slightly, as if to use her new nose to sniff the fresh air around her. She continued to whimper, but it was quiet and calm as the familiar scent of her father filled her nostrils. Letting her hind legs free from the grasp of the cloth, Aleu slowly wriggled her way from her starting point, strangely moving closer to her father’s presence.

Once the mousy-brown pup made sure that the creature beside her was indeed that of her father, she let out a short, tiny whimper that sounded a lot like a squeaky howl. Balto nuzzled her in congratulation as the doctor nodded and left the two wolf-like creatures alone for the remainder of the night.  

Although Balto knew that his daughter couldn’t hear his voice yet, he whispered softly into her ear, grinning at the little miracle that Jenna had left for him.

“Oh, Aleu,” he brushed her face with his chin, helping her prepare for sleep. “Sometimes I wonder why Jenna left you with me in the first place. I suppose she left behind a little wild part of both of us within you.” He grinned as he lifted his head, remembering those days when he would see the slightly wilder side of the domesticated purebred, especially at that one moment when she had leaped onto a large grizzly bear that threatened the lives of him and his traveling companions while he searched for the lost sled team. Her attack had saved his life – his expression began to change from glad to mournful, for he thought about the fact that there wasn’t anything he could have done to save her from traveling through the one-way door of death.  

Jen, why did you leave me alone? Our daughter needs you as much as I do . . . A tear slid down Balto’s yellow and red eyes as he thought about his beloved. His head drooped as he began to swear to himself and his lover’s spirit, promising something that he would always keep. But she’ll never learn about you. Oh, I just can’t tell her about you, Jenna! The words in his mind were painful to think about, but it was for the best. Aleu looks too wild to be considered as part husky, even though she is mostly of husky blood. I’m sure that things will just be better this way.

He opened his eyes a little, glancing at his child while she slept against his tan belly. He let out a yawn and placed his head on top of his forelegs, slowly lowering his eyelids and still watching his little girl. 

Aleu, I will protect you from the tragic facts of your birth . . . You will live a normal life, and I . . . I will make sure that you never find out about your mother, as hard as it will be for me to do . . .

I have to do this for you, because . . . you’re my baby . . . 

(Part I – completed 3/28/07)