Masquerade

          Balto padded into the dimly-lit living room and gazed out the window. Snow fell in white torrents, and starflowers of ice frosted the glass. It was a nasty night storm.

          He shivered, glad to be inside a warm, cozy house instead of a creaky old boat with nothing but a thin brown blanket to huddle under. He had survived nights like that when he had been younger and without a home, but now in his aging years he was perfectly suited to his life with Jenna.

          He looked over his shoulder to find his mate of nearly four years curled up near the fireplace on her blue cushion. A cheery fire swirled and snapped behind the grate, and reflections of the flames danced in her distant eyes. Balto smiled, and padded over to stand next to her. “Mind if I join you?”

          Jenna blinked away her trance and smiled back. “Not at all.”

          He sank down behind her, pulling her to him so she fit perfectly against his side, and together they stared into the leaping ruby flames in companionable silence.

          “What a day,” Jenna sighed happily, “Though it’s wonderful to end it like this.” She leaned against him and ran her nose through his fur. “I wish we’d had more times like these when the pups were here.”

          Balto grinned. “Yeah.” He kissed the back of her neck. “So, what’s up with you?”

          Jenna’s eyes gazed upward as she thought. “Well, Kodi has another mail run tomorrow. But it’s all the way to Anchorage! That’ll be their last stop, and then they’ll race there. I told him to be careful, being so far away, but I know he’ll be fine. Saba’s come down sick with something, I’m not sure what, but I’ve been sending Dingo to check on her everyday. Oh, and Dingo–”

          Balto broke in with a dry chuckle, shaking his head. “The pups are long gone, but you still talk about them like they’re still here. I asked about you, Jen. What you’re doing, not the kids.”

        Jenna flushed, embarrassment darkening her eyes. “Well–” She tried again. “Well–” She sighed. “I don’t know. I guess I’ve been Mom for so long, I can’t stop and just be Jenna for awhile.” She looked up at him, and then down at her paws with a shy smile. “Oh, I don’t mind that much. It’s good to see how happy they all are.”

          “But don’t you ever get tired of being a mother-of-all-work?” Balto asked with genuine curiosity, “Wouldn’t you rather have more, I don’t know…excitement?”

          Jenna raised one eyebrow as a wry smile touched her lips. “Balto, I’ve just finished raising ten kids. Excitement is the last thing I need.” She kissed him on the mouth and rubbed her paws across his chest. “It would be wonderful if everything could just stay like this.”

          A faint scratching came at the door.

          Balto and Jenna sat up and looked at each other.

          “That couldn’t be excitement come calling, could it?” Jenna said.

          The scratching continued more insistently.

          “I’ll get it!” Rosy yelled. Ten year old Rosy shuffled from her bedroom to the door in her slippers and a pink robe thrown over her pajamas.

          Balto and Jenna heard the squeak of the turning doorknob and the creak of the opening door. There was a burst of cold air and a thud of something falling to the floor.

          “Mom!” Rosy screamed.

          The stoop-shouldered old doctor bent over the scrawny mutt shivering among the blankets piled on the kitchen floor for a makeshift bed. The dog was brown-gray with green-gold eyes. Those eyes were half open as he thrashed randomly in his state of unconsciousness.

          The doctor checked him over and turned to Rosy’s mother. “He’ll be all right. He’s just very cold and very tired. Keep him warm, and I would place a ‘Found’ bulletin in the newspaper so someone can claim him. Judging by his condition and the lack of a collar, though, he’s been on the streets for awhile.”

          “We’ll take good care of him!” Rosy piped, loosening her hands from her mother’s skirts where she had been clinging. “Won’t we, Mom?”

          Her mother’s smile was a little strained but still kind. “Yes, we will. Thank you, Doctor.”

          The doctor accepted his pay and nodded to her. “Good day.” He let himself out the door and traipsed off through the crisp morning after last night’s storm.

          “Oh, boy,” Rosy cried, jumping up and running off, “I’ll get more blankets. And hot water bottles! And he’ll need food when he wakes up! I’ll take good care of him, Mom! Can I keep him?”

          Rosy’s mother sighed. “One thing at a time, Rosy,” she said before following her daughter resignedly.

          Jenna, who had been standing in the kitchen doorway with Balto the whole time, crept closer to the street dog. She stared down at the stranger who had fallen at Rosy’s feet when she opened the door last night. How had he had the strength to scratch at the door to alert them? He had been nearly frozen through when he had fallen into the foyer. Why had he scratched at the door at all? Street dogs didn’t trust people.

          Balto came up beside her. “He’ll be fine, Jen. The doctor said so.”

          She nodded and bit her lip. Suddenly the dog jerked upwards. His eyes snapped open all the way, and they seemed to be in a distant, dream-like trance. His eyes fastened on Balto, and his mouth split into a wide grin. “Brother! Oh, my brother Soenor! I’ve found her! I’ve found her, just like you said!”

          Balto was uncertain how to respond. Obviously the dog was delirious and confusing him with someone else. “Uh…who?” he asked.

          “Khara!” he burst out, “The perfect mate for me! She’s so beautiful. You simply can’t imagine…But you were right, brother. I found her. I’ll never doubt you again.” Then his eyes became unfocused, and he dropped back down into a restless sleep.

          Balto looked over to see the faintest glitter of tears in Jenna’s eyes. “Jen,” he said gently, “It’s all right.”

          She shook her head. “Khara,” she explained softly, “I wonder where she is now.”

          Jenna softly padded into the quiet corner of the kitchen and gazed sympathetically at the stranger who lay tense and quivering on his nest of bedding. The blanket she was carrying in her mouth dropped to the floor as her brow furrowed in an attempt to figure out how to get the covering over him without disturbing him. Rosy was at school, Rosy’s father was at work, Rosy’s mother was running errands, and Balto was saying goodbye to Kodi before his run to Anchorage. Jenna would have gone to see him off, too, but she felt guilty about leaving the sick dog at home by himself.

          “You go,” she had told Balto, “Kodi knows what I would say: good luck, and be careful. Just tell him I love him, and that I know he’ll win. Okay?”

          Balto’s expression was a mix of surprise and concern. “Are you sure, Jen?”

          She had nodded, and so Balto had reluctantly left by himself. Now she was alone in the house with the stranger.

          Jenna edged the blanket forward with her paw, and then decided to take it up in her teeth and drag it over his shivering body. The moment she did this his quaking ceased, and he opened two bleary eyes that slowly roamed over his surroundings and then found her own.

          Jenna hastily backed up a few steps so he wouldn’t get the wrong idea. His eyes had been so startling, though, it took her a few moments to compose herself.

          “Um, hi. I’m Jenna,” she said by way of introduction, “You looked cold, so I thought you might need something else to keep warm.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

          Jenna waited.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

          “In here!” she called back.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

          Rosy’s father emerged from his study. He kissed his wife on the cheek. “What kind of mail are we looking at?”

          “Let’s see. But let me take my coat off.” Hanging her dark red coat beside the door, she dumped the mail onto a small decorative desk in the foyer. “Bill, bill,” she said monotonously, snapping the crisp envelopes onto the desktop. Then her face brightened. “Oh! Here’s a letter from my mother!”

          “Is that better or worse than a bill?” Rosy’s father murmured with a grin.

          His wife ignored him, ripping open the envelope and tugging the letter out, and unfolding it with uncommon ceremony. Her eyes moved across the shaky handwriting. “She wants us to come visit this weekend! Well, I suppose we could, though it’s been awhile since we’ve been over there! And– Oh…oh, no.”

          Rosy’s father slid his pipe away from his lips. “What?”

          “Jewel, my mother’s dog – she died. Oh, what are we going to tell Rosy?”

          Balto’s eyes whipped to Jenna’s face. Jenna stood frozen, staring blankly at the crumple-edged letter in her owner’s hand. With those last few words her world had crashed into silence, save for the beating of her pierced heart.

          Balto stared at her uncertainly. “Jenna?”

          She started walking past him, slowly and deliberately as if in a dream.

          Balto turned his head to follow her. “Jen, I’m sorry.”

          She was almost to the front door when she saw Tumak standing in the doorway to the kitchen. He wore the same stricken expression as Balto. She stared at him numbly, and then turned to slip past Rosy’s parents and out the doggy door and under the front steps. There in the cold and the dark she could cry, sobs racking her body until it doubled over. The tears froze in her fur, and she smiled tremblingly at the realization that her mother was now with Jenna’s father, Ranger, and that that was all she had ever wanted.

