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The walk from Nome was arduous, the path winding and at times near impossible to follow, except for those who know it already. Balto thanked his lucky stars that Boris had shown him the way in his youth, supposedly in case the old goose's eyesight ever failed him and he needed to rest his aching wings. Quickly Balto discovered the hot springs Boris had spotted years ago worked wonders on those not blessed with wings just as well. In his teenage years, he would run, walk, sometimes crawl to the almost mythical rejuvenation of the springs after following, pacing, and even sometimes outrunning the sled teams. Most times they never even knew he was there, and those that cast a glance left or right would only see a shape in the middle distance before turning their attention back to the trail ahead. It was in these early trials that Balto first saw Steele's selfish nature firsthand. A snap at a heel was all it took to send an opposing team into a tangled mess of harnesses and bodies. None of them could ever prove it, because none of Steele's teammates would ever turn him in.

That all changed with the diphtheria crisis.

When Balto and the team returned, days after Steele had crawled into Nome and claimed they'd all perished in the arctic wastes, the braggart was cast out. No judgment was ever passed, but it was understood that should he ever return there would be no effort made to save him from anyone who sought him out. Balto had heard all of this second-hand, having retreated once again to the hot springs after such a grueling run in blizzard conditions. Jenna had embraced him warmly mere moments after they'd delivered the antitoxin, and the near memory still warmed him more than the springs ever could, but she'd been strangely quiet after. As the crowds returned to their homes, she'd kissed him once on the cheek and with a smile turned for her own home. Since then he'd only seen her a time or two. More often than not other girls would crowd him, professing their thanks and asking questions. Jenna never did, though often he longed for her to push her way to him and take his hand again. Perhaps another kiss from her would steer the others away. Instead she kept her distance, always seeming just out of earshot, but looking his way now and again.

Today had been like many others, and he'd shaken hands and answered questions as often as he could manage, though he still felt odd about it. Overnight, Nome had shifted in how it treated him. Where once he'd been an outcast, ignored and even sometimes turned away, now all doors were open and every face was smiling. The doctor thanked him profusely, the butcher gave him the best cuts of meat, the telegraph operator passed on well wishes and congratulations from all over. The sled team had been prodding him incessantly to join officially. Kaltag had taken the lead spot, but insisted he was only keeping the harness warm until Nome's hero inevitably rejoined the team. Balto replied that the entire team were heroes, and that he just happened to be in the front harness when they arrived. The team appreciated it, of course, but kept up the playful pestering.

In the afternoon, he finally excused himself and made the long walk up to the springs to ease his still-aching back. The small pool he'd chosen was perfect, with a few flat stones below the surface to sit and submerge nearly one's entire body. Balto lay back with his arms spread on the wet rocks around the pool, head resting on a towel that he would desperately need as soon as he emerged in the fading light. He thought briefly of leaving, but who knew what tomorrow would bring. He decided to stay just a longer. And if it came to it, he had a lantern and knew a sheltered spot nearby where he could rest out the night. His ears twitched, and for the second time he thought he heard something nearby, but a glance over his shoulder revealed nothing. Strange.

He closed his eyes and let his mind wander back to the night of the medicine delivery, Jenna's lips against his cheek. He could picture her just as clearly as if she were in front of him that moment.

Her voice was all too real, and came from behind him.

"Balto?"

The wolf-dog's ears shot up and he looked back down the trail. "Jenna?"

Sure enough, the red and cream-furred husky stood a dozen paces away, a lantern in one hand and a basket in the other. Whatever she wore under the jacket, it was higher-cut than the dresses he'd usually seen her in, and the thought excited him.

"I didn't know you'd be here."

"I didn't expect to see you here."

They'd spoken at the same time, and for a moment they stared at each other. Balto rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"You didn't expect to see me here?" he replied.

Jenna shook her head, still smiling.

His ears dipped. "Well, I've been here a bit and I was just thinking of heading home. You'll have the place to yourself."

Jenna's smile vanished. "Oh no, I didn't mean it like that. There's plenty of space for both of us isn't there?"

Balto's ears perked before flattening to the sides as he glanced at the pool he was in. She couldn't mean... "Uh, yes, of course there is."

"Wonderful!"

Her chipper tone brought a smile to his face, and he turned back to ask if she wanted him to excuse himself, but found her already hanging her coat on a nearby limb. The short-cut garment underneath was a bathing suit; a single-piece, true enough, but gone was any of the loose-fitting nature of her dresses. Her suit clung to her from just above her knees to just below her shoulders, where a pair of straps held it up. The whole thing was light blue color that seemed to match very well with her fur. Belatedly, he realized he was staring and looked away, but not before Jenna had met his gaze.

