and with every step it seemed to get further away. With a jolt of fear Shanaea realized that the hole wasn’t really getting further away, but rather she was unable to keep walking at the pace she had been… her dying brain was confusing the image… A dark shadow stepped across the hole, the shadow of a dog. It growled, and then laughed. “I’m sorry Shanaea,” It said, it’s voice echoing off the walls, so that it was distorted beyond recognition. She struggled to keep her eyes open as her head got nearer and nearer to the pool of blood that was quickly forming under her, it had become almost impossible to hold up her head… she was so weak. The figure walked closer, closer, closer… Shanaea woke with a start. She jumped up, and then sat down very quickly as she put weight on her right foreleg. “Ouch,” She thought. ’What happened… where am I?” Then she remembered her erratic descent of the hill to her left. ”…or was it to the right?” She asked herself. “Oh no, I can’t remember… how am I going to find my way back to the team?” She took a deep breath and stood slowly, hoping her leg wasn’t broken. Though it hurt, she found that it would support her weight and knew it probably wasn’t broken. She’d busted up the side of her head pretty badly when she’d slammed into the tree during her roll down the hill. The wind was blowing, and it had started snowing more than before, the temperature had dropped to near dangerous levels. “I’ve got to get home.” She thought. ”I’ll freeze to death if I stay out here much longer, and I’ll never just stumble upon the team in this storm…” She looked around and decided to walk out the bottom of the valley, from there she should be able to find her way home. Shanaea took a few steps forward, and then she realized then that she was dragging something. She looked behind her and saw the guidelines dragging in the snow behind her, still fastened to her harness. Then she remembered trying to dodge the rock, the sled tipping and rolling at her, and her narrow brush with death… “The wreck must have been pretty bad to tear the guidelines like that…” She thought. “I hope everyone’s okay.” She debated for a moment leaving the team, her family behind when they could be inured, but finally came to the realization that her chances weren’t good of finding them in this storm, and she could do them much more good by getting herself home than walking around looking for them ‘till she froze to death. Shanaea sighed and started walking south, traveling down the valley. Shanaea had been walking for almost fifteen minutes, her head was starting to hurt more and her leg had grown stiff with the cold. The valley was much longer than she had thought. Suddenly through the blowing snow she saw a dark form lying in the snow. Her first thought was that maybe it was one of her siblings, injured in the wreck as well, then she thought about how far she’d come since the wreck. “Unless they had the same plan I did and tried to walk out of the valley it can’t be one of them. …and if it is, they must be injured pretty badly because they didn’t make it.” She ran toward the figure, thoughts of her family, of how much she loved them, and how much she hoped they were okay rushing thorough her mind. As she neared the dark figure she realized that it wasn’t any of her family. It was a brown husky. She stopped beside him and knelt down at his side. The husky was hurt, and hurt bad from the look of it. He was covered in blood. There was a large open wound that ran from his neck to the middle of his shoulder. She thought he was dead, and almost stood up and walked away, but then to her surprise he breathed. “He’s alive!” She thought. She gently shook him, and he coughed. Then his eye’s opened slowly. She smiled at him. “Hello.” He blinked a few times, and then his eyes locked with hers. “Samm?” He asked… “…am… am I dead?” Shanaea shook her head. “No, no you’re alive, and my name is Shanaea, I don’t know who Samm is.” He blinked a few more times and looked at her again. “Oh, I’m sorry, my vision was blurry. I thought you were Samm… how did I get here?” “I don’t know.” Shanaea said. “I was pulling a sled and we had a wreck… I was trying to get home, and I just happened to find you… are you okay?” “…not really.” He said, wincing as he tried to sit up. “What happened to you?” Shanaea asked. “A… a wolf got a hold of me.” “A wolf?” Shanaea asked. “That’s strange. Are you sure? We’re pretty far from any wolf territory.” “Look,” the dog said. “I’m not going to debate that fact, but believe me it was a wolf.” “Okay.” Shanaea responded. “Is he still around?” “I don’t think so.” The dog said. “I ran away. I remember feeling light headed, and then rolling… then I woke up here.” The dog paused. “You’re beautiful.” Shanaea smiled, embarrassed at this unexpected comment. “Thank… thank you.” The dog smiled. “What’s your name?” Shanaea asked. “Tiembe.” The