Boris at this moment had started taking a bath in a pond of freshly melted snow singing in Russian. He was still a bit taken aback by seeing Togo again and he was trying to take his mind off it. Just as he had gotten into the swing of his song, another voice interrupted him.
"Be-ba-ba ba-doo ba. Wah-wah, mmm."
Boris looked over his shoulder expecting Muk or Luk playing a trick on him, but saw nothing. He then turned to see another goose looking into his while flapping above him. Boris shrieked in surprise as he fell over into the water and the goose flew down and landed in the water looking his way interested.
"Ba-wah-wah-, whoa.", the goose continued as if singing to herself as she was a female not taking her eyes off Boris, "Morining, big boy. Your moving is getting me grooving."
Boris struggled to a sitting position looking a bit offended.
"Oh, you cannot see I'm taking personal bath here?", he asked clearly still taken by surprise by the new company.
"You bet your little patootie honey.", the goose said before she started using the water herself, "But I figure two in a bath is a whole lot more fun than one. The name's Stella. I just flew in for the summer. It's my first trip to Nome and I like what I see so far."
Boris was speechless as Stella finished washing herself and look his way again.
"What's your name, big boy?", she asked.
"Boris.", Boris answered though he looked a bit nervous and then lovestruck, "But my friends are calling me… Boris."
"All right, honey.", Stella said smiling, "Boris it is. You know that's a strong, handsome name for a strong, handsome goose."
She chuckled a bit as she noticed Boris was looking a bit proud.
"So, where are you from, Boris.", she continued, "I can tell it's not from around here."
"I am living in Nome for a long, long time but I was born in Russia.", Boris answered thinking he was impressing her.
"Really? Cos you don't have the accent at all.", Stella answered, "I was hoping to see the picturesque sites around here. Then later, you can show me this one-horse town."
"That can be arranged.", Boris said to her clearly head over heels.
Then Stella noticed something and with a honk flew off rather fast. Boris heard the sound of giddy laughter and turned to see Muk and Luk charging right at him!
"Hold it!", Boris called out, "Hold it!"
It was crystal clear the bears didn't bother listening as they splashed around him before they both hugged him rather hard.
"Uncle Boris!", Muk said gleefully as Luk picked them both up still hugging.
"Enough. Enough!", Boris snapped, "Put me down."
The bears did and Boris fell back in the water with a splash. Muk and Luk still sat near him looking eager.
"Play with us, Uncle Boris.", Muk urged, "Give it a go, please?"
Luk nodded as if agreeing with his brother.
"No.", Boris said before he saw Luk hop to the edge of the pond and he knew what the two had in mind which got him on edge, "No! Not another game of-"
"Slush!", Muk interrupted.
/
Luk had gotten to the edge of the pond and then got into a running position as if he would charge again.
"Absolutely not. No slush.", he snapped, "No."
Muk turned to Luk.
"Okay Luk, on three. Maximum velocity."
Luk looked more eager to go already as Muk began counting down.
"One…"
"No!", Boris called out.
"Two…"
"No! Nyet! Hold!", Boris called out backing away.
Luk only looked more eager.
"Three!"
Luk charged Boris' way as Boris constantly yelled, but it didn't do any good. Then Luk leaped high into the air and crashed right behind Boris which sent the goose flying through the air screaming his head off right into Muk's outstretched arms while the polar bear laughed merrily. Boris managed to get out of Muk's arms and stagger to shore now really ticked off.
"Enough! Enough! Enough!", he snapped finally getting the bear's attention, "How many times am I telling you? Stop what you are doing."
Muk looked a bit ashamed as Luk came over.
"But wasn't that fun, Uncle Boris?", he asked.
"Fun? Fun is birthday party.", Boris snapped as he shook himself dry and looked the bear's way firmly, "That was big pain in tush."
While Boris was busy disciplining the two bears, Stella came to a rock and as she observed, she had no idea that Boris was talking to a couple of polar bears he already knew and clearly it was getting her more interested.
"Theres' a goose with guts.", she said admiringly.