"I'm so sorry," he stammered, putting a hand to the side of his face. "I didn't mean to stare."

"Balto, it's all right. I don't mind." Jenna began walking around the pool, but as she did Balto kept his gaze averted. She stopped at the edge of the small pool, opposite him. "What if I promise that you won't see anything that I don't want you to? Will that make you feel better?"

Balto lowered his hand a bit. "It would help."

"I like it, in fact. It makes me feel pretty."

"You are." The words were out of his mouth with as little thought and effort as a breath.

Jenna paused as she stooped to get into the spring, her ears perking up as her cheeks flushed. "That's a very sweet thing to say." She took a seat at the pool's edge and dipped her feet in the water as one hand came up to fiddle with one of the straps.

"It's true." He was glad his hand still hid his own reddening face.

"Then will you please put your hand down?" Her tone was briefly scolding before he swore he could hear her smile. "Besides, I've seen more of you already. How can we talk if I can't see your face?"

His ears perked again. There was something in her tone that gave him hope. "I suppose that would be hard."

"To put it mildly."

Balto thought for a moment, and let his hand drop before meeting her gaze.

"Much better," she said, slipping down into the pool across from him. A deep sigh escaped her and she closed her eyes to lay her head back against the edge. "Wonderful."

Balto could only nod in agreement, not trusting himself to speak. To call the spring he now shared with Jenna a pool was generous. He suspected that if he simply reached out his hand, he'd be halfway to touching her. Being so close, in such a private setting, he felt his mind begin to wander as his eyes drifted from her serene face down her neck and along her shoulder. Had one of her straps slipped already? It wasn't as tight a fit as he thought. That was odd. It probably wouldn't take much for the other to- No, he shouldn't think about that.

"What did you mean," he said, clearing his throat. "when you said you'd seen more of me already?"

Her soothing tone became strained. "After Muk and Luk pulled you from the river."

Balto was momentarily taken aback, but his hand rubbed at his temple. "I thought that was a fever dream. You mean while Boris made a fire and Muk and Luk made a lean-to out of some branches, you really..."

"Helped you out of your wet clothes, yes," Jenna carried on calmly. "Oh don't look so bashful, Balto, I kept you decent."

Balto, meanwhile, had pinched the bridge of his nose and shut his eyes.

Jenna's soft laughter floated across the spring. "Not quite the way you'd hoped for me to be disrobing you, I suspect."

"No." The word was out of his mouth before he realized what he'd said, and he cursed himself softly. "Stupid."

Jenna's ears perked up. "What?"

Not quietly enough, it seemed. "It was stupid of me to tangle with a bear. Should have just stood my ground and put Boris on my shoulders."

"Nonsense, you were protecting your friends!" Her voice took on a tone of reprimand as she reached up to rub her left shoulder. "It was stupid of me to try to pull the bear off you."

"It was the bravest thing I've ever seen," Balto replied earnestly. "Bought me the time I needed to catch my breath and lure it away toward the river."

"Well, I'm glad you think so." She rubbed her shoulder again. "I just wish you hadn't fallen."

"It was lucky I did. If I'd kept running it might have changed its mind and turned back to you."

"No, it was lucky Muk and Luk managed to snatch you out of the river." Her voice dropped along with her ears. "A few more seconds and you could have been..."

"You're right," Balto agreed softly. "But I'd still do it again in a heartbeat."

"So would I."

"I don't doubt it." He smiled, trying to lighten the mood. "I don't think I've ever seen you so mad."

"Scared is what I was," she replied, looking him right in the eye. "I thought the beast had you."

"It was only you that stopped it." He leaned forward, suddenly focusing on the left shoulder she kept rubbing at. The bear had thrown her off, and the fall had convinced him to send her back with Boris, Muk and Luk. How could he have been so blind? "Oh Jenna I'm sorry, I didn't even ask because you looked so splendid when we got back. Did the doctor look at it?"

She nodded, sinking back to rest her head. "He did, but after resetting the joint he said there wasn't much he could do to ease the pain. He swore it would go away eventually."

"Well, if you like I could-" Balto stopped short, catching the thought half-formed, but again Jenna caught him.

"You could what?"

He mumbled something even he couldn't quite understand.

"Balto, what is it?"

With a deep breath, he heaved himself up onto the rocks behind, feeling suddenly very warm. "I could try to relax your shoulder, give it a massage. It can't be very different from Boris's wings when they're sore."

Jenna couldn't cover her laughter fast enough. "His wings! Oh my goodness that must be a sight."

