Chapter 1

 Kodi tilted his head back and howled with laughter.

  "You're kidding?" he laughed.

  "No!" Dusty was almost crying with laughter. "My sister, Sky, really did say that we HAD to get mates because it was Valentimes Day in a week!"

  "Ha! We've been alive a year and 1/2 and that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!" Kodi laughed. Dusty nodded.

  "Snap out of it!" Dingo, Kodi's brother, scolded.

  "C-can't!" Kodi howled, rolling on his back.

  "Being in love isn't bad, okay?" Dingo said. Kodi stopped laughing and stood up, beside Dusty.

  "Are you?" he asked.

  "Well..." Dingo studdered. "HIDE ME!" Dingo rushed behind Kodi.

  "What?" Kodi asked. A pretty snow white girl husky walked across the sidewalk into a HUGE house.

  "Oh, Dingo, Dingo," he sighed. Kodi and Dusty exchanged a glance then both burst out laughing.

  "She's the most popular dog in town and," Kodi stopped laughing, "Pal, you're a wolfdog."

  "I know and I don't care. You'll understand one day," Dingo sighed. Kodi and Dusty started laughing again.

 "Yeah, right!" they laughed.

  "It's like a snake," Dingo warned, grinning. "It can strike any time." This only made Dusty and Kodi laugh harder.

  "S-sure," Kodi choked.

 "A-anytime," Dusty laughed. Then Dusty stopped laughing and sat bolt up right. The mail team began to gather and a new boy black husky was in the spot beside Dusty's.

 "Time to go!" Dusty sang, rushing to the dog. "I'm Dusty."

  "Cobra," he replied.

  "The snake bit," Dingo said. Kodi began to breathe heavily. NO! he thought. "Dusty's in love."

  "Sure," Kodi said, shaking his head and walking to his spot. For some reason, he felt hurt. Dusty had NEVER run from him to someone else before.

 "MUSH!" the musher caled. Kodi, as lead dog, began to run.

  "Kodi!" Dusty called.

  "What?" he asked.

  "You have competition," Dusty said.

  "Who?" he asked.

  "Cobra," she replied. Kodi's fur bristled. Cobra? That rat wanted to beat him? Ha, not going to happen. Cobra took his Dusty but he wouldn't get his job. HIS Dusty? He didn't love her! But even as he thought the idea, he smiled at the thought of Dusty laughing in the sunlight.

  Chapter 2

 Dusty stretched the next morning. We aren't running the mail today. I'll go meet Kodi like we planned, Dusty thought. She stood up fully and a black figure stood infront of the doorway.

  "Hey!" she cried. "This is my peoples' house!" The figure showed itself. It  was Cobra.

  "Hi, Dusty," he said. He sat down. "What do you think of Kodi?"

 "A good friend," Dusty replied, turning her head. A voice in her head sang, Lier, lier, fur on fire!

  "Him of you?" Cobra asked.

  "Friend," Dusty swiftly replied. THAT was true.

   "Hmmm," Cobra murmured.

  "If that's all..." Dusty began looking him in the eye.

  "What makes you think that's all?" Cobra laughed. Dusty stepped forward.

  "What do you want?" she demanded.

  "A walk," he replied.

  "A WALK?" she asked.

   "With you, on the beach," Cobra said, cooly, standing up. Dusty sighed and stood up, too.

  "Sorry, Cobra," she said, walking past him. "I'm going to meet Kodi." Cobra blocked her.

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 Kodi stood by his father's boat. Where was Dusty? A shape began to walk to him.

  "KODI!" the shape screamed. It ran to him. Aleu!

  "Aleu, what happened, where's the pack?" he asked, wagging his tail. Aleu put on her most skeptical look.

  "That's how you greet a sister that was gone for 6 months?" she asked.

  "Er... sorry. Aleu, how are you?" he asked, in a whisper.

  "Fine, you?" Aleu responded.

  "Good," he replied. "But Dusty would rather spend time with the new dog." He knew thats where she was. He heard laughter from Aleu.

  "What?" he snapped.

  "You like Dusty," Aleu laughed. "I KNEW IT WOULD HAPPEN, I KNEW IT! Did you have to fall in love when I'm gone?"

  "We don't love each other!" Kodi said. "She won't even remember plans." Aleu frowned.

 "I'll talk to her. I used to hang with you guys, remember?" Aleu said.

  "Don't go yet!" Kodi begged. Aleu smiled.

  "I missed you and to answer your questions, I became the pack's leader," Aleu began. "But nothing lasts forever. A new wolf, he'll be good for the pack, mind you, took my place. His name was Charcle and he was my mate." Aleu snorted. "But again, nothing lasts forever. He mated with another wolf and when I got made, decided to kick me out. I wish Nava had been there."

  "Nava? Oh, yeah the wolf that dragged my sister in," Kodi grumbled.

