Chapter 2

The clouds became desolate as the night draw near, the weather became colder than a storm in Yukon. I was started to fall asleep until I hear a laughter from a few yards away. I started to get up and using my walking stick to see where the laugh came from. I kept myself into the shadows to remain unseen. As I was close to a fishing boat wreckage, I see a campfire not far from I was hiding. I peeked through the stern of the boat only to see a little girl with two dogs: one of which I could easily tell that it was female husky and another was surprisingly and my first sight of a male wolf-dog. Throughout my whole life, I never even saw a close encounter with any wolf-dog hybrid, except wolves and of course dogs. The wolf-dog seems a bit domestic due to trusting with the little girl. Keeping my distance, I continued to watch them three nearly until I started feel more tired than I was. The snow made a crunch sound as I was leaning my head on the boat, I stopped just in time to realize I was creating attention. I stopped and sat quietly to remain undetected. I made a small peek to see that the wolf-dog heard the noise I made as his ears pointed up. He stood up and started to sniff to see if there could be an imminent danger around the corner. So much over protection any.

I moved slowly moved towards the left side of the boat while using my knife to cover the tracks. As I was waiting anxiously, I heard noises that I thought would been someone finding the little girl late at night, however I didn't even heard footsteps nearby. It was more of a manly voice though, in my mind I thought that it couldn't be another person. He was saying to take "Rosy" home and be careful "Jenna". I peeked through the cracks of the boat to see the little girl speaking to the husky in which of course the dog is Jenna. I found out that the little girl was Rosy because there was no other way to explain who she was. However, I didn't even catch the wolf-dog's name.

As the wolf-dog watched Rosy and her dog sledding back into town, he started to sniff once more to see if someone or somewhat was there. He went over to the spot where I was and sniffed once again. At first he started to walk towards where I covered the tracks and begin to think that he might have outsmarted me. I slid quietly into inside the torn keel of the boat and used my knife again to cover my tracks. I begin to hold my knife for dear life and come to the realization that this could be the end. A voice came through outside of the boat again to say that someone is here. My breathing went from slow to silence out of fear, then the wolf-dog went back to the campfire and kept on guard as he was stalking through the torn boat. I didn't make another noise and movement in the duration of this time. The wolf-dog started to yawn and laid down by the fire as he was still in watch of the boat. I'm obviously sure that he was more comfortable than I was freezing inside a wrecked boat. The cold started to succumb me as I was desperately in need of warmth and food. My eyes rapidly slowly blink up and down; my breathing went from fast in fear to slow in brick of death, as I started to lean on the back of the boat and started to fall into a deep sleep.

As I fell into a deep sleep, I thought my life has ended. However, it was a dream that I was following and then connected with a surge of light to a wolf-dog creature, similar to same creature that I had saw moments earlier. Then it reveals that I have a tattoo of the crucifixion cross on the palm of my right hand and what follows on the throughout my right arm was a image of a wolf-dog. The tattoos had tremendous powers that I don't even know yet, except they glow with pure light it finally just went all white.

My eyes begin to see something was smelling me and it stopped only to give me a quick lick. I was started to wake up to find out to see it was the same wolf-dog that I had encountered last night. The wetness from the slobbery lick had me become fully awake and saw the wolf-dog face to face. So frightened, I slid back until I bonked on something behind me and it was a wall. Searched my pocket to find out that I have weapon to defend myself. However, my hand felt something sharp and it was my knife that was by my side. I grabbed the knife, which I started to panic as I pointed it towards the wolf-dog. Suddenly out of nowhere, I heard a Russian accent screamed that came out of a goose, who ran behind the wolf-dog in panic.

"Just stand back… don't make me do this." I yelled as a warning into a threat. Normally for a wolf, they would just attack you if you try to threaten their boundaries or their mark; dogs on the other hand, they could jump on you out of excitement or trying to play with them. I wasn't sure how wolf-dogs would handle in these kind of situations it will be mixed responses of wolf and/or dogs. However, in my experience with this wolf-dog, he was just slowly trying to come close to me as he was just trying to be friendly.

