onto a fence and smiled down at the wide- eyed husky.

“See if you can follow me now!”

I hopped down on the other side and continued on my way weaving through backyards and allies so no one would bother me.

 

            Later on that strange day, after night had fallen, I received another surprise. After grabbing a quick dinner from the butcher’s, I chewed on the bone that was left over until someone cleared their throat. I looked up and there was the good ol’ sheriff of Nome, Klondikehimself. He seemed to be at a loss for words… but I let him stumble. He deserved to be embarrassed.  

            “I… uh, wanted to talk to you… but you were… hard to find”

I stared at him blankly.

            “I wanted to start off with an apology, but that’s not all I’m here for”

I didn’t say anything still.

            “You may be considered a hero, but that pup could have easily saved itself. And my mate and pup could have defended themselves too. The strays around here aren’t wild animals”

I furrowed my brow and narrowed my eyes. Andy and Mini were his mate and pup?!

            “I came to tell you to leave. You don’t belong here and it’s my job to keep wild animals like you from ruining my town. If you don’t leave, I’ll be forced to take action against you” he stated blandly.

“No one tells me what to do” I said quietly. “I have just as much right to stay here as you do”

            “If that’s the way you want it” Klondike said with false sorrow.

He nodded and his three friends from the other day came out, teeth bared. I stood my ground.

“What happened to no fighting?”

Klondike grinned.

            “The only way you’d be able to fight and get away with it is if you’re fighting in defense… like as in a wolf attacked me and I had three eye witnesses to back me up”

I growled but backed up. If worst came to worst, I could hop on the fence and run away.

                        “Sheriff?”

All four of the huskies spun around. I looked around the dogs and I couldn’t believe it: Mindy!

            “What do you need miss?” Klondike stated, pretending like he hadn’t been doing anything.

Mindy’s eyes passed over me but then they fastened on Klondike.

                        “Actually, I was looking for him. I have a score to settle with him”

Thinking that she was tricking me into bringing me to the pound, Klondikegrinned and let her past. Just for appearance, I grinned through half closed eyes and let her strut over to me.

                        “Now wolf!” she said loud enough for her audience to hear. “I’m going to take you to my house! There are spaces that you can rest in that have bars for your protection”

It took all my will power to act stupid, but I only did it for my sake.

“What are bars? Or houses? I guess I’ll have to find out, won’t I?”

Then I let Mindy lead me out of the ally and onto the main street. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her nod to Klondike. Once we were out of earshot and sight, she whipped around.

            “Didn’t you learn your lesson last time?!”

“Honestly, I didn’t start anything with them! They started it and I was just gonna finish it!”

            “I saved your butt, you owe me!”

“What do you mean I owe you?! I think you owe me for every annoying second I’ve been with you!”

Mindy gasped and jumped in front of me, blocking my path.

            “I just saved you… I might have just saved your life! You… you... you-.”

“You what?” I said, going so close to her face our noses touched.

She opened her mouth but no words came out. I opened my mouth to yell something- anything but all I heard was silence. My heart raced and our brown eyes never lost contact. Too close! I shook my head furiously and jolted backward.

“I need… to go. Now.” I stammered.

Mindy didn’t say anything, just watched me go with those amber eyes. I shook my head again and deliberately walked back to my brother’s shipwreck.

 

            Back on the ship, I climbed the ramp without a word, thoughts spinning inside my head. I walked right past Balto who watched me curiously as I plopped down on the tattered brown blanket.

            “How was today?” Balto asked curiously.

“Just fine…” I said softly.

With a snort, Balto rolled to his feet.

            “Every night you came back here so far, you always had something to complain about or at least just said you had a bad day… it must have been really bad if you won’t talk about it”

I looked up at him forlornly.

“I… I think I… like someone… love them… maybe”

            “That’s not a bad thing! That’s great! Why would that be a bad thing?”

“I can’t love anyone else… I don’t deserve it”

Balto lay down next to me with a sympathetic expression.

            “What happened before you came here?”

“I don’t want to talk about it” I growled, turning away.

I heard Balto sigh, get up and walk down the ramp. I could bet he was going to talk to Jenna or Mindy…

I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to stop the thoughts and emotions raging inside my head… it was too painful!

 

            The next morning I woke up with bloodshot, dry eyes. My neck was stiff and my head was pounding. Balto had either already left or had never returned. I yawned and started down the ramp and noticed that Boris, Muk or Luk weren’t around. How bad off did Balto think I was? I trotted toward Nome but with a different feeling as I had before. As I entered the town, I got the same weird greetings I had gotten as the day before: wagging tails and warm smiles. Now that I was used to it, I ignored it. Even when I passed Jenna, she flashed me a smile.

“Have you seen Balto?” I asked.

Jenna shook her head.

            “All he said was that you weren’t feeling yourself and I don’t know where he went afterwards”

“Thanks” I mumbled, darting for the nearest ally.

Before I had even gotten a chance to start running, a little grey blur smacked into my legs so hard, it almost knocked me over.

            “Buck!”

“What is it this time Andy?!” I barked. “I’m looking for someone!”

            “Mindy?”

“No” I said slowly.

            “Well she’s looking for you! She’s with my dad… they don’t look too happy. She wants you to come help her”

“Fine” I sighed. Balto could wait.

Andy shot off and I was right behind him. In no time flat, Andy led me to a small group. Klondikewhirled around when I charged in.

“He’s your dad!?” I barked in surprise.

Andy nodded happily and sat down next to his father.

            “Maybe you guys can be friends like me and you are!” he yipped happily.

“Yeah… we probably could” I mumbled, keeping my eyes on the grey husky.

Klondikeand his four friends were surrounding Mindy and although she was unhurt and going to remain unhurt, she looked stressed.

“So what’s going on?” I asked Mindy, acting like the others didn’t exist.

                        “They think that there’s something going on between us!” she replied. “And they’re trying to convince me that a purebred like me shouldn’t be with a half bred like you. And I think they should keep their stuck up noses out of other dogs’ business!”

            “Mindy, you know that’s not true!” Klondike said, trying to be noble. “You just deserve someone better and helping him escape was not something anyone, especially you, should have

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