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Snow flew everywhere as Steele and his team thundered through the finish line. He stopped abruptly after he was assured they'd won the race. The dogs behind him crashed into him, sending the malamute sprawled out on his stomach.

Bounty's abnormal eyes locked onto his. He lowered his ears while his face showed no emotion.

"Way to go Steele." She huffed.

A dog from the other team, who just happened to be Steele's younger sister Aska, shoved the malamute. "Leave him alone."

Bounty growled at the dog. "Back off you stupid whelp."

Aska uncovered her teeth. "You need to learn how to hold your tongue."

Their mushers had just walked over and she closed her mouth. He released Bounty and walked to the front to unhook Steele and the rest of his team. Bounty smirked before flicking her tail in Aska's face and walking away.

"That arrogant little-!" She leap towards her, nearly strangling herself in the process.

Steele chuckled. He knew it was horrible, but his sister didn't always use her head. When she did, however, she was quite intelligent. She shook her fur violently before she was freed and trotted over to her brother.

"So Steele, what are we gonna do today?" She asked.

The bigger malamute smiled. "I was thinking maybe raiding the butcher's meat locker?"

"Sounds like a plan!" Aska laughed. "Which maneuver shall we be using this time?"

"The usual."

"Oh, ok. Who's gonna be the distraction?"

"Why, you of course!"

Aska stopped. "Why am I always the distraction?"

"Because," Steele explained, "you can act better than I can."

"Oh, yeah right." Aska rolled her eyes.

Steele chuckled. "Yeah, right. You used to fake your way out of everything when we were with Mom and Pop."

"True." Aska smirked and lowered herself to the ground, raising her paw slightly. "Not everyone can be blessed with the blood of a thespian."

His chest rumbled with laughter, before a fleck of red caught his eye. Aska cocked her head, glancing in the direction where her brother was heading and grinned. He'd caught sight of Jenna and Balto.

She knew he wouldn't be too thrilled with Balto, and he'd probably just taunt him, but he'd be able to stand the hybrid's company providing that Jenna was there. She hated the way he treated mixed breeds, especially Balto. And she especially hated when he'd scold her for being friendly with Balto.

"Hey Jenna." The malamute said with a tone as smooth as ice before gazing at the brown hybrid. "Wolf-dog."

Aska pushed her brother. "Knock it off, Steele. Hi Balto. Jenna."

Both canines smiled and issued a simultanious "Hello."

Steele snickered, and Aska slammed her paw on top of his. His eyes widened and he gritted his teeth together. Had Jenna not been in his presence, he would've yowled and screamed like a newborn human pup. Aska would probably have gotten a whomp on the head, too.

Aska sat herself up and smiled at Balto. She liked him as a friend. Nothing more, and nohting less. She didn't always have a chance to talk with him since she was always with her brother, but she enjoyed talking with him when she could.

"So, Aska, how's life on a leash treating you?"

The malamute grunted. "Terrible I hate it."

A shocked expression crossed Balto's face. "Really? How so?"

"Where should I begin?" She stated. "You're forced to pull a heavy sled, the food you get is disgusting, you have to sleep with a bunch of other dogs you don't know..."

She paused. "Should I continue?"

Balto chuckled. "Sounds like paradise commpared to how I live."

"What? Freely?" She asked. "I'd love being a stray."

"Hey," Balto said, "at least you eat every day. I eat maybe twice or thrice a week."

Steele growled softly. No matter how much he wanted to be around Jenna, hearing his younger sister and this mutt converse about such nonsense sickened him. He wanted to leave. Now.

"Come on Aska." He huffed. "We have other plans, remember?"

Aska furrowed her brow. "I'm in the middle of a conversation, Steele. Leaving would be rude."

Steele shook his head and grabbed her collar in his teeth. She gasped and started struggling as he dragged her away from the hybrid and Jenna.

Once the were a good distance away, he finally released her. Aska tackled him into the snowed and grabbed him by the throat. Surprised, he rolled onto his side and knocked her loose of him. She didn't bite hard enough to draw blood, but it was enough to scare him.

"What's wrong with you!" She barked.

"What's wrong with me?" He retorted. "What about you, talking with that mutt like he was a pure-"

"Oh, would you just shut up with the pure blooded, stuff?" She snarled. "He's just as good as we are!"

"Ha! You're joking right?" He laughed.

Aska stared at him. "No, I'm not. It's sick how you talk about other dogs, especially Balto! There's nothing wrong with him!"

Steele shook his head. "Why do you even care? Its not like he's your boyfriend!"

The last word left his mouth like it had a foul taste to it. Aska's fur bristled and she lunged at him. Steele side-stepped her and avoided the female's attack.

"I don't like seeing my friends get hurt!"

She wheeled around and Steele prepared for another assault. Aska thundered over the ground before leaping over the bigger malamute, leaving him dumbfounded.

"Where are you going?!"

She never looked back and finally disappeared in the thick trees. Steele stood there for a few minutes before he finally decided to give her some space. She'd be back by the next morning. He was still angry with her, but there wasn't anytihing he could do about it but storm back to his kennel.

*********

The next morning, the sunlight bled through Steele's eyelids. He opened them sleepily and stretched before shaking himself. Kaltag stirred in the cage next to him. Steele scoffed and laid back down until his master came to let him out.
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To Be Continued

I loved it! Can wait until Part 2!

This is really good! I can't wait until part two!