Dedicated to my Nava, Michael O’Brien, a wonderful Granddad in whose front porch I started typing this story.           

   Heritage    

     Two days had passed since Alue left with the wolf pack, on a path high in the mountains Balto and Nava walked side by side. After Balto’s meeting with his mother he had begun his journey home. At dawn the following morning Balto had found Nava asleep in tree hallow. It was clear the events of past few days had furthered weakened the old wolf and that he would not survive long alone. Sitting together over a kill Balto made, Nava had listened to stories of Nome, showing particular interest in Rosie. At Balto’s invitation Nava had decided to journey with him to Nome in the hope of meeting her and potentially creating a new life for himself.

  “Rosanna[1] sounds a wonderful cub I look forward to meeting,” Nava said as they walked through the falling snow.

“She will love meeting you, she can understand us, I’m not quite sure how,” Balto replied. “My sister Aurora said it is part of her heritage, whatever that means, she told me when the time is right then she will explain.”[2]

“Aurora is Aniu’s cub who inherited her mother’s gifts, if she has said that then trust her wisdom,” Nava replied softly.

“I’ll trust what you say Nava, your instincts have proved right,” Balto replied as a long mournful howl full of sadness ripped through the air.

          Ahead of them sat outside a cave was Niju, his face streaked with tears, his eyes filled with pain. Seeing the pair approach the wolf looked at them sadly, no trace of anger or hatred in his eyes.

“I knew we would meet again nephew,” Nava said gently sitting down next to the black and blue wolf.

“Forgive me Uncle I was wrong in what I did, Balto on my honour I swear I never intended to kill Alue, I acted……..” Niju replied looking at the pair.

“Out of what you believed best for the pack, I cannot condemn you for that, others would have acted the same. You are forgiven Neju,” Nava replied placing a paw over his.

“If Nava can forgive you than so can I,” Balto replied taking a long hard look at the wolf. “Though I would like to know why the sudden change.”

“I had time to think over my reasons for what I did,” Niju replied turning to Nava. “I acted the way I did out of fear for being forced to leave, not being able to see Nada again.”

“I suspected as much nephew, your mother has left deep scars,” Nava sighted bitterly.

“Hold on, are you related?”

“Yes, Niju’s mother is my niece.”

“My pup hood was a bit of mess,” Niju sighted. “The fact I’ve turned out half decent is a miracle. If you like I can explain further.”

“I have been wondering about that, I can see a family resemblance. I did wonder why you acted as you did.”

“My Mother arrived at Uncle Nava’s pack pregnant and begging refuge after my grandfather threw her.” Niju began slowly. “Four months after my sister and I were born she vanished one night.”

“My niece was a young, vain and selfish creature who cared only for herself. It was I, my mate and my daughter and her mate who raised Niju and his sister Nada. But the damage had been done to both of them,” Nava replied, his voice laced with bitterness.

       Sitting listening to tale Balto could barely believe his ears. Having raised a family of his own his own it was hard for him to understand how a parent could leave their cubs. For the first time Balto saw through the facade Niju wore and saw the hurting cub underneath, one who feared being abandoned again.  

  “No cub should suffer that,” Balto replied softly. “What will you do now?”

“I’m not sure. What are your plans Uncle Nava?”

“Balto has invited me to Nome with him, his human friend Rosanna is protected by Aurora.”

“Aurora protects a human! Now that is strange,” Niju replied flicking his tail.

“Come with us to Nome, you can recover your strength there and have time to work out what you want to do,” Balto said turning to Niju.

“It will do you good to eat well Niju that land is plentiful of game.”

“Humans are the natural enemies of wolves, being around them fills me with fear.”

“I know places they don’t, you don’t have to come into town at all,” Balto replied.

“Then I’ll come with you, besides someone has to look after this old wolf.”

    Rest in Nome

     A week had passed since Alue left with the pack, standing on the hill above Nome, Balto, Niju and Nava looked watched as the townsfolk head home. Like shadows Nava and Niju headed to a small patch of woodland while Balto slipped into the town. Reaching Rosie’s house he found Jenna sat next to Rosie who was brushing her coat.

“Balto you’re back at last I was so worried, where is Alue?” Jenna asked looking at him.

“Jenna,” Balto begun hesitantly unsure how to tell her.

“Balto has something happened, where is Alue?” Jenna asked with fear in her voice and eyes.

“While we were out, we met a wolf pack who needed help,” Balto replied explaining the situation with Nava’s former pack. “Alue decided to go with them, she became pack leader. She told me tell you that she had found her home.”

    Tears fell from Jenna’s eyes as the news sunk in, her heart breaking at the thought she would not see her daughter again. At the same time she felt joy that Alue had found her place in the world.

“Is she happy Balto?”

“Yes, oh Jenna you should have seen her out there, she thrived living free, she belongs there,” Balto replied tenderly licking her cheek.

 “Alue always loved the wild Jenna, I think she will be happy,” Rosie replied, as Balto’s father Cathán arrived, his brown and grey coating shining in the evening sun.

“Balto back at last, Alue?”

“She chosen to live with a wolf pack,” Balto replied explaining the tale.

  “You saw Aniu again! After all this time, what happened….” Cathan replied shaking his head.

“Was fate my love,” Aniu said appearing suddenly.

       With tears shining their eyes Cathan, Balto and Aniu licked and nuzzled each other, reunited after so many years part.

“I am sorry for not coming sooner but things were destined to happen as such. I am not a mortal wolf but spirit, the chief wolf spirit of this land. I never stopped loving you Cathan, I would have come sooner but….”

 “None of that matters now Aniu, we are together again,” Cathan replied nuzzling her.

“I have missed both of you so much, not a day went by when I did not think about you.”

“Mom it’s alright, as long as we can be a family again that is what is important,” Balto replied smiling.

“Of course, I will not always be here but we will sea each other,” Aniu replied as the trio’s eyes flickered to Rosie and Jenna.

“Rosanna, I have heard much about you from Aurora, I am pleased to see you once again.”

 “Pleased to meet you Aniu,” Rosie replied politely, staring into her gold eyes. “It was you, the wolf I saw that night, you and Cathan came to the window!”

“Yes Rosanna it was I, you were very young, back then I did not realize the part you would play. You have a true heart child.”

“Thank you Aniu.”

“Jenna at last I can meet the one who won my son’s heart, you are a wonderful creature.”

“I am very pleased to meet you Aniu, Balto has told me a lot of stories from when he was a pup,” Jenna replied smiling happily.

     Sitting together the family chatted happily, broken bonds began to heal and new ones were formed. Later that evening they were joined by Balto and Jenna’s pups, all of whom were shocked to discover their spirit heritage and delighted to meet Aniu. News of Alue hit them hard yet when they understood it was for the best, they knew she never truly belonged in Nome.

“She is not gone from you, she knows her heritage fully, either myself or Aurora can bring messages to and from her,” Aniu said softly.

“That’s good,” Kodi replied wagging his tale. “I’m glad she’s happy.”

          The following day Rosie, Balto, Jenna and Kodi stood on a deserted section of beach away from town. Standing in front of them were Niju and Nava, the elder wolf appeared relaxed while Niju’s shifted nervously his amber eyes fixed on Rosie.

 “Niju, Nava allow me to introduce my mate Jenna, our son Kodi and Jenna’s owner Rosie,” Balto said walking over to the two wolves.

“I am pleased to meet all of you, you have the beauty of your daughter Jenna, Kodiak your sister spoke highly of you,” Nava said stepping forward.

“Thank you Nava,” Jenna replied softly, sadness in her heart.

“Pleased to meet you,” Kodi