stones into a pool of water and a small stream. Before Jenna could say a word, Balto lifted his head and howled. From behind the waterfall, a silver wolf emerged. Padding down the stone path towards them, he called,

“Balto, I was wondering if you’d ever visit.” As he stopped in front of him, Jenna took a step closer.

“Jenna,” Balto said, “This is my good friend Echo.”

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Miss Jenna. Balto’s told me much about you, and I can see why he likes you so much.” Jenna blushed and smiled at him. As she looked behind him, concern rose in her voice.

“Are you…alone?” Echo smiled.

“Not at all, my mate would have come, too, but she is near her time. However, I believe she and my pack would like to meet you two. Come.”

He led Balto and Jenna up the stone path into a large cave behind the falls. Though the entryway was slippery, the interior was warm and inviting. Far back in the cave, Echo stopped and turned. “Welcome to our home.” His voice resounded from the walls around them and several wolves stepped forward. A younger light brown male eyed them suspiciously.

“Echo,” he said, “who are these two?” Echo smiled and replied,

“Good friends of mine. May I introduce Balto and Miss Jenna.”

“Name’s Resco,” the light brown male replied. He pointed to each of his siblings. “My sister Nevia,” A white female smiled and bowed. “and my brothers Gunther and Milo.” Two brown twins nodded and smiled. “Over there’s the rest of the pack. I’ll let them introduce themselves.” At this, another white wolf stepped forward.

“My name is Krystal,” she said, putting her paw on a black wolf’s shoulder, “and this is my brother Rorek.” She pointed to two a black female and a white male standing behind them. “And my parents Kikki and Treffen.” Meanwhile, Milo noticed Jenna and whispered to Gunther,

“Man, what a prize! Have you ever seen a red wolf before?”

“No, but God, look at her!” Echo, Balto, and Jenna overheard Gunther’s comment. Jenna blushed and Balto smiled and shook his head.

“She’s not a wolf,” he said. Resco’s eyes widened.

“You’re joking.”

“It’s true, I’m a husky,” Jenna admitted. Rorek turned to his twin.

“Echo wasn’t lying! They’re really…”

“So it seems,” Keene smiled. Balto and Jenna were slightly confused.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” asked Balto.

“Nothing,” Nevia said, a smile growing on her face, “But since our pup hood we have been told that wolves and dogs should never interact, let alone fall in love with each other.”

“Yes,” Resco added, “The other packs would never believe us if we told them and if the Cold Mountain wolves saw you together there might even be trouble.” Balto and Jenna exchanged worried looks. “But,” Milo continued, “You will always be welcome here.”

“Indeed you shall be,” a warm voice added. All eyes turned to the back of the cave. An older silver female, closer to Echo’s age, padded slowly towards them and the rest stepped aside to let her through. She stopped before them and a kindness reflected in her eyes as she spoke, “My name is Vella, and I’m glad to finally meet the both of you. Echo’s told me much about you, Balto. How you saved an entire human town by rescuing a group of dogs who hardly acknowledged your existence. Naturally, most wolves would frown on such an act, but I hardly believed my own ears when I heard why you really did it; just to prove yourself to the one you loved.” Jenna looked to Balto and he smiled sheepishly. “You will always be welcome here, my friends.”

“Here, here!” the wolves cheered. Resco and Nevia welcomed Balto and Jenna as honorary members of the pack, smiling broadly. Suddenly, Vella gasped and collapsed to the ground. Echo ran to her side.

“Vella, what is it?” Rather than answer, she looked into his eyes, and instantly knew the answer. Turning to the others, he said,

“Quickly! We must leave now!” Vella smiled at Balto and Jenna as they followed the rest out of the cave and began reciting an old tale in her head as the pain in her stomach intensified.

“Echo,” Balto said as they arrived at the base of the falls, “what’s going on?”

“My mate’s time has come, and no one, not even I, am allowed to witness the miracle of birth.” Balto nodded.

“Then we should go, Jenna; your humans must be worried.”

