Search and Rescue
Unbeknownst to Aleu, her cry for help had not gone unheard. The wind carried the howl to a group of lithe wolves as they wove their way through the trees. Turning his ears into the wind, the pack leader pointed toward the sound with his nose and the group fanned out and began searching.
The leader soon picked up an alien scent and began to follow it toward a large fir tree. At a distance, he saw an abnormal mound, but before he could investigate, another lupine creature dashed to it from the opposite direction. It dug furiously, and to his surprise, it unearthed a young puppy. It howled for help and was quickly joined by five of the other wolves.
He walked cautiously over to her. "A bit out of your territory tonight, Kiska?"
The wolves spun around, and upon recognizing him, prepared to fight. "Well, well, well. Eyak. I could say the same thing to you?" Kiska replied. "What is your business here?"
"None of yours, I assure you, but he is one my clan," he replied, nodding at the comatose youngster.
Kiska's eyes narrowed in disbelief. "Don't you mean she?"
Eyak shrugged. "Isn't that what I said? Anyway, she's one of ours."
"We'll see about that." Kiska nudged the pup's body. "You. Wake up. You must wake up!" The pup groggily opened her eyes. "Who are you? What is your clan?"
"I . . . I don't . . . I don't . . ." Her eyes began to droop again.
The youngest of Kiska's pack looked at his companions. "She doesn't know her own clan? What kind of wolf is she?"
"She's slipping." Kiska said. "Delirious from the cold. We must get her to shelter."
"I must take her back to my pack's den. Get her out of the elements," Eyak interjected smoothly.
"Of course. Who likes frozen food?" one of Kiska's pack growled softly.
"Silence, Andan." Kiska stared hard at Eyak. "What proof can you give that you speak the truth?"
"Looks like you'll have to trust me," Eyak said with a cold smile.
"Trust you?" Andan snorted. "Not likely."
"Silence," Kiska repeated. "Arguments are unnecessary. We hunt here by Kemo's permission. This trespasser has no say in the matter."
Eyak bit back a growl as he sensed his pack form up behind him. "I beg to differ. It is you who have no say in the matter. I would suggest you back off now while you still have legs to do so."
"Do not presume I am weaker than Tagish." In spite of her bravado, she knew that her pack's chances of winning this were slim. "We take her before Kemo. Let him be the judge of matters in his territory."
"No! He has always been partial to the Anvil Creek Clan."
Just then, the rest of Kiska's pack arrived, and the odds were shifted in her favor, but looking at the pup, she knew they had to act fast or fighting would be pointless."The abandoned den over that knoll," she suggested, nodding at a distant rise. "Three of your pack, three of mine. We will question her there."
With little choice, Eyak shrugged feigned indifference. "As you wish, but we will not forget this."
Ignoring his posturing, Kiska immediately began issuing orders. "Tandera, Nootka. You two on me. Silently, she took her scout and highest-ranking male aside. "Chehalis, find Kemo," she whispered. "Don't stop until he is found. Failure is not an option. Fly!" As her runner sprinted away, Kiska turned to the Quinault. "You will leave with the rest of the pack, but stay within sight of the den. Let's move!" She grabbed Aleu and the two packs began to run toward the den.
Kaltag quickly arrived at the Old Mill, still carrying Jenner. After Kaltag set him down, Jenner gazed around the crowd of dogs gathered in the timeworn building, searching for his family.
"I can't see a thing, Uncle Kaltag. Everyone's in the way."
"Don't worry, Jenner. They're in back."
Chipper trotted over to him. "Jenner? What are you doing here?"
The pup ignored him and glanced around frantically. Finally spying his parents, he quickly twisted his way through the throng and pawed impatiently at his dad's leg. "Papa! I've gotta tell you something!"
"Not now, Jenner," Balto said with a quick glance at his son. Then he stopped and glanced down again. "Jenner? What are you doing here? You're supposed to be at home!"
"I asked first," Chipper muttered. Dash nudged him to be silent.
Jenner looked at his brothers and sister staring anxiously at him. "I know, Papa, but . . ."
"You know you're not supposed to go anywhere without myself or your mother with you."
"But . . ." Jenner looked imploringly at Kaltag, who had joined the group.
The husky sighed. "I brought him. We've got a situation, Balto."
"Why? What's wrong?" Jenna asked anxiously.
"Easy, Jenna." Balto gazed steadily at his son.
Kaltag nudged the pup. "Go ahead, Jenner. Tell him what you know."
Jenner took a deep breath. "Aleu ran away."
"What?" Jenna's eyes widened in fear. "Balto, we've got to do something. She could freeze to death in weather like this!"
Balto was staring outside, trying to compose his thoughts. "Jenner, did you see which way she went?" His son shook his head despairingly. "All right, we'll comb the town and the woods. Kaltag, are you coming?"
"Of course."
"I'm with you," Dash declared.
"I am too," Aurora added.
"Count me in," Chipper chimed. Dash glanced at him, but didn't argue.
"Are you three sure? You aren't really built for this climate." They nodded.
Jenna was pacing frantically. "What are we waiting for? Let's go!"
