TRUE! MY MOM LOVED ME! LET ME GO!” Balto screamed.

“Face it kid, she gone, and it’s all because she didn’t want to have to deal with a whiny mongrel like you,” Steele finished.

“NO! YOU’RE LYING! MY MOM LOVED ME!”

The other two huskies started to get nervous that Balto’s screaming would bring unwanted attention to them. They didn’t want to have to deal with witnesses. “Gah, this kid is starting to make a scene. Hey kid, shut up!” the brown husky shouted.

“YOU SHUT UP!” Balto screamed back before sinking his little puppy fangs into Steele’s paw. The sharp pain made Steele jump back and Balto broke free, dashing down the street to escape.

“That little mutt bit me!” Steele growled, and he darted after the escaping pup. The other two followed, but only to try to stop Steele before he did anything rash. All his barking was making people and other dogs stare as he chased the small pup through the town.

“Steele, stop! People can see you!” the grey husky yelled.

“Yeah, the pup’s not worth it!” the brown one continued, but Steele was oblivious to them. He wanted to get back at the pup that hurt him.

Balto was running as fast as his little legs could carry him, but Steele was still gaining on him. He rounded a corner, running right under a pair of human of legs. Steele rounded the corner too, but his larger bulk crashed right into the person Balto had run under. Balto heard the impact and stopped to see that Steele had crashed into Rosy, knocking them both down. The other two huskies rounded the corner and saw the scene.

“Uh oh, not good,” the grey husky said.

“Hurting one of the little humans - we’re in big trouble now,” the brown husky continued. Along with Rosy was her pup Jenna, barking her head off in anger over Steele’s actions.

“Oh shut up you!” Steele growled at Jenna, snapping his teeth at her. However, that resulted in Steele receiving one of Rosy’s boots into his jaw.

“NO! Bad dog Steele! You don’t dare try to hurt Jenna!” Rosy yelled. Steele was knocked back by the blow, and decided to retreat with his two comrades.

“See, I told you it wasn’t worth it,” the brown husky said.

After the dogs had run away, Rosy picked herself up and looked at Balto who was still scared out of his wits, “Don’t worry, they’re gone now,” she said as she bent down to pet the small pup. “Those big mean dogs pick on you because you’re alone right?” Balto whimpered in reply. “Well that won’t do. I won’t let a cute little guy like you get chased around like that again. You’re coming home with me,” she picked Balto up and started carrying him through the town.

“Jenna, where are we going?” Balto asked

“To our home; every dog should live in a home with a human,” she replied.

“What do they do with us?” he asked. He had never been near a human home, so he had no idea what to expect.

“Well, they feed you, pet you, play with you and keep you safe.”

“Like my mother did?”

“Yes. You said earlier that she vanished, but I didn’t get a chance to hear why. What happened to her?”

“I don’t know what happened. She went out one day and didn’t come back. That’s it,” Balto said sadly. “I miss her.”

“What was she like?”

“Well, she was a snow-white wolf that had big yellow eyes and soft, warm fur. She also had a very kind voice that always made me feel safe.”

“A wolf? Are you a wolf too?”

“Now exactly. She said that my dad was a husky, so I’m kind of both.”

“You’re a hybrid? Wow, I’ve never met a hybrid before. You’re nothing like what everyone else says.”

“What do they say?”

“They say that hybrids have nasty tempers and don’t quite fit in anywhere.”

“Is that why that big dog attacked me?”

“Who, Steele? Probably, but he’s just a big bully. You’re not like what everyone says though. You’re a very sweet dog - or wolf.”

“Thanks Jenna. At least you don’t pick on me.”

“That’s right, I won’t and neither will Rosy. She just thinks you’re another dog. And if the other people think you’re a dog too, you’ll fit in with them just fine,” she gave him another warm smile, and Balto instantly felt a little better. Soon, they had reached Rosy’s house and Rosy opened up a small shed on the side of the house. Inside were the usual gardening tools, along with a small bike.

