strong? Don’t you forget humans cannot aim accurately when they’re panic?” said Kaltag.

Balto had been listening when the others were talking. Lone wolves around Nome? Could it be that one I met? Perhaps I should go into the woods and look for them; they might just give me some clue… “Hey guys, did the dogs who encountered those lone wolves told you about their location?” asked Balto.

“Yes,” Doc answered “the closest one they spotted was around the north side of the forest, a bit far away from your boat. He was running like mad towards Nome when they spotted him. Why you ask that?”

“I think there must be a reason for so many wolves to come near Nome, so maybe I can go into the forest and meet one of the lone wolves, ask him for the cause and maybe even ask him to leave.” Balto’s idea instantly caused many to mutter.

“Are you sure Balto? You knew lone wolves tend to be more aggressive and cautions to just about anything, it’s how they survive alone. You may be attacked!” said Jenna, surprised by Balto’s daring idea.

Balto replied in a calm tone “I do, but we need to know the reason they come, and I have more chance of survival in facing one wolf instead of a whole pack of them, right?”

“You can take some of us with you,” suggested Kaltag, “I will go with you.”

“I’ll go too.” Said Jenna, already stand up.

Balto frowned; it didn’t suit his desire to have a whole bunch of dogs following him into the woods. However, having one of them to go with him provides an extra pair of eyes to look out for hidden dangers. “Alright, Kaltag, you can come with me, but one is enough. The wolf wouldn’t be foolish enough to show himself to a great number of dogs with unknown intention to him.”

“Take care, then.” Said Jenna, she gave Balto a nuzzle.

“I will.”

Chapter 4: A Living Mirror

It didn’t take a long time for Balto and Kaltag to find themselves in the woods. The air was cold as it was still in winter, not much plant life can be found. And so was the prey, there shouldn’t be enough food for the wolves, especially somewhere so close to a town, which is what troubled Balto. There must be something else that is attracting them, or something that makes them run away… He sniffed the freezing-cold air, it told him that there were only hares around in this part. Up ahead, Kaltag was urging him to keep on. “The witnesses said that wolf was at the north side, which is still quite a distance from here! We should keep moving, or we might miss him.” He said urgently.

“I don’t think so, if he was ‘running like mad’ when the dogs saw him, he could be here in anytime.” Balto replied, but sped up his pace nevertheless.

Snow started to fall as they ventured deeper into the woods, it started out small, but soon turned big enough for Kaltag to suggest a return. However, just as he sounded his suggestion, Balto’s nose caught a scent in the air, it was somehow familiar to the white wolf and… himself? “Wait, Kaltag! I got something! The wolf, he must be around!”

“So you want to keep searching?” asked Kaltag with a groan, “I don’t think any of us can see our surrounding once this blasted snow gets bigger!”

“Alright, if we don’t find him in ten minutes time, we’ll head back to Nome.” Answered Balto, he didn’t want to stop, this might cause them to miss out the wolf forever, but again, there was no point to stay if the snow turns into a blizzard.

Balto kept on thinking as he continued their search, this lone wolf’s scent troubled him; he would have mistaken the scent for himself if not for the ‘wild spice’. Balto was so deep in his thought to the point that he forgotten to keep sniffing around, until—

“Balto, lookout!” Kaltag’s voice tore through the wind. Balto pulled his head up just in time to see a brownish figure rammed into his side. The force of the figure threw him several yards from where he stood. He hit the ground hard but the snow softened his fall. He got up quick for fear that it might be some sort of attack, but it seemed the figure, which turned out to be a wolf, that tackled him passed out due to the impact. Kaltag was inspecting the wolf.

And then he gasped. “Balto, come and look at this!” Balto walked up to his side, the wolf wore a brown fur and a lighter tone of grey at the belly and lower neck, similar to himself, but he still didn’t see what was making Kaltag looked so stunned. And then he noticed to face, the reason of Kaltag’s reaction. This wolf looked just like him, and sum up the fur, ears and body structure, a perfect replica of Balto. The only difference was that this wolf looked more battered and wild. But these weren’t Balto’s concern; he felt this wolf familiar, like it has something to do with his past, which was now broken in tiny pieces.

