What seemed like the endless span of dreams and visions, his voice broke them when he spoke out: "Where… where am I?" Balto, the hero of Nome, asked himself when he was awakening. Everything went as quick as flash last night and he last remembered his shoulder aching unbearably after Steele's merciless attack.

His head was resting on some kind of… pillow? It wasn't the regular pillow either and it felt like… it was alive?! The pillow was made entirely of fur and then, a vet muzzle was all over his forehead and then, a whisper came: "Balto… you're awake!" He recognized the voice belonging to… "Jenna?! What the…? What happened? Where am I?"

He slowly opened his eyes and realized that he was resting his head on Jenna's chest as she made sure he was feeling alright in here. He observed the room around himself and it took him awhile to realize: "Is this the hospital?" Jenna let him know: "Yeah, you were taken in here to have your wound patched up. It's been hours since then."

"Hours?" Balto asked, raising his head to notice the dawn had already passed. The blue sky out there was in full shining glory with few clouds remaining from last night. When Balto moved his leg a bit, he felt a slight pain, but it was a milder one compared to what he had felt the last night.

"Don't strain yourself. Humans were worried sick for your well-being when they saw what happened to you." Jenna let him know what happened when he was taken to the hospital after passing out. He looked at his injured shoulder and noticed bandages covering his wound, with a slight red stain on the surface.

"It actually doesn't hurt that much when you ask me. It was way more painful when Steele attacked me. Speaking of which, where is he?" Balto asked her, fearing that his next encounter with his enemy was going to be much more dangerous, but Jenna let him know: "He's gone… he no longer lives in Nome."

"What do you mean?" Balto asked her, being taken off guard when he found that out. Jenna answered him: "When we surrounded him in the boiler room and demanded everything we could from him, there were some gruesome talks about what to do with him, but I stepped in and let him know that it is the best for him to leave and never return."

He was surprised by the fact that his enemy was no longer living in this town, but he was even more surprised to know that Jenna took in to banish him from this town. He spoke, out of amazement: "Jenna… that was amazing coming from you! If I could wish anything to happen to him, I don't think there would be any better than yours."

"That's why you're now in safe paws, Balto." Jenna assured him that the days of being bullied were behind him. Then, someone yawned in the bed next to Balto and Jenna's wooden basket and both of them looked up there, Jenna letting him know: "Oh look, Rosy is waking up! She heard what happened to you and now she hopes you'll be fine."

The little green-eyed, red-haired girl was awakened and resting on her side when she spotted both Balto and Jenna laying down in the basket. Rosy's voice, albeit weak, was much stronger than it was the last night or any other day before she caught diphtheria: "Balto, you're awake! I heard that someone attacked you badly last night, but I'm happy that you're recovering now."

The ones who were more glad than her were Balto and Jenna because she was recovering from diphtheria. Sure, he was at risk from that attack, but Balto's face was clearly showing that he wanted her to recover. Moreso, Rosy told him: "My parents thought of you laying down here and I couldn't be any happier with that idea!"

"How considerate of them." Balto let Jenna know, who licked him in the forehead. She let him know: "You know that you're going to have lots of visitors until you recover, be it dogs, humans, or even Boris, Muk and Luk." It finally came to Balto to ask her: "Speaking of them, where are they? Did they find out what happened last night?"

"Well, Muk and Luk returned to the boat to sleep, but Boris couldn't leave the town and… look at the window!" Jenna told him, but then she noticed a familiar Russian goose on the window, who showed a massive relief upon seeing Balto awake, albeit the bandage and the wound wasn't giving him any easy time. "I see someone else was worried sick for me."

"Everyone was, Balto! In fact, some dogs dropped by a few times to see how you were doing! Max was here at least three times by now." Jenna said, revealing that he was no longer along in here. Then, the doors of the room opened and it was Rosy who spoke: "Look, here come Max, Molly and Audrey! Looks like you have dog visitors, Balto!"

Indeed, the two siblings and a friend of theirs came in. Upon seeing their friend was fine, Max spoke: "Finally, you're awake, Balto! Did you know that I was here three times? I wanted to see by myself so they'd know about you." Balto smiled when he told him: "Jenna told me. Guess the fourth is a charm for you."

"How's your shoulder? Are you holding in there?" Molly asked him, to which she'd gotten the answer: "It still hurts, but much less than it was last night. I hope that soon enough I'll recover though." As long as he was going to recover, this was a relief for all of them. It didn't escape to Balto to notice something on Max's muzzle.

