Nome, 1926	

Chapter1- The realization

--Star walked through the main street of nome, next to his pal, the Hero of the Diptheria Outbreak, was the Wolf-Dog, Balto. Balto led Star silently to his Boat, where they found the Russian snow goose, Boris, mopping the decks, and muttering in Russian. The whole way, Star was chattering about this and that to Balto. When they reached the boat, he sat down, and talked to Boris. 
"so... Boris, how have you been?" Star said, sitting his small Husky Body down next to the old Goose. Boris stopped, and turned to the perpetually cheery Star. "how am vi doing?" he asked while glancing around quickly- "I am not good at all!" He leaned close and whispered in Star's ear, "It is those bears. Muk and Luk... They are driving ve crazy!" As he said it, two white blurs streaked over the deck, and tackled the unprepared snow goose. They hugged Boris until it looked like his eyballs would pop out of his skull, which made Star laugh quietly to himself. 'those bears always cheer me up!' he thought, as Boris swore in Russian before saying, "Idiot Bears!!! You squishing ve! Let Go!" The bears relenquished their grip, before noticing Star. 
They rushed over, and plopped down in front of him. "Star!! Buddy!!" The small one cried out happily, hugging Star. "Hey Muk! Hi Luk, do you want to play?" Star asked, smiling happily. But then before either of them could respond, a purplish goose dropped out of the sky, landing in front of Boris, hugging him. 
"Boris, baby! Are you ready to go?" Stella- for that was who it was- said, rubbing Boris' shoulders. The Old snow goose, muttered something in Russian, before saying, "ov course, Stella, I amv ready" he said goodbye to Balto, and nodded at Star, who smiled back. And flew off, barely off the ground. 
As he watched them go, Star felt a sudden loneliness. 'man. Even old boris has a girlfriend.' he thought sadly, laying down, face uncharactisticlely depressed. Balto saw this, and walked over to his friend. He sat down next to Star and, he saw the look in his face, and he knew what it was that ailed his friend. "Star. Are you ok?" he asked, despite that he already knew what was wrong. Star looked at him, and forced a smile, but sadness still clouded his usually bright eyes. "hm? Oh, yeah Balto, Im fine, i was just... thinking. You know?" he said, and sat up. Balto smiled at his long time friend. 
"come on, buck up star. Youll find someone eventually. There is someone out there for everyone. If I can find a mate, you finding one should be easy. Balto smiled inwarrdly as he though of Jenna. "I mean, you have a sense of humor and you are funny. Girls like that. Look at me, I am grisly and hardened. If I can find someone, you definetly can." Star looked at Balto and his face lit up. 
"You really think so? Wow, thanks Balto,I feel alot better now. Oh, I better go, it is getting late. My master will be wondering where I am. Bye Balto!" And he jumped down, and ran back to town, thinking hard about what Balto had said. When he reached his house, he squeezed through the doggie door, and jumped up on his master lap. Mr. Lakmin, scratched Star behind the ears, as Star yawned and closed his eyes. "good boy star." his master said, and yawned also. Star smiled and fell asleep, his dreams of the sled team, among other things. 


