She was lying on the sow, hurt bad. I could tell. There was blood everywhere. My mommy opened her eyes and saw me. She had a difficult time talking, but she told me she loved me and that she was glad I was alright… the bullet had hit her in the back. She couldn’t stand or even move. So she told me to come closer to her. I just curled up and laid there beside her. She nuzzled me for a moment, then her head fell back off me. She… she didn’t move. I tried to get her to wake her up, but…” he paused here. “I’m so sorry,” Aleu said. “I think they killed everyone else too,” Thunder said. “I just want to go home,” he said. “Why’d they kill her Aleu, why?” he said burying his face in her shoulder. He started to cry. “I don’t know,” Aleu said. He didn’t say anything else, so she just sat and comforted him.

It was later that afternoon that Balto, Flash, Dash, Timbre and Lika made it back to the cave. Balto found Shadow watching Shasta with her pups. “I remember when mine were that young,” he said. Aleu loves them so much. You know she’s been spending more and more time with them, and less and less with the pack. I’ve taken over a lot of her responsibilities. I like it though, she works too hard…” “Shadow ,” Balto interrupted, “I don’t want to interrupt, but we found her.” “What? At the cabin?” Shadow said, “she was there!” “Yeah,” Balto said, “and we need to mount a rescue as soon as possible, that place is horrible.” “Balto,” Shadow said, “are you hurt?” “No,” Balto said, “why?” “There’s blood all over your muzzle,” he said. “Oh, that… that’s from an old friend I ran into, up there.” “Should I ask?” Shadow said. “Ha,” Balto said, remembering Kyla, “why not. “Balto, I didn’t know you were back,” Jenna said as she walked up to him. “Are you hurt?” “No,” Balto said again. “I was just about to tell Shadow about an old friend I ran into down at the cabin. I never told you about it,” Balto said. “Her name was Kyla.”

“Her?” Jenna asked.

Balto was running around in the woods. He loved it out here. The smell of the air, just everything was better away from Nome. He was just getting used to living around the town, Mikies death still haunted him, but he was learning to get by. The goose that had “adopted” him seemed nice, his name was Boris. He could be a little… odd at times but Balto thought they had the beginnings of a lasting friendship. He saw a wolf in the distance. He decided to stay away from it, he didn’t want trouble. He started chasing a butterfly, and jumping at it.” Suddenly he heard a loud growl. He looked up, the biggest wolf he’d ever seen was standing in front of him, growling, “What are you doing here?” He said. “uh…playing?” Balto said. I don’t recognize you from our pack, so you’re trespassing, the huge wolf said.” “Oh, I’m not part of a pack, I’m a dog, I live in Nome,” said Balto. “Nonsense,” the wolf said, look at you, you’re a wolf if I ever saw one. You’re not a very good liar.” “No really,” Balto said, beginning to get scared now, I’m being raised by a goose in Nome, because my owner died.” “A goose? Ha Ha Ha!” The wolf laughed. “That is the most horrible story I have ever heard of, Ha Ha!” “Besides look at you, no human would ever want you, look at your paws, your face your whole body, you look just like what you are and that is a wolf. The penalty for trespassing on our turf has been made perfectly clear to the other packs, yet they still don’t listen. Maybe it’s time I sent them a message.” Balto just knew he was going to die, it wasn’t fair, that just when he was getting to his new life he should die. “Oh leave him alone,” a female voice said from behind him. He turned and saw the most beautiful creature he’d ever laid eyes on. “Can’t you see, he’s scared and cowering.” “He may look like a wolf but he doesn’t act like one, he acts like a dog.” “Yes well I suppose…” The big wolf said. “Dad,” the female wolf said, “go away, please, before you hurt someone, again.” The big wolf walked away. “Sorry about that,” the female wolf said as she turned to Balto, he’s just a little over protective. He’s really a good guy.” “I’m sure he is,” Balto said. “My name’s Kyla,” she said.

