wolf.
III
Weeks after discovering the his find, Balto and his mate Jenna were walking on the snowy beaches when they spotted Dipsy and Mel, huddling next to the boat he lived in. Dipsy was digging into a sack full of biscuits, while Mel was lying down, paws on top of his head, muttering out-loud.
'Just think of it! Think of it!' he muttered. Dipsy didn't answer,' What am I going to tell Balto?'
Balto's ears pricked.
'Tell me what?' he asked.
Mel looked about and gasped.
'Balto!' he cried. Dipsy pulled her head out of the bag as Mel ran over to where Balto and Jenna were standing.
He talked breathlessly.
' There's been a report from Anchorage!' He gasped as he spoke.' The humans are setting up a Trail Run for the end of this season! It's to be held next week!'
Balto and Jenna looked at each other.
'So?' Balto enquired.
Mel sighed.
' They've asked Koyuk to set up the the starting line...!' Mel glanced at Balto,' Everyone in Alaska knows about how you saved the children and won the race against the Bush Plane. Now they want you to lead a team to Anchorage from Koyuk!'
Balto stared at Mel, speechless. Jenna looked aghast. She sat down, shaking her head miserably.
'Why Balto?' she moaned.' Why should Balto...?' her voice ended in a silent sob.
'They planned it ages ago,' Mel, who didn't seem to notice Jenna's dispair, went on,' Anchorage also said that all the fastest and strongest dogs must join into three teams.' Balto nodded. Then without another word, he turned towards the snowy bay. Jenna, Mel and Dipsy looked after him, neither of them uttering a word.
Balto sat down on the sand and watched the seagulls glide in the sky. How free and peaceful they seem, Balto thought, As if nothing could disturb them. He sighed enviously. How wonderful it would be to be like the seagull, born, celebrated as a new arrival, then slowly forgotten. Balto's fame due to his heroic act fetching the surum medicine hung over his life like a dark cloud. He wished he were free from it. He felt...almost used. As he walked slowly across the beach, some fishermen who were mending their nets, looked up at him and started talking quietly about something. Balto couldn't hear what thay were saying, but he hoped the conversation wasn't about him.
IV
Aleu gave a shuddering sigh as she looked down at her pack. She stood on the summit of a small rock pile. Eyes that were clouded with pain gazed dully back up at her. Thaze, guarded by Sleath and an amber-furred male wolf, sat submissively with head low.
Aleu glared at him meaningfully, before turning to her pack.
'My friends, I haven't been your leader for very long. Yet you have helped me and treated me like a sister, so I already feel at home in this pack. I feel I am truly part of it. And I mourn with you at the death of a reliable pack member.'
She glared at the witless Thaze.
'Thaze,' she called. Thaze raised his head slowly. 'You have disobeyed me,' she went on. 'You led the hunting party without permission and attacked a fellow pack member! Why? Any wolf would think you were leading this pack yourself.'
All eyes flickered from Aleu to Thaze, wondering how would he respond.
Still sitting down, Thaze stared at his leader; his look of submissiveness had changed to fury.
'Any wolf...' he growled,' Like Niju...'
Aleu froze. The pack looked shocked.
'He was willing to take over this pack,' he went on, 'Before you arrived..!'
His guards snarled at him, but Thaze ignored them. 'You had no liberty to just come along and become our leader. You weren't born among us!'
'But she was chosen to lead us!' protested Sleath.
'She was born among dogs!' spat Thaze.
Aleu leapt down from the rock pile to face the brown-furred wolf.
'But it was my destiny, foretold to me, to leave my family and lead you, 'Aleu hissed sharply,' and if I hadn't, you would never have survived.' Thaze sprang up at her with open jaws. Sleath and the amber-furred wolf pushed him down quickly, while he howled.
'Niju! I'd rather follow him than you!' cried Thaze. 'He would have made us stonger! He would arrrrk......!' Sleath swiftly nipped him, subduing him to silence. The pack were backing away, whispering tensely,' He's gone mad!'
Aleu stood still and thought. Thaze was reluctant to live under her leadership, meaning he would have to leave the island.
'Thaze,' she said sadly,' You don't mean that, do you?'
Thaze lay glaring up at Aleu, under the paws of his handlers.
'What I say...' he growled.'...I always mean!'
Aleu nodded sadly.
'So be it,' she replied.
***
Before the sun started to sink behind the horizon, the whole pack was standing on the beach, awaiting the departure of their pack-member. Thaze stood before them all, looking grimly at the sea.
Standing up, Aleu paced the shore.
'You lived and hunted with us once,' she said to Thaze, without looking at him. 'Now it is time you must leave...' Then she turned to him. 'Anything further to say?'
'No!'
Aleu eyed him thoughtfully, then sighed.
'Then go. Leave our island.'
Thaze shot her a look, his eyes narrowed with stark dislike. Then he stepped into the water, slowly but without any sign of hesitation. The pack watched. Thaze waded on until the sea was up to his flanks, then he started to paddle.
When he was a mile away from the shore, Thaze quickened. He swam with all his power. Everyone watched until he was less than a little black dot on the blue-green distance. Then he vanished.
The sun had gone also, and the moon had risen.
*
Thaze, now an outcast, was forgotten almost instantly that evening as Aleu ordered her pack to meet next to the drinking pool, near their cave.
'I called you here to discuss another matter.' Every-wolf knew what it was. 'Hanler shall be remembered and respected for the great bravery he showed. And know it's time to pray for him.'
The pack sat silent as there leader started the traditional words spoken at the death of a pack-member.
'Spirits of the pack. Hanler, our brave, wise brother has left us. His soul has left his body to join you. We mourn for him deeply. He has been a great friend and a loyal pack-member.' The moon shone brightly as Aleu finished her words. It's glow made the pool ripple with a glow, white as snow freshly fallen. The whole pack wimpered as they gazed into the water. Then they all turned away to sleep.
V
Aleu hoped that Thaze had managed to cross the sea to the old clan's home. I was true he had made a trecherous move. But he was still a fellow wolf, and she couldn't help worrying about him.
That night after the meeting, Aleu sat in the cave surrounded by her pack, who were all sleeping. Before laying down, Aleu pondered about the day's activities. So much had happened.
Soon she fell asleep...
Dark clouds, massed in the skies, looked red as dusk fell. On a cliff, Aleu could see two dogs facing each other. One she recognized as her father, the other was a black an white Alasken Malamute.
Near them was a sled, onto which was roped a box. Around them a whole team of dogs stood. They wheren't the team Aleu had seen in her last dream.
She watched as her father, looking much younger than how she remembered him, tried to reach for the box, but was blocked by his adversary.'Steele' Her father said calmly.' Let me help you.' He was answered by a terrible growl.
Balto walked to the sled, then Steele suddenly sprang in front of him and pushed the sled over to one side. They fought...
Suddenly Steele grabbed Balto by a back leg and swung him. He let go. Balto hit a jutting rock with a loud thump.
Aleu gasped and leapt forwards to confront Steele before he did something else. But the dream was already pulling her away. However hard she tried to tear away from it, it tugged the hardest. Aleu looked back helplessly at the vision again. Her father was very still.
Aleu woke up and looked around. It was still dark.
******
When morning came, the pack watched with suprise as Aleu climbed back up the rock-pile, looking worried. Last night she had managed to decipher the meaning of her dreams.
It had taken her long hours.
Aleu waited as the pack gathered 'round the rocks. She cleared all thoughts before speaking. 'Brothers and sisters...' The pack stood silent.
'I have received dreams from our spirit ancestors. Dreams that tell me of both the past and future. They have shown me of my father, Balto. He is in great trouble.' The wolves glanced at each other,'He's in need of my help. I must go and find him. And help him.'
The pack froze, their jaws opened wide. Soon there was panic.
'But the law!'
'Yes! O not help dogs!'
'Your own pack needs you?'
Aleu felt torn.
'Quiet!' A loud voice rose over the uproar. It was Sleath. The protests stopped.'Why remind our Alpha about the Laws of the Pack? She is loyal! But this is her family she is helping. And Balto is a friend, like a fellow wolf. And he was ready to guide us over the sea to this island before Aleu stepped in for him.'
'Thank you, Sleath,' Aleu said. Sleath bowed. Aleu gazed long down at the pack. Her pack. 'I understand how worried you all are, about me leaving you. But I'll come back as soon as the flowers start to bloom. I promise this with all my heart.' The pack
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