wrong with Balto? He's my best friend." 

Steele huffed. "I thought you had no friends." he uttered cheekily.

Max stood up in defense. "Leave him alone! Just 'cos he saved the town don't mean you have to be jealous!". In a split second, Steele grabbed his ear with a sword-sharp claw. "Don't speak to me like that. No-one talks to Steele in that language." he ordered sharply. "What's your problem? Let me go!" Max demanded. Steele pointed a claw hardly millimetres from his face. "I don't think you should talk to me like that. I could pop your little eye out, you know-" he uttered. "Didn't your mother teach you not to pick on kids for lunch money?" Balto yelled, standing at the end of the alleyway in the dark.

"And along comes Superdog to save the day." Steele muttered. "What are you doing bullying a pup? What's wrong with you?" Balto demanded. "Oh, I just figured that you were too worthless to bother nowadays." Steele spoke back. "Max didn't do anything wrong. Leave him alone." Balto defended. Steele laughed. "You're just as dumb as the kid!" he laughed to himself. As Steele was too occupied by the mouth war, Max darted away from him and hid behind Balto's leg. He growled. "I won't tell you again. He's done nothing wrong, and if you think you're laying even a paw on him, you've got another thing coming." he defended. 

"Well, the kid shouldn't have spoken to me like filth." Steele hummed. "So, give the pup to me, or get the both of you busted up." he growled as his claws emerged from under his paws. Balto thought for a second and looked at his son. He looked back with a tone of fear in his eyes. "You're not going anywhere near him." Balto replied sternly. Before he could think otherwise, Steele lashed out at him, diving into his chest and almost knocking him over.

"You've honestly no clue how long I've been wanting to do this, half-breed." he savored to himself. Balto drew his claws in increasing anger. "Once Jenna sees she's got a cowardly sack of blood and fur as a mate, she's sure to come crawling back to me." Balto frowned and dived for the huge muscular husky. Steele almost chuckled, and rose to the challenge. But the half-cast threw a punch at the laughing dog's jaws. Steele yipped quietly and backed up, embarrassingly grasping his muzzle. The streets fell silent once more. Maxwell still watched on from the safety of behind a small crate. Steele rubbed one of his teeth, which fell from his gums and tumbled out of his dripping, blood thirsty mouth, settling in the snow. He panted in rage, and drew his remaining teeth to bear. 

A ferocious battle ensued, the two of them lashing out at each other like lions. Maxwell thought to himself. "Now would be a good time to run. But what if he sees me? And what if Balto gets hurt or worse?" It was a tormenting dilemma. 

Just while he was pondering it, Balto saw the fight was getting closer to the pup. He looked at Max in his eye, and gave him a look that said 'Max, I can't hold him off! Go and get help!' In his moment of inattention, Steele wrapped his teeth around the back of Balto's neck, and threw him into the wall effortlessly. Balto groaned, he had hurt his head. A sadistic and evil smirk overcame him as he scampered towards the helpless puppy, who was crouching in fear. Steele towered over the pup, which was now cowering and whimpering beneath his shadow. He held out a paw and reached for Max's neck. "Time for the little puppy to get some sleep." he mumbled.

In the entrance to the alley, a deep shadow suddenly cleared it's throat. They all turned to see the silhouette of Doc, the police dog-chief, gazing at them, unimpressed. Steele's fury suddenly melted. "Oh, Doc, hey, I was just, um..." he was rudely interrupted. "No need to explain, I saw it all." he confidently declared. "But, you don't understand! That wolf-dog- well, the bigger wolf-dog just started on me when I was having a chat with the kid, and then-" he babbled. "I think I do understand. I understand anything and everything." Doc warned as Balto struggled onto his legs. "Steele, for assaulting a helpless pup and the town's hero, not to mention what happened with the epidemic, I hereby sentence you to banishment. You, and all traces of you, are to be out of the town by noon tomorrow or face further charges, notably death." Doc coughed out with an ageing and rotting voice-box. "You can't banish me! Not me, the greatest sled dog in this god-damn state!"  he angered. "Actually, I can. I'm the chief of police." Doc replied sharply. 

It had now been a few months since the situation with Steele. He had long been banished from the town. Max and Dusty had grown noticeably closer. They were constantly getting to know one another and spent a lot of time together. One could swear they got on just like siblings.

They sat on the beach enjoying the final waft of heat from the sunset. Maxwell was the first to speak, as always. "Nice view, isn't it?" he asked. Dusty hummed in agreement. "I always enjoy a nice sunset." she replied. Maxwell edged closer to her. He scraped at the grass and snow. "Listen, Dusty, I've got something to confess..." he uttered nervously. "Y-y-yes..." she replied impatiently. "Dusty, I um..." he stammered. "Oooo, Max, you're blushing..." she teased. "Dusty I... sort of like you more than a friend..." 

The end :)  Hope you enjoyed

I know that some bits were really suckish and I kinda fail at fight scenes. Again thank you so much for being patient and I'm really sorry for the delays, I've been going through excessive problems at school and home. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed :)