What happened that night at the boiler room was kept a secret, it was the least Muffy and Mountaineer could do after how brutal Antara behaved.

From all the times he and his mate spend together sharing their love, what could be considered the most romantic of them; A night in the boiler room. They were rudely disturbed by Mountaineer's own sister, the encounter was so heated up, that Antara became violent enough to beat her own brother.

However I remark that night was kept secret, as gossip wouldn't have helped the cause.

"Dauber utro!" Mihaella playfully bit Antara's ear as always, wake her up. However this time a paw was slammed at her little body, sending her flying not so far from the aggressor.

"Summen von*!" Antara growled in what appeared to be german, her eyes still shut. 

Mihaella whimpered, completely lowering her body "S-s-sorry..." she muttered, leaving as quick as she could.

Finally Antara managed to stand up, judging her groans it could be guessed she didn't sleep well. The female stretched her slim body. She was quite conscious she slapped Mihaella, and pretty much she asked for it.

"The brat was being annoying" thats how Antara excused her actions. 

Three months had happened ever since that night at the boiler room, and Antara was the only one left. She turned at an abandoned dark corner, it was where Jonesy slept.

Jonesy was sold to a good friend of Mr. Schwartz (Antara's owner) to work as a sledog , even if he was terrible as such, he found a pretty black husky called Ashes, who before was his mentor. They became mates, and as far as everyone knows they live happy ever since.

Antara didn't remembered where Southwinder slept, but she was the first to leave. She had a mate to take care of, and four pups. Antara didn't worry about her much anymore. If Southwinder didn't cared about here anymore...Why would she care either?

However her heart sank when she saw that abandoned corner, Mountaineer used to sleep there. It was some weeks ago since he left. Mr. Schwartz had a hard time deciding to let him go to, but he and Muffy couldn't get away from each other. So he had to make amends with Muffy's owner, and thats how he left too.

Only Mihaella was by her side now...but for how long?

It was weird for Antara to become depressed, but she was. She felt empty, she felt alone, with really no one by her side. She was anxious and yearning for affection.

The female laid down again, and slept for many more hours. When she woke up again, she noticed that the basement was darker than it usually was. A window slowly gave a rather orange kind of light, it was almost sunset.

Antara quickly stood up, shaking her head. She was angry she had slept almost the whole day. Where was Mihaella to wake her up? In fact where was everyone?

Antara quickly came up the stairs to meet with her parents.

"Where have you been all day?" Amelieh asked, rather serious

Antara yawned. Charles chucked.

"Good morning" the old beagle spoke with friendly sarcasm. Antara smiled a bit.

"Since when did you become so lazy?" Amelieh greeted her daughter.

"Ummm...well I guess...huh I don't know" Antara rolled her eyes.

"Never-mind" Amelieh smiled "We were on our way to the main street"

"Yes, for great news. That rather annoying scottish terrier came back a while ago. He told us something wonderful" Charles interrupted

"Great news eh?" Antara asked, rather dumbfounded

"Yes, great news indeed" Charles smiled "It's a surprise"

Antara's curiosity got the best of her, so she followed both elderly dogs on their way to the main street.

Once in their arrival, Charles and Amelieh entered a house's backyard, they noticed a small doggy door. As the three made their way through it, they found themselves greeted by an orange figure. Antara entered in shock.

"M-m-mountain!" Antara's hair bristled. 

Mountaineer looked back in embarrassment, he probably didn't expect Antara to come. However he just nodded with a smile "Welcome sister..."

Antara didn't greet back, she wanted herself out of there as soon as possible.

"It's this way" Mountaineer spoke quietly, but excitement in his voice.

The four reached the warmest place of that attic. Muffy laid there on a blanket, smiling pleasantly, three small furballs suckling from her belly.

"Say WHAAAAT!" Antara had to let it out.

"Sssshhhh!" Muffy shushed, her eyes still closed "You will scare the pups" certainly she knew who was that voice from, and she wasn't exactly happy to see someone who tried to attack her three months ago. Charles and Amelia nuzzled eachother in happiness, and Muffy and Mountaineer nuzzled eachother gently.

The whole scene was making Antara sick.

"Well...I" Antara tried to greet, but she couldn't. In fact she couldn't take this anymore "Well I hope none of this pups die" She said the worst greet ever. Both elderly dogs and the new parents glared at her with annoyance. Antara didn't said anything, she just dipped her head as a silent greet and walked away.

As soon as she was out of the doggy dog, she bolted away. She wanted to cry, but that's what Muffy would like to see, but no, she was to angry to cry. 

The evening was almost present, the first starts starting to shine. 

"I hope none of this pups die" Antara furiously muttered to herself as she ran past some houses "What een domme leugen*!" she shouted in german "Those pups can die for all I care" she spoke slowly.

