Cole felt the winter winds recede and stood up to brush the snow off of himself only this time, when his sight was regained, he found himself hardly covered. He still caught sight of himself in a reflective surface nearby and the sight of the dark gray and white wolfdog with the collar and tag was a welcoming sight.

"Ah, back in a dog's body again.", he chuckled to himself, "So, what am I doing this time?"

Cole noticed it was late at night and the clear skies above were clear though the lights around Nome were going out.

"I better find Balto.", he decided and headed off.

As he passed the hospital, the door opened and Cole's spirits sank as Steele came out without a cast on which told Cole he had made a full recovery.

"Now take it easy Steele, and we'll see you tomorrow."

Steele walked out a bit, but then he sniffed the air and turned to see Cole which made his curious expression melt into one of annoyance.

"Oh,I thought I smelled something amiss."

Cole almost felt like hurling at the cruel saying.

"Hello Steele.", Cole answered, "So, recover nicely?"

Steele's expression hardened.

"Isn't that obvious?", he growled as if he were insulted, "You have a lot of nerve to show up here after Balto came back from trying to find his daughter. I guess it wasn't a surprise that he gave up on her."

"That's not what happened.", Cole insisted, "Balto had a reason for letting his daughter go and that's the truth."

Steele smiled showing his gnarly teeth.

"Him and the truth rotting in that old wreck outside of Nome.", he chuckled, "He wouldn't have grown a nerve if you hadn't shown up and uprooted my status."

Cole felt his blood start to boil.

"Watch it bud.", he growled as his fur stood up and his wolf tail tip twitched.

"Did I hit a nerve?", Steele asked still smiling, "I don't recall you being this tense."

Cole tried to calm down as he figured Steele was baiting him and changed the subject.

"You wouldn't happen to know where Balto is would you?"

"Him?", Steele asked replacing his smile with an annoyed look again, "No idea, and I don't care."

"Like you ever cared about anybody except yourself?", Cole countered.

Steele's expression hardened again.

"You would do well to keep your distance.", the cruel malamute said coldly, "Just because I'm an outcast doesn't mean a thing."

"I'll keep that in mind."

/

Steele went off and Cole tried to shake off what Steele said to him and headed off in another direction to look for Balto.

"I wonder where he is at this hour.", he thought to himself before he smiled, "Wait, I'll check his home. That'll be a good place to start."

As fast as his four feet could get him, Cole headed for Nome's outskirts only to suddenly have Fox come around a corner with Nikki, Kaltag, and Star right on his heels. Cole pushed his paws in the slush and managed to stop himself, but Fox wasn't so lucky as the two collided.

"Boss, are you alright?", Nikki asked as he, Kaltag, and Star came up.

"Wow, that was quite a crash.", Star commented.

Fox and Cole got up and Fox was a bit irritated, but calmed down when he saw who it was.

"Oh Togo.", he said cheerfully, "Hey guys, it's Togo."

Cole was suddenly surrounded by the trio.

"Wow, did you really come back?", Nikki asked quick.

"Was all Balto said about you and him helping a wolf pack true?", Kaltag asked just as fast.

"Why are you here again?", Star put in.

Fox saw the stress on Cole's face and stepped in.

"Guys, try not to overwhelm the poor guy.", he advised, "He's probably worn out from being Heaven knows where."

Nikki, Kaltag, and Star looked apologetic immediately.

"Sorry Togo.", they all said together.

Cole felt better but then yawned.

"Man, how late is it?", he asked.

"Too late for us to be out.", Fox said, "We were getting a run in before bed."

"Fox, where are you boy?"

Fox tensed as his musher's voice came through the quiet night air.

"Well boys, have a good night.", he said to his teammates, "I'll take it from here."

Nikki, Kaltag, and Star looked okay with it.

"Good-night boss.", Nikki said as the trio headed off.

"You have got the greatest, the most moving, the most-", Kaltag started.

"You dream big.", Star interrupted.

Cole didn't see it, but he could guess that Kaltag was giving Star a look as the trio were soon out of sight leaving him and Fox alone until a man came around a bend and then over to them.

