littlest way possible. It’s kind of funny actually,” Greg glanced back out the window, “I hope that Stevan does make it though. He was my best candidate, but if he does end up frozen, then I guess that would be most unfortunate.” he said, showing no concern in his face or voice.

“You believe in destiny, don’t you old friend? Everyday we think that we are in charge of our own destinies, but we don’t realize how meager and pathetic our attempts to change it are. Everything that happens, happens because of destiny.”

Greg turned his gaze back to Nikki. He grinned a very wide grin, and showed off his razor-sharp fangs, sending a shiver down the other dog’s spine.

“If I killed you right now, it would be destiny’s decision. Heck, we’re all going to die someday, and I could just end you tonight, but that would be most unwise. See, over these last two years I’ve been able to wise up, and in order for this to work, it would be best to keep you alive. I know you know why I’m here. The typical thing that most like me want… Payback. But not just to anybody in this town. Of course you know who I mean… But how rude of me. I’ve been talking for so long that I’ve neglected to hear you opinion.”

Greg smiled with a false sense of sweetness as he moved closer to Nikki. The other dog in turn tried to move away, but his roped up legs proved this unsuccessful. Greg moved his way behind Nikki, leaned his head down, and loosened the muzzle strap with his teeth. Nikki wiggled his nose as the muzzle slid down enough so he could speak.

Greg took his place back in front of Nikki, still smiling. “I always love to hear criticism. Please speak old friend.”

Nikki looked up at him with a very unhappy expression. “First of all, you’s ain’t no friend a mine. Second, why do I have to be the one taken hostage?”

“A very good question you’s got’s there. Guess it is just one of them random things there,” Greg said in a mocking manner, “Honestly, you’d think that after all these years you would have broken that accent.”

“What accent?” He asked confusedly.

The husky smiled wider and patted Nikki on the head. “Poor thing doesn’t even realize it.”

Nikki was becoming rather annoyed now. “Now don’t go making fun of da way I speak. There is a thing called respect and decency. But how could I forget? You care for me about as much as them little ones there. How could you be such a cold-hearted devil to ‘em,”

Greg listened to the chow continue to carry on in a somewhat amused fashion. After all, his plan was already unfurling. He suddenly heard a faint crunching in the snow and he instantly shoved the muzzle tight over Nikki’s mouth, hearing a satisfying yelp as he did so.

“How dare you tell me that I don’t care about those kids!? They are the whole world to me right now!” He yelled with a snarl.

“U-Uncle Greg? Wha-What’s going on?” He heard a small voice pipe up behind him.

Greg grinned and looked back to see Stevan shivering tremendously.

“Oh Stevan! I’m so glad you made it! You passed! Of course, I was… worried that you might freeze out there and was about to come get you.” He said with false distress. “I was just listening to this mutt spouting out lies, so I had to shut him up. Mind helping me put his muzzle back on?”

The pup nodded sheepishly. He walked over to the other side of Nikki and held on to one end of the muzzle-strap while Greg tugged on the other, successfully making Nikki incapable of talking once more. Greg looked down at the black and white pup and saw his little body still shaking from the cold.

“Come over here little one. I have a nice blanket for you,” he said while he motioned the pup farther behind Nikki to a fireplace that hadn’t been lit in years, “and while you’re warming up, I can maybe tell you a story.”

“D-Does it have a happy ending?”

Greg scratched the back of his neck, sighed, and stared at the pup. “Well, I guess you’ll have to find out.”

Stevan rushed over and found the blanket. It was blue, worn, and tattered, but he didn’t care. He wrapped himself in, and smiled slightly when he felt a larger presence looming over him. His uncle laid down and curled around him to warm him up even more.

“This story is about your mom and dad. If others try and tell you this is fake, than they’re outright lying to protect themselves, do you understand?”

Stevan nodded and snuggled against this warmth, yawning slightly.

Greg smiled sweetly and began his story. “This is how it all started out…”

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

A fire roared inside the mantle of Rosie’s home. It was very late, and everyone inside was fast asleep. Jenna’s chest rose and fell smoothly as the light of the flames danced around on her white and crimson fur. The quiet was disturbed as a faint scratching noise was heard on the front door. It persisted on for a few minutes until Jenna finally started to stir. Her mouth opened widely as she lifted herself up from her basket and stretched.

“Who’s there? …Balto?” she called groggily.

