said. "...just watch out for yourself. Be careful okay?"

Melody nodded. "I will Dad."

Balto smiled, then he turned and ran out of the chamber.

Melody walked to the entrance of the chamber and looked outside, but he was gone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 3

 

Tiembe shivered as he walked through the drizzling rain. He looked up at the clouds and swore silently. “Can this day get any worse?” He asked himself. The clouds had looked gray and nasty all day, but he was hoping to get to the next town before it started raining. Things had been looking good until he got within sight of the town. Just as he’d stepped over the crest of the hill he’d seen the town lying there down below. He’d smiled. “Town means shelter for the night, and maybe even some food if I’m lucky.” He’d thought.

Tiembe had gotten used to living on the road, but it had been a while since he’d had to run from a home.

Tiembe’s reflections screeched to a halt and he shook his head. “I’m not running away.” He told himself. “Shay is better off without me… it’s because I love her that I…” He sighed. “…that I left her.” He said quietly.

Tiembe shook his head and began thinking back to how he’d gotten in this predicament. It was better than keeping his thoughts in the here and now, which was decidedly wet and cold.

When he’d seen the town below he could tell it was some distance away. “…probly an hour, no more.” He’d thought.

He’d guessed correctly, for now it was just coming up on an hour and he was nearing the main street of the small town.

What he hadn’t planned on was the torrential downpour that had soaked him to the skin in merely seconds. The clouds just seemed to open up out of nowhere, no sprinkles, no drizzle just the floodgates opened and Tiembe was drenched.

The rain had died off for a bit, but it was picking back up steadily.

Tiembe picked up his pace and ran down a sidewalk that ran down the left side of the main street. The rain picked up a bit more and Tiembe started running.

“Hey!” Someone yelled.

Tiembe turned his head and saw a yellow dog standing inside the open door of a barn just ahead.

“…in here!” The dog called.       

Tiembe didn’t have to be told twice. He turned and ran toward the door, skidding to a stop once he was inside.

The yellow dog pushed the door closed and walked over to him. “…goodness, you’re soaked!” She said with a smile. “…you poor thing.”

Tiembe smiled. “Aw, I’m alright.” He said. “I’ve been through worse.”

The dog walked in front of him. “You’re awful lucky I walked out to see how the storm was moving in. If I hadn’t you’d still be out in the rain.”

Tiembe nodded. “Thank you… um…” He paused. “What’s your name?”

The dog smiled and laughed. “My name is Tahnee.” She looked at the ground as her face took on a look of embarrassment and her yellow fur seemed to glow. “My mother would be disappointed in my lack of manners.” She said.

Tiembe smiled. “It’s alright.” He said. “My name’s Tiembe.”

Tahnee smiled again and looked up. “So what brings you to our town Tiembe?” She asked.

Tiembe sighed and lowered his head. “…old wounds opening up back home.” He said. “…it’s safer for me here.”

Tahnee nodded, the smile disappearing from her face. “I’m sorry to hear that Tiembe. It seems we have something in common.”

Tiembe looked up at her. “…oh?” He asked.

Tahnee nodded. “Yeah… see… I was involved with a bad group of dogs in this town some time ago, when I was a youngster…”

Tiembe smiled. “You don’t seem too old to me.” He said. “…to be referring to yourself as a youngster some time ago.”

Tahnee smiled. “I’m almost three Tiembe.” She said.

Tiembe laughed. “I’m a little younger than you… but not by much. I don’t think of myself as old.” He said.

Tahnee smiled. “Yeah, I guess I’m not that old…” She sighed. “…just feels like it I guess.”

Tiembe nodded. “I know what you mean.” He said.

It was silent for a bit and then Tiembe looked up at her. “…so, what happened?” He asked.

Tahnee sighed. “Well… I was mates with this dog… his name was Zander. He was a bad dog. He hit me all the time… and I put up with it for a while… but then I met Matthew.” She smiled. “…Mat.” She looked up and smiled. “Mat saved me… Zander said he’d kill both of us if we ever returned… Mat took me away from here… to a town in the west called Applegate. We lived there for a year… and then I got word that my mother was sick… Mat and I decided to come back, even though Zander was probably still around. My mother was more important to us…”

“What happened when you got here?” Tiembe asked.

Tahnee sighed. “…my mother passed on.” She said. “…old age I guess.”

Tiembe closed his eyes. “…I’m sorry Tahnee.”

