The brightness of the pure white snow was slowly going away as the sun made it's daily descent past the horizon. The dusk blending the last few strays of the warm colors of day into the dark blue, black, and purple of night on the Alaskan frontier. A lone sandy colored she-wolf was making her way through the harsh terrain with what looked like a shivering lump of fur on her back. The she-wolf bit back a growl as she jostled her injured left foreleg. she was moving as carefully as she could, not only because of her leg, but also because of the shivering pup on her back. She'd barely been conscience when she had fished her out of the river. Now the pup had fallen into a healing inducing sleep which is just what she needed. The she-wolf had lost her bearings after falling over the cliff but her sense of smell still worked. She paused for a moment to rest her battered body and to scent the air for any signitures she recognized. She picked up on a scent she knew all to well. The smell of her Alpha. Or more like, his blood. She hurried forward, accidently jostling the pup awake on her back.

The pup blinked her bleary eyes as she came to. She looked around groggily as she took in her surroundings. Suddenly, her nose twitched when the smell of blood assaulted her senses. This isn't what bothered her though. Being a wolf, the smell of blood is an every day part of life. No, What bothered her was the fact that the blood smelled like her father's. Her ears perked up and she lifted her head to get another scent. As her brain processed the smell, her eyes widened.

"Aunt Sheena? That smells like Papa's blood."

Sheena looked back at the pup for a brief second and then concentrated on where she was going. "You're right. It does. But we can't...Lana, get back here!"

Lana had jumped off of Sheena's back and ran full tilt to where her father's scent was coming from. She heard Sheena calling her name and running after her but she didn't pay the adult wolf no heed. All she could think about was getting to her Papa and making sure he was okay. She continued bounding through the snow as fast as her little legs could carry her. She came to a clearing by a cliff and skidded to a stop, powdery snow flying everywhere. She took in everything at once. The cliff was the same cliff she and Sheena got knocked over. Her eyes were glancing around frantically. Where was her Dad? Lana started sniffing around the area, trying to pinpoint her fathers location. As she was tracing her nose across the ground, she ran muzzle first into a furry lump. She jumped back with a bark of surprise. After she got over her fright, her lower jaw dropped and she couldn't help the wail of sorrow that rose from her. For, laying in front of her was the still body of her brother, Cole. She nudged him and, when he didn't move, she put her nose in front of his. Nothing. Lana then went and laid her head on his chest. No heart beat. Her brother was dead.

When Sheena finally made it to the clearing, hampered as she was by her leg among other injuries, she stopped short. Her eyes took in the scene of Lana's head buried into her brothers chest as sobs racked her body. She started to make her way toward her to try to comfort the pup but her eyes fell upon something else. The body of her alpha and friend, Nolan. She hurried over to his side and nudged him with her muzzle. "Nolan! Come on Nolan, wake up." She went to check his nose to see if he was breathing but knew it was useless to do so. His eyes were partially open and looking off to the side. The usual golden glow of life now a dull, lifeless amber color. She heard movement behind her and looked over her shoulder to see Lana making her way up to her. Sheena almost told her not to look but knew that it couldn't be any worse than finding her brother's corpse. Sheena hung her head and, with tears falling out of her eyes, stepped aside so Lana could make her way over to her Father. Lana looked at her Father's body with a dazed and numb expression on her face. She slowly paced forward and nuzzled into her fathers chest, curling her tail around her. Soon, small whimpers were escaping her as she mourned her Father. Sheena looked up to the sky where the moon was just starting to peak over the rise. She thought back to the pack and how happy they were. Faces of ghosts started going through her mind of all the ones she had seen dead. Cole and Nolan now added to that list. She began to feel this raw, pent up energy surging through her entire being. Energy you could only get from grief and a sense that you have finally hit the end. The sense you have no nerves left. You're at the end of your rope. Sheena started to have a mental and emotional melt down. She couldn't hold in the whimpers of pain any longer. As she continued to cry her pain, she felt a pressure on her right front leg. She looked down and saw Lana leaning into her, trying to offer her comfort as she cried her own grief. Almost in unison, they both raised their muzzles to the heavens and cut loose a powerful howl of pain, suffering and loss. Their howls echoed across the tundra and through the forest they now stood in, letting the world know of the pain that they were in. When their howls finally died down, Sheena was about to lay down so she could curl up around Lana to keep her warm. But before they could do anything, they heard a weak, pained howl from off in the distance.

The sound of happy barking and a child's laughter could be heard on the breeze as a sled cut through the snow, being pulled by a half breed wolf and a beautiful red husky with white underbelly, legs and the underneath of her muzzle also white. The little girl, who looked no older than ten, continued laughing joyously while her canine companions barked happily and continued running, pulling the sled behind them. They were racing through the woods on the outskirts of Nome Alaska. It had been such a glorious day. It took Rosy weeks of begging but she finally convinced her parents to let Balto and Jenna pull her around Nome on her sled. They had been going at it for a better part of the day and it was one of the most happiest of Rosy's young life. For the first time, she got to feel what it's like to be a real musher. It had been young Rosy's dream for as far back as she could remember to become a real musher. Yeah, women were mushers as well as men, but women didn't run in the dog sled races. She wanted to not only be the first female to race, but also the first female to finish in first place at the Nome Serum Derby and the Anchorage Nationals. She could see it now. The cheering crowds, her standing on the highest podium to receive the trophy they would...

