off with Balto close behind.

     Running through the forest father and son kept pace with each other, their eyes focused on the view in front of them. Their paws kicked up dirt as they ran both letting out howls of joy. They scattered a herd of deer as they passed a small clearing, the animals alarmed by their howls. As they neared a larger clearing Balto put on a burst of speed, reaching the Old Hut seconds before his father.

 “You win Lightening Paws, you certainly have my speed” Cathán panted as he looked at his son with pride.

“Do you think I could be a sled dog?” asked Balto.

 “Perhaps you could if you keep getting faster” Catháan replied laying down.

“I’d be the best sled dog ever, I would love to be on a team with you Dad” Balto replied sitting down next to him.

“So would I, we would make an excellent team. Maybe when you are older I will take you to my home, one thing is for sure, everyone would be able to tell you are my son.”

“That would be fun Dad, it would great to run with you, we would be the BEST team ever.”

 “We would cut a dash through the racing world, Cathán and Balto Father and Son sled dogs, I like the sound of that” Cathán replied as they set off home.

                             End

“We had so many dreams; well he pulled a sled so one has come through. But towns are cruel places for wolves, half wolves I have known have been looked down on. I should never have left, I should have led the humans deep into the forest, I could have lost them, and doubled back. If only I’d have stayed………. I have to talk Balto as soon as I get to Nome, I have to tell him how proud I am, that I want to get to know him.”

             Star’s Arrival 

   It was the day that Cathán was due to arrive in Nome, dogs stood in groups on the streets talking, all eager to meet him. It was now well know why he was coming and who he would be living with, as an article giving the details had appeared in the Nome Daily a week before. Of all the dogs Balto was the most excited about it as he was keen to meet him Father. Balto’s had changed since he has been accepted by the town humans and dogs, no longer did he think he was worthless. Despite his actions Steel and some of the dogs still treated him like dirt, but they were the minority.

   On a boat out on the sea Cathán watched as Nome came into view, remembering the last time he had been in the town. The boat docked and he run up to a white man with longish black hair in a thick coat, his musher’s son Oliver.

  “Hi boy, you well that cut is healing good” Oliver as he was licked. “Come on, time to take you to your new home.”

    Walking into the town the pair received stares from the town dogs, with humans greeting the pair as they walked. Passing the town butchers Cathán groaned when he laid eyes on Steel, the son of his rival Iron, a proud and sometimes cruel dog with lots of pride. Seeing him Steel barked out a greeting keen to become friends with the star as a way of advancing his status. Seeing through him at once Cathán turned away, his eyes landing on a red and cream husky who was playing fetch with a young human. To his surprise the husky stared at him, her eyes moving over his face as if looking for something. The girl too was looking at him, seeing them Oliver called out. 

 “Rosie come over and meet my new pet.”

“Morning Oliver, come on Jenna” Rosie replied walking over with Jenna. “Wow you look so much like Balto, you have to be related.”

    Looking at her Cathán pricked up his ears he heard his son’s name, looking at Jenna he spoke.

  “The girl, she just said she knows Balto, if does then I presume that you do as well Ms.”

“Jenna my name is Jenna, Balto is my…..I….well you see…….it is more than friendship” Jenna replied blushing.

 “Right well, this is awkward……..I am glad he has someone…..Tell him I am here when you see him and……..where can I find him?”

 “He lives on an old fishing boat on the shore, he lives with a goose, I am pleased to meet you” Jenna replied as she and Rosie walked away.

        Continuing on their way through to town, Oliver and Cathán soon reached the house Oliver shared with two other young men. There was Christopher a teacher born and bred in Nome and Warner a very sharp young lawyer who worked with Rosie’s father Arthur. Walking into the house the pair found Christopher sat on the sofa deeply engrossed in a Charles Dickens novel.

  “Are you still reading that Chris?” Oliver asked as they walked in.

“Oh back at last, yes I am, I cannot have the children reading it unless I know it back to front. So this is Cathán, hello boy” Chris said kneeling down. “I still cannot believe you managed to talk Warner into letting him come here.”

“Oh it wasn’t hard, I just reminded him that my uncle owns the place and that if he wanted to stay he better allow a dog” Oliver replied sitting down.

“Nice one Olly, my Dad would have been very unhappy to hear Cathán had not been allowed to come because of Warner, he knows how much Cathán means to your Dad.”

 “That’s what I told Warner, that and that as our landlords son you are technically in charge of  who lives here, dogs and humans included” Olly replied grinning at his cousin.

“To right I am and I say this guy is more than welcome, it’s great to have dog. Man I cannot believe we let Warner live here at times” Chris muttered stroking Cathán.

 “Me neither, but he pays the rent. Besides the way things are heading with him and Ms Eleanor Oak he might be moving out soon.” Oliver replied. “Who knows maybe Cathán will help change his attitude.”

      Listening to the conversation Cathán smiled, glad that he had good humans, and keen to meet Warner.

      A couple of days after his arrival Cathán walked through Nome his senses taking in the sights and smells of the town. As he walked other dogs walked up to him, each one introducing themselves and welcoming him to the town. Passing a green grocers he saw Steel sat with the rest if the mail team.

  “Cathán welcome to Nome, I am Steel, leader of the mail dogs” Steel said. “It is a pleasure to have you here.”

“I am pleased to be here, Nome seems like a friendly place to be, perfect for my retirement” Cathán replied eyeing Steel warily.

  “You are to kind. I believe you know my Father Iron, he has told me a lot about you, it is a pleasure to meet you in person.”

 “I know your Father, he and are were what you would call rivals.”

“Oh, he told me a different story, I am not him” Steel replied as Jenna, Rosie and Rosie’s mother walked out of the shop.

   Seeing the three Steel turned away, his eyes full of anger at the red husky, as part of him blamed her for the loss of some of his status. Laying eyes on Steel, Jenna glared at him, still that his pride nearly cost Rosie her life. Watching the exchange Cathán instantly saw the hostility, confirming his judgment that Steel was just like his father.

 “So sorry about that, she and I do not get on, a little matter.”

“I could see that for myself, so tell me about the town hero, I have heard many things about him.”

 “Balto, he isn’t respectable, a dog such as yourself does not want to associate with him” Steel replied as other town dogs walked up.

 “Good morning, I am Celino” said one dog.

“Hi my name is Sylvia town gossip, how are you finding Nome?” said an afghan hound.

“It is pleasure to meet both of you, I like Nome everyone here has been very welcoming.”

 “Well Nome is a friendly place” Celino replied, his eyes flicking over to Steel.

“So it would appear, I was just asking Steel here about the town hero, the event epidemic has been in all the papers.”

“Oh Balto, well he is half wolf, I am afraid we did not treat him to well before….” Sylvia replied hanging her head.

 “It was his wolf look, we all treated him rather shabbily…. It was not right and we all regret it now” Celino replied blushing. “We are town dogs, we had heard stories from our humans, that is not excuse though.”

 “Oh that is enough, neither of you have to apologize for the way you treated that lobo half breed, he deserved everything he got. He is an outcast who does not deserve our respect” Steel snarled.

“Steel how can you say that?” Sylvia and Celino replied as Jenna joined them.

“Balto saved the children’s lives!” Jenna shouted.

“Listen Steel we all misjudged him, which I accept, but I am willing to make amends for that. You lied to us all when you got back, we respected you and though you would help the children” Celino shouted angrily.

 “You are a better dog then that half breed Celino.”

“Balto saved the life of my owner and proved to me who he was,