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Chapter 5

June 18, 1995

7:50 am

Balto and Jenna are wide awake with Rosy watching saturday morning cartoons. Jenna lies her head on Rosy lap while Balto is on the rug not even paying attention to the T.V. He is still thinking about the events of last night involving Steele and Terin. He's very confused on why Terin associates with Steele or even likes him for that matter. He worries Steele would have a very negative influence on Terin and would hate for the little lab to end up like him when he is older.

"I seriously don't know what that pup sees in him?" Balto thinks to himself

"It doesn't make any sense at all....What attracts Terin to Steele so badly? Does Terin have a hard time making friends of his own age? I mean what is it?"

"Gee Jenna" Rosy comments. "This cartoon is getting old, I wonder whats else is on?'

Rosy surfs the T.V with the remote until she hits the news channel and is astonished on what is seeing.

"This channel 23 8 o'clock news!

We have just received some startling information. Last night, an Australian news corporation received confirmed reports that there are survivors on board World Airways flight 609. One man from the ill fated flight has called them sometime around midnight, antarctic time zone to let them know they are alright but however, the pilot is dead. He also confirmed there are a handful of passengers who are critically injured and that the plane is still relatively intact. He also stated that the plane went into some severe turbulence before crashing. He described the crash as "horrifying yet lucky". He also described how the plane landed on its belly at full forces, causing all the panels and luggage above to drop and while crash landing the wings were ripped off before hitting a giant boulder of ice. As of now the man stated that they are closing in to the Antarctic winter solstice and are trying to keep everyone warm as much as possible before any sight of the sun disappears for the entire day.

Balto tilts his head slightly in shock while staring at the T.V. Rosy proceeds to run and tell her parents what she saw while Jenna looks at Balto.

"MOOM, DAAD, THEY FOUND SURVIVORS!" Rosy shouts while looking for them.

Rosy rushingly grabs her mothers hand and almost drags her to the living room where Jenna and Balto are still sitting. Rosy's mother stands and gazes at the television while the anchorwoman talks about the survivors.

"Isn't this amazing, ma! It's so unbelievable! It's a miracle!"

"Rosy, calm down" said her mother in a soft spoken manner.

"It's great they survived but there's no need to be all rambunctious."

"but mooom, if they found survivors then that means Balto can save them! He saved us and he can save those people!" Shouted Rosy in excitement.

Balto's eyes widened while looking at Rosy with the thoughts of him in Antarctica made him feel extraordinarily unsettled.

Jenna turns to Balto again with a concerned look, knowing what is going through his mind.

"You alright?" wondered Jenna

"I don't think so Rosy. I'm sure the Argentinians have radars and helicopters to find them"

"But mom, if they can't do it with the helicopters then they can use Balto!"

Rosy's father enters the house with Rosy jolting towards him, telling him the good news. Her mother follows suit leaving Balto and Jenna alone. Balto gazes away while Jenna puts her paw on top of his.

"Balto, I don't think they'l...."

"Jenna, I can't be everyone's hero! The diphtheria run was draining enough. I'm proud to have saved everyone in town but were talking about send me to a Continent! Much bigger than nome and the whole of Alaska put together!"

"Balto!" shouted Jenna

"I doubt they will send you and the others! And if they did, so what? You're the strongest of them all when it comes to dog sledding!"

"Jenna! I want to start a family with you! I don't want to risk my life like this! I love you...I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Balto and Jenna romantically gaze at one another, withering away the earlier tension. Jenna can see the concern in Balto's eyes and slowly empathizes with him.

"It's going to be ok" Reassured Jenna.

Jenna hugs Balto, trying to comfort him after the news.

"Well, whatever happens Jenna, it is what it is. Speaking of matters, we really need to have a word with Terin and his parents. He seriously can't be around Steele."

"I almost forgot! Balto, what attracts that pup to Steele?! He almost jeopardized the serum run. He almost had Rosie and the other young ones killed!"

"I don't know, Jenna. But, we need to talk to him and his parents. I don't know if he's having a hard time making friends with pups his age or what? I mean, it makes no sense."

"I'm sure we can get to the bottom of this. He must be having a hard time making friends I'm sure we can find a solution with the help of his parents"


8:30 pm

The brown pup is being escorted by his mother and father to the boiler room for the long lecture he'll receive by the town. He enters with his tail tucked in and his head down, with his parents by his side, looking stern and frustrated.

