noticed she had a cut above her left eye, and it was bleeding. “Are you sure?” Blaize asked. “What happened to you?”

The dog sighed again. “I… uh.. I stepped out of the house this morning and the porch was slick… I slipped and hit my head.”

“Oh…” Blaize said. “I’ll bet that hurt.”

The dog nodded. “Yeah…”

“So I haven’t seen you around here,” Blaize said. “Are you new?”

The dog nodded. “We got in last night.”

Blaize smiled. “Well it’s nice to meet you, my name’s Blaize. What’s yours?”

The dog smiled. “Astarre.” She said. “Thank you.”

Blaize smiled again. “Well, have you seen much of Nome yet?”

Astarre shook her head. “No, my father… he doesn’t really like me to leave. I usually just stay near home. We move a lot.”

“Well you want me to show you around? I could introduce you to the other dogs.”

Astarre sighed. “Thank you, but like I said, my dad doesn’t like me to stray too far from home. He’s gone right now anyway.”

“Oh come on.” Blaize said. “How upset could he be that you’re getting to know your new home? Walking around with me can’t be as bad as sitting here crying all alone can it?”

Astarre laughed. “Alright, I’ll go with you, but I have to be back real soon. If I get back before he does, I suppose he won’t even know that I left.”

Blaize smiled. “Come on then. I’ll introduce you to my dad first. That’s where I was headed. Then, once I check in with him and let him know that I’m back I’ll walk around with you and show you the town.”

Astarre smiled. “I’d like that Blaize, thank you.”

“No problem.” Blaize said.

Astarre stood and walked over beside him. “Lead the way.”

Blaize smiled and the two began to walk down the sidewalk together, side by side. “Man, Kodi was right.” Blaize thought. “That wasn’t so hard.”

Blaize and Astarre had been walking for about ten minutes now. Blaize found he really liked talking to her.

He stopped in front of a log cabin near the outskirts of Nome. “This is it.” He said. “I’m going to go inside and talk to him for a minute or so, then I’ll bring him out here and introduce you to him.”

“What’s his name?” Astarre asked.

“Balto.” Blaize said.

Astarre’s face lit up. “Balto!” She exclaimed. “You should have told me!”

Blaize smiled.

“…all I’ve ever wanted to do since I was just a pup was be on his team!” Astarre continued. “I used to pretend like we’d go on adventures together when I was younger!”

“He gets that a lot.” Blaize said.

“I’ll bet!” Astarre said. “He’s only the most famous dog in all of Alaska!”

Blaize laughed. “Well, I’ll introduce you to him as soon as I get done talking. You just hang out here for a minute.” Blaize turned and walked into the cabin.

“Hey Dad, you here?” Blaize called as he stepped through the doggy door Luke had just installed.

Balto walked into the living room. “Yeah, I’m here. How ya doin’ Blaize? I guess the mail team got back alright?”

Blaize nodded. “I’m doing great dad, and yes, the team made it back just fine.” Balto smiled and walked over to his son. “That’s good to hear son. So what ya up to now?”

“Actually I have someone to introduce you to.” Blaize said.

“Who is that?” Balto asked.

“Her name’s Astarre and she was real excited to meet you.”

Balto smiled. “Her?”

Blaize smiled and nodded. “Yeah, she and her father just got here last night. I’m showing her around town.”

Balto smiled. “That’s good to hear as well son.” He raised his paw and rubbed Blaizes’ head. ”I was beginning to worry about you.”

Blaize smiled, embarrassed. “Dad… please promise me you won’t say anything like that in front of her.”

Balto laughed. “So it’s serious huh? I’ll try not to embarrass you too badly.”

Balto and Blaize walked out of the cabin.

Astarre was sitting on the sidewalk staring at the ground when Balto and Blaize stepped out on the porch.

“Astarre.” Blaize said. “I’d like you to meet my father, Balto.”

Astarre jerked her head up, a grin plastered on her face. Then she froze and shrunk back.

“Astarre?” Blaize asked.

Astarre looked extremely frightened. “You… you’re… You’re a… a wolf… wolf dog.” She started shaking, and stopped backing up, as her back legs contacted the fence at the edge of the yard.

“Astarre?” Blaize asked again, frowning.

Balto looked shocked.

Astarre suddenly whirled around and took off down the street.

Blaize watched her.

“Dad…” He said slowly. “I’m… I’m sorry about that… if you’ll excuse me…”

Blaize walked down off the porch, and out of the yard, following Astarre.

“The more things change, the more they stay the same…” Balto thought.

He sighed and turned, walking back into the cabin.

Blaize caught up with Astarre about five minutes later. He almost ran right past her, as she had laid down in an alley to the side of the road.

Blaize stopped running, and walked over to her. “Astarre?”

She sighed. “I’m… Blaize, I’m sorry for running away like that… I… I just didn’t know that he was… was part wolf.”

“What does it matter?” Blaize asked. “He’s a good guy. I promise he’d never hurt you.”

Astarre sighed. “I… I’ve had some bad experiences with wolf dogs… it’s really hard for me to trust them.”

Blaize sat next to her. “What happened Astarre?”

She sighed again and looked away from him. “I’d really rather not talk about it.”

Neither of them said anything for a few minutes.

Astarre stood up. “Look… thank you for trying to make me feel welcome and all Blaize, but… but I think it’s best if I just go home.” Astarre turned, and started to walk away.

Blaize stood and ran out in front of her, barring her way. “Astarre… wait.” Blaize said. “While it is true that you did embarrass me in front of my dad… I really enjoy your company. I understand your inhibitions about him too. You’re not the first to feel afraid around him. You just have to get to know him, and then you’ll see what I’m trying to tell you.”

Astarre sighed. “Blaize…”

“Please Astarre.” Blaize said. “Come with me to the old mill. I can introduce you to a lot of the dogs that live here there, and… and like I said… I enjoy walking and talking with you.”

Astarre smiled. “Alright Blaize… I thought you’d be angry with me. That’s why I was going to leave.”

“So you’re going to come with me then?” Blaize asked.

Astarre nodded. “Yes Blaize I’ll come with you.”

Blaize smiled. “Great. Follow me then.”

The two of them started walking again, headed towards the old mill at the edge of town.

Chapter 3:

Saba was walking through the forest. She was crouched down low, hiding from her quarry.

The last few weeks had been some of the harshest that Saba had ever endured, and had pushed her to the very limits of what she believed was possible.

Her training had begun the day after she and her family had been accepted into the Talbourne Clan. Shadow was a very good, and very thorough teacher.

Saba tried hard to emulate everything she saw him do, as well as what he was teaching her. She was doing well, she knew it, but Shadow had yet to say it.

She was sneaking up on him now.

Saba had decided that maybe if she could sneak up on him, without him knowing it, that maybe she could impress him.

She came over the top of the hill she’d seen Shadow go over, and peeked through the bushes in front of her.

Shadow was nowhere to be seen.

“Where’d he go?” Saba thought to herself.

“Not bad Saba.”

The voice startled her, and she jumped up, got tangled up in the bushes, and rolled down the hill.

“Saba!” Shadow said, running down the hill. “Are you alright?”

Saba stood and shook the snow from her body. “Yeah, I think so.”

Shadow laughed. “I figured you’d try to sneak up on me, so I doubled back on you. In this, you’ve learned another lesson. Do you know what it is?”

Saba shook her head.

“When you are pursuing something, be it food or foe, watch your back, and if you suspect that you may be being stalked, double back on your opponent. Just be sure not to let them see you of course. You will usually take them by surprise, as I did you, but with a drastically different result. If I