Balto responded. "Besides, David had just been cut down, and Mika was left without much help."
Balto was obviously unaware that his daughter Aleu and her wolf pack had come to Mika's aid during the tracking phase and were of immense help during the battle.
"Jenna, remember when Boris, Muk, Luk, and I went after the medicine, and you came and saved me when I was attacked by that bear?" asked Balto. He then asked, "Did you hesitate before jumping in?"
"No, not at all, Balto," replied Jenna. "I didn't have time to worry about what might happen. Besides, by then, I was already in love with you. I couldn't even stand the idea of losing you then."
"Well, I have gotten into tight situations before this one and emerged okay," said Balto. "I figured I could do it again. And just like then, I had no time to think before jumping in. Besides, if I did nothing about it, and I lost you because of it..." He paused as he tried to collect his thoughts. "...that would be far tougher for me to bear."
"Really?" Jenna asked.
"Yes it would, Jenna," Balto responded. "And even if I didn't make it back alive, I at least he hope that you would survive."
"Oh, Balto," said Jenna as she nuzzled under his chin. "You really mean that?" she then asked.
"Yes, Jenna," Balto replied. "I really mean it."
The two then nuzzled each other very lovingly, their forms becoming nothing but mere silhouettes against the background that was the fireplace, which was slowly dying off. By now they were both very tired, and eventually went to bed and hopefully put aside all the drama they had been through that day.
The next morning, Balto didn't wake until around 9:00. Jenna was still asleep, facing him. Balto was also facing her. As she slept, he ran his right front paw across her left cheek.
"Sleep well, my beautiful angel," he whispered. "Nothing bad is going to happen to either of us that we can't do anything about."
Balto then put his head back down, but he didn't go back to sleep. A few minutes later, Jenna awakened.
"Morning, baby," said Balto, grimacing from a sharp jolt of pain in his ribs.
"Hi, my love," Jenna replied. "How are you feeling?"
"I've been better," Balto responded. "How about you?"
"Relieved," Jenna answered.
"Yeah, me too," added Balto. "I could certainly do without the pain. However, the vet said it will be a few weeks before my ribs heal. But they will get better."
They put their heads up and nuzzled briefly. Balto grimaced again as another sharp jolt of pain traveled up one of the nerves leading from his cracked ribs. Jenna watched, hurt every bit as much as he was. She wished there was something she could do to help him.
"Here," she said as she put her front paws around Balto. "Maybe this will help you feel better."
Although it didn't help relieve the pain physically, it did emotionally.
"Thank you, Jenna," Balto said, sounding more at ease as he, too, put his front paws around Jenna.
"You're welcome, Balto," Jenna replied. "It's the least I can do after all you went through yesterday."
Mika was in a considerably good mood for the first time in a long time that morning. After breakfast, he went out for a run on his usual eight mile route. Kodi and Dingo came out to join him. Although they both had trouble keeping up with the Finn in the turns, the two huskies were able to stay with him on the straights. After finishing up, it was off to the sauna for a hot sauna bath. Mika was hoping the heat would relax away the pain that still lingered in his left elbow. He wanted to get back to working out so he could pursue his professional hockey ambitions - which he hadn't forgotten about even while hospitalized in Wales - and back to playing guitar with Lapp Attack. A new show date still had to be found to replace the one originally scheduled for tonight. On top of all that, the band's usual practice building had to be rebuilt after being destroyed in the invasion yesterday. All of this weighed heavily on the Finn's mind. Going out running was the only escape he had, although even then those problems still bothered him. But it wasn't nearly as bad as it normally was.
"Ah, it sure is good to be back to running," said Mika.
"It's been far too long since that last run we did," added Kodi. "You know, Mika, I've been using your route for many practice runs trying to get the lead dog position."
"Have they been working for you?" Mika asked.
"They have for me!" Dingo put in.
"Yeah, Dingo really thinks he has a great chance of becoming lead dog with his team," added Kodi. "How's the elbow, Mika?"