"Now, go away and don't come back for 40 or 50 years!", Boris yapped.
"Yes, Uncle Boris.", Muk said as he and Luk vacated the pool, "Right away. See you tomorrow."
Boris felt a bit better now that the main problem had left, but then Stella flew in front of him taking him by surprise again.
"My, my, Boris, honey.", she said awestruck, "You weren't afraid of those big, bad bears. You are one loose goose."
"Afraid of Muk and Luk? They are just a c-", Boris started before catching himself and thought of something else, "No, of course not. What should a goose fear from a bear? We are more smart, more bold."
"And more cute.", Stella said as she cuddled up to Boris' side, "So, big boy, what do you say we do a little flying together?"
She paused so she could whisper in his ear.
"Say, around sunset?"
Boris was now looking nervous.
"Fly with you?"
"Is that a yes?", Stella asked.
Boris tried to talk, but couldn't get the words out. Stella just guessed he would.
"See you then, hot stuff.", she said before she flapped off.
Boris then fell backward into the ground.
"Oh, what have I done?", he asked himself.
/
While all of this was going on, Balto was talking with Cole on their way back to Balto's home.
"So I take it Jenna took the news about Aleu rather well?", Cole asked.
Balto rolled his eyes comically.
"Well, she did ask me why I didn't bring her back, but she took it well."
Cole then paused as he sniffed the air.
"What is it?", Balto asked.
"Company.", Cole answered, "And it's not friendly."
Balto and Coel turned to see Steele strut out with his usual snide smile and his cold eyes looking their way as he approached.
"Well, well, who do we have here?", he asked.
"Oh, it's you.", Balto said clearly not liking the display Steele was putting on, "What do you want?"
"I just came to offer my condolences.", Steele said slyly, "I guess I wasn't disappointed that your son couldn't live up to the mail regulations."
Cole frowned.
"Watch it Steele.", he growled.
Steele looked bolder as he looked Cole's way.
"Did I hit a nerve?", he asked cruelly, "Then riddle me this: why is it that every week, the mail to Nome is late at least once?"
"Kodi is just starting out.", Balto said wishing Steele would move along, "He'll get better at it."
Steele raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, and I suppose he's aiming for lead dog?", he asked.
Cole looked a bit surprised.
"You heard what we talked about?"
"Every word.", Steele answered snidely, "Kodi can practice all he wants, but you either have what it takes or you don't. By the way I see it, he doesn't live up to me or his father's example."
"You mean he's not despicable, callous, and black hearted or that he's good-spirited, gentle, and caring?", Cole countered.
Steele's expression slipped for a moment, but then he got over it.
"By the way, if either of you would like to know, Duke seems to think planes are the latest thing.", the mean malamute said still keeping his sly tone.
"Duke?", Balto asked, "The pilot?"
Steele's smile grew.
"Oh, you know him eh?"
"Briefly.", Cole answered, "He asked us to guard his plane while he was gone for a bit."
"And he came back so you could leave.", Steele said clearly enjoying the sound of his words, "I'd say that Balto's son's career is looking pretty grim."
/
Balto by now was reaching his breaking point, but tried to keep calm. Cole knew it also and as much as he wanted to sink his wolf teeth into Steele's hide, that would be suicide. Luckily, Steele had guessed he had done enough emotional damage and decided to head off, but not before delivering a final say.
"Have a nice day, wolf dogs.", he snickered before he walked off a bit and then kicked some snow their way with his back leg before heading off again.
Balto and Cole avoided the snow Steele kicked, but Cole wasn't feeling too at ease.
"We will when you're finally buried under the tundra you unholy, four-legged spawn of Satan.", Cole muttered to himself.
Balto took a breath knowing that Steele was gone for the time being.
"Togo?", he asked.
Cole tried to calm down. Steele's words ment nothing unless he let them and he was smart enough to know that. He took a breath too and calmed down.
"Is there ever a time when that dog isn't a major pain the side?", he asked as Balto and him continued off.
Balto sighed.
"If there is, I wasn't around to see it.", he said trying to lighten the mood.
