wider. When he heard about the fight with Steele and his plans to decoy the sled to ever reaching Nome, he shook his head,

    'Steele never told us what happand during that mission.' he said, after Balto had finished.

    'What did he say then?" asked Balto, frowning.

Koltav scratched his flank,
    'Only that he went wandering for years. Some humans found him in the forest and brought him to our town. Ted Maximous came and bought him. The rest is history.'   

    'Is Mr Maximous your real man owner?'asked Jenna.

Koltav's cheerful face changed,
   'Yes. I used to belong to a man called Mr Ludovic. I spent all my life in a town quite close to White Mountain. One day I overheard my human talking to someone about Steele. I knew was racing champion who had went missing during the Serum Run. The man who had bought him was preparing a dog team for an upcoming race. I learnt that the team were passing by our town, so I slipped my tether and ran after them. Big mistake.'
   Koltav said, and his ears drooped gloomily.' My speed and strength must of impressed him. He later found where I belonged and bought me and my brother.'

   'Your human dosen't treat you well?' Balto asked.

   'Not really.'

   'Koltav!'

An angry growl was heard.The dogs looked back in time to see Nero and Steele sliding down the hill, bumping into each other as they reached the ground. Showers of snow flew up before raining down on them. Humiliated, they shook it off themselves, then stomped towards the campfire.

   'Koltav!' Nero barked,

Koltav smiled, nervously at his leaders.

    'Yes Nero, sir.'     'Get over here!'     'Yes sir.' He went silently towards his leaders. Nero nodded in satisfaction,     'Lets get back to the camp. Coming, Steele?' Steele didn't move. He stood still staring down at Balto and Jenna.    'In a minute, Nero.' Steele said. Balto returned his gaze, coolly. Nero nodded at him and then left with Koltav.

Steele remained standing and staring long at Balto. Eyes like chips of ice burned back at him. Dingo shivered with hate and fear. The cruel husky stepped closer and closer towards Balto and Jenna. Jenna hid herself in her mate's flunk. But Balto didn't blink and eye.

    'There isn't anything to say, Steele.' Balto said, simply.     'Actually there is,' Steele smirking, 'Did Koltav say anything which interested you?' Balto's eyes narrowed,     'You had better go, Steele.' Steele winced,      'Hmph! Well, have a peaceful night then.' he said and then walked away.    

 

XVI

 

Aleu smiled. It felt so good that her family were together. Dispite their different lives (her's especilly) she felt so blessed to be reunited with them again. Yet she couldn't help being a burden to them.

She knew she had done something wrong during the first day of the race. Dingo had ordered their team to start without Mr Rig, causing Balto to be very angry with him. Yet, Aleu felt that she should shared the blame. She was after all a beginner. Now that they were about to embark on their next run, Aleu was nervous. What if I ruin it again.

Five hours before dawn, Aleu and the others were woken up and fed some meaty chunks. Whist she ate hers, Aleu tried to fight off her sleepy eyes.

I'm a wolf, she thought to herself, wolves are suppose to be night creatures! Aleu's head flopped and groaned Why are we up so early, she wondered and she drifted away.

   'Aleu!'

Aleu eyes snapped open. Saba was standing by with Chilla and Balto. They looked worried.

   'You fell asleep on your paws!' Saba said, softly.

   'Sorry. I should be used to this sort of thing by now.'

   'You're not the only one who's sleepy.' Chilla whispered. She turned to their father. 'Why we're talking in whispers, Papa?'

Balto shook his head,

   'Go along with it. Musher's orders.'

   'WHY?'

   'Shushhhhhhhhhhhhh!' Balto looked up at the hill and it's still, dark shapes of their oppoinants. None of them moved. 'Mr Rig has plan!' he whispered and stole away.

*

   'I'm beginning to understand Mr Rig's strategy now.' grinned Aleu. as she trotted beside Dingo.

Dingo nodded back at the tall but bent figure of the musher, who ushered them towards the sled. 

    'Genius, isn't he? We're lucky to have him.'

