Steele-Glory Hound

Chapter One

            Steele woke up to find himself surrounded by people. His memory came back like a flash. The snow, the wolves, the fall down the cliff. He pushed himself into a sitting position. His ears angled to the sound of a tall man with a musher’s hat on.

            “Looks like he was once well taken care of. See around his neck where the hair is shorter? He obviously wore a big collar but a while ago because the hair is starting to grow back.” Steele turned his head and looked at the back of his neck. His neck felt so bear without the golden collar he had so proudly worn. After he had run away the collar had gotten torn off  in his fight with the wolves.

            “The fight that I lost.” He muttered to himself. An exclamation of surprise came from one of the bystanders.

            “Why that looks like Steele! You know the champion racer who abandoned his team during that storm?” he said. The tall man who had spoken earlier shrugged.

            “ Well I’ll take him in. My boy could use a dog since I got his sister Lily.” He picked Steele up and began carrying him off. Steele was much to exhausted to make a fuss. The man carried him to his house , went inside and put him down on the couch. It puzzled Steele. His former master had always taken care of him and treated him well, he had never actually been kind to him. He picked his head up and looked around. The room was pretty big. The man walked in followed by a women who Steele assumed  was his wife.

            “Oh Lance! He’s all bloody. Please get me a bowl of hot water. The veterinarian is out of town, He had to go get more supplies , so I guess I can take care of him until he gets back.” Steele lifted his head as she washed his wounds. A movement caught his eye and a reddish husky  trotted up and nosed as the women’s  hand.  She laughed and patted the dogs head.

            “Hey there Lily this is the new dog we are taken care of…I guess his name is Steele…that’s who they think he is.” Steele tossed his head and lay back down. He had absolutely no interest in dogs who looked like the one who got him chased out of Nome in the first place.

            “Jenna…” He blamed her. If she had not loved Balto , none of it would have happened. The  husky held her head high and trotted out of the room. Steele grumbled and flicked his ears. The women patted his head.

            “ There you go Steele. Just relax right there.” She picked up the remaining bandages and the bucket of water and walked away. The husky entered the room with a small bone in her mouth. Steele’s  mouth began to water. He hadn’t had any bones in 5 months.

            “Hey…dog” she stopped and looked at him with a annoyed look on her face,

            “What” she said.

            “Um can I have that bone?” he asked hesitantly.

            “Well..Steele..if Kimberly had wanted you to have a bone I’m sure she would have given you one, but since she didn’t and I’ve develop a disliking to you , which isn’t my fault I might add, I don’t think I’m inclined to give this bone to you.” She stalked out of the room. Steele shrugged.

            “I won’t be bothered by a women who looks way to much like Jenna.” He shrugged and went to sleep.

Chapter Two

            Lily stalked outside with her bone in her mouth. She walked to the giant tree in the middle of the town where her friends frequently met. Three of her friends were sitting there chatting.

            “Bear , Rachel , Kevin! What’s up…where is Tasha? She asked as she trotted up.

            “She went to Nome with her master to pick up supplies.” Bear replied.

            “Oh yeah Kim said that he was out of town. That’s why she had to take care of Steele on her own.

            “Hold on..did you say Steele?” asked Kevin.

            “Yes. And yes it is the Steele. The one from Nome.” She said.

            “Wow. Can you take me to see him? They say he’s really cute? “ Asked Rachel. Lily shook her head. 6 months ago she had always dreamed about Steele just like every dog.

            “He’s nothing but a glory hound. I can tell. Even bloody and exhausted he still thinks he can have anything. He had the nerve to asked me for my bone right after he gave me that dirty look.” She shrugged. Her ears perked and the sound of her girl calling her reached her.

            “I gotta go. Aprils home from school.”  She waved her tail in farewell and trotted toward her house. Her girl was standing at the door and let her in. She patted her on the head and went to her room to do her homework.

            Lily bounded into the living room. She forgot that Steele was in there. She practically ran into him.

            “ Oh..um sorry.” She said.

            “Um yeah sure..hey um Lily? I know we kind of got of on the wrong foot..but um.. do you think we could have a truce long enough for you to show me around?” he asked. Lily didn’t know what came over her but she bristled at him.

            “Show yourself around Steele. I’m sure that you don’t need a dog of no importance to show you around a small town that probably doesn’t compare to your precious Nome!” she snarled

            “Actually I think you’re a gorgeous dog that looks like someone I used to know which Is why I hate you so much!” This time it was his turn to stalk off. Lily shook her head with anger. Whoever he used to know must have hated him.

            “I think I like whoever that dog is.” she thought. April’s brother Kurt ran in.

            “Lily where is my dog?” Lily led the boy to where Steele was sitting. The boy ran and flung himself at the dog. Lil saw Steele cringe in pain as the boy made him land on the wound on his shoulder. He moaned but Kurt didn’t notice. He motion to Steele.

            “Steele come one let go play outside.” Steele sat down stubbornly.

            “Sorry kid, but im staying put.” He growled. The boy shrugged and went outside on his own. Lily walked quietly up to him.

            “Steele?”        

            “What?”

            “Who do I remind you of?” Steele’s silence made her nervous.

            “Listen I don’t want to talk about this.” He growled.

Chapter Three

            Steele shook his head.

            “Fine, go ahead and sit down.” He watched as Lily sat down.

            “Well as I’m sure you know I was once the champion sled dog in Nome. I..sorta liked a husky named Jenna. She looks so much like you I could hardly believe it. Anyway  for once in my life the one dog that I really liked didn’t like me back. I couldn’t understand it, I still can’t understand.” He confessed.

            “Well I certainly can.” Lily retorted. Steele felt anger surg through him but he didn’t show it.

            “Whatever. She like Balto instead. I was picked to pick up the medicine for the diphtheria epidemic. I got lost. Balto came to “rescue”. He didn’t care about the poor kids. All he wanted was to win Jenna’s heart..and she fell for it. I admit that I made up a few lies to make him sorry. So I get chased out of Nome and Balto gets Jenna. There that’s the story.” He was about to stand up when Lily interrupted him.

            “You hate Jenna don’t you? That’s why you hate me. Well Steele I think you’re a stuck-up glory hound. Plus I’m glad Jenna finally got someone she deserves.” She snarled. Steele stood nose to nose with her.

            “Listen girl, you weren’t