When midnight came,Nera was waiting silently as the waves moved back and forth.

"Where could he be?" She wondered. "I may have just met him,but he shouldn't always be late for scheduled plans."

She suddenly heard panting. She looked up to see Race running up to her.

"Sorry i'm late." He said,breathlessly. "I couldn't get out of the house. My human's daughter wouldn't let me go."

Nera chuckled. "It's alright. I can understand how annoying humans can be sometimes."

They both stared at the ocean as the moonlight made it glisten with stunning beauty.

"Wow." Race said in A whisper. "I never knew the ocean could be this.........amazing."

"I know." Nera said. She stared at Race with A dreamy look in her eyes.

"This is so strange." She thought. "I get this weird feeling whenever i'm with him. Everytime I see him.....I get so lost in his.......shiny,golden fur."

"Nera,are you alright?" Race asked,just now noticing he was staring at her.

"Huh?.............Oh,yeah. I'm fine." She answered,A bit nervous.

Nera took A deep breath. "Race............there's something I want to tell you."

"Oh? What is it?"

She gulped nervously. "I........"

Right then,A growl was heard the next thing Nera knew,Race was pinned to the ground by A familiar malamute.

"It's payback time!!" Steele snarled at him.

"Leave him alone,Steele!!" Nera shouted.

"Oh? And what are you gonna do,princess?"

"Don't you dare call me that!!"

Steele chuckled. "Whatever." He turned to Race. "Now where were we?"

Without hesitation,Nera tackled Steele into the water.

"Are you okay?" She asked Race.

"Yeah. Thanks to you." He smiled at her.

Steele shook himself to get the water off of him. "That does it!! Your toast,princess!!"

He ran straight toward her,but another dog tackled him before he could reach her.

"Balto!!" Nera shouted.

The two dogs started biting and tackling each other,non-stop.

"Oh man! What do we do?" Race said in worry.

"Let's not get involved. I'm sure Balto can handle it." Nera said.

After A few moments of mild violence,the result was Steele knocked into the water and Balto breathing heavily.

"You just don't know when to give up,do you?" Balto said.

Steele shook himself again. "Fine. You win this round." He walked past him,but before he walked past Nera and Race,he whispered, "I gurantee that Balto won't save you next time!"

They looked back him in terror as he walked off.

"You two okay?" Balto asked.

"We're fine." Nera said. "But how'd you know we were here?"  "I heard the fighting from the boat." Balto turned his head towards its direction.

"Well,thanks for saving us." Race said.

"No problem. But you two better be careful from now on. You never know when creeps like Steele will pop up." He walked back to the boat with concerened thoughts in his mind.

Nera looked at Race. "So,......should we go home.......because.......this whole thing......kinda feels...?"

"Awkward?" Race finished for her.

"Yeah." She nodded.

"Before we go,what was it you wanted to tell me?"

"Um......nothing. It's.......not important anymore."

They said him good night to each other and went back to their homes.

The next morning,Nera walked began her morning walk,even though she didn't need it.

"I know that I haven't been thinking about change lately,but.....still I find these strolls A good way to gather my thoughts."

"What exactly was I going to tell Race last night? I remember,..........but at the same I don't. Why is it that I feel strange whenever i'm with him? Is it........?" She shook her head. "No,it couldn't be! I don't feel that way around him." She stopped walking. "But if that's true.........why is my heart racing? Why do I picture him in mind 24/7?" She sighed. "Why do I feel this way? Why do I feel like I don't love him,but at the same time,I do?" She started to cry. "Why do I keep asking myself all these questions? Why......why is there so much wrong with me?"

She lied down in the snow and started sobbing quietly.

"Hey........what's the matter?" She looked up and saw Race standing in front of her.

She stood up quickly and rubbed the tears from her eyes. "Hi,Race. How've you been?"

Race ignored the question. "Why were you crying just now?"

"I wasn't crying. I was enjoying the snow. It's.......more fun that way." She laughed,nervously.

Race stared at her with an "I'm not buying it!" look.

"I'm alright." She tried to persuade. "Don't get so worried."

Race placed his paw on her left cheek. "You tell me you're alright,............but your eyes tell me that you aren't."

Nera stared at him with A shocked look.

"Please." He begged. " Tell me what's wrong."

She took his paw away. "You wouldn't understand. No one would."

She started to walk away,but she stopped when she heard whining behind her. "Race,stop it!"

She continued walking,but Race caught up to her and whined again. "Race,that's not going work! I'm not telling you,so just leave me alone."

He nuzzled her gently. Nera was stunned at this.

He looked at her with concerened eyes. "Please." He whispered. "Tell me."

She sighed and shook her head. "I'm sorry."

She walked past him,but he didn't stop her by following. He said, "Don't you love me?"

Nera stopped. "Wha.....why would you say that?"

Race turned his gaze to her. "Because I love you."

Nera gasped. "What?" She whispered.

Race walked closer to her. "I've loved you ever since we first met. I really care about you,Nera. And I want you to share your feelings with me." He nuzzled her again. "Please.....I want to know."

Nera could feel tears dropping on her coat. Tears dropped from her eyes too.

They sobbed together as they nuzzled at the same time.

"Race...." She whispered.

"Nera...." He whispered back.

At that time,...........Nera learned that the best way to get rid of your clouding thoughts........is to find someone who loves you.