“I take it that I’m not alone.”

            He walked towards the crates and then he could hear hushed breathing.

            “Hello? Are you friendly?”

            Kaltag stared into a space between two crates and only saw black. He squinted and then a dog ran right from the black and ran into Kaltag. Kaltag knew this dog.

            “St-Steele!! Wha-”

            Kaltag was cut off mid-sentence as a heavy paw came down and collided with his skull, knocking Kaltag out.

            “Loud mouth. You nearly blew my cover.” Steele whispered. “Now. What to do with him. Got to find out where to put him so word doesn’t get out… Got it.”

            He started to drag Kaltag to the far side of town. He had to stop multiple times to avoid being detected by other dogs and humans but he finally made it to a semi-new abandoned house.

            “Home sweet home.” he muttered distastefully. “Now…”

            Steele pulled Kaltag to the back of the house to a small shed. He looked at a wooden block that was propped between the shed doors and a rock that was lower. The purpose of this block was to keep people from getting in if they didn’t see the block, or it could keep someone in. He pushed it out of the way so that the shed doors would open.

            “Ugh… Ow… My aching head.” grumbled Kaltag as he started to regain consciousness. “Now I know how Star feels… What the!?”

            Steele growled and threw Kaltag the rest of the way into the shed before Kaltag could get any other words out or fight back. Steele then quickly slammed the door shut and pushed the wooden block back in front of the door.

            “That otta hold ya.” Steele smiled smugly.

            He then started to hear a series of loud bangs and barks coming from inside the shed.

            “Keep it down in there! Nobody can hear you anyway... Be back later, I’m after someone who’s afraid of my presence.” said Steele as he walked back into the heart of town.

            “Whatever. Might as well get comfortable. That door won’t budge and I’ve already got a splitting headache.” sighed Kaltag.

            Kaltag then started to run out the time by trying to count the grains of sand on the dirt floor.

            The sun was starting to set on the horizon and dark purple and bluish clouds were creeping across the evening sky. Balto was at his boat pacing back and forth while Boris was trying not to get devoured by Alue.

            “You know… it would be so nice if I could get some help over here!” cried Boris.

            “Alue, leave Boris alone. If you chew him up now you won’t have a chew-toy for later.” Balto smiled.

            “Okay Daddy.” Alue returned the smile.

            “Nervous?” asked Boris.

            “I’m not lying to you Boris, I actually am. I mean, I could fight through the elements and Steele to bring back the medicine, but this is like a new level. I feel like I have to be perfect for Jenna’s dad so that I can still be with her.”

            “Do not worry about it. Just be yourself.” advised Boris.

            “What are you talking about papa?” piped in Alue.

            Boris gave Alue a look. “Again with the nosiness! That reminds me,” said Boris now focusing on Balto, “when does Jenna look after her next? I am almost at wits end from being left along with her.”

            Balto laughed, “After her parents leave Boris. They didn’t look too thrilled when she snuck over and introduced herself.”

            Boris sighed, “I guess I’ll try to survive for that long.”

            During their conversation Balto had noticed that the sun had set and that he should be going.

            “Okay Boris, time for me to go.” said Balto.

            Balto started to walk down the plank from his boat to the ground and Boris started to follow.

            Balto turned around and said, “Alone, Boris. You have to look after Alue so she doesn’t get herself in trouble.”

            “Fine. But I won’t like.”

            “I know you won’t. That’s why you’re the one staying behind… Wish me luck.”

            Balto continued towards town, making it to the boiler room in fie minutes. When he arrived, he already saw Ritchie waiting.

            “You’re late.” said Ritchie coolly as Balto entered.

            Balto shrugged, “Sorry, I was slowed down by my nag.”

            “Ahh, I see.”

            “Sooo… What did you want to talk to me about?”

            “Well, I mainly wanted to talk about my daughter, Jenna.”

            “What about Jenna?”

            “Well, for one, we all saw that pup. Did you two take that pup in, or is that one of yours?”

            “Well of course Alue was one of ours. She takes after me.”

            “I saw.”

            At Jenna’s house:

            Jenna and Duchess were roving around the house just talking with each other to waste time.

            “So, do you think Balto and Dad’s talk will go well?” Jenna asked Duchess.

            “I hope so. I just don’t want Dad to…”

            “To what?”

            “Oh nothing. I just hope Dad doesn’t get himself hurt.” right after this, Duchess quickly realized that she had said too much and put her paw over her mouth.

            “What did you say?” asked Jenna.

            “Umm.” Duchess paused. “I meant to say that… Ugh… That I hope that it doesn’t go sour.”

            “Okay… Maybe I should go over and check up on them.”

            “Oh that’s not necessary!” Duchess blurted out. “I mean it would be so rude to barge in on them when they need this time to talk about some important issues.”

            “But I still want to check on them.”

            “Fine, but later. They’re probably discussing something right now.”

            “Will five minutes do for you?”

            “Yeah, I guess.”