They danced above the world, most nights. On rare nights, this night they hid their faces from the world.

“Balto, what are you doing out here? I’ve told you a thousand ti..”

“Times don’t stray far from the cave and always tell us where you are going. I know, I know.” Said a young Balto to his father; Keane.

Keane walked over to his son who was sitting on top of a hill over looking a quiet valley.

“What are you doing out here anyway?” Keane asked again as he sat down next to his son.

“This is the best spot to see the lights.’ answered Balto as he looked at the cloudy sky above, “but they’re not out tonight.”

The young wolf mix pup looked down at the lightly snow covered ground.

“Well then, why don’t we make our own? Come on, I want to show you something.” Keane said and started down the hill.

“Won’t mom get mad? I mean it’s almost bed time and…” Balto said hesitantly.

“Probably, I’ll just explain to her when we get back.” Keane said and started back down the hill.

“What is it that you’re going to show me?” Balto asked as he stood up.

“Something magical.” Keane said with a wink.

The young pup smiled and wagged his tail.

After crossing the valley and two hills they entered a small forest.

“Balto, I want you to wait here till I return.” Keane said as he turned around to his son.

“Where are you going?” the young wolf pup asked not wanting to be alone.

“Just wait right here by the bushes till I get back.” Keane said and went through the bushes.

Balto did what he was told and waited by the bushes.

Keane walked out of the bushes and into a field with a hill on one side and a town in the distance to his right. Keane walked towards the sleepy little town. Keane soon reached the little town and quietly headed down the main street. Keane peered down an alley and spotted what he was looking for. Keane placed his two front paws on top of the trashcan and pulled the trashcan to the ground, spilling out the hidden treasures that were inside. Keane pawed around the trash and found what he was looking for. Gently picking up the shards of glass with his mouth, Keane headed towards the hill. Keane made several trips back and forth gently carrying the treasure.

“Now where to find ‘the sun’?” Keane mumbled to himself.

Keane walked down the main street of the town.

BANG!

Keane froze to hear where the sound had come from. Keane started down the main street again and peered down an alley to where the sound came from. A man was looking in his shed for something.

“The bang must have been from the door hitting the shed.” Keane said to himself.

Something caught Keane’s eye, there was a second lit lantern by the shed. As the man fumbled around in the shed, Keane crept up to the shed. Silently as possible Keane picked up the lantern handle with his mouth and backed away slowly. Keane kept his eyes fixed on the shed entrance. Once Keane had reached the main street he turned and headed towards the hill. Keane placed the lantern a few feet away from the broken bottle pieces.

“Balto you can come out now.” Keane said as he looked down at his son.

Balto followed his dad through the bushes. Keane lead Balto to the broken bottle pieces.

Balto looked down at the pieces of bottles and shreds of glass.

“Dad what’s this?” Balto asked looking up at his father.

“The polar ice caps.” Keane answered meeting Balto’s eyes.

“Those are not ‘the polar ice capes’”. Balto said.

“Your right they’re half empty bottle caps.”

“But they’re all empty.” Balto said back.

“Balto nothing is ever fully empty.” Keane answered looking up at the sky as if it held the answer.

Balto looked up at the cloudy sky, to try to see what his father was looking at.

“So why did you call the bottle pieces ‘the polar ice capes’?” Balto asked.

“I said that because the northern lights dance over the polar ice capes or the mountains. The mountains are strong and they stretch up towards the sky. Forever reaching even when the weather is bad they are still standing against it all. ” Keane said.

Keane walked over to the lantern.

“What’s that?” Balto asked.

“The sun.” Keane answered and smiled.

“Dad, that’s not the sun.” Balto said with a chuckle.

“No, you right. It’s not, it’s a lantern.” Keane said.

“Why did you call it ‘the sun’ then?” asked Balto.

“Well Balto because the sun makes things grow and whenever you are in trouble there is always a light to guide you home.” Keane said as he looked at the lantern.

“Now watch the hill.” Keane said. Keane picked up the lantern.

“To the north.” Keane mumbled. Keane sat the lantern by the broken bottle pieces.

The hill came alive with an array of colors.

“It’s the northern lights!” Balto said with glee.

Keane laid down next to the lantern. Balto laid down next to him, they watched the lights dance on the hill. Finally Keane spoke up.

“Balto do you understand what I taught you tonight?” Keane asked.

“I think so, is it that everything has a purpose and to not look at the bad things that are happening but, look at the good things.” Balto said a bit unsure.

“Yes, and keep your hope up. That will guide you home.” Keane added.

Keane looked at his son who was watching the lights and his heart dropped. Keane remembered what Aniu had foreseen in her dreams and nightmares, what was to become of the pack and their family.

“Balto.” Keane said again.

“Yes dad.” Balto said meeting his dad’s eyes.

“I love you.” Keane said as he fought back tears.

“I love you too, dad.” Balto said.

Father and son watched the lights dance on the hill underneath the Alaskan sky.

Year- 2007