I kept myself firm on what I said if I had harm someone… I would. I was prepared to make a defense stand if the wolf-dog pounced on me and the knife would be on it's chest impaled. The wolf-dog came to my right side where I'm holding my knife on my right hand. Surprisingly, he was confident and calm when he walked towards my hand. At this point, I would have a chance to slash the animal to be done with and move on, but as he stopped towards my hand, my fear slowly fades and I started to stare at his eyes. Frozen as a statue, I couldn't even move a single muscle or try to speak, unlike being paralyzed by a snake. The wolf-dog raised his paw slowly to reach for my hand that obtains my knife. Watching in astonishment, it's paw touched my hand and my hands became slippery that I dropped the knife onto the floor. The goose was covering it's face with it's wings and slowly started to uncover it's face.

My right hand started to feel like it's under a spell. Also, I move my fingers up and down as I felt warmth on my hand in comfort from the wolf-dog's fur. Finally, my hand closed on it's paw to make a handshake. A bond started to make it's mark unlike from my dream. It maybe from someone I might have known, but from the past, my past bond was broken.

"Well… I didn't understand why you dropped the knife, but more importantly… what happened to you?" the wolf-dog asked in his first words to me. At first I didn't know how to react or what to say, but I had no other choice, but try to explain what has been happening to me.

"I'm injured from a bear… a grizzly." I said as I was trying to reach for my neck and then to my coat pockets to find bear claws that was made in a necklace. I showed it to the wolf-dog and explained further. "I was injured from a grizzly attack. A few men from a train helped me and escorted me into another town to find a doctor. While mushing through the snow, the dogs' straps broke and the musher lost his balance from the sled that had me fell from the sled. I have been crawling and swimming in the water to find a nearby town."

The wolf-dog looked at the grizzly's claws and sniffed it only to look up that it was from me that engaged in a fight with the bear. I started to look around and it was the same fishing boat that I was hiding from last night, but I was on it's deck.

"How did I got on deck of this boat?" I asked.

"I knew you were hiding behind and underneath the boat…" the wolf-dog said, as I knew I was outsmarted somehow.

"... I waited to see if you come out, but in five minutes I decided to see who it was hiding, until I see you."

"To see that I was asleep." I added.

"You were, but you were freezing and cold wet like ice, that I had to-" the wolf-dog said until being interrupted by the Russian goose.

"He ended up dragging you close to the fire until the fire is nearly burnt out and he dragged you "human" to our home and kept you warm over night." My eyes widen open as I just heard the goose spoke to me as well. I might even thought I might still be dreaming.

"Wow… I don't even know how to start, but thank you." I said, as I tried to stand up as my legs wobble, until the wolf-dog stopped.

"You shouldn't be walking… you're not ready." he said.

"I can't be bedridden, how I'm going to get food?" I asked. The wolf-dog think at first and looked around.

"Don't even think about having me be bird food!" the goose yelled as I laughed.

The wolf-dog chuckled. "Boris do you really think you be bird food?" I looked at the goose to know that the goose's name is Boris.

"I'm sorry… can we do the introductions to tell me your names?" I asked.

"My name is Balto… and the goose is Boris." he introduces. I nodded for a friendly greeting.

"Eli… I'm Eli." I said with a friendly smile.

"I know a good place you could be warm for a bit and I'll look for some food." Balto offered for help.

"The only problem is that I needed to walk to get there if in course I have a walking stick or crutches." I added.

Balto and Boris came together and talked with each other like they're making a plan. I didn't bother coming close and eavesdrop the whole discussion. The goose than left for an unknown reason and Balto grabbed a blanket to cover me up and lie down on my legs.

"Just try to get some little rest if you can." he said as he turned his head and looked at me with a smile. I started to lean back towards the wall and tried to close my eyes again to try to go for a nap.

In about two minutes I was still lying down, as I saw Balto's eyes were closed as he is asleep. He's breathing in his sleep shows me from his exhaustion. It tells me that he is more of man's best friend dog than any other dog that I seen or heard. My hand started to reach out to attempt to pet him, until his ears pointed up and his eyes opened to see my hand was reaching out for him. Spooked and little embarrassed, I quickly withdrew my hand.

