tale of what happened during the diphtheria crisis and Balto’s part in the events. Rosa listened with wide eyes, barely able to believe what she was hearing. As Jenna spoke her voice choked with emotions, pain and grief surfacing once more. When at last Jenna had finished her tale she looked at her daughter with sadness, seeing clearly the shock in her daughter’s eyes. Softly Jenna nuzzled her daughter, placing one leg over her, both silent.

      Sitting next to her mother Rosa struggled to process what she had heard, the revelations had come as a complete shock to her. Rosa had hero worshiped her father and had made him the hero of thrilling adventures. She, Kodi, Saba and Dingo had often imagined Balto’s part in the events of 1925, each time he had been the brave hero or they theorized he had been forced to flee town suddenly because his life had been in danger. In time they had come to believe their stories were true and that Balto had become their hero. Hearing the truth had shattered this image, provoking questions at the same time as bringing answers.    

“Do you still love him?” Rosa asked suddenly breaking the silence, her eyes gazing at the floor.

“With all my heart,” Jenna whispered sadly. “Every time I look at you I see Balto looking back at me, with you most off all my little wolf.”

 “I’m glad you told me, as much as it hurts I know understand why dogs treat me in the way that they do,” Rosa replied getting up and leaving the porch.

     Slipping out of the garden Rosa walked through the quiet streets of Nome. From the open window of Jo’s music and voices drifted out into the night. Outside the theatre and cinema people lingered in ones and twos, some smoking others trying to remember the way to their hotel. Leaving town Rosa walked up onto the small hill, at the summit she stood and looked out over town. In the sunlight something glittered, investigating Rosa found fragments of broken bottles and the remains of lantern. These were the bottles Balto had once shown Jenna and the ones she had placed on the hill to guide him home. 

“The polar icecaps and the sun to the north,” Rosa whispered moving the glass with her paw. “You tried to help a friend back then Dad. A pity your plan did not work out as it should have. Do you ever think about my Mother at all Father? Do you ever wonder if pups resulted from that night? If only you had stayed here perhaps I would not feel so alone. I live in your shadow Father, how is that fair?” Rosa whispered in sadness and anger.

       Turning her back on Nome her gaze fell on the open tundra and forest that lay beyond, a sudden breeze swept through her fur, gently tugging in the direction of the tundra. Then far away in the mountains, a wolf howled, the sound reaching Rosa’s ears. Hearing the howl, the call of utter freedom she felt something stir inside her, something at wanted to answer the howl.

“Answer Rosa if you want to” came a voice.

         Jumping with fright Rosa turned around to see a magnificent white wolf with amber eyes standing behind her. The wolf was larger than Rosa yet its demeanour was not threatening.

“How do you know my name?” asked Rosa looking cautiously at the wolf.

“I am a spirit I know many things I am your Grandmother also, my name is Aniu,” Aniu replied smiling to reassure Rosa.

“Grandmother then you know where my Father is…..”

“But of course. I spent much time with him after Rosie died, my poor lost son who nearly lost his life.”

“Why have you come to me now? If you are a spirit then why did you not tell my Father of his pups,” Rosa asked angrily stepping away from Aniu.

“I planned to but on the night I would have told him…………I saw the knowledge would have only brought pain to him. I have watched you from afar since you were born but I could not appear to you until you were ready.”

“So you see me as pup,” Rosa snapped in annoyance.

“No. I see a fine you creature who seeks to understand the past and the confusion you feel about your identity. You called me here Rosa, your heart called me.”

“I…….you are right I am confused, I don’t know who or what I am anymore.”

“I saw the same confusion within your Father. The wilderness calls to you, raised a dog yet persecuted for wolf blood.”

“I am outcast. My Father……..”Rosa began slowly a question burning in her mind. “I want to meet him……”

“I can take you to him if that is the path you wish to follow. I could train you to hunt, to live as a wolf.”

