her neck. “I’ll make you a deal.” He said.
“…what’s that?” Shanaea asked.
“I’ll try to go back to sleep…” he said. “…as long as you stay here like this, right beside me.”
Shanaea smiled. “Well I don’t see a problem with that Tiembe.” She laid her head on his shoulder and looked up at him. Tiembe had a horrified look on his face.
Shanaea’s look of concern returned. “what’s wrong Tiembe?” She asked.
“You were laying like this in the dream when you… when you died. You there and looked up at me just like you a now… but I was covered in… in your blood and you laid there and just… laid there and bled to death. …and …all the blood…” Tiembe started shaking again. “…so much blood.”
Shanaea closed her eyes and rubbed her head against his shoulder. “It’s okay Tiembe.” She said. “It was just a bad dream, nothing more.”
“…but it was so real.” Tiembe said.
Shanaea smiled. “Tiembe it was a dream, it wasn’t real… but this is.”
She stretched he neck upward and licked him on the nose. He nuzzled her and she smiled. “I’m here Tiembe, it doesn’t matter what happened in the dream, it wasn’t real.” She said. “I know it might have seemed like it, but it wasn’t. …like I said, I plan on living for a while yet. …besides, if anyone does try to hurt me I’ve got a big strong husky to protect me now.”
Tiembe sighed. “I’ll do my best Shay, and that’s a promise.”
Shanaea grinned. “…see? Let’s not waste out time worrying about the future; let’s enjoy the present. We’re both still awful young to be worried about dying… let’s just enjoy beign together… live with no regrets.”
Tiembe smiled. “You’re right Shanaea. …somehow you always are.”
Shanaea laid her head on his shoulder. “…so…” She yawned, cutting her sentence in two. “…you think you can sleep now?”
Teimbe nodded. “Yeah, I’m sorry for keeping you up all night Shay… I know you’re tired.”
Shanaea snuggled up closer to him an smiled. “It’s okay.” She said. “I love you for who you are Tiembe, and that means I want to face this disorder with you, no matter what consequences that has…” She paused and looked up at him. “…for better or worse Tiembe I never want you to be alone.”
Tiembe smiled and nuzzled her. “Thank you.” He said. “That means a lot to me. I really do love you Shay.”
“I know…” Shanaea yawned again. “…I love you too Tiembe… more than I know words to express it.”
He smiled again. “We’d better get some sleep. You look really tired.”
“…’kay.” Shanaea said. “…sweet dreams Tiembe.”
“…goodnight Shay.” Tiembe said.
It wasn’t long before Shanaea’s breathing got deeper and she drifted off to sleep. Tiembe was trying, but try as he might he couldn’t get those wide pain filled blue eyes out of his mind.
“…let… let me go.”
Tiembe shivered.
Chapter 6:
Jason’s eyes snapped open and he looked up to see what had woken him.
Fairbourne smiled. “…you learn well kid.” He said.
Jason sat up and yawned. “…what’s on the agenda for today?” He asked.
“…there’s no more training.” Fairbourne said.
Jason shut his mouth and looked at Fairbourne sharply. “...you mean…”
Fairbourne smiled and nodded. “…today we go to Nome kid…”
Jenna was walking down Main Street. She’d woken earlier than Balto and decided to go for a morning stroll. She looked around her and smiled.
The bustling pace that Nome had taken on had yet to begin, and the streets were quiet and empty. Only the casual passerby graced the sidewalks, and Jenna had yet to see a single car this morning.
Jenna liked it like this. The small town of Nome was growing, and growing fast. Most people were glad and looked on the progress with anticipation…
…Jenna did not.
She liked the small town atmosphere, the quietness that Nome had when she was growing up… she missed it, and feared what this quick expansion would do to the burgeoning town.
Jenna walked up to the edge of the sidewalk and stopped, looking carefully both ways for cars before she crossed the street. Once she was across, Jenna turned right and walked down 1st street.
Balto would have chided her for going out alone when he was there and could have gone with her. Especially at this time of day when there was no one else around.
“…but he worries too much.” Jenna thought. “…nothing’s going to happen to me right here in town.”
Jenna laughed softly to herself and continued walking down the sidewalk.
At the same time a brown and white dog stopped on the sidewalk that ran alongside Main Street.
The Collie looked around and sighed.
“Oh no…” She thought. “I can’t be lost…”
She looked around again and took a few uncertain steps forward. “…now where did that dog say to go?”
She paused and looked around again. “…he said to take a left, but…”
She turned around and looked back down the street. “…which left?”
She sighed and turned, walking down the alley beside the general store. “…guess this one’s as good as any…” She thought.
Jenna was still walking down 1st Street when she saw a dog walk out of the alley ahead of her. At first her heart sped up a bit and she almost stopped walking.
