going to go anywhere, we'll need our sleep tonight. We can't have you nodding off on the road, now can we?" All present agreed, and started to settle down for the night while she crept out the barn door towards her own home.

Steele put his head down to rest, but let a recurring fantasy slip back into his mind. He may have been disgraced after his actions on the serum run, but that was a long time ago to a dog like him. He hoped to be able to just charge in and take the win, regaining the glory he once had. He may not have been the lead dog, but that didn't stop him imaging what it would be like. Or maybe, if their team did run to victory, his old owner might notice and take him back. He could go back to being a champion and reclaim his trophies, making things like they were years ago… before Balto took that all away.

'I'll show that smug wolfdog who's a real champion.'

----------

The sea was nothing more than a vast expanse of white, while the moon above gave it a pale glow. The pale ice contrasted with the dark sky above, the horizon being the boundary between light and dark. Such a featureless landscape would have had little appeal to most, but for the two observers, the monochrome setting was not the true attraction. Instead, their attention was drawn upwards, across the dark sky before it erupted into a bright display of wonder.

The Aurora Borealis, better known as the northern lights, was one the spectacles of the north. People travelled from far and wide just to see its beauty, but for Balto and Jenna, all they had to do was walk a few minutes away from town, settle down at their favourite spot – a secluded cliff overlooking the ocean - and wait. Sometimes the lights would be out, sometimes they wouldn't, but just being in each other's company made them happy. Jenna sighed softly as she let her eyes close. Pressed up against Balto's side, the rhythm of his breathing was soothing enough to make her drowsy. It was times like this that made her thankful to have him, and as she relaxed, she let her head drift down his shoulder, coming to rest on his foreleg.

"Tired?" he asked, noticing her start to drift off.

"A bit… but I don't mind," she replied, rubbing her muzzle against his large paw. She felt his nose rub her head in return, his breath softly blowing her fur before finding a certain ticklish spot on her ear. It wasn't long before his motions made her burst out laughing. She started to squirm, trying to get her ears out of reach before finally rolling over, planting the back of her head in the snow while she looked up at his cheeky grin.

"Are you sure you're tired, 'cause you sound like you want to play now," he chuckled, while she just furrowed her brow at him.

"No, bad dog," she said, playfully swatting him with her paw. Her act wouldn't last long, as she soon joined in his laughter at how easily they could act like playful pups. "You know I don't like it when you tickle me there," she said between laughs.

"Aw, but you used to," he replied, putting on his best puppy-dog eyes. "Besides, I've gotta get as many kisses in as I can before I go."

"Alright, but just this once," she conceded, causing his tail to wag. "I just can't believe it's already here. It feels like just yesterday you started training."

"Same here," he replied as she rolled back onto her front, allowing him to rest his head on her neck. "It's amazing how quickly things can change around."

"Tell me about it. It's like I've got myself a whole new Balto… and this one's got a little more muscle than the last one."

"It just the sled training… but admit it, you like it," he said, placing one front leg across her back, and pulling her closer. "You like having a big, strong sled dog by your side."

"Maybe a little," she said, a slight blush forming under her white fur. "But underneath all that, you're still the same Balto who's always there for me… and I'm going to miss him."

"I'll miss you too," he replied. "I'll always be running my hardest because I know that win or lose, you will be waiting for me at the end of the road. I've come back to you before, and I can do it again."

"I know… that's what I love about you."

----------

The sun rose in White Mountain that morning, and for most in the tiny village, it was just another day. People were rising from their beds, and starting to emerge for their daily routine. It was only for a few that this day was a special, and most of them were the dogs that were getting ready to leave.

Sonya was one of them as she trotted down the street, humming a cheery tune to herself. To have this day arrive was almost surreal, because for the longest time, she thought it wouldn't come at all. For the past five years, her owner Jonathan had passed on racing mostly because the will to do it had left him. Before, he'd been quite the avid racer, and while he hadn't won at all, he was always able to hold his own. He owed much of this success to his lead dog Amak, who was probably one of the best racing dogs she ever knew. He was one of the few dogs who could run on par with Steele, almost beating him too, but Steele played a nasty trick that ensured they would stay second. That race was Sonya's first, and for a time it looked like it would be her last.

That was because shortly after the race - possibly even before it - Amak caught the eye of a certain she-wolf. They would meet occasionally, but kept it secret, for fear of being caught. That fear would be well warranted, because when Steele found them together, everything fell apart. He cornered them and used their relationship as an excuse to exile Amak. Poor Sonya had to witness this, but before he left, Amak had this parting wish:

"Sonya, you've come a long way since I found you. You've grown up so much… but you're a real sled dog now. You're one of the team, and I know you'll do fine without me. You're tough - no matter what, you'll always make it through."

"But what about the rest of the team? Who will lead them?"

"You will."

Amak made sure to pass the leadership of the team onto her, even giving her the silver-studded collar he won from that year's race. He did it because he knew how far she had come as a sled dog, and her performance during the race proved it further. After that, he left with the wolf he loved so much, leaving her devastated. He had been one of her few friends at that time, and would always stick up for her when Steele or any other dog tried to pick on her for being part wolf. He also helped keep her temper in check; often the teasing left her frustrated and bitter, but he always knew the best way to help her. He was always a dog of peace, and while it took her a few years, she eventually learned the wisdom of his way. Five years later, she still wore that silver-studded collar as a reminder of her friend, who always inspired her and her team to run their best.

It was because of Amak's disappearance that Jonathan stopped racing. Amak always was his favourite, and without him, he doubted his own abilities. And so, he dropped out of competing and focused instead on supporting his family. That went on until a couple of years ago, when he got a very lucky break. His old rival, a musher by the name of Gunnar Kassen, came to him with an offer after he'd found Steele in White Mountain. It turned out Kassen had lost him on a run, and was starting to doubt his old mainstay. In his view, something was seriously wrong with a dog if they got you lost, took you off a cliff, got you knocked out and then disappeared while some stray half-wolf got him home safely. Because of that, he sold Steele to Jonathan, sparking the man's racing spirit once again.

For the past two years, he'd been getting back into his paces, training up the team and getting them to work together under varying conditions. That sharpened their skills and wits, and now he felt he was ready. This time he had the spring back into his step, and maybe, just maybe, he could win the derby.

"Yep, if I win this, ol' Kassen is going to be kicking himself for years," she heard a man's voice call, followed by his hearty laughter. "He'll never forgive himself for giving up his prized dog to me!" She rounded the last corner and found her team, almost ready to go. With them was Jonathan, along with his wife Caroline and their two children, Marcus and Maddie.

"That's if - you haven't raced for years," Caroline put in. "Remember, the trophies aren't everything; don't push yourself too far."

"I won't, I won't," he conceded, probably for the hundredth time since he announced he would be in this year's race. "Though the trophy would be nice after this long," he muttered to his kids, who nodded. "Now, I think that's everything… except Sonya, where is she?" Sonya quickly dashed to him, and nudged his glove with her nose. "Ah, there you are girl! Marcus, why don't you get her hooked up and we'll be good to go."

"Alright," his son replied, before giving her ears a few rubs. She took her position at the head of team, allowing Marcus to strap the harness around her and clip the mainline to the old collar around her neck. "You be a good girl, okay," he said, giving her a few more pats on the head. "Look after dad, will you?" She gave him a quick lick in reply before he stepped clear of the sled,