good night’s sleep.

            Steele awoke the next morning and went out to find Shadow. Shadow had just walked out of his owner’s house when Steele quickly walked up to him.

“Have you made your decision yet?” Steele asked Shadow.

“If I did know better, I would think that you were eager to have me on your team.” Shadow replied. “Well, I have thought it over. My current team would really miss me. Nonetheless, I would be honored to be your new swing dog.”

“I knew you would agree.” Steele smirked.

“But what will you do with Star, your old swing dog?” Shadow inquired.

“He will be a team dog and run behind you.” Steele replied. “Besides, I got tired of him constantly saying stupid things behind me.”

“Was this the real reason you wanted me on your team?” Shadow jested.

“What? No, I was being generous. It had nothing to do with that.” Steele replied.

“Someday you are going to have to learn to take a joke, Steele. I was pulling your tail.” Shadow remarked.

“Very funny, Shadow, very funny.” Steele replied, obviously not amused.

            The townspeople of Nome were so impressed by the serum run, they decided to run a second Championship race that year. At the beginning of March, the whole town got ready for a second race. Steele was lined up at the starting line, along with Shadow and the rest of the team. The opposing team consisted of Shadow’s old team, along with a new lead dog.

Steele, who was glad to once again be the lead dog, turned to Shadow.

“Are you sure you do not mind running against your old team?” He asked Shadow.

“It’s just a race, Steele.” Shadow replied.  “Besides, we are going to win this.”

            Moments later, the flare gun sounded and the dogs were off. Steele took off hard as he led the rest of his team towards the first checkpoint. He looked to his side and saw the opposing team keeping up. Steele growled and begin running even harder. The opposing team was keeping up, but just barely.

As they passed the next to last checkpoint, Steele picked up the pace even harder, trying to pass the opposing team and slowly starting to do so. Seeing they were coming upon a narrow pass, Steele snarled and acted like he was going to snap at them.

“What are you doing Steele?” Shadow asked. “We’re going to beat them through the pass and they will not be able to catch up with use after that. There is no need to resort to bad sportsmanship.”

Steele growled, but realized Shadow was right; they were winning. Steele growled at the opposing team as he picked up the pace even further, and his team began passing them. Before too long, Steele’s team had pulled into Nome. Steele held his head up proudly as they passed through the streets and the final stretch of the race, eventually crossing the finish line and being greeted by a cheering crowd. They had beaten the opposing team by one-hundred and five seconds. Steele had won the right to wear the golden collar again.

Almost everything was back to normal. Steele was lead dog again and respected across the town, but had learned by this point to think his actions through. Steele had also learned to reconcile his difference with Balto, and no longer picked on him. Steele still had a big ego, but had learned to control it and not to let it control him. It seemed that everyone in Nome was once again happy.

THE END