What If Aleu was picked as a puppy? What If she lived her life as a dog, like she had wished? This story takes place around the same time Aleu ran away in Balto II Wolf Quest.

  Aleu sat in a crate with the rest of her siblings.  Kids came and left, some left with a pup, bright eyed and happy, because they just got a new pet, or friend, some kids left with tears in their eyes, because thier parent simple said 'no' and some yelled and screamed, kicked and tried to punch and break free from their mom or dad, rushing to steal a pup, but none of the yelling ones succeeded in taking one. But all the pup's eyes were aglow, with hopefullness and pride. Somtimes they lost thier focus at the children and began to play, but snapped right back when someone got close to them, to start begging and being cute for the child. Aleu was differnt from the others, Brown and grey....they were all red and tan like their mother, the husky, but if Alue had one thing going for her, She had blue eyes, where some of her siblings had brown, witch made her look more husky like.

  Fianaly a small girl picked Aleu up. She knew she had to impress the girl before her siblings, or she may change her mind on her favorite. Aleu twisted and twirled, rolled over on her back and jumped around, then pressed her head under the girl's mitten. "Oh you! You'll be great on a sled team!" She said, smiling. She picked up Aleu, and started walking home, it seemed but stopped at a fence. She slipped a read collar over her head. At first Aleu didn't like it, but got used to it. She followed the girl home for a little while, but then started whinning, and the girl picked her up.

  "Mom! Dad!" She said, running in. "I didn't even need the money you gave me for a dog, I got this one! Free!" Her mother had red curly hair, blueish or green eyes, and a long black dress. She was smoking somthing, and had on red high heels. If Aleu was older, she wouldn't have liked her so much, but she was a pup, and all humans seemed good and nice. Then a blonde man, with long jeans and a long sleeved shirt walked in. "Marissa, Youv'e been here two days and not even been outside." Said the man. "What are you talking about." The women pipped back. "Look what your wearing, this is Alaska, not Alabama, and If you had come and visit my dad up here last year, you'd know It would start getting cold. The women, or apearantly Marissa rolled her eyes. "Well what were you saying?" She asked the girl. "I got this Puppy for FREE! I didn't even need the money you gave me!" She smiled. She handed over the money. "Mary! Did you STEAL this dog?" The man thundered. Marissa, the mother rolled her eyes again. "Honey, dogs aren't Free! They cost money, now where did you get this dog?" She asked.

"No! I promise she was free, the box said 'Free To A Good Home' or somthing if I remember correctly." The little girl sqeaked. "A BOX! Mary, we need GOOD dogs for a team! Not...Not...some mutt you found on the street!" Marissa said, in her agervating voice. "Again, I'f you came her last fall, you'd know sled dogs are mutts, why my dad's team-"  He man started but Marissa cut him off. "Quiet Dave! All you talk about is Alaska, and My dad this, my dad that! It's annoying!"  But Mary screamed to the top of her lungs to get attention. It hurt Aleu's ears but she couldn't blame her, her parents were babbling fools. "MARY TAKE YOUR DOG AND GO TO YOUR ROOM!" Dave roared.

Mary grabbed Aleu and rushed down the hall. She slumped into her room and slammed the door. Then, begining to jump up and down, she yelled "I can Keep You I can keep you!" She bent down and patted Aleu's head. Aleu [;ayed around with Mary, until Mary went to bed. Alue curled up and gently fell asleep............

_------------------------------------------------------------------------_

"KEEP UP!" Aleu yelled to a malamute behind her. "Your dragging down the whole team! Don't you care?" Aleu snapped. "I'm try'n !" The Malamute barked, in a deep but soft voice. "Heel! Woah!" Dave yelled to his team. "Ah Great, now where gunna get it." Alue announced to the team, keeping and eye on the malamute. But Dave just came over and unhooked each dog from the sled team. Aleu curled her tail up, and walked off. She found Balto, her father and the one she got her looks from  walking from the beach. "Dad, How on EARTH did you stand working with these...these...ERRRR." Alue growled. Balto didn't want to start with her, but had no choise. "Aleu...there your team mates, and I'm sure they arent' that infureating." Balto said.