"What happened to you? Did Steele do that to you?" Balto asked, even if he had to mention his banished enemy once more. Max glanced at his scratches, just letting him know: "He did, but as if I care any less. The important thing is, you no longer have to worry about him anymore!"

"Because if he were in this town again, then I'd make sure he'd get as ten times many as possible!" Audrey's reaction to hearing "Steele" made her upset pretty soon, already fantasizing of doing a greater harm to him. Molly's reaction was: "Whoah, take it easy there, Audrey! As happy as I am that he's gone for good, keep the details for yourself!"

"You're right, sorry." Audrey backed down, realizing that some fantasies were meant to remain in someone's head rather than digging them deeper. Max let them know: "It's alright, you two. Look, I don't know if you're going to be able to walk, but my master thought that you and our girl Sigrid could see one another."

"That doesn't sound bad to me, but didn't you say she's on the upper floor?" Balto liked the idea, albeit it was practically difficult to accomplish here. Even Jenna asked them: "Say, what if she comes down here? I mean, is she allowed to move in the hospital after getting medicine?" Now that was something to think about.

"You know what? I hope we can somehow convince our master to do so." Audrey figured out that wasn't such a bad idea. She headed straight back towards the doors, Max following her, but not before stopping by to ask: "Molly, you coming or staying here?" Her answer was just: "I'll be with you in a minute, alright?"

"No problem." Max smiled when he got the answer and followed his sister to the hall. Molly looked at them one more time before turning to Jenna and Balto to let them know: "You know, there has been something lately and I don't think I can hold it anymore. It's something about Max."

"What? What is it?" Balto asked her, wondering if that something was good or bad. Molly started from: "It just began that time when he attacked Steele when he was once in his team, then it was something about me saying a word Boris said first and now when he defended you from Steele and even got himself wounded by his attack... okay, I think you get the point."

"I think so?" Balto asked, wondering where this was possibly leading to. Jenna's mind was fast enough to figure her words: "Are you saying that… oh, no way!" She giggled when she figured out her motives, Molly answering: "Is it wrong if I do admit that lately I started to feel something towards Max and it's pretty strong too?"

"Why don't you go tell him?!" Jenna wondered if she was going to do so, only for Molly to reluctantly ask: "Do you think that's a good idea? I mean, we've been friends since we were puppies, but to tell him about it?" It was Balto's idea to tell her: "If you don't find it out, Molly, you may not get a second chance. Besides, he also seems like he's got an eye on you."

Molly's face got red when she blushed, thinking that this wasn't such a bad thing after all! She admitted: "Alright, alright, I may try to get with him in a private talk. Now I should go to little Sigrid. Thanks for the advice!" She didn't waste any more seconds when both Balto and Jenna found her ideas and thoughts pretty amusing.

"First us, now them, this is just unbelievable." Balto was amused by how the things were changing with these announcements. Jenna whispered to him: "Get used to it, Balto, this is just the beginning!" He couldn't wish for anything else if he could. What mattered to him the most right now was that he had the love of his life by his side.

"He's in this room, ain't he?" A voice, belonging to a hyperactive husky named Star, was heard from the hall when the doors opened once again. In fact, he wasn't the only one who came in, being followed by a larger crowd, consisting of Nikki, Kaltag, Sylvie and Dixie. He made a goofy grin on his face when he was in front of them all, explaining: "Well, I can explain, you two! I didn't mean to get a crowd this big with me here now!"

"Don't apologize, Star. As long as you can come and see how Balto is doing, everything is alright." Jenna assured him that him bringing everyone with him wasn't a big deal for them. Sylvie asked from behind: "How's the town hero doing? My, that looks like a pretty nasty wound he got!" She didn't want to mention Steele's name, showing utter disgust on that thought.

"I'm alright if you ask me. In fact, I didn't really expect that I'd recover this soon! The pain is getting weaker actually." Balto let her know. It really looked like a miracle to him that with the time passing, his pain was just shrinking. Dixie whispered something to Sylvie, in a true gossip fashion: "I bet it's his wolf blood that makes him recover soon!"

"Come on, come on, you two. No matter what blood is in his veins, he's still got a hero blood in them!" Kaltag wanted to make Balto feel even more welcome ever since last night. He looked at him in the bed and told him: "And Balto, we've got some great news for you! We have spent the entire night patrolling around the town in case Steele'd actually return and guess what? Not a sight or scent of him!"

"Are you saying that he is gone… for good?" Balto asked him, wondering if he was no longer going to have to worry for Steele's presence and intimidation. Nikki confirmed: "Absolutely! Youse have no worries from that mutt anymore. After all, I hardly think there'd be anyone on his side after what he'd done all this time!"