“Wait here,” Rosy said, and she left the shed to find her parents. Meanwhile, Balto looked around the shed.

“Where are we?” Balto asked.

“This is where I live Balto,” Jenna replied. “And I guess it’s where you will too.”

“We have to stay in here?” Balto said, looking around the small shed.

“Well, not all the time. I just sleep here at night. I can go with Rosy in the house and out in the yard, so maybe you will too,” she said hopefully. Soon, they heard footsteps approaching.

“Alright Rosy, what is it you want to show me?” Balto recognized the voice as Rosy’s father from the day before.

“Look, look dad. Look what I found,” Rosy replied. The two entered the shed, and when Rosy’s father saw Balto, he got a rather cross look on his face.

“Rosy, where did you find him?”

“He was all alone in the alleys and these dogs were chasing him. I don’t think he has anyone to look after him.”

“Rosy, we can’t just take in a stray, he’s not ours. Besides, you already have a puppy.”

“But he was all alone, and the other dogs will hurt him. I promise he won’t cause any trouble,” she said. “I’ve already given him a name: Balto. Please, can he stay with us?” For extra effect, she put on her best puppy-dog eyes while her father thought it over. Finally, he relented.

“Alright, we’ll look after him, but he can’t come in the house. He has to stay here in the shed. We’ll give him a few weeks, and if he behaves himself, maybe we’ll adopt him.”

Rosy was ecstatic. “Oh thank you, thank you, thank you daddy,” she said as she hugged him.

“But if Balto causes any trouble at all, he’s out of here, you understand?”

“Okay dad.”

And so Balto started his life with Rosy. She brought in a basket and blankets for him to sleep in. Every day, she would come and bring in some food, and Balto would join her and Jenna for walks during the day. When they weren’t out on a walk around the town, Rosy would play with them in the backyard, throwing a tennis ball for them, or playing tug of war with an old sock. As each day passed, Balto felt safer and safer with his new owner. Even her parents, who at first were skeptical of the stray pup, started to warm up to the young Balto, even allowing him inside the house from time to time.

Her parents had decided that before adopting him, Balto would have to be looked at by the local vet. The visit went smoothly, as Balto was given a clean bill of health and was given his shots. Afterwards, Rosy’s father sent them home while he had a final chat with the veterinarian. Balto and Jenna were running around the yard while Rosy watched. Any minute her father would come back and they were sure that he would allow Balto into the family now.

“Don’t worry Balto, I’m sure that you’ll be able to live with us,” Jenna yipped. “You didn’t misbehave and the vet said you were healthy too.

“I know, but what were those things he poked me with?” he asked. The vet had to give him multiple needles to get him caught up with a normal pup his age, something Balto did not enjoy.

“They’re just your shots. The humans give them to us to help keep us from getting sick,” she replied.

“Well I don’t like them. They hurt.”

“I don’t like them either, put they only last for a second,” she replied.

“If you say so… ” he replied. Soon, he heard footsteps coming around the house and he grew even more excited. Soon, Rosy’s father would enter and give them the good news. But as he entered the back yard, Balto’s heart sank. He had a very grave look on his face, which was never a good sign.

“Rosy, there’s something the vet told me that’s very important. It’s about Balto.”

Rosy saw his face and grew worried. “What is it? Is something wrong with him? Is he sick?”

“Rosy, he may be dangerous.”

“Dangerous? I don’t understand.”

“Come here, take a look at this,” he said and they both came up to Balto. He pulled apart his hackles to show her his teeth. “You see these teeth? The vet told me that these are much bigger than a normal dog’s.” He let Balto’s mouth go and then picked up one of his paws. “And these are much bigger paws than any puppy he’s seen.”

“So? Maybe he’s just big for his age,” she shot back.

“He’s not big for his age Rosy. Listen to me very carefully. Those are the teeth and paws - of a wolf.”

“No. It can’t be. He looks like a husky puppy,” she whined.

“I know, but the vet is very good at