to Kodiak to help him up. The other dog was winning the fight with the wolf and managed to knock the wolf to the ground, the other dog turned to face Balto. He couldn’t believe it; it was like seeing a double, the only difference was the colour of the eyes. It was another wolf-dog...

“Hi, you’re Balto right?” said the Wolf-dog. The wolf then came back to attack the wolf-dog, but the wolf-dog again got the upper hand and continued with “I’m Sam, I guess that you and I are brother’s”

Balto just stood there with shock; he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Sam as he called himself was doing a good job fighting off the wolf, the wolf then ran off back into the woods. Sam turned to Balto and walked right up close to him.

“I guess we have a lot to talk about.” Said Sam.

Dingo and Kodiak didn’t know what to think and Balto was still standing still. But somehow, Balto knew that this ‘Sam’ wasn’t lying.

Dingo and Kodiak where walking through town later that day, they where still in shock about what had happened. They didn’t know how to react to it. But Dingo’s first priority was to get his injured brother home.

“Are you sure you’re fine Kodi?” asked Dingo.

“For the third time yes, I’m fine. He caught me by surprise that’s all... I nearly...”

“Ended up getting your butt kicked, what where you doing near the woods anyway?”

“I was just walking, it’s weird I always take the route and this has never happened.” Said Kodiak.

“It’s just one of those things, if that... stranger wasn’t around dad would have saved you.” Replied Dingo

Kodiak stopped in front of Dingo.

“’Stranger’, that guy is our...”

“We don’t know who he is Kodi, for all we know he could some crazy stray” interrupted Dingo. “It’s best if we just leave it to dad okay, once it’s proved who he is then fine. I’ll welcome Uncle Sam with open arms.”

They continued to walk on back to Kodiak’s home.

“Heh, Uncle Sam... Do you get it?” said Kodiak. Dingo just looked blankly at Kodiak. “Well I thought it was funny” continued Kodiak.

Meanwhile Balto was back at his boat with Boris and Sam. Balto and Sam where sitting at opposite ends of the deck just looking at each other, however both of there expressions where blank. Boris was sat in between them both looking amazed at both of them. There was just a long awkward silence between them all, but Boris just couldn’t keep it up...

“So... erm... how are you liking Nome Sam?” said Boris who just had nothing sensible to ask.

Sam looked at Boris for a few seconds before replying.

“It’s okay, just a town you know.”

The awkward silence then resumed again, Boris knew that he had to leave them both alone now. So he just silently walked away. The Silence however was still continuing. Sam was the first to finally say something between them.

“That’s it... you’re just gonna stare at me.”

Balto still didn’t react right away. But after a few moments...

“I’m just trying to figure out something.” Said Balto.

“Figure out what?”

“Whether you’re a liar or just crazy... I know it has to be one of them.”

“Or there could be a third option, that I am who I say I am... you don’t know what this means to me Balto to finally...”

“Sorry” interrupted Balto. “I can’t do this, you better go. Thanks for... well just thanks.” Balto just walked away, but Sam went after him.

“Balto! Come on. You know I’m telling you the truth.”

“Alright! So you’re telling the truth... Where have you been? Do I have any other Brothers? Do I have Sisters? Can you even answer those questions? All I know is that I’ve been on my own most of my life, I thought I was alone... then you suddenly turn up and what? You expect me to welcome you with open arms.”

“To be honest, yes I did expect that. Because I’ve been alone all my life, just like you. If I’d known about you I would have been there with you... but I got separated from mom too when I was young.”

Balto walked closer to Sam and looked him straight in the eye.

“If you really knew mom... then what did she look like?” he asked.

“She had... she had a coat of white fur. I remember her eyes... and her voice... that warm caring voice that made you feel that everything was okay even when it wasn’t. If I am a liar as you claim, then how could I know this?” said Sam. But Balto didn’t react. “Well... I guess that’s that then.” Continued Sam. Sam then began to walk away.

Balto was about to just let him go, but something was telling him that he was his Brother and all what mattered was that he was here now and if he let him go he may never get another chance.

