confused. "What are you saying?" Rosie's father asked.

"She's pregnant." the doctor responded. The family suddenly became awestruck. "She'll be due in a month or two," the doctor continued.

"Oh my gosh, Jenna!" Rosie's mother exclaimed

"Puppies?" her husband said enthusiastically.

"Oh, Jenna!" Rosie higged her dog, "You're gonna be a mommy!"

"Congratulations," the doctor said, "So, any idea who the father is?"

"Oh, I think we can guess..." Rosie's mom said.

 

Little to the family's knowledge, a dark figure was standing outside the window, listening intently. "Hmm...So, Balto and Jenna having puppies, eh? Well, I've got something to say to that..." he chuckled to himself, as he scurried away.

 

***

 

"I can't believe Jenna's actually going to be a mom," Rosie's mother said, as she set the table for dinner.

"I know," her husband replied, giving Jenna a pat on the head. Jenna just sat in content on the floor, when suddenly she perked up her ears. She heard something coming from outside, and ran to the door. Sure enough, Balto poked his head through the dog door a few seconds later. "Balto!" Jenna rushed over, and nuzzled him. She couldn't wait to break the news to her lover.

"Whoa! Hey, Jenna." Balto was taken off guard by this.

"Balto, it's true! I'm pregnant," Jenna said happily.

Balto's eyes widened in surprise. They had both figured for quite some time Jenna was pregnant, but now it was official. "Oh, Jenna!" Balto said, nuzzling her. They had decided not long ago that they wanted children, to symbolize their love. Now Balto felt a certain joy like never before. It began to really sink in that he was going to be a father.

By now, the rest of the family had followed Jenna to see what was going on. "Well, look who decided to pay us a visit," said Rosie's dad.

"It's the new father," said her mother. The family began to pet Balto, and give him a typical welcome. After taking him into their home long before, they could never seem to keep Balto around. He would keep running away, coming back from time to time. They decided that he must have a second home somewhere, and he just didn't want to stay with them. So, now whenever he left, they just trusted that he would be back. "Maybe we can get Balto to stay this time," Rosie's mother joked. "I wish I knew where he goes all the time. He never stays here for more than a week before he disappears on us."

"I don't think we need to worry," said Rosie's father. "Wherever he goes, apparently he's content there."

 

…

 

It had been a terrific evening at Jenna's, where Balto had stayed long enough to eat dinner, and left after everyone went to bed. The sun had been down for several hours, and Balto yawned as he made his way back. Then he stopped, and perked up his ears. He heard a cackling bark in the distance. It became louder and louder, and seemed to be coming right towards him. "Casey?" he called out, catching sight of a small dark figure running up to him. By the scent that came, Balto knew it was Casey. But, for some reason, Casey's hysterical yipping didn't sound normal. It sounded terrified, like he had just seen a ghost.

"Oh, Balto, there you are, laddie," Casey said, almost crying, trying to catch his breath.

"Casey, calm down," Balto said, "what's wrong?"

"Oh, it's terrible!" Casey moaned. "It's that dog Steele...he's back."

"What!"

"I-I saw him climb into the boat. I ran away before he could see me. But, the goose and bears were in there, and as I left, I heard them screaming, and...

"No! Boris!" Balto ran towards the ship as fast as he could. When he got there, he leapt up onto the deck, and sniffed around. He caught the scent of Steele almost immediately. "Boris, Muk, Luk! Where are you?" he yelled.

"Ugh...Balto, over here!" a voice called from one end of the deck.

Balto dashed towards the sound of the voice. He looked around, and found feathers scattered everywhere. He pushed a barrel out of the way to find a rather disturbing scene. "BORIS!" Balto wailed. He was horrified with what he saw. Boris had cuts all down his back, feathers missing in numerous places, and a completely dazed look on his face.

"Oye...Balto..." he said.

"Boris, are you all right?" Balto pleaded.

Boris began to get up. He cracked his back and dusted himself off. "I've felt better," he commented.

"OH, BALTO!" Muk cried, as he and Luk came running towards Balto. Luk was limping, and Muk could barely walk straight.

