Lost!

"Smells like things're gonna get a mite rough tonight," a wizened St. Bernard named Doc declared.

Dash leaned over to Balto. "Are you sure we should be staying here? We might get snowed in."

Balto cracked a smile. "Positive. The last place you want to be is out wandering in this mess. But as for getting snowed in, I wouldn't count on it. These spring storms rarely drop a lot of snow."

"What's your definition of 'a lot'?" Dash asked.

Before Balto could reply, Aurora, Jenna, Dixie, and Sylvie broke into laughter. He shook his head. "I wonder what they're talking about."

Dash glanced over at them and shrugged. "From the sound of it, probably us."

Balto gazed outside and watched a single snowflake drift past the window. "Things could be worse."


Aleu waited in bed for what seemed an eternity until she heard Jenner sleeping soundly beside her. She carefully rolled to her feet and glanced at Jenner, who was breathing slow and evenly. Good, he's asleep. She silently crossed the room to the single window and jumped onto a table. Cloudy, but no snow falling. It's now or never. She hopped lightly to the floor, and began to pad silently to the door.

"What're you doing, Aleu?" Jenner asked behind her.

Aleu grimaced. So much for that. "I'm going away," she replied without glancing back.

Jenner darted between her and the door. "Away? Away where?"

"I don't know. Just away."

"You're nuts! Why?"

"I don't wanna hear it, Jenner," Aleu growled, pacing the floor in front of her brother. He held his ground, and she sighed in vexation. "Can you please move out of my way?"

Jenner rolled his eyes. "This is the most absolute stupidest idea you've ever had, and you've had lots!"

"I said I don't wanna hear it. I get blamed for everything, even when it's not all my fault. I'm goin' away so I won't bother anyone anymore. So are you going to move or not?"

Jenner shook his head. "How will you survive? You've never been on your own."

Aleu raised her nose indignantly. "I can take care of myself. I'm not a baby."

"You're certainly acting like one," Jenner muttered. "Besides, aren't you forgetting something?"

"What?"

"There's no way you can get away with this. Papa knows this whole place better than you do. He'll find you easy."

Aleu looked outside and saw a light snow beginning to fall. "Not if you don't tell him."

"Even if he doesn't, Uncle Kemo will. Papa says he knows this area better than even him."

"I can take care of myself," she repeated, walking past him.

"What do I tell Mama and Papa?" Aleu walked out of the room without acknowledging his question. "If you freeze to death, don't blame me!" he called after her.

Moments later, Aleu was standing outside the house. Thankfully, Jenner hadn't followed her, and it had been a simple task to slip past the humans conversing in the livingroom. Now she was at a loss, however, as to which way she should go. She knew the way to her father's boat, but that would be the first place he looked. She also knew the general direction of the human camp, but again, she would be too easy to find. After a short period of indecisiveness, she decided to head in the opposite direction of the camp. With that plan in mind, she began to run toward the treeline on the far side of town.

At the same time, Jenner was facing similar indecision inside. He knew that his parents had to be told about Aleu running away, but he also knew that if Aleu got caught because of him, she'd probably never speak to him again. But if I don't tell on her, she might not be able to speak to me again anyway. That thought decided him. I'll go to the Old Mill and tell Papa everything.

He ran out of the room, tiptoed past the livingroom where the humans were engaged in a conversation, and darted outside through the doggie door. As he jumped off the porch, it dawned on him that he didn't even know the way to the Old Mill. He skidded to a halt as he reached the curb and looked both ways. "Right or left? I don't know! Doggone it, the things Aleu gets me into! The farthest I've ever been from home is Kaltag's house, so what do I . . ." Then it hit him. "Uncle Kaltag! He'll know the way!"


Kaltag's six puppies squealed with delight as they roughhoused with their father. He finally surrendered and fell down in front of the fireplace. The puppies swarmed all over him, gnawing on his ears or simply cuddling up against him. Fatherhood was far from being as easy as he bragged to Balto. But it certainly has its rewards.

A sharp prick made him raise his head. "Take it easy, Kip. Ears are a requirement to run as team leader, you know."

"Sorry, Daddy." The pup smoothed the fur around his father's ear with one paw.

Kaltag laughed. "Don't worry about it, Champ."

Seeing her mother looking anxiously out the window, the three girls, Kiana, Galena, and Crystal broke off from play-fighting. "What's wrong, Mama?"

"Hmm?" Tricksy looked away from the window. "Oh, nothing. Just a funny feeling, that's all. I guess there's a blizzard brewing."

Kaltag nodded his assent. "It won't be fit outside for dog nor beast tonight."

"How do you know?" Tok, the oldest boy, asked.

Kaltag winked at him. "Your Mama's never wrong about the weather. She's part wolf, ya know."

