share with you.” Greg said, hopping down from the chair silently. 

He motioned Stevan to the dog flap and looked at Morris, smirking as he exited too. They walked along the buildings that were shrouded in the white gale. After a long pause Stevan’s curiosity finally got the better of him.

“What are you gonna share with my Uncle?”

Greg grinned and lifted his head. “I’m going to teach you certain skills. I think we’ll start now… I’m going to run to our place, and you’ll have to track me, or freeze.”

The pup was surprised at this lack of compassion, but answered with an ‘okay’ anyways. Greg sniggered once more and without warning, bolted into the powdery fluff, leaving the pup completely helpless and surprised. After he had recovered, Stevan ran as fast as he could towards the fading image of his uncle. Suddenly, he disappeared in the wall of snow. He put his nose to the snow and tried to find the scent. After what seemed like forever, he finally found it and started off in the direction. Stevan finally reached the others side of the lane that seemed like it had been widened just for him. His head started to feel a dull ache as he felt himself getting colder and colder. Each tiny leap he did felt like it was higher, forcing him to use more and more energy and tire himself out. After five minutes of hopping through the drifts of snow, he felt his paws becoming numb.

“I’m s-so c-c-cold.” he whispered as his teeth quaked violently along with his tiny body.

He wandered aimlessly through the frost that lashed against his face, forgetting to make sure that he was even following the right path.

‘What did I do to deserve this?’ he asked himself.

He put a paw to his face to try and block the biting wind as best as he could as the cold continued to eat at him.

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

Greg waited impatiently in the abandoned house he called his own. He licked his lips and scratched underneath his chin as time passed by slowly. He turned away from the window he had been staring out of and focused his attention on the dog who was still laying down from before. He went over to the dog and stuck his paw below his chin, lifting his face up to meet his eyes.

“Isn’t it amazing that three pups and myself could imprison you like this? Tied down with rope and a muzzle slipped over your mouth. Just perfect, isn’t it Nikki?” he sniggered.

Nikki, a brown chow, fought the urge to growl. He simply turned his head away from Greg, acting as if he hadn’t even spoken.

“So you’re trying to rebel, in even the littlest way possible. It’s kind of funny actually,” Greg glanced back out the window, “I hope that Stevan does make it though. He was my best candidate, but if he does end up frozen, then I guess that would be most unfortunate.” he said, showing no concern in his face or voice.

“You believe in destiny, don’t you old friend? Everyday we think that we are in charge of our own destinies, but we don’t realize how meager and pathetic our attempts to change it are. Everything that happens, happens because of destiny.”

Greg turned his gaze back to Nikki. He grinned a very wide grin, and showed off his razor-sharp fangs, sending a shiver down the other dog’s spine.

“If I killed you right now, it would be destiny’s decision. Heck, we’re all going to die someday, and I could just end you tonight, but that would be most unwise. See, over these last two years I’ve been able to wise up, and in order for this to work, it would be best to keep you alive. I know you know why I’m here. The typical thing that most like me want… Payback. But not just to anybody in this town. Of course you know who I mean… But how rude of me. I’ve been talking for so long that I’ve neglected to hear your opinion.”

Greg smiled with a false sense of sweetness as he moved closer to Nikki. The other dog in turn tried to move away, but his roped up legs proved this unsuccessful. Greg moved his way behind Nikki, leaned his head down,  and loosened the muzzle strap with his teeth. Nikki wiggled his nose as the muzzle slid down enough so he could speak.

Greg took his place back in front of Nikki, still smiling. “I always love to hear criticism. Please speak old friend.”

Nikki looked up at him with a very unhappy expression. “First of all, you’s ain’t no friend a mine. Second, why do I have to be the one taken hostage?”

“A very good question you’s got’s there. Guess it is just one of them random things there,” Greg said in a mocking manner, “Honestly, you’d think that after all these years you would have broken that accent.”

“What accent?” He asked confusedly.

