Nikki's First Love
by Cyberwulfe
Steele peeked his head around the edge of a building. He didn't see anyone. He walked into the street and down to the sawmill where the rest of the dogs were gathered. After looking through the open door for a few moments he gathered up his strangth and entered. A gasp arose from the dogs as they saw him.
Steele, after being banished from town two months ago, had been living in the woods. He ate whatever he could catch, and starved when there was nothing to eat. He finally decided that asking for forgiveness would be less humiliating than starving to death in the woods. he walked into the middle of the room and sat down. A sympathetic dog tossed him a bone, and he chewed it hungrily.
No one was more surprised to see Steele than his old three-dog gang, Nikki, Kaltag, and Star. They whispered to each other, in disbelief that he had come back. Finally Kaltag spoke," Hey there Steele! I guess you got tired of the woods, eh?"
"Yes. Will you guys take me back?" Steele mumbled, still trying to maintain his old pride.
"It's not really up to us," said Nikki.
Then Balto came out from the groupd of dogs and stared down at Steele. Steele just chewed on his bone. Balto extended his foreleg and touched Steele's shoulder," I forgive you Steele. You're always welcome here."
Balto was always kind, regardless of how he was treated by others. He had been treated the worse by Steele, but now, by seing Steele humbled by his very presence, he knew that their feud was over. Steele managed a smile and swallowed a large piece of bone. Balto grinned. Onle Steele could choke down whole bones at once.
"And then I ran down the hill and grabbed the rabbit in my teeth!" said Steele. He was bragging about his experience in the woods, adding things to make the story more exciting.
"Oh really?" replied Nikki.
"I had to eat you know! What else is out there than rabbits, squirrrels, and birds. Birds; now that was a challenge!" Steele rolled his eyes; he was glad that he wouldn't have to try to catch birds again.
"Well I just hope I never leave town and live in the wild. It would be aweful," said Kaltag.
"Well if Steele and Balto could do it so could we," added Star.
"No offense dere Star," said Nikki," But you wouldn't last a minute!"
Star made a face at Nikki and continued nibbling on a bone. Balto and his mate, Jenna, walk in.
"Hi guys!" sais Balto.
"Hey Balto," said Kaltag.
"What's going on tonight?" asked Jenna.
"Not much," replied Nikki," Do you guys hae any plans?"
Balto licked Jenna's nose," Yeah. We're going to go to the frozen waterfall and watch the Northern Lights."
"I hope you guys have fun. Maybe you should bring Star and Dixie along. Then Star would finally have a date!"
The group of dogs laughed. They knew that Star loved Dixie, but if only Dixie knew. Nikki chckled again then looked sadly at the floor," Well... I gotta go. See youse guys later."
"Bye Nyk," said Star.
"C'ya!" exclaimed Kaltag.
Nikki slowly walked out the door. Once outside the door he looked back at Jenna and sighed.
The next day at Nome's airstrip an airplane landed. Many people walk out of it, including a man with his dog. They get in a sled and are taken to the main street where they stand and look at a hotel.
"Well Minski," said the man," What do you think of this place?"
Minski barked and wagged her tail.
"Alright girl. We'll check inside and see how much it is," replied her master.
They disappeared inside. Nikki, who was watching them from the end of the block, hung his tongue out of his mouth.
Nikki whistled," I wonder who she is?"
That night the back door of the hotel opened and Minski came outside.
"You be a good girl now, Minski," he said.
Nikki popped up a loose board in the fence and stared at Minski. She was a Chow, just like him. A lightly coloured tan, with sparkling eyes. He just had to meet her. He squeezed through a narrow opening in the wooden fence and walked up to the surprised Minski.
"Hi dere. I'm Nikki. Who are you?"
"I'm Minski. You live around here?"
"Yep. I saw you arrive today. You planning on staying long?"
"Only if my master can get a good job, then I'll be living here permantly."
"Well that would be good. It's nice to meet someone new. Life gets kinda boring around here," Nikki grinned. He hoped he wasn't giving himself away.
"Oh, really? I hope not too boring. I just love excitement!" exclaimed Minski.
"Well, I know a place that's always fun. Come on."
