Chapter Eleven: The Enemy Revealed

"Did you hear that another team got attacked in the mountains?"

"Yeah, and in broad daylight too!"

"Did Balto really fight the wolf off himself?"

"I heard he chased it halfway through the mountains!"

"You're both wrong - the second the wolf saw him, it ran away with its tail between its legs. It knew better than to mess around with a hero like him."

News of the encounter spread like wildfire when the teams pulled into Koyuk. The second the team mentioned seeing the perpetrator behind the attacks, all eyes and ears were instantly on Balto. He did his best to explain the situation, but as most stories do, once others started passing it along, some parts were altered along the way. By the time it reached Steele's ears, there were so many versions that he didn't know what to make of it. Granted, hearing heroic stories was nothing new to Steele, but there was something putting him off about these ones: they weren't about him.

All attention was on his biggest rival, supplanting the story that was big in his mind. The runner-up team had been attacked, and the lead team suddenly had a few of their dogs give out due to exhaustion. Another passing team helped them limp to Koyuk, but they were in no shape to continue on. That would have put Balto's team in the lead, but they wouldn't be the first to run into Koyuk. Thanks to some chance shortcuts, and good navigating on Sonya's part, Steele and his team had squeaked by Balto, pulling ahead of them. Normally the race positions were the hot topic of conversation, but thanks to Balto, his big achievement had been reduced to nothing more than a footnote in the gossip mill. Because of that, Steele felt like a pup who'd just had their favourite toy taken away. 'It's not fair. Throughout this whole race, it's been Balto this and Balto that. It's like everyone's forgotten that a previous champion is also running the race - and has just taken the lead too! Then again, I suppose it would only matter if I actually was the lead dog… but even then, he's still getting more attention than me. Stupid wolfdog; he took my glory before, and he's taking it again now.'

Some relief came to him as the teams finally settled down to sleep outside, but there were still a couple from his own team still whispering between each other about it.

"Is it true that wolves can summon other animals to help them?"

"I don't know, but I did hear from a friend of a friend that Balto howled out and called a bear to help them fight the wolf."

Steele grunted and rolled over; by now the stories were really pushing the limits of reality. His grumblings caught Sonya's attention, and she looked over to see the large husky trying to bury his head deeper in the snow.

"Hey, can't sleep?" she asked. He grunted again, which she took as a yes. "Me neither; hearing about what happened in the mountains has gotten me all excited."

"Ugh, not you too," he grumbled, rolling again so he was facing away from her. "I've heard enough about that wolfdog to last a lifetime."

"Well sorry," she shot back. "Out of all the dogs, I thought you'd be the happiest - it means you're off the hook."

"True… but it doesn't change the fact that Balto's just slid himself in and took all the glory he wants for himself."

"Is that really all you think about? Who's the most famous?"

"What else is there in these races?"

"Much more. Take a look around you; are most of the teams stressing out because they aren't in first?" There was only silence from him, so she continued, "Do they act like winning is the most important thing? Well, it is at least a little important, but if they don't win they don't mind either. They can swallow their loss and move on. The most important thing is not to win everything, but to do their best," she explained. "IN all honesty, even though you're a stubborn jerk sometimes, you still run your best every single day, and I've always appreciated that. I'm sorry you're not getting all the attention you used to, but a lot of us never got any of it in the first place."

Steele thought her words over, but no matter how he tried to resolve them, nothing improved his mood. He still felt like he was being pushed to the sidelines, ignored by those who used to care about him. They'd already moved on to the next big thing, while he was left behind, nothing more than a swing dog. 'Even if we keep the lead, win and they finally pry their eyes away from Balto, it still won't help,' he thought. 'Sonya will be the one who will get the prize. No matter what she says, I know that it's always the lead dog that gets the most attention. It's far easier to focus on one rather than half a dozen. No matter what, I'll still be just a swing dog, and not even my old owner notice if I'm not the one leading.' That thought caused an idea to pop into his head. It was a simple idea, but the hope it gave him helped boost his spirits.

