that, the threesome trotted into the forest and soon they stood before a familiar waterfall. Echo came rushing down to meet them, smiling broadly.

“Balto! Jenna! You’re finally here. Who’s your friend?”

“Echo, this is Kaltag,” Balto replied, “He’s part of the team that saved Nome.”

“Ah, so many celebrities among us. Come on, it’s time you met the newest members of our family!” He turned and dashed back up the stone path. Spurred by his enthusiasm, Balto, Jenna, and Kaltag followed close behind. They slowed at the cave entrance and padded among the rocks single file. In the far reaches of the indenture, Resco, Nevia, Gunther, and Milo sat patiently outside a smaller room in the rock. Balto and Jenna sat down next to Nevia and let Echo go in first. As they waited, Balto introduce Kaltag to the rest of Echo’s pack. Just then, Krystal and her family padded in and sat down with them. Krystal caught Kaltag watching her and smiled, making him blush. After a moment, he called them in and the pack crowded in on both sides of him. Vella lay on her side, tired but proud for the three fine pups nestled against her, sleeping peacefully. Smiles spread from one face to the next and each canine whispered their congratulations to Echo and Vella, who lay close together to keep their pups warm. Respecting their leader and friend, Kaltag, Balto, Jenna, and the rest of the wolves turned and left him and Vella alone. Glancing outside the cave, Balto noticed that the sky was darkening fast and told Jenna and Kaltag. Both agreed that it was time to leave and the three said their good byes. But just as they were leaving, Krystal padded up behind Kaltag and asked him,

“Are you from around here?”

“Nome, actually,” he replied.

“Would you…like to come back some time?” Kaltag hardly believed his ears. “Really?” Krystal nodded.

“Maybe I could show you around.”

“Okay, how about tomorrow?”

“That would be great. I’ll see you then, um, what was your name?”

“Kaltag.”

“Thanks. Mine’s Krystal.”

“Bye Krystal.” Kaltag quickly walked away to hid the blush on his cheeks. He soon caught up with Balto and Jenna, waiting by the waterfall. When they finally exited the woods, Kaltag thanked Balto for letting him come and left for Nome. Having noticed the blush on Kaltag’s cheeks, Balto smiled and waved as his friend walked away. Balto then motioned for Jenna to follow him and he turned and walked not toward Nome, but the ocean. Before long, they reached a small indenture in the sand, a cave open to the sky and away from the crashing surf. Jenna stopped for a moment and looked inside.

“Did the humans make this?” she wondered aloud.

“No,” Balto replied, “I did. I used to love to come on moonlit nights and watch the waves crash up on shore.”

Jenna walked inside and sat staring at the sea. Balto joined her.

“You were right, Balto,” she said, “It’s such a great view.”

“We could come here more often if you like,” he said.

“That would be wonderful,” she replied. Balto thought for a moment and said,

“Would you like to come back here tonight?”

“Are you asking me out?” Jenna said.

“Maybe.” Balto replied, grinning broadly.

“Then you’ve got yourself a date.” Jenna said, leaning over and kissing him on the cheek.

Later that night, Balto rose from beside the fire and crept past Boris, sleeping in the galley of his boat. He stole across the snow-covered ground and into Nome, being careful not to rouse anyone. He reached Jenna’s door and scratched on it. In an instant, Jenna appeared through the dog door and smiled at him. He smiled back and the two set off for the ocean. As he walked along the dirt trail next to Jenna, Balto could only gaze at her and then turn away quickly before she noticed. He tried to start a conversation, but his nerves kept his muzzle shut. The silence lasted until their paws touched sand, and Jenna tapped him on the shoulder.

“Yes, Jenna?” Balto said, thinking Jenna had a question. To his surprise, she leaned towards him and whispered into his ear,

“Tag.” She then took off running across the sand. Finally coming to his senses, Balto dashed after her. Being smaller, Jenna managed to evade Balto for quite some time. Eventually, though, she began to tire, slowing her pace slightly. This time Balto had the advantage, his wolf side built for long periods of exercise. He ran up to Jenna and tagged her, but before he could get away she tackled him and the two rolled over and over in the sand, holding each other close. When they finally stopped rolling, Jenna lay on top of Balto. He looked up into her lavender eyes as she looked down into his own golden ones. Smiling bashfully, Jenna leapt off and let him regain his feet. The two sat close together and gazed up at the sky for a long while.