"Still hurts when I bend it," replied Mika. "But, the good news, it's not as bad as it was yesterday."
After the sauna bath was complete, the snow massages were next. Dingo had never gotten one, but he enjoyed it. Kodi definitely enjoyed this one, which was his first in a long time.
Mika's next order of business was to meet up with his band mates a discuss setting up a new date and time for their postponed show. Eventually, the new date was set at a week from the show's original date. The time was the same. While they were on the subject, an interesting idea emerged.
"You know what would be cool?" said Mika. "If we held a gig to benefit the victims of the invasion."
"You mean like a big music festival?" asked Kaj. "Sounds interesting."
"How are we gonna get extra acts to join us?" asked Keith.
"Well, looks like we're gonna have to take this up with City Hall," replied Mika.
Sure enough, that was their next stop.
The idea seemed interesting to those whom it was brought to the attention of. After much discussion, the okay was given. Lapp Attack were also given permission to construct an outdoor stage in Mika's backyard to use for the show. But wood was already in short supply, with most of what was available being used to rebuild damaged buildings. Fatalities were not very high, so the amount of wood needed for building coffins wasn't nearly as big as that needed for the buildings.
The rebuilding process wasn't gonna be an easy one, but it was still accomplished in a remarkably short time. During that time, Mika's elbow had fully healed, and he was back to playing guitar.
Eventually, the day of the big show came around. Lapp Attack were successful at recruiting more acts for the show, managing to draw in performers from all across the Lower 48. The stage was just big enough to hold even the largest bands that would take to it. The show itself would turn out to be an all-day event, even lasting into the night. It was even going to be radio-broadcasted. Anyone with a radio could hear it.
Lapp Attack were scheduled to take to the stage at 7:00 PM. In the run-up to the show, even in the hours before their segment of the show began, they continued working on their new songs to make sure they got them exactly right. Their main focus, however, was the endings. Live endings to songs are generally different than their studio counterparts.
Eventually, show time came for Mika and company. Their set list was as follows:
Any Color
Life In A Dangerous Time
Fear Of Falling
It Shouldn't Take Too Long*
Don't Look Back*
I've Been In Love Before
Sahara
One For The Mockingbird*
The Broadcast*
(I Just) Died In Your Arms
* = new song
The crowd broke out into a chorus applause and cheers when Lapp Attack took to the stage. They really enjoyed hearing the familiar songs. Clearly, the fire that drove the quintet to make great music was still there despite being off for two months. Mika charged onto center stage during the intro of Any Color, right before his first guitar lines. When he did start playing them, he managed to throw in some headbanging. He also did that for those same parts at later points in the song.
Before beginning Life In A Dangerous Time, Mika had something to say about how it pertained to the recent events in Nome.
"Thank you all for coming out today!" he said enthusiastically. "So, uh, this next one is practically a good description of the way life has been here on the Seward Peninsula recently. I lost a co-worker in the recent attack on Nome, and it was very hard for me and the band to go through with this whole thing such a short time after the tragedy. With that said, I think the best thing we can do is believe that life just has to go on for the rest of us. Sure, we'll all miss those who lost their lives in this atrocity. But we can't let that stop us from living our lives. So, with that in mind, David Stoner, my former co-worker at Outdoor Outfitters, this next song goes out to you. This is Life In A Dangerous Time."
And a very moving performance of that song it turned out to be. Fear Of Falling was equally impressive.
"How many of you here are form New York?" Mika asked. A few cheers rang out.
"How many of you are form New York City?" he asked again. Everyone who cheered on the first question cheered again.
"This song is about your town. It was written by Kaj over here during our early days in America," Mika continued, pointed at Kaj. "It's called Fear Of Falling."
The New Yorkers definitely loved it.
"Would it be alright if we played you a new song tonight?" Mika asked the audience after Fear Of Falling was finished. His question was met with a rousing round of cheers.
"How about four new songs?!" he asked again. The cheers got even louder.
"Alright!" Mika exclaimed in response as he adjusted his headset mike. "How many here
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