She hadn’t seen another dog all morning, most of them were asleep. “…wonder what she wants?” Jenna thought. “…I’ve never seen her before…”
Jenna stopped walking and watched the dog as she stopped and looked around.
“She must be new.” Jenna thought. “…and she looks lost.”
Jenna smiled and started walking forward until she was within hearing of the dog. “Hey… uh you look lost.” Jenna said.
The dog turned and sighed. “…yeah… I am.” She said.
Jenna smiled. “Where are you trying to go?”
The dog sighed again. “I’m trying to find the Keeper of the Law.”
“…why’s that?” Jenna asked. “Is something wrong?”
“…well, I’m new so… I just wanted to check in with him… or her and uh… let ‘em know I’m here.”
Jenna smiled. “Where are you from?”
The dog smiled. “I’m from Anchorage.”
Jenna smiled back at her. “Well you don’t have to check in with anyone when you get here in Nome.” She said. “…but I can take you to him if you’d like?”
“You know him?” The dog asked.
Jenna laughed. “Yeah, he’s my son.”
“Oh good…” The dog said. “I’ve been trying to find him for a while now… I asked for directions, but… well I guess I wasn’t specific enough.”
Jenna smiled. “Well follow me, I’ll lead you to him.”
“…thank you.” The dog said. “I’d appreciate it.”
Jenna turned and began walking up the alley the dog had emerged out of.
“…imagine that.” The dog said. “…of course I was going the complete wrong way.”
She laughed, and Jenna joined her.
“…that’s alright.” Jenna said. “You’re new, it’s understandable. You’ll get your bearings soon.”
“…yeah,” the dog said. “…shouldn’t take too long. This place is pretty small.”
Jenna sighed. “Yeah well… it’s a lot bigger than it used to be.”
The dog smiled. “So uh, what’s your name?”
Jenna smiled. “Oh, I’m sorry, my name is Jenna. I live over on 3rd Street.”
Jenna walked out of the alley and turned left, walking up Main Street.
“This is Main Street.” Jenna said. “…pretty much everything is on this street, the only things on the others are homes really.”
The dog nodded. “My name is Alyse.”
“Nice to meet you.” Jenna said. “Are you staying long?”
Alyse nodded. “Yeah, we’re here permanently as far as I know.”
Jenna nodded. “Well I think you’ll like it here… I’m sure it will be quiet compared to Anchorage.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m hoping.” Alyse said.
Jenna smiled. “The Keeper of the Law lives in the Old Mill. It’s just up the road, see it?”
The dog nodded. “Oh… okay, I walked down there, but not that far.”
Jenna nodded and kept walking. “…the Old Mill is where we dogs have any meetings or trials or… well, any gathering really.”
Alyse nodded and looked around. “I think I’m going to like it here.” She said. “…Anchorage held some… well, bad memories.”
Jenna could tell by the change in Alyse’s tone that those “bad memories” were probably a subject best left alone for now.
“Well, we’re here.” Jenna said, climbing the steps up to the porch at the front of the Old Mill.
She pushed open the door and stepped inside. “…Blaize?” She called.
“Is that you Jenna?” a familiar voice said.
Jenna turned to see Astarre walking up beside her. “…hey Astarre.” She said.
Astarre smiled. “What brings you all the way out here this early, something wrong?”
Jenna smiled back. “No, nothing wrong, just went for a walk thins morning and ran into someone new, and she wanted to meet Blaize.”
“Well hang on a second,” Astarre said. “I’ll see if he’s still here.” Astarre said.
Jenna turned and saw that Alyse was standing outside on the porch and smiled. “Hey Alyse, you can come inside. It’s a little warmer in here.”
Alyse smiled and stepped through the door. “I just uh… didn’t want to seem presumptuous.” She said.
Jenna smiled. “Alyse, everyone in Nome is pretty friendly for the most part. Just walk in, don’t worry about being asked inside.”
Alyse nodded and sat down.
“…hey Mom.” A familiar voice said.
Jenna turned around and smiled. “Hey Blaize, how’re you?”
He smiled back. “…doing good, busy, but good. You’re lucky you caught me, I was just leaving to check out the butcher’s.”
Jenna sighed. “…got another thief?”
Blaize nodded. “…yeah, and not a particularly smart one either. She got shot at yesterday, but I don’t think she got hit. Kaltag saw her.”
“Kaltag huh?” Jenna said. “…how’s he doing? …haven’t heard from him in a while now.”
“He’s doing good.” Blaize said. “…got his eye on a girl now, thinking about quitting the team and settling down I guess.”
“…Kaltag?” Jenna asked. “…I can’t imagine that.”
They both laughed.
“So, what brings you out this early?” Blaize asked. “Astarre told me you had someone that wanted to meet me?”
“Yeah,” Jenna said. “…Blaize, this is Alyse, she’s new
6895 visits
Report this fanfic 
