hate wolves?” Rosie whispered burying her face in Jenna’s fur.

      With the arrival of the racing season Nome’s resident dogs paid less attention to Balto as they had more important things on their minds. Nome was the start and or finish for several races, bringing with it the influx of teams, one of which was led by Steel’s father Iron. In markings Steel and Iron were almost identical as they were pure breeds. Iron was proud, arrogant, handsome and a noted wolf hater. There rumours that Iron had had a brief relationship with a wolf two years previously. This however had never been proven and Iron hotly refuted it.

    A few weeks into the racing season Jenna, Violet and Rosie were shopping in town, passing the Cinnamon Whirl Bakery they saw Balto chatting to the baker’s cat. As Rosie and Violet went into the fabric shop Jenna saw Iron and his team walking up the street. As Iron laid eyes on Balto Jenna felt a rush of fear run up her spine. Two shops along Steel stood with his owner Richard who was retying his boot laces. On spotting Balto Iron grinned evilly, Iron and his team mates forming a menacing circle around the young wolf dog. As they circled Balto, Steel walked up to Jenna, both exchanging worried looks.

    In a flash Iron attacked sending Balto to the floor, a fight ensuing. It quickly become clear that try as he might, Balto was no match for Iron. As Balto lay sprawled in the snow Steel jumped between his friend and his father. Snarling Steel fought his father in a desperate attempt to defend his friend. On the sidelines Rosie, Jenna and Richard screamed for help, all fearing the worst. With a slash at Steel’s shoulder Iron sent his son into the snow, stopping his attack he stood over both them.

 “Well well wolf dog now you know your proper place, beneath we pure bred dogs. A wolf is filth you are nothing. You would not even be alive was it not for your mother’s tricks. Yes I see Chocolate Paw in you and that filthy she wolf who stole his heart” Iron whispered glaring at Balto.

 “Leave him alone” Steel gasped glaring at his father. “What has he ever done to you?”

“BE QUIET YOU!”

“Why did you attack me?” Steel replied.

“You deserve it for defending that filthy little half breed wolf.”

“My friend.”

“No. I am very disappointed that you defended him Steel. As my son it is a disgrace what you what did I expected far better from you.”

     Turning away from his father Steel looked at the floor with pain in his eyes.

“You could be made lead dog this season, one of the youngest lead dogs ever. I would be so proud of that but your teammates will not follow you if you run with a wolf.”

“That should not matter. My friendship with Balto has nothing to do with being lead dog.”

“I cannot be proud of you if you run with a wolf. Stay friends with him and I will disown you, not only that, but I will make sure that you never lead a team.”

    Steel stared at his father in utter shock as Iron and his teammates walked away, never in his life had Steel imagined his father would be so cruel. Seeing the fight was over Jenna, Rosie and Richard ran over to the pair.

“Oh my God are you both alright? Jenna asked licking Steel and then Balto’s cheek.

“I’ll live, thanks for trying to help me Steel, he was your father” Balto replied softly

“Don’t worry about it” Steel replied.

“Oh cripes my Dad is going to do his nut!” Richard said surveying the damage to Steel and Balto. “We have to get both of them to a vet.”

“Poor Steel he tried to help Balto, Iron was so mean” Rosie replied as the baker Mr Norfolk arrived on the scene.

“He certainly was. Dam that dog! Richard run and get the vet, then go and fetch your father. I will take Balto and Steel inside, Balto can live with me while he heals up.”

   An hour later Steel was at home, as predicted Richard’s father had hit the roof and had sworn blue murder at Iron. Lying in Mr Norfolk’s sitting room Balto gazed at Jenna and Rosie who sat next to him.

“Balto is lucky to have both you as friends” Mr Norfolk said shaking his head.

“It is nice of to let him stay” Rosie replied.

“I am just glad I could help, Balto is a good dog, and he’s never harmed me. No people are wrong about him, heck he even fetched my post and paper those weeks I were on crutches.”

