Balto: As Good As It Gets

Written By: Anthony E. Rotramel

Started: 20070428

Finished: 20070629

Pages: 180

Words: 26,344

















© 2007 Anthony E. Rotramel. 
All Rights Reserved.

Note: This story was inspired by Balto, (© 1995), Balto II: Wolf Quest (© 2000) and Balto III: Wings of Change (© 2005) by Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment. The characters Angie, Gemeni, James, Fairbourne, Shanaea, Hans, Alai, Ebbie, Josh, Kodi, Dusty, Roger, Stephen, Mr. Harrme, Samm, Jack, Ki  and the events of this story are © 2005 by Anthony Rotramel. The other characters are © Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment.

Congratulations to Lonewolf_Fanwriter and Breeze Starbuck of baltosource, as contest winners, their characters: Jack and Halima are included within this story!
 
Warning! This fic is rated PG-13 for violence  and some  foul language. Reader’s discretion is advised.





















Prologue:


	A small brown dog ran through the blinding snow out of Streene, a small town just north of Applegate, Alaska. The images of what he was quickly leaving behind were still as fresh in his mind as the blood that coated his paws.
	“I didn’t want to hurt her.” He thought. 
	A tear came to his eye.
	“…why did I have to do that?”
	He thought back to the past. This was not the first time this had happened. There had been many before poor little Angie. 
Angie, whose deep brown eyes he’d fallen so desperately in love with only a few weeks ago. Angie, whose beautiful red coat had gleamed in the daylight and downright shimmered in the moonlight… Angie, whose throat his jaws had clamped down on not ten minutes ago… Angie, whose blood coated his paws and dripped from his muzzle… 
…Angie, who was no more.
	The small brown dog tried to shrug off the guilt and sadness he always felt  after he rendered these females harmless.
	“It was her or me…” he thought. “…and it sure wasn’t going to be me. I had to do it. If I hadn’t she would’ve taken over me. I could see it in her eyes… she said she loved me, but she really didn’t. I could tell by the way she acted, the treacherous little liar… and I almost fell victim to her trap… I must be more careful in the future…”
	He swallowed as he ran and a grim scowl came onto his face.
  	“…yes…” he thought. “…even though I loved her I only did what had to be done. She would’ve taken my very identity from me. I could feel her sucking my soul right out of me…it was self defense, that’s all…”
	The brown dog kept running from the town however, putting more and more distance between he and the slaughtered female, for even though he himself felt the killing was justified, the dogs of the town would not feel the same way. This he knew from past experience.
	The first time this had happened he’d tried to explain the danger to the dogs of his town, what felt like so long ago, but in fact was only about a year. It was only by luck and the help of a sympathetic party that he’d managed to escape with his life.
“…why’d you have to turn against me…” The dog thought. “Why’d you have to side with them, you saved me once, then tried to consume me yourself… why… why did you make me kill you…”
	It was a question he’d asked himself many times… but he’d never gotten an answer… the beautiful female who’d aided his escape from Fairbanks was dead, and the answer to this question, the dog supposed, had died with her.
	The dog quickly shifted his thoughts away from the painful memory of her to more important matters, like his current escape.
	“When they’ve realized that I’ve run away they’re going to connect me to Angie’s death… murder is what they’ll call it, and it won’t take long for them to get a team out looking for me. I have to find somewhere else before they catch up with me.”
	The dog came to a well traveled trail and turned, starting down it.
	“A trail like this has to lead somewhere.” The dog thought. “I’ll run down it until  come to a town, then I’ll stop there.”
	The dog continued down the trail, running through the falling snow…  



Chapter 1:

	“Hey Sis!” A gray and white dog said, bounding up the steps where a red and cream colored husky stood. “Ask Dad if we can go play.”
	The dog at the top of the stairs smiled.
	“Already Hans? We just got back.” 
	“…come on Sis, please?” The gray dog pleaded.
	The other smiled again.
	“Okay, Hans, okay, just no pouting.”
	Hans grinned. 
	“..deal.”
	“How come it’s always me who’s got to ask Dad, huh?” The other dog asked.
	“…because, Dad always listens to you.” Hans responded.
	“…whatever.” The other dog said, walking through the doggy door and into the house.
	“Hey Dad.” She said.
	Kodi looked up from his spot by the couch.
	“Hey Shanaea. What are you up to today?”
	“…not  much.” Shanaea responded. “Hans wants to know if we can go play.”
	“Hmm… well, you know we have to be ready for that night run lesson tonight. The musher expects all of us here. If you’re not he’ll be mad.” Kodi answered.
	“I know.” Shanaea said. “…but we’ll be back before that. We just want to play a little hide and seek.”
	Kodi smiled.
	“Well I guess as long as you’re back when the musher expects you to be I really don’t care.”
	Shanaea grinned.
	“Thanks Dad!”
	She nuzzled her father.
	“Just be careful alright?” Kodi said. “Remember to watch for cars and don’t go near the outskirts.’
	“We won’t.” Shanaea said. “…and we’ll watch for cars, I promise.”
	“Okay,” Kodi said. “You two have fun. Just make sure and be back when you’re supposed to. I don’t want the musher to get mad at you. Are your other siblings going too?”
	“I don’t guess so.” Shanaea said. “They’re still out with Josh.”
	“Okay.” Kodi said. 
	Shanaea smiled.
	“I’ll see you later dad.”
	“Alright.” Kodi said.
	Shanaea turned and stepped through the doggy door to the porch outside.
	Hans jumped in front of her.
	“So what did he say?” He asked excitedly.
	“He said it was okay, as long as we’re back for the lesson tonight.” Shanaea responded.
	“See?” Hans said. “…told you he always listens to you.”
	“…guess so.” Shanaea said.
	“Come on!” Hans called, bounding down the steps. “Race you there!”
	“Hans, wait up!” Shanaea called, running after her brother, quickly leaving her home behind.

	Shanaea walked carefully through the darkened streets. The sun had fallen and the bustling city that Nome was in the daytime had given way to the cold darkness of night.
	Shanaea thought back to what her father had told her earlier that day.
	“We need to getting back.” She thought. “The musher will be angry if we’re not back soon.”
	“Hans!” She called. “Hans come on, we’re going to be in trouble.”
	She looked around, and then stuck her head into the alley to her left.
	“Hans!” she called again. “Hans come on, I give up!”
	Shanaea started to walk carefully down the alley recalling with a burst of fear the darkened alley in her dream… the one she’d been having since she was a pup.
	“It’s nothing.” She told herself. “It’s just a dream. No sense in being scared of a bad dream. It’s just a nightmare, that’s all, a figment of my imagination.”
	A can overturned behind her and Shanaea stopped walking mid-way down the alley, whirling around to face the sound.
	She saw nothing but an old can rolling into the light in the center of the alley.
	“Hans?” She asked timidly.
	A growl came from behind her and she whirled around again.
	“Hans if that’s you this isn’t funny.”
	A dog stepped from the darkness into the light about twenty feet ahead of her.
	“Hans?” She asked, taking a tentative step forward. “Is… is that you?”
	The dog looked up and Shanaea gasped. 
	The dog’s eyes glowed red as the light gleamed off them. Whoever this was, it wasn’t Hans, of that Shanaea was certain.
	The dog growled again.
	“Hans… cut it out.” Shanaea said, her voice beginning to quiver with fear.
	The dog growled again and ran toward her.
	“Hans…” Shanaea said, the rest of the words caught in her throat as the dog leapt forward.
	Shanaea backpedaled, stepping on a can which sent her sprawling to the ground.
	As the dog closed the distance to her he leapt in the air.
	A burst of adrenaline hit her system and time slowed for Shanaea as the dog flew at her. She could see his gleaming teeth as he leapt at her, but fear had frozen  
Her muscles and though her mind screamed at her to move out of the way, she could nothing as he descended toward her.
	The dog hit Shanaea and sent her tumbling to the ground. The dog was on top of her and there was nothing she could do about it. She twisted and rolled, trying to get him off of her to no avail. Finally exhausted and tired she could do no more, and had done nothing to begin with.
	There was no doubt in her mind, the dog with the impossible red eyes was going to kill her.
	As she sat there, thinking of what must have happened to her brother, and what would soon happen to her, the dog stopped growling. She closed her eyes and waited for what she was sure would happen next…
	…but the attack never came.
	She opened her eyes. The dog still sat on top of her, but as she watched he started to smile, and then impossibly, to laugh.
	“Hans!” She yelled, as the dog stepped off of her. “Hans I’m going to kill you!”
	Hans just kept laughing.
	“You should have seen the look on your face.” He said. “It was priceless, absolutely priceless.”
	“Okay genius.” She said, irritation still evident in her voice. “How’d you do it?”
	“Do what?” Hans asked, still chuckling to himself.
	“Do what?” she asked. “What do you mean do what… make your eyes glow red you jerk.”
	“Oh that, good wasn’t it?” Hans said.
	“So?” Shanaea asked.
	Hans smiled. 
	“A magician never reveals his secrets.”
	“So what if I tell dad?” Shanaea asked. “You know what he told you about scaring me like that.”
	Hans frowned. 
	“Come on sis, that’s a dirty thing to pull.”
	“So was scaring me like that” Shanaea said.
	Hans sighed.
	“You promise not to tell?”
	“Yes.” Shanaea said. “I promise.”
	“Okay, okay.” Hans said. “Come here.”
	Shanaea walked over to him.
	“I found these in the trash near where I was hiding.”
	The young dog kicked a pair of red lenses on the ground.
	“What did you do with those to make your eyes glow?” Shanaea asked.
	“Geez.” Hans said, rolling his eyes. “Do I really have to spell it out like that for you?”
	“I’m sorry,” Shanaea said, the irritated tone entering her voice again. “I don’t make it a point to scare my siblings half to death with nonsense tricks.”
	She paused.
	“Now are you going to tell me or not?”
	“Why should I?” Hans asked. “lf you’re not smart enough to figure it out yourself...”
	Shanaea cut him off.
	“…maybe you’d like to explain it to dad better then, hm?”
	“Geez, still on that trip huh? Okay, watch.”
	Hans bent his head down and opened his eyes wide, closing them around the lenses, then he looked up.
	His eyes glowed bright red in the lamplight.
	“See? Are you happy now?” Hans asked.
	“…not really.” Shanaea said. “…but I suppose you held up your end of the deal, so I will too… I won’t tell dad.”
	“Gee thanks sis.” Hans said indignantly. “You’re such a pal.”
	“…maybe I should tell him then.” Shanaea said. 
	“No,” Hans said, sincere this time. “…please don’t.”
	“I won’t this time… but promise not to do it again.” Shanaea said.
	“Okay.” Hans said, a defeated tone in his voice.
	“Okay what?” Shanaea asked.
	Hans sighed.
	“Okay, I promise not to scare you again, happy?”
	Shanaea smiled. 
	“Yes I am.”
	“Can we go now?” Hans asked.
	“Yeah,” Shanaea said. “Yeah, we need to get back, we’re in for it as it is.”
	“Oh boy,” Hans said. “…just remember your promise.”
	“I’ll remember mine as long as you remember yours.” Shanaea said.
	Hans sighed.
	“…whatever.” 
	“Come on let’s go.” Shanaea said.
	The two of them turned and started to walk down the alley toward home.

