staring at a fence for about five minutes. You know you can talk to me about anything… right?”

“Of course.” Saba said. “You’re the

firstone I’d come to if I did have any problems.”

Saba felt a pang of guilt. “This lying thing is getting easier and easier. I’m lying to Everest, and now mom too ”

“Well,” Saba said. “I think I’m going to go home and see Kelly. I’ll see you later mom.”

“Yeah…” Jenna said. “Later…”

As her daughter walked away, Jenna’s mind was spinning. “What’s wrong with you Saba. Something is wrong with my baby, and I will find out what it is.”

Jenna sighed, and turned, resuming her walk into town

As Jenna was walking down the street, she saw Balto walking up the opposite side.

She smiled. “Hey Balto!” She yelled.

Balto stopped walking and looked around, trying to tell where the voice had come from. He turned and looked down the alley to his left.

“Over here!” She yelled again.

Balto turned around and smiled as he saw her.

Jenna made sure there were no cars coming, and ran across the street.

“Hey Jen,” Balto said. “Whatcha up to?”

“Actually I was looking for you.” Replied Jenna.

“What is it now?” Balto asked.

“Balto,” Jenna said, feigning to hurt. “Do I need a reason to come and see you?”

Balto smiled. “No, of course not, but you usually do, and I can tell there’s something on your mind.”

Jenna sighed. “Yeah… yeah there is.” She paused. “Saba wandered off last night.”

“What?” Balto asked. “That’s not like her.”

Jenna shook her head. “No, I know. I met her about an hour ago, and she was just returning. She said she had to get out and be by herself for a while… but Kelly was worried sick about her. It’s not like her just to leave like that.. or at all for that matter. There’s something going on Balto. I don’t know what yet, but…” Her voice trailed off.

Balto smiled. “Jen, I think she’s fine. At least she’s happy. You remember what she was like not too long ago. When her… when we lost Everest.”

Jenna sighed. “Yeah…”

“I mean,” Balto continued. “I’d rather see her happy and not know why as to see her like she was then.”

Jenna nodded. “I guess so. I just don’t like her keeping things from us.”

Balto smiled and Jenna laid her head on Balto’s shoulder, as they walked down the sidewalk. “We are her parents, that’s true… but she’s an adult now. She takes care of her own problems. She doesn’t have to tell us about them anymore.”

Jenna sighed and looked up at him, a single tear in her eye. “I’m really worried about her Balto.”

Balto smiled, and leaned against her. “She’ll be fine Jenna. She’s a good kid, and I trust her.”

Jenna waited a moment for her eyes to clear, and then resumed the conversation, changing topics. “So where were you? I went to Luke’s house, but neither of you were there.”

Balto sighed. “I was looking for him.”

“For who?” Jenna asked.

“For Luke.” Balto said. “He didn’t come home last night.”

“That’s unusual.” Jenna said.

“You’re telling me.” Balto said. “I spent last night under the porch ‘cause the window was closed.”

“Hmm.” Jenna said. “Well I hope he’s alright.”

“I know.” Balto said. “Me too.”

Just then, a familiar voice caught their attention.

“Hey boy!”

Balto and Jenna turned to see Luke standing half in-half out of the bar on Main Street.

Jenna smiled. “Well, it looks like you found him, and he looks well enough.”

Balto smiled. “Yeah.”

“Well I’m going to let you go.” Jenna said. “I’ve got to get along to Rosie. No telling what trouble she’s in without me.”

Balto smiled. “Bye Jen.”

Jenna returned his smile. “See ya Balto.”

She kept walking, as Balto turned around, and ran to Luke.

Luke walked into the Bar, and Balto followed.

Luke turned to an older man who was standing by the door, washing the window. “Hey Ralph, it alright if I bring my dog in here?”

The man smiled. “Sure, just watch ‘im, so’s he don’t make a mess.”

Luke smiled. “I will, thanks Ralph.”

The man went back washing his window. Balto followed Luke over to the corner, were a tall table and four tall barstools sat.

Luke sat on one of the stools, and patted the seat beside him. “Come on up boy. There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

Balto jumped up and sat down on the barstool, and Luke patted his head.

A few minutes later, a young woman walked over to the table, a tray of drinks on her arm. She was of medium height, and was a fairly average looking person. Nothing really stood out about her, good or bad. She had blue eyes, and a vibrant blonde shade of hair.

“Draft if I remember correctly.” The woman said.

Luke smiled. “Yep, that’s me.”

The woman sat the drinks on the table, and Luke stood up, and hugged the woman. Then the two sat down next to each other. Both of them grabbed a glass from the tray.

