Nera stared at the moon from her bedroom as it lit up in the middle of the night. She was happy that she had A new boyfriend,but something felt wrong. But,what was it?

"I never thought of this before,......" She thought. "But,.......am I truly in love with Race? I mean,........did I conclude my feelings too fast before I realized that?"

She wanted an answer from herself,but nothing came. After A few minutes,she layed her head on her paws and went to sleep.

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The next morning,she took her usual morning walk,thinking harder than ever before.

"Why can't I get this off my mind?" She asked herself,A bit frustrated. "I love Race,but.....something just....."

"Nera!"

She lifted her head up to see Race running towards her. They greeted each other with A soft nuzzle. Afterwards,Race noticed Nera frowning.

"What's wrong? Are you in your thinking place again?"

"Well,.......sort of. I......"

"You what?"

"It's......it's nothing. Do you want to go look at the ocean with me."

"Can't. I got practice."

"Oh. Well,......that's all right. Maybe some other time."

"Cool. See ya!" Race dashed off,leaving Nera alone.

She sighed. "Now that I think about it,.....Race has been busy all week. We never spend time together. Sure,he often visits me before practice,but that just isn't enough."

She suddenly gasped out of realization. "Maybe that's why I keep thinking i'm not truly in love with him."

Nera was so confused. She had no idea what she should do.

Suddenly,an idea came to her. "I'll go ask Balto. He should know about these kind of things."

She bolted straight towards Balto's ship without stopping one second.

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"Balto!!" She called out to him.

The grayish-brown wolfdog stepped out. "Oh. Hey,Nera!"

"Can I talk to you for A second?"

"Sure. I'll be right down." Balto leaped off the ship and landed on his feet in front of Nera. "So,what's up?"

"ええと..... well......あなたを愛しジェナにして、右か？"......you're in love Jenna,right?"

"Of course. I love her with all my heart."

"Well,.....did you ever feel.......like.....you weren't truly in love with her?"

Balto cocked his head. "What do you mean?"

"Have you ever felt that you rushed into the relationship too fast before thinking of the problems that might occur?"

"Oh." Balto said as he begun to understand. "Is that how you feel about Race?"

Nera nodded. "I don't why,but that just popped into my head suddenly."

"That head of yours never takes A vacation,does it?" Balto joked.

"I guess not." She laughed A bit. "But,I can't help,but wonder if I rushed to fast with Race."

"Well,that depends.........how is your relationship going?"

"A little......so and so. You see,Race is always busy with his sled racing and we hardly ever see each other. I know he's commited to his duties,but I can't help,but feel that he's neglecting me."

"Well,if you feel that way,maybe you should just end it."

"That's easier said than done. My brain says I should,but my heart's not willing to let go of him. Which should I listen to?"

"I'm afraid,Nera,that that's for you to decide." Balto walked back to his ship.

Nera stood where she was,lost in thought of her and Race.

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Nera walked back into Nome,trying to decide what to do.

"I love Race,but i'm not sure if I should break up with him. If I did,he would be crushed,but if I didn't,then he'd just keep putting his needs over mine. Is that what I really want? To be tossed aside?"

She shook her head to clear her mind. "No. I have to stop thinking so negative about him. I should try to remember the good times we've had."

As she walked,she reminisced about her time with Race.

The time that they first met,the time they stared at the ocean waves together,and the time they emitted their love to each other while sobbing.

"I remeber that time so well. Race cried because he truly cared about me and wanted to make me happy."

She paused. "What happened to that Race? Where's the dog that I shared emotions with? He's the one I want as A mate."

She lowered her head. "But now,........he keeps ignoring me for his practices. Who does he love more? Me or sled racing?"

She continued walking,but she bumped into another dog by mistake.

"Oh! I'm so sorry." Nera said.

"No. It's alright." The dog said.

The dog had A black coat and ruby red eyes with A brown underbody.

Nera stared at him with amazement. "Um.......hello."

"Hi. Who are you?"

"I'm.......um.......uh........Nera! That's it."

"That's A beautiful name."

"You.....you think so?" Nera blushed A little.

"Yeah. My name's Feru."

"Nice to meet you." Nera felt nervous all of A sudden. Was it because she found him to be......kind of cute?

"Well,I gotta go. See ya around!" Feru ran past her.

Nera stared back at him. "What's this strange feeling? Why was I so nervous talking to him? I haven't felt like this since I first met......."

She gasped. "Race!" She felt worried. "Could.....could I have.....fallen.....for Feru?!" She shook her head. "No! That can't be it!.........Could it?"