Cole fidgeted before he heard Balto's voice among moaning as if Balto was having a nightmare.

"What do you want?"

Cole opened his eyes only to find himself in a vast open area surrounded by thick mist which made him more than a bit nervous.

"Balto?", he asked.

No answer so Cole took a few steps forward and a raven's cawing caught his ears. He turned over his head to see Balto running across a vast area of ice while running behind a herd of caribou that seemed to be running somewhere.

"Balto!", Cole called out as he made his way towards Balto.

As if like magic, Cole stepped right beside Balto just as the raven caught up to them and a flash went off temporarily blinding both wolf dogs. When their visions cleared, Cole noticed the caribou hopping from one slab of ice to another as if they were crossing a bridge, but to where it was he had no idea. Thick mist came over their eyes again and a voice came to their ears.

"My son, you and your friend need to know the animal totems who will help guide you now."

Cole recognized the voice as the white wolf from his previous adventure, but said nothing as images of totem carvings started appearing.

"The fox—the cunning trickster. The wolverine—your fears. The bear—inner knowing. Caribou—life."

Cole observed each carving as the voice described them, but then a wolf howl made him turn to see the totem carving of the wolf from the pole from earlier and he regained his nerve.

"Wait! What does this have to do with my rhyme?"

"Patience Togo.", the voice of the white wolf said sagely, "Stay with Balto for as long as you are able for he will need you in the quest to come. Once you start on the journey, you will know what you're ment to do."

Cole had no idea what that ment, but as the totem carving of the wolf came closer still and gave out another wolf howl, Cole felt himself slipping into darkness and then his whole sight went black.

/

Cole's eyes shot open just as he noticed Balto moan and then open one eye suddenly.

"You okay there?", Cole asked.

Before Balto could answer, Luk appeared out of nowhere and raised up the blanket Balto and Cole were using with an expression that looked like he was looking for something. Cole looked confused though Balto looked slightly annoyed before Luk let the blanket fall back on to them and Muk then came up behind his brother and after Luk let Muk go under him, Muk was sniffing around.

"What are you guys doing?", Balto asked.

Muk was looking through a crate when he turned to Balto and shushed him.

"We're here to play with Aleu.", he said before he sniffed around some more and after Luk chuckled, they both landed in a heap and Muk looked a bit disappointed, "But Aleu's not her to play."

"No, no, no, no.", Luk said rather fast.

Balto and Cole got up and while Cole stretched, Balto groaned as he did the same.

"She's around here somewhere, I—", he started before looking the bear's way looking worried, "Wait, you mean you can't find her?"

Muk and Luk looked surprised, but answered.

"Uh, no.", Muk said.

Luk shook his head while whimpering clearly meaning the same as Muk. Cole looked a bit concerned as Balto sighed.

"I just wanted to give her some time.", he said, "I was sure she'd come home."

"Well, she did seem pretty upset last night.", Cole stated, "If Muk and Luk can't find her, where might she have run off to?"

"She's got to be at her mother's.", Balto said before he dashed out the door and towards Nome.

"Hey, wait up!", Cole called out as he dashed after him.

Muk and Luk watched their friends leave before Luk started sobbing and whimpering though Muk knew what he was saying.

"I know.", he said sniffling and getting teary eyed as well, "I wish we had a mum too."

Both bears held each other while they continued to bawl. Cole and Balto had made it to the totem pole and Cole recalled the vision he had last night as he and Balto circled the pole. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary so they continued on to Jenna's house.

/

Once they were at Jenna's house, Cole got a little concerned.

"Balto, how are we going to tell Jenna?", he asked, "We can't just waltz into her home like we live there."

Balto just started climbing some stacked crates near the side of Jenna's house before getting to a roof above the shed where a window was open. Even though he was on the ground, Coel could hear what was going on up there.

"Jenna!"

"Balto? What are you doing here so early?"

There was a pause and Cole heard Jenna's voice again.

"Is Aleu all right?"

"I don't know.", Balto answered, "I was hoping she was with you. She's… kind of mad at me."