"Are you afraid?" Balto asked.

"No... no I'm not." I replied.

"It's okay to be afraid… people in Nome were afraid at first, until I became a hero." he said.

"How did you became a hero?" I asked.

"Years ago… I helped delivered medicine back to Nome as people and children were increasingly ill-" he said as I also interrupted.

"Including Rosy." Balto looked up at me in surprised as I mentioned the little girl from yesterday.

"How did you know?" he asked.

"I didn't… I thought she must have gotten sick because you said children were ill too." I said.

"You're right, she was one of the children that she was sick." he added.

"I'm sure it took a hold on you that you obviously wanted to help her. The reason of this is because I saw you yesterday being petted by her." I stated. Balto lowered his ears with his head.

"She was the only human at the time that anybody trusted me. The only reason I brought the medicine back was because she was dying." he said as I felt like an oil drill pierced me deeply. I could understand if he have lost someone very important to him.

Eventually, this story convinced me that I could have been better of a family provider as they were sick before their passing. I reached my right hand out again to Balto and pet the top of his between his ears. His ears pointed and turned his head looking at me again like before. I rubbed his top head and worked my way down to behind his ears. Somehow, the palm of my right hand started to feel like a nail pierced through someone's hands that I knew long time ago as a child from a story. I couldn't even remember the story, but it has to deal with a cross. As I was still petting Balto, the invisible nail continues to pierce my right palm until I heard someone shouting.

"Balto!" someone shouted from another distance. I started to hear goose feet plating on the ground up and down to see it was Boris.

"Balto get up! Jenna and I came for assistance!" Boris shouted as that surprised me and Balto. The husky from last night came aboard to see Balto. He got up, walked over to Jenna and muzzle her for a good morning. The three got together and talked with each other on planning to do with me. The three came back and greeted me to Jenna.

"The plan we're going to do is take to the old mill near the town to get you feed and warm up. Jenna will help getting a doctor in town to get you recover in their hospital." Balto discussed with me as Jenna nodded in agreement.

"My owner's parents could also provide assistance to help you get to the doctor." Jenna added. We'll agreed and Boris went off the plank of the boat to get a large metal piece with some ropes. Balto and Jenna came close to me as I'm trying to get up and hold onto a wooden railing of the boat. I slowly took a few steps at a time as if I was feeling nausea and about to vomit. They were by my legs to maintain balance as I was walking if I stumble.

When we got to the plank, I slowly scooted down the plank until I my touched the snow. The ropes were already attached to the metal piece and I started to crawl onto it. Balto and Jenna came down from the boat and Balto got help from Boris, as he was being strapped by Boris for a sleigh ride. Balto started to mush out in a non-paced speed, while Boris and Jenna watched us move out. I was sitting as my legs were criss-crossed as Balto was pulling me towards the mill.

Balto turned his head back, "How are you doing back there? Are you having the ride of your life?"

"It was more smoother than I was on a sled days earlier." I said as I chuckled.

"Are you feeling colder?" Balto asked.

"Not much colder than I was earlier, but thank you." I answered.

Balto felt determined to have me recovered soon. We arrived at the mill and Balto opened the door to see that no one else was around. When we got in, I crawled off from the metal and crawled quickly towards the litten up furnace. Near the furnace, it was warm and it helped me to remove the coldness I had and started to move my arms and hands around. At one point, I had my hands near the furnace to warm them up. Balto brought over a wrapped bag that has bread and he also brought over his bowl of water for me to drink.

I was starting to devour the bread as I was eating. My body started to fill back the food's appetite in and released a relief. After eating the bread, I started drinking the water quickly. Balto tried to warn me to not drink too fast. I did my best to listen, but the thirst was all over my mouth after eating. Afterwards, my mouth let out a huge breath after drinking the whole bowl of water. He grabbed the blanket he had gave me earlier and wrapped it around me to keep myself warmth. Finally, he laid down on top of me to keep me warm. My slightly shivered body goes to cease as I felt that I found myself a friend that a bond could go strong. We both fell asleep in about six minutes as we're both being warmed up from the furnace.

