“What a beautiful night it is, huh, Balto?” Jenna said. It was a warm night. The stars were shining brightly and the snow was falling slowly as Balto and Jenna sat atop of a wooden crate outside of the boat Balto lived in.

     “Yes. It is a beautiful night.” Balto sighed.

     “What’s on your mind? You’re not being as hyper as you usually are.” Jenna said sounding concerned.

     “Well,” Balto began. “I wonder what ever happened to Steele. It’s like he vanished off of the Earth. I haven’t seen him hanging around the town in a year. I’m getting very worried about him, Jenna.”

     “You’re right. Well, it’s getting late. Rosy’s probably wondering where I am. Would you like to walk me home?”

     “Sure Jenna.” Replied Balto wanting to see how Rosy was doing since he saw her last the day before.

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     Balto and Jenna were taking the shortcut to Jenna’s house which was through the alley they used to see what the doctor was saying about Rosy when the Diphtheria scare came through the earlier winter. While walking, Balto had heard a noise from behind. He quickly turned in shock only to see a silhouette of a large muscular dog. The dog approached them slowly and guardedly. Once he had reached a light, Balto and Jenna both knew who he was immediately. It was Steele, the dog who had lied to the whole town about Balto not being able to carry the medicine back and that Balto had lost it.

     “Steele!” Balto yelped in surprise. “I thought you were gone!”

     “I was, wolf-dog.” Steele replied in his low dark voice. “I was gone for a long time.”

     “Where were you?” Jenna eagerly wanted to know where he had been. “How’d you get back?”

     “You’ll learn soon enough. I’m calling every dog in town to come to the boiler room tomorrow before the sled race. Go to sleep and meet me there or you’ll never know where I was.” Steele had then vanished yet again.

     Balto had awoken from his slumber by dear old Uncle Boris.

     “Come on Boris. I’m tired. Why do you always have to bother me?” Yawned a weary Balto.

     “Have you forgotten what’s happening today!? Steele’s going to tell his story of where he’s been this whole year. Don’t you want to see where he’s been?”

     “No. That was a dream. A dream. Steele never returned. He’s gone forever.”

      Balto lay his head back down onto the molded wood.

     “You’re wrong, Balto my boy. He’s back. Hurry! The race is going to start soon. Come on!” Yelled an angry Boris.

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     “Are all the dogs here? Okay. Now you all want to know where I’ve been, right? Well here we go.” Started Steele.

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     (From Steele’s point of view) Balto had returned the medicine. I was alone in the boiler room. I was no longer loved. I laid my head down on the pillow & chewed at the bone one of the dogs had left on the floor. I knew that the only thing I could do was run far away. So I did.

     I had to say goodbye to everyone I knew and loved. Dixie was chatting with Nikki, Kaltag, and Star. When I went to Jenna, Balto was there, prancing around the front deck outside of the hospital.

     While walking down this buzzing street, I saw a strange figure that looked like a wolf, but I wasn’t sure what it was and I’m still not sure up to this point. It looked at me strangely with its blue eyes of steal. As soon as it came, it disappeared into the air. Having no idea what had just happened, I walked into the woods not far from town.

     For days I had to survive off of bugs and lake water. I soon found out how to hunt for things like birds and squirrels. Tough, yes, but if I was to never return to the luxurious life, I had to learn this kind of stuff.

     About three months after I had left Nome, the wolf-thing came back to me, but this time it was in a dream. It told me that Balto and Jenna were going to have pups. It occurred to me then that I had not yet had a mate. So the next morning I went out to find me a mate.

     As I was walking through a nearby plain, I heard a rustling in the trees. I was used to this, of course, but it sounded like it was lower than usual. I kept walking. When I reached the middle of the plain, WHAM! I was hit by something large. I felt its sharp teeth dig into my skin. I rolled over trying to fight it off. As soon as I had gotten it off, it stared at me straight in the face.

     I knew that it was a wolf. She had light gray fur with a bit of orange fur on her ears, face, and tail. She was beautiful.

     “Woah…” I whispered. “W-what is your name, wolf?”

     “I am Lani, what is your name, uh…. What are you, exactly?” She had said in her stunning, angel-like voice.

     “I am a dog. Purebred Husky, actually. My name is Steele.” We had talked for hours about our lives. From that day forward, I knew she was mine. I moved into her den two months later. After a few months, I decided to see how everyone was back in Nome. So I moved back here. (Out of Steele’s view)

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     “Wow” Balto had said “Is Lani still around?”

     “Of course, silly. She’s right here.” And in walked the beautiful, majestic, Lani.

     “Hello, everybody. Um, Steele, honey. I have something to tell you.” She whispered in Steele’s ear so nobody in the room could hear.

     “No way! You’re kidding!” Yelled Steele in total excitement. “YEAH!!!! I’m going to be a father!” He quickly ran out of the boiler room howling like crazy so he could quickly tell every dog in town.

     “Um, Jenna. What just happened?” Asked Balto who was unaware of everything.

     “Silly, dog.” Lani giggled as she said this. “I’m going to have pups. And Steele’s the father. He’s wanted to be a dad ever since he moved in to my den. I’d better go find him. Good bye, all!” Lani ran out of the room looking for her husband.

     “Wow… I didn’t know he’d be this excited about being a dad. Maybe I should go find him. If he wants to be a perfect father, I have to teach him how to do so.” Balto ran out of the room, also wanting to find Steele.

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                          MORE COMING SOON!