firmly shut. Jenna shook her head, looking about for any other possible escape routes. She found one, in the form of a partially open window.

Jenna thought it over for a second; it would be a tight fit, but she’d probably be able to make her way through. Taking a deep breath, she jumped up to the window sill and flattened herself as best she could. She felt cramped, but with a little effort, she managed to squeeze through, landing outside on the cool, white snow.

Jenna wasted no time; she ran as fast as she could to the spot where she and Balto had parted ways. Once she reached that point, she began sniffing the air, searching for any trace of Balto.

In a few minutes, she finally caught his scent, much to her relief. However, this relief became tinged with worry when she caught the scent of another, much less pleasant individual.

Jenna narrowed her eyes. “Steele.” Ever since the medicine run, Steele had become something of a recluse. He spent most of his time slinking about Nome, shirking away from the disapproving glares from the town’s dogs. In fact, aside from personality and outlook, Steele had developed a way of life much like Balto’s used to be, albeit far less sympathetic. Unfortunately, one thing that hadn’t changed was his attraction to Jenna. Whenever they crossed paths, Steele always tried to woo Jenna, despite having full knowledge of her relationship with Balto. And she, like she always had and always would, turned him down.

The worried feeling returned, stronger than before. Apprehensively, Jenna followed the scents of Balto and Steele, looking about for any sign of the wolf dog. She trotted along, trying to pinpoint the source, when a new, strange smell stopped her in her tracks.

Puzzled, Jenna sniffed the air again. On closer examination, she noticed that the smell had a very cold, metallic smell, as well as a bitter undertone.

Icy claws of horror gripped at Jenna’s heart as she recognized the smell.

‘Blood?!’

Jenna’s eyes widened, and she quickened her pace, eventually breaking into a full-on run.

*************************************************************************************

A few minutes later, Jenna reached her destination. She came to a dead stop as she beheld the sight before her.

Balto was lying upon the snow, bloodied and beaten. He had several gaping wounds spread about his body, blood staining the fur around. The worst injury, however, was located around his neck; it was practically torn open. He didn’t seem to be breathing.

Jenna’s legs almost gave out. ‘No…Balto…’

Shaking, Jenna dashed toward Balto’s prone body. “Balto!”

Once she approached him, she laid down and put her head next to his chest, heedless of the stains of blood. ‘Please… Just a small breath…Anything…’ Jenna silently pleaded.

To her utmost relief, Balto’s chest heaved as he took a struggling gasp of air.

“Balto!” Jenna leapt to her feet. She immediately began nuzzling Balto’s snout. “Please, Balto. Hang on…”

Balto did not immediately reply; he took several difficult, gasping breaths, coughing several times, before his eyes focused on Jenna.

“…Jenna?” Balto uttered weakly, his voice tinged with pain and weariness.

“Shh.” Jenna quietly soothed Balto. “Don’t talk. Just save your strength…”

As tenderly as she could, she slipped underneath Balto’s prone body, causing him to groan in pain.

Jenna winced. “I’m sorry, Balto,” she apologized, truly meaning it. “Just hang in there; I’ll take you back to the town.”

“…m’kay,” Balto weakly replied, too weak to say anything else.

Shuddering at the thought of Balto in so much agony, Jenna started back toward Nome. However, she hadn’t taken so many as three or four steps before Balto coughed again, this time spitting up blood.

Jenna looked towards the town. If she hurried, she could probably reach it in a few minutes, but she wasn’t sure if Balto could handle it in his condition.

‘Besides’, Jenna thought, turning her head to get another look at Balto, ‘even if I went easy on him, he might not make it…’

Almost as soon as the last thought made its way into her head, she clamped down on it. No. Balto was strong. He’d get through this. Still…

It only took Jenna a second to decide her next course of action. ‘Having him around friends might help him’, Jenna decided. As gently as she could, she trotted off towards Balto’s old home.

**********************************************************************************

Upon reaching the old boat, Jenna gently set Balto on the vessel’s old wooden deck. She then searched about the deck, locating Boris. He was sleeping in what appeared to be a very uncomfortable position, with Luk’s arm wrapped tightly around him. It was a wonder he hadn’t already woken up.

