Redd groaned and stretched. Today was the day. Her friend Raven had talked her into sneaking out and joining in the him in the boiler room for a surprise. From the position of the sun, Redd could tell it was already around noon. She smiled. Although no one knew, Redd secretly thought she liked Raven. For over a week now she had felt shy and flustery around him, often finding it hard to speak to him. She hoped this meeting was what she thought it was.

The day passed agonizingly slowly. Redd was not the dog to lay around, though. Her small body was amazingly compact and muscular. She was on one of Nome's sled-teams, and although she had the summer off, she needed to stay fit.

She ran around town part of the day, then joined up with her friend Dingo and his sister Saba for a late lunch. By sunset, she was tired, and went home for dinner. Her father asked her how her day had been, and she answered with the usual, "Fine," and continued to eat. By midnight, when Redd was supposed to sneak out, she was absolutely giddy.

She managed to get past her father, but barely. Once outside, she ran as fast as she could, reaching the boiler room in less than a minute. She opened the door to see Raven lying there, under a blanket. His head raised as he heard the door open, and he smiled. He stood up, letting the blanket fall from him.

Redd began, "So, what are we here for?"

Raven's smile faded. "Wow, I thought his would be so easy. I had this conversation with myself so many times. I don't know where to start! Well, let's put it this way. Do you have...feelings for me?"

Redd stood open-mouthed. This is what she had wanted, so why couldn't she speak?

Finally, she gasped out, "Yes! Yes I do! Well, I think I do. I don't know."

Raven's whole body seemed to relax with one big sigh. He rolled his shoulders like his uncle Steele often did, then looked at Redd.

"So what now?" Redd asked. "I mean, do you have feelings for me?"

Raven hung his head, blushing. "Yeah." He plopped back down and pulled the blanket back over himself. Redd walked over and nosed her way under the blanket too. The much-smaller red dog was dwarfed by the big black husky.

The silence scared Redd out of her wits. It was terribly awkward, and this... being so close to Raven felt...weird. Instinctively, yes, because they were friends, but to her heart, no. She did like Raven, and she wasn't about to let anyone take that away. Moving painfully slowly, Redd placed her head on Raven's huge paws.

Startled at first, Raven's head pulled back, but he lowered it again and rested his head on the smaller dog's neck. It was comfortable for both of them, just laying there and not speaking. Still, Raven felt active, and he wanted to move.

Slowly and softly at first, Raven began to lick the back of Redd's neck, back behind her ears, and up onto her cheek. As he heard Redd's tail begin to thump against the ground, he stopped. This was weird. This was wrong. But it felt right.

Redd looked up at Raven, her green eyes shining. The red dog rolled onto her back, her paws in the air. She looked like a puppy, and Raven couldn't help but rubbing his face in Sparks's soft chest fur. Redd returned the nuzzle happily, Raven licking at her nose. Suddenly, Redd rolled back onto her stomach and turned away.

"What's wrong?" Raven asked sadly, afraid that his friend was rejecting him. "Is something wrong?"

Redd sighed. "It's just, we're moving so fast, almost too fast."

"Well, did you like it?"

"Yeah, but what about the others? What will they think?"

"They don't have to know. This can be completely secret if you want."

"I guess that's okay. Still, I think I should go home. We'll plan another night tomorrow."

Raven stood and nuzzled his friend goodbye. He watched as the small, muscular dog ran off into the darkness and sighed. Finally.

* * * * *

Weeks passed quickly, and Redd and Raven spent nearly every night together. Though the were, to themselves, officially a couple, they had not done 'it', as they called it. They were lucky, too. Not once had they been caught yet, and not once had anyone even thought about their being together.

One night, the two were out in the fields with their friends Dingo and his girlfriend, Sandy. They spent most of the time focused on each other, leaving more time for Raven and Redd to be alone.  Ignoring each other like they were was killing them both, and finally Raven had had enough.

"Hey," he tried to say casually to Redd. "Wanna take a walk in the woods?"

"Sure," Redd replied as best she could without shouting a happy yes. She could read between the lines. 