          The next day, the snow drifted down in soft white specks that Jenna didn’t notice until they melted and trickled cold droplets down through her fur. She shivered. She, Balto, and Tumak sat waiting in front of the house while Rosy’s parents packed up the sleigh. Yes, a sleigh. They had borrowed it from a generous neighbor in hopes of keeping Rosy happy until their arrival at her grandmother’s and the inevitable announcement of Jewel’s death. “After all, Stanton isn’t so far away that we can’t have some fun along the way,” Rosy’s father had said.

          Now he was stowing luggage anywhere it could fit, and watching in amusement as his daughter ran excitedly around the sleigh.

          “Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!” Rosy crowed, “A real sleigh! The horses are so pretty! I bet everyone in the whole town is jealous! Thank you so much, Daddy! Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Her brown eyes sparkled, and she raced around the sleigh and threw her arms around Jenna. “Isn’t this cool? I’m so glad you and Balto are coming with us! You’ll be able to see your mom again, Jenna! I bet Jewel will be so happy to see you!”

          Jenna stiffened, her brown eyes glazed with pain.

          Rosy took no notice and spun away, laughing for pure joy.

          “Rosy, stop running around, dear. You’ll scare the horses,” her mother called from the sleigh.

          “Your mother has stables, right?” her husband murmured, slamming the last trunk in.

          She shot him a disdainful glance. “You should have thought of that when you got all this,” she muttered, “But yes, she does.”

          Tumak looked at Jenna. “Thank you for…everything, Jenna. I owe you for your hospitality.” He glared up at the animal shelter volunteer holding his new collar. “Your home is probably better than the place I’m going.” His features softened, including his bronze-colored eyes. “Oh, and…I’m sorry about your mother.”

          Jenna stared at him, excavating her soul for some kind of clear emotion. She wasn’t sure what she felt for him yet. Pity? Contempt? Empathy? But she met his gaze and said, “Thank you.”

          Tumak searched her eyes, but then he turned to Balto. “It’s been an honor meeting you, Balto.”

          “I would have to say likewise,” Balto said warmly. Ever the gentleman, he was courteous even around someone he wasn’t sure he trusted.

          Instead of smiling, Jenna had to stop the tears from pricking her eyes.

          Rosy suddenly ran over and fondled Tumak’s ear one last time. “Goodbye. Be a good dog. I know you’ll get a great home!”

          Tumak looked unsure how to react, but after a few seconds he licked her sleeve.

          “Rosy!” her father called, “Time to leave!”

          Rosy whirled around and ran hard to the sleigh. “Balto! Jenna! C’mon!”

          Balto nodded to Tumak and trotted after Rosy. Jenna turned to do the same, but after only a few steps she slowed to a stop. Tumak’s face wouldn’t leave her mind. The look was so full of pain and loss and heartache that it made her already pierced heart crack in two. Without thinking, she spun back around and ran back to Tumak, skidding to a stop when they were face to face.

          He stared at her in surprise. “Jenna? Did you forget something?”

          “Yes,” she whispered, “Yes, I did.” She kissed him, gently, on the cheek.

          It was meant to relieve his pain, and maybe even some of hers, but when he backed up and refused to meet her eye she knew she had increased it tenfold. The shock and the shame ripped through her like a tornado. If only there was a way to fix what she had done.

          “I hope you find another Khara someday,” she breathed.

          He slowly tore his gaze from the snow at his feet to rest on her face. “I thought I already had.” His deep, darkening eyes shot straight through to her burning soul. She wanted to run, run back to Balto, but Tumak’s eyes held her frozen, paralyzed.

          “Jenna!” Rosy cried, “Jenna girl! Come on, we have to go!”

          A sharp whistle from Rosy’s father brought her to her senses. Breathing heavily, Jenna kicked up the snow as she sprinted away, jumping up into the sleigh and landing unsteadily at Rosy’s feet.

          “Yay, we can go!” Rosy chirped.

          “Jen, are you okay?” Balto said with concern, “What were you doing back there?”

          Jenna shivered as she sank to her stomach. “I…just had to clear some things up with Tumak.” She hoped Balto took the hint that she didn’t want to talk about it. She laid her head on her paws and tried to forget the whole thing as the sleigh started to move, and their journey began.

          Tumak watched the sleigh fade into the distance. Something stirred inside him that he remembered from the first time, but it was still as strong as ever.

          The animal shelter volunteer started dragging him away. “C’mon, mutt, we’ve got to get you to the shelter.”

          Tumak kept his eyes locked on where Jenna had disappeared while he let the man pull him through the snow. He had seen the look on Jenna’s face. He knew that she cared for him.

          Suddenly he jerked back so hard he sent the man sprawling into the snow.

          The volunteer sat up, spluttering. “What the heck…? What’s wrong with you, mutt?”

          Tumak’s green-gold eyes smoldered as he formed his plan. He knew what he had to do.

          A little over an hour later, the soft shushing of the runners and the content silence had given way to Rosy’s restless inquiries.

          “Are we almost there?” she asked in a tone that came close to a whine. Rosy pulled her foot out from beneath Jenna. “Jenna, you’re on my foot. Mom…”

          Her mother sighed. “It should be only a few more minutes, Rosy.”

          Rosy flopped down in the seat with a huff. The minutes ticked by in tense expectation.

          Suddenly Rosy shot to her feet, jumping up and down on the seat. “I see it, I see it! We’re here! Whoohoo- oof!” She fell sideways into her mother’s lap, but kept wriggling with excitement. “Jenna! Balto! Get up, we’re here!”

          Balto chuckled under his breath and nudged Jenna’s face with his nose. “C’mon, Jen, we’ve got to get up. In case you haven’t figured it out already, we’re here.”

          Jenna opened her eyes and sat up, blinking rapidly. The tiny town of Stanton, Alaska seemed to rush towards them as they drew nearer. It was made up of an ornate little church, a post office, a bank, a rundown old factory, a few quaint shops, two schools, and several streets of two-floor cottages. It was one of these houses Rosy’s father pulled up to.

          Rosy leaped out with her enthusiasm spilling over. “Nana! We’re here! Nana! Nana, Nana, Nana!”

          The pale blue front door amid the paint-chipped white house creaked open to reveal a plump old woman with long silver hair and a wide, crooked smile, wearing a heavy blue dress with a thick white sweater atop. She peered around shortsightedly, but then her smile became dazzling as she swooped down on her granddaughter and picked her up off the ground in a huge hug. “Hello, Rosy!” she cried, “I haven’t seen you since you were- what, eight?”

          Rosy giggled and squirmed out of her grasp.

          Nana straightened up and fixed her gaze on the sleigh. “And I can also see you like to travel in style.”

          Rosy’s mother daintily climbed down from the sleigh. Balto followed her with a jump, and then Jenna. “Hello, Mother.”

          The old woman embraced her daughter. “Welcome home. You never come enough.” She nodded towards Rosy, who could be heard exploring the inside of the house. “Have you told her yet?” she murmured, “Jewel’s plot is in the back, if she needs to see…”

          Rosy’s mother shook her head.

          Nana raised her eyebrows. “Well, when will you?”

          Rosy’s mother pressed her mouth into a thin line. “Fine.” She strode towards the house, calling, “Rosy, honey? Before you look for Jewel, there’s something I need to tell you…”

          Nana shook her head.

          Rosy’s father stumbled over with most of the luggage. “What do you think we should do with the horses?”

          His mother-in-law exhaled noisily. “I’ll take them. And put those suitcases in the living room before you fall over. You always did take on more than you could handle. What do you think we should do about your dogs?”

          He shrugged while trying to get through the front door. “We let them run free.”

          “Good.” Nana laughed. “There isn’t much they can get into in this tiny town, besides.” She sauntered towards the sleigh, clucking to the horses.

          Balto gazed worriedly at Jenna. Her face was carefully expressionless. “Are you all right?”

          Jenna was silent for a minute, and then she shook herself. “Yeah. Did you hear her say that we never visit enough? We used to visit too much, I think. When she still lived in Nome. But when Rosy’s grandfather died, Nana moved out here. She said Nome had too many memories. Too many…” She cleared her throat and shrugged.

          Balto nodded slowly. “Oh. Now I see. Well…c’mon, Jen. Let’s see if there are any dogs in this one-horse town.” He padded forward, and then stopped and reconsidered with a grin. “Well, I guess it’s a three-horse town, since we brought two more.”

          Jenna forced a smile, and they started walking.

          They explored a few blocks, but it wasn’t until they reached the shadowed edges of town that they met anyone.

          “Well, well, well,” the steel gray husky growled deep in his throat, “This is unusual. Newcomers to Stanton? Or just passing through?”

          “We’re actually visiting a member of the family for a few days,” Balto said, stepping in front of Jenna protectively. “Uh, would you mind not circling us please? We’re not here to cause any trouble.”

          “Who are you?” Jenna demanded.

