Balto IV: Wolf Destiny [BEING REWRITTEN]

REVELATIONS

A small droplet of cold water landed on Balto's smooth fur, jolting him awake. He glanced around, disappointment flooding his gaze as he realized he remained trapped in the vast, frigid cave where Kal and Kodi had confined him. Suddenly, a familiar sound reached his ears—a sound they had played countless times to move stones obstructing their path to freedom.

"Dad!" Kodi exclaimed, his paws laboring to dislodge the stones. "Help me, I can't do it alone!" Balto rose slowly, his eyes meeting Kodi's with a sense of melancholy.

"Kodi," he murmured, his voice laced with sorrow, "we've been trying for hours, and it hasn't made a difference." Anger and despair intertwined on Kodi's face.

"But it can't end like this!" he cried out. "What about Kal? We can't let him escape! Aleu is out there with her pack, completely unaware! Kal may have already... already..." Kodi's sentence trailed off as tears welled in his eyes. Determined to shield his vulnerability from his father, he avoided Balto's gaze, retreating to a corner of the cave adorned with shimmering crystals. Balto approached his son, aching to offer solace, yet words eluded him.

"Kodi..." he began, but before he could continue, a mist as white as snow materialized at the center of the cave. And there, in all her resplendence, stood Aniu: her fur as pure as freshly fallen snow, her eyes a radiant yellow. Kodi and Balto stared at her, met by the solemn intensity of her gaze.

"Mother," Balto choked back his tears, "I... I've been foolish to trust Kal. I should have heeded your warning, I..." Kodi, seething with anger, cut him off, glaring at Aniu.

"Did you know?" he demanded, inching closer to the she-wolf. "Did you know this was going to happen?"

"Kodi, enough!" Balto whispered urgently, his voice filled with caution. "What are you doing?" Kodi's anger blazed, his eyes sparking with fury. It sent shivers of fear coursing through Balto, a sensation he rarely experienced. Nonetheless, he allowed his son to vent. Aniu, however, remained silent, her gaze a blend of melancholy and seriousness. This only fueled Kodi's rage.

"TELL ME!" he bellowed.

"Kodi, that's enough!" Balto interjected firmly. "The first time we came here, she warned us that someone we trusted would betray us. Why are you surprised by this?"

"Because it wasn't just one betrayer; it was two!" Kodi countered. Just as the words left his lips, Aniu interrupted, her voice grave yet gentle.

"Indeed, the one who betrayed you was Kal; Tarkus is merely under his influence." The revelation left both Kodi and Balto stunned, their minds reeling. Before they could articulate their thoughts, Aniu pressed on. "But there is something else you need to know."

"What is it?" Balto inquired, his curiosity aflame, his gaze akin to a young pup witnessing the delicate dance of snowflakes for the first time upon a vast sea of green.

Aniu smiled as she replied, "One of you will come face-to-face with a long-lost brother." Balto was certain she referred to him, for Kodi knew all his brothers and sisters well. Several moments of profound silence passed, the only sound their measured breaths. Then, Kodi spoke.

"In case you haven't noticed, we're trapped in a cave!" Kodi's frustration punctuated

his words. In that instant, he noticed a smile gracing Aniu's countenance.

"Are you certain?" she questioned. With a graceful motion, she beckoned Balto and Kodi to look towards the cave entrance. What they witnessed left them speechless—once more, the entrance stood wide open, revealing the crystal-clear water cascading from the waterfall onto the rocks.

Balto and Kodi were free once again. Once outside the cave, Balto and Kodi stood in awe, their eyes widening in disbelief. Kodi turned to where Aniu had been standing, as if seeking forgiveness for his previous doubts. The crystal-clear water of the waterfall allowed a glimpse into its depths, but to their astonishment, the spot where the white she-wolf had stood remained vacant.