ones who weren't racist.

Dingo nudged Kodi. "Dusty better watch out, this one's cute." He whispered, and laughed.

Kodi flattened his ears and curled his lip at his brother. He looked away, embarrassed as the new dog. Kodi stood up and left the boat.

Dingo came out after him. "I'm just kidding," He laughed. His smile faded when Dusty walked up with Aleu. They looked like they were having a good chat. "Er..maybe I'm not kidding, then."

Kodi lashed his tail. What was Aleu doing back here? He never did get on well with her, she had too much pride, leading a wolf pack and all.

Aleu stopped talking as she saw their expressions. "What's wrong?"

Dusty stopped as well, and sat down. "Kodi?" She noticed how bothered he looked.

Kodi searched for something to say, but he was saved when Balto stepped out of the boat.

His father looked suprised, and came down to greet Aleu and Dusty. "Aleu? Shouldn't you be back home?"

Aleu shrugged. "I...I'm having a day off." She looked troubled, and Kodi didn't by the story. Something wierd was going on, but then again, Alue had always been a wierder one.

Dusty broke the silence. "So, is it true about the new dog?"

Kodi's neck fur bristled. "Does it matter whether she's part wolf or not?"

Dusty pulled back. "No...I was just curious." She looked quite hurt.

"Maybe you should just lay off for a while, then."

Dingo seemed to be enjoying this, but Balto looked almost outraged. He flicked his ears at Kodi. "Come here," He growled.

He took him over to a spot far from where the others stood. Kodi looked back and saw Dusty run off, and Alue followed her. Dingo lingered around, and waited for Kodi to return.

Balto turned around and stopped walking. "Son," He sighed, "I thought you said things were going great with you and Dusty!"

Kodi shrugged. "Well...They're ok, I guess."

Balto smirked a bit. Kodi resisted a snarl; his parents had always rooted he and Dusty to be together, while Kodi didn't really feel anything for anyone anymore, not since Saba died.

His sister, Saba, had been hit by a car last year. None of the siblings had gotten over it, except Aleu. She had enough to worry about. Dingo had been heartbroken, and Kodi was the same. But atleast Kodi didn't go looking for trouble like his brother did now.

Balto sat down. "I don't mean to be like that...I just worry."

"I know, Dad." Kodi sighed.

"I guess you'd better get ready for the mail run?" Balto asked.

Kodi turned around and without another word, headed towards the shack that the sled dogs were kept in.

Balto followed. "Hey, I've got an idea!"

Kodi faced him curiously. "What?"

Balto smiled. "Well...If Shila feels well enough, you could ask her to help out with the team, right?"

Kodi thought for a moment. "Kirby is sick, so I guess it would be ok if my owner says so."

Kodi's father nudged him forward. "Go ahead and ask her then."

Kodi flattened his ears, and walked back to the boat nervously. Dingo ran over to his side, and bothered him until Kodi told him what had happened.

Dingo snorted, "I bet she's the worse sled dog ever! I mean, look at the condition she's in."

Kodi shrugged and stopped outside the boat for a moment. "Who knows? Dad's the best there's ever been, and maybe Shila is going to be real good too."

"So that's her name?"

"It's what she said," He replied.

"Well," He stuttered a bit, "She is kinda cute, I'll give her that."

Kodi laughed and walked on inside the boat.

 

Scene 6-Mail Run

To his suprise, Shila had gotten almost over excited at the thought of racing on a mail run. So Jenna took over taking care of Emma for a day. And to his suprise again, his owner let Shila take a spot right beside Kodi, in the front.

He could help it, but he began to almost growl aloud when a few of the dogs in the back began wolf whistling at her. Shila just ignored them and acted like she was first class. After a while, the dogs got bored and let her be.

Dusty, right behind Kodi, was growling loudly every now and then. Kodi was just about to turn around and snap at her, until his owner walked out and stepped on the sled.

When he yelled the one word, they all took off so suddenly, Dusty yelped and had to catch up with some effort.

Shila was running so hard, the musher had to tell her to slow down a bit so the rest could catch up. A few of the females who had dispised her as she got her harness on, started cheering for her.

Kodi got a bit jealous, because his owner was starting to cheer for her too. On their first stop, he put her in the very lead. Dusty was now right where she wanted to be, beside Kodi.

Kodi rolled his eyes. They used to be so close...what had happened between them? Then he remembered; Saba's death.

