stopped.

“Blitz! Are you okay?” Haywire called down the hole.

“Oh, yes. Perfectly fine, you idiot!” Blitz called back. He had a sarcastic ring to his voice. Now, it was Ambyr’s time to think. She looked down at the hole from where Blitz was dangling. In a flash, he went back in time and saw how Blitz got her out of harm’s way to save the team, and the expense of his own safety. Ambyr shook her head. In a moment of realization, she turned to the other dogs.

“Alright, you lap dogs, listen up! Blitz is down there, and we’re going to get him out! Everyone pull back, but quietly and softly. We don’t want anymore cave-ins.”

The other dogs nodded, and slowly started to reverse. Sure enough, Blitz started retreating back to the light. He whimpered to show their plan was working.

Mr. Drago also took up to the moment. He slowly dismounted his sled, and walked up to Blitz’s hole. “Hang on, boy! We’re gonna get you out.” He took the strap in his hand, and helped the dogs heave Blitz to safety.

Blitz reached up, and his paw touched solid ground again. He felt strong hands grip him, and saw the warm, relieved smile of Mr. Drago, along with all the rest of the sled dogs. They all howled their triumph, barking happily and yelping gleefully.

Mr. Drago left Blitz’s side for the sled again. Blitz lay on the ground, panting. He looked up and saw Ambyr watching him; only she didn’t have that glare in her eyes.

“Hey,” she said nervously. “Remember when I, uh, said I wanted to see which one of us will last longer?” She offered a paw to him. Blitz took it, and she heaved him to all fours again. “I take it waaay back.”

Blitz’s pant lightened. He smiled kindly to her. “...So do I.”

Ambyr looked at the ground. “I-I’m sorry I acted like such a b!tch to you (And I mean that LITTERALLY, folks!!). I just thought you were some...hotshot who believed he was on top of the world. I never knew there was another side to you.”

Blitz looked her in the eye, and muzzled her chin up. “...And I never knew there was another side to you. I guess...that kinda makes us even, huh?”

Ambyr looked at him and nodded. Then, she smiled. Blitz smiled back.

“Kissy, kissy! Someone’s in loooove!!” Haywire puckered his lips.

Blitz and Ambyr both laughed. “Shut up, Haywire!”

Instead of feeling guilty, Haywire barked happily and wagged his tail.

“Come on, team. Let’s go home. Mush!” Mr. Drago called to them. But Blitz didn’t move. He looked over at Ambyr again.

“Hey...I, uh...well, I was thinking, and, erm....aaahhh, if you still wanted to be lead dog, I could....uhh...maybe let you –“

Ambyr chuckled and licked some snow off of Blitz’s face. “Nah...you’ve earned it.” She smiled warmly at him.

Blaze grinned and turned to all the dogs. “Come on everyone, MUSH!!” He ran forward, avoiding the soft patches of ice and cave-ins on the ground.

“I can only imagine how much you wanted to say that,” Haywire said. Blitz and Ambyr laughed out loud, as they carefully weaved a safe path back to Nome.