whispered. “I love you, too, Camyar,” said Aleu, who was now sobbing with agony. They held each other for a long time, and then finally, Aleu let go and turned toward Balto, preparing to tell him that she was ready to leave. However, she didn’t speak when she saw him. The face that had just moments ago been filled with such happiness was now filled with pain, pain so terrible that Aleu felt as if she were looking at a reflection of herself. Balto fought back his emotions as best he could, speaking to Aleu after a few moments. “My darling Aleu, you’ll never know how wonderful what you said a minute ago made me feel. I’m so happy…I mean, I was never sure how you felt about me as a dad, and…now I know.” He chuckled with joy, but then, his face returned to pain. “But…now that I know, I can see things I couldn’t before, things I was…too blind to tell. All I saw before was my little girl, but now…I can see better. I can tell by what you’ve said in these last few minutes.” A tear ran down his cheek. “You’ve grown up, Aleu. You’re not a kid anymore, and…I know that…I can’t choose things for you now. It’s your life, not mine.” He sobbed a little, but pulled himself together. “I just wanted to tell you that…I think that what you have right here is for the best, Aleu. This pack needs you, and I know you can do great things here. I can’t be the one guiding you anymore; there’s so much more life you have beyond me, and beyond Nome. I love you more than anything in the world, and I would be overjoyed if you came back to live with us, but I can’t ask you to do that if it isn’t what your heart is really saying. I think it’s for the best if you stay here and lead this pack.” Aleu was completely stunned by what Balto was saying, and she merely sat there with her mouth open for several seconds. Nava spoke to her, snapping her out of her shock. “Please, Aleu. Lead us?” Aleu wasn’t sure how to think, which way to turn, but then, a voice came from inside her. “It’s happened. He’s letting me go. Now I can follow what my heart has found here. My dream can be real. I can finally be what’s inside me.” She took a deep breath and turned to Nava. “I will.” The whole pack cheered, and Camyar and Aleu embraced each other in ecstasy, laughing with pure happiness. “Oh, Aleu,” Camyar said. “Will you be my mate?” “Yes!” Aleu cried. “Oh, yes!” They began sobbing with joy, but Aleu suddenly stopped and moved back from Camyar. “That is,” she says, “if my dad approves.” Both of them looked at Balto. “Of course,” said Camyar. “I would not wish it otherwise.” Balto reached out and tousled Aleu’s head fur. “I’m not the one to make that choice,” he said. “You’re a big girl now. You deserve to decide what you want for your life. However,” he said with a smile, “I approve completely all the same.” Aleu laughed happily and embraced Camyar again, and they kissed each other while Balto looked on. He stared at Aleu, terrible sadness washing his heart. Aleu held such a big piece of that heart he wondered how he could bear giving her up, but he still remembered Muru’s words when he slept in the cave: “I know how fathers worry about their daughters being out in the world, but you cannot choose for them forever.”

Even so, that didn’t help the pain.

“Let us not waste time!” Nava’s voice came to Balto, pulling him from his thoughts. The old wolf was speaking to the whole pack. “We now celebrate the coming of a new leader, and the salvation of our pack!” The entire pack cheered, and most of them began milling about, doing jobs such as preparing food for a feast and clearing a space for dancing. Camyar left to join his fellow hunters in gathering meat, leaving Balto and Aleu alone with each other. Aleu’s happy expression faded as she saw how awful her father looked as he thought to himself. “So…” she said, “what are you thinking now?” Balto took a shaky breath. “I was…um…” His lip began quivering, and he struggled hard to keep his emotions from breaking loose. “I was thinking that…if only I had done a better job, if I had been a better father…none of this would have happened, and you would still be at home…” He burst into heavy sobs, and Aleu reached out and put her paw on his shoulder, trying to help him calm down. “You ran away because…I failed you as a dad, and now…I’ve lost you. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…” He lowered his head, letting his tears pour, and Aleu spoke to him, her voice thick with emotion. “That’s not true, Dad,” she said softly. “It’s not your fault.” “Why not?” Balto asked, wiping away some of his tears. He noticed that Aleu could barely speak, and was struggling to get her words out. Finally, she did, her eyes brimming. “Because I failed you as a daughter.” Balto looked into Aleu’s eyes with shock as she began to cry. “You…you gave me everything: love, time, care, protection, everything to give me a happy life, but…I was never grateful, never appreciative. All I could think of was myself. I was arrogant and stupid, and I never took the time…to see what a great dad you were. You didn’t fail me; you were the best dad I could’ve wanted, and I’m sorry I didn’t give back the love you gave me…” Father and daughter embraced each other, tears spilling from their eyes, feeling like a gap that had separated them for years had finally closed. “I love you, Dad!” Aleu cried. “I love you, Aleu!” Balto sobbed. “Why is it just now?” Aleu said. “Why did we have to wait until now to learn how to just love each other like this?” “I’m going to miss you so much, Aleu,” said Balto. “I know it won’t be easy to do, but could you visit us in Nome sometimes?” “Sure, but only if you bring Mom and the others here someday soon.” “It’s a deal.”

