called Aleu. Star Dust nodded and took off.

Star Dust flew with all his might. He finally found the hilltop that Balto and Merlin were sitting on. “Senors! I’ve found them! Not far from here, about 3 and a half miles. Senora Aleu asks that you bring food, her daughter Crescent is very thin,” reported Star Dust. “Thank you very much. How can we ever repay you?” asked Merlin. “No thanks necessary, just helping is reward enough.”

Balto and Merlin ran a mile then started walking. Merlin couldn’t turn off his mind, he kept thinking. The sun was setting and he thought of Sunset. Please Aniu, please keep my family safe! “What’s on your mind Merlin?” “Sunset, I’m just worried about her.” “Well the sun is setting, and it looks like some snow is coming our way. We better take shelter soon. But Balto was wrong, no snow came, but Steele and Raccoon did. As Balto and Merlin slept, Steele and Raccoon looked at each other. They understood the other’s gaze and took them by the scruff of the neck and began to drag them off.

Star Dust continued to fly and when he saw his friends being dragged off, he gave an ear splitting screech! But it wasn’t enough to wake either of them. Thinking that it was hopeless, Star Dust looked for something small for Crescent to eat. He was a bug hunter, but in this case, he would make an exception to help poor Crescent survive.

The next morning, Aleu awoke to see Steele and Raccoon dragging Balto and Merlin over to them. The sun shown through the cave entrance enough for her to see that Jenna was already awake. “You see what I see? Or am I dreaming. Please tell me that I’m dreaming a horrible nightmare!” said Aleu. “Unfortunately for both of us, we’re not dreaming. That really is…BALTO! STEELE WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HIM!” “Nothing yet Jenna. But if you don’t run with me, I’ll see to it that he is killed!” “Oh no you wont!” said a voice from behind them. Raccoon and Steele turned to see… Jupiter, Sunset, and Kodi. All in a row, standing behind them. They all had a special fire in their eyes. They all stepped aside to let a white wolf pass by. By then, Balto and Merlin awoke.

Ch: 10

Before they could speak, everyone’s jaws dropped in awe… because standing before them… was none other than… Aniu herself. “Let my son go!” she said with a growl. “And who are you!” Steele barked back. “I am Aniu, I am not only a spirit wolf, I am a guardian of all of my family; past, present, and future. I am also mother of Balto, grandmother of Aleu and Kodi, and great grandmother of Aleu’s three pups.” Balto stood up with her, Jenna stood with him, Aleu with them, and her pups with her. Balto spoke first. “I am Balto, son of Aniu and mate of Jenna, father of Aleu and grandfather of her three pups.” “I am Kodi, grandson of Aniu, brother of Aleu, and uncle of her three pups.” “I am Jupiter, friend of Aleu.” “I am Merlin, mate of Aleu and father of her three pups.” “I am Jenna, mate of Balto, mother of Aleu, and grandmother of her three pups.” “I am Aleu, granddaughter of Aniu, mate of Merlin, daughter of Jenna and Balto, and mother of my three pups.” “I am Lightning, great grandson of Aniu, grandson of Balto and Jenna, and son of Merlin and Aleu.” “I am Crescent, great granddaughter of Aniu, granddaughter of Jenna and Balto, and daughter of Aleu and Merlin.” “And I am Sunset, great granddaughter of Aniu, granddaughter of Balto and Jenna, and daughter of Aleu and Merlin.”

With these words, Aniu’s strength grew and she stepped forward and slapped and nipped them both soundly. “You can never make someone love you! If you ever do this to my family again, I’ll see to it that you are punished. BADLY!” barked Aniu, she stepped back and looked at both of them with a deadly fire in her eyes.

Raccoon and Steele stood, awe struck. But Raccoon, being the stubborn wolf that he is, stepped boldly out and said, “Aleu and I will be together!” And with that he jumped up and aimed for Aleu’s head to knock her out. But Merlin stepped in front of her. He knocked Raccoon out of the air and smacked Raccoon on the muzzle. “That was for pup napping my pups!” Merlin bit Raccoon on the flank hard and Raccoon cried out in pain. “That was for dog napping my mate!” Thinking that his part of justice was served, Merlin got off Raccoon who looked up at him in terror.

Steele stepped forward and grabbed Jenna by her bandanna. Balto knocked Steele’s feet from under him. “That was for dog napping Jenna.” Balto struck Steele so hard that Steele went numb from his shoulder down to his paw. “That was for dog napping my daughter!” Balto struck Steele again, this time at the face. “That was for dog napping my grand pups!” Balto was about to strike again until Aniu held him back. “Son, he doesn’t deserve to die. Your justice has been served,” she said. With that, Kodi, who snorted at the two, followed the others outside. Aniu sat down and looked at her family. The three great grand pups walked up to her, and hugged her. “Thank you, Nana Aniu,” they said with love. Aniu smiled and lifted her nose to the early morning sky and howled. Aleu, Merlin, the three pups, Balto, Kodi, Jupiter, and even Jenna joined in. Aniu’s spirit was carried away by the wind. “I will always be watching you. All of you,” she said as the wind whispered through the trees.

Star Dust watched the entire thing and was in awe of what just happened. He cleared his voice and said. “Senorita Crescent, are you hungry?” Crescent looked all around but saw nobody, who had that voice. Star Dust just laughed and said, “Up here Senorita.” Crescent looked up and saw Star Dust, he also had a squirrel in his claws. He flew down and dropped it at her paws. She gobbled it up and thanked him. “I should be thanking all of you. You helped me by keeping me from having that horrible fate,” said Aleu. “You too Star Dust, I should thank you too. You saved our lives, my daughter’s life. You are more than welcome to stay at the cave as long as you need to.” Star Dust began to weep from this happy news and gratitude.

They all looked at the sky and there, in the clouds, was the face of Aniu, watching over all of them.

I know that Raccoon is a stubborn wolf, he’ll probably think of something else to dognap me again, she thought. You too Aniu, Thank you.