spoke up. "I'm glad we finally have somebody we can be proud to follow."

"Yeah!" added Kaltag, "We're gonna be the most spectacular, the most incredible, the most..."

"We're gonna be the best!" yelled Star. Kaltag frowned on him, and gave him the usual bop on the head.

Balto rolled his eyes. "So," he said, changing the subject, "we start training tomorrow."

"Yeah, aren't you excited?" said Kaltag.

"Uh, yeah!" Balto said back. "Can't wait..." He looked down at the ground. "So, I hear that the training can be kinda' tough, eh?"

"Oh, yeah!" said Star, "Especially when you're new. They go pretty hard on ya' to get ya' used to the way things work."

"Well, it probably won't be too hard for you," Kaltag jumped in, "since you already know how to pull, and lead. The musher usually pushes us pretty hard. But, it pays off. You'll get used to it."

Balto gulped.

"Eh, relax," said Nikki. "It ain't dat bad. There's a lot of yelling, but also a lot of praise. Our musher's actually a lot better dan most, dere. He really cares about us. And once you actually get out dere and race..." he began to grin, "it's such a thrill!"

"Yeah! Like nothing you've ever felt before!" added Kaltag.

"Just how much are we gonna be away from home?" Balto asked. He had a million different uncertainties in his mind that he wanted answers for.

"Oh, quite a bit," said Kaltag. "But, it's nice seeing new places. I'm sure it might be a little tough for you since you got a family, and a girl and all."

Balto sighed in despair. "Boy, you sure know how to hit the nail on the noggin'," he replied.

"Don't worry, Balto!" Star chimed in. "You're gonna love it. I know it might be a little tough for you, but think about how exciting it's gonna be. Just try to get pumped up!"

"Yeah," Balto said, beginning to hold his head back up again. "You know what, you're right. I'm gonna do this, and I'm gonna enjoy it!"

"Dat's da spirit!" said Nikki.

"All right, you dogs!" the musher yelled, as he suddenly came barreling around the corner, "Time to settle down for the night. It's getting late. We got a big day tomorrow." He began shooing his dogs into the barn outside his house, where he kept them. "Come on! Let's go!" he began to shout. "GET IN THERE! GO! That goes for you too Balto, move!"

Balto walked quickly into the barn upon hearing the musher's booming voice. It scared him to suddenly be hit by that outburst from his musher. "Great!" he started to think to himself, "that's a good sign of things to come!" He could not remember ever being so scared in his life. He was filled with uncertainty, and fear as the night settled in. Everything that he had been told...just what was tomorrow going to be like? He tried to forget it all, and get settled in for the evening. All of the other dogs were now talking amongst themselves. Balto just cuddled up in a corner. He decided to just take it easy, and get some rest, even though the rest of the team wasn't even considering doing so for a couple hours more.

"Hey, you doin' all right, champ?" a voice spoke up.

"Huh?" Balto looked up to find one of the dogs on the team standing above him. It was Togo, the team's oldest member.

"You don't look too happy. What's wrong?" he asked.

Togo talked with him for a little while, and gave him some comfort. It was certainly what Balto needed. Togo had been around for quite some time, and this was probably going to be his last year on the team before he retired. He had served as the lead dog for a brief period in his younger days, but as he grew older, he found it was becoming too much for him. So, he moved back. Now he was a wheel dog, running furthest to the back, not making much of an impact. But, the others seemed confident with his experience and presence. So, he was still a valuable asset.

"You don't have to doubt yourself at all," Togo said. "I'm not worried about you at all as the leader of this team. You'll do great. Trust me."

"Thanks," Balto said. "That really means a lot coming from you."