Nikki walked to the opening in the fence and looked back at her.
Minski lingered behind, "I'd love to, but I have to stay here. My master trusts me not to wander off alone."
"Well... you wouldn't be alone," Nikki winked.
"I don't know?" replied Minski, a bit uneasy.
"Come on," pressed Nikki," It'll be fun. Besides, I can introduce you to some of the other dogs."
Minski finally nodded her head and squeezed through the opening before Nikki. Nikki followed and they chatted as they walked down the alleyway.
Things were wild as they always were in the old sawmill. No longer used by the humans it was now the dogs' meeting place and leisure area. The boiler was kept lit and there were planty of bones for everyone. Nikki led Minski through the group of dogs to where his friends were gathered.
"Hi guys," said Nikki.
"Hi Nikki. Who's your friend?" asked Balto, seing Minski.
"This is Minski. She just flew in today with her master. Minski this is Balto, Jenna, Star, Kaltag, and Steele.
"Hi," said Minski, still a bit shy.
"Hello," replied the group in unison.
"So, will you be staying very long?" asked Balto.
"I might," replied Minski," If my master gets a good job we'll be living here. If not we're going back to Chicago."
Balto pulled Nikki aside," Hey Nyk, she's quite the pooch, eh?," and he winked at him"
"I dunno. She's kinda nice and all, dere. But I don't really have time for that kind of thing," said Nikki.
"And you think I have the time? I'm busy too. But I have to make the time."
"I guess so. But I hope I have an easier time with her than Star had with Dixie!"
"Star still hasn't asked her out, but you have an open opportunity with Minski. Trust me, I think you will!"
Nikki walked Minski home. They were chatting and laughing, remembering the fun things that happened in the past two hours. They go behind the hotel again and slip through the hole in the fence. Nikki looks into Minski's eyes. This was his chance to tell her.
"I had a good time," said Minski," Thank you for inviting me."
"Hey. I would hate for you to stay cooped up in here," said Nikki. He looked around the small, fanced-in yard.
"It's okay, I guess. But thanks for showing me where that hole was." She winked, then kissed him on the cheek.
Nikki's mouth dropped open as Minski walks to the door and scratched. Nikki ran out before Minski's master opens the door and let her in.
Nikki was sitting at the edge of town, looking at the woods. Star came along and sat next to him. Star tried to focus in on what Nikki was looking at, but failed to see it.
"What are you looking at?" asked Star.
"Just the woods," replied Nikki," They look nice, with the snow and ice in the trees."
Star scrunched up his face," Really? It looks kinda white and frosty to me!"
Nikki hit him on the head," I think it's beautiful."
"Well... I think it's... frosty." He lost consciousness and dropped into the snow. Nikki rolled his eyes and walks back to town. He saw Minski being walked by her master and trotted up to chat with her. She looked even more beautiful in the light of day.
"Hi Nikki!" said Minski, seeing him as he approached.
"Oh, hi. Nice leash," complimented Nikki.
"Thanks. Last night was fun. Can you come get me tonight too?"
"Sure. I'll see you then."
"Bye."
"Bye!" Nikki smiled and ran up the street to the sawmill.
Balto was there, trying to sleep next to the boiler. Nikki carefully nudged him awake.
"Hmmm?" mumbled Balto. Then he woke up and saw Nikki," Hey Nikki. So, how are you and Minski doing?"
"Fine. She wants to come back here tonight," replied Nikki.
"That's great! I'm proud of you. It took a lotta guts to ask her out."
Nikki grinned sheepishly," Who says I asked her out? She just likes coming to the mill and she asks me to bring her there."
"That's usually called a date. Trust me," smiled Balto.
"I don't think I'm ready for all this stuff!" said Nikki. He sat down with a heavy sigh.
"Don't worry. I'll help you out," said Balto.
"Thanks Balto."
That night, Nikki waited by the back fence of the hotel. Minski popped her head through the hole and smiled at Nikki," Hi Nikki, ready for tonight?"
Nikki gulped," Sure!"
They walked to the sawmill, Nikki was a bit quiet this time. Nikki walks to the door of the mill but Minski stops outside.
"What is it?" asked Nikki.
