The sun shone over the horizon at the crack of dawn, and lit up the small, yet lively town of Nome, waking up everyone who inhabited it. Everyone would then start their day as a normal community. The banker was counting bills from a customer, the butcher was starting to smoke the meat in the locker, and the doctor was finishing getting medicine to the kids infected by diphtheria. But somewhere on the costal line was a ship-wrecked boat with only a couple of passengers onboard. 

        One of these passengers was a tired out wolf-dog named Balto. He had just finished a very long few days on an adventure no dog could ever accomplish. He woke up around the same time the people of Nome did and stretched. He popped both of his sore hind legs and did the same thing with his arms. He ached everywhere and had trouble walking, but still managed to walk around.

       He walked up to the bow of the boat and looked out toward the city. It was getting brighter by the minute and he breathed in the smell of the ocean. He liked his home and enjoyed living in it, but he was an outcast of the city. No one loved him because of his heritage as a wolf-dog, but a few people did, like his best fried Boris, a Russian goose who thought he could control Balto’s life. He waddled over to his side.

“Vhat a night, last night vas, eh?” the goose asked with his accent. Balto turned toward him and replied.

“Aww not really, it won’t last any more, no matter how much the town may thank me.” The night before, he saved the town by bringing the medicine to the town to save the kids who were infected by diphtheria. He didn’t start the mission though, but he still managed to save the sled team that was stranded in the blizzard. They could have pulled it off without Balto’s help and brought the medicine in no time; but they had a bad lead dog, Steele, a malamute who didn’t care for anything, besides glory to himself.

“Are yeh kidding, Boychik? The town loves yeh now after vhat yeh did,” Boris paused, “and there is always another particular other who loves yeh a bit more.” Balto blushed to himself and smiled. Boris was talking about Jenna, a pure bred husky who had touched his heart when they met. She was the only person, other than Boris, who appreciated him for who he really was.

“I don’t think so, Boris,” he said, “She would have a better life with someone other than me. I mean, what do I have to offer her? A termite infested home, or a life picking out of trash cans? I can’t do that to her.”

Boris looked at him as if he were crazy, “Are yeh crazy?! She chose yeh out of all the other dogs in Nome!”

“That’s just it! I’m not a dog! I’m part wolf, and no matter what I do I’ll always be treated like one!” Balto snapped back. He wished what he said wasn’t true but he couldn’t believe, “What I did was just something that any other person would have done.”

“Oi!” Boris sighed, “You’re wrong, No other person could have done it because they don’t have a volf heritage like you.” He paused, “Let’s see vhat happens vhen yeh go into town.”

       Balto sighed and jumped off the boat He hoped what Boris said was true, but he couldn’t get his hopes up, he’d just have to see what happens.

       Balto made his way into town and hesitantly walked in the middle of the street. So far there were a few people on the streets, but they were doing something Balto had never experienced before. They were calling out, “Good boy,” and, “The town hero!” which filled Balto with pride, but stayed the modest person he was.

       Kaltag, one of the dogs that was on the sled team he rescued, came up to him and said

“Hey Balto, where’ve ya been?” he asked. He started making a friendship with Kaltag after they got back. Before diphtheria swept the towns, Kaltag was one of the ones teased him with Steele, but after the night before, he apologized for what he did.

“Er, home.” He replied.

Kaltag stared shockingly, “Alone?” Balto nodded, “I’d thought you’d be with Jenna, after all, you two made quite a scene last night.” He winked and nudged him. Balto chuckled to himself and replied.

“I think we’re just going to stay friends, before last night I was a wolf-dog, after last night I’m still a wolf-dog, and I don’t think anything else is going to change.”

Kaltag smirked at him then said, “Well don’t look now, but your extremely ‘friendly’ friend is coming.” He left laughing ad Balto turned the other way to see Jenna walking up to him. She nuzzled his face and said

“Good morning.” She sighed, “Balto.”

Balto blushed and replied, “Morning,” he paused, panicking on what to say next. Every time they spend time together it’s an awkward moment, “Er, when’s Rosy coming home from the hospital?”

    Jenna stared at him and replied, “I don’t know, but I don’t think it’s going to be a long time until she does.” She smiled and started walking with him.

   Balto stared at her as they walked. She didn’t notice but turned red anyway. She had been the nicest person toward Balto as long as he could remember. Balto then remembered what relity was then frowned.

“What’s wrong?” Jenna asked. The red husky faced him as she asked.

Balto shook his head and said, “Nothing in particular.” He smiled with reassurance and Jenna licked his cheek. Balto smiled and kept walking down the street. More people started calling to Balto, humans and other dogs. Then a familiar voice came from an ally.

“You should’ve never taken full credit for that.” Said a figure in the dark, Balto expected it to be Steele but it wasn’t. It was his brother, Dusk. He came out of the dark and showed his teeth as he growled. Balto had never met Steele’s brother but new he had one. Dusk looked exactly like Steele, but had brown fur and had a crippled leg. Jenna stepped forward and said

“Just mind your own, Dusk. Balto had every right to be credited for what he did.” Balto saw Jenna’s wild side in her. The only other time he saw her like that she was rescuing Balto from a bear.

“Oh please,” he snickered, “Whose the one who ran all the way to Nenana and ran half way back? Steele did. He did the most work in this little expedition, and you think you could just take control of his team and leave him stranded in the snow? I don’t think so.”

    Balto felt hurt for what he said, and knew he was right. Steele should have been credited for what he did and he should be back in the boat where he belonged.

“It’s what Steele didn’t do that Balto got credit for! He wanted to save the children and asked for nothing in return. He did what no other dog did and went out on his own to help. Steele refused his help and look where it got him. If he would have excepted it, he would be here right now, would he?” Jenna growled. Balto felt joy that she stood up for him, but he didn’t know what happened to Steele.

“What happened to Steele?” Balto asked. He wasn’t worried what happened to him, he just wanted to know.

Dusk answered, “He was exiled from the town, and was chased out last night.”

Balto was horrified, he didn’t want that. He didn’t even want to be a hero or at least called one.

“Look,” Balto said, “I didn’t mean for that to happen to your brother.”

“Well just watch your back, wolf.” He threatened and limped off.

Balto looked at Jenna then looked down. Jenna nuzzled his face, which comforted him.

“Funny,” Balto joked, “After I finally get rid of one enemy, I make a new one.”

Jenna sighed and said, “Not everyone is going to see what kind of person you are, but just let Dusk get some time to think about who did the right thing.”

Balto smiled and continued his day with his beloved friend.

Later on in the day, Balto and Jenna met up with Kaltag and a female husky Balto had never met before. She looked at hi smiled. Balto hesitated a bit because he notice how pretty she was but then thought how much he cared for Jenna. No one could ever replace her place in his heart. Jenna didn’t notice his weird jesture and greeted them,

“Hi, Kaltag.” The she looked at the new person, “Who’s this?”

The girl stared at Balto and then looked at Jenna, “I’m Meria, I’m moved here yesterday morning. I wasn’t really known to any one because of the sadness around here.” Balto noticed Kaltag staring at her with affection and then nudged him as a joke. Kaltag nudged back harder and then continued to stare at Meria.

Jenna smiled at Meria and said, “Well, welcome to Nome.” She then leaned on Balto’s shoulder, which made him feel uncomfortable. He smiled at Jenna then looked at Meria. She continued to stare at him with affection, which put him in a bad spot. He was in love with Jenna and didn’t want to ruin that because Meria liked him.

Kaltag then said something to break an awkward moment of silence, “Why don’t we get together tonight at the celebration.”

Balto looked at Kaltag,