As Shanaea neared her home she saw the rest of the team already standing in harness in front of the barn, the only one missing was her father.
“Uh oh,” she thought. ”if he went looking for us we’re in trouble.” 
She looked behind her at Hans; just then she heard her father’s voice. 
 “Shanaea, where have you been?”
Shanaea turned as her father walked up to stand in between them.
“I’ve been looking all over for you.” Kodi said. “I told you to be back.”
Shanaea sighed.
She’d promised her father they would be back. Suddenly she was very irritated at Hans. It had been his fault they were late, because of the little stunt he’d pulled on her.
“I’m sorry dad.” She said. “We would have been on time, but Hans…”
She stopped speaking as she looked at her brother.
“…you promised.” He mouthed silently.
Shanaea sighed.
“Hans did what?” Kodi asked, turning to face his son. “You haven’t been scaring her again have you? You know what I told you about that…”
Hans sighed and was about to speak when Shanaea cut him off.
“…no, no he wasn’t scaring me dad.” She said. “We were playing hide and seek and he tried to hide in a dumpster. He got stuck and couldn’t get out. I had to help him, and it just took too long to find him, that’s all.”
Kodi turned back to her.
“That’s all?” he said.
Shanaea nodded.
Shanaea glanced up at her brother.
“Thank you.” He said silently.
Shanaea nodded once and looked at her father.
Kodi turned to face his son.
“…that what happened Hans?” 
Hans nodded and grinned.
“Yeah dad I got stuck, that big ‘ole dumpster over behind the hotel, didn’t know how big that thing was ‘till I got in it.”
Kodi smiled.
“Well I’m glad you’re okay. I was beginning to worry about you when I couldn’t find you. You two get over to the team. The musher hasn’t come out yet, but he will soon, you got lucky, he hasn’t noticed you were gone, just be sure to be here when I tell you to next time, okay?”
“Yes Dad.” The children said. “We will.”
Kodi started to walk away, then he turned. 
“…and Hans?”
Hans stepped forward. 
“Yes Dad?”
“Stay out of dumpsters, hiding or not, those things are nasty, no telling what’s in there, okay? I don’t want you to get sick or something.”
“I will dad.” Hans said, starting to walk over toward the team.
Shanaea started to follow, but a voice stopped her.
“Hey Shay.” 
Shanaea turned, only one dog called her by that name.
A red and white dog stood behind her. He was almost a mirror image of herself, only slightly bigger.
“Hey Josh.” She said walking toward him. “What’s up?”
“You may have Dad fooled, but I can see what happened out there, why you were late. You’re still trembling.”
Shanaea sighed.
She’d promised Hans she wouldn’t tell… but Josh wasn’t their father.
“Yeah.” She said. “He got me good this time.”
Josh nodded. 
“I thought so.”
“Hey, don’t tell Dad though.” Shanaea added quickly. “I… I promised him I wouldn’t tell.”
Josh sighed.
 “I don’t know why you did that, but I’ll honor your promise… doesn’t keep me from talking to him though does it?”
“I guess not.” Shanaea answered. “He didn’t say anything about you.”
“Then I’ll talk to him.” Josh answered. “He doesn’t need to do that to you, especially with your dream… by the way, you still having that dream?”
Shanaea nodded, and a chill came over her.
“Yeah…” She said. “…course Hans scaring me all the time doesn’t help I’m sure.”
“…’probly not,” Josh said. “Don’t worry though I’ll talk to him, okay?”
Shanaea smiled. 
“Okay, thanks Josh. I appreciate it.”
Josh smiled and the two of them started walking toward the waiting team.
“Don’t worry about it.” Josh said. “I may only be a few seconds older than you, but you’re still my little sister, and I don’t like things that make you uneasy or scared… I’ll take care of it. That’s what I’m here for.”
“Well don’t hurt him or anything.” Shanaea said.
“I won’t.” Josh said, “…but I think it’s past time for the two of us to have a heart to heart talk about family and loyalty.”
Shanaea nodded and stopped walking as they reached the waiting team.
“…better take your place.” Josh said. “The musher will be out soon.”
Shanaea nodded again and walked to her place behind Josh, beside Hans.
Dusty turned around from her place beside Josh.
“Everything okay sweetheart?” She asked.
Shanaea nodded. 
“Everything’s fine Mom.”
Dusty smiled.
“Good.”
“Are you okay?” Alai asked from behind her.
“I’m fine.” Shanaea said.
“Are you sure?” Ebbie asked from her place behind Hans. “You’re shaking.”
“I’m fine.” Shanaea said. “It’s just that we’re going out at night… in the dark, that’s all. You all know how I feel about that.”
“You’ll be fine.” Kodi said from his position as lead. “Everyone will be fine. It’s good clear weather out and the route we’re taking isn’t that long, an hour to an hour and a half at most okay?”
Shanaea nodded and took a deep breath.
“I don’t see why you’re so scared of the dark anyway.” Hans said beside her. “There’s nothing out there to be afraid of. You can’t be a sled dog and be afraid.”
Shanaea sighed, irritation rising within her.
Even after she’d lied to her father to keep him out of trouble not ten minutes ago he was still a jerk. 
 “Oh yeah?” She thought. “How about I tell everyone why we were really late then jerk, how about I tell them about scaring me, even after Dad threatened to take you back behind the barn and whip you senseless if you kept it up huh? How about I just tell them that? Then who would be afraid?”
…but she had promised, so she remained silent.
“Knock it off Hans,” Kodi said. “I’m a sled dog and I’ve been afraid many times in my life. Fear develops into respect, and respect keeps you alive.”
He looked up at Shanaea and she smiled at him.
“Dad’s going to defuse the situation as usual,” Shanaea thought. “Thanks Dad.”
“Uh huh, sure.” Hans said. “I’m sure we all need to respect the dark, just go on respecting it then Shanaea. After all, if you don’t respect it it may hurt you someday.”
He started laughing.
Kodi’s smile disappeared and he gritted his teeth. He started to say something, but instead turned to Dusty.
“Dear… I really don’t want to do this now.” He said.
“Hans!” Dusty yelled. “That’s enough. You heard your father. You’re almost a year and a half old now. It’s time for you to grow up and stop acting like a pup. You hear me? …and don’t you ever mock what your father says like that again, understand? Now dear, I’ve kept him from doing what he wants to do to you for quite a while now. You’re my son, and I don’t want to see you hurt. Mothers have a natural patience with their children, and thank Aniu I have an exceptional one, because otherwise you probably couldn't walk most of the time, let alone pull this sled with the rest of us. …but Hans you’re starting to wear even my patience thin, I’ve a mind to let your father whip your smart little tail and see if that won’t help, ‘cause being kind sure doesn’t seem to. Do you hear me?”
Hans looked at the ground.
“Hans! Dusty yelled. “I said do you hear me?”
“…don’t you dare ignore your mother.” Kodi cautioned.
Hans’ cocky attitude had, by now, vanished completely, and he was embarrassed at the outburst he had caused from his mother. 
Dusty was usually very quiet. She was loving, and cared for her family more than anything in the world. She would give her life without a second’s hesitation for any of her children, or her mate. She’d lost all of them once, one stupid act had almost spelled certain doom for her family. Not a day went by that she didn’t thank Aniu for the second chance she’d been given. Yes, usually, Dusty was very quiet and reserved, but when she blew up, she blew up, and almost always with good reason, and usually at Hans, the youngest of the group by almost two minutes. He had a mean streak in him that neither she nor her mate had been able to calm yet. Dusty was secretly afraid for her son, afraid of what the path he’d made for himself would do to him later in life.
 Hans nodded.
“Hans!” Kodi yelled. “…speak when you’re spoken to.”
“Yes mother.” Hans said meekly.
“Now apologize.” Dusty said. 
Hans sighed and turned to Shanaea. 
“I’m sorry sis.” He said, rolling his eyes. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“Hans.” Kodi said calmly. “Don’t say it unless you mean it son.”
Hans sighed again.
“Okay, I’m sorry sis.” He said.
“It’s alright.” Shanaea said.
“No it’s not.” Kodi said. “It’s not alright, it’s wrong and very, very mean… this isn’t done mister, when we get back and have some time, you and I are going to have a long talk.”
“Okay.” Hans said
“Hans?” Dusty said.
Hans sighed again.
“Yes sir.” He said.
“Well now that we’ve probably managed to wake up the entire town with that little spat how about we get ready for the musher.” Kodi said.
He turned around, and the family was soon talking again, the outburst forgotten. Kodi didn’t say anything, but he was disturbed by something that Hans had said, or rather what he hadn’t said.
He thought back to the events of just a few moments ago.
“Now apologize.” Dusty had said.
“I’m sorry sis.” His son had responded “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“Hans, don’t say it unless you mean it son.” He’d said.
Now this was the part that bothered him. When his son had responded, he sighed and then said…“Okay, I’m sorry sis.”
When Hans had been instructed not to say it unless he meant it, he’d left out the “I didn’t mean to hurt you” part. Did that mean that Hans really had meant to hurt his sister with his words. Was it possible that his son might harbor some sort of malicious feelings toward his sister? 
“It certainly would explain a few things.” Kodi thought. “…but if that’s true the problem is much worse than I thought. I’d been hoping that maybe this was something that he would grow out of soon, the leftovers of childhood or something, but if he’s harboring some kind of anger toward his sister it could be that he’s more grown up than I thought. He could get dangerous if he’s not corrected. Mature anger or hatred is much worse than that of a child.”
Kodi sighed.
“Yes we’ll have to nip whatever it is in the bud, and soon. We’ve got to make sure to tear this out by the roots before it blossoms into something uglier than it already is…”
The only question in Kodi’s mind was how to do this.
Dusty shrugged off her harness and walked up to stand at her mate’s side.  She could tell there was something wrong by the way Kodi was carrying himself.
“Are you okay dear?” She asked.
“No sense in scaring her with unfounded accusations.” Kodi thought.
“Yeah,” Kodi said. “Yeah I’m fine.”
Dusty frowned and leaned her head against his shoulder, nuzzling his neck.
“No you’re not.” She said softly. “What’s wrong?”
“…should’ve known that one wouldn’t work.”  He thought.
Kodi sighed.
“It’s just Hans is all.” Kodi said. 
“I thought it might be.” Dusty said, nuzzling him again. “He’ll be fine, don’t worry. He’ll come around, he’s just not mature yet, that’s all, and he loves the rise he gets out of his sister, the attention it gets him.”
“You ever get the feeling that he might love it too much?” Kodi asked.
“What do you mean?” Dusty asked.
”I mean did you ever think that he actually was trying to hurt his sister, that he wasn’t trying to anger Shanaea, get a rise out of her or anything, but actually to hurt her?”
Dusty frowned and shook her head.
“No, I’ve never seen anything like that.”
“Well…” Kodi started to say, but he looked around and stopped, realizing how close in proximity he was to the rest of the family.
“Well what?” Dusty asked.
“We’ll talk about it later Dusty.” Kodi said. “When our conversation can be more private.”
Dusty nodded. 
“Okay, but we will talk about it. Something is really troubling you.”
Kodi nodded.
“I’m just scared for him is all. I love him, even if he is a little rascal.”	
Dusty smiled and nuzzled him again.
“…of course you love him.” She said. “He’s your son.”
Kodi nodded.
“…and nothing he could ever do will ever change that.” Dusty said. “He’ll always be our son.”
Kodi nodded.
“Yes he will be.”
Dusty smiled.
“…feel better now?”
Kodi grinned back at her.
“Yeah, yeah a little, thanks Dusty.” 
“You’re welcome.” Dusty said. “That’s a mother’s job you know.”
“…but you’re not my mother.” Kodi said.
Dusty laughed softly.
“I may as well be.”
“…and what’s that supposed to mean?” Kodi asked.
“…nothing dear, just messing with you.”
Kodi laughed. 
“I’ll get you back you know.
Dusty smiled.
“I know.”
Just then the musher came out of the house.
“Hey team!” Mr. Harrme said. “Sorry I’m late, let’s get going shall we?”
The dogs began barking as Mr. Harrme walked around the team, clipping the guidelines to the harnesses.
Kodi felt the familiar weight of the sled settle on his shoulders.
He looked back and a thrill of adrenaline ran through him, the feeling that always came over him when he led a team, but along with that, came a surge of pride, pride in his family, his team.
Mr. Harrme climbed up on the sled and pulled the snow hook from the ground. He carefully coiled the line so that it wouldn’t get tangled and stuck it in the bag on the rear support of the sled.
“Ready team?” Mr. Harrme said.
The dogs all started barking, eager to get underway, even Shanaea was ready to go, straining at her harness, all fears of the dark unknown forgotten now, forgotten in the sheer ecstatic joy that was pulling a sled.
“Hike! Hike! Hike!” Mr. Harrme yelled. 
Kodi leapt forward and the team surged ahead, quickly gaining speed as they raced through the darkened town toward the plains.  


Chapter 2	 

On the plains a brown dog stumbled over one of the many hills on the horizon. He rolled until he reached the bottom, and then he then he struggled to stand against the surging wind.
The storm had come out of nowhere. When the sun had went down it was clear, then about a few hours later, the wind had begun to blow and the smallest snowflakes began to fall.
The brown dog thought back to where he’d been when he’d felt the first snowflake on his nose…

A brown dog walked quickly down the sidewalk. 
It had to be tonight. He’d messed up, already he could feel his self control draining away when he was with Julie. He’d let her get too close, gotten too complacent in the fact that the entrapment he usually felt when dealing with these females wasn’t present with her. It wasn’t that she was different like he’d first thought, it was that she was more crafty than the others. Even with his experience she’d managed to get by his emotional alarms… but finally one had triggered within his mind, he’d noticed the first changes a few days ago. 
He no longer felt that he could do without her companionship. He felt he had to be near her every moment of the day, and on the third day he’d come to a startling realization. 
He was no longer whole without her. 
Only one other time had such a thing happened to him, back when he didn’t know any better he almost lost himself to the first female he’d known. Her name was Samm and he had loved her dearly… and he’d almost paid for it with his soul. He’d come dangerously close to losing himself to her, and he’d promised himself it would never happen again, yet it almost had, and he didn’t even feel he loved Julie as much as he had Samm.    
…but it didn’t matter, though he’d let his guard down before, it was up again now, and no doubt the little terror thought he was still under her spell… 
“…this should be fairly simple.” He thought. 
As he neared the alley where he’d told her he would meet her, he started creeping.
He reached the alley and looked around, seeing that the coast was clear he stepped into the alley, his veins flooded with adrenaline at the thought of what lay ahead. 
He saw her before she saw him.
He walked up to her and she said his name, flashing the beautiful smile that had drawn him to her in the first place.
Her smile disappeared real fast after he leapt at her, his open jaws catching only her leg as she spun around to try to get out of his way.
The familiar salty taste of blood filled his mouth as he landed on the ground and rolled, taking Julie down with him.
She started to scream, but he clamped his paw over her mouth and rolled on top of her.
He looked down at her, at her widened scared brown eyes. 
She started to whimper and he took his paw off her mouth. Tears filled her eyes and she said his name again… 
“…why are you doing this?” She asked. “You hurt me.”
Indeed he had hurt her, the bite to her leg had been sufficient to tear through to muscle, and the roll had almost torn the joint from its’ socket.
“You’d have done the same to me...” He said. 
“What?” Julie asked, pain evident in her voice as she continued to struggle beneath him. “What are you talking about?”
“You’d have taken my soul, it’s too bad it turned out this way, I really do love you.”
“You’re insane.” Julie said. “What you’re saying makes no sense.”
Then she did the last thing he wanted her to do.
She screamed.
“HELP ME!” She sobbed. “SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!”
It took a moment for the fact of what she’d done to sink in to him.
As she called out again, he viciously tore into her exposed throat.  
 Her scream turned into a wet gurgle as he tore deeper into her throat, until he reached bone.
He pulled his head up and got off of her, watching Julie twitch and squirm.
He’d done far too much damage to her for her to be able to scream anymore, though she tried, not much sound came out.
Her white fur had quickly turned a deep crimson as her blood gushed from the horrible wound, over her chest, shoulder’s and face to pool in the snow beneath her.
Her blood covered him as well, and he stumbled back, horrified at what he’d done.
”…what I’ve been forced to do.”  He corrected himself.
He watched as Julie’s struggles slackened, then stopped completely. The only sign she was still alive was the rapid up and down heaving of her chest as she struggled to breathe through lungs filling with blood. 
Then there were her eyes.
The eyes were always what got him.
Those big frightened, accusing and pain laced brown eyes.
“I’m so sorry Julie,” he said, tears came to his eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
He walked over to her and laid down beside her, cuddling up close to her.
By this time Julie was already too far gone to comprehend much of what he was saying, but he kept talking anyway, possibly as much for his own benefit as calming the once beautiful, dying dog..
“I didn’t want to do it Julie, I really didn’t. Why did it have to be this way? I love you… but I couldn’t let you do that to me… please, understand that had you not done this… I never would have hurt you, I promise.”
Julie turned her head to look at him, and though he had done this to her, strange comfort was better than no comfort at all in these last few moments.
With great effort she laid her head on his shoulder, looking up at him, pain, confusion, and fear etched across her features.
Tears were pouring down his face now as he looked at Julie, at what he had done to her.
“God, I’m so sorry Julie, please forgive me, please… I don’t want you to die… I love you. If I could save you I would…”
A vision from the past rushed back to him, as it always did in times like this.
A beautiful red and white husky lying in a pool of her own blood, struggling to breathe, even  as Julie was now.

“Why’d you do this?” The female’s sweet voice gurgled.
“I don’t know…” He heard himself say. “Oh God I’m so sorry.”
The beautiful female struggled to crawl over to him and he backed away, horrified at what he’d done to her.
She made it over to him and pulled him down beside her, laying her head on his paws.
“I love you, I always have, and always will, no matter what you’ve done.”
The beautiful female’s blue eyes swelled with pain and fear. 
“Hold me…” She said.
He wrapped his paws around her blood covered shoulders and held her close as a violent tremor shook her body.
She looked up at him.
“I… I love you.” She said.
Then her eyes went dull as her body slackened against him.
He held her body close and cried…

The vision ended and he looked down at Julie. 
Her eyes had that familiar look to them, the dull look that means that the life within has flared and went out.
He shrugged her off of him and stood, feeling weak, almost unable to stand.
He turned and saw someone standing there at the head of the alley.
“Hey you, what are you doing?” The yellow dog said, walking forward.
“Is that… oh God… Julie…”
The brown dog sighed.
“Damn… “

	The dog came back to the present, the howling wind tearing at his fur, feeling as though it would tear it from his body.
	He’d been lucky to get away from there. He’d been attacked by over twenty dogs, and he didn’t know exactly how he’d managed to get away, but he had…
 	…but he was hurt, and hurt bad, he knew.
	One of the dog’s had bit him on the neck, and he’d thrown the dog off, but as the attacker fell his teeth had torn a large gash that had ripped down the side of his neck, to about half of his shoulder… the wound was still bleeding and the dog knew that if he didn’t get help soon he would most likely bleed to death… and there didn’t seem to be much help around.
	Slowly the dog struggled to his feet.
	He’d never given up before…
”…and I don’t plan to start now…”  he thought. “I’ll just have to continue on… it won’t be easy, but who said life was supposed to be easy…”
He laughed softly at the old line and struggled on through the howling storm.



   
Chapter 3

	Kodi and his team burst over the horizon, led on by Mr. Harrms calls.
	“Lead on, lead on, Hee boy!” 
	Kodi obediently turned to the left, following the musher’s commands. They were headed east now, back towards home. As of yet the journey had not met with incident, and Kodi was ready to get home. Thinking about his son during the entire one hour journey had made him very tired, and very ready to find some sleep soon.
	Suddenly it was there, on the right, and Kodi had no time to stop or swerve, though he tried. 
	It was a large rock jutting out of the snow, black against a black sky. He hadn’t hit it, it was too far to the right of him, but Josh had to jump over it and barely succeeded.
	Shanaea had no idea what hit her. 
	One moment she was running full out, the next something loomed right in front of her.
	She saw Josh leap over it, but even as she tried to herself she knew she’d never clear it.
	The next moment she was rolling, having slammed into the rock, and the sled skidded sideways, slammed into the rock and soared toward her. Shanaea knew if she couldn’t get out of its’ way she was as good as dead. 
	She rolled to the left of it and the sled caught her a glancing blow to the shoulder. She felt something snap and then she was rolling again, rolling faster as she was thrown down the hill. She bounced and rolled on the snow over ten times before she hit a rock jutting out of the side of the hill. 
	Shanaea’s vision exploded into white starbursts as she hit the rock. She vaulted over it and rolled head over tail down the hill, taking out a small bush.
	She felt the branches of the bush scrape through her fur, and then she was through it, rolling down the steep hill once more.
	She saw the tree just a few seconds before her head slammed into the side of it, throwing her sideways again.
	Her vision had went black, her consciousness gone, by the time she slid to a stop at the bottom of the hill, nestled in the small valley she’d rolled into…

	Kodi stood up from the snow and groaned. The musher was already up and checking on the dogs. They all seemed to be all right.
	Kodi looked over and saw Dusty lying on the ground nearby.
	“Dusty!” He called.
	His mate raised her head, shook it and looked at him.
	“What happened Kodi?” Dusty asked.
	“I don’t know.” Kodi said. “We must have hit that rock and rolled the sled.”
	He paused.
	“Are you alright?”
	“Yeah I think so,” she said, standing slowly. “How’s everyone else?”
	“I’m fine mom.” Josh said beside her.
	“So am I.” Hans said, walking up beside her.
	“We’re good back here.” Alai called, helping his sister Ebbie to her feet.
	“Well that’s everyone except Shanaea.” Dusty said. 
	In the snow she couldn’t see that her daughter was missing.
	“Shanaea?” Dusty called. “Shanaea dear are you okay?”
	Silence answered her.
	“Shanaea?”
	“Shay?” Josh said, turning around. “Uh oh.” He said.
	“What uh oh?” Kodi said. “I don’t like the sound of that.”
	He slipped out of his harness and walked back to Josh who bent down, grasping his jaws around the secondary and tertiary guidelines.
	They were broken…
	“Oh no.” Kodi said.
	“What is it?” Dusty asked, slipping out of her harness as well and running the few feet to her mate’s side.
	She gasped when she saw the guideline. 
	“Do… do you think she’s alright?” Dusty asked.
	“I think she should be.” Kodi said. “No one else was hurt.”
	“Then why doesn’t she answer us?” Dusty asked.
	Kodi sighed. 
	“She may have rolled a long ways down that hill… I’m going to go look for her. She probably can’t hear us for the wind.”
	Dusty nodded. 
	“I’m coming with you.”
	“No you’re not.” Kodi said. “You need to stay here with the rest of the tea… the family.”
	Dusty nodded.
	“Please bring her back Kodi.”
	Kodi smiled.
	“I’m sure she’s okay. I’ll be back in a bit, okay?”
	  Dusty nodded.
	“Hurry.”
	“I will.” Kodi responded.
	He started to walk away, but Dusty’s voice stopped him.
	“Kodi…”
	He stopped and turned.
	“What is it Dusty?”
	“I love you.”
	Kodi smiled.
	“I love you too Dusty. I’ll be back soon, don’t worry. I’ll find her.”
	Dusty nodded and Kodi took off, following the marks the sled had made in the snow as it slid until he came to the rock.
	“Shanaea!” He called. “Shanaea are you there!”
	Nothing but the howling wind answered him.
	Kodi sniffed the rock and picked up his daughter’s scent. 
	Any normal dog probably would have been lost in this situation, without any idea where to search or where Shanaea might be… 
	…but Kodi was no ordinary dog, he was part wolf.
	“Shanaea I’m coming for you!” He called. “Hang in there sweetheart!”
	Then he started down the hill, following the trail.		

