The wind was blowing slowly as the sun was appearing, penetrating its light to the surroundings. There was nothing to see, except the perfect silent that still ruled. Still, a brown wolf – dog had waken up, welcoming a new day. He walked towards to Jenna’s house, thinking of something.

"I wonder…," he thought, "What is the present?"

Slowly, he took a step by step, making a soft sound that was echoing the town. He still could remember clearly about yesterday when Jenna had told him that she had had something for him.

"I can’t wait for any longer," he thought, impatient, "It made me couldn’t sleep well."

By the time he was thinking, he heard a sound from the distance. Curious of it, he took a look to it. It was Lani who was chasing Kodi, running around at the empty field near the boiler room. Kodi, by the way, just looked like happy, different for Lani that looked like mad at Kodi.

"Maybe, just playing around…," he thought, continuing to walk.

He kept walking and walking until he reached it, a place that was so familiar to him. He then jumped the crates behind the house one by one to the top, carefully looking his step. And by the time he was at the roof, he called Jenna in a whisper through the window.

"Jenna…," he whispered, "Jenna…"

Jenna perked her ears. She slowly opened her eyes and looked at the direction to find Balto who was standing outside the window.

"Balto, it’s still early…," she said, "Is there something?"

"Actually…," Balto hesitated, "I just want to know the present."

Jenna seemed surprised, knowing she was waken up just because his curiosity. She then smiled upon him, making him felt he was silly.

"I won’t tell you, Balto," she replied, "It’s not the time."

"So…," Balto said, "When is the time?"

"After I have enough sleep…," Jenna answered, smiling, "And before it, you have to wait."

"Okay, then…," Balto replied, yawning, "I will be right here until that happen."

Jenna was just yawning too, knowing her love was waiting for all the time just to get the present. Instead of thinking it further, she chose to get sleep. Balto, by the way, began to sleep too due to the boringness that had overwhelmed him while Jenna was sleeping. Soon, he was drifted into a deep sleep, a rest that needed by him.

"What’s wrong?" Kodi shouted, looking back at Lani, "Have you given up already?"

Far from where Kodi was, Lani seemed so tired, couldn’t even move again. Her breath became faster, lacking of air and energy. Even she was a wolf, she couldn’t run like Kodi did. She then decided to stop and lay down.

"He has a lot of energy…," she thought, "I hate I must admit it."

Kodi, by the way, just looked her, tired of running. He then started to move closer, checking her condition.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yes, I’m okay," Lani answered, breathing hard, "I’m just tired."

Kodi smiled for hearing it, making him proud to be the winner.

"So, maybe you are good in fight, but…," he explained, gazing and smiling at her, "I’m the best in race."

"Whatever…," Lani replied, trying to stand up, "I must back now."

"Then, I will escort you…," Kodi said, "You might be lost if you were alone."

Lani became angry by the time he was saying that, felt like teased.

"I would be fine if I went without you," she snapped angry, "Beside, I can take care of myself."

"Hey…," Kodi snapped back, looking at her, "I was just trying to be nice."

"I don’t need it," Lani replied, "Go now! Just leave me alone!"

With it, she began leaving, going back home in order to get some rest. Kodi just stared her, confused at her attitude.

"Fine!" he shouted, "No problem!"

At the moment, Kodi was leaving, doing the same thing like Lani did, back to home. He still didn’t quite understand her, easily distracted and hard to calm down. By the time he was walking away, he thought of something.

"Females…," Kodi thought deeply, "They sure can’t be predicted."

"Oh…," he thought, opening his eyes slowly, "I must have been sleeping for all this time."

True of it, Nome was full by people now. Many of them were busy of doing daily activities. By the time of it, Balto glanced around to see an abundant of people were walking around at the street, and then looking back to Jenna to find she wasn’t there.

"Huh? She isn’t in home," he thought, "Maybe she was playing with Rosy now."

He then looked around, trying to find Jenna so that he would know the present. Luckily, he found her quickly beside the crates, resting from playing with her owner.

"Jenna!" he called from the roof, starting to climb down, "Can I know it now?"

"Okay, Balto," Jenna replied, giving up, "Close your eyes first."

Balto did what Jenna said to him while she was going somewhere, picking the present. After a while, she came back, bringing something that hidden well in her bandanna.

"Open your eyes now…," she said, taking out the present, "Here, what do you think about it?"

It was a blue bandanna, having the same size like Jenna’s bandanna. Felt soft like a silk and beautiful. Balto was just in agape, not knowing how to express it.

"Wow…," he said, looking deeply at the present.

"Try it, Balto," Jenna said, smiling.

"Huh?" Balto was still in agape, "Oh, yeah. I will."

Balto then began to bow down, trying to wear it with a little help from Jenna. With it, he started to examine, seeing how he looked like with a new bandanna.

