or… or well a mother for that matter.”

“So what happened next?”

“Well,” Aniu said, “I could tell that you were the one I had been hoping for, and I began to teach you what you would need to know to rescue my pack. You surprised even me with you progress, and then one day, when we were out hunting, I… I lost you… I feared you were dead, and that my plan had failed. Not long after that, I was killed by a hunter, and I saw what you had become, where you had gone. I’ve watched over you ever since.”

“Why do I not remember what you taught me?” Balto asked.

“Too much time away from me I suppose…” Aniu said.

“You said you’ve been watching over me, how is that? I never saw you until Aleu went over to the island, or, well I guess the plain.”

“Who do you think made a goose take interest in a lost and, I might add, dying wolf pup?”

“You did, Boris?”

Aniu nodded.

“I have always watched out for you, I tried to keep you going during your saving the town, the white wolf, remember?”

Balto nodded.

“I’ve never forgotten.”

“I thought that my plan remained intact, and it was, but not the way I thought. I thought that one day you would remember your calling and save my pack, but then your daughter was born.”

“Aleu?” Balto asked.

“Yes,” Aniu said. “She was even more sensitive than you, and I began to influence her away from the dog in her, and toward the wolf. I also caused you to fear telling her of this.”

“That was you?” Balto asked. “Why?”

“Because,” Aniu said, “how else would Aleu have realized her calling, met Nava, and journeyed to the plain, and eventually save my pack?”

Balto nodded.

“I guess it does make sense.”

Aniu smiled.

“My son, a lot of things make more sense if you look past the here and now, and glance into what the future will be due to that event.”

Balto nodded.

“So what happened to my dad?” Balto asked.

“He was killed in a sled wreck about two years after you were born.” Aniu said.

“Can… can I see him?” Balto asked.

Aniu smiled.

“You know she was just too good looking to resist.”

Balto turned.

“How are you Balto? You know your name was Autome, named after me, until the human got a hold of you.” The brown dog said as he walked forward.

“Dad?” Balto asked.

The brown dog nodded and continued walking to Aniu’s side.

“And quite proud of it too,” he said. “You’ve turned out alright Balto, you did good, and got rewarded for it too, that Jenna. She’s really something.”

Autome grew serious.

“I mean it Balto, there’s only one of her in the world, you get her back, and you take care of her.”

“Oh I will.” Balto said.

“I wish I’d had the chance to be father to you, but…”

Autome sighed.

“… but it just wasn’t meant to be, and I mean look at you, it was probably for the best, if I’d been around you’d probably be out chasing girls and running sleds, maybe even never went to Nome.”

Balto nodded.

“Is there anything else my son?” Aniu asked.

Balto shook his head.

“No, I guess that’s all I have.”

He smiled.

“Thank you mother, I… I feel I know a part of myself I didn’t before.”

Aniu smiled.

“That is good, I think you deserve to know.”

“Now go rescue that Jenna.” Autome said, “go get your girl, and never let her go.”

“I will,” Balto said, “and it was nice to meet you dad.”

“You too son.” Autome said.

“Good-bye my son.” Aniu said.

Then she and Autome vanished in a flash of blue light.

As Autome disappeared, he winked at Balto.

Balto was alone once more.

He smiled and looked upward.

“Good-bye mother.”

Balto then laid down, and was soon asleep.

Chapter 3

Balto woke up the next morning.

“Okay,” he said to himself, “I know what I have to do, now I just have to talk to Nava.”

Luke walked down the stairs then, dressed in his flight uniform.

“Balto let’s go boy, a message just came through, and White Mountain needs some supplies stocking up for the blizzard that’s on its way I suppose.”

Balto laid down on his blanket, and whined at him.

“Balto, you all right boy?”

Balto curled up and laid his head on the blanket.

Luke walked over and knelt down beside him, ruffling the top of his head.

“You all right boy, you’re not getting sick or anything are you?”

Balto barked.

Luke grinned.

“Oh I see, you just don’t want to go with me this time, do you?”

Balto barked again.

“Got something to take care of boy?”

Balto sighed and laid his head back on the blanket.

“Are you sure?” Luke asked. “I thought you’d be itching for a flight, haven’t been in a while.”

Balto lifted his head, and licked Luke’s hand.

Luke laughed, and patted him on the head.

“Well I guess if you still love me, I can go alone this time. It’s not me is it boy?”

Balto stood up and put his paws on Luke’s shoulders, knocking the young man off balance.

The two of them fell, and Balto licked Luke’s nose.

“Okay boy, okay, I get the picture!” Luke said, laughing.

He rolled Balto off of him, and stood up.

“You take care of whatever it is you need to do, and I’ll be back in a week or so, okay?”

Balto barked, and Luke patted his dog on the head.

“I swear, sometimes it seems like you can understand what I’m saying.”

Balto barked again.

“I’ll see you later boy.” Luke said.

Then he grabbed his flight pack, which always sat by the door, ready to go.

Luke walked out the door, and Balto ran to the window, watching, as Luke started the plane, and then took off, vanishing into the clouds.

“I wish I could go with you.” Balto thought. “You’re right, it has been a long time, but…”

Balto sighed.

“Jenna’s more important.” He said aloud.

Balto turned, and exited the house, then he took off towards the forest

Hey dad, need to speak to Aleu again?”

Balto smiled.

“No Dash, actually I need to speak to Nava, is

he here?

“I think he is.” Dash said. “His chamber is the first on your right, as soon as you enter the main chamber. I’d take you there myself, but I can’t leave my post.”

“I understand.” Balto said, “and I wouldn’t want to get you in trouble. You say it’s the first on the right?”

Dash nodded.

“Take care of yourself dad.” Dash die said.

“You too son.” Balto said.

Then he walked into the cave.

Balto found the first right, and walked into the chamber.

“Oh Balto, how are you doing?”

“Pretty good,” Balto said, “I’m doing alright, you?”

The old wolf walked over to him.

“I’m doing pretty good myself Balto. So what brings you here?”

“Oh, well, I spoke to my mother about Jenna, and she told me there is a way to retrieve her, or the real her anyway, but I need to go to the plain.”

“The island…” Nava said.

Balto nodded.

“Aniu said she was sent there when Shade used her to cross over.”

Nava nodded.

“That would make sense.”

“So anyway,” Balto continued, “I need to know how to get there.”

Nava smiled.

“Balto, to do anything, all you have to do is believe.”

Balto sighed.

“How?”

“You just have to know, know in your heart, that it will be, and it will be.”

Balto nodded.

“Okay, so I just believe the bridge will be there, and it will be?”

Nava nodded.

“Exactly.”

Balto sighed.

“Wow, I was hoping for something a little easier.”

Nava laughed.

“Balto, the good things in life…”

Balto finished his sentence for him.

“… are rarely easy, I know, but…”

Balto sighed.

“I want her back so badly.”

Nava nodded.

“And you should Balto. You have something there, in Jenna, that you will be hard pressed, or even unable to find anywhere else.”

“I know.” Balto said. “Believe me.”

“I do.” Nava said. “You have already grown, and soon you will know that which you need.”

“Thank you Nava.” Balto said.

He sighed.

“Tell… tell Aleu hi for me.”

“What, not going to go see your own daughter?” Nava asked.

“It’s just that… well, I need to find Jenna… the one I have, and get this journey started, and Aleu likes for me to hang around a bit…”

Nava laughed.

“I understand completely.”

Balto smiled.

“I’ll tell her.” Nava said. “You be careful though Balto, there are things on that island more horrific than you could possibly imagine, and most of them will not only kill you, but will devour your soul as