The following characters are © by Universal: Balto, the fox, the wolveriens, and Jenna.

Chapter 1

Balto looked out toward the sea where Aleu had dissapeared from site along with her new wolf clan.  He then looked toward the sky.  Smiling, the wolf/dog turned and headed in the direction he knew home was in.  Balto was somewhat sad that Aleu was gone, but he knew it was for the best. 

He sighed, looking up at the sky agian, thinking of what had brought him to this place:  his mother- Aniu.  When he was just a pup his mother had been killed, but he didn't think she would have been as close to him as she had been recently.  Then when the raven turned into her, he knew that no matter where he was, no matter what happened to him, he would always have someone watching over everything he did.

The wolf/dog picked up his pace a bit.  By the scent of the air, he could tell winter was near.  The breeze was cool, but not cold.  If he didn't have Jenna at home waiting for his return, he would just stay.  She's waiting for Aleu, too, Balto told himself, wincing.  How am I going to tell her that she'll probably never see Aleu again?

"You'll figure something out," a voice said from above Balto's head. 

He looked up, seeing a redish body on a log.  Squinting, he saw it was the fox he had met earlier.

"Oh," he said, his voice full of dissapointment.  "It's just you."

The vixen laughed.  "You sound dissapointed."

Balto looked up at her again.  "I thought you were... someone else."

"How do you know I'm not?" she asked slyly.

The wolf/dog looked at her more closely.  "Are you...  No.  You can't be.  It's the raven."

"Son, your babbiling," she said.

Balto took a step backwards, a look of shock and disbelief crossing his face.  "Mother?  You're... the fox, too?"

The vixen laughed again and jumped down off of the log.  "You didn't think I'd just dissapear from your life when..." she just looked at Balto.

The wolf/dog shook his head.  "I knew you would never leave me."

She smiled.  "Well that's good," she sighed, and looked back up at him.  "You know you did the right thing for Aleu."

He nodded.  "I know.  It was just hard letting my baby go."

She nodded.  "Try to imagine how I felt."

Balto licked her.  It felt weird, licking a fox, but this wasn't any fox.  It was his mother.  After a few moments, Balto pulled back and looked at her again.  Then he looked back toward home.

"Jenna is worried about you and your daughter," the fox told him.

Balto nodded.  "That's why I must get back home."

The vixen laughed.  "And I too must go," she said, fog starting to surround her.

The wolf/dog was about to say something, when all of a sudden, the fox was gone.  He looked around him, but she was no where to be seen.  He sighed and started to walking back toward Nome once again.

Chapter 2

The wolf/dog looked around his surroundings.  It had been a while since he had ran into the fox again.  Balto sniffed the air, worried.  He couldn't tell where he was.  Nothing looked fimilar to him.

"This is just perfect," he growled.

"Afraid you're lost little doggy?" a creature asked with a snarl.

Balto turned and saw the wolverines.  "Not you guys again," he said.

The three of them laughed.  "You are afraid," the female growled.  "We can feel it."

The wolf/dog rolled his eyes.  "Ok, I'm afraid I'm lost.  And I bet you know where I need to go?"

The wolverines circled him.  Their scent reatched Balto and he shook his head.  He didn't like being this close to them.  Before he knew it, the three animals had backed him up against a large rock.  Growling, the wolf/dog tried to chase them away, but to no avial.

"Why don't you just leave?" he barked.

The three wild animals laughed, snarling at him.  Then, they were gone as soon as they had appeared.

Balto rolled his eyes.  "Not that again."  He looked around, but didn't find them.  Sighing, he turned in the direction he hoped home was in and went onward.

Chapter 3

Balto's heart sored as Nome came into view.  He wagged his tail as he ran into the small town, barking a greeting to every dog he saw.  The wolf/dog didn't stop to talk to any, though.  The only thing on his mind now was Jenna.

"Balto?" a voice called in disbelief.

The wolf/dog spun around and spotted the red female.  "Jenna," he said, a smile spreading across his muzzle.  He hadn't seen her for so long it seemed unreal to him.  Balto muzzled his mate and licked her.

Jenna laughed.  "I missed you so much!"

The two walked to the beach to be alone.  Balto looked out toward the sea, smiling.  He glanced up looking at the blues, pinks, yellows, and purples dancing across the sky.  Grinning widder, he looked to Jenna.

"What?" she asked, smiling.

Balto shook his head.  "I really missed you when I was gone."

The red husky laughed.  "You make it sound like you went for the fun of it."

He laughed.  "Yeah...  I left you for a long time just to go after Aleu for the fun of it."

Jenna smiled.  She knew Balto was joking and he would spend that time with their daughter alone all over again.  Then something came across her.

"Balto...  Where's Aleu?" Jenna asked, cocking her head.

Balto shifted nerviously.  He was about to answer when a quite howl from the distance came to them.  He smiled, part of him wanting to howl back.  To let Aleu know he was home.  But he didn't have the time.

"You... You let her live with wolves?!" Jenna growled, getting to her paws.

The wolf/dog nodded.  Then he, too stood.  "I am half wolf and so is she," he said, then hesitated.  "What's wrong with wolves?"

The red husky shook her head.  "You're missing the point!"

He sighed, exasperated.  "Then what is the point dear?"

Jenna lifted her lip to show her teeth.  "The point is you let my baby live with wolves!"  She growled at him again and started to walk away.  "That's it, you're staying on that boat!"

The End