He had to solve the problem himself," Maska explained. "He was shown a way in his dreams, but he didn't make the connection until he found that place in the real world. Had he not had that dream, he would've just turned around when he saw that river, never knowing that food was only a short distance away."

"That still sounds like it gave him the answer," Balto added.

"It's not, it's… oh how can I put this into terms you'd understand," Maska mused, pausing a moment to think it over. "Okay, it's like how a sled dog is taught how to run, but if it wants to win a race, it has to run the race itself. Does that help at all?"

"You mean they're like a teacher?" Balto asked, and Maska nodded.

"Yes, and that brings me back to your first question about induced dreams," Maska continued. "Sometimes our dreams are induced by spirit guides in order to show us something important. It coud be something we would need to know later… or something we knew, but forgot and need to remember."

'Okay, this is getting spooky. Boris said the same thing about the dreams too... but it can't be this, can it?'

"Getting back to your dreams, would you care to tell me about them?"

Despite his skepticism, Balto knew he'd already gone this far, so it wouldn't be fair if he backed out now. As he told Maska about his dreams, the wolf's face lit up with excitement once he mentioned the raven flying overhead, like a pup who was hearing a riveting adventure story. "I always try to get away from the wolves, but I'm never able to escape for one reason or another. After that, that's when I usually wake up."

"And you've been having these dreams every few days now?"

"Almost like clockwork," Balto affirmed, while Maska just stood there with his jaw open in awe.

"You have no idea how lucky you are," Maska said. "It's actually very rare for a creature to encounter their spirit guide."

"Do you mean that most don't have a guide?"

"No, it is said that all creatures have a spirit that walks with them as they go through the journey of their lives," Maska replied. "For most, their guide only needs to make small, unseen impacts for their lives to be in order. A spirit guide will only make its presence known when it needs to; when the one they are guiding needs more than a tiny nudge to help find their way."

"Are you saying that the only way to know your spirit guide is if they come to you?"

"Not always; if one feels lost enough then they may call on their spirit guide to help them. They may not appear, but they still help in some way," Maska replied. "But even then, it will still be more subtle. It could be a nudge in a different direction, or a new puzzle for you to solve, but you will receive guidance when you need it most. It's like how a teacher can give you a lesson, but you can also go to the teacher for extra help if you need it."

There was a pause as Balto tied to take all of this in. "Wow, I always thought that humans were the most powerful things in the world, but these spirit guides... they're something else entirely. They can change shape, come and go as they please, and even invade our dreams - just what is the limit of their power?"

"To be honest, no one really knows," Maska replied. "Some stories have spirit guides having no more power than you or I, while others give them the power to influence the actions of others, or project illusions and images that seem almost real. But their true power comes not from the ability to shape the physical world, but to shape the minds of those who live in it. They have wisdom and experience that, when passed down to others, can change lives. When one life is changed, they have the capability to change the lives of others as well. I think you yourself know how powerful a change in one can be… especially after the serum run."

Balto thought back, and when he remembered that one crucial moment, he realized that part of what Maska was saying was right. He'd almost given up on his journey, but an intervention from an ethereal white wolf turned everything around. That wolf showed him the power of his wolf side, allowing him to get up and take the medicine back to Nome. By changing him, it had affected the destiny of so many others. The team and all the children in Nome were saved because of one wolfdog who was able to change what he thought of himself. That change allowed him to use his abilities to their fullest extent, delivering the medicine safely.

'He's right, changing one life can have an impact on countless others. That wolf impacted me, and I impacted all of the kids and their families and the town. Does that mean that wolf was a spirit guide as well?' he wondered. 'I don't know. She was so real, I could even smell her. It was a scent that seemed familiar… and comforting… that doesn't mean for sure that she was a spirit… but she seemed to come out of nowhere when I needed someone the most.' Balto was silent as his mind went back and forth, trying to make sense of this. There was the spirit guide story and how it explained most of what was going on with him, but there was also his rational side, which demanded concrete proof before it would accept any supernatural cause for recent events.

"That's… something, but I'm not sure about it," he started. "Don't take this the wrong way, but this whole spirit thing… it seems a little farfetched."

"I know it's a lot for someone like you to take in, but if there's any chance that this is the cause, then I think you should pursue it," Maska replied. "If your spirit guide is trying to give you a message, then I'm not sure I can decode it myself. Messages such as this draw on things that only have meaning for the recipient, so you'd have to decode it yourself. If not that… then you should seek them out for more guidance. This message could be important, and there could be dire consequences if it's missed."

"And you were talking to me about worrying about what could or could not happen," Balto quipped, but Maska grinned.

"Yes… but I still think you should follow this. You don't have anything to lose, and who knows what else you might learn."

"I'll… think about it," Balto replied, trying to downplay his reluctance.

"I hope you do. Just a word of caution – a spirit guide's message can sometimes be cryptic, unsettling even, but you must press on if you are to understand what they are trying to say," Maska urged. "Is there anything else you need help with?"

"No, I think I'm okay," Balto replied.

"In that case, then it might be best if you go home and think this over. If you need anything more, my ear is always open," Maska finished, before letting Balto start on his way home. As he walked through the woods, Balto's thoughts were sent into a spin from everything he'd heard.

'Should I bother to pursue this? It could help me understand my dreams… but it could also be a waste of time. I mean, c'mon, spirit guides? I know wolves hold them dear as part of their mythology, but they're just that – myths and fables,' he thought. 'Just because it fits doesn't mean it's true. It could simply be stress from the pups combined with an overactive imagination. I have been thinking about wolves quite a bit, at least when thinking about my pups and whether or not to tell them about their wolf side-'

He stopped mid-stride at the thought that this could be connected to his pups. 'Could this be related to it? Could it be some way of trying to show me which way would be better for them? I mean, they started happening soon after I found out we were going to have pups… and from the start this was one of my concerns… or it could just be a coincidence. I mean, the dreams don't have my pups in them, and my pups are only a quarter wolf – I'm having full-blooded wolves appearing in my sleep.'

He continued walking, trying to dismiss any thought of how this could be connected to his pups. 'Even if it was these spirits – which it probably isn't – I have no idea how to find out. Ugh, I should have asked Maska how I'd call them. Do I have to go to some special spot, or say magic words?'

He stopped again and took a look at his surroundings. During his musings his path had taken a slight detour, wandering a little to the west of his usual way home. The area was much rockier, with large boulders strewn about and much steeper hills with exposed rock along their sides. Nearby there was the trickle of a stream of fresh meltwater as it flowed along a shallow ravine. Other than the trickle of the stream, the area was silent, with not even a breeze to rustle the branches of the evergreens.

He scanned left and right, but there was no sign that any sort of spirit was around. Unsure of how he would call them, he first decided to just sit still and think about finding them. He tried to think about asking his question, asking to see them, or even thinking a lot about his dilemma, but all remained silent. He was just a lone wolfdog, silently mulling his thoughts around.

"Hello?" he called out, wondering if his voice would be enough. "Is there anyone or anything out there?" His call faded into the empty quiet, with no response.

"Hello?" he called again, this time a little