was lying in is bed, Flann nuzzled his chest. He was half asleep, but he heard Flann’s wish clearly. “Steele? I-... Do you think you could answer just one question for me...?”

“Of course, love.”

Flann licked his muzzle and whispered: “Steele, will you be my mate?”

Steele’s eyes melted. “Flann... I want to be your mate... It’s all I want.”

Flann smiled and kissed him. “I am so happy, love. I am so happy...”

**********

“Yeah… I was happy, too…” Steele smirked and watched Balto who didn’t believe his ears.

So… Steele hadn’t been big headed egoist all the time. In fact Balto couldn’t realize Steele helped somebody. Steele sacrificed the race for Flann.

“I see..,” Steele leaned his head, “she was lucky I was … I was good one these days…”

**********

Later that day Connell came to Flann who was lying on her bed.

“Hello, Flann… what about the paw? Are you better? We miss you a lot.”

Flann scowled. He hadn’t been paying attention to her from the race… and now, he was friendly.

“Connell, what do you want?” she growled. Connell sighed and replied: “I was thinking a lot about everything. About me, you, Steele… and all. I’ve changed, Flann. I just want to say sorry to you.”

There was something strange in his voice. It was maybe sorrow or something like this.

Flann looked into his eyes. They were different, too. But she couldn’t say if they were good or bad. “Let’s take a short walk… It will be good for you… and for the paw, too.”

And Connell sounded so pleasant she nodded: “You are right… and if you’ve changed, then I’ll enjoy your company… but you should know I love Steele.”

Connell didn’t act like she expected. He just sighed. “I see… hope you are happy with him.”

Connell led her to nearby forest. And he was apologizing for his deeds all the time. And he asked about lot of things… and Flann realized Connell wasn’t as bad as she had ever thought.

Suddenly, Connell stopped and waited for Flann. He was standing near rapid river which was forming waterfall down the stream. He looked at Flann and smiled. She nodded and drank from the river. “It’s nice, Flann… like you…”

“Oh, Connell, don’t waste your breath…” she blushed, but then something happened…

Connell knocked her down and his expression changed from well pretended care to pure anger. “Good good good… so I see I have no other choice!” He stood over and licked his muzzle. Flann realized he took her here just to rape her.

“Connell! You…” But his paw silenced her. He was much stronger and Flann was weakened by four weeks of doing nothing.

“Connell, I beg you!” She wanted to shout, but paw didn’t let her to say. She burst into tears and prepared herself for the worst.

He licked her cheeks, quaking in excitement.

“Now, I’ll take what’s mine!” He smirked drooling.

“Then take this!” Somebody shouted and Flann realized she’d never been so happy to hear Steele’s voice. And in one quick moment Connell was thrown off her body.

“You!” He snarled and stood up quickly. He was sure he would defeat Steele quickly and then he would continue in his work. But he was wrong.

He leapt and pinned Steele to the ground and when he realized Steele’s head was above water, he pushed it down by his paw.

Yes, that is it. Let’s try to drown him!

Steele, running out of air did the only thing he could. He kicked with all his strength with his rear paws and to his amazement Connell flew over his head and landed in the river. Stream began to carry him to waterfall. And although it was quite small one there were sharp rock under it. Connell struggled. He knew he was going to die. And because he hadn’t anything to lose he shouted. “Steele! Flann! Help-“ But water didn’t let him say more. He gasped for breath but water was everywhere. And then…

Waterfall…

Flann closed her eyes and cried when Connell fell down. She knew him for so long… and although he tried to rape her, she simply couldn’t imagine Connell was dead. He was the lead dog… He was… and he was no more. Steele ran to her and hugged her.

“It’s over, love… It’s over…” He whispered as she was crying on his chest.

“Let’s go home, love…” Steele whispered.

When they returned, the rest of dogs acted somehow differently. They were looking at Steele like he was their hero. Obviously, Connell had been boasting with his plan, but he had kept mouths of the others shut. And he had been sure they’d done, because there was just two who could oppose him. Steele and –of course- Flann. They had been too weak to stop Connell and when Steele’d found out, he had gone and had saved Flann. Noone aksed what happened to Connell. Actually, they were glad Connell was gone.

Steele just smirked when he realized they were such cowards. He cuddled near Flann and whispered comforting words to her. But she was sobbing and quaking. It was too much. First, Connell betrayed her. Then he tried to rape her. And then… Steele came and saved her. Connell died in waterfall. There is was just one question she wanted to be answered.

