turned to help her but she had already thrown the attacker against one of his own comrades, (though it wasn’t without some slight difficulty due to her condition and petite size).

Red flashed by him, and without thinking Sitka grasped the dog by his collar and flung him against some of the other dogs, effectively knocking two of them down. Once he saw who it was he didn’t feel the least bit sorry. Kodi - The Traitor - had set murderous dogs after him and Tovah (Kodi’s own sister!) who happened to be expecting pups! According to the Code of the Wolf this dog should not be allowed to live long enough to see the next sunrise!

 Tovah looked ready to explode, her eyes a blaze of pure fury and hurt. “You!! How dare you? You betrayed us!”

“I didn’t! I can explain!” Kodi gasped as Sitka stepped on his throat with his giant paw. They didn’t have the chance to do or say anything further as some of the dogs recovered themselves and slammed into Sitka full force, setting him off balance and knocking Tovah over the drop off that lead to a very wide section of Anvil Creek. With a sharp yelp she thudded against the ice, along with some of the attackers.

Balto crashed out of hiding after Kodi just seconds after his son had jumped out and been pinned, and saw Tovah fall. “Tovah!”  All three cried out as they dashed to look over the edge where she and the remaining dogs had fallen. Sitka eyed the drop off. “It’s too steep to climb down and get her!” He said, in a panicked tone that Balto had never heard him use before. Balto felt relief flood him as Tovah slowly picked herself up. Thank God she’s ok! “Tovah! Take it easy ok? The ice might not be as stable as you think.” He called.

Tovah grinned slightly, though her side protested in pain as she picked her way around the dazed dogs. “Geez, I’m not that heavy Papa! You insult me.” She called back. She looked down and frowned as she was aware of cracks spider webbing under her paws while some of the dogs staggered to their paws.

“Aw, crap!” One of the huskies yelped as the cracks suddenly snaked and widened so that the ice was breaking up into large portions. Tovah knew no matter how badly it would hurt her; she had to run, or else fall in and drown in water that could probably kill her with its coldness alone.

“Tovah!” Sitka called, and she followed his gaze to the dogs behind her. One had fallen through, and the other two were running full speed after her (though it remained to be seen whether or not they were chasing her or just trying to get to shore before they went under). She grimaced in pain and ran as fast as she dared towards the bank. Tovah was nearly there when she felt her paw break through a particularly thin patch. She gasped and jumped, but just as she landed away from that part she broke right through upon impact and plunged into the icy water.  

Chapter three

 Sitka could be restrained no longer. Rushing past Balto and Kodi he screeched to a halt at the edge of the creek and peered at the spot his mate and best friend fell through. NO! His mind shrieked, his thoughts running and tripping over themselves to be heard. I can’t lose her! I was going to be a father! PLEASE, I love her too much to lose her!

Balto and Kodi slid to a halt next to him. “I’ll go in.” Balto said after a moment, eyeing the ice carefully. “Sitka, you’re too heavy, and Kodi, I don’t trust you out there on the ice. I’m not going to have two of you go under along with those mutts…”

Sitka watched with anxiety as Balto slithered carefully over top of the ice. He waited as Balto peered into the area that Tovah had fallen through, and he looked up. “I see her! She’s under, but she’s using her claws to make sure she won’t be taken by the currant. I’m going to pull her up. If I fall in, then you go and get help.” Balto’s eyes bored into Kodi with a warning glare.

Kodi sputtered. “What? I want to help now!”

Sitka growled lightly, wishing he could rip the dog apart where he stood. Only his fear for his mate’s safety held him back. “Don’t you think you have helped enough, Traitor?”

****************************************************

Tovah’s mind screamed in pain as she held on with her claws, burying them into the ice above. Her lungs cried for air, and the cold gripped her in its iron grasp. She was aware that her side was throbbing from the impact of landing, and she hoped that her unborn puppies would be alright. 

Things began to swirl, and panic stricken she realized that soon she was going to black out from lack of air. Angrily she fought the currant, frustrated with her body’s weakness. It always seemed that she was taken for some weak little thing, and before she could prove herself to others things like this had to happen! I can’t die! I won’t die! I have my puppies to think of!

She clawed her way to the hole, losing strength with every movement she made towards air and freedom. I can’t give up! I’m almost there! Things began to swirl again, and this time she couldn’t hold her breath any longer.  

******************************************************

Balto grasped Tovah’s scruff just as she lost grip on the ice and pulled her out. He dared not set her down and pause even for an instant, because the ice was breaking yet again. With a strength born of pulling heavy sleds he flung her from the water to the bank and jumped after her just as the ice broke up. Sitka and Kodi were already dragging Tovah away from the edge and Balto shook himself off and joined them. “How does she look?”

Sitka licked her and checked her over as she began to move faintly and cough up some water. “She’s breathing.” Sitka noted with relief, though his face looked strained with worry.

Tovah looked terrible. She shuddered so violently that they were beginning to worry that she was going into shock. “Get her into shelter right now. I’m going to go get Doc and Jenna.”  Balto ordered, turning to go. As he looked at his son he paused, visions of Kodi and Sitka ripping each other apart if he left them alone together filling is mind. It wouldn’t be wise to leave them here… “On second thought, Kodi can go. Run as quick as you can Son, and don’t stop for anything.”

Kodi was grateful for the responsibility and the chance to somewhat fix his mistake. He raced out of sight as quickly as he could, disappearing over the rise. Balto nodded to Sitka and the two began to haul Tovah back to the den.

*****************************************************

Shame, shame, shame Kodi’s paws seemed to shout as they pounded into the snow. He couldn’t get the look of utter betrayal in his favorite sister’s eyes out of his head, and now the thought that she could die without him getting a chance to apologize and make amends was too much for him to bear. Frenzied thoughts took over, and he was lost in them until he saw town come into view. The very sight of the little settlement was enough to get Kodi to speed up even more as the desperation of the situation burned into his mind. I have to get back there before it’s too late! I can’t fail this time…

Chapter four

Sitka paced while Balto sat curled up by his daughter to keep her warm as she shivered, somewhere in between being unconscious and awake. Sitka looked outside the cave before continuing to pace before the entrance. “Father, why must you put me in this sort of torment? Why did you send him to find help? He’s the one who caused it!”

Balto would have smiled at being called ‘father’ by his zealous son in law at any other time, but now the smile wouldn’t come. “I need you to clear your mind Sitka. I have something to explain to you, but first you have to sit down.” He smirked slightly. “You aren’t going to speed things up by creating a canyon in the cave floor, you know.”

Sitka sat down and faced his father in law with all due respect, though he was still clearly agitated. “Forgive me.” He murmured, casting a glance at his mate and calming down somewhat. He looked at the floor and gave a low growl in frustration. “But I do not understand why you let Kodi do this. He was the one who sent out those dogs in the first place! As a result my mate, your daughter, is in danger of dying as well as our little ones! How could you do something like that?”

Balto shook his head. “Sitka, Kodi and I were headed to stop those dogs. Kodi never sent them, and it wasn’t really his fault. He had complained to a supposed friend, and misunderstandings spread all through the town until there was hardly any truth left to it.”

The wolf snorted. “Something I would expect from dogs…”

 Balto inwardly sighed. If it isn’t the problem of being part wolf, it’s the problem of being