he was lying on the snowy ground again. His heart started beating again and he was gasping for the fresh air.

''Kenai?'' A voice asked. Kenai realized that it was Aleu.

''Yes?'' Kenai asked weakly, while opening his eyes.

''Kenai, you're alive!'' Aleu said, hugging him. ''Did you mean it, that you love me?''

''Yes, every word.'' Kenai answered.

''Oh, thank you so much!'' Aleu said, hugging him again.

''No problem.'' Kenai said. ''Aleu, why don't we get some rest for a while? I'm tired of running.''

''Of course.'' Aleu replied. ''I'm tired too.''

Aleu laid down on Kenai as the both rested for some time, while the Raven was looking at them from above.

Chapter 21: Nome at last
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After a several hours of resting in the forest, Aleu and Kenai both got up. Despite being injured before, Kenai miracolously recovered and was ready to move on.

''When are we going to reach Nome?'' Kenai asked as they both started running.

''Not sure.'' Aleu said. ''We might get there the next morning if we're going to sleep somewhere.''

''And also if we get something to eat.'' Kenai said. ''Haven't been eating anything since yesterday.''

''Caribous aren't here.'' Aleu said, then she looked at her right and noticed two rabbits. ''But rabbits are.''

''Great. Just what we needed.'' Kenai said, and they both stealthily headed towards the rabbits.

With a such stealth, they managed to attack the rabbits and kill them as well. Soon enough, they satisfied their hunger.

''Let's go, Kenai.'' Aleu said. ''We won't be stopping for a while now.''

The Raven from above led two canines towards the south, while they were running after it.

As the sun was slowly setting, it began snowing.

''Snow.'' Aleu frowned. ''If it turns into blizzard, it might slow us down.''

''I agree.'' Kenai said. ''But let's run as fast as we can, otherwise we'd be running more tomorrow.''

Aleu and Kenai were running faster. But as the night had fallen, the snow started falling harder, turning into the blizzard. The Raven was barely seen.

''It's hard to see anything in this blizzard!'' Aleu shouted as loud as possible, due to wind howling.

''We must find a shelter!'' Kenai shouted. ''It's hard to see The Raven too!''

The Raven cawed loudly and flied down in front of Kenai. Kenai looked at the Raven as it led him to the right. Just there, a small cave was seen.

''Aleu! I think I found a shelter!'' Kenai shouted as Aleu looked at Kenai first, then at the cave that Kenai was looking at.

''Let's get in there!'' Aleu shouted. Then Kenai and she entered the cave, while Raven settled up on the wall.

''I'm glad that we made it out of the blizzard.'' Kenai said.

''Same.'' Aleu replied. ''We wouldn't make it if we were still outside.''

Kenai and Aleu lied close to each other against the wall. But when Aleu laid down,  she was shivering due to cold.

''Aleu, is everything okay?'' Kenai asked.

''Y-y-yes, i-it is-s.'' Aleu replied shivering.

''Aleu, you're shivering.'' Kenai said. Then he went to Aleu. ''Let me help you.''

''W-what are y-you d-doing, K-kenai?'' Aleu asked as Kenai laid on her.

''I'm keeping you warm.'' Kenai answered. ''The warmth is more important to you than to me.''

Aleu felt the warmth of Kenai's fur and stopped shivering. She said: ''You know, Kenai. That was nice try, but thanks anyways.''

''No problem, Aleu.'' Kenai replied. Then they both fell asleep.

Later...

The blizzard stopped, and the dawn was breaking. Both Aleu and Kenai woke up in the dawn.

''Looks like the blizzard stopped.'' Kenai said. ''We may continue our journey.''

''You're right, Kenai.'' Aleu said. ''I hope we'll get to the Nome as soon as possible.''

The Raven flied out of the cave and led the two canines towards the south. On the east, the sky started turning purple-orangeish.

During the run, Kenai was quiet. Aleu noticed that and asked him: ''Is there something wrong, Kenai?''

