asking, and I……” her voice grew fainter.

“What!” Togo said “what did you do?”

“I slapped him. And he stumbled back. And his nose started bleeding. His expensive collar ripped. He was angry and his brother came up and they cornered me. 

“A big dog that saw me came to help. He got in the fight and……” she stopped.

“What?” Togo said 

“I can’t tell you!” she said and turned her head away from Togo. 

Togo’s ears pricked up. He heard something. It sounded like Smoke and Steele coming down!

Togo took Jini’s head in his hands and said “what happened?”

“And the dog accidentally killed Smoke’s brother! The dog looked guilty and tried to say he was sorry, but Smoke knocked him out. Then he turned to me and said that it was all my fault! He jumped at me and I ran. He chased me until now.”

Then they saw something. It was Smoke and Steele!

They ran. Faster and faster. Smoke and Steele were gaining on them! Then Togo noticed something. “Look up there!” he said “a trail! Quick Jini, Run!”

They ran up the trail, but the brothers followed!

They kept running with the brothers hot on their trail! 

A storm started brewing.

Then a bolt of lightning struck in between Togo and Jini. They went flying to the sides, and were knocked unconscious. From the place where the lightning struck, Aniu arose. Smoke and Steele skidded to a halt. A small snow flurry picked them up and lifted them into the air. Just then, Togo woke up and saw the end. Smoke and Steele faded away. Aniu tuned to Togo. “shhhh.” she said, and faded away in the mist. 

Togo picked Jini up and ran back to the cave. He laid down next to Pepa. he laid down too. He was soon fast asleep. 

                                          *        *        *

Togo woke up to see Kodi coming in with breakfast. 

“Where did you learn to hunt, Kodi?” Togo asked, looking at the large piece of meat he was carrying. 

“I guess since I’m part wolf, I’m naturally good at hunting.” he said “well, dig in.”

Togo did. 

Pepa did. 

Kodi did. 

Jini didn’t. She was nervus. No one had given her food in years. She always had to steal her meals. She cautiously sniffed it. She had this feeling that Kodi would snap at her and say that it was his. He didn’t and Jini slowly started eating. She ate faster and faster. Until she was snarfing the meat down. It tasted delicious! She hadn’t had a meal this good in years! Then she realized that she wasn’t being very lady-like. She slowed down. 

A conversation began between Kodi, Pepa, and Togo. 

“Jini told us what happened.” Kodi said.

“Yeah,” Pepa said “Smoke is awful!”

“Yeah,” Togo said, “he’s so mean.”

 

                               Chapter Six

                                                   

Togo let out a deep breath and looked forward to nome. They hadn’t had any trouble from Smoke and Steele (for obvious reasons). 

He bounded forward and ran across the long clear stretch to nome. Togo and Jini ran around each other, laughing and having a good time. 

Finally, they reached the end of the stretch. Jini stopped and looked at the familiar streets of nome. She was almost scared to go in. but she took a deep breath and walked down. 

Then she became happy. She leaped up and down happily. 

She did until she saw her old house. Her heart and happiness seemed to be melting. A tear appeared in the corner of her eye. 

Togo came up and laid his paw on her shoulder. “It’s ok,” he said “I’m sure they’re happy.”

They kept going. Then Jini saw someone and ran up to him. 

“Hey,” she said, “you are the dog who saved me.”

“Yeah.” he replied. 

“Hello, Bonzo.” Togo said.

“You know him?” Jini asked. 

“Yeah, he’s part of my team.”

“Oh.”

“But what was he doing in Golovin?” Kodi asked. 

“A business trip.” Bonzo said. 

“Oh.” Pepa said. 

“Come on Bonzo, we need to get to the kennel now.” Togo said.

“Can I come with you?” Jini asked. 

“Sure.” Togo said. 

                                          *        *        *

Togo scratched at Sepp’s door. Sepp opened it and gave Togo a huge hug. “Where have you been!” he said “I was so worried about you!” Then he saw Jini. 

“Hey, you’re the dog that I saw in White Mountain.” he said “you must have come a long way. You look like a survivor. I like survivors. And you don’t seem to have a home, so I think I’ll adopt you.”

Jini gave a leap of joy. She had a home! And no one could take it from her! She gave Sepp a big lick. She liked him already. She was finally happy. 

 

                                Chapter Seven

                                                    

Togo and Jini sat alone on Seppala's porch, looking up at the stars. “I’m afraid.” Jini said. 

“Why?” Togo asked.

“What if Smoke and Steele come back?” she asked, sounding concerned. 

“They won't,” Togo said. 

“How do you know?” 

“Just a hunch.”

Jini looked at the stars. “It's a beautiful night.” she said. 

“Yes, it is.” Togo replied, smiling. 

“The stars are beautiful.” Jini said

“Just like your eyes.” Togo said, standing up, and stretching.

Jini turned to look at him in surprise. “What do you mean, Togo?” She asked.

“I mean,” he said shaking some snow off his coat. “Your eyes are beautiful.” He said, and smiled. Jini jumped to her feet with surprise. “You mean?”

Togo touched his nose to hers. “I love you.” He said. Jini leaped forward and hugged him, whispering “I love you too.”

 

                                                       Epilogue

Three small pups ran up main street in White Mountain. One of them ran ahead of the others. Then, out of nowhere a small snow flurry appeared, and Smoke and Steele plopped on the ground. The pup stopped and his friends ran into him. they went running back to their mothers, screaming “Mommy! Mommy! We just saw two dogs appeared out of nowhere!” 

“Oh, that’s nice honey.” the mother said. 

Smoke and Steele looked around. Smoke gasped and pointed at a sign. “We’re stranded in White Mountain!” Smoke said. 

“Don’t worry.” Steele said “we can just take the next dogsled out of town.”

“Look!” Smoke said “a dogsled team! After them!” 

They chased them, but the team was too fast. They walked back to the mail office. 

“Don’t worry,” Steele said, “we’ll take the next one.”

Just then the mail person came out. “Ah, last sled team. Now Duke will be delivering the mail for the rest of the summer. 

Smoke and Steele exchanged worried looks. 

Smoke fell to his nese, and moaned “I’m going to die of boredom in White Mountain!” 

 

                                                       The End

  

 

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