“Balto,” Jenna said, “I should probably get home soon. Rosie might be worried.”

“Would you like me to walk you home?”

“That’s alright, Balto, we’re close enough. You should go home and get some sleep.”

“Alright. Good night Jenna.”

“Good night Balto.”

The two kissed once and turned to go their separate ways.

The next day, Jenna woke early and left for Balto’s ship. As she padded through the snow, she thought about the odd dream that she’d had. In the middle of a date, a pack of wolves had come and led Balto away, but no matter how she tried she couldn’t catch up. Jenna shook her head as she neared the old freighter.

“Balto?” She climbed the creaky board onto the deck and looked around. Nothing. The galley was empty. She jumped back down off the ship and looked around one last time. Just as she turned to go, a gust of wind at her back brought a familiar scent to her nose. Balto. Following the smell, she soon came upon his paw prints; they led into the woods. A mix of worry and curiosity overwhelmed her and she followed them into the forest.

Meanwhile, Echo stood at the entrance of his cave, eyeing the sky with concern. Milo padded up beside him.

“What is it, Echo?”

“The Cold Mountain pack hasn’t sent us their daily warning yet.”

“Maybe they decided to leave us alone,” Milo said with hope in his voice.

“I don’t think so, Milo. They wouldn’t do that, they’re always on the edge with us.” They haven’t missed a day since… “Oh no.” Echo leapt to his paws and told Milo to keep watch. Bewildered, Milo obeyed. As he dashed through the forest towards Nome, Echo hoped against hope that he was wrong.

The further she went, the more Jenna became concerned. A few moments ago, she’d lost Balto’s prints in a jumble of new tracks, all wolves. At first, she’d thought nothing of it, but now she began to worry, only Balto’s scent was guiding her now. Oh Balto, where are you? Suddenly, a nearby voice startled her from her thoughts.

“Stop where you are!” Jenna looked around and saw wolves approaching her from every direction, teeth bared. She laid her ears flat against her head in submission. She’d walked right into a trap. The wolves stopped in a circle around her and watched her, noticing for the first time that she was a female.

“Hey,” one said, “What’s a pretty thing like you doing way out here?” Jenna didn’t answer, but bowed her head and let her bandanna slide off onto a low tree branch. A few wolves whistled in approval.

“Whoa, where’d you come from beautiful?”

“Shut up!” one brown wolf said, “We need to bring her to the boss.”

“You always gotta ruin our fun, Captain,” a few replied.

“Shut up and fall in! You!” He pointed at Jenna. “Don’t try anything funny. Fair warning.” The wolves formed a box around Jenna and marched her away. As they left, Jenna’s orange bandanna fluttered in the wind.

Hours later, while the sun was still high in the sky, a brown wolf running through the woods skidded to a stop. He stared at the bandanna for a moment and remembered who it had belonged to. Snatching it in his teeth, he turned around and ran back toward Nome.

Chapter Four

“Echo! Echo!” Echo turned to face the brown wolf racing toward him.

“What is it, Milo?” he asked as Milo came to a stop, panting heavily.

“They’ve got them.”

“What?” Just then, Gunther came running up the stone path and stopped beside his twin brother. In his mouth he held an orange bandanna.

“The Cold Mountain pack has Balto and Jenna.” Echo stood speechless for a moment before bursting into a rampage. Milo watched as his leader paced furiously, cursing himself, the Cold Mountain wolves, and anyone else whom he was angry with. Echo stopped abruptly and stepped toward Milo.

“Wake Resco, Rorek, and Treffen; we move tonight.”

Meanwhile, Jenna stood in front of a strong black wolf. After a short journey through the woods, her captors