BALTO IV: RETURN OF JOKER
by Ebony Patriot

Balto, Jenna, Niju, Aleu, Steele, Star, Kaltag, Nikki, Nava, Nuk, Sumac, Yak, Muru, Aniu, Sylvie, Dixie, Doc, Rosy, Boris, Muk and Luk are copyrighted to Universal studios

Kemo and the title “Balto’s Boat” are copyrighted to CYBERWULFE.

AMAROQ, the inspiration for Tornait, and KAPU are copyrighted to Jean CRAIGHEAD George.

Midback and Buster are copyrighted to Jim Brandenburg.

Buck, White Fang, and Spitz are copyrighted to jack London.

Tundra and Taiga are copyrighted to r.d. Lawrence.

Joker, MicroWing, Bruce, Silver Cloud, Night Jaws, Black Eagle, Toronto, Twister, Quii, Murderer, Killer, Rage, Fury, Loather, Gnash, Wrath, Butch, Embitter, Slaughter, Offense, Anger, Crank, Harley, Tornait, Chrome, Phoenix, Thunder, Galaxy, Desert Storm, and Sand Piper are copyrighted to Ebony Patriot {Me!}

(DO NOT USE ANY OF THESE CHARACTERS WITHOUT GIVING ME CREDIT AND/OR ASKING PERMISSION, OR DEFILING THEM IN ANY WAY. IF YOU DO, I’LL SIC MY PSYCHO EVIL SPANISH TEACHER ON YOU. WOE SHALL BE YOU!)

The Joker, Batman, and Harley, inspirations for Joker, MicroWing and Harley are copyrighted to DC comics.

Ed, the inspiration for Bob, is copyrighted to Disney Enterprises.

Bob is copyrighted to DCOUNTRY87, the editor and director of the story (and the last, I just forget to give credit.)

voices:

Balto: Kevin Bacon
Jenna: BRIDGET Fonda
Niju: Mark HAMILL
Aleu: Lacey CHABERT
Steele:Jim Cummings
Star: ROBBIE Rist
Kaltag: Danny Mann
Nikki: Jack Angel
Nava: David Carradine
Doc: Donald Sinden
Dixie & Sylvie: Sandra Searles Dickinson
Muru: Peter Macnicol
Boris: Bob Hoskins
Muk & Luk: Phil Collins
Kemo: James Earl Jones
Midback: Whopi Goldberg
Tundra: Matthew Bodrick
Taiga: Carrie Fisher
Silver Cloud: Robby Benson
Black Eagle: Tim Allen
Night Jaws: Robin Willaims
Joker: Mark HAMILL
Harley: Arleen Sorkin
Toronto: Harrison Ford
Twister: Jerry Orbach
Bruce: David Ogen Steirs
MicroWing: Kevin Conroy
Wolverine: Dennis Leary
Quii: Linda Hunt
Murderer: Tony Jay
Killer: Charels Nelson Riely
Loather:Jack Black
Bob: Nathan Lane

******CHAPTER 1: THE YEARLING******

The yearling wolf-dog Joker lay on the ledge overlooking the ocean, bored out of his skull. He thumped his big tail. Joker was a coal black young timber wolf.  His head, ruff, neck and spine were all raven-black. The rest was ebony black. From the smooth ‘stop’ of his head to his throat, his face was a ghostly white. He had a pale under side. His eyes were pure gold, which changed to a demon yellow when he was feeling a killer mood. His jaws were a faint silver. His voice was taunting, insane and cruel. His laugh would drive chills up the doughiest of spines. He acted like he was possessed by a Devil. In truth, he had a mental disorder.

Joker thumped his black-and-white tail again. He tried not to think about that fateful day six months ago. His mother Aleu, daughter of the famed hero wolf-dog Balto and AKC husky Jenna, and his father Niju, purebred black-and-silver timber wolf, had brought Joker and his four brothers and one sister down to Nome, to greet his grand parents. Joker had nearly torn out the throat of his heroic uncle when his father had gripped his neck and pulled him back. His uncle MicroWing, got up, none the worse for wear and completely unruffled, both physically and mentally, by his experience. Bruce, his twin ran to him. From that day on, as long as the visit lasted, Joker had not been allowed near his uncles without Tundra and Silver Cloud, his two much larger and slightly older brothers.

Joker sighed. He did not know why he hated MicroWing. He just did. Among his family, he was good. And now they were going back. He sighed again. He was bored. He had to something.

