BACK!'

 

Once again, Balto turned his head to look behind him. He blinked. His mouth hung open as he gapped at the other team, running towards them.

  

  'But...but...how, if they were ahead of us.' Saba stammered.'How did we pass them?' 

 

   'They must've taken a wrong turning, like we did.' 

 

   'Or maybe it was one of Thaze's diversions.' Alue growled.

 

   'We'll know later.' said Balto, turning his attention to the final lap. He glanced sharply at Lurth, who nodded.' Ready partner.'

 

   'Ready. MUSH!'

 

XXVIII 

All eleven dogs doubled speed. Nero's team neared them with every step. Balto ground his teeth. If we could only keep the lead, he thought. Then he remembered the wood Sulski had collected. It was still on the sled.

Suddenly there came a loud thud followed by another. For a second, Balto felt the ground sudder a bit with each hit.

    'WHAT'S THAT!' cried Chilla.

 

Athera laughed, 

  'It's alright,' she said, 'My musher is just unloading the wood off the sled.'

 

  'She's right,' Tam cried, looking back.' We're all okay to play, now.' he grinned.

 

Balto frowned,

   'As long as it dosn't hurt anyone.' he muttered,'I don't want the people of Anchorage to get any ideas, that we slowed our oponants with lumber.' 

Lurth nodded

   'Good point. Make sure it dosn't get in their way.'

 

*

 

   ' They gaining fast,' shouted Saba.

 

   ' At least we're okay.' Kodi smiled,' Look, how the sled feels lighter.'

 

   ' Keep at it, pups.' Balto cheered them on.' We're nearly there.'

 

Suddenly he felt a cold sense come of him. It almost made his stop to pear around him. Then he felt Steele's breath mingle with his. His step matching his step. Balto glanced at him. Steele was running right beside him. His eyes focused to the gap. He shifted his eyes at him.

   'Out of the way, Bozo.' he growled.'The race is mine!' 

 

   'That's when your wrong.' Balto replied,

 

  'Ahhhh, Dad!'

 

  'Kodiak!'

Balto turned his heard around, in time to see his son jumping aside from one of Nero's team-mates. The dog was snapping at his legs. 

Kodiak cried in pain,

   'We have to pull away from them!'

 

   ' That's right,' Steele smiled, gleefully.' Leave it to us.'

Balto snapped at him,

  'Keep back! This is not how we do it. Keep BACK!'

  

  'Stay out of the way, or I'll brake you!'

Balto lept aside, Lurth and Jenna followed him. The rest tugged along. Soon they were out of reach from eachother and running side by side.

They were nearing the town now. The cheering from the townsfolk was deafening. Balto needed his chance to alert the others to gain the gap.. He needed their help to reach it first.

   'GO!' he roared. Hoping they could hear him.

They had.

Both teams rushed through the gap and onto the waiting gate.There, Balto caught his first glimpse of the finishing line. He could see the Mayor of Koyuk standing next to another man dressed like him. Beside them, stood Ragnel and Missy.

This is it, thought Balto, the moment of truth

He urdged his team closer.

 

   'Oh no you don't.' snarled Steele, gaining on him. 'I know your way!'

 

The two teams ran side by side. 

Balto knew if he didn't overtake them sooner, they would lose the race. With the strengh of a bear, cunning of a fox, fear of a caribou, boldness of a wolverine, swiftness of a flying raven and howling like wolf, Balto did a great leap forwards...

He felt his nose brush the satin ribbon...

 

Swissssssssssssh!

 

   'NOME IS THE WINNER!'

The speaker's voice rung loud and clear. The crowd went wild. Children from all around lept up in air, cheering. Everyone rushed after the victorious team.

Clean through the finishing line, Sulski halted his sled, jumped off and started hugging his dogs. First Athera, then Vallcon, then finally Lurth. Then he bent downand clutched on Balto, repeating in a broken voice.

   'You did it, Boy. You did Rig proud. Thank you, thank you.'

Balto barely noticed. At the corner of his eye he located Steele teams, tailing behind them. Steele head was bent low, almost touching his legs.  

