sly grin got bigger. Steele grinned. 

Jini screamed, then she fainted. “He he he.” Steele said evilly.

“Back of, Steele.” Smoke and Steele whirled around to see, Togo! 

“Don’t you dare lay a paw on her.” 

The brothers growled and started toward him. Togo lunged at them and knocked them over. They got into a giant fight. 

Ten minutes later, Jini woke up. The brothers were still fighting Togo. A few minutes later, Smoke and Steele were gone. 

“I’m sorry about that, ma’am. Those two are always……….” Togo stopped mid sentence. He looked into Jini’s beautiful brown eyes. She was beautiful. Togo realized how awkward it was. “Always bullying people. I need to get back to the roadhouse, Sepp will be up by now. We need to get back to nome. See you around.” 

“Wait!” Jini said “could I come with you?”

“Sure.” Togo said.

“Oh.” Togo said “my name is Togo.”

“Mine is Jini.” she replied.

                                          *        *        *

As they arrived home, Sepp came out. “Hey Togo” he said “where have you been? Having a snack at Pete’s?”

Togo barked. “Ok. wake up the rest of the team.” Sepp said. Then Sepp noticed Jini. “hello there.” he said “do you live here?” he scratched her “I have to go get breakfast for the team. See you later.” and he left.

Togo looked at Jini. “Well, I have to wake up the team. You wait here.” Togo went inside. He grabbed Sepp’s pillow and whacked Fritz with it. 

“Yipe!” Fritz said and leaped to his feet. 

“Wake up sleepy-head! Sepp’s bringing breakfast, and we need to get on the trail!” 

“Awww.” Fritz said laying back down “just five more minutes?” 

Togo slapped him again. 

“Ok, ok,” he said “I’m getting up. Sheez!” 

“Wake Rusky up.” Togo said.

“Rusky?” Fritz said “No way! He’ll bite me!”

Togo growled “Chief's command, now get!”

“Fine, fine,” Fritz said “I’ll get him up.” 

He walked over to Rusky and gently poked him with his nose. Rusky didn’t move. He poked harder. Still, Rusky didn’t budge. 

“No, no.” Togo said “not like that! Do it harder.”

Fritz did it hard. No movement. 

“As hard as you can!”

Fritz did and Rusky pounced on him.

“YAAAAAH!!!” Fritz screamed “leave me alone!”

Rusky stepped off and Fritz sighed.

                                          *        *        *

Togo ran fast. His tongue flapped out of one side of his mouth. He howled with delight. How he loved to run at top speed through the snow, sending it flying in all directions! 

A bit behind Jini ran as fast as she could. She yearned to see the familiare streets of Nome again! 

Then she heard something. She looked behind her to see Smoke! Then, she wasn't just running to get to nome, she was running for her life! She sped up, going faster and faster! He was getting closer and closer to her! She made a sharp turn, and scrambled into the woods. Smoke growled and turned to use a shortcut.

Togo heard the commotion and turned his head. He saw the end of it. 

“Togo, Lookout!” Suggen called. Togo looked and stopped just in time. They nearly ran into a big tree.

“Wew.” Kode said “that was close. 

“Yeah,” Togo said, “real close.”

 

                               Chapter Four

                                                         

Togo stretched as he lay on the forest floor. It had been a long run, and Togo was ready for sleep. He couldn't wait to get to nome tomorrow. Kodi walked up and lay down beside him. 

“Goodnight uncle Togo.” he said 

“Goodnight Kodi.” Togo said 

He was just closing his eyes when he heard something.

“Pst. pst.” 

Togo looked up and saw Jini in the trees. He sat up and went to her. Kodi followed.

“What is it Jini?” Togo asked.

“Who’s she?” Kodi asked.

“Wait a minute Kodi.” Togo said.

“I heard something back there.” she pointed over deeper into the woods.

“Let’s go find out what it is.” Kodi said.  

They sniffed around. As they sniffed Togo explained to Kodi about Jini. Then they heard something behind some bushes.

Togo and Kodi prepared to defend Jini. 

But, out came Pepa!

“Pepa!” Kodi said happily. 

Pepa looked concerned “quick, I’m being chased!” she said. 

They heard something in the bushes. It was like a lion's roar. 

Jini screamed “it’s Smoke!” 

“And Steele!” Kodi said.

“Run!” Togo said. 

They ran and ran. Behind them, they heard him coming. 

“Why….” Togo said, panting “why are they chasing you!” 

“I don’t know.” she said “they just chased me!” 

“Hurry!” Kodi said “they're gaining on us!”

They heard them howling behind them.

“Faster!” Pepa urged.

“Can’t …… keep…… going……” Jini said between deep breaths “too.….. tired……”

She dropped down and passed out.

Everyone stopped. 

“You two keep going.” Togo said “I’ll help her.”

Kodi and Pepa ran off. 

Togo eased his nose under her belly. Then, he lifted her up ever so slightly, and eased his head under her. Then, he stood his front legs up, so she rolled to his back. Then he stood his back legs up and he ran steadily off. In the corner of his eye he saw Smoke and Steele. He sped up. 

He panted under her weight. But soon caught up with Kodi and Pepa. 

They found refuge in a cave. They listened cautiously. They heard Smoke and Steele run past. Everyone sighed. 

They curled up in a line and talked among themselves. 

“What do we do?” Pepa asked, concerned. 

“We stay here.” Togo said. 

“But what if they come back?” Jini said (by then she had woken up.)

“I’ll fight them off.” Kodi said. 

“No.” Togo said “what would Jenna say if you came back all torn up?”

“Jenna?” Jini said.

“Yeah, what about her?” Pepa said. 

“Oh, nothing.” Jini said “the name just sounded familiar.”

“Hmmmm.” Togo mumbled to himself “suspicious.” 

                                          *        *        *

Jini woke up with a jolt. She heard something outside. She crept out to see what it was. Then, she was jumped! Smoke and Steele cornered her on a ledge. She was scared. They almost had her, when Togo jumped into the middle of them!

 

                               Chapter Five

                                                    

He had them pinned down when he noticed that the ledge with Jini on it was cracking! He jumped over just as she was falling, and grabbed her! When they reached the bottom he broke her fall. 

At the bottom he stood up and shook the snow off his back. He walked over to Jini. he helped her up. 

“Why were Smoke and Steele chasing you?” he said siverly. 

“I… I can’t tell you.” she said

Togo glared “why were they chasing you, Jini!”

“Fine.” she said “before the serum run, I lived with a family in nome. But after the serum run, they had to move to Atlanta Georgia. They had to leave me behind. So, I lived in the street. But I met Jenna. She took me in, and I lived next to her house. But, Smoke fell in love with me. But the feeling was not mutual. He kept coming after me until I up and left town. I went to live in Golovin. I lived there for two years, until Smoke came back. He came to me in the street. He asked me to marry him. I was tired of him asking, and

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