21st November 1923. Nome, Alaska.

A dainty young puppy was running alone on a quiet beach an early morning. She was determined to be as fast as her siblings, or even faster.
She was a charming little girl, outgoing and sweet. But she had tiny muscles; her brothers and sister were much stronger than her. That made her mother doubt on her, that she would never be anything more than a burden. One day while the parents were talking about their weak and youngest daughter, she accidentally heard them. How her mother told her father how useless she would be when she grows old, how her father defended her and believed in her. The young girl ran out of her safe and warm house, to the cold and empty beach about a kilometer from the town.

It was here she was now, running. To show her mother that she could be someone, that she could be as strong as anybody else.

Her dark red fur was turning white because all the snow that was pouring down from the cloudy sky. Soon it would be dark and her parents would go out and look for her. They would make her go home, home to her bigger siblings. To Jens who would wrestle her down, to Jenna who would watch and cheer on her brother, to Jared who would lie down and sleep in a corner.

She wanted to stay outside, to sleep in the snow. To wake up the next day and just run! The puppy breathed heavy as she stopped running. Her knees bended below her and she fell down in the white snow. Her heartbeat was fast and hard, she closed her eyes and soon she fell asleep.

• Major, where is she?!
• Please honey, I don’t know. But we will find her!
• But it is my little baby, my poor innocent little child.

Leanor burst in to tears as the thought of her little daughters frozen corpse, laying in the snow. Major nuzzled his mate tenderly as he tried to follow his puppy’s scent. He was even more scared than Leanor, he was frightened. That his favorite daughter was dying, he could not even think about it.

The parents looked for their precious daughter for almost two hours, and then they felt like it was hopeless. The time was about to run out, a small puppy cannot survive the cold for long. Just as Major turned his head to the town, away from the beach, he saw a little spot on the ground.

• Jenni!

The father ran towards the spot as fast as his legs could carry him. He brushed away all the snow from the tiny, frozen body. Jenni slowly opened her eyes.

• … Daddy …? Jenni got unconscious and her father lifted her by her scruff as Leanor ran towards her loved ones.
• On no! Is she…?
• No, she is just unconscious. Let’s take her home.

Two months later.

Even though Jenni’s “near death- experience” , she still ran on the beach every day. Her mother got very sad after she understood that it was her fault that her daughter felt that she needed to prove that she could be someone. Even though she did not say it too often, she loved her daughter just as much as her siblings!

Major was Jenni’s big support and hero. He was a big sled dog, the leader of one successful team. Jenni had inherited her father’s personality and most of her mother’s looks.  Her father was also very outgoing and loved by every dog and human. It was impossible to not like him, he was always kind and gentle to everyone. Just like his daughter.

The two of them were walking on the beach, side by side.  They were not talking, just walking in silence until Major cut it.

• You know, I was not that strong when I was a kid.  I was kind of tender, just like you. He smiled to his daughter who looked at him with eyes big as two plates.
• Ha-ha no, you are kidding with me. Dad, come on. You are like the fastest runner in the whole world !
• Well, sweetie you don’t have to exaggerate. My father was very disappointed because of my small size, and I proved him wrong. He was very proud over me, he told me that before I got adopted by Jackson.
• It does… sometime it feels like mom loves Jenna more than she loves me. Jenna is so much prettier and she has mommy’s beautiful brown eyes. Major’s heart broke as he saw how sad his daughter looked.
• She loves you both equally, don’t ever question that ! Jenna is the most adorable girl in the world… Jenni looked down to the ground. Even her father thought Jenna was better than her. Major lifted his daughter’s chin and caught her eye.
• … But so are you. Even though you have my eyes, my deep turquoise eyes that can penetrate souls…

Jenni laughed and nuzzled her father. He made her feel happy every time she was sad, she loved him to death.  The small paws of hers were longing to stretch out, to run. She waved her tail and took-off with a smile. Her father looked at the dark red and white little kid who ran with a speed that was not too much to brag about. The red front paws accidently came over the other one and she tripped. Major sprinted towards Jenni and looked at the tiny body. Even if he did believe in her, she was very thin. He was kind of worried; she looked like she had some sickness that broke down her muscles.

