done.

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Two Days Ago

Jenna walked between Mr. and Mrs. Hudson through the middle of town to clear their heads from the great dark cloud that hung over their heads. She usually enjoyed their company and would laugh with them in their own way (though she couldn’t understand what was being said) but not this time; the mood shared by the two humans was sullen and stressful. Mr. and Mrs. Hudson stepped into the local general store leaving Jenna out on the porch. She watched the new machines known as auto mobiles roll by as she sat alone awaiting the return of her humans. She still favored her leg that gave protest to weight now and she had to lay down to please it placing her head down on her paws. She was drifting off into a daydream about the way things used to be before this dreadful turn of events. She was lying next to her mate by the dim light of the fire place with Rosy in between stroking the two lovingly. Jenna subconsciously wished to stay in this perfect world. Here she could be happy again.

She was snapped out from her temporary Heaven by a faint hissing sound. She raised her head from her paws and straitened her ears, twitching them rapidly to locate the source.

“Hey,” whispered a voice from the nearby alley way.

Jenna slowly rose to her feet and turned to the direction of the sound. The voice she heard was familiar but impossible, a former ghost of a being that was many miles away. She rounded the corner of the alley way and from behind a stack of crates rose a large black and white husky with broad shoulders and a glinting gold collar hanging dominantly around his thick neck.

“Steele,” Jenna uttered flabbergasted. She felt awkward being near him seeing as that she’d chosen Balto over him. She could still sense the pain of his defeat.

“Surprise,” Steele said rolling his shoulders, “I knew you’d miss me, Jenna, but I didn’t expect you to be so lost for words,” he said sleazily.

He was right about one thing though, Jenna was completely shocked. “I thought you and your team were lost in the storm,” she said suspiciously.

“Well, I thought I’d just pop in for a little visit,” Steele teased trying to avoid the accusation, “I came back all alone, half dead and almost frozen,” he began cornily, “My team is gone,” he said with a false concern.

“Jenna,” called Mr. Hudson.

Steele shrunk back slightly then regained. “I was never here, understood?” He turned and disappeared into the shadows.

Jenna bounded out of the alley and up to where Mr. Hudson and his wife stood. Jenna had decided then that she would go to the boiler room that night to talk with the other dogs that always were there. She was the only one aware of Balto’s plans. They might laugh, but they had to know that the children had a glimmer of hope.

Later That Night

The wind was stiff that night and a steady precipitation of snow was carried with it as the group of dogs took in what Jenna had just told them

“I don’t get it. How could Balto hope to find Steele and his team? They were off the trail,” argued a tan husky with a brown spot on his back.

“Well, he’s tracking them,” Jenna answered.

“That mutt! Tracking a championship team, in a blizzard!?” Laughter erupted from the group of about ten. Jenna was just about to come back when a loud thud sounded and a flurry of snow swirled in on a cold breeze. The dogs all turned to the ice covered dog that loomed in the shady doorway.

“Balto,” Jenna asked hopefully. The dog moved into the light and his face became visible. Jenna rolled her eyes.

“Steele,” everyone except Jenna stated shocked.

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Jenna had heard enough. She heard Steele tell her to her face that Balto was dead and the medicine. He backed up his story by producing her bandanna from his collar. She was momentarily saddened then looked Steele in the eyes and accused him of lying. She collected her bandanna and three legged walked out into the night. The snowfall had become less intense and she sat out alone on a hill with a lantern at her feet. She watched the snow dance in the dim light it threw out in front of her. She let out a sigh and frost appeared from her muzzle rising and curling until it disappeared from sight. She looked back at the sleepy town that illuminated from seemingly out of nowhere and made a decision. She had to find Balto. She just had to.

.