scratching the trees in order to mark the path. I followed his marks all night. This was the first time I'd ever been out on my own, and it felt pretty good; I felt just like my wolf ancestors. At this time, I felt that there was nothing I could not do.

I found Balto about noon the next day, and I did not arrive a moment too soon; a large bear was attacking Nome's only hope. I lunged myself toward the grizzly and managed to distract it long enough for Balto to slip away. Things would only grow worse as he had slid down a hill, and landed on a lake covered by only a relatively thin layer of ice. That bear was determined to destroy him as he gave pursuit down the hill; all I could do then was watch. I was frozen with fear as I looked at that heavy bear hit the ice, causing it to crack; I kept hoping and praying that my Balto wouldn't fall into that freezing cold water, and when he did, I went ballistic. I ran down to the lake, and watched as the two polar bear cubs, Muk and Luk attempted a rescue; it did not help to hear Boris tell me that they couldn't swim.

There was nothing left to do, but hope for a miracle. I was overjoyed to see them emerge with Balto; I began to run enthusiastically toward them, not realizing I had hurt my paw in the battle with the bear. Balto was not out of the woods yet though, as he was still unconscious and not breathing. We all watched anxiously as Boris tried to bring him back to life; the feeling of relief I felt after Balto came back was beyond description. My feminine instincts then took over I as saw him lying there shivering; I just had to help warm him up. As always, his first concern was of my condition, not his own. As he began to stand up, I placed my paw on his back and gently pushed him back down; I then carefully rested my body on his back so that he might regain some of his lost body heat. After a while, I stood up and prepared to continue the journey along side him. I may have been mentally ready, but not physically as my injury had begun to show. Trying to be unselfish like Balto, I told everyone to just leave me there and continue on. Besides, I had helped him by freeing him from the bear, warming his cold body after the fall, and passing him the vital message about the blocked Eagle Pass. I realized that Balto was the only hope Nome's children had, and if I had to give my life to help him out, than so be it. I should have known that Balto would not have permitted me to make such a sacrifice. He proceeded to order Boris, Muk, and Luk to carry me back home while he continued the journey alone. Knowing this may be my last chance to express my love for him, I staggered over to him, gave him my favorite bandanna, and nuzzled his neck; he then promised me that he would return to Nome with the medicine. I looked into his eyes and saw his determination, and I knew that the fates of Rosy and the other children were in good paws.

All the way back, I kept thinking about him tracking the lost sled team containing a group of dogs that were not exactly fond of him. "Hopefully this team will notice his good motives for making the quest and accept his help", I thought to myself. However, it did not help my confidence to see Steele show up alone the next day with his tragic stories depicting the demise of each member of the team, and how Balto had met a tragic end trying to be hero after a fall off a cliff. Steele's tears over these so called incidents told me another story. He was too conceited to shed tears over the loss of another, and he would never have cried over the loss of Balto, a canine he simply loathed. I refused to believe him; not even his returning of my bandanna was enough proof of his story's truthfulness to me. Steele had made up the whole thing. "Balto's alive and he's coming home", I then announced to the crowed assembled in the boiler room. Steele had sold the entire town, including the humans, that all hope was now lost. This was most evident outside the telegraph office, as the lantern lit to symbolize the town's hope had all but been extinguished. There was only one individual left in town that believed all would turn out fine; yours truly, Jenna; I knew my true love would not let me down. I grabbed a lantern and made my way up a small hill just outside town, and after rearranging some broken bottles on top of the hill, I created my own Northern Lights, just as Balto had done to symbolize his love for me earlier in that dark and dreary place underneath the infirmary. These lights would guide him back home.

After creating my light display, I resumed my vigil at Rosy's bedside hoping that Balto would be home in time, as her condition continued to grow worse. The next day and a half seemed like an eternity; the minutes seemed to pass by like molasses in December. "Oh my dear, sweet Balto, where are you? Rosy and I really need you", I kept saying to myself. After awhile, I had begun to give up hope; maybe Steele was right, maybe my Balto had perished. It took all my strength to hold back the tears; I had to be strong for Rosy and her family.

That night, just as I was about to nod off, I heard a very welcoming sound; the sound of a wolf howling in the night. There was no doubt in my mind whose howl it was, my true love had returned with the medicine. I began to bark enthusiastically, and all those in the hospital knew exactly why; they too had begun to hear the team as it rapidly approached town. I rose from my vigil and dashed outside to watch as this heartbroken town awoke with new life and as the lantern outside the telegraph office was relit. I stood in the shadows for several minutes, watching as the people of Nome crowded around my Balto to give him their thanks and gratitude, and as Boris, Muk, and Luk came to hug, kiss, and even lick him. He deserved all this attention after everything he'd been through. Then, something unexpected happened, Rosy's dad came out of the hospital, and after patting him on the head, instructed my Balto to follow him into the hospital to see Rosy; another human had seen through the wolf's clothing and into his good heart. I really wanted nothing more than to thank Balto for everything, but there was one more in front of me, my dear Rosy, the only human in town who had always trusted him. I stood there in the door way watching them, and it brought a smile to my face to see her embrace him. That was it, I wouldn't wait any longer; I wanted him now. I casually said, "mm hmm", and batted my eyes at him. I jumped for joy as he called my name and ran towards me. When the running and jumping had stopped, I looked him straight in the eye, and began to rub my head against his neck; with these actions, I was trying to tell him that I loved him, I would always be there for him, and that he was the only one for me. After that, it was an honor to escort him to the porch of the infirmary where a standing ovation from the town's grateful citizens was waiting for him.

From that day forward, Balto no longer lived in fear nor was ashamed to be half wolf. I loved him for the kind, sweet, caring, unselfish, and even handsome canine he was. Several months later, I talked him into having puppies with me. Well, that concludes my story. Although he still lives in that old boat, maybe becoming a father will help to change his mind about settling down. I will conclude by saying that even if he does not change his mind, he'll always be my Balto, and how many girls can call an actual hero their own, especially one as sweet as mine…

THE END