begins to break off the relationship, he will kill her."

 

"Not true." Bitey snapped, half angry and half confused.

 

"These are all classic signs of a control freak and a sociopath." Bullet explains, "The reason why you are both outlaws is because Band tries to make enemies. He is a danger to the town."

 

Bitey rolls his eyes.

 

"You still do not believe me." Bullet explains, "Let me tell you what it looks like through the eyes of a total stranger. The other dogs don't hate you because of who you are, it is because of what you do. They don't want any of their friends to get killed. How many will he kill before it is wrong? Ten? Twenty? A hundred?" Bullet pauses for a second. "Do you not have a conscience?"

 

"I have a conscience." Bitey answers.

 

"Yeah," Bullet remarks, "You have a conscience all right. His name is Band. Why do you follow him around all the time, anyways. What does he have on you?"

 

"My friend." Bitey answers.

 

"Does a real friend put his best friend in constant danger?" Bullet asks. "Why don't you try and make friends with the other dogs in town.

 

"I don't know." Said Bitey.

 

"Why don't you think about it?" Bullet continues. Bullet is skilled in negotiations, and can be very persuasive. "You could have a real purpose in life; to protect and to serve others. Why don't you do that? It would be a much greater challenge, and you wouldn't have to always be on the run."

 

"Will think about it." Bitey answered.

 

"You do that. You would make a great police dog; you are very loyal." Bullet replied.

 

Nikki and Kaltag are walking beside each other

 

"Do yous really think we can trust him?" Nikki asked Kaltag.

 

"No." Answered Kaltag, "But Band was are only choice. We had no where else to go. But if we are lucky, maybe he will end up getting shot."

 

"If we could be so lucky." Chuckled Nikki.

 

Steele and Band are walking beside one another.

 

"I can't wait until I get to whip you." Steele taunts Band.

 

"Anytime your ready." Band replies.

 

"Knock it off, guys." Balto butts in. "We promised Band safe passage if he helped us. He may not be honest, but I am."

 

Steele growled. "Fine. But someday the time will come." Steele mutters. The dogs continue on the trail.

 

CHAPTER V THE AMBUSH

 

The seven dogs are walking through a dense part of the woods. Star is at the end of the pack. He had not been saying much (for fear of being bonked on the head by Kaltag). But suddenly, he spoke up.

 

"Hey." Star whined, "Don't look now guys, but I think we're about to get killed."

 

All the dogs turned around just in time to see a grizzly bear bust out of the woods, and he didn't look very happy.

 

The bear started towards the dogs, but soon found itself surrounded by the barking dogs. The bear stopped to think for a second and then decided to make a run for it.

 

"That was a close one." Said Balto.

 

"Well," replied Kaltag, "you know what they say: there is strength in numbers."

 

And the dogs continued walking. They come up to a dense patch of bushes, and see the stone building on the other side.

 

"We're there." Balto announces. "Now we need to come up with a plan."

 

"I don't need a plan." Band growls. "Jenna!" He yells as he charges out of the bushes.

 

"NO!" Yells Balto, knocking Band to the ground as a bullet goes flying only a few feet above of both of the dogs' heads.

 

"Why did you stop me, wolfdog?" Band snapped at Balto.

 

"I just saved your life." Balto snapped back.

 

Just at that moment, Buck steps out of the building with his lever-action, Wincester rifle. "Next dog that moves is a dead dog." He yells, cocking the lever on his gun.

 

'He must be stopped, no matter the cost.' Bullet thought to himself. And with that, he took off running.

 

"Bullet! NO!" Balto yells.

 

Buck laughs. "You have a death wish, dog?" He aims his rifle at Bullet, and fires.

 

BANG! The bullet passes right through the black German Shepherd, drawing blood with it. But the dog is still running!

 

Bullet was too determined. He could only think of protecting the lives of others. And through it all, he continuously said to himself; 'It is a far better thing I do now than I have ever done before, a far better resting place I will come to, than I have ever known.'

 

Buck began to get scared. "No!" he exclaimed, "This is impossible. No dog can take a 30-30 bullet like that and still run!"

 

The man nervously fumbled to cock his gun, and get a good aim again, but it was too late. Bullet had already got to him.

