Foreword

I'm looking outside my window and to be honest, I'd rather be outside. It's May in southern Ontario, which means the sun is shining, the skies are clear and the breeze is warm, beckoning everyone - including an avid cyclist such as myself - to go out and enjoy the beautiful weather outside. The wretched winter is behind us (finally) and the whole world feels like it's having a new beginning. Alas, I must resist the temptation for now because I have kept my loyal readers waiting long enough. I have finished another story, and while it may not have the level of suspense and action that a couple of my recent stories did, there should still be a few good surprises in here.

Just when you thought Balto had saved the day at the end of "The Road Home", I still had one more curveball to throw. Long story short, Balto is starting to experience the dreams that plagued him through the events of Balto II: Wolf Quest. He doesn't know what they mean or why they are happening, but they still are. To add to the pressure, his pups are coming fast and he wants to do his best for them. He wants to be a good father, but he also wants to protect them from what he had to go through when he was younger. He knows being part wolf can be hard, but he doesn't know who he can turn to for aid. Just goes to show you that you don't need a bad guy for there to be a good deal of conflict.

Before I get things started, I just want to make a shout out to Walto Disney, who helped with the beta reading for this story. Thanks again man, and I hope that you survive all that homework you're getting. Also, even though this is the latest story in my series, you can probably get away without having to read most of my prior stories. Then again, there's nothing stopping you from look at my past work as well and who knows - there may be a few clues for what is at play in this story. ;) Ah, I've kept you waiting long enough - it's time to start the show! Sit back and enjoy iWolf's latest story: "With Good Intentions". As for me, I've held off long enough - it's time to hit the bike trails.

Chapter 1: Ravens and Wolves

"Balto…"

The voice was faint, but familiar. The name was right on the tip of his tongue, but it refused to emerge. The only thing that came out of his mouth was his own breath, visible in the chilled air that was as cold as the ground beneath him. He was alone in a landscape of flat ice, and all was quiet until he heard a harsh call from the inky skies above. It was a call that he was all too familiar with by now. It was the raven, circling above his head as it always did.

"Balto… hello Balto."

At first he thought the raven was finally talking to him, but the voice seemed to come from everywhere instead of from above. The bird circled a few more times before descending, fading as a bank of fog started to roll in. The mist clouded his vision as the raven called him again. With nothing else to guide him, he followed the calls through the thick cloud.

"What do you want?" he asked. "How did I get here?"

"You came here last night, remember?"

He tried, but just as he couldn't link the voice to a name, he couldn't remember how he got here. He'd been standing in the desolate ice field right after… he'd walked somewhere last night… and then he was here… the voice was so familiar to him.

Suddenly, a burst of air rushed in and he had to bear down in order to stay on his feet. The gale roared in his ears and he gritted his teeth, shutting his eyes as the rushing air stung them.

"Balto, are you okay?"

"Augh… the wind…"

"Wind? Vhat wind? There's no wind… Balto… wake up!"

With those two words, everything rushed back to him. There was only one creature that slurred 'what's' as 'vhat's' like that; an old Russian snow goose named Boris. He'd seen Boris only last night in the beached boat he called home. They'd shared a quick chat before turning in for the night. He'd closed his eyes… that meant he was asleep now… and this was all a dream.

"Boris?" he asked, opening his eyes. He hoped to wake up and return to his boat, but he was still in the dream – and he wasn't alone anymore. Surrounding him were countless wolves, all staring at him with glowing gold eyes. Their stare probed deep into him, finding everything there was to know about him. His past, his present, his future… his hopes… his fears…

"C'mon, wake up boitshick!"

"They're everywhere!" he gasped as he wheeled around and saw wolves all around him, creeping closer and leaving no opening for escape. They howled out, calling for him. "No - I don't - I'm trapped - get me out of here!" he cried as the ground started to shake. The ice beneath his feet cracked and buckled, but the wolves surrounding him left little room to dash away. He was now faced with one of his worst fears – to be trapped with no escape.

"WAKE UP!"

