A peaceful summer day on the beach outside Nome. It hadn't been snowing or raining in a good while. The summers in these parts were relatively fresh compared to the other parts of the world. For humans, wearing summer clothes was passable during the day, but nights would get pretty cold! Thankfully, for these parts of the world, it was even likely that the nighttime would only last a few hours, three or four for the matter!
The silence was soon broken, save for the sound of waves on the shore, when a brownish-gray wolf-dog Balto was running across sands and yelling back: "Come on, Kodi, I know you can do this! I have trained you very well all this time!" The response came from him: "I know, dad! I'm getting a hang of this!"
Behind him was Kodi, a maroon red male wolf-dog. However, he wasn't a little puppy anymore nor he was growing up. In fact, he had physically grown up already and so far he was in his teenage days! He caught up with his father and so the son and father were tied in this race, the latter showing how proud he was at the former.
Balto watched his youngest son running right next to him. It had been over a year since he'd been adopted and that didn't stop him from training his son to become a fast runner like his siblings were and also it helped him follow his dreams to become a sled dog one day! Then he waited for the time being, right to see how far and fast his son would run…
In fact, Balto actually could feel that the young one was gaining the advantage and soon enough, he slowed down to see his son running as fast as he could! It was up to this point that Kodi's training had come to the end when he watched his son proudly overcome his physical issues and sprint to the distance!
"That's my son!" Balto thought to himself proudly when he saw Kodi running and running until he'd become a little spot in the distance. Amusingly enough, Kodi didn't disappear behind the horizon because he finally realized that he not only outran his father, but finally finished his training with flying colors!
It had been over a year since the puppies' adoption. The year of 1926 passed by with a strong winter at the end which extended all the way to the beginning of May, which was almost two months ago. Balto resumed his career as a sled dog in Kaasan's team, but training Kodi was one of his two priorities. The other one he had in mind he put aside for a moment when he saw Kodi running back to him.
"Dad…! I did it! I actually did it!" Kodi couldn't conceal his joy that easily after finally realizing that his training had been successful! He ran to nuzzle his father by his throat and Balto couldn't hide his laughter as he was the one who successfully trained his son, letting him know: "I'm very proud of you, Kodi! You were persistent to achieve your dreams and I'm glad I could help you overcome your problems, son!"
"I can't wait to tell the others about this! Do you think I'll be good enough for a sled dog one when the time comes?" Kodi hoped to become one soon enough and seeing how well he'd run this time, Balto couldn't cut his dreams short. He let him know: "I think you're going to make a great sled dog, maybe greater than me. We'll head back to town and tell the others about this!"
So Balto and Kodi could head back to the town, but of course, because they were running near the old boat, it just so happened that they weren't alone when these two saw familiar polar bears running up and the small one, Muk, asked: "Balto, we've seen you and Kodi running again and yelling! What happened?!"
"Muk, Luk, don't worry, nothing is wrong! In fact, Kodi can tell you what just happened!" Balto assured them there was no need to panic because every time someone yelled, this meant trouble to them. Kodi assured the two family friends: "Well, if you want to know what happened, I've finally outran my dad in training!"
At first, they weren't really connecting what they meant and even Luk "asked" his brother, which translated to: "He asks what will happen now that you've done it?" Balto still couldn't really get enough of their naivety but being adorable and innocent as ever, he didn't really mind that. He let them know: "It means he no longer lags behind and he might become a sled dog like me soon!"
"Really? That's brilliant! Time for a group hug!" Muk didn't hide his intentions, nor did Luk and both flanked the two wolf-dogs in a tight hug, showing how much love these two can give. Kodi even spoke while catching a break: "Gee, Muk, Luk… you could really come often to town… and give some hugs to others who have… a bad day!"
"Oi, boychiks, end that hugging nonsense now! You're taking their precious air away!" Boris' Russian and grumpy voice came from not far when he waddled to them after seeing how these two were going too far with their hugging again. Another voice came from behind him: "Awwww, uncle Boris! These two are just being very nice to papa and Kodi!"
