mountain.

 

“Balto, you really think this could be our last day on the mountain?” Rylie asked.

 

“No, but I know our last day is coming soon.” Balto replied.

 

“Ugh, I can’t wait, I’m so sick of nature.” said Sage.

 

“Yeah, as soon as I get home, I’m never leaving. I’m never going outside again!” yelled Scout.

 

“Yeah, this has been one heck of a trip.” said Decoy.

“When we get there, I’m gonna raid the food cupboard.” said Steele.

 

“I just wanna see Rosie.” Jenna said.

 

“Is it nice there?” Ashlie asked.

 

“Oh yes, you’ll love it.” Jenna replied.

 

“Ok guys we’re nearly home. Come on.” Balto said.

 

Just then, Balto slipped off the side of the steep hill. His paw was about to knock down Decoy’s leg, but Banshee pushed Decoy out of the way, saving him. But Balto, too panicked to think clearly, clamped onto Banshee’s paw, and pulled him down. They both slid down 15 feet into an extremely muddy pit that was enclosed all around. Balto landed at the bottom, but Banshee kept falling on several rocks on the side of the hill, causing them to fall and roll along down with Banshee. Luckily, the rocks didn’t roll on him at all. Both dogs lay there motionless as their friends came running to the edge of the ditch.

 

“Balto!” Ashlie yelled as she ran.

 

“Banshee!” yelled Scout.

 

All the dogs stood on the edge of the pit and looked down at the dogs.

 

“Balto?” Jenna said as she whined.

 

“Oh no.” Steele whispered.

 

Balto slowly opened his eyes and moaned.

 

“Balto?!” said Decoy.

 

“Are you ok?” Brendon asked.

 

“No. My leg’s killing me.” Balto answered weakly.

 

“Is it broken?” Ashlie asked.

 

“I don’t know.” Balto replied as he tried to get up.

 

“Balto, you’ve gotta try to climb back up, we’re almost home.” Decoy said.

 

“I’ll try.” Balto said as he got up and walked to the muddy hill he was about to climb.

 

Balto stepped up onto the mud and slid back down. He tried again and hopped a few feet and began climbing, sliding down a few inches with ever step he took.

 

“Come on Balto, you can do it.” Scout encouraged him.

 

Balto climbed up a few more feet and groaned. Any dog would be able to climb up a muddy hill, but this slope was just too wet and steep.

 

“Come on! Keep going!” Steele said firmly.

 

Balto hopped a little further and slid down a few feet. He continued to climb, using every bit of strength he had left in him as he made a cross between a groaning and whining sound.

 

“Come on, you’re almost there, Balto!” Jenna shouted.

 

“That’s it, keep going!” said Ashlie.

 

“Come on, come on!” Brendon whispered.

 

Balto was only 4 feet from the top, he whined as he felt himself slipping, and began to slide back down.

 

“Balto?” Decoy said.

 

“BALTO!” Jenna yelled as Balto fell back to the bottom.

 

“Oh, Balto...” Ashlie said.

 

Balto knew there was no hope of him getting to the top in the shape that he was in. He laid down and rested his head on the mud.

 

“No, no, don’t lie down! Don’t lie down!” Decoy yelled.

 

“Sorry. I can’t make it.” Balto declared.

 

“What do you mean, of course you can make it!” Decoy yelled.

 

“I just can’t.” Balto whispered.

 

Decoy whined several times as he paced, and looked down at his friend. He carefully stepped over the edge and surfed down to the bottom of the pit.

 

“Look! You pushed us this far, now I’m pushing you the rest of the way! During this trip when things were really bad, I always knew we’d make it because I knew you were too stubborn to quit! You’re not gonna quit. Not now, not when we’re this close! Now TRY AGAIN!” Decoy demanded.

 

Balto lifted his head and looked at Decoy. “Do you think it’s easy for me to admit that I can’t do it? I’m too weak.”

 

“That’s not true! There’s nothing you can’t do.” Decoy said, starting to have sadness in his voice. “You’re a hero, Balto!” Decoy added.

 

“This trip has taken too much out of me. I was attacked by a bear, got cut up by a rock, almost drowned, got scraped up from sliding down a slope, got bitten when I was being pulled up, and now my leg is useless. I can’t even move.” Balto said. “I worked my paws bloody so I can lead you home, now you have to keep going!” he added.