He rose. His siblings were asleep on the beach. Joker came up, first to Silver Cloud. “Hey First-Born!” he snapped. The large white wolf with the silver 2-inch stripe on his nose and silver spot on his chest didn’t even open his pure gold eyes. A black-tipped ear tilted forward, the only sign he had heard. Joker went on. “I challenge you! Come on Whitey, get up and fight! Come on, just do something! ANYTHING!!!!” Silver Cloud opened his eyes. Joker’s heart gave a glad little leap. “What’s the matter, Whitey? Afraid of getting beaten by a RUNT?!?”

Silver Cloud lifted his head. He was gentle, but still had a sense a secrecy about him. “Ahh...Joker,” he said in his soft, gentle voice. “You know I won’t fight you. So why do you keep asking?”

“One can always hope,” grumbled Joker as he trotted to Tundra.

“I’m Alpha Male!” Tundra was coal black, with gold eyes and a white diamond-shaped star on his his chest. He lifted his head. “Now Blackey, are going to let the smallest take over?”

“So you are the Alpha pup. Big, fat, hairy deal. Like I said six months ago, I don’t really care, as long as you’re a good leader.” Tundra had always been a gentle wolf, at peace with the World. Even his voice was calm and gentle.

Joker went to Black Eagle. He snarled. Black Eagle was pure black, save for his head and tail, which were silver. His eyes were gold. He was fierce and independent, just like his namesake. All of that was reflected in his voice. “No, Joker,” he said. “I’ve been fishing salmon, and now all I want is for my fur to dry.”

“WOLVES DON’T FISH!!” he growled, trying to aggravate him into a fight.

“This one does.”

Joker went to Taiga. The only female in the litter, she was feisty and was the only one to not accept Joker’s leadership. The butterscotch wolf lifted her head with slated yellow eyes. Joker snapped.

“Not now Joker!” she sighed. “I’m too tired to fight! Someone was howling ALL NIGHT LONG and it kept me awake.”

“But, the full-moon was out!” cried Joker.

“You are the only wolf,” she grumbled, “who actually howls at the full moon!”

“Hey, it’s fun! You should try it sometimes!”

Night Jaws was Joker’s last hope. He was pure black, save for the silver jaws and dark brown slanted eyes. “Joker,” started Night Jaws. He was a very funny wolf to listen to, and he was good-willed. Even his voice was fun-loving. “I have no want to fight you.”

“Why not? Not wolf enough?” snapped Joker.

“Wellll...I am 3/8 dog, like you! All the rest of me is wolf.”

“Joker,” said Silver Cloud, raising his head again. “If you’re bored, why don’t you go hunt?”

“Good idea, Whitey,” said Joker, starting off.

******CHAPTER 2: MURU******

Joker climbed up the stair-like ledges. He had never climbed up here. His mother Aleu and his grandfather, Balto, had passed by. His sharp nose picked up their faint 4-year-old trail. There was a cave. He started in. A wolverine ran out. He was dark-brown, with two yellow stripes running from his neck to the rump. His black eyes glared.

“Why, how dare you invade my territory, wolf-dog!?!” he snarled.

“You don’t know who I am, do you?” smiled Joker.

“I DON’T CARE!!! I AM DRAGGING YOU DOWN!!!”

“I am Joker, the devil wolf.”

“Hah! ‘Devil Wolf’?!! Yeah, right!”

Joker didn’t reply. He strode forward. His eyes turned a hard, demon yellow. “Have you ever danced with the Devil in the pale moonlight?”

“NO! WHAT KIND OF A STUPID QUESTION IS THAT?!?” snarled the wolverine.

“Oh, don’t worry. You will have, now,” Joker sprang, laughing. The wolverine whined with fear. Joker’s teeth sank into his throat. He dragged its carcass over and placed it beneath the trees. He would give it to Nava, the old gold-gray tribal leader. Nava loved weasel meat. Joker preferred deer and ptarmigan.

He stepped into the cave. There was a grove of crystals. “Praise for the Red Dawn, Grass that we walk upon. Praise for the river’s whispered tune.” A chant rang out. Joker cocked his ears. It sounded like a song Nava would sing. “Praise the Wind Brother. Praise the Earth Mother. Praise the Father Sun and Sister Moon.” Joker had finally found the singer. It was a brown field mouse, singing to a female.

Joker wished to frighten the little rat. He lifted his head and started howling. “You sing wonderfully! So eeriy!” he smiled. “My name is Muru. This is Quii, my mate.”

“Indeed.”