Balto and Kodi saw another wolf-dog coming, Aleu. Like Kodi, she was no longer a pup, but also a teenage canine like her younger brother. With sandy-gray fur, tan underbelly, yellow-rimmed ocean blue eyes and darker ears, she came running down the beach and noticed her father and brother being hugged by those polar bears.
Muk and Luk backed away, with Luk mumbling and Muk saying: "Yes, uncle Boris." Then again, Balto and Kodi didn't even mind their gesture. Balto let the goose and his oldest daughter know: "Hey, hey, Boris, Aleu, Kodi has some great news to share with you!" Like a good father, he let his pups share the good news by themselves.
"Well, I've finally managed to outrun dad in our training! The fastest dog in the entire town!" Kodi proudly revealed their achievement although he did blushed, feeling like it sounded like bragging. To them, it didn't. In fact, Aleu was the first one to reach for her youngest brother and nuzzle him, saying: "Congratulations, Kodi! I'm so proud of you!"
Taking this from his big sister, he answered: "Thanks, Aleu! Now I feel like all six of us can have a race on the beach together without me falling back this time." The two teenage pups shared some laughs together before Boris came to wrap his wing around Kodi's back and gave him his opinion: "Kodi, congratulations kiddo! You take after your mother by looks, but you've got your father's persistence. I remember when he was like that around your age!"
"Oh of course, Boris. Now, I have an idea - how about the whole family gathers in a boiler room so you can tell them yourself what you've accomplished today, son?" Balto helped up one of two pups he dedicated his time with mostly. Kodi was actually reluctant: "Well… I don't know, dad. I mean, it's nice… but I don't want to show off all that much…"
"Oh come on, Kodi! You did a pretty big thing today!" Aleu encouraged her youngest brother not to worry about him proudly telling the others about today and so he responded with: "Alright then, I agree, dad!" This was good enough for Balto to decide further: "Great! Aleu, Kodi, you two head for the boiler room. I'll go find your mom, siblings… and eventually some others who want to know!"
"Alright, papa." Aleu went with it and so did Kodi. Muk and Luk also wanted to join, but Boris pushed them aside by saying: "Come on, you two, you've already found out what Kodi did right now. Let's give them some space!" Kodi and Aleu watched in an amusement how those polar bears obeyed the grumpy Russian goose and moved back to the boat.
"So, what is next now that you can run faster and longer than before, my little brother?" Aleu teased Kodi with "little brother", which he honestly didn't mind all that much. Heading for the boiler room, Kodi let her know: "Now that I'm fully ready, I think this winter I may actually become a sled dog, Aleu! Isn't that exciting?!"
"Oh, I bet it is. Pretty exciting now that you have at least something in the future." Aleu started, her tone becoming quieter with the other sentence. Kodi stopped and so did Aleu when she noticed him standing. He asked her: "What's wrong, Aleu?" She had hoped not to bring it up.
"Well, you do know that I'm still looking for a day a human will adopt me?" Aleu revealed a pretty sad fact about herself. It had been over a year since the adoption and to this day she still hadn't been adopted. Kodi just told her: "I'm so sorry you still don't have one. But hey, look at the bright side, you still live with dad!"
Kodi and Aleu were, to put it, daddy's boy and daddy's girl. While Kodi was proud to be daddy's boy, Aleu's thoughts were mixed: "I know and I mean… yeah, papa is fine, but I'm a teenage dog like you are! He doesn't have to hire Boris, Muk and Luk to puppysit me. It's not that I can't take care of myself by now."
This revealed that Aleu had been living with her father on the boat for all this period and Balto was back on living back on the old boat because of her. Kodi didn't know what else to tell her so he tried: "I don't know what else to say, Aleu. I still remember back when I was adopted how it wasn't the same without mom and dad."
"Oh I remember that! Uncle Max and aunt Molly had to calm you down because you were crying for mama in sleep!" Aleu chuckled at that memory, also revealing that Kodi was adopted by none other else than Max and Molly's then new owner Simpson. This was something Kodi wasn't really amused with.