	Shanaea was walking through a darkened alley in the dead of night.  She recognized it; the alley was in between the restaurant and the hotel back in her home of Nome.
	She looked around. The alley was in the outskirts of Nome, a place known to be home to some of the more dangerous denizens of Nome.
	“What am I doing here?” She thought.
	Then she remembered.
	”I’m looking for someone…”
	She looked around, but could spot nothing familiar looking.
	Then she saw it.
	A hole in the side of the hotel… a dark hole…
	Shanaea shivered.
	She’d always been scared of the dark.
	Whoever she was looking for must have been important to her, for she disregarded her fears and ducked quickly into the hole.
	She couldn’t see anything, nothing.
	 She could feel the dampness of the long vacant room, could smell the musky air, but she couldn’t see anything.
	Fear suddenly flooded her system. If someone was out there… she’d never be able to see them.
	She started to make her way to the light of the hole she’d entered fro, the only light that she could see.
	Suddenly she froze.
	A deep growl came from the darkness.
	Her heart started beating more rapidly and she ran toward the light, but something slammed into her side and sent her rolling in the dark, slamming into a wooden desk, knocking the breath from her.
	She started to stand, but a sudden weakness came over her. She didn’t know what it was caused by.
	After a few minutes she made it to her feet, and then she found out why she felt weak.
	She slipped in the blood on the floor, her blood, the blood that was pumping steadily from the side of her neck.
	Fear overpowered her pain, and she stood again, trying to run, but only able to half shuffle toward the light.
	It seemed much further away than it had before, and with every step it seemed to get further away.
	With a jolt of fear Shanaea realized that the hole wasn’t really getting further away, but rather she was unable to keep walking at the pace she had been… her dying brain was confusing the image…
	A dark shadow stepped across the hole, the shadow of a dog.
	It growled, and then laughed.
	“I’m sorry Shanaea,” It said, it’s voice echoing off the walls, so that it was distorted beyond recognition.
	She struggled to keep her eyes open as her head got nearer and nearer to the pool of blood that was quickly forming under her, it had become almost impossible to hold up her head… she was so weak. The figure walked closer, closer, closer…

	Shanaea woke with a start.
	She jumped up, and then sat down very quickly as she put weight on her right foreleg.
	“Ouch,” She thought. ’What happened… where am I?”
	Then she remembered her erratic descent of the hill to her left.
	”…or was it to the right?” She asked herself.
	“Oh no, I can’t remember… how am I going to find my way back to the team?”
	She took a deep breath and stood slowly, hoping her leg wasn’t broken.
	Though it hurt, she found that it would support her weight and knew it probably wasn’t broken.
	She’d busted up the side of her head pretty badly when she’d slammed into the tree during her roll down the hill.
	The wind was blowing, and it had started snowing more than before, the temperature had dropped to near dangerous levels.
	“I’ve got to get home.” She thought. ”I’ll freeze to death if I stay out here much longer, and I’ll never just stumble upon the team in this storm…”
	She looked around and decided to walk out the bottom of the valley, from there she should be able to find her way home.
	Shanaea took a few steps forward, and then she realized then that she was dragging something.
	She looked behind her and saw the guidelines dragging in the snow behind her, still fastened to her harness.
	Then she remembered trying to dodge the rock, the sled tipping and rolling at her, and her narrow brush with death…
“The wreck must have been pretty bad
to tear the guidelines like that…” She thought. 
“I hope everyone’s okay.”
She debated for a moment leaving the team, her family behind when they could be inured, but finally came to the realization that her chances weren’t good of finding them in this storm, and she could do them much more good by getting herself home than walking around looking for them ‘till she froze to death.
Shanaea sighed and started walking south, traveling down the valley.	

	Shanaea had been walking for almost fifteen minutes, her head was starting to hurt more and her leg had grown stiff with the cold.
	The valley was much longer than she had thought.
Suddenly through the blowing snow she saw a dark form lying in the snow.
Her first thought was that maybe it was one of her siblings, injured in the wreck as well, then she thought about how far she’d come since the wreck. 
“Unless they had the same plan I did and tried to walk out of the valley it can’t be one of them. …and if it is, they must be injured pretty badly because they didn’t make it.”
She ran toward the figure, thoughts of her family, of how much she loved them, and how much she hoped they were okay rushing thorough her mind.
As she neared the dark figure she realized that it wasn’t any of her family. It was a brown husky.
She stopped beside him and knelt down at his side.
The husky was hurt, and hurt bad from the look of it. He was covered in blood. There was a large open wound that ran from his neck to the middle of his shoulder.
She thought he was dead, and almost stood up and walked away, but then to her surprise he breathed.
“He’s alive!” She thought.
She gently shook him, and he coughed. Then his eye’s opened slowly.
She smiled at him.
“Hello.” 
He blinked a few times, and then his eyes locked with hers.
“Samm?” He asked… “…am… am I dead?” 
Shanaea shook her head. 
“No, no you’re alive, and my name is Shanaea, I don’t know who Samm is.”
He blinked a few more times and looked at her again.
“Oh, I’m sorry, my vision was blurry. I thought you were Samm… how did I get here?”
“I don’t know.” Shanaea said. “I was pulling a sled and we had a wreck… I was trying to get home, and I just happened to find you… are you okay?”
“…not really.” He said, wincing as he tried to sit up. 
“What happened to you?” Shanaea asked.
“A… a wolf got a hold of me.”
“A wolf?” Shanaea asked. “That’s strange. Are you sure? We’re pretty far from any wolf territory.”
“Look,” the dog said. “I’m not going to debate that fact, but believe me it was a wolf.”
“Okay.” Shanaea responded. “Is he still around?”
“I don’t think so.” The dog said. “I ran away. I remember feeling light headed, and then rolling… then I woke up here.”
The dog paused.
“You’re beautiful.”
Shanaea smiled, embarrassed at this unexpected comment.
“Thank… thank you.”
The dog smiled.
“What’s your name?” Shanaea asked.
“Tiembe.” The dog answered. “My name is Tiembe.”
“Where are you from?” She asked.
“I’m from Applegate, well, recently anyway, I kind of move around a lot.”
“Oh, that sounds exciting.” She said.
“Yeah,” the dog said.
“Can you walk?” She asked.
“I don’t think so.” The dog said.
He paused.
 “Where are you from?”
“Nome.” Shanaea answered.
“That’s not too far from here is it?” The dog asked.
“No, it’s about a twenty minute walk.” Shanaea said.
“Twenty minutes… I can’t make it that far.” The dog said.
“Well I’m not going to just leave you here.” Shanaea asked.
“Why not?” Tiembe asked.
“…well… because you need help, and you seem like a nice guy.” Shanaea answered.
“Thanks.” Tiembe answered.
Shanaea smiled. 
“So,” Tiembe said. “Why don’t you tell me a little about Nome.”
“Okay.” Shanaea answered.
As the wind continued to blow snow around the two of them, Shanaea began to tell him about her family and friends and her home in the small town of Nome, Alaska.

	Shanaea had long since stopped talking, and Tiembe had fallen asleep on her shoulder.
	They’d moved to the shelter of a hollowed out tree almost two hours ago.
	“He seems like a nice enough guy,” She thought. “I hope he’s okay to travel in the morning, maybe we can both make it back to Nome then.”
	“Shanaea?”
	Her ears perked up as she heard the familiar voice.
She stood and walked a short distance outside the tree.
“Dad?” She called. 
She tried to discern some kind of movement through the blowing snow, but it was difficult.
“Shanaea, stay where you are. “ The voice said again. “I’m coming to you.”
Shanaea stood there, and soon she could see him. Her father was covered in snow from his trip to find her.
“Shanaea!” He called, running through the deepening snow until he stopped by her side.
“It’s good to see you sweetheart. I thought you might have been hurt.”
Shanaea smiled. 
“I am a little, but I’ll be alright, nothing serious.”
“So you can walk?” Kodi asked.
“Yeah.” Shanaea said, “yeah, I can walk.” 
“Well then let’s get back.” Kodi said. “The rest of the family is going to be worried sick about us.”
“Okay.” She said. “Oh, dad, can we take him with us?”
“…him?” Kodi asked. “…him who?”
	“Tiembe,” Shanaea said. “I found him when I was walking down the valley.”
	“I don’t know.” Kodi said. “The musher doesn’t much like strange dogs.”
	“He’s hurt.” Shanaea said.
	“…bad?” Kodi asked.
	Shanaea nodded.
	“What happened to him?” Kodi asked.
	“He says he was attacked by a wolf.” Shanaea answered.
	“This far north of Nome?” Kodi said. “This is Talbourne territory. They wouldn’t have attacked him without good reason.”
	“I know.” Shanaea said. “…but that’s what he says.”
	“Really?” Kodi said. “Can he walk?”
	Shanaea shook her head. 
	“It took almost thirty minutes to get him into that dead tree.”
	“So how do you suppose we get him back then?” Kodi asked.
	“I’ve been thinking about that.” Shanaea  said.
	“…come up with an idea yet?” Kodi asked.
	“Actually yes.” Shanaea said. 
	She shrugged off her harness and held it up in her teeth.
	“You think we should drag him?” Kodi asked.
	Shanaea nodded.
	“…only thing I could come up with.”
	“It’ll be a long trip.” Kodi said.
	“If we don’t help him he’ll die.” Shanaea said.
	Kodi nodded and sighed. 
	“Okay, you want to introduce us?”
	Shanaea smiled. 
	“Sure.”
	She walked over to the tree and ducked inside; walked over to the sleeping brown dog and shook him gently, waking him up.
	“Hey Tiembe, wake up.”
	“What is it?” He asked, yawning. “…something wrong?”
	“No,” Shanaea said. “My father tracked me hear. He’s here and we’re going to take you back to the sled with us.”
	“How do you propose to do that?” Tiembe asked weakly. “I can’t walk.”
	“I know.” Shanaea said. “We’re going to use my harness to drag you back. My father wants to meet you.”
	“Okay,” Tiembe said. 
	Shanaea turned. 
	Hey dad, over here,” she said.
	Kodi walked over to the tree.
	“Hello,” Kodi said. “I’m Shanaea’s father.”
	“How are you doing sir?” Tiembe asked, struggling to his feet.
	“I’m good, thanks,” Kodi said. “You look like you’re having a bad day.”
	“Yeah,” Tiembe said. “I got attacked by a wolf.” 
	“That’s what my daughter tells me, can you walk?”
	Tiembe shook his head.
	“No, I can’t.”
	Kodi nodded.
	“Okay, I can see that with your injuries. Do you want some help?”
	“I’d appreciate it sir.” Tiembe said.
	“Okay,” Kodi said. “I’m afraid that the method of help my be somewhat painful for you. The only way we’ve got to get you back to the sled is to drag you in Shanaea’s harness.”
	“Well I don’t have much of a choice, it’s either that or die out here.” Tiembe said. “I think I can handle a little pain.”
	Kodi nodded.
	“…alright.”
	He picked up the harness and slung it over Tiembe’s shoulders, tugging the straps to tighten it.
	Tiembe winced slightly as the straps came in contact with his wounds.
	“Sorry,” Kodi said.
	“It’s fine.” Tiembe said. “I’ll just have to deal with it.”
	He slowly lowered himself to the ground and laid on his side.
	“…you going to be alright?” Shanaea asked.
	Tiembe nodded. 
	“…thanks to you.”
	 Shanaea smiled.
	“You ready Shanaea?” Kodi asked.
	“Yeah.” She responded.
	“…well then let’s get to it.” He continued.
	“Okay.” Shanaea said.
	She and Kodi knelt down and picked up the broken straps of the guideline in their mouths. Then they started the long trip back to the stalled team and their family, the injured Tiembe in tow.

	The wind whipped around Josh’s fur as he continued the argument he’d been having with his mother for the last ten minutes.
	“…but he’s been gone too long.” He continued. “I’m going after him. What if he got hurt or… or attacked or something?”
	“You’re not going anywhere Josh.” Dusty said. “Your father is fine. He’s been in this situation many times…”
	Dusty thought of one time that was worse this one… of the storm she’d foolishly wandered off into trying to search for Kodi back before they were mates.
	Kodi had saved her then; saved her from that horrid storm.
	She had almost frozen to death out there, and would have had Kodi not found her and got her to shelter.
	“…and even a few that were worse than this.” Dusty continued. “He’s fine. All that you’ll gain by going out after him is probably getting lost and having to be rescued by him.”
	“How can you be so sure?” Josh asked. “…and what about Shay? Two dogs can search better than one, what if she’s laying somewhere hurt or something?”
	“Your father will find her.” Dusty said. “Josh I know you’re concerned for your sister, and I am too, but we won’t do ourselves any good by walking out into that storm after your father told us to stay here. I learned that the hard way, and almost paid for it with my life.”
	Josh sighed.
	“I don’t like it.”
	“I don’t either.” Dusty said. “…but that’s the way it is.”
	Josh sighed again and nodded.
	“Alright Mom.”
	Dusty smiled and walked over to her son.
	“He’ll be alright.” 
	“…and Shay?” Josh asked.
	Dusty sighed.
	“…we can only hope…”
	“…yeah.” Josh said.
	Dusty nuzzled her son.
	Just then they heard a howl and Dusty jerked her head up.
	“…is that…” Josh started, but his mother cut him off. “…Kodi!” She said.
	Kodi appeared out of the blowing snow dragging something.
	“…Shanaea?” Dusty said.
	She started forward, but then her daughter appeared beside Kodi.
	“They’re dragging another dog.” Josh said.
	Dusty turned and did a mental head count. All of her other children were present.
	“They must have found someone else.” Josh said.
	“…must have.” Dusty said under her breath.
	The two dogs stopped dragging the dog as they neared the team and Kodi barked.
	Mr. Harrme raised his head from where he’d been sleeping on the sled.
	“Kodi?” He said.
	He got up and walked over to the two dogs.
	“I knew you’d find her boy.” He said, patting him on the head. “You’re a good leader.”
	He turned back toward the sled.
	“Well, let’s get back to it boy. It’s just a short run back to town.”
	Kodi barked and tugged on the harness.
	“What ya got there boy?” Mr. Harrme asked, walking over to him.
	“Oh my, he’s hurt isn’t he boy?”
	Kodi barked again.
	“…he’s not one of ours… but I suppose we can’t leave him out here alone. Something really go a hold of him… come on boy, we’ll load him up and take him to Doc. If anyone can help him Doc can.”
	He looked at the harness again.
	“…wait, this is one of ours.”
	He looked at Shanaea.
	“…yours huh girl?”
	Shanaea barked.
	“…looks like you’re riding then.” He paused. “You okay girl? Your head… well, we’ll have Doc take a look at it when we get back, for now, get up on the sled and I’ll get your friend here.”
	Kodi walked over to the team and took his leader position.
	“Is she okay?” Dusty asked.
	Kodi nodded.
	“She’s a little banged up, but she’ll be fine.”
	“…good.” Dusty said. “I was getting worried.”
	“…took me a while to find her.” Kodi said.
	“Who’s the other dog?” Dusty asked.
	“I don’t know.” Kodi said. “…someone she found while she was trying to get back to the team. He’s hurt real bad, we had to drag him back.”
	“I’m glad you’re okay Kodi.”
	Kodi smiled.
	Mr. Harrme picked up the brown dog and set him on the sled. 
	Shanaea scooted over to him and let him lay his head on her shoulder.
	“Thanks for saving me.” He said.
	She smiled.
	“You’re welcome.”
Mr. Harrme climbed on the back of the sled.
	“Ready boy?” He asked.
	Kodi barked.
	“Hike! Hike! Hike!” Mr. Harrme called.
	The sled jerked forward and they were off, racing toward the distant town of Nome.

	



































Chapter 4
	
	Fairbourne walked through the snow covered woods, a red and white dog at his side. They were hunting for something…
	“Do you see anything Jason?”  Fairbourne asked.
	“No.” Jason said. “What are we doing out here. We’re wasting our time. I could be training now, and instead we’re doing this nonsense. Where’s the target? Let me know what it is, I’ll kill it and we can move on without all this waiting and whatnot.”
	Fairbourne smiled.
	“Jason, you must learn to be patient. Rushing into a situation is the best way in the world to get killed. You want to see your enemy before he sees you, even if it means walking the long way, three hours around a mountain. It will pay off.”
	“…whatever.” Jason said.
	Fairbourne slapped him in the side of the head. It was a blow of reprimand, but it still rattled Jason’s senses.
	“Pay attention Jason.” Fairbourne said. “You have to pay attention if you expect to kill Balto. This is a lesson you need to learn.”
	Jason nodded. 
	“Sorry sir.”
	“It’s alright,” Fairbourne said. “…but try to fight your impatience; it will be your undoing if you’re not careful.”
	Jason nodded.
	“So where’s the target?” Jason asked.
	Fairbourne tossed his head toward a bunch of vines and bushes in the nearby forest. 
	Jason smiled.
	“…be back in a few…”
	Fairbourne smiled.
	“He has no idea what’s in there…” he thought. “Will he pass this test? Probably not the first time, but eventually I think he will, he’s a natural born killer that boy. I’ll have to thank Balto sometime for sending him to me… before we kill him that is.”
	Fairbourne laughed.
	
