the banks of the river. They’re barely alive and soaked through with water,” Jonny stammered hurridly.

“The medicine…?”

“No trace of it. Bits of broken sled were next to them………” Jonny replied walking into the room. “The mushers are saying they must have fallen through the ice going over a river.”

“Oh Jonny,” Nurse Morgan said putting her hands to her mouth and looking at the children.

“It over isn’t it?” Jonny replied, collapsing on a chair next to the bed and looking at the boy in it, his little brother. “Nat….Rosie……..they’re gonna die.”

“I….I….” Nurse Morgan stammered putting a hand on Jonny’s shoulder. “Not all hope is lost Jonny, the medicine could still be found.”

   Listening to the conversation terror shot through Jenna like fire. In a flash she was off the bed and out the door running to the boiler house as fast as her paws could carry her. Arriving she was met by the sight of Steel, Star and Kaltag asleep in baskets in front of the boiler with the town dogs crowded around them. Sylvia and Mel both had tears in their eyes while several other dogs had looks of despair on their faces, all fearing for the children’s lives. Sitting down next to Sylvia and Mel, Jenna looked at the three ill dogs, wondering what had happened out on the sled trials.

     The hours passed, grave looking mushers came and went, checking on the dogs every hour or so. With dawn’s first rays the trio awoke, greeting their friends and bolting down the food and water that was waiting for them. The town dogs crowded around their friends, using their bodies to keep them warm. Then wooden burst opened with the clatter of its hinges and the St Bernard called Boston walked in.

“It’s hopeless my friends, the mushers have found what remains of the medicine, pieces of the box and a couple of broken vials. We are going to lose them.”

      Taking one look at him, Kaltag ran out if the room with Jenna on his heels, both running as fast as they could to the hospital. Despite his weakness Kaltag set a fast pace, his fear for his young owner overcome weakened body. Reaching the hospital the pair skidded to a halt, Kaltag jumping onto the barrels outside Dr Welch’s office.

“Kaltag I know a way we can hear what they are saying,” Jenna called leading him around to the boiler room.

   Jenna led Kaltag under the floor of the hospital pausing briefly to check on their owners. Arriving under Dr Welch’s office the pair listened intently to the conversation between Dr Welch and Nurse Morgan.

“We have to face facts Emily we are going to lose them,” Dr Welch replied sadly, pacing around his office. “A few may be lucky and live but most will die within the week. That sled team was our only hope to save them all.”

“I had a feeling you would say that Curtis,” Nurse Emily Morgan replied running a hand over the desk, her eyes flicking to the shelf where the antitoxin was normally kept. “Telling their parents is going to be horrific. Poor Jonathon….........first his Grandpa dies now his little brother, not to mention finding his brother’s dog Kaltag on the riverbank.”

“The news will have already spread of finding the remains of the medicine. The parents will know what it means for their children. We put all our hope in that team and Gunner,” Curtis replied sitting down in his chair, his eyes full of utter despair.

“Gunner had years of experience and knew the terrain well, I pray he may be found alive. We tried Curtis but…. ..” Emily replied placing a hand on his shoulder.

    Underneath the floor Jenna and Kaltag looked at each other in shock, tears running from their eyes as the news hit home. Turning on her heals Jenna ran out of the boiler room leaving Kaltag alone with his thoughts. A short time later on the hill above town Jenna placed a lantern down behind pieces of broken bottles.

“The sun and polar icecaps Balto.”

    In the midst of the light Aniu appeared, invisible to Jenna, the white wolf looked down onto Nome. Turning away she hung her head sadly all too aware of what was to come, part of her yearned to be able to intervene but she knew that was to come was fated and she was powerless to change it.

         Far away in a hillside cave overlooking a river Balto slowly opened his eyes. To his utter shock lying next to him were his brother Arden and sister Eagle. Arden had a brown/ white / dark grey coat. Eagle had similar markings Balto where he had dark brown she had a lighter shade and where he had light brown she had white.

“Nice of you join us again Balto,” Arden said happily wagging his tail.

“About time you were awake,” Eagle said licking her brother’s cheek.

“Arden……..Eagle! What are you doing here and where are we?”

“We are in a cave above the river, we found you lying on the river’s banks a few days ago half alive,” Arden replied gently.

“I feel awful,” Balto muttered weakly.

“You are ill my son very ill,” Aniu replied as she walked into the cave. “Lucky to be alive in fact, you need food and rest.”

“Mother after all this time you found me. I have to go back to Nome.”

“Not yet my son, leave now and you will die before you arrive. Please understand that the events are out of your paws,” Aniu replied nuzzling him. “You tried your best to help them.”

“Steel he refused to listen,” Balto muttered, overcome by exhaustion he fell into a deep sleep.

     Over the next few days Balto drifted in and out of consciousness as his illness raged through his weakened body. Using her power Aniu healed her son, staying with him as much as possible. Though the wounds healed the fur that grew back over the shoulder wound was white. At night he was plagued by nightmares of the events on the ice, his screams waking his family. For Arden and Eagle watching Balto was painful, as was watching him throw up the first time he ate.  

       In his periods of consciousness Balto told his brother and sister of his life in Nome and what had happened to him on the day they were accidentally separated. In return they told him off their own lives, the day their other brother Suka had left to form a pack and their plans to form a pack. Suka’s actions did not surprise Balto as Suka had always been strong. What was a surprise was how much Arden had changed, gone was the class clown replaced by confident leader. Yet Arden’s ability to tell jokes remained and he often had Balto in stitches with one of his wise cracks. Despite the happiness he felt with his family Balto often thought of Rosie and Jenna. In his heart of hearts Balto knew that hope was lost for the children’s survival for he himself had seen the medicine flow down the river.

     Dream’s death  

     Three weeks had passed since that day on the ice, at last Balto was fully recovered. For the past ten days he had been up on his paws, hunting and regaining his strength. To his surprise his old hunting skills had returned and he hunted well, playing an active and often key role in hunts. Standing outside the cave Balto looked out across the forest as the sun rose over the mountains.

“Balto,” Eagle asked walking up to her brother.

“I’m leaving today Eagle.”

“Leaving……….you mean you want to go to Nome. Why? We are your family and the dogs bullied you,” Eagle replied as Arden joined them.

“Eagle is right Balto. Your hated there, those dogs may well think your dead this could be a fresh start for you,” Arden replied looking at his brother with confusion.

“I have to go back. I have to know what has happened to the children…..to Rosie…….as much as it might hurt.”

“Balto face facts it has been three weeks the human girl is likely to be dead,” Eagle replied softly.

“I could not live with the uncertainty of not know her fate. Rosie has a dog Jenna,” Balto replied turning away.

“You love her,” Arden finished looking at his brother. “I thought that would be the problem.”

“Yes I love Jenna. I love being with you guys, living a wolf life is great and I am really happy here. But I cannot just forget everything that has happened recently, I have to find what has happened to Rosie, even if it hurts me. I can’t forget what I tried to do or my friends, they deserve to know that I am alive. Please understand that.”

“Alright Balto if you really want to go back to Nome then we are going with you,” Eagle replied.

“She’s right Balto no way are we losing you again.”

“Hang on I thought you want to form a pack?”

“We do but family comes first,” Arden replied placing a paw around on his brother’s shoulder. “We are not letting you do this alone, even if we eventually leave you in Nome with this Jenna, we will know you are happy.”

“Thanks for this. Well if we want to reach Nome we had better leave if my geography is correct it’s a four days walk.”

    Together the family set off through the forest their paws leaving deep tracks in the snow as they went. As he