second.  

But we didn't.

After a few seconds, I felt comfort and relaxation. I felt her head get in a comfortable position. Then, . . what next? I wanted to just finish it off and go to the next level, but . . . I couldn't. Not yet. It ended there. 

Our noses parted and our eyes opened in unison. Ironically, we both smiled and blushed as our eyes met then looked away. I knew it: she had enjoyed it as much as I had! I knew I had to go then, before Dad started to wonder what was keeping me.

"Bye! I'll check on you in the morning!" I said from the doorway and then ran off to follow Dad. 

During the night while I was in my doggie bed at home, all of my dreams were about Saba. I could see it all: the way she ran through the sandy beaches outside of town with her fluid motions; her expressions whenever she was happy or sad; I wanted it all: Those eyes that cried out to me; that soft auburn and white fur that matched mine almost exactly; her wet nose touching mine, filling my cup of passion to the brink – everything about her tickled my fancy.

I knew it was wrong. I knew it was forbidden. But I wanted her. I longed for her. I couldn't understand it all. What was this feeling inside? All of these different emotions, feelings, urges . . . . they made me seem so strange. Was I growing up? Is this what it is feels like when you love someone with all of your heart?  

Was this the start of a budding romance or was it just a small case of puppy love?

I know, I know. Everything sounds so girly, but it's how I felt. I guess this is how Mom and Dad were when they first met. Maybe . . . . 

But I wanted her . . . right now. I wanted her to be mine and only mine. She's been there from the beginning and I never realized it until that night a couple of days ago. It was that kiss. The reel of that kiss played on repeat in my head. Over and over, I saw it. And it made me want to come for seconds. And then some.

- - - - - - - - - 

I thought things were only going to get better for the two of us after that kiss, but little did I know, everything that we had was about to change . . . in a way I wasn’t prepared for.

=================================================

================================================= 

Part I: Tragic Separation
 

Has it been so long? I miss you, my love . . . 

The red and white figure of a young male pup exited the doorway of his owner’s home with a wide grin of joy on his face. The dog’s brown eyes lit up in eagerness, brightening up his mostly white-painted facial features. He leaped over the stairs with the greatest of ease, quickly moving his large paws against the late April snow that dusted over the ground of his hometown of Nome, Alaska.

Did you think of me everyday that I was gone? I know I thought only of you . . .
 

He galloped quickly and cautiously to his lover’s house, hoping to catch a glimpse – and maybe even steal a sweet kiss too – of his beloved before seeing anyone else, especially before his parents passed by his house to check up on him. He had just returned last night from a training mission with a sled team that had begun to work with him and other young sled dogs-to-be, and his exhaustion allowed him to easily reach sleep as soon as he reached the safety of his master’s cozy house.

What about starting a family? We’ll have a litter together . . . one day . . . 

But nothing would prepare him for what awaited him that next morning as he felt a chill suddenly went up the spine of his almost yearling back.

He stopped after a few steps at the sight of his parents, a grayish-brown and tan male wolf-dog and his burgundy and white husky mate, leaning against each other as if to comfort each other of memories of some sort of tragic event that had happened. Just the sight of his mother’s tears dripping down her face onto the snowy dirt made him run towards them with a worry in his heart. He let out a quick bark, getting their attention and telling them he was home. 

“Dingo?” His mother’s ears pricked up at the familiar sound of her son’s bark. She jerked her head towards the noise, confirming the identity of the canine. “Oh, Dingo!” She ran to her son still with tears staining her white face markings, stopping once she nuzzled him against his neck, burying her wet face in his fur. “Oh, thank goodness you’re safe . . .” Her tears continued again.

“Mom, . . .” Dingo murmured as he returned the nuzzle to his grieving dam. He didn’t know why she was crying, but it didn’t seem like tears of joy. “I’m fine, Mom. The training was long and hard, but I . . .” The husky’s sniffling and tears interrupted him, so he slowly stopped talking as he noticed his father walking towards him. “Um, Dad . . . did something happen that I should know about?” 

The wolf-dog’s ears were lowered, as was his head when he reached his son’s presence. He pointed his muzzle away from the other two dogs as he spoke with a small voice. “Dingo, . . . i-i-it’s about your sister . . .”

