BALTO V: HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW?!?
BY: EBONY PATRIOT

ALEU, BALTO, JENNA, STEELE, STAR, KALTAG, NIKKI, DOC, DIXIE, SYLVIE, ROSY, NIJU, NAVA, MUK, LUK, YAK, SUMAC, NUK. AND BORIS ARE COPYRIGHTED TO UNIVERSAL STUDIOS.

KEMO, JENNER AND KALA ARE COPYRIGHTED TO CYBERWULFE.

ACE IS COPYRIGHTED TO SHE-WOLF.

MIDBACK, BUSTER, SCRUFFY, MOM, LEFT SHOULDER AND JIM ARE COPYRIGHTED TO JIM BRANDENBURG.

KAPU, AMAROQ, AND THE INSPIRATIONS FOR TORNAIT AND NANUQ ARE COPYRIGHTED TO JEAN CRAIGHEAD GEORGE.

THE JOKER, HARLEY, AND BATMAN, THE INSPIRATION FOR JOKER, HARLEY AND MICROWING, ARE COPYIRGHTED TO DC COMICS.

THE INSPIRATION FOR BRUSE IS COPYRIGHTED TP ALBERT PAYSON TERHUNE.

TUNDRA AND TAIGA ARE COPYRIGHTED TO R.D. LAWERENCE.

JOKER, SILVER CLOUD, NIGHT JAWS, BLACK EAGLE, MICROWING, TORONTO, TWISTER, TORNAIT, SNAD PIPER, CHROME, HALF-TAIL, DARK SIDE, WHITE MOON. SNOW FOX, NANUQ, ICE FIRE AND BRUCE ARE COPYRIGHTED TO EBONY PATIOT. {ME!} DO NOT USE ANY OF THESE CHARCTERS WITHOUT GIVING ME CREDIT AND/OR ASKING PERMISSION OR DEFILING THESE CHRACTERS IN ANY WAY. IF YOU DO, I’LL SET MY EVIL PYSCHO SPANISH TEACHER ON YOU! WOE SHALL BE YOU!

THE SONG “HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW ISCOPYRIGHTED TO TOBY KEITH AND CHUCK CANNON (DREAMWORKS RECORDS, 1998)

VOICES:

Aleu: Lacey Chabert
Niju: Mark Hamill
Balto: Kevin Bacon
Jenna: Bridget Fonda
Steele: Jim Cummings
Star: Robbie Rist
Kaltag: Danny Mann
Nikki: Jack Angel
Doc: Donald Sinden
Rosy: Micheele Trachtenberg
Dixie & Sylvie: Sandra Searles Dickinson
Boris: Bob Hoskins
Jenner: Mel Gibson
Kala: Demi Moore
Ace: Tom Hulce
Gunnar Kassun: John Ratzenberger
Kemo: James Earl Jones
Midback: Whopi Goldberg
Mom: Jodi Benson
Scruffy: Dom Deluise
Buster: James Woods
Left Shoulder: Jeremy Irons
Tundra; Matthew Bodrick
Taiga: Carrie Fisher
Black Eagle: Tim Allen
Night Jaws: Robin Willaims
Joker: Mark Hamill
Harley: Arleen Sorkin
Tornait: Paul Kandel
Phoenix: Rupert Everett
Thunder: Glenn Close
Sand Piper: Brian Blessed
Galaxy: Bonnie Hunt
Chrome: Dave Foley
Desert Storm: Kevin Spacey
Nuk: Joe Alakey
Sumac: Jeff Glen Bennet
Yak: Rob Paulsen
Muru: Peter Macnicol
MicroWing: Kevin Conroy
Bruce: David Ogen Steirs
Toronto: Harrison Ford
Twister: Jerry Orbach
Dingo: Kevin Kline

******CHAPTER 1: 1ST TIME IN A HARNESS******

Aleu, the light tan daughter of Balto the Wonder wolf-dog and Jenna the purebred Siberian husky, was very excited. Despite the fact that was only a quarter wolf, she was a throwback to her wild heritage. So no one adopted her, because she acted just like a wolf. Even her color stood out from the red tones and white undersides of her siblings. Aleu had yet to figure out why she wasn’t adopted, but at the moment she couldn't care less. Aleu was going to be a sled dog!

