Saba accidentally bumped into an old tin can. Suddenly, one by one, the dogs’ eyes popped open, and snarling rose in their throats as the kept their eyes locked on Saba. Then they lunged at her, but she got away just in time. She was sprinting down the street yelling , “HELP, HELP!!” She looked back and saw the three big street dogs getting a little bit closer. Saba tried to remember what Nao taught her. But it was no help because in dog sledding, you have to pace yourself to match the other dogs. In this type of situation, you just have to run as fast as you can and hope you live!

She kept screaming for someone to help her. And finally, she didn’t hear any footsteps behind her. Saba dared to look back and saw a dog fighting the three big things all by himself. Saba stared even more closely.

“NAO!” She screamed. Nao was the one fighting the three street dogs.

“Nao, please don’t do this to yourself!” Nao ignored her and kept on fighting. Saba knew he couldn’t win this battle, and went to find help. But sure enough, three shrieking whines were heard as they got further and further away. Saba turned back around and saw Nao collapsed on the ground, still breathing. Saba was relieved, but still very nervous.

“Nao?” She asked when she was close enough to see his face. “Are you okay?”

Nao coughed twice and opened his eyes.

“Yeah. I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine. You’re bleeding.”

Nao looked at his legs and they were cut all over the place. He touched his paw to his cheek. Blood. His back wasn’t looking so good either.

“Well, I FEEL fine.”

“Nao I’m taking you to the vet.”

“You’re overreac-okay.”

Nao leaned on Saba’s shoulder as they walked to the vet’s office. When they got there the vet looked out the window and gasped. Then he took Nao inside. Saba was allowed to come in also.

For about an hour, Nao had to get stitches in some places, but the vet said he was going to be fine. When his owner showed up after hearing a lot of things from his neighbors, he took Nao home carefully. He said goodbye to Saba as they left, but very faintly.

Saba felt so guilty about this. None of this would’ve happened if she never gone into that alley in the first place. Saba decided she was going to apologize to him as soon as possible.

That night. Jess and Kila came over to ask Saba about the street dogs thing. She told them the story and she grieved in the end.

“It’s all my fault! Now he’s going to hate me!”

“Well, judging by the way you told the story, I don’t think he’ll be mad at you. He’s not that kind of dog.” Jess told her.

“Yeah Saba. Soon you and him will forget all about it. Trust us.” Kila said.

“…Maybe…but I still feel bad for him. He’ll miss practice tomorrow.”

“I thought you wanted that to happen.”

“What? No I don’t, Kila!”

“I thought you thought differently about him after he found out your little secret.”

“Maybe I did. But it doesn’t matter now. He won’t be able to talk to me for a while.”

“That maybe true, but you can sneak in his house to see him!” Jess told Saba.

“Sneak in?! Are you insa-I’ll do it. But how?”

“Ugh! Do I have to tell you everything?!” Jess lifted up her paw to reveal her wolf-like claws. “Keys to the city.”

“But I never use these things.” Saba looked at her claws. “I’m in complete denial of my wolf side, remember?”

“Saba, you CAN’T deny it. You are what you are. You know what your dad had to go through.”

“I KNOW!”

Jess and Kila froze in shock.

“I’m sorry. I’m just tired of hearing my dad’s story.”

“We weren’t going to tell the whole thing, you know.” Kila said.

“*Sigh* I know. It’s just whenever I hear my dad’s name or anything referring to him, I go crazy! And I don’t know why?”

“Well like you said. You’re tired of hearing about him.”

“No, there has to be more than that. I’m just not sure what it is yet.”

“Do you hate your dad?” Jess asked.

“No. I don’t hate him, at least, I don’t think…Do I?”

“Do you WANT to hate him?”

“No.”

“Then you don’t.”

“Okay, we’re off topic! I’ll go see Nao if that’s what it takes okay?”

“That’s my Saba!”

The next morning, Saba went to practice. The talk with Nao last night went well. Nao wasn’t mad at her at all, but she still felt guilty. Nao said we was going to be at practice, but wasn’t going to run at all. That was good. Saba liked seeing him.

When Saba arrived, the dogs that were already there kept asking, “Is your dad here? Did he come with you? Where is he?”

Nao wasn’t here yet.

Saba told the dogs that Balto may or may not come. She didn’t know. After that the dogs left her alone.

Luke arrived with Jess and Kila. That was weird. But Jess caught my eye, came to me and explained to me what happened.

“It’s official. Luke and I are dating!”

“And I’m only here because she is.” Kila pointed to her owner who she was leashed to. They all talked for a few minutes, but Kila had to go home. Jess said goodbye to Luke. She was going to take it slow, too. But she couldn’t handle it so she kissed him on the cheek and left.

