Cole then noticed Aleu was at the bottom looking pretty down.
"Hey, it's okay.", Cole said to her trying to cheer her up, "You are going to be a great individual."
Aleu looked up at him in wonder.
"You think?", she asked.
"I don't think.", Cole said to her giving a sly smile, "I know."
As much as it hurt Balto and Jenna, they had no choice but to keep Aleu since nobody else seemed to want her. Cole seemed to know that too as he and Balto led Aleu back to the boat.
"Well, looks like we're raising her ourselves.", Cole stated.
Balto didn't answer, but Boris came out looking a bit confused.
"What's wrong?", he asked, "I thought you were getting the pups adopted."
He then noticed Aleu and he suddenly knew. Then another voice cut through the silence.
"Uncle Boris."
Cole snickered as he had no trouble recognizing that voice, but Boris looked frightful as he turned around to see Muk and Luk charge his way.
"No! Stop! Heel!", he called out.
Muk and Luk didn't hear him and by the time Boris tried to get out of the way, Luk had him in one of his famous bear hugs and humming cheerfully.
"He says it's been so long Uncle Boris.", Muk said eagerly before noticing Aleu and turning to Balto and Cole, "Why is there a pup here?"
"Well, nobody wants her so we thought we'd keep her.", Cole answered.
Luk dropped Boris instantly as he and Muk started bouncing around excitedly.
"Oh, it's going to be fun!", Muk said, "We'll play Slush, and play hide-and-seek, and cuddle on starry nights and have the best fun ever!"
Aleu even seemed to cheer up with Muk and Luk's antics, but then she yawned and Balto seemed to be tired also.
"Okay Aleu, bedtime.", Cole said in a caring tone.
As Balto and him got snuggled in their old blanket, Aleu seemed to be near Cole.
"Togo, could you sing that song you usually do?", Aleu asked.
Cole noticed Balto smiling and obliged.
"Deep in the night the wind blows cold. And in a heartbeat, the fear takes hold. Deep in the storm, there's a place that's soft and still. And a road waits to be taken if you only will. The voices inside you can lead your soul astray. Believe in what you dream. Don't turn away. Don't you turn away."
Cole paused to take a breath before continuing, but then noticed Aleu was sleeping soundly beside him so he decided to stop there, but kept humming the tune as he drifted off to sleep. He was asleep the moment his head hit the deck.
Time passed and Cole had been there for Aleu so she wouldn't get into trouble, but as she grew, it became more difficult. One morning, he had gotten up and noticed Aleu wasn't around, but it didn't bother him too much as Balto and him got up for the day.
"Where's Aleu?", Balto asked as he noticed Aleu's absence.
Cole was having a drink of water clearly still a bit amazed at having to use his tongue to scoop water rather than drink it by hand, but he paused to look Balto's way with water dripping off his snout.
"I don't know.", he answered sheepishly, "Maybe she's playing with Muk and Luk somewhere."
That only seemed to make Balto a little more worried.
"I'll check the surrounding area, you check Nome. Go!", he stated before bolting off.
Cole obliged, but couldn't help but feel that Balto was being a little overprotective.
"Balto, I know you love your daughter and want to be there for her.", he muttered to himself as he entered Nome, "But you can't always be the deciding factor in her life."
Just as he got into town, the summer winds were telling him that autumn will be soon upon the land. He tensed as the doctor's door opened and Steele limped out with his back leg still bandaged, but steady enough to walk normally.
"Now remember Steele, no running for a week and then you'll be well enough to have your cast removed."
Steele walked out as the door closed, but he then sniffed the air and looked over his shoulder at Cole before giving a smug smile.
"Oh, so nice of you to visit me."
Cole frowned.
"I'm not here to make friends Steele.", he said firmly, "I'm just trying to find Aleu so-"
"Is Balto still thinking that disappointment of a daughter of his is still a dog?", Steele interrupted as his smile got bigger, "I thought he was mixed up before, but this is ridiculous."
Cole felt his blood boil and bared his teeth.
"I wouldn't do that.", Steele advised, "If people around here saw the great Togo suddenly go feral, they might put you down."