The husky smiled wider and patted Nikki on the head. “Poor thing doesn’t even realize it.”

Nikki was becoming rather annoyed now. “Now don’t go making fun of da way I speak. There is a thing called respect and decency. But how could I forget? You care for me about as much as them little ones there. How could you be such a cold-hearted devil to ‘em,”

Greg listened to the chow continue to carry on in a somewhat amused fashion. After all, his plan was already unfurling. He suddenly heard a faint crunching in the snow and he instantly shoved the muzzle tight over Nikki’s mouth, hearing a satisfying yelp as he did so.

“How dare you tell me that I don’t care about those kids!? They are the whole world to me right now!” He yelled with a snarl.

“U-Uncle Greg? Wha-What’s going on?” He heard a small voice pipe up behind him.

Greg grinned and looked back to see Stevan shivering tremendously.

“Oh Stevan! I’m so glad you made it! You passed! Of course, I was… worried that you might freeze out there and was about to come get you.” He said with false distress. “I was just listening to this mutt spouting out lies, so I had to shut him up. Mind helping me put his muzzle back on?”

The pup nodded sheepishly. He walked over to the other side of Nikki and held on to one end of the muzzle-strap while Greg tugged on the other, successfully making Nikki incapable of talking once more. Greg looked down at the black and white pup and saw his little body still shaking from the cold.

“Come over here little one. I have a nice blanket for you,” he said while he motioned the pup farther behind Nikki to a fireplace that hadn’t been lit in years, “and while you’re warming up, I can maybe tell you a story.”

“D-Does it have a happy ending?”

Greg scratched the back of his neck, sighed, and stared at the pup. “Well, I guess you’ll have to find out.”

Stevan rushed over and found the blanket. It was blue, worn, and tattered, but he didn’t care. He wrapped himself in, and smiled slightly when he felt a larger presence looming over him. His uncle laid down and curled around him to warm him up even more.

“This story is about your mom and dad. If others try and tell you this is fake, than they’re outright lying to protect themselves, do you understand?”

Stevan nodded and snuggled against this warmth, yawning slightly.

Greg smiled sweetly and began his story. “This is how it all started out…”

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

A fire roared inside the mantle of Rosie’s home. It was very late, and everyone inside was fast asleep. Jenna’s chest rose and fell smoothly as the light of the flames danced around on her white and crimson fur. The quiet was disturbed as a faint scratching noise was heard on the front door. It persisted on for a few minutes until Jenna finally started to stir. Her mouth opened widely as she lifted herself up from her basket and stretched.

“Who’s there? …Balto?” she called groggily.

Jenna rubbed her tired eyes and glanced at a clock above the mantle. She sighed when she saw that it read 2:17 A.M. There was a quiet whisper from the other side of the door which Jenna couldn’t pick up at all.

“Hello?” She said, a little more awake now.

The scraping noise stopped and the tiny voice spoke louder, yet was still inaudible to her ears. Jenna glanced outside a nearby window and saw the wind howling as strong as ever. Maybe that’s why she couldn’t hear the other dog?

“Please, come in.”

She was taken aback when a little black and white furball tumbled through the dog door.

“P-Please help me,” the pup whined, “I’ve been trying to f-find a place to stay all night, but n-no one would take me. I-I’m so cold. Could I maybe st-stay with you?”

Jenna thought for a second, she couldn’t just send this poor thing back out into the harsh elements. She gingerly walked over to the pup, and felt terrible when she saw it cringe.

“Oh it’s alright. I’m not going to hurt you at all. I’d be glad if you stayed. The more the merrier,” she smiled warmly, “now, what’s your name?”

“I-It’s Becca… And I can’t thank you enough!” She jumped up and down happily.

Becca bounded to the pet basket after Jenna pointed it out to her. Jenna laughed softly and walked over to the basket. She laid herself down in the basket and curled around the little one.

“So, what brings you here to my lovely abode, Becca?” She asked.

Becca thought for a few moments before answering, “Well, I’ve been living on the