Chapter 2- The Plane

When star woke up, he was lying on the floor at the foot of his masters bed. He stood up and stretched. 'today is a big day, today duke comes back!' Star ran outside and found Kaltag waiting for him. The golden chinook smiled as his overzealous friend skidded to a stop in front of him. "today is an important... the most crucial, the-the most required--- " Kaltag started, but, true to form, Star cut in saying-"This is important!" Kaltag reached over to bonk him on the head, but before he could, Balto and Jenna walked up, Balto looked nervous at seeing his friend Duke again. The bush pilot had promised Balto a surprise when he came back. And Balto was excited and nervous at the same time. Star rushed up to jenna and balto and yipped, "Hi guys! Are you excited? Where is Dusty and Kodi? And where is Dingo? " he continued until Jenna stopped him, smiling. 
"They are all waiting at the airfield already Star. Calm down a little.." But in truth, everyone liked him. His perpetually cheery personality made everyone feel better. The airfield was newly built, and the small two gate terminal was shiny from the steel they built it from. Noone knew why it was so big. They just knew it was. Together, the four of them walked to the airfield, chatting happily and laughing. As they approached the airfield, a large black and white malamute walked up. This broken and lonely dog, was, in fact- Steele. After what he had done very few dogs or humans would so much as look at him. He walked up to them, and sighed. He spoke slowly, his voice icy, but it held the tone of one, who is sad and lonely. "hi guys. Mind if I join you?" he asked. Kaltag and balto looked instantly alert, and almost growled, but Jenna and star said- "sure steele." they walked with steele, though almost all conversation had stopped now. As they reached the airfeild, almost the entire population of nome was gathered at the edge of the runway, canine and human alike.
They were all watching the sky and the 4 of them looked to see what it was. In the sky, in the distance, a black speck grew slowly larger. The steady thrum of aviation engines reached them, and the speck grew into a clearly defined shape. Everyone, dog or human, gasped at its size. The airplane was a dull shiny steel, three engines, one on each wing, and one on the nose, powered the plane into view, and through the windshield, Duke and another human were clearly visible, both concentrating hard. Everyone stepped away, as the plane lined up for its landing. It touched down, and the tires squealed, as the brakes caught, and the plane slowed to a stop. 
Everyone gathered around the plane as the engines were cut-out. The engines windmilled to a stop, and in the windows, many people and dogs were visible. (the plane, was a Ford 4-AT tri-motor, top of the line. And on the side was a sight which made Balto Blush bright red. On the side, painted in large, block letters, were the words, Balto Airlines, and in smaller letters, underneath it, was, Seattle-Juneau-Anchorage-Nome. 
Jenna looked at balto, and nuzzled him and smiled. He smiled back, still red. He walked up to the plane as the door opened. Duke stepped out, and saw Balto. "Hey boy! Did you miss me as much as I missed you?" he said, and scratched Balto on the head. Balto barked in reply, and sat, panting before him.. Duke turned around, and said loudly, "Welcome to Nome everyone! This is the great Balto!" Everyone in the plane climbed off, and gathered around Balto. They all praised him for rescuing the kids and saving Nome. Jenna squeezed through the crowd and stood beside her husband. All the new arrivals went, aaawwww... as Jenna and Balto nuzzled one another. Then they dispersed slightly, and were greeted by the current residents of Nome. Then, their canine companions gathered around Balto, and they all praised him in the same way. When he was able, he and Jenna escaped and made their way back over to the others. Kodi and Dusty, along with Dingo had joined Kaltag and Star. Kodi nuzzled dusty, who giggled. Then, one black husky, with a white streak along her side, and green eyes made her way over to them. She saide- "Hi.... um... I am... um... heh, this is awkward..." she blushed furiously as they all smiled and introduced themselves. Meanwhile, star was watching her, and when he introduced himself, she walked over and sniffed him. He stood stock-still, as she smelled him, and smiled. He smiled back weakly, and she said- "hi, Im Tanya. You smell nice." Star blushed furiously and turned away.. The others grinned at one another. Tanya smiled, then turned to Balto. 
"so, you are the famous Balto that I’ve heard so much about. That was really brave, what you did." Jenna smiled, and Balto grinned. He then said- "It was nothing. Besides I couldnt have been able to do it without their help." He pointed with a paw at Kaltag, who smiled and nodded, then at Star, who blushed furiously again, and looked at the ground. 'she is really cute. He thought to himself. Maybe shed like to get dinner sometime... Wait, what am i thinking?! She doesn’t like me....' And with that thought, he forced a smile, and then walked sadly away. 
Tanya, who sensed he was upset about something, was about to ask him about it, but then her master called her over, and she said goodbye,k before rushing over, barking happily. Dusty and Kodi smiled and started singing- "Star's in LO-OVE!" but Balto silenced them with a look, before taking off after Star. He ran up, and asked him- 
"Hey, buddy, whats wrong? Why the sad face? She like you you know." Hew said, and star looked up at Balto, and smiled. "Thanks Balto, but I have to think. And with that, he ran to his house, and lay down on his bed by the fireplace, where he curled up and closed his eyes. He thought of Tanya, and smiled to himself, before watching the fire flicker in the fireplace. 

*******

'he’s cute' was Tanya’s first thought when she saw star. He was watching her, and when he introduced himself, she walked over and smelled his fur. 'he smells good... Like the first rain of spring...' She smiled a him, and said, "Hi, I’ m Tanya! You smell nice." She was immediately embarrassed, and he turned beet red. When Balto had introduced Star and Kaltag, Star suddenly looked away, and walked away sadly. She wondered what it was, and was about to ask him, when her master, a woman named Lilith, called her. She said goodbye, and took one last look at Star, before running over to Lilith. She barely heard the younger two, Dusty and Kodi, sing loudly-- "Star is in LO-OVE!!" She blushed and watched Balto run after Star. She and her owner made their way to a large building, the hotel, and checked in.. Both exhausted, they lay down on the bed, and lilith hugged Tanya before going to sleep. Tanya lay awake for a time, thinking about Star, just as he was thinking about her.


Chapter 3- The Northern Lights

The next morning, Star woke up, to find his master had already left, so he walked out into the living room, and sat by the dieing fire, to warm his fur. He

shivered slightly in the chill morning air, Suddenly remembering that beautiful husky he had met yesterday, he sat bolt upright, and a thousand images flashed 

thorugh his brain, he whimpered as his head started to hurt. 'oh man.... i have to talk to her today... i HAVE to ask her something.....' he thought to himself, and 

jogged to the front door. He jumped through teh dog door, and immediately slipped on the icy porch. He slid off the porch whimpering, and landed face first in a 

snow drift. Sneezing, he sat up, and shook the snow out of his fur. He looked around, and was amazed to see tons of people milling around, most standing in front

of the one, single realty building in nome. 'these must be all teh people from the plane!' he thought to himself. 

