Walking among the trees, a brown wolf was looking through many bushes to the quiet town, surrounded by the fallen snow. Even the forest was silent at night, his evil grin made a significant difference, making a scary feeling. Slowly, his grin then faded away, hearing a sound behind him.

"Is everything has been prepared?" he asked, still looking forward.

By the time he was speaking, three black wolves appeared from the shadow of the trees, camouflaging with the night. They began moving closer to him.

"Of course…," one of them answered, "Everything has been prepared."

"Good…," he replied, "Now, we just have to wait."

"And…," another black wolf said, moving forward, "When we will attack?"

"Later…," he answered, looking to the sky, "I will give a signal, and then, you can attack as much as you want."

There was a moment of silence before he turned around, facing them.

"Just focus on Balto," he continued, "I will handle his guardian."

With that, all of them scattered away, going to the different direction. They were running and running until disappeared through the darkness, leaving no sound. Again, the night seemed to be quiet.

"Soon…," he thought deeply, "Soon, you will be finished."

As he was thinking back, the past came to his mind, a few days ago when it happened. He still could feel the scratch on his face, four red lines across his fur. He began touching it with his paws. He could remember it completely, still fresh on his mind. But, instead of thinking further, he stepped back, leaving that place with an evil grin.

Slowly, he disappeared into the darkness, through the deep of the forest. The sounds of his steps began fading away, missing from the surroundings. But still, his evil laugh could be heard, even it echoed around it.

"Hey, Jenna…," Balto called, looking at her, "Thanks for giving it back."

"It’s alright," Jenna replied, "Anyway, it’s yours."

"I guess so," Balto smiled.

Jenna smiled back, reminding her how though he was to get his bandanna back. She knew every detail of it, from the accident until the promise they had made. Everything was caused by that bandanna.

"Let’s go meet Kodi!" Jenna started, trying to get out from the conversation, "I’m sure he wants to see us."

"Yeah…," Balto replied, "He hasn’t seen my bandanna, right?"

"Balto…," Jenna sighed, "We just come to greet him, not to hold a show."

"Oh, okay…," Balto replied, smiling, "I understand."

They began walking, heading to the boiler room. Even the day became afternoon now, still, some people were doing his job, opening their stores in order to get some money.

"Even we just greet him…," Balto started, still walking, "He surely will see it, right?"

Jenna just gave him a smile.

"You never change," she replied, nuzzling him.

While they were talking each other, both of them didn’t realize they had already at there, the boiler room. Noticing the crowd of dogs, they started to worry, afraid of something bad had happened. Whether it was true or not, they decided to check by themselves. Through the crowd, they were having a difficult way to know the truth. Closer and closer, they crept slowly until finally, they were free from the crowd.

"Kodi!" Jenna screamed.

Laying down at the floor was Kodi. He looked terrible by having four scratches across the side of his back, moreover, he laid motionless.

"Kodi!" Jenna screamed again.

Jenna entered the boiler room quickly, making her way to Kodi who was still laying at corner. Nuzzling, she called his name, hoping that he would wake up soon.

"Hi, mom…," Kodi said weakly, opening his eyes slowly, "What are you doing in here?"

"What am I doing?" Jenna seemed surprised, continuing to nuzzle him, "Kodi, you make me so afraid."

"Mom!" Kodi replied, "I’m not a pup anymore."

Jenna knew what he meant, but she kept giving all of her attention to him. She was doing that because she cared so much about her family.

Balto then began moving closer, checking his wound. As much as he could see, he knew Kodi would be fine. Turning around, he started watching the crowd, seeking some explanation from it.

"What did happen?" he asked to everyone, looking thorough them.

For the moment, everyone was silent, closing their mouth not because they weren’t brave enough to explain, but they didn’t know at all. So, instead of speaking, they just hung their head, hoping that somehow, someone could explain the truth.

"We don’t know, Balto," Kirby started, getting out from the crowd, "It just suddenly happened."

"Yeah…," Ralph added, looking at Balto, "We just know that someone has attacked him."

"Attacked him?" Balto looked shocked, "What do you mean?"

"We were just playing back then at the outskirt," Ralph explained, "At first, we did the race along the side of the beach. Kodi, as usually you know, always became the first one, while we were left behind."

Ralph stopped, gaining some guts to continue it. As much as he spook again, everyone began listening thorough him.

"When we lost the sight of him due of his speed…," Ralph continued to explain, "We heard he was screaming then."

"So…," Balto seemed curious, "How did you know he was being attacked?"

"We heard someone except Kodi at there," Dusty answered, starting to explain more, "But, when we took a look, it was gone, only Kodi at there."

Balto was thinking for a while, glancing at Kodi. He couldn’t imagine the attacker. Who is it? Why it attacked him? The question was swirling around, making his head wanted to blow due of unknown identity.

