"Lone Star"

Written by: Canis Lupus

Inspired by: Cyberwulfe

Revised by: JWolfman

As Balto and the gang gathered in the Boiler room to discuss the plans which laid ahead, Star walked in.

The husky glanced at Dixie whom was preoccupied with the anxiety of Jack’s dognapping. Star had a feeling in his gut which was supposedly a feeling due to depression. Star was, of course, worried about Jack too, yet he was also worried about Dixie. He doesn’t want to bother Dixie at such a moment.

Dixie noticed Star watching her way but she didn’t think much of it. She felt that the atmosphere, in the Boiler room today, seemed quite thick with worries.

Balto, leading the discussion, asked for any ideas of what to do. His suggestions have fallen miserablely through the gang since this scenario is quite new to everybody. Then again, what should anyone do when no one knew exactly where Jack was taken and being held hostage at?

One fearless dog of the bunch stepped in the middle to give his suggestion. Balto, hoping for a good solution, inquired, "Steele, what do you suggest?"

Steele replied sarcastically, "Well, as courageous as I am, I think I should lead the way towards Jack." He then glanced over to Jenna whom was resting beside Balto. Jenna tried to hold back but she blushed. Balto noticed Steele’s attention toward Jenna but he thought nothing much about it. As everyone knew, Jenna had an eye for Balto rather than towards Steele, who was banished for foolishly risking the lives of the children, including her friend Rosy.

"How can we do that if we all don’t know where he is at?" Balto again questioned Steele’s intelligence.

Steele replied, "Well, didn’t Jack leave the town in a jeep?"

"Yes, he did Steele."

"Then, there you have it. We shall follow the marks the jeep left. If for some reason, the marks are covered, we can use your ‘Wolf’s instinct of smell’ to follow the path of the jeep."

Balto didn’t take Steele’s remark too lightly but he has learned to accept himself for what he is. "Good idea, Steele."

Steele glanced at Balto with wide eyes since he didn’t expect Balto to agree with him. Instead the former rival grinned. Balto returned it but was suspicious and confused of what Steele’s meaning of his grin toward him could mean.

Balto announced, "We shall start the search in 5 minutes. Gather your wits and courage for we are about to undertake a major task." All of the dogs then filed out of the Boiler room.

Everyone except Star though. He glanced one more time toward Dixie’s direction. Dixie, for some odd reason, was the last dog to walk out the room. She again noticed Star’s glance. She glanced back towards him, which was another odd reason, and tried to give a smile. She failed since she was still worried about Jack.

Star gave Dixie a failed smile too. Star left the Boiler room last. Outside the Boiler room, Balto confronted him.

"What’s wrong, buddy?"

Star stopped to look at Balto and then grinned. "Well, I don’t know Balto. I feel as though I want or need something but can’t attain it. I got an empty void floating inside me. How can I fill it?"

"Well, I am not sure how to help you. You need to tell me what you want or need so that I can help you, okay?"

Star hesitated to tell Balto. "Well, it’s really nothing I guess then. I am just probably a little worried about Jack."

"We all are Star. Jack is a great dog and I hope we can find and save him from the evil men."

"Yes, I do hope so. I am also a little worried about something else. I would like to ask you about it, but I am not sure how I can ask you." Star again hesitated but Balto jumped in.

"Well, just try. Star, you can talk to me openly when you are ready. I am all ears." Balto raised and pointed his ears towards Star to prove his point.

Star almost giggled but the sudden remembrance of his most recent annoyance was recalled. Star then thought up a little scenario for Balto to understand. "Well, I got this friend. There is another dog that he looo.... likes, but he is unsure if the other feels the same due to another dog who is competing with me for her. My friend knows he doesn’t stand a chance since the other dog is more interesting than himself. What should I....... MY FRIEND do?"

"Well, Star, I can’t help you on that. It is really up to the dog to choose who she likes. Your friend should just be himself. Don’t let this bother you."

"Well, I guess your right Balto, but I am not sure if this will feel my gap. Thanks for hearing me out."

"Anytime Star. Don’t hesitate to ask me a question." Balto then dashed away and disappeared around the corner.