He shut his eyes but the howl roared in his ears, broken only by the cracking beneath him. No matter how much he willed it, he couldn't snap out of the dream. The ice beneath him lurched as the slab he was standing on started to tip over. He tried to dart upwards to the higher side, but he couldn't get much traction on the slick surface. His paws skidded on the ice before losing all contact with the ground, sending him plunging backwards into the inky abyss.

Where his own will failed, his body's instincts prevailed. The sensation of falling jolted his entire system, shocking it out of his dream. The vision vanished in an instant, right before he felt his back impact something hard. Instead of ice, there were weathered planks above him as he panted in exertion. He sucked in air that was no longer freezing and regained his senses, taking comfort in his surroundings. He was where he wanted to be, and it wasn't long before a familiar beaked face entered his vision, looking at him with one eyebrow raised.

"Vhat was that all about?" the old bird asked, wanting to know why he'd been waken up so early by his friend thrashing and muttering in his sleep.

"I'm fine… it was just a dream," he replied as he blinked the sleep out of his amber eyes, allowing him to focus on his unlikely friend. Unlikely might actually have been an understatement, as Balto was a canine - a natural born predator that would normally prey on an old goose like Boris. Then again, it was also partly because of what he was that Boris had befriended him. Balto was no ordinary canine; he was a hybrid of a domestic dog and a wild wolf. Because of his heritage, friends were in short supply for him during his younger years. He would take anyone he could get, and that included an old goose who'd decided to take him under his wing. To this day, he chuckled at the inanity of the whole thing. They actually met when he tried to hunt down Boris, but Balto ended up going through some thin ice during the chase. Despite the wolfdog's agression, Boris would act out of compassion towards him. He helped nurse the young half-wolf back to health, and over the years, they would end up sharing an ersatz father-son bond between them.

"Just a dream, eh? This wouldn't happen to be your raven and wolf dream again, now would it?" Boris asked.

"No… maybe… so what if it was?" Balto's heart was still pounding from the intensity of the dream, his breath coming in gasps as though he'd run a hundred-mile race. As much as he didn't like admitting it, this wasn't the first time this had happened. For the past month, he'd have a recurring dream every few days in some surreal, icy landscape. Each dream had its own differences and variations, but he'd always see the ever-watchful raven circling over his head before finding them – the wolves with glowing eyes.

"So vhat? The vhat is that if it was, it shows that something's going on in that furry head of yours," Boris replied.

"Nothing's going on in my head," Balto barked, before getting up to leave the wheelhouse. "Dreams are just dreams, nothing else."

"You might think that, but maybe you need a second opinion on this, eh?" Boris suggested, following him out onto the boat deck. "Maybe one of your friends can help you out… or maybe Jenna-"

"I've told you before that I don't need everyone to know, least of all Jenna," Balto cut in. "The last thing I need is to have everyone worrying if I'm losing my mind… especially with the pups coming."

Jenna was Balto's mate, a Siberian husky with a heart kind enough to soften all but the steeliest souls. They had known each other since they were young pups, becoming fast friends despite his label as a half-breed outcast. It wasn't until after he'd averted a crisis in Nome that he'd finally shaken most of the stigma against him, allowing them to admit their love for each other. He'd saved the day, won the love of his sweetheart, and now they were expecting a litter of pups of their own. There were only a few weeks to go until then, and Balto didn't want anything to distract him from his new responsibility.

"Alright, if that's what you want to do, that's fine; even though it's never good to keep things from your friends… or your family."

Balto was silent; as much as he wanted to rebuff Boris, he knew that he himself was one who valued honesty very highly. "I know, but even if I did tell her would it make any difference?"

"It might. Who knows, being honest might make them go away, instead of keeping them all bottled up inside you," Boris suggested. "It might help you sleep better too so that you're not kicking old Boris early in the morning."

"Sorry about that, you know I didn't mean it," he apologized.

"I know, but I shouldn't have to flip you over just to wake you up," Boris scolded, stretching his back. There was a very audible crack as everything popped back into place. "You aren't exactly a little pup anymore."