"Hey, Sonya, you really think I run my best every day?" he asked.

"Of course - you may get tunnel vision sometimes, but it gets the job done," she replied.

"In that case, then maybe I could help the team in another way," he continued, before uttering the words he never thought he would get to say again. "It's just that… maybe I could… be lead dog of the team for a bit?"

There was silence as the gravity of his request washed over Sonya. Sure, there had been many times before where he'd boasted how it'd be better if he was in lead… but never before had he actually asked about it, much less asked as nicely as he did then. Despite that, alarm bells immediately started going off in her head. 'Can you really trust him with the lead position? I mean, I would still be there, but who knows what he might pull,' she thought, before trying to think of a reply. "Um, I don't know… I haven't really given something like this much thought."

"Oh come on, I can do it. I have the experience, and it's not like I haven't led your team before," he protested. "It's just because you don't trust me, isn't it?"

"I didn't say that," she said, even though she certainly was thinking it. "I just said I haven't thought about it much. Besides… these things are Jonathan's decision anyways," she said, hoping that would deflect his frustration away from her.

"Yeah, sure," he grumbled, making it clear he didn't believe her. "I should've expected as much - you're no better than that other half-breed," he grumbled, before rolling over and fuming in silence. Not wanting to drag the issue further, Sonya shut her eyes to try to fall asleep, but his new request only added to her already buzzing mind.

'Even though I've worked hard for this, would it be so bad if I let him do it? Would it really help him… or would it just open the floodgates for the old Steele to return?'

There was an added spring in their step as Sonya and her team departed Koyuk that morning, because their next stop was none other than White Mountain. They were eager to get back home after so long away. Their mirth was only boosted by their position in the lead, which gave them a good chance of winning when they finally pulled into Nome. Already they were starting to become sore from the long days of non-stop running, but for most, it was easily ignored because the end was in sight. As long as they held on, they had a chance to win for the first time in their lives.

Despite the excitement, there was still something missing for Steele. The recent hoopla surrounding Balto, combined with Sonya turning down his request to be lead had soured his mood. Reality was starting to close in on him, and his hopes for what victory in this race would bring were thrown into doubt.

"Mark my words, I'll be the one crossing the finish first, and then they'll see who the real champion is. They'll see that I'm not some has-been; that I'm still the greatest sled dog in Alaska. Even my old owner will see that and when he does, he will take me back. Everything will be back to the way it was, just you wait."

Steele hadn't just been trying to rattle Kaltag's chain. He actually hoped that victory would get him noticed enough to allow his return to Nome. In his mind, that was where he belonged, and would still be had Balto not intervened on the serum run. However, recent events had somewhat dulled his hopes of that happening.

Their path took them through a trail that was very familiar to them. The Darby Mountains were a small range that sat between White Mountain and Koyuk, not usually a challenge for sled teams as long as the weather was good. It was only in a storm that there could be trouble, and the possibility of getting lost was very real. It was in these mountains that Steele had his first run with his new team, but that run almost ended as badly as the serum run. He'd been placed in lead, but gotten lost, requiring Sonya to go out and guide them home. Since then, he'd never had another chance to run as lead, making him wonder if Sonya still held it against him. However, he wouldn't get the chance to ask, because on the downhill side of the mountains, Sonya went on alert. Immediately she started sniffing the air, as some scent had caught her attention.

"What is it?" Jake asked.

"I don't know," she replied. "It's not one of the teams…"

"I can't smell anything," Steele added, which was affirmed by the rest of the team. "Are you sure something was there?"

She took a few more sniffs, before replying, "Hm, it's gone now. It's strange though, I could have sworn there was something around here." With nothing else to go on, Sonya decided to just shrug it off. They were deep in the Alaskan bush, so she was bound to pick up more than a few unfamiliar scents.

