source coming from behind a small, snow capped house. He peeked his head around the corner of an alleyway, it was a pup like him howling, his fur was puffy, black, brown in some places, and a white underbelly, he sat on top of wooden stairs and raised his head high as he howled, like most wolves do, but Atka felt as though the pup was different, he was too thin, almost sickly.

 

Atka decided for fun to howl with the pup, “AOOOH!”. The pup, hiccupped on his howl. He stared at Atka with admiration, his eyes widening. “Whoa, you must be a wolf!” The pup jumped down the stairs leisurely and confronted Atka.

Atka smiled “well, part wolf actually.” 
The pup’s tail wagged with excitement, “were you the one howling earlier today? That’s was great, I’ve never heard howling before!”

Atka  blushed at his admiration. “Yes, that was me, did you really like it?”

The pup looked at him with disbelief. “Are you kidding? I only wish I were part wolf.”

I’m Atka, what’s your name?

“My name’s Togo, and this is my home.” At that point, Togo’s owner came around the corner, Atka froze. The owner had a full beard, and had a bear skin jacket, he had a bitter scent lingering about him. Atka has never had to deal with a human face to face before, and this one scared him.

“Atka you should go, now.”

The man walked toward Atka and Togo. “Togo, what’s with all the howling... a wolf?” The man looked at Atka with anger, Atka shied away. “We can’t have any wolves here eating everything, or hurting our dogs.” The man pulled out his knife. Atka was terrified, he knew now why his mom detests humans, they kill what they want. Atka didn’t know what to do, he just closed his eyes, the man picked Atka up by the neck. Togo without thinking too much of it, bit his owner in the ankle,making him drop Atka, letting him get away. “Ow! Togo what’s wrong with you?” He then turned his attention back to Atka, who was running past the next set of houses by now. He turned to go back inside his home. “Fine I’ll let him be, until he does something wrong, come on Togo.” Togo was relieved but he still had to check on Atka, Togo took off after him, “Togo, wait boy!” The man extended his hand out to try and catch Togo, but missed by inches and fell on the ground. “Togo!”

 

    Togo searched for Atka, it should have been easy to track him, except for some reason, his vision started to fade in and out.                                                                                                                              

    Togo was out of breath, he stopped and thought to himself,

Atka could be anywhere by now, The town’s really big.

Togo was just about to start running again when He heard sniffling coming from under the bench of the Mail Company’s steps. Togo checked it out, it was Atka.

“Atka, are you okay?” Atka was trembling hard.

Atka looked up at Togo, “Why don’t humans like wolves? What did I do?”

“They say you steal food from us.”

“We do, but only because we need to, mom says all of our food is gone... Mom!” Atka completely forgot beating his mom back to the boat.

“What’s wrong with your mom?”

“ Uh, nothing, you should go back home, your owner is probably worried.”

Togo sat down next to Atka, looking very shaky.

“Togo, are you alright?” Togo collapsed to the ground. “Togo!” Atka sprang up, the first thing that came to him was to return Togo to his home, but he was worried about Togo’s owner... No, Togo needs help. He grasped his jaws lightly on the back of Togo’s neck like his mom would, and started to drag him to his house. Where was it?

”Atka, go on, I’ll be fine”

“No, I have to take you back”

“But... huhn” Togo was out again. Luckily, Atka had a very keen sense of smell; he put Togo down gently and smelled the air finding the owner’s scent. He dragged Togo to the front steps of his home, scratched on the door and howled a little just to make sure the owner heard him. Atka was about to take shelter when the door opened, he was frightened he was about to be confronted by the owner again, but it was a red-haired little girl who opened the door, she wore a grey and brown, thick furred jacket like the owners, only smaller, and had bright green eyes that seemed to pierce through the dark. “aw, a dog, hi boy- Togo?” Her glanced switched from Atka to Togo and was shocked. Atka didn’t know how to react, except by dragging Togo inside, the girl followed.

 

     Inside, the house’s color was dull, Balto was grateful though, it was much warmer. The walls were made from wood like the other houses, pale brown, tinted with an orange glow of the fireplace flames dancing with great fervor. The fireplace also created a very pungent odor of burning pine tree, and filled the air with pop noises every once in awhile.

     “Daddy, come quick!” the girl cried. Atka dropped Togo in the center of the room, and watched Togo helplessly breathing hard. A voice came from the room next to them, “What’s wrong Julie... Togo!” the man dropped his pale yellow drink and rushed over to Togo, Atka stepped back, he still did not trust the man, He backed up into the girl and jumped. he was not used to being close to humans in general. Julie bent down and hugged Atka. Thank you boy, for bringing Togo home. Atka didn’t know how to act, he wanted to jump away, but he didn’t want to offend anyone. Julie put him down. The man stood up, and turned his head to Julie, he’ll be fine, but we need to call someone for help.

The girl smiled then looked at Atka. “Dad, can we keep him please? He’s so nice.”

“No Julie, he’s a wild animal, he doesn’t belong inside.”

Julie looked down in disappointment, then her eyes shot back up with an idea “Can I at least name him, he did save Togo.”

The owner picked up Togo started to walk to the next room and grumbled out, “Fine, but he’s not staying.”

That was enough for her. she crouched down next to Atka and scratched behind his ears, he grinned in return.
“What should we call you then?”

Atka gave her a puzzled look, as if he didn’t understand. Julie called out many names…   “I know, Balto!” Atka gave an approving bark, though he still didn’t quite understand. He already has a name, what would mother think?

Oh mom is going to kill me when I get home. Atka thought to himself, he had to get out of the house, the door was still open. Atka bounded to and out the door, he figured that Togo will be fine now.

“Balto, come back!” Julie was calling for him, but he had to get home.

    It was getting really late, and cold. Atka made his way back toward the boat. The sky turned cloudy in the past few hours, so much for clear skies. Atka couldn’t shake the feeling though, He felt as though something was watching him, he turned, but nothing was there. He continued beyond two buildings with dim lights shining outside and ran to the boat.

    To Balto’s surprise, he made it back before Aniu did. He hopped up the plank-ramp to the boat then sat on the lip of the boat, overlooking town, waiting for his mom to return. Something struck Balto as off though. “Oh, mom’s gonna get me now.” He found his footprints were not that hidden among even the hardened snow. There was no time to hide it, and how would he anyways? Balto then decided to just lay in his blanket and sleep, “maybe she won’t be that mad.” he told himself.

 

Chapter 3

    The next morning, light traces of snow fell to the ground, with more following close behind. the sun was far up in the sky already. Balto stretched in his blanket and yawned, then poked his head out to find Aniu standing over him, he gulped.

“Good morning sleepy, had a rough night? It’s late in the morning already you know... I got us a little something.” Balto didn’t know how to answer, was this a trick, or did she actually not catch him? Aniu threw down a big piece of meat a bone sticking out the side. Balto was so excited, he didn’t hesitate to eat.

Aniu tilted her head, “Do you mind telling me what you were doing in town last night Atka?” Aniu said this in such a soft, even tone, it sent shivers up Balto’s back. He stopped eating and looked at aniu with guilt.

“I-I was hungry mom, I went to find food. I couldn’t wait”

“Atka, that’s why I went to town, to find food for us. Listen to me when I tell you something.” She paused, “Do not go into town anymore, do you understand?”

Balto moaned, “Mom! no!”

Aniu snapped “We’re done with this conversation Atka.”

Balto gave a groan of disapproval and went under the blanket again.

Aniu walked to the lower part of the ship to give both of them some time to

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