do not found pleasure in coming into a human’s town; I was raised with the line ‘keep away from humans’ burned into my mind. But I need your help!

“Kamsa had found all of my pack mates, except for one. After my discussion with the remaining pack mates we concluded that our missing friend, after all she has been through especially after the downfall of our pack, would want to commit suicide! We wanted to find her before she really do it, but even Kamsa admit he has not become familiar with the landscape here and need a guide. So I’m here asking for your help, brother, and your friends’.”

“How can I help?” asked Balto.

“As I said, we need guides, to lead us to all the places possible to commit suicide in the forest. Mind I said guides, not one guide, which means I need your friends’ help, if they are willing to give help to a wolf?”

Balto turned to his friends, most of the dogs here don’t trust wolves or even hated them, it had little hope that they would help… “Anyone?” asked Balto without much hope.

After a long pause of silence, when Balto almost gave up and intended to offer however little help he can offer to Kirdo, Kaltag spoke “I’ll come. I once despise Balto due to his wolf heritage, and this should be a way to repay him back.”

“I’ll come too.” said Nikki after a while, “If I’m not mistaken then you’ll need four who understand the landscape in there.”

“Ah… don’t leave me alone!” shouted Star, running up to Balto nervously.

Balto was rather more shocked then happy, and he saw the same on his brother’s face, although Kirdo hid it under his skin quick. “Let’s go, we should act before all is too late.” He simply said.

As they were getting out of the boiler room, Jenna nuzzled Balto and Doc gave them a warning “Be highly cautious in that woods, words said there are already some hunters in it, seeking for the big pack. Don’t stay in there after sundown, and ask your friends to beware, too.”

The canines moved out of the town swiftly, they met with the remaining pack mates of Kirdo at the edge of the forest, Shadowfang were there, already wanting to be off, and two others Balto had not yet known: Rokal, an old but still war-liking grey wolf who didn’t think before talking; and a pure white female wolf-dog, Lyya, whose light in her eyes indicated the cunningness that can match those of a fox. She claimed to be the one who ensured Kirdo would be safe in Nome.  

“Alright, here’s the detail of our problem.” Said Kirdo hastily. “My friend, Mista, who is still unfound, is very emotional, and we believe that she cannot bear the fact that our pack, including some of her only loved ones, perished altogether. She had sought death once, but someone stopped her and eventually they fell in love. Now he is gone, so we are almost sure that she would consider the road of no return again.”

“It should be easy, we can just sniff around, and find her.” Suggested Star.

“That’s the point, husky, we got her scent in the forest, but it was all messed up and led us to nowhere, like she was trying to lose us. Even Shadowfang here can’t get a clue out of it.” Explained Lyya, and Shadowfang gave out a low growl at the mention of his name, apparently disturbed by his failure.

“My name is Star.” Star replied.

“Come now, young one, don’t always look at the darkest side available in the situation!” said Rokal, “She might just be wounded and waiting to die somewhere, no intention of seeking it herself.”

“Yes but we still have to prepare for the worse.” Said Kirdo, “Either way, we need speed. We can search for her at the places that can commit suicide, and if she’s not founded, the whole forest.”

They soon separated into teams, Balto with Kirdo, Nikki with Rokal, Kaltag with Shadowfang and Star with Lyya. They departed to four different directions and promised if they could not find Mista by nightfall, they will return to this place.

Balto and Kirdo took the northernmost way, the part where Balto understood the most. Together they searched the cliffs and valleys of that region, the winter was passing by and more life was coming out in the forest. They spotted hares, foxes and even some birds, but with no sign of Mista, only fainted scent of hers was detected, messed up and scattered.

They continued their search until they heard a wolf howl piercing through the air. “It’s Lyya’s howl,” Said Kirdo, “I should say it’s good, ‘cause it’s not a mourning howl. Let’s get there and see what she had found.” He seemed relieved to hear the call.

