shouted. He hated Steele, but he didn’t want anybody die. “Enough!”

“Just do it… I know you won’t. But I don’t want a mercy from that half wolf.” Steele growled.

“You can be sure… I will do it… But… say you regret it and it will be quick. Else… I will make you suffer…”

“Ryan, do you hear me?”

“Kill me!” Steele shouted.

“Hey, I know it’s funny, but… don’t scratch him, he is my brother, you know?”

“Ryan, I beg you…” It was Connie, “Don’t take him away from me…”

“WHAT?!” Balto, Jenna, Clay, Ryan and Steele gasped.

Balto came to lying Steele. “Did you hear her?”

But now… it was ideal. Balto stood just few steps from the edge of the cliff. Connie noticed it and she suddenly started. And Clay noticed it, too and tried to catch Connie. Connie and Clay jumped in the same moment when Steele leapt towards Balto, who was totally surprised…

Steele, NO!

Balto jumped away, but Steele hit somebody. Something cracked. It was Clay’s rib. He shielded Connie, but he didn’t realize they are near the edge.

So Connie and Clay fell down.

Jenna gasped and Aleu began crying. Balto didn’t believe it. Steele just refused the third chance.

Ryan didn’t say a word. He would have killed Steele if Balto hadn’t held him back.

But the most surprised one was Steele. He sat down and he saw in front of his eyes everything that happened in the last few days. Something changed. He didn’t know he wanted to leap or not.

It was like a matter of persistence. Like all thoughts in his head had exploded. And now he lost brother and Connie, who loved him to the very end.

Something fell to the ground.

Drip… drip…. Drip… drip…

“Are you crying, Steele?” Jenna asked him quietly.

Are you crying, Steele?

“What have I done…?” He cried.

‘Is that Steele I know?’ Balto wondered. Something happened. Something very odd happened.

It seemed Steele realized what he had done to everybody. And now it was state of deep regret, sorrow and shock. Like something broke inside of him.

“Connie…” he whispered.

“Steele, look…” Balto wanted to say something.

“Let me be, you pathetic wolf dog! Shut up! Don’t talk to me! I don’t want to see you anymore!” Steele shouted.

Okay… Not all the things had changed.

Ryan headed home. He didn’t want them to see his tears, too.

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CHAPTER 12: ONE MORE CHANCE

If this is the Hell, it’s quite wet…

River was deep enough, so he wasn’t mashed. But there was something else…

“You, Connie!” Clay shouted. And then he saw her. She was lying on the strand.

“Oh no, if you are dead, brother will kill me…” He swam to her and he crawled up.

“Connie… wake up… don’t play dead… come on!”

She finally opened her eyes: “Steele?! Where is Steele?!”

“He is up there… thing is we fell down just because… uhhh… he knocked us down when he tried to throw Balto right here.”

“I know… but… what are you doing here?”

“Well, I was used like a shield, I don’t like when beautiful ladies get hurt. And one more thing. He needs you. So let’s go back…”

Connie just nodded.

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Steele was sitting on the edge of the cliff for about a hour. He didn’t say a word, didn’t move. Just was sitting.

Balto and Jenna watched him, while Aleu was crying because of Clay.

“Now… I feel sorry for him… it’s sad…” Balto said

“But it’s just his fault…” Jenna replied.

“I know… but still… Noone should be in this position. It’s worse than dead. He lost everything.”

“I wish I could help him.” Jenna whispered.

“… And then he said: ‘Really? So this is how it feels?’”

Somebody laughed. It was Connie and Clay.

They silently came near Steele, who didn’t pay any attention. He was just looking down.

“Yes, they couldn’t survive…” Clay stated.

“It’s my fault…” Steele heard him, but his thoughts were so far away.

“Of course it is…”

“What have I done…?”

“You don’t want to know this.”

“I said she was not important to me…”

“Yes, that was mistake.”

“She loved me and I said…”

Connie couldn`t take more, she nuzzled him and whispered: “I keep loving you, Steele.”

“Connie…?” Steele turned his head. That voice… he hadn’t believed he would hear it once more…

“You are…”

“I am… and I forgive you. I know I will regret it, but I forgive you, love…”

“Oh, Connie…” he hugged her. They both cried.

“Steele… I love you and I hope you love me to... and don’t lie, please…”

“I love you, I swear,” and he was true. And he gave her first true love kiss.

Steele, Steele… you are the luckiest dog in the whole world. So… I hope now you see what you really have. Great brother and a wonderful mate. But now… it’s on you…

“Well, I don’t know it’s right he has another chance,” said Clay as he was standing near Balto.

Balto and Jenna smiled. Aleu went nearly mad because of joy.

“Maybe Steele we used to know died today…We will sleep here, in the cave. Clay, join us, if you want.”

“No…I don’t think I…”

“Please, Clay… just one night…” Aleu begged.

“I have no other choice, I guess.”

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EPILOGUE?

Steele and Connie returned home. They met Robert, who took care of Steele’s injuries.

Ryan was so happy and relieved when he found out Connie lived, but still holds grudge against Steele, although he promised Connie he would forgive him.

Balto, Jenna, Aleu returned to Nome with Clay, who stayed here for a week. Then he left but promised he will return.

Robert McBride and his dogs moved to Nome as well, because Robert got a job there, so he stopped hunting for money.

Steele still doesn’t like Balto (what a surprise).

-----------------------

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Although it may appear like that, this isn’t the END!

If you are reading this, it means You have probably read whole fanfic. Good job. I hope you enjoyed it.

I know, the end… the end of this second and last part. I don’t know… I think there are lots of things that aren’t clear or finished. Just unfinished finish, I would say. And it is so sweet and stupid. But I had to write it like that. Don’t ask me why.

You may like it or hate it, but one is for sure: Steele is NOT good one yet. And I doubt he will ever be. Well, all in all, I will continue writing about Steele and Connie and all. Now, they are in Nome, so some new plots will pop up for sure. F. e. Ryan’s family, Clay’s return and… who knows. Fact is I am little bit tired, so I had to put it to the end like this. I don’t like happy-ends, but I think Steele deserved one. I love him (Steele, not that happyend, of course).

Yeah, and that Clay… he is NOT my “presonal” dog or pseudo. It is just coincidence. He DOESN’T represent me.

In fact, I want to dedicate this fanfic to everyone on BS I know. Thanks.

Yeah and that english… I know there are mistakes, but I will try to improve.

TO BE CONTINUED… I hope so

Claymore (or whatever you like)

Finished: 14.1.2007

In: Olomouc and Bruntal, Czech Republic