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Yes this is it, finally got it done hehe

I know you have all been waiting for this awhile, so I'll keep my comments till the end.

Enjoy!



Balto: To Love a Stranger

Written by: Anthony E. Rotramel
Started: Dec 18th 2010
Finished:
Pages:
Words:
Warning! This fic is rated PG13 for mild language and some violence Reader's discretion is advised!



This is fanfiction is a continuation of the Balto storyline. The films Balto, Balto II: Wolf Quest, Balto III: Wings of Change and any events or characters within those films are the copyrighted property of Universal Pictures. Balto is also copyrighthed to Amblimation Entertainment. The characters Dash, Timbre, Ebbie, Ronnie, Blaize, Jayce, Dema, James, Jonathon and Mark; as well as the events of this story are (c) 2012 Anthony E. Rotramel. No attempt at copyright infringement is made with the publication of this fanfiction and all credit for Universal and Amblimation's work is given to them.































Chapter 1:

Snow drifted lazily from the clouds. It was the beginning of winter, and this fine dusting looked to be the first real snowfall of the year. A black and white malamute crested a sloping hill and looked out over the plains of white speckled with green pine trees with snow white veils.
Steele sighed and squinted his eyes. He could just barely make out the town of Nome Alaska on the horizon.
It had been a long time since he'd been home.
Steele shook the fine powdered snow off his back and sat down in the snow. He thought back to what Aniu had told him when she granted him a second chance.
"How am I going to get Balto and Jenna to forgive me?" He thought. Steele tilted his head upward. "I'll find a way Aniu, thank you for giving me a second chance. I will not waste it.
Steele took a deep breath and started walking down the hill.

Jenna laid her head on her paws and sighed, rubbing her chin into the cool snow. Finally it had gotten cold enough to snow. The summer and autumn had been unseasonably warm and the female husky's fur was thick enough to insure that she was uncomfortable any time she was outside.
Jenna closed her eyes and smiled. She felt herself drifting away, her vision fuzzing out at the edges as she slipped closer to sleep. at the top edge of her vision she saw a black sillouette moving at the top of the hill, but her conciousness was already within the dark veils of sleep and she it didn't register it as anything out of the ordinary.

Steele reached the bottom of the hill and started walking toward Nome. The town was getting bigger and bigger all the time. He chose to walk, though running would have gotten him there much faster. Steele needed time to think.
"How am I to do this?" He thought.
Just then the black and white malamute saw a flicker of red out of the corner of his eye. He turned his head and saw a red bandanna flapping in the breeze.
"Can it be?" He asked himself.
He looked back up at the clouds and smiled. “Thank you Aniu.” He said quietly. Then he headed toward the sleeping red husky.

Jenna was just beginning to dream. The landscape had been set, it was snowing, not hard, certainly it was no blizzard, but the kind of lazily drifting snow that made any winter dog smile. The trees suddenly popped into view, tall pines cloaked in snow. Jenna had just opened her eyes in her newly created world when she heard a voice she now heard only in her nightmares.
“Jenna?”
Jenna shivvered and looked around her. “...St...St... Steele?” Jenna stuttered. She backpeddaled quickly away, her eyes darting around the clearing, searching for her enemy.
Suddenly she felt a light blow to her shoulder and fell on her side on the snow. “...Steele?” Jenna asked as her eyes darted around the clearing once more. “Are... are you there?”
“...jenna?” The voice said again.
Jenna felt something tapping her shoulder repeatedly. Her vision started to go white and she felt tired as she started to slump to the snow, unable to stand.
“Jenna? ...Jenna?” The voice continued.
Jenna couldn’t answer and closed her eyes.
“...Jenna?”
“...Jenna?”

“Jenna!”
The red husky opened her eyes and blinked a few times. Her vision was blurry from the short but heavy sleep she had slipped into.
“Who... Who’s there?” She asked.
Steele stepped back and waited as Jenna rubbed her eyes on her paws and looked back at him.
“Jenna, I need to talk to you.” Steele said.
Jenna concentrated on the dog in front of her until he popped into focus. Then she jumped up and back peddaled away so quickly that she fell over in the snow.
“St...St.... St....” Jenna couldn’t even say his name as the greatest fear she had ever felt welled up within her.
“Jenna, please... let me speak.” Steele said.
Jenna shook her head and glanced at the town of Nome. It now seemed so far away.
“It’s okay Jenna.” Steele said. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
“H...ho.... how?” Jenna asked. “You.... you’re... I killed you.”
Steele nodded. “...and you had every right to.” He said.
“...but how?...” Jenna asked.
“...Aniu.” Steele said.
“Aniu is dead.” Jenna said.
Steele shook his head. “No she’s not. I was there with her... and Aleu...” Jenna cut him off.
“Aleu?” She said. “...she’s dead too.”
Steele shook his head. “If you’ll just trust me I’ll...” Jenna cut him off again.
“...trust you?” She asked. her eyes were still widened with fear. “After everything you’ve done how could I possibly do that?”
Steele sighed. “Jenna please...”
Jenna glanced back at the town, then back to Steele. She looked at him for a moment, then she bolted, running as fast as her paws could carry her through the fresh powder and back to Nome. The red husky didn’t even glance behind her to see if Steele had given chase or not.
Steele just stood there and let her run.

Jason was still running. It had been a whole day and he hadn’t stopped, hadn’t rested. He had to be over a hundred miles from Nome.
Yet he knew that no matter what he did he would never be able to outrun what had happened there; what he had done.
Jason was nearing the peak of the mountain.
He didn’t know what he intended to do once he reached the top.
Dema ran along behind him, watching him.
Finally Jason could run no more and he stopped at the very top of the mountain. He was panting hard, his breath producing a cloud around his head.
Dema pulled up beside him and stopped. She was hardly out of breath. Unlike Jason; she had paced herself.
“So Jason, what now?” She asked.
Jason sighed and looked over the edge of the drop off. “I… I don’t know.” He said. “Is there anything left?”
Dema looked shocked for a moment, then scoffed. “This isn’t the Jason I knew.” She said. “Now when are we going back to get that half-breed?”
Jason didn’t take his eyes off the drop. “…never…” He said quietly.
“…what?” Dema asked.
“I’m never going back to Nome.” Jason said. “I was wrong…”
“You were…” Dema paused. “Where’s this nice guy streak coming from?”
Jason said nothing.
“Hey!” Dema said. She walked in front of him and pushed Jason with both front paws.
He didn’t even try to resist, he simply fell over in the snow.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Dema asked.
Jason stared up at her. “I… I killed my… my mom.” He said. “I… I thought that she was… was cheating on my father and that Balto… killed him to cover it up. …and that she helped him lie to the whole town.”
“So, screw her then.” Dema said. “Cheating harlot got what she deserved.”
“…but that’s just it.” Jason said. “…she… she didn’t… didn’t deserve it.”
“I… oh God I murdered my mom.” Jason said.
The scene played out before his eyes once more.
Gemeni looked up at him with eyes full of pain and fear.
“What must she have thought of me in those last few moments?” He thought.
In his mind’s eye he saw himself drop his head and sink his teeth into her neck, could taste the saltiness of her blood as it filled his mouth and ran out and over her golden fur.
In the end it was those eyes; those eyes that still didn’t hate him. There was a confused and pained look in them, but never hatred.
“She didn’t even try to fight back…” Jason thought.
He stood up.
“Balto didn’t kill my father.” He said. Fairbourne used me… Balto’s owner shot my father… because my father was going to kill Balto…”
Dema scoffed again. “Eh, whatever, that’s not the only reason that half-breed needs to die.” She said. “He’s had his coming for a long time now. If you won’t do it, I will.”
“Balto is a hero.” Jason said, his voice suddenly calm and stern. “If you try to hurt him… I will stop you.”
Dema shook her head. “See… now that… that goes over the line.”
As Jason was about to ask what she was talking about he felt her slam into him and he staggered backward, a vague feeling of light-headedness coming over him.
Then came the pain.
…not blinding like he’d have thought, but a dull throb that turned into an ache. He stumbled backward and looked at Dema.
Her black furred face was stained red, slicked with blood.
“…my blood.” He thought.
Dema smiled at him as bloody spittle dripped from her half open jaws to the snow. The white powder was quickly turning red and slushy underneath the stricken dog.
“See… I only followed you, accepted your dominance over me, because we had common goals… namely the death of that mangey mutt Balto. …but now… seems your services are no longer required.” She said.
Jason’s mouth fell open a bit as he began to fully comprehend what had happened.
Dema laughed and spat his blood to the snow in front of him. “Nothing personal Jason… I’m just… going in a different direction.” She laughed again and started to walk away.
Jason watched her and felt his legs growing weaker.
“..so this is what mom felt…” He thought.
It was getting harder to think as the blood pulsed from his neck in steady squirts upon his fur.
He suddenly lost his balance and stumbled backwards.
Jason felt his back paws reach the edge of the peak.
He looked back behind him, his legs shaking.
“…I’m… I’m sor…sorry… mo…mother.” He said. “…cat…catch me…”
Then Jason stepped backward.
He watched the edge of the peak fall away from him, growing smaller and smaller. Jason could hear the wind whistling through his ears, driving through his fur and up against his skin. He shivered.
It felt like he fell forever.
Finally there was a single spike of intense pain that drove to his core and then…. nothing.







Chapter 2:

Steele stopped walking as he came into Nome. He looked around.
It had been a long time since the malamute had walked through the city streets. Memories of the events of his last journey here filled his mind and he sighed, filled with guilt and remorse for the things he had done here.
“…time to set things right.” He thought.
Steele stepped onto the sidewalk and started walking down the street.
The old mill loomed in the distance.
Steele remembered standing there, listening to Shep as the old sheep dog banished him forever after the events surrounding the diphtheria epidemic of ’25.
“…where everything started to go wrong.” He thought.
Steele’s mind started to replay the events that followed in fast forward, flitting between images of blood and death.
“I truly was a monster.” Steele thought.
He looked up and saw a brown furred dog approaching.
Steele would recognize that figure anywhere. The sole focus of his hatred and anger all those years ago.
Steele stopped in front of the wolf/dog.
“…Balto?” Steele asked.
The wolf/dog looked up and quickly stepped back. His head turned left and right as his mind fought the urge to flee from the dog before him. Finally Balto crouched down and growled lightly at the malamute in front of him. “…Steele?” Balto said. “…how? …you’re dead.”
Steele nodded. “I was.”
Balto stayed in his crouch, ready to defend himself if the malamute that had invaded his dreams and turned his life into a nightmare decided to attack.
Steele sighed. “Balto, you can relax. I’m not here to hurt you. That’s not who I am anymore.”
Balto looked deep into the yellow eyes of his enemy and saw a softness there he’d never seen before. The wolf/dog slowly stood up and stopped growling, but perched on the tips of his paws, ready to flee if the malamute had attempted to deceive him.
Steele sighed again. “Balto…”
“…how?” Balto said.
I helped your daughter, Aleu.” Steele said. “We were trapped in Shade’s realm together. …together we helped Aniu defeat Shade and Lytion.”
“…Aleu is dead.” Balto said.
Steele nodded. “…she was.” He said.
Balto’s eyes widened and a look of shock appeared on his face. “Aleu is alive?” He asked.
Steele nodded. “…and back with her mate and pack I would guess.”
Balto looked around as if expecting for an attack to erupt out of the alley.
Steele sighed again. “Balto, Aniu gave me a second chance.” He said. “I want to put things right, to be a good dog this time around. I don’t want to go back to Shade’s realm. I want to be with her one day. I never knew compassion or mercy… or even love… before I met her, now… I see the error of my ways. Aniu sent me back because she sensed I was able to change. Now I have to prove my intentions to her… to live a good life.”
Balto regarded Steele as one might look at a snake, coile and ready to strike, still wary of trickery. “…Aniu is a great wolf.” He said. “She sees farther into us than any other.”
Steele nodded. “…that she is Balto. She didn’t give me a free pass though… I have a task to complete while I’m here.”
Steele paused for a moment.
“I must gain yours and Jenna’s forgiveness for the things I have done.”
Balto stayed silent for a moment. “Steele… you caused great harm to this town, killed my friends, my son, Shasta and attacked my daughter. You allied with Shade himself. I can never forget that. You will always be my enemy. I will not forgive you simply because my mother thinks you’ve had a change of heart.”
Steele sighed.
Balto looked at the malamute for a moment, a confused look on his face, as if he were unable to believe this was real. That his enemy was standing here, asking him for a second chance.”
Then Balto took one last look around him and turned, running off to find Jenna.
Steele watched him as he grew smaller and smaller, then rounded a corner and was gone.
Steele sighed and looked up. “Aniu, give me strength, help me.” He thought.
Then the malamute resumed walking, headed to the old mill.

As Steele rounded the corner across the street from the mill he was startled by a dog’s voice.
“Stop right there!” The voice said.
Steele stopped.
“Turn around… slowly.” The voice said.
Steele slowly turned and saw a red and white dog standing behind him.
“Who are you?” Steele asked.
“You may not know me, but I know you.” The dog paused. “…or rather I know of you… Steele. You terrorized my family, killed my brother, attacked Gemeni and killed many others. You were banished from Nome and my mother was convinced she had killed you. I see now she was wrong.”
“Who are you?” Steele asked again.
“I am Blaize, son of Balto and Jenna nad Keeper of the Law in Nome. Steele, you are hereby charged with murder, attempted murder, assault and willfully disregarding an order of banishment handed down by Shep, former Keeper of the Law in Nome… come quietly and face your trial.”
“You don’t understand…” Steele said.
Blaize leapt at him.
Steele jumped sideways and Blaize flew into a steel trashcan on the sidewalk. The malamute turned and ran.
Blaize was up in a flash, shook himself off and took off running after Steele.
The chase wound down the street and through several alleyways. Steele never pulled ahead of the younger dog, in fact he was gaining.
“Aniu, I need you!” Steele screamed in his head.
He rounded the corner and skidded in the snow. It was then that he caught a glimpse of a half open window in the basement of an abandoned cabin. Steele turned quickly and ducked into the window. He fell six feet to the floor and landed on a wooden table which splintered and broke into several pieces under his weight. Then he crashed to the floor.
Steele heard Blaize approaching and quickly crawled under a desk in the basement, staying low as Blaize ran past the cabin barking.
Steele waited a moment, then he took a deep breath and laid his head on his paws. He couldn’t help it. Steele started to cry.
“Aniu, I want to trust in you, I do.” He thought to himself. “…but… this is an impossible task you have given me… how can I accomplish it when Balto and Jenna hate me and I am hunted day to day? Please Aniu, lend me your guidance your wisdom… you have only to tell me what to do and I will do it, but… I see no way to accomplish that which you have placed before me.”
Steele waited, but there was no answer.

