you’d stay here with me..” Jenna said.

Jamie smiled and walked back over to her.

Chapter XVII

Balto made it to the cave.

Lightning was on guard outside.

Balto knew Lightning, Lightning had been Shadow’s friend.

Balto walked over to him.

"I was told to ask someone to speak with Gia."

Lightning hung his head, and nodded.

"Wait here."

Then he turned and walked inside.

Balto stood outside for about ten minutes, before he heard someone inside the cave, and the silver wolf from this morning stepped out.

"Gia?" Balto said.

The silver wolf nodded once.

"What have you done with my daughter?" Balto asked, an almost dangerous edge entering his voice.

Gia laughed.

"You shouldn't concern yourself with that right now. If you ever want to see her again, you’ll help me."

"Help you what?" Balto asked.

“Shadow, your daughter's mate I believe, has something that I want very badly, all you have to do is explain the severity of the consequences if he continues to be stubborn about it."

"How do I know that she's okay?" Balto said, "and what about my son?"

Gia laughed again.

"So you figured that one out, did you?"

Balto said nothing.

"I assure you they're fine, for now."

Balto walked over next to her.

"I don't feel I can trust you, let me see her. Then I'll go talk to Shadow."

Gia laughed again.

"All right Balto, I'll humor you.

“Follow Lightning, you don't have long, you are not welcome here."

Balto said nothing, just followed Lightning into the cave.

Lightning led Balto deep into the cave.

Balto stopped him.

"Lighting, how could you, you who have sworn to protect her, how could you go along with this?"

"I don't have much choice." Lightning said, come on, we're almost there."

Balto saw four black wolves standing outside an entrance to another chamber.

As Lightning approached, the wolves stepped away.

Lightning nodded at them as he walked by.

Lightning stuck his head in the chamber.

"Aleu, there's someone here to see you."

He looked at Balto.

"You've got ten minutes."

Balto glared at him, and walked into the chamber.

"Dad?" Aleu said.

She limped over to him.

"Dad! What are you doing here?"

Blaize stood up and walked over as well.

"Hey son," Balto said, "you okay?"

Blaize nodded.

"It's good to see you."

Balto smiled.

"How's mom?"

Balto's smile faded.

“She was beat up pretty good but... but I think she'll be all right."

"Listen, Aleu," Balto said, "are you okay?"

Aleu nodded.

"I'm going to get you out of here." Balto said.

"Dad, I've..."

She sighed.

"I've got to talk to you about that, the thing that she wants.... it's a pup from another pack, another clan, and I believe that her return could make peace with them. You have got to promise me that you won't give her up.

"Aleu..."

Aleu looked at the ground, for she knew the consequences of what she was asking.

"Dad, promise me, it's for the good of the pack, promise me no matter what has to happen, that you'll see to it that she gets back to them."

Balto sighed.

"Aleu this involves everyone now and...."

Aleu cut him off.

"No, dad..."

Aleu looked up at him.

"Promise me."

Balto nodded.

"Okay Aleu, I promise, she won't be harmed... but I am getting you out of here."

Aleu smiled.

Lightning walked in then.

"Balto."

Balto sighed.

"Look, Aleu, I have to go, I guess Lightning is going to lead me to Shadow..."

"Tell him I'm okay, don't tell him about..."

She winced and picked up her front leg, Balto could tell she was hurt.

"Don't tell him about this, he'll try to attack... and... and they're too strong right now, it... it wouldn't do any good."

Balto nodded then he walked over to Lightning.

Lightning led Balto back to the cave's entrance.

Gia was still standing outside, waiting on them.

"I trust you saw her." she said.

Balto nodded.

"Okay then," Gia said, "Lightning?"

Lightning stepped forward.

"Lead him to Shadow." Gia said. "Oh and Balto.."

Balto stopped walking and turned around.

"Remember what and who you're dealing with, right now I don't have a thing against your daughter, I'm new to the area, I don't know anything about what happened, but... I can guarantee you this, if you don't do as I said... I will send her back to you, in pieces."

Balto's eyes narrowed and he growled.

"I'd watch what you say."

She laughed.

"Go ahead," Gia said, "attack me."

Balto heard a sound behind him, and he looked to see four black wolves standing behind him.

Gia's tone changed to one of severity.