          The gray husky’s hazel eyes glittered. He came to a stand-still in front of Jenna and seemed to be sizing her up, weighing her strength against his. In the end, he smiled. “My name’s Talon. If you cross me, you cross all the dogs of Stanton.”

          For the first time Balto and Jenna noticed the dozen eyes leering at them from the shadows. Balto gulped, and exchanged glances with Jenna. She lifted her shoulders in a slight shrug.

          He took a deep breath and one step forward. “Look, we’re not-”

          “Jen!” One of the pairs of eyes shot out of the dark to become a red-brown and white husky who bounded over and wrapped Jenna in a hug.

          “Cooper!” Talon groaned in exasperation, “How many times have I told you to stay put when I’m messing with someone?”

          “Well, since we never get newcomers, I guess I forgot,” Cooper retorted, stepping back and grinning widely at the couple.

          Balto was eyeing him a little oddly, with the question ‘Why were you just hugging my mate?’ in his eyes. Cooper’s smile faded a little as Balto’s questioning glare continued to penetrate him, but then Jenna smiled. “Cooper! I wasn’t expecting to see you…here.”

          “Well, I’m not much of a house dog anymore,” Cooper explained. Then he turned, addressing the other dogs hiding in the dark. “Guys, this is my sister, Jenna. And this is…” He screwed up his face, squinting through confused eyes at Balto. “Okay, I have no idea who the heck you are.”

          Balto drew himself up. “My name’s Balto,” he said, waiting for the awestruck recognition that usually followed the mention of his name. “I’m Jenna’s mate.”

          The dogs only seemed slightly interested.

          “Balto, huh?” Talon said, “Interesting name. Well, welcome to Stanton. Since you’re Cooper’s sister’s mate, I guess you’re as much a part of the group as anyone.”

          Balto was a little startled. “You mean, you’ve never heard of me before?”

          Talon looked at him through narrowed eyes. “Would we have any reason to?”

          Balto opened his mouth and then closed it, speechless.

          Jenna quickly stepped in. “It’s nothing bad, if that’s what you’re thinking. Balto is just very-”

          “Jenna,” Balto said loudly, “Could I talk to you for a second?” Without waiting for a reply, he grabbed her shoulder and steered her to a nearby street corner.

          Jenna shook him off. “Balto, what’s the matter with you? I was just-”

          “I know,” Balto murmured, “But please, don’t tell them.”

          “What? Why?” Jenna exclaimed.

          Balto slowly exhaled and locked eyes with her. “Jen, for the first half of my life I was an outcast. For the second half, I’ve been a hero. And somehow this little town is so out-of-the-way that it missed the news about the diphtheria and the antitoxin and me. This is my only chance to be…normal.”

          She stared at him for a minute, and then started nodding. “Okay.” She kissed him tenderly on the cheek. “I understand. Though for the record, you would never pass for normal.”

          He grinned. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

          “Uh, Jenna?” Cooper said.

          Jenna turned back to him. “Sorry. What?”

          Cooper looked uncomfortable. “Um…Ruby says she’ll be here tonight to…say goodbye to Mom. With us. Talon says he’ll be on the lookout for Trey.”

          Jenna nodded. “Okay.”

          “Ruby? Trey?” Balto said, “Who are they? More siblings? Where’s everyone coming from?”

          “Cooper lives here in Stanton, as well as Ruby, my sister,” Jenna explained, “My brother Trey lives in White Mountain. From what I remember of him, he’ll make it here any way he can. Probably on foot.” Her eyes suddenly shut, and her paw scrabbled at her orange bandana. “And Lake…”

          Cooper froze, intently watching Jenna’s face.

          Jenna forced out the words, “And my brother Lake is dead.”

          Low, angry voices from the shadows broke the tension. There were two, one male, one female, both arguing and hissing insults at each other.

          “Are they all right back there?” Balto asked.

          Talon shrugged. “That’s just Lila and her new boyfriend, Sanctus. They’re always fighting. Lila is one tough chick.” He heaved in a deep breath. “Hey, you two. KNOCK IT OFF!”

          There was a growl, a whimper, and then silence.

          “Maybe someone should see if they’re okay,” Balto said with concern.

          Talon whirled on him with teeth bared. “Oh, so now that you’re here you think you can just come in and try to fix everything and order everyone around! Well, let me tell you something. I do enough for these dogs without having someone else worry for me! If you’ve got anything to say, keep it to yourself! Got it?”

          Balto stepped back. His eyes were filled with worry, but he said nothing.

          Jenna opened her eyes and said in a hollow voice, “Mom’s service. Tonight, then.”

          In the soft light of an ivory moon, Balto, Jenna, and Cooper stood solemnly in front of Jewel’s plot in Rosy’s grandmother’s backyard. There was nothing to mark the grave but a small mound of brown earth and Rosy’s contribution – a thin wooden square with JEWEL written on it in wobbly red marker and a picture of a red flower drawn on it.

          Two more dogs silently joined them, and though Cooper and Jenna didn’t lift their heads, Balto turned to look.

          The brown and white husky with a muscular build and piercing steel-gray eyes had to be Trey, Balto reasoned, while Ruby was a red and white, brown-eyed beauty like her sister, only smaller in frame. They nodded to each other, but the somber occasion drew no need for words.

          They encircled the front of the grave in a crescent shape, staring at the name illuminated by the moonlight. Finally Ruby spoke, her voice soft and low: “At least she’s with Dad now.”

          “And Lake,” Jenna said, her words quivering.

          Trey snorted, but it caught oddly in the middle, as if he were holding something back. “If Lake were here, he would be telling us to get over ourselves and get on with our lives,” Trey said gruffly, his voice rough.

          Ruby pushed him with her paw.

          “I think you may be confusing Lake with yourself,” Cooper said drily. They fell silent again.

          Balto felt uncomfortable, as if he was invading something he couldn’t understand, somewhere he didn’t belong.

          Jenna’s paw came out to rest lightly on the overturned earth. “She was beautiful,” she murmured.

          Cooper grunted.

          “Kind,” Ruby said.

        “…Forgiving,” Trey muttered with a watery shine on his eye. “Especially…to me.”

          “The mother-in-law I wish I could’ve met,” Balto added quietly, hoping he had said the right thing. No one else seemed to react, but Ruby nodded in approval.

          “I wish we had some kind of gift to leave her,” Jenna said, “Flowers or photos or…” She seemed deep in thought for a moment, and then lowered her head so her bandana fell onto the grave with silent grace. “Dad’s bandana,” she explained softly with a small smile, “Lake’s bandana. It’s the power of the bandana, as Lake would say.”

          It was a second before Balto saw a tear fall.

         Then from the depths of her soul, a song poured from Jenna’s lips and hung frozen, fading, on the frigid night air:

“Closer to me

I’m tired and I’m weak

And every breath within me is longing just to be

Closer to you

So I face the road ahead

‘Cause I know there’s no comparing to what’s waiting at the end

So let the rain start falling where it will

And I will run through this valley just to climb to that hill

And if they ask why I’m smiling

After all I’ve been through

It’s ‘cause I’m just a day closer to you

Closer to me

I hear you whisper in the wind

You say although my life is fading a new one will begin

Closer to you

And I know I’m not alone

‘Cause I can hear you in the distance saying you are nearly home

So let the rain start falling where it will

And I will run through this valley just to climb to that hill

And if they ask why I’m dancing

Though my days may be few

It’s ‘cause I’m just a day closer to you

Closer to me

You’re in the laughter and the tears

Of the ones I leave behind me who have prayed me through the years

Closer to you

And I know it won’t be long

Until you’re running down the pathway and you take me in your arms

So let the rain start falling where it will

And I will run through this valley just to climb to that hill

And if they ask why I’m singing

Though my life’s almost through

It’s ‘cause I’m just a day closer, I’m just a day closer

I’m just a day closer to you…”

          The night’s quiet after Jenna’s song was a second soothing melody. The orange bandana lay like a fiery blossom without a stem, without a source of life, and Balto noticed Jenna looked odd without the scrap of cloth, as if a part of her was missing, as if she was leaving something behind. They all were.

          “Goodbye, Mom,” Ruby whispered. All the siblings turned in unison and padded away. Balto scrambled to catch up.

          When they were nearer to the house Jenna stopped to force a smile to her lips and hug her sister. “It’s good to see you again,” she said, her voice quavering, “I’ve missed you so much.”

          “It’s good to see you, too,” Ruby murmured, “Though not under the current circumstances.” They both laughed, but the laughter was sad instead of happy, its dissonance shredding the peaceful night like breaking glass.

          As Cooper greeted Ruby, Jenna turned to Trey and offered a wry smile. “I do remember you don’t like hugs.”

          Trey rolled his eyes, but you could tell he wasn’t entirely annoyed. “Just get it over with. And make it quick.”