The two dogs walked for seconds only, but to both it seemed like hours. Redd was quivering with anxiety. She could see how anxious Raven was, as well. The larger dog's ice-blue eyes were flicking back and forth in front of him. They reached an old oak and laid down. They started with their usual licks, but before long Raven got bored with that.

"Hey Redd?" He asked cautiously.

"Mmm?" Came the reply.

"Do you wanna try 'it'?"

"Uh...I guess we could try."

"Okay. Wait a sec."

"Wait!"

"What?"

"Just wondering, have you been with other girls before?"

"Yeah, just not in Nome. I was younger."

"Alright. Um... maybe we shouldn't do this."

"Yeah, maybe."

Raven stepped away from Redd and rolled his shoulders. He laid down next to Redd again and began kissing him. Seconds later, both huskies turned their heads to see Dingo and Sandy staring at them, open mouthed.

"What are you doing?" Dingo asked, his eyebrows scrunching together in a scowl.

"Please don't say anything," Redd pleaded. "We'll explain!"

"Start," Sandy said, her eyes wide. Raven and Redd looked at each other. Raven began.

"I think it's best if we just say it. Redd and I are a couple."

"You mean," Dingo said, "like Sandy and I?"

Redd and Raven nodded gravely. Taking a menacing step forward, Raven snarling, "Say anything against us or to anyone and I'll skin your hides!"

The other three dogs were startled at his severity. He softened and apologized.

"So no one knows?" Sandy asked. "How long has this been going on? Why didn't you tell us?"

"No one knows about us," Redd replied.

"We've been seeing each other every night for about three weeks." Raven continued.  

"Anyway," Redd said, her voice quieting. "We were afraid of what the others would think. About how this would affect the team."

Dingo nodded in understanding. Sandy slowly shook her head, her voice cracking a little as she spoke.

"I just don't understand why you didn't tell us. Don't you trust us?"

Redd and Raven both saw the hurt in her eyes. Stepping forward, Redd gave her friend a reassuring hug.

"We weren't thinking too clearly. We were just afraid of our dads finding out."

Redd and Raven both shuddered involuntary. Their fathers weren't exactly worst enemies, but they were close. If they even found out, even heard a whisper, both were positive that they would be taken off of the team and placed under house-arrest.

And despite all that Dingo and Sandy had said about keeping the secret, the next day all of Nome knew.

*****

"Sweetheart, what were you thinking?"

The news had spread fast. Redd's father was giving her a hard time about what he had just found out.

"I was thinking that I love him. Get out of my way, Dad."

Redd's father was shocked. "Where do you think you're going young lady?"

"I'm going for a run!" Redd spat.

"You're going to see...him."

"No, I'm not! Why can't you just trust me?"

Redd didn't wait for the reply. As fast as she could she darted out of her house and away from her father. Nome quickly disappeared behind her as she swiftly loped towards the forest. The forest! It was all wolf territory. If a dog set one paw over the line they'd be ripped to shreds. As Redd slowed to a stop, a smirk snaked its way onto her muzzle.

Running even faster than before, she turned around and headed for Dusty's house. Dusty listened to her Redd's plans and agreed to relay messages between her and Raven.

"It could be dangerous, though." Dusty warned.

"I don't care," Redd insisted. "Life without Raven isn't life at all."

Dusty smiled. However, the mutual happiness was short-lived. Redd's father rounded the corner of the porch, looking exhausted and so furious it made both girls cringe.

"You...are coming home...this instant!" Redd's father growled between pants. "Do...you hear me?"

Redd laid her ears back. "Yeah, Dad. Whatever."

As she was walking away, she turned and winked at Dusty, who smiled. This might just work after all!

*****

Raven had been confined to a similar fate, only his father's temper was much worse. His father had threatened to take him off the team, and the idea appalled Raven. He was locked in the house all day, bored out of his wits.

Around midnight that night, Dusty showed up at his door. Her smile was so huge Raven automatically knew she had a plan.

"Is your dad here?" She whispered cautiously.

Raven nodded. "He's asleep upstairs."

Dusty smiled. "Good. Now listen up."

She explained Redd's plan. Raven beamed with pride. One of the things he loved most about Redd was her brains. He decided to go along with the idea, no matter how dangerous it got.