"Oh, my gosh..." Balto said.

"It was awful! He was like a monster I tell you!" Muk exclaimed.

"I can't believe this," Balto said. "Why..."

"I think he's trying to play mind games wit you, boytchik," Boris managed to get out.

"He's gone mad!" Balto blurted out.

Just then Casey jumped up onto the deck. It had taken him some time to catch up. "I didn't get a chance to tell you," he panted. "Steele was listening in on Jenna's vet visit! I saw him earlier today,"

"You mean..."

Casey nodded. "He knows! I was looking all over for you to tell you, but I couldn't find ye', laddie. Then a little while ago, I saw him moving towards your ship. So, I followed him, and after seeing him climb aboard, I came running for you, and..."

Balto breathed heavily as his look began to turn to anger. He started to growl, and walked quickly to the edge of the ship, faced the open, and at the top of his lungs, screamed, "STEEEEEEEEEELLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

From a distance, Steele made out the yell. "What's it gonna be Balto," he laughed to himself, "'Cuz to be quite honest, I don't care how far I gotta go..."

 

Chapter 8: A Family

Nearly a month had passed since Balto had last heard from Steele. Jenna had sought help from the council to protect her, her family, and Casey. Hearing that Steele was on the rampage, dogs had been put on patrol, in the streets nearby Jenna's house, and Casey's. Steele had not shown his face since, and everyone was beginning to believe that maybe Steele had finally given up, and disappeared to some other town.

"That's a good boy, Casey!" his master called, "Bring the ball back, me boy."

Casey barked happily, as he grabbed the ball in his mouth and returned it to his master.

"Good boy," his master said, taking the ball from him. "All right, I'm late for an appointment now Casey, so I need to go. You stay out of trouble..." Casey panted and wagged his tail as his master patted his head, and walked out of the yard. When he disappeared from site, Casey turned to walk back towards his dog house. That's when, he heard a female voice coming from somewhere near by.

"Casey!" the voice shouted.

Casey turned to realize it was coming from the barn next to Rosie's house, just across the street. He ran out of the yard, toward the door of the barn to see what was going on. As he came closer, he was able to recognize the voice. "Jenna?" He called. It had to be her. He couldn't figure out who else it could be, and his nose confirmed it as he walked towards the barn door. But as he came closer, he could have sworn he detected the scents of several others dogs...unfamiliar ones. At first he thought his senses were on the fritz, until he peered in, and found Jenna sitting in the middle of six newborn pups.

"Oh, my goodness, deary!" he said. He began to bark excitedly, and run in circles. "Congratulations! They're beautiful."

"I know, aren't they?" Jenna said softly. "Do me a favor will you, and find Balto for me? I'll let you be the first to break the news to him."

"Aye! You can count on me! I'll find him." He turned around, and came running out the door, yelling, "The stork has landed! The stork has landed!"

 

***

 

"As head of the dog council of Nome," said Doc, as the other dogs gathered, "I would like to be the first to welcome the newest members of the community. Dingo, Kodiak, Saba, Nutcase, Annekay and Aleu."

The other dogs that were gathered began to cheer and howl, giving praise to Nome's new parents. It was customary for newborn pups to be welcomed by the town’s canines in this way at the start of a town meeting. Balto and Jenna stood proudly before the group with their new born pups. After the commotion died down, the meeting went underway as it normally would. This was Balto's first meeting since he was on the sled team. He sat through it, but was quiet through most of it, and tried to make his presence forgotten. He avoided being randomly called on when an issue was being discussed, by staying out of sight. At one point he even moved to the back when Jenna had the floor. In the first place, he wasn't too fond of the idea of going back to where he could be confronted by the other dogs in town about his leaving the sled team. But, Jenna had talked him into it.

After the meeting was over, Balto tried to hurry Jenna, and his pups out the door, but Doc caught him on the way out.

"Balto," he called.

Balto sighed as he turned around. "Yes," he said.

"If you don't mind, may I speak with you alone for a few minutes?"

"Uh..."

"Yes, he can," Jenna

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