Finally, after watching her father and siblings pull sleds, it finally was her turn. Aleu pranced excitedly. Rosy came and put her hand on Aleu’s mane. Rosy had proven herself to be the kind that can speak and understand the animal’s words. She leaned close to scruffy wolf-dog’s ear. “You’re ready to run, aren’t you girl?”

“Oh, yes!!!!”

“But just remember, don’t shy away when Gunnar Kassun harnesses you.” Aleu stopped prancing. She did not know why, but she loathed being touched by anyone but Rosy and her parents. She shied badly whenever any other human touched her.

“I’ll try,” she said.

“Rosy,” said Gunnar Kassun as her came up. “Is Aleu ready?” For all of Nome knew she understood what they had to say.

“Yes.”

“Good. “Tell her she’ll be with her siblings”

Rosy took a leather harness and strapped it on Aleu. Since she was her Father’s daughter, her name was already carved into the harness, in the part the encircled the dog’s shoulder: A L E U. Aleu was placed in a seven-team sled. She was second. The lead-dog was the gentlest and most patient teacher the untrained pups could ever have, Balto.

Aleu turned to the left. There was the regular team off to the side. Star, the 2nd; Kaltag, the third; Nikki, the 4th and Steele, last in line in a position known as ‘wheel dog’. It is hard position, needing a big powerful malamute to keep from tripping and being run over by the sled, and Steele was a big, powerful Alaskan malamute.

Star, Kaltag, and Nikki lay curled up in the snow. Steele looked at Balto as Rosy’s Father led him to the team. “Poor Balto! You have to teach the youngsters!”

“Ahhh...Steele, the pups aren’t so bad! You have to be patient.”

Steele grinned. “Well, I’m not patient!”

Nikki watched Aleu. “That one dere, she is a lot like Balto!”

“Yeah!! These pups will the most dignified, the most admirable, the most splendid..” said Kaltag.

“They’ll be good,” said Star, before Kaltag bobbed him on the head with his paw.

Aleu looked behind her. In third place was Jenner. Jenner was Aleu’s favorite brother, save for Dingo. ‘Hi, Jenner! How are your new masters?”

“Great! Kala and I get have a lot of adventures!”

“NOT THAT I AM WILLING TO GO ON THOSE ADVENTURES, MIND YOU. JENNER DRAGS ME ALONG!!!” yelled the fourth place Kala. Jenner turned to his sister.

“Ahh...Kala, you act like I always get us lost in a blizzard!”

“You did, once!”

Aleu shook her head and looked the fifth place Ace. “Hi, Ace.”

“Hello, Aleu. Is this your first time in a harness?” he asked.

“Yep.”

“Don’t worry. You’ll do fine.”

Aleu turned to sixth-place Suma. “Hi Suma. How are you?”

“Exicted!” said Aleu’s favorite sister.

“You?”

“Very excited!”

“Hello, Aleu!! I missed you!” said Dingo, Aleu’s favorite and biggest brother.

“I missed you, too! All I have to play with is Muk and Luk!”

“Poor Aleu! Don’t worry! Someday you’ll be adopted.”

“Hello pups!” said Balto.

“Hello Daddy!” cried the puppy pack.

“Are you ready to mush?!?”

“YES!”

“Good,” said Balto as Kassun climbed on the sled.

“MUSH!!!” came the order. The dogs started running. Aleu loved the free, flying emotions running gave. Why, she thought this is easy!! She ran faster.

“ALEU!!” cried Jenner. “Slow down!! You going too fast!”

******CHAPTER 2: DISASTER******

Aleu’s ear twitched to Jenner’s call. “Whoa! Down Aleu!” said her Father, trying to stop. But Aleu was running at full wolf speed. Balto threw himself on his haunches, trying unsuccessfully to slow down. I must stop Aleu before....he thought. Oh no! Gunnar Kassun’s whip slashed through the air, landing on Aleu’s loins. Aleu, with her keen wolf brain, knew that he had whipped her. She now feared him.