          Jenna obliged, and then stepped back to join Balto, who had somehow ended up outside the family circle. “Trey, Ruby, I would like you to meet my mate, Balto.”

          Trey’s eyes stretched as wide as saucers. “It’s an honor to meet-” But Balto was sending him signals, narrowing his eyes and shaking his head. Trey looked surprised, but he didn’t object. “-my sister’s mate,” he finished lamely. He turned and raised an eyebrow at Jenna. She shrugged helplessly.

          Ruby looked equally as bemused, but she said nothing more than, “Welcome to the family, Balto.”

          “Thanks,” he replied.

          “Why does everyone look so confused?” Cooper wondered loudly, “Did I miss something?”

          “I would have to ask the same thing,” Trey said, staring fiercely at Balto.

          Jenna’s laugh was brittle. “The only one that’s confused is you, Cooper,” she said playfully.

          After an awkward moment Trey cleared his throat. “I have to go now. I’m trying to get back by tomorrow morning. My owners think I ran away; I wouldn’t want to make them search for me any longer than they have to.”

          “But don’t you need anything? Food? Sleep?” Jenna asked.

          Trey grinned. “No rest for the weary. He nodded curtly to all of them, and with a mad dash he disappeared into the night.

          “Well, isn’t he a gentlemen,” Balto remarked with the slightest hint of sarcasm.

          “He’s always been like that,” Ruby sighed apologetically, “He hates anything that doesn’t get straight to the point.”

          There was a pause, during which Balto noticed both girls were on the edge of exhaustion and tears.

          “Well, since the formalities are over,” he began, “Ruby, who don’t I walk you home? I mean, there’s not so much trouble you can run into in Stanton, but maybe you’d just like the company?”

          Ruby smiled shakily at him. “I would.” She turned and raised her eyebrows at Jenna. “Careful, Jenna. Your mate’s asked to walk me home!”

          Jenna looked at Balto. “I trust him. C’mon, Cooper.”

          The two groups parted ways, abandoning the cold grave with its orange cloth marker.

“…and that’s why I didn’t want him mentioning my hero status in front of you and Cooper,” Balto explained as he and Ruby reached a street corner.

          “You don’t say,” she replied thoughtfully, obviously satisfied she had pried the reason out of him. “Interesting concept. But I think I understand.”

          “I think Jenna has the same thoughts,” Balto said. He surveyed the intersection before them. “Right or left?”

          “Right,” Ruby said, “One more turn and we’ll be on my street. So, Balto, how long have you and my sister been together? I haven’t seen her since we were pups, so…”

          Balto smiled. “Well, it’s been almost four–” He was cut off by a high-pitched howl coming from the darkness between two houses a few feet ahead. Balto froze, his ears flicking up. “…years,” he finished slowly, distracted.

          Another tortured whine echoed from the shadowed alley, and Balto bolted towards it, with Ruby at his heels. He stopped at the dark entrance of the dead end, and his glowing eyes could pick out the menacing shape of a mangy mutt poised to strike the cowering female at his feet.

          “Sanctus, you good-for-nothing jerk, you cretin, you absolute moron,” the female’s voice panted with fear and anger, “No amount of hitting me is going to change it. Give up. I’m done. We’re over.”

          “You may be done, Lila,” Sanctus growled, “But I’m not.” His teeth flashed as he reared his head back, and when he plunged down the alley was filled with a volley of short, gasping yelps like gunshots. Then Sanctus cried out, and he backed away from Lila with a gushing slash across his muzzle.

          “That’ll-teach you,” Lila gasped, “Stay away from me. I told you, we’re broken up.”

          “Not if I can help it,” Sanctus snarled. His canines gleamed. He started to advance again.

          “She said, leave her alone.”

          “Huh?” Sanctus whipped around to see a brown-gray wolf-dog with angry glowing eyes glaring at him from the edge of the shadows.

          Sanctus relaxed, and he snorted with contempt. “Balto. Like I never would’ve guessed. Flying in to save the day? You’re a little late.” With that he turned and slashed at Lila’s legs. She let out a cry that wrenched Balto’s heart and filled him with rage.

          In two steps he was at Sanctus’ side and whirled him around, wiping the sneer off of his face for a few seconds. But then it crept back, and Sanctus leered at Balto. “Getting all up in my business again? Are you sure you want to do that? Because it could get really ugly. Right here. Right now.”

          “Nothing’s uglier than watching you take advantage of her,” Balto growled, forcing Sanctus backwards step by halting step.

          Sanctus snorted. “Oh, yeah? What’re you going to do? Nip me?” They were almost to the back of the alley now, the darkness thicker and colder than at the front.

          Balto pressed his face close to Sanctus’. “Since you seem to have trouble understanding, I’ll say it again. Leave. Her. Alone.” With the last syllable he pushed Sanctus hard against the wall.

          A sharp crack from above had both dogs whipping their heads back to look skyward.

          A huge, glistening icicle swayed slightly before breaking off the roof with a final snap and plummeting towards the hard ground.

          Sanctus looked at Balto with real fear in his eyes. “Oh–” The icicle plunged through his back, and his expression went blank. He keeled over with a frozen stare, and Balto watched, shocked, as blood began to pour slowly through Sanctus’ shabby brown coat. The thought sat like a lump in Balto’s mind: ‘I just killed someone.’

          He was stuck. All he could do was stare numbly at Sanctus’ cold body.

          Ruby ran up and tugged him away. “We’ve got to get out of here,” she breathed, “If anyone sees…! We’ve got to get out of here! C’mon, Balto, come on!” Balto was barely aware of being dragged away, and then like a robot he was following Ruby’s commands to run, run, run.

          Lila pulled herself painfully to her feet and glared at where the corpse of her ex-boyfriend lay. And now she had a picture of her savior in her mind: brown-gray fur, golden eyes. “Good riddance,” she muttered to the dead body, “Bastard.” She limped out into the street and hobbled off into the night, leaving the corpse to drain onto the frosty ground.

          Talon smiled as he woke to the pleasant sensation of a warm body pressed against his. Hazel. A pretty Samoyed young enough and sweet enough to keep him in a good mood for days. She was a member of the group of Stanton dogs he unofficially led, and her thirst for affection was as heavy as his own. He knew from her fervent glances and passionate gushing that she adored him, and he had found himself becoming affectionate towards her, but he wasn’t sure if he was ready to be in a serious relationship yet. For now, they were just good friends.

          He nosed her neck, and she awoke and gently smiled at him. “Good morning.”

          “Hmm,” he sighed happily, nuzzling her shoulder.

          She kissed him on the ear. He grinned at her, and then with a groan he hauled himself to his feet and stretched out his back.

          “Going out to do the rounds again?” she asked.

          “Yeah,” Talon said, “But you know I’ll be back soon. In the meantime…” He kissed her tenderly, and he could feel her warming to him sleepily. He broke away, and she smiled as he padded away.

          “I can’t wait.”

          Checking the alleys as he did every morning, he came across a curious sight.

          “…That’s interesting,” he said finally, after staring open-mouthed at Sanctus’ dead body for a few seconds. He nudged it with his foot, and the cold stillness made his skin crawl. The scents were there, of course; Balto, and Ruby. He doubted that either of them would commit such a crime. But the other scent– the other scent was so much more likely.

          Talon found her in an inconspicuous corner, licking her wounds. Without even looking up, Lila said evenly, “Talon. Did I forget I invited you to my quarters? Or did you simply come uninvited?” She tipped her head up to glare at him. “And unwelcome.”

          “Cut the crap, you murderess,” Talon hissed, “You know what you did. I know what you did. The only question is, how were you so stupid not to hide the evidence even a little?”

          Lila blinked. “Because I didn’t do it,” she said calmly.

          “Oh, c’mon, Lila,” he sneered, “Who else could have killed him but you? You two were always whining and scrapping at each other. Though it’s kind of hard to believe you actually killed him.” His voice ran low, his body crouched towards the ground. “But that’s the kind of girl you are, right? Unpredictable.”

          Lila pushed herself backwards as his paws crept closer. “What do you want, Talon?” she spat, but her voice shook.

          He shoved her against the wall, his breath icy-soft against her face. “What do I want?” he chuckled, “I want to know what you’re doing, Lila. You always need a guy around, someone to protect you. Who are you going to cozy up to next? Cooper? I protect every single dog in this town. If there’s a threat to any of them…” His paw shot to her throat. She started choking, her eyes wide and her legs thrashing weakly. Talon’s hazel eyes were hard and cold, glinting with malice. “…I eliminate it.”

          Lila coughed harshly at the words. Her claws scrabbled at his paw on her throat, but his grip was tight and growing tighter. “It-was-BALTO!” she gasped, “Balto-killed-Sanctus!”