After that little incident, Nao arrived, but sat down. Luke already knew what happened to him, so he didn’t make him do anything he didn’t want to.

Practice went by without a single word from Balto. He lived just a quarter of a mile away. Saba thought maybe she was a bit hard on him and now he didn’t want to come to the practices. But then again, Saba was a bit relieved. No one said anything about Balto, not even Nao. So there was no embarrassment or anger involved. Saba actually seemed to like practice.

At the end of practice. Luke announced that our first real run is in a few weeks, and he wanted everyone to try their hardest. Saba listened hard. She wanted to be the best sled dog ever. Just like her…dad.

Saba then quickly took off for her father’s boat. She needed to talk with him.

Saba barked three times before Balto appeared, looking very sleepy.

“Saba? Aren’t you having practice?” he asked drowsily.

“It just ended. And I noticed to didn’t show up.”

“Was it better for you that way?” Balto wasn’t being sarcastic, just asking a question.

“Well, everyone asked me where you were at the beginning, and I said you may or may not come. They looked disappointed and left me alone for the whole practice. I never had anyone just leave me alone.”

“So I guess that means it wasn’t better?” Balto asked. He knew how much Saba loved attention.

“I was like I didn’t even exist. I haven’t had that feeling in a long time…” Then Saba realized something. “Wait a minute…I know why they ignored me. It’s because of you!”

“Well, those guys are true Balto fans.”

“Yeah I know! And I bet the only reason I’m popular in the first place was because of you!”

“Isn’t that a good thing, Saba?”

“NO! It means that the one reason any guy would want to marry me is because they’ll be related to you! Or if anyone wanted to hang out with me, they’ll tell all their friends, ‘I just hung out with Balto! And I think his daughter. I never bothered to know her name.’”

“Saba, calm down. Now I know I maybe a little full of myself sometimes but”-

“A LITTLE?! Dad, you have told your stories millions of times and I’m sick of hearing it! Why can’t you just get out of my life?!”

Saba didn’t wait for her dad to answer. She stomped away from the boat and back to her house.

All week, Balto never showed up to practice and Saba didn’t care anymore. When they were having races, Saba would mostly win, but never feel good about it. She was depressed practically the whole time! But she wasn’t really sad, just…angry. She was torn apart.

One night while sleeping, a voice called to her, and it was not someone she knew.

“Saba…” It said.

Saba’s head snapped up. She waited to hear if the voice was real.

“Saba…” It called again. She knew now that the voice was female.

“Y-yes?” She whispered in a stammer. Then a figure appeared in the distance. It was canine-like in structure. Saba walked slowly toward it. By then she realized that it was a

“Wolf.” Saba whispered. “You’re a wolf.”

The figure nodded. “Yes. How did you know?”

“Please, I don’t have a cold you know. Bye.” Saba turned to leave.

“Do you not like me?” The wolf asked.

“No.” Saba didn’t turn around.

“Did I do something wrong?”

Saba turned around that time. “Every single one of you is to blame for my life, everything that happened…It destroyed me, my family. You have no idea what sick creatures you are! Why did you have to be this way?!!”

“Saba, I know.”

Saba looked up at her. “No…you don’t. And you never will. Good bye.”

“Saba please”-

“GOODBYE!!”

“Saba? Saba are you okay?” Now Saba knew that voice.

Saba shot opened her eyes to see Carla looking very worried at her. Saba breathed a sigh of relief. It was all just a dream. But it seemed so real…It was creepy. Saba shuddered.

The next morning was Sunday. There was never practice on Sunday, so Saba was free to do whatever she pleased. She was just strolling down the street when Jess and Kila showed up right on time.

“Hey guys, I had a really weird dream last night.”

“Did you fall off your bed like last time?” Jess asked.

“No, it was just weird.”

“How weird?”

“Well, this “wolf” came to me and started talking to me. I refused to listen and yelled goodbye at her. That was it basically.”

“Not a very weird dream though.” Kila said.

“But the thing was, it all seemed too real for it to be a dream. THAT was the scary part, but somehow I end up right where I went to sleep, and during the dream I was in the living room.”

“Now that IS weird. Are you going to tell your future boyfriend?” Jess teased her.

“Jess…I’m actually not so sure I like him as much as I used to. Remember the day I yelled at my dad and I haven’t spoken to him since?” Both friends nodded. “That was the day I stopped talking to Nao, because I thought everyone only hung out with me because of who my dad is. Now he probably stopped trying to get my attention and moved on. You’re the only friends I have now, because I know you like me for who I am, right?”

“Totally!”

“Of course!”

Saba hugged them both. “Thanks!”

The next seven nights, Saba had that same dream over and over again, and each time she refused the mysterious wolf. Then came the day of her first real mail run.