   'Balto!'

Balto's ears perked up. It was Rig Ground. Rig! Standing beside him and supporting him was Duke of The Balto Flyer. Balto blinked hard, to make sure that all this was not a dream. Rig dropped his crutch, slumped down beside his lead-dog and gave him a long embrace. Balto felt the musher tears fall onto his fur. 

No, this no dream. We did it, he thought, we've won the race!
 

 

XXVX 

 

Steele walked along the outskirts of Anchorage. It was morning after The Trail Run Race and behind him, stood the cabin where he and his team-mates were lodging. But only for another twelve hours, Steele thought bitterly. Ted Maximous had flipped out! He took his defeat very hard and wasted no time in preparing for their departure from Anchorage. The team were meant to depart tomorrow.
 
Steele looked out at the far horizon, blending in with the raising sun. Everywhere, from the snow to black fir trees was covered with golden ray. His eyes glinted. His mind was made up, but his heart was heavy. The husky scratched himself. Should he go away, he thought.

   'Off again I hear?' a low voice behind him said. Steele knew whose it was.

Standing proudly, he nodded curtly at the horizon.
   'That's right, Ted isn't keen on the idea on sticking around.'

  'Really?' said Balto, in surprise.' I never took Mr Maximous as a bad loser. What about you, what do you think?'

Steele shrugged,
   'I just go with it. Why do you ask?'

   'Well,' Balto frowned.'we might bump into each other, again.'

   'Probably. But I wouldn't count on it,' Steele sniffed, as he stretched back his tail. The tip touching his forehead.
   'There! I've had it up to here with you.' he smirked. 'So long, wolf-dog.' as he turned away, the smile faded. He started towards the cabin, ignoring the pit in his stomach.

   'Steele!'

The former champion race dog stopped but didn't turn around. 'Let me help you.' Balto said.

There was a long silence.

Steele tapped his claws in irritation.
   'Hmph! You made an similar attempt long ago.'

Balto shrugged,
   'Well. I'm offering it again.'

Steele blinked. He hated this dog. Bulleted him and almost killed him. Yet all Balto could do was forgive him. Why, after everything that happened between them. The struggles, conflicts, certain death, was Balto forgiving him!

Why? 
 

Why? 

Why?

   'WHY!!!!!?' he roared.

Balto raised one eyebrow.
    'Why not? I have always respected you, Steele. Despite our differences. If things were different, you and I might have been pals.'
 
   'I cheated, okay!' Steele said, finally, ' I never raced without cheating. I dodged my way throughout my whole career.' he glanced at Balto, almost fearfully. 'Still regard me as a champion?'

   'I admit, it's shocking.'

   'There then!'.'

Balto shrugged again,
   'It fills the gap.' said Balto

   'You're daft dog, ' Steele said, shaking his head. Then he realised for the first time ever he had called Balto a ''dog''.  
   'I was a fraud! ' 

   'Perhaps.' Balto said, he sat beside him,' But Steele, you are changing, whatever you say. Right now you're turning a new-leaf and that's really matters.' he paused and stood up, 'Maybe it doesn't affect you, but it relieves me. Good luck, Steele.'

Without another look, Balto left him and walked away towards the sunrise.

*

Both Mr Ground and Mr Sulski split their reward. Both the Meyor of Anchorage and the Meyor of Koyuk understood the situation which led their teams to form. And were content with it. 

As the light grew dimer, all the dogs gathered together in a boiler room.
   'It's going to be long night.' Lurth said with a sigh. He was sitting with his son, Vallcon near the great doors. Vallcon said nothing but remained silent.

Lurth  Balto and Aleu joined them. Whist the others talked to one another, Aleu continued to stare at Vallcon. Amidst a conversation, she said suddenly to the young wolf-dog.

   'I know how if feels to be different. I've been there and had faced similar challenges like you.' and so Aleu told Vallcon about her life andher  journey to find where she belonged. 
And while she spoke Lurth saw his son's ears pick up. His

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