Another dream kicked in my sleep… I was wondering in the forest and searching for no reason. Balto then showed up by my side and journeyed together. We spotted a sled dog team that were dead and badly exposed. We find a cave where there was a blood path that follows into a footprint, until I saw the musher who escorted me days earlier is found nearly eaten alive by a creature that was all covered in black darkness. I stepped back only to find out that I was about to viciously attacked by the creature as my arm was being lighten up.

My eyes opened quickly to be awaken as I started to sweat and breathe hard. Balto was on guard by the door and came over to me. "Eli you okay?"

"I'm fine…" I answered.

"Are you sure? You must have a bad dream." Balto said.

I sighed and decided to come out clean. "It is a bad dream."

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked.

"We're walking through a forest and I happened to see the sled dog team and the musher, who was trying to help me are found dead. Another thing is that a dark creature was about to attack. Suddenly my right arm was lighten up for no reason." I told Balto of the dream.

"That is weird, I'm sure I had these kind of vision dreams before, but not like this. What about are arm?" he said as I looked my arm that it started to have markings on my arm.

"Isn't that bad to you?" I asked.

Balto ruminate and said "I don't know… but when you recovered, I'll take you to someone I know that could help us when it's time." I nodded for agreement.

The doors started to open to see two men with Jenna entered the mill. I hid the markings with my sleeve to avoid suspicion if Balto tried to attack me. The men started to come over to help me get me up, as I tried to wave to Balto for him to come with me. All five of us entered the town of Nome and went over to a hospital in town. A doctor came out and assisted the three of us to enter the hospital as I turned to Balto.

"Please let Balto come in, he helped me." I asked the men.

One man however stayed back with Balto… "I'll stay back and watch Balto. I'll let him come in when you're all settled in your bed." the man said, as I started to become worried. Balto nodded me back that he'll be alright.

The doctor and another man got me into a bed and the doctor got me changed into a hospital's patient outfit. I got into a bed with the doctor's assistance and he started to give me medicine of painkillers and cold reliefs to remove symptoms of pneumonia. As I being drugged up for medications, I looked out the window from my bed to see Balto outside until I feel druggy. My eyes begin to close slowly and fall asleep.

For two days, I have been bedridden until I woke up felt better then I was days earlier. The doctor came in for my check-up.

"Well look who's finally up." the doctor joked. The doctor then asked me medical questions.

"How are you feeling since two days?"

"I'm feeling better." I answered. "When can I leave the bed?"

"You're not ready to leave yet because you need to try to get out of bed to see your movement while walking." the doctor replied.

"Can we try to take care of this immediately please, I feel ready." I asked.

"Very well." the doctor replied again as he took off his glass while picking on his eyes. He went over to grab the knee percussor, as I remove the sheets and moved to the side of the bed sitting up straight. The doctor came back surprised.

"Well… you look better, but we'll see." the doctor stated. He used his knee percussor and tap my knees and my reflexes were moving normal.

"Your reflexes are good… let's try to see how you're walking." the doctor instructed me. I got off from the bed and my legs were not wobbling and I started to move my legs and started walking. For nearly five days, my legs were miraculously recovered sooner than I expected.

"Well I must say… you're ready to leave." the doctor exclaimed.

"Do I have clothes that I had since I came here?" I asked.

"Unfortunately, I don't, however I do have some clothes that were already paid for with new coat furs, snow gear, your weapons, camping gear, and boots." the doctor replied as he brought in a new set of outfit and gear. I walked over and grabbed my new belongings from someone I didn't know.

"Since you're much better, I believe you're ready to leave." he stated as he left the room. I got changed into my new outfit and I equipped the new gear I was been provided with.

I exited out of the hospital and started searching for the man, who bought me the new clothes and gear. As I was walking in town, I noticed the felt of a sheet of paper and read briefly.

"Dear sir:

Hopefully your recovery comes soon, thanks to Balto's assistance. I had provided new clothes and new gear. I hope I get to see you soon!"

