BALTO XIII: THE WOLF OF SUNNYBANK
BY: EBONYPATRIOT

BALTO, JENNA, BORIS, STAR, STEELE, KALTAG, NIKKI, ANIU, NIJU, ALEU, NAVA, MUK, LUK, AND DOC ARE COPYRIGHTED TO UNIVERSAL STUDIOS.

THE NICKNAME ‘T.C.’ IS COPYRIGHTED SAINT AIBYOU.

VOLDEMORT, LUCIUS MALFOY, THE CRUP, THE JARVEY, THE NUNDU, NAGINI, AND HARRY POTTER ARE COPYRIGHTED TO J. K. ROWLING.

LAD, POLARIS, GRAY DAWN, THANE, LADY, BRUCE THE BEAUTIFUL, TREVE, WOLF, THE MASTER, THE MISTRESS, RAMSES, JEAN, CLEO, BOBBY, AND THE INSPIRATION FOR BRUCE ARE COPYRIGHTED TO ALBERT PAYSON TERHUNE.

WOLFIE, STERLING, RASCAL, RING, OLD THREE TOES, AND MR. NORTH ARE COPYRIGHTED TO STERLING NORTH.

AERRO IS COPYRIGHTED TO HEADMASTER.

GOBLIN IS COPYRIGHTED TO ESTHER FORBES.

THE NAME ‘FRODO’ IS COPYRIGHTED TO J. R. R. TOLKIEN.

THE NAME FOR THE RAVEN LENORE IS FROM THE POEM “THE RAVEN” BY EDGAR ALLEN POE.

THE BLACK STALLION IS COPYRIGHTED TO WALTER FARLEY.

SHERE KHAN, TABAQUI, BAGHEERA, BALOO, AKELA, GREY BROTHER, RAMA, RAKSHA, MOWGLI, MANG, CHIL, LITTLE RAKSHA, HATHI, THE INSPIRATION OF NAG, AND THE ‘WE BE OF ONE BLOOD, YE AND I” QUOTE IS COPYRIGHTED TO RUDYARD KIPLING.

WHITE FANG IS COPYRIGHTED TO JACK LONDON.

KEMO, JENNER, KALA, AND THE TITLE “BALTO’S BOAT” ARE COPYRIGHTED TO CYBERWULFE.

MIDBACK IS COPYRIGHTED TO JIM BRADENBURGH.

TUNDRA, SHAWANO, BRIDGIT, DENALI, THOR, TOIVO AND TAIGA ARE COPYRIGHTED TO R.D. LAWRENCE.

ACE IS COPYRIGHTED TO SHE-WOLF.

THE INSPIRATION FOR JOKER, HARLEY, AND MICROWING, THE JOKER, HARLEY AND BATMAN ARE COPYRIGHTED TO DC COMICS.

THE INSPIRATIONS FOR TORNAIT AND NANUQ ARE COPYRIGHTED TO JEAN CRAIGHEAD GEORGE.

JOKER, SILVER CLOUD, NIGHT JAWS, BLACK EAGLE, HARLEY, PHOENIX, SAND PIPER, THUNDER, GALAXY, TORNAIT, DESERT STORM, SIR RICHARD, KIPLING, CHROME, WHITE MOON, NANUQ, HALF-TAIL, DARK SIDE, ICE FIRE, SNOW FOX, LENORE, REDWING, BOMBAY, KARWAR, AKOLA, KYANGIN, AKYAB, EURO, SHEENJAK, TAKLA, AJMER, AQUILA, MARVOLO, NAG, THE CALIFORNIA STAG MUSEUM, KADE, AND ICE BREAKER ARE COPYRIGHT TO EBONYPATRIOT {ME!} DO NOT USE ANY OF THESE CHARACTERS WITHOUT GIVING ME CREDIT AND/OR ASKING PERMISSION. IF YOU DO, I’LL SIC MY EVIL PSYCHO SPANISH TEACHER ON YOU! WOE SHALL BE YOU!

VOICES:
BALTO: KEVIN BACON
JENNA: BRIDGET FONDA
STAR: ROBBIE RIST
STEELE: JIM CUMMINGS
NIKKI: JACK ANGEL
KALTAG: DANNY MANN
DOC: DONALD SINDEN
NIJU: MARK HAMILL
BORIS: BOB HOSKINS
MICROWING: KEVIN CONROY
ANIU: MONE WALTON
JOKER: MARK HAMILL
BRUCE: DAVID OGEN STEIRS
ALEU: LACEY CHABERT
KALA: DEMI MOORE
NAVA: DAVID CARRADINE
JENNER: MEL GIBSON
ACE: TOM HULCE
MUK & LUK: PHIL COLLINS
JEAN: CREE SUMMER
TAIGA: CARRIE FISHER
SILVER CLOUD: ROBBY BENSON
DENALI: SUSAN PHLESHET
NIGHT JAWS: ROBIN WILLIAMS
BLACK EAGLE: TIM ALLEN
TUNDRA: MATTHEW BRODRICK
WOLF: CHEECH MARIN
POLARIS: ROBERT LOGIA
HARLEY: ARLENE SORKIN
MIDBACK: WHOPI GOLDBERG
KEMO: JAMES EARLJONES
ICE BREAKER: GARTH BROOKS
LAD: DAVID PROWSE
WOLFIE: JONATHAN TAYLOR THOMAS
THANE: JIM CARREY
RASCAL: DAVID SPADE
KARWAR: SHEENA EASTON
GRAY DAWN: JOHN LITHGOW
BRUCE THE BEAUTIFUL: JOHN GOODMAN
CLEO: ELLEN DEGENERES
MASTER: ALBERT BROOKS
THOR: JASON MARDSON
MISTRESS: KATHY GREENWOOD
BOBBY: MATT FREWER
SHAWANO: MICHAEL GROSS
LADY: CAMERON DIAZ
BRIDGIT: BETTE MIDLER
ANDREW: ALAN YOUNG
BARTHOLOMEW: ERIC IDLE
JAMES THE GREATER: STEVEN WRIGHT
CHIL: STEVEN WEBBER
JAMES THE LESSER: PAUL KANDLE
JOHN: D. B. SWEENEY JUDE: ERIC STOLTZ
RAMA: CLANCY BROWN
RAKSHA: PERI GILPIN
MATTHEW: TIM CURRY
PHILLIP: DANNY DeVITO
SHERE KHAN: TONY JAY
TABAQUI: STEPHEN TOBOLOWSKY
BAGHEERA: BOB JOLES BALOO: JOHN GOODMAN
GREY BROTHER: STEVE BUSCEMI
AKELA: REX EVERHART
LITTLE RAKSHA: ASHELY PELDON
HATHI: JIM CUMMINGS
MATTHIAS: IAN GOMEZ
NAG: BRENDAN FRASER
MANG: BRIAN DOYLE-MURRAY
AKOLA: D. B. SWEENEY
SIMON: ARMAND ASSANTE
RAMSES: PATRICK STEWART
THOMAS: MATTHEW MODINE
NAGINI: KIERA KNIGHTLY
MARVOLO: CHRISTAON COULSON
MORIS: ERNEST BOREGINE
BOMBAY: DAN CASTELLAN
AJMER: JAMES CORMWELL

******CHAPTER 1: THE WOLF******

He was a stranger to the Pompton New Jersey “Sunnybank” estate. And he stood out like a sore thumb from the other thoroughbred collies.His sire was Ring, the black half wolf, half dog. His dame was Old Three Toes, the gray timber wolf. He was silver in color, with tawny ears and tawny coloring sprinkled throughout the coat. His underside and the blaze on his head were snowy white. And on his back there was a black ‘saddle,’ the inherited color from Ring. This was Wolfie.Wolfie wagged his tail slowly with indecision as the wolfling eyed the approaching collies.They stood at their Master and Mistress’ sides. The leader was Lad, the huge mahogany-and-snow male, with the gentle dark eyes and the huge heart that went out to all who couldn’t defend themselves. Next to Lad stood his pale gold mate, the temperamental Lady.  Bruce the Beautiful, the huge dark sable collie without a flaw, stood next to Lad, regally awaiting orders. Cleo, his blue merle mate, sat near him, wondering about this strange animal.  Gray Dawn, son of Bruce and Cleo, strained silently, wanting desperately to greet the strange animal.

Sterling North, the seventeen-year-old owner of Wolfie, stroked the nervous animal. “Wolfie, it’s all right,” he whispered, leaning down to his pet. In doing so, Rascal, the tawny raccoon sitting on his shoulder, jumped down and ran up to the collies.

“Is that Ramses?” asked Lady hopefully, remembering the raccoon kit she had raised. Lad sniffed.

“No, it’s not Ramses. Who are you?”

“Rascal,” replied the raccoon, jumping onto the collie. “How are ya? Pleased to meet ya.”

“Pleasure’s all mine. But who is that over there?”

“Oh, that’s Wolfie,” replied the raccoon, playing with Lad’s collar.

“He’s scared of you big dogs. Yeah, he’s part wolf. 3/4 wolf, actually.”

Lady gasped. “He’s a wolf?!? A WOLF!?! That murderous monster! Lad, why are you just sitting there? Get him!” she snarled at her mate. Lad studied the wolfling.

“My love, he’s just a three-year-old. That’s young. Wolfie can’t defend himself,” he replied.

Just then, the red-gold chow-like collie, Wolf, galloped up. He was a throwback son of Lad and Lady, and had inherited both his sire’s love of the weak and helpless and his mother’s fiery temper. “Whazup? I-HOLY SMOKES! A WOLF! GRRRRRR,” snarled Wolf, lunging.