	Jason ducked into the bushes, mind bent on killing whatever was in here… but he stopped.
	A small pup sat whimpering and shivering in the cold.
	She stared up at him.
	“What the…” Jason thought. “This… this can’t be the target.”
	He looked around.
	“…Fairbourne can’t want me to…”
	Jason backed slowly away from the pup and walked quickly back out of the bushes and over to where Fairbourne stood waiting.
	“Is it done?” Fairbourne asked.
	Jason shook his head.
	“The target wasn’t in there.”
	“Hmm… that’s strange,” Fairbourne said. “I could’ve sworn I put the little thing where you could find it…”
	“So the target is the pup then.” Jason said. 
	Fairbourne grinned.
	“Yeah kid, she is.”
	Jason shook his head.
	“I can’t sir, I can’t kill a pup.”
	Jason expected an outburst from his teacher at this refusal to obey an order, but Fairbourne surprised him by remaining calm.
	“What do you mean?” Fairbourne asked. “Why can’t you?”
	“…because,” Jason said. “It’s just not right. She’s a child, she can’t even defend herself against me.”
	“She’s an enemy.” Fairbourne said. “…regardless of age or experience, she is the target, and she must die. Balto was your friend wasn’t he?”
	Jason nodded.
	“So what are you going to do when your feelings tell you not to kill him,” Fairbourne continued. “…when he’s lying helpless at your feet and you must make the final blow… will you be able to do it? You’ve got to bury your feelings and emotions, you cannot feel for your enemy. That will get you killed, because you will fail to act, and they will not. You must not think of your enemy as a person, as anything other than a target that has to die, that is all… the circumstances don’t matter, understand?”
	Jason nodded.
	“Yes sir.” 	
	“Now, kill the target.” Fairbourne said.
	Jason turned and walked back into the vines and bushes.
	The pup was still sitting there whimpering, too scared to move.
	She was small, probably only a few months old, this would be very easy… 
	“…but it’s still wrong.” Jason began to think. Then he stopped himself.
	“…no, she’s a target, nothing more.”
	He lunged at the small pup and she screamed.
	
	Jason walked out of the clearing a few moments later, a small, very tattered dark gray from hanging from his jaws. 
	He walked over to Fairbourne and threw what was left of the cute little pup on the ground in front of him.
	Fairbourne smiled.
	“…you’re doing well son, you passed the test.”
	Jason nodded.
	“Thank you sir.” He said
	“Head back to the cave, we’ll get some breakfast there.”
	Jason nodded and began to walk off.
	Fairbourne watched him.
	Jason’s face, chest and paws were covered in blood, so much so that he left crimson tracks in the snow as he walked away.
	Fairbourne looked down at the pup, or what was left of it anyway. Jason had mauled the little female so badly that had Fairbourne not seen her before hand, he wouldn’t have known what it was.
	“Yes, he’s good.” Fairbourne thought. “He gave in to his hatred, and it made him stronger. He has surpassed even my expectations… yes, soon he’ll be ready, soon Balto will pay for what he did to Meesha.”
	Fairbourne chuckled to himself.
	“Balto, you picked the wrong wolf to mess with. I’ve tracked you all this way, and I will see you die for what you did to my clan and my mate.”
	Fairbourne smiled.
	“Yes, Balto you will pay, and I will stand there and watch as you breathe your last…”
	Fairbourne laughed again and took off after Jason, leaving the small mutilated body in the snow.

Shanaea opened her eyes.
	“Where am I?”  She thought. 
	Then she remembered passing out last night, about the time that they reached Nome.
	Apparently she’d been hurt worse than she’d realized. Her head started to throb, and she realized that it was wrapped in a bandage, as was her right foreleg.
	She yawned and realized that there was someone nestled up against her shoulder.
	Shanaea looked down and saw Tiembe sleeping, his head against her sholder. He had stitches from his shoulder to half-way up his neck.
	Though the stitches looked bad, he looked a lot better than he did last night. 
Doc had washed all the blood off of him and dressed a few other small wounds, and he looked much better this morning.
Shanaea smiled and tapped him on the head with her paw.
Tiembe’s eyes fluttered open and he smiled.
“Shanaea?”
Then he tried to jump up, suddenly realizing where he was.
He fell to the floor and winced.
“I’m sorry Shanaea, I guess I was just tired and…
Shanaea smiled.
“It’s alright. I don’t mind.”
“You don’t?” He asked.
She shook her head.
“No, it’s fine.”
He smiled.
“…feeling better this morning?” 
She smiled back at him and nodded.
“…you?” 
He nodded and yawned.
“I was worried about you last night.”
“Oh, and why’s that?” Shanaea asked.  
	  “…last night, as we came into town you passed out, I had to keep you from falling off the sled.”
	“I don’t remember that.” Shanaea said.
	“Doc said you had a concussion.” Tiembe said. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
	She smiled.
	“Yeah, I’m fine.”
	“…good.” Tiembe said.
	He yawned again.
	“…tired?” Shanaea asked.
	He nodded.
	“Yeah, haven’t slept well in a while.”
	“Well I’ll let you get some sleep then.” Shanaea said.
	Tiembe nodded. 
	“Thanks.”
	He laid down about two feet from her and curled up, ready to fall asleep.
	Shanaea stood and her vision swam.
	“…got to be careful about that.” She thought, as she struggled to remain balanced.
	Slowly Shanaea walked over to Tiembe and laid down beside him, resting her head on his back.
	He looked at her and smiled.
	She smiled back at him and yawned.
	The two dogs closed their eyes and soon they were both drifting off to sleep.

	









Chapter 5


Dash was walking through the woods, thinking of June. She was sick, and had been for some time. 
	Dash was getting older and he was coming to realize that life was passing him by at an incredible rate.
	He’d done a lot in his life, trading the easy luxurious life of a pet in Nome for the hard and dangerous life of a wolf in the wild. 	He had no regrets, not of the many times he’d been forced to kill in the defense of his pack, not in anything. 
	He’d come to realize that if death knocked on his door, he was ready, and he would face him with a steady gaze.
	Dash was thankful for all that he’d been able to enjoy, his family, his pack, his life, and he lived every day as if it were his last, something he’d realized was sometimes all too true for a wolf in the wild.
	His thoughts turned to Shasta then.
	“…odd,” He thought. “I thought I’d dealt with that.” 
	Though he would never truly forget her, he hadn’t thought of her for a while now.
	There were good memories there, things that made him smile. The birth of his children was a big one… but then a tear rolled out of his eye as the memory of her murder at the paws of Steele and Shade surfaced… 
	Dash shook his head and cleared his mind of the memory. 
	This was no time to get sentimental. He couldn’t afford to be distracted by thoughts of the past.
	He looked behind him at the wolves who were following behind him.
	“Strange,” he thought, “when I was a pup if you’d told me that eight years later I’d be leading a group of wolves on a search and destroy mission I’d have said you were insane.”
	Dash’s mind drifted back to the mission at hand. 
	The clan had been getting attacked regularly here lately by a small group of guerilla warriors. They were wolves, Dash had seen the three that had been killed the night before, but they were very good, and very fierce fighters. Those three never gave up, even after they’d been told to surrender. The three of them attacked thirty of the Talbourne’s security force.  
	“…suicide.”  Dash thought. “To their credit they fought well, and to the last, never giving up… they were well trained… but they attack in such small groups, almost as if their only intent was to harass us.
	Whatever their intent, Saba now had them all out scouring the countryside trying to locate and eliminate the small forces.
	Dash thought she was leaving the cave too undefended, but she hadn’t asked his advise, and it wasn’t his place to tell her any different. She was an Alpha, he was a soldier. He took orders.
	It was still strange for Dash to think of his little sister as his Alpha. 
	He was also worried.
	Saba had performed well in times of peace, but she had very little experience when dealing with war and conflict. Saba had not chosen this path when she was young, she still had the “pet” mentality sometimes.
	Aleu had grown up in the care of these wolves, had been their leader for a long time, and they would follow her to the death, but Saba… Saba didn’t have much experience, and especially with the cunning this new enemy had shown he was afraid she might not measure up.
	Dash sighed and stepped over a branch, careful not to make a sound.
	“…I hope everything goes well…” He thought.
	Suddenly he froze.
	There was a single wolf out there, in the clearing ahead.
	The other wolves sensed the change in their leader as he went into kill mode, shifting from a concerned Lieutenant to a leader focused on one thing and one thing only, the elimination of the enemy.
	The wolves knew the routine, and had rehearsed it well. They fanned out and moved into a crescent formation.
	Dash turned and nodded once, then ran toward the intruder, catching the wolf off guard and slamming him to the ground.
	Dash was on top of the wolf in seconds.
	“Who are you?” Dash demanded.
	“…does it matter?” The wolf asked, a shocked look on his face.
	“It does if you want to remain in one piece.” Dash said coldly.
	“Okay,” the wolf said. “I’m a traveler, just wondering around, looking for a home actually.”
	“What clan are you from?” Dash asked, still not trusting the stranger.
	“I used to be with the Highland Clan, out by the coast, they were massacred though, a bit at a time, by some small groups of wolves. I was tracking them when…”
	The wolf stopped and a pain filled look came over his eyes.  	 
 	Dash knew that look.
	“Okay,” Dash said. 
	He stepped off of the stranger and the wolf got to his feet.
	“Sorry about the rough reception.” Dash said. “We’re searching for the very wolves you spoke of, they’re attacking our clan as well.”
	“They made it this far inland already?” The wolf asked.
	Dash nodded.
	“…apparently so, at least a cell of them have. What do they want?”
	The wolf shrugged. 
	“I don’t know, to kill it seems.”
	Dash nodded.
	“You said you were looking for a home?”
	The wolf nodded.
	“…mine was taken from me.”
	Dash nodded again.
	“I’m sorry friend.”
	The wolf sighed.
	“…yeah.”
	“I can take you back to our clan if you’d like. It’s hardly safe to be out here by yourself, and if you like it, I’m sure we’d accept you.”
	The wolf smiled. 
	“I’d like that very much.”
	“My name is Dash,” Dash said. “…and you are?”
	“Jack.” The wolf said.
	Dash smiled.
	“We’re only about ten miles from the cave Jack. We’ll take you back there.”
	Jack nodded.
	“Thank you Dash.”
	“Hey Ami?” Dash said.
	A small gray female ran up. Though she was small, Ami had to be one of the fiercest fighters Dash had seen, and her loyalty was unquestionable. He’d quickly chosen her for his second in command within the unit.
	“Yes sir?” She asked, walking over to him.
	“How many times do I have to tell you Ami? it’s Dash.”
	“…at least once more sir.” Ami said.
	Dash smiled.
	“I want you to take command of the unit, lead them on around the circle, and then bring them back to the cave. I’m going to escort our new friend here to the cave, alright?”
	“Yes sir.” She said.
	“Good, get to it.” Dash said.
	Julian returned to the unit and began giving them the order to move out.
He turned to Jack.
	“If you’ll follow me I’ll lead you there.”
	Jack nodded. “Thank you again.”
	“No problem.” Dash said. 
	Then he began to walk away, the new wolf trailing slightly behind.
	Kodi ducked under a low hanging branch laden with snow and hopped over the log in front of him.
	"...so," Jack said, following beside him. "you... uh... don't look like a natural wolf Dash... I mean, no offense or anything, but... are you?"
	Dash smiled.
	"No, I'm not one hundred percent wolf, I'm half husky."
	"Ah..." Jack said. "...so, um... how'd you get in with these wolves?"
	Dash sighed.
	"...actually Jack, I'd prefer not to go too far down that road..."
	Jack nodded. 
	"...it was a girl... wasn't it?"
	Dash nodded.
	"....and you've since lost her, hm?"
	Dash looked up surprised and nodded. 	"How can you tell that?"
	Jack sighed. 
	"I recognized the look on your face... mine holds it as well."
	The wolf paused.
	"How long has it been for you Dash?"
	Dash sighed.
	"I guess... almost two years now. ...seems like yesterday I fell asleep beside her for the last time..."
	"If you don't mind me asking, how'd it happen?" Jack asked as the two continued through the woods.
	Dash sighed again.
	"...Shade took over a husky from the nearby town of Nome... and... and she was murdered by him."
	"I'm truly sorry." Jack said.
	Dash smiled briefly.
	"...thanks."
	The two walked in silence for a moment.
	"Hey Jack, how long has it been for you?" Dash asked.
	Jack sighed and Dash saw a sadness there that he could identify with all too closely. 	"...three days." Jack said.
	Dash stopped walking.
	"...three days?" He said. "It... it happened three days ago?"
	Jack nodded.
	"Damn..." Dash said. "...I'm... I'm real sorry Jack. I.... I didn't know."
	Jack smiled slightly. 
	"I didn't really expect you to."
	"How'd it happen?" Dash asked.
	Jack sighed and thought back to that horrible day...

	"Hey Jack!" Kami called. "I'll race you to the rocks ahead!"
	She took off running and Jack smiled.
	He thought back to when he'd met Kami what seemed like decades ago, but was really only about four years past.
	Since then he'd realized that he'd only been half a soul without her.
	She made him complete, gave him purpose... as the sole survivors of their clan they also carried hope for the Highland Clan. They'd learned of the news only days after departing their home by the ocean for the shelter of the mountains in the interior of the great state of Alaska.
	Kami was expecting.
	This thought filled Jack with joy, because for the last four years he and Kami had tried to have children, and they had failed... but now it as going to happen, he was going to be a father.
	He looked back up from his reverie to see Kami almost three hundred yards ahead of him. Having climbed the rock pile, she now stood on top of it and howled triumphantly.
	Jack smiled.
	"Where does she get her energy?" He asked himself.
	When the Highland Clan had been all but wiped out Jack had almost lost hope.
	...but now he realized that as long as he had Kami, the world could turn out alright after all...
	A single shot pierced the silence of the forest, and Kami's howl caught in her throat as she tumbled off the back of the pile of rocks.
	For a moment Jack just stood there, stunned, unable to believe what had just happened...
	...then he was moving, and moving fast, running toward his mate.
	"That did not just happen..." He thought. "Kami fell, that's all... she'll be getting up and laughing when I round this corner. She has to..."
	...but as Jack rounded the corner, reality slammed into him like a freight train, demolishing any thoughts of hope he might have had.
	Kami lay on the ground. She tried to stand, but had little luck in this effort, so she made it up on her forelegs and drug herself over to Jack's side.
	He looked at her dumbstruck.
	...at the blood that covered her side...
	...the look on her face...
	...at the pain in her eyes...
	He knelt down beside her, his mind still not fully comprehending that he and his mate's time had suddenly been cut drastically short.
	Kami laid her head on his shoulder as a tear ran down her face.
	"I'm... I'm so sorry... sweetheart." She said. "This... this is my fault... I should have been more careful."
	Jack shook his head and nuzzled her, unable to speak.
	"I... I love you Jack." She said.
	Jack found his voice then and tears started to fill his eyes as he realized what was happening.
	"Oh.. oh God... I... I love you too Kami, so very, very much."
	Kami started to cry then, and Jack couldn't help himself... he cried with her.
	"...Jack... please... hold me." Kami said.
	Jack nodded and Kami leaned heavily on his shoulder, burying her face into his fur.
	Jack wrapped his forelegs around her and held her.
	Kami joined Aniu in paradise almost two hours later.

	Jack's mind snapped back to the present as he finished the story and he hung his head.
	"...wow." Dash said. "That's awful... I'm really sorry buddy."
	Jack nodded.
	"...but she's with Aniu now, and... well, it might sound cold, but I don't think there's any point in killing yourself over things you can't change."
	Dash nodded, remembering his reaction after Shasta's death.
	"So what have you done since?" Jack asked.
	"I found another mate." Kodi said. "...about a year ago."
	"Really?" Jack said. "I can't bear the thought of being as close to someone as I was to her... I just, I can't risk losing someone that close again... I don't think I would  survive."
	"I didn't like the idea at first either, in fact I thought that I would be abandoning Shasta if I did... but I eventually realized that she wouldn't have wanted me to grieve forever, Shasta would have wanted me to move on."
	Jack nodded, then shook his head.
	"I see the logic in what you are saying Dash, but I don't think I'll ever be able to follow it."
	"...give it time." Dash said. "...eventually the hurt will subside."
	"...so there's no instant wonder cure for a broken heart, huh?" Jack said, a half smile creeping onto his face.
	"...'fraid not." Dash said with a sigh. "I guess time is the only healer there... but, would you really want her passing to not  hurt?"
	A confused look crossed Jack's mind.
	"What do you mean by that Dash?"
	Dash stopped walking.
	"Well... the reason it hurts so bad to lose her was because the two of you were so close... but... well, even though it hurts to lose her... isn't it worth it to have shared life's experiences with her?"
	Jack nodded.
	"I see what you mean, and I guess... well, when you put it that way... it makes sense."
	Dash sighed.
	"...look... I'm always around the cave, if you ever need to talk to anyone..."
	Jack smiled.
	"Thanks Dash, I really do appreciate  it."
	"You're welcome." Dash said. "I know I needed to talk to someone... anyone after... after Shasta..."
	"That her name?" Jack asked.
	Dash nodded.
	"Yeah."
	"It's a pretty name." Jack said.
	Dash's eyes took on a faraway look as he slipped into the past... 
	"...yeah... a pretty name for a beautiful wolf."
	Dash smiled slightly.
	"...course if June heard me say that..."
	"That's your new mate isn't it?" Jack asked.	
	Dash nodded.
	"We both lost our mates to Shade and Steele... and I guess something brought us together."
	Jack nodded.
	"Has it helped?"
	Dash sighed.
	"...sort of." He said. "I mean... I'll never be able to forget Shasta... but I'm happier than I was when I was alone, and I don't think of it often... I... I almost killed myself when I lost her."
	Jack nodded.
	"I did too."
	Dash smiled.	
	"Jack, we're almost to the cave, if you want to meet Aleu..." Dash caught himself. "... I mean, Saba, our Alpha, I'll take you to see her.
	"Thank you very much Dash." Jack said.
	"...not a problem." Dash said.
	As they exited the dense forest Jack saw the cave, and the two wolves walked toward it.


