child, still in a sense of eager happiness, returned her brother’s gesturing wave as he and his young owner vanished from their sight. 

More hours passed by as the sun completed its daily arc in the sky. The clouds were grayish-black, saturated with a purple and red hue from the setting star. A few birds chirped a lullaby as they flew within the heaven’s ever-changing canvas and over the tiny city. The town streets, once scattered with humans and their offspring, were now empty in the early twilight hour.

With exception for that one open wooden box with the two dogs sitting beside it. 

The female husky was all cried out at the moment, but her mate’s thoughts almost seemed to trouble her back to tears. The male glanced back into the box, sighing as if he knew this was to happen. Their mousy-brown daughter was fast asleep, constantly adjusting her legs every few minutes or so; her excitement to find a human to call her own and watching her five other siblings find their new homes wore her to severe exhaustion and soon into a state of comforting sleep. She had no idea why no one took her home at first, but her parents knew at soon as she was pushed into the bright light of life.

The male, knowing that it was hopeless to stay any longer, lowered his head in defeat. “It’s been a long day, Jenna. Let’s go home.” 

The female was shocked that he would actually give up so soon. She had to try to change his mind, for she knew that every pup should have a fair chance at finding a home. “But we can’t,” Jenna quickly glanced at her firstborn then turned to her mate with concern, reminding him of the reason why they had sat on watch by the box since morning light in the first place. “Well, not until a human adopts Aleu.”

The half-breed let out another sigh. He hated it whenever she became persistent. He had no choice but to tell the purebred husky something that he would dare not to ever tell the sleeping child . . . something that would completely break her heart. 

“Face it, Jenna. Aleu looks more like a wolf than me.”

The male’s next words made the husky lower her ears in rage. 

“No human is ever going to want her.”

She felt as if her heart was about to burst as she gasped at the hybrid’s strong words. This was not the wolf-dog that she had fallen in love with . . . this wasn’t him! Sure, she knew that Aleu looked like a wolf, but that didn't mean that she wouldn't find a home! Thoughts of her own childhood seemed to quickly flash in her mind as she remembered her own mother telling her that every pup has a destined human that they are meant to be with. Her ears slightly began to rise from her head, showing her sudden calmness. 

“That’s not true!” She tried her best not to yell, but it blurted from her lips in that way. She lowered her voice, hoping to not wake up Aleu, unless she woke up already. “We’ll just have to keep trying.”

How could the hybrid say “No” to her “Never-give-up” attitude? He again lowered his head in defeat, knowing that he couldn’t fight the purebred’s determination, but he still knew that it was hopeless.  

She knew it may be impossible for their wolf-like daughter to find a human right now, but perhaps . . . maybe later? She shook the thought from her head, knowing well that the longer it took for Aleu to find a home, the more likely she was to remain an outcast stray, doomed to live the remainder of her days as a street dog.

“One more hour, Balto,” The burgundy purebred quietly murmured into the air after a few moments of silence. The rough-furred hybrid’s eyes grew large at the sound of her almost monotone voice. He was, as his mate and remaining daughter both were also, tired from the day’s excitement. If it took any longer for Aleu’s destined human to wean her from her parent’s protection, it would be hopeless. But somehow, the male hero understood the husky’s request. 

“All right, Jenna,” he gave in to her offer. “We’ll give her one more hour, and then we take her straight home. Agreed?”

The husky said not a word; she only nodded her head slightly, allowing the upcoming moonrise to close their daughter’s window of ever finding a human. 

Their daughter remained in her sleeping state for the next half-hour as each passing human was greeted with happy barks of friendship and greetings. There weren’t many that passed them by – only about twenty of them in thirty minutes – but some of them did stop to pet the proud couple and take a second glance at their lonely child.

Some quickly noticed her markings and wild resemblance, making quick judgment on the dreaming pup. I suppose it was a good thing that she couldn’t hear their words . . . 

“That pup looks like its father – we can’t have a pup that might turn on us.”

“Yeah, she looks a bit too wolfish, don’t you think?” 

Others bypassed her looks and thought about her possible linage, as if to think Aleu was destined to be great.

“Hmm, with a heroic father and a beautiful mother, this one’s bound for greatness . . .” 

