Papa.'she smiled.
 
  'Now what?' asked Dingo.' We're back to where we started.'

  'Do we go on.' Kodiak asked.' Or stay and make camp?'

Everyone waited as Balto thought for a momment. He glanced at Rig then at the sled.

  'We go on. To Fairbanks.'

 

XXII

 

 

 

 ' I forgot why Aleu came here in the first place,' Jenna said, her head drooped. 
 
  ' Oh yeah, I remember now.' Balto nodded, thoughtfully. He too had rememberd Alue's dream. How long ago it seemed since we were in Koyuk. 

Sitting outside a cabin, in the town of Fairbanks, the two both looked up at the starry sky. While the others slept, Balto and Jenna stole out into the night for a breath of fresh air. 

No one was about. There were not many inhabitants in Fairbanks and hardly any accomidation. The humans though had been seeking them and had with them an provisions and aid. As soon as they saw Rig Ground still body on the sled, they rushed to help him. A man brought a sling, and four men carried Mr Ground away with them.

Others took the dogs into a shed and there they were fed. 

Tierd and worn out, the family lay on the soft blankets the humans had prepared. Finally they could rest. Safe and warm.

   ' In her dream...' Jenna went on,' Aleu said something...about a cliff...us on a cliff...and...we disappeaered...Oh, Balto!'

  ' This isn't like you, Jenn. I should be the one who takes dreams seriously. Not you.'

She shot a look at him. Balto flinched.
  ' I always took your dreams seriously,' she said, rushedly.' It may of not looked like it. But deep down, I did. What if it happening again.'

  ' What could of happened, did happen, Jen.' Balto corrected.' It's all over now.'

  ' I really hope so.' she sniffed.

He stared at her, unmoving.

  ' It was clear as ice, Jen. Our daughter said she saw us in a storm. Everyone was there except for her. Which is why Aleu came here. She thought she could alter the future and it worked.It happened.'

He licked his mate's soft, red fur.

   ' It would of been fatal if Aleu hadn't of showed up. She was our loophole. To save us and win this race.'

For the first time, Jenna raised her head and looked up at him, hopefully.

   ' It's more important that our family is safe and together again.' she said, softly.

   ' Yeah. Beats everything, dosen't it?' nuzzling her, lovingly.' Shall we go out for a stroll?'

Jenna smiled

   'Do you think they will let us.' she wondered, looking around.  

   'Nobody around, is there. Come on. Lets chase a few sticks.'

 

*****

 

   'Your sure that's what he said.' Balto's first question was the next morning. On their way back from their midnight stroll, Balto and Jenna had met a dog, called Welk. He had just come to inform them about Mr Ground. 

   Rig was in bad shape.The fall had left him cold. Worse, his leg splint had opened. Netherless, he was awake now.

  ' The first thing your master said was '' How are the dogs'' .' said Welk. ' The town doctor wants him to stay in Fairbanks.'

  ' And Mr Ground?'

  ' Very eager to leave as soon.' 

Balto nodded grimly,

  ' He dosen't want to wait for Maximous and Sulski to arrive.' he mumured,' He is stubborn soul.' 

 

*

  ' Okay, gang.' Balto said to his pups, later.' Listen up. We rest here for a bit. Later, we go on!'

There was a low moan from Chilla, the others sat silent.

  'Mr Ground has left the clinic, with a new determination. He wants to start early, before Lurth and the others reach this town. How he will do it, I don't know. But I am powerless to stop him. He keen to finish the Trail Run Race. So we must not only continue for him, but be alert. Help him. Keep an eye on him at all times.'

Kodi and the others nodded,

   ' We may not be able to make the useul run. But at lest we can keep up in the lead.'

  ' I second that.' 

Balto turned to face the stranger that had entered the shed unnoticed.

  ' Ragnel!' he cried out in surprise.

And so it was. The brown poodle and his duaghter Missy walked towards with a proud air. With them was trotted Welk. The Meyor of Koyuk was also with the,  talking to the keeper who was taking care of them. 

Ragnel hailed,

  ' Greetings Sir Balto. All well I trust?'

  ' We've had a rough route. But what are you doing here?' 

  ' Didn't my Meyor tell you...Oh, never mind...I tell you. We came by locamotive. Train, you know that stuff. We hopped on one, an hour after you left. I tell, you we met the most horrible storm on the way. And were stuck. Still, at least it sheltered us and it was warm.'

  ' Lucky you.' grumbled Chilla.

  ' You weren't invited,' Missy sniffed,

  ' After the storm,'  Ragnel went on.' the humens cleared the snow off the train tracks and we continued our way to this little town. We've just arrived and were overjoyed to hear you were the first team to reach it.'

  ' WHEN your OWN team didn't make it first.' Dingo remarked.' I like your cheerleadingww`.'

Before Ragnel could reply, Missy stepped up.

  ' You must understand,  we only support the winners.' she said,' Not losers' 

There was a stunned silence. Balto eyed the lady poodle, sternly. She was a elegent, beautiful dog. Her long lashes seemed to cover every expression she held. 

Balto remembered his first sight of Missy. Behind the cabin in Koyuk, in the early hours of the morning. Her pitch black fur blended in the night sky. And dainty was her walk, she had barely left a footprint on the snow. Then he remembered the dog who had pursued her. Vallcon, Lurth's son. He had followed her, like a shadow. And out of what? Love?

She had responded very cooly towards him. Cold and hard was her tone as she refused to his desperate pleas.

  'OH! Buzz off!' What good could a wolf do?'

What good? thought Balto, WHAT GOOD! Instead of supportint that poor young wolf - dog. She turns to me.  I , a well-known half-wolf! If she could only hear herself speak.

Beauty can cover an ugly soul. The only beautiful creature Balto had ever met, with a soul as pure and kind as it was angelic, he found it in Jenna. No one had much faith in him before he became a hero, except his dear Jenna. 

 

XVIII

 

Rig eyed the sled, wearily. They were standing outside the woodyard. Two days had past since they arrived at Fairbanks. Rig had recovered and was seeing to their needs. 

Jon, the carpenter, had seen to their new sled.

   'Try it, Sir.'

Mr Ground looked uncertain. The family looked up at him with concern.

   ' I don't think I can.'

   ' Need any help, Sir?'

   
   ' Yeah.'

The carpenter helped him onto the sled. Mr Ground, gingerly grasped the reins and stood up straight. 

   ' Give her a few turns, Sir. If your happy with her, we'll help you load her up and then you'll be on your way.' said Jon. Ground grunted in reply. He gave a shill whistle. Chilla and the others started off!

 

                                                                 *

While they were in the middle of their test, Chilla heard a hoarse coagh behind her. 

Rig

The musher steered the sled and the team started back to Fairbanks. As they ran, Rigs coaghing grew louder and louder. It sounded painful. Chilla glanced back. Mr Ground was leaning over his sled, his face pale.

   ' He'll never going to make it like that,' Chilla told herself.

   ' OH NO!' a shrill cry from Saba cuaght everyone's attention.

   ' What?' asked Chila, staring at her sister.

   ' It's them!'

   ' Who?'

   ' That awful lot.' Saba responded. ' Nero, Steele, Lurth and the others....they've caught up this us.'

Chilla looked anxouisly about her, until her eyes cuaght sight of two moving dots coming from the direction of the mountains. 

Steele and Lurth!

They had found them.

Everyone groaned, but Balto did not utter a word. Chilla wondered what he was thinking.

She glanced back at Mr Ground again. His eyes were covered by his cap. 

We failed you, Papa! Chilla's ears drooped, We failed you both! 

 

                                                       

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