The last thing Aleu remember was someone walking towards her. Then ...nothing. Now she woke up and found herself in what seemed like a small building, possibly a shed.
Aleu carefully stood up and began to walk and sniff her way around. After some time, she found a hinge, and using her claws like Balto, pulled out the nails and opened the door.
The door did not open all the way though. There was space to get through, but it was near the top. Aleu backed up and jumped through the small entrance.
She was outside and on the opposite side of Nome.
"How did I get here?" she thought.
She began to walk back and she stepped in some water. She stared into the water and soon her reflection was clear.
She couldn't believe that the wolfdog staring back at her was her. She had changed a lot in the three years she was gone.
For one thing, her appearance was strange. She did look more like a wolf now than she did those years ago. She was taller too, as well as more muscular, but graceful at the same time.
"What has time done to me?" She said quietly.
"Well, it's brought you to me, and now I can get what I need." said someone.
Aleu turned to face the other wolf or dog who spoke.
"Jake." she said growled through clenced teeth.
"What do you want?" She said.
He stepped towards her.
She bared her fangs and snarled.
"Simply to get what I deserve. You know, some information such as how in the world you were chosen to lead Nava's wolf pack!" Jake spat.
"What! How do you know Nava?" asked Aleu.
"Yes Aleu, there is a secret that I have kept from everyone until now." said Jake slyly.
"I am a wolf, although I do not look, and Nava is my grandfather. By the way, I have also come to claim your pack, seeing that my grandfather left them in your hands but soon you'll be dead, I guess I am the rightful leader." said Jake.
Aleu was shocked and suprised. But before she could reply Jake jumped at her and pinned her down.
"Any last words, mutt?" Jake asked evily.
"Coward." Aleu spat.
"What?" Jake asked.
"You wouldn't kill me. You can't. Besides, even if you do, I'll have you know that you'll never be a true leader. Just a simple fool." Aleu said.
"I've heard enough from you!" snarled Jake.
Suddenly a brown dash flew in the air over Aleu's head and attacked Jake.
"J.T.!" Aleu yelled.
J.T. was growling and watching Jake as he got up.
"You!" Jake growled.
J.T. lunged at Jake and closed his jaws around Jake's neck. Jake shook himself out of his grip, but before he could get a hold of himself, Aleu ran up to him and knocked him backwards.
Jake tumbled backwards and used his claws to grip the earth. His neck and punture wounds in it from J.T. and blood trickled down his neck and dripped onto the snow.
Aleu faced Jake and with J.T. at her side, she ran up to Jake and they ran through the forest, chasing Jake as he fled.
"Ha. I'll show those mutts." said Jake and he climbed up a pile of rocks and hid.
Below, J.T. and Aleu were following Jake's scent.
Jake watched them from above. He still needed her, as proof to the other dogs, but J.T...he had nothing to provide Jake with...might as well destroy him as well.
Jake jumped from the small cliff that he had sat upon and landed on J.T., knocking him to the ground. He slashed at J.T.'s face and scratched off some of the fur on his cheek. Then he lunged to deliver the final killing bite.
J.T. was very smart though. As soon as he saw what Jake was planning to do, he kicked him off with his back legs and jumped at him, at the same time also biting down into his neck. Jake yelped and was stuck in J.T.'s jaws.
There was a struggle then Jake's body went limp.
Aleu gasped. She had not seen Jake jump down, but when she heard the yelp she spun around to see Jake hanging dead from J.T.'s mouth.
"Fool." J.T. spat as he released his grip on Jake's neck.
"Is he really..." Aleu said quietly.
"Yes." replied J.T.
The two wolfdogs walked back to Nome, where hey met Sean. As soon as theyt explained what happened, Sean was shocked.
"Aleu, I'm an idiot. Here I am over reacting to everything and you almost get killed. Can you ever forgive me?" Sean pleaded.
"Yes. But we will be just friends, nothing more." Aleu said.
"But, aleu I-" Sean began to say.
"No! When I was in trouble only J.T. came to my rescue." Aleu said.
"I understand." Sean said in a low voice.
"I'm sorry, but I should be leaving for my clan as well." Aleu spoke.
She turned around to face J.T.
He wasn't there.
"Not a dog. Not a wolf. A friend." Aleu whispered.
Aleu returned to her family and set out to leave the next morning.
"Aleu, are you sure you can't stay? I never really got to spend much time with you, and I feel awful about the whole thing with Jake." Balto said to his daughter the next morning.
"Papa, it's my time now. But I will visit again. I promise." Aleu said.
"Okay, but you won't travel alone." said Balto.
"Papa." Aleu sighed.
***
The whole family came with Aleu to journey to the edges of Alaska. Finally the water came into view. Aleu turned and looked at her family.
Kodi, Balto, Jenna, Boris, Stella, Muk, Luk, Dingo...plus the others, they were all here.
Aleu then turned to the water.
As soon as she looked, she felt a presence, and the ice bergs began to come together.
It is time... (Aniu's voice)
Aleu turned back to her family, she nuzzled everyone and took a step on the first ice berg.
"Just as cool as it was those three years ago." Aleu thought.
She began to walk across then broke into a sprint.
The ice behind her was moving away, so there was no going back now.
She turned and smiled at her watching family.
Then she let out a long goodbye howl. she heard echos as she howled and realized it was also Aniu howling with her.
"Just like Aniu." Balto thought.
"Goodbye my Daughter." He whispered, nuzzling Jenna, who now had silver tears streaming down her cheeks.
Balto could swear he saw Dingo and Kodi let out a tear, but he didn't say anything.
Once again Aleu found hereslf floating away, to her destiny once more. Only this time she knew what waited her arrival on the other side of her path, and that was what she needed to get back to.
She finished howling, and let her thoughts run free through her mind.
Our paths will cross once more.
As though he heard her speak, Balto whispered:
Until we meet again...
*******
If someone said three years from now,
you'd be long gone
I'd stand up and punch them out
Cause they're all wrong
I know better
Casue you said forever
and ever
Who Knew
Who Knew-P!nk
The End!!!
This story got it's name and is slightly based on Pink's song, Who Knew.
As always any Balto characters such as Aleu, Aniu, and Balto himself belong to Universal.
Jake, J.T., and Sean, and possibly anyone else not from the movies are (C) to me.