exclaimed, startling Anuk.”It’s almost noon, I have to get back to town before they begin to worry.” He got up and trotted outside. “Thanks for everything Anuk, I’ll see you around.”

Anuk smiled.”Your welcome, but I won’t be around much.”

Kodi wanted to press the subject, but the urge to get home won. He nodded and started running back towards Nome.

Anuk got up slowly and walked deeper into the forest.

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“Where is he?” Dusty mumbled. She ran around in the forest, searching everywhere.”Kodi! Where are you?!”

Dusty and the others, namely; Kirby, Ralph, Jenna and Balto had split up to cover more ground as soon as the storm went on and the sun came up. Dusty didn’t know why she chose to look for him in that exact part of the forest, she just went with her instincts.

She had run around for what seemed like hours when she spotted something. “Kodi…? Oh my god no…KODI!”

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Kodi ran towards the voice, but it became muffled and hard to determine where it came from. Suddenly, his eyes went blurry, his legs cramped and all went black. He went from warm and energetic, to feeling stone cold and half dead. He tried opening his eyes, but couldn’t. He heard a voice scream, and then a crying sound, and something warm. He forced his eyes open and blinked confused.Wait…where am I? I was running… why am I back… under the roots again…

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Dusty ran towards the fallen tree roots where she had spotted something red. She ran into what looked like a cave made of rotting wood, and towards the motionless Kodi.

“Oh, Kodi. Please, please be alive” she cried. “Don't leave me alone…” she finished with a whisper. She tried to warm up his frozen body with her own warm one. He was ice cold, his body barely rising and falling from breathing. He was alive, but only just. Dusty held her breath as she listened to his breathing. She released a sigh of relief. At least he lives…for now… she shuddered at the thought.
She watched his back rising and falling, counting the seconds between every breath he took. Suddenly, a noise from below her startled Dusty.

“Mmmmhhh.” It was almost inaudible, but it was there. Dusty perked her ears. “Kodi?” she whispered. Unsure if it was her imagination.

“Whu…what…where…am I?” Kodi whispered hoarsely.

Dusty broke into a teary smile.”Oh Kodi! I'm so glad you're awake!” She dug her face in his neck fur and nuzzled him.

Kodi blinked his eyes and tried lifting his head.”Dusty…? What are you doing here? What happened to me?”

Dusty lifted her head and looked him in the eyes.”I came here to find you. You didn’t come back last night. I almost thought that you…” She broke back into tears, unable to finish her words.

Kodi shook his head confused.” No, this is all wrong. I was running towards your voice…then I fell.

Dustys tears stopped. She looked at him confused. “I was calling out to you, but when I found you, you lied right here, and from the looks of it, you haven’t been moving for a while…” Her voice was low and cautious.

Kodi looked at her dumfounded.”Then…”he mumbled.”It was all a dream?”

Dusty nodded slowly.”I think so.”

Kodi sighed. The two stayed silent for a while, as Kodi was warmed up by Dusty.

Kodi was the first to break the silence. “So… you still mad at me?” he asked meekly.

Dusty looked confused at him, not remembering the day before at first. “What do you…? Oh. That.” She blushed a bit. “I guess I just overreacted. I met someone who did about the same thing as you and got some inside info on how you boys think.”

Kodi chuckled.”Dingo?”

Dusty raised an eyebrow in surprise.”Y-Yes… how did you know?”

Kodi smiled and tilted his head forward. “I've heard that story to, or one like it. He has had some…Uhm…unfortunate relationships.”

Silence fell yet again.

Kodi got up on wobbly legs.

“Careful” Dusty warned.

Kodi smiled and gave her cheek a lick.”Thanks for your concern, but I feel better now.” He slowly walked outside.”Hm, it must have been a dream…”he mumbled.”No footprints aside from yours.”

“What are you talking about?” Dusty asked concerned.

Kodi shook his head in defeat.”In my dream…or whatever it was, a wolf saved me”

“A wolf?” Dusty startled.

“The nice kind.”Kodi assured her.”Anyway, he found me, freezing to death, and saved me. Easy as that.”

Dusty was scratched the back of her head.”Much good that did you” she commented. “You were almost gone when I found you.”

Kodi smiled and turned to her.”You’re right.” He said as he gave her a quick kiss.”It was you who saved me.”
Dusty blushed at the kiss. Even though they had been a couple for some time, kisses were something that Kodi didn’t give often. But that just made it all that better when he decided to give one.

After a few minutes of looking at each other, they decided to make the journey home. They were greeted by the sled-team and Jenna. Balto soon returned from his own search since he insisted to keep looking as the others went back to town to look for him there.
After a verbal beating from his mother and stern looks from his father, Balto, Jenna and Kodi embraced each other.

“Hm…” Kodi said. “Something’s missing…” He looked at Dusty and grinned.

“Wha…” was all Dusty could utter before Kodi included her in the group hug.

When the hug ended, Kodi looked her in the eyes. “You know I love you, right?” he whispered.

Dusty smiled softly.”I know.” Suddenly she grabbed his neck and pulled his face to hers and kissed him deeply. When the kiss broke, Kodi looked towards the ocean and sighed happily.

“You know,” he said.”I'm still a little chilly. Why don't we go to the beach and enjoy the sun?”

Dusty smiled.”Sounds great” she whispered. They walked together towards the ocean, closer than ever.

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Anuk sat at the top of the mountain overlooking Nome. “It’s done.” He whispered to the air.
The wind picked up and brought with it tiny flakes of snow.

“You have done well” a bodiless voice spoke.

“But why only help in his dreams?”Anuk protested.”Why wouldn’t you let me save his life if he was who you said? What if his girlfriend hadn’t come along when she did?”

The wind gathered the snow in front of Anuk. Suddenly the snowflakes disappeared and left stood a white wolf.”Because I knew that she would make it in time to save his life. And wasn’t it your wish to stay hidden from the world?”

Anuk sighed.”That was my wish, yes. But perhaps…I've changed my mind…” Those last words were spoken more as a statement than a speculation.

The white wolf smiled softly.”You now wish to see your brother again.” She stated.

Anuk stayed silent for a moment. He lifted his head and looked into the others eyes. “Yes.” He whispered.

The white wolf nodded approvingly. “I see.” She touched his forehead with her nose.”I'm glad you finally learned how important family is…my son”

A smile flickered in Anuks face. “I love you mother.” He whispered.

“And I you Anuk.” She withdrew her head and smiled.”Before you go” she added ” be careful, Kodiak might be a bit surprised to see you now, since he thinks that you were a dream.”

Anuk lifted and eyebrow.”You really think he would recognize me?”

The white wolf chuckled.”He is just as clever as you are. He is my grandson you know.”

Continiuation intended.