Cold flurries of snow rushed into Steele's face as he ran alongside Kirby. He struggled to control the rage sizzling beneath his muscles. His plan was failing miserably. He had worked hard to earn the trust of the mail dogs, training with them in the days before the race, proving that he was the champion that they needed.

The slowing plane somewhere behind them would crash soon, ensuring their victory. It was rapidly leaking fuel. Steele had set everything up perfectly.

He had been delighted to learn that one of the mail dogs was Kodi, the son of Balto and Jenna. Two dogs who had cost him his reputation and fame, everything that had ever mattered to him. This was a cruel way to make them pay for it. Earn Kodi's admiration and replace Balto in his life. But during the race, Kodi and the other mail dogs had challenged him.

Maybe I snapped a little with Ralph. He thought. But that idiot was driving me mad. It was clear that when the race was over, the mail dogs would turn on him. Tell the town about what he did to Ralph. I'd never hear the end of it! Just like after the serum run!

It's time for plan B...His eyes narrowed to slits as he looked ahead at Kodi, whose red and white tail rippled in the wind in front of him. He lowered his gaze and studied Kodi's hind paws as they repeatedly drummed across the snow. He carefully judged his timing before he lunged forward to perform his signature move that had won him so many races.

***

Kodi let out a startled yelp as sharp teeth snapped near his hind paw. He instinctively leaped aside, and the next thing he knew, the team was spinning out of control. Snow and sky spun around him as he tumbled through the snow, hearing the startled howls of his teammates as they were forced down with him, tangling themselves in their harnesses.

The sled overturned, and while Ralph was able to leap off on time, Mr. Simpson let out a horrified yell as he was thrown from the sled and sent plummeting down the side of the snowy cliff. There was no way the musher could survive the fall.

When Kodi rolled onto his side and slowed to a stop against a mound of snow, he stumbled dizzily to his paws, shaking snow from his red fur. His heart raced with shock as he processed the experience. What happened?!

While the others regained their balance, he saw that Steele had already leaped out of his harness. He crouched further up the slope not far from Kodi, his eyes narrowed furiously. "It's a pity you couldn't stay loyal to me, Kodi!" He snarled. "You could have won this race!"

As Kodi took a wary step back, Dusty glared at Steele and shot over to him. "What do you think you're-"

Steele whirled to face her and bared his teeth. "Stay back there with those two fools!" He snarled. When Dusty ignored him and started toward Kodi, Steele turned and gave her a fierce push with his head. She let out a startled yell as she tumbled backwards, glaring at him angrily. Kirby was helping Ralph onto his stomach, casting a sorrowful look over the cliff where Mr. Simpson had met his fate.

"Steele!" Kodi choked out, stunned but returning Steele's glare defiantly. "What are you doing?"

The massive black and white husky's flanks heaved with anger, though his eyes gleamed as though he had long awaited this moment. "I lost everything because of that wolfdog, Balto!" He snarled. "Now, he's going to lose something too. Maybe not exactly how I intended." He grinned. "But this will work just as well."

As the enraged eyes locked intently on Kodi's throat, he took an alarmed step backwards. "W-wait! I-"

"I failed to keep Balto from returning to Nome. But I won't with you. You'll never get home!" There was a glimmer of insanity in Steele's eyes, cold as the icy hue they held. "The great Balto will never see his beloved son again. Nor will Jenna!" He spat the name with disgust. "Can't believe she chose to breed with that- that mutt instead of me! A champion!" He took a step forward, a growl rumbling in his throat. "You could have been a purebred husky. But you're nothing more than a wolfdog." He chuckled and bared his teeth. "Don't worry kid, you won't be for much longer."

With an enraged snarl, he lunged at Kodi, who had never fought anyone before. He let out a startled gasp as he was thrown onto his back in the snow, his shoulders pinned by Steele's paws. He struggled desperately to free himself, but he was no match for the massive, muscular dog. Steele planted a hefty paw on Kodi's throat, and he whined in pain at the pressure, his breathing cut short as snow crunched under his head.

"It's a shame, really." Steele bared his teeth and removed his paw from Kodi's throat. "I could have turned you into a champion." Kodi's heart bleated with terror as Steele lunged down and snapped his fangs at his throat, and he squeezed his eyes shut as he twisted his head aside, all that he could do to save himself.

"Get away from him!"

Kodi's eyes snapped open at Balto's furious yell. Dad? A heartbeat later, a gray-brown blur slammed into Steele, knocking him away from Kodi. He immediately scrambled to his paws in the snow and saw his father pinning Steele, his teeth bared in a look of fierce anger.

Kodi knew that though his father had courage, he could not beat Steele in a battle of strength. Steele let out a furious snarl and started to push Balto off, but Jenna appeared at his side and helped Balto hold him down.

Kodi had never seen his mother so angry, her eyebrows narrowed and teeth bared at her enemy. "How dare you lay a paw on him!" She shouted in rage.

Beyond them, Kaltag, Nikki, and Star were with Kirby, Ralph, and Dusty, checking that they were alright before turning their narrowed eyes on Steele.

"You two!" Steele raged under Balto and Jenna, his eyes blazing with more rage and insanity than ever before. "You destroyed it all! Everything I ever worked for! You made me lose everything!"

"Save it, Steele!" Balto growled, his yellow eyes lit with fury. "We're taking you back to Nome. And you can tell everyone what you've done."

"Yeah!" Kaltag shouted behind them. "You rigged the race by damaging the plane!"

Kodi gasped. "What?" No wonder Steele was so certain we'd win!

"That plane is going down!" Star bounced to Kodi's side, his eyes wide and anxious.