Ebbie was walking through Nome. She had just returned from seeing her sister Shanaea. Shay and Tiembe were getting along just fine. They were mates now, and rumor had it that Shanaea might be expecting, though if she was her sister had masked it well.
Ebbie always had a way with dogs, could sense what they were feeling. There was little any dog had ever been able to hide from her. It wasn’t that she was psychic per se… just that she got feelings, could sense emotions of those around her.
At first it had been too much for Ebbie to handle. She had become a recluse as a pup, not wanting to even go outside because of all of the emotions out there that jumbled her senses. ..with time though she learned to sort them out and to ignore the mundane everyday things. Her senses were finely tuned to the types of extreme emotions that indicated pain or danger though.
It was because of this that she was able to sense a cloud of sadness hanging over the block as she rounded the corner. Her ears fell flat to her head and she was overcome with complete despair. For someone who was unused to dealing with the feelings it would be easy to lose oneself in the utter blackness of the emotions being put out.
Instead, Ebbie started to tune out the feelings and concentrate on the source. Whoever was feeling this way needed help badly. Finally she was able to sense a path before her and followed it as other dogs might follow a scent. As she neared the source the feeling grew stronger and she started to run. As she neared the basement window the feelings were almost too much even for her to bear.
She stuck her head in the window. “…hello?” She asked.
A shadowy figure shuffled backward under a desk in the darkened room below.
“It’s okay.” Ebbie said. She could sense that the figure inside meant her no harm. She quickly dropped through the window. “I’m not going to hurt you, I want to help.”
“No one wants to help me.” The figure in the shadows said.
Ebbie took a step forward. “I do.” She said. “I… I can sense that you’re in pain. I want to help.”
The figure stayed in the shadows for a moment, then slowly stood up.
Ebbie winced and ducked a little lower under the feelings of pain that emanated from the shadowy dog before her. She closed her eyes and concentrated, separating her own feelings from those of the other dog until she was able to open her eyes and stand up straight. “Please…” Ebbie said. “…let me help you.”
Steele remembered hearing those words before, back in the woods when he’d gotten lost and Balto had found him. He hadn’t listened then. “…and if I had then none of this would have ever happened…” He thought. He looked upward. “I’m going to trust you Aniu.” He said. Then he stepped forward.
Ebbie gasped in recognition. “You’re… you’re…”
Steele sighed and hung his head. “Go on, run away… just please... let me rest, don’t tell anyone I’m here. I’m tired of running”
Ebbie stopped backing away and concentrated on the dog before her. The monster she’d heard so many horror stories about. “…Steele…” She said.
The malamute nodded slowly.
Ebbie tried hard, but she could sense nothing more than pain, sorrow and… regret?”
Ebbie opened her eyes. “No, I’m not going to run away.” She said.
“Everyone else has…” Steele said. “…’cept Blaize. ..he chased me.”
“…but… Jenna said she killed you.” Ebbie said.
Steele nodded. “She did, but I was given a second chance by Aniu.”
“You know of Aniu?” Ebbie asked.
“I’m more surprised that you know of her.” Steele said.
“My father taught me all about her when I was just a pup.” Ebbie said. “She is the great white wolf who watches over all of us.”
Steele nodded. “She gave me a second chance.” Steele paused. “Why are you not afraid of me if you know who I am?” He sighed. “…what I have done?”
“I sense that you are not dangerous.” Ebbie said. She took a step closer. “You… you are even… remorseful?”
Steele looked up at her. “Yes.” He said. “…very… how can you know that? How did you find me?”
Ebbie smiled. “I… have a gift Steele.” She said. “I can… sense the emotions of other dogs, even locate them sometimes when they’re strong enough. Yours was the most powerful aura I have ever felt.”
Ebbie sighed. “…most dogs think I’m crazy when I tell them.”
Steele chuckled. “Well I just said a mystical white wolf brought back from the dead, I’m certainly not going to judge you.”
Ebbie laughed back.
“So what brings you back?” Ebbie asked. “I would think you would want to stay away from Nome, get a fresh start somewhere new.”
Steele shook his head. “Aniu gave me a mission upon bringing me back. She said I have to get Balto and Jenna to forgive me.”
“Ah…” Ebbie said. “…well that’s certainly not going to be easy.” She said.
Steele shook his head. “…no… no it’s not.”
Ebbie smiled again. “Do you have a place to stay while you’re here?”
Steele shook his head. “No I don’t.”
Ebbie smiled. “Why don’t you come home with me Steele. I don’t mind and I doubt my owner will either.”
“I have to be careful.” Steele said. “The Keeper of the Law saw me and chased me in here. …he wants to kill me.”
Ebbie nodded. “Well, on the way back we’ll stop and talk to him.”
“…what?” Steele asked. “Why would he listen to you?”
“I’m his niece.” Ebbie said.
“Oh…” Steele said. “Then… I think it’ll be better for you if you stay away from me. …you’re related to Balto then…”
“…his grand-daughter.” Ebbie said. “…but that doesn’t matter.” She walked up to him and laid her paw on his cheek. “You’re a good dog Steele. …no matter what you did in the past I can sense that you have changed… and I know you won’t hurt me.”
Steele hadn’t felt the touch of a female’s fur on his in a long time and the feeling of Ebbie’s paw on his cheek made him smile.
Then he sighed. “They’re not going to be happy…”
Ebbie giggled. “…won’t be the first time.”
Steele grinned back. “All right Ebbie. …let’s go talk to Blaize.” He said.
Ebbie nodded and the two started walking out of the basement.










Chapter 3:


Ebbie stepped into the old mill at the edge of town. “…Blaize?” She asked. “Blaize are you here?” She looked around her and saw no one.
“Just a minute.” Blaize said from the back room.
Ebbie sat down in the floor and looked at Steele. “…probly better if you stay out of sight until I talk to him.” She said.
Steele nodded and walked into the shadows by her side.
Blazie stepped out of the back room and saw his niece sitting on the floor. “Ebbie, hi, what brings you here?” He asked. “Are you okay? Is something wrong?”
Ebie smiled. “No Blaize, everything is fine. I’m fine. I just need to talk to you about something.”
“Sure.” Blazie said. He sat in front of her. “…go ahead.”
Ebbie smiled. “Okay, first I need you to promise that you will hear me out before you do anything.” She said.
Blaize nodded. “Okay Ebbie, I promise, now what’s this about.”
“…not what, who.” She said.
Ebbie turned to the shadows and nodded her head and Steele stepped out of the shadows.
Blaize growled and dropped into a crouch. “Ebbie, get away from him!” He said.
Ebbie leapt in front of Steele. “No!” She said. “Uncle, you promised you’d listen first.”
“Ebbie, you have no idea who this is.” Blaize said. “…what he’s done.”
Ebbie shook her head. “You’re wrong Blaize.” She said. “I grew up with the same stories you did.”
“Then why are you with him?” Blaize asked. “Don’t you know that he could kill you?”
Ebbie nodded. “Yes, but I also know that he won’t.”
Blaize stayed crouched down, growling low in his throat.
“Please Uncle Blaize..” Ebbie said. “…listen to what he has to say.”
Blaize hesitated, then stood uneasily “…alright.” He said. “What do you have to say Steele?” He asked, malice evident in his voice.
Steele sighed. “Blaize… I know that I have… committed… atrocious crimes in this city, and that I was banished by Shep… but… your mother told you the truth. She did kill me in Aleu’s cave.”
“…that can’t be.” Blaize said. “You’re standing right here.”
Steele nodded. “I spent the last few years in Shade’s domain. I was sentenced there when I was killed. At first… bitterness consumed me, I was every bit as evil there as I was in life. …but then something happened.”
“…and what was that?” Blaize asked.
“I met the great Aniu.” Steele said. “She spoke to me, showed me something I had never seen… or had before. She taught me compassion… and love. Then I started trying to help those that were sentenced to Shade’s domain. Together we tried to stave off as much of the suffering… and pain others felt…” Steele sighed. “It was a hopeless battle, but we fought it anyway. …then I met your sister, Aleu.”
“Aleu was in Shade’s domain?” Blaize asked. “She served Aniu all her life, with each and every breath.”
Steele nodded. “Yes, she did, but, in the end ,she killed herself. The taking of one’s own life is not something that he who created us can forgive.” Steele paused a moment. “Aleu wanted to find Aniu, so I helped her and together we convinced Aniu that the world still needed her. She was released and we fought at her side to defeat the son of Shade, Lytion… in the ed, Aniu restored Aleu’s life… and mine.”
“…my sister is alive?” Blaize asked.
Steele nodded. “…and likely back with the Talbourne by now.” He said. “Aniu gave me a second chance at life, a chance to prove the things that I had learned while in Shade’s domain. I know it’s a lot to ask, but… I would ask that you do the same. Allow me a chance to prove myself to you, and to Nome. I know htat I was banished, but that was a lifetime sentence, and I served it, I died. I simply ask that now… you give me one chance.”
Blaize sighed. “You understand I cannot believe what you say simply because you say it.”
Steele nodded.
“If what you say is true then Aleu is alive and well. I would send someone to confirm this… then we can talk about second chances.”
Steele nodded. “That’s certainly reasonable.” He said.
Blaize sighed. “Very well Steele. I’ll send someone to check it out and report back to me. …until I find out you are to be confined here at the old mill. I cannot take the chance that you are trying to trick me.”
Steele lowered his head. “I understand.” He said.
Ebbie looked up at her uncle. “Blaize no, that’s not fair. It might take someone several days to make that trip. He shouldn’t be confined without cause.”
“…without cause?” Blaize asked. “Ebbie, this dog killed more than any dog since Nightshade… I cannot risk that he has duped you.”
“Uncle, I know what he did, but he isn’t that dog anymore.” Ebbie said.
“How can you know this Ebbie?” Blaize asked.
“Uncle, you know of my… gift. I can sense it in him. He will not harm anyone… and he is telling the truth. Aleu is alive.”
Blaize sighed. “Ebbie I can’t just turn him loose because you feel good about him. I have to think about the entire town.”
Blaize paused.
“Steele, I’m placing your current sentence on a strict probationary status. I’ll turn you loose, but if you so much as steal a sausage your current sentence comes due, and that sentence is death, understand?”
Steele nodded. “I understand Blaize and I assure you there will be no problems.”
Blaize nodded. “See that there are not.” He said.
Ebbie smiled. “Thank you Blaize.”
Blaize sighed. “I’m taking a great risk here Ebbie. Watch him and come and get me if the slightest thing seems off.”
Ebbie nodded. “I will.”
Blaize nodded. “Alright, we’ll hold a town meeting to let everyone know of Steele’s return and status. I’ll need a few hours to get the word out, let’s say…:” Blaize looked out the window. “an hour past sundown.”
Ebbie nodded. “I’ll make sure we’re back Uncle Blaize… thank you for trusting me.”
Blaize nodded again. “I just hope you know what you’re doing Ebbie…” He said. “…be careful.”
Ebbie smiled. “I will uncle Blaize.
Blaize nodded and turned to walk away.
Ebbie walked out of the old mill and Steele followed her.
When they got outside Steele turned to her. “I can’t believe he actually believed you.” He said.
“Uncle Blaize is not an unreasonable dog.” She said. “..but he does take his duty to protect the town very seriously.”
Steele nodded. “…nothing wrong with that.” He said. “In fact it’s good to know.”
Ebbie nodded.
“…and thank you.” Steele said. “…for standing up for me in there… helping me. I’ve… I’ve never had someone do that for me before.”
Ebbie smiled. “I wouldn’t have done it if I did not believe you.” She said. “I know you have changed… I can see in your eyes that you wouldn’t hurt anyone without just cause… but…” She sighed. “The rest of the town is a different matter. Your judgment falls on them. We’re going to have to get out there, to show them. They won’t be able to tell as I can simply by looking at you. …and I doubt they’ll take my word for it.”
Steele nodded. “I would… I would like it very much if you would walk down this path with me Ebbie. No one has ever put as much faith in me as you have today. I don’t have any friends.”
Ebbie giggled. “Well of course I will. I’ve got nothing better to do and I told Uncle Blaize I would watch you.” She stepped forward and put her paw on his cheek again. “…and you have one now.”
Steele smiled.
“…come on.” Ebbie said.
She placed her paw back on the sidewalk.
I bet a lot has changed here in Nome since you lived here. Let me show you around.”
Steele just smiled and nodded.

Balto walked into his home
First he’d went to Jenna’s, but she hadn’t been there. He hoped that he would find her here, if not…
“…if not I’m going out looking for her.” He thought to himself. “She was supposed to be just outside the town, but she hadn’t been there either. If Steele found her first…”
Balto shook his head to clear it of the gory images that popped into his head at that thought. No matter what the malamute had said Balto still considered him a serious threat to his family.
As Balto walked through the front room Luke smiled and rose from his chair, clutching his pipe in his hand. “Hey boy, decided to come home early hm?” He said. He walked over and patted the wolf/dog on the head. “Just as well, you have a visitor, she showed up not too long after you left. …bet you’re wanting to see her eh boy?”
Balto’s ears perked up.
A visitor? …she?
He looked up at look and smiled with his eyes the way dogs do and rubbed the top of his head against Luke’s hand. Then he turned and walked into the back room.
“…Balto!” Jenna said.
“Jen..” Balto replied. He walked over to her. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
Jenna was visibly shaken. Her eyes held great fear.
“Jen, Steele is…” Balto began.
…but Jenna cut him off. “I know, he ran into me at the outside of the town while I was sleeping.”
“..while you were sleeping?” Balto said. “Well it’s lucky you woke up then.”
Jenna nodded. “He… how can he be back?”
Balto sighed. “He said my mother gave him a second chance.”
“…Aniu?” Jenna said. “…but.. that makes no sense. Steele is… evil. He’s a murderer, why would Aniu do such a thing?”
Balto shook his head. “I don’t know, and I don’t know that she did.”
He turned away from her for a moment and then turned back. “There is one way to tell for sure though.” He said.
“…and that is?” Jenna asked.
“He said…” Balto stopped, weighing his response. He didn’t want to give Jenna any false hope of their daughter’s fate, but in the end he decided he must tell her. “He said that Aleu was restored by Aniu as well.”
“…Aleu is alive?” Jenna asked.
Balto nodded. “…according to him, yes. If what he says is true… she’s with the Talbourne again.”
Jenna’s mouth fell open and a smile spread across her face. “Balto, we have to know for sure!” She said.
Balto sighed. “Jen, don’t get your hopes up. This… this could be another trick by Steele to let him get close to us.”
Jenna nodded. “…but Balto… my daughter may be alive! We have to go check out this information.”
Balto nodded. “I intend to, but I want you to stay here.”
“..here? …with Steele?” Jenna asked.
Balto nodded. “I’m thinking that the only reason Steele would tell me such a thing is that he knows I will go out to make sure, and when I do… I expect him to attack me along the way. It would be better if you were not there. If… if I don’t come back, just… tell someone, tell Blaize… and then go inside the old mill and don’t leave until Steele is dead… again…” Balto said.
Jenna sighed. “Alright Balto.” She nuzzled her mate. “I love you, and you’ve never been wrong before… I’ll stay here.”
Balto nodded. “Good, now, I’ll set out immediately.
Balto heard a scratching at the door.
Luke got up and opened it. “Well look here.” He said from the other room. “…just getting a whole group of dogs in here today. What is this, a social center?” Luke laughed and presently a light gray female trotted into the room Balto and Jenna were in.
Astarre smiled. “Oh good, Jenna, you’re here. That’ll save me another trip.”
Balto turned to face her. “What is it Astarre?”
Astarre smiled. “Blaize is spreading the word. They’ll be a town meeting held in the old mill in two hours, mandatory attendance for all dogs in the town.”
Balto sighed. “Astarre I really have something important to do. Can you tell Blaize for me?”
Astarre shook her head. “Sorry Balto, Blaize said that it was especially important that everyone in our family be there.”
Balto sighed. “Alright, I suppose it can wait for a few hours. We’ll be there.”
Astarre nodded. “Thanks Balto. I gotta get going. ..got he whole west side of town to cover hehe.”
Balto nodded. “Take care Astarre.”
She smiled at him. “You too.” Then she turned and walked out the still open front door.
Balto turned to Jenna.
“What do you think that’s about?” Jenna asked.
Balto sighed. “Only one thing I can figure that would be “especially important” for our family to attend.” He said.
“…and that is?” Jenna asked.
Balto turned toward the door and his eyes narrowed.
“…Steele.”