They soon emerged from the woods and onto open tundra, the land clear in every direction. Even though they were already in the lead, they still stepped up the pace a bit. They were so close to home, all eager to see their friends after all this time away. Like everyone else, Steele kept his eyes forward, focused on their goal… until something flashed in the corner of his eye. The dark shape contrasted with the white land, and when he looked to his side, he found something else running across the tundra with them. It looked quite a bit like a wolf, with jet-black fur; a solitary hunter running across the land. It ran parallel to them, glancing towards them for a moment before continuing on its way. From the distance, he couldn't make out any details of it, but he couldn't ignore how it resembled the wolf from Ruby… 'Wait a minute-'

"Hey Steele, what's got you so interested?" the question from Jake snapped him out of his trance, and glanced over at the curious swing dog.

"Huh? Oh, it's-" he glanced to the side again, but the wolf was gone, as though it was never there in the first place. "It was… nah, it was nothing," he fibbed.

"Are you sure? It could have been whatever Sonya smelled earlier," Jake offered, but Steele shook his head. Despite the sighting, he was reluctant to raise the alarm for something that had vanished so quickly.

'Should I tell them what it was? It might've been the attacker again… or it might just be another wild lobo. I've always thought there were too many of them running around. Even if it was the attacker, then wouldn't it have gone after us? Besides, we haven't seen any sign of it for days. We probably left it behind in the mountains,' he thought, turning his focus back on the road. 'Would it hurt to mention it? They might need the warning… or Sonya might think I'm just trying to cause a panic. Not to mention if I'm wrong, then I'd look pretty stupid, wouldn't I? That smug Balto would just love that, or even worse, he might take the credit for himself... and I'm not going to give him that satisfaction.'

Arriving in White Mountain that evening was like receiving a hero's welcome for them. Friends and family greeted them warmly, and the fact that they were in the lead only added to their mirth. The end was in sight, and as Balto and his team rolled in, Jonathan and Gunnar simply nodded at each other, knowing that the final dash would decide who was the better of the two racers.

It wasn't long before the dogs were trying to cram into the boiler room beside the post office. There was only so much space to go around, meaning those who didn't arrive in time had to find somewhere else to meet. Despite the number of dogs inside, the mood was quite festive. Many of the town dogs wanted to know what it was like first-hand, and the teams present were more than eager to share their stories. Steele himself tried to spin a tale about how he once had to outrun a stampeding herd of moose, but after Sonya mentioned something about moose actually being solitary animals, he settled on just sitting and listening to other dogs talk.

To his side was another group of dogs he recognized from town. They were the mail team, tasked with delivering letters between the remote towns in Alaska. He'd seen them a few times, but there was also a newcomer with them: A lean red husky, young and still in training, but eager to run with them. All their attention was drawn to one dog, but when he heard whose voice it was, it made him scowl. It was Balto, giving them tips for running a race.

"But which is better: Pacing yourself or getting an early advantage?" the young one asked. For Steele that was an easy answer - get the lead and never give it up - but Balto had something different in mind.

"Ah, that's a really good question, Kodi," he replied. "The things is, each method has its pros and cons, and works differently for each dog. Personally, I prefer a balanced approach with a slight twist. You try to get an early lead first, but then pace yourself later on to avoid tiring out. That way, you can be fresh for a final dash at the end, and if your early lead was good enough, it could win the race. In fact, it's what I'm doing right now."

"And yet you're still only in second place," Steele smirked, loud enough to catch their attention. Balto glanced over to Steele, but wasn't about to be rattled by his comments.

"I'm in second - for now," he countered. "A lot can change on the last day."

"Oh? Just admit it - you're going up against a former champion. I'm probably the bravest and most brilliant dog out here, and- "He stopped when heard a quiet snickering beside him, and found it was the smaller husky, who seemed to think his words were quite funny. "And just what are you laughing about, pipsqueak?"