"We know," Kip said, rolling his eyes.

"Yeah," Tracks, the youngest boy added. "You've told us a zillion times."

"There's no such word as zillion," Kaltag said. He tousled the fur on his head. "But that's to get it through that thick skull of yours. That came from your mother's side, ya know."

Tricksy's turned, eyes narrowed. "Care to say that again?"

He winked at the pups, causing them to snicker. "Only joking, Trix."

"You'd better be. We wolves are known to lose our tempers when we're made fun of."

"So let that be a lesson to you all." Kaltag grinned broadly at the pups.

"Kaltag, I'm warning you . . ." She broke off and cocked her ears.

Kaltag stood up, letting the puppies slide off him. "What is it?"

Tricksy shook her head. "I thought I heard something. Perhaps it was just the wind, or . . ." She broke off again. "There it is again. Something's scratching at the door. Were you expecting anyone?"

Kaltag shook his head. "No. Are you sure that branch isn't knocking on the roof again?"

"Positive."

Kaltag looked at the pups. "You all stay put while we check this out."

They walked to the front door, while their puppies, curious about what was happening, gathered in the entryway. "Kaltag grabbed the rope attached to the crossbar and tugged on it. The wind tore the door open, and nearly ripped the cord out of his teeth. To their utter astonishment, a snow-dusted Jenner stumbled in the door, teeth chattering, and tiny icicles hanging from his whiskers.

"Jenner!" Tricksy exclaimed as her mate pulled the door shut.

"Son, what are you doing out on a night like this? Where're your parents?" Kaltag asked.

Jenner tried to halt the violent chattering of his teeth, but to no avail. "I . . . I . . . I . . . h . . .h . . . have to . . . g . . . g . . . g . . .get . . . t . . .t . . . t . . ."

"You poor dear! Come in here and sit by the fire!" Tricksy nudged him toward the livingroom.

"C . . . c . . . c . . . can't. H . . . h . . . have . . . t . . . t . . .to . . ."

"What you have to do is sit in there by the fire," Kaltag declared firmly. He looked at his surprised pups. "You all go to bed. Jenner's not in any condition for visiting." The pups hesitated for a moment. "Come on, now. Mush!" The puppies scampered off.

Jenner tried to resist being herded toward the fire. "B . . . b . . . b . . ."

"No buts. When Trix tells you to sit, you sit." He picked the pup off the ground, and despite the young pup's weak struggles, he bodily carried Jenner to the fireplace. "As soon as you've thawed, you can tell us what this is all about.

Tricksy curled up around him, offering him what warmth she could. A few minutes later, Jenner, though still shivering, was beginning to recover, and she helped him stand up. "Where are your folks?"

"T . . . they're at th . . . the Old M . . . Mill. I have to . . ."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Kaltag interrupted. "One thing at a time. What are you doing out? I know your folks don't want you pups wandering alone. Especially not in weather like this."

"I'm tryin' t . . . to tell . . . Gotta see Papa. Aleu's gone. R . . . r . . . run away."

Tricksy's mouth fell open. "What?! She ran away in a snowstorm?" Jenner nodded dumbly. She spun around to face Kaltag. "Balto has to be told."

Kaltag nodded. "I'll go right away."

"I can do it," Tricksy protested.

"No time to argue, Trix. I've run sleds in weather like this. You stay here with the pups."

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Tricksy didn't argue. Instead, she walked over to her mate and nuzzled him. "Take care of yourself."

The husky nodded. "Don't I always?"

"But I want to go," Jenner broke in. "I have to."

Kaltag decided against arguing. "Fine. We're moving fast, so I'll have to carry you."

Jenner nodded his head. Tricksy tugged on the rope and held it tightly as the door swung open. Kaltag grabbed Jenner by the scruff of the neck and ran into the night.

Meanwhile, Aleu was trudging through the snow drifts in the forests outside Nome. Her paws were now so cold that she couldn't feel them anymore, and it was a conscious effort to keep moving. Jenner was right, this was a stupid idea, but it's only a matter of time before help comes. I know he ran to tell Papa as soon as I left. Maybe Papa's searching for me right now. But what if he isn't? What if no one's coming? She quickly shook her negative thoughts away.

She huddled against a tree for some protection from the wind, and howled as loudly as she could. Hearing nothing, she howled once again and pricked her ears, but the only sound she heard was the wind howling through the trees. She lowered her head in despair. I can't go any further. If I move, I'll die, If I don't, I'll die anyway. How do I know that? Oh, well, it doesn't matter . . . better to stay rested than tired. Besides, I'm beginning to feel a bit warmer now. Why do I feel so tired all of a sudden? She curled up at the base of a tree and closed her eyes, letting the snow cover her fur coat.