Chapter 2

Clover walked lightly across the snow just out in front of the Nome general store. She walked lightly across the snow, shadowed in the arctic night. Clover was on her way to Jenna's house, it was place where she would always go when kodi was out running. Here she would hear all the crazy stories of when kodi was young.

Kodi had been adopted by a local musher to become a lead dog. The musher thought that the dog had the right character to be a lead dog, not to mention the body. When kodi's turn to prove his worth as a lead dog came, he asked his parents not to come. They agreed knowing that kodi would be embarrassed if he messed up, but they couldn't stay away. From the safety of a nearby hilltop, they watched as kodi was harnessed up at the front of the sled.

"He looked so proud." Jenna would say with a smile.

As it became time for kodi to run, he began lunging and barking like all the other dogs. Without warning the sled came loose from the anchor; the dog hurled the sled out away from the bank of the river. For a moment the team ran with a fluid like motion. Then without warning the ice cracked open, and swallowed the team.

"Their was no water under the ice, but he looked so funny as he poked his head back up and looked around." Jenna would exclaim with a laugh.

But there was something different today; there was something different about her stride. She now walked deliberately, not with the ease that she would usually walk with. She didn't walk straight towards Jenna', but instead crisscrossed across the town. When she reached the end of one street she would turn and move to the next street over. She paced her steps, planning out how far she would walk, and in what time, and if she walked to fast she would stop and wait for herself.

"How will I tell her? What will I say? What will I say to kodi? What will kodi's father say?" Clover mumbled to herself as she walked, being sure that no one was around to listen to her.

There were so many questions that she wanted answered. The main one being of what will kodi's parent's say? She stumbled about, and slowed her steps to a crawl, as she closed in on Jenna's

Clover stopped in her tracks to stare at the small building. The lumber was rough hewed and the boards were bending out because of weather and cold. The shingles on the roof were warped with several dozen shingles missing. The building had no insulations so the wind would whistle through when it got windy. But the shed was warm during the long winter months.

Clover moved around the front, but before she could get their

"Hey Clover, if your looking for me? I'm out here."

Clover turned and looked at Jenna. She was sitting with her back up against another building, she sat quietly, almost oddly she sat just out in the dark.

"What are you doing out in the dark Jenna? I figured you would be inside being it so cold."

"Oh no," Jenna said leaning forward on her front feet. "I love this weather; it feels great on my fur." Jenna paused to notice the look in Clovers eyes. Jenna noticed the way she walked the tone of her voice and knew that she had something important to say. "So what's on your mind Clover?"

Clover looked at Jenna, slightly shocked that Jenna could sense her thoughts. "How did you know?"

Jenna stood up. "Oh just your eyes, and the tone of your voice." Jenna then stepped forward a little bit and stopped in front of Clover.

"Well I guess I do have some pressing matters on my mind." Clover moved to the side a little and took a few steps away.

"What is it?"

Clover then stopped walking and turned to look at Jenna. Clover looked Jenna in the eyes, she knew her words would come fast and have little meaning, but they had to be said. "Would you like to be a grandmother?"

For a moment Jenna stared her in the eyes, the enormity of what had just been said not taking an immediate effect. "What?" came the words fast and careless.

"I'm going to have puppies."

"You mean, I'm going to be a grandmother…and Balto's going to be a grandfather."

"Yes."

"Oh my god." Jenna screamed out and began hoping around Clover. "Balto's going to be so proud to be a grandfather." Jenna jumped around more, then came to a stop at Clovers side. "How many does it feel like?"

"Oh Jenna." Clover said turning her head and rolling her eyes. "I can't tell, but you know what, when I know, you'll be the first I'll tell."

"Wait." Jenna stopped and looked her in the eyes "have you told kodi yet?"

Clover couldn't speak. She felt all fluttered inside. "No, no I haven't."

"What?"

"I meant to tell him this morning, before he ran, but I dawdled too long in my own thought."

"Well I'm glad you did." Jenna said turning and walking like she was going to walk off.

"What are you talking about?" Clover said walking after her.

Just as Jenna was about to walk off around the edge of a building she stopped, and turned around. She then walked back up to Clover's nose. "Because if you told him then, he would be wondering about it all day."

"Good point. But how should I tell him, I, I mean what should I say. When should I say it?"

Jenna thought for a moment, her eyes staring off to the side. "We could get Balto to tell him."

"That would be wonderful." Clover half yelled out

"My ears are burning." Balto said appearing from around a corner of the old shed.

"Oh, oh hi Balto." Jenna said running over to him and nuzzling up to his chest and muzzle "do you want to hear some good news?"

"Always."

"Well…" Jenna said turning and lining up her side with Balto's side.

Clover walked up to the two side by side, she then paused for a moment and sat down in front of Balto. "I hope you don't mind being a grandfather?"

"You and you? And him? And me a grandfather?"

"yup." Clover said with a smile.

"Does kodi know about this?"

Clover rubbed her feet in the snow, lightly padding the snow with her feet. Then she stared Balto in the eyes. "No, but I was hoping you might tell him?"