Cole hurried to the river's edge seeing the fog was no longer there. He hadn't gone too far when the sound of thumps came to his ears.

"What the hey?", he asked.

He headed towards the sound of thumps as they grew louder. As he came to some bushes, he poked his head through to see a toad hop from over a hill and a loud thump came again making the toad go off the ground for a moment, but the amphibian hardly noticed as it jumped once more. Cole saw Luk jump and land behind the toad as it hopped onto a log where it stayed. Luk once again bounced and landed right in front of the log with yet another loud thump and Muk came up behind him with Boris bringing up the rear though the goose looked annoyed. Cole couldn't help but snicker at the bear's attics as Luk observed the toad spin its head around and snag a fly out of the air and belch as it turned to face Luk. Muk came out from behind his brother and they both watched the toad chuckling while the amphibian croaked.

"They wouldn't dare.", Cole couldn't help but think to himself before rolling his eyes comically.

Muk and Luk looked at each other and then Muk took a huge breath and held it making his face all puffy as Luk did the same after. Boris saw what they did and looked annoyed and confused.

"What are you meshugenah bears doing?", he asked as he waddled over.

Cole observed as he pinched Muk's cheeks making the bear lose the breath he was holding and then do the same to Luk though the bear blew his in Boris' face. Cole must have thought that Luk's breath smelled pretty bad by the way Boris looked dazed and fell over.

"Uh, gee, Uncle Boris, Luc and me—", Muk started before he paused for a moment, "we was just tryin' to communicate with the toad."

"Communicate with toad?", Boris asked clearly not believing Muk.

"Ribbit.", said Luk as he had returned his attention to the toad.

"Yeah, see there?", Muk answered Boris, "Luk just asked if it's seen Aleu."

Cole looked at the toad as it croaked again and Boris got to his feet.

"You bears are a bagel short of a bushel.", Boris said as he came up to the bears, "I don't know why I put up with you."

"Sorry, Uncle Boris.", Muk said apologetically, "Do you still need us?"

"Yes. Like hole in the head.", Boris answered before clamping the bears noses, "Now close your mouths and keep nose out for them."

Cole then came forward as Boris and the bears turned away.

"Boris, what brings you out here?"

Muk and Luk jumped in fright, but settled as they saw it was just Cole. Boris however looked impressed.

"Wow, you bears found Togo.", he said before looking annoyed again, "Now if you could just find Balto."

/

Cole snickered as he followed Boris and the bears.

"You want to find Balto too?", he asked.

Boris looked Cole's way firmly.

"Why is it you have to know about Balto so often and be there for him when he's in trouble?"

"Hey, that's what you do for a friend.", Cole answered smiling slyly, "Besides, he might need some encouragement along the way."

Boris sighed and rolled his eyes.

"And when we first met, I had thought you and Balto were related."

Cole chose to ignore that comment before he noticed that on the other side of the river was Balto just coming up from the water looking unconscious. Cole dashed over just as Luk saw him go over and see Balto also. Luk then gave his brother who was sniffing around near him a shove to get his attention and then pointed to where Cole had dashed off to while muffling his exclaiming. Muk then got up on Luk to get a better view and by then Cole had gotten to Balto and was using his mouth to hold the scruff of Balto's neck as he got the wolf dog on the shore all the way.

"Balto?", he asked getting worried, "Balto, please don't be dead."

Boris had by now turned around and saw Muk and Luk muffle shouting and shook his head before facing them again.

"Now what?", he asked, "You two have ants in pants?"

Luk just grabbed him and pointed his head in the direction he and Muk were pointing and he brightened up.

"Balto!", he called out, "Balto, can you hear me?"

Balto stirred before his eyes opened slightly.

"Boris?", he asked before noticing Cole standing in front of him, "Togo?"

Before Cole could say anything, Boris' voice rang out again.

"Don't worry boychik! Boris is coming!"

Cole turned to see Boris, Muk and Luk charge towards them eagerly before a thick mist rolled in again making the trio pause.

"What's happening, Uncle Boris?", Muk asked as he and Luk leaned on each other's back.

