The black and white husky said, "I'm back, and now it's time to finish what should have been finished long ago."

Ralph rammed into the malamute pining Dusty down. "Are you all right?" He asked.

Dusty nodded and jumped back up to fight.

Ralph was hit by a dog smaller than him, but it only unsteadied him. He turned on the dog and hit it with such force that it ran, yelping into the bushes. Ralph looked up, there were so many dogs, they were completely outnumbered. Ralph shook his head and swiped at a dog's muzzel. The dog swiped back and growled. Ralph dove and knocked the dog over and they tumbled biting and clawing at eachother.

Dusty wished she had brought more dogs with her. She fought as best she could, slowly making her way back to Kodi. She reached him, panting. She began clawing franticly at the rope holding him, but she couldn't get it loose. There was a flash of red and she was on the ground. Dusty looked up and saw a red and white faced dog with bright blue eyes. "Kira?" she wondered aloud.

Kira snickered and said, "Any last words?"

Steele ran at Balto, but Balto dodged him. Balto turned around and readied himself for Steele to attack again. Steele ran at him again and Balto dodged him again. Steele growled, he didn't have time for this! Balto turned around to face his enemy. Balto growled and tried to look fierce, but he knew he was no match for Steele. Steele laughed and lashed ut at Balto. Steele's paw hit Balto's cheek, and blood splashed from the cut. Balto swiped a paw at Steele's shoulder and managed to break the skin a little.

They fought evenly for a few minutes, until Steele was done playing games. Steele lunged at Balto and flipped him over. Steele gripped Balto's throat, but didn't bite. Through a mothful of fur, he said, "Let me have her, and I'll let you go."

"Who?" Balto asked.

"Jenna of cource," Steele said matter-of-factly.

"Like I would let that happen," Balto said, struggling to free himself.

Steele laughed, "You fool! Can't you see you're out numbered? You don't have a chance wolf-dog."

Balto looked Steele in the eye, " I will keep Jenna safe, or die trying," Balto said.

Steele shrugged, "Your choice," he said. Steel bit down and Balto's throat. The taste of blood on his tounge satisfied him. Balto struggled violently. He kicked up with his hind legs and hit Steele in the stomach. Steele let go of this throat and Balto scrambled to stand. Blood poored from the open gash in his neck, but he hardly noticed. Everything around him was blurry. Balto shook his head to clear it. He opened his eyes to see Steele say, "You give up yet wolf-dog?"

A wolf howled nearby.Balto knew that howl. A look of determination washed over Balto's face, "Never," he said.

Dusty heard a wolf howl. Oh great she thought, now I'm really going to die. Kira stood above Dusty. She looked slighly worried at the sound of the wolf. Dusty heaved upward and threw the smaller dog off of her.  Thunder crahsed and it began raining. Dusty peered through the rain at Kodi. Kodi looked very excited when he heard the howl.

"What is it?" She called.

"Its Alue!" Kodi said happily.

Alue led her pack into the clearing. The wolves started tearing apaert any dog other that Balto, Dusty, Ralph, or Kodi. Dogs ran yelping into the trees. Alue ran over to Kodi and began trying to untie him, and Dusty helped her. Ralph came over too, and together they untied Kodi. Kodi shook out his fur and smiled, "Thanks guys!" he said happily.

He nuzzeled Dusty and said, "I love you,"

Dusty was shocked, no one had ever told her that before. Her heart thudded as she said, "I love you too."

Balto watched as Alue and her pack streamed into the clearing. Steele watched too for a moment, then turned back to Balto. He lunged at him and Balto tried to dodge. But Balto had slowed down from exaustion, and Steele grapped ahold of his shoulder and flung him to the ground.

Balto tried to get up and fight, but he had a new gash in his shoulder and he stumbled. Steele was upon him then, lunging for his throat. Steele tore into him and didn;t stop until something rammed into him. It was Alue. She grabbed Steele's throat and killed himin an instant, then ran over to he father.

Balto was gasping for breath. Blood poored out of his neck and shoulder. He knew the end was near. Kodi, Dusty, Ralph, and Alue crowded around him. Alue's pack stood in the background, unsure of what was going on.

"Balto?" Kodi asked sniffing his father.

"Take care of Jenna, Son," Balto rasped.

"No!" Alue shouted, "Don't leave us!"

"And Alue," Balto said faintly, "You make a great leader."

Tears were streaming down Alue's face. You could hardley tell though, because of the pooring rain. Kod didn't want to admit it, but he too cried. Dusty buried her nose in Kodi's fur, she couldn't bare to see him so sad.

Balto looked up at his son and daughter, he was so proud of them. As Balto's vision faded into black, he was aware of a familular presence.

"Mother," he rasped, "I'm ready."

Balto's bady went limp, and all of the dogs and wolves sat silent for a moment. Alue let out a long, mournful howl. Kodi listened for a moment before he relized that not one wolf was howling, but two. Kodi looked up and saw a white wolf howling with his sister. Thier song told of sorrow and pain. Kodi and his sister did not loose only their father that day. They lost a friend, and a hero too.

Alue stopped howling abruptly when she heard the other wolf. Who was she? The white wolf gazed into her eyes for a moment, then gave her a tny nod. Alue understood. She lifted her head and howled into the rain, and the white wolf joined her. When she was finnished, Alue looked at the white wolf again. Then, just as fast as she had come, the white wolf was gone.