Saba trudged on, dragging the sled, squinting her eyes and clenching her teeth, gathering every last drop of strength that she had in her to keep moving. Finally, she saw it, the van. It was parked in front of a small field. Saba walked to it and scratched at the back door of the van lightly, then passed out, exhausted. The last sound she heard was Amy.

      “Sheila? Is that you?”

      Saba woke up with a start as she heard the engine roar. She had been covered in snow and the man didn’t notice her when he checked on Amy. The blizzard had stopped. Saba was still exhausted from yesterday but determination lent energy to her worn out paws. She leaped up and crashed through the newly fallen snow and sprinted after the van, that was driving slowly along the snowy road. She leaped after the truck and soon was flanking it and the sled slipped on after her. She quickened her pace and was soon running so quickly and smoothly, it looked like she was gliding just above the surface of the road, but the sled was quite different. It was bouncing and rocking at every bump in the road. Soon, she was right next to the front door. She swiftly leaped up to the window, the sled dragging against the ground and snapped at the man. He swore at Saba and swerved off the road. The van smashed into a tree and the back door of the van swung open. Saba pushed herself out of the window and leaped down on the ground and ran next to Amy. Amy got on the sled and they began to run. Then, the man jumped out of the van and stepped on the back of the sled. He grabbed Amy’s arm and pulled her towards the van angrily. Saba’s eyes blazed furiously and she barked and leaped at the man, knocking him over. The sled hit the man’s leg and he growled loudly in pain. He unhooked Saba from the sled and threw her off. Saba landed hard on her side and the man dragged the struggling Amy towards the van

      “SHEILA!!!! HELP ME!!!!” cried Amy desperately as she struggled to get free. Saba got up, stumbled, them leaped at the man again. She nipped him arm, not enough to break the skin, but enough to hurt. The man grabbed Saba and smashed her on the ground. Saba got up again, ready to spring. The man whistled and his large mutt raced to his side

      “Sick’em!” ordered the man, pointing to Saba. The dog leaped on Saba, pinning her down.

      “So we meet again, Sheila,” he smirked. He had heard Amy call her Sheila and that’s how he knew her name. Saba growled and snapped at his leg. He yipped, but still held her down. Saba kicked him off and leaped on him, biting his shoulder sharply. He snarled angrily and pushed her off. Then, he dug his teeth into her throat. Saba thrashed around, scoring her claws on his back, but he ignored the pain and still hung on. Soon, the dog held her throat and pressed down harder and harder. The energy drained out of Saba’s body as he continued to bite her throat. “So, this is how it ends, Sheila,” growled the dog tauntingly, still grabbing her throat “You just give up and surrender the kid to my master. Dogs like you don’t deserve to live.” He didn’t mean most of that; he just wanted to make her feel guilty and miserable in her last moments of life. He pressed down harder. Saba’s eyes swelled with tears, and then she snarled to herself, wile blinking her tears away, why listen to this dog? Man, I’m so stupid! She closed her eyes. She knew that the dog wasn’t right, but she also knew that she couldn’t make it. Suddenly, Amy broke free and tackled the dog. He yelped and turned on Amy. He pinned her down roughly and snarled in her face and she squealed in terror. Saba got up, dazed and hurt with blood still dripping down her neck and chest. She looked around and saw the dog pinning Amy down. Rage surged through her body and she lunged at the dog smashing him off of her and with a yip, he crashed to the ground. Saba wasn’t done with him. He threatened Amy and for that, he must pay. She clamped her jaws on his throat. He yapped. Saba sank her teeth deeper and deeper as blood oozed down her muzzle and onto the ground. The dog thrashed powerfully, lashing at her side. Saba continued to hang on until he gave up, his energy slowly escaping him. She let him go and the dog staggered back, a new respect glittered through his eyes. Saba smiled faintly with she got a good look at him. He was a well groomed grey mutt with a pointed muzzle and a white mark on his chest. His tail was big and furry like hers, but not as big and his eyes were deep amber. His ears pointed up, but flopped down at the very tip.

