"Dakota? Dakota? Are you there?" A black and yellow dog asked. A blue head popped out of the dog house. "I don't feel up to much right now Jewel." Dakota sighed. SHe shrivled back up into the doghouse. The little girl stopped caring about her after the first few days.

     "But Dakota! What would you say if I........" Dakota percked up. "What? Did you find me some food?" Dakota asked. She was coming out of her doghouse. "Did you-" Dakota started but Jewel cut her off. "I Found The Trail to Nome!" She barked!" Dakota lied back down. "But Jewel...there is so many twists in the road...."  she sighed. "No! I mean I found a team going to Nome! This afternoon!" She barked. Dakota jumped up. The leather leash witch strung her to the dog house was chewed up and ripped easaliy.

They walked around the side of the house. There was the team. The lead dogs were at their musher, so they couldn't make out their face.

Back in Nome, Torn sat on the porch. His fur was tangled and matted. It had also grown out. His owner had gone on vacation and hadn't groomed his little dog. Marcie was back. She was nicer now though.

     "HIIIIIKKKKKEEEEEE" The musher bellowed from the sled.  Dakota and Jewel waited until the seld was almost out of sight, then bursted out. Following the dogs was easy, the dogs were barking like crazy, so the musher didn't have a chance to look back. 

At a stopping point along the way, one of the dogs came up to them...well Jewel....Dakota was off getting a drink. "Hi...Heard you guys were following my team..." A strong looking red male dog said. "OH! Um...yeah...no...See, my friend needs to get back to her home town No-" Jewel was cut off, "Nome?" He said. He turned around then turned back to Jewel. "Is her name..is her name....Dakota?" The red dog asked. "How did you-" Jewel started but The red dog jumped around and darted off.

"DAKOTA!" He barked seeing a blue dog by the lake. He jumped down the hill and slid into her knocking her over. She jumped to her feet. "Da-dakota?" She said he smiled. "Dakota! My brother! Luke! Ohhhh I found you!!" Dakota, the large red dog smiled. Then he jumped back. "I gotta get you Home!I gotta-gotta" Dakota stumbled. "Oh come with me." He said.

He snuk her and Jewel to the sled. "Here, lie down, I'll cover you up with the blanket, mt owner won't see you and you'll get a free ride." Dakota smiled. Suddenly his musher came over to the sled. "What are you barking at Red?" He asked. Dakota's owner called him red, because his old lead dog's name was Dakota before he died. So he changed it. Before his meaty hand could reach the blanket, Dakota started barking like crazy at a tree. His owner turned around. "If you scare the squirrl first, you'll never catch it!" He laughted and hooked the dogs on the sled.

Jewel fell asleep but Dakota couldn't. She was to exited about being back in Nome. She missed everyone horribley, besides, the snow being kicked up into her face was cold. She didn'y know how Jewel could stand it. When the sled finaly came to a halt, Dakota sighlently drifed to sleep.

She was awoken by Dakota. He got her And jewel to follow him. "You'll have to stay here for the night." Dakota said. He lead them to a large boat. "Dad!" He called. A wolf dog walked down the board. "Why Dakota, who are these girls?" He asked. "Dad, please...this is Dakota and Jewel, they have to stay here tonight." Dakota said. "Oh?" Balto smiled. Dakota just climbed up the boat and threw a blanket ontop of himself and lied down. Dakota and Jewel followed. "Here, I don't have another blanket, so I'll ask Dakota if you can use his." he said. He walked down to the other side of the boat where Dakota was. Dakota and Jewel watched.

They couldn't hear what they were saying, but guessed they didn't want them to. Balto came back with a blanket. "Just use this, Balto said and walked off. "Dakota, you take it....I'm going to look around town." Jewel smiled and hopped off the boat. Dakota went right back to sleep. When she woke up, Jewel was knocked out snoring over by the corner.

Balto was still asleep. Dakota woke Jewel. "Ahhhhummm....Wha-wussup?" Jewel yawned. "C'mon lets go check out town." Dakota smiled. They walked onto the street. Then Dakota could make out a familar figure. "MARCIE?!?!!" She barked and ran up to her. "Dakota! I heard you were- But you'r here!" Marcie barked.

Jewel walked up. "Um...who is this?" She asked. "I'm Marice! Dakota's Best friend." Marcie said slightly growling. Before it got any worse, Dakota stepped up. "So were is Torn? Oh and Luke?" Dakota asked. "Um...Torn's not realy feeling himself, but I'm sure he misses you, lets see him first." Marcie said and led the way. Jewel rolled her eyes. Dakota heard her mumble somthing under her breath, but didn't say anything.  Because Marcie was in front, she was the first to see Torn. "Torn guess wha-" But her cut her off." Go away Marcie..." He growled. Dakota walked up. "Fine. I'll come some other time." She smirked.

"DAAAAKKKOTTAAA!!" Torn barked. He tried to smooth out his mattered fur. "My-um-owner's away." Torn blushed. "Hey Torn, want to come with us, were going to see Luke. Torn's eyed widened. Why dose she want to see Luke so much? He thought. He came along.  Luke was eating near his doghouse. "Same old Luke, eh?" Dakota smiled.

Luke looked up. "DAKOTAAA!" Luke barked and Jumped to her. He tail was wagging like rappid fire. "I want you to met Jewel." She said to him. "Sup." Jewel smiled. "Hi, I'm Luke." He smiled. He went back to Dakota. She was more beautiful now then ever. Torn was alittle tense. He better be backing off now... Torn thought.

As much as he wanted to leave, he wanted to be with Dakota. So he didn't say anything....just watched.