me, not with these broken legs."
    Balto noticed for the first time that Aleu seemed to have an extra knee on both forelegs.
    Suddenly, from just outside the cave, Niju said,"We get anymore dogs out here and this place'll be a suburb."
    Balto and Jenna went outside to see Dusty hooked up to the mail sled. She was the only one hooked to the sled, but the other harnesses were attached.
    With a smirk, Dusty flicked her tail and said,"Somebody call for a special mail pickup?"
**********
     It took everybody to get Aleu onto the sled. When they finally got her on, Aleu fell asleep.
    Balto slipped into one of the harnesses, Kodiak slipped into another, and yet another was filled by Jenna. They were still two dogs short of a full team.
    After a moment's hesitation, Kodi stepped forward and attempted to get into one of the harnesses. Nava stepped in and helped, then helped Sira climb into the last one.
**********
    Kodiak snuck up behind Dusty and shouted,"Boo!"
    Dusty shrieked and jumped high in the air.
    After Dusty calmed down, Kodiak asked,"How did you know we needed your help out there in the forest?"
    "Actually, your little brother, Nathon told me. He said,"she frowned, trying to remember,"that a little birdy told him. He said that you would know what that means."
    "Actually, I do. The same little birdy told us where to find Aleu."
**********
    Aleu stirred. She could hear voices. Human voices.
    "She suffered six broken bones, including two broken legs, fluid in the lungs, and a minor concussion. If Balto and them hadn't brought her here when they did, she wouldn't have made it. As it is, she's barely alive."
    Somehow, Aleu know they were talking about her. She smiled, then fell back into a deep sleep.
    She was going to make it, after all.
    You don't get to be Alpha for nothing.




Songs used: Muru's Chant (from Balto 2: Wolf Quest)


Balto, Aleu, Jenna, Kodiak, Dusty, Dingo, Nava, Niju, Borris, Stella, Muk, Luk, the Raven, copyright Universal Studios

Snow Tracks, Kodi, Sira, Moon Waters, Nathon, Gasi Mordos, copyright Aleuisbest (http://baltosource.timduru.org)/JackOdd(Fanfiction.net)