Unfortunately I don't know who wrote this, but it'll take a while to go house after house to find someone who provided for me in time of need. I started searching in shops, luckily two different shops provided the purchaser and gave me his address. Walking for hours in town and then near the outskirts of town I found a two-story cottage. The house was obviously covered in wood and some iron or steel, but it seemed to be someone wealthy might live there. I walked up to the door and knocked three times at once. Not meant to be in a hurry, I was only wanted to thank the man who provided me with new clothes and gear. Hearing from the other side, footsteps were coming from the stairway to see the door being unlocked by a little girl, who opened the door.

"Hello! Can I help you?" the little girl asked and I realized it was the same girl from the other night.

"Yes… is your mother and/or father at home at this moment?" I asked the little girl.

"Rosy?" a voice came from inside the house. A woman came by, who I assumed that she must be the little girl's mother.

"I'm sorry sir… can I help you with anything?" the woman asked.

I froze and then spoke…. "Why yes. I believe that the handwriting of this letter must belong to your husband?" I asked as I gave her the letter. She looked at it to realized that I'm speaking to the man's wife.

"Yes and it's my husband's, although he's not home at this moment, are you wanting to come in?" she offered to me as a guest.

"No thank you, but I just wanted to stop by briefly to say 'thank you' to your husband, who bought the new clothes and gear I have." I replied. "Is there in any way if you could let your husband know that I stopped by and tell him?"

"Of course, he told me what happened to you. Are you sure you need to stay for the night before you go?" she asked.

"No I'm alright thank you… I'll be just out of Nome for a little bit and then come back later." I replied again.

"Be safe, if you're looking for a place to stay, you're welcome to stay here if you want." she said out of generosity. I thanked her once more and started to head out of the town of Nome.

As I was walking outside of town, I saw the wreck fishing boat from couple of nights ago. I decided to see if Balto was there to give him my personal thanks. I walked up the plank to see that the boat is empty. I walked around on deck, until I saw two animals that are heading towards the fishing boat. I saw Balto was racing with a dark-red colored husky on the beach and I decided to come off from the boat to see them myself. Balto and another dog noticed me as I was walking towards them.

"Looked you're out of bed and fully recovered!" Balto exclaimed.

"So I gathered." I told him as he smiled back.

"I want to introduce you to my son Kodi. Kodi this is Eli." he introduced us.

"I heard about what had happened to you, it must be a thrill isn't it?" Kodi said in curiosity.

"As a matter fact it was, but I'm just happy to be alive thanks to your father." I said as I gave Balto credit. "Balto is it alright if we could talk somewhere at this moment?"

He agreed and he excused himself and I to somewhere else to talk. We walked back on the boat deck. I told him what caused me to arrive at Nome in the first place as I retold him the story.

"What are you going to do?" Balto asked.

"I'm going back out there to find the sled dog team and the musher, who tried to help me." I replied. However, Balto grew concerned because I'm going to head out to the forest again.

"I can't let you go and hurt yourself again." he stated.

"I know… I was wondering if you wanted to go with me." I offered. Balto begins to think in hesitation, but he decide to give in to join me.

"I need time to tell Jenna, Boris, and Kodi that I'm going with you. Tonight you should stay here." he stated as he offered. I agreed and got my belongings settled in the fishing boat for the night.

Time goes by throughout the day, I was resting in the fishing boat and try to make up some more sleep. The wind became cold as the night was clear and visible. The stars were brighter than back in my Washington State home. Looking outside from the wheelhouse of the boat, until drawing me towards the bridge as I face towards the ocean; I heard some wolves howling at the moon while watching insight for a shooting star. Balto came on board to know that I was awake.

"You awake from a dream again?" he asked.

"No I just woke up and thought I could do some stargazing." I replied as I turned back to watch the evening skies.

"Even the moon is full. I could probably do some howling at this time." Balto joked.

I chuckled into a thought it doesn't sound like a bad idea.

"Not in mean to be on the offense, but how did you become part wolf?" I asked. He turned his head towards me in turn I did as well.