dog answered. “My name is Tiembe.” “Where are you from?” She asked. “I’m from Applegate, well, recently anyway, I kind of move around a lot.” “Oh, that sounds exciting.” She said. “Yeah,” the dog said. “Can you walk?” She asked. “I don’t think so.” The dog said. He paused. “Where are you from?” “Nome.” Shanaea answered. “That’s not too far from here is it?” The dog asked. “No, it’s about a twenty minute walk.” Shanaea said. “Twenty minutes… I can’t make it that far.” The dog said. “Well I’m not going to just leave you here.” Shanaea asked. “Why not?” Tiembe asked. “…well… because you need help, and you seem like a nice guy.” Shanaea answered. “Thanks.” Tiembe answered. Shanaea smiled. “So,” Tiembe said. “Why don’t you tell me a little about Nome.” “Okay.” Shanaea answered. As the wind continued to blow snow around the two of them, Shanaea began to tell him about her family and friends and her home in the small town of Nome, Alaska. Shanaea had long since stopped talking, and Tiembe had fallen asleep on her shoulder. They’d moved to the shelter of a hollowed out tree almost two hours ago. “He seems like a nice enough guy,” She thought. “I hope he’s okay to travel in the morning, maybe we can both make it back to Nome then.” “Shanaea?” Her ears perked up as she heard the familiar voice. She stood and walked a short distance outside the tree. “Dad?” She called. She tried to discern some kind of movement through the blowing snow, but it was difficult. “Shanaea, stay where you are. “ The voice said again. “I’m coming to you.” Shanaea stood there, and soon she could see him. Her father was covered in snow from his trip to find her. “Shanaea!” He called, running through the deepening snow until he stopped by her side. “It’s good to see you sweetheart. I thought you might have been hurt.” Shanaea smiled. “I am a little, but I’ll be alright, nothing serious.” “So you can walk?” Kodi asked. “Yeah.” Shanaea said, “yeah, I can walk.” “Well then let’s get back.” Kodi said. “The rest of the family is going to be worried sick about us.” “Okay.” She said. “Oh, dad, can we take him with us?” “…him?” Kodi asked. “…him who?” “Tiembe,” Shanaea said. “I found him when I was walking down the valley.” “I don’t know.” Kodi said. “The musher doesn’t much like strange dogs.” “He’s hurt.” Shanaea said. “…bad?” Kodi asked. Shanaea nodded. “What happened to him?” Kodi asked. “He says he was attacked by a wolf.” Shanaea answered. “This far north of Nome?” Kodi said. “This is Talbourne territory. They wouldn’t have attacked him without good reason.” “I know.” Shanaea said. “…but that’s what he says.” “Really?” Kodi said. “Can he walk?” Shanaea shook her head. “It took almost thirty minutes to get him into that dead tree.” “So how do you suppose we get him back then?” Kodi asked. “I’ve been thinking about that.” Shanaea said. “…come up with an idea yet?” Kodi asked. “Actually yes.” Shanaea said. She shrugged off her harness and held it up in her teeth. “You think we should drag him?” Kodi asked. Shanaea nodded. “…only thing I could come up with.” “It’ll be a long trip.” Kodi said. “If we don’t help him he’ll die.” Shanaea said. Kodi nodded and sighed. “Okay, you want to introduce us?” Shanaea smiled. “Sure.” She walked over to the tree and ducked inside; walked over to the sleeping brown dog and shook him gently, waking him up. “Hey Tiembe, wake up.” “What is it?” He asked, yawning. “…something wrong?” “No,” Shanaea said. “My father tracked me hear. He’s here and we’re going to take you back to the sled with us.” “How do you propose to do that?” Tiembe asked weakly. “I can’t walk.” “I know.” Shanaea said. “We’re going to use my harness to drag you back. My father wants to meet you.” “Okay,” Tiembe said. Shanaea turned. Hey dad, over here,” she said. Kodi walked over to the tree. “Hello,” Kodi said. “I’m Shanaea’s father.” “How are you doing sir?” Tiembe asked, struggling to his feet. “I’m good, thanks,” Kodi said. “You look like you’re having a bad day.” “Yeah,” Tiembe said. “I got attacked by a wolf.” “That’s what my daughter tells me, can you walk?” Tiembe shook his head. “No, I can’t.” Kodi nodded. “Okay, I can see that with your injuries. Do you want some help?” “I’d appreciate it sir.” Tiembe said. “Okay,” Kodi said. “I’m afraid that the method of help my be somewhat painful for you. The only way we’ve got to get you back to the sled is to drag you in Shanaea’s harness.” “Well I don’t have much of a choice, it’s either that or die out here.” Tiembe said. “I think I can handle a little pain.” Kodi nodded. “…alright.” He picked up the harness and slung it over Tiembe’s shoulders, tugging the straps to tighten it. Tiembe winced slightly as the straps came in contact with his wounds. “Sorry,” Kodi said. “It’s fine.” Tiembe said. “I’ll just have to deal with it.” He slowly lowered himself to

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