“Connell… why?” She cried and Steele hugged her. And the room was quiet. Just Flann’s sobbing and cracking of the wood in fireplace was filling entire room.

When master found out Connell was missing, he went outside the house calling Connell. The night was coming and Master was afraid. There were wolves and bears around White Mountain. But no response.

‘Maybe he is somewhere in the streets…’ Master thought, but it was just wish. He was the only one who loved Connell. He headed back, but he left door opened… just for the case of Connell’s return…

Flann was still shaking. “Steele, I... can’t believe it. Connell-“

Steele scowled. “He got what he deserved. But he is dead… he won’t hurt anybody no more…”

Door opened.

And inside crawled…

“Conell!” Steele and Flann shouted.

Master Sorley was in the kitchen when he heard such unusual noise. He almost jumped to the other room and when he saw Connell, his eyes went wet… he saw the pain Connell was in.

“Boy, what happened to you?” Mater almost cried. Connell whined and looked at two of his legs. They were broken. But it wasn’t all. Rocks and stones had left several scratches on his body and one or two were really deep. And the fall’d broken few of his ribs.

But the greatest change was in Connell’s eyes. He had look of a broken dog. He lost all. He lost meaning of life. With one rear and one front leg broken it was sure Connell would never race again. Sorley dragged Connell’s bed in front of the fireplace and laid Connell in it carefully. Then he placed warm blanket over Connell’s body and ran for the vet.

Nobody greeted Connell. Nobody was worried or sorry for him. It was quiet, until

Flann came closer to Connell and her eyes were full of tears. Now she saw there were much worse things than the death. Connell lost his career, his so called friends, his respect and everything he’d got. She nuzzled him softly and sobbed. Flann was so sorry for him, no matter he tried to kill Steele and rape her… Steele watched Connell but he didn’t want to say anything. He was sorry for him but he wasn’t like Flann. Connell wanted him dead… Connell accused him and hurt him a lot of times… and Connell hurt his love…

But this wasn’t Connell anymore. This Connell was close to the death. Old Connell… that was boastful and egoistic dog. This one was … just the broken one. But dogs didn’t bother themselves with any compassion.

Master was back quickly. Without a word he led the vet to Connell.

“Oh my… what did he do? Like he fell down from a cliff or what…” Vet wondered. “Well, if I was in your position, I’d shoot him.” But Sorley shook his head. “No. There must be the way you can help him.” Vet looked worried. “It is, but… he won’t be able to race again. He’ll be useless.” Master stood up. “And what? It’s my dog! I’ll pay you as much as you want but please, do your best.” Vet nodded and did everything he was able to do… and after a while he was done. He took money, said something about Connell and left.  And according to Sorley’s face it was bad. But Connell didn’t say a word and stared to the flames. He didn’t blame anybody… he didn’t say anything. It was over…

One thing was sure. Connell’s team needed new lead dog. Sorley sat down sighing and watching his dogs. He knew them very well… and he knew there was no one who could be good replacement for Connell. His look shifted from one dog to another and it ended on Steele. Master patted him. “Steele… we’ll give it a try with you…” he smiled weakly, but Steele went almost mad. He jumped placing his paws on Sorley’s shoulders and licked his face. He yelped with excitement and happiness. He was a lead dog! He glanced back at the rest of dogs and they seemed all right. Flann closed her eyes and nuzzled Steele. Her Steele reached his position he dreamt of. Connell didn’t say anything again. He was watching the flames and that was quite… quite scary. Steele expected Connell would sigh or something, but nothing. Steele jumped back and nuzzled Flann. She whispered something into his ear and he giggled. Then he looked at his teammates and said: “I promise I’ll be a good leader of our team. And I hope… and I hope I will be at least as good as Connell.” His eyes met Connell’s and that was the first time when Steele saw something different than hatred in them. He saw … well… he saw nothing in particular. Connell’s look was empty.

**********

Balto was looking from the window while listening to Steele. Then he turned his head and looked into his brother’s eyes. Now, Balto was sorry for Connell. He didn’t know why, but he was. This dog had lost everything… almost like Steele… but Steele had chance to have at least a bit of his former fame back. But Connell…

“Well… Connell was bad,” Balto sighed. “But he ended like this. I am… I am sorry