Chapter 4:

Ebbie and Steele stood behind the stage platform in the old mill. She peeked outside and saw that there were many dogs filling the room now. Some even had to sit on the rusted machinery, crowding around the long dormant saws covered by cowlings and tables.
“Wow Steele… looks like the whole town is here.” Ebbie said.
“…should be.” Blaize said. He walked up beside the two. “I sent out word that this meeting was mandatory.”
Steele nodded. “Thank you for believing in me Blaize.” Steele said.
Blaize glared at Steele. “…don’t thank me just yet Steele.” He said.
Blaize turned and walked out onto the stage.
The talking dogs instantly silenced as Blaize approached.
“Hey Blaize, what’s this about?” One dog yelled.
“Yeah, it’s looking bad out.” Another called.
“We need to go home… and soon!” Still another joined in.
“Dogs of Nome, please quiet down and I promise to make this short.” Blaize said. “As to the storm it’s not supposed to hit for a few days. I know it looks bad, but from what I hear it is slow moving. Unless it picks up quickly we should have two days at least before it reaches us.” Blaize paused. “Now, I’m sorry to have dragged you all out of your homes, but this matter needs to be known universally…” Blaize stopped again. “You have heard it said long ago, that the murderer Steele was killed by my mother in the cave of my sister, Aleu of the Talbourne.”
“..and good riddance!” One dog yelled.
“I have met him this day.” Blaize said.
“Steele’s back?” One dog said.
“Let us go home!” Another said.
“We must protect our families!” Said another.
“Dogs of Nome please be silent.” Blaize said. “I have met with him, talked to him. He claims to have been given a second chance by the great Aniu. I’m sure some of you are aware of the Great White Wolf… he claims to have had a change of heart, to have changed… he also claims my sister Aleu was restored by her as well. I will be sending someone to validate this information shortly, until that point it is my decision that Steele should be allowed to go free.”
“What?!” One dog cried.
“Start up the saws and butcher us now Blaize!” One called out.
“Have you lost your mind?!” Balto yelled.
Blaize’s head snapped to his father and his eyes held a hurt Balto had never seen in them before. “Dogs of Nome be silent!” Blaize yelled. He growled and stamped his front paws on the ground. “You all elected me as the Keeper of the Law did you not?!” He yelled.
The dogs fell silent.
“Have I ever made a decision that came back to hurt you or this town?!” Blaize asked.
“Listen to me and listen to me well. Steele’s sentence is to be held in a strict probabtionary status, this means if he so much as steps one inch out of line his full original sentence comes due, and that sentence is death. He has shown no malice to me, in fact he has shown, what I believe to be, genuine remorse for his actions. If he is correct, if Aniu did restore him, if he died at the paws of my mother, suffered Shade’s realm and was restored, then his sentence of death has been fulfilled and I can do little to prosecute him unless he breaks our law again. A confirmation of his story is as simple as sending someone to talk to the Talbourne, to find out if my sister Aleu really is alive. If she is, then we must take his plea into consideration before this court.”
The dog’s continued to moan, complain and cry out that Blaize was wrong, though this time Balto was silent.
“Dogs of Nome, hear me when I say this. Anyone who attempts to harm Steele during this probationary period or after, if his story is proven to be true, shall suffer the full wrath of this court. Please do not put me in that position. Can I have a volunteer to serve as emissary from the town of Nome to the Talbourne?”
Balto stepped forward. “I’ll go Blaize.”
Blaize nodded. “Very well Balto, journey there immediately and report what you find. If Aleu is in fact dead… return here as fleet a foot as possible.”
Balto nodded and walked out of the old mill.
Jenna just watched him go.
As for the rest of you, you may adjourn home. Ebbie has agreed to house Steele in her home for the time being, make no effort to cause trouble for either one of them, or there will most certainly be hell to pay. …have a good night.. and be safe on the way home.”
Blaize turned around and walked off the stage to the protests of the crowd.
Steele walked up to him. “Thank you Blaize.”
Blaize sighed. “You have your chance Steele. I’ve taken an awful chance here… see that you make the most of it.”
Steele nodded and Blaize walked away.
Ebbie smiled. “Come on Steele, let’s go home.”

A snowflake drifted down out of the sky and landed on a cold, wet nose.
Ebbie drew her lower lip over the top and blew it off.
It had begun to snow quite heavily over the last few hours. Though Blaize had said that the weather reports put the big blizzard a few days off, not very many dogs in the town believed it.
“This is it.” Ebbie said. She stopped in front of an old cabin. “My owner is a elderly couple who rarely come out of their bedrooms. They are taken care of by their son, Matthew. He’s a musher, and he loves dogs. I doubt he’ll mind if you stay with me.”
Steele nodded. “Thank you very much Ebbie. With the storm… well I was planning to hole up in a barn… would’ve been cold.”
Ebbie nodded. “No problem Steele.” She stopped. “Steele, I believe you have changed, I can see it in you. There is no hate or anger there. There is..”
She paused and put her paw to his cheek.
“…immense sadness… sadness unlike I have ever seen… but nothing violent about you.”
Steele smiled.
“Ebbie!” A voice yelled.
Ebbie jumped back and turned. “…dad?”
Kodi stomped up the sidewalk, slushing through the nearly 4 inches of snow that had fallen in the last hour. “I want you to get away from him.”
Ebbie shook her head. “I’m sorry dad, but no.” She said. “I’m an adult now, and I make my own decisions.” She looked at Steele. “…and I’m going to help him.”
She paused.
“He needs me.”
Steele smiled at her and Ebbie smiled back.
“Hey!” Kodi said. He stomped up between them and put his nose an inch away from Steele’s. “Don’t you get any ideas about my daughter. If you so much as hurt her I swear on Aniu’s life that I will hunt you down Steele. …all of the hell you suffered at Shade’s paws will be nothing compared to what you will suffer at mine.”
Kodi growled.
“Dad!” Ebbie said.
She bumped her shoulder into her father’s cheek and brushed him aside as she stepped in between he and Steele. “Don’t do anything stupid. You heard Blaize.”
Kodi shook his head. “My father is right, Blaize has lost his Godforsaken mind. To let you…” He whirled his gaze onto Steele and locked eyes on him. “…back into our town… after what you have done…”
Kodi growled. “Blaize doesn’t deserve to be Keeper of the Law after this, and I’m not the only one who thinks so.”
“Dad, he’s your brother!” Ebbie said.
Kodi turned his gaze on her. “…and you’re my daughter, and his neice! Why he would ever stick Steele with you is far beyond me.”
“I volunteered.” Ebbie said. Blaize didn’t stick me with anybody. In fact at first he didn’t even wat to listen to me.”
Kodi glared at Steele. “Then he should’ve went with his instincts and sent this murderer back to see Shade.” He said.
Steele dropped his shoulder and slunk back a little, showing deference to Kodi.
“Dad stop!” Ebbie said. She narrowed her eyes at her father. “You always taught me to help others, to use my gift to help others, that’s what I am doing.”
“…well not… him.” Kodi snapped.
“Why the hell not?” Ebbie snapped back. “What makes him so different? Is not everyone worthy of forgiveness if they prove themselves to be repentant of their actions? …or only some? Do certain deeds scar a dog for eternity while others my be mended?”
“…no.” Kodi snapped at his daughter.
“…then?!” Ebbie shouted.
“Kodi shook his head. “If I stay here I’m going to do something that I’ll regret… I’m going home. Ebbie… please be careful.” He turned to walk away, then turned back and glared at Steele. “…and you… you remember what I said.”
Then Kodi turned and walked away.
Steele watched him go and sighed.
“Don’t worry about him.” Ebbie said. “He can be an *** sometimes.”
Steele shook his head. “Your father cares about you deeply Ebbie. Whether I act like it now or not… I did do those horrible things… I can’t say I would’ve acted any differently.”
Ebbie sighed. “I suppose so… still…”
They both fell silent and the snow intensified a bit.
“…but thank you.” Steele said.
Ebbie smiled. “You’re welcome Steele.”
“Do you mind standing out here for a minute with me Ebbie?” Steele asked.
Ebbie shook her head. “..not at all, what’s up?
Steele sat down in the snow. “I appreciate your concern for me Ebbie. …but if I could ask… why do you care about me. Everyone else seems content to let me rot. …but you want to help me… why me?”
Ebbie smiled. “It’s not you Steele. It’s…” She sighed. “This gift is a double-edged sword.” She said. “It comes in handy sometimes, but… I have to feel every ounce of suffering in the world. I’ve learned to manage it, to control its hold over me, but… I still feel it. No one deserves to suffer. We are all dogs. …at the heart, all the same. You have done some truly terrible things in your lifetime, things that most would see as unforgivable. …but something had to make you that way. …something in you stretched and broke, and if that same thing had happened to me, I may have well followed the same path you did. I have compassion for you, you as a living being, because it could just as easily be me in your paws, were my life to have followed the same path. …and if it were… I would hope someone would be there to believe me, to help me out.”
Steele smiled. “Do unto others, hm?”
Ebbie giggled. “Well, kind of, but it’s much deeper than that.” She said. “I just want everyone to be happy, not happy as in “yay I got a new toy”… but happy as in.. content; to be able to lay down their heads to sleep at night without feeling guilty of their past. That means taking action to alleviate all the suffering I can from each individual I come in contact with. That is how I make myself happy.”
Steele nodded. “…a very noble philosophy Ebbie. I think Aniu would approve.”
Ebbie smiled. “Thank you, that means a lot.” She sighed. “Many of the dogs in Nome do not believe as I do. They are quick to condemn… and quick to cause pain.”
Steele nodded. “I know that only too well. I was one of them.”
Ebbie nodded. “…part of the reason we need to be careful of what we do or say is because we are all connected… like a great pool of water. The slightest change causes reverberations across that entire pool.. as ripples in a pond. And though the water may settle eventually because of those ripples, it is never the same, sometimes for the better, other times for the worse, but never the same. I take it as my duty to try and ensure that when there are ripples around me, because of me, that it settles for the better.
Steele nodded.
Ebbie shivered.
Steele chuckled. “I think we better get inside. “He said.”
Ebbie nodded. “It’s gotten cold.”
She paused for a moment and looked at Steele, then she turned. “Come on.” She said.
Ebbie and Steele walked up the path to the steps of the old cabin.

Balto was running.
He ran faster than he had run in a very long time.
He hated leaving Jenna in Nome with Steele, but he felt he had no other choice. Of all the dogs in Nome Balto was the one that could move fastest in the worsening weather.
Balto knew that Blaize had heard the weather report from Anchorage and that’s where he’d gotten the idea that the blizzard was a few days off, but Balto doubted it. Already the wind was picking up, blowing the snow against his face.
He had to run faster, run, and run, and get back to Nome as quickly as he could.
Balto didn’t know what he expected to find at the Talbourne, but he was convinced Steele was lying, playing some kind of angle.
“What if he was trying to get me to leave Jenna?” Balto thought.
He shook the thought out of his mind as soon as it occurred to him.
“If that’s what it was… I played right into his paws… and it’s too late.” Balto said to himself.
He picked up speed and ran harder into the falling snow.















Chapter 5

Ebbie opened her eyes and yawned.
She laid her head on her paws and sighed. “Is it morning already?” She thought.
Ebbie groaned and put her paws over her muzzle, but the sunlight streaming in through them told her that it was time to get up. She stood and stretched, yawning once more before opening her eyes and looking around. “…Steele?” She asked.
She looked around the room again, but didn’t see the malamute anywhere.
“Oh no…” She thought. “What if Blaize is right? What if he did use me?”
Just then Steele stepped through the door. “…for a racer you sure are a late sleeper Ebbie.” He said.
Ebbie smiled and walked over to him.
Mentally, she chastised herself. I’ve got to trust him.” She thought. “I’m all the support he has.
She smiled. “…and who told you I was a racer hm?”
She walked out of the room and to the doggy door. “…feel like going for a walk while we talk?”
Steele smiled and nodded. Sure, …and you think I wouldn’t recognize the trophies in there? I used to take every one of them each year.”
They ducked through the door.
Ebbie grinned. “You were a racer?”
Steele nodded. “…one of the best.” He said.
Ebbie smiled, glad to find another thing that she could share with him. “…what position did you pull?” She asked.
She and Steele stepped out of the yard and onto the snow covered sidewalk. The snow had slowed at dawn and now the flakes just drifted down gently with no sign of the howling wind that had been present the night before.
“You mean you’ve never heard of me?” Steele asked. “…as a racer I mean?”
Ebbie shook her head. “That’s uh… not what dogs usually talked about where you were concerned…
Steele nodded and sighed. “Well… I was the lead dog.”
“…lead?” Ebbie asked.
Steele nodded. “I…”
Steele stopped.
I mean… we... we ran all the local races, …broke the record for the Northern Circle; did it in two days.”
Then you’re… wow, you’re a legend… least your team is.” Ebbie said. “I know all about you, you’re the ones I heard most about when I started training.”
Steele smiled.
“…with Nikki and Kaltag.” She said.
Steele nodded and smiled. “…and Star… poor little guy… should have stood up for him more… those two were always picking on him.”
Ebbie grinned. “Oh I think you’ll find they’ve changed a lot now. They run with the mail team… with Kodi, Balto’s son as lead.”
Steele smiled. “…have to look them up one of these days… wonder what they’re up to?”
Ebbie shrugged. “Just running mostly.” She paused and smiled. “…though Star’s been courting someone lately”
Steele laughed. “..that goof found a girl to put up with him?”
Ebbie laughed. “Yeah, everyone else was as surprised as you.”
“…so who is it?” Steele asked.
Ebbie giggled. I don’t know if you know her or not. Her name is Dixie.”
Steele looked at her. “…little purplish Pomeranian?”
Ebbie nodded. “…that’s the one.”
Steele couldn’t help it. He stopped and started laughing so hard he nearly fell on his side in the snow covered ditch.
“You know her?” Ebbie asked, giggling along with him.
“…do I.” He said. “Dixie had a huge crush on me when I was the leader of the team. She tried her hardest to tie me down heh heh heh…” Steele smiled and shook his head. “Those were…” He sighed and his laugh died off slowly. “…good times.” He said.
Ebbie walked up to his side and stopped laughing.
Steele sighed. “I was the most popular dog in Nome, leader of the best team this side of Anchorage… and still I was a monster.”
“What do you mean?” Ebbie asked. She stepped closer to the large malamute.
Steele sighed.
“I… I put myself above everything… and everyone. I was the most selfish dog in Nome. I treated Balto like crap… every time I saw him. I picked on him, called him names… even fought him a few times. …and Jenna?” Steele sighed. “She… she could have been mine…”
Ebbie looked surprised. “…really?”
Steele nodded. “Yes, we… we were together for a time, but… my selfishness, it drove her away and when it did… I… I attacked her. Balto stepped in and saved her, fought me… fought me like I’d never seen him fight before. I didn’t understand why then…”
Steele sighed and hung his head, closing his eyes.
“…but I do now.” He said. “She was worth dying for… and he knew it.”
Ebbie smiled and stepped forward. She nuzzled his cheek and when Steele opened his eyes in surprise she had pulled back just a bit and was looking right into his golden eyes.
Her brilliant blue eyes shone against the white of her face and filled Steele’s vision.
He leaned in close and kissed her softly.
Ebbie leaned into him and closed her eyes.
Steele pulled back slowly and opened his own.
He was silent for a moment.
“I’m… I’m sorry Ebbie I… I shouldn’t have done that.” He said.
Steele turned away from her and looked down the sidewalk.
“Steele…” Ebbie said.
“That’s right, you most certainly should not have!” A voice called.
It was a voice Steele would recognize anywhere.
He turned. “…Jenna.” He said.
“What do you think you’re doing Steele?” Jenna said. “…even if Aniu did give you a second chance, and I’m doubting even that’s true, but even if she did, what makes you think you can just walk back into town like nothing ever happened?”
Steele sighed. “Jenna I…”
Jenna cut him off. “…and to top it all off, I come around the corner and see you schmoozing up to my granddaughter!” Jenna yelled. “You’re just like you always were, and I won’t let Ebbie get hurt by it like I was!”
Jenna turned to Ebbie. “…come on, let’s go.” She said.
Ebbie whirled on her grandmother. “No.” She said.
“What did you say?” Jenna asked.
“I said no.” Ebbie said.
She walked over and stood beside Steele. “You’re wrong grandma Jenna. Steele isn’t like he always was. He’s telling the truth.” She looked up at Steele and smiled.
Jenna nodded, narrowing her eyes. “Oh, I see, the truth hm? I see he’s being truthful now. Well did he tell you about he and I, what that was like?”
Ebbie nodded. “He did.”
“Ebbie, this dog tried to rape me, if it hadn’t been for Balto, he’d have done it, and then when he finally gets banished he comes back and tries to kill me! and does kill a lot of my friends, attacks Balto… then as if even that weren’t enough he goes to Aleu’s cave, and he kills there too, causes even more pain and hardship on our family. …and…” Jenna stopped and growled. “…and I’m not even going to speak of his conduct on Illaena.”
Steele sighed. “…all of that is true.” He said.
Ebbie nodded. “…and I know.” She said. …and I still say he’s changed.”
Jenna growled low in her throat. “Keeping my family safe is more important than anything else in this world. You’re young and naïve Ebbie, but that’s okay, because I’m going to protect you anyway.”
Without further warning Jenna crouched and sprung forward, flying into Steele. She hit him in the shoulder, but low enough to throw him off balance. Even though the malamute outweighed Jenna by a good measure, he tumbled over onto the sidewalk.
“Jenna stop it!” Ebbie cried. She ran to Steele’s side, but by then it was all flashing white paws and Ebbie couldn’t get close.
Jenna stuck Steele again and again. She was on top of him but… but he wasn’t fighting back; wasn’t even trying to block the strikes coming in at him.
Jenna hit him more and Steele just curled into a ball and took the blows one by one as they landed.
“What are you doing Steele, fight back!” Jenna cried. “…fight back you monster!”
She growled and hit him again in the side of the head, snapping his muzzle against the pavement.
Ebbie couldn’t stand it any longer and as Jenna paused she leapt forward, aiming just over her grandmother’s back. Ebbie snagged the red bandanna in her teeth and tucked her head, rolling forward and putting her full weight into pulling the bandanna with her.
Jenna felt a tug at her neck, then she was flying sideways.
She landed on the snow covered sidewalk and rolled a few times, coming to a stop on her belly a few yards down the sidewalk.
Ebbie hit the sidewalk and rolled as well, stopping on her side, but quickly leapt to her paws. “…enough!” She yelled. “He’s not even fighting back! Stop it, what in Aniu’s name is the matter with you?!”
Ebbie turned and ran the short distance to Steele’s side.
The Malamute was starting to get up, sore from the blows Jenna had rained down on him.
Ebbie nuzzled him and Steele sighed.
Jenna growled and stood, shaking the snow out of her fur. “Forget it.” She said. “I tried.” Then she started to walk away.
Ebbie looked at Steele and nodded, then ran forward, darting in front of Jenna. “Hold on, stop right there, we need to handle this right now.” She said. “Can’t you see what you’re doing? You’re doing exactly what he did. You’re becoming just what he was!”
Jenna narrowed her eyes. “I am doing this because of what he was. To protect you! You stupid little girl.”
Ebbie stepped back. “Alright, that’s the way it’s going to be, huh?. I’m an adult Jenna and I can make my own decisions. I don’t need you fighting for me. …and I ***** sure don’t need you murdering some dog on the sidewalk… do you realize that’s what you were doing? You were going to kill him, I saw it in your eyes, and then where would you be? I may be a “stupid little girl” but you think about that on your way home, you think about how close you came to becoming what he became. …and not because of him, because of you, because you made that freaking choice.”
Ebbie turned and ran back to Steele.
Jenna’s muzzle fell open slightly.
She paused for a moment, unsure of how to take the outburst her granddaughter had just made. Then she turned her head over her shoulder.
Ebbie had made it back to Steele and was nuzzling him softly, but Steele’s eyes were on Jenna, his large yellow eyes.
His eyes that had invaded Jenna’s dreams, stolen her sleep. In them she had seen malice, anger, and death, but now she saw reflected only sadness and pain.
Jenna swallowed hard and then turned and ran off.