          Talon smirked. “What? Of all the lies–”

          “She’s right.”

          Talon whirled around, ripping his paw away from Lila’s neck. She gasped, slumping to the ground, and lay there panting.

          A brown-gray dog with glowing eyes stood behind Talon.

          “Balto?” Talon barked in disbelief.

           The dog grimaced. “My name’s Tumak. But Balto did kill Sanctus.”

          Talon’s face flushed. “But why?”

          “Sanctus was beating up on Lila.” Tumak shrugged. “Balto stepped in; dead dog.”

          “He’s trying to do my job for me again,” Talon growled, “He’s trying to take over! Didn’t anyone ever teach that mutt some manners?”

          “If this keeps up, he’ll have all the dogs turned against you in no time,” Tumak said, hiding a triumphant grin. This was going better than he expected. “You have to get rid of him.”

          Perhaps he was too eager, because Talon suddenly became suspicious. “Wait. What’s in it for you?”

          Tumak grinned. “Something that would only matter to me.” And to Balto.

          That bleak morning Jenna woke early, and brushed a kiss over the cheek of her sleeping mate before she slipped out of the house and headed towards the street where they had met Talon the day before. Even with the little sleep she had gotten, her dreams had been plagued with memories of her mother, and always on the edge there was a brown-gray dog with bronze-colored eyes, standing, watching. The pressing matters of her life were making her head hurt and her heart ache. And she knew there was one dog who could help her, and who would not be offended by the problem she had to solve.

          The street was silent and empty. Jenna stopped for a second, shivering, and then called, “Cooper?”

           A voice behind her made her jump: “So. You couldn’t sleep either.”

          She turned to see Cooper grinning crookedly at her with tired eyes. She smiled at him. “Cooper! You scared me! Don’t do that.”

          “Sorry,” he said. He tipped his head to indicate the slushy streets and the dreary gray sky. “So, what brings you here on this lovely morning?”

          “Well, as a matter of fact, I could sleep,” Jenna said, “A little. I had these dreams. None that I would want to call for a rerun.”

          “Ah. I see.” Cooper began padding towards the end of the street. “Well, as long as you’re here, step into my office.” He led her to a small lean-to made out of sides of a broken crate and stationed against a dumpster. Inside lay two ragged gray couch cushions with the stuffing hanging out, and Cooper flopped down on one of these.

          Jenna sat down gingerly next to the other cushion and looked around sadly. “Don’t you have a home, Cooper?”

          He looked at her hard. “I have a house, and an owner, if that’s what you mean. But this, this is where my real friends are. And so, this is my home.” He shrugged, and then his grin returned. “So, what’s up?”

          Jenna sighed, and shifted uneasily. “Well…there’s this dog Rosy rescued before we came here. His name is Tumak. I think…” She felt heat flood to her cheeks. “I think he’s in love with me, and–”

          Cooper groaned. “Relationship problems!” He flopped back onto the sagging cushion in distaste. “Why don’t you go ask Ruby about this? She’d be happy to do ‘girl talk’ with you.”

          “Because Ruby’s too smart to get into this kind of mess, and she’d tell me so,” Jenna said matter-of-factly. She placed an urging paw on his leg. “Come on, Cooper! Please.”

          He sighed, rolling his eyes. “You want me to help you?”

          She nodded emphatically.

          “Isn’t there anyone else?” he asked.

          Jenna’s face instantly became sad and lost. “Not anymore,” she said softly.

          Cooper looked at her. He knew she meant Jewel.

          He sighed again, but this time resignedly. “Alright,” he conceded, “Just tell me how it happened…”

          Balto woke to a dull ache in his head and cold guilt racing through his gut. He groaned as he rolled over and shook his head. Why did he feel so terrible? The memories of last night pounded through his brain, and he wondered desperately if it all could have been a dream. But no, the scenes in his head were too vivid: Sanctus and Lila, then himself and Sanctus, and then the icicle…the flight to Ruby’s house, and then the long, lonely, awful trek back to Jenna.

          Balto sat up. Jenna. Where was she? He had fallen into a tortured sleep beside her in the early hours of the morning. He pawed the carpet where she had lain. It was still warm from her body heat. She hadn’t been gone long. He had to find her, and tell her. She would understand, and maybe she could help him assuage some of this burdensome guilt.

          He heaved himself to his feet and trotted to the doggy door, where he slid out through the flap and then stopped, wondering where Jenna would go. A light snow dusted his fur, and when he shook it off a coolness remained on his coat.

          “Balto! You lost?”

          Balto looked up to see Talon standing a few feet away, grinning pleasantly. “Hey, Talon,” he said by way of greeting, “Uh, no, I’m not lost. Have you seen Jenna?”

          Talon furrowed his brow. “Jenna? Oh, yeah, just this morning. She went to go see Cooper, I think.” He gestured towards the further end of town.

          Balto could smell Jenna’s scent on the street for a moment, before it grew cold with the new snow. “Thanks,” he told Talon, “I guess I’ll see you around.” He started padding down the cobbled street.

          “Oh, you won’t catch them now,” Talon said smoothly, stepping in front of Balto in time to block his path. “I saw them walking on the tundra just outside town.”

          “Really?” Balto replied, trying not to look skeptical. But he couldn’t help it; something didn’t seem right. Could Talon have found out about Sanctus already? “Why would they do that?”

          Sympathy lined Talon’s usually-hard face. “Well, with Jewel’s death, I guess it brings back a lot of memories,” he said, shaking his head sadly, “You know Jenna’s father died when she was only a few weeks old? And then her brother Lake died –out on the tundra– almost a year later. Cooper told me,” Talon answered Balto’s questioning look.

          “Yeah. I know about her father,” Balto muttered, “But she never told me much about Lake.” The memories had been too painful for her to discuss.

          He straightened his shoulders and turned to head back into the house. “Well, if they’re talking, I shouldn’t interrupt–”

          “Sure you can,” Talon assured him, wheeling Balto around and guiding him towards the outskirts of Stanton. “I’ll go with you. I have to talk to Cooper, anyway. He’s been playing pranks on the other dogs, and it has to stop!”

          Balto was dumbfounded. “Uh–okay,” he agreed, not at all sure how this would turn out.

          With a satisfied grin Talon took the lead, and they began their trek out onto the tundra.

          Suspicion ate away at Balto’s brain like acid with every passing minute. Could Talon have found out about Sanctus’ unexpected demise already? It was barely dawn! Lila was okay, and she would have hidden the body – wouldn’t she? Furthermore, how did Talon know where he was going? With the new snow still falling, there were no scents to track, no pawprints to follow. Questions churned inside him until he couldn’t take it anymore. “Talon,” Balto began, “Did you-?” And then guilt and shame glued his tongue to the roof of his mouth. How could he admit what he had done to Talon when he could barely admit it to himself?

          “Did I what?” Talon asked without turning his head.

          Balto’s head drooped. “Nothing.”

          They continued their silent journey until they reached the banks of a roaring river.

          Balto stared down at the foaming white swirls of the current until his stomach began making rapids of its own. Rainbow spray spewed up and misted on his face, soaking his fur through. Turning, he cried, “Talon, what are we doing here? Where’s Jenna?” But there was no one there.

          Balto spun around. “Talon?” And then there the husky was, staring with a dark smile into Balto’s eyes.

          Balto contemplated running, but it was too late. Talon had him cornered. And now he was sure Talon knew. He had known all along.

          “Look, I’m sorry,” Balto began.

          But Talon cut him off with a low snarl: “Do you know how Lake died?”

          Balto slowly shook his head. “No.”

          The malicious triumph in Talon’s eyes couldn’t be missed. “Drowning.”

          He lunged forward, and Balto tumbled with a cry into the river’s watery clutches.

          A commotion outside interrupted Jenna and Cooper’s conversation.

          “What in the world?” Jenna said. She and Cooper rose and padded out into the street, where it seemed all hell had broken loose. Dogs were running everywhere, bumping into each other, shouting, and ultimately creating absolute chaos. A sizable crowd was gathered around something in the middle of the alley.

          Jenna stared around in bewilderment. “Cooper, what’s going on?”

          “I don’t know,” Cooper murmured, “But with this crowd, there’s only one way to find out.” He narrowed his eyes in deep concentration, sucked in air until his chest bulged, and used all his power as he yelled, “HEY! WHAT’S GOING ON HERE??!”

          All talk ceased and a ringing silence reigned as every face turned towards Cooper, but when they saw Jenna the murmuring started again, growing to fast roar: “Jenna, Jenna, it’s Jenna, Jenna, oh no, Jenna…”

          A steel gray husky pushed through the crowd and stood before Jenna, his eyes and head lowered.

