Intermission
An intermission is a short period of time between two Acts, or three of a play. It is normally a short period of time for relaxation, for the one's watching. Backstage, the crews are working hard to get all of the mikes working, testing the lights, and the cast members are changing costumes and what have you...
This story is set when the map of Alsaka comes up and when Steele and his team are going to get the medicine, and before Balto leaves...
Balto stood in sadness on the old boat as he watched the team go away. The team that HE was supposed to be on. He lowered his head as the large flakes of snow obscured his view of the sled team. The mushers calls, the barks and angrey growls, all were muted as the team went farther away into the darkness. Balto then walked back down from the rail that he was sitting on, grabbed his old blanket, his only means of protection, and settled down to sleep inside of the small part of the boat that was covered. He sighed and went to sleep with one tear trickling down his cheek. One tear that he knew he would never be able to walk in town again nor prove himself. Balto slept that night as the snow kept piling up in the world around him.
Balto awoke the next morning to find his friends sitting around him. Or Borris, at least.
"Cheer up Balto, your day will come," Borris said reasurringly.
"That was my only chance, now there is no place left for me in this world. I don't belong with wolves, I don't belong with the dogs. Borris, where do I belong?" Balto asked.
Borris raised his wing as if he was about to make an important point. He took a deep breath, then exhaled, knowing that Balto would not believe him. He would not believe that someday he would get his chance, nor would he even consider living with wolves, he was ashamed of his heritage in his heart.
Balto sighed again and put a paw over his eye. "Maybe I shouldn't be so selfish Borris," Balto started, "they are getting the medicine back, but why do I have a funny feeling that that won't happen?"
Borris shrugged. "Could it be that Steele is leading them? He asked with a small gleem in his eye.
Balto gave Borris a look. "Maybe...."
"UNCLE BORRIS!!!!!!!!!"
"Oh no, not again, PLEASE not again!" Borris called in desperation. Balto couldn't help but smile. The two polar bear cubs who couldn't swim came running up in the boat calling for their good 'ol Uncle Borris. The two polar bears embraced Borris in their thick fur and strong hugs. Borris tried to yell out, but his calls were muted by the surplus of fur. Balto gave a small laugh, and felt a little better. At least in times of need his friends were there for him. Borris wiggled out of their grasp and put the feather that had fallen out back in place. Borris was mumbling, and the only words that could be picked out by Balto were 'idiots' and 'balls of fluff'. Balto stood up and nudged Borris, which caused him to turn around in shock. Balto laughed, and then looked to town. This only reminded him on Rosie and Jenna. Balto's ears sank and he lowered his head. He then went back to his small bed in the boat.
Jenna was worried. Rosie was getting worse, and the medicine must come. Jenna walked into the hospital and grimaced. She could not stand the look of her sick master, lying in bed helpless. She then looked out of the window, to see where Rosie and she had played so many times, pretending to be the winners of championship Dog Sledding Races. She then looked over towards Balto's Boat, and thought of him. She could make out the fuzzy profiles of two polar bear cubs, and one irrated goose. Jenna then thought of Steele, and the race. She shook her head, then realized the terrible thought in the back of her mind. Steele would never make it back without more help. How she thought this, she did not know, but she choked up on the thought.
"Balto."
Jenna quietly walked out of the hospital and into the outskirts of town. She rarely ventured here, almost never. She walked straight to Balto's Boat and looked around it. Her eyes grew worried that Balto was not there, or something terrible had happened to him. Her ears fell back, and she walked around the boat, searching for an entrance. She found a wooden plank that seemed to lead up to the boat. She carefull climbed it, it's rotten brown wood cracking beneeth her feet. She even eeped in surprise as the board almost seemed to break. She then trotted to the top of the plank, breathed quickliy, and then looked back down it in a final glance. She then got another surprise.
Muk and Luk had heard the paws moving around near the boat, so they decided to spring up on the person who was coming up. They were trying to protect Balto as Borris was pacing around in circles saying something in Russian. The two 'brave' polar bear cubs raced to the plank and jumped on to it.