Chapter 6:

Balto ran through the woods.
The storm had settled down and the snow was just beginning to slow, snowflakes just drifted gently from the gray clouds overhead.
He stopped and looked around.
“Stop, who goes there?!” A voice called from up ahead.
“My name is Balto.” He said. “I come as an emissary from Nome.”
“…Balto?” Timbre stepped away from the thicket he’d been hiding in and smiled. “Good to see you again.”
Balto smiled and ran over to his friend. “Timbre, good to see you too.”
“What brings you all the way out here?” Timbre asked.
Balto sighed. “Well, I’ve come as an emissary from Nome. …Steele’s returned.”
“…Steele?” Timbre asked. There was a bit of alarm in his voice.
Balto nodded. “Yes, he says that Aniu restored him, gave him a second chance. I know this is going to sound crazy, but… he says Aleu was restored as well. I’ve come as an emissary from Nome to find out if what he says is true.”
Timbre sighed. “Well Balto, what he says is true.”
Balto took a sharp breath and gasped. “Then… Aleu is…”
Timbre smiled. “…alive and well.” He said. “She returned a few days ago. …shocked us all to be sure, but probably none more than Shadow.”
Balto nodded, still in shock over the news. He hadn’t allowed himself to hop that what Steele said was true.”
“In fact, She’s actually out on a patrol now, but she’s due to return anytime now, that’s why I was out here, to meet them.”
“…Papa?” A voice said from behind him.
Balto turned his head and saw Aleu standing there in the snow, a group of other wolves behind her. “…Aleu.” He said.
Aleu smiled.
Balto ran to his daughter and nuzzled her. “Oh Aleu! …it’s so good to see you!” He said.
Aleu smiled and nuzzled her father back. “…it was Aniu Papa.”
Balto nodded.
Aleu smiled again and stepped back from him a bit. “So what brings you all the way out here?” She asked.
Balto sighed. “Steele has returned to Nome.” He said.
Aleu sighed back. “I knew he would.” She said. “I expected it sooner.”
Balto nodded. “Aleu, I need to know if what he says is true. …did Aniu really restore him as well?”
Aleu sighed. “Come inside Papa, we’ll talk there.”

Aleu sighed and paced her chamber in front of Balto. “I know it sounds crazy, but it’s all true.” She said.
“What happened in Shade’s realm?” Balto asked.
Aleu sighed. “It… it was the most horrible place I have ever been in Papa.” She said. “At first… I was in a dream, a nightmare. I watched a hunter run into my chambers and shoot my family, and then kill me. When I died the dream would start all over again. I don’t know how long I was in that state… how many times I repeated that event, but eventually I began to notice that it had happened before. When I came to the full realization that it wasn’t real I woke up. I found myself in a chamber and walked outside. There I found myself in a labyrinth; a maze of stone walls with a T at the end. I took off, running toward the T. I saw light at the end of one of the tunnels and took off down it… only to find myself in another of the same chambers with a T at the end of it. It was the same each time. That could have been repeating too for all I know. There were these things, Steele called them… hunters.”
Aleu shivered as the memory of those horrible creatures surfaced in her mind.
The hunters roamed the halls of the labyrinth and when one of them caught up with me it… tore me apart, killed me. Then I woke up as if it had never happened.
Aleu sighed.
“I was being chased by one of them sometime later when a dog sailed into it from the side. He and a few other dogs started attacking the creature and eventually… I guess they killed it. It disappeared anyway. Papa… it was Steele.”
Aleu paused.
“I told him I had come to find Aniu and free her and he took me back to a chamber he and his small band had found that the hunter’s didn’t frequent often. Seems he got in to see Aniu before I… before I died. …she spoke to him. I don’t know what she said, but he started to gather up what dogs he could to help the others escape the hunters. …started fighting them. He took me to see Aniu and together we convinced her that the world still needed her and she was set free. Lytion had summoned Shade’s armies and we escaped through the same doorway they were coming out of. Aniu touched our paws and they glowed like… like blue fire. She told us to pass it on.
Aleu paused again. “Steele helped defeat Lytion. He fought as hard as any of us, spread the fire and enabled the Talbourne to fight against their supernatural foes. Aniu finally stopped the battle and killed Lytion. Then his armies fled. Aniu restored me to my life. The last thing I remember is Steele standing beside her. I believe he is telling the truth.” Aleu said. “He has changed.”
Balto shook his head. “I’m sorry Aleu, but I can’t accept that.” He said. “Talking with one wolf, even one so great as Aniu… it doesn’t change a dog like Steele that fast.” He said.
Aleu smiled. “Aniu is very powerful Papa. She works in strange and often misunderstood ways. We must not try to second guess her, but rather take gladly what she gives us.”
Balto shook his head. “It’ll take more than that to make me believe him.”
Aniu nodded, sensing she wasn’t going to change her father’s mind.
Balto smiled and nodded. “Alright, well, I need to get this news back to Nome.”
He stood and turned to leave.
“Wait Papa, I need to talk to you about something.”
Balto stopped and turned around.
“I want to apologize.” Aleu said. “I can’t even begin to understand…” She paused a atear came to her eye. “…how horrible what you saw… when I died… how bad it was for you and Shadow. I am sorry to have put you through that.”
Balto nodded.
“I was weak.” Aleu said. “I felt that… with Aniu gone… our salvation was gone as well. I should’ve been stronger, should have had faith in her.”
Aleu sighed.
“…but I didn’t.” She said.
“It’s okay Aleu.” Balto said.
He walked over and nuzzled his daughter. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
Aleu nodded.
Balto stepped back. “Now I’ve really got to be going.”
Aleu smiled. “Why don’t you stay for a while, at least until dinner.” She said. “You’re going to need your energy. I can tell by looking at your eyes that you aren’t going to stop for a rest along the way.”
Balto nodded. “Alright Aleu.”
Aleu smiled and nuzzled her father again. “I love you Papa.” She said.
Balto smiled and nuzzled her back. “I love you too Aleu.” He grinned down at her. “You’re still my baby.”
Aleu feigned scoffing. “…papa…” She said. Then she giggled.
Balto chuckled and held her close.
The two stood there like that for a moment and slowly Balto came to realize just how happy he was that his daughter was alive.
“…thank you Aniu.” He said silently.
Aleu stepped back and looked at her father. “Come on, Dash is still Alpha, we’ll need to let him know you’re here.”
Balto nodded. “If Dash is the Alpha, what are you doing these days?”
“I’m the leader of our defense force now.” She said.
“…thought that was Shadow’s job.” Balto said.
Aleu sighed. “It… it was. He was… deeply affected by what I did in Nome…”
Aleu fell silent for a moment and Balto didn’t push the issue.
Aleu looked back up at her father. “Come on, let’s go see Dash.”
Balto smiled and nodded. Then he followed his daughter out of the chamber.

Back in Nome Steele was limping along the sidewalk, Ebbie at his side.
She stopped and looked at him. “Steele.. what you did back there…”
Steele stopped as well and sighed, turning to face her. “Ebbie… I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have…”
Ebbie cut him off. “No, Steele, you miss my meaning… it’s okay. I liked it. I… I wanted it.”
Steele sighed again. “Ebbie… I’m… the way that Jenna responded back there. I.. I can’t blame her. I did some awful things to her. I can’t say I would’ve acted any differently. ..and it’s going to be much the same with the rest of the town. You’re a nice girl Ebbie. …and I like you.. . a lot, but… right now, it’s best if we remain friends. I… I’m sorry.”
Ebbie’s ears dropped and she looked at the ground. “Oh…“ She said. “…but I…”
Steele put his paw to her muzzle. “Ebbie, this is hard enough as it is Please… this is the way it needs to be.”
Ebbie nodded and sighed. “Alright Steele but… will it ever change?”
Steele smiled sadly and put his paw to her cheek. “I don’t know Ebbie.”
He paused.
“I don’t know.”
“Someone help!” A voice called from across the street.
Steele whirled around and saw a young black furred female Chinook across the street. “What is it?” He asked.
“My baby, he got away from me, I don’t know how many times I’ve told him to stay in the house, but he ran out any way. Do you know where your son might go?” Steele asked.
Just about that time the female turned her head and saw a brown pup walk out in the street a long ways from her. “There he is! Jonathon!” She called. “Jonathon you get back here this instant!”
Just then a car sped by. “Oh no…” Steele said.
Then he turned and ran.
Steele was just behind the car. He was sprinting for all he was worth but he could barely keep up with it. Steele pushed himself harder. “Aniu, help me!” He called in his mind.
The pup turned its head and saw the approaching car and froze.
“…crap!” Steele thought. “Jonathon, get out of the road, now!” He called.
The pup still didn’t move.
Steele swore again under his breath and kicked up his speed, running for all he was worth. He started to pull ahead of the car, but only just barely, by his head and shoulders, no more.
“I’ve won races with less.” He thought.
He ran harder and as they approached the pup he leap to the right, landed on his back legs and sprung in front of the car. It was all happening so fast the car seemed to be a blur, then, Steele’s world seemed to slow to a crawl.
Steele was no more than a foot from the bumper of the car. He was going over the pup. He stuck his paw out and scooped the brown bundle of fur close to his chest, then he tucked his head and legs and rolled forward in the air.
Steele felt the bumper of the car brush through the fur on his back.
Then the world resumed speed and he tumbled across the street and onto the sidewalk.
He was breathing hard, panting from his hard run.
He could feel the pup shaking underneath him, shielded from the roughness of the fall by Steele’s leg tucked tightly against the pup’s side.
The female and Ebbie reached him then.
“Oh thank you sir.” The female said.
Steele stood and the pup stood up and walked shakily over to his mother. The female looked up and stepped back in shock. “You’re… you’re Steele.”
Steele sighed and nodded.
The female jumped on him and licked his cheek. “Thank you Steele, you saved my boy!”
Steele stepped back, surprised by the sudden outburst.
The mother whirled on her son. “…and you!” She said in a stern voice.. “What do you say?”
“Thank you sir.” Jonathon said.
Steele smiled and nodded. “Your welcome little one.” He said. “Just make sure you stay clear of the roads from now on okay? …you listen to your mother. She’s trying to protect you. I might not be here next time.”
The pup nodded.
“Oh believe me there won’t be a next time.” The female said. “Get home Jonathon, now!”
The pup hung his head. “Yes mother.” He said. He started walking down the sidewalk.
The pup’s mother turned to Steele again. “Thank you again Steele.” She said. “I… I don’t know what I’d do if you hadn’t been here.”
Steele smiled. “…just trying to help.” He said.
The female nodded, then she turned and ran to catch up to the young pup.
Steele could hear her giving the pup an earful as they walked away.
Ebbie stepped up next to him. “Steele, that was amazing!” She said. “Holy crap, no wonder you were the lead dog, you can run!”
Steele smiled.
“I’ve never seen a dog run that fast before.”
Steele smiled again. “Well, we were the fastest team around.” He said.
“I don’t doubt it.” Ebbie said.
She leaned in close and nuzzled him. :…but, try to be careful.” She said. “I… I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
Steele nodded and accepted the gesture of affection without comment.
Come on Steele, let’s go see what else we can get into.
Ebbie smiled at him. “…race ya.” She said. She winked at him and then took off.
Steele grinned and took off after her.
He was still winded from his sprint to beat the car so it was all he could do to keep up with her.
The two rounded the corner…
…and literally ran into Blaize.
The three dogs tumbled into a snow drift.
Ebbie giggled and stood up, shaking the snow out of her fur. “Sorry about that uncle Blaize. We were just running around town.”
Blaize nodded and stood up, shaking himself off as well. “It’s okay Ebbie. I was preoccupied.”
Steele stood up and walked over to them. “…preoccupied?” He asked. “Is something wrong?”
Blaize nodded. “There is a young female who was playing with some friends over near the Outskirts. She didn’t meet back up with her freinds.”
“Oh no.” Ebbie said.
Blaize nodded. “She’s a little younger than six months old, gray and white malamute. She went out to play with some friends. I talked to them and they said they were playing hide and seek and Ronnie always hides in the outskirts because they won’t go in there to find her.”
Steele shook his head. “…that place is no place for a six month old female.”
Blaize nodded. “I’m putting together a group to go in and pull her out… by force if necessary.”
“How long has she been gone?” Steele asked.
“…about an hour.” Blaize said.
“When do we leave?” Steele asked.
Blaize shook his head. “Sorry Steele… but until my father returns and confirms your story… I think it’s best if you stay out of issues with the law. Just… the town is on edge as it is. If you went in there and something had already happened to her, they’d blame you for it.”
Steele nodded. “So when do you leave then.”
Blaize sighed. “Soonest we can is around thirty minutes.”
“…that’s too long!” Steele said. “Someone’s probably found her already.”
Blaize nodded. “I know, but it’s suicide to go in there alone and that was the soonest I could round anyone up.” He sighed. “Realistically… I’m expecting to find a body.” He said.
Steele gasped.
“Well, I gotta get going, gotta make this as quick as I can, take care you two.”
With that he was gone.
Steele stood there a moment.
“…Steele…” Ebbie said. “You look like a dog that’s about to do something stupid.”
Steele looked down at her. “Ebbie, someone has to do something.”
Ebbie shook her head. “…getting yourself killed isn’t going to help that little girl.”
Steele nodded. “That’s true… but that just means I’ll have to avoid being killed doesn’t it.”
Ebbie shook her head. “Steele…”
“You heard Blaize.” Steele said. “She’s already been gone an hour.”
Ebbie nodded. “He also said that he’s expecting to find a body.” She said.
Steele nodded. “That could be, a lot can happen in an hour, but he also said she was playing hide and seek, that means she’s hidden, maybe they haven’t found her yet.”
Ebbie sighed.
“Ebbie, I lived in the outskirts for a while when I came back. The dogs that are there… they’ll do horrible things to that little pup.”
Ebbie nodded. “I know.” She said. She looked down at the ground. “…more than you understand.” She said quietly.
Steele looked at her.
“I’d… rather not get into that on the sidewalk… if you don’t mind.” Ebbie said. Her voice held none of the confidence it normally did. Now it was soft, vulnerable.
Steele nodded. “We’ll talk about that later then, for now… go to the old mill. Tell Blaize I’ll be back in an hour, if I’m not… well, he should be searching for two bodies.”
Ebbie gasped.
Steele sighed. “Ebbie, Aniu put me back on this Earth to make a difference, to prove I was different. What am I doing if I don’t take every opportunity to follow that calling?”
Ebbie sighed.
“Go.” Steele said. “I’ll be back soon.”
Ebbie looked at him. “You’re set on this aren’t you… really believe it.”
Steele nodded.
“Alright...” Ebbie said. “I’ll go find Blaize.”
Steele nuzzled her. “I’ll be back.” He said.
Ebbie just nodded.
Then she turned and ran off.
Steele watched her until she rounded the corner, then he turned his head and fixed his gaze on the ugly blackened buildings that marked the outskirts of Nome.

