her. Saba stuck her nose under the trashcan which held him and stood it up right.

Kaleny watched her carefully, looking at her for the first time since they spoke. “What do you care anyway? You don’t even know me,” he said bitterly. Saba sat down in front of him, “I know you enough to know you’re not only in pain but lonely. Now do you want me to leave you here to die or would you like some help?” she asked her voice slightly raised. The young dog mix only sighed, he knew she had a point he wanted a friend and even though she seemed a bit pushy he guessed she’d be better then no one at all.

Saba closed her eyes, lifted her head, formed her mouth into a perfect circle and let loose a mighty howl which filled the air for many moments as she summoned for help. Kaleny watched her, astonished on how much she sounded like a wolf, a lump in his throat filled suddenly as though he longed to join the brief yet intense call. “Who were you calling?” he asked once she had finished. The young hybrid smiled, “Help, my brother Kodi is a bit stronger then I am he can help me get you to safety,” she said.

Kodi grunted as they neared Balto’s boat, “You know for a skinny guy you’re kind of heavy,” he said. Saba laughed. “Hey you think I like being carried I’d much rather walk but unfortunately my body’s aching,” he said. Kodi grunted as his father’s boat came into view, “Are you always this sarcastic?” Saba asked. Kaleny smirked, “You try living in a town that hates you and find some joy in this retched world,” he said. Kodi looked back at him and for a moment the two siblings were reminded of their father and the stories he’d tell of the hatred shared for him between the dogs and people of Nome. This was worse, this dog had no one to turn to so that he may see the brighter side of things it seemed. “I’m sorry, no worries though, our father will heal you, he won’t let anything happen to you,” she said calmly. Kaleny only sighed, he’d heard all the false promises before.

Balto looked over the young mix breed and felt a few places to see if there were any extra tender spots, “These look like bite marks, let me guess, Peter and his gang?” Balto asked. The dog grunted from the last touch Balto gave him. “How’d you know?” he asked weakly. The old wolf/dog smiled, “You could say I’ve had experiences with members of his family,” he said. Saba yawned, “Dad and Peter’s father are rivals, Steel’s the dog that gave him trouble on the run when he tried to save the town, he nearly killed the whole team because of his pride,” she said from just outside the door. Balto sat, “Not to mention he tried to win over your mother,” he said proudly. Saba put her head in her paws, she’d heard the story so many times before that it’d gotten boring, “Do you know what’s the matter with him dad?”  Saba asked a bit tired and ready to take a nap. Balto sniffed the young hybrid male, “Not yet Sam why don’t you go lead the vet here she knows you well enough she’ll help him,” he said. Without another thought Saba stood and took off for town.

Balto watched his daughter run and sighed, “She could have made a great lead dog if she was trained right,” he said to himself. Kaleny smiled, “She’s rather beautiful sir and a bit stubborn she refused to leave me in that ally,” he said softly. Balto smiled, “She gets it from her mother, always had a soft spot for outcast like you and I,” he said. Kaleny sighed, “Hope so,’ cause I could really use at least one friend,” he said quietly. Balto looked him over, his thin body, his back shaded black, white paws and chest, “Um Kal, can I ask what…” Kaleny cut him off, “Dingo and timber wolf, my father was the dingo,” he said. Balto let out a small laugh, “Some mix huh, now if folks could only forget,” Kaleny said.  The old wolf/dog looked at the hurt mix breed, “You sound like I did when I first came here, the trick is to remember is that you are who you are for a reason and no matter what anyone tells you, you can accomplish anything you put your mind too. Look at me, when I was your age I wanted to be a sled dog but my entire life was told I couldn’t because of what I was. Well I not only lead a dog sled team but saved a whole town and got the most beautiful girl in Nome. Your breeding doesn’t making you who are, it’s the animal inside that dose,” he said. The two shared an affectionate smile. Their ears perked as the sound of a barking dog was heard. “Told ya she was fast,” Balto said as the vet and Saba came into view.     