"Oh, ha-ha-ha, very funny! So what? I missed mom and dad back then! Well, I figured out that Max and Molly were going to treat me as if I am their son, and they still do!" Kodi tried to flush down the embarrassing memory with something very nice that had come upon him living with Max and Molly ever since. Unlike Aleu, he didn't call them "uncle" or "aunt", but by their names instead.
"Kodi, you know I wouldn't hurt you like that! Besides, you got to grow up with mama and papa's friends and your best friend! How are the things going between the two of you?" Aleu just wanted to make sure they were stepping in the boiler room, being empty at the moment and so the brother and sister found their spot.
"Dusty and I are going pretty good! She's been encouraging me all this time to keep up with running and when I tell her soon enough, and some others, she's going to be so happy about this!" Kodi let her know how his friendship with Dusty grew stronger with their mutual dreams and how they came to meet one another in the alley back then.
"Our master is going to go outside the town to look up for more sled dogs because I feel like Max, Molly and Audrey are passing the torch onto us for becoming sled dogs the next year." Kodi also revealed that his adoptive parents and Audrey were possibly going to retire by the end of the year. Besides, it was about time fresher sled dogs were to take over.
"Don't worry, I'm sure you're going to be a good sled dog like papa is!" Aleu let him know by nuzzling his cheek. She just wanted to make sure her siblings were happy for achieving their goals. It was on her to take responsibility for all of them as the eldest pup, but being confused and lost because how she had no human meant that she had limited knowledge only how to handle this responsibility.
As for the other pups…
Before he got to gather his other pups, Balto had in mind to find Jenna, Aurora… and Kane. Truth to be said, it had been over a year since Aurora and Kane had been dating together and yet, these two hadn't become mates yet. It took Balto less than a year to propose to Jenna and it was likely that Kane lacked confidence. Besides, he'd heard from Aurora about the time when he blushed after Nunivat had called him "uncle" for the first time.
"Balto! Hey, Balto!" While Balto was occupied with his thoughts about why Kane and Aurora weren't mates by now, one of his teammates, Star, came up to him. Of course, Kaltag and Nikki also followed when they saw their "chief". Balto broke from his thoughts to talk to them: "Hey, you three. What's going on, Star?"
"Well, I saw you with your son earlier. You were taking him for training again?" Star wondered, being aware how one of Balto's sons always lagged behind. Balto didn't have to hide his pride: "Yes and for the last time - Kodi has finally passed his training! The kid was able to outrun me today!"
"Alright!" Nikki was happy to hear that, knowing how his "chief" had a son who took after his steps. Kaltag was never short of superlatives: "Your son is the most dedicated, most responsible, most persistent, the proudest and the most…!" And of course, it wasn't the same if Star didn't interrupt: "He's your boy!"
For the sake of old times, Kaltag couldn't resist but to smack the small husky in his head who then landed on the humid ground below. Then Nikki talked to his wolf-dog friend: "Balto, does that mean youse son will be a sled dog anytime soon?" That wasn't just a possibility, but a fact that was going to happen in a few months.
"He will, but not as long as Max, Molly and Audrey are in the team. However, I've heard they could be retiring after this year's final annual race." Balto shared the news that had them surprised. Speaking of the last final annual race that took place in 1926, that one resulted in Balto's team winning the race. With Molly being back in the team, her having puppies might have slowed her and the team down that time.
"Oh wow, it's been almost five years both us and Max's team started our careers and they're going to be retired? Our master isn't talking about ours yet!" Kaltag didn't like how inconsistent these events would turn out, but it wasn't on them to decide that. Just then, Star slowly got up and shook his head after having a concussion.
"I know, boys, but my son and their daughter are fresh recruits their musher needs and ours doesn't have one yet. Take it easy, maybe the next year he'll find someone!" Balto didn't want to make them feel discouraged for having another year. Star, always being late every time he'd got hit in the head, asked nervously: "But… but what about after we're retired?! What are we going to do then?"