"Fox, there you are.", he said before seeing Cole, "Oh, so that's why you were out here. You were looking for Togo."

Cole felt better as the man petted his head.

"You looking for a place to sleep Togo?", he asked.

Cole felt like it was a little late to look for Balto so he decided to take the man up on his offer and barked once. Luckily it seemed Fox's owner could understand him and led him and Fox to a house not far from the outskirts of Nome where the man unlocked the door and released Fox from the leash he had on.

/

He went inside and Cole followed Fox to be met with a wave of heat. As his eyes adjusted, he saw he was in a hall where the man was removing his winter gear and placing it to the side. Fox led Cole to what looked like a set of stairs just across from a kitchen with a table near a window. Cole was too tired to really pay attention so he followed Fox up the stairs to the second floor where Fox then turned to a room where a bed was and a dog bed made of some old blankets and pillows were.

"Here's where I sleep.", Fox said to Cole, "I don't mind sharing. My owner usually doesn't go to bed til I've gone to the bathroom."

Cole felt happier.

"Thanks Fox, this . . .means a lot to me.", he said as tears came to his eyes.

Cole suddenly remembered some years before as he was a puppy and Fox would share his bed with him while Seppala would run his team outside. Fox went over and after turning three times, he laid down on the pile though he left room for Cole as he came down to rest also. A while later, Fox's owner came up and went to the room opposite of the room Cole and Fox were in which Cole guessed was a bathroom by the way the sound of a toilet flushing came a few minutes later.

"Well, time to get some shut eye.", Fox said yawning, "Then you can meet the new mail delivery team."

Cole was interested.

"Mail delivery team?", he asked, "What's that?"

Fox gave a smile.

"All in good time.", he assured, "But for now, we must sleep."

Cole couldn't disagree with that as he settled next to Fox.

"Thanks for letting me stay Fox."

Fox's owner came in wearing pajama bottoms and after getting into bed, turned out the light bathing the room in darkness. Cole wasn't worried as his eyelids fell over his eyes and he was soon drifting off to sleep.

"Tomorrow is a new day.", he said drowsily, "And I'll be up and early to see if I can find Balto."

As his mind drifted off to sleep, he started dreaming of his last adventure and seeing Aleu for the final time.

"Tell Mom, I finally found my home.", she said before heading off down the ice bridge after Nava, Nigaq, and Sura who had gone after the clan once she caught up to them.

As much as Cole wanted to go after her, he knew this was the best course of action and followed Balto back to land. That was when the sound of an airplane engine came to his ears and Cole turned to see something fall out of the sky and head right for him! Cole darted down the land, but saw that Balto was gone.

"Balto?", he called out, "Where are you?"

No answer and as Coel ran, the plane engine grew louder as it came closer. As it was upon him, Cole woke up instantly seeing he was still near Fox on his pile and Fox's owner still slumbering.

"What was that?", he wondered.

The part of Aleu leaving he guessed had something to do with a memory, but the plane was new. It must have something to do with why he was here again. He recalled helping Balto learn to accept himself the first time he came and then the time he helped Aleu find where she belonged was the other time. What was it he had to do this time?

/

"Togo?"

Cole looked to his side to see Fox open an eye.

"Why are you up so early?"

Cole thought fast.

"Oh, I just . . . I had a bit of a nightmare."

Fox looked understanding.

"Why not go for a run outside?", he suggested, "The pet door is in the back door."

As Cole got up and headed to the partially open door, he looked back at Fox.

"Thanks Fox.", he said quietly as to not wake Fox's owner, "For the brief rest."

Fox nodded.

"That's what teammates do.", he answered just as quiet, "Good luck out there."

Cole made his way down stairs and walked into the back to find the back door and pet door latched. If he was an ordinary dog, he'd have no idea how it worked, but he knew what to do. Using his teeth, he managed to slide the little lock aside allowing the pet door to open and he wriggled his way out into the early morning chill though it felt breezy since he had fur on like winter gear. He then noticed that the horizon was slightly turning orange which ment dawn was near.

"I better hurry and find Balto.", he told himself as he headed off into the shadows.

It took a bit, but then he came to Balto's home and started sniffing around. He hadn't sniffed around very long before a voice came over his head.