Steele had been searching for almost fifteen minutes.
“Where are you Ronnie?” He asked.
He had to move carefully, staying out of site.
…getting attacked himself wouldn’t help him find the girl any faster.
He’d check all the places he could think of that a small pup could’ve hidden, but truth be told there were too many. The outskirts of Nome was a bunch of old burned up buildings. Every piece of rubble was a place the pup could’ve crawled into.
He looked up at the sky.
“Aniu, you’ve been with me so far, lead me to her; please let her be okay.”
Steele crept down the sidewalk.
He turned his head and noticed a small overturned bookcase in the house across the street. There were clean places amongst the ash that coated everything in the outskirts.
He walked over to them. The paw prints were smudged lengthwise, toward the book case.
“…dogs taking off to run.” Steele thought.
He saw a small hole in the back of the bookcase and crept up to it. The hole led to a broken window and a drop of about ten feet from the wall to the ground below, which showed several large impacts. Steele looked up and saw something glinting in the daylight.
It was a tuft of gray and white fur.
Instantly Steele heard Blaize’s words and the scene played itself out before his eyes.
“She’s about six months old, gray and white malamute. She went out to play with some friends. I talked to them and they said they were playing hide and seek and Ronnie always hides in the outskirts because they won’t go in there to find her.”
He saw the young pup hiding in the bookcase, the discarded shelf on the ground held in front of her.
…no, Steel noticed the nails in the shelf. “Ronnie had crawled under it, it was still attached…”
He then saw the group of dogs, six of them judging by the bigger impact spots in the snow below.
They walked up and caught a sniff of something they liked, a young female. About that time, Ronnie, scared, seeing the group of dangerous looking dogs outside had done something, made a noise. The dog’s took off and ran up to the bookcase, tearing the board off of the front of it to get at the six month old female.
Ronnie had turned and leapt through the window then, snagging herself on the sharp glass as she did so.
Steele looked at the impacts again and saw the smaller impact was elongated and stained pink.
“…she landed badly.” Steele thought. “…rolled.”
The six dogs had come after her and then…
Suddenly a scream cut through Steele’s thoughts and the image vanished. “Please! …leave me alone!” The young female voice yelled. “I won’t come back again, I promise!”
Steele instantly leapt through the window and landed in the soft snow, then he crept up the alley way and toward the deserted street.
There were six dogs there, all pretty good sized too.
They were circled around a young gray and white female malamute.
“...Ronnie.” Steele said softly.
One of the dogs, an orange and white one, laughed. “Oh sweetie, but we want you to stay.”
The other five laughed and Steele realized that the orange and white dog was their leader.
“…been a long time since we saw such a sweet piece of tail around these parts.” Another, a black furred one, said.
Steele shook his head and swore silently to himself.
The pup cowered and one of the dogs stepped to the side. Steele could see her good now.
She wasn’t going anywhere fast anytime soon.
The glass had cut her shoulder pretty badly and her whole side was matted in red blood. Her paw was twisted and Steele guessed, from the looks of the way she had fallen from the window, that it was broken.
Steele ran through a thousand plans of attack in his head in an instant, but all of them ended in his death.
So he just stood up and walked forward. “Hey guys, whadaya got there?” Steele called.
The six dogs turned quickly. “…back off stranger.” The orange one said. “We found her first.”
Steele took a look at the pup as if he’d never seen her before.
“…so you like’em young huh?”
“She’s at least six months old.” The orange one said. “She’s no pup.”
Steele nodded. “Still… I have contacts in Nome, say that Blaize is coming looking for her with ten other dogs. They’re on their way now.”
The orange and white dog laughed. “Oh my goodness, the awesome Blaize heh heh heh. Blaize will get here too late. We’ll have torn her up and left her to rot. All he’ll find is a body.”
Ronnie whimpered at this and drew her legs in under her body, curling into a ball.
Steele nodded. “That could be.” He said. “…but I’m here now and I’m telling you to leave her alone.”
The orange and white dog laughed. “Are you freaking serious?” He asked. “Really? You’re one, we’re six.” He crouched and growled at Steele.
The other five followed suit.
Steele crouched down and growled. “I’ll only warn you once more.” He said. “Leave her alone and walk away.”
Outside he was confident and aggressive, but inside, Steele was quaking in fear. “Aniu, you’ve gotten me this far… guide me.” He said to himself.
The orange and white dog growled back. “…get him.” He said.
Steele was suddenly rushed by the dogs and lost all semblance of control.
The dogs slammed into them and they rolled, fighting as they did.
Steele was attacked on all sides, by paws and teeth. He tried to block them, but there were too many; whenever he got a glimpse of fur that wasn’t his own he bit or struck out at it with his paws.
Finally they stopped rolling and Steele rolled to his paws. He saw the six wolves get up as well.
“…one chance…” Steele thought.
He swallowed his fear and leapt at the orange and white leader.
The dog was so confident in his superiority by numbers that he hadn’t been expecting the attack. Steele rolled over him and bit down on his neck, rolling to the snow and bringing the dog with him. The two started rolling, fighting, scratching and biting at one another.
Steele howled in pain as the dog clamped it’s teeth down on his leg.
He struck the dog in the side of the head and he let go, but the instant Steele tried to put any weight on his leg he knew the wound was bad.
Steele needed to end this now. He was bleeding from dozens of bites and scratches, so many he didn’t even know in what order they occurred. He was laying on his side, the Orange dog in front of him, panting steam into the cold afternoon air.
He started to laugh.
“You my friend… are an idiot.” He said.
Steele groaned in pain and squinted as blood ran into his eye and made it sting.
“…now, to finish you off.” The dog said.
The dog stepped forward…
…and Steele suddenly mustered every ounce of strength he had to swing his paw horizontally across the dog’s legs, cutting him off at the knee and making him fall to the snow beside Steele.
Steele rolled over and latched his jaws around the side of the dog’s neck. He bit down and then stopped.
The dog yelped, knowing it was over, then he stopped as well.
Steele had the dog pinned down, his paw on the dog’s head.
“…do you yield?” Steele said, his jaws still wrapped tightly around the dog’s neck.
“…wh… what?” The orange and white dog said.
“…do… you… yield.” Steele said.
“Yeah, yeah, we’ll leave, just… don’t kill me.” The orange and white dog said.
Steele let him go and stood to his paws.
“Take your group and get the hell out of here.” Steele said. “If I hear of you hurting her again, I’ll kill you.”
The dog nodded. “Sure thing Mister.” He said.
He turned to his friends and then turned and ran.
The other five looked at each other for a moment before running after him.
Steele waited a moment until they were gone, then he fell on his side in the snow.
It had been all he could do to look strong and not show his injuries in front of them. Now, he was exhausted.
“…mister?” A small voice said in his ear.
Steele opened one eye and looked up, seeing a small gray and white face looking upside down over him.
“…are you dead?” She asked.
Steele laughed and found it hurt his ribs. He winced. “No… no little one I’m not dead, just… slow.” He said.
Ronnie smiled. “I’m glad.” She said.
Steele sighed and quickly rolled to his belly, getting his paws under him.
Everything hurt.
He groaned and stayed there, laying on his belly for a moment.
“…can you get up?” Ronnie asked.
Steele nodded and slowly stood up, stumbled a few times and then stood on his paws. “…I’m okay Ronnie.” He said.
“Hey, how do you know my name?” She asked.
Steele chuckled and winced again. “You friends were worried about you. They told Blaize you were in trouble.” He said.
Ronnie gasped. “My friends are worried?” She asked.
Steele nodded. “You didn’t come back with them.”
Ronnie nodded. “I couldn’t, those dogs were looking for me.”
Steele nodded. “…I know.” He said.
He looked around for a moment. “…but they’re gone now. …and we should be getting away ourselves, they might come back.”
Steele looked down and saw the young female had her paw held close to her side, up off the ground.
“…you’re hurt.” Steele said.
Ronnie nodded. “I got cut by the glass… and messed up my paw when I jumped out the window.” She said. “…landed on a stupid rock.”
Steele nodded. “Well, we’ll make better time if we run.”
He crouched down on his belly. “…come on Ronnie, climb on my back, I’ll carry you.”
Ronnie nodded and climbed up on his back, whimpering as she brushed her paw against his side.
“Now, bite onto the scruff of my neck.” Steele said. “…bite down hard and hold on.”
“…won’t I hurt you mister?” Ronnie asked.
Steele chuckled and winced again. “…no, no Ronnie, you won’t hurt me, and my name is Steele.”
Ronnie smiled. “Alright Steele.”
She bit down hard on the bunched up fur at back of Steele’s neck.
“Got a good hold?” Steele asked.
Ronnie nodded.
“Alright, home we go.” He said.
Then Steele took off running

“I can’t believe you let him go off on his own!” Blaize said.
Ebbie sighed. “Blaize, I trust him.
Blaize nodded. “Well I don’t, not until dad comes back and confirms his story.”
Blaize paused.
“You should have stopped him, talked to him.”
“…me? …stop him?” Ebbie said. “You must be joking Blaize, he’s way bigger and stronger than I am.”
Blaize shook his head. “Ebbie, what am I going to do if he comes back and says he found Ronnie and she’s dead? Am I to believe him that he found her that way? Do you think the town will believe that?”
Blaize walked to the window and looked outside the old mill.
At least twenty dogs were outside milling around, waiting for news of the missing pup.
“I’ve got at least twenty dogs out there and the want blood.” Blaize said. “If Steele comes back and that kid is dead… they’re going to get it.”
Ebbie sighed.
Just then a dog ran into the room, one of Blaize’s rescue party.
“Please tell me you have some sort of good news…” Blaize said.
“Steele’s here.” The dog said. “…and he’s got Ronnie!”
A grin spread across Ebbie’s face and she turned and ran, following the dog out the door.
Blaize sighed and looked around, then he walked out after them.

“What happened?” One of the dogs asked
“Ronnie was hurt, the pack chased her and I fought them.” Steele said.
“You fought them?” Another asked.
Steele nodded.
Ronnie smiled from atop his back. “…there was six of them, and they were big too.”
“…six?!” Several dogs said.
“Let’s get her off of him.” One of the other’s said.
Steele crouched down and the dogs helped Ronnie off of his back and onto the back of another dog. “She needs to go see doc.” One of the dogs said.
Steele nodded. “She’s probably broken her paw and she has a nasty gash on her shoulder from the window.”
The dog took off running for doc’s
Steele watched the little dog until she vanished around the corner. Most of the crowd dispersed, having heard the story and soon it was only Ebbie and Blaize standing there with Steele.
Blaize walked up to Steele’s side. “Steele, thought I told you to stay here.” He said.
Steele nodded. “Yeah, you did, but if I’d’ve listened to you that young girl would be dead now, or worse. When I came upon them the six of them were circled around her and they didn’t have killing her at the top of their list. Though I think the leader used the phrase “tear her up” so I think it was a close second.”
Ebbie shivered visibly at this.
Steele saw it, but didn’t say anything.
Blaize sighed. “Well Steele. …for once I’m glad someone didn’t listen to me.” He said.
Steele nodded. “Thank you Blaize.”
“You’re a hero.” Blaize said. “…and you’ve went a log way toward proving your case. If my father returns and confirms your story… you have my vote.”
Steele smiled. “Thank you Blaize.”
Blaize turned to Ebbie. “We’re holding a town meeting tonight for everyone that can be there. I’d like it if you two were there.”
Steele nodded. “Sure...” He said. “What time?”
“…about five hours from now.”
Ebbie nodded. “We’ll be here Blaize.” She said.
Blaize nodded. “Okay, see you then Ebbie.” He turned to Steele. “…and really, thank you Steele. You’re right, we would’ve found Ronnie dead. You saved her life.”
Steele shook his head. “I didn’t do anything special.” He said. “…nothing more than anyone else should.”
Blaize nodded again. “Well, I’m going to go in and rest.” He said.
Ebbie nodded and Blaize turned and walked up the steps to the old mill.
Ebbie watched him go and then turned to Steele and smiled. “I’d say you’re making a difference.” She said.
Steele sighed. “Ebbie, that’s not why I’m doing it.”
Ebbie smiled and nodded. “I know Steele… but it doesn’t hurt.” She looked him over and gasped. “Steele… by Aniu, you’re hurt!”
Steele shook his head. “Not too badly.” He said.
“…not too badly my tail!” Ebbie said. “You’re covered in blood!”
“Most of that is Ronnie’s.” Steele said.
“…and this on your leg? Maybe this dripping down your muzzle? I guess those are hers too.” Ebbie said.
Steele chuckled and stopped, wincing.
You need to go see doc, now. We’ll be back in time for the meeting.”
“Alright Ebbie.” Steele said. “I’ve already gotten in one fight today, I can’t take another.”
Ebbie giggled and pointed her paw down the sidewalk.
Steele sighed. “…you’re coming with me?”
Ebbie grinned and nuzzled him. “…of course.” She said.

Steele was wheeled out of the makeshift veterinary clinic at the back of the hospital and into the surgery room. He was laying on a stainless steel gurney with paper stretched over the top. As the gurney rolled to a stop he saw he was lying beside Ronnie.
“…got another one here.” Doc said. “…must’ve been some kind of fight.”
Some nurses were busy sewing up the gash on Ronnie’s shoulder and setting her broken paw in a plaster cast.
Ronnie saw him and smiled, her eyes half open. “…Steele.” She said.
Steele smiled and nodded. “Yep, I’m here little one.”
Ronnie smiled as if she was half asleep. “mmm I… I want you here.” She said. “I… feel safe with you.”
Steele smiled. “Then I’ll be here when you wake up little one.”
Ronnie smiled at him and started to nod off. “I’m…” Ronnie stopped and yawned. “I’m tired… Steele.”
Steele smiled and felt a prick in his neck.
“…then go to sleep little one.” He said. “You’re safe now.”
“Yeah…” Ronnie said. “…thank you… Steele…”
With that the young female closed her eyes and was soon sleeping soundly.
Steele felt himself drifting away. His vision spotted and then fractured as the drugs took their effect. “…you’re welcome….” He said in his mind. “…Ronnie.”

Steele was wheeled back into the makeshift veterinary area at the back of the hospital.
Doc stepped around to the side of the gurney and he and another nurse helped Steele off the gurney and onto the floor.
Steele stuck out his paws and softly sat them on the ground.
Doc and the nurse let go of him slowly and Steele’s weight settled on his legs.
“There you go boy.” He said. “You’ll be alright now.”
Ebbie walked over to him and smiled. “How are you?”
Steele smiled. “I’ll be fine.” He said. “A little sore, but I’ll be fine.”
Ebbie nuzzled his neck. “I’m glad.” She said.
Ebbie stepped back and smiled. “Well, we’d better be going, the meeting is in an hour.”
“Not just yet.” Steele said. “I told Ronnie I’d be here when she woke up. She shouldn’t be much longer. They were working on her when I was wheeled in.”
Ebbie nodded. “…alright Steele, we can wait a while.”
Steele smiled and sat down. “I’m… still a little groggy anyway.”
Ebbie laid down on the floor and tossed her head.
Steele smiled and walked over to her. He laid down beside her.
Ebbie scoffted and grabbed his ear in her teeth, pulling his head up onto her shoulder.
Steele started to resist and then stopped, laying his head against her shoulder.
Ebbie pulled him close and put her paw across the white bandage on his foreleg, pulling it up under her leg and onto her side before leaning her head down and laying it across his so that her head was on his shoulder.
Steele sighed and smiled. “This was what he’d been searching for all those years.”
He sighed.
…and it wasn’t Ebbie.
Well, part of it was, but most of it was the feeling he got from helping Ronnie, even though he’d been seriously injured, he felt better than he ever had.
He glanced sideways at Ebbie who had closed her head and was sleeping soundly, holding him tightly to her.
He smiled.
That was nice too.
Perhaps… it was a mixture of both.
Suddenly a lightning bolt of realization struck Steele’s brain.
“…this is what it was like for Balto when he was with Jenna, when he returned with the team.”
Steele sighed.
“No wonder he hates me like he does.” Steele thought. “…right now I would do anything to protect this moment.” He looked up at Ebbie. “…this dog.”
He nestled in closer to her, burying his muzzle in her soft fur and slowly drifted off to sleep.
…finally…
Steele was at peace.

