wolf!” Rosa replied looking at Jenna with sadness. “I’ll never find out what and who I am unless I meet him. I don’t want to hurt you but I will leave without your blessing if forced.”

“Swear to me you will return,” Jenna snapped. “If you are set on this foolish trip then swear to me you will come back before winter.”

“I…I can’t do that Mom……….I’m not sure if I will return before winter……..It might take time for Father to be willing to tell me,” Rosa replied turning away from her mother.

“Then I forbid you from going,” Jenna replied forcefully glaring at her daughter with contempt.

“You cannot stop me Mom,” Rosa replied staring at her mother with anger and disappointment. “I tried explaining my reasons to you, I wanted you to understand, I wanted your blessing. But fine, if this is the way you want it. I’m leaving now, goodbye Mom”

     Turing her back on Jenna with sadness Rosa walked calmly up the Aniu, tears shimmered in her eyes at her mother reaction and a twinge of guilt flickered through her heart. Guilt at the pain her choice was causing, yet there was anger to as Rosa had honesty believed Jenna would have respected and supported her choice. Reaching Aniu, Rosa felt a weight lift from her, seeing the understanding in her grandmother’s eyes.

“I never thought she would react like that,” Rosa whispered sadly.

“Neither did I,” Aniu replied licking her cheek. “You are making the right Rosa, you are an adult Jenna cannot prevent you leaving. She may not agree with your choice but she cannot forbid you.”

“I wanted her to understand……..I have to leave Nome, I need to find out…..”

“Do not feel guilty Rosa. You have your own life to lead,” Aniu replied smiling.

“You’re right Grandma I do have my own life,” Rosa replied.

     Turning away from Nome the pair set off across the tundra, side by side they ran, looking up at the mountains Rosa felt as though her life had just began.

            Father and daughter

    A couple of months had passed since Rosa had left Nome with Aniu, at least the pair had reached the territory belonging to Balto’s pack. In the two months that had passed Rosa had become a competent hunter and had learned all the skills a wolf needs to survive. Rosa had picked up the skills quickly, surprising herself and bringing pride to Aniu. There was no doubt in Aniu’s mind that Rosa could live as a wolf quite well, Rosa would be able to hunt as part of a pack and be an active member. Standing in the middle of a forest next to a river Aniu looked at Rosa who stood nervously next to her. Smiling Aniu threw her head back and howled a call which was soon answered by others. Closer and closer the howling came and the pair watched as a wolf pack emerged from the dense foliage. For the first time in her life Rosa came face to face with her father. Balto stopped in his tracks the moment he saw Rosa, barely able to believe his eyes.

“Rosa this is Balto,” Aniu said turning to Rosa. “Balto please allow me to introduce you to Rosa, your daughter.”

“DAUGHTER!! HOW THE?” Balto stammered in disbelief.

“I’m two years old,” Rosa replied gazing at Balto with uncertainty.

“Jenna……you’re Jenna’s………..oh before I left town,” Balto replied half to himself.

“Jenna was unaware when you left,” Aniu said stepping in.

“I’m a father………” Balto whispered in disbelief.

“Well it is a pleasure to meet you Rosa,” Eagle said walking over to Rosa. “I am your Aunt Eagle.”

 “I am your Uncle Arden,” said Arden. “Come with us to our den, we can speak more.”

       Together the group walked up the den site with the rest of the pack, each member introducing themselves to Rosa. Arriving at the den site they were met by Nada and her and Arden’s pups. The oldest pups were yearlings the youngest only born a few months previously, both sets very curious about Rosa. Sitting together the pack gathered around Rosa, keen to hear about her life in Nome and her journey with Aniu. A little nervous at first Rosa told them of her life, avoiding details that she thought Balto ought to hear privately. The pack listened intently, Balto most of all. Rosa ended her tale and smiled as the pack chatted to her in apparent acceptance.

“Rosa……please come with me,” Balto said looking at her. “We….er…..we need to talk.”

