Chapter 3: Reports of the Woods

It soon became a daily habit for Balto to go chatting boiler room. And at the same time, Balto had finally mustered enough courage to ask Jenna out, which she, of course, accepted. They spent a whole night by the beautiful moonlit beach quite a distance from Nome, so they won't be interrupted. There, Balto finally confessed his love for Jenna and she accepted it, too. And for the next few days, their love blossomed, Balto couldn't be happier, everything that happened only brought him more and more confident to stay in the town. Most of the previous doubts and hatred against him had faded away, just like his own to himself… most of it.

It was a normal day with a little snow and a nice breeze blowing around. Balto and Jenna were going to the boiler room, there were some news going around in Nome, and they are going to hear it out. Inside the boiler room, the dogs talked louder than usual, they seemed restless.

As they approached, Doc, the St. Bernard who was like the mayor of the dogs in Nome, Said "Balto you're here, good. We've got some news from Morris, and maybe it is related to that white wolf you mentioned earlier in your story."

Balto nodded as he took a place and sit down with Jenna, eager to have a clue about that almost mystical wolf. "About three hours of so ago," started Doc "a sled team that came to deliver mail arrived, the dogs were wounded in several places and that musher, a very young boy, looked so afraid that he might faint in any moment. We asked the dogs what happen; they started off from and town to the east, the journey was normal for the first two days, but when they were one and a half days from Nome things started to go wrong, they spotted a pack of wolf, going the same direction as they were. They tried to maintain the distance, but the wolves attacked, probably out of their territorial instinct, that's where they got their wounds."

Doc stopped to have a rest, and Rex continued "They got away, but some of them were wounded, as Doc said. They continued to run for their lives with the fastest speed they can muster with the wounded ones, and soon the wolves stopped pursuing. But their wolf luck hadn't ended there, along the way they also encounter several lone wolves, several, not one. Isn't that strange? I mean, since when did Nome become a wolf attraction spot?"

"Well they are just heading toward the forest, not for Nome." Star pointed out.

"What's the difference? The forest is where our sled teams must pass through!" snapped Kaltag.

"Even if we know they are coming, what can we do? And why do we do? The forest is vast, it's not likely we would encounter them every time we go in." asked Jenna.

"Yeah, but there's still a chance, and if they claim that part of forest where our passage lies as their territory, then we will have lots of chances there." Said Nikki.

"They are welcome to try!" said Rex, "Our musher always carries a gun when we're out mushing. They'll be dead before they know it."

"You said it, a gun. You think one gun can take up a pack of wolves at least a dozen strong? Don't you forget humans cannot aim accurately when they're panic?" said Kaltag.

Balto had been listening when the others were talking. Lone wolves around Nome? Could it be that one I met? Perhaps I should go into the woods and look for them; they might just give me some clue… "Hey guys, did the dogs who encountered those lone wolves told you about their location?" asked Balto.

"Yes," Doc answered "the closest one they spotted was around the north side of the forest, a bit far away from your boat. He was running like mad towards Nome when they spotted him. Why you ask that?"

"I think there must be a reason for so many wolves to come near Nome, so maybe I can go into the forest and meet one of the lone wolves, ask him for the cause and maybe even ask him to leave." Balto's idea instantly caused many to mutter.

"Are you sure Balto? You knew lone wolves tend to be more aggressive and cautions to just about anything, it's how they survive alone. You may be attacked!" said Jenna, surprised by Balto's daring idea.

Balto replied in a calm tone "I do, but we need to know the reason they come, and I have more chance of survival in facing one wolf instead of a whole pack of them, right?"

"You can take some of us with you," suggested Kaltag, "I will go with you."

"I'll go too." Said Jenna, already stand up.

Balto frowned; it didn't suit his desire to have a whole bunch of dogs following him into the woods. However, having one of them to go with him provides an extra pair of eyes to look out for hidden dangers. "Alright, Kaltag, you can come with me, but one is enough. The wolf wouldn't be foolish enough to show himself to a great number of dogs with unknown intention to him."

"Take care, then." Said Jenna, she gave Balto a nuzzle.

"I will."