Chapter 7:

Aleu smiled as she and Balto approached the opening to the cave. “It was good seeing you again.” She said. “Thank you for staying with us for a while.”
Balto smiled and nuzzled his daughter. “It was good seeing you too Aleu. I was convinced I never would again.”
Aleu nodded. “I wish you would stay a little longer Papa.”
Balto sighed. “Aleu, I have to get back to Nome.”
Aleu nodded back. “I know, but the storm is getting worse. I just wish you would stay the night, leave in the morning.”
Balto shook his head. “I’m sorry Aleu, but this is important. You may believe Steele has changed, but I don’t. I can’t.” He said. “One conversation, even with someone as great as my mother doesn’t change someone like Steele.”
Aleu sighed. “Well… I believe he has.” She said. “…and I hope one day, you wil too. This bitterness you hold for him isn’t going to serve you well.”
Balto sighed. “Aleu, I hold only what he has done against him.”
Aleu nodded and sensed she wasn’t going to change her father’s mind.
“I know.” She said.
Balto and Aleu reached the mouth of the cave and stopped.
Already the snow had picked up and the wind was blowing in great gusts. Everything fifty yards outside the cave was shrouded in a white fog of snow.
“Well, I have to be going.” Balto said. “I’ll be back again soon. Your mother will want to come and see you.”
Aleu smiled. “Alright Papa.”
Balto smiled back and then turned, walking out into the snow.
Aleu ran forward. “…Papa?”
Balto stopped and looked back at her. “Yes Aleu?”
“I love you.” She said. “…be careful.”
Balto smiled. “I love you too Aleu… and I will.”
With that he turned and took off, heading into the blowing snow.
As he vanished into the whiteness Aleu sighed and tilted her head upward. “…watch over him Aniu.” She said quietly.
The wind blew in a great gust that picked up her thick fur, driving the blowing snow close to her skin.
Aleu shivered.
Then she turned and walked back into the warmth of the cave.

“…mister Steele?”
Steele sighed and opened one eye.
Ronnie stood there in front of him, a big smile on her face.
Steele smiled back. “Hey little one.” He said
His voice was soft. Steele was still a little groggy from the anesthesia the doctor had put him under with.
Ronnie smiled. “How do you feel Mister Steele?”
Steele smiled back. “I’m going to be okay, little tired, but nothing serious. ….you?”
Ronnie smiled. “…same.” She said. “I’ll be okay now… thanks to you.”
Steele smiled. “I’m glad.” He said.
Steele started to get up, but his vision started to blur and spin and he decided to stay where he was a little longer. “Well, I guess we should get you home.” Steele said.
Ronnie sighed. “I…”
The young malamute hung her head.
“I don’t really have a home.” She said softly.
Steele frowned. “You don’t have a home?” He asked.
Ronnie shook her head.
“Where’s your mom and dad?” Steele asked.
Ronnie sighed again. “I don’t have one.” She said.
“…you don’t?” Steele asked.
Ronnie looked up at him. A small tear dripped down out of her ice blue eyes and ran down her cheek. “Well, I mean… I’m sure I have one somewhere… but I don’t know where they are.”
Steele shook his head. “A young one like you needs someone to look after them. How do you survive?”
Ronnie smiled sadly. “Well, I usually sleep in the sled dog barn and… the butcher gives me his scraps every evening.”
Steele shook his head. “That just won’t do.” He said. “You said you stayed at the sled dog barn… you’re a malamute, do you like to run?”
“I love to run.” Ronnie said. “I usually run around the block every morning.”
Steele smiled. “Well, I mean run sleds.”
Ronnie grinned. “I would love to!” She said. She sighed. “…but I don’t know much about it.”
Steele grinned at her. “Well, I’m staying with Ebbie and her owner. He has a team and I bet he’d love to have another dog… long as you’d work.”
Ronnie smiled. “You mean I could live with you?”
Steele chuckled. “…probably. I’d have to ask Ebbie and make sure, but I’m sure she won’t mind.”
Ronnie giggled. “I’d love that Mister Steele. I’ve…” She looked up at him, her blue eyes sparkling. “I’ve never had a daddy before.”
Steele chuckled. “Well… I’ve never had a pup before either.” He sighed. “I’m… I’m not the best role model, and I don’t know if I can raise you or not, but if you want me, I’ll try.”
Ronnie smiled and pounced on his side, snuggling up under his cheek. “I’d love that Mister Steele.”
Steele grinned.
“...Steele?” Ebbie asked.
Steele rolled his head over to look at her.
Ebbie opened her eyes. “Sorry, guess I nodded off.”
Steele grinned. “I did too, don’t worry about it.”
“What is that on top of you?” Ebbie asked.
Steele smiled. “…guess it’s my new daughter.” He said.
“…oh…” Ebbie said.
Ebbie closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them again quickly. “Wait… what?!” She asked.
Steele chuckled. “It’s Ronnie.” He said. “She’s… she was a stray.”
“Awww…” Ebbie said. “Poor thing, she’s not very old.”
Steele nodded. “I was thinking maybe she could stay with us. She’s a malamute, and she’ll be able to pull a sled soon.”
Ebbie nodded. “My owner is always looking for new dogs.” She said. “I’m sure he’ll take her in.”
Steele smiled.
Ebbie yawned. “Well, guess we better be getting to the meeting. It’ll be starting soon.”
Steele nodded and rolled to his paws, sliding the smaller gray and white malamute off of him.
“We have to go to a town meeting Ronnie. Then we’ll be going home.”
Ronnie got to her paws. “What’s a town meeting?”
Steele walked over to her. “It’s a gathering of all the dogs in town. It’s used to pass on information, usually about dangers that exist or to form solutions to problems that the town faces.”
“What’s this one about mister Steele?” Ronnie asked.
Steele grinned. “Well, I don’t know that yet, but…”
Steele turned and looked outside to see the snow blowing across the open door.
“I think this one is probably going to be concerning the storm.”
Ronnie nodded and shivered. “I don’t like storms. It’s too cold in the barn then.”
Steele grinned at her and scratched the top of her head with his paw. “You don’t have to worry about hat barn anymore. Come on, let’s head to the old mill.” Steele turned his head to look at Ebbie. “…coming?”
Ebbie giggled. “…of course.” She said.
Ebbie rolled to her paws and stood up, walking over to Steele.
Ronnie squealed and ran out into the snow, darting around in the crisp Alaskan night.
“She seems like a good natured kid.” Ebbie said.
Steele nodded. “She’s got a good head on her shoulders I think.”
Ebbie grinned. “Think you’re cut out to be a father?”
Steele smiled back. “Well, I don’t know, is anyone?”
Ebbie giggled. “I don’t know.” She said.
Ronnie had almost disappeared into the blowing snow.
Ebbie smiled. “Well, we better get after her or she’s going to run off and leave us.”
Steele chuckled. “Yeah…” He said.
Steele and Ebbie walked out of the hospital and started following Ronnie toward the old mill.

Blaize walked out onto the stage in the old mill. “Dogs of Nome, if you could please be quiet and we’ll get this out of the way as soon as possible.”
The talking dogs gradually fell silent.
“Thank you.” Blaize said. “Now, we have two orders of business tonight. First, Steele, could you step up here please?”
Steele hesitated for a moment, then he walked forward, conscious of the fact that the eyes of every dog in the room followed him. As he reached the stage Steele hopped up on it and walked over to sit beside Blaize.
Blaize turned to him and smiled. “Thank you Steele.” He said.
Blaize turned back to face the dogs below. “Dogs of Nome, I have called Steele up here tonight to pay recognition to him for a valiant act. Many of you know that today a young female named Ronnie went missing around the outskirts of Nome. I had called for a volunteer force of ten dogs to go in and get her. It took an hour to get them together and would have taken another thirty minutes to organize them and head out. I ran into Steele about half way back. …literally ran into he and Ebbie. Steele requested to come along and I refused. I thought it would be better if he stayed away from the situation.”
Blaize paused.
“He didn’t listen to me and for once I’m glad he didn’t. Steele went in on his own, found Ronnie and rescued her, fighting off six large dogs and suffering serious injuries to himself in the process. From what I have heard both he and Ronnie are going to be fine, but without his selfless action me and my recovery team would have recovered only a body…”
Blaize turned to Steele. “On behalf of the town of Nome, I would like to extend my thanks to you for this heroic act. You undoubtedly saved young Ronnie’s life, someone you didn’t even know. You came here and asked us to give you a second chance. You said you have changed. While we are still awaiting the return of our emissary to the Talbourne, if he confirms your story, you will have earned my vote, and I’m sure many others as well.”
Steele smiled. “Thank you Blaize, but I didn’t do anything worthy of recognition by you. I simply followed Aniu’s guidance.”
Blaize nodded. “You can step down now Steele.”
Steele hopped off the stage and rejoined Ebbie and Ronnie.
“Now, on to our second order of business...” Blaize said. “I’m sure you all have realized by now that the earlier predictions of the storm holding off for a few days was wrong. The updated report I just heard says it wil be here tonight. What’s outside now is bad, but nowhere near as bad as it will get later. The weather survey is talking about -20 degree temperatures and wind gusts of up to 45 miles per hour. Even a quick jog down the street can become deadly in these conditions. Visibility is expected to decrease to near zero and the wind will push the snow up under your fur and drop your internal temperature much quicker. This is our first storm of this year, and it’s going to be a doozey. I want everyone to stay inside, stay warm and if you must go outside make it as quick as possible and let someone else know you are going out so that if you don’t return we can mount a search. I will be here in the old mill all night. If you have any problems come and see me and I will do what I can to ensure that we take care of it. As is common practice, the old mill will be open to those of you who do not have homes to go to. We will take as many as we can fit in here, and that is quite a lot. If you see any dogs on the street on your way home or stumbling around outside, please inform them of this. Strays have only to come in and talk to myself or Astarre so we know who is here. We have accumulated a great many blankets from things the humans have thrown out, you will be warm and safe here.”
Blaize paused.
“Before we adjourn does anyone have any business to add?”
“I do.” Steele said.
“Steele, step forward and be recognized.” Blaize said.
Steele stepped forward. “Blaize, what of Balto?” He asked.
Blaize smiled. “I don’t think we have to worry about my father. Likely he’ll bed down at the Talbourne’s cave.”
Steele shook his head. “No he won’t, I saw him when he left. He was determined to get there and get back. He’s set out already.”
Blaize shook his head. “Even if he has, visibility is down to a few feet at most already and the winds are picking up as the temperature is plummeting. What do you suggest we do about it?”
“…send someone to meet him.” Steele said. “…someone to guide him home.”
Blaize shook his head. “I appreciate your concern Steele, but sending someone out in this weather would only result in two deaths. Balto is smart, he’ll bed down for the night somewhere along the way.”
Steele shook his head.
“…anyone else?” Blaize asked.
The dogs remained silent.
“…very well, this meeting of the town of Nome stands adjourned. Please be careful and return to your homes as quickly, but safely, as possible.”
The dogs started to disperse.
Steele looked around and spotted the dog he was looking for stepping out of the old mill.
Steele looked at Ebbie and Ronnie. “…wait here.” He said.
Then Steele darted through the dogs in the crowd until he caught up with his target on the sidewalk outside.
“…Jenna.” Steele said.
Jenna turned, a cold look in her brown eyes. “…Steele.” She said.
“Jenna, I need you to tell me how to get to the Talbourne.” He said.
Jenna glared at him. “You should know, you’ve been there before as I recall.”
Steele sighed. “Jenna, when… when I went there I was trying to get there without being noticed. I went the long way. I need to know the most direct route, the way Balto will take to get home.”
“You heard Blaize Steele.” Jenna said. “Balto will be fine without you.”
She started to walk away.
Steele darted in front of her. “No he won’t.” Steele said. “You know him better than anyone. You know he set off this evening at the latest, and you also know he won’t stop and bed down. He’ll keep trying to get back here and… he won’t make it, not in this weather.”
Jenna remained silent and glared at him.
Steele stepped toward her. “Let me ask you something Jenna. Do you love him?”
Jenna scoffed. “…of course I do. What kind of question is that?”
Steele looked Jenna straight in her eyes. “…because Balto won’t make it back. He’s going to freeze to death, and you are going to just sit back and let it happen unless you tell me what I need to know.”
Jenna sighed. “How do I know you don’t want to go out there and finish him off yourself.” She said. “…then you could blame it on the weather.”
Steele sighed. “You don’t.” He said. “…but I’m the only chance he’s got.”
Jenna thought about it for a moment, then she looked up at Steele and glared at him harshly. “If he dies… I swear if there’s so much of a claw mark on him… I’ll hunt you down and kill you Steele, again, if it takes the rest of my life to do so.”
Steele nodded. “If I hurt him I’ll come back and put my throat in your jaws myself. …now please Jenna… we’re wasting time.”
Jenna looked toward the edge of town and sighed. “I don’t know why I’m doing this…” She said. “Head East out of town, you’re going to run into some woods, keep going east through the woods until you hit the river, turn north down the river and follow it until the wood clears out, then head west, across the river is the Talbourne cave.”
Steele smiled. “Thank you Jenna.” Steele said.
Jenna just shook her head and turned, running off into the snow.
Ebbie walked up behind Steele, Ronnie close behind. “You’re going after him aren’t you?” She asked.
Steele turned to her and nodded.
“I wish you wouldn’t.” Ebbie said.
She sighed.
“He’s your grandfather Ebbie.” Steele said.
Ebbie looked up at him. “Just come back…” She said.
Steele smiled. “I will.” He said.
Ebbie sighed again.
“Listen to me Ebbie. Tell Blaize after I’ve left, let him know to have a few dogs at the edge of town when I show up. I may miss town altogether. They’ll have to listen for me when I get close. The wind is blowing to the sea, it’ll carry my voice to them.”
Ebbie nodded.
Ronnie stepped up in between them. “Are you going away Mister Steele?”
Steele smiled. “…for just a little bit little one.” He said. “I have to go help someone?”
“…in the storm?” Ronnie asked.
Steele nodded. “he could really get hurt out there.”
Ebbie thought for a moment. “…so you’re going to rescue him like you did me?”
Steele smiled. “Yep…” He said. “…I’m going to try.”
Ronnie smiled. “…be careful Mister Steele.”
Steele smiled back. “I will young one.”
Steele turned and started to walk away.
Suddenly Ebbie looked down at Ronnie and said something, then she darted after Steele.
“…Steele!” She said.
Steele stopped and turned around. “…what is it Ebbie?”
Ebbie stepped forward and kissed him.
Steele started to pull back, but he quickly gave in and kissed her back.
After a moment Ebbie pulled back and smiled at him. “I love you.” She said.
Steele smiled. “I love you too Ebbie.” He said. “So… what does it take to love a stranger?”
Ebbie smiled and sniffled. “You’re not a stranger to me anymore Steele.”
She stepped forward again and nuzzled him, her tears wet on his fur. “…come back to me.” She whispered in his ear.
Steele nuzzled her back. “Don’t worry Ebbie… I will.” Steele whispered back.
Steele stepped backward a few steps and looked at her for a moment. Then he turned and took off, disappearing into the blowing snow.












Chapter 8:

Balto took another step against the howling wind.
The storm had really picked up in the last hour after the sun went down. Now the snow was falling so fast Balto could hardly pick out individual flakes. The temperature had plummeted and the wind kicked up the dry snow and blew it across the frozen landscape.
Balto could barely see the tip of his nose in the swirling white wall.
He shivered.
“I should’ve listened to Aleu.” He thought. “…but it’s too late to go back now. I’d never find the cave in this anyway.”
Balto judged he was around half way back to Nome. Under normal conditions another few hours would have placed him right back at Jenna’s side.
He took another step forward, his head bent low against the strong wind.
At this pace it could take the entire night to reach her.
Balto truthfully didn’t know if he could make it that long.
He’d started shivering uncontrollably an hour ago. The wind was blowing the snow p underneath his thick fur. His body heat had melted the snow and then it had refrozen, covering him in a sheet of ice all over his right side. With the ice beneath his fur, against his skin, Balto’s body temperature had started to plummet. He knew it was only a matter of time before it reached the critically low level that would stop his ability to continue.
He’d thought of bedding down in the snow, but at the rate the snow was falling and freezing it would likely seal him in a tomb of ice within hours after he went to sleep.
Balto fought the urge to stop and continued onward through the storm.
step… by step… by step…

Steele couldn’t believe how bad the storm had gotten. When he’d left Nome visibility was bad, but he could still see twenty or so yards in front of him, now his nose dissapeard in the swirling wall of white that surrounded him.
Steele was trying to take the most direct route to intercept Balto. He’d thought about the speed Balto had likely been traveling and what he had dropped down to now. He had an idea of where the wolf/dog was, but he couldn’t be absolutely sure.
The only thing Steele was sure about was that if he didn’t find Balto soon the wolf/dog would die.
“…and I’m likely to follow him.” Steele thought.
As quickly as the thought occurred he shrugged it off. “I knew the risks when I left Nome.” Steele thought. “…and I came out here anyway. Worrying about the decision now doesn’t matter much.”
Steele continued on and he soon saw the river, almost fell into it.
Steele regained his footing and looked around, but it was a futile gesture.
He couldn’t see anything in the swirling snow.
“..well, this is it.” Steele thought.
He had reached the point he expected to intercept Balto.
Steele looked around again, more out of habit than the hope of actually being able to see anything.
“…where are you Balto?” Steele said aloud.
Steele look up the river, then he took off running.

