where to start.' He sat down and sighed as he realized that he was once again back at square one.

'Then again, back then I had a clear sense of focus. I knew what I was doing, and it was a good thing I did it too, because of Steele's rash actions that followed soon after. Had I not intervened, it could have been a whole lot worse. There was only one point where I thought I lost my way… but at least then I had a way to lose,' he thought as he reflected on that moment, the moment that changed his life forever.

The white wolf that appeared to him projected a sense of power and wonder, and it howled to him, urging him to join it. At first he turned away, thinking there was no hope, but in doing so he saw that the crate containing the medicine was intact. There was still hope, and in that split second, his determination washed over him. He stood up and let out a powerful howl, which brought the white wolf back. As they shared a duet, all the doubt about what he could and couldn't do faded. The wolf lent him some of their strength, showing that his wolf half could be a source of good and not just misery. From then on, he vowed to never turn his back on his wolf half.

As he reflected on the encounter, something curious happened. His mind jumped to his recurring dream. It had been pushed to the back of his mind during his search for Aleu, but when he compared it with his memory of the white wolf, he found something. In his dream, he would always try to turn away from the wolf pack, but that always led to some sort of calamity, at which point he'd be jolted awake. It would never end well when he turned away from them, so…

"They can show us something we would need to know later… or something we knew, but forgot and need to remember."

Everything started to click into place. He now knew what to do with these wolves, and the meaning of his dream as well. Boris and Maska had been right - the dream was something important, something he had almost forgotten. The pack in his dream was meant to represent the pack he was with right now. He'd found them by following a raven, braving dangers along the way and never stopping until he reached them. Disaster struck whenever he turned away, so the only way to stop it was to swallow his doubts and devote himself to helping them. The pack may have been strangers, but they were strangers in need. 'The good guys never turn away from those who need help. If I abandon them now, it would result in disaster, just like in my dream. I have to help them find the caribou, or at the very least calm them from the harsh words of that Niju,' he resolved, remembering the wolf's calls for them to attack neighboring packs for their food.

'I'm not going to let anyone get hurt if I can do anything about it. There's always a better way to solve these things, and I'll help them find it. That just leaves one last question… what about Aleu?' He thought for a moment about the risks involved in allowing her to be a part of this too, but his only other option was to send her home alone - something she'd resist anyways. 'That just leaves the option of her staying here with me. She did say she wants to find out who she really is out here… and who knows, maybe this will help her find that. Plus, if she was here with me, I'd at least be able to keep an eye on her.' With his thoughts now safely squared away, he settled back down on the ground to get some shuteye. After all, he would have a big day tomorrow.

'It may keep me away from you Jenna, but it's the right thing to do. I promise I'll return to you… and that our daughter will find where she belongs.'

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"Godbye, papa. Tell mom… I've finally found my home."

"Goodbye… daughter."

These were the words that father and daughter shared when they parted ways, but both of them couldn't be happier. That morning, Niju had tried to take the pack on their first raid for food, but Balto put a quick stop to it. With him standing in their way, he kept the wolves still long enough for them to notice something amazing. Ice floes were starting to form on the water, and whether it was because of some strange current or some other force, they arranged themselves in a rough path. From then, the course of action became very clear. The caribou had crossed the water and were waiting on the other side. This bridge would provide a path to them, but they only had a small window of opportunity.

Despite this, Niju held firm, demanding he be allowed to lead the pack. So, Balto decided to call him up on it, telling him that if he wanted to lead the way, he was free to do so. He took one look at the water, and for a moment it seemed like he would actually try, but the boastful wolf ended up backing down, leaving Balto to take charge of the crossing. He started them on their way, but that was when Niju decided to strike from behind. He bolted back to save his daughter from the conniving wolf's jaws, and after dispatching him again, they found the pack was drifting farther away from them. Nava, whom had been with Aleu, was unable to finish the crossing, and at first Balto wanted to get back to them, but his daughter knew that having him leave while she stayed would not be the way to do things.

She felt like she truly belonged with this pack, a feeling she'd been missing almost her entire life and she wasn't going to give it up. He knew this too, and that was why he finally decided to let her go and live her own life. She swam across and howled back to him as he remembered all the wonderful times he'd had with her. He'd only wanted what was best for her, but it was only now that he realized that to do that, he'd have to let her find her own way. She may have grown up and left for a distant land, but in his heart, she would always be his little baby girl.

By now he felt the relief of having everything said and done. Nava would find Niju as they were still part of a pack, while Balto started on his way home. For the first time in over a year, he felt completely at ease. Aleu had found a home, and he finally understood the meaning of his dreams. He got a few steps in before he heard the fluttering of wings followed by an all-to-familiar call. It was the raven again, even though Balto hoped to avoid seeing it after completing his quest.

"What now?" he grumbled.

"Only the journey home, my son."

The voice… it was so familiar… there was only one wolf he knew from his past that ever called him that. He hadn't seen her for years, but... 'Could it be possible?'

He turned around and found not the raven, but a snow-white wolf, gazing at him with her amber eyes. There was no mistaking that she was the same white wolf that had aided him during the serum run, but on seeing her, he remembered that he'd known her when he was much, much younger.

"Aniu, you're my-" she nodded, confirming one of his greatest wishes.

It was something he'd almost forgotten, existing on the fringes of his memory and degraded by time. It was a memory of someone dear to him, and on seeing her now, the image returned. It was the image of his mother, Aniu. The mother that he'd thought lost had finally returned to him as his spirit guide. Despite the knowledge that this meant she had been killed all those years ago, it also brought him some comfort. It showed him that she had always been there, watching over him and guiding him when needed. She had shown him the way during the serum run, and she had shown him the way now, allowing him to understand who he was, and help his daughter find her place as well.

He was amazed at how, after all this time, he'd finally found his long lost mother, but he would only have a brief moment to see her before she let out a howl and disappeared into the wind. Through the howl, he could hear her say, "You have done well my son, but once again I must say goodbye… but it won't be goodbye forever." Hid time with her was cut short once again, but Balto had a feeling that he would see her again someday. He'd waited this long to know her fate, and he was willing to wait a little more.

"Goodbye to you too, mother," he said, confident that he would see her again. With that, he set out for home, contented that this journey had led to many discoveries about himself and his own family. He would return home completely at peace with himself because now he knew who he truly was as well.

And that allowed his dreams that night to be peaceful and raven-free.

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"You have learned much about yourself my son. I am proud that once again, you've helped those in need, including your daughter who needed a home to call her own. Your father would be proud too… but there is one more thing you must do before you can truly learn everything about your heritage. You may be part wolf, but you also come from a line of proud racing dogs. You've lived up to your mother's legacy, but now it is time that you live up to your father's as well."

"Very soon my son, you will become a true champion. You will accomplish what your father could not and reclaim the title he deserved… the title you deserve."

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Maska, Kara, Rex, Sami, Mayak, Mias, Amak and Tikani belong to iWolf231 and may not be used in any way without my direct permission.

Balto, Boris, Jenna, Rosy, Dingo, Saba, Kodi, Aleu, Nikki, Kaltag, Star, Niju, Nava and Aniu belong to Universal Studios and Amblimation.