 

"NOOO!" Cried Buck as the dog bit his gun hand, causing him to drop the rifle. The rifle hits the ground and goes off harmlessly in the air. Buck violently shakes the dog off his hand, causing Bullet to land seven feet away in the snow.

 

Buck runs, his hand bleeding, to his van and drives off.

 

Bullet is lying there in the snow. The bullet may not have been enough to stop him from his charge, but it would be enough to kill him in the end. He looks up and sees the distorted faces of Balto and Bitey. He tries to grin.

 

"Do not grieve," Bullet says, "It was necessary."

 

"Why?" Asked Bitey, who was becoming very concerned.

 

"Because the lives of others must be preserved." Bullet answered. "I am proud to give my life in the line of duty."

 

"But you said you were retired." Said Balto

 

"Being a police dog is something that you never retire from." Bullet explained, "Until now; when I die."

 

"No!" Cried Bitey, who had become Bullet's friend, "Don't die!"

 

"I am sorry, but it is not something that I can prevent. When I die, I die." Bullet replies, he tries to smile. "This town is still going to need someone to take my place. Why not you, Bitey?"

 

Bitey was too sad to answer. Balto looked over at him, and for a second he was sure he saw a tear.

 

"Just remember," Bullet continued, each breath becoming harder, "The needs of the many… outweighs….the needs of the few, or the one."

 

Bullet's vision started to become very dim, and he seemed to be losing awareness of his surrounding. He began muttering, "To….serve…..and…..pr..ote…ct." That was the last thing that ever came out of his mouth, and he became still.

 

Bitey looked over at Band. "He's dead." The white Samoyed said to his friend.

 

"Too bad for him." Band replied, with little care of what just happened.

 

Elsewhere, Buck was driving along in his van, when suddenly the engine went dead. He hopped out of his van and kicked the front tire.

 

"Stupid van!" He grumbled.

 

"Need a lift?" Said a voice out of nowhere. "How about a one way trip too jail."

 

Buck looked over and saw a U.S. Marshall behind him.

 

"Well, well, well." Said the Marshall, "If it isn't Buck Smith; wanted in five states."

 

"Wait a minute officer," Said Buck, "I can explain…"

 

"Tell it to the court." The Marshall answered, "I am placing you under arrest."

 

And that is just what the Marshall did.

 

CHAPTER VI THE FUNERAL

 

Jenna and Draco had been freed from their cage, and the nine dogs were gathered around a mound of snow where they had just buried bullet.

 

"All in all," Balto said, "He was a dog of the likes I will never see again. He gave his life doing what he loved the most; protecting others. We shall miss you, Bullet, but we shall never forget what you have done for us. Amen."

 

"Amen." Repeat all the other dogs in respect.

 

Band walks up to Jenna.

 

"Hey, Jenna." He says.

 

"Get lost, Band." She replies.

 

Band stomps towards Balto. "I thought you said I could see her!" he yells.

 

"You just did." Replies Balto.

 

Band growls. "I don't have to take this kind of abuse." He complains, "Come on Bitey, we're leaving."

 

"No." The white Samoyed replies.

 

"What did you say?" Band asks, clearly becoming angry.

 

"I quit." Bitey answers.

 

Band starts to get very angry. "WHAT!?" Band shouts, "You can't quit! You are my bodyguard, remember?"

 

"Was your bodyguard." Bitey corrects him.

 

"FINE!" Band shouts. "Be a wimp, like Draco. I don't need you, anyways."

 

And with that, Band storms off without his friend (or any friend for that matter).

 

Draco walks up beside Bitey.

 

"Will he come back?" Bitey asks Draco.

 

"Probably." Draco replies. "Of all the enemies in the world, loneliness is one of the greatest."

 

"How so?" Asks Bitey.

 

"Sooner or later, he will no longer be able to stand being alone." Draco explains. "Then, if he is a smart dog, he will swallow his pride and come back. Steele did, remember?"

 

"Yes." Replied Bitey.

 

"Welcome home, Bitey." Draco said to his old friend. "Bullet would be proud of you."

 

Bitey smiled. "I know," he answered.

 

And with their business finished there, Balto, Steele, Jenna, Nikki, Kaltag, Star, Draco, and Bitey all head back towards Nome.

 

THE END

 

 

 

 

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