CHAPTER 6

	Shanaea and Tiembe were having a great time. They’d both been released from Doc’s the day before and Shanaea had spent all day yesterday showing him around.
	Everyone seemed to accept him and Shanaea was glad. She wanted him to stick around. In the few days they’d spent together she’d become quite attached to the young dog.
	Thins morning the two of them had left town early and set out for the hills.
	Now, many hours later, they were as far from Nome as Shanaea had ever been.
	Shanaea ducked as Tiembe leapt at her, but she didn’t duck quite low enough, and he collided with her shoulder, sending her sprawling to the snow.
	The two of them rolled down the hull until finally, when they stopped, Tiembe was on top of her.
	Tiembe didn’t understand exactly what happened to him then. A strange feeling came over him as he stared down into her blue eyes.  
	Though he couldn’t remember ever making the decision to do so, he suddenly found his head alongside hers, his nose rubbing gently across her cheek.
	Shanaea closed her eyes and nuzzled him back.
	After a few moments, just as unconsciously as it had begun, the moment was over, and Tiembe was again staring into her eyes.
	Shanaea smiled and Tiembe smiled back. He stepped off of her and Shanaea climbed to her paws.
	She walked over and nuzzled him again.
	The smile was still on her face and Tiembe was confused b the unfamiliar feelings that were coursing through him now.
	“…what is it?” He asked.
	“…what is what?” Shanaea asked.
	“You look like you’re going to burst.” Tiembe said. 
	“…don’t you feel it too?” Shanaea asked.
	“I feel something.” Tiembe said. “I don’t know quite what though… I’ve never felt like this before.”
	Shanaea looked right at him and for that brief moment Tiembe felt that she saw past his face and to his very soul. It seemed to him that her gaze cut through all his personal armor. The layers and layers that he’d built up for himself fell apart under her ice blue eyes. Though he knew that she couldn’t possibly read his mind, he felt she could see him for all he was, that she could see what he’d done.
	Even more confusing to Tiembe that this feeling was the next…
	...he was afraid.
	Fear coursed through his veins. Fear that she would somehow know about his past.
	Now, this was not unusual. He always felt afraid when his deeds were uncovered. What was unusual, and the fact that confused him the most, was what he was afraid of.
	He wasn’t afraid of having to leave Nome, nor was he afraid of the town’s probable reprisal.
	He was afraid that if this female found out about his past she would leave him alone once more.
	“Tiembe…” Shanaea said.
	She stopped and hesitated.
	“What Shanaea?” Tiembe asked.
	Shanaea looked down and then looked back up at him.
	“Tiembe… I think I’m falling in love with you.”
	“Is that what this feeling is?” Tiembe thought. …could it be love?”
	His mother had told him about love, but she’d never mentioned the icy fear he felt right now.
	Then again, he didn’t remember much about his mother… or what had happened to her. One day she was just gone… and Tiembe never saw her again.
	“I… I think I’m falling in love with you too Shanaea.”
	He said.
	“…you can call me Shay.” Shanaea said, smiling again. “So, you going to be sticking around?”
	Tiembe smiled back at her, and the two of them started walking through the forest again.
	“Yeah I think so.” Tiembe said. “I really like Nome, seems like a good bunch of dogs.”
	Shanaea nodded.
	“Yeah, they are.”
	The two walked through the snow covered forest in silence for a few minutes.
	Shanaea looked up just in time to see the northern lights split the evening sky, blanketing the orange glow with a wave of color.
	“We’d better be heading back,” Shanaea said. “It’s going to be dark soon, and we’re a long way from home.”
	Tiembe smiled.
	“Why not just spend the night out here?”
	Shanaea sighed.
	“Tiembe… if I tell you this, you’ve got to promise not to laugh at me, promise?”
	Tiembe nodded.
	“Sure Shay, what’s wrong?”
	“I’m… um… scared of the dark.”
	Tiembe frowned.
	“…why’s that?”
	Shanaea sighed again.
	“Well… I have this dream… have had it ever since I was a pup… in the dream I’m attacked and killed… and it’s dark.”
	Tiembe nodded.
	“Okay Shay, we’ll get headed back.”
	Shanaea sighed.
	“You don’t think it’s stupid to be afraid of a dream?”
	Tiembe shook his head as the two turned and started back the way they’d come.
	“No Shay, not at all. If it’s important to you, it’s important to me too.”
	Shanaea smiled.
	“Thanks Tiembe.”
	“You’re welcome Shay.” He said.
	The two walked through the woods as the northern lights continued to spread across the orange hues of the northern sky.
	
	The following morning Tiembe stood inside the abandoned shed he’d been living in for the past few days. Once he and Shanaea had been released from doc’s she had offered to let him stay with her, but he had refused. 
	…not because he didn’t like her, on the contrary, Tiembe liked Shanaea very much…
	“…maybe too much.” Tiembe thought. “It’s always when I get close to them that they turn on me. I… I love her, but… I don’t want to hurt her… and I’m afraid she will force me to…”
	Tiembe sighed.
	“What are you doing?” A familiar voice said.
	Tiembe turned and saw a beautiful black and white husky standing there behind him. Her coat was black and white, and she had green eyes.
	“…Mom?” Tiembe said.
	The dog nodded and walked around in front of him. 
	“What are you doing here?” Tiembe asked, though he already knew the answer.
	“That female you’ve met, what’s her name?”
	Tiembe sighed.
	“….Shanaea.” He said.
	“Yes, that’s the one.” Ki said. “You are getting too close to her dear. She will consume you if you’re not careful.”
	Tiembe shook his head.
	“I’ll not do it this time mother.” He said. “I’m not going to kill Shanaea.”
	Ki sighed.
	“I know it’s hard Tiembe, being the only one to know the truth, to be the only one to really see what these females do to others… but it’s a gift… it’s your job to take care of them… if you don’t, then who will?”
	“I don’t know, and I don’t care.” Tiembe said. “I… I love her.”
	“Love?” Ki said. “What do you know of love?” 
	Tiembe sighed.
	“…not much really… but I know that I can’t kill her… to do that would be like killing myself.”
	Samm smiled.
	“My, my, aren’t we dramatic?”
	Tiembe glared at her. 
“No, I’m serious mother, I won’t do it.”
“…we’ll see…” Ki said. “You can fight who you are Tiembe, but you’ll never be able to win.”
Tiembe sighed, for he knew what his mother said was true…
	
Josh was at that moment walking down the alley behind the shed that Tiembe had chosen as his temporary home.
“…at least I hope it’s temporary…” Josh thought.
Shanaea’s older brother got a very bad vibe from his sister’s new friend, and much to his horror, Shanaea seemed to be falling in love with the homeless husky.
“…am I being overprotective?” Josh thought. 
The last thing he wanted was to hurt his sister, but something just didn’t feel right about that dog… he couldn’t explain it, but it was true all the same.
Just then Josh heard someone talking in the shed, and talking loudly.
“…it’s Tiembe.” Josh thought. “Shanaea?”
Josh ran to the side of the shed and lept up on some crates that let him see through the window.
What he saw inside puzzled him.
Tiembe was pacing back and forth in the middle of the room, and he was yelling… but no one else was there.
Josh put his ears to the glass in an effort to hear what Tiembe was saying.
The voice was broken up because of the glass, but what came through, came through all too clear.
“…I….not…kill… Shanaea… rescued… and … love… won’t kill her.”
	Josh jerked his head back in surprise.
	“…Shanaea’s in danger.” He said to himself. 
	Just as he prepared to jump down and rush off to warn his sister, he heard a growling sound and turned quickly, expecting to see his sister had entered the room, but no, it was still only Tiembe.
	He was now growling and tearing at the air.
	“…I knew it.” Josh said to himself. “I knew it… I’ve got to find Shay.”
	Josh took off running down the alley.
	“She’s never going to believe me…” Josh thought.
	…something was seriously wrong with Tiembe.

	Tiembe growled and lunged at Ki, knocking her to the floor and taking her throat in his jaws.
	“Tiembe! What are you doing!” She screamed at him. “Let me go! When have I ever steered you wrong?”
	Tiembe stopped growling and slowly relaxed his jaws, letting Ki slide to the floor.
	He sighed.
	“I’m sorry mother… I just…”
	He sighed again and paused.
	Ki stood up slowly, stretching herself out. 
	“I… I love her.” Tiembe said. “…can’t we let this one go… what if I leave Nome forever?”
	“…and what if she hurts someone else?” Ki asked.
	“I don’t care!” Tiembe said… “I… I just can’t hurt her.”
	Ki nodded.
	“…fine, what if she comes after you?”
	“…well then… then I guess she means to hurt me… and I will do what I must.”
	Ki nodded curtly.
	“Fine, that’s the deal then… we give her a chance… one chance.”
	Tiembe nodded.
	“…deal.”
	Tiembe turned to walk away.
	“Where are you going?” Ki asked.
	“I’ve got to talk to her.” Tiembe said. “I can’t just leave, that would hurt her… and me.”
	“…but Tiembe what if she…” Tiembe interrupted her. “…no buts on this one mother. I’m going.”
	Ki sighed as Tiembe exited the empty shed.

	Josh had switched directions almost five minutes ago and was now headed to the old mill instead of to the shed where Shanaea would likely be.
	He could see the towering form of the old mill now and knew it would be only minutes until he could speak to Blaize about what he’d heard.
	Josh clambered up the steps, hoping against hope that there would be something Blaize could do…

	Tiembe walked slowly down the sidewalk.
	He’d grown to love this small town. The dogs here were friendly, and as soon as Shanaea had introduced him to them they’d accepted him with open paws.
	“That’s never happened anywhere else I’ve been...” Tiembe thought. “It’s always been… Tiembe the scary new guy, or Tiembe the outcast… here I was accepted.”
	Tiembe sighed and continued walking down the sidewalk noticing with a glance forward that he was drawing near to the barn that Shanaea called home.
	He glanced around again.
	“Yes, I’m definitely going to miss this place…”
	“Tiembe?” A familiar voice called.
	He looked up and smiled as Shanaea’s familiar form darted out of the shed and up to his side.
	“How are you today?” She asked, nuzzling him.
	“…fine.” He said. “…you?”
	She smiled.
	“…great now that you’re here.”
	“Shanaea!”
	The voice was the only thing that warned her before she was slammed away from Tiembe to land on the icy sidewalk.
	She turned her head and saw Josh standing over her.
	“Josh!” She cried. “What are you doing, are you insane!”
	Josh helped her back up. 
	“No I’m not Shanaea,” he said. “…but your new boyfriend is.”
	“What are you talking about?” Shanaea asked. 
	“Shanaea, back away.” Another familiar voice said. 
	Shanaea turned to see Blaize and Astarre walking up to her followed by her mother and father.
	“Shanaea come over here.” Kodi said, stepping forward.
	“…please listen to him dear.” Dusty said.
	“What’s everyone talking about?” Shanaea asked.
	“You’re in danger Shanaea.” Blaize said. “…now step away.”
	Shanaea looked back at Tiembe who sighed and hung his head.
	“What are they talking about?” Shanaea asked.
	“Shanaea…” Tiembe started.
	“He’s going to kill you.” Josh said.
	Shanaea couldn’t help herself, and she started to laugh.
	“What?” She said. “Kill me? …Tiembe? Where’d you come up with this Josh?”
	“He’s telling the truth Shanaea.” Blaize said. “He told me himself.”
	Shanaea couldn’t believe what she was hearing. The idea that Tiembe would kill her was ludicrous…
	“…but Blaize wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t true…” Shanaea thought.
	Tiembe saw the change take place in her eyes; the shift from love and protection to fear and sadness.
	He sighed and stepped forward.
	“Shanaea…”
	“Don’t come any closer Tiembe.” Blaize said stepping forward in front of Shanaea.
	“I haven’t done anything.” Tiembe said.
	Blaize glared at him.
	“You’re right Tiembe, you haven’t, yet. That is why you have one chance, leave this town now, leave and never return and you will not be punished by us.”
	Tiembe sighed.
	“Can I talk to her?”
	“No,” Blaize said. “…get out of here Tiembe before I change my mind.”
	A tear ran down Tiembe’s face.
	“I… I never would have hurt you Shanaea.” He said.
	“Go, now!” Blaize said.
	“...I was coming to tell you goodbye… so… goodbye Shay…”
	He turned and began to walk away, slowly.
	“…don’t let me catch you here again Tiembe.” Blaize said. “…on penalty of death.”
	Tiembe turned, and locked eyes with Shanaea, hoping to see some shred of doubt in her eyes… but what he saw cut him to the core…
	Shanaea turned away as the tears continued to stream down her face.
	“I never wanted to hurt her…” Tiembe thought.
	Then he turned and ran.

	



Chapter 7

Jack walked up the many steps of the Talbourne’s cave until he reached the top and stepped into the Alpha’s chambers.
“Wait here a moment.” Dash said.
He walked into the chamber and Jake could hear his voice, though he couldn’t hear the replies.
	 “Hello Saba…. …. yes, there is someone who would like to meet you… … we found him while looking for the wolves that have been harassing us… … sure, I’ll get him.”
	Dash stepped out of the chamber and walked over to Jack. 
	“Our Alpha will see you now.”
	Jack nodded.
	“You can go on in.” Dash said. “I’ll wait out here.”
	Jake nodded again and walked into the chamber.
	A white wolf stood in the center of the room. She smiled as Jack walked forward to stand in front of her.
	Jack knelt to the ground.
	“Please, stand up.” Saba said. “My name is Saba, I am the Alpha of the Tambourine Clan of Aniu’s Children, and you must be Jack.”
	Jack nodded.
	“My brother Dash said that he and his unit found you as they were searching for the wolves that have been harassing us.”
	“He did.” Jack said.
	“…but that’s pretty much where he left off…” Saba said. “Tell me, how did you come to be in our territory?”
	“Well Saba,” Jack said. “I used to live in the Mountain Clan.”
	“You’re a long way from home then, aren’t you?” Saba responded.
	Jack nodded.
	“I was chased here.”
	“…chased?” Saba said. “…by who?”
	“…by the same wolves that are now harassing your clan apparently… they wiped mine out.”
	“Oh, I’m sorry.” Saba said. “…so you’re without a home then?”
	Jack nodded.
	“Well you’re more than welcome to join us Jack.” Saba said.
	“Thank you…” Jack said.
	“Do you have any family anywhere?” Saba asked.
	Jack shook his head.
	“…no, no I… I did… but… well, she’s gone now.”
	“Oh, I’m sorry Jack,” Saba said, walking over and placing a paw on his shoulder. “…I didn’t know… was it this other clan?”
	Jack shook his head.
	“…no… a hunter… three days ago…”
	Saba sighed.
	“…in our territory then…”
	Jack nodded.
	“…guess so.”
	“I wish we could have helped sooner Jack.” Saba said.
	Jack nodded.
	It was silent for a while before Saba spoke again.
	“Well, for now you can stay in Dash’s chambers since you already know him. In the morning I’ll see to it that you get chambers of your own, that is, if you intend to join us…”
	Jack nodded.
	“I have nowhere else…” he sighed. “…no one else.”
	Saba smiled. 
	“…great, we’d love to have you… we’ll talk over all the specifics later… right now you look like you could use a rest.”
	Jack yawned and nodded.
	“Yeah, it has been a while since I’ve slept.”
	“Well go on outside then, Dash will show you to his chambers, and you can sleep there for the night.”
	Jack nodded again.
	“Thank you Saba.” He said, bowing again.
	“You’re welcome Jack.” Saba said. “…and there’s really no need for that.”
	Jack nodded and looked up at her.
	Saba smiled.
“You may stand Jack and be dismissed. I will summon you in the morning to discuss this further.”
“As you wish my Alpha.” Jack said.
Then he stood and strode out of the chamber.
Dash was already standing outside waiting, and fell into step with him as he passed.
“My chambers are just ahead.” Dash said.
Soon they had reached Dash’s chambers and the two of them stepped inside.
“Hey Dad!” A young female cried, running over to him. “I didn’t know you were home!”
Dash smiled.
“Hey Kalia, how was your day?”
Kalia glanced toward their visitor and smiled.
“…busy as ever pop, you know what a paw-full those little pups can be.”
“I still remember when you were a pup.” Dash said. “You weren’t exactly a little angel you know.”
“I’d have a hard time believing that.” Jack said.
Dash looked at him, but Jack didn’t notice.
“So dad, who’s the visitor?” Kalia asked.
“Where’s your mother?” Dash asked.
Kalia turned her head over her shoulder.
“Hey Mom!” She yelled. “Dad wants to tlak to you!”
June came around the corner and smiled when she saw Dash. 
“Hey, didn’t know you were home.” She said, walking over and nuzzling her mate. “I thought you were supposed to be spending tonight outside the cave?”
“We were, but I had to bring somebody back… June, meet Jack, Jack, this is my mate June.”
Jack smiled. 
“Nice to meet you.” Jack said.
“…and you.” June said.
“Jack’s going to be staying in here tonight, he’s joining the pack tomorrow.”
“Oh, welcome.” June said. “Come in here and I’ll find you somewhere to sleep. You poor dear, doesn’t look like you’ve slept for days…”
June led Jack into the next chamber.
“So Kalia, how did things really go today?” Dash asked when Jack was out of earshot. 
“Well.” She said. “…no incidents.”
Dash nodded. 
“…good. Listen, I’m going to go talk to Aleu right quick, I’ll be back for dinner okay?”
Kalia nodded.
“…tell you mother?”
Kalia nodded again.
 	“I will dad.”
	Dash smiled and then turned and walked out of the cave.
	