“Wait...” said Balto. Sam stopped and turned around to face Balto. “Do you... Do you wanna meet the rest of my family... our family?” continued Balto.

Sam just smiled and walked back over to Balto.

Dingo was waiting outside a house; he was looking at his reflection in the ice trying to tidy up his scruffy appearance. She then came out of the house, a beautiful Husky dog named ‘Rose’. She gracefully walked by Dingo...

“Good evening Dingo” she said.

Dingo’s jaw dropped slightly with a little drool trail hanging from the end, he then snapped out of it and walked after Rose.

“Hi...” he said in a high pitch tone, but coughed and put on a deeper masculine voice. “Hey Rose... how’s it going?”

“Just fine sweetie, how are you?” she replied.

“Well you know... I’m... good...” he replied. Realising how stupid he sounded he smacked his head. “So how are you?” he asked again.

“You’ve already asked me that once... tell me something, you don’t talk to girls that often do you?”

“What... of course I do... all the time in fact, ask anyone.”

“Hmm, and here I was thinking how special I am that I’m the first girl you’ve tried to ask out.”

Dingo was astonished... he kept thinking ‘How does she know?’

“Your Special! I mean... of course your special, don’t think otherwise.”

“So?” she said.

“So what?” he replied.

“Aren’t you gonna ask me out already? Or do I have to spell it out for you?”

Dingo was frozen, he didn’t know what do to.

“Okay...” she continued. “How about we meet up tomorrow night, on the shore line and take in the view.”

Dingo then started to shake, but was able to say one word...

“...yes...”

“Perfect, I’ll see you then.” She then kissed Dingo on the forehead. “You know, I could just eat you up.” She then gracefully walked away leaving Dingo still frozen on the spot.

Ralph then approached Dingo, he had seen everything.

“Was that?” asked Ralph.

“Yes” interrupted Dingo.

“And did you?” asked Ralph

“Not exactly, she asked me.”

“And did you say?”

“Of course I did... she said she was gonna eat me up... what do I do?” asked Dingo.

“I can’t help you there I’m afraid... you’re on your own.” Said Ralph who began to walk away.

Dingo was still frozen on the spot and it looked like he was going to be there for a good couple of hours.

“They seem like good kids” said Sam who was sitting back at the boat with Balto.

“They are. I’m proud of them all. I miss some of them like crazy, Saba... Aleu. I take you don’t have any...”

“No” interrupted Sam. “There hasn’t been anyone; I’m not exactly what girls want in a guy. Let’s just leave it at that. So where is this girl of yours?”

“She’s away with her adoptive family for Christmas, New York I think.”

“Must be lonely without the little woman. She you’re first love?”

“First true love? I suppose, if you believe in such a thing. But she isn’t the first girl I more than liked.... buts that’s another story.”

“No go on.” Insisted Sam.

“Her name was Jade, very pretty. I eventually asked her out, but she turned me down flat and with a lot of nasty name calling. I was new in town and you know... not her type what so ever.” Explained Balto.

“That must have hurt... still; she’s only a husky after all.”

Balto didn’t like how he said that statement.

“What the hell does that mean?” asked Balto.

“Just what it sounds.”

“Aren’t you forgetting that I’m in a relationship with one? Not to mention my kids?”

“Don’t worry about it, it’s not their fault.”

Balto was now starting to get annoyed; Sam just looked blankly at Balto like nothing was wrong.

“Not their fault?! Aren’t you forgetting about yourself?”

“Don’t remind me, it sickens me to think about it.”

“Do I sicken you? If I do then why are you here?”

“Man, what’s the big deal?”

“The ‘big’ deal is that you seem to think there’s something wrong with being part dog. You’re...”

“DON’T GIVE ME LECTURE BALTO! YOU’RE NOT MY FATHER!” He shouted.

Balto stood up and saw that Sam was in an attack position. But he then snapped out of it, and began to calm down.

“Sorry... I’m, sorry.” Said Sam, who had no exited the Boat leaving Balto looking confused about what had happened.

 Later that evening on the other side of Nome a female Husky dog was walking down the street and into an alley, she was holding a piece of butcher’s meat in her mouth. She was light brown and had green