chest, and she stroked his back with her paw to comfort him.

"I know it hurts, but I won't be completely gone," she comforted. "You will still have the memory of me living in you, and I may still be able to watch over you." He looked up at her expectantly, and she gently licked the tears from her eyes as though he was a little pup again, before launching into her last story. "There was a story I heard, and it helped me on nights when I was alone, after your father died. You know the northern lights, right?" He nodded, making her smile. "Of course you do - I showed you how to make them when you were small. Now, the story goes that the northern lights are actually the spirits of those who have passed, watching over us in this world. On nights when I saw them, I imagined Amak was there too, and that helped me so much. I didn't have to feel alone, and neither will you."

"It's just… it feels like I just found you, but you have to leave me again," he said.

"I know, but know this as well - you are my son and no matter what, I will always love you," she said, pulling him into one last nuzzle. "You'll always be my little baby."

"And I'll never forget everything you've done for me… at least this time I get to say goodbye," he continued. It was strange, but she no longer felt a solid as she used to. She was still there, but it was as though she was falling away at the same time.

"That's true. Goodbye, my son, and if you ever feel alone, just look to the north and I'll be dancing with the lights," she said, her voice sounding more distant as she felt herself fade from this world.

"I love you momma," he said, trying in vain to grip what still remained of her. "Thank you for everything."

"I'm so proud of you… and so is your father."

The last echoes of his mother faded away, and soon Balto was standing in the alley alone, his mother having passed on after completing her duty. It was a hard blow, to have his mother leave again, but in a way, it also made him happy. Now he knew the truth of his heritage, where he came from, and what happened to his parents. He was here because of their great sacrifice, and for that, he would always be grateful. They did everything because of their love for him, and for each other… and now his mother and father would finally be reunited, forever dancing with the auroras.

"Thank you, mom and dad," he said, looking up to the sky. "I'd be lost without you."

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Epilogue: An End and A Beginning

Three Months Later

"Aw c'mon, Balto, I like seeing it on you. You should be proud of it."

"I am, but that doesn't mean I have to wear the darn thing everyday. It's a lot heavier than it looks, and it strains my neck after a while."

The voices came from the two dogs walking along the beach. The setting sun cast an orange glow across the sky, matched on the ground by what snow there was left. Their paws sloshed through the slushy mix as a warm breeze brushed their fur. The longer days of spring brought warmer air, freeing the town from winter's grip. The snow was softer, and even the sea ice had puddles forming in it. It wouldn't be long before the snow would vanish and the ice would crumble, giving way to spring. Flowers would bloom, and the trees would grow through the summer before autumn slowed their progress, in time for the snows of winter to return. The end of one made way for the beginning of another.

"Aw, could you do it for me? Please," the red husky said, putting on her best puppy eyes.

"… Oh, alright Jenna, but I'd have to go back to the boat to get it," Balto conceded.

"That's okay, it can wait," she said, nuzzling his side. The soft fur of his neck bore no collar anymore, a sign of his regained freedom. After months of living as a sled dog, Balto had started to miss some of the freedoms his older life allowed. He talked with the team and they had no issue with him taking his leave, returning to the life of a stray. Kassen may not have expected it, but decided to let it be. Balto was still partly wild, and knew better than to force the issue. If he was desperate, he could always find Balto and call on him again if needed. Despite that, Balto still kept the gold studded belt he'd won, tucked away somewhere safe.

"I still think you look quite dashing with it on," she said, earning a sigh from him. As much as he enjoyed the feeling of meeting a lifelong goal, all Balto wanted to do now was enjoy his time in peace. Winning the golden collar turned out to be much more of a draw than he anticipated, and after a while he stopped wearing it in public, to try to avoid much of the attention brought onto him. He always wanted to see himself as equal with the town dogs, and the reverence the prize collar came with actually made him uncomfortable.

"Although, you still haven't told me what you plan on doing with yourself next year," she continued. "Are you thinking of racing again?"

"I have thought about it… but this time I think I'd rather pass," he replied, catching her off guard.

"Really? Why? You've put so much effort into being a sled dog," she said.

"I have, but that's because I was always wanting to improve myself, to do better than the last time, but now… there really isn't a way to go higher than the top, is there?"

"No… but you could easily win again."

He shook his head. "It wasn't just about winning. It was about understanding a part of who I was. I've lived the wolf part, and now I've lived the racing dog part too. I've walked the path that was laid before me… and now I understand everything about my past. I've reached the point where I can start making my own path."

"Well then, where will that path take you?" she asked. "Do you think you'll ever step into a sled harness again?"

"I don't know. I mean, if something important comes up, or I'm called on it, then I would gladly lead a team again," he replied. "Until then, I'm content to be left to my own devices. I want to spend time with what's really important to me - my family. Our pups are already getting their own start, and I want to help guide them when they need it. Speaking of which, have you heard anything new from Kodi?"

"I heard his team is going to have a break through the summer, but by next winter, he'll be doing full mail runs with them," she replied. "I just hope that Steele doesn't give him too much trouble when he's in White Mountain."

"He'll be fine," Balto assured her. "I got word that Sonya's going to make sure he's looked after, so I don't think we'd have to worry about Steele. Come to think of it, he's done nothing but avoid me since the end of the race. No mean glares, no insults, no snide remarks... nothing," he explained, while thinking, 'Though I can't blame him for being spooked. Finding what he did about me was probably the last thing he expected.'

"Thank goodness for that. The less I see or hear of that glory hound, the better."

"True… besides, Kodi's a sharp pup - he knows how to avoid trouble. He's come such a long way, and who knows, he might be lead dog soon enough," he said.

"Don't get ahead of yourself - he already feels enough pressure to do well as it is," she countered. "If anything, your win this year has just left a bigger harness to fill for him."

"I know, but he shouldn't feel like he has to fill it. Just because his dad won a big race doesn't mean he has to do the same. I'm already proud of him for getting on a team so quickly," Balto said. "It's actually part of the reason I want to let this pass. I don't want to be overshadowing him or any one of our pups. They deserve a fair chance on their own, and I think the best way is to step down graciously."

"You'd rather pass the torch on than keep running with it," she summed up, and he nodded.

"Yeah. I've done all I wanted to do with this, so there's no sense keeping it for myself," he continued. "This way, I can let a new generation follow in my footsteps. They may do better than I did, they may not, but what's important is that they get the chance to run on their own, with a clear road ahead for them."

"What about Kaltag and the team? Have you told them about this?" she asked.

"I have, and they were quite accepting of it. I told Kaltag that now he could take another crack at leading himself, and he seemed more than eager," he said. "Nothing lasts forever, which is why it's best to let things pass on gracefully than trying desperately to cling to them. This way, I can do things on my own terms. I've completed the path that was laid out before me… and I'm now on the path I choose for myself."

Their walk meandered down the coastline, before they found a familiar bluff rising from the shoreline. They climbed up, and were soon perched on a spot they had come to many times. It was a spot where they could have an unobstructed view of the ocean, now a sea of red and orange from the setting sun. Both sat down just to enjoy the beauty of the scene, with Jenna leaning into his side. He nuzzled her head with his chin, perfectly content. Being here made him reflect on all the ups and downs of his life, and how they shaped him