than just friends?’ she thought. Then she shook her head, dismissing the possibility from her mind.

-----

Liko bit her lip. “Warren is an evil man,” she said. “He beats up his wife, and he treats his daughter even worse. You saw how malnourished she looked.

“But how he treats his family is mild compared to what comes next. He works for the post office, but he wanted more money. So he got a part time job…with a fur company.”

Dingo gasped. He knew what was coming. “They’re going to skin me?” he asked, his lip quivering.

Liko nodded. “I’m really sorry,” she said. “If you don’t get out of here within the next few weeks, you’re as good as dead.”

Dingo shook his head in disbelief. “So that’s what Warren was talking about with his wife,” he thought out loud. “I thought it was bad enough that I was moving to Anchorage. Now I’m going to be killed.” He moaned. “I wish I was back in Nome with Jason and his parents…”

“Who’s Jason?” Liko asked.

Dingo explained about his old life in Nome, telling Liko about his parents, Saba, Jason, Tair, and everyone else in the small town. Liko looked at the ground as he told her about how much Jason had loved him. Dingo thought that she looked like she was going to cry. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

“I’ve always wanted an owner like that,” she said. “I’ve been a street dog all my life. I’ve never even been petted by a human before. All of the humans think that I’m dangerous.” She looked Dingo in the eye. “I would give anything to have what you have.”

Dingo sat silently for a moment, thinking about how Liko reminded him of his own father. Then his face brightened. “I’ve got an idea,” he said.

Liko was going to ask what Dingo’s idea was, but suddenly everyone else around them started panicking. Liko gasped.

“What’s going on?” Dingo asked.

“Seno found the hideout,” Liko said. “We have to get out of here!”

Chapter 9

“Get out of here,” Liko said to Dingo. “We’ll hold them off.”

“I’m not leaving without you,” Dingo said. He looked around the small shelter and pointed at where Seno and his followers were. “It doesn’t look like any of us are getting out soon. They’re blocking the entrance!”

“There’s a secret exit in the back,” Liko said. “Try that one. Hopefully they haven’t discovered it yet.”

“I already told you, I’m not leaving without you.”

“You have to!” Liko yelled at him. “You don’t know how dangerous those dogs are! Get out now, while you still can!” Liko noticed Dingo looking at the ground sadly. She nuzzled him. “Don’t worry about me,” she whispered into his ear. “I’ll be okay. Trust me; we’ll see each other again. Now go!” After saying that, Liko ran back to the main entrance, where all of the other dogs were arguing about something.

Dingo reluctantly found the secret exit and left the shelter. Suddenly he realized something. He had no idea how to get back to the Warrens’ home. He walked through the city, trying to recognize anything from the tour Liko had given him. He finally gave up and lay down on one side of the road. He sighed and put his head down.

A minute or two later, when he pulled his head up again, Dingo had a feeling that someone was watching him. He stood up and nervously began to walk down the street again, stopping every few seconds to look behind him and see if anyone was spying on him.

Dingo was about to turn onto another street when he heard something behind him. He turned around and saw a dog sliding off the roof of a building on the street. “Hey, you!” the dog shouted to him.

Dingo’s heart started beating faster. What if this was one of Seno’s dogs? He hadn’t seen this dog while Liko was giving him the tour of the city, so there was no way to be sure. Dingo decided not to risk it. He started sprinting away from the dog as fast as he could.

The dog yelled something at him again, and then started to follow Dingo. But Dingo already had a head start, and he was a lot faster than the other dog. The dog would never be able to catch up to him.

After a few minutes of running through the streets of Anchorage, Dingo turned down an alley and hid behind a trash can, panting. He peeked at the street and saw the other dog go running by. After a minute, Dingo decided that it was safe to leave the alley.

Dingo silently sneaked out of the alley. As soon as he reached the road, a voice beside him said, “BOO!”

The voice surprised Dingo so much that he jumped a foot in the air. He turned to look at where the voice came from. There was the dog that had been chasing him, laughing hysterically. Dingo turned and prepared to start running again, but the other dog grabbed him by the tail. “Whoa!” the dog said. “Hold on. I’m still trying to catch from the last time I chased you.”

Dingo turned around again and looked at the dog. It was a muscular husky with gray fur. “Who are you?” Dingo asked.

“My name’s Matteo,” said the dog. “I’m a street dog here in Anchorage.”

Dingo bit his lip. “Are you in Seno’s group?” he asked.

Matteo shook his head. “No,” he said. “Are you?”

“No,” Dingo said. “I’m part of the group that Liko is in. I’m guessing that you are too.”

Matteo nodded. Then he hesitated. “Well, I used to be,” he said. “They kicked me out.”

“Really?” Dingo asked. Matteo seemed nice enough. Why did they kick him out?

“Yeah,” Matteo said. “They said that I was an annoying menace. Liko and I used to be best friends. But then…” Dingo could tell that Matteo didn’t want to finish the rest of the sentence. Maybe Liko would tell Dingo what happened if he asked her. But he didn’t want to ask Matteo. Dingo could tell that he didn’t want to talk about it.

There was an awkward silence for a moment. Then Dingo broke it. “So, why were you watching me?” Dingo asked.

“I thought you looked lost,” Matteo responded. “I know Anchorage like the back of my hand, so all I wanted to do was help you.”

Dingo raised an eyebrow. “Do you know where the Warrens live?” he asked.

Matteo’s eyes widened. “Sure, but I don’t think that you would want to go there,” he said. “That man is pure evil.”

“Well…” Dingo hesitated. “They own me. See, I was tied up in the front yard. Liko offered to give me a tour of Anchorage, and I went with her. I have to go back.”

“That man owns you?” Matteo looked shocked. “I feel sorry for you. If I were you, I wouldn’t go back. Warren’s going to be furious about you sneaking off.”

Dingo sighed. “I have to go back,” he said. “His daughter would be devastated if I didn’t.”

“Well…okay,” Matteo said. “I’ll show you how to get back to the house. But I’m not sticking around to see Warren blow up. You’re a brave dog, um…what’s your name?”

“It’s Dingo,” Dingo said. He had forgotten that he hadn’t even told Matteo what his name was.

“Okay, then,” Matteo said. “You’re a brave dog, Dingo. But right now, I’m not exactly sure if that’s really a good thing.”

Dingo cringed as they walked through the city. He was thinking of all the terrifying things Warren might do when he got home.

Soon they reached the back door of the Warrens’ house that led to the kitchen. Dingo had a bad feeling as he started scratching the door. Matteo waved goodbye to him and ran down the road.

As Dingo continued scratching, he heard movement inside the house. A few seconds later the door opened and Sandy stood right above him. “You’re back!” she shouted, throwing her arms around the dog. “Mom, Dad, Dingo came back!”

Ray Warren charged into the kitchen, eyes flaring. “You’re in big trouble, mutt,” he said.

Chapter 10

“This time you won’t get out,” Warren said, tying Dingo to supporting beam of the house. It was an hour later, and all of the Warrens (and Dingo) were in a pretty bad mood. As soon as Warren had laid hold on the dog, he had started beating him. Sandy, who couldn’t stand to watch, ran to her room, crying. Mrs. Warren just watched in silence, feeling sorry for Dingo.

Warren seemed in the worst mood. “He better not pull a stunt like that again,” he yelled across the room to his wife. “I’ve got an idea. I should do off with him right now and not even