Chapter 9: Letting Go

One year later

'This isn't what I wanted. This could be very dangerous and I don't want anything to happen to her.' These were Balto's thoughts as he tried to settle down and get to sleep. The rhythmic sound of the ocean against the shore did little to calm him as he rested behind a large rock outcropping. Part of the discomfort came from being in a very unfamiliar place, surrounded by strangers, some of whom didn't seem to enjoy his presence in the first place. 'Everything has gone from bad to worse since I had to tell her the truth.'

A year had passed since the pups were given away, and while five of them found homes, the sixth – Aleu – was left behind. He couldn't bring himself to tell her that it could be because looked even more like a wolf than he did. He hated the idea that some of the lingering prejudice against wolves was the cause of this, but as the months passed, the evidence supporting it grew as she did. She had the same long, narrow muzzle and leaner build that wolves had, and she also shared many of the mannerisms of wolves, including howling. However, her howling was often to express joy or excitement rather than any sort of territorial claim.

'I'm surprised we went this long without being caught,' he thought, remembering his repeated requests for her to temper her voice. He would always give some excuse like, 'You don't need to be so loud – there are other animals in the forest,' but it was because he wanted to avoid a confrontation with wolves that might see his daughter as an intruder. He didn't want her to be put in a situation that she might not understand, so he made sure contact with wolves was avoided, including with his friend Maska. 'I'm sorry to have shut you out like that my friend… I just wanted to wait for the right time to tell her.' Maska had continued to suggest that she may be better off with his pack, but Balto was adamant about finding a human home for her. Eventually, the task of looking after her grew to take up more and more of his time, and visits with Maska started to fall by the wayside. In fact, it had been months since he'd last seen his good friend. 'I hope he doesn't hold it against me. I just wanted what I thought was best for my daughter.'

And so, Aleu had no contact with, or had heard barely any mention of wolves. All she knew about them was that they lived in the wild, unaware of the deeper connection she had with them. This ignorance continued until only a few days ago, when he was forced to tell her the truth. Ironically, it had come about after a brush with a human, the types whom Balto had hoped would take Aleu in… but he'd misjudged how she would look to a hunter.

It was a typical day for her, playing with Muk and Luk and without a care in the world. He'd followed to check up on her, only to find that his reluctance to talk about wolves meant that she didn't know about a potential danger - the hunter. His heart jumped when he saw the man pointing a rifle at her, but to make it worse, Aleu was actually running towards the man, blissfully unaware that she was charging towards a loaded weapon capable of ending her life in an instant. She only thought that the human might want to adopt her.

Bolting into action and caring only for his child's safety, he charged forward and ploughed into him right as the gunshot went off. For a split second he feared he'd been too late, but the bullet ricocheted harmlessly against the trees. She urged him to stop as he tried to wrestle the gun away from the hunter, and it was only when Boris, Muk and Luk provided a distraction that they were able to get away. However, Aleu still demanded an explanation for what happened, and he tried to explain what the hunter was doing. At first he tried to make it sound like a case of mistaken identity, but further pressing from her forced him to spill the secret he'd kept for her entire life.

"Great, so my grandmother was a wild animal. Did the wolf teach you to know when a human wants to kill you too?"

In retrospect, Balto saw that keeping it from her for so long was probably the worst thing he could do. He hoped to tell her when she was adopted, telling himself 'It'll be soon. Just a few more days, that's all.' Days grew into weeks, weeks into months, and now it was over a year, and his deception seemed to hurt her more than the idea of a human not accepting her - something that he had been warned about a long time ago. She bolted away in anger and he let her run, thinking she'd return once she'd cried herself out, but she didn't. She kept on running and when he gave chase, even stranger things started to happen. On the way he encountered a tricky fox, a group of hostile wolverines and the raven – the same raven from his dreams. All seemed to be pushing him one way or another, eventually leading him to Aleu. He arrived just in time to fight a bear off of her, but it wasn't long after that a group of four wolves attacked them, trying to drive them away before being called off by their elderly leader.

Stranger still was the revelation that the elderly wolf, named Nava, already knew they were coming. He claimed to have sent for them to aid them with a problem of theirs. The caribou that fed them had moved on, leaving them with little food for the coming winter. His proposal was to follow the caribou to where they'd gone, across the great body of water along their shores. He was met with resistance from another wolf named Niju, who insisted that they stay in the land that was rightfully theirs. The argument went back and forth, with even Aleu siding with Nava, but Balto didn't want to get involved. He knew from experience that any dispute with wolves involving food could get nasty, and it didn't help that he didn't know how they would cross the water in the first place. He wanted to stay neutral, but Nava told them they would be led to the caribou by 'The one who is wolf but does not know.' Suddenly all eyes were on him, and despite his attempts to counter them, even he was starting to wonder if this was somehow connected to the dreams he'd been having for almost a year and a half now.

