don’t know about that, do you?” Blaize said. “Well, Mom got banished about three weeks ago.”

“What!?” Saba cried. “Why!?”

“Believe it or not, she tried to kill Jason.” Blaize said.

“Why would she do that?” Saba asked.

Blaize sighed. “She was trying to repay Drake for Everest.”

“Everest is fine though.” Saba said.

“We thought he’d been killed.” Blaize explained.

“Well what good news do you have?” Saba asked.

“Well,” Blaize said. “It’s kind of complicated, but I can pardon her.”

“So she’ll be able to come back?” Saba asked.

Blaize nodded.

Saba remained silent for a moment.

“I think I may know where dad is.” She said finally.

“Where?” Blaize asked.

“He showed me this place, under the hospital, where he and mom first realized that they loved one another… I think he may be there.”

“Do you know the way?” Blaize asked.

Saba nodded. “I have to keep out of sight though, so it might take a while for me to get there.

Blaize noticed for the first time then that his sister was bleeding badly. “Saba, you’re hurt!”

She winced. “Somewhat.”

“How did that happen?” Blaize asked.

Saba thought it best not to tell anyone about her stupidity involving Kelly and her old home.

“I got attacked in the outskirts.” She said. “There were four of them. Now there’s three, and they’re hurting worse than I am.”

Blaize shook his head. “One of my goals as Keeper of the Law is going to be to clean that area up. It’s too dangerous and too close to town.”

He paused. “Are you going to be alright?”

Saba smiled and nodded. “I’ll be fine.”

“In that case,” Blaize said. “Would you mind taking me to this place you think dad might be?”

Saba smiled. “Not at all; follow me.”

With that, brother and sister walked out of the yard, slipping into the trees bordering the walk.

Chapter 12:

It took a little time for Saba to lead Blaize to the boiler room behind the hospital.

The two stepped inside.

“I knew this was here; this is the boiler room.” Blaize said. “I thought you said it was under the hospital.”

“I did.” Saba said, walking alongside the right wall, her head bent low to the floor. “I know it’s here somewhere…”

“What are you looking for?” Blaize asked.

“Wait a minute.” Saba said.

After a few moments she stood. “Here it is.”

She poked her head into the corner and through a small cloth that covered a hole in the wall.

“Okay,” Blaize said. “I didn’t know that this was here.”

Saba walked into the tunnel, then looked back at Blaize. “Stick close.”

Blaize followed her tentatively.

He didn’t want to tell her, but he was still somewhat afraid of the dark. His dreams had never stopped, in fact, if anything, they’d intensified.

“No problem there.” Blaize said.

The two walked through the dark tunnel for about fifty yards, ducking low hanging beams and trash that had accumulated over the years, slipping through the cracks in the wooden floor above.

Soon, they saw a bright light, and then saw Balto, staring at a beautiful display of colored light, as the lantern light from the hospital above struck the broken glass bottles on the ground. Balto didn’t seem to notice their presence.

Saba stepped forward, but Blaize walked up beside her and put his paw on her shoulder.

She looked back at her brother.

“Let me go first.” He whispered. “You might startle him.”

Saba nodded and Blaize went in front of her.

“Hey dad.” Blaize said.

Balto turned and stepped back quickly, looking around for a place to run.

“Dad, it’s me.” Blaize said, stepping into the light that filtered from the ceiling above.

“Blaize?” Balto said.

Blaize nodded.

Balto let out a sigh of relief, but still looked somewhat uneasy. “Who’s your friend?”

“Dad this is…” Blaize stopped, not quite sure how to go about explaining it.

Saba stepped forward. “It’s me dad. It’s Saba.”

A questioning look crossed Balto’s features for a moment, then he smiled. “Aniu.”

Saba nodded.

“Why?” Balto asked.

“Aleu isn’t the leader of the Talbourne anymore.” Saba said.

“Is she alright!?” Balto said, clearly alarmed.

Saba smiled and nodded. “Yeah, she’s fine. She just didn’t want to lead anymore. She wants to take time to be a mother. She talked to Aniu… and here I am.”

Balto smiled and shook his head. “I’ll never understand what exactly goes through her mind.”

Then he sighed and his ears drooped. It was quite possibly the saddest Saba had ever seen her father.

“Saba… your mother…”

He stopped, unable to continue, on the verge of breaking into tears.

Saba sighed and stepped next to her father. “I know.” She said softly. “Blaize told me.”

Balto nodded, then turned to his son. “Blaize, did you learn anything?”

Blaize nodded. “I did dad.”

Balto smiled. “What is it?”

“I can pardon mom and allow her to return,” Blaize said, “but there’s a catch.”

“What’s that?” Balto asked.

Blaize sighed. “I have to get Gemeni’s approval.”

Balto nodded. “Then let’s go talk to her.”

Blaize smiled. “Dad, it’s kind of late right now. She’s probably asleep. We can go tomorrow morning though.”

Balto sighed. “Yeah… yeah I guess so.” It was then that Balto noticed the blood that was still oozing steadily from his daughter’s shoulder.
“My gosh,” Balto said. “Are you alright Saba? What happened to you?”

Saba sighed. “I’ll be fine.” She said. “I was attacked in the outskirts.”

Balto shook his head. “Something really needs to be done about that place.”

Blaize nodded in agreement.

“Well Saba, do you have a place to stay?” Balto asked.

“No dad.” Saba said. “I really need to be getting back to the pack. I can’t let anyone see me now.”

“Please stay with me for just a little while Saba.” Balto said. “Luke won’t mind.”

Saba looked at her father.

He looked a lot older than she remembered.

She smiled. “Alright.”

Balto smiled and walked over to her. “I never thought I’d see you again Saba.”

He kissed her on the cheek.

“Dad…” Saba said, smiling.

“Well come on then.” Balto said, starting to head for the tunnel that led back to the surface.

After a few moments they emerged into the boiler room and walked out the open door.

Balto paused outside. “Hey Blaize, you coming?”

Blaize smiled. “I would dad, but I have someone I have to see.”

Balto smiled and nodded. “Alright.”

Saba smiled at him as well. “Go get her tiger.” She added.

Blaize laughed. “You guys.”

After a moment of silence passed Blaize took a step backward. “Well, I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”

Balto nodded. “Meet us at the house.”

Blaize nodded, then turned and walked out away from the pair.

Blaize ran across the street toward the rundown shack that had been Astarre’s home.

He hoped she’d still be here.

He walked up the rickety porch and nosed open the aging wooden door.

To his delight, he saw a familiar golden furred form against the left wall of the one room building.

Blaize walked toward her.

The floorboards creaked beneath him and he stopped.

Astarre groaned and rolled over, then resumed her peaceful sleep.

Blaize carefully walked the rest of the way over to her side and laid beside her.

He watched her sleeping for a moment and smiled, then he kissed the side of her head.

Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled.

“Blaize?” She yawned. “You’re back.”

Blaize nodded. “Yeah, I’m back.”

He put his paw on the side of her face. There were still four dull red lines that tracked across her face about an inch below her left eye and ran back to the base of her ear.

“Why anyone would want to hurt someone so beautiful is far beyond me.” Blaize thought. Blaize kept staring into her blue eyes.

She smiled. “What?”

“You’re beautiful.” Blaize said.

Astarre smiled and broke his gaze.

A few moments of silence ensued.

“Astarre,” Blaize finally said. “The time that I was away from you, though it was short, it was enough for me to know that I never