Though Kodi was slightly growling, Dusty kept leaning towards him at every stop, flattening her ears in a sign of affection. Anyone could tell that he wasn't in the mood, but she didn't pay any mind.

 

Shila was getting uneasy. Did these two lovebirds always act like this?

 She kept glancing back at the two, and accidentally let Kodi catch her eye. He tried to shrug, and looked like he was on the edge of standing Dusty.

Shila had to hold in a laugh, and instead blinked at him in a friendly way.

 

Did she just smile at me? Kodi wondered. And suddenly, the thought made him wag his tail very fast.

A dog behind him barked, "What's up, Kodi?" The dog raised his eyebrows at Dusty, obviously thinking Kodi liked her.

Kodi growled under his breath. After the next few stops, Kodi could barely stand Dusty. She was smothering him like crazy! What was her deal?

When they were on their way home, Kodi was busy admiring Shila...And he couldn't help himself from it too. It just came automatically, and unexpectedly. He caught Shila's eye and saw her blush. She turned the other way, trying to hold one in as well, and pretended to admire the scenery.

It went on like that most of the run home, and Dusty was starting to bristle all over.

Dingo, who had joined the team recently, was tipping his head in confusion. He had no idea who liked who, and no one was laughing at his cracks and jokes. This just wasn't his day.

Finally, it was a bit after lunch when their team got to stop for the day, and let another take over. Kodi's owner took off their harnesses, and let them all hang out in the warm barn while he got the other dogs ready for their musher, who was running a bit late.

Shila lay down on a large pile of hay near the ceiling, and was having a nice chat with Dingo.

Kodi looked at the two in amusement; Dingo never made friends that fast.

Shila must be some girl...he thought unconciously.

He soon found himself in a much better mood...and started turning his thoughts toward Dusty. Without even knowing it, he was begginning to imagine things that would have made him barf before.

Then something occurred to him. Dusty must have planned it all along, with smothering him practically all day. It was just her scent taking over his body, nothing was really happening.

But he started thinking more about her, and less about Shila. He got so sidetracked he stayed there until the afternoon, and most of the dogs had gone home. Shila was still talking with Dingo, and Dingo was practically treating her like an old best friend.

 

Scene 7-A Night Never To Forget

When it was just those three and about two more dogs who were sidetracked by playing tug of war, Kodi began to get bored.

He yawned and put his head on his paws, thankful to be in the shadows. But then he felt someone gently tugging on his ear. He looked up and saw Dusty.

For the first time in a year, he wagged his tail at her appearance. She blinked her eyes, and Kodi was lost in their beautiful depths.

She left the barn, and Kodi snuck after her. Outside, it was dark already and they began to play like young puppies. When they headed for the boiler room, everything went downhill.

 

Kodi woke up, and felt warmth surround him. He blinked open his eyes, and nearly yelped as the thoughts of last night ran into his mind. He saw many images, but he could barely remember how, and why, it all happened.

He turned over to see Dusty asleep next to him. He jumped to his paws, and felt numb. He couldn't have done what he thought he had...could he?

He remembered a few things, like both of them bowling into each other, just playing...and then they stopped, and began to do something different. He shook his head, and whimpered aloud.

Kodiak ran.

 

Scene 8-Terrible Thoughts

He ran into the shack where the sled dogs where supposed to be getting ready for the mail run. Gone. Left without he and Dusty.

Though they all probably guessed what happened, and surely Dusty would tell her girl friends all about the...experiance.

He ran to the only place left he could think of, and the place where he would be in so much trouble-the old boat. His Dad would know what to do!

But then he skidded to a halt. Shila would be there, with her pup. How was he going to speak to him with those two there?

Images of the dreadful future drove into his head. What if Dusty had puppies? He'd be stuck with her for life...with pups he didn't even want. Sure, he'd love them and take care of them, but it also meant dealing with Dusty.

Then a terrible thought occured.

What if Dusty had merely used him the entire time?

He shook his head again and just wandered around town for a while.

He was so dead-he was supposed to have taken Shila home. But spending an entire night with Dusty had taken care of that. Thankfully, Dingo had probably taken her back.

He raised his head. Where could Dingo have taken her?Home with him? Or back to the boat? He shook his head again, growling at himself. All these terrible thoughts...

 

Scene 9-The News Spreads

Shila yawned and stretched. She looked down at Emma, who was still sleeping soundly.

Shila looked out the old window of the boat, wondering about Kodi. He'd been gone a few

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