"You're always welcome with us, Balto," she said solemnly. "But, from now on, we won't try to stop you from leaving our house anymore. This place is your home too. So, we're not going to keep you from it. We won't tell anyone else about it. Your secret is safe with us." She patted his head, and a few words were exchanged between the two humans, before they left. When they did, Boris turned to Balto.

"So," Boris began, "You were about to say, before we were ah-interrupted?"

"Well, you heard what she said," Balto replied. "They're not going to try and keep me there...I've got two homes now."

Boris began to smile, knowing what Balto meant. He loved his new family, but indeed his old home as well, too much to let it go. Boris knew Balto wanted to live with Jenna, but he was going to split time between his two homes.

***

"He'll come," Star protested, "You'll see. I talked to him a few nights ago. He'll come."

"Sure he will!" said Nikki, as he rolled over, trying to make himself comfortable on the hay covered floor of the barn. "We've been tryin' to find, and reason wit' dat mutt for all dis time."

"Yeah," Kaltag added. "Like suddenly he's gonna change his mind because'a some garbage you told him, last night."

“Listen guys, I know you think I’m nuts. But, I really had a deep talk with Balto. I’ve just got a gut feeling he’ll listen to what I said. I just know he’ll come back. I just know it!”

"You're darn right," a voice said. All the dogs in the room turned to see Balto bolting through the door. They all gasped in surprise.

“Balto!” Star exclaimed.

"I don’t believe it," Kaltag said.

"Hey guys," Balto replied with a smile.

"What're you's doin' here?" Nikki asked sharply.

"Yeah, what's da' big idea showin' up all of a sudden afta’ everything that you did?" Kaltag demanded.

"Hey, just listen to him!" Star spoke up. The commotion died down as Balto cleared his throat.

"He's got something to say," Togo said.

"Guys, I wanted to tell you how sorry I am," Balto began, "I know I let you all down before."

"Let us down!" Nikki boomed.

"Heh! That's the understatement of the century," Kaltag added. "That was the most devious, the most treacherous, the most low-down-"

"HEY!" Star broke in. All the dogs looked at him in surprise. Kaltag seemed to be the most stunned. "He's trying to apologize!" Star said angrily. He motioned to Balto as if to tell him to go on.

"You're right, Kaltag," Balto said. "Everything you say is true. Back when Steele ran away, you guys needed a leader. And at the time, you gave me the honor of letting me be it. But, I did the worst thing I could do. I led you to believe I'd do it, and then I fled. I was scared by the amount of pressure put on me. It was wrong, and you've got every right in the world to be angry with me." He looked up, half expecting them all to break out in commotion. Surprisingly, no one did, and all the dogs in the room seemed to be giving him sincere looks. He had their attention. "Being a sled dog is something I've always wanted to do," Balto continued, "and you guys made that dream a reality for me. But, I wasn't used to the spotlight. I felt like there was no way I could ever handle it...I was wrong. I understand now. This is what I'm meant to do. So, if you guys can find it within yourselves to forgive me, I'd like to come back to your team."

Everyone whispered amongst themselves. They had never expected this. Five minutes ago, they were a struggling team with little hope for the future, and now a twist of fate had come out of the blue. But was it right to accept it?

"Are you serious about all this, Balto?" Togo asked.

"I couldn't be surer of it," Balto replied.

"And you’re planning on staying this time?"

"I wouldn't be here if I wasn’t," Balto said.

Just then, the musher came around the corner. "All right boys," he said. "Time to..." he froze, stunned by who he saw in the pen with his other dogs. "I don't believe it!" he said.

Balto walked up to him with a smile on his face, and jumped on his hind legs to greet him.

The musher put his hands out to hold Balto's forepaws. "Well, I uh...guess I'm happy too see you too boy," he said. Then he began to remember what happened before. "Wait. You ran off on me!" He pushed Balto back down. "Now what are you doing back?"