"My father, I barely know was a husky, as my mother was a wolf." Balto started to tell me as I moved closer to him to listen his side of the story.

"What did they look like?" I asked and shared the blanket with Balto to keep him warm.

"I don't know about my father, except my mother. She was white as snow when I first saw her as I was a pup." Balto told me.

"Like Snow White?" I asked.

Balto turned his head towards in confusion. "Who?"

"Never mind. It was just that when I read my younger siblings the story of "Snow White", it was nearly described the princess and your mother." I answered as Balto smiled and his emotions changed.

"Unfortunately me and my mother got separated and then I was raised by Boris. I'm sure you might think I don't honk, but I howl." Balto joked as I almost laugh from that comment and quickly apologize.

"What about yourself? You look like a hunter?" he asked to know about me.

"I'm a hunter. Normally when I was living in Washington State, I only hunted certain animals like rabbits and deer. I nearly didn't even know what happened to my father when I was seven, almost alike to your experience. I was considered man of the house when I was eight, taking care of my mother and time goes by, also helping raising three siblings. Sadly, four of their lives cut short when I'm 17 years old. I was on my own serving the military, my home was burned five years after I returned home from a world war. In late fall of 1927, I set out to Alaska to find a new home." I told my story to Balto as I begin to tear up. He started to muzzle me in comfort, before I could make a hug.

"I may have ventured out to Alaska to find out what happened to my family and how my home was destroyed." I added.

"Eli… if in anyway you needed help, I'll be on your side to help you." he volunteered to be on my quest. I couldn't have any other words to say, but nodded and pet him once more. I got up and started to head back to the wheelhouse.

"Before you go to bed, I wanted to show you something." Balto said to me before I could go into the wheelhouse. I followed Balto and found a small box below the fishing boat. I opened up the box to find broken bottles and a lantern.

"What is the point about the broken bottles and a lantern?" I asked pointlessly.

"Bring them up deck and I'll show you." he instructed me. I had no idea why we're bringing a box of broken sharp bottles and a lantern. Anyway, it was being done nevertheless and I took them up deck. I opened up the box and remove both the bottles and lantern.

"Okay we had finally taken out broken bottles and a lantern. What's the point of this?" I disappointingly questioned Balto.

"Broken bottles are polar ice caps." he said. I was still unsure about the broken bottles.

"The lantern is light as the sun." he said. I decided to give in and search for a match as Balto was adjusting the pretend polar ice caps. I opened and lighten the lantern to see colorful lights that glows through the lantern.

As I looked out towards the horizon to see bright lights that was more colorful than a rainbow appearing after a long rain thunderstorm. I was in awe and spellbound to see a replica of the Northern Lights. Normally, I would see the Northern Lights naturally at nightfall by itself.

"Little things could become a larger, creative, natural beauty of nature." Balto stated.

I looked at him and agree. Even when I was a child, I would go out and collect plants and sticks to make handcrafts for my mother like a cross and a homemade hat.

"I understand that you have a gift of seeing true beauty." I complemented.

"I'm sure you do have a gift as well." Balto stated.

"Well… I used to sang to my mother and my siblings to sleep when they were sick." I said.

"Wow… you might as well forget hunting and start singing on a stage." he joked and I laughed.

"Than I only need is a guitar or a banjo then I could jam." I joked also and we both burst into laughter.

"And again there were needs to be met and I had to do what I needed to do." I added as Balto understood the importance of family in my part.

"Are they going to be okay?" I asked.

"They… you mean Jenna, Kodi, Boris." he replied.

"Yes."

"They'll be fine, Boris would look out for them and we just need to meet them in the morning." Balto said.

"I hope they'll be alright. I mean you always look out for them like you had a great family." I told him.

"Thank you for caring. I care for them too, however if there is something important that is meant to be dealt with." he affirmed me. I sighed and than I agreed.

"We should probably get some sleep, we got a big day tomorrow." he stated. We both lie down in the wheelhouse and shared a blanket. Simultaneously, we both fell asleep in a few seconds.