"Oh it's nothing - it's just what I've heard about you is true after all," he said.

"Really? So you have heard about how brave and brilliant I am?"

"Not exactly - I've heard a lot about how you tend to exaggerate about yourself, though," he replied. "Isn't that right guys?" It wasn't long before a few of the team were chuckling in agreement. Steele grumbled at having everything turned around by this annoying pup, and needed a way to salvage the situation.

"Oh yeah? We'll I'd like to see a little pup like you run a race like this!" he snapped.

"Hey! I'm not a pup! Just another year and I'll be running with a team too!" the young husky protested. "Who knows, we just might be running in this race next year!"

"There's no need to get snappy here," Balto urged, but the two dogs ignored him.

"Ha, fat chance! You'd never be able to run in any race - you're nothing but a little runt!" Steele barked, caused the young pup to flinch. Kodi looked down at the ground, ears flat, making Steele think he'd finally achieved victory.

Balto could tell Kodi was shaken by those words, and was quick to intervene. "I wouldn't be too quick to say that. You may not know this, but Kodi's actually come a long way from when he was smaller."

"Oh really, and how would you know that?" Steele asked, but Balto ignored him, instead turning his attention to the crestfallen rookie.

"Don't listen to him - he doesn't know what you're fully capable of," he comforted. "I know that you're just as good as him or anyone else here."

"No, it's okay," Kodi mumbled, trying to piece together his courage. "I know Steele isn't all he's cracked up to be anyways. I know that under all that is nothing but a big liar!"

"Why you little - I'm better than that," Steele growled.

"No you aren't! I know what you did to your team. I know you're a cheat and a sneak! Ever since I was small, I heard about what you did, and how you turned against your own team just because they did something you didn't like," Kodi continued. "I know how bad of a dog you are, and I'm going to make sure everyone else in this town knows too!"

"Kodi, don't! Let me handle this," Balto urged.

"But dad, I thought you said that Steele shouldn't be trusted at all!" Kodi protested, albeit a little too loudly. Most of the room ended up overhearing it, and fell silent.

All eyes were now on them, as Steele glared at the husky, then to Balto, who looked a lot like someone whose secret had just been spilled. For Steele, this indignation only confirmed something he'd long felt towards the half-wolf. "So that's how it is. You claim to want to make things better, but at the same time you've been telling only the worst about me to your little mongrel spawn."

"It's not that simple," Balto protested. "Just… stay out of this for a moment, could ya?" he said, before turning to Kodi. "Come on, we're taking a walk," he said, turning to leave. Kodi opened his mouth to protest, but a sharp glance from his father compelled him to comply. The two started down the street, with Kodi acting a lot more subdued now. While what Steele had said was certainly uncalled for, Balto certainly didn't condone the way his son reacted to it either.

"I know what Steele said was harsh, but there are always better ways to deal with it," he lectured. "You put me in a very awkward situation back there."

"But I thought you said it was always good for others to know the truth," Kodi innocently protested.

"Yes, but there are some cases where the line between being truthful, and revealing too much is very thin. Steele is one of those cases," Balto lectured. "You know how I taught you and your siblings that there are some times where you know something embarrassing about someone else, and that it's rude to say it out loud." Kodi nodded, allowing Balto to continue his lesson. "Well, this is one of those times. Yes, what Steele did was terrible, but that was years ago. It's time to move beyond that."

There was a short pause, before Kodi mumbled, "He called me a runt," his waver speaking volumes of how that word hurt him so much.

Balto could only sympathize with him, because he knew how hard it had been for him. Kodi was the smallest of the litter, and was often left behind because he couldn't keep up with his siblings. It left him feeling like he would never be good enough because of his size, something his father always tried to help him with. At every chance they could, they would run along the beach, with Balto slowing his pace so Kodi could keep up. This helped instill confidence in his son, and as he grew, so did his speed. Bit by bit, Kodi would run ever faster, and soon it came to the point where his father didn't have to restrain himself to allow him to keep up. All he needed was a little nurturing, and Kodi was able to move beyond the limits he thought his size put on him, just as his father had moved beyond the limits his wolf side gave him.