"How do I look?" he asked, smiling at Jenna, "Am I still handsome?"

"Of course, Balto…," Jenna replied, chuckling and nuzzling him, "By the way, I have to go now. My girl needs me."

"Again?" Balto asked, giving her a question look, "I thought you had already played with her."

"You know how the children," Jenna answered, "They are always attractive."

Balto just chuckled during it.

"I will see you later," Jenna said, starting to leave, "By the way, take care of it, Balto."

With that, Jenna left him, alone with the bandanna. For the moment, he didn’t know what he would do next until he decided to go back home, along with his lovely bandanna.

Walking, he thought how much it meant to him and her as their love had been made from several time ago. Looking to the past, he could remember everything, swirling around in memories. He then didn’t notice that the wind was blowing hard, wiping something to the air.

"My bandanna…," he thought.

Running in full speed, he began to chase, hoping it wouldn’t fly away from his sight. But, instead of it, the bandanna went away through to the outskirt, towards to the forest. He was tired, exhausted of running. Hoping it hadn’t been lost yet, he decided to follow it even his energy was low.

"Hello, Balto!" Alex shouted from the distance, starting to move closer, "Why you are in a hurry?"

"There is no time to explain it now," Balto answered, breathing hard, "I must get my bandanna back."

"Your bandanna?" Alex looked confused, "I thought you didn’t have bandanna."

"Well, actually I just got it from Jenna," Balto explained, then realized he must be quick, "Sorry, I have to get going now."

With that, he launched forward, leaving Alex alone. Instead of watching, Alex chose to follow him. Not just for helping, but for protecting him too from any danger that could appear in a sudden.

"Balto!" he shouted, running beside him, "I will help you!"

Balto was surprised, not knowing Alex was chasing him. He then glanced at him.

"Are you sure?" he shouted back, still running, "I don’t want to trouble you."

"Two is better than one, isn’t it?" Alex replied.

Balto just smiled, knowing he had such a good friend. Together, they went into wilderness, searching for something.

"So…," Alex started, looking at Balto who was running beside him, "Why did you loss it?"

"Actually…," Balto answered, "It just flied away."

"Oh…," Alex seemed to know what he meant.

Glancing around, they stopped running. The forest was in front of them, signalling all of creatures to be careful in there.

"Your bandanna…," Alex asked, "What does it look like?"

"It’s blue," Balto answered.

"Just that?" Alex asked again.

"I guess so…," Balto answered, looking at him, "I just remember that."

"Okay, then…," Alex said, starting to enter the forest, "Let’s go!"

They began to find it, searching everywhere that might be. While Alex was searching at the small river, Balto was standing near the rock, thinking he had already lost it. He looked around to find there was no sign where it would be. By the time of it, he noticed something familiar, passing in front of him while drifted by the wind.

"Huh? It’s it," he thought, glancing back.

It was his bandanna, flying away slowly beside him as the wind began to push it further and further.

"I will get it," he thought, determination on his eyes.

Turning around, he dashed towards the bandanna, not letting it disappeared again for a second time. He sped up, using his speed and agility, passing Alex who was still searching it.

"Balto? Where he is going?" Alex thought, looking at Balto who was running fast, then to the air, "The bandanna."

By the time he was looking, Balto was still chasing it, almost got it, but still far from him. Then, he decided to jump high through the air to get it. Opening his mouth, he grabbed it by his teeth successfully.

"Yeah, I got it," he thought, still in the midair.

"Balto!" Alex shouted from the distance, "Watch out!"

Balto didn’t notice that something blocked his way, a big tree in front of him. Before he could react, he hit hard, making him fell down to the valley below him. He kept rolling and rolling, crashing the rock and bush before stopped near the river. Alex just could watch in a horror, hoping he would be fine, but unfortunately, his hope was in vain.

"Oh, no…," he thought, starting to go down to the valley.

He began walking down, carefully of making his steps. One mistake could bring him on an accident too, and of course, he didn’t want that. When he got down, he was looking Balto, covered with many scratches and wounds, combined with the dirt and bush. After a while, Balto began to move slowly, limited by the wounds.

"Balto, are you alright?" Alex asked, concerning about him, "You look pretty bad."

"Don’t worry! I’m fine," Balto answered, "It’s just a scratch. It won’t hurt me bad."

Watching, Alex could tell that he was right by the time he was standing, not affected by the wounds. Even he worried him, he must admit that he was strong enough to stand up.

"Let me help you…," he said, helping him to stand up, "Now, we must go back."

"Okay, but wait a second…," Balto replied, grabbing his bandanna, "Could you wear it until we get back?"

"Why?" Alex looked confused, "It’s yours. I mean… Why you don’t wear it along?"

"Because…," Balto started, looking at himself, "I might make it become stained."

