but they had enough money to get by and survive day after day. It was a major mining town outside to the east, near the Outskirts, and there was a shipping port to the south of town, where boats delivered their cargo of goods to local shops and builders. To the west and north was the mountains, sheltering the tiny town from larger towns, but it didn’t do much good because dog-sledding helped put Nome on the map... not to mention a certain wolf-dog’s heroic actions only made the mark larger.

Balto still wasn’t used the positive attention that the townspeople and other dogs were now giving him, but he managed to smile, remembering that Jenna, the most popular dog in town, had chosen him over all other suitors. She was the one that everyone wanted, the beauty that everyone looked up to. A kind soul with a friendly demeanor, Jenna had only befriended Balto by a chance accident in the snowy street... that happened to be their first kiss. Both were shy and new to the emotion of love, but as times got dire, their hearts grew closer and closer...

“Here we are, my lady,” Balto halted at Jenna’s front doggie door, lifting a generous paw towards the entranceway. “Are you sure you’re feeling all right?”

Jenna, unlike her mate, was panting quite hard from the same trek; she was carrying several pounds of extra weight, after all. “I’m... I’m fine!” She managed to pant out, her head low to balance her body as they approached the porch. After a moment to catch her breath, she sighed with relief. “Thank you. Thanks for sticking with me through all of this, Balto.”

The wolf-dog grew flushed in the cheeks. “I have to, Jen. I’m your mate after all. I... I have to be here to support you now, more than ever.” He nudged her in the neck. “Now, get some sleep. I’ll come up for my daily visit in the morning.”

“As usual,” Jenna smiled, chucking a little. Ever since Balto first learned of Jenna’s pregnancy, he had woken up early to check on her at her human’s house, anticipating the day when he would become a father. Who could blame the hero of Nome for feeling so excited in the first place? “Good night, Balto.” They shared a good-night kiss and a tender nuzzle on the porch before parting for the night.

“Sleep well. I love you, Jen,” Balto murmured into the air as she hobbled through the door carefully. He could hear the joyous squeals of her owner and her parents from the other side of the door; all Balto could do was smile warmly as he began to descend the stairs, but the smile quickly disappeared once his paws touched the solid ground.

She’s so lucky to have them, Balto thought as he began to hobble away, returning back to the shoreline home that he had always known. His dark ears had fallen to his neck the entire trip. I love my freedom, but I still wish that I could have a family too... I’m sure they’d even put me on a regular sled team like other dogs... I’ve proven my worth as a leader to everyone... Despite my looks, they know I can be trusted...

It was then that the thought of his soon-to-born children entered his mind. He knew that because of his mixed breeding, the pups that Jenna carried would be part-wolf - Just like me... Balto sighed worriedly. Even though I’m a hero now and trusted amongst the townspeople, there’s still a chance that...  No, I can’t think about that. Of course, someone would want them... I have to think positive! Balto encouraged himself as he stood atop a sandy hill overlooking his tilted boat home at the shoreline.

A smile finally filled his face as he heard the honking of the cranky guardian that had watched over him for as long as he could remember. With a sprinting run, Balto barked to Boris, signaling his arrival back home. He knew he had to eat and get some sleep as soon as possible; with the coming of the next morning, the wolf-dog was excited just to check on his beloved Jenna once again.

CHAPTER I

It was cold and dark everywhere – she didn’t know where she was or why she was there, but a strange force pulled her forward across solid ice and frozen snow, going against her very strong will.

Something out there was silently calling out to her... it was a large bird, flying close enough to cast its shadow over her form... she knew she had to follow it, no matter where it was leading her.

She panted hard, running faster than she ever dreamed she could. It was almost as if she was no longer running, but flying slightly over the frigid ground.

Why was she running anyway? Why was everything so unfamiliar to her eyes?

She didn’t know... but she had to keep running forward... further into the darkness where several pairs of shining golden eyes were waiting...

