his pups and his mate, then he flopped down on the carpet of the boiler room, for a contented sleep. Little did he know, that mysterious man could change everything...

                                            /---------------\                                              

Cella stirred in the night. She heard weird noises, not just the noises of the storm and the night noises. It was a strange, rustling, creeping noise. She heard a sound like someone was out there... or something...

Cella got up, listening again. The cellar door had swung open, and she slowly moved toward it, ears laid back, each step placed carefully and wary. Up the stairs she trotted, and the steps were covered in cold wet snow beneath her paws. She stepped out, and then sniffed the snow and the air with a sensitive nose. A familiar scent of human, but this was a new human. Very nearby. So close she could sense him... behind that garbage can... Cella stepped back, but too late... with a harsh blow to her head, she passed out, hearing sneaky human steps as she fell into the deep blackness's clutches...

In a while, Cella stood to her feet, rocking, a bit dizzy. She found herself in a small portable crate in the back of a Ford truck. She whined, scratching at the metal grid of the door. She lowered her ears, and looked at the lock, a metal lock that required a key. She tried to unlock it with her claw, but her claw was too big to fit. Sighing a very lonely, dissapointed sigh, she lay down in the crate and began to cry and wimper. Where was her father? Where was he uncle, her famous uncle, the one who had saved Nome?! Who would save her?

Or would she be forever in this crate, forever with the man in green?

She hoped dearly that someone would notice she was gone. Even Balto's saying, 'In order to succeed, you must believe' did not help her. She was trapped. She closed her eyes, and fell asleep whimpering to the night stars.

Was this the way Aniu had planned it?

                                                           /-----------\                                     

Honda woke in his safe cellar home. He barked good-morning to Ronda, who rolled over and gazed up at him. Ronda shook her head. "Honda, what is it? Nothings happening today... awhhh..." she yawned.

Honda laughed. "Silly! Only two days 'til Christmas! Aw yeah!"

Ronda giggled, and nudged her other brother awake, then was about to nudge Cella awake when she found Cella's spot empty.

"Oh no, no..." she gasped. Tears trickled down her rough wolf-like cheek. She whimpered softly, when Honda turned to her. 'What's wrong sis?" he asked.

Ronda sniffled, and spoke with a trembling, sad voice. "Cella's gone. And I smell a human's trail. It... smells dangerous."

Trix sighed. "Oh my." he complained. He went over to Domina, who slept soundly in the corner. "Ma..." he inquired, nudging her. Domina shifted, and snored louder. "Ma!" Domina stood up, and grinnned, only to see the solemn faces of her children. Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What is wrong, my dears? Ronda, tell me."

Ronda lowered her head with sadness. "Oh Ma, Ma... Someone..." she hesitated, tears in her deep green eyes. Trix looked up, and finished, "Someone stole Cella." He laid his ears back in his solemness.

"What?!" exclaimed Rodeo later that day. "Who could? Cella was always a fighter. It couldn't be possible."

"It was a human." Domina repeated what Ronda had told her. "She could have been taken by surprise. At any rate, you should go find her immeadiately." She lifted her head with faith. "I have faith in you. You can save her, it's in your blood."

I have faith in you. It helped Rodeo's mood a lot, what she had just said. Domina stepped forward, and gave him a sweet, long nuzzle. She took of her all-metal necklace and placed it around Rodeo's neck. "Faith is a great thing. And you'll need Aniu's, too."

Rodeo gazed down at the ring of metal hung around his neck. Aniu. How could Domina get the necklace that gave the ability to speak to a special spirit? Every necklace supported a different god, and this was Aniu's. But Rodeo didn't have time to ask, not even time to say goodbye to his children and mate.  He raced into the snow, each foot placed determinedly. He stopped, thinking this over for a second. Human. That was who had stole his daughter away. Could it be...?

Yes, it was him.

Rodeo raced into the winds, following the trail of the man in green.

Chapter 3: Race Against Time

Rodeo knew that time may be running out for his daughter, and he was determined not to let anything happen to her.

