In previous articles about Wolf Quest (such as ), the moral of the story was for Aleu to discover and understand her wolf heritage and suddenly, accept her destiny as a wolf pack leader. But while watching the movie and re-reading the script over and over, I realized that there is another moral to the story: If you truly love someone, let them go.



Now why would I say such a thing? I mean, Balto and Jenna are new parents, and from the looks of things, Balto enjoys the company of his six new puppies, especially the wolf-like one, Aleu. He knows that she looks like a wolf, unlike her brothers and sisters, and all he wants to do is protect her from the scorn that he's dealt with throughout his life.

Throughout the entire film, there are two supporting characters that are hinting to Balto to learn to let go.



- Jenna: As the mother of the pups, she understands that when adoption day arrives, they have to let them live their own lives, as seen in this scene near the beginning of Wolf Quest:

Jenna: But it's their time now. Why, I was their age when I was adopted by my girl.
Balto: But I don't think I can let them go, Jenna. Not yet.
Jenna: Balto, each of our children have their own lives to live. It's our job to love them, and then...
Boris: LET GO!
Jenna: If we wait any longer, it will be harder for them to find homes. You know how humans have a soft spot for puppies.
Balto: Yeah. And so do I.

Yes, it was hard for Jenna to cope with watching her pups get adopted, but since she herself was adopted at the age they were, she understands the situation better than Balto ever would. But however, she also knows about Aleu's looks, but she refuses to give up on find her a home.



- Boris: As the pups' 'uncle,' Boris knows the truth about Aleu looking like a wolf, but he knows that since she wasn't adopted, she may find a home eventually . . . It's Balto that he is truly worried about, not Aleu:

Balto: She's a good pup.
Boris: Good, yes. Pup, no. At more than year old, Aleu should have home of her own.
Balto: When the right time comes... She'll find a home.
Boris: Yes, but when the right time comes, will you let her? Oy. I hope so.



Later on, Aleu discovers the truth about why she wasn't adopted, after the incident with the hunter. Of course some people may be wondering: Why did Balto allow Aleu to still believe that a human would adopt her? Well, I believe that perhaps he did this, not only as protection, but also to allow Aleu to keep her hopes up. I think all Balto wanted for Aleu is to be happy, that's all. He probably didn't realize that his mistake would put her into any danger, such as being mistaken for a wolf.

But, there were other signs.

Throughout the middle of the film, Balto tells Jenna and Boris and Co. that he's going to bring Aleu home. However, he must have started to have a change of heart on the situation when he encounters some of the totem spirits:



The Raven:
Balto: You. What is it you want? Am I supposed to follow you?
Raven: {caws}
Balto: Okay. But only if you help me find my daughter.



The Fox:
Fox: Say, I'll help you find your daughter if you'll help me out of this trap.
Balto: How did you know I'm looking for my daughter?
Fox: The raven told me.



The Wolverines:
Balto: NO! I'm afraid, but not of you. I'm afraid for my daughter, and I have to find her, so get out of my way!

He continues to mention that he's just looking for his daughter, not that he's going to bring her back home. Perhaps, he has a feeling that this is connected with his dreams (especially with his encounters with the raven), and realizes that if he can use these 'spirits' to lead him to his daughter, he can decide what to do afterwards, which is most likely, bringing her back home with him to Nome.

He fears for Aleu's safety, and to him, that is more important than bringing her home.



Then at last, both father and daughter are reunited, thanks to the Bear of Inner Knowing. Aleu uses that time to show that she can handle things on her own, and that the wolf look isn't all that she inherited from Balto:

Balto: I'll hold him off and you run for it!
Aleu: No, I'll hold him off and you run for it!
Balto: There's no time to argue. I'm your father, you do what I say!
Aleu: And I say that I'm to big to be ordered around!
Balto: How did you get so stubborn?
Aleu: I take after you, remember?



After the bear fight, Balto is glad to have finally found his baby, safe and sound. But Aleu, now after her spiritual intervention with Muru, has other ideas:

Aleu: Why did you come and find me?
Balto: I came to bring you home, Aleu.
Aleu: No. I don't wanna go home. Not until I find out who I am.
Balto: That's ridiculous, Aleu, you know who you are.
Aleu: No. I know what I am, but not...who I am, and I'm not stopping until I find out.
Balto: Then I'm coming with you.
Aleu: Oh, Papa.



Then you have the misconception of Nava, believing that Balto was the one that Aniu had sent to lead his wolf pack across the water where the caribou now lived. And being the protective father that he is, the only thing that he truly wants to lead is his daughter home, where he believes she belongs:

Balto: This has gone too far, Aleu, and it isn't our battle.
Aleu: But Papa, I saw caribou!
Balto: Look, this could get very dangerous. Despite my dreams or anything else, I will not put you in any danger.
Aleu: But this isn't just about us, anymore, Papa. This is about something bigger. Don't you see? We're supposed to help them. I'm sorry, but whether I stay or go should be my decision.
Balto: That wind is a sign that winter's coming early. Your mother will be worried sick. We both leave in the morning.

See? Balto feels uncomfortable leading the wolf pack - he probably thought at the time that yes, he was 'wolf', but he knew that he had wolf in him. I guess he thought it was weird that he would be the one that this wolf spirit Aniu would choose to lead an entire pack of wild wolves. Isn't Balto the one who once rejected the wolf side of him so long ago? That should have been a sign to him that perhaps he wasn't the one that is wolf and does not know . . .



During the 'crossing the water' scene, Aleu and Nava get separated from Balto and the rest of the wolf clan. It seems that Balto has changed his focus: Instead of leading Aleu home, as he had clearly stated just hours before, he is leading the wolf pack to the caribou. But still, Balto is worried for Aleu's own safety:

Balto: Aleu! Are you alright?
Aleu: Yes! You go on with the rest of the pack! I'll get Nava!
Balto: {Quietly} Be careful, Aleu.



Then with Niju's scuffle with Nava and Aleu causes Balto to return to his senses: His daughter's safe-keeping is first priority - she's more important than leading a pack to herds of caribou:

Balto: Niju! Leave her be!
Aleu: Papa! You should be with the rest of the clan! You've got to lead them across!
Balto: I will! Once I take care of him!



At last, the climax: Aleu realizes that this life was what she was seeking in her quest, and Balto must, at last, follow his daughter's wishes and let her go to her new home:

Balto: I'll go.
Aleu: No. You don't belong here, Papa. You belong home, with my mother. But I do belong here. It's my destiny.
Nava: Aniu told me it would be the one who is wolf but does not know. I belived it was you, but I was wrong. It is your daughter.
Balto: Are you sure?
Aleu: {nods}
Balto: It's just...So hard to let my baby go.
Aleu: Papa, I'm not your...Okay, so I'll always be your baby. Goodbye, Papa. Tell Mom...I've finally found my home.



So, in the end, not only does Aleu discover what her purpose in life was meant to be, but also Balto learned that, yes, it is hard to let someone go, but usually it's what's best for them that counts. And yes, they can still be your baby, no matter where their lives take them in the end.

(all Wolf Quest pictures screencapped by Juuchan17; Wolf Quest script from )