Chapter 4
Balto awoke with a growl, he had the dream again, about the wolves. He couldn't help but feel worried, especially since the only wolf pack he knew anything about was the same pack his daughter was running with. He missed the days when dreams didn't mean anything.
He shook his pelt and stretched. He looked out at the sky, clear as ice. He leaped over the edge of the boat onto the snow below. He groaned as his joints popped. Geez maybe I am getting old, he thought. He stretched again before taking off at a trot towards Jenna's house.
He raked his claws against the back door. "Jenna?"
There was movement from within and soon Jenna was pushing the door open with her nose. "Balto, you look exhausted. Are you alright?" She said with genuine worry on her face.
Balto nodded and nuzzled her, "Yeah, just starting to feel older I guess."
Jenna smiled and walked alongside Balto as they turned away from her home and into the street. The town was bustling with morning activity. The grocer was cleaning snow from his front display. Children were running to school and the mail team was loading up.
Balto scanned the team for familiar faces. He couldn't see Kodi or Dusty anywhere. He noticed Ralph at the head of the team, in Kodi's normal spot. "Ralph, were's Kodi today?" Jenna called out.
"Miss Jenna! Balto! I don't know, he and Dusty didn't show up today. But that just means I get to be up front today!" He said proudly.
Jenna looked at Balto with puzzled eyes, "That's not like him...he loves his job more than...ohh." She looked off down the road.
This time it was Balto's turn to be puzzled, "Jenna what are you..."
"Ralph where is Dusty's house?" Jenna called.
"Down by the carpenters." Ralph answered.
Jenna took off in a dead sprint. After a moment Balto took off as well. They arrived and Balto still felt like he was in the dark. He could smell Kodi all over the place. There was something else too, something he couldn't quite place. Jenna raced around to the back of the house. He trotted after her still not quite understanding the urgency. He turned the corner just in time to see the end of Jenna's tail disappear into the house.
Balto looked to his left and saw Kodi curled up at the edge of the porch. Balto stepped over to him. "What is it son? Why aren't you with the team? What's wrong with Dusty?"
Kodi looked up just as Jenna poked her head back through the door. "Kodi...Balto come inside."
They walked in and looked around the mudroom for Dusty. There was a box in the corner by the stove from which inaudible noises were issuing. Kodi rushed to it and froze in front of it. Jenna nudged Balto to follow their son. Balto went to stand by him and looked in the direction he was staring.
There was Dusty lying in the box, along with three tiny little balls of fur that nudging her side blindly. "Aren't they beautiful?" Jenna said softly in Balto's ear. Balto seemed at a loss for words, but not nearly as much as Kodi who seemed to be completely dumb struck. Balto nudged him. Kodi shook himself out of his stupor and nuzzled Dusty softly with wide grin on his face, "I love you." He whispered.
Balto looked at his new grandchildren like he'd never seen puppies before. Balto couldn't even believe he was a grandfather. The biggest one was a very dark grey, almost black. The middle one had red fur like Kodi and Jenna. The smallest one though, it's fur was scraggley and the same grey brown as Balto. He reminded Balto, not of himself, but of his wolf-daughter, Aleu. the wolf in this pup was obvious, even though he was so small. Kodi was over his initial stupor and seemed to notice this too.
"Dusty, this little one...he looks like a..." Kodi had no idea of his heritage.
Balto cleared his throat, "Kodiak I need to tell you something..."
Jenna nuzzled Balto encouragingly. Balto led Kodi outside and sighed.
"Kodiak, Kodi...I'm not...I'm not a pure bred husky...like your mother."
Kodi sniffed, "Of course Dad that's not hard to figure out, but what does that have to do with-"
"Kodi I'm half wolf...my mother was a wolf."
Kodi stood frozen for a second. "So I'm..."
"Part-wolf ...and so is your son." Balto sighed.
Kodi thought intensely for a moment, "I guess I shouldn't be surprised, what with Aleu being the way she was...wait so when Aleu went missing."
"She lives with a wolf pack across the water." Balto said.
Kodi seemed to accept this fact,"I miss her."
"Me too."
Kodi chuckled, "So if I'm part wolf I guess I better practice my howling huh?
Balto laughed, "I think you should get in there and report to your new job, Papa."
"As long as you come too, Granpa." Kodi teased loping back through the door.
Balto sighed thinking Kodi took the surprise of his heritage well. "Grandpa...I am getting old."