Balto frowned at this but turned to Nikki and Star. "You two coming?"
"Sure thing dere, Balto," Nikki replied.
"Right with ya, Boss," Star added.
Six other dogs also volunteered.
"Where do we start, though?" Kaltag asked.
"The snow's going to make tracking hard," Balto agreed. He paused thoughtfully. "Kaltag, Nikki, you guys search the outskirts of town. Jenna, you're with me. Doc, watch our pups until we return. The rest of you buddy-up and scour the town. Howl if you find something. Let's mush!"
As they ran out of town, Balto headed first for his boat. Aleu knew the way, and it was possible that she would go there to worry everyone. Apparently of the same thought, Kaltag immediately ran to the opposite side of the beached fishing smack upon their arrival. Balto and Jenna ran up the gangplank.
"Boris!" Balto shook the goose awake.
"Balto! Jenna! What are you doing here this late? Oi! Couldn't whatever it is have waited til morning? I thought the Cossacks were come for me!"
"We don't have time for that, Boris. Have you seen Aleu?"
Boris put both wings to his head in exasperation. "Now how could I see Aleu, when Aleu is home with you?" He paused. "She isn't home?"
Jenna shook her head in consternation. "We were hoping she was with you."
"Don't worry, Jenna. We'll find her," Boris said comfortingly. "Just let me ready for takeoff, eh?"
"It's too windy for that, Boris," Balto warned.
"Nonsense. Like perfect flying weather in Old Country."
"All right. Check everywhere." Balto jumped over the side, followed closely by Jenna.
"Anything over dere?" Nikki asked.
Balto shook his head. "You?"
Kaltag raised his head from the ground. "Nothing. What now?"
"We should meet up with da others," Nikki suggested. "Maybe they had better luck dan us."
"They would've howled if they'd found anything," Jenna said. "We have to keep looking."
Balto frowned thoughtfully. "We couldn't hardly hear anything with the wind howling. Let's check and if they don't have her, we'll go out into the forest."
"I'm telling you, any tracks are covered up by now with snow," Star said as he and Chipper made their way toward Balto's house. "Why do you think Balto didn't come here in the first place?"
"No harm in trying is there?" Chipper countered.
Chipper ignored him as he found what he was looking for; a bare spot on the road. Now with a little luck . . . Chipper sniffed it and quickly became excited. "Hey! I found Aleu's scent!" Walking further up the sidewalk, nose to the ground, he stopped and glanced behind him. "Heading this way!"
"Are you sure?"
Chipper smelled the spot again. "Positive."
"But . . . but there's two wolf packs out that way! One of them almost killed Kaltag once!"
Chipper gulped. He'd heard Treg talk about wolves, and nothing he'd said was good. He immediately became concerned. "We've got to go after her."
Star was stuttering in disbelief. "We should get help first. Going out alone is insane!"
"Agreed, but we've got to. If the situation out there is as dangerous as you say, it's a tossup whether the cold or wolves get her first. Let's just howl like we said we would and go."
"But how will the others find us?" Star interrupted.
"They can follow our trail. The snow is lightening up."
"I still don't know," Star muttered uncertainly.
Chipper shrugged and turned away. "You can stay here to tell the others where I've gone. I just thought you'd want to impress a certain someone with a show of bravery."
Star's mouth fell open. "How did you . . . never mind. Hey, wait a minute! Don't get sore, I never said I wasn't going. I'm just being cautious, that's all."
Star traipsed past him and Chipper grinned victoriously. "Hey Star! Wait up!"
Aleu slowly became aware of voices around her, and her eyes fluttered open. She waited for her fuzzy vision to dissolve into their true shapes before attempting to stand up. She managed to get halfway to her feet before her legs gave out and she toppled to the floor again. Ground, rather, as she quickly noticed she was in a rock shelter of some kind.
"She is awake," a voice behind her said. "I will inform Kiska."
"No you will not," another voice declared.
"But Kiska's orders . . ."
"Are irrelevant. I am countermanding them. Mantan, Dalag, make sure he does not move." Aleu heard footsteps draw near to her. "Glad to see you are finally awake."
The amiable tone seemed alien to the harsh voice. Aleu began to stand again, until she spied a pair of large paws. Her gaze traveled up the creature's forelegs and finally to . . . she uttered a startled cry as she tried to scramble away. The creature, thinking ahead, had pinned her to the floor before she could move. Obviously, escape was not an option. "Who are you?"
"It was I who found you. What might your name be?"
"I asked you first," she replied indignantly.
The wrathful expression on the creature's face told her that this was probably not a wise move, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. "So you did," he said with a forced smile. "I am Eyak, leader of the Eagle Pass Clan. And your name is . . .?"
"Aleu," she replied. She studied the creature carefully, and noticed three others with similar features. The one who was cornered against the rock wall by two others was bristling angrily, while the other two watched him closely. They looked somewhat like her father, but not quite. There was something more primitive about them. They must be wolves. "What do you want?"
"Merely to ask you some questions. From which clan are you?"
"Huh?"