	As Dash approached the entrance to the cave, Aleu was just being relieved of guard duty.
	She started to walk in the cave, and Dash could tell that she was tired… but the look of weariness vanished when she saw her brother. 
	“Hey Dash!” Aleu said, trotting over to him. “What brings you back so early?”
	“We found a wolf out there by himself, says his clan was destroyed up by Shishmaref.”
	“My goodness...” Aleu said. “…the poor guy.”
	Dash nodded.
	Aleu sighed. 
	“Dash I can tell there’s something you wish to speak to me about… isn’t there?”
	Dash nodded. 
	“Can we step outside?”
	Aleu nodded back.
	“…sure.”
	The two of them walked a good distance outside the cave and then Aleu turned around. 
	“Alright Dash, out with it, what do you need to talk to me about?”
	“It’s about you.” Dash said.
	“…me?” Aleu said.
	“Yes you.” Dash said. “…Aleu, that wolf said that the wolves that destroyed his clan were the same ones that are attacking us now, and I’ve gotten word that the Onasie Clan and the Snow Clans are both being attacked like we are… something is going on here.”
	“…could be.” Aleu said. “…but how does that involve me?”
	“…because you should be calling the shots right now.” Dash said.
	Aleu sighed.
	“Dash…”
	He cut his sister off.
	“Aleu, Saba hasn’t been through a war before, and I’m afraid that’s what we’re approaching. She’s already making basic mistakes.”
	“…like what?” Aleu asked.
	“…like leaving the cave with only one unit inside it…” Dash said. “…that’s not enough to defend if these guys decide to assault us full out.”
	 Aleu sighed again.
	“…look Dash, Saba knows what she’s doing…”
	“What would you do?” Dash asked.
	“Well…” Aleu started. “I’d have one unit patrol, one guard the cave, one stationed outside in the front, and one in the rear.”
	“See, that’s what I’m talking about.” Dash said. “You know about these things. Your plan makes sense, hers doesn’t.”
	“Dash, listen to me.” Aleu said. “I’m not the Alpha anymore, Saba is, and you will follow her orders, just as I do.”
	Dash shook his head.
	“Now what are you shaking your head for?” Aleu asked.
	“You’re above this.” Dash said.
	“…above what?” Aleu said.
	“…this.” Dash said. “You shouldn’t be on guard duty, Saba should be, we’d all be a lot better off without her up…”
	Aleu cut her brother off.
	“Dash, enough!” Aleu said, slipping into her leader’s voice again. “Listen to me, and listen good. I worked my tail off to protect the Talbourne Clan, I gave it everything I had, and I’ll not see it fall apart. Those are dangerous words you’re speaking there Dash.”
	Dash sighed.
	“…whatever.”
	He turned to walk away, but Aleu’s paw stopped him.
	“Dash, Saba will get the hang of it soon enough, and whether I or Saba, or even yourself is Alpha, Aniu still leads and guides us… she is our true Alpha… and as long as we have faith in her, she will protect us.”
	Dash sighed and nodded.
	“I… I guess you’re right. You just made such a good Alpha Aleu, why did you give it up?”
	Aleu smiled.
	“Dash, I loved every moment of it, but… I couldn’t lead you forever. Aniu made a bond with Saba as a way of replacing me, that way I could grow older in peace… my youth was filled with hardship, one war after another, endless deaths lay on my head Dash… this is Aniu’s way of paying me back for my service to her and to this Clan… think of it as a kind of retirement.”
	Dash nodded.
	“I guess…. I guess as long as you’re happy.”
	Aleu smiled again and nuzzled her brother. 
	“I am Dash. I never got to spend time with my family before, now I do. I get to relax every once in a while… it’s great Dash. …not to feel that burden of leadership, of endless responsibility for the well being of three hundred some wolves on my shoulders.”
	Dash nodded.
	“Well, you look pretty tired… you should probably get some sleep…”
	Aleu nodded and yawned.
	“…good old twenty-four hour duty, you know how that is.”
	Dash nodded.
	“Yeah, well, just get some sleep Aleu. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
	Aleu smiled.
	“Okay Dash, and don’t worry everything will be alright, just have faith. Aniu will not let us fall.”
	Dash nodded and joined Aleu as the two walked back toward the cave.












Chapter 8

	Shanaea sat in the dog barn thinking. Even after Josh had explained what he’d heard and seen, she still couldn’t believe it.
	“Why would Tiembe want to kill me?” She thought. 
	She really wanted to talk to him. Thought she hadn’t know him long, she’d quickly grown attracted to the lost dog she’d rescued a few days past. 
	She sighed.

	It was getting late by the time that Dusty returned from talking with Blaize about what had transpired this morning.
	Dusty was afraid for her daughter, about what could have happened had Josh not overheard Tiembe talking. None of them would’ve suspected it. Tiembe seemed like a nice guy, and Shanaea had fallen pretty quickly for him.
	Dusty walked into the dog barn and smiled, seeing that everyone was asleep. She thought of her family and how eternally grateful she was that Aniu had given her a second chance with them.
	She realized then that not everyone was asleep. Shanaea was still awake and looked up as her mother entered.
	“…hey Mom.” She said. “…can I talk to you?”
	Dusty smiled.
	“…of course Shanaea, let’s step outside so we don’t make your sibling’s okay?”
	Shanaea nodded and stood, following her mother out of the shed into the cold Alaskan night.
	“So, where’s dad?” Shanaea asked. “I thought he’d be coming home with you.”
	“He’s still talking with Blaize about what happened today.” Dusty responded.
	“Oh…” Shanaea said.
	She watched the slowly falling snowflakes and it was quiet for a moment.
	“What is it you wanted to talk about?” Dusty asked, finally breaking the silence.
	Shanaea sighed, still watching the falling snow.
	“Mom… how did you know that dad was the one?” She asked.
	This question caught Dusty by surprise, and she waited a moment before answering.
	“Well Shanaea I guess… well, I just knew. It’s not something anyone can or should tell you. You just know it in your heart. I didn’t say anything then, but I guess I knew it when your father first met me. …maybe I didn’t realize it, but I felt it then. Just… just didn’t recognize the feelings I guess… the first time I really knew was when Luke challenged the mail team to a race.”
	A confused look crossed Shanaea’s face.
	“Why then?” She asked.
	“Well, during the training run before the race I was injured and unable to go with the team for the real thing.” Dusty responded. “Your father saved my life during that run and I knew he was a good friend, maybe an inkling of what he truly meant to me crossed my mind then, but not enough for me to say anything to him. After the race we learned that Luke’s plane had gone down in the storm and Balto asked your father to help him search for it, but your father refused. I saw the whole exchange and went to talk to him. He wound up going, but… but he said he never wanted to see me again.”
	“I can’t imagine dad saying that.” Shanaea said.
	“…well he did.” Dusty replied. “He was angry and sometimes we say things we don’t mean when we’re angry.
	Shanaea nodded.
	“I suppose that was when I knew I loved him.” Dusty continued. “…often we don’t truly know what we have until we don’t have it anymore, and I thought your father meant what he said.”
	“Well, what did you do?” Shanaea asked.
	“I went after him, though I was sick and injured, and I got lost in the storm. Your father saved me…. without him I’d’ve frozen to death.	“
	Dusty paused a moment.
	“…why do you ask dear?” she asked finally, already knowing the answer to her question.
	Shanaea sighed.
	“I still can’t believe what Josh said about Tiembe…. you don’t think he made it up to get us apart do you? I mean, he’s always so worried about me…”
	“Shanaea, I know Josh wouldn’t do that.” Dusty said. “Your older brother loves you very much, that’s why he’s so protective of you. He would never do anything to hurt you. …if he said that’s what happened, that’s what happened.
	Shanaea sighed again.
	“I know, but… but Tiembe and I were close… I can’t believe he’d want to hurt me, let alone kill me… I mean why would he do that? What motive was there?”
	Dusty sighed.
	“I don’t know dear.” She said. “I did notice you two were close, and he seemed like such a nice dog… I almost can’t believe it either.”
	Shanaea continued to stare out at the falling snow as she continued.
	“I feel like… like a part of me is gone now.” Shanaea said. “I mean… I know we didn’t know each other long, but… I don’t know… I’ve never felt like I did when I was with him.”
	Shanaea looked at her mother for the first time since they’d stepped outside and Dusty saw tears glimmering in her daughter’s eyes.
	“…will this pain ever go away mom?” She asked. “I feel like my heart has been torn in two… it hurts to breathe… to live.”
	Dusty stood there a moment, somewhat shocked.
	She’d known Tiembe and her daughter were close, but evidentially she hadn’t known how close.
	“It will fade with time.” Dusty said.
	Shanaea just nodded and turned, looking out at the falling snow once more.
	Dusty realized then how much her children had grown up. They weren’t pups anymore.
	“…and it seems like it was just yesterday they were snuggled up against me… didn’t even have their eyes open yet.” Dusty thought. “…where’d the time go?”
	Shanaea shivered and Dusty smiled.
	“…come on, let’s go back inside dear.” She said. “It’s cold and getting late. You need to get some sleep.”
	Shanaea nodded and followed her mother into the barn.

 Shanaea was walking through a darkened alley in the dead of night.  She recognized it; the alley was in between the restaurant and the hotel back in her home of Nome.
	She looked around. The alley was in the outskirts of Nome, a place known to be home to some of the more dangerous denizens of Nome.
	“What am I doing here?” She thought.
	Then she remembered.
	”I’m looking for someone…”
	She looked around, but could spot nothing familiar looking.
	Then she saw it.
	A hole in the side of the hotel… a dark hole…
	Shanaea shivered.
	She’d always been scared of the dark.
	Whoever she was looking for must have been important to her, for she disregarded her fears and ducked quickly into the hole.
	She couldn’t see anything, nothing.
	 She could feel the dampness of the long vacant room, could smell the musky air, but she couldn’t see anything.
	Fear suddenly flooded her system. If someone was out there… she’d never be able to see them.
	She started to make her way to the light of the hole she’d entered fro, the only light that she could see.
	Suddenly she froze.
	A deep growl came from the darkness.
	Her heart started beating more rapidly and she ran toward the light, but something slammed into her side and sent her rolling in the dark, slamming into a wooden desk, knocking the breath from her.
	She started to stand, but a sudden weakness came over her. She didn’t know what it was caused by.
	After a few minutes she made it to her feet, and then she found out why she felt weak.
	She slipped in the blood on the floor, her blood, the blood that was pumping steadily from the side of her neck.
	Fear overpowered her pain, and she stood again, trying to run, but only able to half shuffle toward the light.
	It seemed much further away than it had before, and with every step it seemed to get further away.
	With a jolt of fear Shanaea realized that the hole wasn’t really getting further away, but rather she was unable to keep walking at the pace she had been… her dying brain was confusing the image…
	A dog stepped into the light in front of the hole.
	It was Tiembe.
	There were tears in his eyes.
	“I’m sorry Shay, I never wanted to hurt you.” He said. “Why did you make me do this?”
	Shanaea faltered and fell, unable to stand any longer. She struggled to keep her eyes open as her head got nearer and nearer to the pool of blood quickly forming under her. It had become almost impossible to hold up her head… she was so weak.
	Tiembe stared to walk toward her, but a third dog sailed from the darkness to slam him to the ground.
	The dog was black and white with brown eyes. She was a bit older than Shanaea.
	“…mother?” Tiembe asked.
	The dog nodded and then tore into Tiembe’s throat.
…blood sprayed… 

Shanaea woke quickly, breathing hard in the aftermath of the nightmare.
The dream had been different this time. It was Tiembe who had attacked her, but then another dog killed him.
“…his mother.” Shanaea thought.
She thought back to what her grandfather had told her when she’d first told him of the dream, when she was still just a pup.
“…pay attention to your dreams young one, don’t just discard them. Sometimes Aniu speaks to us through hour dreams, warns us of things to come.”
	Shanaea stood up and quickly walked out of the shed into the cold night. Snow still drifted lazily from the sky.
	She stood there for a moment, then walked to the spot where Josh had knocked her to the sidewalk earlier that morning.
	….the last place she’d seen Tiembe.
	Shanaea thought back to the dream, the images still fresh in her mind.
	“Tiembe is in trouble…” She thought.
	She stood there for a few moments, watching the falling snow.
	Then she made up her mind. She sniffed the air and caught Tiembe’s scent. 
	Shanaea turned toward the shed.
	“I’m sorry.” She said aloud. “…but I have to go… no matter what happens to me.”
	Then she turned and ran, following the familiar scent, barely noticing as the trail turned, leading her straight to the outskirts of Nome…

	Shanaea walked quickly through the darkened alley’s in the outskirts of Nome. She remembered the last time she’d been in the outskirts very well, remembered the glowering brown and tan dog.
	“You’re such a pretty young thing.” He’d said.
	Shanaea had been just a pup then and hadn’t understood exactly what the dog meant by this comment. She’d thought the dog was just being nice.
	“…boy was I naïve back then.” Shanaea thought.
	Young Shanaea was about to find out what a horrible place the world could be…
	She got the idea of his sick intentions when he’d jumped on top of her and pinned her to the ground. She’d called for help then, hoping her brother Josh would hear her and come running.
	He did.
	Her bother sailed into the dog and knocked him off of her.
	Shanaea and Josh had run… they ran until they met Drake, who was the keeper of the law back then, and they told him everything. Drake told them to go home and went after Shanaea’s attacker… he’d never been found. 
	She looked around and shivered.
	“That means he’s probably still out here somewhere.” She thought.
	Shanaea shook her head, clearing it of the memory.
	“That was a long time ago.” She told herself. “…besides… you’re out here looking for Tiembe, keep your mind of that.
	She followed the scent as it turned down the alley in between the old restaurant and the hotel.	
	She saw the hole in the side of the hotel and prayed to Aniu that the scent trail wouldn’t lead inside… but it did.
	Shanaea stood outside it for a moment, then she stepped inside.
	“…don’t worry Tiembe, I’m coming.” She said quietly.
	She didn’t notice that someone was watching her as she stepped into the hole…

	Tiembe sighed as Shanaea’s scent reached his nose.
	“Why’d you have to come after me?” He asked quietly. “Why’d you have to do it Shay?”
	“So she came…” Ki said as she stepped up next to him. “…as I told you she would.”
	“Yes she did.” Tiembe said.
	“Then she means to destroy you.” Ki said. “…as they all do.”
	“…guess so.” Tiembe said. 
	“…then you know what you must do?” Ki said.
	Tiembe sighed as he saw her step into the hole in the side of the old hotel he’d sought refuge from the storm in. 
	“…yes I do mother.” He said.
	He sighed again.
	“…yes I do.”
	
	Shanaea looked around the damp room once again. 
	She couldn’t see Tiembe… but she couldn’t see anything for that matter.
	“Tiembe?” She called. “Tiembe are you there?”
	A deep growl pierced the stillness.
	Shanaea turned toward the sound.
	“…Tiembe?” 
	The growl intensified and Shanaea darted for the light flooding through the hole in the side of the hotel, seeking the safety the light offered her.
	Then she remembered the dream.
	Shanaea turned sharply as someone landed on her back, sending her rolling across the floor to slam into the side of an old wooden desk.
	Her vision swam as she struck the desk, but she was on her paws in seconds. She tried to run to the light, but fell, a sudden weakness spreading through her limbs.
	She tried to stand, but slipped in the puddle of blood that was quickly forming under her.
	“…just like in the dream.” Shanaea thought.
	…but unlike in the dream the wound was not in the side of her neck, which would’ve killed her in minutes, but in the back of her neck.
	Shanaea knew enough about herself to realize that she was still bleeding to death, just not as quickly.
	Tiembe stepped into the light then.
	Tears flooded his eyes as he saw Shanaea struggling to stand… and failing.
	“Oh God… what have I done… Shanaea… I don’t want you to die.”
	Shanaea heard him and picked her head up out of the rapidly spreading pool of blood.
	“Then help me Tiembe.” She said. “…take me back to Nome… to doc.”
	“I… I can’t.” Tiembe said. “She’ll be mad at me.”
	“…she who?” Shanaea asked.
	“Ki….” He said. “…she’ll be mad at me.”
	“Who is Ki?” Shanaea asked.
	“She’s…”
	Tiembe stopped.
      “…she’s my mother.”
	“…your mother wants me to die…” Shanaea said, her head dropping a little lower. It was getting hard to hold it up.
	“…why?” She asked.
	“I… I don’t know.” Tiembe said, his voice faltering a bit. “It’s all your fault!” He screamed suddenly. “You were going to consume me! That’s all you females want! Well I will do what I must! You’ll never get my soul!”
	Shanaea tried to stand again and fell to the floor.
	“Tiembe, where is your mother now?”	“She’s… she’s dead.” Tiembe said, his voice faltering again.
	“How… how can a dead dog be mad at you Tiembe?” Shanaea asked.
	“I… I don’t know.” Tiembe said.
	His resolve collapsed and he looked around for his mother… but he was alone.
	“Tiembe, do… do you love me?” Shanaea asked.
	The world was starting to turn gray to Shanaea as her head dropped further toward the floor.
	Tiembe stood there a moment.
	“…yes.” He said finally “Yes, I do love you Shay.” 
	“Then help me…” Shanaea’s voice cracked then and she started to cry as the world spun in slow circles, the varying shades of gray beginning to blur, and run together.
	“…help me Tiembe…” She sobbed. “…please… please help me.”
	Ki stepped up next to Tiembe.
	“Kill her.” She said.
	“…what?” Tiembe asked.
	“What are you waiting for?” Ki asked. “…finish her off.”
	“No, I can’t!” Tiembe yelled. “I… I love her!”
	Ki laughed.
	“…but she will consume you.”
	“I don’t care anymore.” Tiembe yelled.
	“Well if you won’t save yourself, I guess I’ll do it for you.” Ki said. She moved toward Shanaea’s still form.
	“No!” Tiembe yelled. “I won’t let you hurt you!”
	Tiembe leapt at her and sent Ki sprawling to the ground.
	“…what are you doing Tiembe?” Ki asked.
	“What I should’ve done long ago.” Tiembe said. 
	Then he tore into Ki’s throat.
	There was a spray of blood and Ki screamed… then she disappeared, and Tiembe was alone once more.
	He looked around, but Ki was gone.
	He turned his head and saw Shanaea slumped against the floor.
	“What have I done?” He said aloud.
	As he watched, Shanaea breathed. It was shallow, but she was alive.
	“Hang on Shay.” He said. “I’ll get you to doc’s.”
	He walked over and pulled Shanaea’s limp body onto his shoulder. 
	“Hang on Shay… don’t you die on me.” he said.
	Tiembe started for the hole in the side of the hotel.
	“Hang on Shay…” He said, hoping against hope that he wasn’t too late.

