It was springtime, the 'season of love' as many liked to call it. As one of the most popular dogs in town, this meant trouble in Dakota's eyes. Many of the males around town were after her which irritated her to no end. She cursed her parents for giving her Jenna's dainty figure and Balto's thin fluffy fur and the vibrant sleek red fur and sky blue eyes. The males were always showing off in front of her and trying to show each other up. In all honesty, she would rather one of the dorkier, more timid males over the top-notch racers. At least then she could have a conversation with them.

Today she was lying on the edge of the beach. Her father's boat was just down the way and a lot of the town's dogs were playing in the water and on the sand. Apparently there wasn't a lot going on today for them to do. Kodi would usually be on a mail run but a new team from White Mountain was tackling the run today to break in a couple of new members. That meant Dusty was sat on the grass with Dakota whilst Kodi played with his friends and attempted to be cool for her. Dakota's best friend, Pride, was also sat with them. She was giggling as a particularly attractive male strutted past. He glanced at Dakota, Dusty and Pride and then winked, at which they had no idea - Pride would like it to be her, though it was likely to be Dakota - and continued on his way.

''Did you see that?'' Pride giggled, ''I think he likes me!''

Dakota and Dusty both smiled.

''I bet he does, Pride!'' Dusty said.

''And he'd be lucky to have you.'' Dakota added.

Pride was very giggly and cheerful and optimistic. Not a lot would get her down and she was usually the happy friend that everyone needed. Dakota enjoyed having her around, she was like a ray of sunshine.

''Dakota, look!'' she suddenly cried, pointing her paw in the direction of what had caught her eye.

Dakota turned her head, wondering what had gotten her friend so excited. Across the beach was Orca. He was an enormous husky, much more buffed up and well-groomed than the others in Nome. He was like the new Steele, since Steele's reputation had decreased a fair amount. Orca had stolen the spotlight once he was old enough and now many females swooned at him. His fur was a very dark chestnut brown and light grey-brown and was very glossy and shiny. He looked like he'd been newly brushed and he held his powderpuff tail high in the air, in line with his snobby upturned nose as he took his turn to show up the other dogs. His brown eyes gleamed as he stopped to look down at a small-ish dog, similar in appearance to a husky but not quite. She giggled hysterically at this and he smiled and moved on.

Pride, of course, swooned and smiled dreamily. Dakota and Dusty chuckled.

''Poor Sadie.'' Dakota said, referring to the small dog.

Sadie was Kaltag and Dixie's daughter, as romantic and dreamy as her mother before her and with an enormous vocabulary and overactive mouth EXCEPT when in a situation involving a male.

Pride jumped up all of a sudden, scaring Dakota. Dusty looked at the caramel-coloured dog in surprise.

''What is it now, Pride?'' she asked.

''HE'SCOMINGOVERHERE!'' she shrieked.

Dakota's eyes widened. Please no! She couldn't stand Orca at all. In the same way that her mother, Jenna, couldn't stand Steele. It was happening all over again. Dakota's face became hard and serious as the large dog approached them. Pride sat down immediately in a clumsy puppy-dog way, glee plastered to her face.

''Hello, ladies.'' Orca said in his deep voice.

''H-hi, Orca!'' Pride chimed, grinning from ear to ear. She clearly couldn't contain her delight that he was talking to them.

Orca smiled at Pride as he held back a nasty laugh at having her wrapped around his finger. He cast Dusty, the least dainty and feminine of the trio, a dirty look. Then he squeezed in next to her and Dakota, sitting himself down and forcing Dusty to move and flicking her in the face with his tail. Dusty snorted unhappily and moved over a little.

''Hello, Dakota.'' Orca grinned, his lips close to the wolfdog's ear.

She screwed up her face in disgust.

''Good day, Orca.'' she replied stiffly, moving her head away from his.

He didn't take this badly at all and leaned in closer to her, pressing his chest and neck into her side as he spoke to her.

''You know, it's spring. There are so many females out there but I can't help but feel that me and you have this connection.'' he said.

''You don't say.'' Dakota replied.

''I was thinking we should meet up later and talk. Just me and you.''

