…What’s wrong? You look…” He trailed off, not sure exactly how to put the way she appeared. Kay nodded, bursting into another fit of tears. However, she was silencing herself, burying her eyes into her paws, which were still flat against the ground.

“Wrecked?” It was the only word she responded with, and she even managed to bring her wet eyes to meet his in order to say it. Though, just after, she let it drop back down. Balto laid by her, looking back with sympathy as he noticed Jenna padding not too far after him. She saw the scene and drooped her ears. Coming up on Kay’s other side, she hunched her neck to close up their faces. “Oh… Kay.” Laying down, she put her neck over Kay’s, allowing her to cry, and rubbing her own neck against the other female’s in an attempt to comfort her. A long time later, she gained the courage to speak softly, carefully, and sympathetic as ever. “Kay…? What happened? Please tell us. We can help.” A swift glance to Balto ensured this fact.

Balto nodded. “Kay, please. Let us help you.”

Kay shook her head, even as she brought it up once more. Her eyes were red and bloodshot. Her light blue eyes scorched from the contrast, and her cheeks were puffy and wet. The hairs against them were soaked to the skin. “He’s dead! He’s gone… He’s probably dead! I left him. It’s my fault. I left him and he died. I can’t… I can’t… I’m so sorry!” She stood up abruptly, screaming to the heavens in a mad fit of desperation and crazy antics. “Caden… forgive me! Please, please forgive me…” She howled out to the heavens, causing onlookers to turn in confusion. Balto brought her to a calm position. She stood there, her head down, her tail tucked between her legs. “I’m so sorry…” She whispered. It was so quiet, Jenna and Balto had to struggle to hear it.

It was Balto who finally spoke. “Kay, we’ll help you find him.” Kay turned to him with widened eyes. “No. No! You can’t.” She flipped her head back and forth from him to Jenna, backing away from them and against the walls. “No! No no no no no. All we’ll find is his corpse! I can’t live with that! I can’t see it. I’ll die. I’ll die myself…” She trailed off, standing there. She gasped for breath. She breathed heavily. She stood in an awkward stance, her neck arched, her legs separate from each other, her tail flowing in a straight, downward line.

Jenna padded towards her, craning her neck to look up at Kay’s eyes. “We’ll help you find him. He’s alive.” Kay wasn’t sure how to reply. Her eyes wandered on the snow. It was clear she was thinking about this option, going it over a million times in her head before deciding to do it or not. Most likely trying to figure out the horrors or the beauties that could possibly lie ahead. All she said after that, looking up with innocent and judging eyes was, “How do you know?”

It took the red husky a while to figure out her answer, but when she did come up with one, she stared right at Kay, penetrating through her soul in a way that no one else could quite imitate. Her sweet, gentle look would never lead anyone to believe how strong she really was. Or how much potential she really had. Balto knew. And she used her kindness now. Though Kay knew also, and so it made it all the more meaningful to listen. “I just do. You know Caden better than anyone. He’s out there somewhere, isn’t he? Don’t you have the feeling? The thought? You didn’t see him die, did you?” Kay shook her head. “Then what are you waiting for! Go find your man! And bring him home to your arms.” She gave a warm, understanding smile. And just that was enough to convince Kay that there was indeed hope.

“Yes. I’ll find him. I’ll bring him back. Or so help me, I’ll search until my paws ache. I’ll run until I can’t run any longer. And I’ll cry until there’s no more tears left. I’ll find him. I promise. Even if it means… I’ll be searching endless.”