something sarcastic, then leave. His eyes shot open in suprise when something licked him.

It was KC.  Her eyes were shining, and finally Kale felt that he could gaze into them without hesitation.  Even as he did, a stubborn particle of his brain tried to pull together memories of Amore - how beautiful and talented she was.  But it couldn't.  He subconsciously tried and failed to piece together a better dog than KC, but there was none.  As he nuzzled her, Amore - or any other dog in the world besides KC - was the farthest thing from his mind.  He smiled hesitantly, and she beamed, causing his face to explode into happiness.  He barked and ran a few steps ahead, urging her to play.  She pranced alongside, catching him and clawing playfully at his side.

The game had continued - despite whisperings and murmurings from local gossip-hounds - for almost a half-hour before a sinister voice spoiled the moment.  "Hey, lovebirds," it barked.  It was a grating sound.

Kale spoke without turning to the source of the grunts.  "Leave us alone, Corrin," came his steady voice.  For some odd reason, KC standing squarely beside him lent him extra courage.

"Ahaha... 'leave you alone', eh?" he snarled.  "Like THAT'S ever gonna-"

"I'd do what he said if I were you."  A crimson wolfdog stepped onto the scene.  KC grinned, but Kale only nodded assertively at Amore.  He was anything but angry, sad, or nervous, all the normal feelings he usually had around her lately.  She was nice and all, but KC was the dog for him.

"Oh, really?"  Corrin interrupted his thoughts.

KC snarled back.  "Yes, really," she rumbled, "'cause if you don't, then..."

"...We'll have to drive you out of town," Kale finished.

"Who's gonna make me, huh?"  Corrin and his cronies were closing in, and there seemed no way out for the three.  Just then, Kale had an idea.

He quickly whisperd his plan to KC, who nodded slightly in agreement. He shot Amore a look, and she gave a small nod, understanding he had a plan.

"Yeah, you and what army?"  One of the sidekicks, the black-and-white husky, grinned savagely, proud of his 'macho' statement.

Kale glanced behind him, making sure that Corrin and his goons could see.  "Hey!  Guys!" he barked to an army of nonexistent dogs, just out of sight of the three bullies.  "When I give the signal-" he paused to grin nastily, " -you're meat," he finished, as cruelly as he could force out.

"Oh - yeah...?"  Corrin's confidence was slipping.  His cowardice was so great that he didn't even need to take time to smell the danger before he was tempted to run--a trait that Kale had been banking his plan heavily on.  The Border collie turned to grin at Amore, but there was a message in his eyes. 

"I'm sure Amore's FATHER wouldn't be happy if he knew what you're trying to do.  Go SIGNAL the dogs," he said, hoping and praying that she would hear the emphasis on the two words and understand what they meant.  Sure enough, after the tiniest pause, she scampered off, dodging an angry Corrin but stopped by KC.

As Kale helped KC fend off their attackers, he had time to think, I sure hope Amore can get to Balto in time.  

Amore winked at KC as she ran past. The brown female flashed a quick smile at her.

"Man, I hope Dad's home." Amore mutterd to herself as she ran to the outskirts of town.

Since Balto was getting old, he tended to stay with her mother more. Amore didn't have time to run to the other side of town.

She was thrilled when she saw her father sitting on the deck of his boat. Her brother Tenbo was there too!

"Dad!" she cried out. Balto and Tenbo turned toward her.

"Amore, what are you-" Balto started to ask when she cut him off.

"Dad, some dogs are picking a fight with Kale and KC. They need us!" she told him hurridly.

Balto and Tenbo exchanged looks, then nodded.

Tenbo darted ahead while Amore went at a slower pace to catch her breath and tell her father exactly what was going on.

"Daddy," she began breathlessly, "you know that dog who had a crush on me?"

Balto smiled briefly.  "Which one?"

Amore scoffed, nudging him playfully with her nose.  "Kale, Dad.  The gray Border collie with the blue eyes."

"Ah, yes.  I remember.  Wasn't he a bit - depressed - after you chose Teirm?"

"Yes, but he's found himself a now.  I think."  And Amore proceeded to inform her father about the past couple of weeks, about Kale and KC, and finally about the ruthless bullies waiting for them.  "They think we've got a group of street dogs to back us up," she finished as they neared the place.  "But we'll just have to fool them."  The determination in her eyes made her father grin with pride.