	The storm had started blowing full tilt by the time that Josh had noticed his sister’s absence. He knew where she’d probably gone and immediately set out to find Blaize. Then they’d set out to find Shanaea together.
	Josh walked ahead of Blaize now, and it was he who first glimpsed the brown dog running as fast as he could through the snow, a limp red form draped across his shoulders.
	“Oh no…” Josh said. “Shay…”  

	Josh sat in the back of doc’s thinking about his sister.
	“What possessed you to go looking for him Shay?” Josh asked himself. “I told you he was dangerous.”
	Even more puzzling than this to Josh was the fact that Tiembe had brought her back to Nome.
	“Why would he do that?” Josh thought. “He had to know that he was turning himself in…”
	Kodi padded out the swinging back door of the hospital then, and Josh stood, walking over to his father.
	“How is she dad?” Josh asked.
	Kodi sighed.
	“…not good… she was hurt bad son.”
	Josh sighed and stepped back.
	“Doc is still working on her.” Kodi continued. “If… if she makes it through the night she has a good chance.”
	Josh nodded.
	“I’m going to go talk to him… find out what happened.”
	Josh turned and started walking away.
	Kodi’s voice stopped him.
	“Son… I don’t think that’s such a good idea… let Blaize take care of this.”
	Josh turned.
	“Dad if… if she dies there won’t be any need for Blaize… I’ll kill him myself, and no one will be able to stop me.”
	Josh turned and started running.
	“Josh stop!” Kodi called, but it did no good. Josh kept running.
	Kodi sighed and turned, walking back into the hospital.

	Blaize saw Josh as he entered the old mill and went down to meet the young husky.
	“How is she Josh?” Blaize asked.
	Josh ignored him.
	“Where is he?” Josh asked.
	Blaize sighed.
	“…Josh I…”
	“I just want to talk to him.” Josh said. “She’s alive, so for now he’s safe… where is he?”
	Blaize sighed again.
	“…the storage shed, outside.”
	Josh nodded and turned, walking briskly back outside.

	As Josh walked up to the storage shed he saw one dog sitting outside it.
	“Hey Josh.” The dog said as Josh walked up the steps. “How is she?”
	“…alive, for now.” Josh responded. “I need to talk to him.”
	“I’m sorry Josh.” The dog said. “Blaize told me no one is to come in or out.”
	“I just talked to Blaize.” Josh said. “…he knows.”
	The dog nodded and josh stepped through the swinging door.
	Tiembe was laying in the corner, but he raised his head as he saw josh enter.
	“How is Shay?” He asked.
	Josh glared at the dog.
	“…don’t you call her that.” He said. “Her name is Shanaea.”
	“…but she said…” Tiembe started, but Josh cut him off.
	“I don’t give a damn what she said, I’m telling you now that if I hear you call her that again I’ll break your freakin’ neck, understand?”
	Tiembe sighed and nodded.
	“…so, how is Shanaea?”
	“She’s alive, for now.” Josh said. “…certainly no thanks to you… what happened out there?”
	“I… I already told Blaize.” Tiembe said. “Why do you think I’m sitting in here rather than at doc’s by her side… you want to know what happened ask him.”
	I’m asking you now.” Josh said. “…and I strongly suggest you answer me.”
	Tiembe sighed.
	“She tracked me to the outskirts and… and I attacked her okay, happy now?”
	“…why?” Josh asked. “What did she ever do to you? …besides save your worthless life I mean.”
	Tiembe sighed again. 
	“She didn’t do anything to me… and never would have… I realize that now.”
	“…you realize it now?” Josh asked. “What, did you think she would ever hurt you?”
	Tiembe sighed.
	“I… I don’t know…”
	“Are you in the habit of killing those that love you?” Josh asked. “…’cause Shay wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
	“…I… I don’t know.” Tiembe responded.
	“You don’t seem to know much.” Josh said.
	“I don’t know!” Tiembe yelled. “God… I… I love her! Do you think I want her to die?”
	“…apparently you do.” Josh said. “you attacked her didn’t you?”
	“I love her damnit!” Tiembe said. “I… I love her.”
	“Then why did you put her in the hospital?” Josh asked.
	“I don’t know…” Tiembe said.
	“…don’t say that again.” Josh said. “You do know. You wanted to kill her.
	“…no.” Tiembe said. “…no I didn’t.”
	“…you wanted her dead, that’s why you attacked her. You went for the throat Tiembe.”
	“…no…” Tiembe said again, shaking his head from side to side, trying to clear his memory of the images of him flying through the air at her, trying to rid his mouth of the warm metallic taste of her blood… 
“No, I love her.” Tiembe said. “I didn’t want to kill her.”
“Yes you did Tiembe!” Josh yelled. “You went for the throat Tiembe! You wanted her to die! You tried to kill her Tiembe!”
“No!” Tiembe yelled.
He jumped at Josh, but he side-stepped the attack and hit Tiembe in the back of the head, slamming him to the floor. 
	Josh was on him in seconds.
	He hit Tiembe in the face.
	“You tried to kill her!”
	He hit Tiembe again.
	“Shay is my sister!”
	Josh hit him twice more.
	“I’ll kill you!”
	Josh hit him again.
	Suddenly Josh was being pulled backwards off of Tiembe.
	“…stop Josh.” Blaize said. “He’ll get his, but not like this.”
	Tiembe crawled into the corner as Blaize continued to pull a struggling Josh toward the door.
	Josh shook Blaize loose.
	“…get off me! Let me go!” He yelled.
	Josh threw Blaize to the floor and turned to face Tiembe who was again laying in the corner, blood flowing down his face from a cut above his eye.
	“…know this Tiembe.” Josh said. “If she dies… if she dies I’ll come back… I’ll come back and I’ll kill you, understand?” 
	Blaize had made it to his paws by this time and tried once more to drag Josh back.
	“I said let me go!” Josh yelled, throwing Blaize back against the door. “I’m fine, leave me alone!”
	He looked back at Tiembe.
	“I’ll kill you, and I don’t care how many dogs I have to go through to do it.”
	Then Josh turned and walked out the door.

























Chapter 9:

Shanaea opened her eyes and blinked a few times, trying to clear her head.
	“Where am I?” She thought.
	Then her memory came back to her in a rush and she remembered being attacked by Tiembe in the outskirts.
	She glanced around the room and realized she was in doc’s… in Nome.
	“How’d I get here?” She asked herself.
	The last thing she remembered was being attacked in by Tiembe in the outskirts, then losing consciousness in a pool of her blood on the floor of the old hotel.
	A sudden pain hit her then and she winced. It felt as if the back of her neck was on fire.
	She rubbed the spot gently with her paw and felt stitches, a row of them, on the back of her neck.
	“…doc must’ve patched me up.” She thought.
	“…Shanaea?” A familiar voice said.
	She turned her head to see her father walking up behind her.
	“Oh thank Aniu.” He said. “…you’re okay?”
	“…yeah.” Shanaea said. “I… I think so… where’s Tiembe?”
	Kodi sighed.
	“He’s with Blaize. He attacked you… you almost died.”
	“He brought me back, didn’t he dad?” Shanaea asked.
	Kodi nodded and Shanaea stood up slowly.
	“Lay down Shanaea.” Kodi said. “You need to rest.”
	Shanaea shook her head.
	“I’m fine dad. I’m going to see Tiembe.”
	“Are you crazy?” Kodi asked. “He tried to kill you.”
	“That’s over now.” Shanaea said. “I need to talk to him now… I think I can help him.”
	“You need to lay down.” Kodi said. “Don’t worry about Tiembe, Blaize will take care of him.”
	“That’s what I’m afraid of.” Shanaea said. “Dad… I love him… regardless of what he’s done, and I need to talk to him.”
	Kodi sighed.
	“Okay… but I’m coming with you.”
	“…okay.” Shanaea said.
	“It’s good to know you’re okay Shanaea.” Kodi said. “I was awful worried about you. You gave us quite a scare last night.”
	“I’m fine dad, but… thanks.” Shanaea said. …lead the way?”
	Kodi nodded and the two set off for the old mill.

	 “…absolutely not.” Blaize said.
	“Blaize I need to talk to him.” Shanaea said. “…please?”
	Blaize shook his head.
	“He tried to kill you Shanaea. There’s no way I’m letting you in there with him now.”
	“I won’t go alone.” Shanaea said. “You can be in there if it would make you feel any better.”
	“Why do you want to see him anyway?” Blaize asked.
	“…because I think I can help him.” Shanaea said. “He’ll talk to me and… and I love him Blaize.”
	Blaize sighed.
	“I don’t like it Shanaea.”
	“…please Blaize?” Shanaea asked.
	“What do you think Kodi?” Blaize asked.
	“To tell you the truth I don’t really like it.” Kodi said. “…but Shanaea is old enough to make her own decisions now, and I suppose that if you were in there I’d be okay with it.”
	Blaize sighed again.
	“Alright… but I’m going with you and if he seems even a little aggressive we’re leaving… I won’t risk you being hurt again.”
	“…that’s fine.” Shanaea said.
	
	Blaize pushed the door open and Tiembe blinked rapidly at the sudden rush of bright light.
	“…you have a visitor Tiembe.” Blaize said.
	Tiembe hardly moved.
	Shanaea steeped into the shed and Tiembe leapt to his paws.
	“Shay, you’re… you’re alive!”
	Shay nodded and stepped forward.
	“I’m fine Tiembe.”
	Tiembe sighed and hung his head, looking away from Shanaea.
	“…no thanks to me.” He said.
	“Why did you do it Tiembe?” Shanaea asked.
	Tiembe sighed.
	“I… I don’t know.”
	“Yes you do Tiembe.” Shanaea said. “You don’t try to kill someone without a reason, especially someone you love…. You do love me, don’t you Tiembe?”
	“…yes I do Shay.” Tiembe said.
	“…that’s why you saved me, why you brought me back to Nome.” Shanaea said. “You could’ve let me die out there and gotten away, instead you brought me back.”
	Tiembe nodded.
	“…so why’d you do it?” Shanaea asked.
	“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” Tiembe said. “…no one ever does.”
	“…try me.” Shanaea said.
	Tiembe started to speak, then sighed and fell silent.
	“You said no one ever believes you.” Shanaea said. “Has this happened before Tiembe?”
	Tiembe nodded.
	…how many times?” Shanaea asked.
	Tiembe sighed.
	“…four.” He said.
	“…why Tiembe?” Shanaea asked.
	Tiembe said nothing.
	“…look Tiembe.” Shanaea said, walking closer to him. “I’m trying to help you, but I can’t do that unless you talk to me. Talk to me Tiembe.”
	Tiembe sighed.
	“…they would have consumed me Shay.”
	“What do you mean by that?” Shanaea asked.
	“They said they loved me… but they didn’t. They would’ve consumed me… like my mother.”
	“…what about your mother?” Shanaea asked. “What did your mother do to you?”
	“She… she wouldn’t let me talk to anyone.” Tiembe responded. “She said all females were the same, that they only wanted one thing, that they didn’t really care about me at all.”
	“What did you do Tiembe?” Shanaea asked.
	“I… I can’t…” 
	Tiembe sighed.
	“I don’t remember… one day she just… disappeared.”
	“…did she abandon you Tiembe?” Shanaea asked.
	Tiembe shook his head and fell silent.
	“She didn’t disappear Tiembe.” Shanaea said. “…dogs don’t just disappear.”
	Then Shanaea remembered her dream.
	“…did she hurt you Tiembe?”
	Tiembe nodded.
	“…why?” Shanaea asked. “Why did she hurt you Tiembe?”
	“There was this girl…. mother was upset that I was seeing her…”
	“What was her name?” Shanaea asked.
	Tiembe remained silent.
	“You’ve got to remember.” Shanaea said. “…force yourself to remember Tiembe. What was her name?”
	Tiembe sighed.
	“Her name… her name was…”
	Tiembe shook his head and a look of disbelief came over his face as he remembered.
	“…her name was Samm.” 
	“What happened Tiembe?” Shanaea asked, putting her paw on his shoulder. “What happened to Samm?”
	“…she died.” Tiembe said.
	“How did she die?” Shanaea asked. “Tiembe, you’ve got to remember.”
	Tiembe stood there a moment, then he slumped to the floor.

	Tiembe walked into the shed he and his mother called home. 
He was disappointed.
	Samm was supposed to meet him outside the shed, but she never showed. 
	“It’s not like her to do that.” Tiembe thought.
	“There you are Tiembe.” A black and white dog said as she walked into the room.
	“…mother?” Tiembe asked.
	“I’ve got something to show you Tiembe.” His mother said, walking into the next room of the shed.
	Tiembe followed as his mother pushed open the door.
	Inside was a young scarlet and white husky, and she looked very scared.
	“…Samm?” Tiembe asked.
	“Tiembe!” The dog said. “Tiembe, what’s going on?”
	Tiembe looked at his mother.
	“I told you not to see this harlot again, didn’t I?” His mother said.
	Tiembe nodded and his mother continued.
	“…yet still you persist, so I’ve got to take matters into my own paws. If you’re not smart enough to heed my warnings then I’ll take care of her for you so you won’t have to worry about it.”
	His mother hit him, knocking him to the floor.
	“You should’ve heeded my warnings about this whore.” His mother said. “Things would’ve been much easier that way, but never fear, I will help my baby along.”
	She hit Tiembe again, and the young dog’s head bounced off the floor.
	Tiembe tasted blood in his mouth and his vision blurred.
	“…Tiembe help me!” Samm cried. “I’m… I’m scared Tiembe!”
	The young husky started to back into the corner.
	“…as you should be dear.” His mother said, walking over to Samm.
	“I only want what’s best for you Tiembe.” His mother said. “I didn’t want to have to do this, but you’ve left me know choice, this is your fault Tiembe.”
	His mother knocked Samm to the floor.
	“Tiembe help me!” Samm cried.
	Tiembe’s mother stood over Samm.
	“you should’ve stayed away from him stupid girl.”
	Then she violently tore into Samm’s exposed throat, and blood sprayed as Sam’s scream turned into a wet gurgle.
	“NO!” Tiembe screamed.
	
	“NO!” Tiembe screamed.
	Shanaea shook him gently.
	“Tiembe come back to me.” She said. “It’s not real Tiembe, whatever you see it’s not real!”
	Tiembe opened his eyes and shook his head, trying to get the images out of his head… but try as he might they were still there.”
	“I… I killed her.” Tiembe said, still breathing hard. “Oh God… I killed her!”
	“…who?” Shanaea asked. “Who did you kill Tiembe?”
	She paused a moment.
	“…did you kill Samm?”
	Tiembe shook his head and stood up.
	“No… no I killed… she killed Samm.”
	“…your mother?” Shanaea asked.
	Tiembe nodded.
	“She… she killed Samm and… I killed her… Oh God I killed her… I killed my mother!”
	He started sobbing.
	“…God I’m sorry Samm.” He said. “I… I let her kill you. I… I wanted to help her but… but I did nothing, and my mother killed her.”
	He laid his head on Shanaea’s shoulder and sobbed.
	“I’m so sorry Shay… I didn’t want to hurt you, but… but my mother…”
	He became unintelligible then and just sobbed.
	Shanaea held him close.
	She looked back at Blaize and smiled.
	Blaize turned and walked out of the shed. He’d heard and seen enough….
	Shanaea was no longer in any danger. 




















