“What is it boy?” Rosie’s father said as he looked at the husky/wolf-hybrid who was being uncharacteristically antsy. Ever since he had saved Rosie’s life by leading a musher-less team to bring in diphtheria medicine, the dog had been a calm, happy, and lovingly protective guardian of his daughter, family, and Jenna, his other dog.

Balto looked up at him and whined shortly and turned towards a closed door. Then, the hybrid went back to pacing in front of the fire. Of to the side of the fireplace, protected by the steal greeted shield that deflected hot embers from the fire big plush royal blue pillow that had stitched into it ‘Jenna and Balto’ in gold thread, with two small hearts in red thread under the names. Balto looked at the pillow, thinking of the warm body, and loving soul that he shared it with.

Rosie’s father smiled as he looked over his paper. He knew that look, no matter it be on a man’s face, or man’s best friend’s muzzle. He smiled and sighed, putting down his paper and walking over to his loved pet and ran his fingers through his thick wolf’s coat. “I know boy, I know. I have been through this myself remember?”

Balto whined again, and sat on his haunches, appreciating his master’s assuring tone, but still worried. Just then, the door opened and Rosie’s mother walked out, whipping her hands, Rosie smiling her huge smile and bounded up to Balto. “Oh Balto!!! They’re so pretty!!!” his beloved girl exclaimed as she hugged his neck and nuzzled her face into his fur.

Balto looked up to Rosie’s mother, she smiled as she saw the dog’s face. “She’s ok boy, go on, you can se her, she’s ok, you’ll see.”

Balto licked Rosie’s face then stood and tried to keep from galloping to the next room. As he trotted in, he looked around, and smiled seeing a carefully crafted wooden box lined with soft blankets close to one of the heating vents for the house. The hybrid walked up to the box and found the object of his affection and worry laying in the box, gently licking three fuzzy balls and guiding them to suckle her, making sure they were safe, and well fed, she looked up after taking a wif of his scent. He muzzle parted in a smile and motioned him closer.

“Jenna?” Balto asked softly looking at her. “Are you ok?”

Her smile widened even more as he reached her, she licked the tip of his muzzle gently. “More than ok Balto, your puppies are born!” she exclaimed softly.

Balto stuck his muzzle into the whelping box carefully, and sniffed the three whimpering pups, and his heart, as big as it was, immediately went out to his new children. “They smell like you, and, they’re so small…”

Jenna smiled knowingly. “Yes, they are, but they will grow as strong and noble as their father.” She nuzzled the little russet colored puppy, and a light, almost buff colored pup. “These are your sons, Fenic, and Karl,” she laughed gently. “Don’t you love the names Rosie chooses?”

Balto laughed gently and nuzzled his mate gently. “She didn’t do bad at all.”

Jenna smiled again as she nuzzled the tiniest puppy, she had her mother’s red color, but her father’s dark brown color for her markings. “And this is your daughter, Aspine.”

Balto smiled and licked all three pups. “Hello Fenic, hello, Karl, hello Aspine, I’m your father…”

Jenna sighed and smiled at her mate and nuzzled and licked him, watching him lick and nuzzle his puppies gently, learning their scent. He smiled up at her, “They’re wonderful.”

Jenna sighed and laid her head down on the blanket, looking at him gently. “Go tell everyone, they’re probably waiting.”

Balto looked at her, and made it clear everyone could wait a little more, he wanted to spend time with her. However, Jenna was his mate, and if there was anything, she could get him to do what she wanted. She looked at him gently, licking him slowly. “Go on, I’ll be here when you get back, I promise, I am not going anywhere.

Balto nodded and stood slowly, he walked out, slipping through the insulated dog door of the house and out front where there was an animal menagerie that gathered outside the house, waiting for news. Most were dogs, like Kaltag, Nikki and Star, the three spitz that at one time curtsied to Steel and abused the hybrid, but, had proven after Steel had been disowned by the community for his cowardice had proven to be three of the truest friends, especially Star, ever enthusiastic and wanting to please his friends. There were also the Russian snow geese Boris, who had been Balto’s best friend through the time he had been an outcast. Then there were Muk and Luk, the two lovable, if a bit off-kilter polar bears that had come to think of the goose as an uncle.

“Well?” a little poodle Trixie, who had been one of Jenna’s friends, stepped up. She spoke in almost a Bronx accent and almost always seemed to have her chest puffed out. “How is she?”

Balto sighed, and flopped down on the raised wooden walkway. He nodded slowly. “We’re parents.”

There was an uproar of congratulations. Boris jumped forward and ‘noogied’ the tuft of fur between Balto’s ears and Mk and Luk nearly suffocated the hybrid and goose with a double-sided ‘bear hug’.

“Well!!” Kaltag called out “Ya’ just can’t keep us in suspense!! What are they?”

Star nodded furiously. “Oh yeah!! Yeah!! What are they!!!”

Balto chuckled gently. “Two boys and a tiny little girl.”

There was a collective ‘aww’ that imitated from the town’s animal population. The trio of spitz literally dog-piled the hybrid. A celebration spontaneously broke out, a birth was a special thing in the community, especially since they were born to the community’s hero.