The Saga Begins
by Buzz Greywulfe
Alaska, near Nome, 1922
A long time ago in Alaska there was a family who was moving to Nome. There was a sudden blizzard and one of their dogs, a female husky named Nikita, got lost. She wandered for days until one day a pack of wolves found her. The other dogs wanted to kill her, but the leader of the pack, Hunter, said no. He believed that dogs and wolves were the same and didn’t believe in cannibalism. The two soon fell in love and had one wolf/husky pup. They named him Balto….
“Uncle Juno! Wake up!” said Balto.
“Huh? Wha-? Oh, good morning Balto,” said Juno, Balto’s uncle.
“Come on Uncle Juno! You promised to take me to the frozen waterfall.”
“Again? That’s the third time this week.”
“I know, but I like it there,” Balto said with a gentle smile.
“Oh. I can’t resist those smiles of yours. Come on,” Juno said, getting up.
“Yay!” They stepped out of the den and into the snowy ground of Alaska. “Morning mom, morning dad,” Balto said.
“Good morning sweetie,” replied Nikita.
“Morning Balto,” said Hunter. “Good morning bro, morning sis,” said Juno.
“Good morning Juno,” said Nikita.
“Good morning, bro.” Said Hunter.
“Uncle Juno’s taking me to the frozen waterfall today,” said Balto.
“Again? That’s the fourth time this week Balto,” asked Nikita.
“Third, mom. Can we go, please?” said Balto.
“Okay, but I want you to stop bothering your uncle to take you places,” said Hunter.
“Oh, he’s not bothering me Hunter. You know I love to go places,” said Juno.
“Thanks dad. Come on, Uncle Juno,” Balto dragged his uncle to the frozen waterfall that he loved so much.
“Your brother loves Balto so much,” said Nikita.
“Yeah, and Balto loves him back the same,” said Hunter.
Meanwhile… “Wow! Ha ha! Ohhh!” Balto exclaimed as the ice distorted his face. Juno quietly smiled to himself. Suddenly loud crackles of thunder filled the skies.
“What was that?” asked Balto.
“I don’t know, but let’s find out,” Juno answered. They ran to the edge of the frozen waterfall, careful not to slip on the ice. What they saw shocked them. There, on the ground, lay Hunter, Nikita, and the rest of the pack. Dead in the snow. Next to them were two hunters who carried two big rifles.
“NOOOOOO!!!” screamed Balto. Though in dog’s language, the hunters heard him. They started to shoot at Balto and Juno.
“Balto! We have to go!” shouted Juno. He grabbed Balto by the scruff of the neck and started to run like crazy. They had lost the hunters, but they had also their family.
“Uncle Juno, we have to go back,” demanded Balto.
“No! We can’t go back. I’m sorry Balto, but your parents are dead,” said Juno with a frown on his face.
“No! They’re not dead! We have to go back! We-"
“Balto listen! We can’t go back. Those hunters are going to take your parents away and they’re going to kill them even if they’re still alive. We’ll just get killed too.”
“But-” Balto objected.
“But nothing Balto. Your parents wouldn’t want us to go back. We have to move on,”
“But where will we go?” Balto asked.
“Without the pack we won’t be able to survive that long alone. We’ll have to head to a town and steal food from the humans,”
“No! I’m never going near the humans ever again!”
“Balto! We have no choice,” reasoned Juno.
“But, but… o- ok, but I won’t like it much,” They started on their journey to the closest town of Nome. They traveled for miles, eating whatever they could find. But the got lost in the snow. Until one day…
“What is it, Uncle Juno?” asked Balto.
“I think it’s a goose,” Juno answered.
“Are they supposed to be frozen like that?” “I don’t think so,”
“Should we eat it?”
“No. Never eat a feathered creature. Bad indigestion,”
“Then what should we do with it?”
“I guess we could save it. He could help us get to Nome,” “I guess,” They brought the goose to a cave and waited for it to defrost. The goose opened its eyes.
“AAAAAAA!!! Wolves,” the goose screamed. “Don’t worry. We’re not going to eat you,” Balto reassured the goose.
“Why should I believe you?” the goose asked.
“We could have eaten you already,” said Juno
“I…. I guess your right. But why did you save me?”
“We wanted to see if you could help us. Do you know where Nome is?” Balto asked.
“Well, you did save me… all right, I can show you the way. But I’m going with you,”
“Why do want to come? The humans might eat you there,” Juno said.
“Polar bears. They think I’m they’re uncle. Annoying pests.”
“Whatever. Let’s just get going. Lead the way,” Juno said. They started to go out when suddenly…
“Uncle Boris!” said a small polar cub. He and another cub, bigger than the first, tackled the old goose named Boris.
“No! Not again!” Boris shouted “We found you Uncle Boris! Boy, that was a long game of hide-and-go seek,” the little one said. The big one mumbled his agreement.
“Muk! Luk! Go away!” Boris screamed. Behind him Juno and Balto quietly laughed. “But we love you Uncle Boris,” said Muk.
“For the last time! I am not your Uncle Boris!” Boris shouted again. But seeing the sad looks on their faces he said, “Fine, fine. I guess you might as well come along.” They all set off for the journey to Nome.
“How much further, Boris?” Balto asked.
“Be patient, Balto” Boris said, “We’ll be there soon.”
Suddenly they heard gunshots. A bullet hit Juno in the leg. “Uncle Juno!” Balto screamed.
“Ahh!” Juno shouted in pain,
“Run!” Muk and Luk helped Juno up and carried him to a nearby boulder to hide.
“Don’t worry. I don’t think it’s that bad,” said Juno.
“What are we going to do?” said Muk.
“I see another boulder over there. We might be able to get away on that side. Let’s make a break for it on the count of three. One, two, three!” Juno said. They all ran as fast as they could to the other boulder. But Balto got caught up in the middle of the gunfire and was turned around. He was frozen by fear. A bullet was going directly to him. But Juno made the ultimate sacrifice. He jumped in the way of the bullet and saved Balto.
“Uncle Juno!” Balto shouted.
“Keep… fighting… Balto…” Juno said weakly
“Your hurt Uncle Juno,” The polar bears, while the hunters were busy aiming at Balto, snuck up behind them and slapped the guns out of their hands. They were so scared about seeing the polar bears they ran away screaming.
“Uncle Juno…” Balto said with tears in his eyes.
“Remember… your… parents… Balto. Remember… me…” Juno said fading away.
“Uncle Juno… don’t die, please.”
“Remember… your… wolf… heritage…” then Juno died. Balto howled in sorrow… A few days later they reached Nome. They found an old boat to live in. But Balto wasn’t at all happy.
“Cheer up Balto. At least you’re all right.”
Muk said. Luk mumbled something and patted Balto on the back. “ I’m sorry Balto. But don’t worry kiddo, I’ll take care of you.” Boris comforted Balto.
“Thanks guys. But I just want to be alone right now.” Balto said. He walked down the ramp that led off the boat and just walked off to nowhere, Boris, Muk and Luk staring at his back. The young pup walked to the edge of town and stopped. Just then he spotted a red female husky pup and immediately started feeling a little better….
THE END…?
Balto, Boris, Muk, Luk, and the not mentioned so much Jenna belongs to Amblim Entertainment and Universal Studios. Juno, Hunter, Nikita, and the hunters belong to me and are not to be used without my permission.