Balto softened his eyes, sensing the musher’s anger. Looking around, he noticed a sled in the corner barn, and walked over to it. He slowly got into the harness, and looked at the musher hopefully. "You want to be on my team again? Is that it?" He walked over towards Balto with a harsh tone in his voice. "How do I know I can trust you? I've had enough with my dogs leaving on me!" Balto didn't move. He stayed in the harness, still giving the musher this pleading look, and began to whine. "Forget it!" the musher said, throwing his hands up in the air. "I'm not going to put up with this anymore." He started to walk away, and was about to leave the barn, until he noticed Star had walked up, and climbed into the harness behind Balto. The musher stopped to observe, with a puzzled look. Then Togo did the same. Then Nikki, then Kaltag, and soon the whole team was behind Balto.

"So, made up, have we?" the musher said. He realized they all wanted him to give Balto another chance. They all were backing him, and pleading the same as he was. The musher began to smile. "Well, I guess I can't say no to that," he said, putting on his coat, with an eager expression on his face. When he finished he went to open the barn door. "Come on boys," he said finally. "Let's go!" The dogs smiled and wagged their tails, and began to bark happily as the musher led them outside.

Chapter 14: Lead Dog

Nome, Alaska

Winter's End 1928

"Come on, Uncle Boris!" Kodi said as he came barreling through the alleys of town. Boris was holding on to Kodi's tail for dear life with his wing.

"Kodi, will you slow down!" Boris yelled as he stumbled and tripped with nearly every step. Things didn't get any better for Boris as Kodi quickly rounded a sharp corner, and sent Boris flying. He let out a yell, and was tossed helplessly into a pile of garbage cans. Kodi stopped, and looked back in time to see Boris pulling himself out of the pile, apparently dazed from the impact.

"Sorry about that," Kodi said, as he picked Boris up by the head, and without another word, took off running again. Boris startled babbling on about something, but it was impossible to make out, inside Kodi's mouth. Kodi finally stopped, and put Boris down as he reached an intersection. He looked around for a second, trying to figure out which way to go. It was then that a bright white flare, a great distance away, but still clear as day, caught his attention in the sky above. "Hey, it's the two mile mark! Come on Uncle Boris," he said urging Boris along, “my dad's team is ahead. We don't want to miss the finish." Before Boris could respond, Kodi pushed him towards the entrance to another alley that was seemingly blocked by a pile of crates. "We need to get over this," Kodi exclaimed.

Boris shook his head. "But, how do you expect to-WHOAAAAAHHHH!!" Kodi had suddenly pushed Boris up with his muzzle, and literally thrown him towards the top of the pile. Boris found himself spinning in mid-air after flying into the crates, and then crashing down on the other side. Kodi then gracefully jumped over the pile himself, and landed right in front of Boris. Boris yelped as Kodi suddenly came down, just missing him. When he recovered he sighed in relief to find that they had reached the street, where all the spectators were. Kodi casually walked up to the side of the street in between two people to see. Boris followed, dusting himself off, annoyed by Kodi's "joy run" through the streets.

"You know, you're just like your father was at your age!" Boris said. "Whenever dhere's a race, you run around like you’re in it!"
"And one day I will be," Kodi said. "Just like my dad."

Boris was a little annoyed at first, but then started to chuckle. “Somehow, I tink you will, Kodi,” he said.

"Kodi, over here!" Annie shouted out. She, and her other brothers and sisters had saved a spot for Kodi right near the finish line. Kodi rushed over to join his siblings.

***

"Balto, we're not gonna make it!" Star yelled out. They were running neck and neck with another team, and were coming up on a tight squeeze in a valley.

"Yes we will!" Balto protested. "Come on. Mush!" He was running with everything he had now, and the rest of the team was struggling to keep up with him. "We can do this! Give it all you got. Come on!" Soon, the whole team found their adrenaline rush, and started pulling the sled harder than they ever had before. As they neared the narrow opening in the valley, their sled had been pulled so far forward, only the front of the other team's line of dogs was still beside it. Realizing they weren't going to be able to make it through, the other team's lead dog tried to slow down. But, this only caused