It was a week after the night at the hospital. Since the hospitals were overflowing with children the town thought that they should hold a contest for the fastest musher to retrieve the serum for the kids.
Steele was more than willing to try out for it. Balto mushed every now then and was very kind to the dogs. He borrows the sled to mush with so he was interested too.
It was mostly because he hated to see Jenna and Rosy and the town's children suffer so he wanted to try. It was a Saturday morning with all the town mushers were in the middle of the town. All ages over 15 were qualified to try.
All the town was on the side lines.
Jenna, Sylvie, and Dixie were by the barrels on the side of the track.
"Oh! Steele looks so handsome! He'll get back to save the kids! I know he will." Dixie said with stars in her eyes. They both rolled their eyes.
"It's not just for Steele alone Dixie! They're trying to get the fastest musher in town other than Steele!" she said to Dixie.
"Oh…..what's with you Jenna? Steele is practically an icon of this town. You won't even give him a second glance!" said Dixie.
"That's because Jenna going with Balto." said Sylvie. Dixie gasped.
"She was seen in the boiler room the other night with Balto. And they went in together and they left together. I heard it from a reliable source so don't bother denying it."
"Well then I won't." Jenna said calmingly.
"Oh! I'm speechless!" said Sylvie looking at her with wide eyes.
"All mushers prepare for the test race!" the announcer said.
Balto and Boris were by the fence. Balto was excited but Boris was worried.
"I hope they get that serum soon. Looks like this race will be challenging. Want some food?" Boris asked.
"I'm not watching the race I'm in it." said Balto.
Boris choked on the food he bought. "You said WHAT?" he shouted. "Listen! I'm fast enough! I can bring that medicine through." said Balto.
Boris tried to grab him but Balto easily avoided him."First of get it through your head they wouldn't let
go even if you did win it wouldn't matter." Boris said to him.
"You're so encouraging Boris." Balto said to Boris sarcastically. "If only your feet were as fast as your mouth." Boris said.
"All right get your dogs ready! The race is about to begin!" The voice behind them said.
"Hey! They're starting! Wish me luck!" said Balto racing off. "Luck? I don't wish you luck! I wish you
sense!" He yelled as Balto left. He looked at him and said "Good luck kiddo!"
All the sleds with the dog teams were aligned together. Steele was watching all of them made sure that everything was secured.
As soon as Steele left to tell his dad that everything was fine, Balto came with his sled and dogs.
All of the mushers were shock to see him.
"Balto? What are you nuts? If Steele catches you out here he'll turn you to dog meat!" A musher at the right said.
"Let him go! He won't last long here anyway." another said. Balto said nothing and got ready.
"On your mark! Get set..." POW! The gun echoed to the sky and the race was on!
All the people on the sides notice Balto racing. Everyone yelled and gasped.
"Balto?" shouted Jenna. "What does he think he's doing?" said Dixie.
The sun was there but cold wind was all they felt as they turn and twist with the path around the town.
Balto was getting close to first but one of the mushers kicked his sled which knocked off course. The dogs followed after the sled went to the side.
"See ya loser!" said the musher as all of them left Balto behind.
Balto checked the sled and the dogs. The dogs were fine. The sled was a little broken here and there but it was still whole.
"The race is almost over I can't-" then he saw an alley beside him. "That alley! It goes right to center easily! But I have to watch the sides since its kind of narrow. Let's give it a try team." he said to the dogs.
He gave them the order and they ran with all their might. They turned and dodged as much as they could. "Almost there!" he shouted.
The 1 mile mark was shot to the sky. The crowd burst with excitement!
All the mushers except Balto were on their way back!
"Where's Balto?" asked Jenna. "He was probably in the back." said Dixie.
Then something burst through the alley in front of the mushers.
"Balto?" said Sylvie. "Can't be?" said Dixie. Jenna was overcome with joy. "Go Balto!" she shouted.
Boris heard the crowd awed in surprise. "Go Balto Go! That's my boy!" said Boris. Muk and Luk ran to Boris. "Is Balto wining?" asked Muk.
"Of course Boy chick! He's practically a mile away from all of them HA HA!" he said at the top of his lungs.
Balto and his team were running as fast as they could! As quick as a flash he felt the finish line's tape on his face.
"TIME!" said the man with the timer. The crowd roared around him.
He jumped off and patted all his dogs. "You guys did great! Couldn't have done it without all of you." he said as all the dogs gathered around and licked his face.
"And the winner is Balto!"
Balto smiled as he spoke those words to him.
"Alright! You three start strapping up! You guys are with me!" said Steele completely ignoring Balto.
"Wait a minute Steele! I was the fastest musher." said Balto
"You were the fastest what? Do you honestly think they would let you come? You must be crazier as I thought you were." said Steele.
