abused me for most of my life. Then your son came along…and I’d never felt so at ease.” Emily tried to continue, but she began to cry so hard, from fearing that Balto was going to bark at her in anger, and from the fact that Kodi was so badly injured. “Please forgive me, I never meant for this to happen, I’m so sorry!” Emily wailed in a terrified and depressed tone. Balto walked over to Emily and lifted her face back up with his paw. Emily was shocked to see that Balto was showing a friendly expression on his face. “I’m not going to hurt you,” Balto said calmly “calm down and tell me what happened.” Emily regained her composure, but tears were still slowly dripping from her face. “My owner, Carlson…he tr-tried to knock Kodi and his team off the trail…,” Emily said as she struggled to talk while still crying “I…I stopped Carlson by falling over.” Emily wiped the tears from her eyes as she continued to explain what happened. “Carlson noticed, and he ordered his lead dog…hunter…t-to hurt me.” Balto and Jenna’s faces became filled with sympathy and concern as they heard her explain herself. “Then, C-Carlson tried to kill me with a gun…but Kodi jumped i-in front o-of him and protected me from the gunshot” Emily said as more tears formed in her eyes. “I…your son saved me…he sacrificed himself…for me” said Emily. “I didn’t want this to happen,” said Emily “Kodi was so nice…but all I’ve done is get him killed…” Jenna, who had been silent for most of the conversation, went over and put her head on Emily’s. “Don’t cry, sweety,” said Jenna “this isn’t your fault by any means.” As Jenna said that, Emily began to think about her mom: the last dog to refer to her as “sweety.”

     Emily fell to her feet and began to cry uncontrollably. “You don’t have to treat me so nicely,” she cried “I don’t deserve it!” Balto and Jenna both nuzzled Emily on the head. “Don’t cry,” Balto said in a comforting voice “you couldn’t have known that this would happen.” Emily struggled to regain her composure. “I love your son so much…” she whispered through her tears. Emily slowly got back up and finally managed to get her tears under control, at least for the moment. “He’s so handsome and nice and gentle,” said Emily “I…I want to be with Kodi…I don’t want to go back to Anchorage…” as Emily finished talking, she ran out of the building. “Poor girl…,” said Jenna “being treated like that for so long…” Balto went over to comfort Jenna, who was now sad for Emily as well as Kodi. “I understand her pain…” Balto thought to himself, realizing that his life up to the serum run was a lot like Emily’s life up until now.

Chapter 14: Acceptance

     Emily sat on the beach, watching the waves come in. “Your family is so nice,” Emily thought to herself as if she were talking to Kodi “I can see where you get your personality from…” As she continued to think about Kodi, she heard footsteps coming up from behind her. She looked around and noticed two dogs: the first dog looked a lot like Kodi’s mom, and the other had Kodi’s fur coloration, but was larger and had a mask-like pattern on his face. Emily turned around to look at the two dogs. “What do you want?” she asked in a depressed tone. The two dogs walked over and sat beside Emily. “Are you Emily?” the first dog asked. “I am” Emily responded. “My name’s Saba,” the first dog said. Saba then pointed her head at the other dog. “This is my brother, Joseph” Saba said calmly. Joseph quietly bowed his head at Emily. “We’re Kodi’s siblings,” said Saba “well, two of them, anyway.” Emily wasn’t sure what to say; Saba and Joseph seemed just as nice as Kodi and his parents, but she felt that Kodi’s siblings would have harbored resentment against her. “I didn’t want your brother to get hurt,” she said as she began to studder “I…I just…he…and then.” Saba went over and placed her paw on Emily’ back. “My dad told me about what you said to him,” said Saba “you’ve been through a lot.” Emily looked to the ground. “I…I know” said Emily. “There’s something else I wanted to say” said Saba. “What is it?” Emily asked. “Well,” Saba began “you like Kodi, right?” Emily nodded quietly. “Well, Kodi likes you, too” said Saba. Emily closed her eyes and lowered her head. “He did…he does?” Emily asked. Saba nodded and smiled. Emily looked back down. “I’m sorry,” Emily said “I don’t deserve him…” Joseph walked over and sat in front of Emily. At first, Emily was intimidated by the fact the Joseph was so tall. “You do…” said Joseph. Emily looked up at Joseph. “What do you mean?” Emily asked. “You’ve been through so much,” Joseph began “based on what Dad told me, Kodi is the first dog to have been nice to you in a while. If anything, more than anything else, you deserve to be with my brother.”