Saba was so nervous about this. But she tried to make herself focused. Everyone she knew was there on the sidelines: Jess, Kila, (still no Aitu), Jenna, and…Balto

Saba gasped. Her father actually came! Was she mad or not? She didn’t decide yet, so she didn’t look at him. She waved to her friends and they waved back. Jenna shouted words of encouragement, but Balto just smiled, a proud smile. Saba only glanced at him as she took off. She was trying to hide her returning smile.

Saba couldn’t talk to Nao because he was the lead and she was in front of the wheel dogs. Besides, he probably wouldn’t talk back to her anyway.

Saba was getting really bored, so looked up at the sky while she ran. She wasn’t completely free, but she was running. But…did she like this?

The only reason that she ever did dog sledding was to make her dad proud. Now he is, even after she said all that mean stuff to him. Even though her task was completed, was she happy?

At first she was really excited to do it, but then knew she would have to work all day and all night for this. Then she wondered if it would take time away from her friends. And after, she wondered if she wouldn’t like it. Does she like this?

Meanwhile, back in Nome, Jenna walked home and Jess and Kila went back into town to tell the news. Balto stayed though.

“My little pup…You grew so fast…too fast. I forgive you Saba. I love you. No matter what…”

Balto had tears welling up in his eyes. Then he got up and went home, so proud of his daughter for what she is doing.

That night, the team told ghost stories by the fire. Saba only listened, even though everyone wanted her to tell the story of her dad again. Nao never spoke to her, so Saba had no one to talk to.

Saba knew she wasn’t happy with her life, but what was it? Well, the only part she knew was that her friendship with Nao went down the drain. That’s part of the reason why she’s depressed. So she told herself to be strong and just talk to him like the good ol’ days.

Nao was building his nest when he saw her. He just glanced for a second and kept on working.

“Nao?” Saba whispered.

Nao looked up, eyes narrowing. “Oh, so you’re talking to me again?”

“Nao…I need to talk to you.”

“I’m busy. Leave a message after the ‘Go away’.”

“I can see that you’re mad at me, but I just want to ask you one question. Just promise me you’ll tell the truth.”

“I don’t know. Do you not trust me now?”

“PROMISE!”

“Fine!! What’s the question?”

“Do you like me for me?”

Nao looked too confused to be mad at her now. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, Do you like me for who I am, or for who my dad is?”

“Saba, ever since I met you I liked you. Those feelings never changed even after I found out Balto was your dad. I was just excited that’s all. I’m over it now. I just needed some time, which you won’t give to me.”

“I’m sorry. It’s just that I had a talk with my dad a few weeks ago, I yelled at him saying that the only reason anyone would want to be my friend is because of my dad.”

Nao completely stopped working and looked at her. “Saba, that is not true, though it may be to some people. Not for me. I wanted to be your friend before I found out, and I want to now.”

“Me too. Nao please forgive me. It’s lonely without you.” Saba’s eyes were too pleading for Nao to refuse.

Nao smiled. “Okay. I’ll be friends with you again. I kind of missed you too.” Nao hugged Saba tightly. Now Saba knew that she and Nao would just be friends, nothing more. So she stopped with the “take it slow” thing.

Saba had the dream again, and the wolf was persuading her to follow her like always. But then something new happened.

“Who are you anyway?” Saba finally asked.

“I’m your Spirit Guide. I’m here to help you choose the right path in life.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. Please Saba? Don’t blame me for everything that’s happened. I had nothing to do with it. In fact, I know how your father felt.”

“Really? How?”

“I’d love to explain, but I need to show you something first.” The wolf turned around, and automatically, Saba grabbed her tail with her teeth and followed her.

“What’s your name?” Saba asked when they were flying through the air.

“My name is Torngasak, but called me Tor.”

“No offense, but that kina sounds like a boy’s name.”

“I get that a lot. But I don’t mind. Here we are.” Tor led Saba to a very different yet very familiar part of Nome.

“Where are we?”

“You don’t remember this place from weeks ago when you went into this alley.” Tor pointed to the one in front of them. “And those three dogs chased you out?”

Saba widened her eyes. “Oh no! Don’t take me back here! They’ll eat me alive!”

“Saba it’s okay. Remember, you’re sleeping.”

“Oh right. Still, why did you take me here?”

“Because, I need to show you what these dogs are going through.”

“And I suppose you know?”

Tor closed her eyes. “Yes, sadly I do.”

“How? I mean, you’re a wolf. Don’t wolves live in the woods.”

“I used to. But I was kicked out.”

“Why.”

“Because I started to fall in love with a town dog”-

“You’re Aniu aren’t you?”

Tor shook her head. “No, but I get asked that question a lot because my story is a bit similar to hers, at the beginning.”