wrapped the virus arms around her, putting her on his back and holding her close to him. As Balto began walking, the area around them erupted into deep yellow flame, and Jenna looked around, watching the effects of Balto’s virus cleansing on the mostly-intact bodies of the bacteria and viruses, seeing how they ignited and burned away like tinder. The whole battlefield, drenched in blood, covered with dead bodies, burned under the cleansing, lighting up the drifts like a caldera volcano. The still-living Ebola viruses slithered into the flames, killing themselves voluntarily to erase all presence of Ebola from the area, and it looked almost like a strange, arcane death ritual. Balto’s eyes glowed yellow brightly from the intensity of the power, and continued to do so until the very last of the flame went out. Aside from various patterns in the snow from the creatures that had just been moving over it, not a trace was left of the battle; not a drop of blood, not a shred of flesh remained. Balto carried Jenna silently all the way to the warehouse, where he made a bed for her and laid her down on it. He lay on her, stretching his body out over hers, resting his head on the side of her neck, letting one of his paws sit on her muzzle, making her feel completely enshrouded by his touch. Safe in this cloak of comfort, Jenna still was nervous, and Balto could feel her trembling. He brought his mouth up to her ear, kissing it gently. “Don’t be afraid, baby,” he whispered. “Nothing on this earth but me will touch you tonight.” He nuzzled Jenna, beginning to sing “Truly Madly Deeply” for her. Now, soothed by his voice, she drifted off quickly, and Balto didn’t sleep until she did. As he went to sleep, he raised the virus arms and turned them towards the door, keeping them vigilant throughout the night.