     Emily was shocked that Kodi’s siblings weren’t mad at her. “Why are guys being so nice to me?” Emily asked. Joseph’s face showed a combination of concern and confusion. “Why wouldn’t we?” Joseph asked. “Because all of this is my fault…” Emily said as she avoided eye contact with Kodi’s siblings. “I’m sorry…I didn’t…I don’t….it…I” Emily said as she struggled to find a proper apology. Joseph went over and placed his head on Emily’s shoulder as a friendly gesture. “You don’t have to apologize for anything,” Joseph said calmly “if anything, we’re glad that you prevented Kodi from getting hurt back during the race. And you couldn’t control Kodi’s decision to save you from your owner, you know?” Emily slowly raised her head back up to look at Kodi’s siblings. “You have to understand, my folks have a strong sense of duty,” said Joseph “if someone we care about is being hurt, we’re not gonna sit around and watch; we’re gonna go and do something about it.” Saba nodded in agreement. “He’s exactly right” said Saba. Emily began to smile as Kodi’s siblings convinced her that she wasn’t at fault in this situation. “Thank you, I…your family is so nice…” Saba and Joseph smiled as they continued to comfort Emily. “It’s kind of our thing...” said Joseph in a kind yet humorous tone.

Chapter 15: Finding Home

     The next morning, Emily went back to see Kodi. She stopped at the doorway as she saw one of the doctors conversing with Kodi’s owner, John. “He will be just fine,” said the doctor “there are injuries, but they should heal up soon enough.” John smiled and shook the doctor’s hand. “Thank you so much” said John. The doctor then left and walked passed Emily. Emily slowly walked into the room where Kodi was resting. John then noticed her at the doorway.

     “Hey there…” John said gently. Emily stared at John for a moment. “I remember you,” said John “you’re one of Carlson’s dogs, the one who was hanging out with to Kodi.” Emily continued to stare at John. “You came to visit Kodi, huh?” John asked in a friendly voice. “It’s okay,” he said “you can come in.” Emily smiled as she walked over to where Kodi was resting. John gently patted Emily on the head. Emily looked over at Kodi, who was resting on a bed. She then got up on the bed and sat next to Kodi. John smiled and laughed. “You must really like him, huh girl?” John said calmly. Emily rested her head on Kodi’s shoulder. She could hear Kodi breathing in his sleep. “Thank God,” Emily thought to herself “he’s okay.”

     John smiled, but realized that Emily couldn’t stay in Nome because she didn’t have an owner in town. Then John realized that, with Carlson in prison, he could get the papers to assume custody of Emily. “You know, we could always use more dogs on the sled team,” John said to Emily “and I’d hate to separate you and Kodi.” John then decided to go to the kennel to get the papers to become Emily’s new owner. “You’re getting a new home, girl” John said as he patted Emily on the head before leaving. “I’m gonna be right back,” John said “you can stay here with with Kodi.” Emily smiled as John left to get the paperwork filled out. “I get to stay,” Emily thought to herself “I’m not going to be pulled away this time.”

Chapter 16: “Forgive Me”

     Emily continued to lay her head on Kodi’s shoulder. “I’m glad you’re okay” Emily thought to herself. At that moment, Kodi began to wake up. “Wha…where am I?” Kodi asked in confusion. Kodi then