safely...''

''Max, don't worry.'' Balto said. ''I will.''

''Molly, would you please look after my pups?'' Thunder asked. ''I must rescue Nunivat!''

''Thunder, don't worry!'' Molly said. ''I will. Just take me to your house and I'll look after them.''

Thunder nodded as Molly followed him to his house. After that, Kodi and Balto left.

''Grandpa?'' Tenana asked. ''Where's our daddy going?''

''He's going to find your mommy.'' Max said, still worried for Dusty.

Soon enough, Thunder, Kodi and Balto returned to the alley where he they had found the bandana. The others were waiting.

''Is everyone ready?'' Kenai asked. ''We told to our mates that we'll be back soon while they will look after our pups.''

''Yes.'' Balto said. ''We better start going. Niju's scent will lead us to their captivity.''

As they were exiting the town while following the scent, they noticed a sled trail on their way. Jenna, Nunivat and Dusty 's scent were gathered along with Niju's, but there was another scent, only it was dog's scent.

''Someone helped Niju in kidnapping them.'' Balto said. ''I don't know who, but I know it's a dog's scent!''

The others sniffed the unknown dog's scent, but no one, even Kenai, didn't know whom that scent it belonged to.

''Come on! Let's go!'' Balto said while being followed by his sons and sons-in-law. They left Nome and set off on a journey to rescue Jenna, Nunivat and Dusty.

The group of seven canines were walking for an hour following the scent. The longer journey it was, more worried they were.

''Dad.'' Kodi said. ''You told us that you'd tell us who Niju is.''

Balto stopped and looked at his sons and sons-in-law. He sighed deeply as he had to recall an enemy who tried to destroy the wolf pack and the wolf who tried to kill Aleu.

''Niju...'' Balto said. ''...was the wolf of the pack of Kenai's former Nava, who wanted to rule it and steal it from the other clans. And the only other thing I know about him was that he tried to kill Aleu.''

''Tried to kill Aleu?!'' Yukon yelled.

''And I don't know too much about him...'' Balto said.

''But I know.'' Kenai said. ''He thought that he was the most superior wolf of the pack, always disobeying Nava's orders and wanting to claim the leadership...

...but he ran away when it came to crossing the sea. Aleu took over the leadership and his name became the curse among us. The pack developed the despise towards Niju.''

As Kenai said that, everyone except Balto and him, were looking angry. First, Niju tried to destroy the pack, now he kidnapped Jenna, Nunivat and Dusty.

''We must go, now!'' Balto said as they continued the journey.

Another hour later, the canines were following the scents. Just then...

''Dad.'' Dingo said. ''The scent. It leads there.''

Balto looked at his left and noticed some rocks. Up there, a small cave was seen.

''Is that a sled?'' Josh asked, pointing on the snowy ground below the rocks.

''It could be.'' Kodi said. They all sniffed the sled.

''Their scents.'' Yukon said. ''Mom's, Nunivat's, Dusty's, Niju's and the dog's...''

''Yeah.'' Kenai said, sniffing towards the path on the rocks that led to that small cave. ''It leads to the cave, let's go!''

The canines climbed up the path, going towards the cave. Soon enough, they found themselves in front of the cave.

''They're here.'' Balto said, sniffing the scents. ''Their scents are more intense.''

''Then let's find them.'' Thunder said.

''Be careful.'' Balto said as he entered the cave while being followed by the others.

The cave as dark, but not dark enough to be unseen. They managed to progress through the dark corridor of the small cave.

''Their scents...'' Yukon said. ''They're even more intense as we're closer.''

''I know.'' Balto said. ''Hang on.''

The young canines went silent as Balto was preparing to do something.

''Jenna?'' Balto asked. ''Nunivat? Dusty?''

At first, no response...

''Maybe we're not deep enough.'' Dingo said.

''Ssssshhhhh.'' Josh hushed. ''I think I heard someone.''

''What?'' Balto asked as the leaned his ear towards the other end. There was a faint voice.