However, that didn't mean that Kodi was immune to what that word once meant to him, and having Steele say it only made the sting worse. "Why is it so important that we let him keep his secret here?" he asked. "Everyone in Nome knows what he did."

Balto sighed, but instead of just brushing things off, he knew it was probably better to help Kodi understand. "Yes, but not everyone here does, and that's part of why he's done so well in White Mountain," he started. "I talked with Sonya - his lead dog - and she said that most of her team doesn't know the whole story because it was the only way to get him to cooperate. That allowed him to have a fresh start, but if the secret gets out, it could ruin everything for him, and leave him with nothing… and trust me, nothing is more dangerous than a dog with nothing to lose. Do you understand now?"

"I think so… you don't want me to tell everyone so that Steele won't get in any more trouble than he already has," he stated, and Balto nodded.

"That's right, and if you're going to be doing this run to White Mountain, you're going to be seeing much more of him. If that's the case, then you may as well try to be civil with each other," he suggested. "I don't want you to get in a situation where you might get hurt. Steele already got in a scuffle with one of my teammates, and the last thing I want is to have it happen to you."

"Okay," Kodi replied softly, holding his head low. "Do you want me to apologise to him?"

"It might not hurt… though it might also be better if you two just don't cross paths for a while," he suggested. There was silence after that, as a slight breeze blew by. Balto took a deep whiff to see if the winds held any sign of bad weather approaching. At first it seemed clear, but then something else came up - something familiar.

He stopped and continued to sniff the air, trying to draw in as much of the unknown scent as possible. Kodi noticed his attention and grew curious. "What is it?"

"I'm not sure," he mused, trying to link the scent to something else. It was a wild musk, and through it he could smell a faint tinge of something sharp… like blood. 'That's strange, the only blood I've smelled recently was from… oh no.' The blood was the final key - the scent was from the wolf, the same wolf that had been terrorizing them for the past week. Its scent was upwind of them, and as he turned his gaze down the road, he saw it, just peeking around the corner, watching them. In the middle of the road, he knew they'd already been spotted, which made the next minute crucial to their safety.

"Dad, what is it?" Kodi asked, noticing his father grow nervous.

"Kodi, just stay quiet and follow me. Whatever you do, don't run unless I say so," he said, starting to urge them back the way they came, constantly looking over his shoulder. The wolf had come around the corner, trotting towards them and quickly closing the gap between them. "Is there a shortcut back to the post office?" he asked.

"Yeah, that alley right down there," Kodi replied.

The wolf was only thirty feet away now. 'We won't make it in time if we run, but we need help,' Balto thought, before making his final decision. "Okay, when I give the signal, I want you to run as fast as you can and get help. Whatever you do, don't look back, and don't come back for me without help," he urged. The wolf was jogging now, bearing down on them while making barely any noise. Kodi tried to protest, but his father was adamant. "I said now! RUN! NOW!" Not needing any more encouragement, Kodi darted off, giving Balto just enough time to turn and see the assailant jump at him, fangs bared.

The impact knocked the wind out of him, and he shut his eyes, bracing for the sting of teeth tearing into him, but nothing came. Instead, he just heard cruel laughing that made his fur stand on end. "Oh how noble… it's too bad, I was hoping to meet your young son… and settle that score I have with you."

The voice, the vile, murderous voice was one he hoped to have long forgotten. His suspicion in the mountains was confirmed - this wolf was someone he knew. The voice above him was from someone whom he knew had no remorse, and who provoked much more fear than Steele ever did. It was someone who wanted not only him dead, but his family as well. Now that voice was back, and when Balto opened his eyes, he knew he'd be staring right at the most dangerous enemy he'd ever faced.

"Tikani…"