I'M NOT THE TYPE OF PERSON TO INTRUPT ONE OF MY SERIES, BUT THIS COULDN'T WAIT!!!!  BTW, I WANT TO SEND A PERSONAL THANK YOU TO AIYU FOR GIVING ME THIS AWESOME IDEA!  IT WAS  ALOT OF FUN TO WRITE! 

"Grandma!  GRANDMA!!!!"  a young girl called out.  Soon, an old woman was at the bedroom door, looking into the bedroom of her grandaughter.

"Jessica, you called."  The woman smiled.  The young girl, Jessica sat up in her bed.

"Grandma, i wanna hear a bedtime story."  She said.

"Your supposed to be in bed Jessica."

"I am in bed Grandma!"

"Your supposed to be sleeping."

"Please grandma!  Please please please!"  Jessica stared at her grandmother, who smiled.  The old woman went in and sat on her grandaughters bed.

"Ok, let me think.  Um, have i told you the story of Balto?"  The woman asked.

"You told me that when you took me to visit Balto's statue in the park Grandma Rosie!"  The girl said.

"Well, have i told you the story of how Balto was born?  Who his family was?"  Grandma Rosie asked.  Jessica shook her head, eyes wide with excitment.

"Ok then.  I'll begin."  Grandma Rosie started her story.

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The story of Balto is legendary, but it brings up many questions.  One was never really answered: why?  If wolves and dogs disliked each other so much, why would a wolf mate with a dog?  The answer is finally here.

When she was born, Balto's mother, Aniu was given a destiny at birth.  It was said, she was to become what is known as a spirit guide, helping and watching.  But there was something even the Great Spirits of the Northern Lights couldn't see.  That Aniu would one day fall in love.  And even more shocking, she was to fall in love with a dog.  

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"Out you go Red, there's a good dog."  The old man said as he let his dog out.  Even in Nome, Alaska, there were dogs who did not pull sleds all day.  Red was one of these dogs.  His owner had gotten him as a puppy and now Red, though a little older, still had the good looks of a young dog.  His owner did not worry to much about Red running free in the Alaskan wilderness.  He had a collar and seldom got lost.

Red barked and shot out the door, heading toward the beach where an old abondened boat lay, shipwrecked before Red's owner was born.  Today was different though.  Red could feel that something was different.  Before he could put his tail on it, a howl broke the silence on the beach and to Red's horror, it was coming from his boat!  

Red growled and leapt onto the boat, teeth showing and ready for a fight.  What he saw stunned him.  A beautiful white she-wolf was sitting on it's deck, staring at him.  Immediatly, the she-wolf snarled and lept at Red, but soon her eyes met his and she stopped in midair, crashing to the wood of the boat.  There they stood, Red and Aniu; Dog and Wolf staring at each other.

"Who are you?"  Red finally got out.

"I'm Aniu.  My pack lives in the forest just outside the city."  Her voice swirled around Red, filling his heart.  Unknown to him, Aniu's heart was also fluttering as she stared at this dog.  She had never felt the feeling before and was scared by it.  In her fear, she ran and lept over the edge of the boat and dissappeared into the forest as Red watched her vanish.

The two met the next day at the boat and many days after.  Months passed as Red grew older.  Aniu grew also both in beauty and wisdom.  It was perfectly clear, they were falling in love.  One night, Red and Aniu were spread out on a blanket when Red gave his mate some news.

"Aniu, my owner is dying."  He said.

"Oh Red, i'm so sorry!  I know how much he means to you."  Aniu said, licking his ear.  "Is there anything i can do to help?"

"Well, he has been good to me these past years, but he is old and it is his time.  He will be in peace.  But there's something else bothering me.  WIthout my owner, i have nowhere to go.  I've been wondering if this boat would sustain me.  But i will be lonely here.  Aniu, please tell me you'll live here with me!"

Aniu stood up and shook her head.  "Red, i have news also.  Red, i'm carrying."

"What?"  Red got up.

"It means, i'm pregnant.  I'm carrying puppies."  Aniu said.  Red yelped with joy. 

