There was so much Aleu wanted to do that she thought she’d never be able to do it all, no matter how long she stayed. She had agreed to go on a hunt, had helped take care of Erana’s puppies, and had gone with a scout on a new trail through the hills. That afternoon, she was with Nava, listening to a story about a battle between two wolf packs, when a cry rang out. “Shamydu, Nava! Shamydu!” The wolf pack erupted into a state of general fear, running to either side of the elder rock. Nava’s face was like ice. “What is it, Nava?” Aleu asked, becoming afraid herself. Nava glared. “Niju.”

Over the snowbanks several yards in front of the elder rock, a wolf appeared. He was large and strong looking, with black and pale white fur. His face had the appearance of one who is so used to being wicked that it becomes their entire life. That face wasn’t wearing a hostile look, but the evil in his heart showed very clearly through it. He walked slowly and purposefully towards the rock, and behind him, several more wolves appeared. They were also strong looking; Aleu guessed them to be the pack’s warriors. Then, behind them, came the rest of the pack, and Aleu’s fear was transformed to horror at the grisly sight. Almost the entire pack looked partly starved, weak, and very frightened. There were families with puppies that limped along, pain in their eyes. Some members had unusual mutilations, like a mangled ear on one wolf. They were dirty and dishelved, looking like they were tired and in want of food. Throughout them were scattered more warriors to keep order. Niju himself walked a few more paces and stopped in front of the rock. “Hello, Nava,” he said. Nava growled. “Get out of here, Niju. You are not welcome.” Niju laughed. “You amuse me, Nava.” “I am serious. Leave and stop harassing us.” Niju shook his head. “Come now, I have only the usual demands: food for my pack, and that we be allowed to stay for the night.” “No! You always take far more food than you need, and the caribou are becoming scarcer. You know that! It happens every year. We cannot spare food, and I will not tolerate your presence here.” Niju narrowed his eyes at Nava. “I am not leaving without something,” he threatened. He turned around, hearing a noise. Aleu had walked up to a mother wolf in Niju’s pack that had two puppies standing at her feet. They were quivering with fear. “I won’t hurt you,” Aleu said quietly as she reached out a paw and took one of the puppies’ front paw, looking at it. It had looked strange, and now Aleu saw why. Two of the toes had been ripped off. The wounds looked like they were not completely healed yet. The puppy whimpered, and its mother choked out a single sob. Aleu looked up to see a tear running down her cheek. “What could have done that?” Aleu thought, aghast. It was now that she noticed Niju was staring at her…and not in a pleasant way. “I could just take her with me,” he said musingly. “I forbid it!” Nava shouted. “Leave here, Niju! Take your evil some other place! Go, now!” Niju walked up to the rock, staring into Nava’s eyes. The elder held his ground. “I said go,” Nava growled slowly. Niju stared at him a little longer, and then turned away. “Very well. I will go…for now. But I will be back. Come,” he called to his pack. They turned and followed him away over the snowdrifts, and Nava closed his eyes, taking deep breaths to calm down.

The pack began thanking him for driving Niju off, but Aleu could see that he had barely kept the other wolf at bay. “Who was that, Nava?” she asked. “Niju is a monster,” Nava said. “He goes about robbing other packs. He is a bully, but he is also not a coward. He treats death and pain very lightly, and he has a taste for blood.” “How often does he come?” “Only once in a while, but when he does come, he takes a tremendous amount of food, and his warriors practically terrorize our pack.” “Does anyone stand up to him besides you?” “It is difficult to stand up to Niju. He is in his prime, is strong, and knows combat well. I am one of the few elders for whom he shows some respect.” “Why?” “Because he wants this pack. He is hungry for power, and he wants to take all of us away with him. He has informed me of this, and offered to become the pack elder several times, but I have refused. In the meantime, do not be troubled by him. I do not think he will really be back until a while from now.” Nava sighed, lying down on the rock to rest. Aleu went off and talked to Erana, returning around fifteen minutes later. She was about to speak to Nava, but another call came. “Gaantro! Gaantro!” “What does that mean?” Aleu asked. “Gaantro means ‘stranger’,” said Nava, sitting up. “A stranger has approached the pack and been captured. They will bring him or her to me.” Two hulking wolves were escorting the stranger toward the rock, and said stranger was speaking to them calmly, but urgently. “Nycas! Nycas! Ruo luken vir nycas!” “He is saying, ‘Peace! Peace! I come with peace!’” Aleu didn’t really hear Nava say that, because she had recognized the voice. “Dad?!?” she shouted, running forward. “Let him go,” Nava called. The wolves backed off, leaving Balto and Aleu facing each other. “Hi,” she said quietly. “Hi,” he replied, with a similar tone. “Um…” she said, “Nava, this is my father, Balto. Dad, this is Nava, the pack’s elder.” Balto bowed to Nava. “Cuurom-euo.” The elder nodded in return. “I know Aleu is part wolf. Did she inherit that from you?” “Yes. I’m half dog, half wolf.” “I see. About our language, how do you know it?” “My wolf blood came from my mother. I lived with her, and I learned a lot of the language.” “Well, I have already extended the invitation to stay to your daughter. I would like to offer it to you as well.” “Thank you,” Balto said. The pack went about their business, and father and daughter were left together.

