heard her yell and bark. "Karlee!" He dashed to where he heard her and was shoved to the ground by two dogs. "Get off!" He roared as he threw them off and ran for Karlee. "Karlee!" He was there to the entrance of the somewhat lumber tunnel where Karlee was held captive.

"Steele!" She gave a joyous bark.

"Everything’s in order now." Steele spun around to see Captain blocked the escape. "You’re trapped now brother." Karlee gasped and Steele growled.

"Let her go!" He shouted. Captain just chuckled.

"That’s what you want." Captain looked to the husky in front of Karlee. Brian was up on top looking down watching the whole thing with three of Captain’s forces. He saw the signal given and whined.

"Kill her."

"NO!"

Brian snarled and jumped down from the lumber pile and ran toward Nome. Captain’s forces watched him and they gave each other confused expressions. Brian needed help and now. Captain went back on his word. Brian was kicking himself of how he could be so stupid to listen to Captain.

The front husky spun around and growled. Karlee snarled and lunged at him. Her jaws clamped on his neck. The husky yelped and threw her off. Karlee crashed into the lumber and yelped. The wood shifted a bit but no one noticed. Steele jumped to her need but collided with two other dogs that had run forward. He seized one and threw it off of him and bit down hard onto the other’s front leg to where he could hear the snap. The mongrel cried aloud. Captain watched as Steele was dealing with two more and Karlee trying to get to Steele.

Karlee danced around the husky that was blocking her from Steele. She jumped from here to there and pounced on him. They tumbled around, snarling and biting. Steele bashed into the lumber pile on the right and it shifted. The three dogs were upon him biting at whatever surface they could get. Karlee’s enemy was trying to follow her but when she sidestepped, he smacked right into the wood and knocked himself out. "What an idiot!" She thought to herself before lunging at one of the dogs that was about to attack Steele. Steele was dueling two instead of three now.

Captain realized that things weren’t going as well as he wanted as he watched the battle scene. He snarled and advanced toward Karlee. No way was his brother going to win this time.

***

"Guys!" Brian shouted as he crashed through the boiler room. Austin and Zip stopped their tug-o-war. Dalton looked up. Sandy and Jasmine turned to face Brian. "Karlee and Steele need your help! Now at the sawmill! Captain’s trying to kill ‘em!" In a flash the boiler room was empty and Karlee and Steele’s reinforcements were on the way.

"You want a piece of me!" Steele roared as he just finished off one of Captain’s forces. Captain wheeled around then sprung upon Karlee. The smaller husky yelped as Steele’s brother towered over her. Steele froze as the last remaining ground force stood next to his knocked out comrades. The three dogs up top of the lumber waited.

Captain pointed a paw toward Karlee. "She’s quite a beauty Steele. Too bad you’re not the only one who wants her." Karlee laid on the ground.

"Why are you doing this?" Steele barked. Captain looked over to Steele.

"I’ve had enough of living in your shadow! Judged by your mistake. And now I’m going to break you down. By starting with your heart." Captain’s wicked eyes slid to where Karlee was in them. Karlee growled deep.

Suddenly, a flash of brown fur and there was Brian between Captain and Karlee. Captain growled at Brian once he recovered his shock. Karlee was surprised and her expression showed it. "Brian?" She asked.

"You’re on my side Brian!" Captain roared.

Brian smirked and said calmly, "Not anymore." A body crashed into the earth below and Captain startled. It was one of his. He snarled and looked up to see an Elkhound.

"What the…?" He asked, his expression furious.

"The Calvary’s here!" Zip called out. Steele’s ears picked up the sound of lumber being pushed.

"Karlee get out!" He shouted as he leapt upon Captain, The two brothers tumbled around.

Karlee realized what was going to happen. "No Steele!" She cried but Brian pushed her out.

"Come on Karlee!" The two rushed out of the tunnel as pieces of lumber begun to rain in the narrow passageway. The knocked out comrades of Captain had woken and were trying to get out but were unsuccessful as their bodies became crushed by the falling lumber.

Captain and Steele were dueling, avoiding the lumber as best as they could. But the pieces of wood smacked down onto them. Captain latched onto Steele’s leg but the black malamute shoved him off.