Balto spotted Jenna up at Rosy’s house. Jenna didn’t notice Balto trot in the house though, for Balto sneaked behind her. As he crawled behind a chair, Jenna stopped in an alert stance and lifted her ears up. She then sniffed the air for any clue of whose presence she felt was around the room. She remembered that musk. It was, of course, Balto. She smiled and pretended she didn’t know what the smell was. She walked off to the next room. Balto sneaked to the corner of the way which was directly opposite of the room Jenna disappeared into, and tip-paws (tip-toed) toward the entrance to the other room. To leap, he arched his back to gather power, and at the right moment (so he thought) he lept into the next room, expecting to hear a shocked yelp from the rust and cream colored husky.

SPLASHH!!!!!

Balto had leaped into two doggy bowls full of water. Jenna laughed then smiled at Balto whom was foolishly and ‘puppishly’ fumbling around the floor to gather his balance. He regained his balance and blushed. Jenna had fooled him again. "How does she do it?" he asked himself.

Five minutes passed by and everybody was waiting for Balto and Jenna to arrive. Steele waited impatiently and circled the group as he grunted. A feeling of hope surrounded the crowd that moment. Balto and Jenna were soon seen running around the corner as if they were racing each other. Jenna won the race, although Balto was not giving his best shot. Steele glanced at Balto and suggested, "Should we now go? We have waited long enough for you two."

"Sure, I am ready to go. Jenna?"

"Sure, I am ready to go. The race against you gave me an almost sufficient exercise." Jenna answered sarcastically.

Steele led the way since he was the one who suggested the plan which all of the dogs are enforcing. They reached the area where Jack was last seen just before he was dognapped. Luckily, the tire tracks were still fresh on the snow. Steele grinned once more as he inspected the tires tracks. All of the dogs praised Steele for his idea. The morale in the group had grown to its peak. Now, all they have to do was walk alongside the tracks. They set out once more, this time with the aid of the heavenly tire tracks.

Jenna and Balto trotted side by side. Steele saw this happening but he held back. His old feeling toward Jenna was still burning in his cold heart. Of course, Jenna and Balto were chatting about old times; mostly about their first date out in the Boiler. Well, maybe it wasn’t a date, but it was a turning point in their lives for the better. Steele’s name popped up between them. Steele’s overheard his name between them, and started to slow down to enable the distance to shorten between them. Disappointedly, he missed the conversation which included himself. As he shortened his distance, he again grinned out of displeasure as he witnessed Balto and Jenna nuzzling each other. That was all Steele needed to see to take his dignity away.

Seeing them together ate at his ego. He should have had Jenna. He knew he could have had her if he wasn’t so foolish to risk the life of her friend Rosy. Why did he has to suffer for this? His heart trembled with sadness. Yet, he wais actually a good dog. He never meant to be mean toward Balto. He was only like that because Balto had intervened with Steele’s seduction dance toward Jenna. Yet, love works in a mysterious ways. Steele understood that Jenna loved Balto and Balto loved Jenna. He also understood fate, but he wished that fate hadn’t brought Balto and Jenna together. Then again, Steele thought that if he had to lose against somebody else for Jenna’s heart, he was glad that it was Balto.

At the end of the group, Star marched as his eyes were fixed on Dixie. She was ahead by only few yards. Walking beside Dixie was Slyvia. Slyvia and Dixie were carrying a conversation of some sort. Star noticed the conversation going on. What gave Star a thing to worry about for the rest of the way was when he saw Slyvia whisper something in Dixie’s ear which was then followed by a sudden response of shock from Dixie. Then it was concluded with a giggle. Star didn’t know what the meaning of the giggle from Dixie after she looked at him or what Slyvia had relayed to her via a whisper. Star tried to fight the embarrassment and continues on his way, yet not as close to Dixie as before.

After a couple of hours of following the tire tracks, they disappeared. They noticed the tire tracks starting to disappear on earlier as the hours gave the falling snow the advantage. It was a race against time, and time won. Steele barked out, "Balto, get your nose to the front."

Balto proceeded to the front of the line and slumped his head down like a bloodhound. He snifffed and reassured the group that he picked up a scent. Everyone cheers! So for now on, Balto led the way. As a result however, Jenna ended up alone with Steele.

Steele started the conversation with Jenna, "So, how do you fair these days?"

Jenna hesitated a little since it has been a long time since Steele and her have talked after his banishment. She replied, "Well, I fair great."

"And Balto?"