"Why don't you take me someplace else tonight?" asked Minski, a twinkle in her eye.
"I thought you liked the sawmill?"
"I do, but I'd like to see more than just one part of your town," said Minski. She winked.
"Okay. What would you like to see?" asked Nikki, ready to act charming wherever and whenever.
"Are there any good lookout points around here?" asked Minski.
Nikki smiled.
Nikki and Minski walked through the moonlit woods, their eyes locked with each others. Nikki had shown her the Northern Lights, something she'd have never seen in Chicago. She was amazed at the variety of colours, colours she was sure that only God could have put together. There was nothing but silence between them; the night was theirs.
"Nikki?" she finally said.
"Yeah?" replied Nikki. They stopped walking.
"Nikki... I think you're really a great dog. I love being with you," continued Minski.
"Aww... I like being with you too."
He moved closer and kissed her.
Balto and Jenna sat at home, watching Rosy play with a red ball. She would bounce it as high as the ceiling then catch it. Then it would roll down the hall and she would run after it and catch it.
They sat for several minutes. Balto looked down at Jenna. He loveed seing her happy. She had the nicest smile of any dog he had ever met. He thought of Nikki and the dog he had just met. He liked Minski, she was a nice person, but he was worried about how Nikki would take things if she had to go away.
Rosy grabbed her ball and carrie dit into the living room. She bounced it on the floor and tried to catch it, but it bounced up and smackedher in the face. Balto trid not to giggle.
Jenna sighed," Mmmm, kids," and she leaned against Balto's chest.
Balto gulped!
The next day, Nikki went to see Minski. She was sitting outside the hotel with her master who was on a bench reading a paper. Nikki, baing cautious around Minski's master, walked closer and sat next to her.
"Hi Nikki," said Minski.
"Hey dere," replied Nikki," What do you wan to do tonight?"
"How about that waterfall your friend Balto told me about? It sounds very romantic."
"Okay. I'll pick you up after dark."
"Sounds like fun," replied Minski. She got up and left as her master got up and walked down the street. Balto, who was watching from across the street, crossed the road and stood with Nikki.
"Sounds like you guys are really hitting it off, eh?" said Balto.
"Yeah," replied Nikki," She's really nice. I guess I never really thought of having a girlfriend before."
"You two look very happy together. I hope all goes well," said Balto.
"Thanks Balto. You're a real pal, dere."
The two dogs continued chatting as they walked down the street towards the old mill.
Later that day Nikki and Star were talking about Nikki's new favorite topic: Minski. Star, who despreately wanted to ask out Dixie but was much too shy to, wanted to get as much information about this thing called "dating" before he went out and took the big step.
"So how did you do it?" asked Star.
"Completely by accident," replied Nikki, trying to be modest," I just asked her if she wanted to get out of that small yard behind the the hotel. She's too pretty to be cooped up in a place like that!"
"I don't believe you! It couldn't have been that easy!" gasped Star. If that was all it took to get a girl then Star had it made!
"Trust me. That was it. You should try it with Dixie."
Star blushed," I can't even talk to her, I'm way too shy!"
"Now that's something I don't believe. You should find something that she likes, and then take her dere. She doesn't have to know it's a date!"
"Well... maybe? But I still need to work up the nerve to even ask her to anything!"
"Of course!"
Minski curiously looked into the closet. Her master was sitting inside with a smal bottle in his hand. He was singing a silly song that she couldn't understand. She nuzzld his hand and he lookd at her with an awful stare.
"What do you want?" he said drunkenly," I already fed you today. That's why I don't have any money! I have to take care of you all the time."
Minski got scared and ran into the other room of their small apartment. Her master didn't follow. He was to drunk to get out of the closet. She glanced inside the bedroom again. He was still sitting there, singing that sily song. She sighed.
"I thought he'd stopped that," she said to herself," He acts like that all the time. All because of whatever he drinks from that bottle."
That afternoon Nikki saw Minski beside the butcher's shop, waiting while her master was buying some meat inside. She looked very sad so Nikki walked up and nuzzled her.
"What's wrong?"asked Nikki.
"My master couldn't find a job, and his money is running low. We have to leave soon," she sobbed.
