why,” asked Kia cocking an eyebrow, “is that”

“Because she can make very bad things happen to you,” said Avalon in a hushed voice. “She can spread all sorts of rumors about you. Why do you think that dogs around here are especially wary of half breeds?”

Kia looked at Avalon curiously the over at Balto.

“Is there something I missed?” Kia asked.

“Yea,” said Balto looking very uncomfortable, “I’m the other dog that told Mara to take a hike so she got all huffy and started telling people all these stories about gruesome attacks she had heard about. Almost all of them involved half breeds.” Balto hung his head.

“Unfortunately, most of the stories are true so ever since dogs have given me the cold shoulder at best or attacked me at the worst.”

Kia looked over at Jamie and gave her a hard look.

“And you said that half breeds were welcome here,” he said with a slight edge in his voice.

“Yea, well, uh, I mean,” Jamie sputtered, “I really wanted you to come.”

She looked over at Balto as if looking for help and then said, “Besides, Balto didn’t say anything, so I thought…”

“Oh sure,” said Balto standing up quickly, “blame it on me. Well, I’ll leave since I might just go crazy and attack someone.”

Balto turned and walked out the door.

“Balto,” Kia called out the door, “Balto come back.”

Kia turned to Jamie.

“You,” he said “come with me.”

Kia turned to the silent crowd.

“Avalon, everyone else,” Kia said, “thanks for the hospitality.”

With that, Kia ran out the door with Jamie close behind.

Kia caught up to Balto a little way from the boiler room.

“Hey,” said Kia, “you really shouldn’t let what was said back there get to you.”

“I know,” said Balto, “it’s just that I’ve always had to fight this fight alone for so long. It’s hard. You probably wouldn’t know what it’s like.”

“You’re along,” said Kia, “and you have no one to call family. You’re different from everyone else and everyone judges you by the way you look. Of course I know what it’s like. You need to stop agonizing over this.”

“How?” Balto asked.

“By not being a loner and finding some friends,” said Kia.

“Like who?” Balto asked dejectedly.

“Like Jamie, and well, me,” said Kia.

“Well maybe you, but Jamie,” said Balto sadly, “she’s really upset with me after I made her look silly in front of you.”

“Yeah, about that,” Kia said and then called over his shoulder, “Jamie, get over here now.”

“Yeah, what’s up,” asked Jamie running up to them.

“Walk with me.” Kia said and then turned to Balto and said with a wink, “Be right back.”

Kia walked a little ways from Balto with Jamie the stopped and said, “Jamie, I need you to listen very closely. You need to stop dotting over me just to get back at Balto. Don’t ask,” said Kia at the sight of her incredulous look and halfway formed retort, “how I know this. I just do. I don’t need a constant companion, but Balto does. He needs someone who can stick by him through thick and thin, and I won’t always be there to help him. Will you do this for me and for him?”

“Yea,” said Jamie with a small smile, “I think I can.”

“Excellent,” said Kia, “by the way, how old are you and Balto?”

“Oh,” said Jamie, “we’re both about a year old. Why, how old are you?”

“Actually, I don’t know,” said Kia with a frown. “Well, you’d better get back before Balto starts worrying.”

Jamie smiled, nodded, and ran back to where Balto was standing. Kia saw them talking a while then walk off together both apparently happy.

“Well,” said Kia, “I think it’s safe to assume that things are looking up.”

With that Kia transformed into a human and walked off after the two dogs in the direction of the shed.

In the shadows of a wood pile, a lone shape moved directly behind where Kia had been standing.

“Oh yes,” said Mara, “things are looking up. No one refuses me and gets away with it. On my word Kia you will be mine or you will burn.”

A the very end of her threat another voice joined in with Mara’s, a cold and menacing voice and one who knew now how to get back at the one who had denied him the death of Aniu.