          Jenna stared at him. “Talon? Talon, what’s going on? What’s the matter?”

          His hazel eyes flicked up to meet hers, and the empty gleam there was unmistakable. He licked his lips, and said in a quiet voice, “Jenna, I’m so sorry…Balto and I, we were walking by the river…He was hoping to find you…Well, I slipped and almost fell in. He caught me and saved me, but then he fell instead…I’m so sorry. So sorry.”

          Cold water dripped from his fur and the moth-eaten blanket thrown across his back. Jenna watched the drops as if in a trance, the wet pinging of water on stone echoing in her head. His words echoed, too, and in her mind she was suddenly whirled back to the past, to another place where a black and white malamute, with bowed head and sorrowful tones, informed her of Balto’s death.

          He lied.

          Rage cut through her heart like a burning knife, but her blood cooled as quickly as it had flared. Talon had no real reason to hate Balto. Yes, there was that one instance with Talon’s overprotectiveness of the town dogs when Balto had tried to suggest something, but nothing had come of it. How she wished she could look into Talon’s sad eyes and declare firmly, as she once had, “You’re lying. Balto’s alive.” But Talon was no great enemy of Balto’s. It looked as if Balto was truly gone.

          Voices surrounded her, full of concern and bereavement, and in that instant Jenna hated them all. She dove deeper into her torment to make them fade, and everything began to blur.

          Suddenly she jerked from the depths of her darkening mind and into reality, and found herself skidding to a halt in front of her mother’s grave. All was silent, a small comfort to her raw heart, and her orange bandana lay there as bright and full of memories as ever.

          She stared at it for a long moment, and the intensity of her gaze made her tremble violently. Her legs buckled under her and she collapsed face-first into the scrap of cloth, burying her head in it and nosing it hard so as to catch any trace of Balto. The faint whiff of his scent made her throat burn, and the sobs that tore from her chest did not lessen the pain as she felt her heart crack.

          She remembered painfully his loving words, his tender kisses, his gentleness with their pups. She loved him for his strength, his loyalty, his determination, his courage, and even his mistakes: his favoritism, his anger, and his pride.

          She choked at the thought that these would now be only memories, and she cried for the body that lay in the roaring river and the body that lay cold beneath the earth, beneath her paws.

          Tumak stood looking out on the horizon from the porch of Jenna’s house. In the time he had been there the sky had changed from rose pink and fiery orange to robin’s egg blue to a deep blue-gray laced with ashen clouds. His bronze eyes stared, unflickering, as he searched for the sight that would confirm Talon’s success in Balto’s demise.

          At last in the feeble afternoon light a dark spot appeared in the distance, and as it grew closer two horses became visible, and then the sleigh behind it. Tumak grew more and more excited as it neared, and with a drumming heart he leaped beneath the porch steps and huddled there in the cold shadows, already picturing Jenna’s sweet face, smelling her musky scent, feeling her neck against his muzzle…

          He heard the sleigh runners shush to a stop and the horses stomp and snort impatiently. Luggage fell to the ground with a thud, and heavy footsteps led the horses away. Lighter sets of footsteps pattered slowly above his head, and the front door squeaked open and shut as he heard a small voice sigh, “Balto…”

          Tumak winced. The little girl. A pang of guilt hit him in the chest, but so weakly that he brushed it aside, and stepped out of hiding to find Jenna at the bottom of the porch steps, staring listlessly at the snow. The very sight of her took his breath away.

          Quietly he padded up to her side. “Jenna?”

          She slowly raised her head, and when her eyes met his they widened into a silent scream.

          Remembering how much he looked like Balto, Tumak quickly said, “It’s Tumak. Jenna, what’s wrong?”

          Her face gradually crumbled into open despair, and before he could say anything more she collapsed onto his shoulder and sobbed. “Oh, Tumak…Balto’s gone…”

          “Gone?” he said in false alarm, relishing his success that had taken barely any effort. “What? You mean…? How? Oh, my– I’m so sorry, Jen.” He felt a glimmer of triumph when she didn’t reproach him on the endearing nickname.

          She let him hold her as she grieved, and she was convinced of Tumak’s own loss over Balto. But if she had looked into his eyes she would have seen the twisted satisfaction there, and the bittersweet victory.

          Balto lay delirious, with blurred images rushing through his mind and swimming before his eyes. Every color was bright and garish, and every flicker of sound was magnified and dragged into the next. Through the ache and the chill he remembered the wind whistling past his ears as he tumbled from the riverbank, and the hard shock that almost knocked him unconscious when he hit the cold water. The river beat him and threw him from side to side, and his eyes and ears and mouth filled with water while his lungs filled with flames.

          The current made him hurtle forward to scrape against rocks and dirt, and each impact made his chest burn. At last, when he thought his lungs would cave in before he got another breath of air, he smashed through the surface and gasped and choked, before the rapids spun him like a top. White foam smacked him in the face and made his eyes sting as he was hurled through the waves once again. Fear snapped through his limbs like electricity, but soon he was too tired even to be afraid.

          The beating continued until he was limp, and then one wave lifted him to the gray sky, and crashed down on the muddy shore, receding but leaving Balto behind.

          He lay there for he knew not how long, feeling the water and the cold start to frost his fur. The icy waves lapped at his back legs and tail, and yet he felt nothing except the cold and the bruises that pulsed beneath his skin. After awhile he no longer felt even that, and he closed his eyes and plunged into blackness even deeper and darker than the river.

          Eventually, as if from a galaxy away, he felt his body being lifted and then dragged through the snow. There was something warm and furry brushing against his front legs occasionally, and then he was gently pushed onto something soft in a place where there was no wind or snow, just warmth…

          Balto shivered and opened his eyes, trying hard to banish sleep from his mind. He was in the back of a small red rock cave, resting on a ratty green blanket with another chewed-up gray blanket draped over his back. In the recesses of the cave a tiny stream trickled and splashed into a small pool. The cave entrance was only about eight feet away, and beyond it Balto could see all was dark except a tinge of pink along the horizon. It was the sunrise.

          Balto rose and gingerly padded over to the stream. His whole body was sore, but he managed in the end. The stream seemed to come from underground, and when he caught a spurt on his tongue it tasted all right. He took a long drink. Then he found some old dog food hidden nearby and dug in with relish. Only when all his needs were satisfied did he dare to look around and wonder, ‘Where am I?’

          “Oh, good! You’re okay.”

          Balto spun around to see a pale brown mutt standing at the mouth of the cave. She was mildly pretty, with husky ears but a build too small for a sled dog, and a great bushy tail like a German shepherd. Her most beautiful asset was her deep brown eyes, made gorgeous by the flashes of rich purple and pink behind her in the sunrise. She smiled widely at him, and ran forward as if to catch him in an embrace, but stopped just in time, still grinning foolishly.

          Balto stared at her. He hadn’t seen her at all when Talon yelled at her for fighting with her boyfriend, and he had only gotten the briefest glimpse of her lying in the dark alley defending herself. But he recognized the voice, and now he was truly dumbfounded. “Lila?” Balto said in amazement.

          She laughed at his surprise. “Yes.”

          Balto stared at her all the more, trying to find the truth behind those bewitching eyes. “But- How-? What-? You…you rescued me?”

          This time she snorted. “Let me tell you, it wasn’t easy. I had to drag you from the river to here. It wasn’t that far, but…I can’t believe Talon would do something like that…” For the first time she sounded sad, but then her head snapped up again with a grim expression on her face. “Actually, I can.”

          Balto felt the ice of anger grip his chest, but he swallowed it and looked around. “Where are we?”

          A faint blush crept up Lila’s cheeks. “Me and…Sanctus used to come here a lot. When we…wanted to be alone.” She avoided his eyes, and her gaze fell to his shaking legs. “Are you all right?”

          Balto hadn’t even realized he was about to fall. “Yeah, I just need to lie down.” He stiffly lowered himself onto the blankets. Lila quietly padded over and lay next to him, but not touching. Balto breathed a little easier. “How long have I been out of it?” he asked.

          Lila raised her eyebrows. “Now? Four days.” She shuddered. “I was so scared you weren’t going to make it.” She smiled tentatively at him. “I’m so glad you did.”

          Balto felt the uneasiness creeping through every muscle in his body. He couldn’t tell if she was simply being friendly, or trying to flirt. He gulped and said hoarsely, “Why did you save me?”

          Lila’s paws clenched against the cave floor, and she stared fiercely at the dirt between her front paws. “Because you’re the first guy who’s ever respected me. Or really cared about me. Because you stood up for me. Because…because you saved me.”

          She lifted her eyes to his, and in them Balto could see the ache and the hurt and the longing to be loved. And the final, fragile hope she had found in him. In him. He was both awed and humbled by her starved heart and depth of caring. This was why she had endured Sanctus, why she endured Talon, why she had put up with all her past boyfriends: she just wanted to be loved, to be cared for and cared about. She broke his heart to pieces.