Cole tried to calm down, but Steele's smile made it hard to do so.
"You will keep your mean words to yourself.", he said firmly, "Have you seen Aleu or not?"
As much as Steele wanted to taunt Cole further, he was growing a bit tired from the medication he was forced to take.
"No.", he answered plainly before turning away, "Now be off."
Steele strutted away, but as soon as he was out of earshot, Cole huffed harshly as he tried calming down which was easier now that Steele had departed.
"That jerk is so irritating.", he grumbled.
"So he is."
/
Cole turned to see Fox nearby looking a bit sympathetic and Cole finally took a breath and let his tension go.
"How much did you hear?", Cole asked.
"I heard enough.", Fox answered coming up to Cole's side, "You say you're looking for Aleu?"
Cole nodded. Aleu had once got introduced to Fox and the team, though Fox was more welcoming than the rest who needed a little more convincing. By now, they had gotten used to her though they did prefer that Aleu kept her distance from Nome so that the humans wouldn't get any bad ideas about her.
"You haven't seen her around Nome have you?", Cole asked.
"Nada.", Fox answered, "But I should be getting back to the boys so we get our groove set for our first race."
After a friendly gesture, the two parted and Cole was grateful that Aleu wasn't in Nome and headed out to see if Balto had found her and noticed that the sky had grown close to sunset.
"Oh boy, I need to get back."
He bounded out of Nome and was heading back when he noticed Muk, Luk and Boris walking a bit off.
"Hey, what's up boys?", he asked as he came over.
Muk and Luk looked nervous, but Boris seemed a bit miffed.
"I don't know what is up with that girl. I baby-sit, she says she don't need it. I say "sit", and she ignores me.", he said before noticing Cole, "Oh Togo, we had a bit of trouble earlier."
Cole looked curious.
"What kind of trouble?", he asked.
Muk looked hesitant, but Luk seemed to be urging him to tell.
"Well, we were just playing hide-and- seek with Aleu in the forest nearby.", Muk stated, "Then Uncle Boris shows up to try and nags her, then Balto showed up and tried to-"
"Help out.", Boris interrupted, "Then man comes in with gun and Balto just wanted to protect Aleu, but she thinks man wants to adopt her. Oy, that girl needs raincheck in mind."
Cole sighed.
"Guess Aleu's at that age where she gets rebellious huh?"
"Well, let's get home you balls of fluff!", Boris yapped to Muk and Luk, "It's getting late."
"Uncle Boris, can Togo come too?", Muk asked, "He might help out with Aleu."
Boris sighed.
"Of course Togo can come. It like he's family when he's not."
Cole frowned as he trod alongside Boris and the polar bears.
"Now I do take offense Boris, I do."
Boris looked a bit apologetic.
"Sorry."
/
As they got near the boat, Cole noticed Nikki, Kaltag, and Star heading around a bend towards them.
"Heads up.", he called out.
Boris, Muk, and Luk hurried off, but Cole stood his ground as he was more at ease seeing Fox right behind them.
"Okay, Nikki, remember to breathe through your nose, but out through your mouth or vise versa.", Fox instructed, "Kaltag, try longer strides, and Star, you pick up the pace."
Fox then noticed Cole and an idea came to mind.
"Okay, halt!", he called out.
All four dogs skidded to a stop right in front of Cole where Fox looked satisfied.
"Great work, keep it up.", he said before turning to Cole, "Hey Togo."
Cole looked impressed.
"Wow Fox, you're getting good as lead dog."
"No kidding.", Nikki piped up, "He's got it."
"He's so focused, so knowing, so-", Kaltag stated.
"He's a natural.", Star interrupted.
Fox rolled his eyes.
"Guys, there's no need to flatter me. You're all great in my eyes."
Cole looked a bit unsure and Fox noticed right away.
"Togo, is this about Steele again?"
Nikki, Kaltag, and Star all tensed.
"That guy?", Nikki asked looking firm.
"Please tell me he just hit his head on something hard and was put out of his misery.", Kaltag spat.
"Nah, doc say's he'll make a full recovery in a week if he goes on like he is.", Star said a bit disappointed.
Fox sighed, but didn't let it get to him.