"No, but if you want I'm sure you'll have no trouble rolling my pups around when they come," he replied, hoping to finally get them off the subject of his dreams.

"Hey, as long as they don't bite, I'll always take little pups over the bears," he grumbled.

"Oh Boris, don't be like that. I know that deep down, you love playing with them," Balto teased, smirking a little.

"I don't know where you get these funny ideas. I don't love playing with Muk and Luk… I survive the play."

"Play? Yay, let's play!" The voice came from below the deck, and was soon followed by two round balls of white fluff charging out before tackling Boris and squeezing him in a tight hug.

"Ack, Luk let me go!" Boris snapped at the larger one. "And no, Muk, I don't want to play right now. Can't I talk to Balto for a moment?" he added, turning to the smaller one. Muk and Luk were two polar bear cubs that Balto and Boris had also taken in when they found them alone in the town. They were a very rambunctious pair and would charge towards anything fun at the drop of a hat. They had a great love for their 'uncle' Boris, despite the older goose's misgivings towards their dynamic style of fun and games.

"Aw, but we love you Uncle Boris, isn't that right Luk?"

"Mmm ffm mfff fff mmmmm." Luk's speech always came out in a mumble that only Muk seemed able to translate, giving the brothers a secret language of their own.

"Look, if you really loved me, you'd let me have a moment with Balto here," Boris grumbled as he freed himself from Luk's death grip and sucked in air.

"Fff, mmm mff?"

"No Luk, he isn't angry with us," Muk reassured. "He just wants to talk to Balto and then we'll play."

"I didn't agree to any playing!" Boris exclaimed. "Help me out here Balto."

"Actually, I was just on my way out. I'd hate to keep you guys from your fun," Balto put in, trying not to smile too much.

"Balto, don't you dare run out on me again! Help me!" Boris cried. "Ugh, on second thought maybe it will be better when the pups are here. The bears can play with them and leave me be."

"Oh we'd love that too! When can we play with the pups Balto? When? When? When?" Muk asked, bouncing around excitedly.

"Soon. They still have to be born and Jenna and I are thinking that's still a few weeks away; but it won't be long, so don't fret."

"Mmmm fmm fff mfff mfmfm?"

"That's a really good question Luk! Where will your pups come from anyways?"

"Uh… well…" Balto was caught a little off guard on this one. He knew they probably wouldn't understand the true story, but he hadn't had time to think of a good cover for them yet. "Actually, I think Boris would be able to explain it better for you."

"Oh no, you're not dragging me into this one. They asked you, not me."

Balto groaned, while Boris grinned at his own little payback. "Well… you see… pups come from… you get them by… well they start very small when you first get them."

"But how do they start in the first place?" Muk asked.

"Well, you have to ask for them in a very special way… but that way is a secret that only mothers and fathers can know. It's all a very complicated process and you'd have to be older to fully understand it," he finished, hoping that would satisfy them.

"It's actually not that complicated…" he heard Boris mutter. Fortunately, the bears didn't hear him.

"Mfff ffmmm, fff mm?"

"I don't know how you'd ask either, Luk. Balto said we'd learn it when we were older, so we'll just wait for that."

"Ffmf mfff mmm, fmf?"

"Hm, that's a good guess," Muk said, rubbing his chin with his paw. "Or maybe you ask with some sort of song, or maybe a dance?"

"So, do you think they're getting closer? I'd say their dance guess is almost there," Boris quipped, causing Balto to roll his eyes.

"Hey, it's either that or the clichéd stork story. Hopefully it'll keep them happy enough… almost as happy as they get when playing with uncle Boris!" he replied, raising his voice for those last few words so that the bears could hear him.

"Vhat? No!" Boris cried, starting to tremble.

"Yes! Play with us uncle Boris, play with us! You said you would after you talked to Balto!" Luk exclaimed, grabbing the old bird and shaking him in joy.

