Balto!'' Jenna shouted from the side, as Balto smiled to her. There were also some of Kodi's siblings as well.

''Go!'' Mr. Conner shouted. Duke took off towards White Mountain as the sled team ran towards the same direction.

The race was a tough one. Balto noticed the plane in a several occasions. Kodi and his friends were racing as fast as they could. Soon enough, they spotted White Mountain in the distance, and also noticed that Duke had already got the mail and he was ready to take off.

''We're almost there! Hurry!'' Kodi shouted. The sled team reached the street of the town as Duke was taking off. Soon enough, the sled team got the mail and took off for Nome.

The way home was even tougher than it was to White Mountain. The night had fallen and the fog was coming up. The team had some problems while they were near the edge of the cliff, but they managed to stay on the track.

The dawn was breaking on the east. The team reached the large clearing as the noticed the town in the distance.

''It's Nome! Hang on!'' Kodi shouted again.

The team finally reached Nome and they stopped by the post office. Much to their surprise, Duke was nowhere to be seen.

''Congratulations, Mr. Simpson.'' Mr. Conner said as he got out of the office. ''You won. And you can keep your job!'' 

''Really?''  Mr. Simpson said.

As Kodi heard the conversation, he shouted proudly: ''We won! We still have our jobs, guys!''

As Dusty, Kirby and Ralph enjoyed in the achieved victory, Balto said to Kodi in a disappointing voice: ''You may have won, but you can't always beat the pilot.''

Kodi looked at his dad, disappointed that his father defended Duke.

Chapter 16: Family matters
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two days after Kodi's team won against Duke had passed, and Duke hadn't returned to Nome yet.

People were discussing about Duke's disappearance and where he could possibly be. Even Balto was worried for the lost pilot.

On the other hand, Kodi didn't care for Duke. He and his friends still had their jobs and they were still enjoying their victory.

The third day had come. Balto was even more worried, as Duke was gone. He decided to do one thing: to find him and to save him.

He dropped by the boiler room, as Kodi and his friends were inside.

''Kodi!'' Balto called his son.

''Hey, dad.'' Kodi said. ''What is it?''

''I'm going to find and rescue the pilot.'' Balto answered. ''Are you going to help me?''

''What? No!'' Kodi answered. ''He's our enemy! He tried to take our job! No way!''

Balto looked disappointed at his son. He turned around towards and said: ''If you say so...'' and he went to ask the others to accompany him.

''Now what did he want?'' Kirby asked.

''He wanted me to help me rescue the pilot.'' Kodi answered.

''Yeah right.'' Ralph said. ''We don't need pilot anyways.''

Then, a red husky with bandana entered the room. It was Jenna. She looked at Kodi, shocked that he let his father rescue the pilot alone.

''Kodi?'' Jenna asked ''Why didn't you go help your father?''

''Mom, he's going to rescue our enemy! He tried to take our jobs!'' Kodi answered.

''Kodiak! Shame on you!'' Jenna scolded Kodi. ''You let your father go outside in the wild! What if he doesn't return?! You can still deliver mail, but you have one father. You were supposed to help him.''

Kodi looked at the floor, embarrassed as Jenna exited the boiler room. He was thinking what Jenna had told him: ''I can still have my job, but I have one dad...''

Kodi raised his head and said: ''What have I done?! He's out there in the wilderness, and what if he doesn't return?''

As Kodi was heading outside, Kirby asked him: ''Kodi, where are you going?''

''I'm going to help my dad. He needs me.'' Kodi answered.

''Joining our enemy, aren't you, Kodi?'' Dusty asked.

''Guys, guys! Just think about it!'' Kodi yelled, obviously having enough of everything around here. ''If we lose our job, we can have it back anytime...

...but if we lose the member of the family, he or she won't come back! We can't just do this!''

Dusty, Kirby and Ralph were looking at each other, quietly discussing about what Kodi had said.

''If my dad perishes out there, he's gone! I'll never see my father again. You should think about it too! Dusty, you still have your family here. If you lose one of them, then it's over for them!'' Kodi continued.

