A/N: And, here it is! The first chapter of A Wolf's Journey! Hope everyone enjoys!!

"A-A-Achoo!" sneezed Balto.

"Bless you, dear," said Jenna. "I hope you aren't coming down with a cold."

"I don't think I am," Balto responded. He sat up and stretched. He and Jenna had been enjoying the Alaska Sunset.

"I think someone's been talking about you," said Boris, the Russian Snow Goose.

"You finally got away from Muk and Luk?" Balto asked, smiling.

"Yes, I…" Boris trailed off. He recognized that smile anywhere. "They're right behind me, aren't they?" Balto and Jenna both nodded. "Here we go again…"

"Uncle Boris!" shouted Muk. Luk, Muk's brother, wasn't far behind. "Uncle Boris! Muk and I want to play some more!" The two polar bears were jumping up and down. Muk, being smaller, jumped on top of Luk and the two of them begin to wrestle.

"Why don't you two go play in the water?" Boris asked. The two polar bears thought about that for a minute, then started running towards the water. "Geez, those two drive me crazy."

Balto and Jenna just laughed. Things had been quite around Nome. It had been about three weeks since the mail race with Kodi. Everything was starting to go back to normal.

Jenna yawned as she sat up. "I going to go to bed," she said, tiredly.

"I'll join you in a bit," Balto said. They nuzzled each other and then Jenna headed to the boat.

"So, has Stella told you any new gossip?" Balto asked once Jenna was completely inside the boat.

"Nothing out of the ordinary," Boris said, in his Russian accent. "This bird's with that bird and that dog's with that dog."

Balto gave a small laugh. "It sure has been quiet around here."

"No, no, no, no, no! You are not thinking about going on another adventure, are you?" Boris asked. His tone filled with concern.

Balto couldn't help but laugh at this. "You know me too well, Boris," he said. "No, I was thinking of going to visit Aleu. It's been a while since Jenna and I have seen her. I wonder if she's had any pups of her own."

"Ha ha! It seems a certain someone is anxious to see if he is a grandpa!" Boris exclaimed.

Balto shook his head. "Wouldn't you be?" Boris was quiet after that. "Thought so."

"UNCLE BORIS!" shouted Muk. "COME PLAY!"

Boris sighed. "A goose's work is never done," he said.

"Best go now, otherwise they'll drag you over there," Balto said.

Reluctantly, Boris began to waddle towards Muk and Luk. "Ay-yi-yi! The things I do…"

Balto couldn't help but chuckle. He turned his attention towards the sun, as it was setting on the Alaskan waters. It had been like that for several days. And it would remain like that for at least three more. He sighed and closed his eyes. He was excited about tomorrow. Kodi would be back and his family would get together, all except Aleu, and they'd all catch up with each other.

As Balto slowly opened his eyes, he could see a figure in front of him. At first, he thought it was Luk wanting to play. "Okay, I'll play…" but he trailed off. In front of him, at this very minute, was his mother: the white wolf Aniu.

"Mother…" Balto whispered. It had been some time since he last saw his mother, thought he knew it was only her spirit.

But as soon as she was there, she vanished.

"I guess I'm seeing things," Balto said, as he headed inside. He turned around one last time to where he thought he saw he mother. "Was that really you…mom?"