gone and Jenna went after him? God, why did I have to open my big muzzle?

“So what happened?” Kodi said, his voice failing to mask the worry he felt. Kaltag took a deep breath and said,

“Kodi, last night your mom went in here with another husky…” He swallowed hard. “…and they spent the night together.” Kodi didn’t move for a moment. He sat where he was, not even caring that his back was getting hot so close to the boiler. Suddenly, his legs gave in and he took a deep, gasped breath.

“W-w-what? How…how could she do that?”

“Kodi…”

“Didn’t we mean ANYTHING to her?” Kodi shouted. Kaltag froze, taken completely aback at this outburst. Kodi laid his head on his paws and stared blankly at the wall. “I don’t believe it. She just gave us up. Like we were nothing.”

“Kodi, I know her. She’d never…” Kodi looked at him. What am I saying? Kaltag thought, She’d never do that? Last night didn’t count? 

“What?” replied Kodi, “She’d never betray us?” Kaltag didn’t know what to say. Kodi stood up and padded quickly out into town. Before he took ten steps, though, Doc stopped him.

“Kodi, I know it hurts, but don’t do anything rash. Stay here. At least listen to her side of the story.”

“I intend to stay. Dusty and the kids need a father around.” He turned and looked at Doc, who took a fearful step back. Kodi had fire in his eyes when he said, “But if she ever gets back here, she may not get the chance to explain herself.”

* * *

Unaware of her son’s threat, Jenna continued deeper into the forest. She stopped and looked at the trees around her and her heart sank. Every rock, every tree, every pile of snow, looked the same as the last one. To make matters worse, she had just lost Balto’s paw prints… in the marks of a wolf. As she followed the jumble of tracks, she thought, Oh Balto, what’s happened to you? Suddenly, she noticed that Balto’s paws and the others were side by side as the led away into the darkness of the woods beyond. Oh no, she thought, he can’t have…  

“Easy, Jenna, easy. He might just be getting help.” Yeah right, she thought, who am I kidding? I’m the one that needs help right now. She sighed and padded onwards, followed the paw prints.

Not too much later, though, the sky began to darken as the orange sun sank below the horizon. Jenna took notice and glanced about her for any place to rest. The best spot, it seemed, was a small open area beneath a snow covered bush. Despite her still-slender body, Jenna could barely fit through the opening. She curled up into a tight ball and tried her best to get to sleep. Balto, she pleaded silently, please forgive me…  

* * *

“Jenna, come on, the race is starting!” She felt someone’s nose rub against her cheek and she opened her eyes to a smiling young face.

“Kale.” She sighed, her young voice relaxing. She looked outside the window. “It’s early. The race doesn’t start for another hour, at least.” Jenna laid her head back down, but Kale nudged her again.

“I wanted to show you something before the race. Please?” Jenna looked up again, sighed, and smiled.

“I guess I don’t have a choice do I?”

“Thanks Jen. You’ll love it, I promise,” Kale replied, grinning from ear to ear. He led her out of the small shed where most dogs attended the town meetings. The night before, though, she and Kale had stayed long after everyone else had left and talked for hours. Jenna smiled as she thought about it. This is so perfect. Three hours… just the two of us talking…

“Come on Jenna, hurry up.”

“Calm down, Kale. You know most people are still trying to sleep right now.” Kale turned and waited for her to catch up.

“Sorry Jen, but I think you’ll like it.” No sooner had Jenna reached his side than he dashed off toward the edge of town. Then, he ran a short way into the woods and stopped by a pool of water just as Jenna, panting, walked up beside him.

“So…what’s the surprise?” Kale pointed to the pool of water.

“This is it.” Jenna raised her brow.

“Um, why is it so special?”

“Don’t you see it?’ Kale replied. Jenna shook her head.

“Only a pool of freezing water.”

“What makes you think its cold?” Kale grinned and stuck his paw deep into the clear liquid. Jenna immediately pulled it back out.

“What are you doing? Your paw will freeze; it’s…its warm.” Kale smiled and stepped into the water.

“Come on Jenna, its warm in here. Trust me.”

“How can it be warm in the winter?”

“I’m not sure, but come on in. We can dry off when the race starts.”

“Well…” Jenna smiled when she saw the pleading in Kale’s eyes. “Alright.” She stepped into the pool and gasped. “Oh Kale, you’re right. It feels wonderful.” She closed her eyes and let her worries melt away into the water. “Thanks for bringing me here.”

“Glad you like it,” Kale replied, splashing Jenna on the face.