      The man almost had Amy in the van and Saba lunged at him and sank her teeth into his arm. He had seen her coming and pushed her aside and took out his pocket knife. He crouched down, holding Saba, who was still weak from her battle with the dog. He drew his arm back; ready to strike, but at that moment, a flash of grey passed through the corner of Saba’s eyes. It was the dog. She leaped at the man and knocked him off his feet with a powerful jolt. He roared in pain and fell on the ground, clutching his arm. Saba looked at the dog in disbelief.

     “RUN, SHEILA!!!!” he howled, “I can’t keep him busy forever!” Saba opened her mouth to say something, and then turned away and nudged Amy and the two ran to the sled. Saba slipped in the harness and ran as fast as she could with all her injuries. They came upon a small house and Saba scrabbled desperately on the door. A plump woman opened the door. She looked at the bleeding dog and the terrified girl and lead then inside, fussing over them. She led them into her living room and let them sit on the couch. Then, she unhitches Saba from the sled at leaned it against the living room hall. She wrapped Saba’s injuries to stop the bleeding. She was looking over Amy when someone knocked at the door. The woman went to answer it, and then saw it was the man through the window. Saba looked out to and her belly clenched in worry when she didn’t see the dog. The woman looked at Amy.

      “Do you know them?” asked the woman asked.

      “Don’t open it!” cried Amy when she saw who was outside. “Listen, you have to help us. That guy, he- he kidnapped me and my dog, Sheila, and I have to get out of here!”

      The woman just looked at her in shock. “Oh if I had a car, I could help you get home… but all I can do now is call the authorities,” She rushed to her phone and turned back; talking to Amy, “go out the door in the back, child, and run!” With that, the woman called the police as the man continued to bang on the door impatiently.  Amy ran into the hall and grabbed the sled and ran outside. Once in the back yard, Amy hitches Saba to the harness and leaps into the sled.

      “MUSH, SHEILA!!! MUSH!!!!” cried Amy desperately and Saba immediately took off at a full on sprint. The field opened up in front of her, it seemed like she would never get to the forest. She looked back and saw the dog she had fought looking at her with longing eyes. Saba let out a huge sigh of relief that he was ok and smiled, then turned and raced across the snowy tundra, snow trailing like clouds behind her and her paws pounding the ground. She looked back as the dog and the house disappeared and the forest grew up in front of her. Soon, the trees surrounded them as they journeyed back to Nome. Saba made easy work of running through the forest and was soon in sight of Nome. She felt a jolt of happiness sear through her body and thrust her muzzle in the air, howling long, full and loud. She races across the clearing to Nome, her heart soaring and Amy cheered happily in the sled.

     Soon they were in Nome. Saba ignored everyone in the streets calling to them and leaping out of there way and kept running to Amy’s house. Obviously, the news had spread about Amy and Saba’s disappearance. Saba skidded to a halt in front of the house and Amy unhitched her. Saba barked and Amy ran to the door, knocking on it.

      “MOM!!! DAD!!!!! ITS ME, AMY!!!”  She yelled. Amy’s parent opened the door. Amy’s mother let out a squeak of delight and squeezes her tight and her father gave her a noogie and hugged her in turn.

     “Oh, Amy! What happened!?” cried her mother, “We were so worried!”  Amy and Saba sat inside by the fire and Amy told her story.

      The story spread through Nome like a wildfire and soon everyone knew about Saba’s deed. She was considered to be a hero. 

      The next day, Saba was out for a walk when she ran into Kodi. “Saba!” her stammered, “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Everyone’s waiting for you in the boat. Everyone wants to here your side of the story and how you did it, how you rescued Amy!” Kodi barked, and then lead the way towards the boat, “you coming, or what?” he looked back at her

      “Coming,” she called lightheartedly and bounded next to him.

      “…and some dog came looking for you. He seemed lost. Well, we let him come in the boat because we were going to get you anyway. And maybe he would like to here your story.” Saba tilted her head, confuse. Who could that be? She thought. As they entered the boat, Jenna rushed over to her and nuzzled her

       “I’m so proud of you, Saba,” she whispered.

      “Thanks Mother,” she whispered back, licking her in the cheek. Then, Balto came running over to Saba

      “Saba!” he barked, “Good job, daughter.” He nuzzled her affectionately. The, by turn, ever dog and Boris congratulated her. But