heighten her senses and make her feel something new.

It was the right time.

Kodi gazed at Dusty in awe, wondering how a night with Aleu’s family could change her so much, and then not caring. All he could see was Dusty, his own shaft of moonlight that had escaped night’s capture to come to him, and only him. Her sweet, musky scent like wildflowers flew through his body and filled him up to the brim, and her warmth scorched a permanent, wonderful brand on his heart. If he was the fire, she was the hot smoke, pouring out and over him, the hot hot smoke, filling him, cascading through him until his mind was clouded with her and his mouth spread thickly with her taste…

It was the right time.

“I love you, Kodi,” Dusty murmured, her voice shaking ever so slightly.

“I love you, too, Dusty,” Kodi whispered breathlessly, and without thinking leaned over and kissed her.

The kiss was soft, sweet, tender, and when it was over Dusty smiled and licked his face.

“Well, there’s one good thing that’s come out of this,” Kodi joked, “The mail team is going to have something new to talk about for a few weeks!”

“Hmm,” Dusty said thoughtfully, and he nudged her face. Doubt scratched across her eyes. “Are you sure about this? Is it the right time? Is it right? I-”

“I’m positive,” Kodi reassured her, and kissed Dusty again.

A cold breeze whipped up around them, but neither of them felt cold.

Balto strolled out onto the deck and stretched, but jumped to attention when he saw Kodi below with Dusty. “Well,” he said with a proud grin, shaking his head, “It had to happen sometime.”

Just then a burst of feathers careened onto the deck, sliding across the floor and bumping into the wall. Balto hurried over as a string of Russian words erupted from the molting cannonball.

“Boris, are you all right?” Balto asked with concern.

“Fine, fine!” Boris said grumpily, getting up and putting back in what feathers he could. “I must remember I’m a low-altitude bird; high altitudes were never meant for a delicate country bird such as myself.”

“Oh,” Balto said shortly, realizing Boris must have tried flying high to impress Stella, and had failed miserably. “Where’s Stella? How was your day with her yesterday?”

“Heh!” Boris grumbled, “Stella is gone. She went on errand or something. We parted few miles back.” Boris avoided eye contact as he waddled across the deck, testing his bruised appendages. Balto followed him as the goose continued uncomfortably, “It was then I decided to practice my high-flying.” Then Boris halted and got a dreamy look on his face. “But Stella…”

Balto rolled his eyes in mock annoyance. “I’m surrounded by lovebirds!”

Boris gave him a wondering look, then glanced over the deck railing…and leaped about three feet in the air. “What?” he squawked, “Oh, no, not again! No more pups! NO MORE PUPS! I have been chew toy for long enough! Oy!” He thumped his head against the wooden railing.

Balto laughed, but then worry clouded his face. “Dusty’s a nice girl, but I’ve heard she comes from a hard family. What if they can’t accept a wolf dog? What other kinds of issues could they have? What if-”

“Just remember,” Boris said, raising one feathered finger, “A dog cannot make this journey alone; but maybe a wolf dog -Kodi- can.”

“I hope so,” Balto sighed. He watched as Kodi and Dusty streaked toward the town, ready for the day’s mail run. Overhead the morning sun shone, a shining beginning for a couple’s new life.

As Balto watched them fade into the distance, he knew that for Kodi, it had been the right time to give in; for Dusty, it had been the right time to admit. And he knew that for him, once again, it was the right time to let go.

Balto, Jenna, Kodi, Dusty, Aleu, Kirby, Ralph, Boris, and Stella © Universal Studios

Linder, Quicksilver, Flint, Remus, Shade, Shaila, Ruska, Dawn, Danni, and Dusty’s owners © redwolf03