known you would put in an appearance Valeria” Aurora said looking at the she wolf.

“But of course sister I wished to see the child” Valeria replied walking over to the bed. “She is weak, very weak, you have helped her but she needs the medicine to live as we cannot cure her fully.”

“She sees me Valeria, she can understand me.”

“So her gifts have surfaced, to be expected they are very strong and she is so very weak.”

“Yet it was not expected until she was much older, she is still a child.”

“This cannot be helped, the situation will only grow worse if the medicine does not arrive soon. You and I know what her future holds, how special she truly is, even more than our mother Aniu or the other spirits.”

“That I am aware of, our brother should have been on that team.”

“Yes but human are fools, well white humans at least. This is for you alone to solve. We do not say it but we both know what will happen if the medicine does not come in time. If there is no choice, if we are forced then we will have to act to save her.”

“Valeria that is forbidden, we cannot influence the lives of white humans, it has been forbidden. They do not believe in us as the Inuit do, they do not respect the creatures of this land. I will do whatever it takes to save Rosanna’s life.”

“That I do not doubt but remember Rosanna’s lineage sister” Valeria whispered before vanishing. Glaring after her sister Aurora shook her head before her attention back to Rosie, her sister’s worlds echoing in her mind.

    Over the next few nights Aurora stayed by Rosie’s side always watching her. Looking out of the window one night Aurora saw Jenna limp into town. For a moment Jenna seemed to head to the boiler house before changing her mind and making her way to the church. Leaving Rosie’s side Aurora followed Jenna, jumping onto a wood pile underneath a window of the church. Inside the freezing the church Jenna walked towards the alter, her head hanging low, tears streaming down her face.

“I don’t know if you would listen to the prayer of a dog or if you could even hear me. Please save Rosie’s life, please help her to get better, please I beg of you. Rosie means the world to me, she is a child, please let her get better. She does not deserve to die so young, save her life.”

   Reaching the alter Jenna placed a wooden rose on it’s top, her tears falling onto the stone alter. Outside Aurora’s heart went out to the red husky, a tear running from her eye was she watched Jenna. Leaving the church Aurora vanished in a flash of white at the exact moment as Balto fell down a cliff. Reappearing on the mountain above Nome Aurora stood in the midst of the swirling snow. At the exact moment as Jenna placed a lantern behind a pile of broken bottles, Balto’s desperate cry pierced Aurora’s mind.

“Please help me, someone, Rosie I have failed you I am so sorry. Jenna I am sorry I tried, oh Rosie I hope you forgive me one day,” in her mind Aurora saw Balto lying at the bottom of a cliff.

      In a flash of white light Aurora appeared in front of her brother staring into his eyes before howling a song of joy. Seeing his sister Balto recognized her at once, ashamed of himself and his heritage he turned away. Calling on her powers Aurora spoke to her brother telepathically.

“To your paws my brother for you have not yet failed. Remember the pup you once were, remember the day we howled together in the snow. Once you listened to my stories in the den, once you planned leading a pack your brother Suka. Once you said you did not wish to live in a town. Neither wolf nor dog you are the best of both. Be proud of what you are, feel the power of the wolf within you. Your wolf blood is not your weakness it is your strength. Step out of the shadows into the light once more. Remember who you once were, combine the past with the present, become who you truly area inside.”

     Turning away Aurora vanished into the snow, as Balto lay there with her words echoing in his mind.

“My wolf blood is my strength? How can it be when in Nome I am outcast for it? Aurora after all this time she found me, a wolf such as her found a half breed like me. Yet I did howl with her once, long ago when I still lived with my family. Suka and I………we planned and leading a pack together, thought that together we thought we would lead the greatest pack ever. Before my father was captured by his humans, before I fell down the cliff in the storm and was separated from my family….. I am back where I began falling down that cliff resulted in meeting Boris and coming to Nome. That day, after Boris and I could not find my mother……I threw my wolf heritage into the wind because I felt I could not find her. Because I felt I was such a hopeless wolf, the conflict I had been feeling overwhelmed me.  

    Mother is a wolf, Aurora is a wolf and my father fell in love with a wolf. Boris… he said a dog cannot make this journey alone but maybe a wolf can. Aurora she was right, I am half wolf, I have made it alone just as a lone wolf would.”

   Looking at Aurora’s tracks Balto closed his eyes and placed in paw in one of her prints, his eyes widening when it fitted perfectly. In an instant he threw his head back in a wonderful howl of joy, something he not done since he was a cub. Seconds later Aurora joined him, brother and sister howled together in joy. Ending the howl both stared at each other, their tails wagging with delight.

“Aurora thank you for this I had last part of who I am.”

“I came to help you Balto, I remember the pup you once were, I have seen what you have become. I have magic within me, I heard your cry, you needed to accept what you are as you once did.”

“I am part wolf and nothing can change that. You are right it is my strength. I have to get back to Nome, Rosie and the other children need my help.”

“I have seen Rosie, she grows weaker with every passing hour as do other children, it is vital they receive the medicine.”

“Then I had better get going, goodbye sister” Balto replied nuzzling her.

“Goodbye Balto I will see you soon in Nome” Aurora replied before vanishing.

   Reappearing on a small hill in a section of forest Aurora watched as Balto dragged the medicine up the cliff, her heart filling with pride as she watched him lead the team.

            Hero’s Light 

       Five days had passed since the team had arrived back with the medicine. In the hospital Balto and Jenna sat on Rosie’s bed. Just as the clock struck midnight Rosie awoke, moments later Aurora walked into the room.

“Aurora I am so pleased to see you, I was not expecting to see you in here” Balto said wagging his tail.

“I have come to make sure that you and Rosie are alright” Aurora replied softly.

“Who are you?” Jenna asked looking between Balto and Aurora.

“Jenna this is my half sister Aurora, remember I told you about her a couple of months ago?”

“So this is Aurora, I am pleased to meet you at last.”

“Likewise Jenna.”

“Aurora you have come back” Rosie chipped in.

   Balto and Jenna looked at each other in amazement, unable to believe their ears as Aurora jumped onto the bed.

“So you can still understand our speech the gift you have is strong.”

“Excuse me gift?” Jenna asked cocking her head to one side.

“Rosie was born with it, magic you would call it. The diphtheria caused her gift to awaken earlier then they should have done. Rosie was every weak her gift was stronger than her, she was unable to resist.”

“This is a little strange” Jenna replied.

“No kidding but it is kind of cool” said Balto looking between his sister and Jenna.

“I like it. I have always wanted to know what you say” Rosie chipped in.

“Jenna I swear to you this will not harm Rosie.”

“I know, you and Rosie have met before?”

“Aurora sat with me when I was sick.”

“I am grateful for at, to know Rosie had someone with her all the time.”

“It was my pleasure, both of you saw my brother for who he is really is.”

“I like you Aurora I hope we can play together” Rosie yawned.

“You will when you are well enough, time you got some sleep” Jenna replied pulling the blankets around Rosie.

    As Rosie fell asleep Balto and Aurora left the hospital, walking through Nome until they reached the hill above town.

“What is really going on Aurora? Why Rosie, is there something you are not telling me?”

“Remember when your mother told you about the spirits as a pup?”

“Yes.”

“Do you remember when she told you that everyone has a spirit guide?”

“Yes she said Eagle’s was a bald eagle. How she knew those things I never found out.”

“Well I am Rosie’s spirit guide.”

“What! How on earth?”

“Do not trouble yourself with that, you will find out soon enough but not yet, it is not time. Trust me brother I am here to help Rosie, I am your sister as well.”

“I trust you Aurora. What happened to Eagle,