Jenna again hesitated to answer this question, being suspicious at Steele’s intrusion questions. She wondered why Steele asked about Balto. Does Steele still dislike Balto or was he worried about Balto’s health? "Well, Balto has been happier these days."

Steele knew why. "Why do you say Balto is happier these days?"

"Well, mainly because he is accepted among all of us." Jenna was not sure if her comment is true. She hoped that it was true though.

"Yes, he is!" Steele reassured her. Jenna was surprised with Steele last remark. Steele now became an old friend to Jenna. He was no longer a stranger since his return from banishment, and she would love to have Steele as a friend. But, she knew that he still loved her. It didn’t bother her because she knew that she wouldn’t wander off from Balto’s love.

"Well Steele, why the sudden change?"

Steele seeked through his mind for the answer. He wanted to tell her the truth but he thought it would put him at a disposition for his own ego, again. "Well, I am not sure. He seems like a great dog. He accepted me back into the ‘pack’. I guess because he is the only ‘dog’ around which has a heart like his."

"What kind of heart may you be referring to?" Jenna inquired with interest.

"Well, out around in the wilderness, most dogs tend to get as cold hearted as I have. Living in towns like Nome gives men and likewise, dogs, the certain need for revenge when somebody has done something wrong. I am glad that Balto was not like that. As I was in the forest, I wondered if I should come back if Balto would banish me back to the forest. I guess I was wrong to mock him. He is a good-hearted dog."

Jenna was glad to hear Steele’s confession. "Well, that is great that you think otherwise of Balto as I thought."

Steele asked for a favor, "Please, do not mention this conversation to anybody, especially Balto. You know what I mean."

Jenna knew that a dog must keep his reputation. "Sure, I won’t tell anybody."

Steele hoped Jenna would keep her promise for he knew that the sacred chamber of loved ones was the place were secrets are revealed.

They both smiled to each other and look toward Balto whom was up ahead still sniffing the ground as he carefully walked forward. Mainly, so that he won’t bump into a tree.

Off somewhere beyond the other side of the forest, the morning spreaded her golden fingers onto the vast, white lands. On the side of a mountain, a cave was founded.

In the cave, a laboratory, which was used during the Great War for the manufacturing of poisonous gases, was filled with the many colors of liquids and glassware.

Jack was in the cave, living in bondage. He might be there for a long time, or whatever was left of his life. His life depended on Balto and his gang for now. The men are bewildered by the formula on Jack’s collar. They didn’t know what to make out of it. It was something new to them as Newton’s law was centuries ago. Questions arise from the collar formula. Does it work? Has it been proven? Is this a trick? Whatever it was, it had better work because Jack’s life would have been in vain.

The group stopped due to the sudden ending of the trail by a mountain. The pack doesn’t know what to make out of this. Did the jeep drive over the steep mountain which had right angles from the surface? Or did the jeep drive through the mountain? Maybe there was some type of hidden entrance in the lying snow which was on the side of a rock. Balto walked up to the rock to investigate it. He sniffgrf the surface. He smelled nothing wrong, since it smelled like a rock with snow. He proceeded to scratch the surface, and suddenly revealed a pad with buttons. Oh no! A dog couldn’t possibly push one button at a time. They have walked all this way and they must now walk back or fear dying in the cold freezing area. Kaltag walked up to the pad to take a look.

"Hmmmmmmm," Kaltag thought out loud, "it has some words here."

Balto requested an answer in desperation, "What does it say?"

"Well, the red button reads open. The black button reads close"

"Well, how are we going to push the small buttons? If Dixie’s paw wouldn’t even fit, no paw would!"

As if called by the winds to give a solution, Star stepped forward. "I can use a stick to push the button!" proclaimed Star with great admiration in his solution.

Dixie remarked, "That is a great idea Star. You are smart! We are saved because of you!"

Star blushes. "Thanks Dixie."

"You’re welcomed anytime," Dixie replied, which Star responded with a gulp.

Star picked up a stick and walked toward the red button with the stick pointing toward the button.

Click!

RRRRUUUUUUUMMMMBBBBLLLLLEEEEEEE!!!!!

The rock formation shuddered to reveal an opening door. Due to the rumble of the huge door, an avalanche was triggered. As it descended and engulfed all of the trees on the mountain side, Balto and the gang headed through the entrance. Everyone ran at high speed. Everyone except poor little Dixie who had the shortest legs. As everyone is safely in the cave, Dixie was seen running in the darkness due to the blocking of the sun by the umbrella of the snow. Star feared for Dixie’s life and ran to save her. He grabbed her and tosses her into the cave but he was too late to save himself.

