tightly wrapped was a flask of hot juice and a small snack.

    “Rosie I am allowing you to play out with Balto and Jenna as long as you are careful. Everyone in town will be watching you children but please be careful, back by twelve thirty please,” Violet said hugging Rosie and handing her a blue watch with red roses on the strap.

    “I will be Mommy,” Rosie replied climbing onto sled. “MUSH.”

                   Grinning at each other Balto and Jenna set off through the snow covered streets of Nome. Reaching the centre of town the pair slowed down to avoid any collisions as the last thing the hospital needed was another patient. As they passed lawyers office, where Arthur and his father Wilfred worked, Wilfred waved from the window of his office. Seeing him Rosie waved in return with Jenna and Balto their greetings, smiling Wilfred shut his windows, returning to his paperwork.

     “Having fun Rosie?” called Mr Conner’s as they past the Post Office.

     “Yes I am,” she called back.

            As they neared the town edge they past Head Nurse Emily Morgan and Sister O’Brien coming out of The Arctic Flower Tea Room which was part of The Arctic Flower Hotel. Seeing them Rosie stopped as both came over to see her.

  “Well it is nice to see that you are better Rosie,” Nurse Morgan.

  “Time has certainly flown, well we had best get Emily,” said Nurse O’Brien petting Balto and Jenna.

  “We had, have fun,” Nurse Morgan replied heading back to the hospital.

              Once out of town Balto picked up speed making Rosie laugh in delight as they ran through the falling snow. Looking up ahead they saw Boris wave ay them from the boat as they passed. Seeing the three, Boris smiled.

  “He finally knows what he is and where belongs. Good going kiddo”

             Running through the snow Balto and Jenna took Rosie to the hill above Nome, waiting there for them was Aurora. Stopping the sled Rosie climbed off and ran over to Aurora, hugging her while Balto and Jenna slipped out of their harnesses.

 “Hello Aurora I am so happy to see you,” Rosie said smiling happily.

“I am pleased you are well Rosie,” Aurora replied looking down at Rosie.

       Aurora was half as tall again as Rosie meaning she had to look or sit down to talk to her. Seeing his sister Balto wagged his tail giving her a welcoming lick while Jenna smiled widely.

“Rosie would you like a ride on my back?” Aurora asked.

“Really can I?” Rosie asked in amazement.

“Of course,” Aurora replied looking at Balto and Jenna. “Jenna Balto, would you mind?”

“Not at all as long as we came with her” Jenna replied hesitantly.

“That is the idea all of us running together.”

“Then by all means Rosie can ride on your back.”

“Thank you Aurora,” Rosie replied with delight hugging the white wolf.

      Lying down in the snow Aurora laid perfectly still as Rosie climbed onto her back, standing up gently so she did not fall.

“Are you alright Rosie?” Aurora asked as Rosie took hold of her fur.

“Fine your fur is so soft,” Rosie replied smiling feeling the fur.

 “Then off we go.”

           Together the four set off through the snow covered landscape, as they ran Rosie’s hair came from her ponytail, the wind blowing her hair behind her. From her perch on Aurora’s back Rosie laughed a feeling of utter freedom and belonging surging through her. Above them a bald eagle swooped letting out a screech as it watched them. Running next to Aurora, Balto and Jenna looked up at Rosie’s smiling face their hearts leaping with joy at her happiness. The freedom of the wolf surged through Aurora, Balto and Rosie, their hearts soaring free.

             Running across the land the group soon reached the mountains, their paws easily carrying them up the slopes. Reaching the summit they skidded to a halt the wind blowing through their fur as they regained their breath. Walking to the edge Aurora threw her head back in a howl, her voice carrying across the mountain. Balto joined her, his own voice mingling with hers then Rosie joined in too. Together the three’s song travelled across the mountains, as she howled Rosie felt something deep within her stir and for a moment she felt like a wolf.

         Ending their song Aurora and Balto looked at Rosie with pride, grins appearing on their faces at her attempts to howl.

“Not a bad howl Rosie” Balto said grinning from ear to ear.

“I’ve always wanted to try howling,” Rosie replied blushing slightly. “I felt so free running with you, like my heart was flying.”

“You felt the freedom all wolves feel Rosie, freedom which is our birthright,” Aurora replied, her eyes shining with pride.

“All loves feel it, when we remember it, I feel it now, I remember,” Balto replied, his eyes shining with joy. “Who knew a human could feel that way?”

“As much fun as we are having we had better go back,” Jenna said suddenly. “Rosie has to be home for midday and Violet will worry if she is late.”

“Your right Jenna we have to set off the last thing we need is Violet seeing Aurora and Rosie together,” Balto replied glancing at his sister.

“Oh but I was having so much fun,” Rosie whined in disappointment.

“Sorry Rosie but your mother cannot see Aurora,” Balto replied nuzzling her. “She was scared enough of me and I’m only half wolf.”

“Rosie humans cannot see me,” Aurora replied as Rosie climbed onto her back.

“Adults are silly at times, I wish all could talk you like I can,” Rosie replied as they set off.

          Running back to Nome the group passed by a sled team led by Jenna’s father Fire the entire team doing a double take at the sight. That night the musher would relate the sight convinced he had been seeing things. Arriving back at the hill above Nome Balto and Jenna slipped back into their hardness and Rosie climbed off Aurora’s back.

    “Thank you Aurora I had fun,” Rosie said hugging the white wolf.

“It was my pleasure Rosie I will see you soon,” Aurora replied licking her cheek.

        Leaving the hill Balto and Jenna pulled the sled through town passing Kaltag and his owner Harvey on their way. Harvey and Kaltag called out a greeting to the group before heading on their way. Outside the Post Office they saw Steel standing next to Richard who was only a year older than Rosie. Seeing them Richard waved pleased at his friend was better. Seeing Steel standing there Jenna and Balto tensed, unsure what to say to the dog that nearly cost Rosie her life. Looking at them Steel snarled in anger, yet for the briefest of seconds sorrow flickered across his face and a longing for the past. Once Balto, Steel and Jenna had been close friends Steel had even defended Balto from his father Iron. Looking at Steel neither Balto nor Jenna saw any trace of their former friend. Turning away Balto and Jenna continued onto to Rosie’s house.

“That was odd seeing Steel,” Balto whispered as they walked.

“Nothing has changed, I had hoped that some of the old Steel might have returned,” Jenna replied sadly. “Even after everything he did.”

“I understand Jenna, we had fun when we were younger, but we have to face facts that Steel is gone, he’s never coming back. I’m not sure if I could forgive Steel even if he did wish to be friends………His arrogance nearly cost Rosie her life,” Balto replied as they reached Rosie’s house.

“You’re right Balto things can never go back to how they were when we were younger, too much has happened,” Jenna whispered sadly.

       As she finished speaking the Violet walked out of the front door her hands streaked with flour. Seeing the trio she smiled widely grinning as Rosie hugged her.

“Well that is a happy face did you have a good time?”

“It was so much fun we went all around the beach and a little way from town” Rosie replied, it was not lying as such, just being economical with the truth to protect her friend.

 “Well that certainly is an adventure come on inside and you can tell me all about it, Jenna, Balto come on.”

   Walking inside the house Balto and Jenna settled down as Rosie ate her lunch, chicken soap and bread, Violet making sure she had a large portion to build her strength up.

          After lunch had been eaten the trio went out into town, soon meeting Harvey and Kaltag, Anna and Sylvia and a few other children and dogs. Under the watchful eyes of their parents the children and dogs played. Racing through the snow Balto and Kaltag chased Harvey and Richard, the