Karlee and Brian were watching as with Sandy and Dalton on the right side kicking lumber off. Austin and Jasmine were pushing the pieces of wood into the passageway from the left. Karlee’s eyes were moist and tears begun to fall. She ignored her pain and prayed for her mate.

"So long Brother." Steele said as his bloody frame moved and Captain gave his final scream. The brown malamute’s head crushed by a falling piece of lumber. Steele knew he couldn’t make it out as his eyes darted from exit to exit. The black malamute hunkered down beneath some fallen lumber for shelter.

The dust was rising and now the lumber was sliding its self. "Get out of there now!" Brian shouted. The four canines bounded off the piles as the two piles crashed together. There was some coughing as the dust settled.

Karlee cleared her eyes with her paw before darting into the lumber mess. "Steele!" She called out as she carefully maneuvered through the disaster like scene. It was as if an earthquake struck the sawmill. The husky passed some of Captain’s forces. Dead they were and Karlee felt sorry for them as they were killed for no good reason but only by association with Captain.

"Steele!" She put her nose to the ground and sniffed around as the full moon rose above. She caught his scent and traveled as fast as she could. She spotted his brother, his head a bloody mess. Her eyes scanned the area then she found what she was looking for. "Steele!" She barked happily as she hopped over to him. The malamute lay curled up when she reached him. "Oh Steele." She laid down next to him and started to lick his face.

Movement was in his muscular body. He groaned of pain. His eyes opened to see Karlee smiling. "Hey sweetheart." He spoke softly. Karlee could feel tears of joy about to run down her face. She laid her head over his neck.

"We can move when you’re feeling better." Karlee whispered. Steele sighed.

"Are you okay?" He asked quickly.

"I’m fine. Just a little sore." She responded. Steele closed his eyes in comfort.

***
 

Steele was back home being nursed back to health. Karlee and Brian were about to fall asleep as dawn was approaching. Brian couldn’t hide his guilt any more. It was eating at him and every time Karlee looked at him, he felt worse.

"Karlee?" Brian asked. Karlee shifted around a little and her violet eyes opened slowly.

"Yes Brian?" She asked. Brian took a deep breath.

"I’m sorry for everything! I helped Captain out in his plan. I didn’t mean for you to nearly get killed! I admit I was jealous of Steele. You were spending all your time with him and that’s why I helped Captain." Brian whimpered and Karlee looked at him with a blank expression.

"Brian…" Karlee rose to her feet and sat down next to him. "We made it out alive and that’s the important thing. Yes I’m a little disappointed that you didn’t use your sense but I forgive you. If you want, this will be our secret." Brian smiled up at Karlee and she winked her black patch eye.

"Now I can sleep peacefully." Brian spoke as he laid his head down. Karlee chuckled and slept right next to him.

***

Steele, Austin, Zip, and Brian were walking through town chatting away about normal old stuff. "So Austin…"Brian nudged the shepherd mix. "Made your move on Jasmine yet?" Zip and Steele broke out laughing.

"I wouldn’t be talking Brian!" Austin said. Brian gave him a questioning look. "I see how Sandy stares at ya’. Don’t you notice?" Austin asked.

"Notice what?" Sandy said as she slowed from her run to her walk.

"SANDY?!" Austin and Brian barked. The tan/white husky searched all of their faces but gave up.

"Steele Karlee’s at your place." Sandy said as she breathed deeply. Steele looked at each of his friends before taking off. He was a bullet, tearing down main street toward his home.

"Did Karlee…?" Zip asked. Sandy just nodded with a smile.

***

"So it’s alright to have Karlee here as I have no room?"

"Yes it’s fine. Besides I’m sure Steele wants to be close to them." Steele slid to a stop. "Them?" He wondered before walking up the steps and out came Will. Karlee’s owner knelt down to pet him.

"Hey boy." Will patted Steele’s head. The malamute gave a doggy grin then barked. William chuckled before departing. Steele watched him go.

"There you are Steele!" His owner called him. Steele trotted up to him barking happily. "Come this way Steele. I think you should see them." His owner smiled before leading him to the living room. Nestled in the corner close by the window was a large basket where his lady laid. Karlee raised her head and