"Take it easy, Star, there's still time ahead! Now if you will excuse me? I have to gather my family for a meeting." Balto let the smallest one know and then moved on to find his mate, his sister and other pups in the town. Nikki let him know: "Youse just help yourself, boss!" Truth to be said, being called "boss" wasn't something the wolf-dog was fond of.
Unlike Steele, Balto never craved fame and glory, only to save the town from epidemic two and a half years ago. As a result, he became loved in this town and made many friends with other canines, but not every one of them. "No matter what I did for this town, they still look at me as a half-wolf and a beast… at least I am not hated in this town." Balto thought.
He carried on to Jenna's and much to his delight, he got to see that Jenna was talking to Aurora and Kane on her porch. Seeing how this would reduce his time to look for all three of them, he moved closer to Jenna's and announced: "Hey, hey, having a nice talk over here without me?" He was clearly joking about being upset they weren't including him.
"Balto, hi! Well, unless you're messing with us here right now, then don't be mad at us." Kane greeted him first, being that well-meaning and optimistic friend of his. Aurora even rolled with her eyes and told her boyfriend: "Oh, Kane, do you really think he'll be mad for that? He's messing with us of course! Say, brother, what gives?"
"Well, you know Kodi and I went to the beach to train him earlier, right?" Balto jingled their memories in case they had forgotten. They hadn't. Jenna was there to wish them luck before she returned home and so she asked: "Well, how did it go, Balto? Or is it a surprise?!" Because Balto would usually tell them about Kodi's performance, but this time he was silent.
"I have an idea - Aurora, Kane, you two head to the boiler room. Aleu and Kodi are already there. Jenna, come with me and let's find our other four pups and gather in the boiler room! I decided to have Kodi tell you what happened!" Balto almost let the surprise slip out of his tongue and even these three had a good feeling of what happened.
"I bet your nephew was successful this time!" Kane teased his girlfriend when the two got up and accepted Balto's idea. She let him know: "Oh, Kane, please stop it! Okay, we'll wait for you two to come with others then!" It was very likely that when Aurora heard Aleu was also in the boiler room, she had a good reason as well why to go there.
"Alright, we'll see you two soon enough! Jen, come on, let's see where our pups are!" Balto led the way to find out for his other four pups, Yukon, Saba, Dingo and Nunivat's whereabouts. Jenna was amused by how Balto was taking this as some kind of quest and even teased him: "I know where they are - on the same places ever since they were adopted!"
He rolled with his eyes because of how Jenna lacked the sense of an adventure. He couldn't blame her though because he had at least two or three adventures in his life unlike her. The first place they had in mind to visit was a vet office that had been working ever since March 1926. Of course, they'd not go there if they had no reason.
The sign above the office door was saying "John O'Raleigh's Vet's Office, Established 1926.". It was well known that a friend of their daughter Saba, Josh, had a master that happened to be a vet and it also had happened that Saba had been adopted by the same man, meaning Saba and Josh got to grow up together!
"Let's hope Saba isn't on her practice course now." Jenna had hoped they'd not have to delay their family gathering. Balto opened the doors slightly and inside he could hear a human's voice with an accent alien to him: "Saba, I've trained you well, boeht you're a side rescue dahg. Josh's de one who gets de cahmplete trainin, girl!"
That voice belonged to Saba and Josh's master and the vet. While he headed to another room, Josh apologetically told her: "I'm sorry, Saba. I really wish you could get a complete training one day, but it's master who made that decision." Saba knew her friend had nothing to apologize, making sure of that: "It's alright, Josh. If only I could somehow change his mind."
"Hey, hey, Saba, why the long face? We've got something you outta hear in the boiler room!" Balto came inside fully. He looked at his scarlett red daughter, who'd grown up to be as beautiful as her mother. Only difference was that she had a black collar around her neck and a silver tag with her name engraved on it.
Josh was also a teenage dog here. He looked all the same from his puppy days - red furred, dark eye patches and brown eyed. His "Anchorage dialect" didn't change at all. Saba spoke to her father: "Hey, dad! What's in the boiler room you're talking about?" She gave her father a nuzzle by his neck, like any daughter would to do her loving father.