Dakota heard Pride squeak as she held back a gasp. She clearly thought this was really romantic. Dusty mimed being sick behind his back. Dakota stood up, getting out from under Orca's 'embrace', and stepped back.

''I'm sorry, Orca, but I'm afraid I must stay with my boy tonight. He isn't very well and it'd be cruel for me to leave him on his own. There's a reason that I'm called a 'companion dog' after all.'' Dakota said, her voice firm.

Orca looked at her in surprise, he wasn't often rejected by females if at all. Dakota looked at her two friends.

''Come on, girls.'' she said, turning and flicking her tail as a signal to Dusty and Pride to follow.

They both got up and followed her.

''Oh ok,'' Pride said, ''See you later, Orca!''

Cheery as always.

The three girls walked back towards town, away from the many males showing off. But even in town, male dogs were hovering pn their own, with friends and with females. Dakota just couldn't get away from the sense of being watched all the time. She stopped as they neared her house.

''Um guys, I think I'm going to rest for a bit. Tolerating Orca has tired me out.'' she said, sheepishly.

''I know what you mean.'' Dusty snapped, angry at the way the male had treated her, ''You go on inside and get some rest. Me and Pride can hang out for the rest of the day.''

''Yeah!'' Pride said, ''See you later, Dakota!''

Dakota smiled, appreciatively and watched her two friends leave. Dusty had a sturdy walk about her, like someone who was sure of themself and had been working out. Pride was a bouncy, floaty walker, like the dreamer she was. Dakota chuckled at how much she knew her friends. She also knew that Dusty was likely to join Ralph, Kirby and Kodi and Pride would probably find little Sadie.

She had sort of lied to her friends. She wanted a moment alone to herself to walk before she went home. So she did just that and took a stroll around the small block. She walked down a peaceful alleyway where most dogs rarely ventured. As she walked she thought about how much she disliked Orca. He was such a show off! And he treated people horribly if he didn't want their attention. Like with Dusty today. Dakota snorted in disgust at the memory of his behaviour and didn't notice a patch of yet un-melted ice in her way. She stepped on it and slipped, clumsily and rather embarrassingly doing some sort of roll, landing on her side. She lay in shock for a moment to catch her breath.

''Hey!'' a voice suddenly called out, ''Are you alright, miss?''

Under her fur, Dakota's cheeks flushed crimson. She attempted to get up, nearly slipping again. Then she felt a warm body against her's, helping her onto her feet.

''There you go.''

Dakota looked up to see a cream-y gold coloured husky with auburn eyes looking at her with concern. He was quite large, though nowhere near as big as Orca, and well-toned and his fur was lovely and warm and soft and....wait! Why was Dakota thinking that?

''Thanks.'' she mumbled, embarrassed now for two reasons.

She looked down in humiliation.

''Are you hurt?'' the dog asked, ''Are your legs ok?''

Dakota stretched each of her legs and then nodded.

''Yes, yes, they're fine. I'm fine. Just a bit winded is all....'' she answered.

The male dog nodded and seemed to sigh with relief, ''That's good. My name is Franz, by the way. What's yours?''

Dakota then looked up at him, at his kind face. He seemed genuinely relieved that she was alright from her stupid slip on the ice. And he had a nice voice.

''I'm Dakota.'' she said, smiling at him.

''Well, Dakota, I suggest being more careful of the ice from now on.'' the male chuckled.

Dakota would've been offended by that if it wasn't for the friendly tone in his voice.

''You're right. I'd better go home now though.'' she said, ''Goodbye, Franz.''

She nodded her head to him and turned to leave.

''Watch out for ice!'' he called out to her, ''And it was lovely to meet you, Dakota!''

Dakota smiled to herself and then broke into a quick trot to get him. She reached her front door and shook her head with a chuckle. She went into her house and into her boy's room, curling up on the end of his bed for a nap.

Dakota woke up later on in the evening. The sky was already dark but she knew that there would be streetlamps on and decided to take a walk. As she passed the door to the living-room, she saw her boy and his parents and barked to them. They turned around.

''I think