congratulated him.

     "I can't believe that you did it, Star!  You actually saved us all from Steele's reign of terror!  You're the bravest, the strongest, the most courageous-est..."

     "Youse did it, Star!", interrupted Nikki.  As they proceeded to scratch away at the ice that imprisoned Star, the sounds of mushers and their dog sled teams arrived, and Star knew that things had turned out for the best.  He began to cry tears of joy when everything began to stop.  It was as if time had been frozen.  Suddenly, a familiar shadowy figure emerged from the crowd.

     "I'm... sorry that I have to end this here and now but I... do believe that you've passed the test with flying colors.  I believe... you have a question for me." stated the figure.

     "What's going on, here?  Who are you?  Will I ever go back to the normal world again?" asked Star as quickly as could.

     "You are going... through some tests.  You are to become the newest medicine... 'wolf' of our pack.  You are of the Sitka wolves, you see, and we need someone to help us cure our... problem.  You may not know it, but you're a little under half of a percent... wolf.  As for my identity, well that will all become clear quite... soon.  And, yes, you will be back in your... home dimension." replied the figure.  Before Star could ask another question, everything went black, and for a moment, Star could swear that Dauntless was the figure.

     Suddenly, Star awoke at the paws of his friends, Nikki and Kaltag, and was back home.  He was back home and had passed the test, but was certain that this test would not be his last, for he noticed that as he arrived, Kaltag was fading out of sight.  Either it was Kaltag's turn for a test, or Star's turn to take another.  Only the next fanfic could answer that question...

-TO BE CONTINUED-