“Sure Father,” Rosa replied causing Balto to blanch.

       Leaving the pack Balto led Rosa into the dense forests of the pack’s territory. Neither spoke as they walked, both unsure how to begin. Glancing at his daughter Balto saw himself and Jenna in her, Jenna, a dog who he almost forgotten about. Still in shock at the fact he was a father, for the first time in years Balto was unsure on what to say or do. Seeing the uncertainty in Rosa’s eyes, a part of him wanted to reach out to her, aware that the least he could do was the talk to her.

“I never expected anything like this to happen, I thought my ties to Nome were cut,” Balto began slowly. “I chose to leave, I’ve……….well I don’t know what to do”

“I had to come and find you…….I guess…….I wanted to meet you,” Rosa replied avoiding his gaze.

“I can see you look too much like me for your own good. What do you want from me?”

“I’m not sure,” Rosa replied shyly. “I wanted to meet you and to understand the past.”

“I don’t know how this will work; I sure as heck don’t know how to be a father. You can hunt I suppose?” Balto asked sceptically.

“Grandma thought me on the journey and she says I’m a good hunter.”

“Well you can show the pack tonight, if you plan on staying here you will have to hunt, or else you will have to leave. Don’t count on staying long so far the pack seem accepting but they may not be long term,” Balto replied, a hind of hardness in his voice.

“What about you? Are you will to accept me?” Rosa asked turning to face him.

“We’ll see once the shock has worn off. What did you say your name was again?” Balto asked meeting her gaze.

“Rosa.”

“That sounds similar to………”

“Rosie, I am named in her honour, I was told she loved you and Mother.”

“She did,” Balto replied, his voice devoid of emotion.

       Walking back to the pack, neither Balto nor Rosa looked at each other, both unsure of how to act around each other. Seeing the tension around the pair Eagle and Arden shared a knowing look, both had known there would be trouble the moment Rosa arrived. They remembered all too well the events of 1925 and knew that Rosa’s arrival would have brought confusion to Balto. They also knew what had happened since then and how much Balto had changed. Flicking her eyes through the pack Eagle allowed her gaze to land on Mist, the she wolf had a curious yet welcoming demeanour.

“Rosa come sit next to me, Mother has been telling me you hunt,” Eagle said looking kindly at Rosa.

“Well I’m not an expert,” Rosa began joining her aunt.

          That evening the pack feasted on a kill, each member taking their turn to eat. Each adult had played a part in the hunt, including Rosa. Looking that her, the pack was impressed by her skill as she had kept pace and hunted as well as the yearling pups. Yet she seemed more confident than they did, her pace a little faster and her skills a little sharper.

“You hunt well Rosa I am impressed,” Nada said as they ate.

“Not bad for a newbie,” said Mat with a grin, placing a paw around Rosa.

“Thanks,” Rosa replied smiling from ear to ear.

“A little practice and you will be a great hunter,” Mat replied confidently.

    In the days that followed her arrival Rosa joined in all pack activities, hunting, she played with the pups at the den site to their delight. With Mist, Pukiq, Arden, Eagle or Mat she patrolled the territory, twice taking joining Eagle in driving lone wolves from the land. From Arden she learned how fight and how to defend herself from attack. With Eagle and Nada by her side she learned about the wolf’s natural enemies, the bear and humans. Yet throughout all this Balto remained distant and aloof, rarely speaking to Rosa. This worried Eagle and Aniu as they saw how desperate Rosa was to be accepted by her father.

     Three weeks passed since Rosa had joined the pack, Eagle walked with Balto through the woods on the border of their territory. It was a routine patrol the kind the pack undertook daily, however Eagle had an ulterior for patrolling with her brother.

“You have to talk to Rosa at some point,” Eagle said as Balto sniffed a tree. “You cannot ignore her forever. I know it’s hard for you but she deserves to know the truth.”

“It was a shock seeing her, when I see her, I see Jenna’s eyes looking back at