The dreams always featured a pack of mysterious wolves, and he had to admit that a few of the wolves in this pack resembled the ones from his dream. In his dreams, he would run along a never-ending expanse of ice while a raven flew overhead. The ice would collapse around him, creating danger at every turn, but he would press on until he found them; the wolves with glowing eyes. For some reason, he always held back when he saw them. Some force was drawing him towards them, but he would resist and the dream would collapse around him. It was the same thing again and again for over a year, but recently something new started to happen.

The day before he set off to find Aleu, he had a different dream. This time he heard a soothing voice call to him and tell him about the animals that would guide him along the way. The trickster fox, the fearsome wolverine, the insightful bear, and the caribou, full of life. He returned to the mysterious ice field, but this time he was pursuing a herd of caribou while the ice collapsed around him. As if that wasn't strange enough, he encountered all the animals the voice had mentioned on his journey to find Aleu... except the caribou.

'This is all getting really spooky. The things from my dreams are starting to appear while I'm awake. The only thing keeping me from thinking I'm going nuts is that fact that Aleu has seen the raven too, but that only raises more questions,' he thought. 'This is almost as spooky as when I met that Mias fellow,' he recalled, remembering the time over a year ago when he'd encountered a wolf who turned out to be much more than that. Balto wasn't usually one to believe in ghosts or things like that, but after what he'd seen with Mias… he had no idea what to think, but recent events were coming together to form a bigger picture than before.

'If that's the case and these spirit things are real, what does that mean for me? Am I supposed to help this pack? I can feel for their plight, but I don't know what I can do for them. Besides, I have family of my own to look after and that takes priority,' he thought, looking over his shoulder for a moment. He expected to find Aleu lying nearby but she was missing, making his heart jump. He bolted to his feet and immediately started sniffing for her trail. 'I just can't get a break with you, can I?' Rounding a corner, he spotted her in the distance, sitting on a rock outcropping on the shore with Nava, the alpha of this pack. His first instinct was to go over and scold her for running off, but he knew that would only lead to another one of their arguments over his protectiveness of her. He'd gotten sick of going back and forth without end, and seeing that there was no harm in her being in Nava's company, he let it go.

Retreating behind the rock, he lay down and looked back on his time with her. He'd always been so worried about her well-being, but in a way, that was what led them to this. 'I was so concerned about how she'd handle her wolf side that I held the truth from her. Unfortunately, when it came out, it came in the worst way possible and she ran away because of it. I wanted to wait for the right time… but I guess I waited too late,' he thought. 'I only wanted to keep her safe, but she always wanted to go off on some sort of new adventure and explore. She wanted to be more independent; I guess I should have taken that as a sign that there was more wolf in her than I thought. She wanted to run wild and free… and she does look genuinely happy here,' he reflected, remembering how she seemed at peace when she was standing on the shore earlier today, enjoying the salty spray from the incoming waves.

'Happy or not, I can't just leave her here alone. This is no place for a pup like her. This pack is already in a crisis and I don't want her to get caught up in it, especially with someone like that Niju character hanging around.' There was no denying that he didn't trust Niju, and that, coupled with his past experiences with wolves in crisis meant that he wanted to get out of there quickly. 'The last time I tried to help wolves it blew up in my face,' he thought, recalling the incident with Tikani and his pack and noting the parallels between past and present. 'I tried to help Tikani sort out a way to share the caribou in his territory with some dogs, but that ended up falling apart around me. It left his mate dead, and he tried to exact revenge on Jenna and I,' he continued, remembering those dark days when Tikani had pursued them relentlessly. It was the closest he'd been to losing his mate… and his pups too, including Aleu. 'There are so many ways this could go wrong, and I couldn't bear it if I lost my daughter through all of this. I have to get home… even if it means leaving strangers in need.'

He paused at that last thought because of how poorly it sat with him. 'I know it sounds selfish, but should I just leave them in order to get my daughter home safely? After all, I owe nothing to these wolves, and I'm sure they could find a way to cope… but could I live with the idea that I just left them without even trying?' Standing back up, he started to pace as he tried to work out what would be best. 'The last time I tried to help strangers, it almost led to me losing everything I hold dear… but I guess it did work out in the end,' he admitted, remembering that he'd managed to work with some other wolves to expose Tikani's madness and oust him from the pack. In return, the new leader allowed the sled team to share their territory, and there was peace in Nome. Better yet, he hadn't seen any trace of Tikani since, not even while wandering the wilderness in his search for Aleu.