"Togo?!"

Cole looked up just in time to see Boris fly down and land right on him.

"Where have you been?", he asked firmly as he got off Cole's back and on to the snow, "Balto goes to find daughter with you, but he come back alone."

Cole tried to look apologetic.

"Sorry, I kind of got a bit lost."

Boris then sighed.

"Oy, Balto keeps going up to nearby mountain last few days cause he tell Jenna that he had heard and saw something there and-"

"Balto's at a mountain?", Cole asked cutting the goose off.

Boris looked a bit miffed.

"Do not interrupt me when I'm scolding you.", he said firmly as he crossed his wings, "He left just a bit ago and heading to same place and-"

He paused as he noticed Cole was dashing off.

"Didn't wait to hear the rest of what I have to say.", he said sighing, "Why must Togo be more stubborn than Balto?"

Cole meanwhile had picked up Balto's scent and followed it until another one came alongside it which he had no trouble recognizing.

"Jenna.", he said smiling.

Knowing he had a scent now, Cole picked up the pace. As he ran he felt a wind pick up alongside him and a memory came to him. This time it was him helping Balto with Aleu and her siblings while they were still puppies. As much as he loved Aleu, there was another one he had grown close to: her littlest brother Kodi. He was only a bit smaller, but he usually cuddled up to Cole on some nights when he and his siblings slept over. Cole was so into his thoughts, he almost slipped on his way up a mountain not far from Nome, but he managed to keep himself from doing so and continued his climb. Balto had to be up there cause his scent was getting stronger.

/

Indeed Balto was up on that mountain looking out into the wide open yonder while Jenna laid on a rock nearby looking drowsy. A birdsong rang out, but that was about it while Balto observed the skies and turned to Jenna who looked like she was doubting him.

"It'll come. You'll see.", he assured her as he looked out into the sky again, "It'll come."

Jenna yawned before speaking.

"Why does that have such a familiar ring to it?", she asked.

"I know, we've been coming up here for the last three days.", Balto said to her as if he understood her.

"At the crack of dawn.", Jenna pointed out.

"Okay, so it's been a little on the early side. But that's when I saw it.", Balto insisted, "Trust me, it'll all be worth it."

"Well, wake me up when it arrives.", Jenna chuckled before she settled to get some winks in.

Cole by now had reached the top and was a little ways from Jenna before a sound of a plane engine caught his ears. Balto must have heard it too cause he went to the ledge as if to get a better view of something. Steadily, the sound grew louder and then out of nowhere, a bush plane flew over the ledge sending a strong gust of wind that Cole strained to keep from blowing him down. Jenna was on her feet clearly awoken by the sound as well.

"That's louder than a wild-eyed grizzly!"

"Isn't it beautiful?", Balto asked as he passed, "Come on Jenna!"

Cole then saw Balto try and chase the plane as it flew overhead and he gave chase just as Jenna had caught up to him.

"Togo?!", she asked surprised.

Cole smiled a bit embarrassed.

"Uh, I'm here?"

Jenna chose to ignore it as she and Cole continued to chase Balto who chased the plane until he slowed down and took a breather allowing Cole and Jenna to catch up.

"Okay, it was… worth it.", Jenna panted, "Even if I'm going to have a heart attack. Phew!"

Balto then noticed Cole as Cole caught his breath also.

"Togo?", he asked, "Where did you go off to?"

"Never mind that.", Cole answered as he observed the plane overhead and pretended not to know even though he knew what it was, "What is that?"

"I don't know. But look at it go.", Balto answered turning to Cole and Jenna, "Don't you ever wonder what it's like up that, looking down on the world?"

"No, not me.", Jenna answered, "I don't get how that big steel whatever-it-is can fly like a bird."

"But what a feeling.", Balto said looking interested.

Jenna seemed to know what Balto was thinking.

"You wanna be up there, flying?", she asked him.

"Sometimes, in my dreams, I'm soaring above the clouds, free.", Balto said not taking his eyes off the plane as it flew into the distance.

Cole then recalled his dream about a plane coming towards him and after what Balto said, he started to think.

"Could this have something to do with why I'm here again?", he wondered.