“You could do all that? I could meet him……..ask him all the questions I have.”

“I warn you Rosa that he is not Balto you have been told of, he is a wolf now, all dog traces are gone.”

“Would he accept me?” Rosa asked softly, unsure of the answer.

“Once the shock had worn off he might however I cannot promise you, he could reject you from the start. The choice is yours alone Rosa,” Aniu replied with regret.

        Rosa moved as if the speak then stopped unsure of what to say. Seeing the hurt and confusion in Rosa’s eyes Aniu walked away into the night, realizing at Rosa needed time to consider her options. Looking down at Aniu’s paw print Rosa looked between them and Nome.

    Leaving the hill Rosa walked back through the now deserted streets of Nome, mulling over the offer Aniu had made. Looking at the familiar houses and streets, happy memories of her family yet at time sad memories bully by other of dog. Thinking back to what her mother’s tale Rosa saw the past in the streets. The place where Balto had fought Steel and many other events had taken place. Lost in thought Rosa arrived at her home without ever intending to go there. Shaking herself out of her trance Rosa looked at the familiar house, yet she hesitated on the porch. Jumping up she placed her paws on the windowsill looking in at the happy family inside. In the glass her own reflection stared back at her, a red and brown wolf with blue eyes, the perfect mixture for her parents. Thinking back to the bullying and cruel words of the other dogs a deep anger burst through Rosa’s veins. In a blinding flash the fog in her mind vanished. Jumping down from the window Rosa walked away from the house the same time as Jenna walked out of the front door.

      Running through the streets of Nome as fast she could Rosa smiled as she saw Aniu standing on the hill above town. To her surprise Aniu ran down the hill and the pair greeted each other with licks just outside of town.       

“Show me the way to my Father, please teach me how to be a wolf,” Rosa stammered with excitement.

“Are you certain? You will not be able to go back to the life you had before after this” Aniu replied calmly.

“I have to meet him regardless of the consequences. I would regret it forever if I did not take this chance.”

“As you wish Rosa but first you have to explain your choice to your mother,” Aniu replied as Jenna appeared behind them.

    Turning around Rosa walked over to her mother, a fragment of guilt in her heart at pain she would cause yet knowing it was right choice. Watching the pair anger and resentment surged through Jenna, she remembered Aniu all too well, having seen her with Balto three years previously. Over the years part of Jenna had come to blame the white wolf for Balto’s decision to leave, coming to the conclusion Aniu had manipulated him, utterly unaware of their true relationship. Seeing Aniu with her daughter Jenna feared what was the come and was determined a protect Rosa from Aniu’s manipulation.

“Rosa what are you doing out here with that wolf?” asked Jenna in a calm voice.

“Mother, I’m going away for a while,” Rosa began softly. “This wolf is going to take me Balto, I know this must hurt but please try to understand.”

“NO. I forbid you,” Jenna snarled with anger, shooting a hateful glare at Aniu. “Come now we have to go home. The idea is foolish.”

“Mom please listen to me……….I know what you went through,” Rosa began.

“I SAID I FORBID IT! Wake up Rosa you will never find him and that wolf will lead you a stray just as she led your Father. Oh I know her, three years ago she arrived and the number of times I saw them together” Jenna spat. “That vindictive, manipulating……..”

 “BALTO IS MY SON” Aniu snarled jumping forward. “I am Aniu, Balto’s mother and Rosa’s grandmother! I tried to help my son back then he made his own choice to leave.”

“Fine so be it then. Rosa we are going home now and you will forget you ever met Aniu, you will meet your Father when he returns to Nome. Come now.”

“No Mother I am going to meet my Father,” Rosa replied strongly. “Don’t you understand? I have to meet him.”

     Seeing that the conversation was between Jenna and Rosa alone, Aniu retreated to the hill above town realizing at the pair needed privacy.  

“No Rosa you do not.”

“Look at me Mother I look like him, I look like a wolf!” Rosa replied