Jenna momentarily shook her head before nosing the goose. “Boris.” She continued nudging him. “Boris, wake up. It’s important.”

Grumbling, Boris came to, almost immediately noticing Luk’s arm around his body. Visibly irritated, he squeezed his way out of the polar bear’s grip, panting and laying flat on the floor of the boat for a few seconds before getting up.

“Oi… idiot balls of fluff…” he mumbled under his breath. He took a minute to straighten his ruffled feathers. “Is bad enough I have to put up with ‘Uncle Boris’ all the time…” At that moment, he looked up and noticed Jenna. “You want something, Jenna?”

Jenna opened her mouth to speak, but faltered. Sighing, she turned her head aside. “It-it’s Balto. Something happened to him.”

A puzzled look on his face, Boris waddled up to Jenna. “Judging by your face, I assume is not a good thing?” the goose asked.

Jenna turned her head back to Boris. “It-it might be easier to just show you.” She turned around and started towards the deck, Boris following close behind, a look of apprehension and concern on his face as he went.

That expression quickly turned to abject shock when Boris laid eyes on Balto’s prostrate body.

“B-B-Balto?!” Boris stuttered, running over to the wolf dog. He grabbed the hybrid’s head with his wings and began pleading. “Balto, is me, Boris. What happened? Please, say something!”

The only reply he got was a wet, hacking cough. Getting the message, Boris backed off, a look of guilt on his features.

“Easy, Boris,” Jenna lightly reprimanded the goose. “Don’t strain him too much.”

Sighing, Boris rubbed the back of his friend apologetically, moving close to Balto. He examined the wolf dog’s injuries, wincing at each subsequent wound he discovered. When he came to Balto’s neck wound, Boris let out a gasp. Gently, he moved one of his wings soothingly across Balto’s back. As he did so, he glanced at Jenna. “Jenna, do you know what was doing this?” the goose inquired, gently removing his wing from the hybrid.

Jenna’s face darkened. “I have a good idea…” she growled, thinking of Steele. Upon glancing once more at the currently groaning Balto, however, her expression softened. “But right now, the most important thing is to help him as much as we can.”

With a determined look on her face, the husky slipped her bandanna off. “Boris, tie this around Balto’s neck as tightly as you can. We need to try and stop the bleeding.” She glanced at the ship’s cabin. “I’ll go wake Muk and Luk and fill them in.” Slowly, Jenna padded towards the sleeping polar bears,  seemingly reluctant to leave Balto’s side.

Nodding in affirmation after her, Boris took the piece of cloth and began tying it about the wolfdog’s neck. As Boris was halfway through, Balto’s eyes opened, causing Boris to jump. “Balto?...”

Giving a weak smile, Balto struggled to speak. “…that you, Boris…?”

Smiling uneasily in reply, Boris affectionately patted Balto on the head. “Yes, Balto, its me. Do not worry; Boris Goosinoff is here.” He finished tying the bandanna, which was already quickly staining with blood. Balto winced before his eyes refocused on his friend. “…thanks, Boris.” He managed to gasp out, the smile still on his features.

Chuckling weakly, Boris nodded. “Don’t mention it. Is never a problem to help a friend.”

Balto nodded, closing his eyes slowly. “Is Jenna here?” he suddenly mumbled, gradually lapsing into unconsciousness again.

Boris, noticing Balto’s heavier eyelids, briefly panicked, but managed to keep it to himself. “She’s the one who brought you here. Don’t worry; she’ll be with you.” He looked towards the cabin, from which Jenna padded out, followed closely by a very confused and upset-looking Muk and Luk. Both of their eyes widened upon seeing Balto’s wounds.

“Balto!” This had scarcely left Muk’s mouth before Luk wailed and began charging toward Balto. Boris quickly put his own body between the large polar bear cub and the wolfdog, successfully stopping his charge. Unfortunately, this also resulted in Boris nearly being crushed, along with having the wind knocked out of him. Irritably, the goose pulled himself up and glared at Luk. Gasping for breath, he admonished the bear.

“Balto…does not need…crushing…right…now!” Boris managed to yell