“Hey! Oh you, you…” Jenna sent her own watery reply back at Kale, who responded likewise. Soon, the two were lost in a never-ending cascade of water, laughing and barking happily. Panting, Jenna stumbled to the edge and purposely made a scene of getting out. Kale climbed out behind her. Without warning, Jenna pushed him back into the pool and laughed. Kale came to the surface coughing and sputtering.

“What was that for?”

“Tag, you’re it,” Jenna replied, turning and dashing away. Kale climbed out again and bounded after her. He leapt at her and the two tumbled over and over in the snow. When they stopped, Kale and Jenna’s noses met. Both smiled bashfully, but Jenna leaned over and put her lips to Kales.

* * *

Jenna woke from her dream and took a long, deep breath. We were such good friends back then… Until I had to leave for Nome… Oh, I’ll never forget that day. She sighed. But as soon as I got here, I became so popular with everyone else that I forgot. About Fairbanks, the shed…and even Kale. She shook her head abruptly and chastised herself.

“Stop, stop it. You’re only making things worse. Despite what a good friend Kale was, what you did with him was wrong! It was wrong and you knew it!” Did I? Jenna thought, I don’t remember saying anything about having a mate or Balto returning the next day. All I remember is…what we did. Jenna shuddered as visions of that night flashed across her mind. Kale lifting her bandanna off. Him stroking her fur. Him kissing her long and good. Cuddling by the fire…and then… Jenna almost threw up. How? How could I be so stupid?

 “Jenna, is that you?” A familiar female voice startled her from her thoughts.

“Cloud Runner?”

“It is you! But what are you doing way out here? Shouldn’t you be back in Nome?”

“I’m, uh, looking for Balto.”

“I haven’t seen him, but isn’t it dangerous to be out here?”

“He’s part wolf, so he should be fine, but I’ll be lucky if he ever even looks at me again.”

“Why? What’s his problem?”

Jenna swallowed hard.

“Actually, I’m the problem. You see, while he was away, I…I…” She began to tear up. “I cheated on him.”

“What? How-” Jenna held up her paw.

“Please, please don’t say anything. My heart’s already in pieces as it is.” Cloud Runner nodded. “I know he has every right to be mad, but I’ve got to at least try to make things right. Even if he never speaks to me again…” Jenna stopped and thought about what she’d just said. Even if he never speaks to me again? I won’t be able to live without him! “Well, I…I’ve just got to find him. I still love him more than anyone in the world…but he might not return my love any more.” Jenna bowed her head and thought.

“Well, there’s a storm coming. Come on, you can sleep in our pack den for the night at least.”

“Thank you, Cloud Runner.” Jenna stood and followed her silver friend into the woods as the sky darkened above her. “Balto, if you can hear me, I still love you…and I’m so sorry.” Her only answer was the wind, which, as it wound through the forest, seemed to howl in reply.

    A far away howl woke Jenna early in the morning. Cloud Runner leapt to her paws and ran to mouth of the cave they were in. Almost seven weeks before, she’d brought Jenna in out of the snow that was starting to fall. Thankfully, she wasn’t alone. In the time since Jenna’s last visit, Cloud Runner’s pack had grown even larger. Now, she had a group of wolves whose soul job was to protect the pack; professional warriors. For four weeks, the snow hadn’t stopped falling, but the weather was bad enough to keep them in their den. When the storms had finally cleared, she and Jenna had searched the surrounding, with no luck. Balto’s scent, if it had ever been there, had been wiped clear off the earth. At first, Jenna had wanted to go on alone, but Cloud Runner had insisted that she stay, for the sake of the pups. Now, as the third week of their search neared an end, Jenna’s ears twitched as she listened. The voice sounded so familiar...

Cloud Runner ran back inside and whispered frantically to Jenna.

“It’s Balto!”

“What?” Jenna could barely contain the excitement that filled her. “Where is he?”

“I’m not sure. He’s too far away to tell, but Desai and I will go with you.”

“Thanks, Cloud Runner, but I really should go alone.”

“Jenna, you’ll need the protection.” She leaned close and whispered, “In most wolf packs, adultery is lower even than murder, and some of the punishments are, well, excessively painful.”

“If I go alone at least I won’t put you and Desai in any danger.”

“Jenna-”

“Cloud Runner, thank you for offering, but I’ll be going alone from here.” Cloud Runner sighed and nodded.

“The best I can figure, he’s that way. Take care, Jenna.” She pointed north.

“Thanks. Good bye.” Jenna turned and padded off into the woods. As she walked, she thought about the last time she’d seen Balto, almost a whole week earlier…

* * *

“Balto, this is the fifth trip this week!”

“Jen, you know I can’t control this,” Balto replied, “I’m sorry. I’ll be home as soon as I can.