She felt herself blinded by fury, she felt herself trip over someone. She imediatly stood up, her fur stood like needles.

"Verdammen Sie, was das dumm mein Bein Idioten verletzt, verdammt verdammten verdammten!!!" Antara cursed in german "Dummen Bruder und sein dummes Gegenstück das ich hasse sie verdammen die Welpen verdammen verdammt verdammt!!!!"

"Hold it Antara" a voice called her out.

"Verdammt verdammten verdam-!" She stopped once she looked at who was calling her.

"JT!" Antara's eyes widened "I, well I was...!" she couln't speak.

"It's ok" The crimson male looked at her "I'm not hurt but...What was all that strange cursing you were doing!?" He said rather amused.

"It's ummm..." Antara blushed "Well it's german...my father Charles taught me, german is his my second language"

"Rrrright..." JT shrugged, Antara was a rather strange girl "I see...you were kind of angry...I-"

"It's okay" Antara reassured his friend "It's a long story"

"Well" JT smiled "I guess I have nothing to do tonight..." he spoke in that cocky tone of his "I mean if it's not too personal"

"No, It's fine" Antara deep down wanted to shout it out "I can tell you"

"Well...then come with me. Let's talk!" JT made a gesture to Antara. She blushed, all her anger seemed to vanish by just looking at his green eyes. She couldn't lie, she loved him. 

Antara followed the crimson dog, just like baby ducks following their mothers.

As both reached a small cliff, it was pretty easy for both young dogs, they weren't any trees in fact. The night was beautiful, even if there was no sign of the northern lights. From a distance Nome could be seen, not very far away. 

"Look over there Antara" JT said "See that creaky boat"

Antara focused on the abandoned ship "Yeah, what's with it?"

"My mom told me my great grandpa Balto lived there" 

"Wow!" Antara said, even if she wasn't that interested "How was he? Was he tall, strong or was he very handsome?" It was no use, anything Antara could relate to JT always had to do with handsome.

JT looked down silently "I never met him"

"Oh I'm sorry" Antara said, but JT looked even sadder "JT is anything alright?"  she crept closer to him "I'm sorry I shouldn't have asked about Balto, I-"

"No it's not that" JT sighted "Believe me, it's not about that...Anyway Antara, can you tell me what was bugging you so much?" 

"Oh right!" Antara remembered "It's kind of complicated"

"Well we have plenty of time" JT smiled "Spit it out"

Antara started telling JT what happened three months ago, she noticed JT loosing his attention, he was probably getting bored with it. So Antara instead moved to the fight in the boiler room, thats when JT's attention returned.

"So...thats why" Antara sighted, feeling down again.

"Wow that's hard" JT looked to the sky "I can't believe Mountaineer mated with Muffy, she's eight years old"

"I know ugh, It's annoying!" Antara replied "Brrr it's cold" she crouched as a gust of wind blew.

"Let me warm you up" JT chuckled pressing himself around Antara, she felt another chill a warm one, licked Antara's muzzle, she froze and she realized more than likely she was in heat.

Is that why JT was so attracted to her all of a sudden?

"No JT...!" she laughed trying to avoid him "It tickles" she laughed, and even if she was saying no, deep down she was enjoying it, she wanted more. She turned to face JT, a smile on her face, and she stroked JT's neck with her muzzle. It felt really good and thats what she was looking for.

It started getting colder, Antara started running away all giddy and happy while JT started chasing after her. Antara wanted nothing but to be around JT, but she wanted to make JT make an effort to catch her, to make him catching her worth it.

She decided to make it tricky, she played hide and seek, but JT always ended up finding her, she wanted that, but catching her wasn't easy.

Antara jumped and hid in Balto's boat. It was empty, possibly no one lived there anymore. She was tired, so she just hid inside the cabin, JT quickly found her, she was on the ground curled in the floor smiling at him, like a pup. JT came closer, but didn't expect the smaller dog to sprang up and tackle him. Both rolled on the floor. JT nuzzled her and she pressed herself against him, forgetting how horrible those last days were, it was all happiness from that moment.

As Antara woke up, she smiled happily. Even if she had no clear memory of what happened, she was happy. Once she was more conscious she realized she wasn't in the house's basement. She was...on a boat. 

"Oh gosh!" Antara stood up scared "M-m-my parents are gonna be furious!" She immediately bolted out of the boat, forgetting absolutely everything. Even if JT was there or not.

 That night was considered the most surprising for Antara, but the surprises didn't stop there was more to come.

And they came way too fast...

It is a fact that there's a moment your body starts to give you hints that mean it's time for you leave. Eventually some days later Amelieh recieved them constantly, she was always a very strong dog, but she eventually had to say goodbye. She didn't have much of a happy life, but her last days were quite a blessing, and she left with a smile in the end.

