trees.

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Kayla didn't know how far she had run or where she was. "Great Kayla, just great. First you kill someone, then you endanger a pup, and now you get yourself lost." she mutterd. A sharp wind whipped through her coat, making her shiver. The blizzard was coming and it was coming fast. "Great, now'll I'll freeze to ." Kayla hunched over as the wind seemed to whip around her, as if it was pushing her. "Probley toward a cliff." she thought. Just then, she thought she saw something. She shook her head. She was blind, how could she see? But then there it was again. A flicker of light, and she could see it. "Okay, now I know I'm seeing things." she told herself.

Then the light flickerd again and it seemed brighter, and closer. Kayla watched as it glowed bighter, until she coudln't look at it. She turned away, but then the light dimmed and she looked back. She felt a gasp escape from her. "Auroa?" she whisperd, not trusting her mind. But yes, where the light had been, stood Auroa, glowing. Kayla just starred. "Hey Dreamer." Kayla felt tears brimming her eyes. "Auroa? Is, is that you?" her voice was barley a whisper. Auroa nodded and smiled softly. "It's me Dreamer." Kayla didn't know if her mind was playing with her because she was numb with cold, or if Auroa was actully there. Before she could decided, Auroa turned her head and nodded at something, or someone.

Out of the darkness, a white cat came walking out and sat by Auroa. The cat gave a nod of greeting. Kayla was about to ask who the cat was, when a man came and stood beside Auroa as well. He looked familur, but Kayla couldn't place him. "Come Kayla." he said with a warm smile and motioned her to follow. The cat walked after him and Auroa smiled and followed. A little relunctecly, Kayla followed. Exspecting to crash into something at any moment, she was suprised she didn't. After awhile, the man stopped. He turned and knelt down in front of Kayla. His smile was kind and Kayla fought to recinaize him, but she couldn't. He simply pointed forward. "Ivey's in there." he said, then he disapeered. Kayla looked around, Auroa and the cat had disapeerd to.

She felt, strange. How had that man known her name? How did he know she'd been looking for Ivey? After just standing there, she heard something. A whimper. "Ivey?" she called. "Auntie Kayla!" Kayla had never been happier to hear that voice. A minute later, something tackled her. "Auntie Kayla how'd you find me?" Ivey asked as she helped her into a cave. "Uh, I have my ways." she said simply. She still wasn't sure if that man had been her imaganation, or if it had been real. Kayla alid down and Ivey cuddled up next to her and started shivering. Kayla wrapped her tail around her. "Why did you come out here?" she asked. "the c-cat told me I could help you b-b-by finding a Rose O-oro. She said it c-c-could cure anything." Ivey told her. "Why did you want to cure something?" Kayla was pretty sure where this was going, but she had to make sure.

"D-d-dad said y-y-you were suffering f-from heartbreak. And I wanted to he-he-help." Guilt washed over Kayla. She took a deep breathe. "Ivey, I'm going to tell you why I was acting that way." Kayla launched herself into telling Ivey about the acident, what she was feeling, and how she was guilty. When she finneshed, Ivey spoke. "But, if didn't want to go, you couldn't make her, she went because she wanted to, herself. It's not your fault, if it's anyones fault it's the creatures. The creature got in the middle of the road, which made you crash." Kayla listend and realized Ivey, and everyone else was right. It wasn't her fault. Kayla felt as if something had been lifted of her. She gave Ivey a nuzzle, "I know that now." she whisperd.

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The storm finnaly lifted. Ivey said it was still dark out, but Kayla knew she could get back. She picked Ivey up by her scruff and headed out. Ivey stared off by telling her to watch out for trees and rocks, but Kayla knew they were there before Ivey did. After awhile, Ivey had fallen asleep again and Kayla was certain they were almost home. She stopped to sniff the air and listen every once in awhile, but nothing that said they were near town came to her. Finnaly, after what seemed like forever, Kayla smelled the unmistakable smell of Nome. "Ivey, Ivey wake up!" Kayla told her through gritted teeth. Ivey made a yawning sound. "What?" she asked sleepily. "Tell me if you can see anything." she told her. It took Ivey a minute to anserw. "Yes! I see lights! It's your house!" Ivey squirmed with excitment.

Kayla put her down, then threw back her head and howled. A minute later, a howl returned. Kayla could tell it was Ty's. A few minutes later, Caption, Ivory, Ty, Pearl, Melody, and Jake were bounding toward them. Caption reached them first and nuzzled Ivey. Kayla smiled a little. "Uh, Caption, I'm, sorry for what I said." she started, but he reached out put a paw on her shoulder. "It's okay." he told her. As soon as everyone had joined them, they agreed to go back to Kayla's house. When they got there, Kayla  collasped on the rug in front of the fire place. "Come on Kay, spill. How'd you find Ivey?" Ty demanded playfully. Kayla just smiled. "I had some help from a friend." "Ohh, right I understand." Ty tackled her playfully. "I shall make you talk!" Kayla laughed and wrestled him off her.

"Please, you couldn't beat me before, what makes you think you can now?" she lowerd herself in a playful poistion. A sudden thump on her back suprised her. "Thats the stuff Ivey!" Ty cheered. Kayla grinned and gently flipped Ivey off her. Everyone laughed as the three continued wrestling each other.

No one noticed the man, cat, and dog sitting outside the window, watching the happy scene. "I think shes ready." the man said, smileing at the cat and dog. Tha cat smiled and flicked her tail back and forth. The black dog smiled at him and nodded. 'Yes, I know Kayla's ready." the dog told him. The man smiled, "You know her best,  Auroa." Auroa smiled and looked down at the small pup sleeping peacfully between her paws.

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Melody, Jake, Pearl@Claire Cooper

Caption, Ivory@keweel109

Kayla, Auroa, the Foresters, the Kinshakes, Nero, Ivey, Kyle, white cat, mystery pup@me