Chapter 4 - Remembering the Totems

As Boris was being dragged unwillingly through the snow, he was suffering great pain.

"Ow! what is-- wrong with-- you?" Boris asked the dog dragging him through the snow.

"Shut your herringhole, goose!" the voice bellowed.

"Oh-- you will NOT get away with this!" Boris yelled.

"Wanna bet?" The dog then dropped him, face-first, into the snow.

Boris coughed the snow out of his mouth and said, "Why are you trying to kidnap me? What did I do?"

The black-and-white dog opened his mouth to say something, but thought before speaking. He said to Boris, gazing off into the snow, "You know what-- you're-- you're right! Capturing you is no way to get Jenna to fall for me... I need something bigger!" He then kicked some more snow onto Boris and ran off, leaving him there. Boris tried to get up, but his legs hurt too much to move and he was freezing. He laid there, limp, awaiting his fate. "Balto--" he whispered. "Please-- save--" but then his head dropped, and blood came out of his mouth and his eyes closed.

Meanwhile, back at the cabin, Jenna was laying her puppies in the dog bed one by one, trying to get them to go to sleep.

"Balto... it's okay, I'm sure that we'll find him in the morning," Jenna said.

"I can only hope, Jenna-- but-- what if we never find him?"

"Dad, don't talk like that," Aleu piped up. "If you say that, we WON'T find him."

Balto sighed and hopped up onto the bed as Aleu laid down in the corner with Saint.

Jenna's puppies fell asleep right away, so Jenna carefully got out of the dog bed and sat down beside Balto.

"Balto-- please get out of your state of misery," she whispered. "Aleu is back-- what more could you ask for?"

"Boris."

"Yeah, I know you miss him and all, but you were still miserable before he disappeared. And I want to know why."

"Look-- I don't wanna talk about it."

"You never want to talk about it, Balto!" she yelled. Balto looked up at her with sad eyes and she sighed. "Come on, let's go outside and talk this over." She then got up from the bed and Balto followed her outside.

"Okay... Balto, I really want you to tell me what's going on. I'm concerned about you."

"Jenna, I'm--"

"Don't even try to tell me you're fine."

Balto sighed as a tear fell. "Okay, fine... I'll talk."

Jenna half-smiled and looked into Balto's sad eyes.

"I've been having the dreams again... but this time they're about Aleu."

Jenna looked at him understandingly and he continued.

"They're the same every night. Aleu gets-- taken away every time."

"By who?" Jenna asked quickly.

"That's the thing that bothers me the most. I don't know who it is! I can only see his silhouette in the dream. But... he looks vaguely familiar. He looks like..."

"Like who?" Jenna asked.

Balto sighed and said, "Steele."

Jenna looked down sadly and swallowed the lump in her throat. Her ears drooped down and she said, her head still down, "Don't those dreams usually come true?" she then looked into Balto's deep eyes.

Balto frowned and nodded.

Jenna gazed up into the sky and she ran back inside and laid down with her puppies. Balto watched her run inside and another tear fell as he ran inside behind her. He got up onto the bed and gazed at Aleu and Saint laying peacefully together. Aleu's head was resting on Saint's back, her paw was on top of his. They were sound asleep.

Then he remembered how his mother used to keep him warm like that. How his mother used to give him a piece of her caribou every night, to get him used to the taste for when he got older. How his mother used to put him to sleep every night with the story of the Raven, the Fox, the Bear, the Caribou, the Wolverine, and the Wolf. And he remembered it well.

The Fox-- the cunning trickster.

The Caribou -- life.

The Bear-- inner knowing.

The Wolverine-- his fears.

The Wolf--

Then he remembered... there was nothing for the wolf. His mother never mentioned anything about the wolf. But after his long journey to find Aleu, he discovered what the wolf truly meant. The wolf was himself. The wolf was his mother. And now he realized... the wolf was going to be Anaiu.

He fell asleep, having the dream once more. But this time, he saw who the silhouette truly was. It was as if the silhouette had come alive, even though it was already alive. The silhouette was Steele.

He was rescued from his dreams by a loud sound outside of the rusty cabin. It sounded somewhat like a dogfight. Balto rubbed his eyes and rushed outside quickly to see Saint lying limp in the snow. He was breathing heavily and he was bleeding badly, but it was nothing that wasn't curable.

"Saint, can you talk? What happened? Where's Aleu?"

Saint replied, breathing and pausing every once in a while, "Some stranger-- he was-- black and white. He had-- a-- brown collar on-- it looked like a champion's collar--

"What did he do with Aleu?"

"He-- took her away--"

"Which way did he go?"

Saint winced from his injuries and said, "They went-- that-- way." He pointed in the Eastward direction to a mountain.

Then he remembered. Memories started flooding back into his mind. The mountain that Saint was pointing at was the very mountain that Balto traveled to to find the lost sled team three years ago. He had been here before. But the one thing that he didn't see when he crossed this path was the cabin they were staying at.

But there was a snowstorm brewing that night. What were the odds that he would've seen it? There were too many thoughts going through his mind so many years ago to be aware of his surroundings.

