never want to leave your side again.”

Asttare smiled.

Blaize put his paws above and below hers and raised it off the ground a little.

“I’m serious Astarre…” A tear came to her eye. “…I want to spend the rest of my life here on this earth with you.”

She smiled again and nodded, unable to speak for a moment.

“I do too.” She said finally. “I love you too Blaize.”

The two said nothing for a few minutes, not sure what to say to one another now. Blaize tried first.

“Astarre I…” She cut him off by looking up and kissing him.

Blaize’s eyes were wide as Astarre pulled away from him, a grin on her face.

“I, I, I have no idea what I was just going to say.” Blaize said, stuttering a bit at the beginning.

Astarre just smiled and laid her head on her paws.

Blaize smiled back at her and laid his head on top of hers.

The two closed their eyes and tried to go to sleep, for it was late, and they were both tired…

…but they didn’t get much sleep that night.

Chapter 13:

The next morning, Blaize walked to Luke’s house, met his father, and together they walked toward the Old Mill.

It didn’t take too long for the pair to make it to the familiar old building.

Balto started up the steps.

“Dad…” Blaize said.

Balto paused and looked back at his son.

“…maybe it would be better if I went alone.”

Balto nodded and walked down from the steps.

Blaize sighed and walked up them, and nudged open the door.

Sunlight speared through cracks in the wooden walls, creating beams of light that split the darkness of the interior of the Old Mill. “Gemeni?” Blaize called softly, not seeing her anywhere nearby.

“Blaize?”

The voice came from behind him and Blaize turned.

Gemeni stood behind him. “How was your trip?”

Blaize smiled. “It was good, thanks.”

“So what brings you out here?” Gemeni asked.

“I have something to ask you.” Blaize said. “I learned about something while I was in Applegate.”

Blaize paused.

“I… I want to reverse the decision Drake made in my mother’s case. I think it was too harsh, probably because of his emotional proximity to the victim. I want to bring her back, and I can… but only with your agreement.”

“What?” Gemeni asked. “Why me?”

“Your son was the victim.” Blaize explained. “If I can get your permission to pardon her, then I can let her come back home with the understanding that if she violates the law again, the sentence is reinstated and she gets banished again.”

“Would you be here were it not your mother?” Gemeni asked.

Blaize nodded. “Yes. Haven’t you seen dad? He’s incredibly depressed. I don’t think he can live without her. This is punishing him. Is that right? What has my father done to be punished?”

Gemeni sighed.

“So can you do this… for him?” Blaize asked.

Gemeni nodded. “Yeah. Jenna was my friend. Yeah, she can come back. Just one thing.”

“What’s that?” Blaize asked.

“What if she tries to kill Jason again?” Gemeni asked. “I already lost…”

A tear came to her eye and she sighed.

“I already lost Drake… to lose my son would be unbearable.”

“I can guarantee that won’t happen.” Blaize said.

“How?” Gemeni asked.

“My mother tried to kill your son because she believed Drake killed Everest… my brother.”

Blaize paused for a moment, then continued.

“We found out shortly after the incident that Everest wasn’t killed. He and my sister Saba both live with my sister Aleu in her wolf clan.”

Gemeni sighed.

“So it’s alright with you?” Blaize asked.

Gemeni nodded.

Blaize smiled. “I’m going to set up a town meeting tonight to make the decision public. May I use this building, since everyone is already familiar with it?”

Gemeni nodded. “I’m going to be moving out of here soon. I’ve just got to tell the kids. Everywhere I look in this place I see him…”

Everest didn’t know quite what to say to this, so he remained silent.

“Anyway, as keeper of the law I guess you can move in if you’d like.” Gemeni said.

Blaize nodded. “I may.”

An uneasy silence passed between the two.

Finally, Blaize spoke.

“The meeting will be held at six o’clock. I’m going to need you present.”

Gemeni nodded, but remained silent, staring at the wall behind Blaize.

“Well,” Blaize said. “I need to get to work spreading the word and all. I’ll come by at twenty after to work with you on what you need to say.”

Gemeni still remained silent.

“Bye Gemeni.” Blaize said.

He stood there for a moment longer, then turned and walked out of the Old Mill. 

Balto stood outside the old mill, awaiting Blaize’s exit.

A screeching sound emanated from the rusty hinges of the old mill’s aging wooden door and it swung open.

Balto looked up at his son, a hopeful expression on his face.

“How’d it go.”

Blaize walked down the steps to his father’s side.

“She’s going to do it.” Blaize said. “I’m going to make the announcement at a town meeting tonight.”

He paused and put his paw on his father’s shoulder.

“Mom’s coming home.”

Jenna and Dolo were laying on a hill overlooking a small pond, at the rear of which a cascading waterfall rose some thirty feet above them. Thanks to the hot spring that fed it, the pond water was nice and warm, and Jenna was seriously thinking about going for a swim.

“Jenna,” Dolo said, “there’s something I need to talk to you about.”

“What’s that?” Jenna asked.

“It’s that red thing around your neck.” Dolo said.

“My bandanna?” Jenna asked.

“Whatever it’s called you should lose it.” Dolo said.

“I’ve had It my whole life…” Jenna said. “I… I don’t know…”

She stopped.

“Jenna,” Dolo said. “I know you may be attached to it, but it’s brightly colored and noticeable. It makes you stand out. Out here it’s not a good idea to stand out.”

Jenna sighed. “Yeah… yeah, I guess you’re right.”

She slid the bandanna off her neck and laid it on the snow covered ground.

“You know, Jenna said, looking at the folded red cloth. “My mother gave this to me. She wanted me to remember her by it, because I was separated from her when I was young.”

She smiled. “I’ve worn it ever since…”

She looked up at Dolo.

He smiled.

“Jenna, you’re with me now.” He said, putting his paw against the side of her face. “You don’t need some old cloth to remind you of your old life… of what you lost. Embrace the Future… and forget the past.”

Jenna nodded. “You’re right.”

She smiled. “You’re right Dolo… you always are.”

She kissed him and stood up.

“What are you doing?” Dolo asked.

“Forgetting my past life.” Jenna said.

She took the bandanna in her mouth and threw it into the pond below.”

Dolo smiled.

Jenna smiled back at him.

“Let’s go home.” Dolo said.

Jenna followed him as he started toward the cave that was home to her now.

In the pond, the red bandanna, which Jenna had worn so proudly, for so long, drifted slowly down stream.

At forty-five past five the Old Mill was packed with dogs, all awaited the announcement that Blaize was going to make.

None knew what that announcement was going to be, but they all knew it was big from the urgency with which the meeting had been called.

At six o’clock Blaize walked up on the raised portion of the floor and after a few tries, successfully quieted the excited crowd.

“Dogs of Nome.” Blaize said. “I have called this town meeting to announce a change of sentencing in the case of Nome vs. Jenna.”

Some dogs started talking again and Blaize had to call them to order before continuing.

“It is my opinion that Jenna’s sentencing was unjust in that Drake, the presiding Keeper of the Law of the case, was too close to the victim in the case, one Jason, his son. It is therefore my decision to repeal that finding, and to call for a re-sentencing, in which: I do hereby find Jenna of the town of Nome, Alaska, guilty of assault; of the crimes of kidnapping and attempted murder, she is hereby absolved of all culpability, based on the following facts: One, that the detention of the victim against his will was no more than ten minutes, an amount that I do not find lengthy enough to uphold the kidnapping charge; two, that the damage inflicted upon the victim by the accused was not significant enough to prove intent to kill, and therefore does not constitute attempted murder. The sentence, therefore, of banishment, the violation of which shall