Aleu shied, with a wolf scream, and took off even faster. “Whoa!” cried Kassun. “Whoa, Aleu!!!” Aleu had no intention of whoaing. That man had hurt her! She must get away!Aleu galloped faster. The pups galloped faster. Jenna watching on the sidelines in Rosy’s arms, broke free and ran out. She ran to Aleu.

“ALEU, HONEY, STOP IT!!!!” Jenna’s heart skipped a beat. Aleu was going to run the team into a boat! She snapped at Aleu’s legs. She was able in turning Aleu away from the boat, but not away from the frozen ocean! Balto tried turning the team, but Aleu, mad with fear, swiveled, forcing the team into the ocean. The thin ice broke. The team crashed down, icy water covering the sled and wolf-dogs.Despite having a white wolf for a mother and an Alaskan malamute for a father, Balto was shorter than even a golden retriever. But even though Balto was the shortest sled-dog, it was him who saved the musher and the dogs. His sharp, yellow claws digging in, he pulled them along the icy mud. Aleu, still thrashing about, was costing valuable seconds in bringing them up.

“JENNER!” cried Balto. “BITE ALEU’S TAIL!!!” Jenner obeyed and sank his sharp teeth into Aleu’s brush. Aleu pulled away from the new pain. In doing that she was allowing Balto to pull them out. Every inch Balto pulled them forward had to be bought. Finally, with the help of his five other children, he made it.

The crowd ran toward them. Gunnar Kassun quickly undid the traces that tied the team to the sled. He would have no time to get them out of harness before he died from the cold. Aleu was very eager to get out. She took off with her two sisters and three brothers to the Boiler Room, her wet harness clinging to her body, the letters A L E U were filled with water. Gunnar went into the heated doctor’s office. “MISERABLE CUR!!! YOU SHOULD BE SHOT!!!” he yelled at Aleu, who knew all too well what he said, before going in.

******CHAPTER 3: CUR PUP******

“What a cur!” snarled Dixie.

“Yeah. Oh, Nome will be buzzing about this for weeks,” agreed Sylvie.

Aleu’s ears didn’t even flicker. She, with her siblings, lay curled as close to the boiler as possible without singeing their hairs. Jenner, Kala, Dingo, Suma, and Ace raised their heads, hot words sizzling in their throats. But it was Steele who spoke first.

“HOW DARE YOU CALL HER THAT!!! SHE WAS WHIPPED!! IT SCARED HER!!!” he snapped.

“So? If I were whipped, I wouldn’t panic,” said Sylvie.

“HOW WOULD YOU KNOW???” snarled Balto.

“YEAH. YOU’VE NEVER EVEN BEEN IN HARNESS. YOU ARE THE WORTHLESS CUR!!!” snarled Jenna. It was the second time Jenna had ever snapped at her friend.

Sylvie and Dixie rose their heads. “Well...wait till Nome hears all about this!!”

“YOU SAY A THING, AND WE WILL TEAR YOU TO SHREDS!!!” snarled her siblings. Aleu sighed. By the next day she would be better, good as new. But for now, she sighed. Maybe I am a worthless cur she thought.

******CHAPTER 4: 2 YEARS LATER, TRAPPED******

Aleu whined. A big white shape, becoming slowly more visible, stood over her. Aleu thought. I was leading the pack, I got caught in a trap, I told them to go on....

“Hello, dear.” Aleu stared on. It was Mom, from the Jim Brandenburg Arctic pack. The gentle mother wolf stared down. Her voice was sweet and soft. “It is all right, Aleu.”

“Oh, hi Mom. Can you get me out?”

“I’m afraid not. I could see if Left Shoulder or Buster can try, but I know I’m not strong enough.”

Midback came up. “It is O.K., Aleu. Buster and Left Shoulder are here.”

Left Shoulder stopped at her right forepaw. He placed him paw on the trigger. In doing so his white leg brushed against her swollen paw. Aleu screamed. Left Shoulder jumped.

“PLEASE DON’T EVER DO THAT AGAIN!!!!” he shouted.

