replied. "And so do I." She leaned forward and kissed his nose.

Balto sat there with his mouth open, and Jenna giggled at him. "I believe you promised me a walk on the beach?" she asked, still smiling at him.

Balto snapped out of his trance. "Oh! Yeah, the beach! It's uh, this way" he said, turning around to start walking about of town. "After you," he said. lifting a paw to show her down the stairs.

They walked together out of town and back towards Balto's boat, as the afternoon sun reflected off the snow fields, giving everything a radiant glow. Balto tried not to stare, but kept sneaking quick glances at Jenna while they walked.  She carried herself with such confidence, and she was so beautiful. Jenna caught him admiring her, and she turned to smile at him. Balto returned her smile and moved closer, pushing gently against her body as they walked together. She leaned in and nuzzled his cheek as they walked, and Balto didn't want to do or say anything to ruin that moment.  He closed his eyes and took in her scent, felt her muzzle against his face and was happy.

They arrived at the beach near Balto's boat house, and Jenna got a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "Catch me if you can!" she yelled to Balto, and ran off down the beach. "Nothing I'd like better," Balto thought as he took off after her. Jenna laughed and sprinted down the beach while Balto chased her. "I'm catching up, Jenna!" Balto shouted. Jenna looked around and spotted something in the distance that she recognized. She took a sharp left up a sand dune and ran away from the beach and toward the foothills.

"Jenna"? Balto yelled. He ran up and over the sand dune and spotted her running through the snow towards the hills. "You can't lose me that easily!" he grinned and gave chase again. Balto was a faster runner than she was, with his half wolf heritage he was built to run long distances at a fast pace. He caught up to her just as she was entering a cave in the hills.

"Got you!" he said, and came to a stop right in front of her.

"You sure did," she replied breathlessly, and kissed him on the mouth. Balto returned her kiss, not even believing what was happening. They parted, and looked into each other's eyes.

"Jenna," he whispered.

"Yes, Balto? she answered, nuzzling his face.

"I... I want to tell you something, but please don't be upset. I just - I have to tell you."

"What is it?" Jenna asked, with a puzzled look on her face.

"Jenna... I love you. I love you so much. I hoped you would feel the same about me, but I don't know how you could ever love a scruffy half breed like me," he said, and lowered his head.

"Oh, Balto," Jenna said softly. "My brave, wonderful Balto." She put her muzzle under his chin to lift his head and look into his eyes. "You're not just the town hero, you're my hero. You saved my girl, you saved the town. You're kind, intelligent and my girl loves you. How could I not love you too?" She nuzzled the side of his face and whispered into his ear. "I love you Balto. I love you with all my heart."

Balto could only sit and listen, his heart pounding so hard he thought it would burst out of his chest. He looked at Jenna, and she kissed him again. He closed his eyes and returned her kiss, hoping it would never end, and that this wasn't all a dream.

###

The inside of the cave was lit up in reds and oranges as the sun began to sink behind the ocean. Jenna and Balto lay near the front of the cave together, watching the sun set and occasionally nuzzling and licking each other.

"I didn't think I could ever be this happy," Balto said quietly as he nuzzled Jenna's neck, ruffling her red bandanna. "Tell me again it's not a dream."

Jenna giggled. "It's not a dream, Balto. I love you," she said and laid her head down on his front paws. Balto lay his head down on her head, not knowing what else to say. 

"Balto..." Jenna began. "I don't want to leave, but I have to get back to the hospital. Rosy is probably wondering where I am." She sat up next to Balto and looked deeply into his big brown eyes. "I have to be there for her while she gets better. "

Balto looked away for a moment. "Do you think she would mind if I came along?"

"Of course not, Rosy would love to see you again," Jenna said, and licked his face. 

Balto kissed her muzzle. "All right then, let's go."

The two canids left the cave and started back to the town. "I don't think I'll howl to announce my arrival this time," Balto said with a grin.

The light from the sinking sun struck Jenna's coat, making it glow even redder than usual. She smiled at Balto. "You don't want to be the town hero any more?"

"It's not that. I guess I'm still not comfortable around most of these humans. You know most of them hated or feared me before yesterday."

"That's true, but they love you now," Jenna assured him. "It's not what you are, but what you do in life that matters. And what you did went far beyond the expectations of anyone in this town or any other town for that matter. They cheer for you like that because you saved their children's lives, Balto. You gave them the greatest gift they could ask for, and you did it selflessly, asking nothing in return and thinking nothing about risking your life to save theirs."

Balto lowered his head. "They were dying Jenna. Rosy was dying. I only did what anybody would do."

"But it wasn't anybody that did it, Balto my love. It was you." She stopped in front of him and looked into his eyes. "It was you." She lifted her head up and kissed him, and nuzzled his neck fur. Balto closed his eyes and nuzzled her, at a loss for words. He took in her scent and breathed deeply, making sure he would know that scent anywhere.

They arrived in Nome just as the sun disappeared below the sea, and they reached the hospital. "Come around the back with me, Balto." said Jenna, motioning Balto to follow her. "Here's our very own entrance." She went in the doggy door and Balto followed.

"Jenna!" Rosy cried, as Jenna approached her bed. "Hi girl, I missed you! Where did you go?" Jenna put her front paws on the bed and licked Rosy's face. "Ha ha! Jenna, stop it! Ha ha! Stop!" Jenna stopped licking and dropped back down to the floor as Rosy giggled and wiped her face off. Rosy looked down at Jenna and saw the rougher looking brown and tan dog standing next to her, looking expectedly at Rosy and wagging his tail.

"Balto!" she yelled, and threw her arms out toward him. Balto barked happily and threw his front paws up on the bed, and Rosy grabbed him and hugged him. "Balto, you saved my life! I was going to die here if it wasn't for you!" She began to cry. "Balto... I love you Balto. I love you so much." She buried her face in his fur and wept. Balto licked the tears off her face and nuzzled her, trying to comfort her. "I didn't want to die, Balto. I was so scared," she sniffled.

After a few moments, she looked at Balto's face and held his head in her hands. "I'm alive because of you, Balto. I promise I will never forget that, ever." She gave his head one more hug and let him go. Balto gave Rosy's face one last lick and dropped down to the floor.

"You see, Balto?" Jenna asked. "It was your heart, your courage and your inner wolf that saved Rosy, and the town." She leaned against him and nuzzled his chin. "You're not weaker for being half wolf, you're stronger. Nobody else could have done what you did alone."

Balto looked down at Jenna and smiled. "Have I mentioned how beautiful you are lately?" he asked.

Jenna looked away shyly. "Not recently..."

Balto leaned against her and whispered into her ear. "Jenna, you're as beautiful as the Northern Lights. When I look at you I'm stunned by your beauty. I'm the luckiest dog or wolf in the world to have you. I love you."

Jenna looked up at him, a tear beginning to form in her eye. "Balto, you're the kindest, gentlest dog in Nome, as well as the bravest, strongest and most handsome," she added with a smile. "I love you, and I always will."

Darkness settled on the town like a blanket, and as people began to put candles in their windows, the light streamed in to the hospital room and bathed Balto and Jenna in a patchwork of flickering, dancing beams of light as they kissed and nuzzled each other.

Jenna sighed and laid her head down on Balto's shoulder. "My hero."

I want my tears to bear your reflection

'Cause my heart has a hunger

And only you can feed it

###

-Xaqtly