The excitement in the small Alaskan town of Nome was off the scale. As the bright morning sun rose steadily into the sky, the little village burst to life. Children, clothed in layer upon layer of winter garments, scurried to keep up with their fathers as the long awaited day began.

Every year the Great Race was held. It was the standing memorial in Nome, celebrating that terrible night, nearly five years before, when the virus had struck the town to its knees. All the children had been affected; not one had been spared as the illness dragged them to the very threshold of Death's Door. All hope had been abandoned...until a miracle had happened. A dog sled team made their way back with the antidote! Their rider unconscious, the people of Nome still could not understand how the dogs had made it back on their own. But what they did know, was that Balto had led them, and saved the children. And that was enough.

Every year since that night, a race was held in honor of the brave team and their fearless leader. Humans and dogs alike enjoyed the annual event immensely, and looked forward to it each year.

Balto sat in the old wood shack looking out the frost-covered window. He chuckled to himself as he saw a child helping his father ready a harness for the race. The boy's eyes watched, wide and focused, as his father told him how to get the harness prepared. The boy's face was the very picture of awe and wonder, as if all the world revolved around this one, simple task.

Balto turned his gaze back to the ring of dogs that made up the council of Nome. The Dog Council. It was here that major decisions were made, as well as the small, civic problems of day to day life.

Balto breathed in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. For years the part wolf had been forbidden to participate in the council, but since he had saved the village, he had earned great respect among them. They had been truly sorry for their heartless behavior, and had welcomed him into the group as a peace offering and an ease on their conscience.

Balto shook his head, as if to clear away these memories so that he could focus on what was being discussed.

"-therefore," Doc concluded, after a long, drawn-out speech that Balto had missed, "I think that Balto should lead this year's race."

Balto's eyebrows went up at the saint bernard's words. All the other dogs turned their heads in his direction.

"In honor of the five-year anniversary of The Antitoxin Run, of course," Doc added.

"Doc, you know I never race during this holiday," Balto stated. "It just feels weird to...to..."

"To what?"

"...to be the center of attention." Balto shook his shaggy head, sighing. "I spent all those years alone, I...I just haven't gotten used to it yet."

"Well, what about your team?" the council leader asked.

Balto winced with guilt. He was the head of their sled team after all. He had been ever since Steel had been chased out of town. He always led them well, participating in all the races all year long...except one. Deep down Balto knew it wasn't fair. When he refused to race, they couldn't race. It had been that way for five years, and they had never complained. Well, not to his face, but he couldn't blame them for their frustration.

He sadly glanced over at his group, who sat lined up loyally beside him. They looked back at him, silently asking for him to change his mind.

He sighed again. Looking back at Doc, he said, "I just don't think I can bring myself to do it. It would just feel...wrong."

From the corner of his eye he could see his team wilt with disappointment. It really wasn't fair. Of all the rotten leaders they could of been stuck with, they'd been stuck with him, a solitude-loving, half-wolf. They deserved so much better. If It hadn't been for him, they might have been heads of their own teams by now. Balto believed that every one of them had the makings of being a great sled leader. A smile slowly started to spread across the half-wolf's face.

"But that doesn't mean my team can't race," he stated quickly. He felt his team's eyes shoot towards him. There was silence for a moment.

"What do you mean?" Star's shrill voice piped up, forgetting for a moment that it was out of his place in the council to speak without being addressed. Kaltag shot him a withering glance, but Doc seemed just as eager to hear an explanation as the small husky.

"Yes, what do you mean?"

"I mean," Balto continued carefully, "Why can't my team run without me?"

The saint bernard made a series of distorted sniffs as he tried to come up with an answer for the question. "Well I...(sniff) er (ahoom)...it, well you see...er, it's, it's praposterous!" he finally ended.

"Why?" Balto pressed, not willing to let his idea go so quickly.

"Well, for one thing, a team cannot race without a sled leader! It's ridiculous!"

"What if I appointed one of them to take my role? To be the leader, just for the race?"

Balto had everyone's attention now. They all stared at him with wide eyes. Balto raised an eyebrow, but didn't turn his gaze from the council leader.

"Well, Balto," Doc began slowly, "it's never been done..."

Balto only just barely kept himself from rolling his eyes. As many things as the council was good at, doing things out of the ordinary wasn't one of them. The elders were very set in their ways, especially Doc.

"I suggest we take a break so that the chairman...er, dogs, can talk this over." With that Doc and the other elders gathered in the corner, whispering intensely. The other, less important members of the council dispersed into separate, milling groups. They all kept their voices down, but the subject of there discussions wasn't hard to guess.

Balto walked over to his group. They still seemed rather shocked at his proposition. He sat down in front of them, waiting for one of them to speak. Nikki finally asked the question they were all wondering.

"Are you insane?!"

"No, why would you think that?"

"You just asked the council to let one of us lead a sled team!" Kaltag cried, a little to loudly; then softer, "Your sled team!"

"I know what I said. You guys have been there for me for five years. You have come to trust me, and it's about time I returned the favor."

Silence again. Then Kaltag asked very quietly, "what if we lose?"

Balto grinned. "Guys, it's just a race. For fun. It's not like it's a life and death situation, like five years ago. If you lost, it wouldn't matter."

Star's eyes lit up. "Yeah," he said excitedly, " And besides, we will win! We're the best team in Nome, Alaska! I know we can win!" He fairly wriggled with pride.

