do.”

    “You are confused my son,” Aniu said stepping out of the icy fog that differed across the landscape. “You are torn between the dog’s life you have and the wolf’s life that Eagle and Arden offer you.”

“You always appear when I need you Mother,” Balto said as Aniu sat down next to him.

“A mother’s intuition my son, I can see the pain you suffer.”

“I thought I knew where I belonged but now I’m not so sure. I tried so hard to help the town. All I wanted was for Rosie and the other children to get better. I didn’t want to be a hero. It’s my fault she died……It should have been me who died if I had Rosie could have lived. Why is it that Rosie died and I lived? You are a spirit why did Rosie die. Did I do something wrong?”

“Fate my son, it was fate, nothing you could have done could have changed that. I am so sorry but we spirits could not intervene in that case. It was not your fault it was never your fault. You tried to help out of the goodness of your heart.”

“Everything I ever dreamed of died with Rosie. I have Jenna…..but I always pictured pulling a sled with Jenna and Rosie driving it. My life is a wreck. Mother please, show me the way,” Balto pleaded looking at his mother with tears in his eyes.

“I am truly sorry for this, had there been anything I could have done I would have, however my paws were tied. You are strong my son you can rebuild your life. Neither dog nor wolf you are the best of both,” Aniu replied nuzzling her son and placing a paw over his. “Accept all of what you are and you will discover who you really are. You are worth more than what think you are. I will always love you regardless of what path you choose, I will always be here for you.”

     Getting up Aniu licked his cheek before walking away into the night leaving Balto alone with his thoughts. His eyes flickered to his mothers paw prints noticing how similar they looked to his own. Looking around Balto saw that he was utterly alone turning back to the prints he eyed them with uncertainly. Lifting his left paw he hesitated. Closing his eyes he placed his paw in Aniu’s print. Opening his eyes Balto saw his paw fitted perfectly in his mothers paw. In a daze he put all four paws in his mother prints. Each paw fitted perfectly. Throwing his head pack Balto howled, his voice full of power. Out of the fog Aniu appeared once more, standing next to her son she added her voice to his. Two other voices joined their song, Eagle and Arden running up to the pair. Standing in a circle the four howled together their voices mingling as their song carried across the sea.

  Better for both of us

     Two months had passed since Rosie’s death.  April had arrived bringing with it the spring and the end of winter. In total thirty children had lost their lives to diphtheria with several more still weak from the disease.

   Standing in front of Rosie’s grave Balto placed a piece of quartz crystal on it. Walking up to her son Aniu called on her powers, changing the shape of the crystal into that of a rose. Around the grave red roses appeared to the amazement of Balto.

“Red roses will forever grow here as a memorial to Rosie, your crystal will forever be here.”

“Thank you Mother. I hope she is happy wherever she is.”

“She is happy. Her heart was pure, she is happy of that I am certain. She is not with you physically but she will be with you in spirit.”

“I will never forget her.”

    Smiling Aniu vanished leaving Balto alone. Lifting his head Balto howled Rosie’s name to the sky. His voice rang out across town causing many to stop in their tracks and listen.  

“I have to go Rosie. I’m sorry for what happened to you, I would have gladly given my life so that you could have lived. I will always remember the time we spend together, playing with you made me very happy. Please forgive for what I am about to do Rosie, I wish there was another way or that it would not cause so much pain. I have to cause pain now to prevent further pain in years to come. Goodbye,” Balto whispered leaving the cemetery.

    Walking through town Balto looked at the familiar sights, yet it was clear town was different, no childish voices drifted through the streets. Standing outside of the men’s suit shop were Jenna, Kaltag, Star and Sylvia, spotting them Balto headed over. Outside Jo’s Restaurant sat Steel and his friends, seeing Balto heading towards Jenna, Steel jumped in front of him, the other dogs quickly surrounded the pair.

