the noise, paused at the entrance to the alley. Name noticed.

“Keep running! Go!” With that, and seeing the shepherd getting to his feet again, looking murderous, the husky took off again and disappeared. Good, he had escaped. When a shadow stretched over him then, Name gulped. But now he was in trouble…With a snarl, the German shepherd dog loomed over him.

“I’ll make you pay for that one…” Name clenched his eyes shut at seeing the dog lunge at him. Suddenly though, a whistle interrupted them.

“Razor, Niro, Shag, Jack!” The dogs all froze, and raised their heads. “Come on boys lets go!” Another whistle. Name didn’t quite know what was going on but could guess that the call was from the dogs’ master, and those were their names. Who was who, the husky didn’t know. He looked up at the shepherd as he snarled again and finally backed off, looking more than irritated.

“Consider yourself lucky, mutt…That we’ll never meet again…” With that, and a final glare, he and the other three dogs moved off towards the entrance and disappeared.

Name remained where he was another few moments, sighing in relief as his heart began to slow its rapid beating. That was too close. If that call had come just seconds after…No need to think about that, the husky thought as he rolled to his feet, shaking off the snow. It was over, that’s all that mattered now, and he was still in one piece. It was partly thanks to that other husky, who had perhaps unintentionally granted them that time. Speaking of that husky, Name now wondered where he had taken off to. He hoped the other hadn’t been hurt.

Putting his nose to the ground, Name knew it might be hard to try and track the other dog, not being that skilled in tracking. But it was worth a try atleast. Leaving the alley, the brown and white husky slowly followed what he thought was the smaller husky’s scent down the road. Eventually, after backtracking a couple times, the scent brought him to a place behind a house. Looking around, Name saw a series of crates and overturned barrels back near a shack. Trotting over, the lop-eared dog poked around a bit, startled when a sudden shuffling made him jump. At the back at one of the long wooden crates, Name could faintly make out the form of a dog in the dark.

“Hey, that you, from the alley?” Name’s ears perked. It had to the same dog, judging by the nervous fearful voice. More shuffling was heard, and the brown and white husky backed away from the crate seeing the other coming out, if slowly. When the dog finally stuck his head out, glancing around briefly, his blue eyes caught Name’s. Smiling, Name was glad to see he was unhurt.

“I sure had a hard time finding you. Guess I need to work on my tracking skillz. So what were you doing that made those dogs go after you?” The other dog sat down, sighing.

“I didn’t do anything. I was in the alley when they just showed up and started picking on me.” Name frowned.

“Why didn’t you just let them?” The other’s blue eyes caught his own brown and blue again.

“You saw them, how big they were…And I was outnumbered. I’m not very brave, but I’m used to being pushed around. Thanks for helping me, not many would do that. They didn’t hurt you?” Name shook his head.

“No, their master called them, saving my butt, that’s for sure. They wereabout to do something. And no problems, I wasn’t going to just sit back and let them bully you. It’s against my morals, even if I didn’t go about helping the right way, heh.” The other smiled a bit at that. “Oh, and I should thank you too.”

“Thank me? For what? I didn’t do anything but cause more trouble…” The smaller husky looked confused, waiting for the other to elaborate.

“If you hadn’t given us more time by’ taking the tiger by the tail’, they would have gotten at us.” The other’s smile widened some at that, tail giving a slight wag.

“Really? I did that?” Name nodded. “Wow, thanks! I would have never thought that. Mostly everyone thinks I’m either annoying or dumb…” The brown and white husky frowned.

“Well that’s not very nice or fair. Some friends…”

“I don’t really have any friends either…” Silence.           

“What’s your name?” The other blinked at the sudden question.

“Um, my name is Star…” Name watched the other a few moments, before moving to sit next to the smaller husky.

“Well Star, I’m Name, and I’m gonna be your friend.”

They both smiled.