"Ack! But I… I don't… ugh, okay, I'll play with you. How about this, we play hide and seek? You two hide, and I'll seek. Ready? Go!" With that, the bear cubs dashed off the ship to try to find some hiding spots, leaving Boris and Balto alone once again. "I think we handled that quite well," Boris added. "I actually like your little story on where pups come from."

"Even though it was improvised and didn't tell them anything at all?"

"Hey, that's what a cover story is supposed to do. You give them something they can understand until the time is right for them to know the truth. If you could improvise something like that, then you'll do fine… because there will come a time where curious pups will want to know where they came from too."

"I know… hopefully by then I'll think of something a little better," Balto replied. "Well, as much as I'd like to stay and chat, I probably should go see Jenna."

"Yes, of course. Go see your sweetheart," Boris replied, urging him away.

"Just don't forget to look for the bears," Balto finished before jumping over the side of his boat. Boris waved him off and took a moment to enjoy the peace.

"Of course I will look for bears… when I feel like it," Boris chuckled before waddling back into the wheelhouse to sleep in a little more.

Balto made the dash towards town in record time, eager to see Jenna. His paws sloshed through the wet snow as he crossed the tundra surrounding the town. The temperature had been rising steadily over the past few weeks, but even in the early days of May some snow still remained. He'd heard the humans musing about how this winter was ending a little later than usual, but in this case it was better late than never. Already there were some bare patches of ground, but it would take some more time before the snow would completely disappear with the coming of spring.

He quickly found the old totem pole that he used as a marker on his way to Jenna's. It sat right in front of the opening to her street and he dashed past it, not giving the worn carvings a second thought. It was still early in the day, so most of the town wasn't awake yet. The streets were empty, giving him a clear path as he ran along the dirt road. Very few would notice his entrance, but it wasn't like he needed the cover. He was always welcome in Nome thanks to the courageous deed he performed a few months ago.

Diphtheria broke out among many of the children in Nome, and the sled team sent to find the medicine got lost in a storm. With no one else to help, Balto set out alone and returned the medicine safely, saving the children – including one little girl who'd always had a soft spot for the stray half-wolf. This deed won him the favor of the town, but that was nothing compared to the prize he cherished above all – the love of a certain husky.

He reached a small home a few minutes later, trotting around the side towards a small shed. He poked the unlocked door open, and entered very quietly. The space was large enough to accommodate two people comfortably in addition to all the gardening and home repair equipment along the back wall. In one of the corners, curled up comfortably in a basket was a red and cream husky who had the power to warm his heart on the coldest days. Jenna - she was the love of his life, his inspiration, and every other great thing Balto admired. She was still fast asleep, so he quietly padded over to her, before gently rubbing her neck with his nose, right above the bright orange bandana she always wore around her neck.

She sighed a little at his touch, and when he brushed up against her ear, she giggled. She opened her brown eyes and stared up at him, smiling when she saw her love. At a glance, one could tell that they came from two different worlds. She had the privileged, well-groomed life of a house dog while he lived a rougher life as a stray. His brown coat was thick, and there were a few spots where the fur stuck up, refusing to bow to any sort of grooming. However, these were small things compared to what she really loveed about him. His eyes were very deep amber, a sure sign of his part wolf breeding. While some shied away from such wild eyes, she looked into them and saw only a dog that wanted someone to care for him.

His mother had vanished at a very early age and he'd never known his father, leaving him an orphan when he was a pup. This was what she knew about him since they first met almost three years ago, and from that moment, she'd resolved to be a friend for him. From that time, she'd known that he was truly a kind dog – despite some of his actions under pressure. He was never malicious or apathetic towards her or anyone else, and that was what urged him to go and find the medicine after everyone else had failed.

For the longest time, she'd been the only dog that would say anything to him that wasn't a put-down. That was what made him truly appreciate her friendship when he was young, and as he got older, the feelings towards her developed further. He loved who she was and how she was never one to get caught up in the frenzy against him. While he didn't like to think of himself as superficial, there was no denying that he thought she was the most beautiful dog he'd ever seen. There were actually a few times where he'd caught himself admiring her, but if she noticed it, she never seemed to have anything against it.