Somehow, she didn't sound condescending as he might have expected from Sylvie or Dixie, and he found himself laughing along with her. "Well, you've had a sore finger before, from writing or other delicate work, right? Now imagine there are dozens of them."

Now her laughter was like silver bells, and he felt transported to the snowy field where she'd given him her bandanna for luck. The memory made him smile. When he blinked he found Jenna still shaking with laughter.

"Oh, I haven't laughed so hard in days," Jenna gasped, rubbing at one of her eyes. "And a massage would be splendid if you don't mind."

Balto smiled sheepishly but climbed out of the pool and made his way around to her. As he knelt on the smooth rock behind her, she looked back and smiled, tilting her head forward until he was just behind her before resting back on his legs. He sucked in a slow breath and reached down to grip her shoulders, squeezing and rolling his palms back and forth.

Jenna's head arched back against his legs as a low hum escaped her lips. "Mmm, you've almost got it already. I really was stiff, wasn't I? Here."

Without another word, she shifted back suddenly so that her head was practically in his lap and he could look down the front of her suit, now exposed above the steaming water. He shouldn't be able to even now, he thought, before realizing the strap on her right shoulder had slipped off entirely. The light blue garment still stuck to her wet fur, but her breast was nearly uncovered; he could see the slight bulge of her nipple just below the top hem. Head swimming, he forced his hand to reach for the strap instead.

Jenna whined and nudged him with the top of her head. "Don't stop now, please, you nearly had it."

Balto swore he nearly swallowed his tongue. She'd come dangerously close to the one part of him that wasn't shy about her attractiveness. Gently, he lifted her head with his free hand and pressed his knees together before letting her lay back again. His other hand never left her shoulder, kneading and squeezing as it moved back and forth. Jenna's nose twitched, and she sighed deeply as a smile crossed her muzzle.

"Thank you Balto, I didn't know how badly I needed that."

"You're welcome," he murmured, glancing around at the trees, the waterfall, anything but Jenna's loose bathing suit. Could she really not feel the breeze on her fur?

"I wish we'd crossed paths sooner."

Balto nodded, smiling. "It would be nice to see you up here more." His eyes strayed briefly down to the wet fur above the suit, stuck to her skin. He coughed, forcing himself to look away. "I truly didn't think anyone else knew about this place."

"I didn't until recently, so most likely no one else in town does." She paused, craning her head back to look at him. "I won't tell anyone."

Balto smiled. "It's not exactly a secret."

"Still," Jenna said, letting her eyes drift closed, "it can be ours, can't it?"

Ears flattening, Balto leaned back on his hands, thankful that Jenna couldn't see the mix of thrill and fear in his eyes. "I think so. Still, how did you find out about the springs?"

"Boris told me."

Silently, Balto blessed Aniu for the old Russian goose as he looked up to the stars and closed his eyes.

Jenna's voice drew his eyes down to her again. "Is it true he raised you?"

"It's a wonder I don't honk instead of bark."

She laughed again, and Balto couldn't help but grin. Her laughter faded, and her ears flattened before she looked back at him over her shoulder.

"Balto, I haven't been entirely honest with you."

Leaning forward with hands on his waist, Balto was still smiling as he cocked an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"I meant it when I said I didn't expect to see you here, but I really hoped that I would."

His smile faltered. "What do you mean?"

Jenna looked forward again, clasping her hands. "I never could seem to catch you by yourself in town, and I thought you ought to enjoy yourself. Goodness knows you deserved it."

"It's still a bit overwhelming, even odd. I don't think any of them really disliked me, but just like that everyone wants a word, a handshake, a visit. I try to be nice, but it's exhausting."

"Let's not forget the ladies," Jenna prodded.

Balto rubbed the back of his head and forced a chuckle. "Yeah, that's probably the oddest part of all. Two weeks ago none of them would have given me the time of day."

"And all of a sudden their taste runs more toward wolf." She couldn't quite cover the disdain in her voice. "Well, they sound awfully shallow."

"And maybe they were, but at least they changed their minds." He reached down and squeezed her sore shoulder again, eliciting a soft hum of approval. "I would have enjoyed myself more in town if you'd come over. Is that why you were hanging back? They're all very nice, but you've been kind to me since we met." He leaned closer still and lowered his voice. "And truth be told I was hoping you'd come save me from the lot of them."

Jenna laughed, one hand coming up to cover her muzzle as the other braced against the pool's edge.

At the same time, to Balto's horror and delight, her suit slipped again and now her breast was fully bared to the sky. He wanted very suddenly to hold it. Maybe she'd let him. A sudden guest caught every droplet of water on his back and he shivered.