Wolfie’s green eyes glowed as the wolf-dog stood, waiting. When the collie was about to hit, he pulled aside. The result was that Wolf fell head-over-heels, running into Sterling and Mr. North’s car. Laughing, Wolf rose, Lad’s good-will overtaking Lady’s fierce temper. “Hoo hoo hoo! Wolf or no wolf, he’s one good fighter! What’s your name, pup?”

“Wolfie,” the tawny animal replied. He cleared his throat. “And as for me being a pup, I have turned three years old and am old enough to have a mate.”

“Hiya, Wolfie! I’m Gray Dawn? How are ya? Where are ya from?” the giant merle collie asked, breaking free at last and sniffing the lupin’s nose. “

“Uh, I’m all right. I’m from Minnesota,” Wolfie replied quietly.

Gray Dawn’s mother stepped from Bruce’s side. “Hi, I’m Cleo! Call me now FOR YOUR FREE TAROT READING!” She stopped and took a step back. “Whoa, that was weird.”

“Yeeeeeessss. I'm Lad, this is my mate, Lady. The big collie here is Bruce the Beautiful. That’s my son, Wolf. Somewhere are Bruce’s son and daughter, Bobby and Jean. And Champion Sunnybank Thane is in the lake.”

“Boring!” complained Rascal, having finished inspecting Lad’s collar. He leapt down and jumped on Wolfie’s back. There he started playing with Wolfie’s ears. “Anywho, we are here for...”

“Hush!” cried Bruce. “The people! We must be quiet!”

The animals froze as Mr. North started talking to the Master .“I read in the paper that you were planning a trip to Nome to meet Balto. Is that true, Mr. Terhune?” Mr. North was saying.

“Yes, I was planning on taking a trip up to see Balto,” said the Master slowly.

“Well, anyway, about three years ago, my son adopted a wolf pup. As you see, Wolfie has grown a lot since then. But now my town is afraid of Wolfie, and wants him killed.”  There was silence, and then Sterling spoke. “So, Mister, I was wondering you could bring him to Nome, have Wolfie meet Balto. Then Balto could teach him to be wild, and Wolfie would be safe,” he said in a soft, breaking voice. “I love Wolfie, and it kills me to let him go. Along with Rascal, he’s my best friend. But, but, I'd rather him be free and happy then with me and in danger.” Wolfie whined sorrowfully at his master’s distress. Lad placed his soothing absurdly small paw on Wolfie’s gray foot.

The Master looked at the Mistress. He sighed, looked at Wolfie, and then back at his wife. “Well, I suppose we could take him. Lad vouches for him, so that’s a good sign. But, then again, he is a wolf, and..well,what do you say?”

“I think we should take Wolfie. He won’t hurt anyone, if we take Sterling along. Is that all right, Mr. North?” Sterling’s father nodded. “Well, that solves that. Anywho, Wolfie will be good and, well, it’s up to you dear.”

Bruce the Beautiful chuckled. “Well, Lad, that pretty much solves it, eh?”

Lad nodded. “Nome, here we come!”

******Chapter 2: Nome******

“It’s so hard to believe you guys are leaving tomorrow,” Balto said to his daughter and son-in-law. The dust-colored half wolf, half Malamute, stood on the deck as the sun rose in the east. Aleu, Balto’s light tan daughter and Alpha female of the OceanPine pack, stretched and yawned. She grinned.

“Oh, Papa, you know we must get back to the pack. I wish I could be closer to you guys, but we wolves are afraid of people.” She paused.

“Of course, the pack won’t believe all of the stuff we went through this summer.”Niju, the black-and-silver mate the of Aleu, grinned.

“Yeah, let’s see, what happened this summer? Hmm, met the famed Black Stallion, met your father, met Harry Potter, were taken to England, fought against a psycho coyote hybrid; and finally, had to reunite with the Black Stallion to fight against a Griffin, giant leopard, giant ferret, forked-tailed Jack Russell Terrier, and that jerk Lucius Malfoy. So, yeah, an eventful summer,” Niju grinned, having summarized the eventful summer 1931.

“I wonder what next year will bring! Maybe we’ll meet a lion or fight a cougar or go to New York or get shipped to Cleveland or meet some dude who was turned into a bear or something!” joked Joker. Everyone laughed.

“My, just look at your brothers and sisters. How big they are!” exclaimed Harley, Joker’s mate.

“She’s right,” whispered Balto’s mate, Jenna the Siberian husky.Indeed, Aleu and Niju’s second litter of pups, at five months old, were very big. The males: Chrome, (silvery in color) Sand Piper, (gray and black) Desert Storm, (fiery-red) Tornait, (black, gold, and white) Phoenix, (male zebra-finch colored) were broad-muzzled and broad-headed and broad-shoulders, and masculine, just as they should. While the two females, Thunder (female zebra-finch colored) and Galaxy (black with white spots) were feminine and graceful and slender, the perfect females.Balto studied the pups belonging to his half-brother Kemo the white wolf and the Arctic she-wolf, Midback. Snow Fox, Ice Fire and Dark Side were about a hair larger then the males from Aleu’s litter; while the females (Nanuq, White Moon, and Half-tail) were a hair smaller. The only major difference, he thought; between the two groups of long-legged pups are their coats. (Not surprisingly, the offspring shared the same color coats as their white parents, the tone of snow.)

“Nava!” barked Niju, turning from his sons. “NAVA!!”

“Up here,” answered the golden-gray wolf. He was sitting on the top of the Captain’s Quarters. Next to the old fellow were Kemo, (half-brother to Balto) Midback, and Kemo’s full brother, Ice Breaker. Balto wagged his tail happily. My family, he thought happily, glad that his long-lost younger half-brother had finally been found.Balto liked Ice Breaker. It was impossible not to. The white wolf was easy-going, joking, in short, everyone’s favorite guy.

“So Ice Breaker, what happened to you? Huh, little bro?” asked Kemo, using his heavy paw to noogie his sibling.

Ice Breaker grinned. “I told ya once.”

“Tell us again! Oh, Ice Breaker, our life just seems more complete with you,” grinned the graceful Midback.

“Well...I was with Sheenjak’s and Takla’s pack for a couple of years. But then some people caught me, long tale. Anywho, then they let me go. Soon after that I saw Lenore.”

“Lenore?” asked Balto, his eyes shining.

“Lenore was Mom’s raven...” said Kemo slowly. “I don’t think you ever-”

“I did! I do remember!” shouted Balto joyfully. Memories of a true raven, eyes a dark brown, feathers darker than coal...

“You do?’ asked Ice Breaker and Kemo, ears going forward, eyes wide with shock. “But, then, when did she-”

“The same day Aniu died,” said a gruff Russian voice.Boris the Russian snow goose waddled forward, followed by the two active young polar bears.

“You did, Uncle Boris? You knew Balto’s mommy?” asked Muk, the smaller bear.

Luk, the larger bear, looked confused. “Boris knew Anie?” he asked.

“No! It was not Anie! It was Aniu! She had that raven. I saw it die,” Boris said, feathers quivering importantly.

“Yes, she died defending me,” said Balto softly.

“Arrrwwho, that is how it is,” Nava sorrowfully observed.

Ice Breaker whined softly. Suddenly, he whammed Joker on the nose. “Tag! You’re it!” he shouted joyfully, bending in the classic (and irresistible) play bow.

Joker snarled. “WHAT DID YOU DO THAT FOR!?!”

“You’re it!” Ice Breaker grinned, tongue lolling.

Joker sighed, and glanced up, gold eyes gleaming. “Not for long!” shouted the Alpha Prince, forgetting all of his dignity as he bounded forward.  Joker’s five litter mates, the black Tundra, the butterscotch Taiga, the white Silver Cloud, the black-and-silver-headed-and-tailed Black Eagle and finally the black-and-silver-jawed Night Jaws appeared suddenly as if by magic, jumping over the Boat and started romping.Balto and Jenna and Nava stood, wagging their tails.

“Ice Breaker can not stand a sorrowful or stressful moment. I knew it at his birth. That is why he is named Ice Breaker, for he breaks the ice,” grinned Nava.

“Well, then, come on Balto. Let’s play with our family!” shouted Jenna.

All of the animals, even Boris, joined in the playful romping. “CORRONK!” a Raven called softly. The famed bird from the Edgar Allen Poe poem had stayed in the shadows during the conversation. But now she flew above the Boat, her coloring smearing behind like a bad graphite drawing. Her plumage was blacker than coal, and her slitted eyes were the scarlet of blood. The Raven hovered, her sable wings using the circulatory avian flight movement like a human doing the breaststroke. The crimson eyes narrowed to slits as the ebony figure watched the playing lupines. She sighed.

“Oh, Balto, Ice Breaker, Kemo, Clone, my sons. My children. How can I save your lives?” she asked herself. Sighing, she alighted on the boat. The Raven buried her head in her thick mane, sobbing as the fabled animal tears oozed from her blood-eyes.

“Why the long face, Aniu?” asked a voice. Aniu looked up. A second Raven landed next to her. This too was a female, slighter smaller though, with dark liquid brown eyes.

“You know, dear Lenore. ‘From beyond the flickering shadowed floor. My soul shall be lifted, nevermore,” sighed Aniu, transforming. In a puff of mist, a bluish-white wolf, with red-gold eyes, appeared. Her markings ended like Balto’s, with the undersides of the purest white. This was Aniu, mother to Balto, Ice Breaker, Kemo and Togo’s Clone.