"I guarantee that you'll be dead before you reach me."

Balto glared at her.

"Let's go Lightning," he said, he began to walk away.

"Oh and Lightning," Gia said, Lightning stopped.

"Stay with them, you come back and you're dead."

Then she turned, and walked back into the cave.

The black wolves remained.

Balto and Lightning walked away.

Lightning led Balto to the cave; where those who still followed Aleu lived.

Balto saw Dash standing outside, and ran over to him.

"Hey Dash," Balto said.

"Dad? What are you doing here?"

Dash almost growled.

"Lightning."

Lightning looked at the ground.

It was clear to Balto that Dash did not like Lighting’s presence in the least, as his son continued.

"The better question would be what are you doing here, and do you expect to make it out alive, because if you do Lightning, it would be extremely wise of you to not let Shadow see you."

"I... I can't go back." Lightning said slowly.

Dash was not impressed.

"So what now you come running back to us?"

"I.. I was going to help Aleu escape, Gia... she must've heard about it somehow, she told me that if I ever came back I was dead."

Dash laughed.

"Well then you are in a predicament, because Shadow will most likely kill you if you ask to stay here. Oh I know you could go ask the Onasie clan to take you in, huh?"

Lightning sighed

"Hey Dash," Balto said, "knock it off."

"Dad, this is a traitor, he..."

Balto interrupted his son.

"What he is, is a friend in need of help."

Dash shrugged.

"Go in there then, I don't care, but... don't say I didn't warn you."

Balto and Lightning walked into the cave.

Shadow was talking to Melody and Shasta across the chamber.

He looked up and saw Lightning.

Shadow was on him so fast, Balto didn't have time to do or say anything about it.

Shadow plowed into Lightning, and the two rolled across the floor, slamming into the cave wall. Lightning didn't try to resist, he just let Shadow pummel him.

Balto ran over and tried to stop Shadow, but it was a few minutes before he could get him off of him.

"Shadow stop it!" Balto said.

He pushed Shadow off of Lightning.

Lightning stood up slowly, and limped over to the other side of the room.

Shadow glared at Balto.

"Why'd you stop me!" Shadow yelled, "he deserves to die for what he's done! Aleu is your daughter, you should have been on him before I was!"

Shadow stood up and walked over to Balto.

"Look," Balto said, "he got kicked out of the pack…"

"Good," Shadow said, "I hope he freeze's to death out there."

He looked past Balto at Lightning and yelled.

"I can't believe I ever called you a friend, you worthless freakin' traitor!"

"Shadow," Balto said, "he got kicked out because he tried to help Aleu."

"Too little too late," Shadow said, "he's the reason that all of this happened, I would have taken Aniak down, and anyone else that cared to challenge Aleu, but... but he turned my team against me, he hit Aleu!"

He paused.

"I'm gonna kill him."

Then he walked around Balto toward Lighting.

Balto ran around in front of him again.

“Shadow stop it, you already hurt him.”

“That’s not enough Balto, not near enough,”

Shadow tried to go around him, and Balto pushed him down again.

Shadow glared at him from the floor.

“I won’t let you hurt him anymore,” Balto said, “if you kill him, what keep’s you from being any better than Gia?”

Shadow stood up and sighed.

Then he walked past Balto.

Balto started to intervene, and this time it was he who was staring up at Shadow.

“Leave me alone.”

Shadow walked past him into the next chamber.

Balto stood back up and walked over to Lightning.

“That went well, don’t you think?” Balto said.

Lightning’s nose was bleeding.

“Why… why’d you defend me? He’s right.”

Balto smiled at him.

“Because you tried to help Aleu, even though it could have gotten you killed.”

“Like Shadow said, she’s my daughter, anyone who will put their life on the line for her I consider a friend.”

Balto sighed.

“Look, I think it would be best if you stayed out here, while I go talk to him.”

Lightning nodded, lifted his paw and wiped the blood off of his nose.

Balto walked into the chamber Shadow had gone into.

Shadow saw Balto as soon as he entered, but he said nothing.

Shadow was sitting beside Sheik, Lima and Thunder, there was also a small pup that Balto didn’t know, Lima seemed to be taking care of it.

“Hey Balto,” she said.

She ran over to him, and was followed by the other two

“Hey