His smile wavered for a moment. "I'm not in the mood for games. What is the name of your clan?"
"I . . . I don't understand. What do you mean?"
"Your parents, then. Who are they?"
Now that I can answer. "My papa's name is Balto, and my mama's name is Jenna." Surprise was evident on the wolf's face, but mistaking this for disbelief, she looked earnestly at the gathered wolves. "You believe me, don't you?"
Instead of replying, he turned to consult with Dalag. "What do you think?"
"Possible, but perhaps you should test her," the other suggested.
Eyak nodded. "An excellent idea. If she is kin to Balto, we would gain a great deal of leverage over that meddlesome half-breed."
"But the other packs will not stand for it," Mantan argued. "They would intervene. Kiska's pack already knows about her, and you know that she has already sent a scout to Kemo."
Eyak paused as a plan formed in his mind. "Perhaps that is in our best interest." He walked over to the puppy again. "I have discussed the matter with my clan, and we are in agreement. You lie."
"But it's the truth! Honest!" she protested
"Then where is your father?"
"I don't know," she replied softly. "I . . . I don't think he doesn't know I'm gone. He's been acting strange ever since this man came to stay with us . . ."
"Man? From outside of Nome?" Eyak asked.
"Uh huh, and they brought some dogs with them, and . . ."
"Yes, but what about the human? Why is he here?"
Aleu balked at the intensity of the question, and wondered if she should be talking to this stranger after all. "Something about a project. I . . . I'm not sure."
"Then be sure! I must know!" She began to cry, and Eyak bared his teeth, advancing slowly toward her. "I grow weary of these games."
His advance was halted when a small gray female rushed inside, followed by six others of mottled color. She strode up to the larger wolf, fairly bristling with rage. "Eyak, why did you not send for me the minute she awakened? You said that if my pack stood watch . . ."
"It must have slipped my mind," he replied smoothly.
"And Nootka's?" she asked, nodding at her cornered packmate. Then, noting the crying pup, her eyes narrowed. "What is going on here?"
"I was simply having a quick chat with the pup. She is of my clan, after all."
Kiska glared at him. "It appears what little trust I gave you has been misplaced. You will find it wise for the Eagle Pass Clan to leave our borders within the hour. Otherwise you will have a fight, and it will not be my clan that is outnumbered."
"We will go," he snarled, "but know that we go of our own will, not yours."
"Leave the pup," Kiska growled when he moved toward the youngster. With another snarl, Eyak and his followers filed out of the den. "Mantu, Chaglag, Nootka. Make sure they leave as instructed."
Now that the threat had passed, Kiska's fur fell flat again, and her expression became more tender as she lay down in front of the sobbing pup. "What is your name, young one?"
"Aleu," the pup said, blinking away tears and backing away.
"You have nothing to fear," the wolf said soothingly, taking a step forward.
Aleu tried to retreat again, but noting her escape was blocked by the other wolves, she froze in fear. "There, there, daughter. You are safe now," the wolf said soothingly. She began to lick the tears from the pup's face, and when Aleu's crying subsided, she lay down at eye-level with the pup. "Now then. Who are your parents? What clan are they from clan?"
Aleu shifted nervously. "I . . . I don't know you."
The wolves around them chuckled, and the wolf proffered a kindly smile. "My apologies. I am Kiska, daughter of Koyu and Niska. I lead the Anvil Creek Clan. And you are Aleu . . ."
Aleu blinked away tears and imitated Kiska's manner of speech. "Daughter of Balto and Jenna."
She gasped in surprise, but quickly settled her astonishment and grinned at her packmates. "The daughter of Balto? Everyone mind your manners. We have a distinguished guest among us."
A brown male with a black muzzle nodded. "No wonder Eyak acted as he did."
Seeing Aleu's questioning expression, Kiska quickly explained. "What Andan means is that Eyak and your father have had . . . disagreements in the past."
"But how does he know Papa?" Aleu frowned thoughtfully. "How do you know Papa?"
A brown and gray male laughed aloud. "You will find that Balto is known to many. His fame is not confined to the human's town."
"Really?"
Kiska nodded. "It is as Quinault says. Your father's counsel is respected by all except perhaps Eyak."
"But why doesn't he like Papa?"
"So many questions! You must keep your father busy." Aleu looked away. Noting this, Kiska quickly pressed. "Eyak is very new at leading a pack. He tends to be a bit overzealous concerning some things. He challenged your father's credibility in a clan gathering, and he was shamed in front of several prominent leaders. Justifiably so, of course, but Eyak has a selective memory and is slow to forget."
"Papa can take care of himself," Aleu agreed proudly.
Finally, here is my chance. "True, but what of you? I realize that appearances are deceiving, yet you seem far too young to be without a guardian. If your parents are not here, why are you?"
Aleu looked down, refusing to meet Kiska's curious gaze. "I . . . I'd rather not say," she mumbled, rolling a pebble back and forth with one paw.
Kiska nodded her assent. "Understandable, at least for the time being. Now if you will excuse me a moment, there are matters which I must discuss with my clan. Andan, take care of her." She turned and was followed by five of her six compatriots.