***

Later that night, Balto found himself tossing and turning. Many things were running through his head, and he just couldn't relax. Balto decided to just go for a walk to try and ease his troubled mind. Careful not to wake the team, he pushed to door to the barn open, and began to stroll around the sleeping town. He took a good look around at everything, as he walked slowly down Main Street. He ended up walking all the way down to the old warehouse by the mill, where the dogs commonly held their town meetings. This was where he had first learned that Steel's team was lost, and where it all began for him. He began to think how if he had just ignored the news and carried on, everything would be as it was before. Yet, despite all his fear, he still did not regret doing what he did. He knew he had done the right thing, and had helped save many. Plus, what would it have meant for Rosie? He was about to turn around and go back, when he thought he heard someone walking around close by. At first, he ignored it, thinking that he may have imagined it, until a familiar scent drifted past his nostrils. He sniffed the air a bit to confirm who it belonged to. “Oh, no,” he said to himself.

"So, think you can just waltz in, and join the team..." a voice said.

Balto quickly turned around. "Steel!" he growled. He couldn't believe it! There hadn't been the slightest sign of Steel for days. Everyone thought he was gone!

"To ruin my honor is one thing, but NOBODY steals my lead dog spot!" Steel yelled.

"What?" Balto said, even more surprised, "how did you know about-"

"Oh, yes. It's amazing how fast word travels," Steel said. He began to circle Balto, slowly. "You honestly think you've got a chance while being at the head of a championship dog team? Ha! You'll never make it as a leader, wolf-dog!" he yelled. "You don't have what it takes!"

"Is that right," Balto said back. "If memory serves, a certain 'championship lead dog' can't even make a simple trip back to Nome without my help."

Steel was not happy with that comment at all. "Oh!" he snarled. "So, you think you're better than me?"

Balto just gave him an angry look, although he was a bit frightened by this unexpected confrontation.

"Well, why don't we just see who the better leader is, right here, right now?" Steel said angrily.

Balto froze, unsure what to do. He was in no mood for a fight. Searching quickly for a way out, he realized he was close to the edge of town. "Steel," he said, "There's a ton of dogs sleeping right in this area who would like nothing better than to rip you to pieces. Make one wrong move, and I start barking."

"Ha! Just like I thought!" snapped Steel. "No backbone. Always needing backup." He started to turn around to leave town. "I'll see you later, wolf-dog," he said, taunting Balto. "Have fun tomorrow, oh mighty leader!" He ran away laughing.

Oof! Was that ever a hard shot? Could there have been a worse time for something like that to happen? Balto could not stop thinking about what Steel had said his whole way back to the barn. He didn't have what it took to be a lead dog. He knew it. I had to be true. As he continued to walk, every memory he had of being abused over the years by the other dogs in town began to pop into his head. It felt like a million voices were taunting him, telling him he couldn't succeed. It continued throughout the night, as he lay nervously in a corner of the barn. How could he sleep?

Chapter 5: Judgment

So, this was the big day. The day Balto had prayed would never come. Now, it was here. His very first day on the team...and so much was going to be expected of him. How could he go through with it?

"All right!" the musher yelled, as the door opened, bringing the morning sunlight into the barn. The dogs all immediately began to rush towards the door, but the musher left it merely cracked so none of them could get out. "Now, hold on!" he said. "Today, I'm not going to bring you all out just yet. Get back...GO!" his voice scared the dogs, and caused them to retreat. "I'm just going to need Balto for now, to show him the basics. Come here, Balto!" he called to him.

Balto immediately jumped to his feet, and quickly walked towards the door. He was a little relieved to find that the musher wasn't going to stick him in the harness, blind, and that none of the other dogs would be watching him at first.

"Hmm." the musher said, "Star, why don't you come out here, too. Let Balto get acquainted with his swing dog, so they'll be ready when they run in front and behind one another."

Star got up, and followed Balto out the door.

The musher brought the two of them to the edge of town, facing the open. The musher had chosen this area, because he wanted Balto to become more acquainted in working with the team, and just get used to being the lead. The other dogs, still locked up in the barn, were a great distance away, but they could still see Balto, Star and the musher through the cracks of the barn, and through the windows. They were all watching intently.

Balto wasn't