"Dad!" Kodi called from the distance, making his father looked at him, "I saw him."

"Huh?" Balto seemed confused.

"I saw who did attack me," Kodi explained, making everyone fell in agape.

"You saw him?" Balto asked, "Then, who?"

"I don’t know," Kodi shrugged, "All I know is he was a wolf."

"Wolf!" someone from the crowd looked surprised.

There was a panic then. Everyone began whispering each other, worrying their life and safety. Watching, Balto knew he must do something or they would become so terrified.

"Calm down, everyone!" he shouted.

Calming down, the crowd fell in silent, looking at Balto. Balto, by the way, was trying his best to be patient, even his mind was still racing.

"Dad…," Kodi called again, continuing his story, "He also told me that he wanted to meet you near the beach."

"Huh?" Balto looked confused, "Why?"

"Balto, don’t come…," Jenna suddenly interrupted, "Maybe, it’s a trap."

"Yeah, dad…," Kodi added, "He attacked me, remember? So, I’m sure it’s completely a trap for you."

Balto was thinking for a moment, admitting they were right after all, but still, he felt curious inside. But, instead of finding out, he chose to stay for his safety and his family.

At early evening, dark began to rule as soon as black had invaded the sky, converting the blue. Balto just came to home after taking care Kodi, trying to make him felt better. Even of it, his mind insisted to know, trying to investigate the whole incident. He tried hard to find the answer, but his head just made him dizzy. Not wanting it happened, he tried to forget it all.

"Hello, Balto…," Alex greeted him, "You sure have an important business to come late."

Glancing, Balto felt a little happy inside, knowing Alex would show up to greet him. He slowly climbed up then, walking towards the blanket in his lovely boat. Hiding within it, he didn’t want Alex and Lani knew what he was facing off now.

"What’s the matter?" Alex suddenly asked, "You don’t look like you used to be."

Balto chuckled, realizing he couldn’t hide his problem well. He then began turning around, gazing at them.

"Well…," he sighed, "My son, Kodi, had an incident this morning. He said he was attacked by a wolf."

"Wolf?" Lani seemed surprised, "Then, what about Kodi?"

"He is fine," Balto answered, "He just had a little wound."

Lani was thinking for a moment, deciding to see him or not. Then, her decision finally had been made.

"Okay…," she said, starting to leave, "I will go to see him. Just to make sure he is alright."

With that, she left, making her way through the snow towards him. However, Balto still remained silent, thinking of his son.

"Don’t worry, Balto," Alex started, trying to comfort him, "I will make sure that isn’t going to happen again."

Balto fell in silent. He really didn’t know what it meant, but for sure, it made comfort in his heart. Laying down, he tried to sleep, struggling to wipe out the incident.

Alex, instead of joining, he began to climb down, walking at the snow below. Every step he took made a soft sound, echoing the outskirt. He stopped then, looking far to the forest.

"Did he come back again?" he thought.

The incident today reminded him to the past even a few days ago. He could remember it, feeling every moment that almost became a great fighting.

"If he was around here, I would make sure he couldn’t touch him," he thought with determination.

With that, he started to go back, to the place that he called home now. As he was walking, he was starting to look around, making sure that there wasn’t someone behind the shadow. When he thought it was clear, something was attracting his eyes. Glancing and turning around, he scanned the area, looking everything that looked suspicious. Then, it happened again.

"Oh…," he thought, looking to something which was blown by the wind, "Just a grass."

Continuing to walk, he finally got to the boat. But however, his thought of grass was different from the fact, the truth that hidden behind. Even the darkness had recovered everything, his brown fur still could be seen.

"So close…," he thought, backing away.

He then went away along with the darkness to the forest, away from the sight. By the time of it, his grin was appearing, thinking evilly as he used to be.

"Where is he?" Lani thought.

Wandering around, she took every single of sight during walking. Even she didn’t know exactly of where the one she was searching at, she just knew that she would meet it sooner or later.

"Maybe…," she thought again, "I should check that boiler room."

Without any last thought, she ran through the thickness of snow that still at the ground. Running faster, she hoped Kodi was in there, still waiting and resting from the wound.

"Kodi…," she said, looking through the door.

She looked around and found that nobody was in there, just an empty room. Disappointed, she began leaving that place only to know she was too late. She hung her head, turning around and walking without looking which way she went.

"What are you doing at here?" someone said from behind.

"Huh?" Lani thought, starting to turn around.

Behind her, Kodi was standing with some bandages that wrapped around his body, gazing at her while wondering something. The way his act, she could tell that he was fine by looking him, even the wound seemed a little bad.

"Kodi?" she looked surprised, "I was searching you. I thought you had left."

"Searching me?" Kodi asked, wondering the reason, "Why?"

"Nothing," Lani replied, smiling, "Just to check your condition."

"I’m fine," Kodi answered, "There is nothing to worry about."