Balto couldn’t take another step.
He tried, but his paw hovered in the air.
The remaining three of his legs started shaking, then they gave and Balto fell to the snow, causing a great cloud of the dry, frozen flakes to cloud around him before the wind caught them and blew them away.
Balto felt so tired.
All he wanted to do was sleep.
“I can’t… go on.” Balto said aloud.
Balto thought about what Aleu had said. “I’m so sorry Aleu.” He thought. “I should have listened to you.” Then his thoughts shifted back to Nome.
“I’ve got to make it back.” Balto thought. “Jenna is in Nome and Steele has been given the run of the city.”
Balto stood shakily to his paws.
“I’ve got to continue on…” He thought.
Balto took a few steps. “I can do this… I can do this…” Balto thought.
He looked down at his paws and just focused on one step at a time. The wind had shifted and now it was blowing full on into his face. The wind was reaching thirty to forty miles an hour in great gusts that made Balto feel as if he were dragging an entire sled by himself.
He picked up his left fore-paw.
“One paw...” Balto said.
He set it down and picked up the back one on the other side.
“Two paw….”
He sat it down and picked up the next.
On and on, one step at a time Balto fought against the wind.
“I’m coming Jen…” He thought to himself. “I’m coming…”
With each step he grew slower and slower, until finally it was taking all of his effort to remain standing.
Balto felt his legs start to wobble and fold up under him.
“I can’t fall!” Balto yelled in his mind. “I have to keep going!”
Balto couldn’t stand any longer and he slowly began to fall down. First his left fore-leg crumpled under him and dropped him on his face in the snow. Balto tried to force his foreleg under him and to push him up, but he couldn’t do it. He pushed as hard as he could against the snow, but barely even managed to get his nose out of the snow.
Finally as Balto stopped pushing with his forelegs and slumped to the snow his rear legs gave out as well and Balto fell on his side in the snow.
“…I’m sorry Jen.” Balto thought. “I… I tried but…”
Balto curled in a ball against the wind and pulled his paws up over his face, trying to shield himself from the wind as best he could; trying to survive the night, though he knew the chances of that were slim to none.
“…but…. I can’t move anymore.” Balto thought.
Balto felt his eyelids drooping heavier, as if he were totally exhausted from a long run. Balto hadn’t felt this tired since the serum run some seventeen years ago.
“I can’t go to sleep!” Balto screamed in his mind.
…but his body no longer obeyed him.
Slowly Balto watched his vision dim, unable to control even the smallest movement of his body, as if he were only an observer, watching it all from inside.
As Balto’s vision dimmed and then shut out altogether; he managed one last cohesive plea.
“Aniu… mother… help me… please…” Balto said softly, then his head fell to the snow and he moved no longer.
The only thing that answered Balto’s plea was the wind rushing past his deaf ears.

Steele could hear nothing but the howling wind in his ears. He had tried to call out to Balto, in hopes that the wolf/dog would hear him, but the wind stole his voice and blew it away before Steele had a chance to hear it.
Steele continued walking forward, unsure if he was even following the river anymore.
“All I can do is keep walking…” Steele thought.
He had his head tucked low, letting the top of his head take the brunt of the wind and snow.
“I’ve got to find him soon.” Steele thought “He doesn’t have much longer out here…”
Steele sighed. “…and neither do I.” He said aloud.
Steele looked up at the sky. He could see nothing by white. “Aniu, I know you didn’t send me back to this Earth to die now.” He said. “Help me. I came out here by your direction, followed your pull. I need your help to find Balto.” He said. “Your son needs help… I need help, please, guide me.”
Steele heard a howl in front of him and jumped. “…a wolf!” he thought.
The snow in front of him parted and a white wolf stood before him. “…Aniu?” Steele asked.
The wolf did not respond, but took off running through the snow.
Steele gave chase, following so close that the wolf’s tail was almost brushing his nose, suddenly the wolf vanished, just… disappeared. One moment it was there, then the next it fractured and exploded into millions of fluttering white specs that joined the snow and fell to the ground.
Steele stopped in the snow. “Aniu, where did you go!” He called. Steele turned around in a circle, but could not see the white wolf anywhere. “I need you Aniu, come back!”
Steele took a step forward…
…and sprawled out on his face.
He got up and shook the snow off his fur and then turned to look at what he had tripped over.
“…Balto!” Steele yelled.
The wolf/dog was in bad shape.
A snow drift had formed around his fallen form.
…was he even alive?
Steele walked closer. He had to yell to be heard over the wind. “Balto!” Steele yelled. “Balto wake up!”
Steele started slapping the wolf/dog with his paw, careful not to scratch him.
“Oh Aniu…” Steele thought. “…was I too late?”
Steele looked over the wolf/dog and sighed.
The right side of Balto’s body was like one solid sheet of ice. He doubted if the wolf/dog could have stood even if were…
“…even if he were alive.” Steele thought.
With that realization Steele was overcome with sadness; sadness that the world had lost such a one as Balto, sadness that he had never taken the chance to get to know him, and sadness that Balto had exited this life with an absolutely negative opinion of him. He’d wanted desperately to actually get to know Balto, to understand how the wolf/dog thought, who he was, and what made him what he was. Steele felt that he could learn much from the wolf/dog if he got the chance.
“…now I never will.” Steele thought.
He sighed and turned around to start the long trek back home to Nome. A journey he wasn’t sure if he could make or not.”
He closed his eyes as the magnitude of what he’d just seen washed over him and a tear came to his eye. Part of Steele couldn’t believe that the death of the wolf/dog who had been his absolute enemy for over ten years had affected as it had. After all, he’d never even truly gotten to know Balto.
“…that’s just it…” Steele thought. He sighed again and wiped the tear away with his paw before it could freeze to ice on his face. “…goodbye Balto.” Steele thought.
He took a few more steps into the storm.
“ah-rwhoooooooo!”
Steele stopped and turned.
There the white wolf was again, crouched over Balto. Her eyes were closed. As Steele watched the light blue wings extending from her back came into focus. They were bent around Balto’s fallen form. The snow and ice bounced off of them and blew over the top of the wolf.
Steele sighed. “It’s too late!” He called against the wind.
Aniu shook her head and tucked it close to her son’s neck, wrapping him in her body.
“Aniu, there’s nothing I can do!” Steele called.
Aniu lefted her head and suddenly opened her eyes.
They were deepest flashing gold that Steele had ever seen. His eyes locked on hers and he shrunk back at the intensity of the connection.
Aniu looked at him and tossed her head toward her right shoulder. Then she bent it low and nuzzled her son softly.
Steele walked up to Balto, unable to deny Aniu any longer.
“What do I do?” Steele asked.
Aniu knelt her head low and nudged her sons nose, then she looked at Steele.
As their eyes locked Aniu instantly communicated everything Steele needed.
Aniu looked away and closed her eyes once more.
“All right Aniu!” Steele yelled over the wind. “I’ll… I’ll give it a shot!”
Stelee knelt beside the wolf/dog and waited for a second, looking at him and then leaned forward and licked Balto’s nose. Steele pulled back and looked at the shimmering form of Aniu being held together by millions of snow flakes as they stuck her form and whirled out of the way. They were only a few inches apart now.
Aniu nodded.
Steele looked back down and licked Balto’s nose again, and again, then he tapped the wolf/dog on the cheek and kept at it, screaming over the wind all the while.
“…come on Balto! Wake up!” Steele called. “…come on Balto! Wake up, we’re going home!”
Finally after a few minutes Balto coughed and opened his eyes.
“Balto!” Steele yelled. “You’re alive!”
Balto coughed again and squinted through the snow. “…Steele?” He said. Then his eyes narrowed and he stood shakily. “What are you doing here?” He asked.
“I came to save you!” Steele said. “I can lead you back home!”
I don’t need your help!” Balto yelled back.
“That’s Bull-shit Balto!” Steele called back. “You were about to die just now!”
“I was resting fine until you came along!” Balto yelled back.
“Balto, we’re standing out here in this howling wind arguing like a bunch of pups!” Steele retorted. “…just… just shut up and let me help you!”
Balto took a step back as if those last few words had been a physical object that had struck him. His muzzle dropped open a bit and instantly his entire life rewound in quick-time. Balto saw Aleu get hit by the car. He saw Aniu die. He saw Jenna leave him after the events with Angel. He saw the births of his children. He saw Aleu running off across the ice bridge with her clan. He saw he and Jenna the night he had returned from the serum run. …and then he saw…
Himself…

Balto stumbled out of the wall of snow in front of him, and saw an overturned sled. He ran toward it, and gradually, he could make out the rest of the team.
Star was the first to see him.
“Balto?”
Then Nikki. “Is that... Balto?”
“Balto? How did you find us?” Kaltag asked.
“Is anyone hurt?” Balto asked, looking around for Steele. His harness lay in snow at the head of the team.
“Everyone. . .is. . .fine.” Steele said, irritated.
“Yeah,” Star said, “but our musher hit his head. . .and he didn't get up.”
He nudged the musher, but there was no response.
“And he's not moving.” Kaltag added.
“All right, follow me.” Balto said. “I can lead you home.”
Balto headed for the sled, but Steele slammed his paw down, blocking him.
“We don't need, your help.”
Star had other thoughts.
“Maybe we should listen to him.
Steele growled at him.
Nikki was still a little more skeptical that the wolfdog would be able to help them.
“Well, how would you get us home?”
Balto smiled.
“Well I... I marked the trail.
Like this. He scratched a nearby tree trunk.
“Oh. . .yeah!” Star said, as he understood.
Steele wasn’t impressed
“I'll get us back. I'm the lead dog. I'm in charge.”
Balto moved toward the sled again.
“Then let me take back the medicine. They're getting sicker.
“If you want to freeze to death out here, that’s fine with me,” Balto thought. “I don’t really like you anyway.”
Steele stopped him, growling again.
“Touch that box... and I'll tear you apart!”
Nikki leaned over to Kaltag.
“Two bones says Steele takes him!”
“You're on!” Kaltag said.
The dogs formed a circle around Steele and Balto, ready to watch the fight that was sure to ensue shortly.
Balto was determined.
“Steele, I'm not leaving without that medicine.”
Steele knocked Balto to the ground.
“Who do you think you are?!”
Nikki leaned back over to Kaltag.
“Hey. . .this is gonna be good!”
Kaltag didn’t share his friend’s opinion of the situation.
Balto stood back up.
“Since..”
He paused to catch his breath.
“..Since when do you need a pedigree to help someone?”
Balto tried for the sled again, but Steele once again stepped in the way.
“Steele. . .let me help you.” Balto pleaded.”

The replay stopped and suddenly Balto was standing in front of Steele again, the wind blowing through his fur and threatening to knock him off his paws again. He looked at Steele for a moment.
“He came out all this way. …risked his own death… to save me…” Balto thought.
He hung his head, ashamed of the way he’d been thinking before.
“I won’t become like Steele was…” Balto thought.
He looked back up at Steele and nodded. “Alright Steele.” Balto said.
Steele turned. “…this way!” He called, then he started back the way he’d come.
Balto took one stop and fell down in the snow.
“Steele!” He called.
Steele stopped and walked over to him. “What’s wrong Balto!” Steele yelled.
“I can’t make it on my own!” Balto yelled.
Steele nodded. “Alright, I’ll carry you!”
“…you sure you can make it like that?!” Balto asked.
Steele nodded. Then he crouched down.
Balto rose to his paws and managed to get on Steele’s back.
Steele stood up.
“Steele!” Balto yelled. “I think we need to talk!”
Steele shook his head. “Not now Balto, when we get home!”
Balto sighed. “…but what if we don’t make it?!”
Steele smiled at him. “We’re going to make it!” He said.
He turned his vison back the front and sighed.
“….we have to make it…”

Steele struggled on through the storm.
Every step was a battle against the fierce wind. He didn’t know how long he could keep walking.
The trip to get to Balto had been hard enough, now he carried the wolf/dog on his back.
“I have to keep going…” Steele thought.
He remembered when he’d returned to Nome during the serum run. Steele had claimed to have pulled the sled all alone, four dogs on the sled and three on his back.
“…what a load of bull that was.” Steele thought.
Carrying just one dog through a storm like this was proving to be far more difficult than Steele thought it would be. There was no way he could’ve carried two more, plus pulled the sled.
As if carrying the wolf/dog wasn’t bad enough Steele was afraid he was lost.
He kept looking for a cave or something that he and Balto could spend the night in, but cover was scarce since they’d left the forest.
On the plains outside Nome he’d gotten turned around somewhere. Hell, he could’ve missed the edge of Nome by inches and he’d never have known it in this storm.
He stopped walking and looked over his shoulder.
Balto had passed out again.
“…that’s not good.” Steele thought. “I need to get him home… and soon or he’s not going to make it.”
Steele looked upward into the swirling whiteness around him.
“Aniu, I need your help one more time.” He said. “Please, show me the way…”
Steele waited for a moment.
The snow suddenly started to deflect around a presence above him.
Steele smiled. “…Aniu?” He asked.
Great blue wings spread out as the swirling snow coalesced into the form of the white wolf. She looked down on Steele, then shot off to the left.
Steele started running as fast as he could, following the corporeal form through the storm.
“Thank you Aniu!” He called.
“….thank you…”




























Chapter 9:

Blaize sighed.
He couldn’t believe Steele had ignored him again.
Jenna had come to him and told him what Steele had done.
Blaize cursed aloud and squinted out at the snow. “There’s no way he’ll make it back in this.” Blaize thought.
He paced back and forth inside a shed at the edge of town.
Jenna had told him to send someone out here to listen for Steele’s voice, but Blaize couldn’t just send someone out to wait in a storm like this. This was the worst storm Blaize had seen his entire life. Indeed, Alaska hadn’t had a storm like this one since the serum run in ’25.
Blaize sighed.
“…where are you Steele?” He said aloud.

Steele was still following the apparition of Aniu through the storm.
He’d had a rebirth of energy at the sight of the great white wolf and he was sprinting full tilt through the storm now, but he couldn’t keep this up forever.
Suddenly Aniu shot forward and exploded into snowflakes. The glowing blue trail left by her wings caught up with the explosion and joined it, turning into a great sparkling ball before Steele’s eyes.
“Aniu, where are you going?!” Steele yelled over the storm.
He didn’t stop, but ran past the place that Aniu had stopped at. “I must be getting close.” Steele thought. He started to bark, yipping and yapping for all he was worth. “I hope Jenna talked to Blaize…” Steele thought.

Blaize sighed and peered out at the snow for what felt like the millionth time that night. He’d been standing out here for hours. Though the shed sheltered him from most of the wind, the temperature was still bone chilling cold.
“…he’s not coming back.” Blaize thought.
He sighed again and started to walk out of the shed.
Then he stopped.
“…what was that?” Blaize thought.
His ears perked up.
…then he heard it again, barking, carried by the wind.
“…Steele.” Blaize thought.
He started barking back and the barking returned, louder now.
Blaize ran out of the shed and into the wind…
…and promptly rolled three times in the snow as the wind caught him full force in the shoulder. “…how the hell has Steele managed to run in this?” Blaize thought.
He got up and shook himself off, steadied himself a bit and then took off running again, careful this time not to underestimate the wind, barking for all he was worth.

