out of the three. To Tamille's surprise, she ran next to Vallcon, making her one of the dogs who carried most of the weight. Dispite her hight, she was quite a strong creature and swifter.

Lurth (who had replaced Balto) ran side-by-side with Tam's father, leading the team. His whole frame was alert as he focused on their route. 

   ' Soon as we catch up with them, they'll be by the boundry of Anchorage.' Tamille heard Lurth say to Balto. 

   ' Thats good to know.' Balto said grimly. Tamille wondered if his father did mind Lurth leading his team. He did not mention it to them in his call, that he would leading it.

   ' What do you think?' Balto asked him.

 

   ' Do it your way,' Lurth panted, ' Theives in the night.'

    'But we'll lose the race!'  Saba protested. Tamille bit his lip.

Maybe we're wasting our time. Should we even bother with this!

Then he remembered his father telling him about the race the Mail dogs had to finish a year ago. They had almost lost to Duke and his first plane. Duke nearly won, but on the way back, he was forced go down because of bad weather. He lost the race and the job, but thanks to Balto and Kodiak, he was able to finish his way in the race.

Duke knew he had lost, but wanted to finish the race, dispite he needed help.

As if he read his thoughts, Balto said lightly. ' It dosen't matter, we're going to finish this Trail Run Race, once and for all.'

 

                                                                 *

 

Hours later, they reached the boundry. Night had settled and through the blackness, Tamille saw that they were coming through a clear snowy mile.

Since it was too dark and the young dog was fastened to the back, Tamille could not make out what kind land lay ahead. He hoped they were clear away from mountains, bears and rivers. 

Just as he was thinking this, a loud eeri voice broke out. The howling went on for several minutes, then faded away.    

   ' That's odd. You don't get wolves in Anchorage.' Athera said to her friend.' The population of people there are vast compered to other towns.'

  ' No,' Vallcon responded.' Not a lot.'

Surprised by the unexpected conversation, Tamille bent his head to hear what they were saying.

    ' Better hope they leave us alone,' Athera went on, sniffing the air as she did.' If their hungry, things might turn nasty.'

   ' It won't.' Vallcon said in a tone of disinterest.' If they did, we would overcome them. There are worst things then wolves.'

Tamille wondered what things. What could be worse then a wolf. A bear? Two bears? Maybe a hunter with a gun. He shivered, he was starting to feel very nervious and uneasy about their surroundings. To his surprise, Vallcon went on. 

   ' They're the worst kind, compared to other creatures. And rouges to mans inhabitance. '

   ' Hey! Hang on.' Tam blerted out,' Who told you all this?'

Vallcon's head turned. He glared. Tamille glared back. He could believe this half wolf-dog was spitting over his roots like like saliva.

   ' You have a problem.'

   ' Like you, I do.' Tamille growled. Fuming, Tam forget they were pulling a sled. He forgot the race, instead he ranted at the older dog. Teeth bearing.

Athera glanced back at them, nerviously. Dingo tried to calm things done, though he too looked angry.

Tamille roared,

   ' My brothers and sisters are pround of our family ties.Our father proved that, my grandmother proved that. Why can't you?'

Poker-faced, Vallcon looked away.

   ' Just becuase some bratt-faced, snotty poodle told you wolves are nothing, dosen't mean others think the same way.' 

Vallcon did not reply

 

***

 

After they crossed the clearing, Tamill caught a scent of greenery around them. A forest! He drank it in, inhaling it slowly. 

To his surprise Sulski stopped, just beside a glade of the pine which had shelter. The musher got off and planted his flag on the ground.

Through the light of the lantern, Tamill saw he had also planted Rig's flag next to his. Tam smiled, fondly at it.

Meanwhile Ted' s flag was no where to be found. Perhapes he had planted it somewhere else. It would be difficult to spot it in the dark. But Tam wondered if maybe they had not reached the wood at all. Could it be that they had overtaken them. At this wishful thought, Tam felt reasured and waited as Sulski jumped back onto the sled. They were entering the wood. The night grew darker still.