“You are such a great wolf-dog! Just like your mother, Aleu!”

“Dog? DOG? I AM NOT A DOG! I AM A WOLF!” he snarled.

“Ahh....you must make the journey. You must find out who you really are!”

“JOURNEY?!? I’m not going anywhere! My Mom told me about you! Don’t think you can start that with me!”

Quii stepped up. “You mangy mutt, how dare you not listen to Muru. He’s smarter than you’ll ever be, you insane cur!” she said.

“Cur?” His eyes glowed. Now, being called a dog didn’t bother him. He didn’t mind dogs. He didn’t really like them, but, save MicroWing, he didn’t hate them. But cur was going too far! “Have you ever danced with the Devil in the pale moonlight?’ he asked.

“No.” He lunged. His sharp teeth closed on her body. Her bones sickeningly crushed. Muru cried and ran off. She was dead. He grinned and swallowed her.

******CHAPTER 3: BALTO******

Joker cocked his ears. His Father was calling him. He picked up his wolverine and trotted down. There was his family, lined up and ready to go. Old Nava, his muzzle turning silver with age, was waiting to go, too. Joker came in. “Good to see you, Joker.” said his father. Niju stood, a grin on his face.

Aleu ran forward to him. “Where were you?” she asked, licking his face.

“Mom, there was a singing rat!”

“Singing rat?” she asked.

“Yeah. His name was Muru. He said that I ‘need to go on a journey’. And then his mate, Quii, called me a cur and so I ate her,”

“That was mean,” snarled Niju. Now, while cur wasn’t swearing, even in the dog world, it was as nasty as a slap in the face.

“What happened to Muru?” asked Aleu.

“He ran off. Oh, and I caught Nava a wolverine!”

“A wolverine? Wolverines never go down without a fight! How in the world did you get him without having your face torn up?” asked Nava.

“I laughed and he got scared. I pounced and got his throat.”

“Thank you,” said Nava, as Joker dropped the wolverine at his feet.

“Now then, shall we get going?” asked Niju. “And Joker,” said Niju. “DON’T YOU DARE TRY TO HURT MICROWING!”

“O.K.”

“Lead, Twister and Toronto.”

******************************************************************************

Within a few days they had reached Nome. Balto ran to greet them.

“Hello. We missed you!!!” he said, hugging Aleu’s neck.

“Ohh..and I missed you, Papa!” said Aleu.

“Awwww... you didn’t miss me, Papa?” grinned Niju.

“And you!”

They went into town. Steele, Star, Kaltag, Nikki, Dixie, Sylvie, Doc and Jenna came up. “Yearlings now, aren’t they?” asked Doc.

“Yep.”

Steele walked among them. He stopped at Joker. “This one has the best chance at leadership.”

“Why?” asked Niju. “Well...actually, he is Alpha pup but how did you know he’s a leader?”

“Because he has the markings of the best leader around here, me!”

Everyone laughed at his unintentional joke.

“Those are some good grand pups, Balto, dere,” said Nikki.

“Yes. They are the most admirable, the most superb, the most stupendous...” said Kaltag.

“They’re good!” cried Star, wincing as Kaltag’s heavy paw flew onto his head.

“So that’s where you were the whole time, huh, Aleu?” said Dixie.

“You weren’t stuck at the Arctic at all... You had run of with this...werewolf!”

“Watch it, Shorty. At least she’s married!” Niju snapped.

“Ahh...now, I would say she was trapped there. Either that, or I got an Arctic mate from magic,” said a voice that sounded like wild thunder over the mountains.

“KEMO!!” cried Balto, as he ran forward to meet his half-brother. “KEMO!!! YOU CRAZED OVER-GROWN ARCTIC FOX!!!! WHAT YOU DOING HERE?” Balto laughed, nipping his black-tipped ear.

Kemo grinned at Balto. “Now Balto, you should behave yourself in front of a lady.” There stood Midback, the Alpha Female.

“Ahh... but he has a point, Kemo. You haven’t told Balto why we are here,” she said.

“Oh. Well, it’s like this, Gray Pants,” grinned Kemo.

“‘Gray Pants?’” smiled Balto. It was hard to see who was happier, Balto or Kemo.

“Brothers,” sighed Midback. “We wanted to see the yearlings.

“Yeah. I thought they should know about their half-great uncle... ahh, what the heck. Call me Kemo.”

Sylvie stepped up to Joker. “Saaayy... aren’t you the demon wolf who almost killed MicroWing? It is the only thing Nome’s been buzzing about.”

