sad because he wanted to know what his grandchildren looked like.

When the pups were four weeks old they were allowed out on the porch. balto had come especially to see them. He sat outised waiting while Bailey went in to get them and Amber. They came out one by one, stumbling after getting through the door. First came Dialo, trying to be the big boss. Then followed Jeff, Scarlett, Miracle, Peggy, Dipstick and finally Elise. Balto looked at them all in such a way that Bailey knew he couldn't possibly say anything. Balto looked a little shocked, or surprised when he saw little Elise. Not because of her rebellish ways but her appearance. It brought back memories to Balto that he forget he had.

'What's the little caramel-coloured one called?' Balto asked Bailey.

'Oh, that's Elise. She can be a bit nasty sometimes so watch out!' replied Bailey.

Balto walked up to Elise and smiled. Elise turned away to start with but Balto sat down beside her and she was getting a bit curious.

'Hi there!' greeted Balto, 'You're Elise aren't you?'

The little puppy nodded her head before sayin, 'Are you my papa's papa?'

Balto grinned. 'That's me!' he said.

'You remind me of someone!' Balto said to Elise.

'Who?' asked Elise, starting to like this new person.

'Your colours and patterns are exactly the same as my father.' said Balto, 'You remind me of him.'

'But I'm a girl not a boy!' protested Elise.

'I know that, ' said Balto, 'But you have the same fur pattern. You should be proud!'

'Ok, then I will!' said Elise.

Before long, Balto had become friends with all the puppies and visited them on the porch alot. He was especially close to Elise, whom he spent time talking to the most.

At eight weeks old, the pups were going to homes. The puppies ran about in their box, wondering why they couldn't go find their own human.

Soon, two children appeared at the box and stroked the playful puppies. They soon picked up Peggy and Jeff. The rest of the puppies waved goodbye. Not long later, an older man came and picked up Scarlett. Two teenage girls picked up Elise who snarled and scratched at them. They dropped her back in the box where she sat in the corner scowling.

'Elise, you sg#houldn't be like that!' Amber said.

'I don't want to be adopted!' huffed Elise.

'Why not?' asked Bailey.

'Because I wanna stay with Grandpa!' she said, sticking out her bottom lip. Amber and Bailey looked at one another not knowing what to do.

'And why's that?' asked Amber.

'Because Grandpa knows me better than anyone else ever could!' Elise said simply. She was very mature for her age in some ways.

'But, Elise, you can't!' said Bailey, 'You can have a good home somewhere where you'll always be fed, be warm, have nice owners-'

'Well, I'm staying with Grandpa, and you can't stop me!'

'Oh, so you want to spend your life on a rundown boat with hardly any food and be frozen to death?' said Bailey, getting very cross, 'Well be my guest!'

He picked Elise up out of the box and dropped her next to it. She looked up at her dad, who looked down at her as if wondering why he did that.

'Elise.' he said, about to put his paw on her.

'Fine!' the little pup yelled, running off, 'I will!'

'Elise!' yelled Bailey, 'Come back!'

But the little pup didn't listen and kept on running. She wasn't sure where she was going because she hadn't paid attention on their first and only trip to visit balto. She kept running, on and on, not looking back. She snarled and dodged the people who saw her and tried to pick her up or pet her. Soon she arrived at the end of the town.

'This looks familiar!' she said to herself.

She was about to take another step, but a large black and white dog jumped in front of her, his piercing blue eyes gazing down at her, menacingly. It was Blake. Elise noticed he had a pink nose and giggled slightly.

'What?' snapped the dog. Elise close her mouth and stared up at the large dog, terrified. Blake smiled a nasty smile.

'Well, then, little pup!' he said, with an evil grin, 'What are you doing out on your own?'

Elise opened her mouth to scream but no noise came from her.

'Don't worry. This'll only hurt for a second!'

He opened his jaws, showing his sharp, white teeth. He was about to clamp his mouth round her when Balto jumped at him.

'Grandpa Balto!' squealed Elise, suddenly getting her voice back. She was about to run over to help but another pair over teeth closed around the scruff of her neck. She screamed.

'Hush, Elise!' said Bailey.

'Papa!' cried Elise, twizzling round to hug her father's chin. Bailey ran over to one of the houses and put his daughter in the gap under the porch.

'Please, Elise, just stay here!' pleaded Bailey. His daughter nodded so he turned and ran back to Balto and Blake. He pounced onto Blake's back but was tiny compared to the black and white malamute. He bit onto his neck and growled and shook his head. Blake roared, throwing the small red and white dog onto the floor. Balto pounced onto him and Bailey got up and did the same.

