teams.

   “STEELE!” chorused the entire team.

   At last the team crossed the finish line in the last position. Balto heaved a sigh and stood, shocked and panting behind the other ten teams. He peered at Nikki, Kaltag and Star who all glared evilly back.

After the race, Balto and Steele met. Steele threw himself at Balto, raging and snarling.

    “How dare you loose that race!” he snapped, pinning Balto to the ground.

    “It’s not my fault that your body got so tired!” Balto cried.

    “You should have cheated you lobo!” Steele raged, “Why are we even like this? I want my body back. Being able to do whatever you want with Jenna is nice but you suck at being me!” Steele snarled.

   “And you don’t at being me? Jenna likes tender love. You’re ruining our relationship!” Balto growled. As if on queue, Jenna stormed towards them.

   “Balto! What are you doing? Get off Steele!” she growled, nudging Steele nervously. Balto stared at his mate from within Steele’s body.

   “Hey, baby, don’t worry I was just taking care of this filth!” Steele snapped, licking Jenna delicately. Balto growled.

   “No, Jenna… he just came out of nowhere I swear. Since when does he call you baby?” Balto protested. Jenna stared at him with a look of curiosity.

   “Since now! Shut up, lobo!” Steele snapped.

   “But that’s not right…” Balto began.

   “I said shut the heck up, alright?”

   “Fine…” Balto sighed. Jenna frowned at Steele (Balto).

   “Um… ok… well, see you Steele.” She muttered.

   “Good-bye…” Balto called after her, “… Jenna.”

That night Jenna sat on the beach alone. She watched as the waves lapped at the shore and thought back to her pleasant memories with Balto. He’d changed so much over a day. At that moment, Balto in Steele’s body padded up behind her.

   “Hey, Jenna…” Balto whispered. Jenna looked round at the dog.

   “Oh… Steele. I thought you were… someone else.” She replied. Balto sat beside her and nuzzled her affectionately. Her beauty in the moonlight overthrew him. He forgot who he was.

   “I love sitting on the beach. It looks so beautiful at night.” He told her. Jenna smiled.

   “Yeah, it does. I used to bring the puppies down here all the time… with Balto.”

   “I remember that…” Balto smirked, “Well… I mean, I remember watching you with Balto and the puppies…” he added.

   “Yeah…” Jenna muttered dreamily.

   “You look lovely tonight.” Balto muttered, turning away.

   “Really? Thank you…” she shuffled closer to him and placed her tail against his. Balto smiled and placed his paw on hers.

   “You’ve changed, Steele. I like that.” She muttered, “But I couldn’t betray Balto…”

   Balto’s eyes widened. He leapt away from Jenna. He wasn’t Balto at the moment… he was Steele.

    “I have to go, Jenna.” He cried. Jenna looked at him desperately as if pining for him to give her a romantic farewell. Balto swallowed, pining back at her. He couldn’t. Not in Steele’s body.

    “Good-bye…” he muttered before rushing away hurriedly.

Balto stormed towards Steele who was with Nikki, Kaltag and Star telling them how his wolfish cravings had developed throughout the day. They cackled evilly, obviously plotting something against him.

   “Balto!” Balto called, feeling strange. Steele looked up.

   “Coming.” He replied. The pair padded down a dark alleyway.

   “What do you want?” Steele snarled.

   “We have to change back… I miss Jenna too much!” Balto pleaded.

   “How do you propose we do that then?” Steele snapped. Balto thought a moment and then gasped.

   “The fortune! What else?” he exclaimed. Steele wagged his tail.

   “You’re right! Where is it?” he called.

   “Umm… it’s at Jenna’s.” Balto replied quietly. “You’ll have to get it…”

   “No! She won’t talk to me ever since I attacked that Scottie down the road…” Steele growled.

   “Fine! I’ll get it.” Balto snapped in fury. He leapt away from Steele and ran down the street.

    “Hey Balto… come over here, we have a surprise for ya!” Nikki barked from the opposing alleyway. Steele smirked and trotted boldly down the alley.