          Lila’s smile trembled, her being on the verge of grateful tears. “Thank you.” Under his shell-shocked gaze, she crawled over to him and laid her head against his neck, nuzzling him, showing him affection the only way she knew how.

          Although it hurt his heart to hurt her, Balto thought of Jenna, and gently pushed Lila away. “Where’s Jenna?” he asked, hoping to remind Lila of the reality that awaited them outside the cave.

          Full of pain but not surprised, Lila kept her eyes locked on his as she replied, “She left with your owners the morning after you…Talon pushed you in. She’s been gone three days.”

          Balto’s gaze trailed to the rising sun. “So she thinks I’m dead.” The heartache and the pain he knew would overcome her made him feel sick, and he lowered his eyes. “I wonder who broke the news to her.”

          “I did.”

          Balto and Lila both turned towards the entrance to see Talon pad in, his tail high and his demeanor aloof. Stopping before Balto, he glared at him with an angry gaze that almost made the air sizzle. “She thinks you fell in saving me. Good thing she doesn’t know the truth, eh, Balto? I spared her that much?”

          Balto stared back at him. “Look, Talon, I’m sorry. I know you think it’s your duty to protect the town dogs, but it was an accident! I didn’t mean to kill Sanctus. He was hurting Lila, so I got him to back off, and he backed right into a wall. An icicle fell and stabbed him through the back. I’m sorry.”

          Talon’s hazel eyes flickered. He fixed his gaze on Lila. “Funny, that’s not what you said.”

          Scarlet shot up her cheeks as she blushed furiously under Balto’s surprised stare. “Well, you would have killed me if I hadn’t named somebody!” she burst out, shame echoing in her voice, “You didn’t let me finish! All because of that Tumak–”

          Balto’s golden eyes widened. “Tumak?” He fell back a step in shock, and then his anger began to grow. “I should’ve known,” he growled under his breath, and his eyes whipped to Talon’s face. “Tumak told you to kill me because I was getting too involved with your dogs? Did you actually think I was trying to take over?”

          “Well, yeah,” Talon said, looking uncomfortable, “Oh, I don’t even know anymore. Yeah, Tumak – weird little mutt. He just came out of nowhere. I asked him what he was expecting to get out of it, but he wouldn’t say.”

          Balto felt his heart press hard against his chest in rage and fear, and his eyes flashed. “Jenna.” He threw off the blankets and raced to the entrance, stopping only to picture the route to Nome in his mind. “I’ve got to get back. If Tumak’s laid one paw on her–”

        “But Balto!” Lila cried, “You’ve barely recovered! You need to stay here and rest.”

          “I can’t rest,” he said, turning back to look on her earnest face, “Not while Jenna’s in danger. I have to leave now. She’s already been gone three days.” He paused to catch his breath, and his eyes fell on Lila’s face. He was breaking her heart as soon as he had fixed it. The wounds had just begun to heal, and he had ripped the scabs off and made them bleed again. It made him ache to leave her, but there was no other way.

          Lila softly padded up to him and looked at him with wide, tear-washed eyes. He looked back at her, and before he could react she threw herself onto his shoulder and rubbed her head against his chin. Her breaths were deep and shuddering, and he could feel the wetness of her tears on his fur. She whispered softly, “I love you.”

          Balto eased his chin off her head to look her in the eyes. “Oh, Lila,” he sighed, and pressed his lips to her forehead. She closed her eyes, and Balto looked towards the back of the cave where Talon stood watching them.

          Balto backed away and took his last glance at Lila. Then, turning his back, he looked over his shoulder and said, “Take care of her, Talon. Please.”

          Talon observed Balto’s sincere, measured gaze. He didn’t know what possessed him to do so, but he nodded assent.

          Balto snapped his head back around, and, with thoughts of Jenna blazing through his mind, galloped off towards Nome to reclaim his life and his bride.

         The thick pinks and purples on the horizon were fading now to a dull orange glow. Tumak and Jenna watched the sunset from her porch, sitting side by side and making a shadow that had nearly no light between them.

          Tumak stole a glance over at Jenna from the corner of his eye. He had been spending more and more time with her, inventing a tale of having found a way to escape the animal shelter from time to time without notice. In reality he wasn’t surprised his running off had gone unpursued, and a life on the streets was bearable when he had Jenna on his mind. Thoughts of her consumed him. She was just so beautiful, so sweet and kind even in her grief. It had only been two days since Jenna’s return, but he had decided that tonight he would make his move.

          One perspective on the situation would be that he was betraying Khara, but Khara was dead, and she would want him to move on, wouldn’t she? She would want him to be happy, wouldn’t she? And Balto was dead, right? Granted he had had a little help on his way, but Jenna was still sad, and needed to be comforted. Well, he would comfort her.

          Jenna sighed as the last rays of mellow sunlight began to vanish from the sky.

          “Did you like that, Jen?” Tumak asked. He knew she didn’t notice when he used her nickname now.

          Jenna mustered up a tired smile. “It was beautiful, Tumak. But I’m tired. I think I’m going to go to bed now. Good night.” She got up, touched her nose to his ear in farewell, and walked towards the front door.

          Tumak scrambled up, the spot where she had touched him tingling. “Jen, wait!”

          She turned slowly around, and in the dim evening light she couldn’t help seeing Balto where Tumak stood. They just looked so much alike, the fur color, the build, the earnest expression…It was only the green in Tumak’s green-gold eyes that stopped Jenna from running to him, screaming, “Balto!” She had to harden her heart to shake the image she so longed to see.

          Tumak watched her carefully, his heart racing already. This might be his only chance. “Jen, I know it hasn’t been long, but…” He padded over to her, and put a paw gently on top of hers. “I…I love you. I want to take care of you. You’re just so lovely. I know Balto’s gone, but…he wouldn’t want you to go through this alone.”

          Jenna was stunned. “I…” She stopped, flustered.

          And then there it was again, that trick of the light–or of her mind–that gave her Balto, resurrected.

          “I don’t know,” she whispered, seeing in him the true love that had died and rose again.

          Slowly Tumak brought his muzzle down to the space between Jenna’s jawline and her neck.

          “Get your dirty paws off my mate, you filthy cur.”

          Both Tumak and Jenna jumped back, and Tumak spun around.

          A black dog leaped up the porch steps in one bound and stood baring his teeth at Tumak.

          “…Balto?” Jenna said hesitantly, confused.

          The dog stopped snarling and looked at her lovingly. “Oh, yeah. Sorry.” He started vigorously shaking out his fur, and coal dust fell to the porch like black snow to reveal Balto. “I didn’t want to alarm the rest of the town,” he explained, grinning at Tumak’s openmouthed stare.

          Jenna’s face lit up like heaven itself. “Balto,” she said in awe, her eyes shining and her heart full to bursting. “Balto!” she catapulted herself across the porch and into his embrace.

          He caught her with a smile as big as the sky, and they nuzzled hard and long, tears streaming down Jenna’s face. Balto wiped them away with his nose, although his own muzzle was damp as well. They kissed for a long moment, and Balto could feel Tumak’s gaze on them like a ton of weights. Drawing Jenna close against him, Balto turned to face his greatest enemy. “Disappointed? I guess your little plan using Talon to kill me wasn’t as foolproof as you thought.”

        Jenna’s face changed to one of utter shock. “You what? Talon tried to–? And he–?”

          Jenna’s brown eyes suddenly narrowed into slits. She could feel the anger bubbling within her even before Balto had spoken, but now that she knew the truth her rage cut through her heart like white flames and set her eyes on fire. Tumak took a step back in fear of this new Jenna, and she stepped forward right along with him. “So, you lied to me,” she growled as she stepped forward, Tumak backing away from her inch by inch. “You tried to murder my mate. Then you tried to take me as your prize.” She glared at him with contempt. “And to think I actually felt sorry for you, that I even let you come near me–!”

          Tumak tripped with his back legs as he stepped away from Jenna’s wrath, and scrambled back up. “But I wasn’t lying,” he pleaded, “I-I was just so taken with you. I am. That’s why I did all those things. I love you so much, Jen–”

          “It’s Jenna,” she spat, and Balto smiled.

          Tumak’s face was bitter. “Jenna, then. I–”

          “No,” Jenna snapped, “Shut up. I don’t want to hear another lying, scheming, sweetened, sugary word from your mouth. I am so sick of everyone taking advantage of me just because I’m pretty! I am so tired of being used, and manipulated, and-and betrayed beyond anything my heart can take.” Her eyes felt like they were burning, she was so angry. Any trace of tears had vanished. Tumak looked at her in awe, in love with her even now. She looked so fearsome, a beast within the beauty. It was like nothing he had ever seen before.