"Aniu, we can have a family!"  Red said.  "Please?  Your answer?"

"Yes.  Yes, i shall leave my pack and come with you."  Aniu said and the two spent the rest of the night together.  However, danger lurked in the shadows.  A wolf by the name of Shadow had overheard the conversation and anger filled him.  He had noticed Aniu slipping off more and more and he had planned to show his love for her that night.  Instead, he waited.

Many months later, Aniu had her litter on the boat.  Three puppies, two of them with the white fur of their mother and one with the brown fur of his father.  Before long, the two white ones began to look more like dogs while the brown one took on the looks of a wolf.  More time passed and Shadow continued to live in the pack, though his anger and broken heart finally over came him.  That night, Aniu, Red and their family (Balto, and his sisters May and Snow) were alseep when Shadow sneeked in.  Quickly, he killed May, but in the struggle, Balto woke up in time to see his sister's last breath.  He yelped, waking the rest of him family.

"Aniu, take the pups and run!"  Red yelled, but too late.  Shadow lunged for Snow and caught her throat.  The poor puppy didn't stand a chance as Shadow lifted her by her neck in his teeth.  She was dead before she hit the ground.  Aniu grabbed Balto and jumped over the side of the boat.  Unknown to her, Red had faught Shadow and managed to throw the old wolf overboard and into the ocean, where he eventually got out and ran into the forest, but many months later, Red died from his wounds while looking for his mate and last living pup.

Aniu ran farther and farther away form the dreadful scene with Balto.  Finally, they came to a den where Balto grew up, him memory quickly cleared of that horrible night.

"Balto, you must learn the ways of the world."  she said and so began his teachings.

"Learn of the animals totems on a pole, for one day they will guide you, though it is not clear when.  Learn of the fox, the cunning trickster.  The wolverine, who is your fears.  The bear is your inner knowing.  The caribu, life.  And the wolf."

"Mother, what is the wolf?"  Balto asked.  Aniu did not answer.  Though he did not know his father, Balto knew he was not a full wolf.  He began to get a wolf like appearance, though it was clear he was part dog.  His features were mixed together and that made him a target for animals to make fun of him as he hunted.  But Aniu's worst fears came true.  Shadow had survived and tracked Aniu to the forest where she was living.  One night, he and a band of loyal wolves attacked.  Aniu grabbed Balto and ran as fast as she could through the woods.  Finally, she stopped.

"Mother, run!"  Balto said.  "Come on!  Their after us!"  Aniu shook her head.

"We shall meet again my son.  Don't forget the animal totums.  One day, i shall be there to guide you as you shall guide your family."

"Mother?"  Balto looked utterly confused.  The hows of Shadow and his pack were coming closer.

"Balto, listen to me.  On the edge of the forest, there is a small town.  The humans call it Nome.  Go there, you will be safe.  But never forget your heritage.  You have the spirit of a great wolf, but also the heart of a wonderful dog.  Be wise my son.  Now go!  Run!"  Aniu said.  

"But mother..."  Balto gasped.

"Run!"  Aniu said and she jumped up and fled into the trees, into the path of Shadow and his wolves.  She died that night and, as her destiny called, she became a spirit guide.  Balto took his mother's advice and fled.  It took him two months, but he finally stumbled into the town of Nome one night, tired and hungry.  A passing human soon spotted him in an ally.

Balto looked up hopefully and wagged his tail.  The human smiled and beckened with it's hand until Balto stepped into the light.  The human shrieked, thinking Balto was a wolf and ran into the first building it could see.  Soon, many more humans were running around, looking for the wolf.

"Nice going mutt!"  A voice sneered behind him.  Balto whipped around to see a large black and white dog strutting toward him.  "You sent the town into a frenzy.  What a wolfdog."

"What did you call me earlier?"  Balto asked. 

"A mutt.  It's what you are.  Not a dog and not a wolf."  The black and white dog said.  "Not anybody if you ask me.  Mutts are worthless."

"And who are you?"  Balto asked, begining to back