him.

“You better make it fast. I’m going to turn around, and when I turn back, you’d better be gone.”

He turned around, and walked a few feet away.

Balto walked up to Jenna, and saw the same fire that was in Flash’s eyes burning in hers and Max’s as well.

“Jen…” he started.

“Balto….”

Jenna looked at the ground, and then back up at him.

The fire was gone, replaced by…. pity?

“…just go.”

Balto tried again, but before he finished the first word, Jenna cut him off.

“Balto, get out of here!”

Balto turned and ran away.

Jenna looked down, and then back up.

Max saw tears brimming in her daughter’s eyes again.

Jenna laid her head on her mother’s shoulder again, and sobbed.

Flash watched until Balto vanished, over the hill, and then walked around them, headed for the street.

“Flash?” Max said.

He just kept walking.

Max watched him go, and then looked down at Jenna, who still had her head buried in Max’s shoulder.

“Hey, it’ll be okay, shhh.”

Jenna looked up at her mother.

“How can you say that?”

Max smiled.

“Jenna, I’ve been there, I’ve gone through this thing before and let me tell you something….”

Max sighed.

“Jenna, there is one person, one dog on this earth that is meant for you, and…. other than that one, you’ll never be happy.”

“Well,” Jenna said, “looks like I haven’t found him yet.”

Jenna looked at the ground.

“Jenna.”

Her daughter looked up at her again.

“I’ve seen you with him, and… though you don’t right now, you’ll want to be back with him.”

“Never mom,” Jenna said, “never again, you’re wrong..”

She turned away from her mother.

“Jenna, look at me.”

Jenna hesitated, then turned back around.

“Jenna, why did you stop Flash?”

“I…. just…”

Jenna paused.

“I didn’t want to see him get hurt.”

Max smiled, and looked at her daughter.

“Honey, why would you try to protect something that you didn’t, at least in the deepest recesses of your heart, love?”

“Mom,” Jenna said, “he’s saved my life countless times, we’ve…”

Tears started rolling out of her daughter’s eyes again.

“.. we’ve enjoyed so many times together… I owe it to him.”

“Jenna,” Max said, “that’s your mind trying to reason things out, don’t think with your mind.”

Jenna looked confused.

“What should I think with then?”

Max smiled.

“Sweetie, why don’t you try thinking with your heart.”

Jenna sighed.

“You… you just don’t understand…”

She turned away from her mother again.

Max walked up next to Jenna.

‘I understand exactly.”

Jenna didn’t turn around this time, she just sighed and hung her head.

“Jenna, I wasted four years I could’ve been with the only dog in my life that truly made me happy, and it was because I didn’t have anyone to tell me this… I had to learn it on my own, or rather be shown it by Balto.”

“Flash had changed, and I was so busy wanting to hate him what he’d done, I… I didn’t see it. I was blinded by my hatred.”

“But Flash changed for the better.” Jenna said.

Max smiled.

“Jenna, Balto made a mistake, and a serious and hurtful one at that, but.. he realizes it. Do you remember what happened with Trinea?”

“The difference in that one, was that Balto was actually telling the truth.”

”Jenna,” Max said, “I’m going to say this one last thing, and then I’m going to leave you alone, alright?”

Max paused and smiled.

“Sweetie…. he still told the truth.”

Max nuzzled her daughter, turned and started to walk away.

Jenna’s voice stopped her.

“Thanks mom.” Jenna said.

Max smiled.

“That’s what I’m here for.”

Jenna smiled.

“Let’s go back to the house.” Max said.

“Okay.” Jenna responded.

The two of them walked out of the alleyway.

Balto was walking slowly back to his home, and thinking about walking right past it, just keep walking till he came to the nearest cliff and take the one way elevator down.

Jenna was gone.

Max hated him.

Flash wanted to kill him.

The list went on and on and on.

Balto stopped and shook his head.

“God,” he said, “how could be so stupid?”

“I don’t know buddy, I really don’t know.”

