said kneeling down and looking at Balto. “I never expected to see again after you vanished, I always wondered where you went. Thank you Balto.”

      Extending a hand Arthur moved to stroke Balto, yet before his hand could make contact with Balto’s fur, Balto growled ferociously. In a flash of brown Balto sprang away, running onto the roves of the buildings. Below him Arthur and the dogs were stunned at Balto’s reaction as they had never seen him acted like that. Rosa alone understood, a wolf will not allow a human to touch them.

    Like wildlife the news of the teams return speared though Nome, the town gossip chain going into overdrive. News soon reached Jenna’s ears, the red husky running to see her pups the moment she heard barely able to believe the gossip was true. Seeing Kodi and Rosa sat outside the town hall, relief swept through her, her pups were safe.

“Kodi, Rosa thank God you are both alright,” Jenna whispered nuzzling them both. “I have heard the rumours.”

“Everything is true Mom, Dad led us back,” Kodi replied proudly.

“He has come back,” Jenna gasped her eyes widening. “I knew he would. You have to tell me everything that happened.”

“Please Mom not now, Kodi and I are exhausted we need rest,” Rosa said seeing the hope and joy in her mother’s eyes. “Please let it wait until tomorrow.”

“Rosa is right, we’ve hardly slept in three weeks,” Kodi replied, the tiredness visible in his voice and body language.

“Of course you need sleep, I can tell how tired you both are,” Jenna replied with a voice filled with joy.

         Reaching their respective homes Rosa and Kodi fell into an exhausted sleep, their bodies utterly spent of energy, weeks of little sleep taking their toll. As the day wore the humans learned from Matilda of the events, all flabbergasted at the tale yet seeing the truth in her eyes. It seemed incredible, almost fantasy like in the series of coincidences to which no one could offer a rational explanation. Even more amazing was apart from a malnourishment, several cuts, a few bruises and a touch of frostbite; Matilda had suffered no serious injuries. Highly experienced mushers had received sever injuries in similar and less sever conditions then she had experienced. Added to this was Balto’s sudden reappearance that added fuel to rumours of conspiracy, ghosts and magic that left the residence scratching their heads and debating various theories. All clear remembered him and his relationship with Rosie and knew he had fathered Jenna’s pups. They all remembered his sudden vanishing act just after his fight with Steel. Where had he been living and how on earth had he come entangled with the sled team? The same questions were being asked by Jenna she lay watching over Rosa. Was it possible that Rosa persuaded Balto to return to Nome?

       The following day dawn bright and clear, sitting together in the wood shed, Jenna, Dingo and Saba sat listening to Kodi and Rosa’s tale. Both told it, though Rosa deliberately left out part concerning Mist and some pack details for she knew they would break Jenna’s heart. As they listened, Jenna, Dingo and Saba could see something had changed in Rosa as she seemed much more confident and her entire demeanour was different. It was clear something had happened to Rosa, something which worried her family immensely. As the tale come to a close Jenna left the shed determined to speak to Balto. Jenna was utterly oblivious at the sadness shining in Rosa’s eyes.    

      Meanwhile Balto stood on a roof, three strings of sausages around his neck, sausages that had been liberated from the butchers via an open window. Balto had spent an uncomfortable night in the top floor of a warehouse that he had entered via a broken window. Walking through town he found himself the centre of attention all the dogs wanted to know his story and in many cases the individuals wished to apologise for their former treatment of him. Humans to approached him, seeking to pet him, in reply he barked and snarled, before running away to the quiet roves.

“This place is nothing but a cage for me, every instinct is telling me to run as far away as possible as soon as possible. Ok relax you can cope here for a few days, no point running off when you are not strong enough. The humans here won’t hurt you, biting one of them would not be a smart move no matter what your instincts tell you. No the real problem here is Jenna,” Balto though looking down at the bustling town.