"Stay there.", Jenna's voice came again.

Cole waited and soon Jenna came out and noticed him as she came his way.

"Togo, you're here too?"

Cole looked a bit shy as Balto began climbing down.

"Yeah, I'm a little worried about Aleu too."

Balto had by now gotten down and Jenna returned her attention to him.

"Now tell me what happened."

Balto paused as Cole knew what he had to say.

"A hunter took aim at her.", he said to Jenna making her gasp, "No don't worry. We got away."

Cole then stepped in before he could continue.

"Balto told Aleu how the humans see her."

Jenna looked more worried.

"You mean you told her about being part-"

She couldn't bring herself to say it, but Balto knew what she was getting at by the way he was looking so ashamed.

"Yes.", he admitted, "We should have done it sooner. I know that now. She's so angry with me."

"I'll say.", Cole said casually, "We can't seem to find her so she must have run away."

"Run away?", Jenna asked now frantic.

"I'm sorry, Jenna.", Balto said apologetically, "I never thought it would turn out this way. I thought I could keep her safe."

"Well, she's not safe now.", Cole said firmly, "She's now running all over."

"We have to find her.", Jenna said before she started off.

"Jenna, wait!", Cole said causing her to pause.

"This is my fault, and it's something that Aleu and I have to work out together.", Balto assured Jenna as he came up to her, "Don't worry. I'll find her."

Cole looked firm.

"Hey, if you're going into the Alaskan wilderness again, you're not leaving me behind.", he said as he came up to Balto's side, "I'm in too."

Jenna was thankful that Cole had decided to go. At least she could take comfort that Balto had someone watching out for him.

/

"Tell me again why we're sniffing around the beach again?", Cole asked.

Cole and Balto had returned to the boat and Balto was smelling around. Then Cole remembered that Aleu must have left a scent behind so he tried sniffing around too.

"Got anything?", he asked.

Balto then looked like he got something and headed off.

"I'll take that as a yes than.", Cole said as he dashed after Balto and was soon right beside his friend.

As they passed through a forest away from Nome, Cole felt a shiver across his back that made him pause a moment but not lose his stride for long.

"Togo, you okay?", Balto asked as Cole caught up noticing Cole's expression.

"Yeah, just… just a feeling.", Cole answered thinking fast.

Soon their noses led them to a slope that went to a rushing river. Cole sighed as he observed the landscape Balto headed off and he caught up to him again.

"So, any idea what we're going to say to her once we find her?", Cole asked hoping to get Balto talking.

Balto sighed.

"I don't know.", he admitted, "I… I'm sure what to think."

Cole and Balto followed the bank unaware that a thick cloud of mist appeared behind them and formed a wolf head with gleaming eyes. Still, Balto and Cole must have sensed it because they paused and turned to look over their shoulders, but as quickly as it came, the fog had vanished.

"What was that?", Cole asked.

"I have no idea.", Balto answered.

Mist started rolling in again and the sound of a raven cawing came out. Balto and Cole observed as a raven flew out of the fog and perch itself on a branch above their heads and look their way.

"You.", Balto said looking firm, "What is it you want?"

Cole recognized the raven from Balto's dream.

"Why are you here?", Cole asked.

The raven didn't speak. It just kept cawing before it flew over to a spot not far from where Balto and Cole were standing and caw again before they could get to it. It flew up to another branch and looked over it's shoulder toward them and cawed yet again.

"Are we supposed to follow it?", Cole asked.

As if it heard him, the raven cawed and took off to another branch not far from the one it was on.

"All right.", Balto said to the bird, "But only if you help me find my daughter."

The raven flew on and through a thick fog that came up yet again and Cole noticed.

"Balto, stay beside me so we don't get lost in this.", he advised.

Balto did so, but both dogs saw that the raven had vanished again.

"Wait! We can't follow you in this.", Balto called out hoping the raven would hear, "Where are you?"

"Where are you?", a female voice purred as if it was echoed.

/

Cole and Balto noticed a fallen tree leaning out across a waterfall, but Balto's mind was elsewhere.

