lanterns.

 

“Steele….” Balto moaned, looking down at his paws. “I should have helped him…this is my fault…”

 

Balto’s stomach turned. Steele was probably burning to death inside that building, and all because he encouraged him to run into that smoldering inferno. Balto felt he should had done more to stop him from running back in, but Steele was too strong and there was he could have prevented it. Jenna walked up next to Balto.

 

“Balto,” Jenna said. “Its not your fault. You did everything you could.”

 

“I know. Its just that I feel like I should have done more…”

 

The rest of the dogs became silent. Just then, a large figure emerged from the doorway. It was Steele, and he had Star on his back! Steele staggered 100 feet away from the building, and collapsed. Star rolled off his back and walked in an almost drunken fashion to Kaltag and Nikki, who did not look to happy.

 

“Star, you idiot!” Kaltag scolded Star. “Why didn’t you come out with the rest of us?”

 

“I, um, couldn’t find the door…?” Star replied with a sheepish grin, swiftly receiving a smack on the head.

 

Balto and Shadow walked up to Steele, who remained motionless. His fur was singed and covered in soot, and he was not breathing.

 

“Steele…” Balto lamented. Balto nudged Steele, but he did not move.

 

Shadow moved up next to Steele and landed his front paws hard on Steele’s side. Suddenly, Steele’s eyes flew open and he began to cough violently.

 

“Steele!” Balto exclaimed. “You’re alive!”

 

“Yeah…” Steele said weakly. “But I don’t think I will be doing that again…”

 

“That was the bravest thing I have ever seen you do.” Shadow said to the husky. “I’m proud of you.”

 

At this point most of the dogs had gathered around Steele. Steele looked around at the other dogs, noticing he was the center of attention. Balto nudged Steele.

 

“Steele,” Balto said. “Now is as good a time as any.”

 

“Look, everyone.” Steele sighed, trying once more to swallow his pride. “I’m…I’m sorry for what I did earlier. I was so blinded by jealousy and hate that I did things that were reprehensible. Can you forgive me?”

 

There was a murmur among the crowd. Steele had betrayed the town once, and had the audacity to lie to the rest of the dogs after doing the deed.

 

“He lied about the serum run, and almost let all the children die.” One dog said.

 

“But he just saved many of us from being burned alive.” Countered another.

 

“But can he be trusted? He may lie to us again.” Argued another.

 

“Anyone who would risk their life going into a burning building like that deserves a second chance.” Yet another dog argued.

 

There was a continued discussion among the dogs for several minutes, until finally a consensus was reached. Doc walked came out from among the crowd of dogs and went up to Steele.

 

“Welcome back, Steele.” Doc congratulated the husky.

 

“Thank you, guys.” Steele said, weakly. “I’ll never forget this.”

 

Still weak from smoke inhalation and nearly being burned alive, Steele struggled to get up. At about this time the people of the town spotted the blaze and were working frantically to put it out. Most of Nome was built out of timber and only one fire could easily burn down the whole town. As people continued to battle the blaze, Steele’s owner arrived. He saw Steele, whose fur was singed and covered with soot, and the busted down door to the dredger. He also saw that many of the other dogs were covered in soot. He walked up to Steele.

 

“Steele,” He said. “Did you bust down that door and save those dogs?”

 

Steele looked up at him, wagged his tail, and barked.

 

“How would you like to be back on the sled team?” His owner asked him. Seeing what had happened, he was now convinced Steele could still be a lead dog.

 

Steele’s owner began petting the husky. Steele wagged his tail and barked again, his tongue lolling out. Not only had he won back the respect of the town, he was once again lead dog.

 

“Congratulations, Steele!” Shadow said, walking up to Steele and patting him on the back. “You once again have your old job back. Don’t blow it this time.”

 

“Shadow, I would like to thank you for the advice. You have been a great friend to me.” Steele replied. “How would you like to be on my sled team? I am sure my musher would be glad to have another top notch dog on the team.”

 

“Sure; if I can be lead dog.”

 

“WHAT!? Why you!..”

 

Shadow laughed while Steele looked very confused.

 

“I was only joking.” Shadow explained. “You should have seen the look on your face.”

 

“Oh, ha ha ha.” Steele replied sarcastically. “I was being serious about the offer.”

 

“I’ll think about it. I might not mind being a swing dog, but I would have to give up the position of lead dog on my current team.”

 

“Isn’t it worth it to be on the winning team?” Steele said with a smirk.

 

“Maybe. And it would let me keep an eye on you.”

 

“What!? I’m not a puppy;  I don’t need to be kept an eye on!”

 

“Relax Steele. You really should develop a sense of humor someday. Let me think about it.”

 

“Well, the offer stands.”

 

Balto and Jenna both walked up to Steele, who at this point was getting a lot of attention.

 

 

“Is this not everything you wanted, Steele?” Balto asked.

 

“Almost everything.” Steele replied, staring at Jenna with a sly smile.

 

“Wait you don’t mean…”

 

“HA! I was just pulling your tail, Balto. I will find someone, eventually…”

 

Balto sighed in relief. “Someday, I’m sure you will. Just remember not to let it all go to your head this time.”

 

“I’ll try, but some habits die hard. Besides, I need to keep some amount of dignity.”

 

By this point the people of the town managed to put out the fire. Though the outside of the dredger remained mostly intact, the inside of it was more or less ruined. Not wanting to congregate in smoldering ruins, all of the dogs dispersed and went home. Only Balto, Shadow, and Steele remained, staring at what was left of the dredger.

 

“What shame.” Shadow lamented. “Guess we will have to find another gathering place now?”

 

“It sure seems that way.” Balto replied. “Well, I am going home.”

 

Balto left, leaving just Shadow and Steele outside the dredger. Shadow stared at Steele and chuckled.

 

“What’s so funny?” Steele inquired.

 

“Look at you!” Shadow replied. “You are covered in soot; you look like you have rolled in a fireplace. You need a bath.”

 

“I am not getting a bath!”

 

Steele began rolling in the snow, desperately trying to clean the soot off of himself. He managed to get most of it off, but some of the singe marks remained persistent. It appeared that sooner or later, Steele would indeed receive a bath. Shadow watched, continuing to laugh.

 

“Come on, Steele.” Shadow said. “I’ll walk you home.”

 

            The two dogs began walking towards Steele’s musher’s house. As they rounded a corner, Shadow looked at Steele.

 

“Ask me in the morning about the position on your team.” Shadow said. “I will have made a decision by then.”

 

“You will not regret joining my team.” Steele replied. “We are the winning team. I’m going to keep the Golden Collar for a fourth time.”

 

“You should not be so overconfident. You need to learn to take your opponents seriously. Otherwise, you will be shocked when you finally lose.”

 

“What? I take them seriously.”

 

Shadow laughed, as they arrived at Steele’s musher’s house. It was dusk and most people were going home.

 

“See you tomorrow, Steele.” Shadow said, walking back to the house where he lived.

 

Steele went inside his house and was surprised to see a cut of meat in his food bowl instead of the customary table scraps and leftovers he had been fed since the serum run.

 

“Good boy, Steele!” Steele’s musher said, petting the excited husky. “I thought you deserved some better food after rescuing those other dogs.”

 

Steele wolfed down the cut of meat, and laid down next to the furnace where he typically laid. This was the first day in over a week where Steele was not angry at Balto or the other dogs. He could finally get good

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