to death!” She stopped and looked around.

“I’m going to freeze to death anyway. There’sno way I’ll make it to the cave in this!

She looked below her. She could feel the log beneath her, but she couldn’t see it.

She walked cautiously out onto the log. “Now that wasn’t so bad,” she thought.

Then her paws slipped.

She yelled as she made a vain leap for the side of the log. She only succeeded in getting close enough to whack her chin on it.

Her head snapped back and Jenna lost conciusness. She didn’t even hear the splash as she landed in the cold, icey river…..

CHAPTER XV

Balto had finally been able to leave the cave the white wolf, Aniu, had led him to a few nights ago. The storm finally quit this morning and he set out for Nome. He figured he was about four or five hours from home.

“I made it about half-way,” he thought. “I hope the storm didn’t delay me too long!”

Gemeni was standing in the shed. She had her harness on once again, but it didn’t feel the same. Usually she was excited to wear it, but now…

.Well at least I don’t hurt as much anymore,” she thought. She was still sore.

“But that let’s me know I’m still alive,” She thought.

She’d grown to appreciate everything since Steele’s attack two days ago.

“I wonder if Jenna made it okay?” She thought. “I hope so.”

She’d also grown very close to Drake. That was why she was sitting here, in fact, while the rest of the team was hitched up outside.

He was supposed to be here ten minutes ago,” She thought. “I wonder where he is?”

As if in answer to her thoughts, Drake came running into the shed.

“Hey,” he said, he walked over and nuzzled her.

“Sorry I’m late, they found another two bodies, and I couldn’t get way. I had to sneak out to get away when I did.”

“More bodies?” She asked.

He nodded, “two,” he said. “A male and Female, mates. They were trouble makers around here, strays. They’ve been in front of me for thievery before, though I couldn’t blame them. They had nothing to eat.”

“But the law doesn’t care, right?” Gemeni said.

Drake just nodded.

“I saw the team outside,” Drake said, “so I guess you’re really leaving.”

It was Gemeni’s turn to nod.

“Yeah,” she said.

“Well,…” Drake said.

The two of them just stared at each other for a while.

“Oh, hell,” Gemni said, “I’ve never been very good with good-byes.”

Drake just nodded again, unable to think of anything else to do… or say.

…….

“Well,” Gemeni said, ”I guess I should get out there with my team.”

Drake nodded again and looked at the floor.

Gemeni crouched down and looked up, trying to see his face. When he raised his face, there were tears in his eyes.

“I love you Gemeni,” he said, “even if I only knew you for a little while, even though you have to leave and even though it hurts like…like…”

Gemeni smiled at him “hell?” she said.

He started laughing then, “yeah,” he said, even though it hurts to see you leave, I’m glad we got to know each other. I’ll always remember you.”

“As will I…” she said.

“Gemeni!” A man’s voice called. “Gemeni where are you? Confound it I’ve got to find a keeper you can’t get undone, we’re gonna be late!”

“Well,” Drake said, “I wouldn’t want your owner mad at you…”

“Yeah,” she said with a sigh, “I guess I better go. She walked toward the door. Then she stopped. She ran back to him. She licked him on the nose.

“To remember me by.” She said

Drake smiled and nuzzled her, then she turned and walked out the door.

Drake just watched her. Then he too left the shed.

CHAPTER XVI

Drake was sitting on the hill overlooking the shed. He couldn’t believe she was gone.

“That was stupid,” He thought to himself, “You should have never got involved. You knew you’d just end up getting hurt.

“Yeah,” he anwered himself, “but if that’s true then why have I been here all day, staring at this building? Why can I still hear her voice, still smell her…”

His thoughts trailed off.

Suddenly he sensed someone was behind him. He turned.

“Balto!” he said.

“Hey Drake,” Balto said.

“He looks worried,” Drake thought.

“You’re early.” He said.

“I left the team in Applegate,” Balto said.

“What? Why?” Drake asked.

“Drake you wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

“Try me.” Drake told him.

“Well, I thought Jenna might be in trouble, I don’t know why, I just felt…. Uneasy.”Then I heard from one of the dogs in Applegate that Steele, you remember him?” Balto said. “Anyway he killed two dog’s there, his girlfreind was apparently cheating on him… but then he left. I don’t know why, but I had this horrible feeling that he’d come here, pretty crazy huh?”

“No,” Drake said, “he was here.”

“But I couldn’t find…”

He stopped.

“Oh Drake, don’t tell me….”

“No,” Drake said, understanding what Balto was thinking. “She’s okay, or at least I hope she still is.”

“Tell me,” Balto said.

“Steele attacked her… she was beat up pretty bad Balto. “

“I should have come sooner,” Balto said as he looked at the ground.

“A dog named Gemeni saved her though,” Drake continued.

He sighed

“She was part of a team that was passing through here…”

“You like her huh?” Balto said smiling.

“Well… yeah” Drake said.

“Why the long face then?” Balto asked. “I’m happy for ya, you finally found someone.”

“She left this morning,” Drake said.

“Oh… I’m sorry buddy.”

“Yeah,” Drake sighed again, “she only lives about sixty miles away…”

Balto really didn’t know what to say in response to this”

“So what about Jenna?” he asked after a few minutes of silence.

“Oh,” Drake said, “Steele found your guy’s house,” Drake said. “I left her there because I thought it would be safe, I was wrong.”

Drake started laughing.

“What’s so funny about Steele being in my home with Jenna?” he asked, a little irritatedly.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Drake said still grinning. “But she.. she lured him into the kichen and dropped an ironing board on his head.”

“WHAT?” Balto almost yelled.

“Knocked him clean out,” Drake said. He got serious again.

“She came to me and we decided to let her stay with Gemeni and her team until you got back, but Steele attacked Gemeni.”

He shuddered, remembering that awful sight.

“Balto I’ve never seen anyone look that bad and still be alive. At first I thought she was dead, there was so much blood… but I don’t know, a part of me refused to accept that it was true. I drug her for about forty minutes, trying to get her back to the shed.”

“When was this?” Balto asked.

“Two nights ago,” Drake answered.

“That was during the storm,” Balto said “,you could have frozen to death!”

“I almost did,” Drake said, “but I couldn’t just leave her out there.”

“I know the feeling,” Balto said.

“Well anyway, it wouldn’t have mattered if it hadn’t been for Jenna. She came up with the idea to put Gemeni on their sled and pull her to Doc’s. But the team was short a member. I wasn’t in any shape to pull, so Jenna took right first string.”

“Jenna pulled a sled?” Balto asked.

Drake nodded ,”you should be proud of her Balto. When Jack, the dog who’d taken over the lead position, saw that it was taking too long for Jenna to give him directions… they switched.”

“JENNA LED!!” Balto yelled, “In that storm, she could have broken her neck! She has no idea whatsoever what she’s doing..”

“Calm down Balto,” Drake said. “She did extremly well, not a problem, andthey got Gemeni to Doc’s. After that she refused help from any of us.”

He stopped, unsure of how to continue.

“I tried to tell her not to go..”

“Go where?” Balto interrupted.

“She left for Aleu’s,” Drake said.

“What?” Balto asked, “in the storm?”

“It get’s worse,” Drake said, “she found Steele and made him chase her.”

“Why did she do that?” Balto said.

Then he thought about it.

“Did she make it?” he asked slowly.

“I don’t know,” Drake said, “I haven’t heard anything.”

“Steele is a championship racer, he’s used to the cold…. Jenna what were you thinking?” Balto said to himself.

“Well she told us to tell you to meet her