But still, somehow, the cabin was there. He didn't know how, but it was there. And somehow, he didn't see it years ago. Maybe it was there before and he didn't see it. Or maybe it wasn't there years ago. To this, he didn't know what to think.

Then Balto knew he must go find his daughter. But first, he needed to say goodbye to his family. And Saint was kind of considered family.

"Saint... are you okay? Come on, I'll help you inside."

"No, Balto. Go. Go rescue Aleu, I'd be lost without her. Besides, it's not even cold right now, I'll be fine."

Balto smiled but said, "No, I'll feel guilty. Come on." He then picked him up and threw him onto his back and dropped him through the doggie door and then went through it himself.

"Jenna, I have to go find Aleu," Balto said.

"But, Balto... how will Saint and I stay here alone? How are we going to eat?"

"Jenna... do you remember the way home?" Balto asked.

Jenna nodded her head yes and said, "Yeah, I do, but... I don't want to leave you."

"Jenna... you have to. And it's too dangerous for you to stay here in a deserted cabin without food. There are no caribou nearby." He then looked at Saint, who was trying his best to get up.

"Saint... when you are well enough, will you go home with Jenna to protect her? she can't go alone, especially with the puppies.

Saint nodded and he finally got on his feet. Even though he was a little wobbly, he was fine.

Balto smiled and hugged him quickly. "Thank you, my brother."

Then Balto walked over to Jenna and their puppies.

"Jenna... make sure you and the kids get home safe." Jenna smiled and a tear fell from her sorrowful eyes.

Jenna then remembered what she did for Balto on his first journey. She took her bandana off and put it around his neck.

"Here," she said. "It's not much, but it will keep you warm." they smiled at each other and they nuzzled as the memories flooded back to them of his first journey. "Please be careful, Balto."

"Hey-- this is my third journey. You know I'll be back," Balto said as he walked to the dog bed where his puppies were laying.

He nuzzled all of them and said goodbye to them and he rushed out the doggie door into the snow.

Balto's journey had begun.

Chapter 5 - Wise Words

As Balto ran through the deep, wet snow, he thought he saw a dark figure way up ahead in front of him. He thought he was seeing things, but he ran faster anyway. How was it possible to see them now? He had just started running after them. Plus, he didn't see them when Saint pointed to the mountain in the first place.

But there WAS something there, he knew. He could feel it all over his body. He wanted to see what it was, so he ran faster.

He stopped running fast when the figure collapsed in the snow. He eventually got to it about five minutes later. It was an all too familiar face.

"Aries? Where did you go two days ago? We were looking all over for you!" Balto exclaimed as he laid down beside Aries.

"Never mind that. Go and find them. You are very close."

"What... how... you know who I'm looking for?" Balto asked uncertainly.

Aries looked up at him and nodded. "Yes, I do. They are stuck up ahead at the pass. If you hurry up, you can reach them."

Balto looked at the far-away mountain up ahead of him and said, "Aries, thank you, but... what about you?" He then looked at Aries. Once again, he had disappeared.

"What the... Aries?" he yelled. "Aries? Where did you go? Why do you always leave me like this?" All he got in response was a deep echo rumbling off the mountainside.

Balto looked around one last time and ran towards the towering mountain. Aries might not be there anymore, but that didn't mean that he wouldn't take his advice.

"Steele, you SO won't get away with this!" Aleu shouted as Steele tightened the rope around her neck. She cried out in pain.

"One more remark like that and I'll leave you out here in the snow."

Aleu wasn't sure if he was serious or not, but she didn't want to take her chances.

"Now... how do we get out of here?" Steele asked himself.

"You're asking me? I've never been here before!" Aleu exclaimed.

"Who said I was asking you, you little half-breed?" Steele snapped. Aleu glared at him and she lowered her head in sadness at the remark of her being a half-breed.

Then Steele and Aleu heard a familiar howl. Steele's eyes grew wide while Aleu's face lit up with joy.

"It can't be," Steele said as he squinted to try to see the figure sprinting towards them.

"Oh yes it can!" Aleu said as Steele tightened the rope harder around Aleu's neck. Steele then found an opening in the path and ran out of it. He dropped Aleu on the ground and closed it up with a huge rock so that Balto could not get past.

As Balto ran into the mountain pass with a determined look on his face, he saw the rocks and tried to push past them. He tried and tried again, but still could not get past. Steele kept on running.

Balto's muscles soon gave out and one of them gave way and sent a sharp pain throughout his back and his left forearm, causing him to collapse in the snow and cry out in pain. He laid there for awhile, limp and in excruciating pain.

Then a blizzard started blowing in from the south. "Great, something else to add to everything else that's going wrong," he said out loud. It wasn't as if anyone could hear him out here. He was alone. Or was he?

Balto's hope was almost lost when he remembered Boris' words very clearly.

"Let me tell you something, Balto. A dog cannot make this journey alone."

Balto sighed and started playing around with the snow.

"But maybe a wolf can."

Balto's eyes grew wide as Boris' words flooded back into his mind. Those words were the words that got him through his first journey. Those words were the words that helped him climb up that wretched cliff. Those words were the words that had saved half of Nome.