CRRRRUUUUUMMMBBBBBLLLEEEE!!!!! The snow packed itself ground up on Star. What iwas left was the staring whiteness of the snow which has buried Star.

Balto and Steele immediately tried to save Star. They scratched at the surface, but the snow has packed itself like ice. They couldn’t save Star from the inside of the cave. They must go outside, but that seemed impossible. The entrance to the cave was covered by the snow. Desperation raged inside the cave. How do we save him?!, the dogs wondered in disbelief.

Dixie was still shaking due to the incident. "Why did Star risk his life for me? He was safe in the cave."

Nobody answered. They knew why, but they couldn’t tell Dixie. It would hurt her to hear why.

A group gathering took place at the moment. Everyone was silent to give their respect to Star. As they stood in the semi-dark area, a wolf was heard to howl at the moment of silence. Balto gets a sudden urge to let one go out of his throat, but he held it back since he wasn’t in the mood. The Star incident somewhat subdued his instinct to howl back.

The second major task was up ahead. Morale among the dogs was low. They didn’t know where to go or what dangers lie ahead. As a result, they were lost and scared.

Jenna walked towards Balto to give him a snug. She was bothered by Star’s loss.

Searching for an answer, Jenna asked him, "What do we do Balto?"

Balto doesn’t know the answer but instead gave something out of the blue, "We must search the cave for Jack. Star would have wanted us to continue."

As the group shivered in the cold darkness of the cave, two stood to take the challenge of penetrating the abyss. Balto and Steele volunteered to undertake such a heroic deed in order to preserve the safety of the rest of the group. While they entered the cave, the group would stay in the dark entrance of the cave and wait silently.

Balto gave attention to Steele’s sudden couragenous which he used to exibit before he was banished. Something lurked in him that Steele wasn’t quite himself as usual. It did bother him just a little. Not enought to make the fur on his back rise though.

The two vanished beyond the border of blackness that outlined the cave entrance and the depths of the cave.

"So Steele, what is your plan this time?" inquired Balto.

"Well, I am not sure. As an experienced leader, I always find it quite interesting to plunge oneself in danger, only to come out gloriously. What do you think about that?"

At the moment, Balto was somewhat skeptical of Steele’s remark. Again, something lurked in Balto. He was not quite sure of what it was. Maybe just part of his wolf instinct.

"I am not very kin on what you mean exactly. Then again, what glory do you seek?"

"Now, that is a very good question that you will have to find the answer on your own."

Steele followed his last sentence with a litte sinister laugh which Balto had heard before. Balto ingnored the last sentence.

Both of them remained silent for the rest of the way. They contined on in the darkness, hoping to find an end to it.

Back in the area where Jack was being held, the men set up a rifle post. They apparently heard the crashing of the snow and a mysterious howl of a wolf. The men didn’t want to take a chance against any interuption of any sort.

High at the rifle post, one of the men setted up a rifle. A perfect weapon to dispose of any intruders. As he locked and loaded, the men heard some patting of paws down a corridor. The man at the rifle post signaled his comrade that he heard something coming. The man on the ground signaled back a desperate call. Fire at will!

Steele and Balto had been walking for almost an hour, and their paws were sore. Kind of odd for two champion sled leaders to get sore paws at the time. Steele briskfully looked at Balto whom was still unsure of Steele’s purpose. Balto now has a painful rush of anxiety running through his veins. Steele was up to something but he doesn’t know. He can’t put a paw on what it was.

The man at the post sighted two dogs walking out of a corridor. He had his rifle loaded. He estimated the distance between him and the wolf-looking dog, which was walking besides a black and white dog, so that he can fix the aim sights for the correct measurements. He started to squeeze the trigger.

Jenna and the rest of the dogs were still silent in the darkness. Jenna felt a sudden urge of saddness. Something had gone wrong most likely. Steele and Balto have taken too long. They should be back by now! Then, all of a sudden, a blast was heard. All of the dogs were frightened by its eriee cry. The sound of the blast grabned each of the dogs and squeezed the breath out of them, yet only for a second or two. Jenna rose from the darkness with her voice.

"BALTO!!! STEELE!"

To be continued (Maybe)