“Aww, Aniu...I’m sure you can save Balto. After all, what did Jesus say?”

“‘Do not worry about the future? The Lord God shall provide for you?’”

“Yeah!” shouted Lenore.

“But Jesus also said: “‘God shall help those who help themselves.’ That’s why I’m worried, Lenore! How can I make an evil wizard bent on world domination leave my son alone?” asked the wolf in a high-pitched shrilled voice. She closed her eyes, deep in thought.Aniu suddenly jerked as though an electric jolt had gone through her.

“But I can! Or rather, Kade, Goblin, Aerro, Wolfie, and Frodo can!” she shouted.

“Er, who?”

“Kade, Goblin, Wolfie, Aerro, and Frodo! Ohhh, but how can I get my son with them....?”

“Er, what’s Wolfie?”

“A 3/4 wolf, 1/4 dog, like White Fang. Son of Ring and Old Three Toes. He’s tawny-gray with a black saddle on his back. Why?” asked Aniu, still busy thinking.

“Because that Wolfie is coming towards Nome.”

“Kaw corronk! What are we waiting for?” Aniu transformed and flew up, silhouetted against the azul sky.

******CHAPTER 3: BALTO MEETS WOLFIE******

Nava barked. He looked south, one paw curled up like a pointer.

“Great, great-grandpapa?” asked Aleu.

“Someone’s coming,” said the old wolf.

“Now what?” asked Kemo in exasperation.

Nava tuned his ears forward. The others followed suite. They could hear, very faintly, the sounds of an automobile. Tundra galloped onto the Boat, tongue lolling. The black wolf jumped on Balto’s Boat.

“Dogs...yellow...dogs...Aniu...is...attacking...There...is....a....wolf...” he panted. Balto galloped over carefully, a metal water bowl in his mouth. He placed the life-giving liquid in front of his grandson.

“Drink, Tundra. Drink up, and then tell us what’s up,” commanded Balto.

Tundra gulped water greedily, licked his jaws, took a breath, and explained.“There’s a car with three humans in it. A man, a woman, and a teen. And the car is full of dogs. Nine of them, all golden-colored. One looks a lot like Bruce.”

“And the raccoon!’ shouted Taiga, as the butterscotch wolf. The hyperactive wolf was not nearly as winded as her brother, and could explain right away.

“Yeah, there’s a raccoon with them. And a wolf,” Taiga gasped excitedly.

“But, what’s weird is that two ravens are attacking them. Two female ravens,” continued Silver Cloud, as he loped up.

“One is Aniu, and the other is a female with dark-brown eyes. It’s like they’re herding the car towards us...” said Night Jaws, galloped to his brothers and sister.

“We just spoke with the leader. He calls himself Lad. They said they want to see Balto, so Joker is leading them towards us,” finished Black Eagle, his tongue out.

“Get Rosy, Jenna. I’ll call MicroWing,” Balto said quickly. He ran to the starbuck side, placed his paws on the rim, and called out the following message in an eerie, drawn out howl: “MicroWing, Bruce, Jenner, Kala, Suma, Ace, Dingo, Steele, Star, Kaltag, and Nikki, come here please.”Instantly, Balto’s pups and four best friends galloped up.

“What’s wrong, Dad? What happened?” asked Ace.

“Aniu is attacking a wolf car. We have to stop here!” explained Jenna quickly.

“Roger, that’s all we need! Come on!” shouted Dingo.

“No, it’s not. Why us?” asked Jenner, only to be grabbed by Kala.

Barking, the full wolf and dog pack ran towards the car.

******************************************************************************

“CORRONK!” called the two ravens, pulling up. Balto skidded to a stop, along with Kemo and Ice Breaker.

“That’s Lenore!” Balto gasped. The ravens flew higher and soared towards Balto’s Boat.Balto stared after them as the car stopped. A pale-gold collie, with the ‘look of the eagles’ in his eyes, jumped out and ran full into Balto. The offspring of a wolf, however, isn’t easily knocked off his feet. And by the time they had stopped rolling head-over-heels, the hybrid had pinned the collie to the ground.

“Whoa! Thane was pinned! The Apocalypse is coming!” laughed Jean, the daughter of Bruce the Beautiful as she jumped from the car. Balto quickly got off the dog. The collie bounded to his feet and play-bowed, tongue lolling.

“Hiya, Balto! I’m Thane. Champion Sunnybank Thane, that is! Hoo, hoo, hey, who’s the puppies? Are they yours?” he asked.

“Excuse me, PUPPIES ? We are full-grown dogs, not puppies!” snarled Jenner. Kala kicked him with her hind foot.

“He meant the wolves, Jenner. Not us, the wolves!” she snapped.

“Ohhhh....”

“Well, no. Those pups are my grandpups. The white ones belong to my half-brother, Kemo,” explained Balto.

“You’re a grandfather?!? You don’t look that old!” commented Bobby, Jean’s brother.

“Thanks. But I have two younger pups-....Hey, where are they?”

“Who? Oh, MicroWing and Bruce. They’re coming. They went to get the sled-dogs,” explained Suma.

“You know someone named Bruce?” asked a dark sable collie in a gasp.

“Yes. He’s my youngest son, of my second litter,” explained Balto, dark-hazel-eyes-on-yellow narrowing. “Why?”

“I am Bruce the Beautiful,” explained the huge collie.

“BRUCE THE BEAUTIFUL!!!! BALTO, THAT’S WHO WE NAMED OUR BRUCE AFTER!!!!” gasped Jenna. Bruce the Beautiful bowed.

“And I am honored for a son of Balto the Wonder Dog to have been named after me,” he said regally. Balto’s pupils dilated with shock. He turned the mighty orange-mahogany-and-snow collie.

“Then you must be-”

“I am Lad. Sunnybank Lad. Pleased to meet you,” he said in a rumbling voice. “This is my mate, Lady. Our son, Wolf. My friend, Bruce the Beautiful. Bruce’s mate, Cleo. His sons, Gray Dawn and Bobby, and his daughter, Jean. That is Thane, grandson of Treve. That is my master, Albert Payson Terhune, and his wife, the Mistress. This is Rascal and his master Sterling North. Last but not least is Wolfie, the son of the wolf-dog Ring and the she-wolf Old Three Toes. He is the whole reason we are here.”

The Master, Mistress, and Sterling all stayed in the car, their faces a mask of shock. Balto could now see the tawny gray raccoon sitting on Sterling’s shoulder and Wolfie next to the boy. Black Eagle cocked his head.“What’s wrong with them? They look like they’ve just seen a ghost!” he whispered.

“I-I-I-just heard the animals talk,” the Master said in a small voice.

“Oop-sies, we forgot to keep our voices down,” whispered Cleo. Lad cleared his throat and leapt forward.

“It is time you should now, my beloved Master and Mistress. We can talk, we all talk. Didn’t you wonder how, for your books, you knew precisely what was going on, even when you weren’t there? It was I, telling you what happened. It is an unwritten rule that animals can not talk, for humans do not believe we can talk. You guys can. I believe there is a girl in this town, Rosy, who also speaks to the animals. I am sure Balto will be willing to take you.”

“Ye-yes, of course. Why not?” asked the Master, driving slowly towards the two, following the animals.

Meanwhile, unaware to them, two ravens had been watching from Balto’s Boat. The ebony birds sat, watching until they entered the city. The larger female turned her scarlet eyes and sable head towards the smaller predator.

“See Lenore? Wolfie is with Balto. Now all I have to do is get Kade, Aerro, Goblin and Frodo!” Aniu whispered excitedly.

******CHAPTER 4: WOLFIE’S TROUBLES******

MicroWing and his twin brother, Bruce, both sons of Balto, walked regally onto the Boat. Their tails wagged slowly and stiffly as they greeted the collies. Satisfied, the two lay down and glanced around, mentally taking roll call. Doc the St. Bernard, Sylvie the Afghan hound, Dixie the Lhaso Apso, Steele the Malamute, the Siberian huskies Kaltag, Star, and Jenna, the chow-chow Nikki, the strangers, Rosy, Rosy’s parents, Boris the snow goose, the polar bears, and their family.

“You see, the others in my town have threaten to...to...kill Wolfie. Just because of his blood! So...so...I was hoping that Balto could train him to be wild. Get him back among his own kind,” Sterling explained in a choking voice. Rosy understood the love he possessed for the animal.

“Don’t worry I'm sure Balto will help Wolfie. Won’t you, Balto?”

Balto nodded. “Of course I will.”

“Good. And what about you, Mr. Terhune?”

“I just want to study Balto, for my book about him,” explained the Master. As the humans fell to talking, Balto held a whispered conference with the wolves.

“Well, what do you think?”

“My pack can take him. Joker was thinking of getting his own pack, and he needs a Beta,” shrugged Niju.

“But, it would be best for him to meet the Nome wolves, so he’ll know more about a wolves’ interaction with people,” Nava said. The others nodded.

“The nearest are the SeaStars, some miles away. Their leader is Shawano,” interjected Harley. Balto turned to Terhune.

“We’ll take Wolfie to the SeaStar pack. Why don’t you guys come? You can observe from the car. The Mistress turned to Rosy’s mother.

“We could bring Rosy with us, if you would like,” she said. They agreed, and with that, they all set out for the wolves.

******CHAPTER 5: SHAWANO******

Harley galloped out first, barking loudly. “Hey! guys! It’s me, Harley! The NomeWolves princess! GUYS!” Shawano, the gray-and-white huge leader, ran to her, followed by the black Alpha female Denali.

