From previous story: "But just at that instant, Onyx overheard wild commotion by the front of the house. All that was determinable was that Jenna was sobbing harder than she ever knew her to. Quick as lightning, her and Kodi encountered upon the problem. Balto was there, calming her, but it did no good..."

 

Jenna's eyes were overflowing with tears by the time Onyx and Maverick arrived.

“Jenna!” Maverick cried. “What happened?!”

But Jenna was too emotionally broken to answer his questioning. Onyx's irrepressible mind bore apprehension, the fear that something had terribly shattered Jenna. It wasn't what she had said the other night was it? She tried to apologize to Jenna, but no words came out of her mouth, and if they did, she felt that they would pour out into an unscrambled mess. Trying to say something of some comfort, Balto gave her the “no” look and pulled she and Maverick aside. His face made it obvious that he was trying to hide a deep pain within his heart.

“Balto, what's wrong?” asked Onyx after a long period of silence when Balto scrambled for the right words.

He sighed. “Aleu knows that she's a wolf. I...uh, had to tell her.”

“What?! Why?” snapped Onyx.

“A hunter took aim at her.”

“Good, I hope it got her,” she grumbled. Maverick nudged her with the side of his arm. Onyx hadn't noticed, but Balto's eyes seemed hurt by her sharp remark. “I'm sorry. Is there more?”

He nodded. “She took the news hard and ran away. I found her eventually, but we got entangled in a big deal with a wolf pack. Apparently, they had been waiting for a new leader, a wolf. They all thought it was me, but...”

“Oh, how awful,” stated Maverick, but Onyx didn't seem so upset.

“So, she's never coming back?” asked Onyx, fighting a smile.

“No, she finally found a home. But, Jenna's taking it hard. I don't know if she will get over it so easily. I hope she does...”

Onyx looked over at Jenna. Her crying had not subsided, but had gotten worse. Balto went to her and they nuzzled softly, sharing each other's sorrow. Onyx admired the way that they had each other to lean on. She had Maverick, but it didn't mean anything to her. He could take care of himself and didn't really rely on her for anything but love. She recognized love as a frail bond that could easily be broken. That's how she dealt with it in her life. Maverick licked her face gently to relieve her of the moment wasted.

“Let's leave. I think they want to be alone,” he whispered.

Onyx obeyed and walked with him to the middle of town. They ran into Kodi who was pacing back and forth outside of his house. They were all puzzled by his strange movements. Onyx, herself, had never really bonded with Kodi, but they were still close, and she wanted to know what was wrong with her step-brother.

“Good grief, Kodi!” she barked. “What the heck are you doing?”

“Can't talk now, Onyx. I'm busy,” he replied. She watched him walk parallel with the front porch, turning around and walking the other way once he had reached the end of the walk-way. He passed her by and again made a U-turn at the end of the porch.

“Spit it out, Kodi! What's eating you? There's something wrong with you if you call your pacing back and forth busy!”

“Onyx, it's Dusty. Doc's over because she's having her pups!”

“Now?!”

“Yes, I've been pacing since sunrise and it's simply torture!”

Suddenly a large basset hound exited the small house and announced that Kodi was a new father. Kodi rushed in, followed by Onyx and Maverick. By Dusty's side, there were five fresh new-born pups. Kodi's face had frozen and Onyx laughed at him.

“I'm a father,” he repeated over and over again.

“Poor, Balto. He probably feels old. Wait a minute! Kodi, did you even bother to tell him?” asked Onyx.

“No, how could I forget?! I'll be back in a flash, Dusty.”

Kodi was out the front door faster than a bullet. It made even sore Dusty laugh. Her smile nearly stretched to her ears. Onyx admired the squirming pups around Dusty's body. Her eyes softened and her happy expression lessened into a drag face of almost depression.

“Look at those tiny little paws,” she said to herself, but quiet enough so no one would hear.

Kodi rushed back in with Balto and Jenna at his tail. They gasped in surprise and came to the basket, making a fuss over the new additions to the family. Everyone scrutinized each and every detail with a smile upon their faces, all except Onyx. Her melancholy eyes glanced at every object of new life. It was at that time, when Doc told everyone to leave since Dusty needed rest.

Jenna, who was feeling better, walked with Balto, Onyx, and Maverick back to the center of town. 

After parting ways, Maverick and Onyx were left alone. They began walking back to their home.

“Something's eating you,” Maverick said after a long time of silence.

“Why do you say that?” she replied.

“Ever since we left your brother's. You're not the same.”

“Perhaps...”

“What's wrong?”

“Nothing. I was just thinking.” A smile broke over her face as she paused in the tiny layer of snow. “I was just admiring Dusty's pups. They're so small and cute.”

“They sure are,” Maverick agreed, not totally conscious of the subject.

“They're little toes are so tiny, and their ears are all floppy...”

“Mmm Hmm,” Maverick said, his mind not focusing.

“And their eyes aren't even open.....I want one.”

“Uh, huh, wait! What did you say?”

“I want one.” A whiny tone came into her voice as if she were trying to persuade him of something.

“A what?”

“A puppy. I want one.”

“Well, Onyx. Don't you want to talk it over?”

“Oh, there's nothing to talk about!”

“We've only been together for a few days.”

“So what? Why wait? We both know that it would happen sooner or later anyway.”

“That's true, but why don't you think about it some more.”

“I don't want to. My mind is made up.”

“Well, okay. But, if you ever change your mind, don't say I didn't tell you.”

“Oh, Maverick, I'll never regret it. In fact, I...”

“Hey, Onyx,” came a voice from behind her.

It was Steele, as Onyx had feared. The easily built irascibility was climbing inside her. How dare he come back again and speak to her after all he did!

“What do you want?” she snapped.

“I thought maybe we could get reacquainted again,” he proposed with informality.

“Again? When did we ever before? You don't know me and I don't know you. In fact, if Balto hadn't introduced us, we would have never been able to find each other, even if we lived in the same town. Got that?!”

“Sorry, but I would still like to get to know you. After all, you are my daughter and I am your father, so I...”

“Huh! Do you mean to flatter me by that? Well you're wrong! In fact that phrase is insulting!”

“Listen, I don't know who you are, but you have know right to come here and frustrate Onyx, so...” began Maverick, standing as tall as Steele.

“Who are you?” asked Steele.

“He's my mate, so step down,” growled Onyx.

“You're mate? But, you're too young!”

“I am not! And who are you to tell me otherwise?!”

“I am your father! That's who!” barked Steele, his voice booming. Onyx shuddered and stepped closer to Maverick, who took a step closer to Steele.

“If you dare threaten her again, you'll get yours!”

“You couldn't beat me if you tried,” chuckled Steele.

“Wanna bet?”

Onyx jumped between them. “Lay off! Don't you have anything else to do than pick on us? I have my life, and you have yours. Let's try to leave it like that, okay?”

“Onyx, I didn't mean to frighten you, but I am your authority, and I say you are too young to mate with him. Besides, you can tell he's part wolf.”

“What's with you and wolf-dogs? You left me to fend for myself, but a certain wolf-dog helped me survive and took care of me! If it wasn't for Balto and Jenna, I wouldn't be alive! Thanks to you anyway!”

“I told you that I'm sorry for that! Why don't you listen?” asked Steele.

“How do I know that you aren't going to ditch me again?”

“I've already made that mistake. Consider forgiving me. You're all I have now.”

“Go bug my brothers, all that is left of them.”

Steele left in a hurry, without saying another word. Onyx was hot to the touch, overflowing with fury. Maverick was still in the attacking pose when he began licking her face.

“It's done now.”

 

Several days passed without any complications with Steele. In fact, he was seen nowhere in town. No one had seen him since the day Onyx exploded. Onyx was thinking of ways she could avoid him as she came back from the Doc's with a smile on her face, evidently carrying more than good news. Maverick, Kodi, Balto, and practically all the other male dogs were practicing for the annual dog sledding competition at this time, since the snow had piled in. Onyx had never seen Maverick so excited in all her life. He was always coming home with stories about his sledding victories. She was happy for him, although she still held a small grudge against the humans for throwing her out of the race from before. That part of her life was ending now that something exciting was happening. She couldn't wait to tell Maverick the news when he came back from work that evening.

However, if she only knew that the shortcut taken would forever change her life, she probably wouldn't have taken it. The alley that stretched before her was dark and spooky, never taken by any dogs because of its reputation. Balto had told her before that it once was a walkway traveled by both dog and human alike, but something terrible happened that closed the doors forever. The buildings on either side of the alley were tall and blocked out much of the sunlight.

Onyx hesitated before the brink of the passageway, standing before its ominous structure.

“If I'm going to beat Maverick home, I have no choice. Don't be stupid, Onyx! You always have a

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