Boris had gotten squished between them, but managed to get some space looking just as confused.

"I don't know. I can't see nothing.", he answered before raising his voice, "Balto! Togo!"

Balto by now had lifted his head and sniffed the air so Cole did the same and Aleu's scent came to both their noses.

"It's Aleu!", Balto said in realization.

"She must have come this way.", Cole added.

/

"Balto! Togo!", Boris' voice rang out again, "Answer me!"

Balto and Cole stood at attention.

"Boris! We've got Aleu's trail.", Cole called out into the mist.

"Go back and tell Jenna not to worry.", Balto called out as he and Cole turned to follow the scent they picked up, "We're going to find Aleu and bring her home."

Balto and Cole headed off, but Cole's ears could still hear Boris and the bears.

"Oy. Come, we do as Balto and Togo say and go tell Jenna.", Boris said as he hopped off the bears and started waddling toward the shore.

"But Uncle Boris, Luk and me wanted to go on a journey.", Muk whined as he and Luk followed the goose.

"I'm sorry boys.", Boris answered, "But this journey is for Balto, Togo, and Aleu alone."

Watching from the rock above the trio was a white wolf alongside Nigaq and Sura.

"I thought you two were going to tell Nava about my son and Togo's arrival.", the white wolf said to the other two.

"Well, we want to help out.", Nigaq answered, "Sura and I did help point Togo in the right direction."

"And yet he would follow even if you didn't tell him.", the white wolf said sagely, "Togo cares for my son and he's proven it before."

Sura raised an eyebrow.

"Can we at least follow them in case they need us?", she asked, "I kind of want to know more about Togo."

Nigaq rolled her eyes comically.

"Well, if you want to know about him, we can't let him run too far ahead now can we?"

The white wolf looked like she understood.

"Just try not to get too close.", she advised, "My son's next test will soon occur."

Nigaq and Sura nodded and headed off while the white wolf remained and vanished into a mist before anyone else noticed. It took a while to get back to Nome, but Boris and the bears managed in the end. Boris kept to what Balto had said and went to go tell Jenna. Needless to say, Jenna didn't take the news well.

"What do you mean "they just ran off"?", she asked as she paced in the shed of her home.

"I mean, they've got Aleu's scent.", Boris answered trying to calm her, "Told me to tell you not to worry, and away they went. They're each a wolf on a mission."

"I'm going to go help them look.", Jenna said heading toward the door.

Boris gasped and managed to get ahead of her to make her pause.

"No, Jenna!", he said to her, "This is a journey for father, close friend and daughter. You must have faith in them."

"Are you sure Balto and Togo have her scent?", Jenna asked.

"Mm-hmm.", Boris answered nodding.

"And you're sure Balto and Togo are alright?", Jenna continued.

"Don't worry Jenna.", Boris assured her, "Remember, they're well-equipped. They are all part-wolf."

/

Balto and Cole had come to a rock wall that looked sturdy and started to climb it. As Cole got to a ledge, his paw slipped and he almost fell off, but he managed to keep himself from doing so.

"You okay back there?", Balto asked.

"Sure, just go ahead.", Cole answered, "I'll be right behind you."

Balto did so and Cole kept trying to keep up, but the rocks soon became hard to navigate and soon, even though he was close to the ledge above him, he couldn't find another way up.

"Now what can I do?", Cole asked.

"Why not reach for the one above you?"

Cole looked up to see Nigaq and Sura standing patiently on the ledge above him and he looked a bit confused.

"You two again?"

Sura raised an eyebrow.

"Togo, are you giving up?", she asked, "You'll not catch up to your friend if you do."

Even though Cole's legs ached, he knew he couldn't turn around yet.

"I'm not giving up.", he said with determination, "Now where's the rock I need to climb?"

"Just to your right and above your head.", Nigaq answered sagely, "Don't think Togo. Become."

Cole took a breath and then leaped to the rock Nigaq had pointed out. He almost slipped, but then his back feet touched something and he managed to jump to the ledge just as a mist overcame it for a moment and then vanish along with Nigaq and Sura.

