Daddy's dead!" cried Jade.

"I know, I know, but we have to get out of here, that wolf might be pursuing us."

In truth, Buck couldn't bring himself to tell his mother what had happened, it was too painful. He felt as though it was his fault, as it had been for his brother's death. He had to leave this painful memory forever, and find a new life. He picked Jade up by the scruff of her neck and galloped away.

"Where are we going?" asked Jade.

"Just to the edge of the woods and back," Buck lied. "We'll be home before you know it."

 

 

 

Chapter 3

 

The snow whipped against Buck's face. How long had it been since they had left?

"Long enough." he thought to himself.

He had no idea of where he was going, but it was too late to turn back. He looked at Jade sleeping on his back. Why had he been so stupid to bring her? A puppy of 4 weeks could not survive the cold this much longer, her life could be over in a matter of hours.

"I need help," he said out loud to himself. "No, I need a miracle."

And a miracle happened.

 Suddenly, a light flickered in the distance. It grew bigger and bigger...Buck relized he had been running toward it. He stopped. The lights coming from houses, houses that had been made by man and man was an enemy. As he looked at the lights, a white wolf appeared. For a moment they stared at eachother. Then, the wolf howled.

 It is your destiny, Buck.

 Buck found himself holding Jade in his teeth, running as fast as he could to the village. Under Anius h He must have made noise, because lights were being turned on in the houses that scattered across the town. Buck raced past the angry humans, not knowing nor caring what was going on. He ran until his legs gave out and his body went limp.

Buck's world went black.

When he awoke, he had no idea where he was. All he knew, was that he was not in the cold snow anymore, he was in a warm shack.

"Jade!" he cried out.

"What?" she groaned.

Buck was relieved she was snuggled up next to him. As his eyes adjusted to the light, he could see a wolf-dog approaching him. Buck recognized him as the ledgend who had saved Nome.

"You're-you're Balto! I heard all about you and how you saved those-"

"Easy there, kid." A deep voice coming from the dog assured Buck. "You had a rough journey,"

"Where-where are we?" Buck asked feebly.

"Nome, Alaska."

 "But why didn't the humans kill us?"

"You must be the luckiest German Shepherd in all of Alaska. The humans took you for a run away sled dog. They're notifying Juneu and other cites for a lost sled team."

"I'm not a German shephered, I'm a wolf-dog, like you!"

Balto chuckled. "If you are, you sure are a funny looking one! Sadly, here in Nome, carrying the wolf gene is a curse, not a blessing. If you are to stay in Nome, you must not reveal to anyone you are part wolf. Understand?"

Buck blinked. He was confused, but understood.

 In a far corner of the shed, he spotted a female Siberian husky resting in a basket. He could just make out the shapes of the puppies. They were a little older than Jade, around 5 weeks, and one of them was gray like in his dream...

"Yes sir, I won't bring it up again."

 

    Chapter 4

 

Buck raced down the beach with Aleu on his back. He had a family again. After his encounter with Balto and Jenna, they decided to adopt him and Jade into the family. The humans seemed to be happy that the dogs "took a liking to Balto." He looked to see his sister playing with their "uncle", riding on his back and playing tag.

"C'mon Uncle Balto! Faster!"

Balto chuckled.

Aleu slid off Buck's back and looked up at him. He smiled.

"Hey Aleu, come over here," said Buck. "I want to show you something."

 The two ran over onto a small ismus used for fishing. It streched a good twenty feet into the ocean.

"It's just like the strait my dad and I used to cross to get to the other side of the bay, it's long gone now, but we still have so many memories. We lived far away from here, but our family was closely knit and when my uncle Nava came to visit, we would all look up up at the moon and howl."

"Howl? Like I do?"

"Yes, like wolves-"

"Buck!" Balto's voice cracked like a whip through the air.

Buck suddenly realized he had done something very wrong, he had revealed to Aleu a bit of her wolf heritage by accident; she could soon put the pieces together.

Head down, Buck trodded sullenly towards Balto.