As they got to the boat, Cole had tried to forget about Steele and focus on the riddle he had seen.
"I'm guessing the plane has to do with the first part, but what did it mean when it mentioned the legend flies?", he wondered.
"Well, I'm going to get some rest.", Balto said a bit drowsy, "I'm not the dog I used to be."
Cole smiled and knew Balto ment well.
"I'll join you Balto.", he added, "And I'm sure Kodi will do great."
Balto looked a bit unsure.
"Steele sure seemed like he wanted to make Duke a bad guy."
Cole frowned.
"Balto, don't listen to what that mutt tells you. What does he know? I'm sure Duke is a great guy if we get to know him."
Balto smiled as he cuddled under the blanket he usually slept under which was on the bow this time and allowed Cole to get under before they both drifted off for a good afternoon nap. As Cole drifted into his dreamscape, he found himself back on the beach where he had helped Aleu get Nava and his clan get across the sea.
"Why am I here?", he wondered.
No answer, but as Cole took a few steps down the sand, a presence sent a shiver down his spine. He turned to see a bush shake a moment and his wonder became fear.
"Who's there?", he asked.
The ground under his feet shook and then cracked like ice. Cole then started to run and a shadow of a plane came over him again. He looked up to see the plane from that morning coming down on him which only made him try and run faster. As it looked like the plane was about to land on top of him, Cole heard a large crack that made him look forward to see a huge black grizzly burst through the surface and look his way with familiar soul-less eyes. That was when Cole woke up.
/
"Whoa, just like last night only more different.", he thought to himself looking around the peaceful deck.
He calmed down enough to look Balto's way and saw his friend still sleeping soundly. At least he didn't wake him, but then another sound reached his ears.
"Balto! Balto!"
Cole got up and after stretching, he yawned and turned to see Boris rush on to the deck looking stressed out and dart right for them, but paused when he got close to Cole.
"Togo?", he asked, "Why are you here?"
"Taking an afternoon nap with Balto.", Cole answered.
Boris then went to Cole's side, lifted up the blanket and started yelling Balto's way.
"Wake up, wake up, eyes open!"
Cole looked a bit firm as Balto got up.
"What? What? What is it?", he asked.
"Repeat after me.", the goose instructed, "Boris, come right away. It's an emergency."
He paused for Balto to answer, but Balto didn't.
"What emergency?", he asked as he shook the blanket off and yawned.
"No. Say like this- "Boris come right away. It's an emergency!" Now you go.", Boris answered.
Balto just went to his water bowl to get a drink of water while Cole looked confused.
"And he would be doing this why?", he asked.
"It's terrible.", Boris admitted, "I'm going on date with gorgeous goose."
"Well, that is scary.", Balto said as he had finished drinking.
"And she's wanting me to fly with her, but I do not fly.", Boris continued.
Balto was on his back while Cole stood, but both started laughing.
"Boris, you goof.", Cole chuckled.
"Why don't you just call it off?", Balto added.
Boris tried explaining, but Cole and Balto stopped joking around to notice.
"You're really hooked aren't you?"
Boris' face became a sappy smile as if he was head over heels. Balto and Cole went over to a board where they scratched themselves before Boris came back to his senses.
"Here's my plan: I go on date, I charm Stella, then you both come, get me before she finds out I do not fly.", the goose explained, "Is good no?"
"Sounds like a horrible plan.", Cole stated calmly, "Why don't you learn to fly?"
"Is terrible plan.", Boris answered.
"Why, what's wrong with it?", Balto asked.
"I already know how to fly.", Boris told him.
"Since when?", Cole asked.
"Look at me, I am bird.", Boris stated, "All birds can fly."
Cole smiled.
"Not the ostrich, the penguin, the emu, and the kiwi.", he said before looking serious, "You came to us begging for our help cause you can't fly?"
"I do not fly.", Boris corrected, "I did not say I could not fly."
"Alright we'll bite.", Balto said as he settled on top of the upside-down boat on the deck, "What's the deal. I'd give my eye teeth to fly just once. Why don't you?"