Dingo groaned. He had five other siblings; two older brothers and three sisters that each were paving their own paths to maturity in their own ways. Of course, he had a hunch on which sister his father was mentioning. “What did Aleu do this time? You know she’s always getting herself into some sort of trouble . . .” 

“No, no. It wasn’t Aleu,” The father shook his head to his son – although he himself was surprised that his wolf-like daughter wasn’t causing such trouble lately either. Since she was the oldest, the most headstrong of the siblings and the only pup that looked more like her father, Aleu was clearly the most likely candidate for the Family Wild Child. “She’s just fine.”

“Is Yukon okay?” Dingo queried about his second sister. “Did she finally find someone to beat her in a race?” His middle sister was one of the most competitive canines in town. At a young age, she had been so competitive of herself, she challenged any male husky that was interested in her to a foot race; if the challenger defeated her, Yukon would give the lucky guy a chance to go on a date with her. 

Again, the wolf-dog shook his head, causing his son’s eyes to grow large in shock. Just by looking at his husky-looking child’s face, he knew he had figured it out.

“No . . .” the burgundy and white male gasped. “What happened . . .” Dingo began to shutter as he spoke, terror and fear filled his tone as he hoped nothing was wrong at all with his third sister. “What happened to Saba?” 

At the sound of hearing her daughter’s name, the she-husky wept again, this time leaning onto her mate’s neck and shoulders for comfort. “Oh, Saba . . .” she whined loudly. “Oh, my little princess . . .” The hybrid male only stroked her head and cheeks softly, catching her salty tears with his tongue and nose.

“Well?” Dingo asked again, his voice reflecting his intensified worry and confusion. “Where’s my little sister? Where’s Saba?” 

The couple parted their heads, looking eye-to-eye to each other but silently speaking volumes of emotional words. At last, the wolf-dog nodded and parted from her with a nuzzle.

“Come with me, Dingo,” His father motioned him from the stairway of their daughter’s house and towards Main Street. “I’ll take you to see her.” Father and Mother walked side-by-side – the wolf-dog maintaining his strong, solemn mood by keeping back his tears, while his mate continued to sob as she leaned her head against her loving husband – but as the young son walked slowly behind them, he was feeling so many different emotions at the time, he couldn’t even figure out how to react. 

Shock . . . that something would actually happen to his little sister while he was away on training. He never expected anything would hurt his kind, gentle Saba. As the youngest, she was too shy and such a pure-hearted soul, and her other sisters were more troublesome than she was – he knew that for a fact.

Regret . . . for not being there by her sister’s side. He promised to see her before anyone else as soon as he returned home, but he fell asleep instead. Oh, why wasn’t he there for her when she needed it? When they were very young, they shared a special bond that couldn’t be broken. Why couldn’t he feel his sister’s pain as he traveled back home or while he slept last night? 

Hope . . . that wish of his sister’s safety. Saba was strong deep down, although she looked weak with her outward appearance. If he knew she was okay, he would feel relieved, but all he could do right now was hope.

Sadness . . . the most ultimate sentiment that was clearly in his heart. He wanted to cry, especially seeing his parents sobbing so easily over hearing her name spoken aloud, but Dingo did his best to maintain his silence and internal feelings. He could hold back his tears . . . for the time being. 

After about a couple of minutes of walking, the three canines had arrived at the Doctor’s and stood by the steps that led inside the main waiting room for patients and their families.

The wolf-dog turned his attention to his mate, still in tears. “You don’t have to go in with us, you know. You’ve been in tears most of the time, and I don’t want you to feel sad anymore, Jenna.” 

Jenna felt the gentle touch of her mate as he stroked his wet nose against her red-orange bandanna around her neck. “It’s okay, Balto,” she sniffled, drying her weeping with Balto’s neck again. “I’m doing it for our children, for Dingo and Saba.”

The hybrid nodded bravely. “For Saba’s sake at least. We’re her parents after all, and she depends on us all to be strong for her.”  

Dingo let out a soft cough, causing the couple to look at their son, embarrassed by their sudden focus on their youngest child instead of the one trailing behind them. The parents bravely lifted their