“He looks familiar.” Balto finally got the words out.

“Of course he looks familiar, you can see him whenever you stood up to a mirror!” Kaltag exclaimed, “How is this possible?”

“I don’t know, I must’ve seen him when I was younger, or very young… Anyway, the snow is getting bigger, we need to get him out of the snow, or else he’ll be cover in it and freeze to death.”

“Yeah, let’s get him to your boat, he’s not save in town nor this forest.” Said Kaltag, grabbing the wolf by the scruff of the neck.

“Yes, and we and ask him about why the wolves came here, and I have some personal questions for him, too.” said Balto, joining Kaltag in carrying the wolf.

“I think I can guess a few.” Said Kaltag with a smile. Together they dragged the ‘replica-of-Balto’ to where Balto and his friends lived.

 Chapter 5: The Obvious Riddle

“Balto, what the heck is this?” exclaimed Boris, Balto old Russian goose friend, as he saw Balto and Kaltag dragging a unconscious wolf that looked so much like Balto up onto their boat. Muk and Luk ran out of the cabin curiously.

“We found him in the woods, or rather, he came to us and faint,” said Balto, panting. To carry a wolf from such a distance away had worn him down. “He is one of the –

“Lone wolves in the forest.” Interrupted Boris with a twinkle in his eyes, “this news is all over Nome already! Jenna came to us and told us everything; she left us only minutes ago.”He turned to the unconscious wolf, which was now covered in a blanket and lying in the cabin room, “So tell me, who is this wolf? Have you found your wolf counterpart in the forest?”

“I don’t know,” Balto replied, apparently irritated by Boris’ statement “But you can ask him when he awake.”

“But will he ever awake?” Boris muttered.

For the next few hours, Balto watch over the wolf with Kaltag went back to the town and told the dogs of what they have discovered, he also told them not to disturb Balto until he gets more information, this request upset a few, especially Sylvie. Of the three of them, Boris got the hardest job: he had to keep Muk and Luk’s curiosity at bay so the wolf could rest. But he didn’t seemed to be good at it, they kept asking “Why is there are to Baltos?” or “How can Balto split into two?” Plus a great amount of Luk’s unrecognizable murmur. Until finally, old Boris had enough, he yelled angrily at them to keep their silence. It turned out they did quite for a while, but it certainly didn’t apply for the main goal, as the wolf stirred, he moaned and opened his eyes.

The moment Balto saw the eyes of the wolf, he knew that they weren’t all the same after all; the wolf’s has a pair of emerald green eyes, unlike Balto’s own brown eyes. “Where am I?” He finally asked, his voice was weak, but Balto was sure that it must be quite charming when he is healthy.

“You are in where I live, a deserted boat not far away from a human town.” Answered Balto, “You bummed right into me and passed out after that, why?”

“You will share how I am feeling now if you try running non-stop like a rabid for four days and eat only so few.” The wolf said. His voice was still weak.

“Then you must be really tired!” exclaimed Balto, his eyes widen in surprise. “You should rest, and when you get stronger I’ll bring you some food.” He commanded.

The wolf obeyed, but soon asked “May I know your name? Mine is Kirdo.”

Kirdo… That sounded so familiar, but Balto just can’t catch the line, he decided to ask him, but he knew the wolf was still weak and cannot manage a long talk, so he simply answered “My name is Balto.”

Kirdo’s entire body shook, as if he had heard something abnormal, he raised his head and looked at Balto’s face, his face showed a look that Balto could not recognize whether it is shock or joy or relieve.

“We’ve got much to talk about, Balto, once I can get myself ready for a long talk…” and he closed his eyes, ready to sleep, leaving the already puzzled Balto a cliffhanger.

The next time Kirdo awake was in the night. Balto had got him some food from the town earlier in the day and was ready to go to sleep. Jenna was there too, Rosy knew she was getting closer to and closer to Balto and allowed her to visit to Balto in the night, as long as Jenna