Character copyrighted to Universal Entertainment.

 Charlie trembled in the snow. It had been a day since the avalanche had knocked out the cliff holding his team. Everyone but him, even the cargo they were to return to Nome, had been destroyed. Everyone but him, of course. He wasn't hungry or thirsty. The snow melted in his mouth providing a sort of water supply. The dark, night sky shimmered with stars yet no light came from them. The moon brought many distant howls of the surrounding packs. But one stood out from the others. It was a closer, lone howl. He wanted to find the source of the howl but he was too weak. He managed to stand halfway but with one stumble of a step, he surged forward and fell.

"Gragh! St-stupid c-cold paws." He growled. His lips curled back into a low growl.

 Another howl rang thru the wilderness. His shoulders shook violently with anticipation. Maybe the wolf will be kind, maybe it will put an end to my misery, He thought.

 After an hour of struggling to stand, he finally gave up. He had made it far enough to where he no longer saw the mangled remains what was once the sled he pulled. But maybe it was because of the snow that had begun to fall. He carefully rolled onto his side and curled into a ball covering his nose with his tail, in an attempt to keep warm. No luck. He gradually fell asleep, after desperately trying to keep awake.

 His dreams were filled with warmth and happiness. His crush, a small and slenderly built brown husky called Cinna, was his main interest thruout his dreams. He dreamt that they were together curled in the boiler room, sharing a warm blanket in front of the boiler while eating the reminants of butchers usings that day. Which consisted of half a large steak, a few sausages, and many many balls of raw meat. he wanted children with her, but even just her would be quite enough for him. He'd only ever spoken to her a few in any times but he knew that he was hopelessly in love with her. He loved every detal about her. The flick in her tail, which he knew was a quirk. Her smile, But he loved her eyes the most. A deep golden hazel.

  But none of that mattered to him now. All he was focused on was the wolf. His eyes flickered halway open at a strange smell right over him. The sun was blinding so he only made out a non-detailed shadow. A tall, slender yet muscular wolfish dog stood over him. His eyes flashed open long enough for him to see the seemingly snow white dog jump over him and run away. He turned his head in a flash but the dog was gone. He then noticed that a strange smell loomed all over him. It was the smell of a wolf. A female, to be more precise.

 For the first time in the past 48 hours, he had never felt so alive. He struggled, but managed, to his paws. He shook his head to shake off the snow, before racing off after the wolf. I'm running! I'm actually running! He thought. He ran thru the woods, easefully dodging every tree in his path, following the strong smell of the female wolf. He needed to know why she had ran away from him knowing that he was weak. He stopped in a clearing, skidding ungracefully in the snow, only to see the female stop and look back at him before stepping into the snow-covered brush. 

"Hey! Wolf! Stop!" He barked. "Hey! I need to talk to you! I won't hurt you!" And suddenly he was on the ground, being pinned by a large grey and white wolf. Another female.The wolf snarled. "Who are you and why are you in my territory!?" She snarled.

"Woah, woah there! I'm just looking for someone. She may be a part of your pack. She's a whi-" Charlie was cut off by the white female.

"What are you doing here? You weren't supposed to follow me." She growled.

"She's right there. That's who i'm looking for." He whined.

"Aniu. How do you kno-. Aniu, how does this dog know you?" The grey one growled, turning to Aniu.

"I helped him once. Out of the snow. He was dying." Aniu muttered.

"Aniu, you stupid incompetant...ugh. You shouldm't have even laid eyes on him. Look at what you've done! You've brought a human's pet to our territory. He could bring them here and they could kill us all!" The grey wolf snarled.

"I am sorry, Nita but you know I can't let an innocent animal die." Aniu protested. She turned to Charlie and gowled, "You need to leave, now! And never come back."

 Just as he opened his mouth to say something Nita intterupted,"No! It's too late! He knows where we lare, where we live! We must kill him!"

 Aniu growled. "No! He hasn't done anything wrong!" She snarled and lept for Nita. She grasped Nita's side flesh in her jaws and pulled, feeling the warm blood trickling onto her tongue. Nita yelped in surprise before turning onto Aniu and digging her fangs into Aniu's back. Aniu winced in pain. Nita dug in further, refusing to let go even when Aniu slowly began ripping into her neck. Nita closed her eyes, growling and continuously ripping Aniu's back.

"Nita. I don't want to kill you."Aniu snarled, her voice muffled by Nita's fur. "You won't. You're too sweet natured." Nita growled.

"You're right. I won't." Aniu growled before ripping out a nerve in Nita's neck, causing her to fall into a deep sleep. She looked up to Charlie and said,"We need to go! Now!" She nudged him towards to woods, before racing off into them. Occasionally, she looked back to ensure that he was following, and sure enough he was.

 Finally, after what seemed like hours of running, they came to a cave. Charlie, who had been lagging behind the whole time caught up to her, panting heavily. She trotted into a cave hidden by the foliage of the clearing. Motioning with her tail for him to follow.

"Hehe. Thought you were a sled dog." She laughed.

"I am. I'm just a little tired that's all." He panted.

"You look cold. Want some warmth?" She breathed.

"Yeah, uh yeah sure. Thanks." He muttered as she settled next to him, nuzzling his neck to help him warm up.

"In a way, this is quite awkward. You being a wolf and me a dog." Charlie mumbled.

"I suppose. But all things happen for a reason. So, of course there must be a reason for my meeting you. And if I may be frank, you would be dead if I hadn't taken a liking in you." Aniu rambled.

"Woah wait. You took a liking in me?" Charlie smiled at the thought.

"You could call it that." Aniu smirked.

And so he had finally found a friend in the wolf he had been tracking for what seemed like ever. The night grew colder and darker and led to many furious howls in the night. Aniu's pack would be looking for her and she knew that. She had to leave Charlie. Just this night, She thought. She had to keep him warm. 

Morning came and Aniu was gone. No trail, no scent to follow. Not even a howl. Charlie grew very confused. But finally just stopped worrying. He had gained his strength back and needed to make it back to Nome. Once he arrived, he was treated quite well being the sole survivor of his team. Cinna became his mate and he was quite content up until Aniu came to see him. She had a small child with her.

"His name is Balto." She said without waiting for Charlie to ask. "I need you to find him a new home, I can't take him and i doubt your mate would be happy with him." She growled.

"Oh um, i'll do my best." He said. And with that she was gone. He took the pup to the hospital hoping a human would notice him, and left him there alone. With Cinna expecting children of her own, he figured that Aniu was right. Cinna would not be happy with Balto.

The next morning he went to the woods hoping to find Aniu, to tel her that he had given Balto to the humans. Sure enough he ran into her. But she seemed panicked. She was breathing heavily and then finally spoke," Get out of, Charlie! Now! Save yourself!" The howls of hunting dogs rang thru the woods and two gunshots went off. Charlie's eyes widened as he realised that Aniu's pack was being hunted, and he had forgotten his collar.

A man, stumbled out into the clearing, followed by a large german shepard. The dog snarled at Charlie but before the dog could attack the human shot him. He fell to the ground as his blood covered his eyes. He heard the distant howl of Aniu in pain. A dog must have found her, he thought. And then another gunshot. She's dead, Charlie whimpered. He thought of Cinna. And then of Balto. He didnt know whether he had gotten accepted into a human's family or not.

"I'm a horrible father. Aniu, Cinna, Balto. Forgive me." His word's faded along with his life. His body lay limp, and cold in the melting snow.