Chapter 4

A/N I'm sorry it took so long for this update, but I've been trying to edit and change a few things here and there, so again I apologize.

Duke was up at roughly the same time the sun peeked its rosy face over the curve of the earth and shuffled groggily into the bathroom.

Balto's ears pricked up to the squeak of the faucet and the running of water in the sink. Regretfully he pulled himself out of his bed and walked over to the window. He placed his forepaws up on the window sill and gazed sadly out at the rising sun, begging it to go back down for at least another few hours. He wasn't ready to give up his pups. With a sigh he pushed off and turned toward his slightly ajar door, slowly padding over to it and pushing it the rest of the way open with one of his paws. There he stood for a moment listening to the sound of the running water.

With flattened ears he walked slowly down the hallway and nosed the door to Duke's room open, light from the bathroom finding more space the wider it swung. Balto peered into the open bathroom and stood for a moment watching Duke shave. Duke felt his dog's gaze and turned to him. Duke smiled and slid his razor blade through the water and then wiped his face with a towel. Balto lowered his head with a sigh. Duke opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by a knock on the door. Duke hurriedly pulled a shirt over his body and began making his way for the front door.


- Excitement had hardly granted the pups any sleep last night. For them adoption day couldn't have come slower, and now that it was finally upon them they found it very difficult to control themselves. They tackled each other and wrestled around about the feet of Dusk and her two humans as they waited for Duke to answer the door. As one might imagine, Dusk had hardly slept last night as well; but believe me when I tell you it wasn't from excitement. She had spent the night nearly sick with sadness and woe. It was only for her children that she dragged her exasperated self out of bed at this early hour.

There was the clank of a latch being undone and then the door opened, revealing an unprepared Duke. The only thing he had time to do this morning was brush his teeth and shave. The shirt he threw on was fighting to stay straight as was his hair.

"Come on in," Duke said with a smile.

Dusk's humans walked into the open door followed by Dusk and the pups.

"I can get some breakfast started for you all if you're hungry," Duke offered.

"It's okay," the female owner of Dusk replied politely, "We all ate this morning."

Duke smiled his understanding and Balto made his appearance from the kitchen. He pups all scrambled excitedly over to him and bounded about, making swats at his nose. Balto laughed and got them settled down.

"Daddy, can you believe it," the little black Rouge chimed.

"No, I really can't," Balto said trying to hide his sadness, "I can remember when you could barely walk; and now you're all grown up."

Dusk padded over to Balto and they nuzzled each other in greeting.

"You don't look so good," Balto joked.

"I could say the same about you," Dusk replied flatly.

Balto chuckled halfheartedly and looked down at his pups. There was something that had been on his mind all morning and he had to say it.

"Can you guys excuse us for a minute," Balto asked the pups, "I need to talk to your mother."

"What for," Callidak asked innocently.

"It's a surprise," Balto replied with a wink.

The pups nodded and scampered over to Duke. Balto and Dusk walked together into his room and shut the door so no one could hear them. Once in privacy Dusk spoke.

"I'm not ready for this," she said sadly.

"I know, hon; I'm not either," Balto replied flatly.

"So what was it you needed to talk to me about," Dusk said to get off the subject.

"Well, I was just thinking that since today was the pups' last day here, that maybe they could go for a ride with Duke in the plane. I know that they've always wanted to."

Dusk nodded knowingly.

"They have ever since they first saw it. It would be fitting for them to get to live that dream before they have to go."

Balto nuzzled Dusk and she sniffled away a tear. Balto pushed open the door and the couple put on halfhearted smiles. The pups heard the door close and ran to the mouth of the hallway to meet their parents.

"So what's the surprise," Ali piped with her siblings excitedly awaiting the answer.

"You'll see," Dusk replied drawing irritated huffs from the pups as she led them to the door.

Balto padded over to Duke and grabbed onto his sleeve. Duke turned his attention down to Balto and his sleeve was tugged on. Duke allowed himself to be dragged over to the window and looked out upon his plane. He looked down at Balto and Balto pointed his muzzle to the pups. Duke smiled and strode over to the door and opened it, allowing Dusk to lead the pups out. Duke shut the door behind him and went back to his room.


- Dusk, Ali, Callidak, and Rouge rounded the corner of the house and gazed out upon the plane. The pups all gasped.

"You can't mean…" they all said in shock.

Dusk nodded and the pups all screamed with delight. They scampered over to the plane and waited impatiently for Duke. Duke arrived five minutes later fully dressed in his flight suit. The pups could barely control themselves so happy they were.

Balto jumped up on the wing and Duke handed him the pups one at a time and he placed them on the back seat. There was only room for one adult so it was decided that Dusk would go. With an ease learned from practice, she jumped up onto the wing and climbed into the seat where she sat next to the pups.

"Make sure you guys stay in this seat," she warned, "And be prepared, this thing sounds like a monster when it starts."

Duke climbed in and checked the controls, gave Balto a thumbs up, and started the engine. The plane came to life and the pups covered their ears tightly. The plane lurched forward and coaxed a distance before lifting effortlessly off of the ground. Once they reached a cruising altitude the pups uncovered their now accustomed ears and clambered over to the side, whereupon they placed their forepaws up on the side of the plane and peeked over.

Their breath was immediately taken from their lungs as they gazed out upon the rolling colors of the spring time landscape. Such beauty had never been met by their eyes until this day, and would never be matched in their lifetime. From across the seat Dusk sat and stared sadly at her pups with a film of tears forming under her eyes.


- The three pups sat inside a crate with a simple sign stapled to the front that advertised their purpose. Balto and Dusk sat on either side of said crate while Duke and Dusk's owners were all back at her house telling stories of all the funny things that had happened to them in the past few weeks.

It didn't take long for a little boy to spot the crate and made a dash for it, all but dragging his mother with him. He finally arrived at the box and peeked inside. The pups all scrambled over to the side and stood up on their hind legs with their forepaws hooked over the lip. The tan Callidak was the first chosen and she waved back at her two siblings as she was carried away down the street. Ten minutes later a little girl of about thirteen walked over and immediately found her heart stolen by Rouge. She scooped him up in her arms and cradled him in her arms as she too walked away down the street. The grey Ali that was almost a clone of her mother was taken about an hour later by a man looking to get his wife a birthday present.

As the last of their ups was carried away Dusk had tears rolling down her cheeks. Balto comforted her with a nuzzle under the chin.

"They'll all be just fine," Balto began reassuringly, "the humans around here are some of the friendliest you'll meet; nothing will happen to them. I promise."

Dusk smiled and nodded then rose to her feet. Balto fell in next to her and they started padding slowly away, the now empty crate growing smaller and smaller behind them as they made for home.