“…no…”

Jenna turned and began to walk away. “Maybe someone should take one of your kids away forever and we’ll see how you react.” Jenna thought.

Suddenly a dark voice hissed in Jenna’s mind.

“Ye-ess… that would make things even now, wouldn’t it Jenna?”

Jenna shook her head.

“I must be tired.” She thought. “I could’ve sworn I just heard a voice… inside my head…”

The voice spoke again.

“Oh, I’m very real Jenna, I’m here, brought in by your own thoughts, and now, I’m going to help you achieve what you could not possibly do on your own.”

Jenna shook her head again. “I wonder what that is?” She thought.

The dark voice answered her almost immediately.

“The death of Drake’s son, Jason.”

“NO!” Jenna thought.

The voice began to laugh. The malevolent laughter echoed in Jenna’s mind and she put her paws on top of her head, as it had begun to throb.

“Soon Jenna…” The dark voice said, as the laughter continued. “Soon everything will be set right…”

Blaize was walking down the street when he decided to see if Astarre was awake yet.

He found his way back to her home easy enough, and scratched on the door.

Blaize heard movement from inside the small shed, and soon the door swung open and Astarre stepped onto the porch.

“Oh Blaize… it’s you…”

Blaize nodded. “I tried staying away from you yesterday, and… and it didn’t work… Astarre, I don’t know f you want to hear this or not, but I have to tell you something.”

“What’s that?” She asked.

“Astarre… I think I love you.”

She smiled and looked at the floor. “Blaize… I’m sorry, but… I can’t.”

“Oh…” Blaize said.

Astarre stepped into the light.

“What happened?!” Blaize asked.

Astarre’s face was swollen, and her shoulder was matted in blood.

“I… uh… got jumped yesterday… at the edge of town.”

“At the outskirts?” Blaize asked. “What were you doing there? That’s a dangerous place.”

Astarre nodded and winced. “I… uh… know that now.”

It was silent for a moment.

“Astarre.” Blaize said, finally breaking the silence. “…would you like to go for a walk with me?”

“Blaize…”

“Please?” Blaize said.

Astarre sighed. “My dad will be incensed…”

“We’ll be back before he even knows we were gone.” Blaize said.

Astarre sighed again. “Alright Blaize, let’s go. I enjoy your company too.”

Blaize smiled. “Come on then.”

Blaize and Astarre walked down the steps to the porch and down the street.

Saba had learned a lot in the last few days.

Aniu was indeed, very real, and though Saba hadn’t believed in her, had taken the young husky under her wing, teaching Saba how to fight, and how to defend herself; how to make decisions, and how to lead. For what purpose, Saba did not know.

Aniu walked into the chamber where Saba was practicing. “How are you doing my child?” Aniu asked.

Saba smiled. “Fine.” She said.

A great sadness seemed to come over Aniu’s face. “Come over here for a minute child, I need to talk to you.”

Saba nodded and walked over to the white wolf. “What is it Aniu? Is something wrong?”

Aniu sighed. “The time for which you came is approaching, and you need to know what you will do.”

“What do you mean?” Saba asked. ‘I mean… I can’t help can I? I’m dead… right?”

Aniu nodded. “…for now.”

“For now!” Saba cried. “What does that mean?!”

Aniu sighed. “My child, Shade has escaped once again and I am afraid that my son has done more harm now than ever before.”

“You want me to fight him?” Saba asked.

“Something like that, yes.” Aniu said. “However, this time he’s not a wolf.”

“What?” Saba asked. “What is he?”

Aniu sighed again. “My child, do you remember when I said I could assume any form I chose?”

Saba nodded.

“Shade is human… for now. How long he will be able to maintain that form is unknown to me, but he took the body of a very influential human, and is going to use it to bring great trouble upon the Talbourne Clan… this and…”

Aniu sighed.

“What?” Saba asked.

“Aleu will not be leader of the Talbourne for much longer. Her time is short.”

“Well then let’s stop him!” Saba said.

“Not yet.” Aniu said. “You are not yet ready for such a confrontation… but soon, yes, you will face him. It was destined for you to come home to me as you did, and it is destined for you to return and save the clan.”

Saba nodded. “Teach me.”

Aniu smiled. “My child you must master the things I have already taught you in order to move on to the others.” Aniu stood. “I see you are making great progress, keep practicing and soon I will teach you more.”

Saba nodded and Aniu walked out of the chamber.

Night had fallen on the forest, high in the mountains, near Nome, Alaska.

Aleu stood on the rock ledge outside her chambers, high above the ground.

She sighed as she thought of the many wolves who had been killed in this new attack by the humans.

They carried weapons of a type Aleu had never seen before… never even heard of.

…but that wasn’t the only thing that had drawn Aleu out tonight; she felt as if something were dreadfully wrong, but she couldn’t think of what.

She’d come out here to think.

A voice from behind startled her.

“Aleu?”

She turned. “Shadow.” She said, as he stepped up to her.

“Aleu, what are you doing?” Shadow asked.

“I just needed to think.” Aleu said.

“Well get down from there.” Shadow said. “A human could pick you off like a young deer up there.”

Aleu smiled. “…always worried about me.” She thought.

“Aleu, I’m serious.” Shadow said.

She nodded. “I’ll be in soon. I promise. Just… just give me a few more minutes… okay?”

Shadow nodded reluctantly. “Alright, but just a few minutes; then you’ve got to come inside, where it’s safe.”

Aleu nodded. “I will.”

Shadow turned and walked away from Aleu, back into the cave.

Aleu turned back to the ledge, and walked to the edge of it. She looked up at the twinkling stars and the many colored light that whipped through the air like a serpent.

“Oh Aniu,” Aleu thought. “How will we ever get out of this one? These humans are too well armed. You said that the key was to train Saba… but she died… I fear… I fear all is lost.”

A single man made his way through the woods, trying his best to be quiet.

“Things are so much easier as a wolf.” The man thought. He looked down at the Springfield Sniper Rifle he held in his arms and reconsidered. “Humans do have their advantages though…”

The soldiers he commanded were making short work of the wolves of the Talbourne Clan.

The man climbed up on a large rock and pulled the small bipod legs on his rifle out, creating a stable position.

He aimed high and centered his scope on a gray wolf standing on a rock ledge more than six hundred yards away and maybe fifty feet higher than his position.

The man skillfully adjusted his scope for the conditions and centered the crosshairs on the wolf’s chest.

“Good-bye Aleu.” The man thought. “Finally, I will win. I’ve fought you for so long Aleu, so long… but it ends tonight, tonight you die.”

Then the man pulled the trigger…

Part 2 “Balto:…Must Come to an End”

Coming soon!

There's a new dog in town, her name is Astarre and she's the apple of Balto's son Blaize's eye... but something seems strange about her... meanwhile, Balto and Jenna struggle to cope with the realization that their lost son Everest is likely dead, killed by their best friend Drake, Saba attempts to find her place in the Talbourne clan, and as all of this is taking place, a horrific evil is approaching Aleu and her clan, an evil that very well may wipe out both Aleu and the Talbourne FOREVER!

Balto: All Good Things…