“I betcha she’s fast . . . I mean, with Balto’s speed and Jenna’s husky pedigree and all.”

But the majority of people had other excuses on why they wouldn’t adopt the pup. 

“Oh, geez. I think I’m al-al-aller – ah-CHOOOOOOO! *sniff* Maybe I should get a goldfish instead . . .”

“Another dog? We have too many dogs to feed already! I don’t think it would be wise to have another mouth to feed . . .” 

“I don’t like dogs. They’re too messy . . . and they drink out of the toilet! Eww, gross . . . She is cute though, I have to admit.”

Hopes were fading quickly as the moon was starting to crest over the eastern horizon, allowing only a few more minutes until the adoption deadline was met.  Mother and Father nuzzled, knowing that when it was officially evening, Aleu would have to live in a world without ever having a human . . . and with the threat of her learning the truth about why that would never happen. It made them wonder as the last passing townspeople stared at them and their daughter, continuing to shun her from their attention: 

What human could ever love a wolf . . . or even a dog that is only 25% wolf that actually looks and acts more wolf than she knows herself? Does such a soul even exist?

Then as if sent from the heavenly assembly themselves, that one soul stood in front of the box slowly reading the words written on a nailed piece of white paper. 

“F-f-free . . . p-p-pups . . . to . . . g-g-good . . . h-h-homes . . .” A young girl’s voice stammered out in a small voice as she squatted closer to the ground in order to speak out the message.

She was about three and half feet tall, just a little bit taller than Jenna’s master was. Her face was a tad bit chubby from her cheeks, but her bright green-hazel eyes and charming smile were perfectly accented by her short brown hair that almost brushed against her shoulders. By her looks, she must have been an American-born child, since most children in town were of local Inuit birth. Her physique was slender, although she was covered by a heavy coat and pants, a pair of dark boots, a furred hood, and a soft leather pair of mittens.  

The girl let out a high-pitched squeal of joy, one that suddenly woke the light brown pup from her nap, and ran to about halfway across the street. “I did it! Daddy, Daddy, I read the words!” She began to motion her father to the box that held a yawning bundle within. “Come here, Daddy! See what I read!”

A gruff, almost hoarse voice grew louder as the tall figure began to approach the young girl. "Joanie! Don't run around so much. You could hurt yourself." 

The girl’s guardian was tall, indeed! He looked to be in his late forties, with short black hair and a short mustache underneath his nose. His clothing was like everyone else’s: a long coat made of brown leather and fur, a floppy hat, and heavy pants and short boot shoes. By his build, Joanie’s father was pretty normal, especially when compared to the other males of the town. His glove-less fingers were firmly wrapped around a dark pipe; its smoke was now smothered, but it would soon be relit and filled with tobacco in a matter of twenty more minutes.

Joanie trotted happily to her father, approaching him with a smile. “Sorry, Daddy. I just wanted you to see the sign that I read!” She clutched onto one of his warm hands and began to lead him to the corner where the box and the watching dogs from both within it and beside it. 

Inside the box, Aleu, after being woken up by the loud noise of the child’s happy wail, stood up with a yawn and looked at her father. “Papa, it’s so late. I will get a human today, right?”

The purebred and the hybrid stared at each other for a quick moment then both looked back at the curious pup. “Not tonight, it seems. We’ll be leaving in a few minutes, Aleu,” the grizzly wolf-dog scratched his body with his hind leg as he sat. “The moon’s rising and it’s almost your bedtime.”  

“But, Papa . . .” Aleu began to whine. “I’m too excited to sleep! I want to sleep in my master’s bed tonight!” She giggled as she began to bark and prance around the small space that she had been in since that morning.

“Aleu, calm down,” Balto tried to get her to keep it down, especially since both he and Jenna knew what she did when she got too happy. “Aleu –”  

It was then, at the climax of her pleasure-filled thoughts and wishes that she couldn’t help it. It just came out . . . not loudly, but it was enough to cause anything with ears to stand almost paralyzed at the almost melodious sound.

“Ahhhwwoooo . . .” 

Instinctively, Jenna scolded the howling daughter with an accidentally heavy nip on the ear. “Aleu, that’s quite enough.” She looked back at Balto, knowing that they’ve stayed long enough. They both nodded their heads in