pups bouncing and asking questions. Aleu laid down with her parents, “MAN! I should have named my pups Inquisitive, Question, and Question Mark!” Jenna, Balto and Merlin only laughed. “It’s not funny!” she barked but began laughing too. Finally the pups questions reached the point until the grown ups were getting annoyed. “Alright!” said Merlin loudly, but the pups kept right on talking. Finally, Aleu was getting upset that they were disobeying Merlin, she growled a warning and the pups quieted down a little, but kept talking. Now Aleu was angry, “ENOUGH!” she half growled half barked loudly. The pups fell silent and lowered themselves to the floor. Once Aleu calmed down she started to speak to them again. “I know you have many questions, but your also talking loudly over each other, you also happened to ignore you father when he was trying to speak to you. I think that you should apologize to him,” she said. Crescent, Lightning, and Sunset all looked at their father and cast their eyes down to the floor, “Sorry,” they chorused. Merlin calmed down too, “Its ok, but just because we discipline ya, doesn’t me that we don’t love ya,” he told them with a grin. Aleu licked them all and nuzzled them affectionately. “He’s right, I’m sorry that I got angry with you,” she said. With that said the family started talking about what they would do for Aniu’s visit.

“Would Nana Aniu go into town?” asked Merlin. “I don’t know, I think that she should be the judge of that,” replied Jenna, “What do you think Balto?” Balto cast his eyes down. Personally, he didn’t want to give the other dogs the privilege of mocking him, even with his mother around. All in all, he was a little embarrassed if she did go into town. “Well, I don’t know, I think that we should let her decide,” said Balto half-heartedly. When they finished talking, the family split up and started going home.

Steele walked up and down Nome, in search of Jenna; he finally saw her going toward the boiler room. He followed her and walked silently in. “Hello Jenna,” his deep voice said. Jenna turned suddenly and looked to see who was speaking to her. “Hello Steele,” she replied without emotion. “Jenna, you wound me with your emotionless words, perhaps you are unhappy? Perhaps you would like some company?” said Steele. Jenna only stared at him and finally said. “I am unhappy, and I would be happy if you would leave,” she said. “Oh I don’t plan on going anywhere Jenna,” said Steele. “What do you want?” “I want you Jenna.” With that, Steele jumped up and knocked her down to the floor and kissed her. “I was always craving for a second kiss,” he said. “Steele! Why did you knock her down!” barked an angry voice behind them. “ANSWER ME!” They turned to see whom the voice belonged to and it was, “KODI!” barked Jenna. “Hi mom, I see that you have returned Steele, now answer my QUESTION!” Kodi barked. Steele only stared and gawked at him. “Well, Jenna, I forgotten that you had pups, seems like he’ll be a good fighter once I get rid of Balto, once and for all!” Steele enjoyed the look of shock and fear that raced through both their eyes. He only laughed and then bent down to Jenna and whispered, “Once that mangy mutt is gone, you’ll see that he’s been all wrong for you, then you’ll be mine.” With a lightning fast kiss, Steele left.

“Who does that guy think he is!” Kodi said. I was thinking the same thing, thought Jenna. “Come on Kodi, I need to see your father about something.”

Ch: 6

Jenna and Kodi raced to Balto’s boat, she always was casting glances behind her to make sure Steele wasn’t following them. Thankfully he wasn’t. Once they reached Balto’s boat, she breathed a little easier. “Balto! Boris where’s Balto?” “Balto? Hmm, o yes, he went into town looking for you, said that it important,” honked Boris. Jenna and Kodi rushed back into town, hoping that Steele hadn’t gotten to him yet.

Jenna looked all around Nome but had no luck seeing nose or tail of Balto. She sighed and kept looking. She looked down at the snow- covered ground and saw fresh prints, two sets. She immediately recognized both of them. One set was Balto’s; the other set was Steele’s. They were leading off to the ally. Jenna followed the tracks and found Steele laughing at a very wounded Balto. In a burst of anger, Jenna leaped and knocked Steele off his paws. A surprised Steele looked to see who this new challenger was, “Jenna! Well what a lovely surprise!” said Steele. Balto groaned a little bit and turned to see whom had saved him. “Jenna!” cried Balto in surprise. Jenna turned to see him and smiled. She turned back to Steele and said, “With the way your going Steele, you never going to win my heart,” she said coldly. “Jenna, you wound me for the second time in a day. How can you ever love such a half breed?” “We may be pure breeds Steele, but Balto has something that you will never have! Figure it out!” Barked Jenna menacingly. She turned to Balto and helped him up. Steele only gawked at Jenna’s harsh words and watched them leave.