          But Jenna wasn’t finished. She glowered at Tumak with unwavering hatred and spat, “I don’t care what happens to you…” She slowly brought her paw up, and then slashed at his face. Tumak’s head cocked to the right, and he gasped in pain and surprise. Even Balto was looking a little scared.

          Jenna snarled, “As long as you die…” Her paw flew up again, and Tumak’s head cocked to the left with a louder gasp.

          He panted, and tried to appeal to her gentler nature one last time. “Jenna…”

          Her eyes fairly crackled as she growled, “And join your precious Khara forever!” She pushed Tumak against the house with all her might, and Tumak hit with a pained gasp and sank to the ground.

          Balto heard a familiar snapping noise. All three looked up in time to see an icicle crack off the edge of the roof. It plummeted through the cold air and plunged into Tumak’s back.

          Rosy wouldn’t let go of Balto’s neck the whole time they were in the waiting room, waiting for news of Tumak’s condition. She wrapped her arms around him and stroked his fur and whispered his name while she cried silent tears for Tumak, who she had discovered when she had gone to the door to see what was banging against the house. Jenna sat away from Rosy, staring straight ahead with fighting emotions broadcasted on her face.

          Rosy’s parents stood as soon as the doctor re-entered the room.

          “How is he, Doctor?” her father asked.

          “Yes, will he be all right?” her mother chimed in.

          “Well, I…” The doctor glanced at Rosy and hesitated, and then sighed. “I’m afraid not. He has severe internal and external bleeding, and frankly this is a very unique situation, and nothing much can be done. My best guess would be that he went after Jenna there, and Balto tried to protect her, and the fight threw him up against the house. All I’m saying is, he doesn’t have much time left. So if you want to say goodbye to him, that is, if you’ve grown attached to him at all, you need to do it now.” The doctor tried to say it gently, but Rosy gave a high-pitched gasp and buried her face in Balto’s fur. Balto nudged her head with his nose sympathetically, and then looked over at Jenna. Her head was hanging in shame, and the look in her eyes was stormy.

          Rosy’s father looked at his weeping daughter and put a hand on her head, muttering, “That animal shelter! They can’t keep one mutt inside…! I’m going to…to do something about his when we get back…” He trailed off, muttering angrily and shaking his head.

          Rosy stood and wiped her tear-streaked face with the back of her hand. She shuffled forward, and then when Balto’s eyes followed her mournfully, she stopped and asked, “C-Can Balto and Jenna come with me?”

          “Rosy…” her mother chided, but the doctor seemed to consider it.

          He eyed Balto questioningly, and then said, “Well, if you’re sure Balto’s under control…it can’t hurt now.”

          Jenna gave a bitter laugh that only Balto heard. No one even suspected her of savagery and abuse.

          Rosy, Balto, and Jenna solemnly filed past the doctor and into a room filled with resting patients in kennels and cages, past them to another white-walled, quiet room where Tumak lay on a small cot, covered in bandages with a teal sheet covering the worst of the damage.

          Rosy stood frozen in the doorway, her lower lip trembling, but she set her jaw determinedly and strode towards the bed. Tumak turned over slightly at the sound of her footsteps, but he yelped in pain with any movement.

          Rosy bit her lip, and her hand hovered over his back. “Goodbye. I’m sorry about…everything. I didn’t think Balto would do something like that to anyone. I don’t know what happened, but…I’m sorry. I didn’t even get to name you. I would’ve kept you if my mom let me. I promise I would have! But it’s too late. So…goodbye.” She gently touched his back and stepped away. She stopped just inside the doorway to wait for Balto and Jenna, and before she was halfway there Tumak moaned as if his heart were breaking.

          Jenna gave Balto a look, and they both crept hesitantly to the edge of the cot. Tumak’s green-gold eyes were glazed as if he were already fading. He focused on Balto, blinked, then focused on Jenna, and his eyes slowly closed.

          Balto exchanged another nervous glance with Jenna, and cleared his throat. “Uh…Tumak?” he whispered.

          Tumak’s eyes snapped open in an instant, and when he looked at Balto in them Balto saw the deepest, darkest grief of anyone he had ever seen. But there was something about Tumak, something about his eyes; they were too bright. He was in another time, another place, buried in the ghastly memories of his past.

          “Soenor,” Tumak choked out, his throat constricted with sadness, “Brother. Oh, just kill me, just kill me now.”

          “Why?” Balto stammered, “What’s wrong?”

          Tumak heaved in a breath, his eyes glistening wet. “She’s gone…She’s dead, gone…Khara…And our pups. If only Death would be merciful and take me, too…”

          Balto realized with a twisted pang that Tumak was about to get his wish. “It’ll be all right, Tumak,” he mumbled, “It’ll be okay.”

          Jenna stood staring at Tumak’s agonized face. Her eyes were little darts of furious fire, but as she clenched her teeth as she watched his grief, they cooled a little. Finally, when he faced the deepest hell inside his soul, she murmured quietly, “I can’t forgive you yet for what you’ve done, and I’m not sorry for what I did. But I am sorry…it had to come to this.”

          She leaned down and kissed his cheek, and Tumak relaxed, and was gone.

          A few weeks later, when Balto and Jenna had a rare night alone, the radio played classical music softly while all but two of the lamps were gently blown out. Normally classical would have bored them both, but this piece seemed to harmonize with the song of the wind outside, the violins soaring over everything while the cellos seemed to disappear within their own deep thrumming.

          Balto turned to Jenna with a twinkle in his softly-glowing eyes. Everything was ready. He knew they both needed this, after the past couple weeks.

          “Shall we dance?” he asked her with a knowing smile.

          Jenna’s eyes sparkled in the semi-darkness. “Yes,” she whispered with delight, and before she knew it he had pressed his cheek to hers and they were revolving around slowly in the center of the living room. She closed her eyes in pure bliss and felt peace wash over her for the first time in a long time. Balto sensed her calm, and he smiled again and closed his eyes, too. They were caught up in a whirl of bright color and song…when the music suddenly changed to a rollicking tune like a lively waltz with a multitude of fiddles and six-strings.

          Balto and Jenna stopped, confused, and then burst out laughing at the ridiculousness of it all. They tried to dance to it, but ended up mostly bouncing, laughing until they were out of breath, and then flopping onto Jenna’s blue cushion.

          Still chuckling, Jenna burrowed her muzzle into Balto’s neck. Balto licked the edge of her face, and they lay quietly side by side as the radio once again switched, this time to a song with a more measured pace.

          Jenna sighed happily. “I love you, Balto.”

          Balto kissed her and grinned broadly. “I love you, too, Jen.”

        Jenna suddenly scowled and shuddered. “I should’ve never let Tumak call me that,” she growled, “It wasn’t his place. He was trying to replace you. And I almost let him. I should’ve never let him get so close. I’m sorry, Balto.”

          Balto’s eyes were unblinking and filled with understanding. “Jenna.” He pulled her close and brought his face down to hers. “Listen. It wasn’t your fault. Your mother had just passed away, and then to lose me…well, it’s no wonder you couldn’t think straight. Tumak knew that, and he used it to get to you. He wasn’t altogether in his right mind, either, but to try to kill me in order to have you, well…I’m just glad I got back when I did.”

          Jenna snuggled against his warm side. “I’m glad you could tell me about Lila,” she said quietly, “Even though I know it must have been hard. Thank you for…staying true to me.” He had told her everything.

          Balto reddened slightly. “I love you, Jen. I could never betray you.” He shook his head, and his content glow diminished slightly. “Though there seemed to be a lot of betrayal going on then.”

          “What do you mean?”

          “Well, Tumak betrayed me and you by trying to murder me and lying to Talon and then you,” Balto began, “Lila betrayed me by telling Talon I killed Sanctus on purpose, though that was for her own protection. And I betrayed the dogs of Stanton by not telling them who I really was. If I had, then no one would’ve blamed me for Sanctus’ murder. If everyone hadn’t been hiding from someone else, then…then none of this would have happened.” He stopped with a silent sigh, and looked straight into Jenna’s eyes. “It was a foolish masquerade, and I’m glad it’s over.”

          Jenna looked at him a long time, and then nodded agreement.

          Outside, above the window, icicles clicked together musically, as if waiting for one of them to fall.

Balto, Jenna, Sylvie, Dixie, Kodi, Saba, Dingo, Rosy, and Rosy’s parents © Universal Studios

Tumak, Khara, Soenor, Cooper, Ruby, Trey, Lake, Jewel, Ranger, Talon, Lila, Sanctus, Nana, and Hazel © redwolf03

Closer to You © Mark Schultz