"Guys, I know Steele can be . . . oh, what's the word I'm looking for?"
"Mean?", Nikki guessed.
"Spiteful?", Kaltag suggested.
"Nasty?", Star put in.
"I was thinking just plain bad.", Fox said before looking Cole's way, "Togo, remember what our musher taught us back when you first joined the team?"
Cole recalled talking about it last time he had come to Nome to Balto and couldn't help but smile.
"Never mind what the world thinks."
"Do you think you have what it takes?", Fox asked finishing the saying and smiling just as warmly.
Cole felt better and then remembered he had to get to Balto to see if he had found Aleu.
"Well, nice talking to you Fox.", he said as he headed off, "You too boys."
"Nice to talk to you too.", Fox answered before turning to the other three, "Okay, one more time around the square and we'll call it a day."
/
Cole observed as they left, but then headed off to the boat. It was sunset once he arrived, but something caught his wolf ears as he got near. He couldn't make out everything, but it sounded pretty harsh and it was Balto and Aleu talking.
"Uh-oh, I hope this isn't too bad.", he hoped.
He hurried over to the boat and just in time to hear something harsh.
"It's not fair. I hate you!"
Cole tensed for it was Aleu talking. He got to the boat to see Aleu jump over the edge and run off looking both hurt and upset at the same time.
"Aleu!", Balto's voice came from above.
Cole tried to chase after Aleu.
"Aleu, what happened?", he called after her, "What's wrong?"
"Leave me alone!", Aleu yelled.
Cole felt a pain in his heart as Aleu's words cut into his hearing. Sure she was at the rebellious phase, but what could've made her so upset like this? He paused and turned to see Balto looking in the direction Aleu had been running and sigh. Cole came back to the boat looking concerned.
"Okay Balto, what happened?", he asked as he came aboard.
Balto looked away for a moment, but knew better than to try and hide something from Cole.
"Togo, I told her about being part wolf.", he admitted, "She's probably just going to cool off."
"Balto, I couldn't see her face, but I could tell by the three cruel words she yelled at me that she's more than a little upset.", Cole said firmly, "I know that a hunter took aim at her, but why not tell her about her heritage when she was little huh?"
Cole paused to let his words sink in and decided he was a bit harsh.
"Look, just try to help her understand okay?"
Balto then yawned as Boris came in.
"If you're done talking Togo, I think you and Balto need to get sleep now.", the old goose said firmly, "I'm not staying awake all night for either of you."
/
Aleu kept running over the land. Her feelings still hurting from that hard talk her father and her shared. How come her brothers and sisters looked like dogs and she didn't even though they had wolf in them also? Maybe she was a bit harsh when she yelled at Cole who had always stood by her even though every human in Nome rejected her. She paused on top of a hill as the moon cast its light upon her and the surrounding land so she could take a breather.
"Where do I belong?", she couldn't help but wonder as she looked up into the clear starry sky.
Aleu then had a faint memory of Cole helping her and her siblings sleep by singing that special song and she took a breath to try it herself.
"Deep in the night, the wind blows cold and in a heartbeat the fear takes hold. Deep in the storm, there's a place that's soft and still and a road waits to be taken if you only will. The voices inside you can lead your soul astray. Believe in what you dream. Don't turn away. Don't you turn away. Reach for the light. You might touch the sky. Stand on the mountain top and see yourself flying. Reach for the light to capture a star. Come out of the darkness and find out who you are."
Aleu felt comforted by the verse. It was almost like a song of encouragement and she couldn't help but lift up her head to the moon and howl. She felt better about running off, but she still felt confused about where she could belong if she didn't belong in Nome so she carried on unaware that back in Nome, as Balto slept, Cole sang the second verse of his song to help him get to sleep.
"Somewhere in time the truth shines through and the spirit knows what it has to do. Somewhere in you there's a power with no name. It can rise to meet the moment and burn like a flame. And you can be stronger than anything you know. Believe in what you see. Don't let it go. Don't you let it go."
As Cole sang the chorus, his eyelids dropped and he was sound asleep next to Balto without knowing that the tag on his collar was shimmering again like it did when he last came.