Balto smiled. Of all the dogs on his team, Star was the most spirited. He had energy he could barely contain, a quality he used to his advantage quite often. He was honest and kindhearted; Balto seriously wondered how a dog like Star had ever gotten involved in Steel's gang. Balto's smile faded slightly. Star was also the least likely, of his team, to ever become a sled leader. His small size and skinny body was not cut out for the rugged life of a leader, nor did he have the mental quality of a leader. He certainly wasn't stupid, but his child-like nature and short attention span made him fall short of the mark. A leader had to be strong, determined, and able to make decisions at a moments notice. Star met none of these things.

Star turned to Nikki. "I bet you'd make a great sled leader! Or you, Kaltag! Or you, or you-" He made his way down the line until a swift bump on the head from Kaltag silenced him. It was sort of sad to see the small husky's compliments go unreturned.

The smile slowly crept into Balto's face. Star would never be allowed to lead his own real team, but this wasn't a real race. It was just for fun...

"Balto," Doc announced, as he and the elders returned to their seats, followed swiftly by everyone else. "The council elders have reached their decision."

Everyone waited with bated breath as the saint bernard addressed them in his long, drawn-out manner.

"It is the opinion of this council, as well as myself, that it would be unfair to your team to refuse them the right to race. Nor would it be fair to force you, Balto, to race with them. We respect your humility, and will therefore honor it. Seeing as there is no alternative, we have concluded that your suggestion is the only solution."

Whispers of mixed exclamations ran though the gathering.

"Despite this being unheard of before now," Doc continued, undisturbed by the council members opinions, "we have decided to grant your request, Balto."

"Thank you, Sir," Balto breathed gratefully, glad that he wouldn't have to feel guilty about his team being left out of the race once again.

"We trust you in that you will make the right choice, my boy," he continued, as though he hadn't heard. "Therefore, we are giving you the job of choosing your temporary replacement."

He glanced over at the half-wolf's motley crew. They had once been associated with that dreadful Steel. They had been a part of his gang of trouble makers. That was all they had ever been, however. Trouble makers. Unlike the cruel and villainous dog that Steel had turned out to be. Despite the fact that they had assisted Balto in saving the village, as well as being Balto's team of choice, they were somewhat looked down upon by most of the dogs in the town.

"Is there a particular teammate you had in mind?" he finished.

"As a matter of fact, there is," Balto replied confidently.

"And who would that be?"

"If it is alright with you, sir, may I address my team directly?"

"You may."

Balto walked back in front of the line of nervous, but eager team members. He smiled as he spoke to them.

"It has been a pleasure working with each of you. You have all shown your potential, and gifts in various areas. I personally think that any and all of you would make wonderful sled leaders. But, of course, I can only choose one of you..."

He looked over at Star. The thin dog was listening with a wide grin on his face. Unlike his teammates, he wasn't nervous. Balto knew this was because he didn't think that he would ever be picked. Of all the dogs, he was least qualified, and the sad thing was, he knew it. He didn't expect to be chosen. There was no jealousy, no anger, nor resentment in his eyes. As if the thought had never even crossed his mind. Instead he waited to see which of his colleagues would be fortunate enough to receive the honor about to be presented.

"Star, would you step forward please," Balto said, hearing the audible gasps that came from the council and it's members.

The smile faded from the small dog's face. He suddenly shrank back, turning a good shade paler. "W-what?" he asked weakly. Maybe he hadn't heard quite right? His fears we reaffirmed as Balto restated the command.

"Would you please step forward?"

Shaking slightly, Star stepped forward slowly, still fervently hoping against hope that it was a mistake. Balto almost regretted his decisions at the sight of the shivering husky in front of him. He looks scared to death, he thought. Maybe I shouldn't do this..No. This'll be good for Star. Besides, it's too late to turn back now.

"Star," Balto said officially, "I choose you as my temporary replacement for the fifth anniversary of the Antitoxin Run. From this moment on, until the end of the race, you are sled leader of my team."

The wood shed erupted in a cascade of protests. They came from every rank and level of the council. Even from Balto's team members.

"What?!"

"You must be joking!"

"Balto, what are you thinking?!"

"Now I've heard everything!"

"This is going to be a disaster!"

"SILENCE!"

The room fell silent at the shout of the saint bernard. Balto's eyes had never left Star. The little dog seemed oblivious to the words of his fellow canines around him. He only stared at Balto in utter shock, turning yet another shade paler.

"This is an...er...unusual choice, Balto" Doc stated flatly. "Are you sure he is the one you want to lead your team?"

Balto turned to face the council leader angrily. Fighting to keep his temper under control, he chose his next words carefully.

"Yes, sir, I am sure."

"But Balto..."

"You said the choice was mine, and I have made it. Will the council respect it, or disregard it?" Balto asked coldly.

Everyone stiffened at his boldness. Even Balto winced slightly. Sometimes he wished he didn't have such a fierce temper. Heh, another of his "wonderful" wolf traits.

Doc remained locked with the half-wolf's for several moments, then he sighed. "The council will respect your decision, of course. But I think it only fair to see what Star, himself, thinks of all...this."

"Agreed," Balto nodded.

"Star," addressed the great bernard, "Do you accept this high position for this event?"

Star remained still for a long moment. He took in the stern faces of the council, doubtful that he could do anything right. Oh, sure they all liked Star, but he was thought of more as the class clown. Comic relief.

"Well?" Doc pressed, and, for a moment, Star almost said he didn't want the honor, that he would rather someone else be chosen. That he wasn't the dog for the job. Then his wandering eyes met Balto's. The deep, yellow eyes were full of trust and confidence, as if they were whispering, It's o.k., you can do this. I believe in you.

"Well?"

"I...I-I accept."

"YOU WHAT?!" cried Nikki and Kaltag in unison. Star flinched.

"I accept," he repeated.