"That was weird.", Cole thought to himself, "Weren't those two the same that helped me before?"

He continued on before the white wolf's voice faintly came to his ears.

"Your fears."

As soon as Cole finished hearing it, he heard the sound of growling up ahead.

"That can't be a good sign.", he thought as he picked up the pace.

Balto was on a ledge with three wolverines snarling his way.

"I have no reason to fight the wolverine clan.", he said trying to be brave, "What do you want?"

"You invade our territory.", one of the wolverines answered, "What do you want?"

"Only to pass through unharmed.", Balto said trying to keep his nerve, "I'm looking for my daughter."

"He's looking for his daughter.", the wolverine who spoke said to the other two before they all laughed evilly.

"Yes, and he's following a raven.", said another as the trio started circling Balto.

"A raven?", asked the third, "Why not a fox? Or did she outwit you?"

The wolverines laughed as they started creeping closer to Balto making the wolf dog's courage wane.

"Tell me, are you afraid?", the first wolverine asked before he and the other two burst into another fresh laugh.

"No!", Balto said though his voice shook.

"Come now.", the first wolverine pressed as the trio came closer to Balto making him back up, "Are you sure, huh?"

/

Cole had gotten to a ledge above Balto and saw that Balto needed help, but something held him back as he observed.

"Okay, okay, I'm afraid.", Balto admitted.

"Of course you are!", the third wolverine said cruelly, "And you must listen to your fears. Let them lead you back to the safety of your cozy little home."

Balto was now shaking as the wolverines had come even closer and now had him against a wall.

"Look how he's giving in to the fear.", the first wolverine said.

"Yes, soon he'll run home like the whimpering dog that he is.", the third wolverine added brushing her tail against Balto's snout.

Cole was reminded of Steele, but before he jumped off something caught his ears.

"Is he really worth it?"

Cole turned to see Steele fully recovered standing smugly with his old collar around his neck.

"Are you really going to put your life on the line for someone you hardly know?"

Cole felt his own courage wane, but then tried to regain it.

"If I have to.", he answered boldly.

Steele chuckled darkly.

"Any minute now Balto will give into his fear and run away."

Cole frowned.

"No!", he said harshly, "Balto's a good dog and I believed in him when nobody else did. Are you going to try and stop me?"

Before Steele could answer, Balto's voice came to Cole's ears.

"No! I'm afraid, but not of you.", Balto's voice rang, "I'm afraid for my daughter, and I have to find her, so get out of my way!"

Cole smiled as he turned to Steele.

"You think you can scare me you old bag of bones?", he asked gaining on Steele who was starting to look less sure of himself, "I may be afraid as well, but I learned that my greatest desire would overcome it. And that desire is being there for Balto."

Cole smiled as he got ready to pounce. Steele looked shaken.

"No!", he called out as Cole pounced.

The moment Cole's paws touched Steele's fur, he vanished in a puff of mist like a mirage as another voice rang out over the ledge.

"Go home! Go home!"

Cole raced to the ledge and looked down in time to see Balto sniff the ground and look around confused.

"It's like they were never here."

"Hey, Balto!", Cole called gaining Balto's attention.

"Togo? What are you doing up there?", Balto asked as Cole slid down the side of the ledge and land right in front of him.

"I had a little misstep back there.", Cole answered, "I would've helped, but something made me pause."

"What was it?", Balto asked as they continued on.

Cole thought about mentioning Steele, but thought better of it.

"Just a bad memory.", he said quickly, "Now we better hurry up or Aleu's trail will get lost."

They continued on unaware that on another ledge over a chasm, the white wolf had been observing. She nodded her head as if she was impressed with both dogs before she vanished into mist yet again and flew off.

"Balto?", Cole asked remembering a vision he encountered earlier, "I think someone is trying to help us out."

Balto looked interested.

"Like who?"
"A couple wild wolves.", Cole answered, "Do the names Nigaq and Sura ring a bell?"

Balto shrugged.

"Never heard of them.", he answered, "But we better hurry up like you said."

Cole couldn't argue with that.