Niju’s and Joker’s lips rose into a snarl. “Sylvie,” said Jenna quietly. “He was only a pup. I snapped at you, too, when I was a pup.” Sylvie stared at her friend. “And, please stop gossiping about my grand pups!”

“Indeed, we can all stand a little less gossip!” snapped Doc.

Kemo lifted his head. His black-tipped ears tilted forward. “Here comes MicroWing and Bruce, my half-nephews!” he said.

“You know Kemo, wouldn’t it be better to just say nephew and drop the half?” asked Midback.

“Yeah, I know.”

Joker did not want to meet MicroWing. He silently trotted down to the beach. There were Muk and Luk, romping on Boris. “Ah...look! It’s Aleu’s pupnik, Joker!” said Boris.

“I’m not a pup anymore. I’m a yearling,” he said.

“Where are you going?” asked Boris.

“Just wandering. Kemo and his new mate Midback are at Rosy’s house.”

“Kemo?!? Kemo’s back?!?” asked a joyful Muk.

“Yeah”

“KEMO!” said Luk.

“Kemo...Kemo....Kemo!!!” they said, taking off.

Luk stopped. “Boris coming?” he asked.

Muk trotted back, grabbing Boris’s neck. “Come on, Uncle Boris!”

The gruff goose groaned. “You just want to pounce on me...don’t you?”

“Yes!” said Muk.

“Wait! Do you know of any wolves?” asked Joker.

“Yeah, they are in Aleu’s cove!” shouted Muk.

“Huh?”

“The mogshogla bear means the little pine forest!” shouted Boris as he was dragged away.

******CHAPTER 4: HARLEY******

Joker trotted among the pines. He did not like it here. There was not enough pine smell and too much human smell. He was walking along when a fuzzy body ran into him. He grabbed its throat and tossed it. He snarled.

“WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, TO TAKE ON THE SON OF NIJU AND ALEU!?!” he roared. The fuzzy thing got up. It was a female timber wolf. She had eyes yellow as the sun. She was almost all charcoal black. Her right foreleg and her left hind leg, from the shoulder blade to the pad, were rust-colored. Her white face mask started and stopped at the exact same place Joker’s did. She jumped forward.

“HELLO! MY NAME IS HARLEY AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE NOME WOLVES AND I’M PROUD TO MEET YOU!!!! YOU ARE A HANDSOME WOLF! AND EVERYONE SAYS I’M HYPERACTIVE AND THEY SAY I’M ANNOYING!!!!!!” she said excitedly and quickly.

“NO!! Really?!?” said Joker. “I wonder where they get that!?!” he muttered sarcastically.

“WELLLL...I AM HYPERACTIVE. THEY SENT ME OUT TO TIRE MYSELF!!! HEY, CAN WE BE FRIENDS??? WHAT’S YOUR NAME AND PACK???” said Harley.

Harley, Joker thought. What a stupid name. But...it fits her. “I’m Joker, and I’m a member of the OceanPine pack, led by my father and mother.”

“JOKER!!! THAT IS SUCH A GOOD NAME!!!! IT MAKES ME THINKS OF CARDS AND CLOWNS AND CARTOONS!!!”

“Cartoons?” asked Joker.

“YEAH!!! I HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME!!! BUT I DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE!!!” She started prancing around. “HOW ARE OLD ARE YOU?!? I’M A YEARLING!!!”

“Me, too.”

“WANT TO PLAY TAG???”

“Welllll...maybe. I...” His black ears tipped forward. ‘What’s that?”

Harley lifted her ears. “WHY IT’S THE WOLF HUNTERS!”

“Wolf hunters?”

“THEY’RE PIT BULLS THAT COME AND START TRYING TO TEAR US TO PIECES AND THEN THEIR MASTERS COME AND SHOOT US!”

“We got to get out of here!” He ran back to Balto’s Boat. Joker led the way up into the Captain’s Corner. Harley shivered at his side. Short-haired dogs with cropped ears ran by. Their noses twitched with the two wolves scent. Their yellow eyes glowed murder. Joker felt a hatred for them growing up even greater than the hate for MicroWing. For these were killers!

“HEY LOOK, DOGGIES!!” Harley ran out of the Cabin. “HI DOGGIES, WANT TO PLAY???”

Joker stretched out his neck and grabbed her tail. “GET BACK IN HERE, YOU LOON!” he shouted.

The pit bulls looked up. “Murderer, could the wolves be up there?”