“Balto, what was so important for you to tell me?” asked Jenna. “I just needed to tell you that mom told me what form she will come as, she’ll come as her white wolf. So she’ll be easy to pick out,” said Balto happily and weakly. Jenna inspected his wounds. “Nothing life threatening Jenna, honestly, just a few cuts, slashes that’s it,” Balto assured her. But Jenna, being the loving wife and mother that she is, inspected him anyway. “Your ear’s been cut, your flank slashed, I’d say that you’ll have to stay at my house anyway.” Balto smiled and licked her on the cheek. “I wonder why Steele returned,” said Balto. “I was wondering the same thing. How did Steele get you into that ally anyway?” “He said that he was holding you hostage, I got angry and my anger blinded me from reason,” said Balto in a shameful tone. “Don’t feel so upset. Steele can really be a pain, I understand.”

Ch: 7

The birds sang the dawn chorus for the new day. Balto didn’t sleep a wink last night, being too excited to see Aniu again. He got up immediately once the first bird twittered. He knew exactly where Aniu would make her landing, Star Rock. Once he reached the rock, he was surprised to see Merlin, Aleu, the three pups, Jenna, Kodi, and Kodi’s brothers and sisters already there. Balto only laughed. “How did you know that I was going to be here?” he asked. “Aniu visited each of us during the night and told us that she would land here,” explained Aleu. Balto nodded and sat next to Jenna.

He gazed at the early morning sky and saw clouds rapidly forming. He knew that she was coming. He looked at the dawning sun to see that it had just arisen above the horizon and the eclipse was starting. The clouds started swirling around and around until they suddenly stopped and all was calm. “Well, I was expecting something a little more dramatic,” said Balto. “Nothing needs to have drama, in order for it to be special,” said a voice behind them. Aleu, Merlin, the three pups, Kodi, his brothers and sisters, Jenna, and Balto all turned to see who was the speaker. They turned to see… “MOTHER!!!” Balto cried! He ran to Aniu with such joy that he suddenly stopped, realizing that she was a spirit, he couldn’t feel her, no matter how much he wanted to.

Aniu gazed at him lovingly and walked over to him and hugged him. I can feel her! He thought suddenly. “It feels so good to see you, without being in spirit form, I mean.” Aleu stepped forward and cleared her throat. “Grandma Aniu, thank you, for saving my life, and in gratitude, I am willing to give you a place to stay in my pack’s den,” she said. Aniu accepted and looked at all of them. She gazed at them lovingly as she always did when she watched them. “May I show you around mom?” asked Balto. Aniu nodded, too happy to speak. Jenna stepped forward and sat down next to Aniu. “Welcome to Alaska, Aniu,” she said. “Balto has chosen well, you are a perfect match,” Aniu replied looking at Jenna tenderly. Balto blushed at this.

As they all were heading back to Balto’s boat, Lighting, Crescent, and Sunset were asking their questions. “My, what inquisitive children! Well, first, I wasn’t actually there, it was my spirit; I’ll explain when you’re a little older. Second, I loved you enough that I had to come and see you,” she said. Sunset stopped short. “What is it child?” asked Aniu. “You mean, you’re a… a… ghost?” Aniu laughed and shook her head. “No, I am a spirit. Look at it this way. Ghosts are souls of animals and people that cant let go of earth yet, sometimes never. Spirits are more like guardians, we watch out for our families, try and see what is going on.”

They finally reached the boat after 25 minutes. “So tell me Aniu, how exactly… erm… did you die?” asked Jenna. “Well, I don’t know exactly, I really don’t remember. All I really remember is a hunt. Suddenly there was a stampede and Balto and I got separated. I went wild looking for him and suddenly I blacked out. The next thing I knew, I was in