Karlee’s mind was locked into the race. She was so going to smoke ‘em. "Set…" Her heart was pumping as a smirk appeared on her face. "GO!" They exploded from behind the line. Brian instantly fell behind the rest of them. Austin led but Karlee was right on him. Her head was by his shoulder. Zip was stuck behind the two. As they neared the boat, Karlee pushed herself harder and able to pass Austin. Austin was shocked as Karlee spun in a neat circle before nearly running into the boat. She was quick, agile, and fast was all Austin knew about her as he followed after her. Karlee chuckled as she passed the still heading to the boat Brian. Her competitive spirit was running wild as she kept Austin at bay by always blocking him off. Steele was watching her as if he was waiting for a Triple Crown Winner to win Belmont’s Stakes. Karlee spotted the line not too far and was like flipping the nitro switch in a street race car. Karlee blew the other runners away as she arrived at the line a full 2 minutes before Austin. "Holy crap girl!" Austin said as he was catching his breath. Karlee kept her breath slow and steady. "Remind me…to never…play tag with you." Karlee broke out laughing. As Zip neared the line he was trembling from running his hardest and sat down. Brian when he finally arrived collapsed where he stood.

"Now you agree you need to lose weight?" Karlee asked Brian. Brian just gave a tired nod. Zip chuckled as he panted.

"Nice run there, Karlee." Karlee wheeled around to see Steele and Nikki. Steele smiled as he came closer. Nikki just sat where he stood.

"Well thank you." Karlee responded unsure if to sound happy or not. She watched as Steele sat not too far from her. Austin was alert. Zip was a bit scared and Brian didn’t care. He was too tired to even think. "I’m guessing you’ve raced before." Karlee said as she finally got a good look at Steele. She watched his expression and admire how handsome he was.

Steele smiled. "Yes I did race and win a load of times. Before I didn’t do something I was suppose to do so now I’m an outcast." Karlee heard about the one winter that Balto saved the town not Steele.

"Do you have a home?" Karlee was just curious.

"I live with my once musher’s nephew. My musher was disgusted with me and his nephew always had a soft spot for me." Karlee nodded to show she understood. A call echoed across the beach to the somewhat relaxed group.

"Oh we got to go." Zip said and stood. Austin followed slowly.

"Bye Karlee and Brian." The cross husky spoke sadly.

"See ya Austin and Zip." Karlee called out. Brian was snoozing. "Brian get up!" She yelled. The tan husky startled to a stand.

"Would you stop yelling at me?" Brian asked. Karlee rolled her eyes.

"Why don’t you head back to the hotel to sleep?" Karlee suggested in a fake sweet voice. Steele was a bit annoyed by Brian being there.

"I think I’ll do that. See you later." Brian started off, stumbling here and there. Karlee watched him go. And Nikki followed Brian to make sure he would get there in one piece.

"I swear if I have to take care of his lazy ass for the rest of my life, I’m going to go mad!" Karlee growled and Steele chuckled. "What’s so funny?"

"That you went from a quiet one to a bit fierce dog in less than a minute." Karlee giggled then stood. Steele then realized that how beautiful she was when the sun struck her light brown coat. How her light violet eyes illuminated from her expression. Especially the right eye that was covered by a black patch. As her tail swished, he noticed a black tip. Even though her patch gave her a daring look, her black ears added a sense of shenanigans. Steele smiled and Karlee returned his smile. "So how was it like in…."

"Tennessee?" Karlee finished his sentence. Steele nodded and Karlee began her tale.

***

"Goodness Karlee is quite a character!" Steele was talking to his trio about Karlee. Karlee had given light to his dark path. If Steele played his cards right, he was hoping to end up with Karlee. He would change for her.

"I bet she’s like all of the other females here." Captain snapped. He was hoping to derail Steele from his crush. Captain was still putting the final touches on his plan.

"No she isn’t! She’s ten times better than all of them…even put together! She may be competitive and stubborn, but what lies beneath completes her. Her eyes…" Steele saw the image of Karlee in his head that made him fall in love with her. Her eyes sparkling. "Are not like any other."