The center of the boiler room was empty for the pup and his parents to sit while the perimeter was filled with concerned and upset dogs. Balto, Jenna, Boris, the dog sled crew and Doc were facing Terin while he sits, looking towards his side, feeling the awkwardness of the glares he's receiving from everyone else.

"Terin, sit it!" shouted his mother.

"But mom, everyone looks like they're mad at me" whimpered Terin.

sighs his father and glares down at his pup. "You..are..in..so much trouble, young man"

"I cannot believe I have to waste today dealing with your bad behavior. We were supposed to be with our owners!" whispered Terins father in a fast paced manner.

"But, because you have to 'hang out' with the biggest loser AND killer of nome, we have to bring you hear and give you the biggest punishment from the town, THE TOWN Terin!"

"He's not bad, da.."

"I DON'T want to HEAR IT!"

The town dogs prepare to hear Balto speak while Terin readjusts himself and looks directly at him. Everyone stares down at Terin and his family, waiting for the upcoming punishment.

"Terin" Balto states

"It has come to our attention that you've repeatedly disobeyed orders to stop going to and associating with Steele. Now, Terin, how many times were you told by Me, Jenna, Doc, your parents and everyone else not to hang out with Steele?"

Terin counts with his paws and then looks up with a confused face.

"ummm....I don't know?"

His parents sigh and look down in shame while Balto gives Terin and unimpressed look.

"This, Terin, is now the fifth time. The fifth, Terin. Now I don't know how someone like you can disregard the second warning but the fifth time? Also, this has to be the umpteenth time you were told not to sneak out in the middle of the night. You shouldn't have been out in the middle of the with Steele! Out of all people to sneak out with, you chose Steele."

Boris points at Terin and starts to lecture as well.

"I don't know what you see in him but if Balto and EVERYONE tells you not to then you don't do it! You are the only pup who refuses to listen? Do you think your tuff, young one?!"

The dog sled crew weighs in on as well along with Jenna

"You could find anyone else but being with Steele? Not acceptable, kid" said Nikki

"He is the most disgraceful, most disgusting, most selfish, most evil" replies Kaltag

"He's a bad egg!, Haha" butts in Star

Kaltags urge to whomp his head was stopped in mid section when Star flinches. He lowers his fist and and agrees with Star.

"You know what, Star? You're right, absolutely right."

"I am?..I mean, I am. He's a bad egg, kiddo"

Jenna walks in the center, looking down on Terin with a concerned look.

"Steele is all about himself, Terin. He's manipulating you but you're too young to realize it, Terin. We just want to know, do you have trouble making friends, are you feeling lonely?"

Terin looks up, trembling as the attention is focused all on him.

"I..i mean..I...its just fun. I dont know.."

Jenna sees the poor pup's eyes began to swell with tears. She hops off the stage and tries to comfort him when he begins to cry.

"There, there, Terin, we just want to help you and get to the bottom of this. We don't want you to get hurt or worse! Steele..isn't the best role model for you at all."

Balto looks up and comes up with an idea on how to get through Terin without having him cry through the lecture. He hops off stages and approaches his parents.

"Look, I have an idea on how to get through to him, this time. I'm gonna take him for a walk and show him what Steele could have done had he succeeded with his plot. You think you can let me do that?"

"Please do, I'm so sick of him not listening" replies his mother

"He's not a bad pup but we don't know what to do, now"

Balto takes Terin off Jenna while she wipes his tears away. Balto has him glance at him and tells him. "You're coming with me, now. I'm going to show you around. You don't have to be hear with everyone staring at you. Do you want to come with me, Terin?"

Terin sniffs and nods his head yes. Balto has Terin under him and proceeds out the door with the pup. The dogs, once Balto and Terin left, talk amongst themselves about Steele.

Jenna and Boris approach Terin's parents to comfort him. Terins mother begun cry while Terin's father sat in confusion and frustration.

"I don't know what to do with him" bawled Terin's mother.

She cries while his father comforts her.

"Terin's not very good at socializing with the other pups. He's gotten into so many fights with the others. He isn't the most athletic and well, he's just different. He pretty much keeps to himself."

"I can see why, he feels like an outcast. Steele's also an outcast, now, ever since he tried to sabotage the serum run."

Boris butts in. "Balto used to be an outcast, and so have I. I know if the little one spends time with him I'm sure he can turn him around. That's what I know of Balto. He understands him."