“Is that? It is- Harley! Hello Harley!” They grinned, wagged their tails and ran to greet her.

“Oh, Harley, you were just a little puppy when I first saw you!” Bridgit, Shawano’s mate and Denali’s mother, whispered.

“Hey, remember me? I’m Thor. Still interested in being Mrs. Thor?” asked the son of Toivo and Denali.

“Sorry, Thor, I’m taken. By Joker here.”

“Joker?-DOGS! AND HUMANS!” screamed Denali.

“Denali! Relax, that’s Balto!” snapped Bridgit.

“Balto the Wonder Dog! I am so honored to meet you,” said Shawano graciously.

“Thank you. This Wolfie, my new friend,” replied the half-breed.

“Hey,” smiled Wolfie nervously, putting his tail between his legs.

Shawano sniffed him, eyes wide with scrutiny.  He leapt and barked as Wolf galloped up. “Wolf-Hunters!”

“Nah, I’m Wolf. Son of Lad. Have you heard of Lad?”

“Yes...is he Albert Payson Terhune’s?”

“Yeppers, come on!”

The wolves nervously came up to the car, sniffing the air. Lad jumped from the car and walked, stiff-legged, to the Alpha. They sniffed noses. There was tense moment, with tails creaked. Shawano’s tongue lolled out, and he nodded. Everyone sighed in relief and greeted them as the boy told his tale.

“So, anyway, Wolfie needs home,” Sterling explained. Shawano nodded.

“I would be happy to school him.” He grinned. “We were once man’s wolves. Not as tame as you, but close.”

Thane suddenly pounced on Thor, forcing him off of his feet. “Hiya dude. Hey, I thought you were wolves! You need to be on guard, ‘cause you never know when someone’s gonna-AHHH!” shouted Thane, as something bowled into him, knocking him off of his feet. It was Jean, Bruce the Beautiful's daughter.

“Pounce? Yeppers, that’s me! I-hey, Wolf, you, back away. I’m a lady. You can’t pounce on a lady.” Wolf sat down; disappointed that he had been spotted.

“Why not?”

“Because I’m a girl and girls rule and boys drool so there nah!”

“Yeah, Wolf can’t attack you. But I can pounce on my little sister!” laughed Bobby, knocking her over. She growled and struck back.

“Settle down!” barked Bruce the Beautiful. He sighed as they paid no attention to him. “Ah, the joys of children.”

“Well, not as bad for me. My daughter dethroned me to become Alpha! How embarrassing!” laughed Bridgit. Denali whined.

“Awww, I’m sorry Mom. And sorry about the bites.”

“It’s all right, honey, you’ll always be my baby. Besides, I never wanted to be Alpha. But the thing that upset me the most was my husband supporting you!” Shawano’s ears went back and he grinned sheepishly.

“Uh, heh, uhm, er, sorry, my love.”

Wolf and Thane had fought a great playmate in Ice Breaker. This wolf shared their elfin sense of fun. Unlike Wolf, though, he lacked the fiery temper, and he lacked Thane’s minute sense of dignity. However, he made up for that loss with great humor. Denali watched sorrowfully.

“Toivo was like that too! Oh, how I miss my mate!” she wailed. The wolves whined and nuzzled her. Ice Breaker frowned, and looked around. He HAD to break this sorrow. Suddenly, the white wolf made a six-foot jump into the air.

“Beat that!” laughed Ice Breaker. Soon the air was filled with leaping canines as the yearlings joined the play.

Gray Dawn, meanwhile, tried desperately to entice the humans into a romp. But Sterling and the Mistress were talking to the wolves, the Master was taking notes, and Rascal was playing with the car’s controls. So he leapt on poor Wolfie.

“Come on Wolfie! The adults are talking about boring things.”

“Aren’t you an adult?”

“Well, I’m a grandfather, but hey, I’m infant at heart.” Wolfie sighed and chased after the collie.

“What’s that?” asked Aleu suddenly, perking her ears.

“I, I hear a plane coming. It’s not the Black Stallion’s, though...” said MicroWing.

“A strange plane. And I don’t like it,” summed Bruce.

“Let’s get out of here. I have a bad feeling about this...” said Balto.

The wolves turned away. Shawano stopped. “I just wanted to let you know, if you ever need us, send your raven friend. She’ll find us,” he said, yellow eyes gleaming.

Balto nodded. “Thanks you, Thor, Shawano, Bridgit, and Denali.” The wolves nodded and sulked off.

******************************************************************************

“Oh, no,” gasped Aniu, white wolf form, her pupils contracting.

“What?” asked Lenore.

“The California Stag Museum! I think they’ve come to take Balto away! We got to do something!”

“We can’t! Just like you can’t get those other animals to Balto! You can’t change history, Aniu.” Aniu frowned. Suddenly, she transformed

and flew up.

“Corronk! All right, then we’ll get permission! To the Last Supper!” she shouted, soaring up.

“You mean the Grand Council of Heaven, run by the Apostles?!? Aniu, you can’t be serious!” cried Lenore.

“I AM!” shouted Aniu. Lenore sighed and took flight.

******CHAPTER 6: GRAND COUNCIL OF HEAVEN******

Aniu turned into a wolf as Lenore landed on her shoulder-blade.

“Now, where are we going?” asked Aniu.

“Well, the Grand Council of Heaven is the Apostles. They decide whether us animals and minor humans are judged. Like to get permits to change history and stuff. But everything has to be finalized by God. I think it’s....northeast,” explained Lenore.

“All right, let’s go! There’s not a moment to lose!” cried Aniu, as the wolf ran as fast as her legs would permit.

******************************************************************************

The White Wolf’s paws sank deep into the ice-white foam of the clouds. The was a neon light flashing above that bore the legend “Grand Council of Heaven. Run by the Apostles. Founded by Jesus Christ. Members: Matthew, John, James the Great, James the Lesser, Jude, Philip, Simon, Bartholomew, Thomas, Peter, Andrew, and Matthias.”

“Uh...why do they have a neon light? Doesn’t everyone already know who they are?” asked Aniu slowly.

“Beats me,” shrugged the raven. The lupin walked slowly through, stopping when she reached a dogwood table with robed men sitting around it. Lenore counted silently.

“Twelve. Yep, this is them. But who is who?”

Aniu looked around. She recognized Saint Peter, who held the keys to Heaven. “There’s Peter! He’s....arm....wrestling....with....Thomas,” said the wolf. Indeed, the two Apostles were engaged in a fierce wrestling match.

“You’re going down, Doubting Tommy!” grunted Peter. Thomas gritted his teeth. He, naturally, did not like to be reminded of THAT event.

“Well, at least I didn’t deny Jesus three times! Eh, Petey?” Peter roared and pushed with a renewed force.

“Will it have any effect reminding you two that fighting is forbidden here?” asked John, in the form of a bald eagle, too busy playing with a Gameboy to look up. The two apostles snarled at him.

“I guess not,” he sighed, returning his undivided attention upon the Gameboy. The two creatures glanced at the rest of the men, whom were engaged in watching a big screen plasma TV/DVD which showed the football game between the Patriots and the Bengals.

“Uhm, the one with the ax is Jude. The young one with the spear is Matthias. The one with the pillar on his robe, that’s Philip. The guy with the x-shaped cross is Andrew. The dude with the bell is the James the Greater. The man with the club is James the Lesser. The saw-bearing one is Simon. The human holding the silver coins who has a man’s head printed on his robe is Matthew. And the one that just jumped up when the Patriots scored, the one with the knife in his hand, that’s Bartholomew,” recited Lenore.

“You know,” muttered Aniu. “I always pictured the apostles being more pious. You know, praying, reading the Bible, that sort of thing.”

Lenore grinned and cleared her throat. “Ah-hem, gentlemen.”

“What is it, little birdy?” asked Peter, turning his head. In that second Thomas sprung and pinned Peter’s hand down.

“YYYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!! Eat that Pete!” cheered Thomas, jumping up and down. He leapt up and grabbed Aniu’s forepaws. “I beat him, I beat him. Whoo-who!! Oh, thank you, white wolf! Thank you, thank, thank you!!!”

“Go Tommy! Show my little bro!” agreed Andrew.

“Hey,” said Aniu, looking around. “Where’s Judas? Isn’t he here?”

“Jesus forgave him, so yeah, he’s here. He works in the ‘Gamboling is Bad’ department,” explained John, as he put his Gameboy down. “Guys? Yo, we have work.”

“He’s right. Settle down, men,” tried James the Greater. Simon grabbed James the Lesser’s club and brought it down hard against the wood, splintering it.

“SETTLE DOWN!!!! DON’T MAKE ME USE THIS!!!! AND NEVER ANNOY THE ZEALOT!!!!!” roared Simon. James the Lesser grabbed his club back.

“Down, zealot. Remember, no fighting here. Or you’ll end up in...the Dark Place.”

“No fight, no fighting, no fighting,” repeated Simon again and again to himself.

“Well, Peter, you’re the leader. So, start leading. Ask the lady who she is and why she’s here,” commented Matthew.

“Right, IRS scum.”

All eyes turned on the wolf. “Well, I’m Aniu. I need you guys to help me.”

“What would a wolf need help with? Is there a thorn in your foot? Or are there burs in your coat?” snickered Jude.

“So THAT’S why Jude’s the patron saint of hopeless cases. HE’S hopeless!” sighed Matthias.

“No one asked you, Matthias. Now be quiet like a good boy, and let’s get this deal over with before the game ends,” snapped Saint Peter.