"In fact, I think you can be a better boss than he was!" Star broke out, as if he were spilling beans out of nowhere, making Balto ask: "I'm sorry, what?" Kaltag was too fast to hear him ask that when he broke into his: "You'd be the smartest, the bravest, the wisest, the sharpest and the most daring boss of the team among us!"

Quite surprisingly, Star didn't interrupt him and even Nikki looked at these two in utter surprise. Jenna asked: "Are you saying that Balto would be a lead dog in your sled team?" A smile on her face clearly showed how this would realize Balto's life-long dream. Even he was surprised by this offer, as seen in his eyes.

"Oh come on, Balto! Jenna told us that you always wanted to be a sled dog so why are you so surprised?" Dixie found it pretty strange how Balto reacted, surprised about it, his answer being: "It's true, Dixie, I always wanted to be a sled dog, but to be offered a place as a lead dog… or a lead wolf-dog in my case? I just don't know what to say?"

"Well, if I were you, I'd gladly accept the offer, but as you see, I'm not fit for a sled dog unlike you?" Sylvie let him know, stroking her ears as she liked to show it her way. Balto looked at those three and let them know: "Guys, I know that your offer is amazing and sounds like a dream come true, but it's something I have to consider yet."

"We didn't really expect you to show up now. I mean, look at youse! There's no way you'll be fit for another week!" Nikki told him what they had in mind. He made a valid point because a wounded wolf-dog like him could not possibly pass this service first until after his recovery. He just let them know: "I will tell you what I think of it when I'm one hundred percent in action again!"

"That's the spirit! You're always welcome to come see us now, Balto!" Star showed a lot of enthusiasm here, swinging with his paw so hard that he landed on his back and made a funny noise, to which Kaltag looked around himself and let him know: "Well, we'll just leave now before Star makes yet another mess of himself here and embarrasses us!"

"Alright, take care, you all! It was nice of you to come for a visit." Jenna couldn't show enough how glad she was that there were the dogs in this town who showed kindness and respect for the wolf-dog who saved this town only a night ago. Moreso, she told him: "Well, if it isn't for our friends now, humans will be coming to see you too, Balto!"

"Jenna, I have Rosy here. Do you think they will treat me as kindly as the dogs and Rosy did?" Balto found it amusing how the humans were going to come and see the town hero resting after suffering a nasty and dishonorable attack from a coward. Her answer was: "That we are about to see! Get ready for anything."

Yet, before any other human arrived, Balto sighed. Jenna wondered what was that all about so she asked him: "What's wrong?" He remembered something from before his journey. That day when he had decided to leave Nome and seek a solitude life, even if it meant to be with wolves and the offer he could have accepted initially hadn't it been for the rush of emotions.

"Jenna, you still remember when I fled the town after I had it enough… it was something I wasn't ready for yet. I don't know what I was thinking back then." He reminded her what he'd done back then, hoping that she'd get the point. She did, showing how pained she was with that idea: "It still frightens me the idea that I wasn't going to see you again, Balto."

"Don't be afraid. I'm not going anywhere, I'm not going to leave Nome ever again." Balto assured her, knowing how hurt she'd be if he were to do so. She looked at him with the hope in her eyes while he carried on: "I just can't do it. I was born not far from here. Boris, Muk, Luk, you, Max, Molly… and even Audrey. You're all my friends and me running away on you felt… wrong."

"I… I don't know what to say." Jenna was touched by these words, nuzzling her friend carefully just so there was no more pain and pressure applied on him. Balto thought about it too. The idea of him living in a wolf pack among the four of the friendliest wolves he'd met could have been a great alternative, but it was just something he could not accept.

The doors were opened once more and there was Max, but instead with Molly and Audrey, he was with his master, Leonhard Seppala and he wasn't alone either. He held a young girl by her hand and by the looks on her face, she seemed pretty tired, yet she agreed upon coming down there. That was very likely Sigrid, Seppala's only child.

"Sigrid, my daughter, here's Balto, a wolf-dog without whom your medicine would have never arrived last night!" The voice in Seppala's voice was shaking, but not from grief, rather joy. Knowing what were the odds of losing his only child, Leonhard already showed gratitude towards the wolf-dog he once badmouthed for his wolf side. From last night on, it was all different.

Little Sigrid came close to Balto's basket and once she carefully placed her hand in front of Balto's muzzle, she knew how tame he was and so she wrapped her hands around his neck, whispering to the wolf-dog: "Takk, Balto. Du saved my life last natt!" Both Balto and Jenna could only guess some of the words the little girl said, indicating she was, like her father, of Scandinavian origins.