"Morning handsome," she greeted.

"Morning Jen," he returned, his one ear drooping as it did when he was at ease. "Sleep well?"

"Yes, the little ones didn't make too much fuss during the night," she replied, looking down towards her abdomen. He followed her glance, his eyes traveling along her spotless cream underside before reaching her swollen belly. Every time he saw that it filled him with great pride. Soon they would have their own litter of puppies, born to parents who loved each other and would love them with all their hearts. "How about you?"

"Not bad," he replied, able to hide any indication that his sleep was disrupted by strange dreams. Despite Boris' urgings, he still didn't want to cause Jenna any worry. The pups were the priority now and he didn't want anything to distract him from his family. "It's good the pups stayed stayed settled last night, or I would have to give them a good talk about keeping their mother awake at night."

She chuckled. "Yeah, but that talk would have to wait until they were born - I don't think they'd hear much of you in there," she said. "Though, I'm ready to get them out of me now - they're heavy and they make me look like I ate a whole seal."

"Oh, but it's not that bad. It's barely noticeable on you. You're still the same beautiful Jenna I fell in love with," he replied, smiling. In the past weeks, Balto had learned the hard way that females could get very touchy about their weight, and Jenna was no exception.

"You know, there is such a thing as too much flattery," she replied, seeing right through him.

"Hey, you can't blame me for trying. If it makes you feel better, you'll be back to your normal self once the pups are born," he assured, earning a grin from her.

"Thanks… I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Aw… I'm just doing what any good father out there would do," he said sheepishly, looking down at the ground and shuffling his one paw back and forth. She smiled at how even after providing so much for her, his humility still shone through.

He leaned in for a nuzzle, and she returned it, grateful for everything he'd done for her. The past few weeks had held its share of ups and downs for both of them. Much of this was very new for Jenna, and there some times where she didn't know what was happening to her own body. Early on she'd wake up in the morning feeling nauseous or dizzy. That passed as the pups grew, but new symptoms were soon to follow. Of course, the pups grew and made her abdomen swell and sag beneath her, and while the added weight wasn't much compared to her own, it was enough to affect her.

Her normally swift stride was reduced to a loping gait, and she found herself tiring faster than usual. The normal walk for the day would often leave her legs and back sore. Fortunately her owners, along with her friends and even passing strangers were sympathetic, offering any type of help when needed. Front and centre with his support was Balto, who wanted to ensure that anything she needed was provided, especially when the cravings started to hit her. There were many times where kibble would not be enough to satisfy her tastes. She was eating for more than one now, and that's where he came in. It turned out having a part wolf mate came in handy if something needed to be hunted or tracked down. He could go out at the drop of a hat, and while most trips were for real cases, there was one time where she decided to prank him by suddenly developing a taste for moose. At first, she thought he wouldn't buy it, but she ended up having to dart down the street after him to stop him from actually taking on something ten times his size.

"Now, how about we get some breakfast into you? You've got to start the day off fresh," he suggested and her tail wagged at the thought.

"Yes… now that I think about it, I'd really like to try some of the toast my humans have… maybe with some peanut butter too," she said, causing him to chuckle.

"I don't know - that one might be a little trickier to get. Humans don't seem to like sharing their food from the tables… but I have heard that peanut butter is pretty good," he mused as they left the shed and made their way to the back door. "Oh great, I think I'm getting your cravings too."

It was her turn to chuckle at him as the climbed up the steps towards the doggie door in the back. "Well, maybe this time they'll give you a chance. Come on," she invited before stepping inside. While he had her invitation, he wasn't sure if he'd have the same from her owners. They would have the final word on whether or not he would be welcome, and so far they didn't seem too keen on the idea.

'Would I be welcome? I know Rosy would love it, but her parents might be another story,' he thought. 'Well, I suppose there's only one way for me to find out.' Deciding to take the plunge, he poked his head through the doggie door to see what kind of welcome would greet him inside.