“WELL, YOU HURT ME!!” screamed a scared Aleu. For Left Shoulder had a British accent, and he sounder like a scoundrel and a murderer. But Left Shoulder was also just.

“You’re right. Sorry I yelled. But it will take someone with very long legs to open that trap without hurting you.”

Scruffy came up, followed by the big pups. “Oh, hi Mom, Left Shoulder. Buster is here.”

“Hiya, Middy, what’s shaken’?” “Aleu is stuck,” said Scruffy.

“Oh, don’t worry Big A, can I call you Big A, I’ll get ya out.” He pressed his paw on the trigger. All he seceded in doing was accidentally digging his claws into her paw. She cried.

“Welllll... okay, so I can’t get you out, Big A. But Mom and Midback can feed you. When Jim comes, he’ll get you out.” Aleu nodded.

For two weeks Mom and Midback, the two females, feed Aleu. Midback was calm and a slight spitfire and could be either dignified or playful. Mom was sweet and gentle. Together they kept Aleu from going too deeply into shock.

Then one day, who should show up but Niju, Aleu’s wanted boyfriend that she never thought would be her husband because he hated dogs. It turned out he loved her as much as she loved him. And so he, with his long legs, freed her.

Her paw at first hurt from disuse, but after a few minutes on leaning on Niju’s shoulder she could run and walk fine. They walked back to the den site. there was her father, her half-uncle Kemo, the white wolves and Nava.

“Well, Romeo,” grinned Kemo. “Looks like you got your Mrs. So did I!!” He nuzzled his new mate, Midback.

Slowly they began the long journey back.

******CHAPTER 5: 2 YEARS: NEW PUPS******

Aleu was happy, very happy. The last four years hadn’t been happy, but now she was. The son of her and Niju, Joker, had been insane, and so the parents were worried for their son. But then. last year, he had saved Harley, a hyperactive red-and-black she-wolf, and won his sanity. And so Niju and Aleu had mated again in March, and here were the results. Puppies. There was Chrome, a dark-gray, almost black male with chrome-colored inside ears, lower muzzle, eyebrows, and underside. There was Sand Piper, a black male with sand-colored face and underside. There was Desert Storm, a fiery red with sand-gold underside and eyebrows. There was Tornait, an ebony wolf with a gold spine, face blaze and shoulder blades. Galaxy was a black female with faint, white spots. Thunder was a stormy gray female, with peach-white belly, black ‘teardrops’ and black-and-white banded tail. Phoenix was a stormy-gray male, with orange-red ruffs, one white splash on his head and one on each shoulder, white belly, fawn ribs, and a black-and-white banded tail.Niju came back down. He grinned as he stared at the tiny pups, looking more like kittens than 5/8 wolves.

“Ahh.. no Jokers in this litter?” She laughed.

“Well, none are challenging their Daddy’s black paw!” They laughed at the memory of little Joker trying to find his father’s giant foot when he was only a few seconds old.

“No insane wolves. So...are Balto and Jenna going to have any this year?”

“Not this year. The next, though.”

“Your pups are beautiful,” said Nava. His old head was almost white with age. “They are strong and healthy. Are you going to bring them to Nome?”

“Yep!”

The old pack had been divided when half of the wolves, impressed by Kemo’s leadership, had joined them. Twister and Toronto pounced on Niju when he came out.

“Ahh, Niju....You ol’ scoundrel!” said Twister.

Toronto looked him in the eyes. “Seven, huh? Seven is a lucky number!”

Tundra came up. “I’ll bet Phoenix will like playing with me most of all. Off course, they’ll like everyone the most,’ he said.

Silver Cloud lifted up his head. “I hope Tornait likes me. Tornait is such a cool name.”

“I like the name Desert Storm,” said Black Eagle. “It sounds like it matches his markings, too,” he added.

“I like Sand Piper,” said Night Jaws. He added. “Even though it’s a type of bird.”

Taiga grinned. “Yeah? Well I bet both Galaxy and Thunder like me.”

“Really? Why both?” asked Harley.

“Because Harley. You know it: girls rule and boys drool!”

“Yep!”