“Be careful, my friends,” Echo called after them, “Not everyone in these woods would welcome the marriage of a wolf and a husky.”

“Remember, Balto!” Resco cried, “You and Jenna are welcome any day!” The pack howled and Balto and Jenna joined the chorus of new friendship. As they walked away, Jenna turned to Balto.

“So how long have you and Echo been friends?”

“He and his pack had lived here long before I ever came. I just bumped into him by pure coincidence. We became friends and his parents sort of adopted me for a while. Then they had to leave to find more abundant food. I stayed behind. They only returned this past summer.” He laughed. “Even thought it had been a while, I didn’t expect for him to be leader.” He stopped laughing. “His parents both died of old age, but they were happy.”

“They adopted you? What about your parents, Balto?” Jenna immediately regretted asking when she saw the anguish in his eyes.

“I don’t know much about my mom, but I do remember that she was as white as snow. And she had this voice…” He shook his head and looked away. Jenna stepped closer.

“Balto?”

“The last time I saw her was in a small den somewhere. She told me that she had to leave me. I didn’t understand. When she got up, I tried to follow her, but she held me back. She put her paw on my head and said, ‘Where your path will take you I cannot go. Be strong, my son.’ Then everything went blank; I don’t remember where she went or what happened.” He sat on his haunches as silent tears flowed down his face. “I hardly even knew her.” Jenna felt her heart wrench as she watched him.

“Oh Balto, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to-”

“It’s alright, you didn’t know.” Jenna nuzzled his neck and looked at him, concern reflecting in her eyes. Balto smiled. “Come on, we better keep going if we want to get you home before dark.” The two padded off together as the sun waned on the horizon. Soon, the lights of Nome were in their sight. Balto paused by his boat, looking at the sky. Jenna took notice.

“Balto, what is it?”

“It’s still light out. Would you like to come in for dinner?”

“Well…” Jenna looked towards Nome.

“If it’s too much trouble,” Balto added hastily, “I can just walk you home, Jenna.” Jenna turned back to him, smiling.

“I was only joking Balto,” Jenna laughed, “Of course I’ll stay for dinner.” Balto smiled back and led her up a thick plank to the top deck, where he held open a large metal door for her. Jenna walked down a small flight of stairs into what Balto knew as the galley. A rack of fish was cooking by a fire in the middle of the floor. Boris had fallen asleep leaning against the wall.

“I guess it’s later than I thought,” Balto whispered, gently picking Boris up in his teeth and carrying him up to the captain’s quarters. Jenna, who had followed him up on deck, looked at Boris, Muk, and Luk sleeping in the wheelhouse,

“They must need it, with all that’s happened in the last few days.” Balto nodded. A sudden gust of wind made Jenna shiver. “Ooh, it’s getting cold out here.”

“Then lets go inside where it’s warm,” Balto offered. As they walked away, Boris, who was not quite asleep, smiled as he watched them disappear down the stairs side by side. The metal door swung shut and Boris drifted off to sleep. Down in the galley, Balto laid a freshly cooked fish before Jenna.

“It may not be what you’re used to, but I hope you’ll like it.”

“Thank you, Balto.”

Later, when both hunger and thirst had been turned away, Balto stood from his spot by the fire.

“I should probably walk you home now.” Truthfully, he didn’t want her to leave, but he thought it was what she wanted.

“I guess that would be best,” Jenna replied. Noticing a hint of hope in her voice, Balto continued,

“Or we could just stay here for the night.” Jenna met his eyes and smiled.

“Maybe that would be better.” Jenna walked towards him but gasped and held up her front leg.

“What is it?”

“My paw’s just acting up,” Jenna said.

“It still hurts?” Balto said. Jenna opened her muzzle, but then thought for a moment and smiled.

“Yes, but it’s nothing a kiss wouldn’t fix.” She held out her paw and Balto kissed it. He met her eyes and she smiled.

“Better?”

“Well, my neck’s a little sore.” Beginning to realize what Jenna was doing, Balto grinned and put