Chapter 10:

	Shanaea walked out of the shed almost an hour later.
	Tiembe was asleep and she needed to talk to Blaize.
	Shanaea walked down the steps and paused at the base. She looked around, knowing that Blaize wouldn’t have left the area, even if he thought she was safe.
	“How is he?” Blaize said from behind her.
	Shanaea turned around.
	“…asleep.” Shanaea said.
	Blaize nodded.
	“…so what happens now?” Shanaea asked.
	Blaize sighed.
	“Well, his situation went from bad to worse. He’s confessed to four murders and one attempted murder… those carry the death penalty.”
	Shanaea gasped.
	“No… Blaize you… You can’t be serious!”
	“I am Shanaea.” Blaize said. “The law is the law, it doesn’t make excuses.”
	“…but… but he wasn’t mentally capable of understanding what he was doing.” Shanaea said. “He wasn’t in control of himself.”
	Blaize sighed.
	“Shanaea, answer me this… did he kill the four dogs?”
	“…he says he did…” Shanaea said. “…but you can’t count his mother. If she killed this Samm like he says, then that wasn’t murder.”
	“…okay.” Blaize said. “…three murders then, it really doesn’t make much difference… did he kill the three dogs?”
	Shanaea sighed.
	“Yes, I guess if we’re taking his word for it, he did.”
	“Then he’s guilty of murder.” Blaize said. “I’m sorry Shanaea, but the law is explicitly clear on that one. Since you’re all right now the trial will be tomorrow.”
	Blaize started to walk away.
	“…it can’t end like this.” Shanaea thought. “I didn’t just help him through his problem to see him killed for it.”
	Shanaea smiled.
	“Blaize, wait up.”
	Blaize stopped walking and turned to see Shanaea running up to him.
	“You said the trial was tomorrow, not the sentencing, right?” She asked.
	Blaize nodded.
	“Yeah, we can’t sentence him ‘till the trial is over, he’ll get his day in court… though I’m afraid it’ll be fairly short.”
	“I want to represent him.” Shanaea said.
	“…what?” Blaize asked. “Shanaea… that’s never been done before… the dog on trial must stand for himself.”
	“Does it say that anywhere in the law?” Shanaea asked.
	“…no.” Blaize said. “…no it doesn’t Shanaea, that’s just the way things have always been done. The only reason that has ever been done is when the accused is unable to appear or otherwise incapable of speaking.”
	 “Then I want to represent him.” Shanaea said. “…due to his current mental state Tiembe is unable to do so himself. I will speak for him and act on his behalf.”
	Blaize looked at her.
	“Saying that he’s unable to speak for himself is a stretch Shanaea, a big one.”
	“…please Blaize?” Shanaea said. “Please do this one thing for me?”
	Blaize sighed.	
“…very well Shanaea, but… can I ask you something?”
	Shanaea nodded.
	“…go for it.”
	“Why are you so dedicated to this dog? I mean, he tried to kill you, and nearly succeeded… why do you care what happens to him?”
	Shanaea smiled.
	“…because I love him.”
	Then she turned and walked back toward the shed.
	
	The next morning the old mill was packed with dogs ready to witness Tiembe’s trial.
	Shanaea walked into the old mill ahead of Tiembe.
	She knew everyone expected her to testify against Tiembe… he had attacked her after all.
	She could almost hear the gasp of the crowd as she sat down beside him at the front of the old mill and nuzzled him.
	“It’s okay Tiembe.” She said. “I’m going to work as hard as I can to get you cleared.”
	Tiembe smiled.
	“I know Shay… I know… and thank you.”
	Shanaea smiled.
	“I love you Tiembe.”
	He smiled back at him and nuzzled her. 
	“I love you too Shay.”
	Blaize stepped up on platform at the front of the room then and everyone fell silent. 
	“As you all know we’re here to try Tiembe, a recent member of our community, of three counts of murder, all outside this community, and one count of attempted murder, committed within this community two days past.
	The three counts of murder were not witnessed by anyone that is present today. The accused has willingly, and without coercion, admitted to these three acts. There was but one witness to the actual act of the attempted murder of Shanaea, a resident of this community, and that is Shanaea herself. However she has declined to testify against Tiembe…”
	A murmur spread through the crowd at this.
	“…instead she has opted to represent him in this trial.”
	Blaize looked at Shanaea and nodded.
	“Shanaea, if you will…”
	He stepped down from the platform and Shanaea took his place.
	“As Tiembe’s representative I will not debate the fact that he committed the crimes that Blaize mentioned. In fact, Tiembe himself has openly admitted to the commission of the charges brought against him. What I am here to dispute is not the question of whether the crimes were committed, but whether there were mediating circumstances present, that could mitigate the possible consequences of his actions. As you all know, murder carries the penalty of death. I do not believe that Tiembe should be killed for what he has done.
	I am going to call my brother, Josh, to testify on behalf of Tiembe.
	Josh stood and looked at his sister.
	“…Josh if you could please?” Shanaea said.
	Josh glared at his sister as he walked up to the platform.
	“Josh did you witness Tiembe making threats against my life?” Shanaea asked.
	“Yes I did.” Josh answered.
	“…and you were the sole witness, correct?”
	“…as far as I know.” Josh answered.
	“…could you please describe for me what you witnessed that day?”
	Josh sighed.
	“I couldn’t make out much through the glass, but I heard enough to gather that he thought someone wanted him to kill you.”
	“…and what exactly did he say.” Shanaea asked.
	“It sounded like he said he didn’t want to kill you… that he wouldn’t.” Josh answered
	“…and who was he saying this to?” Shanaea asked.
	“I don’t know.” Josh answered. “There was no one else in the room.”
	“What happened next Josh?” Shanaea asked.
	“I turned to go warn you, and then I heard him growling and turned around…” Josh answered. “…it looked like he was attacking someone, but there was no one there.”
	“…so what did you think about the situation then Josh?” Shanaea asked.
	“I thought there was something seriously wrong with him.” Josh said. “…and I was very afraid for your safety.”
	Shanaea smiled.
	“Thank you Josh, if Blaize has no questions…”
	She paused and looked at Blaize, who shook his head, then she looked back to her brother.
	“…you may step down now.”
	Josh walked back into the crowd.
	“As Josh stated, there was something seriously wrong with Tiembe.” Shanaea said. “A past event had left him unable to exist in the real world… but I’ll not speak on that. I’d prefer you heard that straight from him… Tiembe?”
	Tiembe walked up and stood beside Shanaea. 
	“Thank you Shay.” Tiembe said.
	He cleared his throat and turned looking out at the crowd of dogs.
	“…good morning.” He said. “…as you all probably know my name is Tiembe. I was born in Fairbanks, Alaska. My mother…”
	Tears came to Tiembe’s eyes and he paused.
	“…my mother was very controlling, and I felt as if she was consuming me. I fell in love with a girl then, her name was Samm. My mother… my mother was mad at me for seeing her and told me not to see her anymore… I didn’t listen, and one night … one night my mother killed her in front of me… I… I lost it and… and I killed my mother.
After that my mother appeared to me in various situations, and told me to kill others… females I was seeing… I didn’t understand it then and still don’t…but I did what she asked… I was lost in the world before Shay found me… and rescued me. I’d blacked out the memory of my mother’s death… at my paws… but Shay helped me to remember, she rescued me from myself. With Shay’s help I think I can over come this… I wish I could take all the things I’ve done back… but I can’t… I can’t…”
	Tiembe stopped, hung his head and started to cry in earnest.
	“…I can’t ever… ever bring those girls back… I killed them… and that’s… that’s always going to be on my mind… always… I’ll never be able to get their faces out of my head… but I didn’t do it out of malice… I did it because… because I thought what my mother said was true… I thought they meant to hurt me… I won’t make excuses for what I’ve…. what I’ve done, but… but I do ask for a chance to recoup from this… I think, with Shay’s help, I could learn to live a normal life in this town… and that’s all I ask for… a chance.”
	He turned to Shay.
	“…as for you… I… I don’t know what I’d’ve done if you hadn’t helped me… I don’t know what I would have done… if I’d’ve lost you… you saved me Shay, and you have my eternal thanks and gratitude… as well as my most sincere apologies for what happened. Thank you for all you’ve done Shay… thank you.”
	Tiembe turned and walked back down off the platform. 
	“…this is a very unusual case.” Shanaea said. “…the question you must all ask yourselves is this… can you really try someone in Tiembe’s situation for murder? Murder is a malicious act with no concern for anyone involved… though he was wrong, Tiembe felt he was in extreme peril… can you really call that murder? …does he really deserve to be killed for something he couldn’t control?”
	Shanaea paused a moment to let her statement sink in.
	“Tiembe and I spent most of last night talking and we have come to the conclusion that this alternate world that he was living in has collapsed. This world was created in order for him to deal with the death of his mother, which until yesterday had been blacked out from his memory. Now that he remembers his mother’s death at his own paws, that world has collapsed. Tiembe is willing to work to come to terms with what happened that night and eventually I believe he could be able to function in normal society again. “
	Shanaea paused again.
	“It is not our wish for Tiembe to “get away” with his crimes though. He knows he has done wrong, and has requested that he be put on permanent probation, until you, Blaize, see fit to remove it. Violation of the probation would result in the sentence of death, sans trial. This is our petition to you Blaize. That Tiembe be given one more chance… just one more chance. …thank you.”
	Shanaea walked down off the platform and joined Tiembe.
	“Do you think it worked?” Tiembe asked quietly.
	“I don’t know.” Shanaea whispered. “I hope so.”
	Tiembe nuzzled her.
	“You did your best Shay… whatever happens you did your best… thank you.”
	Shanaea smiled.
	“I love you Tiembe.”
	Tiembe returned her smile.
	“I love you too Shanaea.”
	Blaize took the platform again.
	“Thank you Shanaea. You are correct in saying that this is definitely a unique situation… but there is also the law to consider… therefore I hereby sentence you Tiembe, for the crimes of Murder and Attempted Murder, to death to be carried out immediately…”
“No!” Shay thought.
She looked at Tiembe, tears in her eyes.
“I’m sorry…” she whispered.
“I still love you.” Tiembe whispered back.
He nuzzled her.
“…however…” Blaize said. “…in light of this new information it is the decision of this court that the sentence should be suspended indefinitely and Tiembe be put on probation until this court sees fit to remove it.” 
Shanaea blinked the tears out of her eyes.
“YES!” She said aloud.
She turned and smiled at Tiembe.
“Tiembe,” Blaize continued. “…you are hereby placed on probation, and warned that the slightest action that makes this court believe that you are a danger to anyone in this community will result in the suspension of this sentence being vacated and said sentence will be carried out with extreme prejudice, without trial or chance for mitigation… do you understand?”
Tiembe smiled and nodded.
“…yes I do… thank you.”
Blaize smiled.
“…with that, this court is adjourned. Please be careful returning to your homes.”
Blaize stepped down from the platform.
Tiembe smiled at Shanaea. 
“You did it!” He said.
She smiled back at him.
“We did it.” She said.
He nodded and nuzzled her.
“Yeah… we did it…”

Shanaea smiled as she and Tiembe walked out of the old mill, one of the last to leave.
	“I’m glad I was able to help you Tiembe.” Shanaea said.
	“…believe me, so am I.” Tiembe said. “You saved my life… again.”	
	Shanaea smiled and leaned on his shoulder.  
	“…well you saved me too.”
	Tiembe sighed.
	“Yeah… but I shouldn’t have had to.”
	Shanaea smiled at him again and started to speak, when she was cut off by a familiar voice behind her.
	“…Shanaea?”
	Shanaea turned and saw her brother standing on the steps at the front of the old mill.
	“What is it Josh?”
	“We need to talk.” Josh said.
	“Okay,” Shanaea said. “…let’s talk. What’s up?”
	Josh glared at her.
	“…alone.” He said.
	Shanaea sighed and nodded, then she turned back to Tiembe.
	“I’ll meet you back at the shed… ‘kay?”
	Tiembe nodded and walked away.
	“What is it Josh?” Shanaea asked. “Is there a problem?”
	“Yes there is Shanaea!” Josh said, walking briskly toward her. “There is most definitely a freakin’ problem!”
	“What is it Josh?” Shanaea asked. “…talk to me.”
	“How could you do that?” Josh said.
	“…do what?” Shanaea asked.
	“What you just did in there!” Josh yelled.
	“What did I do?” Shanaea asked. “…all I did was save his life.”
	“That is exactly what you did Shanaea and that is why we need to talk!”
	“So you’re saying I should have just let him die?” Shanaea asked. “I should have just let Blaize sentence him to death?”
	“I would have!” Josh yelled. “I was this close to killing him myself!”
	“Why Josh?” Shanaea asked.
	“…why?” Josh asked. “…why! I’ll tell you why. He tried to kill you Shanaea! He tried to kill you and he almost succeeded! You’re my sister and I love you Shanaea!”
	Shanaea smiled.
	“I love you too Josh…”
	Josh shook his head.
	“I just… I just don’t understand it... and how are you going to drag me into it, huh? How are you going to make me help defend his worthless tail?”
	Shanaea sighed.
	“I’m sorry about that Josh… you were the only witness to that event, and that event proved my point.”
	“…which was?” Josh asked.
	“That Tiembe isn’t mentally stable… that he needs help and care… not to be killed.”
	“He deserves to die.” Josh said.
	“Josh… I… I…” Shanaea said, but she fell silent and looked away. 
	“...you what Shanaea?” Josh asked.
	Shanaea looked back at her brother.
“I love him Josh.”
	“He tried to kill you!” Josh said.
	Shanaea nodded.
	“I know… but the Tiembe that attacked me is dead now, the Tiembe that I love is alive and well.”
	“…and since when did you become a psychology expert?” Josh asked. “How do you know that this won’t come back, that this “other” Tiembe you’re talking about won’t come back and kill you?”
	Shanaea sighed.
	“I don’t.” She said.
	“You just told everyone you did.” Josh said.
	“I had to say what I had to say to help him.” Shanaea said. “I don’t think anyone else is in danger… as for me? I don’t know.”
	“Then why would you hang around him?” Josh asked.
	Shanaea put a paw on her brother’s shoulder.
	“Josh… I… when Tiembe brought me back, it showed he loved me. He could’ve left me in the outskirts, where I would have bled to death, and he would have been able to get away… but he didn’t. He had to know that bringing me back here meant turning himself in, and he knew he’d probably be killed for it… but he brought me anyway.”
	“We’d have found you.” Josh said.	“It would’ve been too late.” Shanaea said. “The only reason I’m alive is because of Tiembe… and if he can risk death to save me… well I figure I can risk death to save him.”
	Shanaea paused.
	“That’s what love is Josh… it’s caring so much about the other that you are willing to risk death for one another… and I love him, with all my heart and soul.”
	Josh sighed.
	“I just… I just don’t want anything to happen to you.” He said. “I love you Shay… and… I’m sorry I yelled at you… I guess I was just frustrated… but that’s no excuse…”
	Shanaea smiled.
	“It’s alright.” She said. “I understand Josh, and I love you too. I always will. You’re my big brother. You’ve always been there for me, whenever I needed a helping paw or a guiding light there you were… and I appreciate it very much. “
	Josh smiled.
	“That’s what brothers are for Shay.”
	Shanaea nodded.
	“…yeah.” She said.
	“Well I guess that I’ll let you get back to him then Shay… just be careful okay… promise me. If he shows any violent tendencies… report it, okay?” Josh said. “Don’t try to keep it quiet so nothing happens to him… if you’re in danger again… let the law do what it needs to… promise?”
	Shanaea sighed and nodded.
	“I promise Josh.”
	Josh smiled.
	“…get on out of here then. I know you’re anxious to get back to him.”
	Shanaea nodded and grinned.
	“…bye Josh.”
	“…see ya sis.” Josh responded.
	Shanaea turned and started walking down the street.
























Epilogue:


	The sun was just beginning to fall over the tops of the trees, seemingly melting their silhouettes in a brilliant orange glow.
	Tiembe and Shanaea sat on the top of a hill, far from Nome.
	The two of them had left Nome early this morning and journeyed over the mountains outside of Nome until they had come to the last one in the range.
	Here they sat and talked, talked of the future and what Blaize’s decision meant for them both.
	Shanaea lay exactly as she had for hours now, her head leaning heavily on Tiembe’s shoulder, her nose resting just below his ear.
	Tiembe stared out at the beautiful sunset and sighed.
	Shanaea turned her head slightly to look at his brown eyes.
	“…something wrong love?”
	Tiembe sighed again.
	“I just… I don’t know… I don’t know if I can do it.”
	“…do what?” Shanaea asked, concern reflected in her blue eyes.
	“I don’t know if I can just forget what I was… what I did…”
	He sighed and a tear came to his eye.
	“Shay… I killed three dogs, three girls. They had lives to live. A mother or father is missing their daughter, a brother or sister is missing their sister… all because of me.”
	Shay sighed and snuggled up closer to him.
	“Tiembe… I know it’s not going to be easy… but I know you can do it too. The Tiembe that did those things was an evil Tiembe… like an evil twin… and we killed him. You’re you now… you weren’t then.”
	Tiembe sighed.
	“How do you know that we killed him? How do you know that he’ll never come back… that I won’t try to hurt you again?”	Shanaea sighed and nuzzled him.
	“I guess I really don’t.” She said. “I hope so, and I’ll do everything I can to help you Tiembe… but it doesn’t matter to me. I love you for who you are. If you have a problem, it’s my problem too. We’ll work together, and we’ll overcome this… together.”
Tiembe smiled.
	“Thank you.” He said. “I don’t know what I’d do without you… I wouldn’t be able to go on Shay… I love you.”
	Shay smiled and nuzzled him again. 
	“I love you too.”
	Just then the evening sky was split by the northern lights. The red, green, and red snakes wrapped around each other in a beautiful display of color and light.
	“…guess we’d better start home then… huh?” Tiembe said.
	“Why do you say that?” Shanaea asked.
	“Well, I thought what you said last time was…” Tiembe started to reply, but Shanaea cut him off.
	“…actually, what I was thinking was that we’d spend tonight out here on this mountain top together.”
	Tiembe smiled and Shanaea snuggled up closer to him.
	Shanaea watched the sun dip lower and lower on the horizon, seeming to melt into the rocks and trees.
	…and for once she was unafraid.
	Shanaea was no longer afraid of the dark. 
	

THE END