Joker came up. “I bet though Chrome likes me most.”

“Why Chrome? Do you like that name?”

“That and everyone else is taken!” he smiled. Everyone laughed.

Yak turned to Sumac. “Do you think there will be another Alpha in that litter, Sumac?” he asked.

“It is beating me,” he said.

Sumac turned to "Nuk What do you think Nuk, huh, huh?”

“I don’t think. I just eat. It’s more filling,” he replied.

******CHAPTER 6: ALEU’S PUPS******

And so now Aleu’s pups were 6 months and their personality became underlined. Tornait was spiritual, not in the whole ‘one with tree’ sense Nava was, but like an Eskimo. Sand Piper was sweet and active, like a little bird. Desert Storm could be harsh, but he was really calm and peaceful. To say Phoenix was a little skittish was an understatement. He was very nervous and active. He only was calm with animals he knew. And Phoenix, when he would howl with the whole pack, had the most beautiful singing. It sounded like swearing in a foreign language. Chrome, the first-born, was the biggest wolf. He was cool, and calm, and friendly.Compared to Thunder, even Tundra and Taiga were distrusting and nervous. For it took Thunder only a short time to calm down when she was with a stranger. Nothing could ever rile her for more than a few minutes. Galaxy was a bit of a mild trouble-maker, though she was the model citizen compared to Joker’s earlier antics. Tornait’s best buddy was Silver Cloud. Tornait, one day, ran up to Silver Cloud. “Silver Cloud,” he said in his solemn, just voice. “How did you get your name? I’ve seen white clouds and dark gray and even clouds as dark as Aniu’s wing when she is a Raven, but never silver clouds!”

Silver Cloud laughed. “I’m called that because I’m white as the clouds and I have silver marks on my chest and nose. Do you get it?”

“AHHHH....”

Tundra was the nervous Phoenix’s best buddy. Phoenix came up. “Tundra,” he said in his musical voice. “I’m called Phoenix after the fire bird. But why are you called Tundra?”

Gentle Tundra grinned. “When Father traveled to save Mother, he meet two black wolves. One was Amaroq. He was a spirit wolf, blacker than ebony. Kapu, the other one was blacker than coal, and he was Amaroq’s son. Both of them were Tundra wolves. So in honor of them I was named Tundra.”

“Sweet!”

Sand Piper’s best buddy was the comical Night Jaws. Sand Piper ran to Night Jaws. “You are going to ask me where I got my name. Right?”

“Right? How did you know?!?” asked the amazed Sand Piper.

“I gathered. And I’m all black save for the silver jaws.”

Black Eagle turned to his little brother Desert Storm. “I know what you’re going to say.”

“Really? You knew I wanted to know where I got my name? And yours?”

“Well...I do know I’m so named because I look like a black bald eagle.”

Joker turned to Chrome. “You know where I caught my name, right?”

“From the cards, right?”

“Nooooo...”

“Sorry” grinned Chrome. “Because you’re a joker?”

“Correct!”

Harley was Galaxy’s best buddy, even though she was only in the pack because she was Joker’s mate. “Where did we get our names, Harley? I really wonder about your name,” she asked. “I’m not sure about mine. I think it’s a motorcycle....but I know you look like the galaxy!”

Taiga was calm Thunder’s buddy. “I know I’m named after thunder, but what is taiga?”

“Taiga is the name for the tree regions.”

“Ahh, I get it.”

And so, as they approached six months, her pups were nearing the time when they would leave for Nome.

******CHAPTER 7: KEMO’S PUPS******

Kemo and Midback trotted into the OceanPine’s territory. But they were not alone. Behind them were six puppies. There was Half-Tail, a female with a dorsal stripe all the way down the spine until it reached the half-mark of the tail. She was slick and sly, like a leopard.  There was Dark Side, on whom the right side of his head had black-tipped hairs and ears. He was big, powerful, and serious. Yet he could be playful, too.  There was White Moon, a beautiful female female with light gray eye patches and a black-tipped tail. She was poetic and gentle.There was Snow Fox, a male with a black mark on his tail like a fox’s, black-yipped ears and faint black stockings. He was clever and cunning and gentle. There was Nanuq, which is the Inuit word for ‘polar bear’. She was the white of a polar bear, with black patches on her eyes and a black-tipped tail. She was big and powerful and friendly, like her namesake.Finally there was Ice Fire. He was powerful. He had black-tipped tail and ears. Ice Fire the color of an iceberg and there was a fiery red mark on his chest shaped like a circle and the same color eyebrows. He was calm and gentle, but if he you finally snapped his kind nature, he was a fiery and powerful fighter.

