touched his frantically-sniffing nose. Aniu was right. He had to hurry.

The old enemy had come and gone, and so had Balto. But Rodeo had to save his daughter, whether that had happened or not.

Rodeo sighed as he trotted, his head low, when he heard the bumping of a truck. Perking his ears up fully, he quickened his pace, hearing a familiar whimper.

Chapter 5: The Journey Home

Cella was getting rather impatient now, even though the truck was almost at its destination. She perked her ears, thinking she heard a howl. "I must be having hearing illusions." she groaned. Looking out the door, waiting, she thought she saw a glimpse of silver and peach fur. Cella whimpered softly, scratching at the door. "Rodeo?" she yipped, but the wind carried away her voice.

She sighed. There's no Rodeo here now... she thought unhappily. But she was wrong, as Rodeo leaped onto the back of the truck. "Cella my daughter, I thought I had lost you."

"Really, you did, but I didn't die." giggled Cella. "Now how do you plan on getting me out?"

Rodeo laughed. "Simple." he said, picking up the keys in the other corner of the truck's back. He picked it up and tried one key, but it didn't fit. Then he unlocked the door with the other. He whispered for the man not to hear, "Let's get out of here, and fast. He was taking you to an illegal battle arena so you could fight for him to earn money. If they see us, he will take both of us into the arena with him. And then no one could save us."

"Isn't there Balto?" Cella asked.

"Long story, come on, let's go!" Rodeo answered, holding back the tears that threatened to fall at the mere thought of Balto. He lept off the truck with his daughter clinging to his back so she wouldn't fall off.

When they hit the ground, Rodeo let Cella off his back, and they raced time... just to get home for Christmas.

They were almost halfway there when a blizzard began. Cella whined softly to Rodeo, "I'm scared. And cold, hungry too..."

Rodeo nuzzled his daughter lightly. "We'll be there soon, and I know we'll be there in time for Christmas." Back home... back to the family. But oh, this will be the saddest Christmas ever. Rodeo thought sadly. Cella saw a tear fall from his eyes. "Pa, what's wrong?"

"Terrible news. Oh Cella... I will tell you when we get home." Rodeo began trotting again and Cella stayed close at his heels so they wouldn't lose sight of each other.

The hours ticked down to minutes 'til Christmas, and the blizzard eventually cleared. The Northern Lights shone over the two. But Rodeo immediately knew that it wasn't the real Northern Lights. It was the same greeting Balto had recieved after bringing the medicine to Nome. Rodeo and Cella lifted their noses to howl that they were home. At that very moment, all the people gathered at the edge of the city. Rosy smiled, and yelled, "Yah, Rodeo! You did great!"

Rodeo stepped up to Domina and gave her a long nuzzle. Domina smiled, and said, "I thought I had lost you." Rodeo gave a grin, and then let Cella say hello to Domina as he walked over to the worrying Jenna. "Jenna..."

"What, Rodeo?" she asked, a bit frustated that she didn't see Balto on the horizon. Rodeo sighed.

"Balto... has passed." Rodeo lowered his head, silently mourning the death of his brother.

"You mean?"

"...Yeah."

Chapter 6: The Worst Christmas Ever

By the day after Christmas, word spread across Alaska of Balto's death and Rodeo coming back with Cella. Some people were suspicious that Rodeo had killed Balto, but almost everyone trusted the brother of Balto. They knew and understood him.

But Metel was cleverly thinking of ideas to ruin Rodeo's life, as he skulked out of sight with his pal Boneclash.

Rodeo finally decided to permanetly move into the cellar with Domina so he could keep a good watch on the children.

The days passed slow and sad, like a sorrowful song playing in the sunset. Jenna barely stepped out of Rosy's house. Jenna did nothing but eat and sleep and mourn. Rodeo worried for her. Jenna, by then, had weaned her children off of milk, and soon they were to be sold. Now that Balto was gone, Jenna surprisingly found herself worrying about the three wolf-like pups.

Rodeo was walking slowly down the beach that Balto had run over so many times. Domina rushed over to him from the other side of the beach. "Rodeo... I think I will give you my Aniu necklace to keep. You need it most, to check on Balto."

"Balto... he was my best brother, my hero..." Rodeo sighed as Domina put the metal necklace on him.

Another voice spoke. "Mine too." It was Kodi, the proud son of Balto. But now that Balto was gone, Kodi was nothing but sad.

The trio looked up at the sky, and the early stars winked at them. The necklace glowed.

"Son, I am proud of you. You believed, and you succeeded." Rodeo sighed, then smiled slightly at the memory.

Though their hearts were broken, Balto would always be with them, to watch over them.

Will the pups of Balto and Jenna find their home and owner in the safe city in Nome? What kind of surprise is Metel cooking up?

CONTINUED IN RODEO IN NOME: RONDA

I walked down to the park last night
Warm breeze stirring up a soft moonlight
And my mind started drifting to way back when
Yes I do think about you every now and then

The other day I saw a car like you used to drive
I got a funny feeling down deep inside
And for the briefest moment I felt a smile begin
Yes I do think about you every now and then

I love my life and Id never trade
Between what you and me had and the life I've made
Shes here and shes real, but you were too
And every once in awhile I think about you

I heard a song on the radio just yesterday
The same one you always asked me to play
And when the song was over
I wished theyd played it again
Yes I do think about you every now and then

I've been layin' here all night listenin' to the rain
Talkin to my heart tryin to explain
Why sometimes I catch myself
Wondering what might have been
Yes I do think about you every now and then

Every now and then
Every now and then