Chapter 2

It was a bright winter day. Everything was covered in snow. Two pups snuck around the forest outside their cave. They heard a padding noises and immediately hid themselves. Another pup padded by the area where they just were. He was a dark brown pup. He sniffed the air, then he pounced on a random area in the snow. He pulled out one of the pups.

"C'mon Aston, that's too easy."

He turned and pulled another pup out of the snow. "You too Dingo."

"Aww Balto, you always spoil hide and seek!" Aston whined.

Balto grinned. "What can I say? I'm that good."

Dingo grinned mischievously. "How about you hide and the two of us go find you?"

Balto rolled his eyes. "Why don't you get five more guys and it'll be a fair game?"

Aston chuckled. "I'm sure it'll be quite fair."

"Okay. What's that?" Balto pointed behind Dingo and Aston. They both turned around.

There was nothing there. They turned back around. Balto was gone.

"Geeze, how did he do that?" Dingo asked.

Aston pouted. "Probably cheated that's how."

"Why, I'm right here!"

The two pups turned in the direction of the voice. Nothing. Dingo swallowed nervously. "Okay Balto you're freaking me out."

There was no response. "B-Balto? Where are you?"

"Here."

The two screamed. They turned to find Balto grinning back at them.

"Looks like we found you." Aston said defiantly.

Balto chuckled. "No. You screamed like a little girl."

Aston frowned. "I'm going home." He turned away. "You always ruin everything." He muttered.

"You always ruin everything." Balto mimicked.

"Well you do." Dingo insisted.

"Oh come on! I do not!"

A smile appeared on Dingo's face. "Do too."

"Do not!"

"Do too." Dingo turned and began running towards the cave. Balto ran after him. He caught up easily. He leapt on his prey, tackling him.

"Do not!" Balto said laughing.

"Do too." Dingo replied coolly.

The two wrestled in the snow, laughing, until they both got tired.

"Let's race to town!" Balto said.

"But mom said…"But Balto was already sprinting towards the town.

"Oh brother." Dingo groaned.

Balto ran as fast as he could across the snowy ground. Suddenly he felt himself become airborne. Someone had picked him up by the scruff of the neck.

"Where do you think you're going?" Aniu demanded.

"Geeze mom, I'm just racing into town."

Aniu gave him an angry glare. "What did I tell you about going near the town?"

Aniu sighed. "Follow me."Aniu led Balto back to the cave.

His three siblings were grinning. "Balto's in trouble! Balto's in trouble!" They chanted.

"Shut up!" Balto snarled.

Aniu led him into a dark part of the cave. "Balto we need to talk."

"Am I in trouble?" Balto asked nervously.

Aniu smiled. "No Balto. You're not in trouble. It's just…" She sighed. "Your father would have been better at this than I am. You're different."

"I know I'm different. I beat everyone in hide and seek."

Aniu chuckled. "That's not…quite what I mean. You look different."

"But you told us looks don't matter."

"I know I did. It's just…that town has humans. Humans and wolves…don't get along."

"But I'm a wolf dog."

"I know. Your siblings are too. But they look like dogs. And you look like…"

"A wolf." Balto finished. He looked hurt. "But I would never hurt the humans. What does it matter whether I look like a wolf?"

Aniu paused. How to explain this to a pup? "Humans aren't perfect. They fear things that are…different."

"And I'm different. So no matter what they'll always fear me?"

"Well it depends. If you really try hard to be good, they'll realize they have no reason to be afraid of you."

Balto smiled. "Okay mom."

"But for now stay away from the town."