***

Karlee was walking with two other huskies that she had made friends with. Sandy the more gossipy one of the three then there was loyal Jasmine. Karlee met Sandy before Jasmine but that didn’t make her, her best friend.

"Who else have you met?" Sandy asked.

"Zip, Austin, and Nikki. Before them, I ran into Steele." Karlee chuckled.

"Steele? I thought he left Nome. I guess not." Jasmine said. For some reason there was something in her hazel eyes that Karlee was trying to figure out.

"Do you think Austin’s hot or what!" Sandy said as she swished her tail around. Karlee chuckled. "Jasmine is such in love with him!" Jasmine blushed and Karlee smiled. So that was what that little spark in Jasmine’s eyes was.

"Don’t worry. I agree he’s hot but I’m thinking about someone else." Sandy gasped and Jasmine just smiled.

"Who is it?" Before Karlee could say someone stepped up behind them.

"Hello ladies." Captain grinned. Sandy and Jasmine weren’t interested and neither was Karlee.

"What do you want Captain?" Karlee growled. Her body stood stiff and rigid and she was prepared for any attack.

"Can’t I just say hi?" He replied in a fake innocent voice. Sandy rolled her eyes and Jasmine flattened her ears. But Karlee stood face to face with the malamute. On the other side of the not very busy street stood Steele. Karlee didn’t see him and her eyes became half-close as if looking at someone she wanted. Captain became interested. Steele gasped. Steele felt betrayed but made himself stay.

"You know Captain…" Karlee begun to circle him. Her tone was a sweet temptation. Then stopped when she was facing him. Steele could hear Karlee perfectly and listened. "Sandy, Jasmine, and I really don’t like jerks…like you. So why don’t you just walk away and never talk to us again. Understand?" Karlee said with a calm and a bit bored tone. Captain was taken back and Steele smiled. Karlee gave a smug grin before turning to face her friends. Captain was still standing there watching Karlee. Steele was right. She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. Karlee felt his eyes on her and turned back around to face Captain. "Did you not hear me? Now GO!" Karlee barked loud and clear. Captain backed away a bit and Karlee went into growling. Sandy and Jasmine followed their new friend with their own growling. Sandy started barking as before Captain was always trying to get her for his own. Captain walked away with his head lowered and his tail dropped. Karlee smiled.

"Oh my goodness Karlee! I didn’t know you had the stuff!" Sandy broke out. Karlee’s smile widened as Jasmine gave a few joyous barks.

"I say." Steele had come over from across the street. Sandy and Jasmine looked a bit worried but Karlee was completely different. Her eyes brightened and her tri-colored tail wagged fast. She didn’t look like the Karlee before that had chased Captain off. Steele smiled.

"How are you Steele?"

"Doing alright." He just looked at her. And Karlee just smiled.

"Oh where are my manners? This is Sandy." Pointed to the yellow tinted husky. "This is Jasmine." The brown and white husky gave a little smile. "I just met them this morning."

Steele nodded. "Nice to meet you." He smiled. Karlee’s friends noticed he was a little nicer. Sandy and Jasmine just smiled, more relax that Karlee was happy to see him. "So Karlee…um…how are you?" It was the only thing that came to his mind. That was a stupid question. He thought to himself.

"Good." Sandy and Jasmine looked back and forth at each of the huskies’ expression. Steele’s expression was unsure and Karlee hid her expression well.

"Anyway just wanted to stop and say hello." Steele quickly said before he turned on the spot and headed back to his home. He wasn’t going to make a fool of himself. Karlee watched him go with longing eyes.

"Oh you two would be a perfect pair!" Sandy said excited as she noticed the expression she was looking for. Karlee gasped and gave her pal a sharp look.

"Now that you mention it, Steele and Karlee would be a good pair. Besides the fact he’s a year older than she is but still…" Jasmine pointed out. Karlee became a bit annoyed.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about and let’s keep it that way." Karlee argued. But she argued with herself. Her brain and sense whispered no but her heart was yelling yes. Jasmine snickered and Sandy gave a laugh.

"Don’t lie to yourself Karlee. You know what you feel." Sandy said as she swished her yellow tail.

"I don’t think so." Karlee growled. "Now let’s just stop the discussing." They walked on.

"Yep first stage: