Balto padded through the snowy streets of Nome, his ears perked up and his snout in the air as he caught a faint scent of something unfamiliar.

He stopped in his tracks, lifting a paw to get a better whiff of the mystery smell. It was a new dog, one he had never encountered before.

Balto's curiosity was piqued, but he couldn't shake off the nagging suspicion that this newcomer might be just another bully like Steel and his cronies. Balto pricked up his ears and flattened his tail, his curiosity slowly giving way to a feeling of uneasiness.

He had grown accustomed to the other dogs' teasing and picking on him, but what if this new dog was even worse?

Taking slow, cautious steps, Balto began to approach the source of the scent, his eyes flickering around for any sign of this unfamiliar canine. Balto's paws carried him further into the streets, the scent growing stronger with each step. His keen snout picked up a faint hint of fur and wet leather, indicating that the newcomer might be sporting a collar.

He paused, his hackles raising slightly as the realization sunk in. A collar meant an owner, and an owner meant that this new dog was likely domesticated and accustomed to humans.

Balto's heart began to race as he pondered the implications, his mind conjuring up scenarios of what this could mean for him.