• Dad, I know I can be fast. I know it! Please dad, don’t give up on me now. I will be stronger.

Her father looked at her with an askew smile. He nuzzled her gently on her cheek as every loving father would and asked her to come back until dinner before he walked back home.
Jenni watched him while the silhouette of her father slowly got smaller and smaller. She sighed to herself and sat down on the cold snow. This girl has not been described as beautiful, but that is the case. Even though she did not fancy her own physical appearance, the male dogs in town did (not when she was a puppy though).

As she sat down in the snow she looked over the sea at the horizon, seeing the amazing view in front of her. Jenni almost fell in love with the sight; she lived in one of the most fantastic places on earth. At the same moment the sea captured her heart, she saw something interesting in the corner of her eye. Jenni looked at a wrecked boat about 300 meters away from her. She got up on her feet and her curiosity drove her to walk towards the abandoned ship.

About two minutes later she reached the wooden made craft and an unknown scent filled her nose. A shadow flashed on the deck and Jenni suddenly felt scared. Maybe it is time to go home… Then her mother’s words came to her mind, She have no muscles at all, she is not going to be any more than a burden !

Her front paws touched the gangway and she jumped up on the deck. Standing on the deck and looking around, her muscles was tightening more and more. The unknown scent grew stronger and all of a sudden the wood boards that Jenni stood on collapsed and she fell down through the deck.

She let out a quick scream before she landed with her left paw between her right ribs and a big log. A mighty pain that she never had felt before filled her whole body and she lie down in fetal position. Tears were building up in her eyes and slowly ran down her white cheeks.
In the silence a large crack was heard. Jenni lifted her head and saw a puppy in front of her. His fur was a mix of brown and grey, his tail was a bit longer and not that big like the puppies back in town. He looked a bit shabby with big brown eyes. Jenni thought he was kind of cute, but he could still be dangerous.

• Are… are… you hurt? The puppy stuttered and turned red as he walked a bit closer to the crying female. Jenni sob and coughed until she was able to speak.
• I think so, my paw is hurting very much. She watched how the puppy got closer to her and when she looked in his eyes she could se that the white in his eyes were much more yellow than on any dog she had ever seen before. He was different than her siblings and friends, and even though she was scared she felt safe in his presence.
• Can… I do anything … for you? The puppy blushed even more as he spoke to her again.
• It is actually already feeling better.
• Oh, that is very… g-good. Jenni smiled at the blushing and embarrassed boy.
• My name is Jenni, what is yours?
• Balto.
• Then nice to meet you. Can I ask you something?
• S-sure… Jenni caught his eye for the first time and put her head on one side.
• Why are you stuttering?
• Because… you are very pretty… and I have never talked to a pretty g-girl before… Balto smiled and his cheeks turned far redder.  Jenni also blushed because of his complements. He thinks I am pretty, wow!
• He he, you are very cute. But why are you living here all by yourself? Where is your mother and father?  Balto looked down to the ground and lowered his tail.
• I don’t know, father and I have been living here for a couple of months now. One day he left and have not return for some weeks. I can’t remember my mother, just that her fur was white as snow.

Jenni sat up and looked at the wolfdog in front of her. He looked so sad; he was all alone in the world. And there she was, having two parents and three siblings. Even though that , she still felt lonely. Was it wrong of her to feel that way?

• Hey, it is getting cold. Do you have a blanket or something? Jenni changed the subject after she saw tears building up in her newfound friend’s eyes.
  Balto blinked away the tears, nodded and ran out through a hole in the wall. About a minute later he came back with a big, reddish and purple blanket. He laid it on top of Jenni and sat down in front of her. The silence lowered itself over the two and they both felt a bit awkward. After a few minutes Jenni took some courage and broke the silence.
• Balto, are you cold?
• Well, uhm… a little b-bit