'I could help them… but what about Jenna and my friends back home? They're probably worried about me right now and I hate seeing that, especially with Jenna. I hate being away from my love and I don't want her to think I'm abandoning her for a pack of strangers. I hoped to be gone for no more than a few days.' He closed his eyes and imagined her, sitting by the window and waiting for him to return to her. He took comfort in the fact that she would faithfully stand vigil until he returned, even when it looked like all hope had been lost. 'She waited for me during the serum run, so she'll always wait for me as long as it takes... but should I keep her waiting to help this pack? She might understand if I was doing it to help others in need, but if I were to, that just brings me back to the first problem - how would I find the caribou in the first place?'

He stopped his pacing and realized that on the way here, he hadn't found any trace of caribou herds. He had no direction to follow, no goal in mind, and was facing a long, drawn out challenge if he did decide to search, both from the wild and within from Niju. 'If I can't be of any help to them, maybe it would be best if I headed home instead of wasting my time here. That would mean leaving this pack behind to potentially starve… but this could be a challenge that I won't be able to handle. Then again, I don't think I've ever backed down from a good cause. After all, I went to find the medicine to help the town, even though more than a few of them would rather kick at me.'

As he thought back, he realized that despite the attitudes of the town back then, he still went out to help them. Most of the residents were strangers to him then, and he still helped them. 'You know, other than that one bad thing with Tikani - which wasn't completely my fault anyways - every time I've gone out to help others, I have always succeeded. I was able to find the team and get them home in the worst of conditions. I just had to follow the right path, that's all,' he thought, starting to grin in confidence. However, that confidence took a dent when a new thought entered his head. 'Wait… that time I had a clear path to follow. Out here, I don't know where to start.' He sat down and sighed as he realized that he was once again back at square one.

'Then again, back then I had a clear sense of focus. I knew what I was doing, and it was a good thing I did it too, because of Steele's rash actions that followed soon after. Had I not intervened, it could have been a whole lot worse. There was only one point where I thought I lost my way… but at least then I had a way to lose,' he thought as he reflected on that moment, the moment that changed his life forever.

The white wolf that appeared to him projected a sense of power and wonder, and it howled to him, urging him to join it. At first he turned away, thinking there was no hope, but in doing so he saw that the crate containing the medicine was intact. There was still hope, and in that split second, his determination washed over him. He stood up and let out a powerful howl, which brought the white wolf back. As they shared a duet, all the doubt about what he could and couldn't do faded. The wolf lent him some of their strength, showing that his wolf half could be a source of good and not just misery. From then on, he vowed to never turn his back on his wolf half.

As he reflected on the encounter, something curious happened. His mind jumped to his recurring dream. It had been pushed to the back of his mind during his search for Aleu, but when he compared it with his memory of the white wolf, he found something. In his dream, he would always try to turn away from the wolf pack, but that always led to some sort of calamity, at which point he'd be jolted awake. It would never end well when he turned away from them, so…

"They can show us something we would need to know later… or something we knew, but forgot and need to remember."

Everything started to click into place. He now knew what to do with these wolves, and the meaning of his dream as well. Boris and Maska had been right - the dream was something important, something he had almost forgotten. The pack in his dream was meant to represent the pack he was with right now. He'd found them by following a raven, braving dangers along the way and never stopping until he reached them. Disaster struck whenever he turned away, so the only way to stop it was to swallow his doubts and devote himself to helping them. The pack may have been strangers, but they were strangers in need. 'The good guys never turn away from those who need help. If I abandon them now, it would result in disaster, just like in my dream. I have to help them find the caribou, or at the very least calm them from the harsh words of that Niju,' he resolved, remembering the wolf's calls for them to attack neighboring packs for their food.

'I'm not going to let anyone get hurt if I can do anything about it. There's always a better way to solve these things, and I'll help them find it. That just leaves one last question… what about Aleu?' He thought for a moment about the risks involved in allowing her to be a part of this too, but his only other option was to send her home alone - something she'd resist anyways. 'That just leaves the option of her staying here with me. She did say she wants to find out who she really is out here… and who knows, maybe this will help her find that. Plus, if she was here with me, I'd at least be able to keep an eye on her.' With his thoughts now safely squared away, he settled back down on the ground to get some shuteye. After all, he would have a big day tomorrow.

