Author’s note: This is part three in a series of stories, so I highly suggest you go and read the first two parts right now, even if you had read them before. This fic needs the others to be read and understood to work, because this wraps up the story, and will seem really strange to hear without the first two. Ok? Anyway, this begins right where the last part left off, so that’s why I’m saying this. (If it isn’t good, then it’s because of the monster writer’s block I battled with. Sorry about that folks.)

Many thanks to redwolf03 and Dragon Tamer for giving me inspiration to get going with this and finish it, and to starwarsisme for helping to edit this!  Kelev

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Chapter one

 Kodi and Balto panted as they raced through the forest, the beauty of the night wasted on the two who were too preoccupied to notice the way the moon glistened on the snow banks and glittered on the icicles. There was simply no time to stop and appreciate the beauty of the night time winter wonderland. Tovah, Balto’s youngest daughter and Kodi’s sister, was in great danger, and her mate was in even bigger danger. It was up to them to reach the prejudiced dogs that had set out from town before they reached Tovah and Sitka’s den.

“We should be there soon, just another mile or so. We might actually beat those mutts there.” Balto panted, but then he screeched to a halt and began to look around cautiously.

Kodi looked uncertain as his ears perked up, the wind picking up and blowing into his ears, making it hard to discern what it was he had heard. After a moment he heard it again; it was the sound of snow crunching. “Dad, do you hear that?”

“Of course I do, now get down. They’ll see us.” Balto sank down behind a snow bank along with his son and listened to the dogs that they had been tracking. The ring leader spat on the snow, his livid green eyes blazing angrily. “Blast, I knew we wouldn’t find them!” The rest of the dogs growled in frustration as well.

Balto smirked in relief; his golden eyes gleaming in the dark as he watched them. If something was wrong for the dogs, then it was good for him and Kodi. “They can’t find Tovah and Sitka.” He whispered with an edge of relief in his tone. “They lost their trail, and they won’t find Tovah and Sitka’s den. It’s too deep in the woods.”

Kodi shivered as his father’s eyes bored into him. Suddenly Balto looked wilder and more wolf like then he had any right to be in the dark, with the moon shining on his fur and giving him a sort of other-worldly look with his glowing yellow and brown eyes. “I know a way to scare the heck out of those dogs,” Kodi said in a breathless whisper, “Just stare them square in the eye and their blood will freeze solid. You’re giving me the spooks!”

 Balto just rolled his eyes and looked back at the dogs, frowning thoughtfully as they stayed put and spoke in low tones. “They’re sticking around in the area instead of moving on or going home. I wonder why?”

They were about to find out. They heard the dogs scuffle to get into hiding spots behind snow banks and ice crusted bushes before someone approached. Balto’s gut twisted in fear as he saw who it was. Tovah! What is she doing here? I told her to go home!  He watched with a growing anger that some of the dogs were eyeing her with a not so nice look.

Kodi could barely contain himself. “She doesn’t know the danger! We can’t just let her come in and be hurt!”  He hissed furiously once Balto laid a paw on him to calm him down. He shook his head. “We wait for the right time, son. You don’t think I’m stupid enough to just sit here and watch her be hurt do you? There’s a right time to spring this, and now is not that time. Understand?”

Kodi nodded, though Balto knew that his words didn’t reach him. He turned his gaze back to Tovah and the dogs in their spots. She had stopped and had begun to sniff the air, and she frowned as she picked up an alien scent. The dogs began to grow fidgety. They had forgot that hybrids and wolves could smell better then regular dogs, and it made them wonder if they would be found out.

Suddenly, another form came out of the woods. “Tovah? Where were you?”

Balto’s eyes grew wide. Sitka!

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Tovah looked up and smiled in relief as her mate nuzzled her affectionately. She had been sure she had smelled something else, but she decided it must not have been anything worth worrying over. “Sitka, I had already told you where I was. You don’t have to worry, I’ve just been visiting Mom and Papa longer then I thought I would.”

Sitka still seemed to be a little worried. “I had a feeling…that maybe you weren’t alright. I suppose I’m wrong, but I would be more comfortable if we went back to the den.”

Tovah nodded, but just as she turned to leave an unfamiliar voice rang out. “Aw come on, leaving so soon? You only just came!”

Startled, Tovah whirled around and saw several figures come out of the woods. She narrowed her gaze once she recognized them. All of them were dogs she had seen around town; most of them had been known to terrorize her father and even her brothers because of their wolf heritage. She and Sitka both dropped into a defensive pose, a low warning growl rumbling in Stika’s throat. “Do not come any nearer. You step on my territory, dogs.” He snarled, his lips curling back and baring his teeth.

The lead dog laughed. “Like we care about your territory? How about we just deal with a certain problem we have and be done with it, shall we?” The other dogs snickered as they all exchanged meaningful looks.

Tovah had the distinct feeling that this was going to turn out very bad, but she shook off the feeling and drew on her reserves of courage. “Look, just get out of here and you won’t have any trouble.” She snapped, her eyes sparking dangerously. (Despite all her recent troubles, what with being half frozen in a snow bank and then the troubles of being pregnant; she actually was much stronger then most gave her credit. Some of the dogs knew this, since she had fought two of them before.)

The lead dog looked her over with contempt. “So we can see Kodi was right after all. You have been spirited away by this wolf, and even after you have been used, you converted to his barbaric ways. Looks as if we’ll have to deal with both of you now, being the creek scum you are. Kodi will just have to deal with the fact his baby sister isn’t coming home like he thought.”  He laughed at the horrified expression on Tovah’s face, which had slowly turned from horror into a look of pure fury as her fur stood on end. Kodi!  

 Chapter two

 Kodi tried his best to control his own rage. He had the most unbearable desire to rip apart those mangy, no good, flea-bitten mongrels. How DARE they??? Now if he and Balto sprang out, Tovah would think that they had come not to help her, but the ones who were out to get her and Sitka! His breathing was as irregular as his heartbeat as the rage mounted. Oh yes, after he was done with these dogs here he would deal with Kirby for starting this whole thing. “That stinking, no good, piece of”- He growled with each breath.

Balto laid a paw on him, looking at him sternly. Kodi wondered how his father could have that amount of discipline to make himself stay put and not go and rip those mutts apart. “Stay here until the time is right.” He ordered sternly. “Right now she won’t know you are helping her. It’ll make things worse if you come out, so let me do this. When the right time comes, you go in on the left, while I-”

Kodi was too infuriated to think rationally. “I’m taking them now!” He growled savagely as he bolted.

Balto jumped up, a split second too late to stop Kodi. “Kodi! Kodi NO!”

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With a howl Sitka slammed his weight against one of the dogs, knocking it off balance. He heard Tovah cry out in pain as one of them bit into her neck. He turned to help her