Steele spat the bone into the air, then, moments later, caught it and continued his story.   "And so I said, 'Steele, you'll just have to gnaw your way to the surface!' I-" Steele stopped, a long, low howl completely cut him off.  Doc opened the door.  "Its Balto! With the medicine!" Doc cheered.  All the dogs in the room gasped, and glared at Steele. Steele looked at Dixie, one of his many admires, the bone hanging out of his mouth.

     "Oh Steele." She started. "Your positively DISPOSABLE!" Dixie shouted, slapping the bone out of his mouth.  He looked at the rest of the dogs, they were all still growling at him.  They began to leave.  "Guys, I can explain." He said, forcing a smile on his face, but they were still leaving. "Guys! Wait.  Just.  A sec! Please? I-" That was all he could say, before they slammed the door in his face.  Meanwhile, Balto and the others were pulling into town. Almost everyone had come just to see Balto bring the medicine home, including almost all the dogs in town. 

     Dixie looked through the crowed, standing next to a thin grey male, who she had seen run behind Steele in the races.  She also could see Jenna, standing on the hospital porch with Balto.  "Way to go, Balto!" The grey male cheered. Dixie backed up behind him. She saw him get nudged by a larger yellow male. She thought of Steele, an wished it was her up on the porch, with him. She felt tears in her eye's, and left.

      Dixie walked home, alone, she didn't want Sylvie, Jenna, or any of her other friends to see her cry. She couldn't believe what Steele had done. He was her life, her hero, her everything.  She cound't possibly think of anyone as great as him.  Then, she began to think, what about the dogs on his team?  They must be somewhat better than him, if they had the heart to let Balto lead them back.  She decided to try for one of them, and do her best to get over Steele.

     When the next morning came, she was very excited.  She started out the door, and into town.  Although she tried to look happy, she couldn't help but to think of Steele.  She frowned, then she saw three dogs, male dogs, she new they were on te team the brought the medicine home.  She could see that they had many dogs around them.  She walked over.

     "What happened next?" One female asked.  "Steele couldn't find out which way to go."  A large brown male said.  "So he just began running around, then we fell down this icy hill!" A yellow one added.  "I-I-It was the slipperiest-Th-th-the fastest, the most uh-eh." The yellow one studderd. "The slickest thing we've ever stepped on!" A slim, grey male shouted. The yellow one knocked him in the face with his paw. All the other dogs laughed at him and they left.

     All but Dixie, she was the only one that stayed.  She helped him up. "Thanks." he said.  "My name is Star, I-I've seen you watching us- or Steele race.  Isn't your name, Pixie?" He asked. "Dixie." She corrected.  "Oh, well, thats still a pretty name!" He said, cheering up a bit.  Dixie's face turned red.  That was better than anything Steele had- She stopped, and frowned. "Whats wrong?" Star asked.

     Dixie explained everything.  "Maybe I can help!" He said very loud and happily.  "Maybe i can help you find a mate!" He cheered again.  Dixie smiled. "That would be just, so, wonderful!" She cheered. 

--

     They found the two other males that had been with Star.  "Why not start with them?" She smiled.  "Kaltag has pups, and Nikki has someone already." Star said.  Dixie frowned.  Star noticed that she was frowning, and jumped playfully confront of her. It seemed to lift her mood and she chuckled, and jumped on him.  They laughed and smiled at eachother, then, realized what had just happened. 

     Star cleared his throught.  "I-Its getting late." he said.  Dixie nodded and he walked her home.  She walked onto her porch.  "Dixie.." Star said.  "I-I had fun, with you, today." He said slowly. Dixie's face turned red and she walked inside.  Although she still had no guy with her, she had had a lot of fun with Star, and she had begun to like spending time with him. Even if she only met that morning.

Two weeks later

     Dixie woke to scratching on the door.  She hurried to the door and poked her head through the doggie-door.  She was right, it was Star.  "Hi Dixie!' He smiled. She walked out.  "There's still a few teams left, maybe we can-" Star began but Dixie interrupted. "Why don't you and I go do something!" She said quickly.  Star blinked. "Oh-That, is.. fine with me." He said slowly.

     They walked into town.  Then, Dixie wished she had stayed home.  She saw Steele, but with another girl.  She was very beautiful.  "Its OK Dixie." Star said.  Dixie buried her face in his fur, Star's heart pounded, never had a girl done that to him before.  He buried his nose into her fur.

     Dixie calmed down, they walked over to a small hill, and watched the sun set.  As the light was slowly leaving, they left.  It was almost dark when they got to Dixie's house.  She got on the porch, then, looked back at Star.  "Ya'know.." She started.  "My girls still out of town.", Star's eye's widened. Dixie walked down off the porch, and nuzzled Star. Star smiled warmly at her.

     "No... way." Kaltag mumbled to himself, not wanting them to hear him.  He saw them both go into Dixie's house.  Kaltag walked back into his own house.

     The next morning, Dixie felt a lot  warmer than she normally did.  She then remembered what had happened that night, and smiled.  "Sttaaaarrr." She yawned.  "Mm? Wa, OH!" He shouted and jumped up.  "Dixie! I-I-I'm sooo sorry! I-I didn't mean to-" Star stopped as Dixie kissed him.

---

     Shortly after they had woken up, they walked into town.  They saw Kaltag with a lot of other dogs.  "Star was actually makin' out with DIXIE?" Sylvie said.  Kaltag nodded,  "I-I-It was the weirdest! Th-Th-The craziest! The most uh-" Kaltag said, stumbling over his words.  "The closets he's ever gonna get to a girl in his life." Nikki laughed, and the others joined in.  Star looked at Dixie, who's face was bright red.  "I think we should go." She mumbled. 

     The following weeks were very difficult for them.  Everyone was always watching them when they walked by.  But some other things had changed too. 

     Dixie was by herself, she wanted to go and see Jenna.  She hadn't talked to her in a very long time.  When she arrived at her house, she scratched on the door.  Jenna peeked through the door.  "HI Dixie!" She barked.  "Hey Jenna! Wanna go for a walk?" Dixie asked.  "I wish I could, but I'm very busy with..." Jenna stopped, she was interrupted by a tiny red puppy.

     "Mommy?" The puppy asked.  "Who dis lady?".  "This is Dixie, sweety, she's mommy's friend." Jenna answered the little pup.  "HI, um, Dixie! I'm Gwen!!!" She said.  Dixie was shocked.  Jenna had a daughter? "Why don't you go play with your brothers and sisters, Gwen?"  Jenna said.  Dixie was even more shocked, she had more pups?

     Gwen walked back inside.  "how many are there?!" Dixie asked.  "Six, but they'll only be living here for a few more weeks." Jenna frowned.  "So, um, who's the father?" Dixie slowly asked, she was aware of the many dogs who had feelings for Jenna, and one of them was Steele.  "The father? How on earth could you not know? Its Balto of course!" Jenna said.

     Dixie's eye's widened. "Balto?" She asked. Dixie thought about it for a moment, then remembered Star.  "Well, I hear you've been poking your nose around with Star." Jenna winked.  She looked to Dixie's side.  "Are there any little one on the way?" She asked.  Dixie gave her a puzzled look, then looked down at her stomach. "Whoa.." She said in a whisper. It wasn't obvious unless you were standing right  next to her, but, you could tell you had gained some weight.

     "So does Star know?" Jenna asked. Dixie looked back up at her. "Huh? Oh- N-No, I don't think so." She mumbled.  "Well, you need to go tell him, an I have to go anyway, bye." Jenna said, and Dixie began to walk home.  When she finally got home, she found