“Nah, Killer. That’s Balto’s Boat. We can’t go up there,” said the leader, Murderer.

“So, what do we do again, Murderer? To kill the wolves?” asked another pit bull.

“Well, Loather, let’s demonstrate on that fox pup. Rage, sic him!” The red fox pup, first time out on its feet, cried and ran toward its mother. But Rage was already on him. He brought him back. They laughed as the little baby cowered.

“AWWW.....LOOK! THEIR GOING TO PLAY WITH HIM!” said Harley.

“You idiot, don’t you get it?!? There going to kill him!”

“Now then,” said Murderer. “Killer, Loather, Rage, Fury, Wrath, Gnash, Crank, Embitter, Offense, Slaughter, Butch, Anger, and Bob, listen up! First, you fake for the legs.” He snapped at the infant’s legs. The pup screamed and cried for its mother.

“WOW, THEY SURE PLAY ROUGH!!” commented Harley.

“See, how they fold up. Now, I hear the Owner calling, so I have to kill him quick. You grab the throat.” The pup screamed a death-scream. Its mother cried. The pit bulls laughed as the pup went limp. Then, they tossed the carcass away. Why, they aren’t going even to eat it! thought Joker. For among wolves and all wild things wasting food is not only stupid, it is cruel. Only certain dogs, made evil by men, and evil men themselves, will do it. The pit bulls ran away.

Joker and Harley trotted down. Each heard their parents calling. “WELL, BYE JOKER! I HOPE YOU DON’T FORGET ME!”

“Don’t worry, I won’t!” She laughed and ran away. Joker walked slowly back to his parents. He now knew why he was only insane and not evil. For he had seen pure, uncontrolled evil of fighting pit bulls.

******CHAPTER 5: WHAT PIT BULLS ARE******

MicroWing trotted up. But right now, Joker wasn’t in the mood to attack. “What’s wrong? That’s the first time you ever looked at me and didn’t snarl. Are you done hating me?”

“No. I still don’t like you.” “Wellll...that is O.K.”

“What?” asked Joker. He looked at him. MicroWing was coal-black. The white mark of a bird in flight was on a chest. White wings ran up the side of his paws, like Mercury’s wings. Faint, silver wings ran up his shoulder blades. His eyes were gold. He looked completely like a pure wolf. Despite all of his heroics, he still liked being alone and brooding. Even his voice was firm and craving for solitude.

“You don’t hate me. You are just insane,” he said calmly.

Joker nodded. Then he suddenly said. “Do you know the Nome Wolf Pack?”

“Oh, yeah! They are gray, save for the Alpha Female. The original one died and so a new and reddish female. Why?”

“I met a she-wolf that was rust-and-black and she was hyperactive and annoying! But then we saw a pack of fourteen pit bulls. They wanted to kill wolves, but since they couldn’t find us they killed an infant red fox”

“The Wolf hunters, I’ve heard of them,” said Bruce as he came up. He was dark sable and snow, his markings may have been collie, but he was perfect, in mind, personality, and body. His eyes were dark brown.

“Was the leader named Murderer?” asked MicroWing.

“Why yes he was, Bats.”

“Murders, all of them. They are from the ring.”

“Ring?”

“Fighting ring. That’s why they are so blood thirsty. They are bred to hate and kill”

“And they say I am crazy!”

“It would be better to be insane then cruel. Insanity can be cured. Cruelness can’t.”

Niju, Aleu, Jenna, Balto, the yearlings, Midback and Kemo came up.

“You cubs have improved a lot since I last saw you guys,” Kemo was saying to Muk and Luk, who were dragging Boris. “But I think you should stop pouncing on Boris. I think he would like to live out his days without heavy bears jumping on him.” Muk and Luk nodded.

Boris looked up at the Heavens. “THANK YOU!!”

“Mom, Dad!” said Joker, running up.

“What is it?” asked Aleu, licking his face. “I met a hyperactive, annoying rust-and-black she-wolf, and saw evil pit bulls murderer a fox baby!”

“That’s horrible,” said Balto. “They are evil. Bred and trained to hate and kill. They’ll kill any wolf!”

“Hey, Gray Pants,” grinned Kemo. “May I try to explain what pit bulls are?”

“Sure, Arctic Fox.” Midback sighed.

Jenna leaned over to her. “Males never grow up, do they?”

“Sad fact is they are not a bit more mature than the yearlings!” whispered Midback. Jenna laughed.