"You're a bit like your mother, you know that?" he murmured to her when they were just a few paces from the scene Amore had left several minutes earlier.  Tenbo was waiting not far away.

Amore ignored her father's question and stepped up beside her brother.  "What's the plan?"

Tenbo shrugged.  "I was just about to ask you the same thing."

Rolling her eyes, Amore muttered into her brother's ear, her nose tickling his soft fur.  Tenbo nodded, then with a great leap heaved himself onto a high fence, where he could see the fracas below but not be seen.

He heard snarling and voices.

"Your gang's a bit LATE in coming, aren't they?"

"They'll be here."  This voice was feminine in contrast to the deep, malicious voice that had mocked before.

Tenbo glanced down at Balto and Amore, who both nodded encouragingly.  The wolfdog on the top of the fence took a deep breath.

"AND JUST WHAT DO YOU GOONS THINK YOU'RE DOING?!" 

With a start Corrin and his cronies whirled around in the direction of the voice, unaware that the force of Tenbo's yell had nearly knocked him off the fence.

"Uhhh....nothing," whispered the black-and-white husky.  With a loud yelp he was dashing away.  The female trembled but stuck closely to her leader's side.

"Who-who are you?" stammered Corrin, trying not to let his voice .

Then Tenbo sprang of the fence and landed directly behind the thug.  "Not who you think I am," he muttered.

The result was tumultuous.  Corrin was terrified.  The red-and-black female dashed away like a frightened kitten. 

 Kale's eyes light up when Tenbo landed in front of Corrin.

"He's toast now," he whispered to KC.

"Why?" the brown female studied the reddish-brown wolf dog in front of her. He didn't look very dangerous.

A teasing smile tugged at Kale's lips. "Tenbo doesn't look like a fighter, but believe me, you do not want to mess with him when he's mad."

A low growl started in Tenbo's throat. His eyes glared at Corrin, making the larger dog even more nervous.

"I suggest you leave, before I let the others join us," Tenbo growled.

"I, uh, you don't scare me." Corrin straightened himself up and stood toe to toe with Tenbo.

Tenbo didn't flinch at his larger size. "Hey, Kale. Do me a favor and go get the others."  He nodded toward the fence Amore and Balto were behind.

Kale and KC exchanged looks, the nodded and ran behind the fence.

"Amore? Whats going on?" KC asked as soon as she saw the red hybrid.

Amore smiled. "I'll tell you later. Right now come over here." she motioned them toward some garbage cans. "When I say so, Kale, knock a few over, got it?" Kale nodded.

Amore led KC over to a drain pipe. "When I tell Kale to start knocking cans over, you start howling and barking into this, okay?" KC nodded.

"Okay...when I tell you...no, no, not yet..."  Amore was peering beyond the corner.  "...Ready...one...two...THREE!"

Sudenly Tenbo and Corrin found themselves in a whirling tornado of hurtling metal.  Tenbo, being more agile by far than Corrin, easily dodged the trash cans with his wolfish agility, but Corrin was trapped by several, emitting high-pitch moans and struggling to get free.  But that was nothing compared to how he reacted when he heard the eerie, hollow howling and barking.  With surprising adrenaline, the brute leaped to his feet and scampered away, as vulnerable as his companions had been.  The tense group waited until he was far out of seeing, hearing, or smelling distance.

Tenbo appeared first, laughing loudly.  He was soon joined by Balto, Amore, Kale and KC.

"I...don't...think..." Kale struggled to control his laughter.  "I don't think he'll be back any time soon."  Then he suddenly turned serious.  "Thank you," he said gravely to his friends.  "Thank you all."

"No problem," Amore replied, looking into his eyes.  A couple of months before that look would have meant the world to him, but now it was KC's answering grin that made his heart beat faster.  He smiled calmly at Amore, then turned to KC with a gentle look in his eye.

Tenbo cleared his throat awkwardly.  "Umm...is this a good time?" he asked nervously.  Everyone laughed, but suddenly (after exchanging meaningful glances) everyone but Kale and KC was talking and drifting away casually.  Soon they were all alone.

"Er...KC?" Kale asked, as tentative as Tenbo.

"What?" she inquired back, gazing at him.  Her look melted his icy fear of rejection once and for all.

"Umm...would you like...I mean-"

"To be mates?"  She grinned in that way he loved.  "Why didn't you say so?"  KC nuzzled him, and he chuckled softly.  Together, the two walked off towards the calm waters and warm sands of the beach.