He walked toward jenna's house, to see jenna, and maybe kodi, and suddenly he spotted a black blur racing toward him- and he barked in panic, and dove 

into the snow- and tanya tripped over him, and did a somersault, and landed on her back in the snow. Star stood up, and ran over to her, and said, "Are you ok 

tanya?!" 
She just looked at him for a second, then burst out laughing! Star just cocked his head at her, then blushed light pink. He stood for a second, then he too 

burst out laughing, they laughed until they thought their sides would split open. Finally, she stopped laughing, and with the occasional giggle, told him, "I'm so sorry! 

I didn't mean to trip over you like that! I just thought you might show me around Nome, since I'm new." *leans closer, and her, and Star noticed that her eyes 

sparkled like fresh ice on a sunny morning.. Star smiled warmly. "Of course I'll show you around! How could I refuse a pretty lady like yourself?" 'wow! This is 

working better than I had hoped! I didn't even have to find her and ask her myself!' Star thought happily to himself, and with that, he bounded off down the street,

Tanya laughing, then running after him. 
And so, throughout the whole day, Star showed her all of Nome. From the Dark Alleyways of the back part of town, to the newer, nicer buildings. She 

frequently commented on how nice the town was, and Star even managed to capture little tid-bits about her own life. She said she was from Seattle Washington, 

where her owners owned a small shop that sold just about anything. At one point she even said- "You know something, it's nice to get away from the busy streets, 

and hustle and bustle of the city." At that point, she had scooted a bit closer to star, and brushed him with her tail, "I think i am going to like living here a LOT! hee hee!" 
Later that day, when the sun had gone down, they sat just on top of the tall cliff near Nome, and watched the sunset the whole western sky beautiful shades of

pink, and red, and orange. The fat and bloated orange sun, slowly sank below the horizon, making the snow shimmer and the whole world seemed to light up. 

Star turned to look at her, and saw a radiant smile on her face, the setting sun, reflected in her eyes. The sun set, and a blanket of darkness seemed to wash over 

the land. At that point, an idea occoured to Star. He stood up and said to her, "come on! I want to show you something!" 'I hope she likes it....' Tanya 

shrugged, and followed him to the other side of the hill. Where the multi-colored broken bottles sat. He told her, "stay here! You'll like this!" 'I hope...' 

He found the lantern, and carried it over to the bottle caps, where he opened the shutter and said to her, "Balto taught me this trick. Watch...."He pointed to

the Lantern. "The sun.......' Then to the bottles. "The polar ice caps....... And to the north....." Beams of multi-colored light shot out of the bottles, bathing the hillside

in Bright, red, yellow, purple, green, blue, and all sorts of colors. Tanya gasped, and her mouth hung open. As star looked at her that moment, he felt feelings that

he had never felt before in his life. He looked at her, and as her black fur gleamed in the light of the northern lights, he realized how beautiful she was.... And that 

he felt feelings about her, that had never before entered his brain.

It's Beautiful!!!" She said, and then turned to him, smiling. Star smiled back, and sat down by her. She hesitated for a moment, then said, "um.. Star?" Star

turned to look at her. 

"Yes?" She moved closer to him. "um.... I.... I.........I....." Then she kissed him. Her mouth wrapped around his, and star just stood there, for a second, in 

total brainlock. After a moment, he closed his eyes, and kissed her back. He didnt know how long they stayed like that, lips locked together, it could have been 

weeks, or years. But there was one thing he was sure of. He never wanted it to end.... After what seemed like an eternity, they broke apart, each grinning 

sheepishly. Then, she whispered in his ear, "I love you.. Star..." Star's eyes opened wider, if that was possible, and then said to her, "I love you too tanya.." They 

kissed again, and at that exact moment, Balto and Jenna walked into view, and they just stared when they saw them, their muzzles locked together. 

Until at last, Balto swallowed, and said, "er-hem..." The two broke apart, and when they saw balto and jenna, they each swore, and turned brick red. Balto 

just smiled. "Um... Maybe we should come back another night Jenna...." She smiled and licked his nose. Yes, i think so too. Bye guys! And with that, they walked

over the hill, their tails intertwined. After a long silence, Star looked at her, and she looked at him. 

Finally, she said, "I should be getting home now.. my master will be wondering where i am...." And star nodded. And then, they started walking back to 

Nome, and A million thoughts whirled through Star's brain like a hurricane. 'I never thought i would feel this way about someone ever..... I like this feeling...' 

Together, they walked through the darkness, toward the bright lights of town.