at the answer.

“I’m Balto’s girl now kid,” Mist replied sidling up to Batlo and licking his cheek.

“I love Mist. Your mother is the past for me, I past I never expected to encounter again. I love you Kodi and Rosa but not Jenna. I’m sorry if that hurts.”

“Well you did what you though best. One of the things I did hear about you was that you were pretty fast, care for a race?” Kodi asked to the delight to Rosa and Mist.

“No thank you.”

“Why? Scared you’ll lose?” Kodi replied grinning.

“No just that we have more important matters than racing,” Balto replied exchanging a look with Arden.

“Come on Dad just one race what harm can it do? You haven’t even decided what to do yet,” Kodi replied looking at his team and the pack.

“Racing you will not help matters.”

“He’s right Kodi, finding a solution is more important than racing,” Rosa replied looking at her brother.

 “You are just scared of losing to me Dad aren’t you? Scared I will embarrass you.”

 “I won’t race you Kodiak, we can talk but I will not partake in foolishness. Perhaps once a solution to this situation has found I may consider,” Balto standing up.

“Aw come on Dad just one race.”

“No Kodiak! We both have to conserve our strength, you are still recovering from yesterday’s accident,” Balto snapped walking off.

“He’s right Kodiak you need to conserve your strength,” Rosa replied dryly looking at her brother.

“All I want is to have some fun with him like a normal father and son,” Kodi replied.

“There is nothing normal about this situation Kodi, unless you have failed to notice you are lost in the wilderness.”

“So racing him will be fun………come on Rosa it would just be a little fun.”

“You are unbelievable! Wake up Kodi this isn’t the time for a race,” Rosa snapped in anger flicking her tail.

“You’ve changed Rosa,” Kodi replied staring hard at his sister. “You’ve totally changed since you left. You look dangerous and the way you have been treating us, I mean siding with that she wolf Mist and the male Pukiq on the time limited. What’s happened to you out here?”

“I’m glad you noticed the changes. What happened was that I found out who I am and was accepted by the wolves. They have been teaching me how to live so it is only natural I have picked up a few things,” Rosa replied with a confident smile.

 “Mom has been really worried about you when you didn’t return before winter she started to panic. She isn’t going to be happy when you return or your new attitude,” Kodi called as Rosa walked over to Mist.

“Oh Kodi you have no idea how much I have changed, you didn’t see what I was trying to tell you. Poor dog I’m not going back with you Kodi but you cannot see that. Oh well if an argument is what comes to so be it because I’m never going back to Nome.”   

         The following day the pack hunted again for the team, Kodi and Star choosing to watch the hunt. Seeing the ferocity in his father and sister’s eyes Kodi was shocked, how could his gentle sister become something so ferocious? Watching the hunt Star saw the same ferocity he seen years before during Balto’s fights, seeing that the dog he had known was utterly gone. The hunt ended the pair walked over to the kill, both still showing shock in their eyes.

“What is the matter doggies, can’t stomach a hunt? You are timid, cannot imagine how Balto or Rosa coped,” Mist laughed looking at the pair.

“That’s not fair we are,” Star began.

“So human dependant,” Mist replied walking off.

     The rest of the pack laughed with her, Mist had said what they had been thinking, and even Balto grinned at the remark. The rest of the sled dogs arrived at the kill with Matilda once again eat the raw meat. Despite her likeness to Rosie, Balto kept his distance, his wolf instinct and his own experience keeping him away. Walking back to the river the wolves and dogs sat down together, Dusty sitting next to Matilda with another team member. The group discussed the way home, Balto and Rosa both telling the team they know the way back to Nome. Hearing this, Kaltag and Star exchanged a look, both nodding in silent agreement at their plan.

“You have to lead us home Balto,” Star looking at Balto.

“No! I can’t lead you home, Rosa knows the way so she can lead you,” Balto replied in utter surprise.   

“She isn’t a lead dog you are,” Star replied, his eyes flicking at Rosa.

