dog,” Steel replied steadily.

“Wolf Steel I am a wolf not a dog.”

“I noticed, you’ve changed Balto, you’re not the Balto Jenna fell in love with. I hate to admit it but I see why you’re leaving.”

“Glad we agree on that,” Balto replied calmly. “Take care of her Steel when I’m gone.”

“Wait you are letting me………” Steel replied staring at Balto in utter amazement. .

“Jenna doesn’t belong to me, if you want her then try for her paw provided you don’t hurt her.”

“I could never hurt Jenna despite what you might think,” Steel replied in an unusually soft voice.

“Then you are a better dog then me, take care of her Steel,” Balto replied walking away.

___________________________________________________________________________

       A few hours later in the fading light Balto, Jenna, Rosa and Kodi stood at the edge of town. Saba and Dingo had not wanted to see their father leave as both had their own lives, Saba had a date and Dingo had a pregnant girlfriend to look after.

“Why do you have to leave Dad? Don’t you care about us?” Kodi asked looking at his father with confusion.

“I care about you Kodi, but I cannot stay in a place I do not belong.”

“I looked up to you, Steel was right about wolves being vain and selfish,” Kodi replied, tears in his eyes.

“You looked up to someone who never really existed. Kodi you will make a fine lead dog one day. You are the dog I was, within you are the best dog characteristics I once possessed,” Balto said proudly gazing at his son.

“I will Dad, I promise. I’m glad I’ve met you and I understand, as much as it hurts I realize your pack is your true home. Will I ever see you again?”

“It is unlikely but I will be in my heart.”

“Well goodbye and good luck, I’m glad I had the chance to meet you,” Kodi replied nuzzling Balto. “Come on Rosa, Mom and Dad need some privacy.”

“I’m not staying Kodi,” Rosa replied licking Kodi’s cheek.

“Rosa what do you mean?” Jenna and Kodi asked at the same time.

“I’ve found my place in the world as a wolf. My heart belongs to the forest, running free with my pack. I know who I am at last, a wolf,” Rosa replied smiling happily.

“Rosa you cannot leave again. You left once to try and find Balto, you have found him but Nome is your home,” Jenna snapped looking at her daughter.

“No its not, it never truly was. Mom, please accept me for the wolf I truly am. The wilderness calls to me, the freedom that is the wolf’s birthright runs through me,” Rosa replied turning away from her mother. “I cannot remain here and be caged forever. Dad’s pack accepted me on sight, they helped me see who and what I truly am. I love you Mom but I cannot pretend to be someone I’m not.”

“I cannot lose you Rosa, you are my pup, I love you.”

“Then please let me go, for both you sakes you have to let me be free,” Rosa replied turning to Balto.

“Jenna see your daughter for who she is, a beautiful, strong, intelligent young she wolf. I’ve seen her hunt Jenna, she is amazing, she is a true wolf from ears to tail,” Balto said proudly.

“I cannot let you go Rosa, you are my pup, you belong here with your family,” Jenna replied harshly. “Go home Matilda will want to play with you.”

“Dad is right Mom” Kodi said looking at his mother. “Rosa is a wolf through and through. I saw how she acted with the pack and you can see how different she is.”

“She only acted like that to fit in with the pack,” Jenna snapped glaring at her son for siding with Rosa. “Rosa enough of this foolishness your place is here with your family. Wake up girl and face reality.”

“You’re wrong Mom I belong with my pack. I’ve tried to do this gently as I hoped you would understand but you just refuse to accept me.” Rosa replied, her eyes full tears yet anger burning in her heart. “Goodbye Mom, don’t expect to see me again. Kodi thank you for understanding my choice, I’ll always remember you.”

“Goodbye Rosa, be happy” Kodi whispered nuzzling his sister. 

