brown and had green eyes; she was wearing a collar with the name ‘Jade’ engraved onto it. Suddenly a very bruised Steele stands right in front of her ready to attack her; she dropped the meat on the floor.

“Give me the meat little miss! Otherwise I’ll...” The female Husky then slaps Steele across the face “OWWW!” he whaled.

“Get out of my way loser!” she shouted.

Steele just stepped aside; his pride couldn’t take much more of this. The Female Husky just picked up her meat and continued to walk away.

“Wench” he said under his breath.

“I heard that!” she shouted back.

Steele just groaned and limped away.

The female Husky was now eating the meat she had collected form the butcher’s shop, as she was eating she could hear a strange noise. She looked up, she knew someone was there.

“Get lost Steele!” she shouted. But there was no response.

Something began to charge at her at full speed, all she could do was scream.

Steele was walking alone across the frozen beach, he was shivering cold and looking for a place to sleep. He then saw it and it occurred to him, that he really had only one last chance to find somewhere to sleep. He couldn’t believe he was going to do this.

He crept up the ramp trying to make as little noise as possible, when he reached the top of the ramp he carefully tip toed across the deck trying not to alarm him. He saw that he was asleep under his blanket...

“Wolf d... erm... Balto?” whispered Steele. “Balto” he whispered again this time nudging Balto with his paw.

Balto turned on his side and muttered...

“No dad I don’t wanna play with the other puppies”.

Steele just rolled his eyes and gave up.

“Wake up!” he shouted.

Balto yelled and punched Steele across the face.

“What! What!” reacted a very confused Balto. He then looked to see Steele rubbing his nose.

“Why does everyone keep punching me!” he shouted.

“Steele? What the hell are you doing...? In fact forget it, get out!”

“If you must know, I was... you know what it doesn’t matter.” Said Steele who had started to walk away.

“Good get lost” replied Balto.

“Oh you would just let me go back into the cold wouldn’t you!” said Steele who had now turned back to face Balto.

“Yes... that’s the general idea.” Said Balto.

“What did I ever do to you...?”

Balto didn’t even dignify that question with a response.

“Alright stupid question.” Said Steele. “Can I stay for the night?”

“No!”

“Look just for one night, that’s all and I promise I’ll never ask again... come on Balto you’re not a petty guy like I am... please?”

Balto just groaned and rolled his eyes at Steele.

“Fine... whatever...” said Balto.

Several minutes later Steele was tied up to the bulkhead with some rope, Balto was tightening the rope with his teeth.

“Is this really necessary?” asked Steele.

“I may not be petty but I still don’t trust you.” Said Balto whilst tightening the rope some more.

“OWW!” yelled Steele.

“Did that hurt?” asked Balto.

“Yes!” Replied Steele.

“Good...” said Balto, who was now heading to his Blanket to get some sleep. “If you wake me up again you’re out.” Continued Balto who had now closed his eyes and got under the blanket.

“What? Not wishing me pleasant dreams” said Steele sarcastically.

“Shut-up Steele”

A few moments of silence passed...

“Oh Balto...” said Steele pretending to be Jenna. “I really really love you.”

“Shut-up Steele!”

Another few moments passed...

“Balto.” Said Steele still pretending to be Jenna.

“Stop it!” reacted Balto.

The bickering continued on for another hour or so until finally both managed to fall asleep.

Early the next morning Dingo was walking on the out skirts of town pondering what he was going to do with Rose on their date. He then saw Kodiak was stretching and exercising, he was getting ready for the next mail run.

“And stretch and bend and turn and flex” said Dingo who was mocking his brother.

“And a good morning to you too little bro.” Replied Kodiak.

“I don’t think me being born two minutes after makes you the older sibling. Besides if anything that would make Aleu the oldest.” Asked Dingo.

“Look what do you want Dingo I’m busy.”

“I have some great news... about me.”

“If this is about catching your tail I’m telling you now, it’s childish and immature... plus you’d only throw your back out for like the 18th time.”