"GERONIMO!" Muk called.
"What the?" Borris said in surprise.
Jenna was in shock as the two polar bear cubs came onto the plank. As they jumped on it, the board broke in half, leaving Muk and Luk to fall to the ground, and Jenna hanging on to the edge for dear life. Borris raced over and tried to help the young husky up, but it was no use. Meanwhile, the two surprised polar bears were recovering from their fall. In a few minutes, they were back up on the boat again, after finding another way up.
"BALTO!" Jenna called. Balto stirred slightly at the sound and shook his head.
"AIIEE! She's to heavy for me to pull up, no offense, but I'm goose you know," Borris said to the young husky. In a brown/gray flash Borris was knocked down and another creature was helping Jenna up.
"Hold on Jenna, just hold on." The creature said. Jenna looked up, and the voice clicked in her head, it was Balto! Jenna was slipping. Jenna looked into Balto eyes which told him everything he needed to know.
"Balto, take care of Rosie for me." Jenna said.
"No, you aren't leaving this world yet!" Balto said. With a mighty heave Balto quickly grabbed one of Jenna's paws in his mouth and yanked her up. Jenna cried out in surprised pain, but landed safely on the deck. She looked at her paw to find it unscratched and no marks or blood at all.
"Thank you Balto, although that did hurt a little." Jenna smiled.
"Your welcome, and sorry about your paw. I think you would accept a barely hurt paw than death personally." Balto said with a grin.
Jenna smiled and laughed. "The reason I'm here is because I am worried about you. I thought you were devasted when Steele cheated you, so I came to visit." Jenna looked at Balto as she talked.
"Thank you, and yes I was devasted. But, as long as the medicine gets through, that will make me the happiest dog in the world, no matter who brings it back. This is the first time we have had company here on the boat, no one ever comes to see me." Balto added with a small sigh. They then both noticed that it was starting to snow again. "Hey," Balto asked, "before you go home so we're not talking in the snow, do you want to come in to the small sheltered part of the boat?"
Jenna looked at the sky. "Yes, that would be fine. It's cold out here too, I wish the humans would give you a better life," Jenna said as they were walking into the boat. The small part of the boat had a few random objects in it, a dog bowl, a toy, and a blanket. Jenna shivered as she walked in. Balto looked hurt as he saw the water bowl, as if it reminded him of something.
"You ok?" They both asked at the same time.
Balto looked at Jenna and put the blanket around her to keep her warm. "I'm fine now," Jenna said, "but why are you so sad?"
Balto looked at Jenna. "Look, I'm not going to lie to you. My father was the wolf, not my mother. My father's brother, my Uncle Storm, was not a good wolf. He killed someone for that very dog bowl. He was a rogue, and well, that reminds me of him and how I never wanted to be like him. Sighs."
Jenna put some of the blanket over Balto. "Look, it's ok. Your relitives shouldn't effect your future. They should look at you when to decide what you're really like, not your uncle."
"Thank you Jenna, that saved me from living a life of despair and in the shadows. You saved me too you know, you made me realize that wolf/dogs and dogs are equal, or that we should be. But, I'm still part wolf, and that causes the problem."
Jenna nods. "I know, but why does that matter? It doesn't to me." Jenna smiled at Balto and leans on him. Balto, a little surprised at first, isn't sure how to react. But he regains his composure and talks again.
"Well Jenna, it doesn't matter if you're dog or wolf or both to me either, but some people do."
"I know, but their opinon shouldn't matter to you," Jenna says.
"Yea, but-" Balto is cut short as Jenna snuggles him. Balto snuggles back, and smiles at Jenna. "You should be getting home," Balto says, "Rosie will worry."
Jenna smiles at Balto, and leaves the boat after saying good bye. During the next few months, Balto and Jenna visit each other and talk, and they start to fall in love even more. Jenna convinces Balto that even though he is half wolf, he is still a good dog. Balto still doesn't accept his wolf heritage. This all changes when one night that a telegram comes thorugh, that the sled team is off the trail....
"Balto" is copyrighted (c) by Universal Studios and Amblin Entertainment.