“Oh, sure! Blame it on the replacement kid!!! Is it my fault I replaced ol’ Judas!!?!” shouted Matthias.

“Be quiet, or you’ll meet my knife!! You two need to get down to business!!” roared Bartholomew, for once out of temper.

“QUIET!!!” roared John.

“Now then, let the lady speak! Then we can watch TV,” reasoned Philip.

“Fine. Annie.”

“Aniu.”

“Whatever, speak!” ordered Peter. Aniu barked, chuckled, and started speaking.

“My name is Aniu, the White Wolf.”

“We noticed,” commented Jude. Aniu snarled and continued.

“My son is Balto. The evil Lord Voldemort...he plans on killing him. If I can get four animals here, Kade, Goblin, Aerro, and Frodo, they will

save his life. So please permit me to get them together. Let me show Balto the future through dreams, the way I did with Aleu.”

“‘Follow the caribou,’” laughed Jude. “Oh yeah, that works. Your daughter ended up marrying a crazy evil wolf and producing a psycho, demented wolf!”

“Ahh, what do you guys say?” asked Bartholomew. “I mean, she is a mother.”

“It’s fine by me. I don’t have a problem,” agreed Philip.

“STOP! It needs to be formal! We must write our reasons for letting this little birdy Amelia....” interrupted Peter.

“ANIU!!!”

“Whatever, so write it down.”

“We can’t!” exclaimed Andrew.

“Why?” asked Lenore.

“WE CAN’T WRITE!!!!!!!!” cried all of the apostles except Peter, John, and Matthew.

“Oh. Well, than type it on your laptops! And e-mail them to me!” ordered Peter, hitting a red button/buzzer. As he did that, a dozen black laptops came up.

“Er, why can’t they write?” asked Aniu in a whisper.

“Well, in their day only a select group ever learned how to write,” explained Lenore.

“BUT THEY CAN STILL TYPE!???!”

“I don’t understand it either.”

Aniu looked up with an anxious whine. Her gaze meet a cross that was hanging above the table. “Please, God,” she sorrowed, her red-gold eyes glistening. “You lost a son once, too.”

With that, and the statement from the computer of “You’ve Got Mail,” Peter rang James the Lesser’s bell. "The results are in! It says “You may gather these four animals that you speak of, and prevent the Stag Museum from getting him for now, as well as getting a permit for one dream. But we need more time to discuss the dream sequences. Now, be gone!”

“THANK YOU, DEAR GOD!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!” cried Aniu, changing form as the two birds descended.

“Crazy bird,” muttered Thomas, turning on the game. “Oh, goody, just in time for the 2004 Superbowl half-time show!”

******CHAPTER 7: THE CALIFORNIA STAG MUSEUM******

Doc was an old grey-and-white-and-brown Saint Bernard who had seen many, many years. The aged animal was laying close against the furnace in the Boiler Room, as close as possible without scorching his hairs. He opened his dark brown eyes and glanced at the short-haired bulldog, Morris. (He was cream-colored with brown patches over his eyes, tail, flanks, and a patch on his back.) The St. Bernard yawned and was about to go back to sleep when two ravens landed in front of him.The first transformed into the White Wolf. Morris yipped with shock, and the Bernard barked with surprise.

“Aniu! Don’t do that!” Doc exclaimed.

“Sorry, Doc,” panted the mother lupin. “Doc, I have to ask you something.”

“Shoot.” The wolf shivered.

“Oh, don’t say that,” she shuddered.

“Oops, sorry. Fire away/”

“Well...have you ever heard of the California Stag Museum?”

“Why, yes, I have. That evil group. They came around here, oh, I’d have to say fifteen years ago. Your mate was just a pup then,” said Doc, eyes gleaming with harsh memories.

“What, what did they do?” asked Aniu, trying to keep her voice calm.

“They rounded up a big pack of the NomeWolves and took them to California. Only one came back alive, Redwing. She was so weak, she was almost done with life.”

“What happened to her?”

“Redwing was so sick, so close to death, no one would take her. Finally, a Cleveland businessman bought her.”

“Cleveland?”

“A city in Ohio. Anywho, she lived out happily for the rest of her days at the Brookside Zoo.”

“So they others...what happened to them?”

“They died. Of hunger, of sorrow, of disease.” Doc finished his tale, eyes angry.

“How horrible!” cried Aniu.

“I know something else,” said Morris, limbs twitching. “That museum has come to see if they can buy Balto!”

“It's certain?” asked Aniu, eyes dilating with fear.

“Yes, but I thought that since Balto would be considered Rosy’s, there’s nothing they can do,” finished Morris slowly, pleading with his eyes for it to be so.

“No, Kassun’s considered his owner. Rosy just owns his offspring!” shrilled Aniu.

“No! Kassun, he’ll sell them in a heartbeat. Like Polaris!” cried Morris.

“Who?”

“Polaris was an Alaskan Malamute. He and Selkirk were good friends. But then, some time before the rabies epidermic, fifteen years ago, he sold his prize Malamute to that museum for a good amount of money. Polaris is now an actor, playing mainly wolves. And he’s turned nasty, far nastier then Joker or Niju or even Steele ever was,” explained Doc.

Aniu whined. “Guys! We can’t let them take Balto! We can’t! Oh, but how? I need help.” “Then I’m your man, I mean raccoon,” said a voice which she had never heard before. There sat a slate-gray, black-masked, ring-tailed raccoon, bright eyes sparkling.

“Uhhhh, who are you?”

“I’m Ramses.”

“The Egyptian king?” asked Aniu, cocking her head.

“No, Lad’s friend. I died some time ago, but I’m gonna help ya.” Here Ramses’s eyes glowed with a fierce fire. “They plan on taking Lad as well. I can’t let them do that. I can’t let them take Balto. So, are ya up for it?”

“I’m up for anything to protect innocent lives,” said Aniu slowly.

“Doc, get all of the dogs of Nome! Morris, get Rosy! Now!”

******************************************************************************

The plane landed on the Nome airspace, the plane with the fearsome Museum name stamped on. Towards the front laid a fierce black-and-white Alaskan Malamute. Streaks of grey painted his face with their natural-born colors, through which dark sinister brown eyes gleamed. His eyebrows were white, as were his legs. The coat color, however, was not a coal-black but a charred one. This was Polaris, the Malamute who had so often played a wolf.His lupine body was muscular, yet lean and gaunt, unlike Steele. The black ears laid back, and the lips wrinkled in a vicious snarl. Polaris’s owner soon came near him.

“You ready to fight, eh, Polaris?” The Malamute cowered fearfully, his body a-quiver. The man laughed, gave him a far-too rough pat, and went back to his seat.

“He’s the reason I’m so nasty!” snarled Polaris. It was true. The Malamute, true to his breed’s personality, had put up a great struggle for mastery (Togo’s father, Kipling, Togo himself, Sir Richard {Steele’s sire} as well as Steele were unusual in this respect, for they never once questioned their master’s rank.) It takes a firm yet kind man to keep Malamute in hand, and Polaris’s owner was not such a man. So he had used the age-old (and ultimately evil) taming way, abusing the canine with blows from his fists and kicks. There is no nastier punishment. No dog can stand it without suffering two drastic and crippling effects: becoming a nervous coward, fearing mankind, scared of his own shadow; or become a killing monster, wanting to kill all in his path and hating all. Of the two, the cowardly is preferred, for the dog will prosper under kind treatment. But help usually far too late and meaningless to the aggressive dog. A dog has to be gentle at heart to become cowardly. Polaris was not. Thus, he became the ferocious monster is now.Like a panther of death, Polaris was slowly entering Nome, where his feared and hated master would provoke him, reinforce his anger on these wolf-dogs.

Only one effect could result, death.

******************************************************************************

“BALTO!!!” cried Doc, galloping up hard. “You are in trouble. The collies, too.”

“Why?”

“Because the Stag Museum wants you.”

“Why?”

“WHY?!? Because you’re Balto the Wonder Dog! And they’ll kill you!” snapped Ramses. Lad and Lady peered down.

“Ramses?” they barely breathed.

“In the flesh and fur and bone. Listen, I’m only here for a little bit, so I got to talk fast. They’re sick of you collies being so popular, so they’re either gonna buy ya or kill ya. I’m gonna help. They ain’t takin’ anyone!”

Rascal jumped down from the car and sniffed deeply. “Hmm... you smell familiar. I just can’t put my paw on it.”

“Later, dude, there’s trou-” A low snarl interrupted them. Rascal and Ramses turned around to see a grey-streaked Alaskan Malamute’s face, ears back, dark brown eyes glaring and fangs bared.

“Uh-oh,” said Rascal in a quiet voice.

******CHAPTER 8: TROUBLE******

“Polaris,” gasped Gray Dawn and the she-collies.

The grey-streaked Malamute nodded. “Gray Dawn,” he said coldly, staring deep into the blue merle’s dark eyes. Polaris’s sunless brown eyes were, like Gray Dawn’s, shining with hatred. The great collie had, some years before, attacked and actually beaten him in defense of a girl. Polaris slowly cocked his head, studying the canines before him. Now was not the time, he knew.

“What do you want?” asked Sterling. Polaris’s owner, the owner of the Stag Museum, nodded.

“Hello. I am Sam Houston, from the California Stag Museum. I would like to buy your dogs.”

“My dogs? And what the heck is a Stag Museum?” asked Rosy suspiciously.

“A ‘stag’ gathering is for men only. Only men can get into my museum. And not all of your dogs. Just the collies and Balto.”

