there’re mates, and then there’s the one, you know what I mean kid?”

Blaize nodded.

It was quiet for a while, as the two walked.

After a few minutes had passed, Shep finally broke the silence.

“So, I guess I should tell you a bit about the job you’ve undertaken, huh?”

Blaize remained silent.

“Okay, how do I put this…” Shep said. “Kid, you’ve taken on the most important job you could possibly take on as a dog. You’ve chosen to protect your family, and the other families of the town from the ones that would harm them. That is our ultimate purpose as keepers of the law. To safe guard the public. Now, I’m going to start with the basics. What do you think about freedom kid?”

Blaize hesitated before answering, trying to gauge the correct response to the older dog’s question.

“Um… it’s a good thing.” Blaize said.

“Right.” Shep said. “Freedom is a good thing, however, complete and total freedom is complete and total chaos. A state of society called Anarchy. Basically in an Anarchist State, you are free to do whatever you want to do. There is no right, there is no wrong. Can you see how that would cause problems kid?”

Blaize nodded. “Of course, anyone can.”

“Right.” Shep said. “We as dogs existed as an Anarchist State for quite some time, every dog did as he felt was right to him, and there was no one that dog had to answer to but himself. Eventually we realized, as did the humans, that this was not a good way to live, and since they caught on sooner than we did, we mimicked them. We created laws. Rules that the dogs that had decided to live in a given area had to follow, or else there would be consequences. At first, even this was flawed. Every dog could enforce the law, which seemed like a good idea, until the dogs started interpreting the laws for themselves. That caused problems. That, and the dogs tended to bend the law in their own favor, and that of their friends’. This negated the result of having laws In the first place. Eventually, we decided to choose one dog to interpret the laws for them. With this act, the office of Keeper of the Law was created. At first, we only interpreted the law for others, who then carried out our recommendations, but even this caused problems, so, over time, we became not only the interpreter’s of the law, but the enforcers of it as well. There are many laws, and many punishments for their breaking, that you will have to learn, and you must learn fast. Think you’re up to it kid?”

Blaize nodded. “I’m ready sir.”

The German Sheppard laughed. “It’s Shep kid, just Shep. Been a long time since anyone called me sir.”

“Oh.” Blaize said. “Well, okay, I’m ready Shep. Teach me everything you know.”

Shep laughed again. “Kid you have no idea what you just asked for.”

He paused.

“You hungry kid?”

“Yeah,” Blaize said. “Actually I am.”

“Let’s swing by the butcher’s then, he usually gives me his scraps. I’ll share them with you so you can get something to eat.”

“I’d appreciate that Shep.” Blaize said.

The two of them crossed the street and headed toward a big white building in the distance.

Saba was walking to her chambers.

It had taken some time, but she’d managed to find time in her busy schedule to talk to Everest.

She had something fairly important to ask him about.

She stepped into their chambers and smiled as she saw Everest sitting in the center.

“Hey.” She said.

“So,” Everest said, walking over to her. “The great Alpha of the Talbourne managed to find the time to speak to lowly ole me?”

Saba smiled again and nuzzled him.

“So what’s the occasion?” Everest asked.

Saba hesitated before replying.

“Well, I’m kind of thinking about doing something, but I know you’re not going to like it.”

“What is that?” Everest asked.

“Well…” Saba began. “I’m kind of thinking of going back to Nome for a few days.”

Everest frowned. “You’re right, I don’t like it. What are you thinking…” Saba sighed. “…you know what almost happened to us last time we went back.” Everest finished.

“Yeah I do. That’s why I have to go alone.” Saba said. “I don’t look the same as I did then. Drake won’t recognize me.”

“Neither will anyone else.” Everest said.

Saba sighed. “I know, I just… I just want to talk to mom, I want to let her know that I’m okay. Word of my “death” must have reached her by now… I just want her to know that I’m alright.”

The look of disapproval didn’t waiver from Everest’s features, but he remained silent.

Saba sighed and hung her head.

“Look…” She said. “…I won’t go if you don’t want me to.”

An uneasy silence passed between the two.

“You’re going to have to be very careful.” Everest said finally.

A smile crossed Saba’s face,

“I mean it Saba.” Everest continued. “You don’t look like a husky anymore, you look like a wolf. You know what people think of wolves… what they do to them?”

Saba nodded.

“The only ones that will know you’re even around are mom and dad.”

Saba nodded again. “…of course.”

Everest stepped up next to her.

“I mean it Saba. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

He nuzzled her.

“I’ve got to go find Aleu.” Saba said, as they parted.

“Why?” Everest asked.

Saba smiled.

“She said she’d watch over the clan for me while I’m gone.”

Saba couldn’t help but notice the questioning look in her mate’s eye.

“I knew you’d let me go.” Saba said.

Everest smiled. “Just be careful.

Saba nodded. “I will.”

She turned and ran down the corridor and into the main chamber, then down toward Aleu’s chambers.

Balto was still sleeping by the fire early the next morning, until he was awoken by a scratching at the door.

He got up and walked over to the door, pushing his head out the doggy entrance.

Jason stood on the porch.

“Hello Jason.” Balto said.

“Hey Balto.” Jason said.

Balto stepped out onto the porch.

“So… how’re you doing?” He asked.

Jason sighed. “Alright I guess… considering.”

Balto nodded. “Listen… Jason…. I know that your father and I hadn’t been on very good terms of late, but… but he was still my friend.”

Jason nodded. “I still can’t believe he’s gone.”

Balto nodded back at him and sighed. “Yeah…”

“I know that you were the last one to see him…” Jason said, his voice cracking a bit at the end.

“Damn it!” He thought. “I told myself I wouldn’t do this…”

Jason took a deep breath and closed his eyes. “Can… can you tell me what happened?”

Balto sighed. “Well Jason… I was actually on my way to talk to him about Jenna’s situation… anyway, I saw him headed out of town, and he didn’t look normal. It was then that I spotted a grayish looking dog about one hundred yards in front of him. Drake followed the dog all the way to the outskirts, where the dog stopped and challenged him as to why he was being followed. Drake then told the dog that he was suspected of committing larceny at the butcher’s and that the gray dog had to come with him so he could ask the dog some questions. The dog said nothing, just attacked… all of a sudden. After the fight went on for a while, it was clear that Drake was going to win it, then… then the door to one of the cabins out there opened up, and a man stepped out with a rifle… he shot your father.

The gray dog ran inside the cabin and the man shut the door. I ran over to Drake’s side, but it was too late, he was probably dead before he even hit the ground.”

Jason nodded and sighed. “Thank you Balto.”

Balto nodded and sighed as well. “Like I said… I’m really sorry kid.”

Jason nodded again. “Well, I should be getting back to my home. Mom’s going to be looking for me before too long. She’s… She’s taken dad’s death really hard, harder than the rest of us anyway.”

“You know of course that if you need anything, anything at all, all you have to do is let me know. I’ll see what I can do.” Balto said.

Jason grinned. “Thanks.”

“That goes for the rest of your family as well.” Balto said. “It’s… it’s the least I can do.”

Jason nodded. “Alright, I’ll pass on the message. See ya Balto.”

“Have a good day kid.” Balto replied.

Jason turned and walked away.

“Something isn’t right, and now I’m sure it involves Balto somehow.” He thought. “Now to talk to