"Steele it doesn't matter who's going! As long as the medicine gets through. Stop being a glory hog!" Jenna yelled.
Steele looked at her as said "You're absolutely right Jenna! I wasn't thinking about those children. The important thing is to get the medicine back and that's what I'm going to do!" he said then turning to Balto.
"And when I come back I gonna fold you 3 ways and leave you for dog chow!" He said to him.
"Good job Son!" a man behind the two said. Steele ran to his father.
"Now let's look at our winner here!" he as was about to talk to Balto until Steele shouted." He cheated dad! He went through the alley so he didn't have to do the whole thing!"
"No that's not-" "Is this true son?" he shouted.
"I only cut though the Alley to-"
"So its true what they say about you. Never trust a theft! Alright team musher let's go!" he said calling Steele. Steele chuckled as he left.
"Balto I'm so sorry-"Jenna was cut off. "Better not talk to me Jenna. I might 'mug' you." he said in anger "Balto wait! BALTO!" but he was gone.
The Mushers were getting ready to leave that night. A flame was on a messenger's door
symbolizing hope for the children.
"HEYA!" They commanded the dogs. The 4 teams left the town.
At the small house Balto was watching from the roof. He frowned as he closed his eyes.
A full week has passed after the teams left. The town was anxious the whole time.
All was wondering if they could get there in time to save the sick children.
Every day after school Jenna would visit her little sister but her condition was still the same. All the children was in the same condition.
Steele was the sled that received the serum. The other two went back to the town by themselves while one remained behind to help Steele get back.
Steele thought he knew a shortcut to get home quicker than the regular route back. He said. "Follow me! I know a way back. This will be quicker." he said as he sent the team in right in the clearing.
"Steele wait you're going the wrong way! STEELE!" Steele's partner shouted but he didn't hear.
His partner followed him to the clearing. The hour passed and the two lone mushers started to lose their way.
Another week has passed and still no sign of Steele and the other teams.
A messenger came to the town saying "To The town of Nome. Stop. Steele is off course with serum. Stop. Steele's location unknown."
The message was read to the town the town grew to despair. A man came to the flame to turn it down saying hope is fading in the town.
Balto, unknown to her the family, was visiting Rosey too through the window. That day he saw Jenna next to her about to cry. He heard men talking not too far.
He went closer to the dark figures but not so close that they can see him. "How is this possible? How can Steele be lost? He knew the route!" one man said.
"That Cocky, selfish little...!" Balto thought before he was cut off by the men. "Can't they just send the other teams before it's too late?" asked the man on the right.
"It's too dangerous for the dogs and the mushers. The storm will blind them both to the path." He said.
"What about the little ones?" asked the man on the left.
"If...If the medicine won't get here in time...we're going to lose them." he said quietly.
Balto left hearing those words echo in his mind. "Rosey..." he said as he walked home.
After the day Balto heard those men talk his mind was made up. He had to go and get Steele's team and his team back whatever the cost. Of course Boris was against the whole idea. The day Balto was getting the team ready Boris shouted and protested him going.
"Balto stop! You will freeze to death out there. When you've become a frozen statue, don't come crying to me-Ahhh!" he screamed as Muk and Luk tackled him.
"Mmm-Mmm!" said Luk. "He says 'where is he going?"Muk translated.
"He's to freezing cold to guy who doesn't like him to get the medicine back to the town who doesn't like him!" Boris voice ringing in their ears.
Balto then turned then started to tug Boris to the hospital window.
"As your parent I cannot allow you get your...self...killed..?" he stopped talking as he saw Balto looking at the poor Rosey coughing in her bed.
"Hm. Well Come on let's go!" said Boris walking to the sled. "Wait a minute now you're coming?"Asked Balto. "The chance of living is small fighting the old cold unnatural weather. Sounds like the good ole' days at my homeland." he said as he patted the dogs.
Balto slightly smiled. "Muk, Luk, and me will take you as far as we can." said Boris as they all hopped in the small sled.
"Mush!" said Balto and their journey began.
While Balto went after Steele Jenna just couldn't take it anymore! She couldn't take watching her little sister slowly die in front of her. She went outside for some air and to clear her head.
"Hey! You know what I haven't seen that cheater, Talto or whatever his name is, around here. You think he ran away?"
"Huh? Well I would If I lived like him" two boys were walking by Jenna just talking.
"Balto?" she said them not to far from the hospital sled tracks were heading out of town. "Balto!" she said.
"This will be the craziest thing I have ever done." She said.
The girl took the spare dogs and sled and followed the trail of Balto.
The lives of the children finally is ticking faster for these characters