He began walking slowly, away from Lani that was still standing in worry. Stepping the snow, his only destination now was to get some rest from what he called home by the time he was adopted.

"Are you sure?" Lani asked, considering his wound, "Your father seemed so worry when he told it."

"I said I’m fine," Kodi replied in high tone, "You don’t have to worry me!"

Lani backed away suddenly by the time she was hearing it. The reply was so hard and unexpected for her to be accepted, even for the one who she thought as a friend. She hung her head, a look of sad came from her face.

"Sorry…," Lani said, turning around slowly, "Sorry for disturbing you."

With it, she was running away, far from Kodi to hide her disappointment of what she had thought earlier. She just thought it would be nice to greet her friend that was in trouble, but that proved her effort was in vain.

"What have I done?" Kodi thought, starting to feel guilty, "I shouldn’t mad at her."

He was thinking hard at what he had said to her, making her to be pointless of coming and greeting him. She just wanted to care, but he destroyed it all by doing it. He wanted so much to fix it completely, asking for forgiveness of his deep words.

"Lani!" he yelled, hoping that she could hear him, "Lani, wait!"

He was running hard, breathing so hard and quick just to call her. The night was silent by the time he was yelling, echoing the little town just to say one name. But, even his voice was so loud, still, Lani couldn’t be found anywhere. What he could see now was just snow and darkness.

Panting and exhausted, he slowly turned around without glancing back. He started walking, thinking hard of what he had done to his friend. The only thing he wanted was nobody would think he was weak just because little wound, but it then became a misunderstanding.

"I’m so sorry, Lani…," he thought as soon as turning away.

"Good morning, Balto," Alex greeted, smiling, "Or maybe I should say almost afternoon."

"What?" Balto seemed confused, "What do you mean?"

He slowly woke up, rising from his deep sleep into the new day. Looking around the sky, he just realized that he passed out now, waking up late due to the incident yesterday. He almost couldn’t get out it from his mind, even he wanted to, but his head insisted to know about it.

"You sure were tired back then," Alex looked at him, "If it wasn’t, you would wake up early than this one."

Balto just laughed for hearing the comment, yawning from his sleep to reveal that he still needed some rest. But, instead of doing it, he chose to wake up, opening his eyes in order to see his son again. Now, he considered more about the safety of his family, whether it was important or not. Walking down slowly, he prepared himself to go to the town, glancing at it for a while.

"Thank you for waking me up, Alex," he said, gazing to the town, "Now, I need to pay a visit to my family."

"You’re welcome," Alex replied, "By the way, be careful out there."

"I will," Balto answered back.

Without wasting time, he moved towards, heading to the town where his family had gathered around from early this morning. He just hoped that everything would be going usual like it was used to be.

"I should check on something…," Alex thought, looking at Balto who was still running, "I hope everything is fine."

"Dad…," Kodi yelled, panting hard, "Dad…"

"What’s wrong, Kodi?" Balto asked, confused.

"Dad, he is back…," Kodi answered.

"He?" Balto seemed more confused at the statement.

"The one who attacked me," Kodi replied, serious in his eyes, "And now, he almost attacked mom."

"Oh, no…," Balto thought, starting to worry, "This is what I afraid about."

Balto then rushed away, running in full speed in order to check Jenna, his lovely mate. He didn’t care everything now, just running and running without paying attention of what happened around him. Fear had taken him completely by the time he was thinking about his family, afraid of losing everything he had struggled for.

"Oh, Jenna…," he thought, worrying her condition, "I hope nothing bad is going to happen to you."

Still rushing, he could see some dogs were gathering around just like yesterday when Kodi had an incident. He stopped slowly while walking, entering the room which was filled with the crowd. He tried to make his way to inside, creeping around the dogs that were still standing at there until clearly, he found that Jenna was fine, laying down with some friends.

"Jenna…," Balto started in worry, "Are you okay?"

Seeing Balto, Jenna felt very happy with smile across her face, glad to know he was alright, even she wasn’t doing well. They began to nuzzle each other, showing to everyone how strong their love was.

"I’m fine, Balto," Jenna answered, "You don’t have to worry about me."

"But…," Balto wanted to argue, but quickly turned away, "Okay, how it can happen?"

Jenna suddenly felt uneasy in her heart, revealing the truth made her words became gaps. She took a deep breath before telling everything.

"I don’t know for sure, but…," Jenna explained, hesitated, "The only thing I remember is I was knocked out of my head. Then, everything was black."

"Dad…," Kodi suddenly interrupted, "I saw him. It was the one who attacked me and he was trying to hurt mom too. Luckily, I and my friends spotted his action."

"Then…," Balto said, demanding the rest, "Where is he?"

"He just ran away," Kodi answered, "I’m sorry I can’t capture him."