"Well, it's a surprise, but it does involve Kodi in it. You'll find out by yourself! Hey, Josh, how are you today? Think you can also make it?" Balto was always fond of this husky from Anchorage and Saba's best friend. Josh politely answered: "I'm doing good, Balto, thank you for asking! Well, I would like to join, but I've got some more rescue practice to do."
"Josh, come ahn, bahy! Tahday i want to see what I've taoehght you lately!" A young, red haired and green eyed man in his early-to-mid thirties came back with the accessories he'd used for rescue services. His strange accent was pretty amusing to listen at and it finally got to Balto to ask: "Say again, what accent is that? It starts on Ire… Ire something?"
"It's an Irish accent. Master John had ancestors coming from a far land named Ireland. It's obvious by some words he says, right?" Josh reminded them before he had to move on. Besides, Balto and Saba were to move on because the vet had no intention to leave anyone in his clinic he wasn't a master of.
Just like a hospital, the vet clinic here was humbly equipped, with drawers, one or two baskets, a simple steel table in the middle in the main room. The other rooms were like any other house in Nome. The white-looking room didn't look very appealing to mildly put it. Even so, Saba told him: "Come on, dad, let's get outta here. I'll see you in the boiler room?"
"Oh yeah, we'll look up for Dingo, Yukon and Nunivat next! I'll see you there. Josh, good luck today!" Balto and Saba were leaving the clinic before gathering back with Jenna. Josh took in the compliment, greeted Jenna and then followed his master. Truth to be said, watching his mate and middle daughter, they were similar to one another, like two peas in a pod!
"So, who else can I expect there besides Kodi, mom?" Saba asked her mother before moving on, to which Jenna answered to her daughter: "From what I know, Aleu is also there. Your aunt Aurora and Kane are there too." While Jenna wasn't using "uncle" for Kane yet, Saba said this before heading off: "Uncle Kane is there too? I really outta ask them two how are the things going on between them!"
"Alright, we'll be with you soon!" Jenna let her daughter know and the two nuzzled before she headed to the boiler room by herself, but not before greeting her father as well. This had Balto and Jenna move on to find their other three pups. In fact, Jenna and Balto knew who was the closest one to visit!
As they were about to enter his house, a young dark-red wolf-dog with his face being almost entirely red, save for around his muzzle, and his eyes being hazel-brown, came out through the dog doors. He stretched his bulky body, showed his claws that were longer for a regular dog and yawned big time, exposing his fangs that were also a bit longer.
"Yukon, son, good morning!" Balto greeted his eldest son, catching him by surprise at this time of day. Then again, he knew his parents would be around too. He headed to both his parents, speaking lazily: "Morning, dad, morning, mom… I just had a pretty nice sleep right now!" While telling them that, an incredible difference was noticed.
Yukon was at the same height as his father, meaning that his mother had to look up at him due to his unusual tall height. He was the second pup in the family, after Aleu, to have a wolf blood flow in his veins. Still, he retained his dog demeanor better. Jenna also treated him like one and delightfully greeted him: "Morning, Yukon! Think you can spare some time now?"
"Well, I was about to head to Yin's to spend time with her. Why? What's going on?" Yukon stretched his neck to get fully awakened. Balto just gave him a hint: "It's about your youngest brother, son. He's got something to share and I don't want to spoil it for you." Usually Yukon'd respond with: "Oh come on, I had my plans now!"
Nonetheless, he always respected the family's honor and answered them: "Well, I guess Yin… and Yang, won't mind me if I'm a bit late. It must be a pretty big thing going on. Say, who else is there?" He just wanted to make sure of some things first and Jenna passed him: "Well, your aunt Aurora, Kane, Kodi, Saba and Aleu are waiting…"
"Oh yeah? Well… alright." Yukon was initially thrilled to find out his aunt and her boyfriend were there, but hearing that his older, sandy gray sister was also there, ceased his joy for a little bit. He still let them know: "Okay, I'll go head right there. What about you?" Balto just reminded him: "We've still got to find Dingo and Nunivat and then we're coming!"