Alex just gave him a smile, knowing what he meant. With all of scratches, the bandanna would be stained by his blood.

"Okay…," he replied, wearing the bandanna around his neck, "Let’s go home."

"Well…," Jenna thought, "Rosy is more energetic now. She almost squeezes me."

Alone, Jenna was resting, tired from hanging around with Rosy. She had been playing with her for an hour, running and barking every time she was calling her, wasting a lot of energy that dwelled inside. For a moment, she was thinking of Balto, wanting to know what he did along with his bandanna. He began imagining that somehow, Balto enjoyed every moment with it.

"Maybe…," she thought, smiling, "I should check him."

With that, she went away from the town to the outskirt, hoping she would find happiness on Balto’s face. Step by step, she became closer to it. When she was there, she climbed out carefully, wanting to surprise him. Instead of surprising him, she was the one who was surprised, shocked to see that Balto was covered with many scratches and wounds. She quickly moved to him, checking his condition.

"Balto…," Jenna said, starting to worry, "Balto, are you alright?"

"Easy, Jenna," Balto answered, gazing at her, "I’m alright. It’s just some scratch."

"It’s not just scratch, Balto," Jenna replied, concerning about him, "You look terrible."

Jenna might be right. As much as she could see, his brown fur mixed with blood, making it became red. The scratch itself, even it wasn’t deep, but still, it made him hurt.

"What did happen?" Jenna asked, "Why do you look like this now?"

"Actually…," Alex interrupted, not letting Jenna jumped straight to the conclusion, "It because his bandanna."

Jenna, who was at the first didn’t notice Alex in there, looked surprised. She really wasn’t paying attention at around, just focusing at Balto.

"His bandanna?" she looked confused, "How could be?"

"He was chasing his bandanna back then," Alex explained, "When it went to the forest, he kept looking until he got it, but…" Alex then stopped, hesitated of continuing it.

"Then, what?" Jenna asked, wanting to know everything.

"He fell down to the valley," Alex answered, "He hit some rocks and bushes at there."

Jenna gasped after he finished the story. Now, she even was more afraid, concerning about what Balto did back then. There was a moment of silence before Alex started to speak.

"Well, I must go now," Alex said, "I need to find Lani. Bye Balto, Jenna."

With that reason, he began leaving them, alone so that they could talk each other freely. And without his present in there, he knew that they could understand each other well too.

"So…," Balto started, "Is there anything you want to talk?"

"Absolutely, yes," Jenna answered, looking how bad he was now, "First, how could you loss it?"

"Well, a few minutes after you left, I was going back home, and then…," Balto explained, glancing around, "The wind just blew it, so I gave a chase."

He was stopping for a moment, not knowing how to explain it more accurately.

"I’m sorry, Jenna," he said, looking at the ground, "I couldn’t take care it well."

For a while, Jenna was still in silent, looking at him until she began smiling, tears on her eyes.

"Balto…," she said finally, nuzzling him, "Why did you do that? You could make yourself in danger."

"But…," Balto replied, "I thought you said that I should take care of it, so I guessed you would be mad at me if I lost it."

"Don’t be ridiculous!" Jenna replied, patting his head, "You are more important than anything to me. I would prefer let it go to loss you."

Balto smiled, knowing she cared so much to him, making him like a little pup.

"So, where is the bandanna?" Jenna asked, laying down beside him, "Did you get it?"

"Of course…," Balto answered, smiling to her, "I wouldn’t chase it if I knew I wouldn’t get it."

Jenna chuckled for hearing it, making a sense of it. While Jenna was laying down, Balto was starting to stand up, looking to the cabin. He walked in slowly, grabbing his bandanna by his teeth. Walking out, he showed to Jenna that he still kept the present.

"Look!" he said, still grabbing it, "I still keep it safely."

"Okay, then…," Jenna said, standing up, "Now, give it to me!"

"Huh?" Balto looked confused, "Why?"

"Just give it to me, Balto!" Jenna commanded, gazing at him seriously.

"Alright," Balto replied, giving the bandanna to Jenna.

Jenna then was wearing it, making sure that blue bandanna was on her neck, mixing with her red bandanna.

"Alright…," she started, "From now, I will keep it until I’m sure you won’t make yourself in danger for a second time."

Balto was surprised, not expecting this would happen to him. It was his bandanna, and he even hadn’t worn it for one day. Now, it was removed easily from him.

"But, Jenna…," he started, pleading to her, "That isn’t fair."

"No complain, Balto," Jenna replied, gazing down at him, "I will make sure you won’t do anything stupid again."

"But…," Balto pleaded again, but Jenna’s paws had already closed his mouth.

"Be quiet…," Jenna said, forcing him to lay down, "You must rest now."

