Steele stalked in the bushes, careful to stay upwind and keep from rustling bushes. He was a dog on a mission. He had heard of Aleu's pack, how it was under new control.

He was here to help. This was his revenge.

**********

Gasi Mordos heard a rustle. It was so faint, that normal woves wouldn't have heard it.

Gasi Mordos was no ordinary wolf.

Without a word, Gasi Mordos sent her minions out to fetch the intruder. This would be fun.

**********

Balto smiled and shook his head. His daughter, Aleu, had been running into things all week. Now, she was finally getting used to her "wulf-crutches," as she called them.

Nathon, Balto's youngest son and also the most lupine of his children, walked up and sat beside Balto.

After a few seconds of silent contemplation, Nathon said,"I'd say 'a penny for your thoughts,' but I have no use for money. Also, I don't have to ask for your thoughts anymore."

Balto turned on Nathon and said,"Nat, you shouldn't use your power anymore. At least, not so frequently. Aleu said-"

"I know, I know. Every power comes with a consequence."

"Do you know what Aleu's consequence was?"

"Actually, no."

"When she sleeps, Aleu lives one nearby being's dreams. She cannot avoid it. She also cannot sleep at night." Balto thought back. His consequence was much the same. His dream-visions often woke him from even the deepest slumber.

"Well, I don't seem to have a consequence. If I do, it's a minor one that we don't notice."

Aleu stumbled her way over to the two wolf-dogs. "Actually, some consequences don't appear until years later. Those ones are the worst, and they are sometimes totally unrelated to the power."

Nathon thought for a minute, then agreed not to use his power of mind-reading so much. Secretly, Nathon crossed his toes.

**********

Kodiak pushed. The sled was still capsized, and it had been five days since the accident.

Though the musher had regained consciousness two days ago, his arm was broken, so he couldn't help.

Roan, the grey-brown wolf who had been helping the lost mail team, entered the clearing. He was dragging a caribou behind him.

The musher, seeing the wolf, went over to him. The musher patted the wolf on the head, then went to start a fire with his good hand.

Roan rubbed his head with his paw, then turned to Kodiak. "Why does he keep doing that, Kodi? I don't have that many fleas."

Kodiak chuckled. He had forgotten that wolves didn't know a human's habits.

"That's how a human shows affection or thanks to anything on four legs. I think he likes you."

Roan showed his fangs and then giggled and said,"Actually, I kind of like it. But I keep expecting him to pull a gun on me."

Out of nowhere, a second wolf came out of the forest. Roans startled expression revealed that he was not expecting company.

"That's Saline, our Alpha female. Why she has blessed us with her company, I know not. As you can see, she is in fact half dog."

Saline trotted over to the sled and examined it. Then, reaching in with one paw, Saline snapped something, then dashed out of the way as the sled fell to it's upright position.

Saline examied the sled again, then padded over to Kodiak. "Young Kodiak, I am your aunt."

**********

Kodi floated. He was playing in the ocean, and decided to float. So he floated.

Dingo called out for him to come in, it was getting late. Dingo was supposed to be babysitting. He was a good babysitter, strict, but willing to have fun.

It was actually supposed to be Kodiak's turn, but his sled team had vaporized off the map. Kodi hated Kodiak for having the same name as him.

As Kodi shook most of the water out of his fur, Dingo said,"It's going to be pretty nice out tonight. Want to come up the hill tonight with Sira and I to see my dad's trick?"

Kodi thought for a moment. He had been looking forward to seeing Balto's "trick" he was so proud of. "Ok, I think I'll go see this trick. What is it anyway?"

Dingo waggled his tail under Kodi's nose."Ah-ah-aah. It's a surprise!"

**********

`Steele was dragged along by his captors, a small group of wolves. They had popped out of nowhere and attacked him.

At least they were going where he wanted to go.

The wolves threw Steele like garbage at the feet of another wolf, with a fur of beautiful silver. She was obviously in charge.

Steele smiled and said, "Hello, great leader. I believe I have some information that may be useful to you."

**********

Aleu tripped over to Nathon.

Nathon greeted her with just a simple,"Hello."