"You have no Idea!" Aleu said. "I'm lead dog but nobody will listen!" She groaned. "A leader encouages, not yells." Balto said. He was so used to this, he didn't much care for it. "But It;s TERRIBLE! They wouldn't know the gangline from their own nose if I didn't help them. "Oh...helping..." Balto said. "Yes Helping! I'm Helping them." Aleu answered, even though Balto's statment was much of a question. "Is It working?" Balto asked. "Oh no...no... they're just all to lame to work with." Aleu stated. "Aleu, you arn't like this...you've changed....mabey being a lead dog isn't right for you...mabey you need..."

"WHAT?!?!?" Aleu snapped "WHAT DO I NEED KNOW IT ALL?"  "Enough! I'm your father, and will not stand for that! You came to me for help! Off with you, before I get mad!" Balto said. Aleu had changed so much he couldn't stand it. "Mom will understand!" Aleu whinned and ran off. Balto sighed. What happend to my sweet little pup? He thought to himself.

Aleu didn't look back. She knew where her mother lived by heart. What does he know? His team was the best and fastest in Nome! Maybe Alaska! Alue wispherd quietly to herself. The words made her feel better. Altlast, her mother's house.

"I dunno....Aleu's taking a simple fun job into commando oberation." Jenna said. "Ohhhhh that must be sooo very stressful." Dixie said. "Pups these days..." Moaned Silvie. "Mom!" ALeu barked. "My team was horrible today! They were all out of wack, and when I told Dad, he said it was my fault! Mine!" Aleu growled, halfway in tears. "Now Aleu, did any one get hurt? Physicaly?"

"No."

"Feelings? Mentally?"

"Well, I'm ashamed of them...my feelings are hurt, all the others don't have feelings!" Aleu cried. "Why is it me with a lame team?" Aleu asked. "Aleu...nobody picks fate." Jenna answered. It was the only thing she could do without Aleu having a fit. "Thanks mom, I knew you would understand." Aleu said. She starteed walking off. "She's changed terribly!" Dixie said. "For the Worse." Added Silvie.

Aleu was still alittle hurt, but pushed it away. Not knowing it would all come out the next time she has a problem. She stopped at a puddle and looked at herself throught it. She thought of herself as first a leader, second, pretty, and thierd a husky. Nothing else, until she remembered what a poor girl she was with a terrible team.

She becan to trudge on when BAM "AAAHHHHOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!"

A sad mourful howl followed by another. Again and again. A slight howl from a wolf was heard in the distance. Aleu was in mid howl when she heard somthing behing her. She quickly turned around. "Balto stood there. Shiny eyed. "Aleu...." he said coming closer. He bit her collar and made it come off. "Dad what are you doing?" she growled. "I'll be in trouble with my team, I-" Aleu stopped. Her collar fell over her paws. It felt good without the collar around her neck. "Your a wolf Aleu, not a dog." Balto stated.

  "What?!?! No! I AM A HUS-KY." Aleu barked back. "No Aleu...you may be part husky, but you need to be out in the wild." Balto said agian. Aleu was much calmer, with her collar off, but didn't like the idea of leaving. "Aleu..your scared...but you have wolf blood...you'll be fine." Balto assured. Aleu nodded. She started walking off into the wild, but Balto stopped her for a moment. "Be safe." He called.

Aleu left and Balto went to Jenna the next day. "I'm worried...have you seen Aleu?" She asked. "Heh....um..." Balto started. Jenna turned around. "Oh did you yell at her? Did you have an argument? Where is she?!?!" Jenna gasped. "She's a wolf Jenna...She's where she should be." Jenna was astonished. "YOU LET HER RUN AWAY?!?!" Jenna snapped. "How could you be so-" She almost hypervenalated. "Balto, she shouldn't be on her on! Go bring her back! For me!."