Steel still ran on, surprised he hadn’t yet run into Nome yet.
“…this is the way Aniu was leading me.” He thought. “…I’ve just got to keep going. We’ve got to be close.”
Steele heard something then and listened closer.
There it was again.
…barking.
Steele barked again and suddenly Blaize appeared in front of him, bursting through the wall of white and rounding quickly to run beside Steele.
Blaize saw his father on Steele’s back.
“…dad!” Blaize yelled.
“…no good!” Steele yelled back. “He’s passed out. We need to get him warm, and soon!”
Blaize nodded. “Follow me!” He yelled. “I’ll take you to the boiler room!”
Steele nodded and Blaize ran harder, fighting the wind and pulling ahead as Steele dropped back a little, letting the smaller dog lead.
Suddenly Blaize darted to the left and jumped into a wooden door, knocking it open.
Steele turned and ran into it as Blaize shut the door.
“I hadn’t even realized we were running down the street…” Steele thought. There was no way he’d have known where to go, even to find the town in the first place. He tilted his head upward. “…thank you Aniu.” He thought.
“Steele!” Blaize yelled. “Over here!”
Steele looked back down at Blaize and padded over to the boiler. Then he crouched down and let Balto slide off his back to the floor.
Balto started to stir, then opened his eyes, shivering so much he could barely talk.
“…where…. where am… I?” Balto asked.
Blaize smiled. “…the boiler room dad.” He said. “You need to warm up and rest.”
Balto nodded and scooted closer to the hot boiler.
Then he quickly turned his head. “…Steele!” He said. “…we… we made it.”
Steele smiled and nodded. “…thanks to your mother we did.” He said.
Balto smiled, then sighed. “…Steele I…. I’m sorry.” He said. “I….”
Balto fell silent.
“…thank you.” He said finally. “I… I would’ve been lost without you.”
Steele smiled. “Well… you came out in a storm like that to save me… though I was less than grateful.” He said. “…still, one good turn deserves another.”
Balto shook his head. “…why…. why did you…. did you do it?” He said, still shivering.
Steele smiled. “…Aniu placed it on my heart that you were in trouble. How could I not answer her call.”
Balto nodded. “Well ….thank you. I… I was… was an… idiot.” Balto said.
Steele shook his head. “…all is forgiven Balto, think nothing of it.”
Balto nodded again.
“I would like to get to know you better Balto. I feel…” Steele sighed. “I feel I missed out on that opportunity before, and you truly are a great dog. I feel I could learn a lot from you.”
Balto smiled. “I’d… I’d like that… Steele.” He said.
Steele smiled again. “For now though, warm up and rest. You’re going to need it.”
Balto nodded and shuffled closer to the boiler.
“I’ll get Jenna.” Blaize said. She’s at the Old Mill, she’ll want to know you’re safe.”
With that Blaize pushed open the door and took off, back out into the storm.

Steele was sitting talking to Balto when the door to the boiler room banged back on it’s hinges.
Steele jumped and looked at the doorway…
…just in time for a red and white dog to crash into him, nearly throwing him to the floor.
Ebbie drover her muzzle up under Steele’s and nuzzled him fiercely.
She stepped back after a moment and Steele could see the concern in her eyes. “Don’t you ever do something like that to me again.” Ebbie said. “…I was worried about you.”
Steele smiled. “You shouldn’t have been.” He said. “Aniu was watching over both of us. She protected your father and led me back home.
Ebbie nodded. “…still…”
Steele nodded. “I’ll try Ebbie.”
Ebbie smiled and stepped forward to kiss him lightly.
Steele leaned into her and kissed her back.
After a moment the kiss ended and the two pulled back from one another.
“….I was worried.” Ebbie said.
Steele nodded. “I know.” He said.
Steele stepped forward and put his paw on her cheek. “…but it’s okay now. I’m home.”
Ebbie smiled.
The door to the boiler room banged against the wall again and this time both Ebbie and Steele jumped.
Jenna sprinted into the room and right by Ebbie and Steele. “…Balto?” She asked.
Balto looked up. “Hey… Jen…” he said.
“Balto!” She cried and bent over to kiss him.
Balto smiled and Jenna crouched over him and then laid on top of him, pulling him tightly to her.
Steele chuckled. “Maybe we should leave those two alone.” He said.
Ebbie laughed too. “Yeah, I think that’s a good idea.”
She grinned and bumped her shoulder against Steele’s. “Come on Steele.” She said. “Ronnie is waiting for you at the house. It’s not far, and I can get us there, just stay close.”
“…you think I can’t keep up with you?” Steele asked.
Ebbie giggled. “Let’s see.” She said.
Then she turned and sprinted through the door.
Steele smiled and then gave chase, running outside into the blowing snow.
Jenna kept nuzzling Balto, licking his face to speed the melting of the ice and doing everything she could to warm him up faster.
As the door to the boiler room swung shut a great blast of wind blew in a few hundred snowflakes. They swirled around the room and settled in the corner, coming together to form a small wolf that looked out over the boiler room.
Aniu looked at Balto and Jenna and smiled, then the wolf fell apart and the snowflakes fell to the floor where they soon melted.

Blaize once again stood behind the curtain in front of the stage in the old mill.
He peered out at the floor of the mill and saw that nearly every dog in Nome had gathered there.
Blaize turned his head to look behind him. “…ready?” He asked.
Steele looked at Ebbie and Ronnie and smiled. “…yeah, think I am.” He said.
Blaize nodded. “I’ll call for you.” He said. Then he stepped out onto the stage.
Instantly the dogs fell silent.
“Dogs of Nome…” Blaize said. “Today we are here to discuss a very serious topic. “I ask you to give it your utmost attention and thought.”
Blaize paused and looked behind him. “…Steele, please come out here.”
Steele walked out from behind the red curtain and stood beside Blaize, followed by Ebbie and Ronnie.
Blaize turned back to the crowded floor.
“As you all know, a few days ago Steele returned to our town. He brought with him a truly intriguing story. He said he had been killed by my mother, as we all had heard, but that Aniu had recently restored him and given him a second chance. He also said that my sister Aleu, who you all know was struck by a car and killed a few weeks ago, had been restored to life by her as well. We sent Balto as an emissary to the Talbourne to ascertain the validity of this statement.”
Blaize paused and looked to his father. “Balto, what did you find?”
Balto smiled and stepped forward out of the front rank of dogs. “I’m very pleased to report that my daughter Aleu is indeed alive and well, serving the Talbourne and Aniu once more.”
“You talked to her?” Blaize asked.
Balto nodded. “I did, it was her.”
Blaize nodded. “Thank you Balto.” Then he turned to face the dogs on the floor again. “Dogs of Nome, several have reported that Steele had helped them.” Blaize turned back toward the curtain. “Jayce, why don’t you come out here and tell us your story.” He said.
A black furred female Chinook stepped out from behind the curtain and walked up to sit on the other side of Blaize. “I lost my son Jonathon.” She said. “He got out of the house and took off. I was looking for him and Steele was across the street, talking to Ebbie. He tried to assist me in finding my son, then I saw him up the street, and a car was coming fast…” Jayce hung her head a tear rolled out of her eye. “I thought my son was going to die. He wasn’t going to move, he was scared. He’s… he’s just a little guy…”
She paused.
“…Steele took off running, neck and neck with the car as it sped toward my son, who still wouldn’t move. At the last moment Steele sprung in front of the car and I was just sure both of them would be hit… but he grabbed my son and rolled. The car barely missed both of them. Steele saved my son’s life.”
She turned to Steele as tears rolled down her cheeks. “…thank you Steele, thank you so much.”
Steele smiled and nodded at her. “…you’re welcome Jayce.”
Blaize nodded. “Thank you Jayce.” He looked back at the floor. “…another that Steele assisted was the young stray Ronnie.” Blaize turned to her. “…sweetie, you want to tell everyone what happened?”
The young dog gulped and nodded, then padded over beside Jayce and sat down.”
“…go ahead then.” Blaize said. “…you have the floor Ronnie.”
The young malamute nodded. “As you all know, I’m a stray, lived on the streets of Nome my entire life, never had a family… or someone to take care of me. Whenever I get a chance to go and play with friends I love to do so. The other day I went out to play hide and seek with a few other pups and I decided to hide in the Outskirts so they wouldn’t find me. It was a stupid thing to do… but I wasn’t thinking…”
She paused.
“…anyway, as I was hiding these six dogs found me, big dogs. They came after me and I jumped through a window, but I injured myself, once on the window and then twisted my paw when I hit the ground. The dogs caught up to me easily and… and they were about to do some… horrible things to me. I could hear them talking…”
Tears came to the young dogs eyes and she stopped for a moment, then looked back up.
“I thought I was gunna die. …but then mister Steele showed up, he talked with them for a few minutes and then told them to leave me alone. When they laughed at him mister Steele held his ground and they attacked. He fought off all six of them and could have killed their leader, but he didn’t.”
The dogs all gasped.
Ronnie nodded. “He… he let him go, as long as he would run away and never be seen here again. His friends followed. I thought mister Steele was dead, because he just fell over in the snow then, but he was just hurt. Even though he was hurt, mister Steele let me get on his back and carried me back here. Then you all took me to doc’s. While I was there Steele was brought in too. He comforted me made me feel safe, and said he’d be there when I woke up.” She smiled. “…and he was. Not only that, but I’m not a stray anymore. Mister Steele said I could come live with him and Ebbie. …that he would try to take care of me.”
Ronnie giggled. “I’ve never been so happy.” She said. “I know you all think mister Steele is a bad dog, but you’re wrong.” Ronnie her head and looked at Steele. “He’s the nicest dog I’ve ever met. …and if you all don’t let him stay here I’m going with him.”
Ebbie nodded and looked at him. “…me too.” She said with a smile.
Steele smiled at both of them.
Blaize nodded. “Thank you Ebbie.” He said.
Now, before we call this to a vote there is one other dog we haven’t heard from. He turned to his father. “…Balto, would you please come up here?”
The dogs all gasped and murmured to themselves as Balto stepped out of the crowd of dogs and onto the stage.
Blaize nodded. “Thank you Balto, you have the floor.”
Balto nodded back. “Thank you son.” He said. Then he turned to the dogs gathered below. “Dogs of Nome. You all know me, and… and you seem to follow me. I must be honest and tell you I was not happy when Steele returned, as I’m sure none of you were… however, last night he saved my life.”
The dogs all gasped.
Balto nodded. “I know, it’s still hard for me grasp too. Steele went out in that storm and walked halfway to the Talbourne, found me and carried me back here to Nome. Without his help I would not be standing here right now.”
Balto turned to Steele. “Thank you Steele.” He said.
Steele nodded at Balto.
Blaize nodded at his father. “Alright, if that’s all, lets have our vote. You have all heard of the example Steele has set for himself and his actions. All those in favor of granting Steele his second chance, please raise your right fore-paw.”
Ebbie and Ronnie’s paw rose and Blaize and Balto’s soon followed.
Jenna gasped and frowned at Balto.
Balto sighed. “…sorry Jen…” He said to himself.
One by one other paws started to rise until every paw in the old mill was in the air, every paw except Jenna’s. She turned and looked around her, at all the dogs and their paws in the air, then she turned and walked quickly out of the mill.
Balto sighed again.
Blaize hadn’t noticed his mother’s exit. He smiled and turned to Steele.
“…looks like you’re staying.” He said. “Steele, by the power given to me by these dogs of Nome I hereby grant you all rights and privileges, and do confer upon you the title of citizen of Nome. Welcome home.”
The dogs all cheered.
Steele smiled and looked around him.
He was at a loss.
“…how did this happen…” He thought. “…how did everyone change their minds about me?”
Steele looked around at all of the paws in the air and his vision grew blurry as tears started to fill his eyes. He smiled. “…thank you… thank you all …very much.”
Blaize nodded and dropped his paw. The other dogs dropped theirs as well.
Blaize turned to the dogs. “If no one has further business to discuss then this meeting is adjourned, please be safe returning to your homes.”
The dogs started to talk and soon the mill was filled with chatter.
Blaize turned to Steele. “Well Steele, welcome to Nome.” He said.
Steele nodded. “I’m going to make the most of this chance.” He said.
Blaize nodded and smiled. “I know you will.” He said. Then he walked off the stage to join Astarre in the crowd.
Steele turned to Ebbie and smiled. “…looks like I get to stay.” He said.
Ebbie nodded and smiled. “My master was wondering where you were last night, seems he wants you to stay too. …and he took to Ronnie right away.” Ebbie rubbed her paw on the top of the young malmute’s head.
Ronnie nodded. “He says he wants me to run with his team!” She said.
Steele smiled. “…that’s great.” He said.
Ebbie smiled. “I was hoping you’d stay… not only with my Master, but with me.” She stpped up closer to him and laid her head on his shoulder. “…as… my mate.” She said.
Steele gasped and stepped back, staring at her with wide eyes. “I… I… well… that’s… surprising.” He said. “…it’s so soon…”
He paused.
“…are you sure Ebbie?” He asked.
Ebbie nodded.
“How can you be, a few days ago I was stranger you didn’t even know.”
Ebbie smiled. “…sometimes you learn to love a stranger.” She said. “…and sometimes you learn you can't live without him." She grinned and nuzzled him. "...and some things you just know in your heart.”
Steele smiled. “Ebbie…” his eyes filled with tears as he looked from her face to Ronnie’s and a wide grin split his muzzle. “I… I would be honored.” He said.
Ebbie smiled and kissed him.
Ronnie giggled. “Yay! I have a family hehehe”
Steele chuckled and rubbed her head with his paw. “Yeah… yeah I guess you do.” He said.
Ebbie nuzzled him. “We should get home.” She said. “Mark is wanting to see the team. He’s talking about running some big race, the first of it’s kind… and the longest ever.”
Steele smiled. “…sounds like fun.”
Ebbie nodded. “…as long as I’m with you.”
Steele smiled and nuzzled her. “I love you Ebbie.” He said.
Ebbie smiled. “I love you too.” She said.
Then she stepped back. “…come on Steele, let’s go home…”

Balto caught up with Jenna outside the old mill.
“…Jen…”
“How could you Balto?” Jenna asked. “…what the hell is the matter with you? Don’t you remember what he was like?”
Balto nodded. “…last night I saw a different Steele Jen…” Balto said. “It wasn’t easy for me… but… even he deserves a chance to prove himself. I think he’s proven that he can at least be trusted not to hurt anyone.”
Jenna shook her head. “Balto, what if he was doing all of those things to trick us? …so he could come after you and I later?”
“Why would he have saved me then Jen?” He asked.
“…to put you off your guard, like he’s obviously done.” Jenna said. “…Balto… come with me, I think we need to talk, I think you’ve forgotten the past.”
Balto sighed. “Alright Jen.” He said.
Balto followed Jenna as she turned and sprinted toward the edge of town.

Dema was running hard.
She’d had to stop because of the storm, but she was back on the trail again now.
The taste of Jason’s blood was still sweet in her mouth.
She grinned.
“I’m coming Balto…” She said. “You don’t know who I am, but I am coming and when I get to Nome I will take everything that is dear to you. Long live my father…” She thought.
She cackled.
“…long live Shade!”

THE END

[Well *whew* that's it hehe hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it.
Next up I'm resurrecting my long dead project "Two Hearts Racing".
Hope to start it in the next few days, so I'll keep you all posted.

I want to say thank you again to all of you who have supported me throughout the years and continue to do so. You have no idea how much you all mean to me!

As always I am looking forward to your comments about the story, if you read it, please post something, your comments help shape future stories ^^]

- RTW

Yes FINALLY!!! That aside I'll try and have a review up soon but what I did see as I skimmed through this was top notch work as always. I will read it more through and through tonight. look for a review possibly tomorrow afternoon. Thanks for all the work you put in man, its all really appreciated!!

...Wow, RTW.

I am impressed by how good this is! It's a simple tale that has situations that can make you angry, make you sad, make you understand why others are so quick to judge one another... and you did it well with a character who I never thought could be so different than what canon made them out to be.

I wish it were a little easier to read though, and there were some punctuation issues, but it didn't take away the general feel of the story. If you ever need a beta reader or a proofreader, I can volunteer my services~

Please keep it up! I can't wait to see what you have up next!

- Juuchan17

I pretty much have to say I completely agree with Juuchan's post. sums up my thoughts on this fic completely. Also you could contact me for proofreading too! haha.

Again yet another 10/10 fic from the boss from another universe at this stuff. XD

Forgot to post a comment; I just sent you a Skype message. lol

Anyway, yes, this is definitely a great fanfic of yours. I'd like to say it's a new favorite, but it's so HARD to say that when you have so many other great stories. Let's just say it's reminded me of why you're one of my favorite authors. Great story, I look forward to seeing the continuation!

This was incredible! Other than a couple of grammatical errors and misspellings it was near perfect. You should post it upon the main site!

I love the way Steele turned out in this one. He is my favorite character and I always wanted him to redeem himself (I wrote a story to that end as well (http://www.animationsource.org/balto/en/view_fanfic/The_Golden_Collar/176241.html and it is also on my dA site complete with illustrations http://www.shadowdhusky.deviantart.com/#/d4n1ef3 ).

There were several references to previous stories that I have not read yet. Which ones are are mandatory reading for supporting the back-story to this one?

Nicely done Rotramel, I love how you made steel change though it might seemed impossible to because of the things he had done;you showed in your story that everyone deserves a second chance even in real life.

I'm gonna be waiting for your next story, I sure hope it doesn't take an entire year.