'It may keep me away from you Jenna, but it's the right thing to do. I promise I'll return to you… and that our daughter will find where she belongs.'

"Godbye, papa. Tell mom… I've finally found my home."

"Goodbye… daughter."

These were the words that father and daughter shared when they parted ways, but both of them couldn't be happier. That morning, Niju had tried to take the pack on their first raid for food, but Balto put a quick stop to it. With him standing in their way, he kept the wolves still long enough for them to notice something amazing. Ice floes were starting to form on the water, and whether it was because of some strange current or some other force, they arranged themselves in a rough path. From then, the course of action became very clear. The caribou had crossed the water and were waiting on the other side. This bridge would provide a path to them, but they only had a small window of opportunity.

Despite this, Niju held firm, demanding he be allowed to lead the pack. So, Balto decided to call him up on it, telling him that if he wanted to lead the way, he was free to do so. He took one look at the water, and for a moment it seemed like he would actually try, but the boastful wolf ended up backing down, leaving Balto to take charge of the crossing. He started them on their way, but that was when Niju decided to strike from behind. He bolted back to save his daughter from the conniving wolf's jaws, and after dispatching him again, they found the pack was drifting farther away from them. Nava, whom had been with Aleu, was unable to finish the crossing, and at first Balto wanted to get back to them, but his daughter knew that having him leave while she stayed would not be the way to do things.

She felt like she truly belonged with this pack, a feeling she'd been missing almost her entire life and she wasn't going to give it up. He knew this too, and that was why he finally decided to let her go and live her own life. She swam across and howled back to him as he remembered all the wonderful times he'd had with her. He'd only wanted what was best for her, but it was only now that he realized that to do that, he'd have to let her find her own way. She may have grown up and left for a distant land, but in his heart, she would always be his little baby girl.

By now he felt the relief of having everything said and done. Nava would find Niju as they were still part of a pack, while Balto started on his way home. For the first time in over a year, he felt completely at ease. Aleu had found a home, and he finally understood the meaning of his dreams. He got a few steps in before he heard the fluttering of wings followed by an all-to-familiar call. It was the raven again, even though Balto hoped to avoid seeing it after completing his quest.

"What now?" he grumbled.

"Only the journey home, my son."

The voice… it was so familiar… there was only one wolf he knew from his past that ever called him that. He hadn't seen her for years, but... 'Could it be possible?'

He turned around and found not the raven, but a snow-white wolf, gazing at him with her amber eyes. There was no mistaking that she was the same white wolf that had aided him during the serum run, but on seeing her, he remembered that he'd known her when he was much, much younger.

"Aniu, you're my-" she nodded, confirming one of his greatest wishes.

It was something he'd almost forgotten, existing on the fringes of his memory and degraded by time. It was a memory of someone dear to him, and on seeing her now, the image returned. It was the image of his mother, Aniu. The mother that he'd thought lost had finally returned to him as his spirit guide. Despite the knowledge that this meant she had been killed all those years ago, it also brought him some comfort. It showed him that she had always been there, watching over him and guiding him when needed. She had shown him the way during the serum run, and she had shown him the way now, allowing him to understand who he was, and help his daughter find her place as well.

He was amazed at how, after all this time, he'd finally found his long lost mother, but he would only have a brief moment to see her before she let out a howl and disappeared into the wind. Through the howl, he could hear her say, "You have done well my son, but once again I must say goodbye… but it won't be goodbye forever." Hid time with her was cut short once again, but Balto had a feeling that he would see her again someday. He'd waited this long to know her fate, and he was willing to wait a little more.

"Goodbye to you too, mother," he said, confident that he would see her again. With that, he set out for home, contented that this journey had led to many discoveries about himself and his own family. He would return home completely at peace with himself because now he knew who he truly was as well.

And that allowed his dreams that night to be peaceful and raven-free.

"You have learned much about yourself my son. I am proud that once again, you've helped those in need, including your daughter who needed a home to call her own. Your father would be proud too… but there is one more thing you must do before you can truly learn everything about your heritage. You may be part wolf, but you also come from a line of proud racing dogs. You've lived up to your mother's legacy, but now it is time that you live up to your father's as well."

"Very soon my son, you will become a true champion. You will accomplish what your father could not and reclaim the title he deserved… the title you deserve."

Maska, Kara, Rex, Sami, Mayak, Mias, Amak and Tikani belong to iWolf231 and may not be used in any way without my direct permission.

Balto, Boris, Jenna, Rosy, Dingo, Saba, Kodi, Aleu, Nikki, Kaltag, Star, Niju, Nava and Aniu belong to Universal Studios and Amblimation.