The Black pup blinked. He opened his eyes and gazed around. He was alone. The harsh Alaskan landscape was now approaching winter. If the pup did not soon find shelter he would perish. His name was Halian, son of no-one. He had no friends, no family and if he didn’t get out of the cold, no life. He clambered awkwardly to his feet, desperately trying not to sink into the snow. He began to walk, hoping he wasn’t going in circles. It began to snow harder, the wind was quite fierce now and it was a struggle for the young pup just to stay upright. He sat down and began to whimper. He was cold and hungry, ‘why have my parents left me to die?’ he wondered ‘Am I really that bad a pup?’ Suddenly there was a noise, Halian whimpered and shivered; he hoped it was a friendly sort of noise. A large grey wolf-like dog appeared out of the snow. “Are you alright?” it asked, Halian again whimpered and gazed up at the stranger. A goose appeared behind the grey dog, Halian was very surprised. A goose and a dog together, that was odd. “I think this one has been abandoned to the snow” said the goose in a heavy Russian accent

“You think so Boris, look at the poor little guy. Let’s take him back to Jenna”

“I agree. Let’s get-t-t out-t-t of here” said the goose as he shivered, his beak was chattering

“Ok little guy I’m gonna take you back somewhere safe OK?” The wolf looked at him kindly. Halian nodded and approached the wolf/dog “That’s good. You’ll be OK. I’m Balto and the goose is Boris, he’s looked after me since well…forever” Balto grinned then picked up Halian by his bandanna. The three of them disappeared into the snow back toward Nome.

“Balto is that you?”

“Yeah I’m back and we have another addition to the family”

“What?” Balto came through still carrying Halian

“I found him out in the snow. I couldn’t leave him, he’s only a pup.” Balto said and placed the cold, wet bundle of fur in the basket next to Jenna. He immediately snuggled up to the warmth of Jenna’s flank.

“Oh the poor thing,” Jenna said and began to lick him clean “How did you find him out in that blizzard?”

“He was whimpering and crying out the poor boy. I wonder what his name is.”

“We can ask him when he wakes up; he’s probably very tired and hungry, he can have some milk when he wakes up.”Jenna said satisfied that the pup was clean.

“I’m going back to the boat, I’ll come back in the morning to see how he’s doing” Said Balto, He licked Jenna and departed. Jenna resumed her licking and gently nuzzled the pup to encourage him to drink. It was lucky that her last litter of pups had recently left, that meant she had plenty of milk for this new pup. She settled down and curled around the pup.

Halian awoke surrounded by red fur, he was very confused. ‘Who is this?’ he thought, he struggled and pulled himself up onto wobbly legs. The owner of the red fur awoke “Hello little one” she said “are you hungry? I’m Jenna, Balto’s mate. What’s your name?”

“Halian” He replied in a very small voice

“Halian, OK well you can stay here. Balto and I will look after you.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Do you know where your parents are?” Jenna asked tentatively

“I don’t have any…” Halian told her miserably “No-one loves me” He whimpered

“Oh Halian, that can’t be true.” Jenna said confidently “Somewhere there is someone, your parents are probably out there right now wondering where their little Halian is. You must never give up hope no matter what.”

Halian gazed up at her with big green eyes and said “You think so?”

“Of course I do darling, there is always hope, so you must believe.”

Halian grinned a silly puppy grin “OK, can I go and look for them when I’m better?”

“Perhaps, maybe when you’re older”

Halian bounced out into the snow; he was getting quite strong now. His coat shone in the morning sun and his yellow bandanna flopped against his chest. Halian raced down to the shoreline and onto the old boat “Balto! Balto! C’mon Balto wake up!” Halian called out loudly.

“Ooooh pups” Balto groaned and put his paws over his ears. Halian bounced in through the door grinning.

“Good morning Halian” Boris greeted the pup cheerfully

“Morning Halian” Balto groaned and dragged himself out from under his blanket

“Today’s the day!” Halian wagged his tail so fast it was a blur

“Oh yeah, time for another adventure. Time to find out who you really are,” Balto said as he stretched out

“Yeah! Time to leave this place and find my parents” Halian yipped and danced in circles around Balto and Boris

“Whoa! Slow down boy!” Said Boris “You are making me dizzy just watching”

“Sorry Boris, I can’t help it, I’m so excited.”

Halian bounced down the boarding ramp and howled. Balto followed by Boris also descended down the ramp. Halian raced ahead into the trees finally he was going to find out who his parents were.