at her. His eyes were gold-green, the color of old bronze. Those eyes weighed heavily upon her as he absently rubbed the blanket with one paw.

          Jenna gulped, and she could feel her cheeks stain pink. She had forgotten how physically attractive she still was, even after two litters and ten pups. Was he simply trying to figure out where he was, or was there more going on behind his strange eyes?

          He cleared his throat and lifted his head. “It worked? I’m…inside a house?” He swiveled his head from one side to the other, and then sank back down in relief. “Thank god…” His eyes found her again, and he seemed to grow embarrassed. “I’m Tumak. I…I didn’t really think you would take me in. I though you would throw me back out on the street. But you were my last chance, and I was so cold…” He burrowed deeper under the blanket and rested his chin on the ground. “Anyway, thanks.”

          Jenna shook herself. “Um…no problem. How long have you been out on the street?” She quickly covered her mouth with her paw, in case her question was too forward.

          He shrugged. “I don’t know. A few months? Only it seems like forever.” His face suddenly took on a tired look that made Jenna feel the pain of the cold and the loneliness right along with him. “Who knows where I’m going after this.”

          The sudden silence and the defeated look on his face pressed Jenna to stay quiet, but curiosity was tugging at her. She had to ask. “Tumak,” she asked softly, keeping her eyes lowered, “Who’s Khara?”

          His head jerked up, and for a moment a bolt of pure pain slashed across his face. Then he narrowed his eyes and masked it with suspicion. “Where did you hear that name?” His eyes were glittering so fiercely she was a little afraid.

          “You said it,” she whispered, “When we brought you in you were…delirious, I guess. You called my mate Soenor and you kept saying Khara. Who is Khara, Tumak?”

          Tumak sighed. “You mean, who was,” he said bitterly.

          Jenna waited.

          Tumak locked his eyes on her and said with almost no emotion: “Khara was my mate. We found each other on the streets, or rather Soenor found her for me. It could only have been a match made in heaven, and considering that the streets were hell, that’s something you don’t see every day.” He smiled faintly. “Then we found out we were going to have pups. I’d never seen her so happy…” His voice trailed off.

          Jenna hated to cause him more pain, but she blurted out, “What happened?”

          He paused. “She was giving birth. The pups got stuck inside her. She died.”

          The announcement made Jenna catch her breath. She had never imagined such a thing happening to anyone. It was too awful.

          Tumak gave a grating, humorless laugh. “After that, who knows what I did? Who knows what happened to me? I blacked it all out for awhile, and only really came back a couple days ago. I don’t know how long I was gone; that felt like forever, too. But it still hurts like it happened yesterday.” He blinked, coming out of his reverie, and his gaze slowly focused on her. He blinked again, and then gave her a brittle smile. “She was beautiful, and sweet. You remind me of her.”

          Once more Jenna felt herself blushing furiously. She looked up only to see Tumak squirming uncomfortably.

          “Nothing’s meant by it, Jenna,” he murmured, “I’m just saying, whoever your mate is, he’s very lucky.”

          Jenna bowed her head so he couldn’t see her face. “Well…thank you,” she muttered uncertainly.

          Right on cue, the doggy door slapped open and shut and Balto’s voice called out, “Jenna! I’m home!”

          Relief swept through her in huge waves. For the first time she realized just how rigid and tense she had become. Tumak wasn’t exactly threatening, but still, it was reassuring to have someone else with her.

          “In here!” she called back.

          Balto shook the snow and cold out of his fur and padded into the kitchen and to her side. Jenna felt an absurd satisfaction in seeing Tumak’s startled expression as she said, “Tumak, this is my mate, Balto.”

          Over the next few days Jenna felt Tumak’s eyes on her constantly. He didn’t do or say anything suggestive, but she noticed him staring affectionately at her whenever she came into his range of vision. She reasoned he just missed Khara, and was transferring all his adoration from his former mate to her. She tried to counter it by having Balto with her as much as possible. She talked to Balto about it, too, and explained her reasoning for his behavior. Balto understood, but he let it be known that if Tumak put even one paw on Jenna, he would be out for the count in three seconds flat. Jenna appreciated the protection; she was beginning to get vexed by the distant idolatry. But it would only be a matter of time before Balto became not as understanding.

          “Are you sure you’re all right?” Jenna asked.

          Tumak raised his shaggy head from his blankets and smiled gratefully. “Yes, I’m sure. Thank you, Jenna.”

         “Well, if you need anything, I’m right out here,” she said, turning away reluctantly. As she exited the kitchen, a sigh from her lips both surprised and mellowed her. Her concern for Tumak was more out of friendliness than attractiveness, though she was wondering if he was beginning to take her doting the wrong way. Well, he would have to leave eventually; and though she did like him, she had to admit that when he did go, most of her problems would go with him.

          She padded slowly towards the living room, only to come face to face with Balto. “Oh!” Jenna said in surprise. “Balto. I’m sorry, I didn’t see–” She saw his face. “What?”

        Balto was apparently having trouble finding the right words to explain. “Jenna, I–” He cleared his throat. “Look, about…Tumak.”

          “Balto,” Jenna said patiently, “We’ve been over this.”

          Balto nodded quickly. “Yeah, I know, I know. It’s just…you going into his room so much. And having another male dog here, well…dogs are talking, Jen. About you. And him. And…this empty house.”

          “What?” Jenna sputtered. Her brown eyes flashed. “Of all the stupidest…! Balto, I love you! Everyone knows that! Why would they spread those lies? It’s Sylvie and Dixie, isn’t it? Oh, I’m going to give those two a piece of my mind!” Shaking with anger, she turned and started marching towards the front door.

          Balto said in a low voice, “You don’t have to. I already did.”

          Jenna froze, and then whipped around so fast the tip of her tail brushed her cheek. “You? You talked to Sylvie and Dixie?” The two gossip hounds, while being Jenna’s friends, were usually the source of Balto’s amusement, with their wild rumors and tall tales of the town dogs’ romances.

          Balto lifted his shoulders defensively. “Well, more like they talked to me. They came after me, asking if it was true that there was another male dog staying in this house.” He shook his head. “I don’t like where this is going, Jenna. You know I love you, and I trust you. But could you not spend so much time with him in there? Please? I’m on edge as it is, what with Gossips Gals 1 and 2 yakking away about us out there.”

          Jenna gave him a tired smile. “That’s why you leave gossiping to the girls, Balto.”

          He grinned a little. “Right. Remind me again how they became your friends?”

          The front door flew open with a blast of cold wind and a whirl of dancing white flakes. Rosy’s mother stumbled in with her arms full of letters and packages, and leaned her back against the door in an attempt to close it. It finally shut with a sharp slam, and the bedraggled woman heaved a sigh of relief. “What a day. Dear, the mail’s here!” she called to her husband.

          Rosy’s father