They dashed through the forest towards the region where Lyya and Kaltag were assigned to, and once they stepped into that part of the forest, they sniffed their way to Lyya and Kaltag. Balto prayed silently that whatever Kaltag found, it is good. They found Lyya and Kaltag under a small hill, which provided little cover, lying motionless before them was a brown wolf. She was quite beautiful in Balto’s eye, but even she wasn’t awake Balto could tell that she is sad, or in pain.

“Mista!” gasped Kirdo, he was about to asked, but Lyya answered before him. “Still alive.”

“We found her here, right on this spot.” Said Kaltag, “We did not move her to a safer place ‘cause we want to find out what happened to her. But for now we should wait for others to show up.”

The other two teams arrived almost at the same time, and were all anxious about Mista’s wellbeing, but Lyya simply said “She’s still alive.”

Rokal walked up to Mista’s unconscious body and observed for some moments, and said “Look at her face, there’s tear marks, but strangely I saw no marks of injury.” He lifted his head to look at the others, “Exhaustion.”

“Then what would you make of the tears? Pain, perhaps?” said Kirdo.

“Maybe you are both correct,” everyone was surprised because it was Star who voiced, “Uh… I mean Kirdo and Rokal. Maybe she was truly crushed by the annihilation of your pack, so she ran and ran, ‘cause she don’t know what she can do without it, and finally broke down here.” He finished, looked a little embarrassed, “A bad guess, I think.”

“And the best one!” Kirdo exclaimed, “You just explained it all, ‘cause that is what Mista would most likely to do.”

“Anyway, we can’t leave her exposed here.” Said Lyya, “I saw Shadowfang left his paw prints in the snow towards the west, he must’ve wanted us to follow him, because it’s just so unlike his style to leave trails for other to follow, unless he want them to.”

Only then did the others realize that Shadowfang was no longer with them, beside them, a pair of wolf’s paw print led all the way into the forest. “I’ll check on where it leads.” Said Kirdo before dashing off.

He soon returned, bringing good news. “There’s a cave not far away from here, it is large enough for five wolves. I think Kamsa wanted us to bring Mista there.”

“So… are we still needed?” asked Kaltag, he and his two friends, along with Balto were sitting idle for several minutes.

“All we need are fulfilled, you can go back now, thanks a lot, we one day find a way to repay you all.” Said Kirdo, then he smiled and put on a weird face “How strange today is? It’s the first time wolves asked help from dogs, and the first time dogs offered help to wolves!” And they all laughed.

“What made you three wanted to help the wolves?” asked Balto, he and the trio were trailing back to the town. And Balto had this question in his head for a long time, but got no time to bring it out.

“I thought you heard. I wanted to repay whatever I did to you when I teased you for your heritage.” Kaltag replied, and tilted his head, saying “But I guess I still have a long way to go.”

“Same with me there.” Said Nikki, and all of the looked at Star.

“I… I just want to follow! I rarely go out alone, you know.” Said Star nervously.

Chapter 9: Wolf in Nome

Just as they were close to Nome, Jenna bolted out, from somewhere and ran towards Balto. She nuzzled Balto deeply. “What happened?” Balto was confused, and so was the trio.

“Thank god you are safe!” said Jenna, her face still touched Balto’s. “Just after you four went into the forest, a few hunters, about five or six, came. They were attracted by the rumors of wolf active activity around Nome, some of them already started their work! I was so worried about you.”

“Why? I’m alright; we didn’t meet any human in the forest either.” Said Balto.

“No,” Nikki said, “We do, we spotted them far away, and I was going to check them out if not for Rokal’s warnings.” 

“Anyway, we’re all safe here. And I bet my brother and his friends out the can evade the hunters easily, it shouldn’t be hard for those who survived a losing war to do that!” said Balto.

Two Days Later

“You sure this is good? Sneaking up a wolf?” asked Jenna, “And why is there a wolf in the town anyway?”

Balto and Jenna were taking a walk around the street, discussing the recent events, when Balto caught