"Got it, I'll see you both there!" Yukon agreed and nuzzled his parents before he headed off. Usually it'd have been a pup who'd have to nuzzle his or her parents by a chest out of courtesy, but in Yukon and Jenna's case, it was her who did that because of their height differences. She even commented after he headed off: "My, he has taken a lot after you, Balto."
"He's grown pretty tall, I admit. Aurora is proud that we've got some pups who have some wolf side shown from the outside." Balto pointed that out, knowing that his contribution led to some of his pups having more wolf like features and some less. Jenna reminded him: "We've still got Dingo and Nunivat to pick up, remember?"
"Of course not, Jenna. It's easy to know where they are and what they could be possibly doing!" Balto reminded her there was nothing to worry about picking up the other two. They walked closer to the center of the town and it took them two and two to sum up when they noticed some familiar young canines not far from them.
"And that's why dogs never land on their paws like cats do." A plum red male wolf dog with blue eyes was done with his joke. He was accompanied by a brownish red female with bright blue eyes. There was also a bright red, bright blue eyed female wolf-dog and also her friend, a golden furred husky with amber brown eyes. All of them were in their teenage days.
"Nice one, Dingo! You've headed for the uncharted territory in terms of your humor." The bright red female one spoke to him, finding his joke amusing in one paw. Dingo let her know: "Thanks, Nunivat. I wasn't sure if it'd have been funny to any of you if you didn't get it at first."
"Don't worry, we got it. Say, Dingo, are those your and Nunivat's parents?" The brownish red female friend of Dingo asked when she noticed a familiar wolf-dog and a husky approaching them. Jenna greeted them: "Hello, how are you doing today, Dingo, Nunivat, Dana and Thunder?" She addressed the latter two ones by looking at the brownish red female and golden male.
"I'm fine today, thank you, Jenna." Thunder greeted her politely and he was always somehow looking up to her as a motherly figure of his thanks to that incident when he was a little puppy. Dana also told them: "Oh, I'm fine too. Dingo was just telling us a new joke he'd come up with and it was a good one too!"
"When doesn't he tell a good joke, eh? Besides, we've come to pick you two up. You should head for the boiler room." Balto smugly told his middle son's friend when it came to jokes, knowing how much his son loved to joke before telling them why they were there. Nunivat asked: "Is it something good, dad?"
"Yeah, it's got to do something with Kodi too! Your other siblings are there, along with Kane and aunt Aurora." Balto let them know what they could be awaiting now. In fact, they were planning to go with them. "Really? Alright then, I'm coming. Thunder, I hope you aren't upset that it's just me and Dingo going."
"Nah, you're fine, Nuni. It is a family gathering after all, uh? I'll wait for you near your place!" Thunder let her know there was nothing to worry about, also revealing that these two lived close to one another's place. As for Dana, she let her friend know: "Dingo, have fun with your family. I'll wait for you at home!"
"Got it, Dana!" Dingo said it, revealing that he was the third pup in the litter who lived with his friend, just after Kodi and Saba. "Let's get going, you two! Thunder, Dana, have a nice day!" Jenna nudged her pups it was time to move on before warmly greeting their friends. It didn't take them too long to reach the boiler room.
Nunivat and Dingo got inside first. Aurora and Kane were talking to Aleu on one side while Kodi was seen with Saba and Yukon, the latter sitting on the other corner of the boiler room. Balto cleared his throat and then spoke up: "Alright, now that we're all gathered in here, I just wanted to make sure you're all together to hear some good news from Kodi!"
"Well, I didn't tell anyone about this first, except for Aleu. Well… uh… here it goes…" Kodi was nervous to tell his other siblings, aunt and her boyfriend about this, seeing how he'd usually fall back with his talk with others. However, he must have decided not to back down this time if he could have beaten the fastest canine in Nome - his dad. "I've finally beaten dad in a race on the beach on our last training!"