Jenna rubbed her tired eyes and glanced at a clock above the mantle. She sighed when she saw that it read 2:17 A.M. There was a quiet whisper from the other side of the door which Jenna couldn’t pick up at all.

“Hello?” She said, a little more awake now.

The scraping noise stopped and the tiny voice spoke louder, yet was still inaudible to her ears. Jenna glanced outside a nearby window and saw the wind howling as strong as ever. Maybe that’s why she couldn’t hear the other dog?

“Please, come in.”

She was taken aback when a little black and white furball tumbled through the dog door.

“P-Please help me,” the pup whined, “I’ve been trying to f-find a place to stay all night, but n-no one would take me. I-I’m so cold. Could I maybe st-stay with you?”

Jenna thought for a second, she couldn’t just send this poor thing back out into the harsh elements. She gingerly walked over to the pup, and felt terrible when she saw it cringe.

“Oh it’s alright. I’m not going to hurt you at all. I’d be glad if you stayed. The more the merrier,” she smiled warmly, “now, what’s your name?”

“I-It’s Becca… And I can’t thank you enough!” She jumped up and down happily.

Becca bounded to the pet basket after Jenna pointed it out to her. Jenna laughed softly and walked over to the basket. She laid herself down in the basket and curled around the little one.

“So, what brings you here to my lovely abode, Becca?” She asked.

Becca thought for a few moments before answering, “Well, I’ve been living on the streets for some time now because I was separated from my parents when I was even more smaller. So were my other brothers. I miss them so much…”

Jenna heard Becca start sniffling and her mothering instincts started to take over. She nuzzled the pup tenderly and smiled.

“It’s alright honey. You can stay here with me as long as you like. I don’t know what I’d do with myself if I just let you wander around the streets with no one to look after you.” she cooed.

“Really? You’d do that for me?”

Jenna smiled and nodded her head briefly, causing the pup to nuzzle her and laugh with glee.

“Thank you! Thank you very much!” she shouted ecstatically.

“No problem, but we really should be getting to sleep, it’s awfully late.”

Becca shook her head up and down rapidly before cuddling up to Jenna and starting to nod off. She waited until Becca was fast asleep before she too laid her head down and started to dream.

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

The snow fell in sheets upon sheets, covering up the streets of Nome in its white wrath. Another lonely pup wandered the streets, trying to find his way in the whiteout. He was also a black and white husky, except he was more white than black compared to his other siblings.

“Why do I have to be the one to stay at someone else’s home? I wanted to stay with Uncle, not some strangers I’ve never met. Of course he probably likes Stevan more than me, just like Mom and Dad…” he thought aloud, “but at least he kept drilling me and Becca on how to get to the houses though.”

He trudged on through the snow, making little headway. He finally made it to a house, and knew it was the right one from the scent he had picked up before.

“But I’ll show him, I’ll be better than Stevan one of these days…”

He walked onto the porch and started to claw at the door vigorously, howling and whining loudly. There was a noise of footfalls from the other side and he stopped his scratching so he could hear.

“Who’s there?” he heard from a feminine voice.

“Seth, please help me.” he whispered in reply.

“Speak louder, we can’t hear you,” this was more of a masculine sound.

“Help me,” Seth whispered again.

“Still too quiet,” the female said.

“Oh Hun, maybe we should just let whoever it is in so we don’t have to strain our ears,” Seth heard the male say.

“Fine, but if it turns out to be some murderer who wants to kill us, I’ll have your head after I wipe the floor with him,” she countered, and then talked with a manufactured pleasant tone, “oh come in lovely guest!”

Seth jumped through the dog door as childishly as he had been told to and he skidded across the floor as soon as he was inside. He looked up to see two red and white huskies looking at each other. One had a green bandana around his neck, and the other had a purple one around hers.

“Do you always have to be so sarcastic all the time?” The male asked sternly.

She put a paw to her chest and batted her eyes, “Who, me? I’m never sarcastic. I’m just the more sensible one who plans for the worst.”

“Oh that’s it,” he said, rolling his eyes. He then looked down and noticed the pup. “Oh, hello there.”

“P-Please h-help me. I’ve been t-trying to find a place to stay all n-night, but no one would t-take me. I-I’m so cold. Could I maybe st-stay with you two?” Seth whimpered, just like he had rehearsed.

“Well…” the female said with a pause.

“We’d be honored,” he

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