moments...

“You know what?” said Star.

“What” replied Kaltag

“Maybe we should... well... perhaps... well since we have nothing to do maybe we should go and talk to... erm... Maybe we should go see Steele” suggested Star.

Both Kaltag and Nikki looked at him with shock.

“That is the most stupid, the most ridiculous... “

“IDEA WE’VE HEARD!” interrupted Nikki

Kaltag turned and hit him on the head with his paw, Nikki fell to the ground.

“Alright! Maybe you’re right... thinking about I’m not sure I can cope with another one of his crazy ramblings” said Star.

“Oh god I know... remember last time, he tried to convince us that not only Balto had ruined his life, but he was also responsible for war, plague and tooth cavities... he really has lost it.” Said Kaltag.

Then suddenly Balto’s voice is heard behind them...

“Hey guys” he said.

“Speak of the devil” said Star.

All three of them turned around to face Balto... then froze with shock when they saw his new appearance.

“Oh my...” said Nikki

“Hey guys, how you doing? Asked Balto.

There was no response from any of them, they just stared with their jaws dropped.

“Errr... okay I guess you’re wondering about this... well there was this cave and a flash of light and I suddenly looked like this... so... do you guys wanna have some fun... Guys?”

There was still no response... then Nikki snapped out of it and hit himself over the head with his paw and dropped to the ground.

Jenna was walking along the beach at dusk to get some fresh air before going to sleep. She was about to turn back and head home, when she suddenly spotted Dingo lying down on his back completely still. She then ran towards her son, she looked very concerned.

“Dingo, are you okay honey?” she asked.

“Oh... Hi mom... would you be so kind and drag me home.” Said Dingo.

“What on earth did you do?”

“I threw my back out... I can’t get up” he replied in agony.

“Oh my goodness, How?” she asked.

“I was trying to catch my... you know what? I don’t wanna talk about it; it’s a rather dull story anyhow.”

“Well I’m not dragging you back to the house... I’m gonna roll you over and hit on your back hard... it might hurt a little sweet heart” she said whilst rolling him onto his side.

“Umm mom, I’m not sure that’s a... Arrgghhhhh!” howled Dingo. His back cracked and he was able to move again... “Owww... thanks mom.

“Your welcome sweetie... Have you seen your Father?”

“Actually, yeah. This morning, why?”

“He was supposed to meet me for lunch, he never showed up” she explained.

Dingo began to giggle; Jenna looked puzzled at her son’s reaction.

“What’s so funny?” she asked.

“He must have really taken my advice on board, good for him and yay me for the sound advice” he smiled.

“What advice?” she now said extremely worried, she knew this wasn’t Dingo’s strong point.

“I told him to go enjoy himself, to forget about the whys and the hows and the...”

Jenna looked very annoyed and Dingo suddenly became very uneasy.

“Did I do wrong?” he asked lightly.

“You told him to go off and enjoy himself after he’d suffered a traumatic event, something that needs to be answered first”

“Don’t you think you’re overreacting...?”

“Don’t you overreact me young man, it’s not just his physical appearance that’s undergone a dramatic change... you must have realised his personality is... well different too. What if this change starts to affect his mind even more?”

“Oh come on mom, he’s still Balto... that’s all what matters. You love him and I love him, it shouldn’t make a difference. And you’re right, he has changed I’ve never seen happier in his life. I mean what’s the worse that could happen...”

On the other side of town there was the sound of laughter as Balto, Star, Kaltag and Nikki had just had an extremely fun day causing mischief around Nome... and getting away with since the old Balto wasn’t there as a scapegoat. The four of them where about to head off to Balto’s boat home, to do that they had to go through a dark alley.

“I’ve had such fun today guys, it’s been a blast!” said Balto excitedly.

“It sure has been fun today” said Kaltag, “I mean that trick you played on the butcher that was just fantastic, wonderful it was...”

“REALLY REALLY INSPIRED!” interrupted Nikki.

Kaltag than hit him over the head, Nikki fell unconscious.

“It was nothing, it was something Boris and I tried a while back. Works even better looking like this” he said Balto with no shame.