“Balto I will have to ride on the sled,” Kaltag said slowly. “You are the only one who can lead the team home.”

“No Kaltag I cannot lead you.”

“Dad please we need your help,” Kodi pleaded walking over to his father.

“I cannot lead a dog team Kodi, I am a wolf,” Balto replied, averting his gaze.

“Once you found a sled team lost in the snow and tried to lead them home. You found that team despite the members hating you, you found them to try and help,” Kaltag said forcefully looking at Balto.

“That Balto died with Rosie. I am wolf so I cannot lead a dog team.”

“But you are the only one who knows the way home with the experience to lead,” Star pleaded. “Three years ago you wanted to help Rosie, well help now, help her cousin.”

“DON’T YOU DARE TRY EMOTIONAL BLACKMALE STAR!” Balto shouted, turning to face Star with rage in his eyes. “Don’t either of you think you can tell me how to live my life, I don’t owe you anything.”   

     In a streak of brown Balto sprang away, running away from the team as fast as his paws would carry him. Through the snow he ran with little idea where he was going just the desire to be away from the dogs. The past whirled through his mind, the events leading up the loss of the medicine and Rosie’s funeral. Old feelings of guilt and sorrow filled him, for a second the old self blame surfaced, before sense caused him to brush it away. Anger at Steel and the dogs came to his mind. Jenna’s face slipped in, the time spent with her immediately after Rosie’s death and the joy he had felt. In his mind he saw the glimmer of another life.

   Arriving at Nome with the team Balto saw Jenna running towards him with Arthur and Violet. In utter joy Jenna and he wept, reunited at last. That evening the pair sat with their pups, Balto catching up on the missing years. Turning to Jenna, Balto saw utter joy in her eyes, his heart bursting with happiness, at last he was home. Days later Balto and Jenna stood side by side on the steps of the Town Hall as Balto was presented with a medal for bravery. Everyone, humans and dogs alike cheered, Balto was a hero, at last he had been accepted for who he was.

      The glimmer faded as quickly as it had come. In his heart Balto knew he would lose his freedom and most importantly Mist if he took that path. Mist was the one he wanted to be with. Walking over to a small stream Balto gazed at his reflection, a proud wolf looked back at him out of the water.

“You are a wolf not a dog and sure as heck not that timid hybrid! You belong wild with the pack and Mist. Chasing dreams only leads to pain so don’t even think of it, don’t dwell on past. You and Mist are betas in a year you could challenge Arden and Nada for leadership. Think clearly about this you were perfectly happy, things with Rosa are great and you have Mist. Those foolish dogs arrived and brought back the past, nearly turning your head in the process. You cannot lead the team, they will just have to accept that,” Balto though, walking onto the top of a frozen waterfall.

          Sitting there Balto looked out over his home, the wind bringing the smells to him, eagle, caribou and beaver. Sometime later the sound of panting and the smell of wolf and dog reached him. Turning around he saw Arden, Eagle, Star and Kaltag approach, the latter limping on three legs. Eagle’s eyes were filled with thunder; clearly she was unhappy with the dogs walking behind her. Reaching Balto the trio sat down near him, Eagle nuzzling him gentle as Balto shot the dogs an angry look.

“What are you doing here?” Balto asked in annoyance.

 “I came to see if you were alright, these two dogs followed me,” Eagle replied softly, a trace of anger if her voice.

“Though you might like a chat,” Arden said sitting down.

“Star, Kaltag you should be with the team.”

“Kodi can keep an eye on them, he’ll make lead dog one day. Besides with your pack nearby they won’t go anywhere,” Kaltag replied confidently.

 “Good luck to him on that score I hope he becomes lead. So did the pair of you come to talk about my son or is there another reason?”

“We need you to lead us home Balto, like it or not you are the only one who can,” Kaltag said sharply.

“We’ve been through this Kaltag I cannot lead you home.”

“Why not Balto, what are you so afraid of?” Kaltag asked looking at Balto.

“Nothing!”

“Help us then,” Star said. “Will you really let Rosie’s