us, and the dogs in back got hurt pretty bad. They could've been killed," Star said.

"Is that right?" Balto asked in surprise.

Star continued to explain to him how every dog on the team had made a critical mistake at some point, more than once in some cases. These instances even happened during races, while the team was winning. Such mistakes caused them to lose. "Yeah, every one of us has had a bad screw-up," Star continued. "It was your first day, Balto. You didn't know what you were doing. You were bound to mess up."

"Wow, all of that happened?" Balto began to think that maybe he had made a mistake. He shouldn't have given up so soon. He felt compassionate towards Star at this moment. During his time with the team, he didn't really think too much of this little guy. Now, he realized just how noble he really was. Star had always taken a lot of abuse on the team, but it didn't stop him from being all he could be. "How'd a little guy like you become the team swing dog anyway?" Balto asked.

"Well, our musher always saw how determined I was," Star replied. "I was the little guy on the team with 'the big heart' as he always put it. I've always been pushed around a lot, but I never stopped trying. He decided that's what he needed as a backup leader. Someone who was determined, and never stopped trying."

"Wow..." Balto said. He knew for sure now that he was wrong to leave the team. He had never felt so much regret in his life.

"You never answered my question," Star implied. "Where are you off to?"

"To find my daughter," Balto explained. "She's out in the wild somewhere."

"What's she doing out there?" Star asked.

"I don't know," Balto replied. "She's over a year old now, and she still hasn't been adopted by a human family because...well, it's not important. But, she ran off, and seems to think something's calling out to her."

"Maybe she's right," Star replied. "Why don't you just let her go?"

"Well," said Balto. "I've got a bad feeling something's going to happen to her. I just want to know she's okay."

"Well, I hope nothing happens to you on the way," Star said.

"I'll be fine," Balto said, starting to walk away.

"Wait, Balto," Star called to him. Balto turned his head around to listen. "When you return," he continued, "will you come back to the team, and be our lead dog?"

Balto was silent for a minute. "I..."

"You know it's not too late," Star said.

"I know, but what about the musher and the rest of the team?" Balto inquired. "They're not just going to take me back."

"I have a feeling they will a lot more easily than you may think," Star said.

"Well..." Balto did wish that he hadn't left the team, but he wasn't sure if he had the confidence to face them again. "I'll think about it," he finally said.

"We'll be waiting for you," Star replied, as Balto ran off...

Balto started off on the journey, finding Aleu's trail once again. On his way, he encountered several strange creatures...a raven, a fox, a pack of wolverines, and he finally found Aleu upon encountering a bear. After narrowly escaping, the two of them set out, eventually finding a wolf pack...