“They aren’t for sale,” said the Master firmly. “Now then, may I get you something?”

Sam Houston look stunned, but then he bowed. “Of course. I understand. Would you like to go have a few drinks?”

“Why, yes, why don’t we?”

“Honey, we shouldn’t leave the animals,” whispered the Mistress.

“You worry too much,” reprimanded the master as he drove the humans away.

“Ohhh....that can’t be good,” whispered Togo, causing everyone to jump. (He and Clone had been in the General Store with Farley Mowatt.)

“Dad, I though you were leaving.”

“Not yet, son. it’s too darn cold.”

“Yeah, so I get to stay with my big bro!” laughed Clone. Thane wagged his tail.

“Uhm, hello...”

“Oh, yeah. This is my father, Togo. And this is my brother, Togo’s Clone,” whispered Balto quickly.

“Oh...hiya T.C. Can I call ya T.C.?” asked Thane.

Clone laughed. “Okay, I like that.”

As Polaris’s owner left, he whispered something to his men. The canines, however, could hear every word. “Release Shere Khan and the others. And Polaris, sic ‘em!”

“With pleasure,” laughed the dog as he started forward.

Lady stepped forward snarling. “He doesn’t scare me.” Suddenly, they heard a low growl, such as they had never heard before. All heads turned....There was a fiery-orange-and-white tiger, with bold Y-shapped jagged strips. Save for the blob of orange on his nose, his face mask was white, with glowing yellow eyes.

“Hello, Balto,” he purred.

“That’s Shere Khan!” gasped Boris, Doc, and Nava. “You know, from “The Jungle Book.””

“Ya know, Balto,” said Niju. “I’ve had my fill of life-threatening weird famed literature character meetings. What about you?” Balto nodded.

A little jackal cowered at Shere Khan’s feet. “My lord, there is the wolf-dog!”

“I noticed Tabaqui,” growled the tiger. With a low snarl, he started towards the pack.

“Something tells me we should leave, NOW!!!” whispered Togo.

“Yes. Now, on ‘three.’ One,” said Midback slowly. “Two....THREE!” cried the Arctic wolf, just as the the tiger pounced.

His fire-orange white-tipped grey-taloned paws landed on lichens, not soft-furred wolf flesh. Shere Khan whirled angrily.

“WHERE DID THEY GO, TABAQUI?”

“My lord, they went...”

“WELL?!?”

“I-I-I-don’t know!! ” Shere Khan snarled.

“YOU! Polar Bear!”

“It’s Polaris,” growled the Malamute.

“Whatever! It’s our skins if we don’t get them! Get your nose to the ground!”

******************************************************************************

The pack collapsed once they got to Aleu’s Cove, sides heaving.

“And I thought Voldemort was bad!” gasped Night Jaws.

“He’s worst. These are animals. Granted an animal we don’t know much about, but animals none the less,” replied Wolfie.

“Okay, so let’s recap. We’re being chased by a tiger, jackal and Malamute. That’s good. We still out-number them, right?” asked Rascal.

“A tiger is worth about twelve wolves, or fourteen dogs,” sighed Ramses.

“We’re dead,” sighed Boris.

“Oh, be optimistic, Uncle Boris. Thing’s can’t get any-” started Muk.

“NO!!” cried Gray Dawn.

“Why?”

“Don’t say that! Whenever somebody says that, it gets worst!! Don’t ya watch the movies?”

“Actually,” purred a voice like dripping honey. “Muk’s right. It won’t get worst, just better.” A pure-black Asian Leopard jumped from the trees. His dark-grey-sided muzzle was stripped by the long black thick whiskers sprouting from them, his eyes an aquamarine color. “I am Bagheera. This is-”

A large, gray Indian Black Bear slid into view. “Hiya Baggy!”

Bagheera sighed. “This is Baloo. The swinging jungle bum.”

“Ah, Baggy, lighten up. Just look for the bear necessities-”

“DON’T YOU DARE START SINGING!!!”

The wolves glanced at each other. “Are you following any of this?” asked Midback.

“Not at all,” replied Wolfie.

“I like his singing, Baggy. What’s wrong with it?” said a white Asian Kite, alighted onto a pine branch. Chil had a faint-grey crown and the same coloring on his back and wings.

“Oh, you would, Chil,” sighed Bagheera. The panther was clearing his throat, when a loud trumpet echoed throughout the land.A gray Asian elephant marched into view, a cane plant held in his trunk.

The wolves’ jaws fell open. (None of them had ever seen such an animal before.) Rascal leaned over the Balto. “Wow...I bet you’ve never see anything weirder, eh?”

“Actually, I have. Have you ever seen a griffin, dragon, phoenix, basilisk, Jarvey, Crup, hippogriff, three-headed dog or a Nundu?”

“No...”

“I have. Trust me, they are a lot weirder.”

“Hello, Hathi,” said Baloo, waving a claw-studded gray paw.

“COLONEL Hathi,” barked the elephant, fierce dark eyes meeting his.

“Are the wolfies coming?” asked the bruin. Wolfie cocked his ears.

“You called?”

“Well, hello there, little wolfie. What’s your name?” grinned Baloo warmly.

“Wolfie. So...are you going to help us?”

Baloo smiled. “Of course I will. It will be Baloo to the rescue!”

“HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!!!!!!!!” laughed Bagheera, nearly losing his grip on the branch. “BAL-HAHAHAHAHA-OOO!!!! TO-HAHAHAHAHA-T-HAHAHAHA- TO THE R-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA-ESCUE?!?!? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA-HAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!”

“Laugh it up, hairball!” snarled Baloo. The panther stopped laughing, though his grin was as large as the Cheshire Cat’s.

“Uhm, Bagheera. Your buddy here was saying something about wolves?” asked Steele, impatiently tossing his head.

“Oh, yes. AKELA!!! RAMA!!! RAKSHA!!! LITTLE RAKSHA!!! GREY BROTHER!!! YO!!” shouted the panther.

“Geeze, ya don’t have to shout!” said a voice the pack had never heard before. A large gray wolf appeared, followed by an older lupin. Nava gasped. Save for the coat coloring, eyes, and eyebrows (unlike Nava’s, they were only a slightly darker tone), this older stranger looked EXACTLY like him, even with the tuft on the chin!!! The old wolf’s pale golden eyes met his, and the ancient lupin bowed.

“Hello, Alpha Wolf Nava. My name is Akela,” said the elder in a blunt, no-nonsense voice.

“Yo,” said Steele weakly. Akela was a ghostly iron-gray, with silver undersides. The silver-white splashes of age marked his face, giving him a phantom look.

The first wolf stepped forward. Dark colors marked his eyebrows and ruff, while his eyes were outlined in spray-paints of white, giving his a quizzical look.White also sprayed his shoulder blades, cheeks and under his throat. His mane was of the darkest color, while his stomach and the splashes down the insides of his legs were white. “And I am Rama, adoptive father of Mowgli. Have you heard of him?”

“Yes....But....wasn’t Akela the adoptive father?” asked Star timidly.

Akela laughed. “No, I never had a mate.” The wolves cocked their heads.

“Let me explain,” continued Akela. “We are the Seonee Wolf Pack, from the Seonee Hills in India. We are Eurasian wolves. Since I didn’t have a mate, I allowed the wolves to choose to have their young whenever they want. (Conditions are better in India.) Rudyard Kipling immortalized us in his “Jungle Book” novels, but he got us a LITTLE off. I mean, if the Alpha misses the sambar, he’s killed? Do ya know how many leaders we’d go through if that were true? No, and we don’t kill young wolves not accepted by the pack.” By now the elder’s crest was upright from fury. He closed his eyes and relaxed.“But that’s getting away from the story. Hey, Raksha!”

A beautiful white she-wolf with amber eyes outlined in black and a pink nose galloped up. “Hello, Akela, Rama,” she said in a maternal caring voice. “Sorry I’m late.”

“Hello, Raksha,” purred Rama, his eyes full of love.

The white was followed by a silver-and-snow wolf with a white face and with Malamute-like snow strip on her forehead. Her tail wagged fiercely.“Hiya, Daddy! And hello, fellows. I’m Little Raksha.”

“Raksha?” asked Clone, cocking his head.

“LITTLE Raksha. It means ‘the demon’ in Indian, T.C.,” she explained.

“Hey...how does she know my name?”

“And I’ll get my three other children. Karwar! Akola! Grey Brother! Come on!”

A dark-grey female with red eyebrows and ruff; a red-gold male with silver eyebrows, ruff, and chest; and a dark gray wolf with dark limbs ran up, tails wagging. (They were in the order named.)

“Okaayyy...now what?” asked Steele.

“We’re going to fight!” howled Akela. He turned to Balto. “You ready?”

Balto glanced back at his family.

“Jenna, you, Aleu and Midback take the pups back to the Boat.”

“But Papa!!” whined Aleu, as Midback and Jenna exclaimed at the same time:

“But Balto!!”

“Please, I just want the pups to be safe,” whispered Balto softly.

The animals sighed. “Come on,” said Midback, leading the thirteen reluctant pups away.

“What about Wolfie?” asked Cleo.

“I’m helping,” said Wolfie in a small voice. Rascal and Ramses jumped onto the canine’s backs. (Rascal on Wolfe, Ramses on Lad.)

“Mounted cavalry ready!” shouted Ramses, paw raised in salute.

Balto turned. “Let’s go.”

