Everest stood there, and smiled.

“Hey Saba.”

Saba was so overcome with emotion that at first she couldn’t speak. “Everest.” She said finally, choking on the first word.

He stepped forward, and she put her head on her brother’s shoulder, as she started to cry.

“Shh…” Everest said. “It’s going to be alright Saba, everything is going to be alright.”

“…but… but I thought you said you didn’t want anything to do with us… with me.” Saba choked out.

Everest stepped back. “I’m so sorry Saba. I tried, I tried to leave the cave yesterday and… and I couldn’t. Damn it I couldn’t do it.”

Saba smiled.

“I love you Saba.” Everest said. “…and I want you to know that I’ll never leave your side again.”

Saba found she wasn’t able to respond.

“So have you told them yet?” Everest asked.

Saba shook her head, still too overcome with emotion to speak.

“Well this is the last day then, right?” Everest asked.

Saba nodded and took a deep breath, clearing her eyes with her paw. “I… I was on my way… to… to tell them just now. They’re waiting in the old mill.”

Everest smiled. “Then let’s go tell them… together.”

Saba smiled, and started crying again. She stepped forward and leaned heavily on her brother’s side, unable to even stand anymore.

“I love you so much Everest.” She sobbed.

“I love you too Saba.” Everest said.

Everyone stood in the Old Mill. All of Saba’s family was present. Saba herself stood in front of them.

“So what’s the meeting about?” Kodi asked.

“Yeah,” Balto said, walking over next to Jenna. “What’s this about?”

Saba took a deep breath. “Well…” She stopped.

“Saba, is something wrong?” Balto asked.

“Yeah…kind of…” Saba said. I… I have someone I’d like you to meet.”

Jenna looked around. “Where are they?”

Saba sighed again. “Behind you.”

Everyone turned.

There was a collective gasp through out the room. Jenna mouthed his name, but seemed unable to speak. Then she fell on her side.

Balto swung his head over to her. “Jen!” He watched her for a moment, then looked back to the newcomer.

“Everest?” Balto asked.

He smiled, and took a step forward. “Hey dad.”

Balto looked back at Saba, and then back to his son.

“Saba, why don’t’ you stay with your mother. Everest… let’s step outside for a moment.”

Everest nodded, and the two exited the mill.

Saba walked over to her mother, and sat down. She looked at the confused faces of her family, and sighed.

Everest and Balto stood at the back of the mill, out of sight. “I… I thought you were dead.” Balto said.

“I know.” Everest replied.

It was silent for a while as Balto tried to find the words to convey his thoughts.

“How… Where were you?” Balto asked finally.

“I was living on my own, in a cave.” Everest said. “I guess I embraced your side of me for a while.”

“…but why?” Balto asked.

Everest sighed. “You know Saba and I were always very close.”

Balto nodded.

“Well, our relationship was growing into more than it should have been. I realized that the last night I spoke to her. That’s why I stayed away.”

“Then why now…” Balto stopped.

He looked back to the old mill, and then back at his son. “…wait a minute.” He said. “The father of Saba’s pups isn’t a sled dog is he?”

Everest sighed and shook his head. “I am.” He said.

Balto almost fell over himself stepping back away from his son, completely speechless at what his son had just said; what the implications of that statement were.

Everest saw the shocked look on his father’s face and sighed again. “I know it’s wrong dad, but… but I love her, more than a brother really should.”

“You two have got to leave.” Balto said. “You’ve both got to leave before Drake finds out.”

Everest smiled. “Thanks for trying to help dad but…” he sighed. “…Drake already knows.”

Balto shook his head. “I… I can’t believe I’m even having this talk with you Everest.”

Everest nodded.

At this point, Saba stepped out the door, a very shocked looking Jenna at her side.

“Balto?” She said. Then Jenna turned and bolted, running as fast as her paws would carry her.

Balto sighed and turned toward his daughter as she walked over to sit beside Everest. “I take it you told her what Everest just told me.”

Saba nodded.

“The two of you can’t be together any more.” Balto said. “It’s against our laws.”

“I don’t care about laws anymore.” Everest said. “I love Saba, and that’s all there is to it.”

“…but… but it you don’t follow Drakes orders you’ll be killed!” Balto said.

“I know.” Everest said. “…but I told Saba I would never leave her, and I didn’t make that promise lightly.”

Balto took another step back.

“Dad I love him.” Saba said. “That should be enough.”

“But it’s not enough!” Balto yelled. “It is against the law!”

Saba sighed. “Father… I ‘m with Everest on this one. I will not leave him, ever.”