Balto, at the time of this, couldn’t do anything. With Jenna at around, his move might be limited due of his condition. Even it was just a scratch, she still worried him much, not wanting him to be hurt more. Now, he could only sleep, trying to forget everything as much as he wanted it was just a dream. Slowly, he was drifted into a deep sleep and everything he could see now was just black.

Later, tomorrow, Balto woke up as the sunshine began to touch him, right on his eyes. He opened his eyes slowly, looking at the shiny thing that had waken him up. Standing, he yawned for once before he went out, looking for a new day.

"Wow…," he thought, "I must have been sleeping for a day."

He remembered back, looking to the past. It was still afternoon yesterday, and then, he slept until he woke up on a new day.

"I wonder what Jenna did yesterday," he thought, glancing around, "Was she always in here while I was sleeping?"

The question was just swirling around his head, making him became more confused. As much as he wanted the answer, he started walking towards Nome, seeking some fun from there. By the time of it, someone called him, a familiar voice that he knew very well.

"Balto…," Jenna called softly from behind him, "Where are you going?"

"Me?" Balto seemed surprised, not knowing how he would answer it, "I… I was just going around, taking some fresh air."

"Don’t lie to me, Balto," Jenna replied, "I know you want to go to the town."

"Huh?" Balto thought, "How did she know?"

Jenna just smiled, knowing she had already figured it out, making Balto fell in silent.

"C’mon, Balto," Jenna started, smiling, "You need to go back."

Before he could say something, Jenna had already led him back to the boat, making sure he wouldn’t hurt himself for a second time. Balto, by the way, knew this would happen after what he did before, she would be more careful than she was.

"Balto, you aren’t supposed to go out," Jenna started, worrying his condition, "Your wounds haven’t been recovered yet."

"But, I can’t keep staying in here," Balto replied, "It’s so boring."

Jenna then laughed, realizing he needed some excitement at outside. Just looking him, she knew he lived among the adventure.

"Okay…," she said, smiling, "I will be with you for all this day. Is it still boring?"

"Umm…," Balto was thinking for a moment, looking at her, "Not exactly."

"Good," Jenna said, chuckling while patting Balto’s head, "Now, I will take care of you, my little pup."

"Hey…," Balto replied, backing away, "I’m not a little pup."

They began laughing, felt so contented with each other present in there. Later, they were laying down, gazing at each other deeply as the sun became high, shining its ray to everything.

"Umm…, Jenna," Balto started, calling her softly.

"Yes…," Jenna replied, starting to look him.

"About yesterday…," Balto said, trying to remember, "Were you always in here while I was sleeping?"

"Yeah…," Jenna answered, "At least, I was staying here until night. What’s the matter?"

"Nothing," Balto replied, looking at the other direction, "I just want to know."

"I know what you mean…," Jenna said, nudging him, "You thought I was just kidding when I told I would always watch you."

Balto lost his words for hearing it, making his face in agape while Jenna was just laughing at him. He still couldn’t figure out why Jenna always understood well, better than him. Getting rid his thought, he began focused on something.

"Well, by the way…," he started, thinking about his words carefully, "Where is my bandanna now?"

"Balto…," Jenna smiled, surprised at his question, "You never give up, don’t you?"

"Of course, I don’t…," Balto replied, smiling back.

"Okay, then…," Jenna said, giving up, "Let’s make a deal! I would give it back if you were completely recovered."

"But, I have been already recovered now," Balto said, jumping in front of Jenna, "See?"

Jenna just looked at him, knowing his wounds still could be seen clearly, even it was just a tiny red line that spreading across his back. However, Jenna’s decision still remained steady, not giving it back until she was sure of his condition. Still, Balto made it hard to her, always pleading every time he got a chance.

"Don’t argue with me, Balto…," Jenna warned him, "Or I won’t give it back."

Balto gulped, realizing that Jenna was serious in her statement, making Balto to be like a little pup again, sitting and waiting for his recovery.

"Alright…," he replied back, laying down in front of her, "I will be a good little pup."

"What?" Jenna seemed surprised, laughing at him, "You said before that you weren’t a little pup."

"I have changed," Balto said, smiling and laughing with Jenna.

"And why you have changed in a sudden?" Jenna asked, gazing him with smile.

"To get my bandanna back," Balto answered simply.

"Oh, Balto…," Jenna replied, nuzzling him happily.

Together, they were having a good time later, enjoying every moment they had while taking care for each other. Still, their love was the one thing that had made them like that, forgetting anything around as long as they felt complete. But then, they weren’t paying attention to someone who was watching them from far away at the forest, covered by the shadow of the trees. Seeing them, he then left with a smirk on his face, and instead remained there, he stepped back, entering the forest with full of mystery behind him. Even his fur was blown gently by the wind, still, his face looked so evil, more than anyone could imagine.

To be continued…

Any similarities in this story are purely coincidental and not intended.