just in time.

       "Well, Dingo talks about you a lot, as does Kodi and Angada used to... actually, all the dogs (in your family) who have been to White Mountain talk to this Chase dude about you," Mia said, as if it were a well known fact, which it kinda was. But Rukie still shook her head.

       "They've never mentioned this guy to me, so it must just be a myth," she said. Mia rolled her eyes.

       "But he has a message for you, Rukie," she said. Rukie sat up slowly.

       "Tell," she said. Mia smiled quizickally, but didn't ask.

       "It was kinda nonsensical, but I'll tell it anyway. Tish told me from Ralph who met up with him on his way back from White Mountain," Mia cleared her throat as Rukie secretly rolled her eyes, "He says: She has been wounded. Stop. Coming to Nome. Stop. Boiler room. Stop. Names Chase. Stop. Dingo speaks highly of you." Rukie looked surprised, and stepped over he short friend.

       "RUKIE!" Mia called as Rukie bounded out the door without a word. Mia grumbled, and padded out the door.

       "I do a favor for this so called 'special dog' and I get stepped over and ignored..." but she coudn't help smiling. Everyone in the town liked Rukie, even the sled dogs. Of course, the only reason they teased her was because she always tripped on her feet.

       "Dingo!" Rukie halted behind Dingo's house, and perked her ears. It was her sister, Saba's voice that had called her brother.

       "Dingo!" she called again. Rukie peeked around the corner, and saw her sister with a distraught but ticked look on her face. She was grinding her teeth.

       Dingo stepped out of his home. His face was serious.

       "I know, Saba," he said with a cold tone. Rukie had never heard him use it. He was always so kind to her. Saba snarled at him.

       "See where your carelessness has led us! Chase is comeing! With Isa!! This can't happen, not now, not yet! Rukie.is.not.ready!" Saba barked. Dingo turned his head away from Saba in anger. Rukie ducked behind the house. Thoughts were wizzing through her head, so many they were making her dizzy.

       "Saba..." Rukie heard her older brothers voice. The thoughts stopped.

       "Don't say it Dingo," Saba's voice was cold. For a second, Rukie wondered if Dingo liked Saba. How wrong she was.

       "I love Rukie, alright!" Dingo's voice lashed at Saba. Rukie's heart skipped a beat.

       "But now is not the time! She can't know about anything! Nothing, Dingo. Nothing. It'll make it that much harder for her," this was mearly white noise to Rukie.

       Dingo... her older brother by four years... was... in love with her?

       It wouldn't sink in.

       But she had not ime to allow it to.

       Saba was headed to the back of the house.

       Did she see me? Did she hear me? What is she doing? Rukie paniced, and bolted behind some boxes. She stayed there, parilized by the news she had just heared.

       Saba passed by, not noticing Rukie had even been there.

       The door to Dingo's house closed.

       Rukie sat between the boxes and the house, shocked.

       Everybody liked Rukie.