Tahnee smiled slightly. “It’s alright Tiembe.” She said. “I got to sit by her side, at least I was here. I was a comfort to her.” She sighed. “…but that’s not all.” She paused before continuing. “Mat and I lived here for another year, and then… then one day his stomach hurt really bad and our owner took him to the vet… they found out he had stomach cancer. He told me later his father had died of it too. It was bad, and there was no hope for him… the doc gave him a few months… it took a few weeks.”

Tiembe shook his head. “That’s awful.” He said.

Tahnee nodded. “At first Max said he wanted to leave, to spare me the pain of watching him die… but I wouldn’t let him. I made him stay here. I wanted us to be together, whether he was sick or not.”

Tiembe nodded. “…but didn’t you know that it was going to be bad?”

Tahnee nodded. “…sure, I knew… but I loved him. There’s no way I’d ever abandon him.” She smiled and looked up, her eyes taking on a faraway gaze. “I sat with him every night… the pain got so bad he couldn’t sleep, so neither did I. It took a few weeks but finally… finally one of those nights he looked up into my eyes and said that he loved me, and that he was sorry for putting me through this. …he told me he would see me again some day, and then he laid his head on my shoulder… a few minutes later I couldn’t feel his breath in my fur anymore.”

Tiembe sighed. “I’m sorry to hear that Tahnee.” He said. “…that must’ve been a horrible experience.”

Tahnee nodded. “It was… but it was better than sitting up every night wondering if the dog I loved was okay, if he was dead, if he was in pain… at least this way I could comfort him. I could hold him close.”

Tiembe nodded.

“…ever have a mate Tiembe?” Tahnee asked.

Tiembe shook his head. “…I met someone… back home that I wanted to ask, but..." He sighed. "...she's better off without me there. I'm nothing but a burden to her."

Tahnee smiled. "I bet that's not true." She said. "I bet she misses you more than you know."

"I know she misses me." Tiembe said. "...I miss her too... but for me to be near her is to put her in danger."

Tahnee smiled again. "I bet she'd rather have you there and be in danger than have you gone." She said.

Tiembe sighed.

"I mean... I guess it's none of my business." Tahnee said. "...but I know that if my Mat had left me just so I'd be safe..." She paused and smiled.

"...well I'd be furious. I'd want him by my side no matter what that meant."

Tiembe nodded but remained silent.

Tahnee leaned close to him. "...what's her name?" She asked.

"...Shanaea." Tiembe said quietly.

"Ah, well Tiembe..." Tahnee said. "I'm not Shanaea, but I should think she probably feels the same way I do." She said. "...you do love her right?"

Tiembe nodded quickly. "...yes I do."

"...and she loves you?" Tahnee asked.

Tiembe nodded. "...she does."

Tahnee smiled wider. "Well then I'd say you have all you need."

Tiembe nodded. "Yeah, I guess we do." He said.

"Tahnee smiled. "You should go back to her."

Tiembe nodded slowly. "Yeah... yeah I guess I should."

Tahnee laughed. "...but I'd wait until this storm lets up." She said. "...you're liable to catch your death out there."

Tiembe nodded. "Yeah..." He said. He yawned.

Tahnee smiled. "You look tired Tiembe." She said. "You can crash here if you'd like."

Tiembe smiled and nodded. "I am awful tired Tahnee." He said. "...and thank you. I really have no where to go."

"Well now you do." Tahnee said. "...you can lay down in one of the stalls over there."

"...thanks." Tiembe said. He stood up and walked over to one of the stalls, falling heavily into the soft hay. He nuzzled his head into his soft fur and felt his breathing slow as he relaxed. He sighed. He hadn't realized how tired he was.

He closed his eyes and then felt a soft blanket pulled over his back. He opened his eyes and smiled.

Tahnee let the corner of the blanket fall on his neck.

"...thanks Tahnee." He said.

Tahnee smiled. "You're welcome Tiembe. I'm going to lay down too..." She yawned and smiled again. "I'm tired."

Tiembe smiled. "...sweet dreams Tahnee."

Tahnee smiled. "You too Tiembe."

Tiembe watched her walk over to the stall across from him and lay down. Then he closed his eye and drifted slowly away. He sighed. "...Shanaea..." He said softly. "...don't worry, I'm coming... home." He said. Then he drifted into blackness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 4

 

Achak awoke but kept his eyes closed. he was surprised to notice the absence a a warm body next to him. He opened his eyes quickly. They flashed with an instant alertness

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