"We should head back toward White Mountain and look for the plane!" Balto looked over his shoulder at his companions as he spoke. "It might have already crashed somewhere."

"Grrrah!" With a mighty shove, Steele pushed Balto and Jenna off of him and raced back in the direction of White Mountain, spinning and baring his teeth as he planted himself firmly in their path. "No one is going anywhere!"

Balto and Jenna started toward them, their eyes narrowed. They were joined by Kaltag, Nikki, Star, and Kodi, who stood alongside Balto angrily facing Steele. Beyond them, Dusty and Kirby stayed at Ralph's side, though they were watching the confrontation.

"You're outnumbered, Steele." Balto growled. "Give it up."

Steele let out a furious snarl. "No! You ruined by life, you pathetic wolfdog! You-" As he went on, Kodi's ears flicked at a low humming sound in the distance. He looked up and gasped. In the near distance, the bush plane was soaring unsteadily toward them, smoke billowing from its engine.

"After you returned to Nome, everyone turned on me!" Steele didn't seem to hear the plane, his attention fixed on Balto. "Why? Because of you! Who got the fame? You! Not me! You did!"

As the plane neared, Balto and the other dogs let out gasps. It was losing altitude, becoming closer and closer to the treetops. A trail of dark fumes followed it. The plane was going to crash. And it was headed straight for them.

"Whoa!" Nikki's eyes widened while Star hid behind Kaltag, covering his head with his paws.

Balto's eyes flashed from Steele to the plane, which was humming louder than ever. "Steele!" He shouted. "We have to go!"

"No! No one is going anywhere!" Steele yelled back, so enraged he was oblivious to the increasing volume of the plane's roar. "All of you have to pay for-" His voice was drowned out by the deafening sound of the plane engine as it closed in, headed straight for Steele.

Balto rapidly backed away with Kodi and Jenna, the three of them staring in horror. "Steele, move! The plane!" Kodi shouted, but knew there was no way Steele could have heard him over the engine.

After a heartbeat, Steele's mouth stopped moving as he glared at the other dogs, suddenly aware of the roaring behind him. He swung a look over his shoulder as the fuming plane closed in on him, and a look of shear terror washed over his face.

Balto threw himself on top of Jenna and Kodi, pushing them into the snow, and the three of them squeezed their eyes shut as a thunderous crashing sound struck across the mountainside, shaking the earth under them.

As the plane engine went silent, Balto slowly rose, turning to the mountainside while Kodi and Jenna stood and opened their eyes. Pieces of debris scattered throughout the snow around them. The plane lay broken and wrecked in the snow. In the exact spot where Steele had been standing. Kodi's eyes darted around the wreckage, and he froze when he caught sight of a white paw poking out from under the plane.

Despite Steele's cruel nature and attempt to kill him, Kodi's heart sank with grief, and he bowed his head. Everyone was quiet for a long moment. "Is the pilot alive?" Balto asked quietly.

Kaltag and Star rushed past them to the wreck. Star climbed onto the wing of the plane and sniffed at the man's cheek, giving it a lick. He stirred, and Star turned to Balto brightly. "He's okay, Balto!"

The wolfdog let out a relieved sigh. "Good. Let's get him on the sled with Ralph and go home."

As the dogs slipped into their harnesses, Kodi turned to his father. "You're our lead dog now, dad." He said with a flash of pride, accompanied by guilt. He wanted to tell his Balto how sorry he was for his behavior. But he couldn't find the right words.

Balto turned to him and smiled. "Actually, I think you'd better take the lead."

Kodi smiled back, and he and the others began the journey home. But they did not run, and only maintained a fast walking pace. Kaltag took Ralph's place beside Dusty, while Balto ran in Kodi's usual spot alongside Kirby. Nikki, Star, and Jenna walked alongside the sled, ensuring that Ralph and the pilot were alright.

After a long while, Kodi pieced together his words and looked over his shoulder. "Dad?"

"Kodi?" Balto met his gaze, a flicker of sadness in his eyes.

He let out a sigh. "I'm really sorry. I should have listened to you and mom about Steele. I just... Really wanted to believe he was there to help us."

Balto's eyes glistened with emotion and guilt. "Kodi, no. This is my fault. I shouldn't have crushed your hopes of winning the race. I was..." He hesitated, as it wasn't often that he showed weakness in front of Kodi. "I was afraid of disappointing you. If I led you in the race and we lost, you'd never forgive me."

"What?" Kodi blinked in surprise. "Dad, I just wanted you to believe in us. If we lost, at least we lost trying. I couldn't ask for more from you."

His father stared at him. "Really?"

"Of course! You're my hero, dad." Kodi's eyes shone with admiration. Balto looked touched and smiled, eyes glistening.

"That's nice and all." Kirby interrupted quietly. "But I'm pretty sure we've lost our jobs. So does any of this matter?"

Balto looked aside at the tan husky. "I wouldn't be so sure." He commented.

Kirby blinked at him. "What do you mean?"

"Before we left, the people of Nome were arguing about whether the plane was reliable. And though Steele is to blame..." Balto hesitated. "The plane did crash."

"That's right!" Kodi brightened. "Everyone will think airmail can't be trusted, and-"

"And we'll keep our jobs!" Ralph shouted joyfully from the back of the sled.

Kodi smiled broadly as he ran across the snow, seeing the darker shapes of Nome's buildings in the distance. Our jobs and lives are safe, thanks to Balto. He looked over his shoulder at his friends. But what we have here is more important than any job. He knew that the plane would return to challenge them in the future. And next time, they would not be so lucky. But that's okay. We'll have each other. And that's something that no man-made object can come between.

THE END