''Balto?'' The voice asked.

''It's Jenna!'' Balto said. ''Come on! We're so close!''

The seven canines followed the echo from where Jenna responded. They were certain that they weren't far away.

''Balto!'' Another voice said, this time it was Dusty.

Balto turned to his left and saw them: Jenna, Nunivat and Dusty laying in the corner of the cave, unable to go anywhere.

''There you are!'' Balto said, relieved to see them. He ventured towards them as the others followed.

''Dad!'' Nunivat yelled. ''No! Get out of there!''

''What?'' Balto asked as he was closer. Suddenly, he was pounced by the other canine. Balto yelped as he was pinned on his back.

Balto's eyes were closed as he felt that the scent was just above him. He grunted in pain. Then...

''Hello... wolf-dog.'' A voice, cold and menacing said, causing Balto to finally open his eyes.

As he opened them, his face turned furious as he saw a dark-blue wolf above him. The wolf was skinnier and even more vicious. The wolf pinned him on his back while smiling viciously. Balto knew who the wolf was.

''Niju...'' Balto said furiously. He tried to move, but Niju prevented him by putting his paw on his chest.

''Do you remember what have you done... two years ago?'' Niju asked.

''I was saving the wolf pack!'' Balto said.

''And you took both my pride and leadership away!'' Niju continued.

''Pffft, you almost destroyed the pack.'' Balto growled.

''No, you did.'' Niju said. ''And I lured you here to have my revenge. But I have to say, you're not my primary target!''

''I'm not?'' Balto said as he chuckled nervously. ''Then who it is?''

''Your gray daughter!'' Niju said.

Balto was silent from the shock when Niju said that. But he decided to trick him.

''If you think that Dusty's my daughter...'' Balto said, looking towards Dusty. ''You're wrong!''

''Not your daughter, eh?'' Niju said, looking towards Dusty. ''It doesn't surprise me, because she looks to good to look like you, Balto. And I wasn't talking about her! I'm talking about your other daughter! And don't lie to me, I know who're you thinking at!''

Balto looked furiously and nervously at his enemy. But he had one last card to play.

''Good luck, Niju...'' Balto said. ''She's in the Other Land. Face it, this was hopeless...''

''It was not!'' Niju yelled as he pressed his paw on Balto's chest, causing him to cackle a bit. ''I may have abandoned my pack, but I remember the faces.''

Niju turned behind and looked at Kenai. Then he said: ''I know you, Kenai. Aleu's with you, I know that!''

''That's not true!'' Kenai said, denying the truth.

''Don't lie to me.'' Niju said coldly. ''Ever since that wolf-dog came to our pack, I noticed in your eyes you had crush on her!''

Kenai stepped back in shock. He feared that he had put Aleu's life in danger again. Yukon growled furioisly at Niju and slowly walked to him.

''Don't. Move!'' Niju yelled as he moved his paw to Balto's throat as the claw was seen and put on it. ''Otherwise you can say goodbye to your father!''

''Niju, one last question.'' Balto said. ''You couldn't have known that we're in Nome. Someone must have helped you.''

''You're right, wolf-dog...'' Niju said. ''Come on, you runt! Get over here!''

As soon as Niju said that, another canine approached. It was young green-eyed white Alaskan Malamute. He was skinnier and had some scars on his body. Dingo gasped in shock as he realized who the Malamute was.

''Forrest?!'' Dingo said, almost dying of shock.

''Hello, Dingo...'' Forrest said. His voice was colder and menacing, but he didn't fake that voice as he'd usually do that while being in a sled team just because he thought that he was superior.

''You know each other?'' Niju asked Forrest.

''Yes...'' Forrest said. ''I was once part of his team, but after the defeat, I left it.''

''Forrest!'' Dingo yelled to his former team-mate. ''Why are you doing this?!''

''Dingo...'' Forrest said. ''Why you were supporting your brother on the race. None of this would have happened if you were