saw a tear fall from his eyes. "Pa, what's wrong?"
"Terrible news. Oh Cella... I will tell you when we get home." Rodeo began trotting again and Cella stayed close at his heels so they wouldn't lose sight of each other.
The hours ticked down to minutes 'til Christmas, and the blizzard eventually cleared. The Northern Lights shone over the two. But Rodeo immediately knew that it wasn't the real Northern Lights. It was the same greeting Balto had recieved after bringing the medicine to Nome. Rodeo and Cella lifted their noses to howl that they were home. At that very moment, all the people gathered at the edge of the city. Rosy smiled, and yelled, "Yah, Rodeo! You did great!"
Rodeo stepped up to Domina and gave her a long nuzzle. Domina smiled, and said, "I thought I had lost you." Rodeo gave a grin, and then let Cella say hello to Domina as he walked over to the worrying Jenna. "Jenna..."
"What, Rodeo?" she asked, a bit frustated that she didn't see Balto on the horizon. Rodeo sighed.
"Balto... has passed." Rodeo lowered his head, silently mourning the death of his brother.
"You mean?"
"...Yeah."
Chapter 6: The Worst Christmas Ever
By the day after Christmas, word spread across Alaska of Balto's death and Rodeo coming back with Cella. Some people were suspicious that Rodeo had killed Balto, but almost everyone trusted the brother of Balto. They knew and understood him.
But Metel was cleverly thinking of ideas to ruin Rodeo's life, as he skulked out of sight with his pal Boneclash.
Rodeo finally decided to permanetly move into the cellar with Domina so he could keep a good watch on the children.
The days passed slow and sad, like a sorrowful song playing in the sunset. Jenna barely stepped out of Rosy's house. Jenna did nothing but eat and sleep and mourn. Rodeo worried for her. Jenna, by then, had weaned her children off of milk, and soon they were to be sold. Now that Balto was gone, Jenna surprisingly found herself worrying about the three wolf-like pups.
Rodeo was walking slowly down the beach that Balto had run over so many times. Domina rushed over to him from the other side of the beach. "Rodeo... I think I will give you my Aniu necklace to keep. You need it most, to check on Balto."
"Balto... he was my best brother, my hero..." Rodeo sighed as Domina put the metal necklace on him.
Another voice spoke. "Mine too." It was Kodi, the proud son of Balto. But now that Balto was gone, Kodi was nothing but sad.
The trio looked up at the sky, and the early stars winked at them. The necklace glowed.
"Son, I am proud of you. You believed, and you succeeded." Rodeo sighed, then smiled slightly at the memory.
Though their hearts were broken, Balto would always be with them, to watch over them.
Will the pups of Balto and Jenna find their home and owner in the safe city in Nome? What kind of surprise is Metel cooking up?
CONTINUED IN RODEO IN NOME: RONDA
I walked down to the park last night
Warm breeze stirring up a soft moonlight
And my mind started drifting to way back when
Yes I do think about you every now and then
The other day I saw a car like you used to drive
I got a funny feeling down deep inside
And for the briefest moment I felt a smile begin
Yes I do think about you every now and then
I love my life and Id never trade
Between what you and me had and the life I've made
Shes here and shes real, but you were too
And every once in awhile I think about you
I heard a song on the radio just yesterday
The same one you always asked me to play
And when the song was over
I wished theyd played it again
Yes I do think about you every now and then
I've been layin' here all night listenin' to the rain
Talkin to my heart tryin to explain
Why sometimes I catch myself
Wondering what might have been
Yes I do think about you every now and then
Every now and then
Every now and then