And those words were the words that would get him through this journey. And all the journeys to come.

Chapter 6

With every ounce of his strength, Balto struggled to his feet. He fell a few times, but he eventually got up and started a slow walk.

After about five minutes, he began to walk normally. With the images of all who loved him, something deep inside him told him to keep going. So now, he ran.

Meanwhile, Steele and Aleu were trying to find shelter.

"There are no dang-blasted caves around here? You have got to be kidding me!" Steele said angrily.

"Are we gonna freeze?" Aleu asked worriedly.

"Well, I won't. But YOU might if I find just enough shelter for me."

Aleu growled at him with a cold glare that made Steele turn away. He had to admit to himself that he was a little afraid of her.

Finally Steele found some shelter. Luckily, it was big enough to hold them both.

They settled in and then Steele said, "Well, looks like you lucked out, half-breed."

"Yeah, I... guess I did," she said as she looked down at the snow.

Steele looked at him with hurt in his eyes. But he shook it off soon after and he laid down on the very opposite corner of the cave. Aleu went to te other side.

Balto decided to find shelter for the night also, so he found a very small cave that was connected to Steele's and Aleu's. But none of the three knew this yet.

Balto was a bit afraid to be in the cave alone, but he braved it out and he laid down at the very back so he would be safe from any harm. He fell asleep within a matter of a minute.

"Steele, can I ask you a question?" Aleu asked.

"Depends," he replied, his eyes still closed.

Aleu just came out with her question. "What do you think you're gaining from this?"

Steele just looked at her a bit uncertainly.

"Why are you kidnapping me? Do you think this is any way for my mom to fall for you?"

Steele's eyes grew wide. It was as if she could read his thoughts.

Aleu just looked at him, awaiting her answer. He said nothing. She just looked at him with sad eyes, and he gazed back. She turned away and tried to go to sleep.

"Just something to think about, Steele."

They both said nothing more.

Chapter 7 - New Friends?

The next morning, the bright sun shined in Balto's eyes, waking him up.

"Ugh," he grunted. "Why must the sun wake me up during my FIRST dream-free sleep?"

He shook it off and got up. He stretched and then went to the mouth of the cave and sat down and looked out.

"Where are they?" he asked himself. "Did they find shelter somewhere overnight or did they keep going?"

And his most important thought... "Will I ever find them?"

He didn't know for sure. All he knew was that he had to try. So he stretched once more and ran off into the mountains.

Aleu yawned and her eyes opened slowly. She glanced over at Steele and noticed that he was still asleep. Now was her chance to escape.

She got up and ran out of the cave, careful not to wake Steele.

She wasn't sure where to go. Should she go back to the cabin, or should she head north?

She knew she didn't have time to sit and decide, so she followed her heart and ran north. Luckily, she was able to escape from Steele.

Meanwhile, Balto had stopped running for awhile because he was starting to get tired. And he had also realized something. He was colder than usual.

He looked down at his neck and all he saw was fur.

"Oh no," he said out loud. He looked around and saw nothing. "Where is it?" he exclaimed.

He frowned and put his head down. Once again, he had lost Jenna's bandana. Now she would have to buy another one.

"Great. She's gonna hate me now," he thought.

He laid down in the snow for a second to rest. It wasn't too long before he heard a somewhat familiar howl.

Balto's ears pricked up at the sound of the howl. He turned around and saw a dark figure coming up behind him. It wasn't Aleu, it wasn't Saint, it most certainly wasn't Jenna. He wasn't sure who it was, so he ran away from it.

The dark figure was gaining on him and it wouldn't stop. He feared that he might be crossing another wolf's territory, but he didn't care right now. All he cared about was finding Aleu and getting home safe with her.

He eventually gave up the running. He was just going to have to take his chances. The dark figure came closer, and Balto saw that it was Steele before he approached.

"Forget something?" Steele asked rather nicely. Balto glared at him and swiped the bandana from Steele's grasp.

"Steele, where did you take Aleu?" he asked angrily, slipping the bandana around his neck.

"That's why I'm here. I'm looking for her."

"What do you mean, YOU'RE looking for her? You were the one that took him in the first place!" he exclaimed, moving intimidatingly closer to Steele. He backed up slightly with every step that Balto took.

"No, you don't understand."

"Oh, yes I do, believe me. You want me to think that so that I'll team up with you to find her, and then when we do, you're gonna hurt me."

"That's not true! We found shelter last night, and when I woke up this morning she wasn't there. I was running out here to try to find her. I thought that you were her... you guys look so much alike, I was mistaken. That's why I wouldn't give up my chase."

Balto stared at him and said, "Oh. Well then... I guess we should get going."

Steele's eyes grew wide. Even though he WAS telling the truth, he couldn't believe that Balto believed him. He was afraid that if he asked if he believed him he would change his mind, so he said nothing.

"O... okay, let's go," Steele said, trying to hide his astonishment.

Balto and Steele locked eyes. For a moment it was as if they were best friends. Balto cracked a small grin at Steele and then they walked, side by side, into the mountains.