******CHAPTER 9: THE FIGHT******

Polaris’s dark eyes gleamed. The Malamute, followed by the tiger and jackal, had reached the open tundra. And there stood the entire-wolf-and-collie pack.Although the strangers did not know it, they had entered the field where the Great Black Stallion Battle had been fought against Mordred and Lucius Malfoy. The wolves had chosen this place because it was large and had plenty of leg-room, perfect for fighting.Balto and Niju lifted their lips in a defiant snarl.

“Hey, Kaltag,” whispered Rascal suddenly.

“What? What do you want?” asked Kaltag.

“Ramses wants to talk to Steele.”

The Alaskan Malamute crept closer to the raccoon. “What do you want?”

“Lead the sled-dogs to go and get the humans. We need their help,” whispered Ramses. Steele barked and started for town, with the Trio and Balto’s first litter behind him.

“HEY, CON!!” shouted Rascal and Wolf.

Shere Khan’s lips curled in an arrogant sneer. “It’s Shere KHAN, and what you want, o ringed bush-tailed rat?”

“Hahahahah-HEY!!” laughed the raccoon.

“Look, Tiggey,” snarled Wolf, his fiery temper rising. “You can’t kill Balto.”

“Oh. And why not?” purred Polaris.

“BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GET THROUGH US FIRST!!!” roared Lady, springing on the Malamute. Polaris, surprised, was taken off guard and fell, while the pale golden collie gnawed at his throat.

“CHARGE!!!” cried Kemo. With that, the wolves, collies, bear, panther, elephant and kite attacked, mauling the tiger in a living sea of fangs and fur. Shere Khan snarled valiantly and tried to fight back. Still, it was hopeless. The wolves would have killed him in a few minutes (well, that wasn’t Balto’s plan. Balto’s too-big heart wouldn’t stand such a massacre. The hybrid’s plan was to injure the already lame tiger enough so that he would leave them alone.) That is, the wolves WOULD have killed him. For a sudden snarl interrupted them.

There stood hundreds of fierce olive baboons, a dozen wild boars, and three tigers.

“This has GOT to be a dream,” muttered Balto and Bruce in unison. The collies and wolves cleared off of the tiger, whom began giving orders in his

species’ language.

“Only for you, Lungri, brother,” snarled the only other male tiger (the other two were tigresses) after he had given the orders.

Shere Khan snarled. “It’s SHERE KHAN, Bombay!” he yelled at the dark male. “Now, Akyab, Kyangin, you two get that elephant. NOW!!” With that, the streak attacked the elephant, slashing through his thick skin, yet never daring to let Hathi crush the life out of them.

“Let us take the monkeys,” growled Bagheera, meaning the Indian animals.

“We know their tricks.”

“Ten-four!” barked Balto.

“AAAAARRRRRWWWHHHHOOOOOOO!!!!” called Kemo, and the Americans rushed into the boars. But they quickly found that boars were not to be taken lightly. Indeed, soon it became the pigs ATTACKING THEM, not the other way around, and the lupins were fighting for their lives.Wolfie groaned as Balto (whom he had grown to love as a sire) was gored by the largest swine’s tusks. He had to do something! The hybrid crouched, ready to spring. But he hesitated, thought of a better idea, and swung his head high, howling as far as his voice would carry.The coal black boar, Ajmer, knew in his black heart that the one more goring will kill the hybrid. It would be easy, SO easy, for Balto was running out of fight. At least he thought it was. For suddenly a tawny-gray body flung itself onto Ajmer’s nape, slashing into his ears and causing the beast to drop Balto.

“What the-?” snarled the boar, half-rearing the knock off this new pain.

But Wolfie did not stay still. Nay, he leapt onto the pig’s tender nose, where the nerves ran so very close to the surface.

“YAOOOOOOOWWWWW!!! CUR!! GET OFF, CUR!!!” roared Ajmer, bucking fiercely. Wolfie closed his emerald eyes, knowing it be soon that the boar would think enough the dig his hooves into the lupin. Oh, he thought. Where is he? Why isn’t he answering?The pig squealed, as something dust-colored leapt onto his throat. It was Balto, but the hybrid wasn’t alone.For there was Shawano, his teeth locked into the joint where Ajmer’s neck joined his body!

******CHAPTER 10: THE WOLFLING GROWS UP******

Shawano, Denali, Thor, and Bridgit had heard Wolfie’s howl for help, and had answered, with each leaping onto a different boar. Ajmer grunted and swung his head up, breaking Wolfie’s grip. The boar then impaled the wolf-dog with fierce tusks. Balto bellowed at the pain-filled look in Wolfie’s green eyes and sprung, locking his jaws in Ajmer’s back leg. There was the padding of paws, and up ran five furry fireballs: Joker, Ice Breaker, Bruce, MicroWing, and Wolf. With a roar of fury, Bruce and MicroWing grabbed the boar’s right shoulder, while Joker snared his throat. Wolf danced in front Ajmer, barking taunting calls; in short, distracting him.

Suddenly, Ice Breaker leapt and rammed into the left side of Ajmer’s head, followed quickly by Wolf. The force of the jump, coupled with the barrier of MicroWing and Bruce on his left shoulder, forced the neck to travel far, TOO far; thus breaking the neck. Ajmer fell, throat torn and broken, his eyes with the beady eyes screwed shut. With a war-whoop of a howl, Shawano, Joker, Wolf, MicroWing, Bruce, and Ice Breaker flung themselves onto the next pig. (Joker, alongside his youngest uncles, had murdered a small but fiery sow all by themselves.)

“Wolfie,” said Balto, as the bleeding 3/4 wolf rose. “I thank you, very much.”

“Hey, what are friends for?” grinned Wolfie, before joining the attack.

Hathi groaned and trumpeted, striving desperately to fend off the tigers’ attacks. Bombay and Shere Khan yipped at his heels, while Akyab and Kyangin snapped at his truck, staying just of reach. Even Chil dive-bombing their heads did nothing to stop their attacks.

Meanwhile, Akela dearly wanted to help his Alaskan brethren, but he was having his own trouble. The olive baboon is so fierce of an animal that he can even eat leopards, thus the panther and bear’s troubles. For 235 produce a great fight.

Balto watched as the Sunnybank collies and his family each dragged down three boars. “Four to go,” he whispered, catching his breath.Suddenly, there was a padding of feet, and Akola appeared.

“KARWAR!!! Come on!! Move your tail!!” he shouted.

“You too, Grey Brother, Little Raksha!” shouted Karwar.

The four siblings grabbed a young gilt by the neck and dragged her down.

“Three, Bal-boy!! Good hunting!!” shouted Grey Brother, as the litter galloped back.

Polaris, meanwhile, sat by on a hill lock, waiting for the collies to tire themselves before attacking.

Balto’s tongue hung out in exhaustion. They had dragged down an young sow, but there were two giant boars left, Ajmer’s sons. He glanced over at where the panther, bear and wolves were fast loosing from the sheer mass of the 135 baboons.Suddenly, there was a burst of flames, and two eel-like bodies, one dusty-tawny, one black, lunged themselves into the baboons.

“Kaa! Son and daughter of Kaa! Run!” cried the primates, pulling back.

The wolves cocked their heads.

“Kaa has a son?” said Raksha and Akola.

But Balto was wiser. He quickly recognized the two.

“It’s Nag and Nagini!” he shouted excitedly.

“You mean the king cobras?” asked Akela and Lady, eyes wide.

“What? No! Nag is a half Basilisk, half Black Mamba. He was free-born. And Nagini’s Lord Voldemort’s old pet snake. She’s a half Basilisk, half Anaconda. They’re good friends,” explained the wolf-dog.

Nag and Nagini struck together as only mates can, biting the baboons with their venomous fangs. For ten minutes the primates staggered around, confused that they didn’t straggle them. Suddenly they collapsed, killed by the powerful basilisk venom.

“POSIONTEETH!” cried the baboons, pulling away.

“Why I haven’t had this much fun since Voldemort told Wormtail that I would eat him!” laughed Nagini, turning towards her husband.

“EWWW!!! Eat HUMANS?!?” gasped Nag.

“Ick! No! I wasn’t going to eat him, that would be disgusting, but it was kinda funny to watch him squeal,” replied Nagini.

The baboons fell back, squealing in terror and confusion. The wolves’ tongues lolled out in exhaustion.

“CHARGE!!” cried Baloo, leading the attack on the last two boars. Now under the attacks of the panther, bruin, wolves, and collies, the smaller swine finally fell.

The last son of Ajmer squealed and galloped over to the tigers. He turned back, fierce to the last. There was no hope, Ajmer’s son knew. His beady eyes caught sight of Thane, laying on his side not too away, his eyes closed in his shallow sleepiness. The pig’s black heart rose. He could at least vent SOME of his fury.He was almost upon him when a black serpent, larger than the other two, sprung out of emerald flames, fangs dug into boar’s nose. The offspring of Ajmer squealed and backed away for sixty seconds. However, after sixty seconds, the last son fell, poisoned.

“MARVOLO!!” cheered the wolves. Marvolo, the American purebred basilisk, turned around and grinned, crooked tail wagging slowly.

“Hiya, Bal-boy! We snakies figured something was wrong and that you guys could use our help!” he grinned in his British accent.

The three serpents gathered and advanced on the monkeys. “You canines had better go and help that elephant,” said Marvolo quietly. “We’ll get the primates.”

Balto, Lad, and Wolfie snarled and heading off, to where Hathi was fast submitting to the tigers.With a howl, Wolfie lunged himself onto Shere Khan, dragging him down. The collies and wolves attacked Kyangin and Akyab, while the jungle crew attacked Bombay.The entire streak fell back, surprised; and Tabaqui cringed at their feet. Chil and an Indian flying fox flew to Hathi, stroking his head.

