sighed. “You promise not to tell?” “Yes.” Shanaea said. “I promise.” “Okay, okay.” Hans said. “Come here.” Shanaea walked over to him. “I found these in the trash near where I was hiding.” The young dog kicked a pair of red lenses on the ground. “What did you do with those to make your eyes glow?” Shanaea asked. “Geez.” Hans said, rolling his eyes. “Do I really have to spell it out like that for you?” “I’m sorry,” Shanaea said, the irritated tone entering her voice again. “I don’t make it a point to scare my siblings half to death with nonsense tricks.” She paused. “Now are you going to tell me or not?” “Why should I?” Hans asked. “lf you’re not smart enough to figure it out yourself...” Shanaea cut him off. “…maybe you’d like to explain it to dad better then, hm?” “Geez, still on that trip huh? Okay, watch.” Hans bent his head down and opened his eyes wide, closing them around the lenses, then he looked up. His eyes glowed bright red in the lamplight. “See? Are you happy now?” Hans asked. “…not really.” Shanaea said. “…but I suppose you held up your end of the deal, so I will too… I won’t tell dad.” “Gee thanks sis.” Hans said indignantly. “You’re such a pal.” “…maybe I should tell him then.” Shanaea said. “No,” Hans said, sincere this time. “…please don’t.” “I won’t this time… but promise not to do it again.” Shanaea said. “Okay.” Hans said, a defeated tone in his voice. “Okay what?” Shanaea asked. Hans sighed. “Okay, I promise not to scare you again, happy?” Shanaea smiled. “Yes I am.” “Can we go now?” Hans asked. “Yeah,” Shanaea said. “Yeah, we need to get back, we’re in for it as it is.” “Oh boy,” Hans said. “…just remember your promise.” “I’ll remember mine as long as you remember yours.” Shanaea said. Hans sighed. “…whatever.” “Come on let’s go.” Shanaea said. The two of them turned and started to walk down the alley toward home. As Shanaea neared her home she saw the rest of the team already standing in harness in front of the barn, the only one missing was her father. “Uh oh,” she thought. ”if he went looking for us we’re in trouble.” She looked behind her at Hans; just then she heard her father’s voice. “Shanaea, where have you been?” Shanaea turned as her father walked up to stand in between them. “I’ve been looking all over for you.” Kodi said. “I told you to be back.” Shanaea sighed. She’d promised her father they would be back. Suddenly she was very irritated at Hans. It had been his fault they were late, because of the little stunt he’d pulled on her. “I’m sorry dad.” She said. “We would have been on time, but Hans…” She stopped speaking as she looked at her brother. “…you promised.” He mouthed silently. Shanaea sighed. “Hans did what?” Kodi asked, turning to face his son. “You haven’t been scaring her again have you? You know what I told you about that…” Hans sighed and was about to speak when Shanaea cut him off. “…no, no he wasn’t scaring me dad.” She said. “We were playing hide and seek and he tried to hide in a dumpster. He got stuck and couldn’t get out. I had to help him, and it just took too long to find him, that’s all.” Kodi turned back to her. “That’s all?” he said. Shanaea nodded. Shanaea glanced up at her brother. “Thank you.” He said silently. Shanaea nodded once and looked at her father. Kodi turned to face his son. “…that what happened Hans?” Hans nodded and grinned. “Yeah dad I got stuck, that big ‘ole dumpster over behind the hotel, didn’t know how big that thing was ‘till I got in it.” Kodi smiled. “Well I’m glad you’re okay. I was beginning to worry about you when I couldn’t find you. You two get over to the team. The musher hasn’t come out yet, but he will soon, you got lucky, he hasn’t noticed you were gone, just be sure to be here when I tell you to next time, okay?” “Yes Dad.” The children said. “We will.” Kodi started to walk away, then he turned. “…and Hans?” Hans stepped forward. “Yes Dad?” “Stay out of dumpsters, hiding or not, those things are nasty, no telling what’s in there, okay? I don’t want you to get sick or something.” “I will dad.” Hans said, starting to walk over toward the team. Shanaea started to follow, but a voice stopped her. “Hey Shay.” Shanaea turned, only one dog called her by that name. A red and white dog stood behind her. He was almost a mirror image of herself, only slightly bigger. “Hey Josh.” She said walking toward him. “What’s up?” “You may have Dad fooled, but I can see what happened out there, why you were late. You’re still trembling.” Shanaea sighed. She’d promised Hans she wouldn’t tell… but Josh wasn’t their father. “Yeah.” She said. “He got me good this time.” Josh nodded. “I thought so.” “Hey, don’t tell Dad though.” Shanaea added quickly. “I… I promised him I wouldn’t tell.” Josh sighed. “I don’t know why you did that, but I’ll honor your promise… doesn’t keep me from talking to him though does it?” “I guess not.” Shanaea answered. “He didn’t say anything about you.” “Then