An hour later, when the sled was ready stocked, Mr Rig returned with rains and attached each of the dogs to the sled. Balto, Jenna, Kodi and Saba were all ready. Now was Aleu and Dingo's turn. Throughout the hour, they were careful not to wake the other teams, who slept still over the hill.Once they were all rained, Mr Rig grabbed Balto by the scruff and started off. Balto followed and together they led the team into a walk across the edge of the snowy hill. Nothing stirred, except the flakes of snow that began to fall again. They made no sound.

Five minutes later, they were a little away off from the campsite. Still they drew on silently, Rig leading the way. Aleu admired how he coped his pains. Even with a limp, he was determined to carry on. As they edged on, Aleu was startled by a voice beside her. It was Dingo.

     'Aleu,' he said, in a low whisper. 'There's something I've been meaning to tell you.'

     'Can't it wait. What is it?' asked Aleu.

     'It's about that mistake I made during the Run. You remember, when I called us to go ahead with The Trail Run and we nearly left Rig. It wasn't fair on him. Or YOU. I'm sorry I confused you.'

     'That's alright.'

     'Its just that...I know we can win this race. I was so worried. But Dad was right. There are more important things to consider. I drove you forward. That was wrong. I am sorry.'

      'I see. Well, I'm very sorry too, Dingo. For not asking. Wearily, the family and Rig made their way across the hill. At last they reached flat grounds. Mr Ground let go of Balto's coller and limped back to the sled. As he passed Aleu, he turned and looked over her. Aleu knew he was looking at Dingo. He said nothing to him but carried on towards his sled.Once he was on, Rig lashed out but not too hard. It was an firm, easy flick. One which every dog knew, even Aleu. They were to resume their journey, but in stealth.

Like ghosts through a swirling storm, Ground's team left the hill without notice.

*****

Morning light beat the camp. Koltav was the first to awake. Stretching his limbs he got up and made his way towards the tent where his master, Mr Maxamous slept. Koltav could hear snoring coming from within. Koltav could of laughed out loud, but hunger burned in him like a hole.  

   'What do you think you're doing!?'

Koltav jumped. Steele was laying near the tent, watching him with steely eyes.   

   'Nothing, sir. Just scouting, sir.'

   'Hmmmm, what were you talking about with that wolf-dog.

   'You mean Balto? Oh nothing much. Mainly...about...some dog.'

   'Which dog?'

   'Steele!' Nero approched them. His face was a mask of annoyance.' Steele, I can't let our team lie in. I must wake up Ted.'

Steele sniffed. Koltav could tell that Steele wasn't to fond of the idea. 'Alright, go on.' said Steele, afterwards. Nero entered the tent. The Eskimo Dog tail twitched his curly tail nervously. Steele and Koltav watched him, silently. There was a mighty roar, followed by a loud thud. Nero jetted out through the gap, his tail between his legs. Maximous crawled outside, his face red with anger.

   'Get back here. Nero! Here Nero! NERO!' he bellowed. Noro obayed and returned swiftly, eyes, ears and tail down. As he passed it, the shelter of Sulksi moved and Sulski appeared. He had been awakened by Ted's cries. All around the campsite, dogs were beginning to awake. While the mushers started preparing breakfast, Koltav followed Nero and Steele to join the other dogs of both teams. Sulski, frowning walked to the edge of the hill and looked over the down. Lurth and two others of his team went with him. They stared down at the spot where Rig's camp lay.

Sulski stiffend and called to Maximous!

   'Ted, come over here!' Ted left his fire and ran after him, followed by Nero and Steele. Koltav tagged after them. He was burning with curiosity. But also worried that something had happened to Balto and Co. Further more, Koltav had an odd feeling that something crucial had took place. Like a hare, he bounded after the others. When he reached the edge, he found Sulski kneeling down on the snow and Maximous standing behind him, his face was ashen white.

Koltav looked down and gasped. At the foot of the hill the ground was empty with no signs of life. Mr Ground and his team were gone.

Maximous broke the silence and whispered hoarsely. 'Ground has...taken the lead!'

  'Well, after them, man!' Sulski cried, leaping up. Both men bounded back to their camps. Steele and

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