Sitting up, Jenna turned to squeeze his leg as her ears lay flat. "Here I am blabbing on. Please, if you're not ready to leave come back in where it's warm."

At that moment, he was already feeling quite warm, despite the breeze, but he barely had time to smile before she glanced down and gasped. For a terrifying moment, he was sure she'd noticed his excitement through the suit's fabric and instinctively he folded his hands in his lap. Instead, she covered her bare breast with one hand while the other fiddled with the strap in exasperation.

"Balto, I'm sorry, the heat of the springs must have gotten to me."

He saw something in her gaze that gave him pause, and belatedly he thought he scented something on the wind. Focus. The strap was back on her shoulder, but still the suit's front sagged. There was a tie just behind her shoulder.

"I think I see the trouble, if you'd turn around a moment," he soothed.

Jenna settled back into the spring and Balto leaned down, quickly loosening and retying the strap so it sat right.

Suit fixed, she stood up to face him. "Thank you, Balto. I hope that wasn't a bother."

He shook his head, grinning. "Of course not, I could never see you as a bother."

Her ears folded back and she looked at him with a tiny smile. "You promise?"

The sight of the red and white husky with water dripping from her frame was more than he could stand. Balto slipped into the spring and took her hands in his, brushing his thumb across her knuckles.

"I promise."

A broad smile split Jenna's muzzle, and before he could react she leaned up and kissed him quickly on the cheek.

"I'll hold you to that," she whispered.

Balto stood stock-still for a moment before smiling back. "I hope so."

To his continued surprise, she wrapped her arms around him and tucked her head against his chest. Without thinking, he did the same, brushing his muzzle against her ear. For a few long moments, they stood in the middle of the small pool amids the steam, embracing. Then, he felt Jenna's fingers begin to comb through his back fur and he felt a twinge beneath a scar, one of many.

"What's this?" she said quietly, tilting her head to look up at him. "Balto, what are these scars?"

He thought briefly of dismissing the question, but the look in her eyes shattered any thought of it. "I ran afoul of some rocks when I found the team."

She dipped her muzzle and scowled at him, causing him to scratch at one of his ears.

"Okay, Steele, well..."

Her eyes widened. "What?"

"He threw me against a cliff face. Knocked the wind out of me, but I got up again." He spread his arms. "No real harm done, right?"

Jenna drew back, but kept her hands on his sides. "Balto, he might have killed you!"

"But he didn't." Now his voice was quiet, but firm. "And he ran off and left us, which was probably a blessing in disguise."

"I don't see how."

"Him being gone gave me the chance to lead the team home without fighting every step of the way." He thought of Kaltag holding the lead dog's harness. "I might have even made a few friends. The scars will fade. I'll just be sore. It's not so bad."

She bit her lip, and small quiver ran up her body as her eyes suddenly filled.

"Oh no, Jenna, what's this? What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she breathed, shaking her head, pressing herself against him once more. "I just realized what a joy Rosie is in my life, and how I wouldn't know what to do without her. I have you to thank for the medicine that saved her, and I'm afraid I never really did." Before he had time to look surprised she embraced him, tucking her head along the side of his neck and squeezing him tightly. Gingerly, he returned the embrace, mindful of her shoulder. "This is from Rosie," she whispered, kissing his cheek. "And this is from me."

Drawing back, she touched her nose to his for the briefest moment before kissing him deeply. Her hands came up to cradle his face as his hands settled on her waist. After a moment that passed too quickly, they parted. He could hardly think, never mind craft anything tender and caring to say. He hoped his smile and panting breath were enough. Jenna squeezed his hand and laughed softly.

"Why don't we sit down before the wind freezes us both?"

Balto nodded hesitantly, willing to stand bare in a blizzard for another kiss. Together, they settled down across from each other, just over an arm's length apart.

"So," Jenna began, her voice lower than usual, "did Boris ever try to get you to fly?"

This time he didn't try to hide his laughter. "Well, funny you should ask..."

It was well into the night before either stopped to consider the time. Both their lanterns flickered faintly under a canopy of stars and a waxing moon.

"I should have known better," Jenna sighed, climbing out of the warm pool. "Still it's not the first time I've been out and about after dark."

"I'm sorry I kept you," Balto began, but Jenna shook her head.

"Don't be, I had fun." With a quick shake that ran from her ears down to her toes, she wrapped her towel around her suit, and plucked her coat off the tree branch. "Would you mind walking with me until we can see Nome?"