           With a last looked at Kodi and Jenna, Rosa bounded away from Nome, reaching the hill she disappeared from view. Smiling sadly at his father Kodi walked back into Nome leaving his parents alone. A mixture of anger and pain showed in Jenna’s face while on Balto’s there was only sadness. In his heart Balto saw a spark of love that remained for Jenna, a small spark that wanted to be with her. But reality had taught him that a relationship between a wolf and dog brought suffering, in the end it was better for all if both worlds remained separate.

“Please Balto stay here with me, don’t make the same mistake as last time,” Jenna pleaded, placing a paw over his.

“It was no mistake. Open your eyes Jenna and see who I am now and not who I was before,” Balto replied moving his paw away.

“He still lives deep down inside you. Balto I have waited for you all these year, I raised our pups. I love you, despite all that has happened what we went through back then……don’t you love me at all?”

“Yes damn it a small part of me will always love you!” Balto shouted in reply. “A small part of me remembers our past and the fun times with Rosie……”

“I knew it, Balto don’t you see, this is our second chance at happiness.”

“That small part doesn’t love you enough to stay here. Too much has happened since then, I have changed, the Balto who loved with all his heart is gone. My heart belongs to the forest. You don’t know me or love who I am now. There are things I have done that you would never understand. My feeling for you have changed I don’t love you like I did before.”

“No that is impossible! We are destined together. I can be yours, ask me to do anything and I will do it, I’ll leave Nome to be with you,” Jenna cried tears streaming down her face.

“I have moved on Jenna. I love a she wolf called Mist who is a member of my pack. Hold our past as a fond memory, our pups are the beautiful legacy of that love, be happy with that. Don’t live in memories anymore, experience love again with a dog who loves you in return. Too much has happened for us to have a future together. For your own sake Jenna let me go.”

“Balto you are breaking my heart,” Jenna sobbed.

 “I have to Jenna. It would have been easier if I had never returned. Goodbye Jenna.”

        Turning away Balto’s set off at a run away from Nome, tears falling from his eyes as he ran. His heart ached with sadness yet he knew it was the right choice. Reaching the top of the hill Balto saw Rosa waiting for him, her eyes shining with happiness and sadness. Reaching her Balto saw her cheeks streaked with tears. No words needed to be spoken between them, their eyes saying all that needed to be said. Lifting their heads Balto and Rosa howled a song of freedom, freedom at the wolves owned. Ending their song father and daughter turned their backs on Nome one last time, side by side they ran across the tundra, back to their pack and their wolf lives, never to see Nome again.

       Epilogue

February 1935

   Ten years had passed since the tragic diphtheria outbreak in Nome that had resulted in the loss of thirty children. Of those children who had survived two more had died in the following years from influenza after never regaining their full strength. Nine more children who had lived through the epidemic had left town in the subsequent decade among them Jonathon. Jonathon had left on the first ship that arrived in 1928 taking Kaltag with him the pair now lived in New York. Jonathon now worked as clerk in a prestigious law firm where he was highly thought of and well paid. Recently married with a baby on the way Jonathon had achieved a sense of peace in his life, he had little contact with his former town or his parents beyond the odd letter. Kaltag had also achieved peace with the past, peace that had come slowly over the years.

         Of the others who had left six had been in their early teens at the time of the outbreak and had left town as soon as they were able. Little had been heard of them since, though it was known that a boy and girl, both fifteen at the time of the outbreak, had married each other and now lived in Seattle. The remaining two children had left with their families three and four months after the outbreak for a fresh starts in Fairbanks and Juno. The children who had survived were now teenagers and young adults, all carrying the emotional scars of losing their friends. The older residence could see the restlessness in some of them; restlessness which had increased in the lead up to the tenth anniversary, no doubt some would leave when the spring came. Nome had gradually recovered, children had been born, new residence had come yet the epidemic still cast a shadow over the town. During the anniversary period of the epidemic several fights erupted fuelled by grief and illicit alcohol resulting in the perpetrators to spend a night in the cells.