 

Jenna stepped off the edge of the ditch.

 

“Jenna! No!” Steele yelled as he tried to grab her orange bandana, but he missed. Jenna slid down to the bottom and stood in front of Balto.

 

Balto looked at Decoy after he was done watching Jenna come down. “There are even things that hero’s can’t do. From the start, I was willing to sacrifice myself to make sure that you all get home. And this is it.” Balto said. He laid his head back down.

 

“Balto please, you’ve gone so far, don’t quit when you’ve gotten this close! I know you could do it.” Jenna said. “You’re not the only one who’s been through a lot, we’re all beaten up too. Look at them up there.” Jenna looked up at the dogs, then back down at Balto. “They’ve been cut, bitten, slashed, bruised, scraped, and crushed just like you have! And they’re still willing to give what ever they have left to make it back home, and you’re gonna do the same thing.” she said.

 

“Please Balto.” Decoy begged.

Ashlie saw that this was getting them nowhere. She stepped over the edge and surfed down to the bottom. “Balto please, you have to.” She said. Jenna told me what happened. And you are, you’re a hero!” Ashlie said.

 

Balto was silent. He slowly breathed, not moving at all.

 

Ashlie nudged Balto’s head and licked his muzzle. She looked at him and whined.

 

It was silent for a moment.

 

Decoy whined as he looked up at the dogs, then looked back down at Balto and stopped whining. “I won’t let you give up.” he said sadly.

 

All the dogs were silent. They had never seen Decoy act so mature. He acted as if he cared about other dogs besides himself for a change. They were glad they brought Decoy along with them, he had grown so much, and he had learned even more. He was still spirited, but no longer hyper and immature. All the dogs could finally see that.

 

“Balto, remember when you went out in that vicious snow storm to find the team, you never gave up when you were attacked by a bear, trapped under icy water, or when the snow was up to your chest, or when I smashed you against that rock, or when you couldn’t tell the difference between which trees you marked and which trees I marked, or when you fell down the cliff, or when Star made that avalanche. You always believed you would make it home, and you have to believe that now!” Steele said.

 

Balto thought for a moment, and he realized that they were right. He lifted himself up and limped to the muddy hill as all the dogs smiled. 

Balto, Decoy, Ashlie, and Jenna began to climb up, slipping down a few inches with ever step. Decoy took the lead and climbed higher. Then, he slipped and banged into Balto, who was forced to slip down a few feet. Jenna grabbed onto the scruff of Decoy’s neck and pulled him up as Balto pushed from the other end. Decoy regained his balance and continued climbing. Jenna waited for Balto to catch up with her. Balto began hopping up the hill as he panted. Decoy and Ashlie made it to the top and turned around towards Balto and Jenna. Jenna was about to put her paw on the flat surface at the top, but she began to slip. Rylie grabbed onto her bandana and pulled her up.

 

“Thanks Rylie.” said Jenna.

 

Rylie laid down on her to keep her warm, since it was still a little cold out.

Ashlie helped Balto get up the rest of the way. He finally made it to the top and collapsed, but smiled.

 

All the dogs cheered and barked for their hero.

 

Rylie and Jenna looked at him and smiled. They got up and rushed to the group of dogs and joined in all the cheering and Barking.

 

Balto pushed himself up and gained the strength and howled. All the dogs including Balto put their head in the middle, touching chins and howled to the orange sunset.

 

“Wait, wait, wait, wait a minute!” Decoy yelled. “What about Banshee?” he ran to the edge and looked down.

 

The other dogs followed and did the same.

 

Banshee was still laying down there, the dogs were sure he was dead.

 

“He didn’t make the fall.” Ashlie said sadly.

 

Scout was sadly looking down at Banshee. She whined and looked straight ahead.

 

“We were so close.” Sage said quietly.

 

“Oh my god.” Jenna whispered.

 

“He never had a good life. First he was abandoned, he was sent to the pound, adopted and went to live with someone new, then lived with Rick and pulled that sled with one meal every three days, and no room to walk, he became hated by all dogs because of his aggressiveness, and now he’s gone.” said Decoy.

 

“That sounds awful.” Ashlie said

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