head. “No, not anymore. Toby’s better than any dog I could have imagined.”

Alicia nodded. “Then it sounds like you may already have a dog,” she smiled.

Boy and dog looked at each other, their faces showing matching expressions of surprise. “You mean…?” asked Charlie.

Alicia smiled. “I love Toby like anything, but let’s face it-he’s not gonna get along in my house. I just can’t handle him all the time, especially with my job. He needs a home where he’ll always have someone to play with.”

Charlie was stunned. “I’d…I’d have to ask my folks,” he said.

“I already talked to them. They said they think it’s wonderful how much Toby’s done for you. If you want him, he’s yours.”

Charlie looked at Toby. “Well, boy, what do you think?”

Toby looked back and forth between Charlie and Alicia. He loved playing with Charlie, but…well, he had never given up on his dream of being a sled dog. He'd even come to the conclusion that to wear a dog sweater-even the one the lady had given him-wouldn't be so bad if it meant he could run. What if living with Charlie…meant giving up that dream?

‘But I’m already running,’ he realized, looking at the harness he wore. ‘And I’m helping someone, just like the mail team.’ He looked at Charlie. First at his face, warm and hopeful. Then Toby’s eyes traveled down to the wooden crutches, endless reminders of the boy’s crippling disability.

'The chances, the changes

‘But it’s not just my life that’s in my paws to change now.’ Toby looked back up at Charlie’s face. ‘It’s his life too. And he needs me more than I need the team.’ He looked at Alicia and placed one paw on Charlie’s knee, signifying his choice. Charlie threw his arms around Toby’s neck, so happy that he was crying.

Alicia smiled. “Then you’ll need these,” she said, pulling out Toby’s food and water dishes, wrapped in a blanket she had made out of the dog sweater. Toby no longer despised it. This was partially because the vet had remarked that the thick wool had shielded him from part of the bear’s attack, but mostly it was the fact that he no longer had to wear it. “I’ll go get the rest of his things from my house.”

Charlie let go of Toby and eagerly hopped on the sled. “How about we all go get them?” he suggested.

It felt strange to be moving to a new home and a new master, but Toby found that it was a good strange. He’d had his adventure for now. And who knew what might still lie ahead?

The greatest adventure

Is there in your home…

‘Yes,’ thought Toby, looking at the house that was now his. ‘My home…’

A curious thing happened to Charlie, now that he had a dog. A few weeks after Toby came to live with him, Charlie took his first steps without crutches. Soon he was walking on his own entirely. His legs, strengthened by standing at the back of the sled and pressing his feet down to steer or brake, were finally working correctly. His parents were amazed, and his mother remarked on an old story about a man who had healed blindness using mud. “I guess if mud can cure blindness, a mutt can cure lameness,” she joked.

As for Toby, he never regretted his choice. When Charlie’s legs grew strong, and the boy began to walk on his own, Toby was happier than he had ever been. It wasn’t a big, heroic feeling of pride, but the love shared by dog and master, a love which he had fled for so long. He no longer babbles about wanting to be a wolf-dog. He no longer practices with Kodi, who soon had six new apprentices anyway. And even though Charlie now walks freely, he and Toby still enjoy a daily sled ride. Toby is, to this day, perfectly content to be a housedog.

But perhaps the story is not yet over. Toby may live in a house, but one, sometimes two nights a month he goes outside…and sleeps in a den.

Author’s Note: Since this is a Balto story, some readers may wonder why I didn’t use the song Reach for the Light. At first I thought I might, but I decided a change of pace would be interesting, so I chose instead to use a favorite song of mine taken from the animated movie The Hobbit, which was produced by Rankin/Bass Productions, Inc. The song called “The Greatest Adventure” struck me as being very personal and direct to Toby, particularly in this instance. It was written by Jules Bass and is technically used here without permission.

Balto, Jenna, Kodi, Dusty, Ralph, Kirby © Universal Studios

Chase © redwolf03

Toby, Alicia Day, Terry, Luna, Charlie Winters, Nolan Winters, Pete, Rex, Rocky, Colt, Norik, Haley, Phoebe © Dragon Tamer

Next Time, in Toby Part 4:

Toby and Luna have been best friends forever. They've faced death, shared secrets, and passed test after test of their loyalty with flying colors. But now, they have a whole new problem on their paws. A problem that could crush their friendship forever.