"Here.", he called out, "Keep talking and I'll find you."

Cole looked down at the waterfall and his stomach lurched. This was a bad idea, but something had caught Balto's eye and he got on the tree and started to cross it. Cole felt like he should help so he started to get on himself when the white wolf's voice rang out.

"A cunning trickster."

Cole suddenly remembered the dream from last night as the fog blew away revealing a fox sitting near a branch with a rope trap around her neck securing her to it. Balto then sighed and looked away.

"You look disappointed.", the fox said slyly.

"Sorry.", Balto said to her, "I—"

"We thought you were something else.", Cole said as he had made his way to Balto.

"And I was thinking the same thing.", the fox continued still talking slyly though now focused on Balto, "But like your friend over there, I'm not disappointed."

Balto's expression didn't flinch, but Cole felt a bit uneasy. The fox was notorious for being tricky and he was sure this one was no exception.

"Say, I'll help you find your daughter if you and your friend help me out of this trap.", the fox purred as she used her tail to demonstrate.

Balto was at attention.

"How did you know we're looking for my daughter?", he asked.

"The raven told me.", the fox said still talking slyly.

"What do you know about the raven?", Balto continued asking.

"Less than either of you I'm sure.", the fox said keeping her poise, "Now, do we have a deal, or don't we?"

Cole looked at the fox's smile and felt like she did know, but wasn't going to make it easy. Balto however had decided to take the offer.

"Yes.", he said, "But no tricks."

Balto then used his teeth to help pull the rope loop over the fox's head freeing her before he let it drop to the side and turned to the fox again.

"There.", he said to her, "Now, how can you help me find my daughter?"

"Easy.", the fox said slinking up to Balto, "By giving you a little push."

Cole watched as she gave Balto a push over the log and made him fall into the current below.

"Hang on Balto!", he called as he started down the side.

"There's no need to help him.", the fox mused, "He must help himself."

/

Cole only hurried after Balto ignoring the fox.

"I thought the fox was going to help us.", he muttered.

"Oh, but I did.", the fox's voice echoed over the fog that had now rolled in.

Cole kept to the river's edge so he could still watch Balto who had gone over another waterfall and had now managed to hang on to a rock and hold his head above water.

"Are you crazy?", he called to the fox, "The current is too strong!"

"Then let the current take you.", the fox's voice echoed back.

Cole had to act fast or Balto would be pulled under again. He remembered the time he almost drowned when Balto and him led a bear to a frozen lake where it fell through and stayed down, but not before it tried taking them with it. That was when the fog rolled in again and Balto slipped from his rock before he went under. Cole raced to the edge of the river.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Cole paused as the fog cleared up, but there didn't seem to be anyone around.

"Who's there?", he asked getting into a defensive stance.

"Why so scared?", another voice asked, "We thought you'd be more welcoming."

Out of the forest nearby, two wolves that looked Aleu's age came out. They were both beige on top with olive green eyes, but one had a sandy underside while the others was light gray. They looked a bit curious and yet the one with the sandy underside looked more caring.

"You can calm down Togo, we're not here to fight."

Cole suddenly looked surprised.

"How did you know my name?", he asked.

"Aniu told us.", the other wolf answered, "I'm Sura and she's my sister Nigaq."

She gestured to the other wolf and Cole seemed comforted before looking curious.

"Who's Aniu?", he asked.

Sura smiled.

"All in good time.", she assured, "But if you follow the river down aways, you'll find your friend who went in the river."

Cole turned to the river and remembered Balto. He turned to thank the two wolves, but they had vanished.

"That was weird.", he said before heading off.

Sura and Nigaq watched him go and looked each other's way.

"We should tell Nava that they're arriving shortly.", Sura advised.

"Indeed.", Nigaq agreed, "I just hope that our cousin Balto survives his first test."

They slinked into the shadows and were gone like ghosts as they headed off to who knows where.

(A/N: I'd like to thank Acronetirid and Gyldorsarhyn for the OC ideas of Sura and Nigaq.)