"Really? Awesome, Kodi!" Dingo wasn't letting anyone else say this first, knowing how he and Kodi always got along very well due to their mutual passion for mail delivery. "At last you've worked hard to beat dad. Nice job, brother!" Yukon didn't want to look bad here and congratulated his youngest brother. He knew if he tried to say something negative, Dingo'd find a good excuse to pick up on him.
Nunivat and Saba weren't short on their compliments, which were in the form of nuzzles rather than words. Kodi, however, was still trying to handle all this attention he was getting: "Thanks everyone. Well, dad could have told you by himself… but he opted for me to tell you by myself! Sorry… I'm still kinda new to all this."
"Kodi, what's wrong with being new to something? This is your day, your glory hour! You've earned it for your hard work!" Kane was never short of his optimism. He gladly shared it with anyone he could as long as the situation was appropriate enough. "Thank you, Kane. I guess I should work on this?"
"Don't worry, Kodi, just don't be hasty. Last thing you end up doing is embarrassing yourself… I'm not wishing you that to happen, but just something to let you know about." Kane was also never short of his surprises when it came to giving tips and advice. Moreso, Saba asked her younger brother: "Well, Kodi, since this is your day, how about we do something for you today?"
"I already thought about it… how about the six of us go racing on the beach and I prove to you all I won't fall back this time?" Kodi gave his best shot and this seemed like a good idea, even if some of them like Nunivat and Yukon weren't fans of racing or being sled dogs, but the former one spoke: "Alright, big brother, you're on!" She was the only one to call Kodi "big brother" instead of "little brother" for a good reason.
"Aunt Aurora, will you come with us too?" Aleu wanted to make sure her favorite aunt was with them too. Not as a racer, but merely to watch them. Aurora, who had been talking to her eldest niece with Kane earlier, let her know: "Don't worry, we will be with you. I just have to talk to your parents about something first, alright?"
"Okay, sure! Shall we?" Aleu didn't seem to suspect anything behind her aunt's intentions and asked Kodi if it was fine before going because it was decided on him to lead the fun day ahead today! "Let's get going, come on!" Kodi was eager to rally his older brothers and sisters and also Nunivat outside to the beach for a nice race like in the old days.
"You pups have fun out there, we'll be right with you!" Jenna reminded all six of them, with Aleu answering her mother: "Don't worry, mama, we will when you all come!" As for Balto and Jenna, they were wondering what did Aurora have to tell them? She didn't seem to have anything to speak about earlier until after she spoke to Aleu?
Leaving the four adult canines in the boiler room, Aurora looked at her brother and judging by the look on her face, she didn't seem happy: "Balto, before you showed up, I was talking to Aleu and she told me she's waiting for the day a human will adopt her. Did you tell her the truth?" A raised eyebrow she was giving meant how serious she was taking this.
Balto sighed, knowing how he was caught red-pawed in this. He should have done it a long time ago when they were all little puppies. Now they were all teenage pups. Without giving a verbal answer, Aurora knew what he meant in here and she spoke, deeply concerned: "You should have told her and all your pups all the way back then!"
"I know! Look, I don't want to raise my tone at you, Aurora, but how am I going to tell them while looking at my pups in their eyes?" Balto stopped her here in hopes he didn't cause a rift between his sister and himself. Kane, who would usually bring optimism in most situations, actually sided with her: "You should do it the easy way - be honest with your pups and tell them the truth straightforwardly. Don't let the hard way happen."
"What do you mean 'the hard way', Kane?" Balto wondered, fearing the latter case might happen. The red heterochromic husky remained silent. As for Jenna, who also was pretty silent in this discussion, she had to point out: "She's not wrong, Balto. We can obviously notice how they're different for a pure dog!"
"Or just some of them. Look, it's not just Aleu who shows her wolf traits. What about Yukon? He's taller for a regular pure male dog and he can't curl his tail like you?" Balto wanted to find the excuse in his lack of taking action. The first argument for his eldest son was a reasonable one, but the tail one made the other three give him that "are you serious?" look.