I’ll talk to him.” Josh answered. “He doesn’t need to do that to you, especially with your dream… by the way, you still having that dream?” Shanaea nodded, and a chill came over her. “Yeah…” She said. “…course Hans scaring me all the time doesn’t help I’m sure.” “…’probly not,” Josh said. “Don’t worry though I’ll talk to him, okay?” Shanaea smiled. “Okay, thanks Josh. I appreciate it.” Josh smiled and the two of them started walking toward the waiting team. “Don’t worry about it.” Josh said. “I may only be a few seconds older than you, but you’re still my little sister, and I don’t like things that make you uneasy or scared… I’ll take care of it. That’s what I’m here for.” “Well don’t hurt him or anything.” Shanaea said. “I won’t.” Josh said, “…but I think it’s past time for the two of us to have a heart to heart talk about family and loyalty.” Shanaea nodded and stopped walking as they reached the waiting team. “…better take your place.” Josh said. “The musher will be out soon.” Shanaea nodded again and walked to her place behind Josh, beside Hans. Dusty turned around from her place beside Josh. “Everything okay sweetheart?” She asked. Shanaea nodded. “Everything’s fine Mom.” Dusty smiled. “Good.” “Are you okay?” Alai asked from behind her. “I’m fine.” Shanaea said. “Are you sure?” Ebbie asked from her place behind Hans. “You’re shaking.” “I’m fine.” Shanaea said. “It’s just that we’re going out at night… in the dark, that’s all. You all know how I feel about that.” “You’ll be fine.” Kodi said from his position as lead. “Everyone will be fine. It’s good clear weather out and the route we’re taking isn’t that long, an hour to an hour and a half at most okay?” Shanaea nodded and took a deep breath. “I don’t see why you’re so scared of the dark anyway.” Hans said beside her. “There’s nothing out there to be afraid of. You can’t be a sled dog and be afraid.” Shanaea sighed, irritation rising within her. Even after she’d lied to her father to keep him out of trouble not ten minutes ago he was still a jerk. “Oh yeah?” She thought. “How about I tell everyone why we were really late then jerk, how about I tell them about scaring me, even after Dad threatened to take you back behind the barn and whip you senseless if you kept it up huh? How about I just tell them that? Then who would be afraid?” …but she had promised, so she remained silent. “Knock it off Hans,” Kodi said. “I’m a sled dog and I’ve been afraid many times in my life. Fear develops into respect, and respect keeps you alive.” He looked up at Shanaea and she smiled at him. “Dad’s going to defuse the situation as usual,” Shanaea thought. “Thanks Dad.” “Uh huh, sure.” Hans said. “I’m sure we all need to respect the dark, just go on respecting it then Shanaea. After all, if you don’t respect it it may hurt you someday.” He started laughing. Kodi’s smile disappeared and he gritted his teeth. He started to say something, but instead turned to Dusty. “Dear… I really don’t want to do this now.” He said. “Hans!” Dusty yelled. “That’s enough. You heard your father. You’re almost a year and a half old now. It’s time for you to grow up and stop acting like a pup. You hear me? …and don’t you ever mock what your father says like that again, understand? Now dear, I’ve kept him from doing what he wants to do to you for quite a while now. You’re my son, and I don’t want to see you hurt. Mothers have a natural patience with their children, and thank Aniu I have an exceptional one, because otherwise you probably couldn't walk most of the time, let alone pull this sled with the rest of us. …but Hans you’re starting to wear even my patience thin, I’ve a mind to let your father whip your smart little tail and see if that won’t help, ‘cause being kind sure doesn’t seem to. Do you hear me?” Hans looked at the ground. “Hans! Dusty yelled. “I said do you hear me?” “…don’t you dare ignore your mother.” Kodi cautioned. Hans’ cocky attitude had, by now, vanished completely, and he was embarrassed at the outburst he had caused from his mother. Dusty was usually very quiet. She was loving, and cared for her family more than anything in the world. She would give her life without a second’s hesitation for any of her children, or her mate. She’d lost all of them once, one stupid act had almost spelled certain doom for her family. Not a day went by that she didn’t thank Aniu for the second chance she’d been given. Yes, usually, Dusty was very quiet and reserved, but when she blew up, she blew up, and almost always with good reason, and usually at Hans, the youngest of the group by almost two minutes. He had a mean streak in him that neither she nor her mate had been able to calm yet. Dusty was secretly afraid for her son, afraid of what the path he’d made for himself would do to him later in life. Hans nodded. “Hans!” Kodi yelled. “…speak when you’re spoken to.” “Yes mother.”

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