Kemo stood up. “Pit bulls are bred to fight. Now, while they aren’t born evil, they are trained to kill. They will take on any wolf. And they won’t stop until the wolf is dead. Once they latch on with those jaws, nothing will open them. You have to slice their heads off to make them let go. I hope that none of us ever meet one!”

Joker nodded his head. The dogs weren’t evil. The men who train them were evil and changed them into killers.

******CHAPTER 6: THE TWO YEAR-OLDS******

Tundra, Taiga, Silver Cloud, Night Jaws, Black Eagle and Joker had now turned two years-old. They could, at this point, have pups of their own. But only the Alphas can breed.Niju and Aleu had not bred since the time they had the six two-year-olds. They actually could have mated again when the pups were yearlings, but Joker’s insanity prevented them. And so the den grew faint with pup smells. Nava was still very much alive. He was a charming play fellow to the wolves, and a source of wisdom. And, since Nava had been the grandfather to Aniu, Balto’s mother.

Joker was still upset, for he had never beaten Taiga in an alpha contest. So, on the day they were to leave for the annual trip to Nome, he challenged her.

“Hey, Prissy, I challenge you!”

“Prissy! That is it! You are going down!” she growled. They circled on the beach. He snarled. She snarled. Their ears were laid back. Her slated, brown eyes stared at his round gold. She lunged at his throat. He grabbed her nape. He lifted her, shaking her like a rag doll.

Taiga pulled his ear. he yelped and dropped her. She made for his neck.Joker was losing! He closed his eyes. He thought of everything his father had said. He thought of the powerful fighters he had known. We saw White Fang, Amaroq, Kapu, Buster, Buck...He stopped. Buck! He had defeated Spitz! But how? Balto had said in the book {Rosy had read it to him. It was the abridged, kid’s version but who cares?} Buck grabbed his legs, then got the neck!

Joker dove at her legs. She got on what he was trying to do, and, because of wolf instinct, folded up her legs. Joker, when her forelegs folded up, hit her with his hard shoulder. She tripped. He grabbed her throat and pinned her to Earth. She couldn’t get up, though she kicked hard for a few seconds.

Taiga knew that. She rolled on her back. Her ‘white flag’, the underside, flashed. She gave up.

Joker lifted his head high. He was finally the Alpha Pup.

******************************************************************************

They were at Nome. Nava, the six two-year-olds, Aleu and Niju came in. There were Balto and his family. Joker trotted off. He was in the pine woods again. He dearly hoped he wouldn’t run into Harley. She was annoying. He lifted his ears. He heard a thumping of feet. Oh, gooooody!!!!! he thought. The loon is back. Sure enough, up came Harley. She wagged her tail. “Hello, Joker! I missed you!” Joker stopped. She’s changed a little he thought. At least she doesn’t shout everything she says, but she’s still annoying and hyperactive!

“Really? You missed me?” he said, not being able to keep the amusement out of hi voice.

“Of course! You saved my life! And I love you! I want to be your mate for forever!” she said. Joker froze.

“WHAT DID YOU SAY?!?”

“I said I love you! And it’s true!!”

“But I don’t love you!” Boy, he thought. What a great soap opera!

“I don’t care. I still love you with all my heart!” Joker took off. He had to get to Nava!Joker came up to the old gold-gray wolf. “Nava! Nava! There’s this rust-and-black hyperactive female that I made the mistake of saving last year and now she loves me!!!”

Nava grinned. “Ahhhhh....poor little Joker! Getting his first date at so young!”

“What?”

“Why, you are so strong and with such handsome markings! And, despite the fact that you are the smallest of the litter and runt, you became Alpha Pup over all your big siblings! It’s a wonder you’re not swarming in females. You know.” Here Nava’s eyes glittered. “Your father was quite the heart-throb when he was younger, too.”

“NO!”

“Yes! He was the biggest and the handsomest wolf in the pack. But he snapped at all of the girls. You see, when he was just a yearling, his mother and his father, {his father was the Beta} they were bitten by a rabid husky the same color as your mother. They died. And that’s why he hated dogs and why he didn’t want to be married. He changed, though, and you’re the result.” Joker nodded his head.

*******CHAPTER 7: THIRD-YEAR: THE BATTLE******

“It’s all my fault!” cried Niju to Aleu one night. The pups were three years old now, and yet no more pups had been born to the Alphas. Joker was still insane. They, their children, and Nava were in Nome, sleeping in Balto’s Boat. Like last year, Kemo and Midback were leading the pack. Niju and Aleu were curled up next to each other.

