Love Hurts

The musher latched Kodi onto the front of the team and returned to the sled to check on the mail. Kodi barked and yapped with the other dogs of his team. His team. He still could not believe it. He was delivering the US mail to the town of White Mountain and he was the one who was leading the sled team!

"MUSH!" The musher cried from behind. Kodi barked and sped off, leading the team on and out of Nome.

From the old up-turned boat by the shore Balto, Kodi's father, watched proudly as the team disappeared into the forest and onto White Mountain beyond. He lifted his head back and howled loudly.

Further down across the snowy tundra Kodi pricked his ears and listened to the howl echo through the air. He howled back and thrust his weight into the halter, pulling with all his might and running as fast as he could go. Kodi felt more proud than he had ever felt before, and he knew that his dad was equally as proud too.

Balto's smile faded off his face as the team disappeared through the tree line. He stepped off the bow of the boat and padded along the icy deck lightly covered in powdery snow. Then suddenly, something caught his eye. Paw prints in the snow, leading off the side of the boat and down the plank that was the entrance and exit to the boat. Curious, Balto followed the trail.

Down the plank he went, across the snow-covered land and on towards the old mill. He found the door half open when he reached there and quietly Balto nudged the door open wider so as he could get in. He looked around the dimly lit room. Lying by the old stove where most of the light was being emitted from was Jenna who had her back to Balto. Balto watched her flanks rise up and down slowly and he wondered if she were asleep or not. He trotted over quietly to her side and looked over her side at her face. Jenna appeared to be dozing slightly, so Balto lowered his head and nudged her gently to wake her.

"Hmmm…wha…what? Oh, Balto, it's you," Jenna said quietly and she yawned widely, "I came to see you earlier but I couldn't find you."

"I know," Balto said softly, "I saw your tracks leading from the boat. I thought it might have been you. I was just watching Kodi and the team leave for White Mountain. He looked so proud up at the front, leading his team on."

"Yes, I was certainly happy for him." Jenna replied.

"So why did you come to see me then?" Balto asked suddenly.

"To speak to you about Kodi…"

"Kodi? Why Kodi?"

Jenna stood up and looked deeply at Balto. Balto caught her gaze and she looked away quickly. He could sense that something was troubling her greatly, yet she did not seem too keen to tell him what it was.

"Oh, Balto," Jenna sighed sadly, "each night I've watched Kodi leave here and head out to the woods alone. He never returns until very late at night and he's been doing this for the past week or so! I'm really worried about him. What is so important that he should go out to the woods secretly?"

Balto thought for a moment. He hadn't expected what Jenna had just told him.

"I…I don't know," Balto said slowly, "but I can find out. When Kodi comes back from the mail delivery, I'll ask him."

When Kodi returned from he mail run, frosty-furred and thirsty, Balto was the first to greet him.

"Kodi," Balto began in a serious tone, "I've had a word with your mother earlier on, and she's mentioned something to me which I have to sort out with you. Come to the old mill and we'll discuss it there."

Kodi just stood there and stared at his father. His heart was pumping so hard it felt like it was in the back of his throat. Slowly and without muttering a word he followed Balto into the old mill.

"Now," Balto started, "about this…"

"Look dad," Kodi interrupted, "whatever mom has said to you, it's got nothing to do with her or you!"

"Kodiak!" Balto snapped, though not too unkindly, "That's no way to speak to me. I don't like to hear of you going into the forest alone. It's dangerous to be out there on your own, especially at night."

"Dad! It's ok! I'm fine out there…"

"I'm just worried about you Kodi! I don't want anything to happen to you! That's why I am now forbidding you to go out to that forest alone."

"But that's not fair dad! I'm fine out there! Why can't you and mom just keep your noses out of my business?"

Kodi turned and fled from Balto, passing the rest of his sled team on the way out. Dusty, Riley, Kirby and Ralph all stood in the doorway, momentarily stunned by the look of both anger and despair they had seen on Kodi's face. Dusty looked at Balto worriedly.

"He just needs a little time…" Balto grumbled before he too passed the team through the doorway and out into the snow.

Balto lifted his head and howled. Jenna's face appeared at the open window. Balto gestured with his head at her, indicating for her to come down. Swiftly Jenna sprung out the window and slid down the sloping roof before landing with a soft thud in the snow below. She walked towards Balto and she saw the sad look that was spread across his face.

"Well?" She asked softly.

"I'm sorry Jenna," Balto replied, "I tried, but Kodi would have none of it."

"Oh, Balto," Jenna said sadly, "what are we going to do?"

Balto turned away and studied the bright round moon above. There were stars sparkling and twinkling like small studded diamonds scattered across the great black canvas that was the sky. The northern lights danced and glowed, casting a greeny-bluey light across the ground. Balto watched and thought hard. He frowned. Kodi would be going to the woods tonight, so why not take the chance to follow him? Balto turned back to Jenna.

"Jenna, I'm going to follow Kodi and see why he is going to the woods each night."

"Balto," Jenna said worriedly, "are you sure that's the best thing to do? What if he sees you? He'll never forgive us for it."

"It's for his own good Jenna," Balto said reassuringly, "don't worry, I'll be careful."

Balto turned his back on Jenna, who clambered back onto the roof and back into the house through the window, and sped off down the snowy slopes and through Nome.

Jenna watched him leave. She rested her head on her paws and yawned tiredly. Inside her was a longing to know what her son was up to in the woods every time he went. Yet she knew that Balto would find out, he would be careful not to get noticed. Balto would soon know…

To be continued…