“Balto, this is Mary.” Luke said. “Mary, this is Balto; my dog.”

Mary reached down and scratched the top of Balto’s head, right between his ears. She had a very soft touch, and Balto started wagging his tail, which thumped against Luke’s leg.

Luke smiled. “Easy there boy.” He said, turning the stool a bit, so that Balto could wag his tail and not hit him. Luke turned back to Mary. “Seems like he likes you.”

“So you’re the one that saved the whole town huh?” Mary said.

“Yep, he sure is.” Luke said. “Did us all proud didn’t you boy.”

“You uh… talk to your dog?” Mary asked.

“Yeah… Luke said. He laughed. “I know it sounds crazy, but I swear sometimes it seems like he can understand me.”

Mary smiled back at him. “Well, dogs are very smart, maybe he does.”

Mary stopped petting Balto, and out her hand on Luke’s shoulder. “I’d better get back to serving drinks. Might lose my job if I don’t.”

“Oh come on.” Luke sid. “Your dad owns the Bar. Surely he wouldn’t fire his won daughter.”

Mary smiled. “You obviously don’t know my father. It was nice talking to you though, and I enjoyed last night. I hope we can do it again sometime?” This last was obviously a question.

“Well yeah… of course we will.” Luke said.

Mary stood and picked up the tray with one hand, the other she put on Luke’s shoulder “I look forward to it.” She said.

She winked at Luke, and walked away. Luke watched her, but his hand dropped to Balto’s head. Luke scratched him behind the ears.

“I tell you there’s nothing like that feeling boy.” Luke said, still watching Mary. “,,,,not even flying.”

He smiled, and looked down at Balto. “…but you know all about that, don’t you boy? I know about that little red husky you’re always around. What’s her name, Jenna? You two seem pretty close.”

Balto barked at him, and Luke laughed. “Can take that as a yes?”

Luke drank the glass of beer down about half-way, and sat it back on the table. “Sorry about last night boy.” He said. Luke looked behind him a serving the other customers as he finished. “…but sometimes a man has take care of things.”

“Luke drank a little more of his beer, and sat it back on the table. “You’re probably wanting to get home, huh boy? I just remembered I shut the window before I left, so you probably spent last night outside.”

Balto barked again.

Luke laughed. “I swear boy, sometimes it really does seem like you understand me. Luke finished that beer, and sat it on the counter. “Guess I’m going to have to watch telling the girls that though, eh boy?”

Luke stood up. “Come on boy, lets go home. I didn’t get much sleep last night either. We could both use a nap.”

Balto followed Luke as he left the bar.

Chapter 6

Saba had spent an inordinate amount of time with Everest lately.

She’d been with him for five days now, and he was worried that her family, meaning Balto and Jenna, might come looking for her.

The two of them had remained together this entire time, never leaving one another’s side, except for when Everest went hunting so the two of them could eat. When he did that, she stayed at the cave, but was always waiting there on his return. He was coming back from one of his hunting trips now. It had been a good one, and he had three rabbits hanging from his mouth. They’d be enough for a decent dinner anyway.

As he walked into the cave, something felt different. He didn’t know what it was, but something was definitely up. Saba was smiling, but it was different somehow.

“Hey Everest, drop the food over there, and come here for a minute.”

He dropped the rabbits in the corner, and walked over to her. “What’s…” He didn’t finish his sentence, as Saba kissed him. This also was not out of the ordinary, but the way she did it was. She pressed hard against his muzzle, and stepped very close to him.

 “Oh god.” Everest thought. “Tonight’s the night I’ve feared for so long…” 

He’d been looking for this to happen, and indeed even prepared for what he’d have to do, and say, were this situation to happen. But all the words seemed to make little sense to him now.

He kissed her back. She tasted sweet, almost like sugar.

Everest felt an overwhelming desire to do the one thing that he hadn’t ever wanted… well, who are we kidding? He’d wanted it forever, but he’d known he shouldn’t do.

After almost six minutes, their muzzles parted, and Saba smiled at him, seeming to know what he was thinking. “Probably because it’s what she’s thinking too.” Everest thought.

 Saba laid down on the cave floor and looked up at him, her blue eyes beckoning him to join her.

Everest laid on the floor too, and kissed her again, this time though, after about a minute, she rolled over on her stomach, and Everest stood over her. She looked back up at him, but didn’t say a word.

She didn’t have to.

Everest lowered himself down on top of her. She yelped. It was a cry of pain, but somehow Everest knew that