''What?'' Kenai asked. ''Oh, it's just... that this new destiny might be strange for me.''

''How so?'' Aleu asked.

''You and I are now destined to be together.'' Kenai said. ''But what'd happen if your family sees us both?''

''They should accept us together.'' Aleu said. ''My papa especially. I remember how much you trusted him before we left to the Other Land.''

''Okay, but you have siblings, don't you?'' Kenai asked. ''I don't know how'd I feel among them.''

''Kenai, you don't have to judge yourself for being a wolf.'' Aleu said. ''Even I haven't seen them for a long time, I know that my younger brother Yukon'd accept you without hestitating. He accepts everyone by everything.''

''Well then.'' Kenai said.

Later, the sun had risen, and the two friends were still following the Raven. Closer they were to Nome, Aleu was thinking more of her return.

Then...

''Aleu! Watch it!'' Kenai said.

''Whaaaa...!'' Aleu said as she almost slipped off the cliff, but Kenai grabbed her by her neck scruff, preventing her from falling.

''You should watch your step, Aleu.'' Kenai said.

''I know, Kenai.'' Aleu said, while looking at the distance. Kenai noticed her watching in the distance, then he looked at the same way she had.

Aleu watched in excitement while Kenai watched in astonishment.

There it was, Nome. Her birth place, the town she grew up in and she ran away from after learning the horrifying truth. And the boat her father lived was still on the beach.

''We made it...'' Aleu said excited.

''Your birth place, our destination.'' Kenai said astonished.

But Aleu's excitement faded. She lowered her ears in uncertainty. Kenai noticed that as well.
''Aleu?'' Kenai asked. ''What's wrong?''

''I don't know...'' Aleu said. ''I feel like that my family won't recognize me again. Like they won't let me back.''

Kenai lowered his ears. If Aleu started feeling unwelcome at Nome, then why did they make all this journey?

The Raven cawed and landed nearby. Then...

''Aleu, don't be afraid to call for you family.'' A warm, female voice said from their left, causing them to look at it.

As they both looked at the left, they saw a large brown-eyed husky. She was standing on the same spot where the Raven had landed.

''What?'' Aleu asked, confused. ''Who're you? And where did the Raven go?''

''I know you.'' Kenai said, upon seeing the white husky. ''You're the canine who appeared to me in my dream, then you turned into the Raven.''

''Yes, I am.'' The white husky said. ''Aleu, I am Juneau, the sister of your father and the daughter of Aniu, the great white wolf.''

''You're the one who led us all the way home!'' Aleu said.

''Yes.'' Juneau said. ''Your journey is almost over, but Aleu... I noticed that you feel like you're not going to feel welcome back home.''

Aleu looked down, frowning and said: ''Kinda.''

''Aleu, don't think that way.'' Juneau said. ''Let me tell you something... a dog couldn't make this journey, but maybe a wolf could.''

Aleu raised her head confidently. She knew what was Juneau saying. She told her that her wolf legacy was her strength, not weakness.

''Go and howl for your family.'' Juneau said. ''And your journey is done. And Kenai, your new life beings in Nome.''

Juneau walked down and shape-shifted into the Raven, who flied away then.

When the Raven disappeared, Aleu climbed on the edge of the cliff, watching towards Nome. Kenai said: ''You can do this, Aleu.''

Aleu let out a long, confident howl out of her. The howl echoed for miles.

Then, just then, an another howl was heard. It came directly from the town.

''Papa!'' Aleu yelled happily. ''Come on, Kenai! We are almost there!''

''Right behind you!'' Kenai yelled. Then the friends jumped down the cliff and landed into the snow. Aleu howled once again.

And there was another howl coming out of the town, only it seemed closer than before. Aleu and Kenai both sprinted towards the town.

Aleu howled for the third time. And when the howl was heard from the outskirts of the town, Aleu could see a brownish-gray canine sprinting towards them, being followed by the six red huskies, one red-brown and one gray.

Aleu howled for the fourth and for the last time. Balto did the same thing, None of them could believe with their eyes that this was