 

  ***

 

It wasn't until they were in it, when Tam remembered his greatest fear.

Bears

He listened intently for any sounds that may relate to those beasts. Tried to control his beating hearting. As if the much. The sled started to rattled due to the roots of the tree. The sound seemed inviting for a bear.

If I don't end up bear meat, Tamill vowed, I will never complain again -

He gasped.

The reins had tugged him. The sled had to stop.

   'Easy wolfies.' Sulski calmed the excited team.

Taking his lamp, he stepped past them, one by one. He walked ahaead of them and then stopped withen a few yards. Tam wondered what he was looking at. He squinted his eyes, trying to make out what was. Then Sulski bent down. At last, Tamill could see what he was looking at. A huge tree lay in front of them. The gaps were too norrow to slip through with a sled.

 

Sulski shook his head and turning, he backed towards the sled. Reaching into one of the bags, he brought out a axe. The dogs watched as he started to cut through the wood.

 

  ' We won't continue, in this rate.' muttered Lurth.

Balto nodded,

  ' No use waiting here, just watching,' he said, shaking off his reins.' Better that do something useful, while we wait. You collect some wood for a fire. While I go and catch us something' he turned the others. ' Tamill. Aleu! You can come with me.'

  ' Sure, Dad.'

The three walked away from the campsite. 

 

*

 

  ' I wanted some time to talk alone.' Balto said, when they were far away from the others.

   'About what, Papa ?' Aleu asked.

 

   'Here's the thing,' Balto started,' We....'

Before he could continue, a growl interupted him and a dark shape appeared from behind a pine tree.

The shadow spoke, it's voice quivering.

   ' GREETINGS WOLF - DOG!'

 

XXV

 

   ' Who are you?' demanded Aleu.

   ' Don't you reconise me?'

The stranger walked out of the darkness, into the still, blue moonlight. His face revealed a gaunt face of a wolf. His eyes were red. His huge shoulders hunched, ready for a challenge.

Balto didn't know him but a shrill gasp from Aleu told him that she did.

   ' THAZE'!' she cried in disbelief.

   ' Greetings, pet!' the dark wolf sneered. Aleu bared her teeth, viciously at him and snarled back.

Balto looked at her with surprise,
   ' Who is he?' he asked.' Do you know him.'

   ' Know him? He killed Hanler, My friend!'

Before anyone could stop her, Aleu flew up and clashed on Thaze. The wolf squirmed out from under her paws. Then he attacked his former leader in the side, spilling Aleu. With a cry, she was forced to the ground.

Balto and Tamill rushed to her aid. Balto got to him first. Biting Thaze, he pulled the wolf off his daughter. Tamill helped him. Thaze kicked both of them in the stomach and lept aside.
   ' This is my fight, wolf dog!'

   ' Leave him, Papa.' cried Aleu to Balto, ' He's mine. It's me he's want's to settle with!'

Balto gleared at Thaze,
    'You don't stand a chance against three of us, stranger.' he said. Thaze's eyes reddened and attacked. Paws outstetched and teeth bared, he went for Balto's unprotected neck. Aleu and Tam flung herself into his side. Thaze yelped as he fell, still gripping on Balto's neck. Balto struggled, clentching his teeth with pain.

   'Let him go!' Kodi appeared out of nowhere followed by Jenna, Dingo, Lurth and Vallcon. He rushed for the wolf's head. Thaze tensed but did not let go of Balto scruff. 

Balto remained struggled.

   ' Let go! Let go!!!' Aleu cried in anguish. They all joined in the fight. They all went for the crazed wolf. Biting, scratching, ripping!

At last Thaze could not stand it any longer. His eyes, red with pain and tiredness screwed shut. He let go of Balto and broke from them.

   'I'll be watching,' he yelled as he ran.' Always watching.'   

Dingo, Kodi and Tamill started after, ignoring Jenna's pleas. Aleu was about to follow, then stopped when she saw her father's swaying figure. 

 

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