Balto walked silently through the quiet streets of Nome as lights continued to go out. The one place that remained lit was the sled barn. All the sled dogs hung out in there, and, from the reputation Balto had in town nowadays, they were probably talking a whole bunch of crap about him right now. A group laugh suddenly erupted from within the barn. Balto walked up to the entrance, although he knew he could never gain entrance to the 'club'.

"That's what I heard," A cream colored husky said entrancingly, making everyone lean in a little bit closer, "That's right. Balto is gonna go on a killing spree. Tonight." Gasps came from the group within, and a few shook their heads.

"That's a shame, Balto really did seem like a good dog." Trixie's high pitched voice came through the mumbles and rumors going around.

Balto shook his head in disbelief. He wasn't a killer. Far from it, in fact. He shrugged it off and started on his way back home. Suddenly, Balto heard a little girl's voice coming from within the hospital. Rosie! Balto ran to find the small red head, only to run into Jenna. Her small black nose touched against his, and he smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry..." Balto got up and started to continue on his way.

"Wait! Balto, can I come with you? My humans locked me up but I got out and I wanted to see Rosie," Jenna seemed rather urgent, and scared.

"Sure." Balto led the way to the small hospice, and hopped up to look into the window. Jenna, who'd been sniffing around to check for any signs of Steele or any of his goons, didn't see the sad sight within. Balto peered in closer when Jenna hopped up to see how her human was doing.

Balto stood, speechless as the doctor took Rosie's temperature, shook his head, and proceeded into another room. Small coughs escaped Rosie's mouth, and she seemed to be in terrible pain. Balto suddenly felt Jenna's head against his shoulder. Balto saw one last scene before he got down:

The doctor thrust a small needle with a strong dose of aspirin into the little girl's frail and pale arm, and then she was kissed goodnight by her parents, given a few extra blankets, and put to sleep.

"Oh Balto!" Jenna sobbed.

"Jenna, don't worry, I'll get more antitoxin, shh, don't worry." So many thoughts suddenly erupted into his mind. How would he be able to get to Nenana in time? How would he survive the freezing tundra? Balto didn't care now, all he wanted was to have Rosie back in full health. It didn't matter what it took, he just didn't want her to...die.