"If you need anything, just tell me," Dusty finished. "I'm your personal messanger to Redd."

Raven thought for a moment. His piercing eyes grew terribly soft.

"Tell her," he began, "that no matter what happens tommorrow, that I will always love her. Always."

Dusty's smile grew even larger, her eyes brimming with tears. "She told me that life without you isn't life at all. I hope things turn out okay. And don't worry about the wolves. I worked things out with them."

Raven smiled as Dusty left through the dog-door. The second she was gone, her smile disappeared. "But they never said anything about not hurting you," she muttered.

Quickly she ran to relay the latest news to Redd, who was pretending to be asleep in the livingroom. When she heard Dusty approaching, she got up.

"Well?" She asked anxiously.

"The plans are all set. Noon tomorrow."

Redd hesitated. "Did...did Raven say anything?"

Dusty smile for what seemed like the millionth time that night.

"He said that no matter what happened, he would always love you."

Redd sniffed back tears, but before she knew it, she was practically sobbing into Dusty. Dusty hugged her friend, crying herself. Both of them knew this might be the last time they saw each other. They tried to be quiet, but before long, Redd's father appeared at the bottom of the stairs.

"What's going on here?" He asked harshly.

Redd was thinking on her toes. "Oh, Daddy!" she wailed. "I know you said I couldn't see anyone, but Dusty's human is horribly sick and they might have to leave Nome!"

Redd's father softened immediately. "Oh, Dusty, I'm so sorry!" He whispered. "You take the time that you need with Redd."

"That's okay, sir," Dusty sniffed. "My girl needs me now!"

She poured out a fresh wave of fake sobs. Redd was surprised her masters didn't wake, and also how good of a liar Dusty was. Redd gave her friend one more lick on the cheek before Dusty left, still crying.

"That's too bad," Redd's father murmured. "I hope things turn out okay." Then he turned around and went back upstairs.

Redd sighed and laid down on the rug. Tomorrow.

*****

Redd's eyes snapped open. Something wasn't right, but what? With a gasp, she realized it must already be around noon.

"Good morning, sleepyhead!" Her father called. "You still can't go outside today, hun."

Redd realized this to be the best chance she had. She furrowed her brow and shouted furiously, "I'm sick of you treating me like a pup!" and ran out the door.

"Redd!" Her father shouted from behind her. "Wait!"

Keep running! She thought. Almost there! From the corner of her eye, she could see a black figure being chased by a grey figure. It was working! Redd began angling towards Raven, making sure her father wasn't too far behind. When at last she and Raven were side by side, she licked his ear, the signal for them to speed up. The fathers were hardly able to keep up. The forest was approaching. At the edge of the trees, Redd and Raven slowed to a halt. Raven nuzzled Redd sadly. They could hear the wolves snarling behind them in the bushes as they turned to face their fathers.

"Stop...this...foolishness!"

Neither of the fathers could breathe very well after the high speed chase.

Snarling at his father, Raven growled a harsh, "No!"

"What right," Redd snarled, "do you have to keep us apart? Are you two old greydogs too blind to see that? I love him!"

The two older dogs winced as though Redd's words were whips across their backs.

"I love her too," Raven whispered. His nose touched softly behind Redd's ear, another signal.

Redd shuddered, afraid of what she was about to do. Taking a shaky breath, she growled, "And if you don't let us have what we want..." She picked up a paw and began moving it towards the trees. Redd had almost put it down when a huge wolf head appeared from the bushes, barking madly and snapping at her paw. Redd jumped out of the way, knowing all too well that the wolves wouldn't hesitate to kill her.

The fathers looked at each other, the horror in their eyes too great to describe.

Raven's father spoke first. "Cedar..." Redd looked at her father. She hadn't heard his name in so long she had almost forgotten it. "...Maybe we should let them..."

"...have their way." Cedar finished. "Coal, you're right."

"Promise," Raven and Redd growled at the same time.

"We promise," The fathers said. Coal added under his breath, "...But we won't like it."

Redd was giddy with relief. Raven was shaking all over.

"Come on," he said. "Let's go do something. I need to move."

He and Redd raced off towards town to tell everyone the good news.