when I woke up, you wouldn’t be here. I didn’t want to risk that.”

            “Oh, Jen, don’t say that.”

            “But it’s true! They could have just taken you away.” She began to cry. “I don’t want to loose you, Balto.”

            Balto hushed her sobs as best he could, and she calmed down a little, but he knew she’d never really get it off her mind. Just then, he turned to face her and began to sing her a song that felt…peaceful.

            “I’ve heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason, brining something we must learn,

            And we are led to those who help us most grow, if we let them, and we help them in return.

            Well, I don’t know if I believe that’s true, but I know I’m who I am today because I knew you.

            Like a comet pulled from orbit as it passes the sun, like a stream that meets a boulder halfway through the wood,

            Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better? But,

            Because I knew you…I have been changed for good.”

            Jenna, who had turned to face him, picked up where he stopped.

            “It well may be that we will never meet again in this lifetime, so let me say before we part:

            So much of me is made of what I learned from you, you’ll be with me like a hand print on my heart.”

            She raised her paw and pressed it to the ice. Balto did the same, so their paws rested opposite each other. Jenna’s eyes brimmed with tears.

            “And now, whatever way our stories end, you know you have re-written mine, by being my friend.

            Like a ship blown from its mooring by a wind off the sea, like a seed dropped by a sky-bird in a distant wood,

            Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better? But

            Because I knew you…”

            “Because I knew you…” Balto replied.

            “I have been changed for good. And just to clear the air, I ask forgiveness for the things I’ve done you blame me for.”

            Jenna bowed her head, and Balto replied,

            “But then, I guess, we know there’s blame to share, and none of it seems to matter any more!”

            Like a comet pulled from orbit…”

            “Like a ship blown from its mooring by a wind off the sea…”

            “Like a stream that meets a boulder…”

            “Like a seed dropped by a bird in the wood…”

            Jenna and Balto pressed their paws against the ice, willing them to touch, and joined together.

            “Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better? I do believe I have been changed for the better…”

            “And, because I knew you…”

            “Because I knew you…”

            They blinked back tears and joined again.

            “Because I knew you… I have been changed… for good.”

            Just then, the boulders blocking each entrance were rolled away, and a trio of guards stood waiting for each of them.

            “Out, now.”

            “Why are they bringing us all out here?”

            “I don’t know, but I don’t like it.”

            “Will you guys shut up? You’ll get us killed.”

            The remnants of the Ice Mountain clan were being herded out into the small clearing outside their home den, and made to lie down facing the hill it was dug into. One rank of Nemec’s troops was stationed behind the Ice Mountain clan to keep them from escaping. Another rank was stationed in front to keep them from entering the circle they’d formed. Belle was the next to come out, and many of her clan greeted her happily, relieved she was alive.

            She never thought to look for Tes.

            Finally, they all fell silent as two last prisoners were brought out under heavy guard: a brown wolf, and a red and cream husky.

            “What are they doing?” one of the Ice Mountain wolves asked.

            Belle watched as Balto and Jenna were led out into the center of the clearing and made to sit down facing each other.

            “Lord Shadow’s planning something,” she replied, feeling her heart sink, “something terrible.”

            Then, as if on cue, a dark figure made its way out of the cave and into the center of the clearing. Beside him came Nemec. Belle squinted at him, but even in the growing light he was cloaked in shadow. She only wished she could hear what he was saying to Balto and Jenna…

            “Who are you?” Jenna said.

            The figure before her resembled nothing of this world; a swirling black vapor in the form of a wolf. Only his voice convinced her that she was not talking to an illusion or a shadow.

            “You haven’t guessed?” Lord Shadow replied. “Well, I can’t say I look the same now, but perhaps this will help…” He whipped his head back and forth, and suddenly the black vapors disappeared, revealing a black and white malamute.

            “Steele!” Jenna cried.

            “Ha! So you still remember me!” He noticed her shocked expression and gestured to Balto, who simply sat watching him “Ah, but you thought wolf-dog here had killed me. Well, you see, when I was in that river, sinking lower and lower, I made a deal…”

            “…with Aniu?” Jenna gasped.

            “You think I’d associate with such pup fantasies? Oh no, I made my deal with the other deity of the afterlife!”

            He whipped back his head again and snarled. In an instant, he was cloaked in the black vapors again, and he stepped away to address the crowd.

            “I’ve been informed that some of you have been talking of escape, or rebellion, and I must say I’m very displeased. So, to discourage any such acts, I intend to show you what the punishment will be.”

            He turned back toward Balto and Jenna, and Nemec motioned for two guards to come up to them. Without a word, they seized Jenna, pulled her back a few feet and held her down. Steele padded up to Balto and faced him with a smirk.

            “Ready to die, wolf-dog?”

            “If that’s what it takes…” Balto replied, blinking to reveal his golden, glowing eyes.

            Steele snarled and drew one of his forepaws back. It took the shape of a jagged scorpion’s stinger, and he brought it up into Balto’s chest, tearing into it. The air was filled with the most terrible cry as Balto was lifted nearly off his paws by the force of Steele’s thrust. Steele began to laugh as he drew his forepaw up toward Balto’s heart, and suddenly the screams stopped. Steele withdrew his scorpion forepaw and let Balto’s body fall limp to the earth, where it lay in a pool of blood.