death for eternity. My father did this, and he was one of the creatures that killed Magnum. But the lord does the fight by becoming an exact copy of his opponent except improved. If you win, you and your friends would gain immunity from the Kalaks, and perhaps even free me.” Then a voice just said,

“I'll do it.” Silver and Balto saw Steele to the side, he was listening the whole time.

“I'm not afraid. Somebody needs to face this devil. I'll fight him. Even if I lose, everyone's last memory of Steele is that he died with honor, not that he betrayed his serum sled team.” Balto then cut in,

“Steele, is that a bit selfish? You're fighting for yourself.”

“Yeah it's selfish but you still get out.” Balto walked away leaving Steele and Silver alone.

“Look Silver, I want you to get your freedom. I'm not just doing this for my team, but also for you.”

“Thank you Steele. You're first one since my father who has done this for me.”

As Balto was walking along, a 3 dozen huskies crossed his path. The head husky had those friendly eyes. He shouted out,

“My American brother! I bring you my Soviet team, the Norwegians, and the Japanese. They will fight for you.”

Chapter 10: The Kalak Lord

The 44 brave dogs stood in positions. They were looking around anxiously for the Kalak. The sun lowered on the horizon, the battle was about to begin. The sky went dark and black masses started to materialize. Everyone was scarred and prepared to die, but they wanted to die in glory. The battle started. The each team got on top of the creatures, tearing them to pieces. Creatures thrashed and killed many dogs. Red dog blood was starting to stain the ground, as well as the gray Kalak blood. Steele was an unstoppable force as he jumped from throat to throat. The dogs felt like they were killing more Kalaks than losing dogs. Balto gave a victorious howl and lunged for one of the four legged creatures. Balto was so quick and nimble, the creature couldn't touch him. Balto won and killed it. Steele then shouted,

“Bring me your Lord! I came to kill him.” The fighting ceased and a dark fog settled. The fog seemed to speak,

“You're a fool. Very well, I'll enjoy to have to you as one of my minions.”

The fog gathered in front of Steele and it formed into an Alaskan Malamute with those mysteriously colored eyes glowing. Steele knew there was no turning back; it was do or die.

The :ord made first strike and Steele dodged him, but he came back and knocked Steele down from the side. The mighty Kalak clawed him on the side, give Steele gashes. The pain angered Steele and he got a hold of the Lord's throat. The Lord kept clawing Steele while Steele held one, Steele winced in pain breathed deeply with blood staining his coat.

“You're the best mortal I've faced. Normally they're mine by now.”

“Is that fear I sense?” mocked Steele.

“No. Respect.” This gave Steele a chill of appreciation, getting respected. Now he's energized! Steele charged the Kalak Lord. The Lord got under and bit his belly. Steele felt the teeth sink in and the internal bleeding flowed forth. It's only a matter of time before the fight is over. The Lord laughed victoriously,

“You feel that weakness swell over you? Take it and make it your comfort. Soon you'll be an immortal. My immortal!”

Steele stood up. He wasn't accepting defeat. The Lord swiped him and knock him down. Then took his head in his jaws and threw him down again and again. Steele looked limp as a rag dog but was still breathing. Thoughts rung through his head, “Glory Hound”, “Traitor”, “Coward”, “Liar”.

“No... I am Steele of Nome. My honor must live and so must my friends.”

It seemed like a strength surged through Steele, despite all the wounds, he moved like a wave and crashed into the Lord. He went flying into a rock. Steele charged him and started to claw up his face. He dodges a lunge the Lord made and kicked him with his hind legs. Steele picked him up and while holding him, slammed him against a column of rock. Each collision made the dog's body wrap around it like a towel. Soon Steele heard a snap and the struggling from the Lord's body stopped; Steele snapped his neck. Steele let go and the lifeless body blew away like dust as well as the other Kalaks. Steele looked to Balto and nodded, then to Silver Cloud. Steele collapsed and Silver Cloud rushed over there as did Balto. Steele closed his eyes and began to grow cold,

“Balto... thank you... for... this... realizing the brute... I was... thank you. I'm sorry.” Balto nodded and acknowledged. Steele barely opened his eyes and saw Silver Cloud,

“Silver... you have your... freedom.... I'm sorry that... I can't stay.... you're just so... beautiful... I wanted to be with you.” Just then, Steele heard the words that nobody has ever said to him,

“I love you.” whispered Silver. Steele gave a smile and closed his eyes. Silver howled as Steele ceased to breath, ceased to beat, ceased to live. All of the surviving dogs there will remember Steele of Nome.

Chapter 11: Nome

Balto talked to Kurgan and found a way back to Alaska and to his town. But before he went to see Jenna, a thought crossed his path. Kurgan said that he must go the cliff where he met the white wolf during the serum run. He crossed the countryside for days, then he found it. The weather started to gather into a blizzard and white is all he saw. Balto sensed something and there he was, the white wolf, then another one of them appeared. The other was his mother. It hit Balto,

“Father?”

The white wolf nodded and pointed to a lump in the snow. Balto ran over to the lump and dug. There he struck something. He continued to remove the snow and there he saw the frozen skeleton of a dog. Balto to the white wolf,

“Is this you?”

The white wolf nodded and faded in the blizzard as well as his mother. The blizzard died down and disappeared. Balto began to break down and cry over the remains. He was happy for his father because he reached his goal.