Chapter 16

Jenna was sitting on the very end of a building which provided a excellent view of the area where the returning dogs would come up off of the river. She sat on a large wooden crate with the light of a nearby lantern shining across the crate and lighting up her shoulder and the tip of her muzzle.

Jenna had been sitting here for several hours in the midst of her own thought. She feared for clover and couldn't imagine what it would be like, the fear that she must be feeling, the way the wolves might be treating her.

She also feared for Kodi. Kodi was injured and going after wolves who didn't care. Jenna thought about what would happen if Kodi lost his foot, it would be horrible.

Jenna was a little bit surprised by herself that she wasn't fearing as much as she should for Balto. But she figured that it was just because Balto had been a child of the woods and she knew somehow that he would be just fine. She also knew that Balto would do his best to protect Kodi and to save clover

"Oh I hope your all all right." she muttered to herself then bit her lip realizing that she wasn't the only one in the alley.

She turned her head to the right across the mouth of the alley to see ten or so dogs standing apart and at different areas across the alley. They all sat with their back to the lantern light, their shadows being cast out across the snow towards the darkness of the night. They were all waiting for a loved one or a friend to return. Each of them had a look of fear in their eyes and body language. They hardly moved from the spot they were at so they wouldn't miss anything if it happened. Their eyes were wide and all seeing. Then Jenna thought that she probably looked the same.

She was just about to turn her head back when she noticed someone familiar out of the corner of her eye. Dixie. Jenna hadn't talked to Dixie in a while, they were still friends but Jenna had been always busy for one thing or another. Dixie had the same fearful stance and look on her face as the rest of the dogs in the alley.

Why would she be waiting out here, then Jenna got it. Star. Dixie had never really showed any feelings for star, but maybe she had some secret feeling for him.

Jenna turned and looked one more time out at the riverbank to make sure nothing was happening. Then she turned and stepped off the box and moved over across the street towards Dixie.

Dixie saw Jenna coming and knew that she had seen the look on her face. Dixie instantly made her look like she was curious about what's going on, puffed her chest out and met Jenna halfway across the street.

"Hi Jenna. I was just searching for you." Dixie turned and sat down in the snow looking out at the river. Jenna sat down in the snow next to her facing the same way.

"So what are you doing out here Dixie?"

"I was searching for you. I already told you that." she smiled at Jenna letting her teeth show a little bit. But she turned back to the river and let her face drop into that fearful state for just a second. And in that second Jenna caught her.

"Your worried for him, aren't you?"

Dixie gave a quick angry glare at Jenna, but knew that it was true. Besides Jenna was a true friend, she could tell her. "Yes. I am afraid for him. I'm afraid that he's not going to come back, and I wont be able to tell him how a feel about him."

Jenna smiled down at Dixie who glanced up at Jenna when she did. "Don't worry, I'm sure my Balto wont let anything happen to his true friend."

"I hope so."

They both paused for a moment to scan the edge of the river. It was hard to see the river edge in the high light of the alley. Jenna thought for a moment that she would invite Dixie to come sit with her on the large crate where it would be easier to see.

"I don't really know why I like him…Its just that…I don't know." Dixie was flustered by her lack of knowledge.

"I think it's probably because he likes you, and no one has ever really showed you such affection."

"I don't really ever recall him showing his affection to me." Dixie said depressed.

"Well he really does…" Dixie glanced up at Jenna in hope. "He always tells Balto how good you look and how you are always the highlight of his day."

"Really?"

"Really."

Dixie nodded her head in agreement. She felt much better now.

"There." someone in front of Jenna called out. "There coming."

Jenna looked up over the crowd of dogs to see a line of dogs moving there way up the riverbank and out on to the snow. It was hard to see who was walking in front, but with every dog that came up out of the riverbank she began to feel better because it was another chance that they were all all right.

The dogs in the alley bolted forward searching for their loved ones and friends. They bolted forward so fast that Jenna was left standing by herself in the alley.

Jenna ran forward and quickly made it through the dogs that had been in the alley and out into the front, where she began to search for clover, Kodi, and Balto. She slowed down as she reached the dog that was walking in front, it wasn't Balto. The dog was covered with blood from nose to tail and really seemed to tired to tell Jenna anything if she asked him

The returning dogs all clustered around into one large group as they came out off the ice. They all searched for a loved one, or if there was no one waiting for them, they went right on by and on into town.

Jenna searched through the dogs, but they all looked the same and she couldn't tell any of them apart. When it hit her that she should call out there name.

"Balto? Balto?" she called out but no answer came. "Balto where are you?" Jenna began to picture the worst of what could of happened. She pictured Balto laying in a bloody tore up mess in the snow, in some god forgotten land.

But her concentration of this picture was broke when she noticed a blood covered dog walking towards her. She noticed that he was walking with a limp.

"Kodi?… Kodiak, is that you?"

Kodi raised his head slight to see who was calling him name out. But as soon as he saw who it was he dropped his head.

"Kodi, where's clover?"

Kodi moved slowly by her, never bothering to raise his head or even say high. He continued on by, limping through the crowd of talking chattering dogs and on down the alley.

"Hey Jenna."

Jenna turned to see a blood covered wolfish dog looking straight at her. Balto. Balto took one quick step and nuzzled up against her. But Jenna had to know. She stepped back from Balto's nuzzle.

"Where's clover?"

Balto lowered his head and remained silent.

"didn't you win. I mean I looks like most everyone came home."

Balto paused to summon up the words but only one set of words came to his mouth. He raised his head silently, cleared his throat. "we won…he lost."

Jenna's mouth dropped, she needed all she needed to. Jenna turned and looked back at Kodi who was limping off down the street. Balto stepped closer and put his head over her back and against Jenna's. Then they both stood in the midst of the cheering winning dogs, watching their son walk off into the night with the life he could have had forgotten.

End