“Why is it your fault? Joker was insane from birth,” she asked. Aleu and Niju loved their son, but, since he had passed his third birthday and was still insane, there was no hope that he would ever go sane.

“Because I fathered him. My aggressive genes were passed on! I was a bit insane!”

“First of all, if you were insane, why are you sane now? Second, that doesn’t mean anything. The other pups are sane.”

“It was your father’s love for you that cured me. And, if I hadn’t married you, it would have been another wolf and he would be okay!”

“But, I love you! Love conquers all! Maybe, if Joker falls in love, he will be cured! Now, go to sleep!” Aleu licked her mate’s ruff.

Niju licked Aleu’s nose. “I love you, too!” They fell asleep.

Suddenly Niju lifted his head up. “But, what about a pit bull? What if Joker falls for one of them!”

“He won’t! Just go to sleep!”

Joker lay as the gray dawn rose. The old trawler was, after all a nice place. Suddenly, his ears pricked. A vibrating howl was going through the air. It meant, ‘Help!’ He ran out and placed his paws on the rail. There was Harley, and strung out behind her were the fourteen pit bulls!  The Wolf-Killers were going to tear her to shreds! I’ve got to save her! he thought. No, she’s an annoying loon! She gives wolves a bad name! She deserves to die! But those murderers! No, it didn’t matter if she died. Yes, it did! His heart would not give him peace. NO! his mind screamed. You can’t be in love with her! She’s hyperactive! And I am insane. No! You can’t be in love with her! But, I am!!!!!! Joker had made his decision. “I AM INSANE!!!!” he cried as he leapt over the rail. “All right! I’m going to save her. If I survive, I’m going to have to see a psychiatrist!”

*****************************************************************************

Harley stood, cornered, in the pine cove. Her heart thumped. She had just seen murderers even worse than the baby fox pup. Her family was dead. She stared at Murderer’s hard, cruel face. Behind him, the others. He spoke. “Ahh.. poor little hyper wolf. Good riddance when you are gone!” He reached for her soft throat.

“LEAVE HER ALONE OR YOU’LL HAVE TO ANSWER TO OLD DEATH AND KILLING!!!’

“What?”

“MY JAWS, YOU HICK!”

It was Joker! “Joker,” she gasped.

“You’re girlfriend’s going down!!”

“I think not!”

“Think again!” Joker stepped forward. His gold eyes glowed demon yellow. His ebony-and-coal body was bathed in moonlight. “Have you ever danced with the Devil in the pale moonlight?” he asked calmly.

“NO! WHAT KIND OF A STUPID QUESTION IS THAT?!?”

“Well, you will have now,” answered Joker. Joker started laughing, a cold, taunting, evil, insane laugh. Harley felt her spine shivering.He lunged at Killer’s legs. Killer saw that, folded them up, and made for the back of Joker’s spine. Joker, however, pulled Buck’s trick. His hard shoulder hit Killer’s. When the pit bull fell, Joker leapt onto the throat, then leapt back. Killer would never kill again.Loather sprung next. aware of Killer’s fate, when Joker went for the legs he stayed and braced himself. Joker went for the throat, not the shoulder, and so never again with Loather kill. Gnash went for Joker’s legs. Joker wrapped his teeth around Gnash’s throat. By now the pit bulls knew he was insane. So while Rage snapped at his throat, and Joker killed Rage, Fury leapt at his neck from behind. Joker saw the danger too late.A black shadow of night sprang, killing Fury. Joker squinted at the life-saving force. It looked like a wolf. But who? the Nome wolves were dead. A dark sable force leapt to its side. The dark sable force was Bruce, and the life-saving black shadow was MicroWing! “MicroWing, what are you doing here? I had tried to kill you!” cried Joker.

“We do not judge our people. You are forgiven,” grinned MicroWing. They rushed to Harley’s side. But Embitter, Wrath, Offense, and Bob were already there! Two huge white shapes flew in. The smaller one, with the black back, killed once. The larger one with black-tipped ears killed twice.

It was Kemo and Midback! “What are you doing here?!?”

“Well..I just had the feeling the ol’ Gray Pant’s son was in danger so I left Twister and Toronto in charge and took off!” grinned Kemo.

“And I thought he was crazy, but turns out he was right!” added Midback. They turned to the killers, in a half-circle around Harley.Crank and Butch leapt at Midback. In two snaps they fell dead. Slaughter and Anger lunged, desperate to find a weak spot, at MicroWing and Bruce. MicroWing and Bruce saw to it that it was the last mistake they would ever make.