The voice came from behind him, and caught Balto off guard.

He turned, and saw Drake behind him.

Drake shook his head.

“Balto, how could you ever have screwed up so bad?”

Balto sighed.

“Look Drake, I’m really not in the mood…”

“Great,” Drake yelled, making Balto jump. “Cause Jenna’s not either!”

“What?” Balto asked.

“I... Balto, I saw her with another dog yesterday, and they looked pretty close.”

Balto too k a step back.

“What?”

“It’s true,” Drake said, starting to walk in circles around Balto, who had to keep turning to look at him.

“He stayed there over night Balto, and I saw them together today too.”

Drake shook his head in disgust.

“You’ve lost her buddy.”

He stopped talking and just walked for a minute.

“I’d’ve thought that you would’ve learned that lesson with Trinea, but no, I guess you didn’t. You have to be the stupidest….”

Balto lunged and Drake, who stepped back, just as Balto’s jaws snapped shut, inches from his face.

Drake was shocked.

“Just leave me alone.” Balto growled,

Then he turned, and ran off.

Chapter 9

Dash was at that moment arguing with his daughter.

“It’s too dangerous.”

“What?” She said, “Dad, I’m old enough, and I want to go.”

“No,” Dash said, “we’ve already got enough, and I don’t think we need anymore. Plus , you’re inexperienced in fighting.”

“That’s what this is about, isn’t it?” Kalia said. “You’re just afraid something will happen to me.”

“No,” Dash said, “I…”

“.. am afraid something will happen to me.” Kalia finished.

She sighed.

“Dad, I know losing… losing Jadze and Tiru… and… and mom was difficult for you, and it was for us too… but… but you can’t protect me my whole life.”

“I can,” Dash said, “and I will if I want to.”

“Dad,” Kalia yelled, “you just don’t understand.”

Dash sighed, growing tired of this debate, which had been going on for the past hour.

“Honey, I’m dealing with a lot right now, and I’d appreciate it if you would just….”

“Be quiet and leave you alone?!” Kalia yelled, “Dad, I’m your daughter, and I have a life to live too!”

Dash started yelling back at her, unable to keep it inside any longer.

“Well, now is not the time to try it!”

Kalia stared at him, and said coldly.

“Mom would understand.”

Dash completely blew up.

“Mom, doesn’t matter anymore!”

Kalia looked as if she’d been shot.

A tear formed at the corner of her eye, and ran down her face.

It was so quiet in the chamber that Dash swore he could hear it, as it splashed to the ground.

“I….”

She looked down, and took a step back.

“I… I can’t believe….”

She looked back up at him.

Then she bolted, running from the room.

Dash sighed.

“What’s happening to me?”

Jenna laid on her porch and sighed.

Though she knew that it could be no other way now, she missed Balto.

She’d tried doing what her mother had suggested, thinking with her heart, instead of her head.

… but she still came up with the same answer.

It was this: though she missed him terribly… there was no way around what he’d done.

She sighed again.

Life wouldn’t be the same without him.

She perked her ears up a little and picked up her head.

Duke was walking down the street.

“Hey Duke!” She yelled.

He stopped walking turned and smiled.

Jenna smiled back at him and got up, walking down to him.

“Hey, where have you been?”

He smiled.

“I didn’t want to take advantage of your hospitality.”

“Where have you been staying?” Jenna asked. “It’s been almost a week since I saw you.”

“Well, I… they knocked that shed down, so I’ve just been finding whatever I can.”

“Well that just won’t….” Jenna stopped talking, as she heard a voice behind her.

“Duke?”

Sheae bounded down the steps.

“Hey, where have you been?!”

Duke smiled.

“Around,” he said.

“Well,” she answered, “you should come back, you were a nice guy.”

She turned to her mother.

“Mom, I’m going to go over to Kodi’s, and help Dusty with the kids.”

“Alright,” Jenna said, “just be home before dark.”

“Okay mom,” Sheae said.

She turned to Duke.

“It was good to see you.”