    “What do you guys…” at that point he was piled upon by about fifty snarling huskies. He was flattened beneath them and his entire body fell as though it had been torn open by their teeth. He yelped and whimpered but all that could be heard was barking and snarling.

Balto scratched at Jenna’s door. She greeted him with delight,

   “Steele! What are you… um… what are you doing here? Come in!” she smiled, stepping out of his way. Balto leapt past her and searched frantically for the fortune. He over-turned pillows and sniffed under cabinets.

   “Have you seen a fortune thingy anywhere?” he asked her. However, when Balto looked at Jenna she was stood gazing at him in a perplexing manner.

   “Jenna?” Balto repeated.

   “Steele… I’m sorry I was so horrid to you… can you ever forgive me?” she caressed. Balto felt a warm rush of panic float through him. She’d fallen in love with him… as Steele!

   “Er… the fortune!” he cried leaping past her and seizing the piece of paper. Balto hurried out of the house and looked for Steele. Jenna stood in the doorway of her house, panting.

   “Steele! Come back…” she whimpered. Balto hurried down the street.

  “Where is that idiot…?” Balto growled. He glanced down each alleyway until he reached one that was covered in blood. He gasped and darted down it. In the centre, surrounded by a pool of blood was his own bedraggled body.

   “Steele?” he whispered. Steele didn’t answer. The body seemed so lifeless. He placed his paw on the dog’s heart. There was a pulse. Balto dropped the fortune and read it aloud again:

“A journey soon begins, its prize reflected in another's eyes. When what you see is what you lack, then selfless love will change you back”

He shook his head, puzzled.

   “What does that mean?” he growled.

   “Balto?” Steele groaned. Balto wagged his tail happily.

   “Steele! You’re ok!” Balto barked. Steele shook his head, eyelids drooping more than ever. Suddenly, Jenna appeared at the end of the alleyway.

   “Steele!” she howled. Balto chuckled warily and groaned.

   “Steele… we have to work this out…” Balto hissed. Steele’s eyes began to close.

   “I’m sorry Balto…” he croaked.

   “Don’t worry Steele… don’t go to sleep…”

   “Balto…” Steele gasped.

   “Steele please, you’re going to be alright… Steele…” Balto found that tears were falling over the dog’s dying body. He whimpered, nuzzling Steele desperately.

   “Balto… I’m so, so sorry…” Steele gave a final sigh before closing his eyes. Balto gasped and lay down beside his body, cuddling close.

   “I’m sorry too Steele… I’m sorry for everything…”

A blinding white light fell between them causing Jenna to gasp and run away. Balto looked up and sniffed lightly. The light got brighter and brighter until Balto could look no more and then… darkness.

“Steele? Are you ok?” Star muttered. Steele opened one eye and looked at Star.

    “Did you just call me Steele?” he asked. Star blinked.

    “Oh dear… it was all that sugar… I know it!” Star exclaimed. Steele got up and threw himself at Star. Star was pinned on his back. Steele licked him with excitement before leaping out into the street.

   “Balto! Balto!” he called. He looked around anxiously for the wolf dog. He looked through Jenna’s window. She sat on the rug fast asleep. There was no sign of Balto. Steele hurried to the alleyway where he’d been pounced on the night before.

   “Balto?” he called. He ran up and down every alley in search of the dog. He barked and called but there was no response. As Steele reached the end of the town, he sighed and sat down. He’d been too late. Balto was gone. He felt full to the brim with guilt and anger at himself. He’d been greedy and evil and now he’d changed… it was all just too late.

   “Steele?” came a familiar voice. Suddenly, a rustic piece of people fell before Steele. He read it as it twirled through the air:

   “A journey soon begins, its prize reflected in another's eyes. When what you see is what you lack, then selfless love will change you back”

   “Selfless love changed us back, Steele.” Balto called. Steele looked around, his tail shot in the air and wagged madly. The two bounded towards one another and gave affectionate greetings. Jenna stepped out curiously into the snow.

   “Did I miss something?” she asked as she stood beside Balto, nuzzling him tenderly.

   “Nah…it was just too much sugar, right, Balto?” Steele chuckled. Balto smiled and nuzzled Jenna in reply.