Kemo sighed at his mate. “I’m so happy! I love you and I love our puppies! You see....my last mate and pups died from humans.” Midback nodded. “That is how it is,” she agreed.

“Mommy, how much farther till we meet Nijeou. And the rest of his pack?” asked Half-Tail.

“It is ‘Niju’, my beloved sister. Not Nijeou,” said poetic White Moon.

“Yeah. And what about Aleu?” asked Nanuq.

“Not much farther,” said Kemo.

“What was their son? The insane one, Knave was it?” asked Dark Side.

“Knave? No! It was Joker!” said White Fox.

“Yes! I can’t wait to meet Joker. And his siblings!” shouted Ice Fire.

Niju and Aleu and Nava came up. “Hello Kemo, Midback. How are you?” asked Nava.

“Good,” said Kemo.

“Are you going to Nome, too?”

“You bet!” said Midback. The six white pups, the seven new pups, Harley and the four-year-old pups all romped together while the adults talked.

******CHAPTER 8:HOW DO YA LIKE ME NOW******

Aleu happy trotted ahead of her family. She thought back, how five years ago Dixie and Sylvie had laughed at her. Aleu grinned. She turned to Niju. “May I go on ahead? I want to talk to Dixie and Sylvie.

Niju grinned. “Go on!”

Aleu ran to Sylvie and Dixie. Sylvie looked at her. “Well, if it isn’t the little cur that ran off with the wolf!”

“That’s right! I am very happy to be with my husband Niju and our children. I am free to live as I choose, eat what I choose, sleep when I choose, everything!”

Sylvie and Dixie scoffed. “So? You are still a cur!”

“Oh, no! Have you ever dragged down a caribou that can crush your skull with one strike?”

“No!”

“And you couldn’t. If the humans were to leave, you would die! So, what I am getting at is, HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW?!? NOW THAT I’M ON MY WAY! YOU STILL THINK I’M CRAZY, STANDING HERE TODAY! HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW!” Slyvie’s hackles rose. Dixie opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

“You still can’t lead a dog sled time!” shouted Sylvie.

“No, but I can lead a wolf pack! I went from cur to Alpha female!”

“Good for you!” said Dixie hotly. She and Sylvie stomped away.

“You deserve it, Aleu” said Balto from behind her.

“Yes! Those mean old gossipers!’ agreed Bruce.

“They finally got what they deserved!” agreed MicroWing.

Aleu grinned happily. Rosy and her parents were stroking her. Her babies were romping with Kemo’s and her older babies. Her brothers, sisters, and parents were cheering her. She had a lovely mate who loved her with all of his heart who was licking her cheek. Her wise great-great-grandfather was passing on his wisdom. Her parents and siblings were cheering her. What a happy life! she thought. She turned to watch the fleeing Sylvie and Dixie. “HOW DO LIKE ME NOW?!?” Aleu yelled to the only mean dogs. She howled happily.

THE END!

AUTHOR’S NOTE: THIS IS MY FIRST ALEU FANFCITION. TO THE EXTENT OF MY KNOWLEDGE, THIS IS ALSO THE FIRST FANFCITION TO COMBINE THE WONDERFULL CHRARCTERS CREATED BY CYBERWULFE (JENNER AND KALA) AND THE ACE (SHE-WOLF WITH THE NAMED PUPS FORM BALTO II. OH, AND THE TITLE IS A TAKE ON THE SONG COPYRIGHTED TO TODAY’S COUNRTY MUSIC STAR, TOBY KEITH, AS ONE MIGHT HAVE GUESSED. - EBONY PATRIOT