"Speaking of Yukon, I noticed something on his face when he came in before you did. When he looked at Aleu for a few seconds, he looked up the other corner of the room and didn't seem to be glad. Did these two have any fights with one another?" Aurora raised another concern with something peculiar she'd noticed earlier.
"Fights? No, I don't remember these two had argued or fought against each other. Why?" Jenna was worried something would have happened between her eldest two pups. She didn't like how her eldest son had a bone to pick with his older sister without them knowing why. Aurora let them know: "Well, I hope you'll discuss that with him at least."
"We will, but not now. Our pups are waiting for us to watch them race now that Kodi can run fast. Don't worry, Aurora, I will make sure both errands are finished!" Balto assured his sister that she had nothing to worry about anymore related to her nephews and nieces' wolf heritage. It was going to be easier said than done.
"Hey, Aurora? Would you mind going to your nephews and nieces? I have to talk to your brother and Jenna about something?" Kane remembered something as they were leaving the boiler room. Usually she'd be a part of their discussions, but Kane gave her that "Please?" look with his eyes and so she answered: "Oh, okay. Hopefully I won't have to wait for you for too long!"
"We'll be with you soon!" Kane reminded her there was nothing to worry about actually. As Aurora ran towards the beach, Kane had a perfect opportunity with Balto and Jenna to discuss something important. Even Balto asked him: "Alright, what is it that you want to talk about with us? Is it something new? Something important?"
"Well, you may be wondering how long I've been dating her, right?" Kane asked them a simple question, Jenna answering him: "I say over a year, Kane! Balto and I finally got together after only less than a year of dating!" He was glad to know they both understood him where he was taking this discussion to.
"I know, I know! Look, I know you were itching yourself to find out if there will be something between us anytime soon. I don't think there will be, I say it will be this summer!" Kane assured them that the time of waiting and delaying had come to the end, much to Balto and Jenna's delight.
"You mean… you're finally going to make it official with my sister?" Balto asked him, trying not to make himself sound too weird in this situation. Kane rolled his paw on the ground and tried to find more appropriate words as the alternative to what Balto said and he aids: "Yeah, I will finally ask her to be my mate! Of course, if you aren't having anything against it, that is."
"Kane, snap out of it! Of course I don't have anything against you being mates with my sister and in fact - I think you could make a pretty good brother-in-law!" Balto raised his tone, but in a good way, when he noticed how Kane was slowly losing his confidence again, thus making sure he asked Aurora out in a true male fashion!
"You think so? Gee, that actually means a lot coming from you." Kane didn't hide his liking for the hero of Nome, especially how he was the first one from his litter who had a chance to meet him. Even so, Jenna was also in favor of Kane's idea, reminding him: "Just so you know, our pups are going to be thrilled when you finally become their real uncle!"
"Awwww, Jenna. I'm not going to lie, when Aurora and I were puppysitting your puppies for the first time, your youngest pup Nunivat actually addressed me as an 'uncle'. She must be like her aunt!" Kane reminded them what happened the other time and how he and Aurora came to be together. Moreso, he had found out from her or someone else about her power.
"How sweet of her. Speaking of pups, we better hurry to the beach, they must be pretty impatient we're still here!" Balto wanted to imagine how that looked like, but seeing how long they'd been talking here while the pups were ready to race on the beach, he reminded Jenna and Kane to move on at once!
Thus Aurora, Kane, Balto and Jenna were sitting on the beach, watching the six pups get ready for the big race among one another just like in their old days. This gave some nostalgia boost to all ten of them, depending on the points of view from each. They were all teenage pups and the race was going to prove how hard Kodi had trained.
Once the race had begun, Balto wasn't let down with his methods he had used on his son while Jenna, Kane and Aurora gazed in joy, amazement and surprise how the maroon red teenage pup, who'd usually fall back due to physical issues, was leading the race! Only one who was challenging him for the first place was Dingo, but even he was stunned to see his little brother outpace him soon enough. Kodi had rightfully passed his training that day.