“I take it you like being this way then?” asked Star.

“Like it? It’s wonderful! No it’s better than wonderful, it’s... you know I can’t even describe it in words” said Balto.

“Well keep it up big guy; we’re all in favour of this change. Haven’t had this much fin in like... ever” said Kaltag.

Suddenly a deep growl was heard coming from the dark end of the ally. The happy mood changed in an instant to fear and dread. A large figure was walking towards them from the shadows and this ‘shadow’ began to speak.

“Well well well if it isn’t the half-bree... oh that’s right I forgot you got rid of you’re wolf side didn’t you. Just as well, it’s gonna make it that little bit easier to kill you...”

The figure started to come into the light; it was a large black wolf... Niju. Kaltag and Star began to back away with fear, Nikki was still lying unconscious, while Balto stood his ground.

“Niju...”

“What’s the matter, no hug?” said Niju sarcastically.

“What do you want?” asked Balto.

Niju circled around Balto. Although he had stood his ground Balto felt the fear in extremes, he wasn’t accustomed to it, a few days back Niju looked smaller but now, he seemed a whole lot bigger.

“Just one thing, satisfaction... the satisfaction of watching you die slowly at my hand... is that fear I see in your eyes? You look even more worthless than before” said Niju.

Balto turned to Kaltag and Star.

“Guys run for it!” shouted Balto.

“What about you?!” replied Star.

“JUST GO! I’ll take care of it!”

Star and Kaltag started to drag Nikki away as fast as they could, pretty soon it was just Niju and Balto alone in the alley.

“Oh how heroic of you... look at you, you’re starting to shake. I’ll tell you what, I’ll give you a ten second head start... run... I SAID RUN!”

Balto then charged at Niju knocking him to the ground. But Niju had the upper hand, he flipped Balto over with just one kick. Balto went to hit back but was then bitten by Niju on the back of the neck and then thrown at a solid brick wall. Balto staggered up and realised his mouth was bleeding, he then saw Niju simply laughing at him. Balto’s fear had now taken over and began to limp away as fast as he could out of the town and into the wild. Niju just watched and began to count to ten in a joking manner....

“One, two, three, four... ah forget it! Coming ready or not!”

Niju then ran after Balto...

The sky was as dark as it was going to get over the woods, the air stank of fear. Niju was following Balto’s sent; he was taking his time in a very leisurely manner. As he entered the woods he found some blood spots on a rock, he simply smiled at the thrill of the chase. Niju sniffed the air...

“I have you’re sent locked in Husky dog, I could track you for miles if I had to... you used to be able to do that, not anymore though”

There was just silence for a few moments... not a sound... then...

“Why did you really come back? Simple vengeance doesn’t strike me as you’re style... it’s more than that.” Said Balto, who was nowhere to be seen.

“Just come out Balto, I’ll make it quick it won’t hurt a bit... well not too much anyway”

“You’re afraid... you’re afraid just like me aren’t you. You where scared of change and now you’re just scared in general.”

“It’s not gonna work...”

“You’re right...maybe losing my wolf half has made me weak, less than what I was... but it’s a whole lot better than being what you are... a coward who can’t cope with change even if it’s for the better” said Balto.

Niju was starting to shake with anger...

“You call me the coward! You’re the one who’s hiding!” shouted Niju, who was about to lose control over everything.

Then suddenly, Balto landed on him from a branch of a tree and Niju fell to the floor, before he could compose himself Balto hit him across the face. Niju was dazed on the floor, Balto then began to limp off again as fast as he could deeper into the woods. After a few moments Niju composed himself and went in pursuit.

Balto was hurt badly and was frightened for his life, he’d been frightened before but never like this, he was afraid that he would die... something that never crossed his mind even when he was risking his life to get the serum to Nome.

Balto Limped around the back of a large boulder and leaned against it in order to hide again, knowing that he was too injured to win in a straight fight.

“That hurt. Maybe you haven’t completely lost the wild in you...” said Niju.

Balto found his choice of word odd, even in this situation.

“The wild? You mean my wolf half?” asked