It was a race against time, a race against the winds. A race against fear and hatred. A race that proved Rodeo had his brother's speed. A true race, possible but impossible.

Rodeo ran and ran and ran. He ran 'til his legs ached, but he kept running. His eyes were focused clearly on the path ahead, and each pawprint he left drew him closer to his daughter.

Around noon, he had to stop. He was tired, exhausted, and he slowly was freezing. Inching toward a abandoned den, he flopped down, and put his brownish-grey tail over his nose to keep warm. So tired... he thought very feebly.

A soft voice spoke gently to him from the necklace. "My son..." Aniu spoke with her wisdom and grace. "...In order to succeed, you must believe." Rodeo, surprised, said, "You have been watching me?"

"My son." Aniu then silenced, the deep gold glow emitting from the necklace leaving, and the necklace turned metallic gray again. Rodeo sighed. Way too tired... He then closed his eyes, and began to sleep, hearing the saying repeat in his head. 'In order to succeed, you must believe.'

He woke, to see that it had stopped snowing. The Northern Lights glittered in the clear sky. He stood up and hurried out of the den's wide opening. Again, he raced time. The wind whipped in his fur, the crows cawed as they took flight above him. He couldn't help but release a call into the air, clear and unwavering. He went to his top speed, his paws thudding at the ground, garbbing firm hold in the snow, and pushing him forward. His paws moved in a blur beneath his body, and his worried eyes stared down the path. He then slowed to a stop. Where did the scent go? He didn't smell the man in green anymore. All he smelled was... another dog.

Who was it? Lowering his heead between his shoulder blades, he released a snarl. No answer, but the scattering of animals nearby.

Someone was there, and Rodeo could almost tell who it was.

And it wasn't good.

Chapter 4: An Old Friend Back Again

A small grey and white husky three-year-old took a brave step toward Rodeo from the bushes. Standing over the small one was a feircer face, with the cold, ice-blue eyes of a killer, and black and white fur stretched over a macho frame. Rodeo couldn't help but whisper their names in astonishment.

"Metel... Steele..."

The smaller one stepped up with an evil grin and a defiant chuckle. "Yep, it's us, wolf-boy. Any last words?"

Rodeo growled. "Except that you're GOING DOWN!" Rodeo leaped onto Metel's back, tearing into the flesh over his shoulder. But Steele came and flipped him off Metel's back and he landed belly up. Steele was just about to slash Rodeo, when a familiar form lept onto Steele's back with a snarl of a hero. "Brother!" said Rodeo a bit weakly, as he got to his feet.

Metel leaped at him, and pushed him down to the ground. Rodeo roared in pain as Metel ripped his ear, and attacked his neck. Rodeo was helped to his feet by Balto, and Balto forced Metel to the ground. But Steele was still fighting, and he raced toward Balto, and threw him to the ground. Steele spoke with hatred, "Bye, half-breed." Rodeo leaped onto Steele.

Rodeo managed to overthrow Steele so he was very badly wounded, but a second too late. Balto tried to stand, and then he collapsed, his eyes fluttering closed. Rodeo rushed to Balto's side, and whimpered. "Bro, get up... Balto? Balto! Nooo!"

Balto wasn't breathing, and Aniu's voice spoke to Rodeo through the necklace, "It was his time, Rodeo. I have called him back, but he will forever be happy up here with me. Rodeo... I know you feel bad, but still, legends never truly leave our hearts. He'll be with you... forever."

"Forever..." Rodeo whispered, as he noticed Metel standing over the body of Steele. Metel was whimpering too, nudging his own father's body.

Rodeo walked up to Metel, watching. Metel snarled furiously at Rodeo, and said bravely, "Wolf-boy, I'll get you for this. Truly I will." Then Metel raced away, tears brimming in his eyes.

Rodeo felt his own tears for his own father fall down his cheek. Why? he asked himself. Why did this ever, ever happen? This was terrible, just the worst!

The necklace lit again. "Rodeo my son, let me tell you something. Time is running out for Cella, and you must move on. Or else you might lose two lives today."

Rodeo sighed, and jogged in the direction of the scent as soon as it touched