Balto and Terin enter the abandoned boat he lives in and both sit up and look at the town of Nome with the sun setting. Terin scans the entire area in awe as he never saw the town in this angle before. Balto looked up to the hills where he first saw a pack of wolves days before the serum run. It gave him the negative nostalgia of being an outcast for being part wolf. He looks down on Terin after thinking of what he wants to tell him.

"Terin, I understand why you hang out with Steele. He's an outcast and so are you in a way."

"I'm not an outcast!" shouts Terin

"I just...don't like the other pups."

Balto smiles down on him.

"Terin, I was just like you before. No one liked me all because I was part wolf. They were afraid of what they didn't understand. I remember what Boris told me years ago. 'Not a dog. Not a wolf. All he knows is what he's not. If only he could see what he is'.

"Umm...What did he mean by that, Bawlto?"

"He mean't that I was ashamed of myself and I was so blinded by that fact. I never really saw the strength in myself all because I was ashamed of myself for not being like everyone else."

"OOOoohhh" Terin, figuring it out/

He looks up to Balto. "I don't care if you're part wolf. I think it's cool!"

Balto chuckles and looks down to speak.

"You don't need to isolate yourself from everyone in town. The reason why Steele is an outcast because he committed an unthinkable crime. Trust me, kid, I was there. He fought me and threw me against a rock, bruising my back and head all because he wanted nothing but glory. He didn't care about the sick, but himself and the fame he so wanted. It was one of the most difficult missions I've ever endured and accomplished."

Terin looks up, listening and absorbing what Balto was telling him.

"So you were misunderstood just like I am? No one likes me because I'm not a strong sled dog. I think it's stupid. I want to do other things."

"Terin, you can do anything you want. You don't have to be a sled dog."

"But I wanted to. I'm just...not strong. Steele is big and strong"

A quick awkward pauses ensures while Terin reassures Balto

"I'm not saying you're not big and strong..hehe...but I want to be bigger so the other dogs don't pick on me."

"Huh, so that's why you're always picking fights" States Balto.

"Yeah, I'm the smallest one but I want to be tough. If I'm big like Steele then no one will bother me anymore!" Terin explains happily.

Balto gazes out at Nome with the sun finally below the horizon with Terin looking as well.

"Terin, It's not the outer strength that counts but your inner strength. You don't have to be built like Steele for people to stop picking on you. You have to learn and I'm willing to help you on that."

"Really?!" shouts Terin.

"Of course, Terin, but that's if you put effort into doing that."

"Awesome!" Exclaims Terin excitedly.

"But" Balto stepped in. "You're still being punished and for a whole week you're going to be in the boiler room with me and you're going to wake up and head there until the sun sets and you go straight home. Oh and you're going to be escorted. You're going to have to earn your trust back from the town"

Terin sighs in disappointment, almost forgetting that he's being punished after Balto's lecture.

"Ok" sighed Terin.

"Balto, one last question before I go home"

"What's that Terin?"

"Do you think Steele is misunderstood like you were?"

Balto stares at him with awkwardness and the flashbacks of Steele being the massive jerk he was to everyone.

"Well, No, not really, Terin"

Terin looks up, being slightly defensive.

"But, people make mistakes, like all the time. What if he was just misunderstood and put on an act because he was afraid of what people will really see. i mean you couldnt hide your wolf heritage but hes hiding something bigger. Can he be really misunderstood out of everyone?"

Balto pauses and states. "Maybe Terin, maybe."

He escorts Terin back to his parents after the sun finally gone and the summer night settling in.

Going great so far. Can't wait for the next chapter.

Hey guys! Yeah, life caught up with me and I left this story to sit yet again. Now I have more free time and more chapters will be arriving. This story is a public rough draft and as soon as I finish the story here, It's going to be polished and posted on my profile.

I also have another story which includes Steele joining a metal band after being banished from Nome but that will be when I'm done with this rough draft. It's ridiculous how It took me five years to finish haha.

Wow, this is kind of ridiculous lol. Even though the story is almost taking 6 years to write, at least the inspiration to finish it is still in me and the format is just as I thought of it 6 years ago.

Now this is a public rough draft so once I wrap things up in the forum then I'll go back and make some heavy edits but the story line is sticking. I just want to polish it and hope that people will get sucked into the story and enjoy it very much.

I'll be updating very VERY soon.

chapter 5 is finally complete.

