Balto was angry. „I will drag her back! Now, she went so far! I will show her.....!“

„But dear,“ Jenna tried to calm him down, „she is a kid. You were the same.“

„I was, but now I am a dad!“

---------------

Clay was first and he waited for a while near the entrance to the cave for Aleu. She finally arrived and pretended to be upset: „You are quick, but my daddy is better than you!“

„Yes, I heard amazing stories about him.“ Clay smiled. „Shall we go inside?“

Aleu didn`t even answered and entered the cave. Walls were covered by ice and they looked like a great mirror. „Wow,“ Aleu whispered and gazed on ice wall, where she saw a deformed picture of her and Clay. „You look so silly,“ she laughed then. „Either you...“ Clay smiled. „But you look sillier than me!“ Aleu laughed out loudly and pounced around Clay. „Uh, we should stay quiet. We don`t know...“

„What could happen to us? You are just too...“ Aleu shouted, and that was mistake. There were a loud sound of failing snow and and then... darkness...

----------------

Balto headed straight in the forest. Then he caught Aleu`s scent and followed it.

----------------

„Clay? Clay? Are you here?“

„Yes...“

„Are we dead?“

„I strongly doubt about it. But we will be, if we stay here.“

Fallen snow blocked the entrance and so they were almost burried alive. Just thin light beam coming from the small hole in the roof illuminated area.

„I am scared, Clay...“

„Easy... there are only three possibilities. First: We will wait here for help.

Second: We will try to dig trought that wall.

Third: We will die here.

And, because I have no intentions to die here, the third is out for me.“

„I am sorry, it`s my fault, and...“ Aleu whispered.

„Let it be. It happened, so what? We need to get out of here!“ Clay started digging.

------------------

Steele was lying near a fireplace. He had lot to think about.

No doubt they know everything about you. At least Robert do. So what now?

I have got a plan!

Admit it, you haven`t got any.

I HAVE!

Oh, perfect, now, you are lying even to yourself.

All I need is my revenge!

Robert and Connie entered the cabin. They were both freezed to the bone. „Hi!“ Connie cried, and went to Steele. „Can I?“ she asked Steele.

„Oh, whatever, Connie...“ Steele replied and Connie laid down near him.

„You are cold, Connie. Can I warm you up?“ he moved, so they were lying close together.

„Thanks, Steele. You are so nice to me...“

Ryan was watching this scene with anger, but said nothing. Robert smiled: „Look on our happy couple...“ Ryan stood up and moved away from Steele and Connie as far as he could.

Steele carefully licked Connie`s head. She laughed: „Steele, what are you doing?“

„Oh... I am sorry. You had a dirt on your head and...“

„You liar!“ she laughed again.

„Could you tell me something about Ryan, Connie?“

„Oh, sure. His name is Rhein, actually, but everybody calls him Ryan. He came with Robert from Europe, you already know that. He had to leave his family there. But he told me lot about them. I think he is really good father. And he told me about his home, too. I hope I would have an opportunity to visit his homeland. You know, even Robert wanted to go home, but he has never gone. But one day we will go.... he promised he will take me along.”

„Interesting...“

„You know, he doesn`t like you. Because...“ Connie soften her voice, „.... he said I reminded him of his wife... he just want to protect me. Don`t blame him.“

Hehe, great. She serves me well. I will take out Ryan first. Balto is the next.

She serves you? She likes you. And you will betray her... I know you will, because I am you.

----------------

Aleu scent was leading Balto towards the cave. He knew she met somebody and then she walked away with he or she. ‘Strange,’ Balto thought as he came near the blocked entrance, ‘It ends here. Like she disappeared. I had to make a mistake. I will go back and try once again...’

----------------

Clay was digging, using all his strenght, but it was futile. Amount of snow seemed to be endless.

„Clay.... I am terribly cold....“ Aleu was shuddering with cold. Clay stopped, and he laid himself close to Aleu for to warm her up. „Better?“

„Yup.“ Aleu replied.

„But I can`t lay here for ages. I need to try to get us out as soon as possible.“

„And Clay?“

„Hm?“

„Can I call you uncle?“

Clay smiled: „Call me just Clay. I am not old enough to be your uncle, anyway. Hold on.“ Clay stood up and began to dig again. ‘I am better than him. I won`t leave anyone to die....’

----------------

Although Balto did his best, he ended in front of the cave again. ‘No... This time I am almost sure, it is her scent. But where she could be? There`s only one.... NO!’

“Aleu!” he yelled in despair.

---------------

„I think this is a great progress, eh, Aleu?“ No response. „Aleu?“ Clay stopped digging again and he was afraid of the worst. „So..... cold,“ she whispered. Clay didn`t say a word, he laid himself close to her. „It`s okay. I am here. I won`t....“ He suddenly turned his head, „Hey, what was it? I have heard someone! Alright... now we haven`t got anything to loose,“ Clay said.

„Heeeeeeeeeeey! We are here!“ He yelled with might and main.

„Aleu!“ Balto cried, „Ale... what?!“

‘Somebody`s in the cave!’

“Hold on!” he shouted and began to dig through the snow wall.

Clay started digging, too. Now, he knew somebody was helping him...

It took almost ten minutes. Balto did his best and finally they got trought the wall. They were both surprised when they saw each other. “Oh, hello again!” smiled Clay, while he was looking in Balto`s surprised face. „Quite silly circumstances, eh?“ He was stuffed in the tunel he had dug and looked as a big furry slug. „Where... where is Aleu, Clay?!“

„She is with me, she is... oh...“ That was the first time when Balto saw shocked and terrified Clay, „She ... she isn`t! I forgot!” He dissapeared and when he appeared again, he was pushing Aleu through the tunnel towards Balto. „Clay.... she doesn`t move!“ Balto cried.

„Tell me something I don`t know! Damn!”

„She... is cold!”

“So try to warm her up!“

Clay finally got out from his and Aleu`s prison. “It`s my fault... sorry.” He was so exhausted and cold he instanly collapsed. Aleu opened her eyes. She was alive and Balto sighed of relief.

“Dad!?” she was amazed and then her mind came upon her fellow. “Clay... Where he... No! Clay!”

---------------

---------------

END OF FIRST PART

So.... I have decided to end here for now. I am running out of ideas ad that`s bad. But I you like it, part 2 is in progress.

MAKING OF CHARACTERS

Robert McBride – I just needed one human, so I have created immigrant from Europe, called Robert McBride. His name is from my favourite Irish folk song Arthur McBride, where Arthur was replaced by Robert Patrick. Nothing special at all, but he loves his dogs.

Connie – Her name was Copper originally, but I prefered Connie. It`s more girl-ish. Little bit naive, but loving and sincere. Her role will be greater in part 2.

Ryan/Rhein – Originally Clay, but I wanted to make German from him, so I changed his name to Ryan, which is similar to Rhein (river in Germany), and I needed someone who will be worse than Steele and will be his enemy.

Clay – I can`t say much about him now. Young and careless one with dark history...