him in the air.  Balto suddenly remembered a trick that Steele had used many times before.  With a snarl, he snapped his jaws near Steele's limping leg and the dog tripped.  In an instant,  Balto was on top of him, jaws around his throat.

Balto had won.

"Steele, it's over."  Balto said.  A howl broke out behind him.  In their moments of fighting, Balto and Steele had not noticed that Steele's pack was gone.  He saw a few of them running in the distance.  The ones that had been able to continue fighting had probably ran off when they saw Steele had been beaten.  The howl belonged to Oreo.

"Balto has won the fight!"  Oreo howled and the wolves joined in, including the brown one Balto had seen.

"It's over Steele."  Balto said.  Steele snarled then lay in the snow.

"I could not have lost!"  He said, but he sounded defeated.  Balto unleashed his grip on Steele's throat and both dog and wolfdog got to their feet. 

"Steele, honor your deal."  Kodi growled and the dogs and wolves around him murmured in agreement.

"Hold on Kodi."  Balto said.

"Balto, you can't possibly be thinking of letting him stay!  This is what this whole battle was about!  This was why my brother is DEAD!"  Vitwany snarled.  Oreo licked his mates ear.  

"Be silent Vitwany."  Balto said.  The demanding tone in his voice told Vitwany not to object, but she still growled.

"Steele, you understand what you've done?  Your own greed has driven you to things that you can't undo.  What do you have to say for yourself."  Balto said.

Steele snarled, but held his tongue.  His pride would not allow him to speak.

"Then Steele, your musher will forever wonder what became of you.  You have been given many chances and you blew them all.  It's time for you to go."  Balto and Steele glared at eachother until finally, Steele looked away and began to walk. 

And he walked until the forest trees blocked him from sight.

There was silence, then a great cheer broke out.  The wolves all started howling, and even a few dogs joined in.  Balto was getting "great job" and "Good work" from everywhere! Finally, Oreo came forward.

"Balto, it's time for us to go."  He said.  The dogs all quieted down.

"But who's going to be your leader?"  Balto asked, flicking his eyes to where Mage's body could still be seen.

"I am."  Oreo answered.  "Vitwany and I were already planning to start a pack with me as leader, so now's the time.  Sasha and Kalon will come with us."  Sasha and the brown wolf, Kalon both nodded.

"Thank you."  Jenna stepped forward.  "I hope your territory will not span to far from Nome.  We would love to have you come back one day."

"We will."  Vitwany said as Kalon picked up Mage's body.  "We will bury my brother and get our pack started.  Then we will come back.  Balto, you are our friend.  And a wolf never forgets it's friends."

"Neither does a dog."  Kodi stepped forward and threw his head back, letting out a rough, but still clear, howl.  The wolves joined in and the dogs were next.  Balto and Jenna both howled along and the sound rang out for miles, echoing through the forest. 

"Good bye."  Oreo said and led his pack away.  Soon, like Steele, they were gone.

"Come on Dad."  Kodi said.

"Balto, it's time to go."  Star continued.  Kaltag joined in.

"You must be dying to see it."

Jenna ran forward and licked her mates ear and, as the troup of dogs marched back to Nome, she whispered the word in his ear.

"Home."

END OF THE SERIES!!!!! WASN'T IT AWESOME!!!!!!  THANK YOU GUYS FOR READING!!!!!!!!!!!  IT MEANS A LOT!!!!!!!!!!!  BUT DON'T WORRY!!!!!!!!  I'M STILL GOING TO CONTINUE WRITING!!!!!!!!!!!  BALTO WILL RETURN!!!!!!!  WHY DO I KEEP USING SO MANY EXPLANATION MARKS???????  I DON'T KNOW!!!!!!!!!   ANYWAY, THANKS AGAIN.  WHO KNOWS?  MAYBE I'LL EVEN START A FAN FIC ABOUT OREO AND HIS NEW PACK!!!!!!!!!  JUST KNOW THIS:  I'M NOT DONE YET!!!!!!!!!