Aleu smiled. Nathon was jealous of her!

"Hello, Junior. Lovely night out. Fresh bone for your thoughts."

"Well, now my thought are going,'WHY did she just call me Junior?'"

Aleu giggled.

"Oh, no, you aren't on painkillers again, are you?"

"Heck, no! If they tried to get that needle in me again, they would find out just how fast I can run! I was just thinking about when I was your age."

When Aleu didn't offer any more information, Nathon got bored and walked away.

A small brown mouse appeared next to Aleu. Without looking at him, Aleu said,"What am I going to do, Muru? My Beta wants me dead, my dad's enemy is telling her where I am, and I just called Nathon, Junior. My kids like my brothers more than me, Borris won't even talk to me, and mom keeps trying to sneak up when I'm talking to you."

Sure enough, Jenna came over the top of the hill at that exact moment. Muru vanished in a swirl of dust.

"There goes that mouse again. How come he leaves whenever I'm around? I know his name is Muru, but other than that, I don't know."

"Then you know more than dad. Muru is my spirit guide, and my most trusted advisor. I met him just after I left Nome, and he's saved my skin more than a few times since."

"I would like to meet him officially. He seems like a nice guy."

"He says that he can only talk o me wthout proper authorization from the spirit in charge. I tried to introduce him to a wolf once, and I got in trouble."

Jenna looked confused."So what exactly is a spirit guide?"

Aleu sighed."I guess I have nothing but time, and time is better spent without nagging. When every creature in the world is born, a spirit stands beside them."

Jenna looked even more confused. Here it comes, thought Aleu.

"Why?" Jenna asked.

"To light thier way through the long dark night, and sing them songs to guide them."

"Why?"

Muru had returned, and was watching the conversation with interest.

"Because each of us has a destiny that sets us all apart. The path is different for you and me, but the journey begins in the heart." Aleu began to sing in the purest notes.

You must go to the east, go to the west.

The road is rocky and the way is far.

It's a dangerous trail, a difficult quest.

If you want to know...

Who you really are.

Other voices joined in with Aleu, but no one was around. Muru had vanished.

There are voices all around you.

To comfort and to guide you.

Fathers and teachers,

Powerful creatures.

And the voice that sings inside you...

Aleu's voice trailed off completely, but the voices kept singing.

Or you can turn back around.

Run along home.

Back to the place where your friends are.

Perhaps that is best. You need the rest.

Who wants to go on a ridiculous quest?

Unless you want to know,

You truely want to know,

Unless you want to know...

Who you really are.

The voices faded out of hearing, chanting "Who are you?" over and over again.

Jenna looked around, then popped off the ground. Aleu was gone, but there were no tracks leading down the hill.

Suddenly, Jenna understood. She would find out who she was, and she would start right now.

**********

Kodiak was speechless. "W-w-what?" he stammered.

Saline ignored Kodiak's surprise and said,"The reason you couldn't turn your sled was because you had a broken sapling caught in the runner. I broke it, so now you are free to go."

Apparently noticing Kodiak's surprised expression for the first time, Saline said,"What, did you think your dad was an only pup?"

Kodiak noticed that his mouth was hanging open and closed it. Thinking quickly, he lied,"No, I was more thinking that Aleu takes after you in a way."

Saline gave Kodiak a look, than said,"Did you know you chew your left front paw when you lie, and that Aleu broke that same leg first? Quite a coinsidence, wouldn't you say?"

Kodiak stared blankely for a second, then realised that his paw was in his mouth. "Actually, no, I didn't know that."

Roan chuckled. "Well, now you do, and so does your little girlfriend, there."

Kodiak's normally white face turned beet red."Dusty isn't...That is we're not..Erm..."

Kodiak could feel Dusty's stare on the back of his head. This was going to take some explaining.

**********

Aleu, Kodiak, Dusty, Balto, Jenna, Borris, Muru, Steele, Dingo copyright Universal.

Songs used: "Who you Really are" from Balto 2.

Nathon, Gasi Mordos, Kodi, Sira, Roan, Saline copyright JackOdd(FanFiction dot net), Aleuisbest (Baltosource dot timduru dot org).