A quiet day continued, a crisp cool breeze in the air, billowing through the evergreen pines. The silence was calming, though occasionally interrupted by the thumping of snow hitting the ground from wind-shaken branches.

Within the peaceful landscape, two forms most cheerful strode side by side, the larger of which was slower than the other due to his somewhat superficial wound.

“What happened?” asked Balto.

“Hmmm? What do you mean?” wondered Frostpaw.

“At the river,” Balto explained. “What happened to you?”

Frostpaw trotted in the snow, looking ahead while talking. “I washed ashore somewhere, surprised to be alive still. It was very cold being wet like that. Thankfully nearby there was a little grotto where I dried off, and when I felt I could manage it I left that grotto to look for you. In the blizzard, I… I never found you. I searched and searched until the storm passed, yet even with a clear view of everything around me I still did not find you.”

“You… looked that long for me? In those conditions?” Balto flattened his ears, astonished at the love the usually peppy arctic fox had demonstrated for him. Something in his heart, within his soul, clicked; his home was not with humans, but with his friend, and anyone else who truly cared for him… and the smoky blue husky was perfectly alright with that. A warmth welled up in the base of his throat. “Thank you. I am sorry for the trouble.”

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“Nonsense, you helped to save my life,” the fox yipped, waving his floofy tail.

“Heh. You saved mine, I didn’t know what to do up at the cliff cave,” Balto responded, shrugging his shoulders, smiling.

“So what happened to you?”

Balto took a deep breath, remembering. It was bittersweet for him. “The wildfolk took me in, and the man who rescued me from the river healed my broken bone. He became my master, and I his faithful companion.”

The husky paused, furrowing his brows.

Frostpaw listened intently.

Finally Balto continued and finished his story. “Yesterday he took me out hunting, and a bear attacked us. That’s where I got this wound on me. I protected him, I tried… but he left me. I don’t know what happened after I was knocked out. Next thing I recall, I woke up and you know the rest.”

“That’s rough, I’m really sorry to hear that, bud,” the arctic fox’s eyes glowed with sympathy. “At least we have each other now, though.”

“Yea, it’s just… I’ve had it rough, Frost,” Balto said, looking dim.

“I know.”

Frostpaw rubbed his flank against Balto’s arm, smiling. “Come on, let’s get something to eat.”