Chapter 4: A Living Mirror

It didn't take a long time for Balto and Kaltag to find themselves in the woods. The air was cold as it was still in winter, not much plant life can be found. And so was the prey, there shouldn't be enough food for the wolves, especially somewhere so close to a town, which is what troubled Balto. There must be something else that is attracting them, or something that makes them run away… He sniffed the freezing-cold air, it told him that there were only hares around in this part. Up ahead, Kaltag was urging him to keep on. "The witnesses said that wolf was at the north side, which is still quite a distance from here! We should keep moving, or we might miss him." He said urgently.

"I don't think so, if he was 'running like mad' when the dogs saw him, he could be here in anytime." Balto replied, but sped up his pace nevertheless.

Snow started to fall as they ventured deeper into the woods, it started out small, but soon turned big enough for Kaltag to suggest a return. However, just as he sounded his suggestion, Balto's nose caught a scent in the air, it was somehow familiar to the white wolf and… himself? "Wait, Kaltag! I got something! The wolf, he must be around!"

"So you want to keep searching?" asked Kaltag with a groan, "I don't think any of us can see our surrounding once this blasted snow gets bigger!"

"Alright, if we don't find him in ten minutes time, we'll head back to Nome." Answered Balto, he didn't want to stop, this might cause them to miss out the wolf forever, but again, there was no point to stay if the snow turns into a blizzard.

Balto kept on thinking as he continued their search, this lone wolf's scent troubled him; he would have mistaken the scent for himself if not for the 'wild spice'. Balto was so deep in his thought to the point that he forgotten to keep sniffing around, until—

"Balto, lookout!" Kaltag's voice tore through the wind. Balto pulled his head up just in time to see a brownish figure rammed into his side. The force of the figure threw him several yards from where he stood. He hit the ground hard but the snow softened his fall. He got up quick for fear that it might be some sort of attack, but it seemed the figure, which turned out to be a wolf, that tackled him passed out due to the impact. Kaltag was inspecting the wolf.

And then he gasped. "Balto, come and look at this!" Balto walked up to his side, the wolf wore a brown fur and a lighter tone of grey at the belly and lower neck, similar to himself, but he still didn't see what was making Kaltag looked so stunned. And then he noticed to face, the reason of Kaltag's reaction. This wolf looked just like him, and sum up the fur, ears and body structure, a perfect replica of Balto. The only difference was that this wolf looked more battered and wild. But these weren't Balto's concern; he felt this wolf familiar, like it has something to do with his past, which was now broken in tiny pieces.

"He looks familiar." Balto finally got the words out.

"Of course he looks familiar, you can see him whenever you stood up to a mirror!" Kaltag exclaimed, "How is this possible?"

"I don't know, I must've seen him when I was younger, or very young… Anyway, the snow is getting bigger, we need to get him out of the snow, or else he'll be cover in it and freeze to death."

"Yeah, let's get him to your boat, he's not save in town nor this forest." Said Kaltag, grabbing the wolf by the scruff of the neck.

"Yes, and we and ask him about why the wolves came here, and I have some personal questions for him, too." said Balto, joining Kaltag in carrying the wolf.

"I think I can guess a few." Said Kaltag with a smile. Together they dragged the 'replica-of-Balto' to where Balto and his friends lived.