“Very funny Mr. ‘I wet myself at age two’ but it’s something else... I got a date with Rose tonight.”

Kodiak stopped stretching and looked straight at Dingo.

“I did not wet myself! It was just very warm that summer!” he snapped.

“Well...” said Dingo.

“What?” replied Kodiak.

“What about my news?”

“So what you have a date with Rose... you’ll only screw it up like the last date you had.”

“It didn’t go that bad...”

“You sneaked into a warehouse and drank most of the ale in one of the barrels and threw up on her... it was bad.”

“It could have come from the other way that would have been worse.”

“I’ll pretend you didn’t say that because EWWW!”

“Look come on Bro, I really like this girl. I want it to work out.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Give me some pointers you know. You’re sorta involved with someone... I’m serious about this.”

Dingo then started to walk down the street. Kodiak just rolled his eyes and followed.

“Alright fine. You want advice? Well here it is... Be yourself.”

Dingo didn’t answer for a few moments.

“That’s it? That’s the corniest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“She won’t want some guy that puts on an act, she’ll want you... amazingly enough.”

Suddenly Dingo just halted in his tracks and had a very serious look on his face.

“What’s wrong?” asked Kodiak.

Dingo sniffed the air and then looked quite worried.

“I can smell blood... dog’s blood.” He answered.

“What? I can’t smell anything.”

“Well you don’t have the acute wolf senses like I do. I’m telling you I smell blood.”

Dingo then walked down a near by alley with Kodiak in tow behind. Dingo was trying to track down the source. Dingo then stopped with a look of shock on his face, when Kodiak saw it too he turned away to be sick. They had found the dead body of a female Husky...

Balto was waking up, he was still very tired after a nights bickering with Steele who was still tied up against the bulkhead. He yawned and then saw that Steele was still asleep... he looked so peaceful Balto thought to himself... but he also knew that it was the perfect opportunity for a little fun for himself. Steele just kept on sleeping for a few moments, then SPLASH! He awoke in a panic covered with a bucket of iced water.

“ARRRGHH!” he yelled.

Balto approached Steele with fake concern.

“Oh Steele what’s the matter? You silly thing, you drooled on yourself.” Said Balto whilst batting Steele’s face in a bad effort to wipe the water off.

“Am I interrupting something” said a voice from behind Balto.

Balto turned to see that it was Sam, Balto’s expression changed from happy to concerned in a second flat. Balto walked towards Sam to ask him...

“Where did you go? Are you alright?”

“Yeah I’m fine... don’t worry about it. Just one of those things you know.” Said Sam who began to walk towards Steele. “Why do you have Steele tied to a wall?” he asked.

“Good question... who ever the hell you are. Why am I tied to a wall Bingo?” said Steele who was now shivering from the cold water.

“He wanted to stay for the night so I let him... but I sooner trust Jack the Ripper in my home then Steele.” Said Balto “No offence” he said to Steele.

“Oh whatever wolf dog.” Replied Steele.

Both Sam and Balto walked off the deck of the boat in order to talk privately, Steele was just left tied up.

“Err HELLO! You can’t just leave me here! If it makes you feel better Balto I’m sorry for all the... what am I saying? I’m not sorry... he started it.” He said to himself.

Sam and Balto where talking on the beach, the wind was picking as a storm was coming in on the horizon.

“I know I kinda freaked out last night, but I’m alright now. I just needed to let off some steam you know.” Explained Sam.

“It’s okay... but... what was the whole ‘Father’ thing in aid of?” asked Balto. “Have you met Dad before?”

Sam didn’t answer, he looked down at his paws. Balto then dropped the question.

“Can’t believe it’s Christmas Eve already.” Continued Balto changing the subject. “It only seems like yesterday that I rescued Duke from White Mountain... did I ever tell you about that?”

“Twice” replied Sam.

Balto was struggling for words, his brother didn’t look right at all.

“Tell me about you?” asked Balto.

“What?”

“Tell me about you? Childhood stories, good and bad? Where did you live before you came here? Do you have friends? Have you been in love? Anything... tell me.”

“There’s