A loud gasp caused Jenna to jerk her head up, waking her instantly. She was panting hard – Must be from that dream I was having, she thought, figuring it out – but after a quick turn of the head, the husky realized there was something aching within, focusing underneath her bushy tail. There was no time to ponder about the dream right now – there were more serious things now. She knew what this meant... it was time for the pups to be born.

Letting out a soft whining bark, she tried to awaken her mistress, the young child Rosy that had welcomed her into her arms only three years ago. The girl only moaned, rolling over and turning the other cheek within her comforter.

“Daddy, I don’t want the green dollie...” Rosy’s whispered speech turned into a groan, but it all dissipated into a snore once again.

Jenna rolled her eyes, chuckling a little. “Oh, Rosy...” Ever since she had recovered from her sickness of diphtheria, Rosy had been so tired, even though she had slept for many hours in the hospital after being given that helpful serum that Balto and the other sled dogs had worked so hard to retrieve.

Well, if she won’t help me, I’ll have to head down to the shed myself...

With careful movement, the husky rose to her feet, groaning at the aching to her abdomen. It was a painful sort of ache, worse than a rumbling emptiness in the belly. After catching her breath, Jenna slowly began to step forward and all the girl's room, heading for the stairs. One step at a time, she reminded herself. It was dark in the house, but thank goodness Rosy's mother left a couple of lanterns on to help light the mother-to-be's path to her birthing place.

It was even better to know that a doggie doorway was made for her to get into the shed quickly, as if the humans were prepared for whenever the pups decided they were ready to be born. Fifteen minutes since her internal wake-up call, she found herself slipping through the square hole and looking about the shed, seeking that place where she'd give birth. There were some blankets and boxes about, but it was a large basket lined in a couple of sheets that caught her eye. Rosy and her mother must have made this for me – how thoughtful of them! Jenna commented. It was comfortable, quaint and big enough for her to lay in and stretch her legs as the process of birthing continued.

It was perfect timing when she finally laid in the basket as a contraction took her breath away, making her groan suddenly in pain. "D-dammit..." she grunted through her clinched teeth, keeping her head down between her forelegs as if to endure the pain as much as she could. It lasted only a few more seconds before her muscles relaxed, but that burning inside her... it didn't go away. Something was in there, yearning to break out, and only she could force it out with her pushing, with her own power...

I... I can't do this...! Jenna fought herself in her mind as soon another urge minutes later made her writhe and whimper against the sheets. It hurts... Oh God, it hurts so much...! Her breath was labored and heavy, but soon she forced her muscles to work, as painful as it was.

But... this is for Balto... for me... for us...She had to stay strong for him and keep pushing. Her muzzle went underneath her tail and noticed... a new smell, one of a new life coming out of her. Just a little bit more and that life would arrive. Only she could do this... with all of her body, her heart, her strength...

This... is for our family...!

One last push and she gasped at the release of fluid and blood from within her body. Panting heavily to catch her breath, that new scent was stronger now, a wild one... Her nose found the source, a sac filled with a newborn pup - her firstborn - and it didn't take long for her mouth and tongue to break the life-cord and free the child from its first home. Its fur was still wet and dark, but Jenna's tongue was a towel, cleaning it up and warming it as a "welcome to the world" gift from Mother.

I've... I've done it... The pup's fur was a lightening into a lighter shade of brown; just looking at the color made Jenna smile as she heard its first breath lead to a whimpering cry. You're a father now, my love. Your legacy is being born tonight... She felt so happy, leading her first-born to her teats to feed for the first time before relaxing a little bit and catching her breath. That moment was soon cut short as another contraction began inside her a few minutes later, signaling another pup ready to follow in its older sibling's paws.

Ngh... not another one...! She looked behind her, checking under her tail. Is it supposed to be so soon?

Apparently so. Jenna just couldn't stop her muscles from tensing up and contracting. The birth canal was tightly filled with pup; minutes after her first child began suckling the husky's