Elise watched from under the porch.

'Papa said to stay here, but I can't let that big bully hurt him and Grandpa!' said Elise, bravely. She ran out of her hiding palce and right up to Blake. She bit him hard on the foot with her little puppy teeth and he howled. He threw his paw into the air and Elise let go and went soaring through the air. She smacked straight into the floor with a loud thud.

'ELISE!!' screamed Bailey, jumping off Blake and running up to his daughter. She was lying limp on the floor, barely moving. All that could be seen was the slight rise and fall of her stomach. Bailey's wolf side suddenly took him over. He'd never felt it before but now he realised he really did have some of his father's wolfness inside him after. But he couldn't stop and think about it. He lunged at Blake barely knowing what was going on. He ripped at the back of the larger dogs neck, and ripped off hair and made a huge gash which starting pouring blood all over Blake's clean black fur and Bailey's white/cream paws. But Bailey hardly noticed. He wouldn't stop until Blake got what he deserved. But Blake decided that he shouldn't be pushed around like that and span round making Bailey fall off sideways. But the he hadn't had enough and bit onto his front paw and kicked upwards at Blake's chin.

'Bailey...' said Balto, not realising that his son could be like this.

Then it all stopped. Blake and Bailey were standing about two metres away from each other. Balto looked behind him before realising why they were motionless. Standing behind him, bent low, ears back, teeth bared and tails swishing gently were Jenna, Kodi, Saba, Dingo and Winona. They were all ready to fight. Balto smiled at his family. He knew Jenna could help. She had already proved herself to be brave. Kodi had helped to rescue Duke. Dingo was extremely strong. He was taller than both his parents, having the build of a true wolf. Saba preferred rough and tumble, rough-housing in the streets with all the males. But Balto had to admire little Winona the most. She was the runt of the litter and hadn't grown as big as even Jenna. She had shorter legs, darker fur and was an angry, impatient sort because she felt she wasn't able to do what her brothers and sisters could. She was a bit of a hot-head and hated people bullying her family. That was her job. But now, the whole family was theer, excluding Aleu, and were ready to help.

'Stay away, Blake!' Balto growled, lowering himself and bending his ears back.

'Leave my son alone!' snapped a voice. A bright red female husky jumped out of the shadows and stood in front of Blake. She was dainty like Jenna and had glossy red fur, auburn eyes and black tipped ears. But she had a nasty look to her. Bailey growled and stepped back a little.

'Who are you?' barked Balto.

'Scarlett!' cried Jenna.

'Jenna?' said the husky, now named Scarlett.

'What's going on?' asked Balto.

'Balto, this is my sister.' said Jenna, somewhat weakly.

'What?!' snapped Winona, 'You mean she's our aunt?'

Jenna nodded, uncertaintly. She didn't want to make things worse.

'But that means he's our-'

'Your cousin!' growled Balto.

A large black and white malamute walked out too.

'Ah, I see you found Lobo!' said Steele.

'Oh, this just keeps getting better!' snarled Winona, sarcastically.

'Steele!' said Balto, 'Long time no see!'

'Oh, don't worry, wolf-dog, I'm not staying for long!' said Steele, 'I'm here to see my son Blake and them I'm going back to White Mountain. Things are much more exciting up there!'

'Wait,' said Jenna, 'Scarlett, does that mean your with Steele?'

Scarlett grinned at Steele. 'You bet!' she said. Then she came across evil, 'And he's soo much better than the hybrid friend of yours. I can't believe your with that thing. These your kids? They smell of wolf!'

She saw Dingo.

'Look at him!' she said, making everyone turn their attention to Dingo, 'He's like a husky-sized wolf. It's disgusting.'

She shrugged and smiled, 'But at least you don't have any little wolf brats trailing around here, though.'

'Well, actually, we do. She's away with a wolf pack, though.' said Jenna, timidly. Scarlett had always intimidated Jenna when they were pups.

Scarlett frowned and bared her teeth.

'Disgusting!' she said again, shaking her head. She spat on the floor then walked away.

'Come on, Blake!' said Steele, 'We'll leave the wolfies to rip tjemselves to pieces!'

Steele and Blake walked off.

'That family!' gasped Balto, 'A bunch of troublemakers!'

The family heard a whimper and Saba rushed over and found Elise. The pup was still lying on the floor but had her eyes open, sleepily.

'Bailey!' called Saba. Bailey ran over and nuzzled his daughter.

'Elise,' he said, 'I told you to stay put!'

'I know-'

'Why did you come out here?'