Balto shook his head. “I don’t believe this.” He said. “I don’t believe this!”

Drake walked around the corner then. “So I see you’ve told them already.”

Saba nodded.

Drake turned to Everest. “The trial is tomorrow. I expect you both to be here.”

“We will be.” Everest said.

Drake turned to Balto. “I am truly sorry.” He said. Then he walked away.

It was silent for a long while, then Balto looked at his son and daughter.

“I’m… I’m not going to say what you’ve done is right… because it’s not. Let me make that clear right now. It is not okay in the least… but…” He sighed. “…but I understand your feelings. I would do the same were it Jenna… but please, I beg of you to reconsider your decision to defy Drake. You have your whole lives ahead of you, don’t throw that away… but more than that… you’re both my children. I… I don’t want to see either of you hurt.”

“I will do my best to protect her.” Everest said. “No matter what the cost.”

Balto shook his head. “You don’t understand. If Drake orders your deaths, you will die. Are you going to take on every dog in the town?”

Everest stood next to Saba. “If that’s what it takes… yes, I’ll try.”

“That’s suicide!” Balto yelled.

“If that’s the price… then so be it.” Everest said.

Balto turned to Saba. “Since I can’t seem to get to him, let me try with you. Please, I beg you Saba, please reconsider.”

Saba shook her head. “I love him Dad, right or not.”

Balto stepped back, confused and bewildered. “I... I’m going to go try to find your mother.”

Balto turned and ran off in the direction Jenna had fled.

Saba turned to Everest, tears in her eyes. “I… I never meant to hurt them.”

Everest smiled and nuzzled her. “I know.”

“Are you really willing to die for me?” Saba asked. “After the other night…” Her voice trailed off.

“The other night I was stupid.” Everest said. “I was scared, and I lashed out at you when you needed me most. I will never leave your side. I don’t want to die, but if I have to for you to be safe, then I will die for you.”

Saba stood, and kissed him.

Their muzzles parted, and she smiled at him. “…and I you.” She said.

The next day almost every dog in Nome was gathered outside the old mill. True to his word, Saba and Everest sat in front of them all, Drake stood in between then. Possibly the only dog not there was Jenna. Balto had been unable to convince her to come.

Drake quieted all the dogs, and stepped between Saba and Everest. “Dogs of Nome,” He began. “We are gathered here today to try Everest and Saba. They have clearly broken one of our laws, and the situation must be resolved.”

He turned around and stepped back, facing Everest and Saba.

“Everest and Saba, you are accused of violating the bond that a brother and sister share by engaging in familiar relations with one another. As there were no witnesses to this event, none will be called by myself today. Do you have anyone you want to call in your defense?”

Everest stepped forward. “No we do not.”

“Alright,” Drake said, “and how do you wish to plead to the charges you are facing?”

Everest looked at Saba, who sighed and hung her head. Then he looked back up at Drake. “We both plead guilty as charged.”

“And do you understand what that plea means?” Drake asked.

“Yes we do.” Everest answered.

“Very well, Saba and Everest, I’m going to as k you to stand now.” He paused. “Everest and Saba, of the charge against you I find you guilty. The sentence is permanent separation from one another and your children, as well as banishment from Nome. This sentence is to be carried out immediately. Do you have any questions?”

“No!” Saba said. “You can’t take my pups! Please Drake! Let them come with me!”

Drake sighed and shook his head. “I can’t, your life and wellbeing is uncertain the moment you leave Nome. This is not a suitable environment to raise children in. Custody will revert to your mother. I’m sure they’ll have a good life with her, anything else?”

Drake tried to ignore the pained expression on Saba’s face, but he couldn’t, so he looked away.

“Yes.” Everest said. “I request that you to defer your punishment.”

“And why would I grant this request?” Drake asked.

“I ask you to defer punishment until our pups are born, which should be within a week.” Everest said.

“And your reasoning?” Drake asked.

“I would like to make sure Saba is able to get appropriate treatment should she need it, and…” Everest sighed. “…and I would like very much to see my children.”

Drake nodded. “Very well, on the basis of the possibility of medical treatment, I will defer my sentence until one month after the children are born. During this time Saba and Everest will be allowed to see one another, but must not violate our laws again. If this occurs it will be considered a direct violation of an order by the keeper of the law, and is punishable by death. Do you understand my ruling?”

Everest nodded. “Yes, thank you Drake.”

Drake turned to the others. “With that you are all free to leave. Have a safe trip home.”

Drake turned, and walked to the front of the crowd, where Gemeni and