Thinking hard, Balto felt a heavy pressure, both in his mind and his body. Yesterday was enough, but today was more than enough to force him to find who would be responsible for endangering his family.

He began walking out slowly, making his final decision. Gritting the teeth, every dog in there could see clearly that he would be going to find the attacker. Anger in his mind had changed him into someone different, something like wolf.

"Balto…," Jenna called, standing, "Where are you going?"

"I’m going to get him," Balto answered, angry, "He must pay what he has done."

"No…," Jenna replied, yelling at him, "Please, Balto…"

Before she could say anything more, Balto went out and disappeared through the crowd. The last thing she knew was he would never stop unless he finished what was happened before. Instead of becoming quiet, she quickly turned her gaze to Kodi.

"Kodi…," she said in worry, "Please, go after your father. He might be in danger."

"Okay, mom…," Kodi replied, rushing after his dad.

Jenna now could only hope, wishing something bad wouldn’t happen to Balto. Looking to the sky, she wanted it was just a dream, but even it was, it would become the nightmare.

Running and rushing, Balto was heading to the beach now, a place where the first incident was happened. He still could remember what the wolf was saying, almost like threatening him if he didn’t come directly.

Close and closer, he could see the beach with waves that were rolling and flowing hard. He stopped then, observing around to make sure someone was out there, waiting from hidden place. Slowly, he took step by step while looking around.

"I know you’re there," he shouted to nowhere, "Show yourself."

At first, there was just silent with nobody around, but suddenly, behind him, three black wolves appeared in evilly grin with their sharp eyes, glaring deeply at Balto. They began gritting their teeth, showing to him that they would never give mercy to anyone who supposed to be their victim. Slowly, they moved towards to him, stepping carefully.

"So, at last…," one wolf said, "You come."

"And now…," another wolf added, glaring at him, "We can eliminate you."

"Wait…," Balto interrupted, confused, "What do you mean?"

Before he could react, they attacked him fiercely with no mercy. For this, he tried to avoid each of their moves towards him without knowing the true reason of why they wanted to kill him. A slash came at first, but luckily, it missed him while running away. Each of them seemed to have one purpose, and for that, he truly must evade in hurry or else, he would be end in this place.

"Woah…," he thought, "It almost hit me."

He tried hard to avoid, but it looked like they was getting him close and closer than before. One wolf unleashed a jump behind him while the other was blocking his way to escape. He then quickly moved beside, scanning their move to prepare the counter strike. Seeing the chance, he took it by kicking one wolf which was landing after leaping, and it hit him directly at the face. He thought he would make it, but unfortunately, the rest of his enemy quickly glanced at him and smacked at his back, making him lost his balance and fell off. Then, the wolf that was supposed leaping him before was now gripping his feet tightly with another one, stopping his move to escape. He was being held off now.

"Now…," one wolf started, moving closer, "You shall be patient for your death."

"What is the meaning about all of this?" Balto shouted, grunting heavily as the wolves still gripped his leg with their teeth.

"You will know…," the wolf replied, "After you died."

Balto just could watch his enemy raised his sharp paw high, ready to launch the final attack that would end his life forever. Closing his eyes, he just could hope that miracle came to save his life from this blood monster.

"Wait!" someone shouted from behind.

The three of wolves and Balto looked to the direction, the source for disturbing them all of sudden. It was Kodi, standing steady in front of them with sharp eyes. The wolf that was gripping Balto’s leg knew what they must be doing right now, eliminating all of intruder. They began rushing to Kodi, lunging and knocking him down in order to make sure no intruder would be coming after this. Kodi self, being so inexperienced about fighting, just could try his best to defense himself from them, but it looked like it was useless. He was beaten badly as the time was flowing slowly, falling down just in couple of seconds. Balto wanted to help, but the sharp pain from his leg stopped him for doing it, only seeing that he could do right now.

The wolves then threw Kodi near his dad, beside Balto who was still collapsing due to the pain. He slowly opened his eyes, looking at his dad with full of disappointment in his eyes.

"Sorry, dad…," he started, whimpering, "I’m so weak."

"No, Kodi…," Balto replied, trying to encourage him, "You’re not weak."

"Enough!" the wolf said, starting impatient, "Both of you will be gone forever now."

Balto and Kodi just closed their eyes, preparing themselves to go for the after life. What they wished now was Jenna would be fine whether they weren’t around anymore. Instead of it, they heard the loud sounds of crash. Both of them began to open their eyes to see what happened.

What they were seeing now was a great miracle. In front of them was Alex, along with three wolves that were smashed hard away to the ground. All of the wolves shocked to his present, grunting to this uninvited guest.

"Who…," one wolf started, trying to stand up, "Who are you?"

"I am…," Alex replied, walking closer slowly to them while motioning to Balto, "His guardian."

To be continued…

Any similarities in this story are purely coincidental and not intended.