 The three dogs barked happily as the vet rubbed them before leaving, “Remember what I said boy you stay off that leg and you’ll be fine in a few days,” she said as she left the boat. Saba looked at him, his ribs covered with bandages, “Can I get you something Kaleny? The butcher is my girl’s father, I get all the free meat I want, I could get a few steaks for you,” she said. Kaleny smiled, “No thank you Saba your friendship is well enough, once I’m healed I can hunt on my own for now I’ll head back through town and look for a place to sleep,” he said as he began to stand up. Saba stood in front of him, “Didn’t you hear the vet? Stay off the leg the last thing you need is to go back into town. I know Peter and he will kick you while you’re down,” she said. Kaleny sat back down and scratched his ear, “Alright, you have a point, a few days with your father won’t be to bad how many dogs get to say they hung out with Balto for a few days?” he asked. Saba smiled. Her ears perked as her girl called her, “SAMANTHA!!” she yelled again. “Samantha?” Kaleny cocked his head. “Yeah my girl and my parents call me Sam or Samantha ever since she brought me home but I go by Sam or Saba since mom and dad named me that first,” she said. Saba got to her feet and walked off the boat looking back at the two males as her paws met the soft dirt, “I’ll come back and check on you two a little later and bring you something to eat,” she said.

Honey yawned as she watched the stars from the boiler room window, it was just past sun set now and all the town was settling in for the night leaving the restless dogs alone until they fell off to sleep themselves. “So Sab how’d he say he got in that ally?” she asked her friend. Saba sat beside Honey, “Peter and his gang attacked him,” she said, her voice raised in slight anger and frustration. She growled to herself at the thought, “That lousy, arrogant, mutt! He’s just like his father takes whatever he wants and tells others how to live their life or how he thinks the world should be! Can’t he understand we don’t choose what breed we are?!” she yelled. Her friend looked at her, sorrow in her eyes, “I know sweety but what are you gonna do? We can’t change him any more then we can change the snow fall or the seasons some dogs are just ignorant,” she said. Saba paced, growling lowly at the thought. She’d opened her mouth to respond but was cut off by the opening of the boiler room door.

Peter walked in with his head held high and not alone, the three huskies that normally trailed him were behind along with his brother Lucas who unlike his sibling was shy, caring and kinder to the dogs of Nome. Peter looked at Honey and Saba lustfully as he neared them. “Well, well, well, if isn’t my two favorite ladies,” he said, his eyes mostly on Saba. She growled at him as he neared her. “Hey Sam why don’t you and I take a walk under the stars and latter you could fetch us a few links of sausage to share,” he said as he licked his chops. His goons laughed but Lucas slipped away from them and found a dark, place still within earshot to rest. Saba grimaced, she was disgusted by his mucho/arrogant posture and most of all his breath which smelled of dead mouse for reasons she couldn’t understand. “Listen, as appealing as that offer sounds, Honey and I should really be getting back home now Pete,” she said, knowing her girl was most likely sleeping by now. Peter stopped her as she tried to maneuver around him. She looked him in the eyes they were stern and cold like ice, “C’mon we both know you won’t be able to get back in tonight the butcher and his daughter sleep early so that they can rise and open up early, now how’s about that walk?” he asked again this time more menacing.

“She said no!” Lucas called still in his cool place in the boiler room. “What was that Luke?” he asked his voice raisin to yell. Lucas slowly emerged from the shadows, his blue eyes shimmering in the darkness like stars. “She doesn’t want to hang out with you Peter so why don’t you leave her alone?” he commanded. Peter growled, he looked at his brother, the poor pup forever carrying himself as though he were a wolf of some sort, Peter thought it degrading to the whole dog race and knowing that his litter mate didn’t care made it worse. He growled as his younger sibling approached, “What are you gonna do about it?” he asked, challenging his brother. In truth the black, tan and white colored mixed breed knew all to well how to fight and better how to defeat his elder sibling. But because he was raised by his mother, he knew better then to except his brother’s challenge unless he was sure there was no way out of it. It was because of this knowledge that the mix breed kept his muzzle closed and stared back his brother letting small hints of hatred slip through.                                              

Peter himself knew of the vow not to attack ones own family but