While Rosy was reveling in her daydream, Balto and Jenna continued bounding along, pulling the sled behind them. It felt good for Balto to get out and stretch his legs on a run and to be harnessed to a sled again. the only thing that made it better was that he was running alongside his beautiful mate, Jenna. He was surprised at her speed and stamina as she was raised by humans as a pup and had never trained for the dogsled. she could almost keep up with him at a full run. He couldn't help but to cut his eyes her way every few seconds as he was captivated by her sleek movements and her toned muscles flexing under her skin and fur. He truely was a lucky dog...er, wolf. Jenna kept noticing this and finally looked over and said, "What?"

Balto looked away, his ears flattening a little from being caught. "It's nothing. You just look really beautiful when you're running. I just can't help but stare."

Jenna gave a smile and bumped his shoulder with hers. "Well, yoi're pretty handsome yourself Wolfy."

Balto smiled at the nickname as he dodged a stump that was in his path. they ran for another mile or so before Rosy called for a stop. Balto and Jenna came to a halt and stood there panting as Rosy got off the sled. She got some meat out of her bag and after offering some to Balto and Jenna, ate some herself. She looked at the sky and said, "Well guys, we should probably head back. I promised Mom and Dad that I would be home before dark." After getting the sled turned around, she yelled, "Mush!" Balto and Jenna leapt ahead and began their run back to Nome.

Sheena was running full tilt through the woods, trying to locate the position the howl came from with Lana riding on her back. she has been trying to locate the source of that howl for the last ten minutes. She gave another howl, trying to pinpoint the location. After several tense seconds she faintly heard the howl again. This time it was even weaker. She took off again, trying desperately to make her way to the injured wolf. 'I have to hurry,' she thought. Her paws thundered on the ground as she pushed herself even harder, her body screaming in protest at the extra abuse put on it. She continued to ignore the pain of her injuries and of Lana's claws digging into her sides for a more secure grip. Her only thought was to find her injured packmate. She ran for a couple of more minutes before skidding to a halt and looking around wildly. She saw nothing. With her heart in her throat she started sniffing the area for some trace of the injured wolf. There. Her nose picked up the scent of blood. And it smelled very familiar. She followed the trail for several minutes before coming to a mound of blood covered snow. She stopped and took a harder look. The snow pile twitched. She then saw a mis-matched pair of blue and golden eyes turn towards her.

"Tor, is that you?"

A pained whine was heard and it was then she realized that pile of snow was not snow at all, but the white pelt of her packmate, Tor. His tail shifted behind him, weakly wagging in greeting before his eyes closed and he lay still again.

The sun was starting it's descent below the horizon when Balto, Jenna, and Rosy were nearing the edge of the woods on the outskirts of Nome. Their paws were thudding out a rhythem in the ground as they pulled the sled behind them. Balto and Jenna were barking happily as they saw their hometown coming in sight.

"Almost home," Rosy cheered.

She received happy barks in return. They were almost out of the woods when Balto came to a sudden stop, nose automatically darting into the air and taking a couple of sniffs. Jenna stopped beside him and stared at him curiously.

"Balto, what is it.

"Why did we stop guys?" Rosy asked.

"I smell blood," Balto replied. He tested the air again. "And wolf. Female." He turned to Rosy and gave a whine.

"What is it boy?"

He pulled at his harness with his fangs and whined again.

"you want out of your harness?"

Balto gave a bark.

"Okay boy, hang on.". Rosy got off the sled and made her way over to Balto. "Why do you want out of your harness boy?" she asked. After she undid the last buckle, Balto put his nose to the ground and started tracking the scent through the forest. Rosy ran back to the sled and hopped on. "Come on Jenna, let's follow him." Jenna gave a bark and started pulling Rosy along.

Balto continued tracking the scent for another half mile when he spotted a blood trail amonst the trees. He followed the blood until he spotted silver fur off in the distance. He ran over to the figure as fast as he could. When he reached the figure he could tell it was indeed a female wolf but she was in bad shape. He was checking for vital signs as Jenna and Rosy made their way up to him. Her breathing was very shallow and had a hitch to it. He next checked for a heartbeat. It was slow and faint, almost non-existent. He knew she didn't have much time. Balto grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and began to gently drag her to the sled.

"How is she," Jenna asked as Balto made his way over.

"Not good. If we don't do something soon, she won't make it.

It was about that time that Rosy spoke up. "That wolf doesn't look so good. We should take her to the vet so she can get better.

Balto looks at her and lets out a whine with his ears drooped.

"oh!" Rosy exclaimed. "They wouldn't take too kindly to a wolf would they?"

Balto looks at her and gave a bark.

"You got an idea boy?"

He barks again and wags his tail. He and Jenna get her on the sled and Balto gets in position again.

"Okay. Let's get you hitched up and you lead.". She got Balto harnessed back up and they were off again.

"What are we going to do Balto," Jenna asked.

"We'll take her back to the trawler. Boris will know what to do." And with that, they were off.