mom…”

Chapter 8:

Blaize had learned a lot in the first day he’d spent in Applegate. Shep was a good teacher, and Blaize was being a good student. They were going through the information at a pretty good pace, though a few times Blaize’d had to stop Shep and have the old dog reiterate what he’d just said, that was expected though. They were now sitting outside the dog barn, watching the sun set.

“Shep?” Blaize asked, breaking the silence that had enveloped the two for almost fifteen minutes.

“What is it kid?” Shep asked.

“Is there a way to… I don’t really know how to put this, but to give someone who did something wrong a second chance, without following through with the accepted punishment?

Shep sighed. “Kid, there’s a way to do just about everything in this job, but that doesn’t mean you should… why do you ask?”

Blaize sighed. “About a month ago my mother was banished.”

“Banished?” Shep asked. “Must’ve been something fairly serious.”

Blaize nodded.

“What were her charges?” Shep asked.

Blaize sighed again. “Attempted Murder, Kidnapping and Assault.”

Shep whistled. “Those are serious indeed.”

Blaize nodded. “So is there a way that I can use my new position to bring her back to Nome?”

Shep sighed. “Kid, I know she’s your mother, and that you want her back, but now, with the position you hold, you have to put those feelings behind you, you have to put the law first. Did she violate the law? Was there significant evidence?”

Blaize sighed. “Somewhat… okay, yes, there was evidence, eyewitnesses to parts of it even, but… but no one was hurt, not seriously anyway. I mean, after learning the different laws and their punishments, I think she was guilty of the assault, but the others? That’s a stretch.”

Shep nodded. “Hmm so, this is what you’re saying. You think she was guilty of the assault, but not the kidnapping or attempted murder?”

Blaize nodded.

“Who was the victim?” Shep asked.

“Drake’s son, Jason.” Blaize answered.

“Drake’s son?” Shep asked. “Really. Well, I’d bring up the case that Drake was being biased against her because of his own son’s involvement in the case, but still…”

Shep sighed. “Kid, what you’re talking about is called a pardon, and yes, you, as keeper of the law, can issue a pardon, however, it’s hardly ever in the best interests of the town to do so, especially in your case.”

“Why is that?” Blaize asked.

Shep sighed again. “Look kid, this is what you’ve got to understand, the law functions not because everyone thinks it’s right, or even agrees with it. The law functions because everyone is afraid of the consequence of not following it. So if you pardon people, they’re basically getting away with it. Now, you can put them on probation, or a suspended sentence, both of which we’ve talked about, but even that may seem light in the town’s eyes. What makes your case especially tricky is the fact that the one you want to pardon is your mother. As I said before, you can’t play favorites with the law. The law is indiscriminate, it is an absolute, and it will be followed. If not there are consequences. Some dogs may think you are using your position to let your mother off the hook. They’ll lose respect for you, and when that happens they lose respect for the law as well.”

Blaize nodded. “I see your point…” He paused. “What if… What if I could get the approval of Drake’s mate, Gemeni? She and my mother were really good friends at one time.”

“If you could do that, then I’d say it’d be alright, though you’d still have to do something to let the others know that she didn’t get off scott-free.”

“You mean like probation or something?” Blaize asked.

Shep nodded.

Blaize nodded back at him and remained silent.

The sun had dipped below the horizon as the two dogs had been talking, and now the moon was up, a blazing white orb in the sky.

Shep yawned. “Well kid, it’s about time to hit the sack, don’t you think?”

Blaize nodded. “For some reason I’m really tired right now.”

“Let’s go inside the barn here. We’ve got a lot of work still yet.”

Blaize nodded and followed Shep, as the old dog stood and walked toward the door of the dog shed.

Chapter 9:

It was dark by the time that Jenna finally made it back to the cave where Dolo had temporarily made their home.

They had eaten the rabbits they’d caught for a decent dinner, and were now sitting outside the cave.

It had been silent for some time before Jenna spoke.

“The night sky sure is beautiful tonight, isn’t it?”

Dolo nodded.

Jenna sighed. “You know, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen the sky like this. The lights from the city block out most of the starlight these days.”

Dolo nodded again. “Jenna, I… I need to tell you something.”

“What’s that?” Jenna asked.

“Jenna, I feel… strange, I’ve never felt like this before… I’ve never been attracted to someone this way before.”

Jenna sighed.

“Jenna…” Dolo paused a moment. “I think I’m falling in love with you.”

He smiled at her, and then noticed the look on her face. “What’s wrong?”

“I…” Jenna sighed. “Dolo, back in Nome, I… I have a mate.”

“… but you can’t go back to Nome.” Dolo said.

“I told him I would.” Jenna responded.

“… but you’ll be killed.” Dolo said. “Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

Jenna shook her head. “Dolo, Balto and I… we’re inseperable. Drake can’t keep us apart. I’m only stalling, trying to think of a way to see him that won’t get us both killed.”

“Oh…” Dolo said, hanging his head. “I see…”

“I’m sorry Dolo.” Jenna responded, stepping next to him and putting her paw on his shoulder. “You’re a really nice wolf, and you’ve taken really good care of me. I appreciate it very much.”

Dolo nodded and sighed. “Well, I’m kind of tired. I’ll meet you inside when you’re done out here.”

Jenna nodded and Dolo walked inside the cave.

Jenna turned to face south, the direction she thought Nome was in.

“Balto.” She said softly.

The wind picked up slightly and blew thin curls of snow through the air, swirling around Jenna’s still form, wrapping her in its cold embrace.

“I wonder if you’ve given up on me yet.” Jenna continued. “I hope not my love, for I have not forgotten you.”

Jenna turned and walked into the cave.

It was late and she had to be up early in the morning.

Jason walked into the old mill, the place he’d called home for so long.

His mind was clouded now. He didn’t know what to think, what to believe…

He was beginning to think that his father had been murdered, but not as everyone seemed to believe.

It seemed impossible, but the evidence was piling up on Balto being the culprit.

Jason saw his mother asleep next to the wall, the familiar form of his father absent from her side.

Jason walked over and was about to nudge his mother awake, but stopped.

“You need your rest.” Jason thought. “I’ll ask you in the morning.”

He yawned.

“…guess I could use some sleep too.”

Jason stretched and started to walk to the familiar door that led to the room where his siblings were most likely already sound asleep.

Then he stopped.

He heard voices, and the crunch of snow that signaled footsteps.

“Odd.” James thought. “Hardly anyone comes around here anymore, especially at this time of night…”

His curiosity overrode his need to sleep, and Jason walked as quietly as possible to an old grate in the corner near the floor.

He pushed it in, and the grate snapped inward, giving Jason access to the tunnels below.

Once cooling vents for the massive machinery above, the narrow tunnels were now Jason’s private passageways. His sisters were too scared to go down into the dark recesses of their home, and his brothers didn’t know about them.

He walked down into the tunnels, and soon was in the midst of pitch blackness.

Jason had grown up navigating these tunnels however, and he could have gotten to his intended destination blindfolded, which in effect, he was.

Jason instinctively took a left and walked forward another hundred yards. The tunnel started to slope upward, and Jason could see glowing starlight at the end of it.

As Jason grew closer to the grate, he could see two men walking into the shelter of the shed that adjoined the left side of the old mill.

One of the men Jason recognized as Luke, the