  "It WAS were I belonged. Now, I belong on the boat, with Papa," Aleu said. Kodi smiled.

  "Good, to have ya back," Kodi whispered. Here's someone other than Mom and Dad who will keep promises.

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  The next day the mail team began to gather. Dusty saw Kodi ahead.

 "Kodi," she hissed.

  "Look behind you," was all Kodi would say. Dusty looked behind her and saw a frowning ALEU was in the spot behind her!

  "Aleu, hi," Dusty whispered.

   "Hi, Dusty," aleu sighed, shaking her head. Kodi cleared his throat and Aleu scowled.

  "Dusty, Dusty, Dusty," she murmured.

  "WHAT?" Dusty asked, getting annoyed.

  "Dusty, you promised to hang with Kodi yesterday," Aleu said. Dusty shot a nervous glance at Kodi. He was looking at the snow layen ground, head hung low.

  "I didn't mean to miss it," Dusty began. Oh, what could she say? "I just got other plans."

  "Remember, we said NOTHING would ever come between our friendship," Kodi whsipered. I ptractically killed him! Dusty wailed in her mind.

  "It's not is it 'cause I'm SO sorry, Kodi?" Dusty murmured.

 "We're still friends, Dusty," Kodi replied, grinning. Aleu sighed.

  "Now, I have to get out of here so the musher doesn't see a wolf in the spot. I suprised Papa already now for Mom," Aleu said, taking off. Kodi smiled at Dusty.

  "Plans for tomorrow?" he asked.

  "Done," Dusty replied. They began to run. Dusty shot a nervous glance at Cobra. What would he say about her to Kodi if she EVER turned him down?

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  "I missed you yesterday," Kodi said, when he and Dusty were walking along the ocean that night. Dusty smiled.

  "So you did?" she said, playfully. 

  "Yep," Kodi replied.

 "Heh, well, I guess I missed you too," Dusty giggled. Kodi stopped walking.

  "Dusty..." he began.

 "What?" she asked, looking at him. His head was hanging low.

 "Have you ever thought about maybe... no, never mind," Kodi said, beginning to walk again. About being more than friends, Kodi thought.

  "Kodi." Dusty murmured. Kodi wasn't walking anymore.

   "You need to tell me," Dusty whispered.

 "Dusty, you'd NEVER look at me again. Let me keep it to myself," he murmured.

  "Alright," she said. She walked to him. "I trust you." Then, she licked his ear!

Chapter 3

 Dusty froze. Too late! Her mistake was made!

 "I'm late, bye! See ya tomorrow!" Dusty cried, running to her home.

  "DUSTY!" She heard Kodi calling her name but she didn't, wouldn't, couldn't listen. "DUSTY!" She stopped on the sidewalk and collapsed. A black shape was above her. Cobra!

  "I was watching," he growled. "You disobeyed me."

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 Kodi stared after his friend. Tears formed in his eyes. No! Keep them back. There are other friends out there, he thought.  But he knew that a snake had just bitten him. I DO like her! I, Kodi, like, like Dusty, he thought. Kodi watched as Cobra, of all dogs approached.

  "Dusty ditch you?" he asked. Kodi glared.

  "None of YOUR buisness," Kodi spat.

   "Ooh, harsh. I'm hurt," Cobra laughed.

    "Shut it!" Kodi hissed.

  "Did Dusty tell you she's having my pups?" Cobra asked, grinning.

  "N-no!" Kodi gasped.

  "It's true," Cobra hissed. Kodi stepped back and began to run. He'd run anywhere just to get away! To never see Dusty again! He ran down an alley and stopped, panting.

  "KODI!" Dusty ran to him. "You have to know!"

  "I do," he snarled.

   "Kodi, I'm sorry I lied," Dusty gasped. "I didn't- couldn't let you get hurt!" Kodi didn't understand what she was talking about and he didn't care. He lunged at her. Dusty ran away from him and Kodi chased her. They arrived at a cliff. Kodi snarled and Dusty backed up as far as she could go!

   Chapter 4

  Cobra appeared and grinned at Dusty.

   "I warned you," he snarled at Dusty, lunging at Kodi.

   "KODI!" Dusty howled, shooting at Cobra. She grasped his neck and was thrown off! She scrambled up, as Cobra loomed over her.

 "DUSTY, NO!" Kodi cried, jumping on Cobra's huge shoulders. Cobra howled and threw Kodi off, to the very edge of the cliff. He stood over Kodi and Dusty launched herself at Cobra. She couldn't afford to miss!

  She barreled into Cobra, sending him backwards and she jumped on his underbelly. Cobra grinned.

  "Hey, Gorgeous," he said. She snarled and bit his throat. Cobra gasped and went limp. Dusty ran to Kodi. he was laying on his side, unmoving.

  "Kodi," she gasped.

  "Dusty." Kodi's head turned to her. "Dusty." He smiled. "I like you... alot."

  "I... like you too," she murmured. Kodi's smile