of them greeted.

"I haven't been pup for years Faro!" the other indignantly put in. "Heck, I'm probably older than this Balto guy we're chasing."

"Salin, you know he's just kidding right?" Atka said to the youngest of the three. "Anyways, we've been called out. Balto's been found and everyone is going to be part of the chase."

"Everyone? Wow, Tikani sure must have it in for this guy," Faro mused as they got up to leave and sprinted to join the pack. The chase would continue, and Atka, Faro and Salin would have front row seats for whatever would happen next.

----------

"So, have you figured out why I wanted to go out tonight, Balto?"

"I have a few guesses."

"Let's hear them."

"Well, it could be the wonderful scenery out here… it could be the peace and quiet of the night… or maybe you just wanted to hide from tonight's bath."

"Oh har-har, you're a class act."

Jenna was glad that Balto had taken the news quite well, especially considering the situation they were in. They were going to be the parents of a litter of puppies, and as she slept, her mind started to drift to a happier day: the day they started their new family. She had been hinting towards it for some time beforehand, so Balto wasn't entirely ignorant to her intent, but that didn't stop him from joking around about it.

"I think you know why I wanted you here."

"I think I know why you wanted me here too."

They were sitting on the peak of a small cliff on the shore. In front of them was the ocean, a vast expanse of ice illuminated by the moon hanging above their heads. Behind them was a grove of trees, which separated the clearing from the outside world, giving them some privacy. She'd suggested they go for a walk that night, and after wandering in the woods for a few minutes, they stumbled upon this small clearing on the coast. Amazed by the view, they decided to stop here.

"I just want to hear you say it first. After all, it's your idea."

"Okay… how would you feel if we became more than just two dogs in love… how would you feel if we became… mates, maybe with a family as well?"

He looked at her with a content smile on his face, giving away his answer well before he said it. His one ear dropped a little, as it usually did when he felt completely at ease. "I would feel… absolutely wonderful about that. And a family… that sounds amazing too… but it's a pretty big thing too."

"I know, but I wouldn't be asking if I didn't feel right about it. I wouldn't be asking if I didn't think that you and I were up to it."

"I had no idea you had that much faith in me… a family… Heh, even after all those hints, this is still feeling a little surreal," he said, looking back out at the ocean.

"Why?" she asked, rubbing her cheek into his side while looking up at his face.

"I guess… I guess because for years, it was one of the farthest things from my mind. For years I was the unloved outcast, the half-wolf, so no girl would ever want to get near me, much less want to be my mate. I'd pushed the idea so far out of my mind that it's having a little trouble getting back in."

"It may have been pushed out of your mind, but you're wrong about one thing. You weren't unloved. I loved you."

"You did? And I thought I was the only one pining for the other."

"Believe me, you weren't. You may have been part wolf, but you were still you, and that's what really mattered to me."

"Yeah, you always were the one to see me for who I really am. It's just that… would our pups have the same benefit with everyone else? They'd have some wolf in them as well, and others might put them down because of that… just like how they put me down."

"I know they'd have some wolf in them, but they will be living in a town that knows a half-wolf came to them in their most desperate hour. Believe me, I don't want them to go through what you did either, but I'm sure everything will be okay. They will have friends who remember what you did for the town."

"That's true…"

"How about this: they'll have the benefit of something you didn't have when you were growing up. They'll have you and I to support them when they're down. You didn't have any parent to turn to for comfort when you were alone, but they can always come to us when they need to. You may not have had a complete family, but they will."

"You're right, they would have us to help them. I never had my mother or father to comfort me when I was growing up, and that might've made a world of difference… and you know what else our puppies will have going for them?" he asked, looking over at her as his smile returned.

"What?"

"I bet they'll be really cute too."

She giggled. "Of course they will be. All puppies are cute… but ours would be the cutest."

"Yeah, they would be."

"So, I take it your answer is a yes?"

"Yes…."

The dream started to fade, but the feelings about it remained same. They were going to have their family soon, and their pups would be born to parents who loved each other and would love them with all their hearts. She smiled at the thought of watching several adorable bundles bouncing around, playing with them and snuggling up to them. "Thank you Balto."

"You're welcome Jenna… whatever it's for." Hearing his reply brought her out of her doze, and she saw him lying down beside her, right where she had left him. "Sleep well?"

"I think so. You?"

"Not as much as I would've liked," he replied. "This whole thing with Tikani kept me up. I even tried going for a bit of a walk, but that didn't help much… though I did end up meeting the owner of this place."

"This thing has an owner? Who was it, some mouse?" she asked, looking around the empty cabin for any small creatures.

"No, an old stray named Mack," he replied. "Don't worry, he's a nice dog and he even told me a way home. He went out to find something for us to eat, and after that we can head right out."

"Really? Oh, thank you so much," she said, nuzzling him under his chin.

"Hey, I told you I'd get us home," he replied after she broke away, looking directly into her deep brown eyes. His ears then perked up as the telltale sound of paws on snow reached them. "I think that's our host right now." Sure enough, Mack bounded through the open door and slid to a stop in front of them. Both of them jumped a little at his sudden entrance. His panting told them that he had been running heavily - no small feat for a dog his age - and his eyes were wide in terror. "Woah, what happened? Did the rabbits spook you?" Balto asked.

"Wasn't the rabbits, it was them, it was the wolves!" he gasped. "They're coming!"

----------

Chapter 5: The Chase Continues

"You two have to get out of here! They're headed this way!" Mack exclaimed as panic rushed through them. It had only taken Tikani one night to find them, and they would have to act fast if they were going to escape.

"Oh no… no… how far?" Balto asked, his ears flat against his head in fear.

"They're still a few minutes out, but they're movin' in a wide line from the southwest," Mack replied. "They were goin' at a jog though, probably to keep quiet for a surprise attack."

"If they're moving slowly then we might be able to make a break for town," Jenna suggested.

"But we'd have to go south in order to get home," Balto groaned. "It'd bring us too close to them; all it takes is one wolf to see us for the alarm to be raised. They'd be on us in seconds."

"That just leaves north as your best option," Mack put in.

"Yes, but that gets us farther from home and any support… and we can't run forever," Balto retorted.

"Maybe, but you might not have to. To the north is an old trail that leads to a mountain pass. I've been in there years ago while sledding and I can tell you that it's like a maze in there. You could lose them, and when the coast is clear, you can double back and head home."

"It may help us lose them, but what's to stop us from getting lost ourselves?" she asked.

"Hey, aren't you forgetting who you're travelling with? I don't think I could get lost if I wanted to," Balto replied with confidence, earning a smile from her. "It's settled, the three of us are leaving now."

"Actually, it'll just be you two… I'm not comin'," Mack added, causing Balto and Jenna's jaws to drop.

"What? You can't stay here. If they find you, who knows what they'll do to you!" she cried.

"I know this is your home, but these wolves are dangerous. You have to get away, or at least try to hide from them."

"I could… but it'd just delay the inevitable. They'd probably find me anyways, and I don't plan on goin' out hiding in some hole," Mack said. "If I tried to run, I'd just slow you down. You're better off going by yourselves -