It was so long ago

I can barely remember

But I do recall fur white as snow

A warm voice

Keeping me safe from everything

But, as soon as it came

It was gone

I can still remember her chilling song

"Mother! Mother!" I called trying to find you in the blizzard. I waited and waited. You never called back. You never came back for me. My tears froze on my face, nearly blinding me. The snow swirled around me, turning my light brown puppy-fur white and clumpy. And wet. "MOTHER!!" I screamed into the night. "HELP!!" Ith wind carried my voice away. I sat down, ready to give up. A wolf howled in the distance. My heart rose and I leapt to my feet. "Mother!" I yipped excitedly, bouncing out of snow drifts. I followed the sound of the howls. My ears were pricked, and thouroughly frozen, waiting for the next one.

"Be safe, my precious son. Be safe and know that I will always be with you." Your voice warm in my ears. I looked around, expecting you to be next to me. There was only snow and a few trees. I took one more step and found myself rolling down a huge snow drift.

 

I stumbled and fell

I fell

And fell

And fell

Then something broke my fall

Something feathery

He wasn't very tall

Only my height, my little puppy height

He said his name was Boris

He talked funny but he was alright

"This is not place for puppies," Boris grumbled, helping me to my paws. "You are soaking wet!" He exclaimed, half hionking. By now the snowstorm had subsided, and I could see again. "Where is your mother, little one?"  He asked, eyeing me strangely.

"I don't know," my voice wobbled and I could feel fresh tears spring to my eyes. Boris saw this.

"Ah... It's okay little one. Tell me you have a name, yes?" He said very quickly, changing the subject. I nodded and wagged my frozen tail.

"Balto." I smiled. Boris smiled back.

"Well, Balto, I know a place that is much better for puppies than out here." He honked, waddling away. I followed, intrigued by this odd bird.

 

The town he took me to

Was a place called Nome

There were lots of other dogs there

But none wanted to share their home

One was a dog named Steele

He thought he was the best

A real deal

I was one of the few who could see past

His mask

Then there was Jenna

She was the only one who believed in me

Cheered me on

She could see what others couldn't see

That I was like them, and they were like me

They think I'm a hero, I mused as I lie down on my boat, my home. They could've done what I did. Anybody could have. I was just lucky. Boris's words rang in my head still; "A dog cannot make this trip alone, but maybe, a wolf can." I smiled dully and shook my head. But something rang from inside me. The wolf. The white wolf that had appeared. It seemed so familiar..... MOTHER! I sat bolt upright. It was just like the lst time I had seen her, she had disapeared into the blizzard. But this time she had come back. Why? I sighed and stood up slowly. I walked over to where Jenna lay, curled up.

"Good morning," I murmured near her pretty face.

 

I'm very proud to say that

Me and Jenna had pups

Amost all got homes, right off the bat

But there was one, named Alue

She looked too wild, like me

And her soul wanted to be free

I went with her

She needed ot find herself in the wild

I needed to be there

To make sure she was alright

I guess thats one side of parenthood.....

It tore me in two to leave her. My little girl, all alone in the wilderness. No... She's not alone.... She has a pack now, but... I'm still afraid for her. I wonder if she has enough to eat, if she's sleeping or awake right now, sometimes if she's even alive. I wonder if my own mother ever thought of me like that. She must have knew I'd be alright. Is that why she left? Because she knew I would be able to accomplish so much without her? I never got to ask. I can only hope thats why.

 

Now here's the other

My son, Kodiak

He's on the mail team

Sending letters to and fro, back to back

When his job wa under attack

He helped me realize

That I could help him fight back

Running. It's never felt so good in so long. My son's next to me, so's his team. I have to help him win. I know I can. I can't let him down. It's almost like the Serum Run, except the only things at risk are my son's job and my own dignity. So I'll run for me and I'll run for him. With all my effort behind this, there's a chance we'll win.

 

So now I thank you all

Some watched me fall

Others watched me rise

And soar

My title of "mutt"

Gone forevermore.

I stand on my boat, watching the sun rise. There. There she is. My mother. Anui. The White Wolf. Whichever one pleases you. I think she sees me too. I watch as she howls, magnificently and proudly; her blizzardy white head rose to the sky, dark eyes closed, white fur smothed down, standing tall. This is her in her prime. She holds a long sad note for awhile then stops. My turn. I swallow, try to look as regal as she did and howl.

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