voice sounded gruff and scratchy from battle.

"I've delt with him before-I'm not going through it again!" Steele and his gang began to run off-but was stopped by Alue's back-up team. The road was filled with hunters. And even Kirby, Dusty and Ralph showed up!

"Hey! Help! Over here!" Shouted Kodi. It seemed as though noone noticed him. He had a hurt and angry expression on his face. Then, as the hunters approached, Steele had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach that he was in big trouble.

"Steele! What are you doing out here!?" Steele looked up, with big puppy-dog eyes, trying to act innocent. His owner wasn't happy. He knew what Steele was up to. " That won't work." He sounded stern and angry. "Now get home! Come-on." He pulled at Steele's Coller. Steele whimpered, and then dissapeared. Alue's pack ran behind her, scared the hunters would shoot them. Then Kodi came running over.

"Kodi! Are you alright?" Balto yelled after him. But he ran past him.

"Kodiak!? Where are you going? Come back!" Balto seen Jenna running up to them all. But it was no use. Kodi didn't run back.  "Oh, Balto!" Jenna said.

"Papa, are you OK?" Said Alue.

"Yeah," Balto said. "But you should worry about yourselfs." They didn't know what Balto was talking about. Then they knew.

"The Hunters!" Whimpered Alue. The pack backed up behind their leader. But  Balto didn't let the hunters get Alue's pack-or her! He stood in front of them, protecting them. The hunters realized what was going on. They all left. "Papa..My time here is up." Alue said, sadly.

"WHAT? WHY?" Balto yelled.

"No! I'm not dieing! Heh heh.." Alue laughed.

"...Oh...I knew that!" Said Balto.

"But what do you mean your time is up here?" Asked Jenna.

"Well..I have to return home. So, I guess this is good-bye." She said. Jenna's eyes watered, but she didn't cry. She licked Alue. Then Balto walked up to her.

"I'm glad you found a home." He told her. Then he rubbed her. She looked longfully at her father. Then turned and ran, without looking back.

A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER...

Why? She began to ask herself. Why didn't I stay and look for Kodi? I'm so stupid!...He didn't even come to say good-bye..Alue's eyes welled up with tears. She slowed down and let the pack run ahead of her.  Kodi...Why did you have to run away like that? I had so many questions to ask you! Why Kodi? She stopped. "WHY?!" Her howl of agony filled the air. Then she collapsed, bleeding.

 Later on that day, Balto returned home with Jenna. It was dark outside. "Well," Started Jenna. "See you tommorow!" She smiled and started to walk home. Balto wondered for a short moment. 

" Jenna, wait!" She turned around and looked at Balto. "Where is Kodi?" He asked. Jenna gasped. Then they started to run back into the woods.

Keep going! Forget about stupid Dad! He's the one that made me come here. It wasn't my fault. Its all his fault. And Alue didn't even say good-bye to me! Kodi thought to himself, running through the rough pine branches of the woods. Then he stopped. There was a shadow-no-shadows appearing through the sillouetts of the trees. There couldn't be someone else here! Kodi started to turn around but had no time. It was to late. A gunshot sound filled the air. He fell to the ground.

"Balto, did you hear that?" Screamed Jenna. Balto stopped in his tracks. It began to rain. Kodi! He thought. Why did you have to run away? 

                       TO BE CONTINUED...........................

                       (Story continued in next: Stone's revenge.)