They kept holding each other until Camyar’s voice called them to the meal. They nuzzled each other, and Aleu smiled at Balto. “Let’s eat!” she said, and they joined the rest of the pack in a circle between the nests and the elder rock. Balto told the pack about life in Nome by nearly universal request, and when the meal was done, Nava addressed the pack. “Now, we must have a dance and song, if our elder approves.” Aleu had no objections, and soon, everyone was slow dancing to music that played only in their minds, created by Nava’s singing. Balto sat by Muru, watching Aleu and Camyar dance each wearing smiles of deep love. He sighed, trying to loosen the grip of the chains of grief that wrapped around his heart. Suddenly, it felt as if they did loosen spontaneously, and Muru spoke. “Does that lighten your soul?” Balto smiled a little. “Yes,” he said. “Thanks.” “I know it is painful, my friend, and I cannot promise that it will not be for a time, but know that you are doing what is right. I will guide Aleu however I can. Make effort not to worry for her; she is strong and brave, and she already has many friends here. Come what may, I believe she will be safe.” Muru could sense that Balto was still tortured by himself. “Love does not have to disappear if it is separated merely by distance,” he said. “You and Aleu have removed the bars that kept you apart, and now nothing can destroy or suppress the care you feel for one another. Even when you are back in Nome, you will still be together in your hearts. I know it is not completely the same, but as the wolves say, ‘Cer ano cer, votoru’-‘love is love, it never dies’.” Balto nodded and stood up. “So true,” he said, walking into the crowd of wolves and making his way to Aleu. “Excuse me?” he said, and Aleu and Camyar looked at him. “I’m sorry to cut in, but I’ve never danced with my daughter before. This is my last chance.” Camyar nodded, moving aside, and Aleu touched her cheek to Balto’s as they began to dance. Balto didn’t say anything as they moved about the group; he just thought about how much he loved Aleu, how much they had been through, and how happy she was now. Suddenly, briefly, images flashed through his mind. He saw Aleu at the moment Jenna gave birth to her, the very first time he held her. He remembered how small she was, how he could just cradle her in his paws. He remembered showing her to Jenna, and how they had both been struck by how much she looked like him, even as such a small puppy. He could hear himself speaking her name for the first time. He could see her beautiful blue eyes the moment they first opened, and how she bobbled about as she took her first real steps. He heard the first time she was able to say “daddy”. He remembered the lullabies he sang her, the stories of wolves he told her, the times he ran over the snow with her clinging to his back and laughing. But more than anything, he remembered the first time she had ever said “I love you.” He stopped dancing and put his paws around Aleu, holding her tightly and starting to cry again. “Sky eyes,” he whispered. “Who am I going to call that now?” Aleu nuzzled him. “It’s alright, Dad. Don’t cry.” “I…I lost so much time we could’ve spent doing wonderful things just…worrying. How could I have been so stupid?” Aleu put her paws around Balto and whispered to him. “It’s okay, Dad. You did fine. I was the stupid one. Most of the time growing up, I was dumb enough to let my pride keep me from letting myself enjoy the happiness you tried to give me.” Balto sighed. “I just wish I’d had more times like this with you.” “So do I,” Aleu said sadly. After a few more minutes, Balto let Aleu return to dancing with Camyar, and before long, the celebration ended. Realizing that he had to go back to Nome, Balto decided not to prolong the parting with his daughter any longer, and he prepared to leave. With tears in his eyes, he took Aleu’s paw and placed it in Camyar’s. “I always imagined what it would be like to give you away,” he said to Aleu. He looked at Camyar. “Please, take good care of her?” he said imploringly. Camyar nodded. “On my honor as a wolf, until death comes for me, such is my solemn vow. I will love her, and only her, forever.” Balto nodded, then looked at Aleu again. “Good luck, sweetheart,” he said. “You too, Dad,” Aleu