Balto's Puppyhood
By Sydny
One cold day, a part-wolf, part-dog puppy, was lost. His name was Balto. He was only 1 1/2 months old. He was just abandond by his mother. What happened, he thought. One second his mom was lying down next to him, the next second he was alone.
"Mom! Help!" Balto called. It was no use because no one came. Just then, a body with a bunch of feathers sat beside him. "Wh-who are you?" Balto looked up with big watchful eyes.
"I'm Boris. I saw an older wolf leave you, so I figured you were alone. What is your name, keddo?"
"My name is Balto. That older wolf you was my mom. One minute she was with me, the next she was gone. I don't think I'll survive on my own. Can you please find someone to take care of me? I'm cold, and starving. Please?" Balto started to cry. Boris hated to see the young pup so sad, so he decided to take care of Balto.
"Thank You so much!!" Balto cried excitedly.
Balto grew and grew he always seemed to get even more stuborn each day. He grew to a healthy 6 month old puppy. That was when he first started going to a near by town, he had to start finding meat that was larger than the rabbits he usually caught. Though it was only his first time in town, he still was worried. He was worried about the people in the stories Boris used to tell. He was worried that they would shoot him for food and fur. He thoght he was going to lose his life.
"Don't worry, Balto. No one will shoot at you." Boris said over and over.
"How do you know?"
"Balto, I know they won't. Okay?"
"Sure, Boris. I'm all ready, I guess."
"Good. Now show that town how wolf~dogs really are."
When Balto got into the town, he spotted a near by meat store. Luckily, the back door was open, so he ran in. He grabbed a large deer and ran out before anyone saw. He stalked behind a house, and began nibbling his food. When he was half way through, he saw a very beautiful husky come out of a door.She saw him and walked towards him. "Who are you?" she asked curiosily.
He quickily covered the deer so she couldn't see it. "Umm..Balto." he smiled.
"My name is, Jenna. Nice to meet you, Balto." she giggled. "You certainly don't look like any dog I've seen around here."
"Well... I'm not exactly a dog. I'm part wolf." Balto hesitated. What if she doesn't like me because of my wolf heritage? he thought.
Jenna gasped a little then said,"You are the kindest and the only hybrid that I've ever met. Your even sweeter than most of the dogs around here." She smiled. To Balto, her smile was beautiful.
"Really?" He asked.
"Yes, really." She replied. He smiled back. "And if you're going to hide a deer, you can go inside the shed."
"Jenna!!!" cried a voice.
"That's my human. I must go now. Maybe you can come over at night so my human won't see us."
"Okay," Balto replied.
"Where are you going at this time of night, keddo? " Boris asked that night as Balto walked down the ship steps.
"I met this dog while I was in town..." Balto told Boris about Jenna,so he allowed Balto to go to her house at night. Every night for about 3 months Balto went to see Jenna. Until one aweful night. One night Balto decided to go a new route and a little earlier. So, as he walked into a new ally, a huge black and white alasken mamulate jumped in front of him.
"Who are you?" Balto calmly asked.
"The real question is who are you? And why are you going to see my girl?" "
Who's your girl, and how do you know where I'm going?" Balto replied.
"Steele! Step away from Balto. Now!" Jenna came out of herhouse and growled at Steele. Since Jenna was only Balto's age, 9 months, she was tougher than she is now.
"Oh, Jenna. How do you know this wolf?" Steele asked.
"Well....uhhhh....he's my new friend." Jenna replied sheepishily.
Steele laughed. "He's not even your type Jenna, baby."
Balto's head hung low. He slowly turned around and walked the other way, back home.
"Balto. Balto!" Jenna tried to call him but he kept on going. Why did I ever fall for a pretty dog who thinks nothing of me? Why was I even born? No dog or human will ever love me.Balto's thoughts rushed through his mind.
As he slumped up the steps, Boris said "What's wrong, keddo? "
Balto looked up at him,"Nothing," "I know that nothing MEANS something," Boris knew Balto always said 'nothing' when something was wrong.
"Okay, you win. There is something wrong." Balto told Boris all about his problem. "Hmmmm..." Boris thought. "Well, maybe she likes you, but Steele doesn't. Not everyone will like you, Balto. You'll have to learn to do with others, if they like you, or not."
"Your right, Boris. Maybe I was too stubborn. I'll go back right now, and tell her I'm sorry."
"Great!" Balto walked to Jenna's house. Steele was waiting for him. "Leave me alone, Steele." Balto growled. He stood up tall.
"Steele, leave him alone," Jenna said. "Go home."
Steele turned and growled, "You were lucky wolf~dog."
"Jenna, how did he know I'm part~wolf?" Balto asked after Steele stalked off.
"Well, Steele is my old dog friend. Our owners expected us to like each other. And we wanted to please our owners so we tried to like each other. At least I tried. He liked me since I first met him. He doesn't get that I don't like him anymore."
Jenna smiled that lovely smile. "Your right Jenna," Balto said. "You wanna go for a walk?"
"Of course Balto, of course," Jenna replied. As they walked around the town together and talked, they started to like each other and know that it doesn't matter what you are, it mattters who you are. They learned that every person and dog were different. That's why we love Balto today, because of who he was.
This was Balto's life as a puppy. I hope you liked my story!