I woke up in a daze. My ears were ringing and my head was spinning. My view was cloudy and the only thing I could see in front of me was what appeared to be a green blob. I winced and tried to stand. I felt dizzy, as if I might pass out. I blinked a few times, trying to wake up.
The green blob slowly came into vision and I saw it wasn't really a blob at all but a tree. I groaned in frustration. I must have really hit my head.
Just then I heard a deep, rough voice say "Tod? Are you feeling alright?''
My eyes shot up towards the voice. Balto was standing beside me, looking worried. I tried to speak, but my voice was hoarse.
"Balto,'' I rasped. I winced again as I felt the throbbing in my head increase. What had happened?
"Come on,'' Balto said. "I'll help you get up.'' He gently picked me up with his teeth and pulled me up to my feet. I staggered a bit, feeling the same dizziness as earlier.
"Woah, hold on there,'' Balto said, using his paw to keep me from falling.
"I'm sorry,'' I apologized. "I'm just…so tired.''
"That's alright,'' Balto said. "I'll help you.'' I felt his teeth gracefully scrape against my fur and Balto started pulling me toward the direction of our home.
I don't know how he managed to get me there without me passing out; I was so weak. As soon as we got home, Balto laid me down on the soft ground.
I moaned as he did this; my side ached as I slid down on the grass-covered forest floor. I wanted to move but the pain held me down.
"I'll go get something to keep you warm.'' Balto's voice drifted off as I heard footsteps brush through the ground.
I huddled myself against the leaves, trying to dull the pain. I could feel the blood slowly starting to seep back into my body and I sighed. I was going to be alright. The throbbing in my head was starting to decrease and the ringing in my ears had died. I was beginning to feel the pain subside and the soft context of the grass.
Suddenly I heard Balto cry "I got something for you love!''
I tried to turn my head but my neck hurt. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Balto carrying a large branch with its leaves still attached. Balto reached me, tore the leaves off, and began to put the leaves on top of me. Now that my vision was clear, I looked at Balto more closely. I spotted a long, deep cut on the side of Balto's face.
I felt my heart begin to race. Was he ok? Was he in pain? Why wasn't he being attended to? Naturally, my first instinct was to protect and care for him, so I decided to fill that role now.
"Balto,'' I said. "your face…it's cut.''