Bob gave a crazed laugh as he made his escape. “I made it! I survived the fight against the psycho patient!”

As he he ran off, a large cage fell on him. He heard two humans talk as they lifted him onto a truck: “All right, we finally caught the wild wolf to be the cute little mascot for this new Great Wolf Lodge in Minneapolis!”

“Hey,” asked the second man. “Don’t we have to stuff him?”

“Why, yes, we do,” answered the first.

“Oh, crud,” muttered Bob in a small voice as the truck drove away.

Murderer was angry. The insane wolf had killed his whole army. Never again would they sink their teeth into a dying wolf’s flesh. And to add insult to injury this wolf was 3/8 dog!!! He lunged at the throat of Joker. Joker had his head turned. It would be a perfect kill.

“OH, NO YOU DON’T!!!”  snarled a voice. Balto the Wonder Dog bit deep into his shoulders. But Murderer was too far gone in the killing spree. He turned to kill Balto. The next thing Murderer knew, Niju’s sharp fangs were piercing his throat. Murderer screamed, and then went limp. Niju dropped his carcass.

Aleu, Jenna, Aleu’s pups and Nava came running.  Joker walked over to Aleu. “Hey, Mom. MicroWing and Bruce and I are friends now and this is my mate, Harley. Her whole pack is dead,” he said.

Balto, MicroWing, and Bruce stared hard at Joker’s eyes. His pupils, which before had been sliding black discs, never fixed to his soul, were stable now. He was cured!

Joker was sane!!!!

*******CHAPTER 8: A HAPPY ENDING******

The rest of the trip was enjoyable. For the first time, Joker resented leaving Nome. But he was still glad to be back. And even gladder that Harley was with him. There were more changes back home. Half of the pack, impressed by Kemo’s leadership and Midback’s kind strictness, left and joined them. Now that there was a pack, Kemo and Midback could mate the next March and have the puppies in May!

Only Niju, Aleu, Joker, Tundra, Taiga, Night Jaws, Black Eagle, Silver Cloud, Nuk, Yak, Sumac, Nava, Twister and Toronto were left.Come March of the next year, Niju and Aleu mated again. And now the whole pack surrounded to old OceanPine pack den, their tails wagging. Joker and Harley nuzzled heads. They were mates. and come next year, they would mate. But now it was more important to care about Joker’s new siblings.

Nava disappeared into the den. He trotted out, a grin on his face, smiling eyes, and wagging tail. Niju came out. “PUPS!” he joyfully called.

Everyone shouted “Hooray!!”

“THERE ARE SEVEN! FIVE MALE: TORNAIT, CHROME, DESERT STORM, PHOENIX, SAND PIPER. AND TWO FEMALES: GALAXY, AND THUNDER!”

Everyone cheered.“What colors?” asked Joker.

“TORNAIT IS EBONY WITH A GOLD SPINE, FACE-BLAZE, AND SHOULDER BLADES. AND GOLD EYES!  CHROME IS DARK STORMY GRAY, WITH SILVER MUZZLE, INSIDE EARS, UNDERSIDE, AND FACE. AND BLUISH-GREEN EYES!DESERT STORM IS MOSTLY FIERY RED, WITH A SAND-COLORED UNDERSIDE AND EYEBROWS! AND BROWN EYES!  PHOENIX IS STORMY GRAY, WITH RUST RUFFS, BLACK TEAR-DROPS, WHITE SPLASHES ON HIS SHOULDERS, A BLACK BAND ACROSS HIS CHEST, ONE ONE HIS HEAD, FAWN ON HIS RIBS, AND A BLACK-AND-WHITE BANDED TAIL AND REDDISH-BROWN EYES!  SAND PIPER IS BLACK, WITH SAND-COLORED FACE AND UNDERSIDE. AND DARK BROWN, ALMOST BLACK EYES.  GALAXY IS BLACK, WITH WHITE SPOTS AND DARK BROWN-BLACK EYES.  THUNDER IS STORMY GRAY, WITH BLACK TEARDROPS, PEACH-WHITE UNDERSIDE, AND BLACK-AND-WHITE BANDED TAIL! AND SILVER-GREEN EYES!”

A mighty cry of “CONGRATULATIONS” swept through the whole pack.

THE END!

Author’s Note: This story’s title is a parody on “Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker.” Those of you familiar with the story will recognize the parody of Harley and Joker, though both are good in this story. I hope you enjoy reading this tale as much as I enjoyed writing it. -EbonyPatriot