    Later that night after Rosie had gone home Jenna left the bakers to find Iron and five members of his team waiting. Seeing Jenna they turned around, all standing a little straighter.

“So I see that filthy little wolf will recover………I should have hurt him harder. So Red how is the piece of filth?”

“Alright no thanks to you” Jenna snapped in reply.

“Now now Red change the tone, that wolf had it coming trying to fit by fraternising with you and Steel.”

“Balto did nothing to deserve that attack. Stop calling him a filthy wolf.”

“I will him whatever I choose, so he has deceived you into believing he is respectable.”

“No he has not I make my own choices. Balto is my friend and NOTHING you say will change that.”

“Well well Red you have some spirit pity it is naïve spirit” Iron replied walking over to her.

“Do not call me Red. I know the difference between what is right and what is wrong. You should not have attacked Balto for being part wolf.”

“You little fool, go home princess you are too young for all of this, your owner will be worried about you. I did what I had to too put that filthy wolf in his place. If that means attacking him then so be it” Iron said proudly.

     Staring at the proud and cruel look on Iron’s face Jenna felt herself fill with ice cold anger, in a flash of her paw struck Iron across the face leaving gashes with her nails, then she bit his left ear hard, causing him to howl in pain. Iron’s teammates looked at Jenna in utter shock as Iron looked up, blood pouring from his face and ear.

 “YOU DISGUST ME COWARD.” Jenna hissed walking up to Iron. “Not only do you hurt Balto but your own son was well. Say whatever you like about Balto it will not change anything, Balto is mine and Steels friend. One day you will see who Balto really is.”

     Turning her back on Iron Jenna walked proudly away into the night glad that she had wiped the smile off Iron’s face and that he received his just rewards for hurting Balto.

     Promise Broken        

    As the weeks passed Balto and Steel recovered from their injuries though Iron’s hard words continued to plague his son. New of Jenna’s attack on Iron spread through the town like wildfire, soon reaching the ear’s of her parents, both of whom were surprised yet very proud of her. While Iron was in town Jenna saw little of Steel and when she did he was usual in the company of Iron. Combined with this was Rosie badly spraining her ankle meaning Jenna spent much of her time indoors with her. Chatting to Dixie one afternoon, Jenna spoke of her disappointment in not having had chance to have a long chat with Steel since the fight.

“I’m not sure if you want to talk to him Jenna I mean….There is a rumour going around town that Steel hurt a dog for insulting him.”

“Oh come on Dixie that is just gossip Steel would never do that” Jenna replied laughing.

“You have not seen him recently Jenna he has changed a bit, I mean he is more like Iron than when you last saw him” Dixie replied.

“The gossip chain has gone into overdrive Steel would never become like Iron” Jenna replied as Rosie left the hospital.

       A month after Iron’s attack on Balto, in early February 1924, Iron and his team left Nome to compete elsewhere. A few days after his father left it was announced that Steel had become the lead dog on his team. Steel had done it, he was the second youngest lead dog ever, the youngest being the famous Cathán Chocolate Paw of Fairbanks. Walking into town a couple of days later Jenna stopped in her tracks, outside the hospital was Balto, surrounded by Steel, Nikki, Kaltag, Star and two other dogs from their team. All seven were circling Balto, dark looks on their faces all bearing their teeth. As she watched Jenna felt someone brush up against her, turning around she saw Mel standing next to her, a very worried look on his face.

 “So wolf dog you decided to risk showing your face in town, bad move, you should have stayed in the forest where you belong” Steel said as he circled Balto.

“Steel what is going on? I thought we were friends” Balto replied looking at Steel in shock.

“You thought wrong HALF BREED” Steel snarled in reply jumping on Balto, sending him to the floor. “You should never have here in the first place.”

“Steel please I am your friend” Balto coughed gazing up at Steel.

“NEVER! I would never be friends with a filthy half breed like you” Steel snarled in reply a look of utter hatred on his face.

      Just as Steel was above the strike Balto again Jenna jumped in-between them, her face full of anger. Steel stared at her in