In the quiet, but tranquil streets of Nome, lived Balto, the hero of the town. Balto had been the one to bring back live-saving medicine to all the dying children. Now, he was exhaulted and praised almost every single day.

But nowadays, he preferred to be in places where there were less people, less of a crowd. He was currently laying in the middle of one of the darkest alleys in Nome.

Jenna soon found Balto and layed beside him. "Hey Balto," she greeted him.

Balto broke out a grin. "Hey Jenna," he replied.

"So, hanging out in the shadows trying to avoid the praise?" Jenna asked in a happy tone.

Balto nodded. "Sometimes it's nice just to lay low and avoid the crowds."

But soon Balto's thoughts began to take him somewhere else. They journeyed him back to when he was getting the medicine back. But just as he began to remember the white wolf who had helped him on his journey, there was a sudden commotion.

Kodi came running to the front of the alley. "Dad, dad! Come quick!"

Balto quickly got up and ran out of the alley. Jenna followed.

"What's wrong?" Balto asked his son as they walked towards the front side of Nome.

"There's this wolf that just appeared here. She says she knows you."

"A wolf?"

"Yeah, she's white. She says she's related to you or something..."

Balto's face suddenly froze. It may be Aniu... he thought.

As they neared the area, Balto immediately noticed a big whtie blur of wolf. He looked closely and saw that maternal figure he only knew as a small pup. "Mother?" he asked hesitantly. She nodded. Both Jenna and Kodi looked at each other a bit confused. How on earth did Aniu know where to find Balto?

Balto walked right up to his mother. "Mother what are you doing here?" he asked.

"I am here because I need your help," she replied. Her voice was soft, but firm at the same time. It almost echoed in Balto's ears.

"You need my help?"

"I'll explain on the way." Aniu pushed Balto in front of her. "We have a long journey ahead," she whispered.

Balto nodded and waved goodbye to his family and friends. "I'll be back soon!" he called.

As the two entered the forest, Balto looked at Aniu expectantly.

Aniu sighed slightly. "We need to find your father."

Balto looked completely shocked. He had never once seen his father. He knew his father had left a long time ago, long before he had been born.

Aniu sighed again. "I know it sounds silly and rash, but I fear he's in danger."

"What kind of danger?" Balto asked.

"The bad kind. Very likely life threatening."

Balto all of a sudden let go of his slight anger at his father for a few moments. Now, instead, he felt sorry for his old man. But those feelings soon faded. "Why should we help him? Didn't he leave you Mom?" he asked.

Aniu shook her head. "He may have, but he meant well by it. If he didn't leave, the humans would've eventually thought him a wolf and shot him dead. He didn't really have what it took to hang with wolves and survive all at once."

Balto looked down at his paws. "Alright then.." he said, now fully understanding the reason behind his father's dissapearence.

Soon the two were at a cave. As night fell, they settled in the cave, sleeping. When morning came, they set off again. After about two days, they were beginning to wear down. They were frequently stopping to catch their breaths.

But soon, their journey would all be worth while, or would it?

The mother and son began to hear distant cries for help. They immediately started a sprint towards where they believed the cries were coming from.

But as they got there, Balto stopped in his tracks. There, right in front of them, was a very very steep cliff. And there was more than one dog's scent in the air. Aniu recognized her mate's scent. But the other one she did not. Balto recognized the other's scent, but not his fathers. It was a one for one.

Aniu looked at Balto with a quizzical expression. The one whom's scent she did not know was standing right in front of them, looking down the cliff. She had a feeling her son knew who this was just by his shocked expression.

Balto saw Aniu looking at him as if she questioned his knowledge. Balto, in turn, said, "I know him alright. His name is Steele."

Balto ran towards Steele and growled. "What are you doing here?" he demanded.

Steele gave Balto a cold hard look. "Why just taking away what's special to you... like you did you me so many years ago! You took my glory, my praise, and most imporantly, my woman!"

"Jenna never liked you face it! And all you cared about was glory! Not the children!"

Steele suddenly let go of something with one of his paws. The cries from Balto's father echoed.

"What was th-" Balto looked down and gasped. Hanging across the side of the cliff was what looked like his father.

Aniu rushed in to help. "Adelio! Adelio! Are you alright?" she called.

"No!" Adelio answered. "This crazy mutt is trying to drop me off the cliff!"

Balto pushed Steele aside and held onto his father's paws. "Mom! Hold onto him!" Balto called frantically, knowing Steele was going to push him back.

Aniu quickly rushed in and grabbed Adelio's paws. She tried her best to haul him up but she'd need Balto's help for that. There needed to be two to do it, not just one.

Steele lunged at Balto, just barely missing his neck. Balto in turn lunged at Steele. He managed to grab his tail and throw him against a nearby tree. Steele hit the tree, nearly breaking his back. He fell to the ground with a thud and lay there unconsious.

Balto then ran to his mother who was awaiting his help. He grabbed his father along with his mother and they were able to hoist him up to safety. After a few thanks and greetings, and a talk between Balto and Adelio, they were on their way back to Nome.

After about three days, Balto was back at Nome. He grinned as his parents left, together again at last. He had an amazing adventure. As he layed down to rest his aching paws, Jenna laughed and asked, "So how did it go?"

Balto soon got to explaining the whole story.

~The End~