"No!" gasped Nikki," That's terrible!"
"I know! We're leaving tomorrow morning. I'll never see you again after tonight!"
"Sure, we might. The world ain't that big," said Nikki, trying to make Minski feel better.
Minski licked Nikki's nose," I want to have a good time before I have to go, so I can remember the fun I had and try to forget the sad parting."
Nikki nodded solemly. He knew what her leaving meant: possible a broken heart. He had found love for the first time, and now fate was taking her away from him. He just smiled and led her to the mill where they could hang out with the other dogs until she had to go.
Minski kept from Nikki the fact that the money was going because of her master's drinking. He's been like that since he'd gotten her and it had gotten worse ever since. She wished she could just stay here, but her master was very strict with her. he let he run off sometimes, but while on a leash he kept her close by his side.
That night at the mill the dogs decided to throw a good-bye party for Minski. She seemed to be having a good time, but is soon grew late, and she had to return to the hotel.
"I brought you this," said Jenna. She draged with her a small bag. Minski unwrapped it with her nose to uncover a rock with a gold streak running through it.
"It's pretty. Thank you Jenna," replied Minski, a small tear rolled down her cheek.
"I couldn't find you anything," said Balto," So I sorta have to split Jenna's present with you."
"That's okay," replied Minski," I appreciate it. Thanks to both of you."
"Here's something I thought you might like," said Star.
Minski looks at the small pile of smooth stones that Star dropped at her feet. Some were pink and white, and others were gray and black.
"They are very nice. Thank you Star."
"I thought you might like this," said Steele. He droped a large bone at her feet," I stole... er, found it behind the butcher's shop."
"Oh, this'll last me a week! Thanks Steele!"
A few other dogs give Minski presents, then she told them that she had to go before her master began to worry about her. Nikki walked her back to the backyard of the hotel. They stood in the yard, facing each other. Nikki was tryig not to cry, but Minski was and he had a hard time holding back his emotions.
"I'll go to see you tomorrow morning, if I can catch the plane," promised Nikki.
"I know you will," replied Minski.
"I didn't give you anything, but you can have this." Nikki kissed her.
She smiled and walked back to the door. After scratching a few times she turned around. Nikki was gone, as always, before her master came to the door to let her in.
The next morning Minski and her master waited on the runway in the line of passengers that are also leaving Nome. Minski anxiously watched the edge of town for any sign of Nikki. She saw none. Sadly she boarded the plane, alongside her master.
"What's wrong, girl?" he asked," Not ready to leave. We have to you know!"
Minski just looked up at him, then took the window seat. Then she looked outt he window and saw Nikki running out from behind a building and towards the plane. Minski barked and wagged her tail.
"Minski!" shouted Nikki.
Minski barked again inside the plane, annoying a few passengers.
"Minski, be quiet!' shouted her master. Minski just whimpered and pawed at the glass.
"Minski!" Nikki called again.
Minski barked again. Her master puts his hand in his carry-on bag and pulled out a muzzle. He strapped it to her face to keep her quiet.She watched sadly as Nikki chased the plane before it took off. Nikki watched it as it disappeared over the mountains. Minski was gone, and he would never see her again.
Sure, there was the very remote chance that she would pop up again, but he doubted it. Love had ways of ruining things: plans, lives... even hope. But Nikki would have to hang onto his hope, and dream of when he and Minski would meet again.
He sadly walked back to town, his head hung low. He ignored everyone and went straight home. He lay down on his blanket and sighed. The bone next to him seemed unappatizing. Nothing coudl make him happy now. His love was gone.
The next day, Nikki finally decided to get out of his depression and meet with his friends. They were waiting for him at the mill.
"We heard what happened, Nik," said Balto.
"I'm so sorrym," said Jenna, sympathetically.
Kaltag and Star also added their greivances.
"Thanks guys. I really appreciate it," replied Nikki. He sniffed and let a small tear run down his cheek.
He may have lost Minski, but he knew that these friends would never leave him. he was glad to have friends like that. Just to be there for him, especially now in his time of need.
THE END
Based on the movie "Balto" by Universal Studios and Amblin Entertainment.
Minski is copyrighted by Bankrose and not to be used without his permission.