"Balto, if it weren't for you, I'd have lost my daughter. I think I misjudged you the other day for a sled dog. Maybe you're a good dog, or a wolf-dog, to be in a team?" Since Seppala mentioned it, Balto was wondering if this was all just a dream or not. First his new friends suggested him to be their lead dog, now the famed musher sought the same!

"But first, you need to recover. That wound is going to take days to heal. Sigrid, come on, the doctor said you only have a few minutes." Seppala told his daughter that they should be going, while Max seemed like he was going to remain here. "Ja, pappa." Little Sigrid spoke when her father led her back to her bed upstairs.

"Can you believe it, Balto? Now my master wants you to be in a team! Not to mention, you just met a new human friend!" Max didn't stop showing the enthusiasm for two things he'd spoken of right now. In fact, Balto knew that, despite having a rough start with his recovery, his new day also marked a brand new life, the one he could only dream of!

"Jenna, Max… sometimes I have to ask myself if I'm dreaming… or not?" He asked them, wondering if this entire journey was real or he only dreamt it. Jenna leaned closer to his ear and whispered sweetly: "This isn't a dream, Balto, but a beginning of a wonderful new life you deserve. We will give it to you as much as we can!"

"You may have had dreams of these times to come so why don't you have them fulfilled at last, my friend?" Max asked him, knowing that the offer he'd been given now should not be foolishly rejected! Balto knew that his old life, based on hatred and misery, wasn't going to return to him at all so he had to stop doubting about everything right now.

"Mr. Stoianoff, would you follow me, please? Watch your step!" A nurse came into the room, carrying a black-haired and bearded man by his arm. He wasn't looking like he had caught diphtheria, but his face looked pretty messy and his eyes were a little bit red. He was lightly swinging on his feet and there was a slight smell of alcohol on his robes.

"Nurse, that is Balto, the one who saved the town and my son Misha last night, right?!" Stoianoff asked the nurse, louder than any other person would in the room and his accent was heavily Russian, almost to the point that his English slipped into Russian. The nurse answered to him: "That is right, although he has to recover from his attack."

"Balto, you saved my son, da? You brave volk… sobaka! My son is the only good thing left in my life, znayesh to?!" Stoianoff's voice sounds a little bit off sync and his Russian was now slipping when he was patting Balto by his head, a little bit rougher. Max was startled by the man's demeanor and even Balto didn't seem like he felt easy around him. Jenna's look wasn't saying that much.

"Sergei… I mean, Mr. Stoianoff? How much did you have last night?! You really should take it easy with your drinking problem!" The nurse scolded him, showing how disrespectful it was from him to behave like this. He looked at her with his weary eyes and told her: "Nurse, I have no time to talk about this with you because… I need vedro!"

"The what?!" Nurse was confused by what she heard and she didn't see it coming when Stoianoff rushed outside the room. Once the nurse followed him and found out what he meant, her voice was saying it all: "Oh, for God sake! We are going to have to clean this mess when he comes to it. Someone better teach him a lesson about his drinking problem!"

"I have no idea what was all this about!" Jenna was startled by this appearance and how it was all playing out right here. Max, as confused and startled as he was, shared some knowledge: "His son, around Rosy's age, is in the same room as Sigrid. From what I know, that little kid, Misha, as he calls him, is the only family he has."

"Why was he acting all that funny and loud?" Balto didn't know what was in that man's mind or why was he emitting a strong smell of alcohol either. Despite all that, he heard Rosy talking to him: "Balto, how do you do now? How are you doing with all those friends of yours coming to see you? Isn't that very nice of them?"

If anything, Balto wished that Rosy was the only human here with him and her parents too. He knew that there were some other humans who would come and see him, but seeing their gratitudes felt a little bit overwhelming to him. Rosy suggested to him: "If you still feel a little bit scared around humans, I can tell the nurse to hold them off for a little!"

To think about it, it was just what Balto wanted. Even so, he let Jenna know: "Is there any wonder why I love Rosy so much, Jenna?" She laughed when he told her that, letting him know: "How about when you're both out of the hospital? Then you'll get a lot of love from her and that's yet another thing you'll have to get used to it!"

"Trust me, Rosy is just the human you can't NOT love!" Max assured him about it. For Balto, this was just what he needed. A small human girl who loved him from the beginning and the one he dedicated his journey to save her life, eventually claiming his love for Jenna. It was just the right new day and a new life he wished for!