“It’s all right, Hathi,” said the bat. “It will all be okay.”

“COLONEL Hathi, and how do you know that, Mang?” panted the elephant.

“He doesn’t,” replied Chil frankly.

“Well, that’s reassuring!” mumbled Hathi.

Shere Khan growled a low rumble, and had his siblings pull away. It was hopeless.Polaris’s dark eyes gleamed dangerously, and then a cruel grin creased his grey-streaked face. Now would be a good time to attack, while the serpents were fighting and the canines were tired!It was to be the final duel between the Malamute and Gray Dawn. And this time, the Far North breed WOULD NOT LOSE!!

******CHAPTER 11: THE MERLE AND THE WOLFLING’S DUEL******

The animals collapsed, their sides heaving. Balto looked with a low whine over his family and jungle friends, who were slashed and bleeding. He looked at Wolfie. Wolfie was the youngest fighter, and yet one of the fiercest and most courageous.There was a sudden snarl, and Polaris appeared, dark eyes gleaming evilly.

“Hello, Gray Dawn.”

“Hello, Polaris,” growled the merle collie. Balto sighed and struggled to get to his tired feet. “Don’t worry, Bal-boy,” rumbled Gray Dawn. “It’s between just us two GENTLEMEN.”

The two animals circled, dark brown aglow. Grey and silver lips receded, unsheathing ivory tusk-like fangs.

Polaris charged forward, snapping at the hairy mane. Gray Dawn swiveled in time to save that bare patch of unarmored fur under his jaw but not his ear-tip. Blood flowed down the black-strippled silver head.Gray Dawn snarled and clamped his lupine jaws over the Malamute’s. Polaris shook his head and pulled, finally freeing himself. The grey jaws became soaked in crimson.Polaris roared and charged forward. No slash-and-wait now, it was a full out battle between the giant collie and the lean Malamute. Three minutes passed. The two pulled apart, bleeding badly from dozens of wounds. Polaris had one slight, VERY SLIGHT, advantage: he was unwinded. The small difference, while not important in the past three minutes, would be in the next two.

Gray Dawn momentarily lowered his head, glancing at his family and friends to tell them not to worry, when the Malamute clasped his jaws around the silvery throat. Gray Dawn fell, while the murder-lusting canine gnawed his way to the spine.

This had happened in one minute. And now, in an instant, a sudden force lunched him back, a raving tawny-gray body at his neck and then stomach.It was tired Wolfie, coming to the rescue.

Polaris latched his muzzle over the right side of Wolfie’s face, shaving off his ruff and slashing his ear and face. Wolfie gritted his teeth his grip and held on. Polaris squirmed. Although he did not know it, he was mortally wounded, having been slashed in the stomach from Wolfie; thus using too much blood. But he did know that this hybrid was going to dye!  The 3/4 wolf released a little, as he didn’t really want to hurt him, and hoped he would let go. Polaris sprung for Wolfie’s unguarded throat.A dusty bronze streak flashed through the air, and latched onto the hybrid’s neck. He growled and pulled away from the hissing Nagini. The Malamute’s ears lay back. NOW he knew he would dieSnarling, he started galloping insanely across the tundra. He circled, and his crazed dark eyes found the Sunnybank collies. Roaring, he charged forward.

Polaris had almost reached them when he made great leap, his spine arched and his paws reached for his stomach; his dark eyes and grey-streaked muzzles twisted in pain. He fell, his soul sighing out of the beaten carcass. Thus in one brief minute did the abused, tortured, terrible life of the wolf-actor finally end.

Wolfie staggered away, his face stained with crimson blood.

******CHAPTER 12: THE WOLFING BECOMES A WOLF******

“WOLFIE!!” cried Sterling, as the tearful boy rushed onto the creatures.

Wolfie’s right ear flopped over his head, giving him a lop-sided look. The humans rushed up, while the jungle animals trotted up.

“How can i ever thank you enough?” asked Balto gratefully to the serpents. Marvolo, Nagini, and Nag grinned.

“Just saving you is a reward! See ya again soon, Bal-boy!” grinned the serpents. With a snap, the three were gone.

“What happ-” started the Master, glancing around. There was no need to ask. Sam Houston sounding walked up. He froze and ran over to Polaris, lifting his lifeless grey-streaked head.

“A fight,” he said quietly, looking at his collies’ torn bodies.

“I’ll pay for the damage.”

“Yes, yes,” said Sam Houston, looking with anger at the jungle animals.

“Er...are those yours?” asked Kassun.

“Yes,” he replied, going forward. Balto struggled to his feet and glanced at the Mistress.

Don’t let them go with him. Please, his dark-hazel-on-yellow-eyes said.The Mistress laid her small hand over the Master. He looked at her, sighed, and went forward.

“How about if I buy those animals off of you and return them to their jungle homes? They don’t belong here,” is what he said. The animals smile with relief.

Sam Houston considered for a while, and then replied: “O.K.”

He gathered up Polaris and left. The citizens went forward to help grab the animals, while the Master and Mistress went with their collies up Balto’s Boat.

“Bye,” grinned Bagheera and Baloo and the others, leaving.

******************************************************************************

“And so, yeah, that’s what happened,” finished Ramses.

“Interesting. Too interesting. They would never believe me, if I tried to publish that. Besides, everyone views wolves as evil brutes. I did too. But you guys,” sighed the Master. “Have proven me wrong.”

“So they’ll never be a book about us?” asked Rascal.

“Not by me. I could never do it right. But, who knows? Maybe some day there will be an animated motion-picture movie about you, Balto,” he replied. He stretched.

“We’d better get going soon, unfortunately,” said the Mistress softly.

“Me too,” said Ramses sadly.

Sterling sighed and hugged his pal.

“Wolfie, I-I-I’m going to miss-ss-s you, Wo-wo-wol-Wolfie. But I want you to-to-o b-b-be free!” sobbed Sterling.

“I’ll miss you too,” sobbed Wolfe, emerald eyes stinging. “But true friends can never be apart. I’ll always be with you.”Blazes of scarlet, crimson and emerald flashed and flickered suddenly across the setting sun.

“What the-” said the humans.

“The Northern Lights,” started Kaltag. “They-”

“They are the spirits of all of the creatures and humans that span from heaven to help those on earth. Their bright lights both entertain us living beasts and guides us, offering us protection, a sign that we shall someday join them in heaven,” interrupted Wolfie. The lupins gasped. Only the true wolves, wild creatures, and Inuits knew that interpretation of the Aurora Borealis.

“You are a wolf,” said Nava quietly.

With that, Wolfie knew he had found his place. He lifted his head and howled the true wolf song. The others, even the dogs and fading raccoon joined, while the humans watched.

The wolfling had truly become a wolf.

******************************************************************************

Aniu and Lenore sat on the Boat, two ravens sitting against the flickering lights.

“Wolfie has found where he belongs, and that is one less of Balto savors to be found,” said Aniu softly.

Lenore looked at her. “So, uhm, who’s next?

“Aerro.”

“Who's that? An Airedale?” asked Lenore, cocking her head.

“No, he’s an European Eagle Owl. Son of Aquila and Euro,” replied the red-eyed raven.

“Oh, well, they know all about Aquila. He’s one of their buddies,” said Lenore.

“Yeees,” sighed the wolf-bird.”But not Euro, his mother. Balto needs to know both of the parents, to help understand Aerro.”

Aniu sighed and watched the lights. “Yes, I will have Balto dream of Euro first.”

The End!

AUTHOR’S NOTE: WELL, THIS IS MY ELEVENTH FANFIC AND ONE OF THE MOST AMBITIOUS. WITH AROUND 86 CHARACTERS, THAT’S A LOT TO WRITE ABOUT! WHEW! ANYWHO, I HAVE LONG LOVED THE ALBERT PAYSON TERHUNE NOVELS, SUCH AS “GRAY DAWN”, “LAD, A DOG” “FURTHER ADVENTURES OF LAD” “LAD OF SUNNYBANK” “THE CRITTER” “BRUCE” AND “WOLF”; SO IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I INCORPORATED SOME OF HIS DOGS INTO ONE OF MY FANFICS. I ALSO ENJOY TWO OF STERLING NORTH’S CLASSIC NOVELS: “THE WOLFLING” (THIS IS WHERE WOLFIE COMES FROM) AND “RASCAL” (THE RACCOON.) THE JUNGLE BOOK CHARACTERS COME FROM RUDYARD KIPLING’S NOVELS OF THAT NAME, THE 1961 ANIMATED DISNEY VERSION, AND THE 1998 DIRECT-TO-VIDEO ADAPTATION: “MOWGLI’S STORY.” AS I HAVE SAID, HEADMASTER IS MY GOOD BUDDY; SO I AM GLAD THAT I WILL SOON BE ABLE TO USE ONE OF HIS CHARACTERS. MANY THANKS TO HEADMASTER, AND DCOUNTRY87, MY EDITOR. FINALLY, I AM VERY GLAD TO BE FINALLY PAYING SOME TRIBUTE TO MY FRIEND, SAINT AIBYOU! ST. AIBYOU WAS THE VERY PERSON EVER TO READ ( AND GENTLY REVIEW) MY FANFICS, AS WELL AS THE PERSON WHO FIRST ENCOURAGED ME TO WRITE FANFICS! THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ST. AIBYOU!! -EbonyPatriot