"Of course I wouldn't mind, but..." He thought briefly of inviting her into the beached freighter that was his home, but decided against it. She'd think it far too forward of him. "But, don't you want to change into something dry?"

Jenna looked around. "I don't know where I would." She fiddled with the towel wrapped around her, now soaked through, and carried on in a low voice. "It would be nice to be out of these wet things, though." Something in her tone drew his gaze, but when he looked her way she was suddenly very interested in the night sky. He must have imagined it.

"There's a small cave just behind the waterfall there. I can show you the way up and walk you down once you're decent."

After only a moment's pause, Jenna agreed. Taking his lantern in one hand and guiding her with the other, Balto led her around the pond at the base of the waterfall up a set of stairs so long and gradual it was almost a ramp. At the top, just behind the waterfall, he rounded a corner Jenna could barely see even waking behind him and into a small cave.

Tucked into the rock face at the back, not twenty feet away, she could make out a rolled-up mat of some kind and a sturdy wooden box. The only other spot of note was a blackened alcove with a few bits of wood sticking out and a bundle of kindling nearby.

"It's something of a natural chimney," Balto said, nodding to the alcove. "No idea how it formed, but it vents the smoke and that's good enough for me." He hung the lantern on a tiny spike driven into the wall and smiled before slipping back around the cave's entrance. "I'll be out here when you're ready."

With the moon rising overhead and the rumble of the waterfall so close, he couldn't quite make out what Jenna said from around the corner. When he called out to her, she replied that she was only talking to herself. Balto wished he'd been standing closer to the cave. A minute or so later, the lantern appeared around the corner of the cave, followed by Jenna in a long green dress beneath her heavy coat. He couldn't help but smile as he held out a hand to guide her down.

Dousing and stowing Jenna's lantern by the spring, he hefted both their baskets and followed her down the snowy path through the forest. She hesitated at first, but he insisted that he would be balanced that way. With a laugh, she obliged and led the way. Now and then, she glanced back and asked which way to go at a fork in the path, but before long they emerged on the expanse of tundra that separated Nome from the sea. Swiftly Jenna turned and accepted her basket before setting it aside.

"I know you came out her by yourself," Balto began, handing her lantern over, "but are you sure you- I mean, it's getting very dark."

As she re-lit her lantern, she glanced up and chuckled. "That's what this is for."

"Well, yes, but-"

"I'm sure I know the way home, Balto, thank you." She picked up the basket and turned to leave, but paused and looked over her shoulder. "But I would be glad for your company if you'd care to escort me."

Was it his imagination, or did something change in her eyes? And then there was that smell on the breeze, such a sweet aroma.

"I'd be happy to." He quickly hefted his basket and set it beneath the closest tree before stepping forward and extended his hand. "I can carry yours if you want."

"Won't you lose yours in the snow?"

"It'll still be here when I get back, don't worry." Taking her basket, he nodded toward Nome. "Lead on."

They were halfway back when the skies overhead suddenly became awash with color. Jenna gasped with delight and stopped to take in the sight as he stepped up beside her. The pure wonder on her face was enough to distract him from nature's display, and again he felt transported to another time just before the serum run, when he'd made a show of lights with broken bottles. Jenna had been enthralled then, too.

"No matter how many times I see them, I don't suppose I'll ever tire of them."

"Me neither," he replied, though his eyes remained on Jenna.

A gust of wind brought Jenna's arms around her body, and he instinctively reached out his arm. To his surprise, she huddled against him and gave a small laugh.

"I thought I'd packed warmly enough for a walk, seems I was wrong."

"Let's hurry you on home then," he replied, nodding toward the town.

Jenna nodded, slipping away from him, but as she did her hand brushed his and she paused, reaching back. He hesitated, and she looked back at him. No words were spoken. A small pleading glance was all it took for him to take her hand, and together they strode into Nome and down the darkened streets until they reached a nicely-appointed house with a light on in the kitchen.

"Rosie must have left it on for me." Jenna said softly, almost to herself. Suddenly turning to him, she continued. "I really do appreciate what you did, Balto."

"I know," he rumbled, setting aside her basket and holding out a hand.

She rushed to embrace him, nuzzling against his neck as he held her close. For a moment, he swore he could feel her fingers under his jacket.

"I should go in," Jenna said softly. "Thank you for a wonderful evening."

As she stepped back and picked up her basket, he managed to say, "Will I see you up at the springs again?"

"You certainly will. Same time tomorrow?"

"Consider it a date."

Jenna beamed and blew him a kiss before closing the door.

Balto glanced up at the moon and closed his eyes before spinning on his heel and walking back to his home with more energy than he'd felt since the Great Race.