Big Salmon Lake I got used to living without you

This wasn't the first time this had happened. He was dead weight in her jaws just like the last time and, just like last time, she fought like hell to get him to the surface. Fennec wasn't a large wolf and, even as underfed as he was, Bronco was a lot for her to carry. Her air was running out and she felt her pulse threatening to burst from both ears as she kicked frantically at the water and, finally, the lake bottom.

She let out a sobbing cry of relief from around his scruff as her head broke the surface, but she didn't drop him until she'd managed to pull them both up onto shore. Then, coughing, she immediately began to shove him. Bronco. BRONCO Anything to get a response. She didn't know if he was breathing.

This had to be a nightmare. Better he'd never come back than this.