собака!" scolded an old goose regaining his tubby posture and smoothing out his grey feathers.

"What did you call me?" Balto asked, half accusingly, half confused.

"I call you, 'dog." the goose pointed at the cubs furry chest. "That is what you are, no?" This goose talked funny. Balto never heard anyone talk like that before.

"Sorta," said Balto. "Why do you talk like that?"

"Talk like what?"

"Like...nevermind." As he made his way back into the boat, he asked the goose. "Shouldn't you be catching up to your friends?"

"I should be," said the goose. "I ask them to stop so I could take break, but they say they have much ground to cover and they leave me behind. They have no respect!"

"I know how ya feel." Balto sighed. The goose followed him into the boat and the cub looked at him quizzically. "What? You're not staying here, are you?"

"Why not? I cannot go out THERE! I'll be eatten by bears!"

Balto stared at the goose. He looked pitiful, and in a way he did pity him. But he was in the same boat he was (no pun intended) and he figured that how the way his luck was going with making any new friends, the cub figured that this good was going to be the only friend he was going to make for a long time. He sighed. "Fine, you can stay." Balto curled up in an old blanket inside of the captain's quarters and looked at the goose again. "So, what's your name?"

"Boris," the goose said, rolling his tongue with every R he spoke. "What are they calling you?"

"You don't wanna know what they call me," Balto chuckled, under his breath. "But my name is Balto."

"Balto, huh?" Boris asked. "Like the Baltic Sea?"

"Sure." Balto replied, a bit confused.

"So, you have any friends in town, Balto?"

Balto thought about this. Steele was a definate "no." Jenna was a definate "maybe." And Rosy was a "Yeah, she's GOTTA be considered a friend." He said, "Yeah. Well...sorta. This human girl saved me from being beaten by a butchershop owner. So I guess she's kind of a friend...And one other, but I'm not sure, yet." Balto felt his heart in his throat at the thought of the ever-so-cute Jenna.

"Who be this?" asked Boris.

"Well...it's this other girl." Balto's ears lowered in embarrassment. "She's a husky and her name is Jenna."

"You talk to her?"

"No,"

"Then go talk to her!" Boris encouraged. "She'll like you!"

"How would YOU know?" Balto retorted. "You don't know me."

"Ah, but Boris is EXCELLENT judge of character." he winked.

"That may be," Balto chuckled. "But this other dog is trying to get to her too."

"Eh, I bet he's just a big pushover!" Boris brushed it away like it was nothing. "You go talk to her tomorrow. And just be yourself." The goose smiled.

"Mmm...ok." Balto smiled to himself and layed his head down to sleep. Maybe Boris was right.

The sun finally rose from the horizon and Balto waited for the town to stir awake. When it did, Boris wished him luck as he sprinted towards the town.
Balto dashed to Rosy's house, first thing. He waited near the house nextdoor and readied himself to talk to Jenna. He didn't have to wait long for Rosy to let Jenna outside to roam about. Balto took a deep breath and paced toward her with his head held high. She stopped in her tracks and glanced at him. She had large beautiful auburn eyes and a slender figure, but was still pleasantly plump with puppy fat. And her face the cutest thing he had ever seen. Balto felt his nervousness get the better of him and he stopped a couple of feet away from her. He lowered his head in submission and slowly wagged his tail. He gave her a smile.

"H...Hi." he said, embarrassed. "I'm Balto."

"Hello, Balto." she said sweetly. "I'm Jenna."

"I know," he said somewhat quickly. "I mean, I heard your name from someone before. Heh heh..." His ears lowered in embarrassment. "Stupid!" he thought to himself. "Think of something better to say!" There was a moment of silence.

"Well, I'm gonna get going." Jenna said. "I shouldn't be talking to strange dogs." She said good-bye and walked back into her house.

"You think I'm strange?" Balto thought to himself. "Great, Steele must've spread rumors about me."

Balto went back home early and vented to Boris about his day. Balto was depressed again and figured that he wasn't meant to fit in anywhere except his boat. He figured that he was too wolf to fit in with dogs and too dog to fit in with wolves. He hated being stuck between the two animals, but he never cursed his parents for it.

Boris said, "You need to have a bit of confidence in yourself, kiddo! You aren't going to be friends with her if you keep acting like a coward. Nobody likes a coward!"

Balto took what he said into thought. He was right. No one liked a coward. And he especially didn't like himself to be one. "Yeah," was all Balto said, not really wanting to admit that the old goose was right. "Should I try again tomorrow or wait?"

"What's to wait for? Go talk to her again now! It's not that late yet."
Balto looked at the sun beginning to lower itself to the ground. He was right, it was late afternoon and was still light out. He looked at the town and said to Boris, "Be back later." He raced his way back to town as fast as his thick paws would carry him and he made it there in a matter of seconds. He projected around town trying to find Jenna and get a better start with her. He wanted to at least make her not-nervous around him and show her that he wasn't so strange. He found her coming around a corner and he beamed. But his grin left his face when he seen Steele walking next to her. They both seemed happy talking to each other, but Jenna seemed more fidgety. He gathered his courage and began to approach them. Before he started, Jenna spotted him.

"Balto!" she exclaimed, happily. And trotted over to him. She seemed a bit relieved to leave Steele's side. Steele pouted at her actions.

"Hey, Jenna," Balto smiled at her approach. His ears folded back when Steele approached as well.

"What are YOU doing here, wolf-dog?" Steele growled jealously.

"I just came to talk." he replied.

"I don't think we wanna talk to you," Steele said, trying to usher Jenna away.

"Steele, stop it," Jenna cried. Balto didn't like that Steele was trying to ruin his chance at friendship with Jenna and he wasnt about to let him. So Balto came in between Steele and Jenna and stepped up to him, showing a very cross face. He growled at the cub and pressed his nose against his forcibly.

"I don't think she wants to talk to you, Steele," Balto retorted, pushing Steele's nose off his own. The black and white husky was about ready to pounce on the wolf dog, until he heard his master's gruffy voice call to him. Steele turned his head to his master and went to him. Then he looked back at Balto and said they'd finish later. Balto didn't say anything and watched Steele's leave, until Jenna got his attention by addressing him.

"Thanks, Balto," Jenna smiled. "That was very daring of you to stand up to Steele."

"Thanks," Balto smiled at the rare compliment he received. Maybe now she wouldn't find him weird. He wasn't sure because when he went to walk closer to her to walk her home, she backed off a bit. He didn't really pay it any mind because he knew that meeting someone new was nerve-racking. She started up the stairs to her porch of her house after they said good-bye.

"Maybe next time, I can show you my home." Balto suggested, hopeful.

"Maybe." Jenna said simply. After she went inside of the house, Balto raced back home and his happiness made him race faster than ever. He made it onto the boat's deck in no time and seen Boris perched on a box, smiling down on the cub.

"So, I'm guessing your talk went better?" Boris smirked.

"Yep! It did!" Balto grinned, looking back to the town, wagging his tail. "Do you think she'll lighten up a bit more tomorrow?"

"I don't doubt it." the goose smiled. "Who said a goose can't be Cupid?" he thought to himself.