''Kodi... Kodi, please stop!'' Dusty begged, almost at the tear breakdown.

''I'm sorry, Dusty.'' Kodi apologized.

''It's okay.'' Dusty said. ''Kodi, you're right. We should help your father. Mail delivering has occupied us too much. We have almost forgotten about our families!''

''You said it.'' Ralph said. ''Let's find them!''

''Coming!'' Kirby said, as the four friends set off to find Balto and Duke.

Just as they were exiting the town, Jenna approached them and asked Kodi: ''So, did you think about what I said?''

''Yes, mom.'' Kodi answered. ''You're right. He's my father and he needs us all.''

Jenna smiled at her son and said: ''Kodi, I'm proud at you. I'm sure your father is going to be proud at you as well.''

''Thanks, mom.'' Kodi replied. Then he and his friends set off.

''Where is his scent going?'' Kirby asked.

Kodi sniffed the air and looked towards the northeast. He saw some footprints: some of them were goose's footsteps, some of them polar bear's and some of them canine's.

''He's been going through the sled trail.'' Kodi said. ''The same way we use when we deliver mail.''

''It's possible.'' Dusty said.

Soon enough, Nome was out of the sight. The four entered the forest and they were walking near the cliffs, still on the sled track.

Suddenly, Kodi began sniffing the air as Balto's scent wasn't following the trail. Instead, it led in the woods.

''Come on, this way.'' Kodi said, while being followed by his friends.

''How does he know which way to go?'' Ralph asked Kodi.

''My dad has some advanced senses.'' Kodi said. ''You know that he doesn't look like us. He somehow resembles wolf.''

''And that's how he's able to find the scents on the bigger distances.'' Kirby said.

Soon enough, a water flowing was heard nearby.

''A waterfall?'' Dusty asked is they reached the river. ''How did he manage to cross the wild river?''

''Perhaps he was using these stones.'' Kodi said, looking at the stones peeking out of the wild river. ''Come on, we should do the same.'' Kodi said.

They crossed the wild river jumping on the stones, trying not to jump into the river.

As soon as they continued through the woods, they reached the rocky area. Kodi sniffed the air again.

''Careful out there.'' Kodi warned them. ''If we slip down, we're down for ever.''

They were walking at the edge of the rocks, trying not to fall or hurt themselves. Then, the grounds were softer and safer.

''We have to go this way. His scent...'' Kodi said. 

Suddenly...

''Kodi!'' Dusty shouted as she pointed downhill. ''I see him! He's carrying the pilot! Down there!''

Kodi turned around and saw saw his father carrying the pilot on the metal. They were crossing the ice bridge. Suddenly, the bridge began cracking.

''DAD!'' Kodi yelled, running towards him with his friends, as the bridge began falling down. Balto was being pulled down.

Suddenly, Balto felt that he was grabbed from the front. He looked up and saw it was Kodi.

''Kodi?'' Balto asked. ''You did come after all!''

''Yes, dad.'' Kodi answered. ''I didn't want you to perish in the wilderness, you're my father.''

''Kodi, thank you. I'm so proud at you!'' Balto exclaimed.

Balto looked back and saw Dusty, Kirby and Ralph helping Duke up.

''Looks like your friends came as well.'' Balto said.

''Sure thing.'' Kodi said. ''Come on, dad. We better get home.''

Soon enough, five canines pulled the metal plate up on which Duke was sitting due to broken leg. Then they set off back to Nome.

On the way back, Balto asked Kodi: ''What to say that you had come to help me?''
''You can thank to mom.'' Kodi answered as Balto smiled.

''Here it is, Nome!'' Dusty exclaimed, noticing the town in the distance.

Balto howled to the town. Soon enough, a howl was heard from the town. It was...

''Jenna!'' Balto shouted excitedly. In a matter of time, they returned to the town.

''Balto! Kodi! You made it!'' Jenna exclaimed, upon seeing her mate, son, and their friends with