“Aleu,” Balto said, “can I talk to you alone?” “Sure, I guess.” They walked off, away from any others. “So, um…” Aleu said, “what are you thinking right now?” Balto shook his head. “I don’t really know what to think, Aleu. I know that my daughter, whom I’ve given my life to, and loved more than anything in the world, ran away from home and left a note that basically said she did it because she didn’t like me as a dad.” “Oh, Dad, I didn’t mean it like that.” Balto’s lip quivered, and he didn’t answer. She could tell he was angry and horribly hurt, but trying not to show it. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t know how else to say what was in my head.” “Well, how come you didn’t talk to me about it instead of running away and leaving a note you didn’t mean?” “It was…I couldn’t talk to you.” “Why not?!? I’m your dad, for Pete’s sake.” “You didn’t understand me.” “What does that mean?” “You didn’t get what I was going through. You never did. I know, you tried to be all ‘I know exactly how you feel’ and all that, but it wasn’t true.” “Aleu, I’ve been through everything you have when I was a kid. How can you say I don’t understand?” “You just…you don’t, okay?” “If you won’t let me, then how can I?” “It’s…I can’t explain it.” “If you can’t even explain it, how on earth can you use it as an excuse to run away from home? You darn well broke my heart, Aleu, and your mom’s.” Tears ran down Balto’s cheeks. “Do you care about that?” he asked. “Well, do you? You’ve made me walk miles and miles from Nome and the rest of your family; please answer me.” Aleu began sobbing quietly, and Balto walked over to her slowly and gave her a hug. “Hey, Aleu…I’m sorry, honey. I’m sorry I got angry. It’s just, I was worried sick about you, and I’ve been hurting a lot. Forgive me, darling?” She nodded tearfully. “I forgive you, Dad. Truth is, I feel downright rotten, too. I mean, that note…it really must have hurt, but please believe me, I didn’t know how else to speak my mind. Um…I don’t know if this will make a difference, but I’ve missed you and Mom and my brothers and sister a lot.” “It does make a difference. I’m glad you didn’t just decide to forget about us.” They held each other. “I’m sorry, Dad,” Aleu said. “Do you want to talk about what I wrote? It might make things better.” “No…not now, honey.” “Um…okay.” “I love you, Aleu.” “I love you too, Dad.” Balto kissed her cheek. “I’m glad I found you. I was really worried.” “I know you love me, but all the same, how come you worry about me so much?” “Because the world isn’t kind to those who are different; I know that for certain. And I just…don’t want you hurt. I’m trying to protect you. That’s what I was always doing. You’re out in the world now, and I’m not sure if you’re ready for it.” “But if I’m kept from the world my whole life, how will I ever be ready for it?” Balto was silenced by this, and try as he might to come up with a response, he couldn’t. Nava walked up to them. “What is the matter? A parted father and daughter are not happy to see each other? Why?” Aleu now explained to Nava in greater detail why she had run away. The elder listened quietly, speaking when Aleu was finished. “I feel sorry for both of you. Have you discussed this before?” “No, not until a minute ago.” “Well…I do not know how much help I can offer. Perhaps this is not the best time. Balto, I am sure you are hungry?” “Yes, Elder.” “Please, call me Nava. Would you like to join us for dinner?” “Oh, yes, thank you. I’ve been away from wolves for so long…it’ll be interesting to experience that life again.” “I imagine. Come, brother. You were last with wolves as a puppy? It has been far too long for you.”

The wolves’ dinner was completely informal, almost like a casual party. Balto and Aleu felt totally comfortable, speaking easily with members of the pack. The caribou meat was fresh and very tasty, and there was plenty to go around. Aleu introduced Balto to Camyar, and Balto was grateful to the wolf for helping his daughter. After the meal, the pack sang an exiting song, with Nava leading. Balto and Aleu chose not to have it translated; they thought it sounded better as it was. They did ask