Chapter 6

June 18, 1995

9:56 pm


Rosie’s father was just finished tucking Rosie in for the night until his wife walked up to the threshold of the door.

“Honey, the mayor’s on the phone. He wants to talk to you” said Rosie’s mother.

“At this hour?” Questioned her father.

He walks into the kitchen to grab the phone, which was on hold. He hits the hold button to start the conversation, which he later found out that it was a conference call from the mushers, mayoral officials and employees from the federal government.

The mayor was on the other line instructing everyone to meet at his house immediately and with urgency. He hangs up the phone with immediate annoyance and gets ready to leave. Rosie’s mother asks him what is going on.

“The mayor apparently needs me. It’s about the plane in Antarctica.”

“Why you and why now?” Questioned Rosie’s mother.

“I don’t know?” Questioned Rosie’s father is great annoyance.

“It’s late, I had a long day but apparently it’s urgent. I’ll be back as soon as possible.”

“Do you think it’s about lending our sled dogs?”

“I’m suspecting so, but I won’t fully find out until I get there. It’s big, sweetheart, they have the boys from DC up here.”

Rosie’s mother eyes widened.
“Well, just don’t stay out long.”


Rosie’s father walked to the mayor’s house, which wasn’t much of a long walk, and whom he met were all the mushers and government officials. They all waited for him since he was the last person to arrive.

“Were glad you arrived as fast as you could.” Complemented the mayor.

“So, mayor, what’s with the late night meeting? I had a long day and so did my daughter.”

“I understand but this is pretty big, now.”

The federal agent butt in stating what he was meant to tell the towns people.

“Argentine military forces can’t find the plane in the treacherous conditions now and in the next ten days. There are massive blizzards over the area the plane is located.”

Another federal agent gets up from his chair and announces not only to Rosie’s father but to everyone else.

“The Australian and New Zealand military are also suspecting that it’s going to be extremely difficult to get to the area. Hell, southern flights from South Africa to Australia and Latin America to New Zealand have to be rerouted due to the storms and extremely cold temperatures.”

A musher speaks out.

“So are you seriously going to fly up and here and..what? use our dogs?”

“Actually, yes” States the federal agent.

“Can’t you use other means?” Shouts the mayor.

The mushers, along with Rosie’s father, are up in a slight protest over the idea of sending their dog sled crew to an unfamiliar environment.

One musher shouts.

“Alaska is a completely different place from Antarctica! Here, we have forests, wildlife, mountains, and lakes! Down there is just a barren desert of ice! How are the dogs going to survive that climate? There’s nothing there but ice and cold deadly winds!

The federal agent rebutted, “The dogs will be fine! The scientist knows what they’re dealing with when it comes to brutal weather. We’ve had sled dogs there but we had to remove them due to the fragility of the eco-system but since it’s a request from multiple governments, we are allowing this dire exception.”

The entire room has erupted in mushers disagreeing with the mayor and federal agents. While Rosie’s father steps in to end the bickering amongst them.

“Look!” shouts Rosie’s father, quieting the room and gathering everyone’s attention.

“My daughter was amongst the children with diphtheria. Her, along with other children would have died if it weren’t for the dog sled team. They were in white out conditions! Hell, the dogs we have are pretty tough. They even manage to help one of our mushers get back as well after crashing from an ice slide.”

“Everyone, I don’t think we can deny those passengers the help they need. If the storms are too brutal for anything but a dog sled team they I think we owe it to the people trapped down there. I don’t think it’s fair for families to lose loved ones all because we refuse help.”

Everyone in the room quietly listen to Rosie’s father as he created a convincing argument to donate the sled dogs.

“The dogs we have are tough, especially Balto. I don’t know any stronger lead dog than Balto, He even out performed Steele in the races. If we didn’t let our children down, we must not let those people down as well! Who’s with me on this?”

The whole room stayed quiet for a brief moment until one musher raised his hand. People then started to slowly raise their hands until all of them came to an agreement.

“I’m in.” said one musher

“Same here” replied another

“I’m in as well”

“We’re in, too”

The mayor stands up

“It’s settled! We will donate our sled dogs to help those passengers!”

The federal agents stand up with one pulling out his notepad, writing down the people of Nome are in favor of using the sled dogs.

“We thank you so much. We’ll head back to anchorage as soon as possible to let them know the decision.”

“Anytime!” states the mayor.

The federal agents leave and enter their car driving back to the airport for their jet heading back to Anchorage.