The wolfdog's voice was gentle, but firm.

"Buck, I told you never to bring that up, I don't want you putting ideas into Aleu's head, that she's...well...different."

"I know Balto, but...you won't be able to hide it from her forever."

"I just don't want her going through what I had to go through."

"You aren't the only dog." thought Buck. "In my pack I stuck out like a sore thumb."

Of course, he couldn't complain, In Nome he was treated fine, even though he held a dark secret of wolf blood. He wondered how Aleu would ever be able to be treated like herself when she so resembled a wolf! But on that day, Buck began to deny himself for what he truly was.

    Chapter 5

 

The moon went through its cycle once, twice, it was hard to keep track. The seasons changed and Winter had come back to Nome.

It had been a month since Buck had watched the pups get taken by humans. All except for, that is, Aleu.  He needed to get her out of his mind, but how? Why was he thinking so much about her? What did she have to do with his life instead of being a little sister?

"I need a plan fast. I can't just wander around here like a stray." he said to himself. "Ah- ha!"

He spotted the line of dogs ready to race for a spot on the mail run. Quickly, he scooched between two of the dogs.

"Hey!" said Nikki, the dog on his right. "This isn't a race for rookies! Get out of here Buck!"

Buck was notorious in Nome for his mean streak and erractic behavior. He had quite a crime record, everything from stealing the butcher's fresh goose to picking fights with other dogs. Mostly, he would just do these things to get his mind of Aleu.

Kaltag, who was on Buck's left joined in the conversation.

"He's the most arrogant, the meanest, the most dosbedient-"

"He's bad." Star finished. This interruption was quickly corrected by Kaltag landing his fist onto Star's head.

"I'll do what I have to do-" Buck started, but before he could finish the starting gun fired.

In a haze, Buck pushed his way through the crowd, blinded by flying snow. Didn't Balto tell him about how he won? That's right! He used the shipyard to his advantage! Slipping in between the harbor, Buck circled the town and made a sharp turn for the street. The other dogs were taking that traditional in town route, which ment, he was ahead!

 As he galloped across the finish line, the joy of achievement rushed into his heart. He could barely believe what he had done, it was beyond his wildest dreams.

"He looks like a fine dog, John." one of the humans said as he approached Buck. 'He seems smart, rescourceful too." The man bent down to stroke Buck. Buck had never been pet before, and for some reason, he very much liked it. He swore he'd be the best sled dog he could be.

 

One Year Later

 

"Whoa Buck!" the musher cried as the dog team ran into Nome.

"It's good to be leader." Buck thought. Even since he had joined the dog team, his intelligence had brought him swiftly through the ranks. Now he was a lead dog, and his teamates respected him. He had become well known as the "Son of Balto" not because he was truly Balto's blood, but because he posessed all the qualities the wolf dog had when leading a dog team. There were famous stories of Buck saving his team's life by sensing thin ice or a sheer drop. Buck, for the first time in his life, had done something great.

Jade, harnessed right beside him, giggled at his eagerness to get out of the harness. She had been on his team for a couple of months now, and quite happy she had the chance to impress her brother.

"I guess you really want to see Aleu, huh Buck?" Jade giggled.

"Shut up Jade," Buck said. "What about you and Barry?"

"I don't even know where Barry is anymore, or if Barry is still his name."

"And Riley?"

"Riley and I are just friends. You ain't got nothing on me Buck!" 

'Well, you aren't the only one, Jade, what about Kodi and Dusty?"

"Dusty likes Ralph, stupid."

Behind them, Ralph winked at Dusty, causing her to giggle. Kodi glowered. As the dogs were unhiched, one thing was on Bucks mind: his family. He trotted through the streets of Nome, on his way to the old ship. Spring was in the air, which ment Aleu and Jade would be about a year and a half old soon.

 

Suddenly, the scent of melting frost was blocked by a dark, menicing scent. Buck looked up to see a large, blank and white husky blocking his way. The dog stood there growling.

Buck, quite

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