“And that’s how we met,” Balto said. “Oh and Jenna, when I said she was the most beautiful creature I’d ever laid eyes on, well that was about six months before I met you.” She smiled and hit him playfully. “Anyway, he continued, “ To make a long story short Kyla and I became good friends. We used to play for hours. But I heard she’d gotton killed by a trapper. So I stopped going to see her, I wonder what really happened to her.” “So how does that explain the blood on your face?” Jenna asked. “When we were at the cabin…” Balto stopped, “she was killed.” “Oh Balto, I’m sorry,” Jenna said. “It’s alright,” Balto said, “because now we’re going to go save Aleu, and in doing that we will shut these people down.” “Agreed,” Shadow said, “let’s get started planning.”

The plan was all laid out, Balto, Shadow, Flash, Dash and Timbre would go in and rescue Aleu. The pack would be there for support if it was needed. Jenna walked over to Balto, as they were getting ready to go. “Balto,” she said, “I want to come with you,” she said. “No,” Balto responded, “Jenna I’ve seen what goes on in that place, if we got caught, I could never forgive myself.” “I want to go,” Jenna said, “Aleu is my daughter.” “Jenna,” he almost yelled, “how many fights have you been in? Because the men there have guns and it could get pretty messy in a hurry.” “Balto,” Jenna said raising her voice as well. “You should know by now that I will do whatever is necessary.” Balto looked around him. “Dash help me out?” Dash backed away. “Shadow?” Shadow just shook his head and kept walking. “Balto,” Jenna said, “I want to help.” “Fine,” Balto said, “but if it looks like it’s going to get bad, I want you to leave, understand?” Jenna nodded. “Let’s go,” he said.

Aleu was thrown into the cage the latest treatment had been the worst so far and she felt horrible. Thunder ran over to her, “Aleu are you alright?” She tried to tell him she’d be fine, but her mouth wouldn’t work. She watched as one of the men dropped the net over Thunder’s head. “No,” he yelled, “Aleu help me, please!” They wrestled him out of the cage. He bit at them, but the net got in the way and he couldn’t really get at them. He kicked and thrashed, trying to get away. One of the men grabbed a two by four from the floor and hit him in the head with it. He yelped and kept fighting, the man swung it again and again as they drug him down towards the room. Aleu started to cry. She listened to his pleas. “No, Aleu look, Aleu help, please.” She watched as they drug him into the room. He caught his front legs on the door. The man with the two by four swung it hard and hit him in the leg. Thunder yelped and let go. The door slammed shut. Aleu continued to cry, as she looked at what was in front of her, the cage door was open. The men had left it open, but she couldn’t move. She was there, so close, but she couldn’t do it. She decided then to give up. The cage was electrified, she knew that from past experience. She wasn’t even going to try to escape again. The will to keep living had left her. She realized that to do what she was thinking, meant she would never see Shadow or the kids again. That was the hardest part, but, she reasoned with herself, it was pointless, “Kima was right,” she said to herself. She stood shakily next to the cage wall and prepared to give all her remaining strength to the effort of jumping into it. “Aleu?” she heard Shadow’s voice, and fell to the side, collapsing on the floor. Balto stepped into view, then Jenna, Flash, Dash and Timbre. Shadow ran up and leapt into the cage. He landed next to Aleu. “Aleu,” he said, “you’re hurt.” Aleu could hardly speak. G…Ge..Get Thu… Thunder and… and Ki..ma. “Where are they Aleu?” Shadow asked. She nodded towards the treatment room. “Balto, Timbre, you guys go get Thunder from that room,” he said pointing at the room Aleu had indicated. “Flash and Jenna, you find Kima,” “Alright,” They all said. Then they set off. Shadow turned back to Aleu, who was still lying on the ground. “I thought I’d never see you again,” he said. He knelt down and nuzzled her face. “I…I lo…ve you.” She said. He blinked away tears and smiled, “I love you too. Can you stand?” “He..lp me. She said, he pushed her up with his head and steadied her. “Are you