Everyone else starts to leave back to their homes, leaving the mayor alone, preparing himself to go to bed.

“God bless those dogs in what they will be bound to endure, down there” The Mayor tells himself.

“God bless those passengers too, I hope they all go home to their families in one piece.”


June 19, 1995

8:16 am

Balto is soundly asleep with Jenna under the blankets with the sun starting to shine on them. Balto moves closer to Jenna in his sleep, cuddling more tightly with her in a peaceful, affectionate state.

Their slumber is interrupted with one of the former serum run dog’s shouting his name.

“Hey Balto! You awake?”

Balto wakes up groggily and turns to the voice of his name being called.

“Balto! This is really important! You really gotta come with us!”

What do they want? Balto thought to himself.

While getting up, he woke up Jenna, startling her.

“What’s going on?” She states

“I don’t know but I’m going to check on it right now”

Balto walks towards the bottom of the boat and lands on the ground. The dog is panting after running fast from the boiler room.

“Balto!” panted the dog

“They…are…want us..in..Antarctica…hoh boy!”

Balto’s stomach sank so low and a feeling of intense dread raced from the back to the front of his body faster than a bullet. He jolts fast to the boiler room, leaving the other dog sled behind.

“Balto!...wait…i…can.t. …catch up!”



Once Balto reached the boiler room it was packed with everydog. Doc is awaiting Balto and a few others to come join in before he gives the dreaded speech that he was hoping would never happen. He makes his way next to Doc while the last dog arrives, trying to catch up from Balto earlier.

“Everyone, everyone! Please be quiet. This announcement is the most important. This one is a life-changing one!”

All the dogs were silent and awaited for Doc to continue.

“I overheard with great accuracy that they are using dog sleds for the Antarctic Rescue, especially our dogs.”

Everyone gasps and talk amongst themselves. Balto stands there, feeling nervous and antsy over the choice of using him and his dog sled crew for a dangerous mission…far away from Alaska.

“We don’t know when the mission will start but it’s going to happen soon. Plus, we aren’t sure how many of our dogs will be heading down there.”

Balto slightly shakes out of nerve, standing next to Doc, watching all the dogs looking at him.

Doc continues, “Even thought a lot of you don’t want to venture into uncharted territory, I feel it must our duty and obligation to help those passengers in need. We managed to save the young ones from certain death and I believe we are capable of saving the passengers from certain death. We can’t let that happen. We are the ones they’re relying.”

“The mission is too dangerous!” shouted one dog

“We’ve never left the state!”

“I’ve never left Nome!”

The dogs go into an argument with themselves and Doc as well.
Balto sat there pondering what doc said. He still felt conflicted but knowing what Rosie and the young ones had the go through, it caused him to reconsider his feeling of dread and focused more on what he can do to help the passengers. He closed his eyes and counted back to regain his confidence. He then steps up and starts to speak to the crowd.

“Look,..I’ve been..um.thinking. Thinking about the whole ant-arcta-ca ordeal and I really think we should do this.”

The dogs looked at him and started chattering away, wondering what made balto change his mind.

“I mean, think about it, we saved the young ones from certain death by getting in the antitoxin quick enough and..i mean the town of nome needed us…a lot of people were counting on us…and I really think those passengers on that plane need us now…its our duty to save them.”

“are you crazy!” shouted a dog!

“I think he’s right, you know” shouted out another dog.

Nikki starts to walk up and started speaking next to Balto.

“Look, even though our wolfdog, Bawlto, might sound out there but he’s right. The town needed us then and now those people need us now!”

soon other sled dogs joined Balto in his speech.

“I think it’s one the boldests, most generous, most bravest offers we’re offering to those people in Antarctica.” States Kaltag

“Umm..yeah, I agree and we really need to get those folks out of there before they freeze to death.” Commented Star.

“Yeah, I’m standing with Balto” shouted another dog from walking up to the group.

“me too!”

“me three!”

soon the former serum run dog sled team are together and are standing by Balto.

Balto looks back, amazed that his team literally had his back.

“Yeah, were heading to Antarctica! We won’t let them down!” Shouted Balto in confidence.

“We saved Nome and we can definitely save those people stuck down there!”

“WE…WILL…GET…THEM..BACK!”

the dog sled teams chanted in unison for support of Balto

“BALTO BALTO BALTO BALTO BALTO BALTO”

However, unlike the first celebration, the meeting still left some dogs unsettled with the decision to head down to the deep south.