continue until they can't support it," Tikani answered with resolve. "We'll wear them down until they are unable or unwilling to come here again."

"That might not be the best idea," Balto countered. "If you cause enough damage the humans will see you as a threat. Once they do, they'll only send more hunters… except instead of hunting game, they'll be hunting you, and they will likely destroy you."

"Are you threatening me mongrel?" Tikani growled.

"No, I'm simply trying to stop anything that would cause unnecessary bloodshed," Balto replied. "So far there have only been a few skirmishes, and I'd like to stop this before it escalates into something worse."

"We will only stop when you stop infringing on our territory!" Tikani shouted. "That is the only thing we ask."

"Very well; since Spitz and his team come here for hunting, is there somewhere outside of your territory where game is still present?" Balto asked.

"There is a small herd of caribou just outside of our borders, maybe consisting of eight or nine animals," Kisa agreed. "Other than that, no; most of the caribou in the area lie within our borders. In fact, that is why we chose this place for our pack; it has ample game to support us."

"If you have ample game here, then could there be a way to share with the dogs?" Jenna asked. "If we could-"

"Absolutely not! We have put up with the poaching of our prey for long enough - no more!" he growled, before turning to Balto. "Okay wolfdog, we've listened to each other and now you know our position. You go and tell your friends that if they don't want to get hurt, they will stay out of our territory from now on."

"This wasn't much of a talk," Balto protested. "We know your position, but we've barely tried to reach an agreement. Can't we take some more time to-"

"NO! No deals, no compromises, no concessions. We don't negotiate with dogs," he said, before turning tail with Kisa and disappearing back into the woods.

"Yeah it was nice seeing you again too," Maska muttered, making no attempt to hide the sarcasm in his voice. Jenna's face fell and her ears drooped after being shot down by Tikani like that.

"Hey, it's okay Jenna, you tried your best," Balto said, leaning in to nuzzle her. "At least you tried. We all did."

"If there's nothing else we can do today, then we should head back," Maska suggested, and they followed the brown wolf back into his territory.

"So what now?" Jenna asked. "We didn't get them to stop attacking Spitz and his team."

"No, but now we know why they're doing it," Balto answered. "It's because they want to protect their food supply. The simplest option is for them to go somewhere else."

"It may be a simple option, but Spitz might not go along with it," Jenna countered. "You know that he doesn't like being told what to do, especially from you."

Balto nodded reluctantly, ears flat and face firm. Jenna had said the very thing that was eating away at him. "That's what I'm worried about," he agreed. "But it's the best shot we've got so far, so we have to at least try."

"And if he doesn't take your idea?" Maska asked.

"I… I don't know," Balto said. "They'll keep going into Tikani's territory and that will only lead to more trouble. They'll be on their own unless…" he stopped and looked at his friend hopefully. "Unless you could help us Maska."

"Me? What do you have in mind?" Maska asked, surprised.

"Is any way that you could help protect the teams when they're out here?" Balto asked, "Would you be willing to run interference for them?"

Maska shook his head. "I'd like to, but if I did, I would only attract more ire from Tikani. I think he's sour enough as it is what with me helping you. If you were the one in trouble, then yes I would come and help, but I owe nothing to Spitz and I can't risk provoking a fight with Tikani for him. I have my own pack to think of here, especially considering we have a few pups to look after."

"I see; then again it wouldn't be fair to push this onto you as well," Balto said, disappointed that another idea had been turned down.

Maska nodded. "When it comes to diplomacy, I'd be more than willing to help out, but I don't want to get caught up in a fight if I don't have to. However, I will allow our territory to be a safe haven for those who need it. If Spitz still refuses to leave Tikani's pack alone, just tell him to head west until they cross the riverbed. They'll find shelter here, as Tikani wouldn't dare cross into my territory."

"While they're there, would you allow any hunting in your territory?" Jenna asked.

The wolf lowered his gaze and sighed. "Once again, I'm sorry that I have to decline the request," he said solemnly. "As it is, our game is stretched thin, partly because most of the caribou lie in Tikani's territory. We've been having to turn to smaller things such as rabbits to let everyone get by."

"In other words, your paws are tied," Balto said, and Maska nodded. "I still appreciate your offer for sanctuary here Maska. Besides, it may not even come to that, as long as Spitz likes our plan."

---

"That plan is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!" Spitz snapped after Balto told him what he had heard from Tikani. "Why should we take a detour like that from such prime hunting ground?"

"Because someone's already living there, and they don't want visitors," Kaltag replied. Balto had called on the Chinook to help explain things to Spitz. He hoped that having the current lead dog of Nome's champion sled team with him would help convince Spitz. Unfortunately, even that wasn't working out.

"It really isn't as bad as you think," Balto continued, trying to reason with him. "The wolf we met said that there was another small herd just outside of his territory."

"That's the other thing I don't like; how you go off and try to make deals with wild wolves while the rest of us hear little about it," Spitz continued, ignoring Balto's suggestion. "I don't like how the three of you seem to have some sort of little club where you can do as you please."

"Well if you want to talk to them, I'll gladly take you to them," Balto suggested.

"I don't want to talk to any wild wolf," Spitz muttered. "I'm not dealing with any of those savages. Besides, we might be able to sneak in and out of their territory without them knowing."

"I don't think so; it's nearly impossible to sneak past a wolf intent on protecting their territory - believe me, I know," Balto said, remembering how he was caught by Maska's pack shortly after entering their territory. "And they aren't as savage as you think. If you took the time to talk to them and hear their side, you'd find out that they're simply trying to look after themselves."

Spitz paused to think, but he was still unconvinced. "The answer is still no Balto. It's my team, and I have to look after their needs too. Wolves aren't the only ones who need to eat," he finished before trotting away.

Balto took a deep breath and let it out in defeat. Had he been foolish to think that it would be that easy? "Well so much for that," he uttered in a low tone.

"But we can't let them just waltz in and get hurt again," Kaltag said. "We have to do something. Are you sure these wolves won't make any deals?"

"I don't know; they wouldn't make a deal earlier today and they aren't as open-minded as Maska," Balto answered. "We have nothing to offer them in return, so it'll take something big to even get them to talk to us again."

---

Chapter 4: The Next Level

Four Days Later

Balto tried to enjoy the next few days in peace, but the thought of Spitz's reaction to his idea still nagged at the back of his mind. His worries remained, despite Jenna's attempts to cheer him up, along with Boris's words of wisdom. "Balto, there are some times when it's best to simply swallow your pride and accept that some might not want your help," the old goose said to him as he was perched on the bow of his boat - his favorite spot to go when he had a lot on his mind.

"If their actions were only hurting themselves then I'd agree with you, but these wolves might try going after other dogs as well," Balto replied. "Those other dogs wouldn't deserve that because they've done nothing wrong. They look up to Kaltag and I as leaders, and leaders are supposed to look after the safety of those with them. I wouldn't be a very good leader if I sat by and did nothing."

"Oy, all this talk about responsibility and such… I think I liked you more when you were an outcast," Boris grumbled, and that managed to make Balto crack into his first smile in days. "Since when did you get so good at debating with your uncle Boris?"

"I've been learning from the best when it comes to arguing," Balto replied, looking over at the old bird. Boris chuckled, seeing that a bit of him had rubbed off onto the younger