        Jumping down from the roves Balto left town, following a well trodden path to the cemetery. Passing through iron gates Balto soon reached Rosie’s grave. Red roses and a piece of clear quartz adorned the grave. For the first time in three years Balto stood there, bowing his head he allowed tears to flow from his eyes before falling onto the snow as ice. Pain and sadness coursed through his heart.

“I’ve come back Rosie. I had to leave three years ago, I’m living the life of a wolf and I belong there. I wish you could join me, you would love it wild and free. I’m so sorry for not being able to help you. I caused so much pain to so many by failing. If I could have traded my life for yours I would have, forgive me Rosie,” Balto chocked between sobs. “I’m so sorry.”

   Falling into the snow Balto howled a song of loss that reflected the deepest secret of his heart, the undying guilt and responsibility he felt for Rosie’s death. The events long past replayed in his mind, his first offer of help followed by Steel’s rejection and the cliff top fight between the pair and the lake side meeting and Steel’s cruel words moments before the ice. Steel it all came back to Steel. Steel was the one who caused Rosie’s death by allowing his pride and prejudice to cloud his judgment. Steel should have been able to put those aside and accepted Balto’s help. Slowly the guilt and grief subsided into anger as realization overtook Balto. Yet deep within his heart a large shard of guild remained for he could never truly forgive himself nor be free of the feeling that his actions contributed to Rosie’s death.

“It was a true tragedy. In those conditions it would have taken a miracle to save their lives. Even if you had managed to lead the team they still could have died before the medicine arrived,” Balto whispered looking at the graves. “The past is the past you cannot dwell on it or change it. Leave Balto before the past consumes you, return to the wolf life you have worked for.”

     Then the sound of paws crunching on the snow drifted into Balto’s ears. Turning around Balto saw Jenna standing behind him. Time seemed to stop as the pair stared at each other, the past standing between them like a chasm.

“I knew you would come back,” Jenna said breaking the silence.

“You look great Jenna,” Balto replied hesitantly.

“I’ve missed you,” Jenna replied bounding over and nuzzling him. “I heard all about the team from Kodi.”

“He is a fine dog and I hear Saba and Dingo are fine pups,” Balto replied awkwardly.

“They are, you have to come and meet them now, I felt them talking to Kodi and Rosa,” Jenna replied excitedly.

       Despite deep sense for foreboding Balto allowed Jenna to lead him to her house where, sitting on the front porch, they found Saba, Dingo, Kodi and Rosa. Seeing their father Saba and Dingo greeted him politely, though neither were overly curious nor felt they particularly needed him. Sitting next to his children Balto told them of his life in wild, in return hearing of their lives in Nome, feeling touch of guilt at his absence from their lives. Seeing her loved ones together Jenna’s heart almost burst with joy, her dream had come true, Balto had returned to her. Laying her head on his shoulder Jenna felt an utter happiness she had not felt since Balto left.

     Over the next few days Balto spent most of his time with Jenna and his pups. As the truth of the events surrounding his reappearance emerged Balto was accepted into the town, those dogs who had long ago bullied him apologising for their actions. At a meeting of the town dogs Balto and the team told their story for all to hear. After the story finished the dogs cheered Balto’s name, he was a hero and saviour of their friends. Much to his embarrassment the dogs had called on him to make a speech, which he made hastily and with a ruby red glow to his fur. No longer an outcast but one of the gang, Balto had attained everything he had ever wanted.

___________________________________________________________________________            

       A week had passed since Balto had returned to Nome. Standing inside the cabin of an old fishing boat, Balto looked around the place he had once called home. The boat had suffered from the weather and was very dilapidated. He stood alone on the boat deserted. Boris had left with Stella at the beginning of winter as it had become clear that he was no longer needed by Balto and Jenna’s pups. Muk and Luk had vanished a year previously and none knew what had happened to them, they had simply gone one morning fishing and never returned.

   “Nothing here but memories of another life, ghosts of the