“Well well wolf dog you keep showing your face. Stupid half breed doesn’t know when he is beaten. You stole Jenna from me now you will pay for that insult. Jenna should be mine and she will be. Don’t you understand outcast? No one wants you here,” Steel snarled a murderous look in his eyes.

     Seeing the look in Steel’s eyes Balto readied himself for the attack that he knew was coming. Holding his head high Balto looked at the huskies before him, well aware that he was outnumbered.   

“Yeh you filthy mutt get out of here, to think you could date a pure breed husky,” said one dog. “Time we put him in his place once and for all.”

“I couldn’t agree more, now you will pay wolf dog,” Steel replied springing on Balto.

    The circle of dogs widened, three joining Steel in his attack. Jenna, Kaltag, Sylvia and Star ran to his aid but were stopped by three dogs that jumped in front of them, baring their way. All Star, Kaltag, Sylvia and Jenna could do was watch as Balto fought for his life. In the circle of dogs Balto fell to floor after an attack from Steel. Above him Steel stood proudly, his paws level with Balto’s eyes. Lying there Balto looked up at him, memories of the cliff top fight flooded through him. His eyes flickered to his left shoulder, thought his injury had long healed, a long white patch of fur had grown over the area. Balto’s mind cleared, ice cold anger, strength, confidence and pride running through his veins. In a flash Balto leaped to his feet, pinning Steel to the floor and letting out a long howl.

“I am not filth Steel. No longer will I be bullied by a prejudice, arrogant, egotistic dog like you. Now you will learn what fear feels like,” Balto snarled. .

 “I don’t think so half breed,” Steel gasped as the circling dogs advanced.

         One dog sprang at Balto only to have his attack repelled as two shapes leaped into the circle. Eagle and Arden snarled at the dogs, their teeth bared and their hackles raised in fury with their eyes glowing brightly. Looking behind him Balto shared a brief smile with his brother and sister before turning his attention back to Steel.

“So that was your plan Steel to use numbers to defeat me. Well it failed. You should have listened to my sister’s threat, hurt me and you will pay, thought I don’t think Eagle intended to carry it out quite like this.”

“No I had planned to hurt him myself but you have more right than I brother,” Eagle replied, her amber eyes flashing dangerously.

“I do have a right. Steel you have made my life a living hell ever since I came here with your taunts. You underestimated me. Hate me all you want I personally couldn’t care less,” Balto said looking down at the shocked sled dog, never in his life had Steel imagined at Balto would become so confident. “I have a family who love me. Why bother staying in a town where I’m not wanted when I can live in the wild with my family? I don’t need this town, I don’t need humans to feed me and I sure as heck don’t need the hassle from you. I am so much better than you will ever be.”

        In a flash Steel forced Balto off him in a burst of strength. For a brief moment the pair fought. Then Balto fell to the floor, his eyes closed as he hit the ground. Proudly Steel advanced certain of his victory. The second Steel stood over him Balto eyes opened, seconds later Steel lay in the ground, his strength utterly spent. The town dogs looked at Balto in horror, turning to Eagle and Arden, Balto saw pride shining in their eyes.

“Smooth move Balto very smooth, stupid mutt didn’t have a clue,” Arden said walking over.

“All down to you Arden after all you taught me that trick,” Balto replied proudly gazing down at Steel.

“Ah that was lovely to watch, that mutt will never fight a wolf again,” Eagle said, smirking at the fear in Steel’s eyes.

“Come on guy’s time we were leaving, the humans will not be impressed,” Balto replied as human’s shouting drifted through the air.

“They never understand fights,” Arden replied as humans came running.

    Side by side Arden, Eagle and Balto walked out of the circle of dogs all of whom were cowering with fear. Holding his head high Balto walked proudly through Nome, no longer fearful for he was the one who the dogs feared.

___________________________________________________________________________

     The news of the fight spread through the town life wildfire, the dogs shocked and amazed at what had happened. That evening Jenna sat outside her house, out of the darkness Balto appeared.

“Balto I was so worried about