Antara now relied on Charles as her only paternal figure, the old Harrier found himself thrilled with the young pup Mihaella and started paying her the attention Antara used to.

As now Antara rarely left the house, she was always anxious and sick. and not to mention a very bad mood as well. 

Eventually one cloudy morning Antara rested peacefully on the frontdoor, it was o those cloudy snow days of late autumn when she enjoyed spacing out and think.

"Hello lonely~" Antara recogniced his voice.

"Oh great" she snorted "Seems like a rotten rat just came by..."

"I have been called worse" Gibson muttered with a cheesy grin "Much more worse"

"Seriously Gibson, don't you have some poor defenseless pup to bully?" Antara growled "What brings you here scumbag"

Gibson snorted at Antara's insult "Hmf just passing by you know, after having some fun y'know" he smiled.

"Fun?" 

"You know what kind of fun I'm talking about

"You mean...you found a mate?"

Gibson's face turned dark

"Why would *I* get a mate you idiot" Gibson retorted "It's not my style"

"Not your style" Antara led out a sarcastic smile "Or not your thing anymore"

Gibson's eyes widened "W-w-w-what do you mean b-b-by that!?"

"Oh Gibby everyone knows about it" Antara rolled on the floor "Everyone knows you've been quite different ever since you were taken to the vet, besides you are gaining some weight.

"Shut up you stupid cow!" Gibson snarled "I'm perfectly fine"

"You are perfectly BROKEN Gibson" Antara said with coldness "No one wants a dirty bully, especially a broken and fixed one like you"

Gibson no longer looked furious, instead he looked miserable, he walked away out of sight.

Antara entered the house, even if she crushed Gibson once and for all, she just couldn't feel more guilty. Gibson was fixed not long ago and he was miserable for it.

Before she went down the stairs she heard paws scratching at the door.

"Now what's is it!" she snorted as she walked toward the door again, as she came out she froze.

"H-hi sister" 

"Moun...Mountaineer!?" Antara's eyes widened, what was her brother doing here.

"How you've been..." Mountaineer smiled.

"What do you want" Antara's tone was harsh.

"I...I need a favor..."

"Humf a favor!?" Antara looked even more defiant "You need a favor...from me?"

"Yes...I'm afraid...It's about my daughter" 

"I don't give a damn about your daughter"

"Please I'm desperate, someone could die!"

Antara narrowed her eyes "Go on..."

"You see my daughter, Nikolasa"

"I don't know her" Antara's tone was stern.

"Okay then...she is my daughter and well she was born having a striking resemblance to...you"

"Me?!" Antara's eyes widened 

"Yes, she got her looks from you...and apparently Muffy's mother as well" Mountaineer said"Muffy isn't quite happy about it. Nowadays she has been pretty violent toward Niko and I'm afraid she might kill her one day..."

"Mountaineer thats something YOU and YOUR mate must settle down" Antara "Not my problem"

"Please, I just need to find Nikolasa a safe place to live"

"...I think I might know someone who would be glad to take care of your spawn" 

"Really?!" Mountaineer's eyes went bright, still he looked miserable "Oh thanks Antara"

"Don't thank me" She faced her brother "You could make me change my mind"

"Sorry..."

"Bring your kid here tonight" Antara said "Late night, when Muffy is asleep, we will make a little journey to a friend's house"

Mountaineer nodded.

"I'll see you then" Antara said

Mountaineer tried to nuzzle her sister, but Antara growled.

"Now go away"

That evening Mountaineer aprached the front door and let out a howl, a pathetic one. Antara came from the backyard with a frown, Mountaineer was waiting for her, a little lump of fur the pup wide awake.

"Let's get going" Antara said "Follow me"

"Where are we going?" The puppy squealed

"Nobody said you could talk!" Antara growled at the child, the puppy looked down scared.

"Meanie..."

As the group kept going they started to find themselves farther from town and into dark alleys.

"We are close" Antara said

"Antara this place at night is dangerous!" Mountaineer exclaimed "I've heard lone wolves and gangs of dogs like to roam this place"

"Whoever told you is right" Antara said "This is a hostile territory, many gangs of dogs prowl this area."

"Gangs of dogs?!" Said Nikolasa "Are those like sled-teams?"

"No, youngster" Antara said "Gangs consist on a group of feral dogs, even tho sometimes pets join them. This groups are known for breaking havoc around town and harrassing other, having cats,human cubs, and pups, very elderly or female dogs as their main victims. We need to be carefull or we might-"

Antara's ears perked, she felt her fur bristle as she heard several laugher comming from many sides.

"Oh look what I just found" A voice sneered "Three brave little travelers"

"W-w-who's there!?" Mountaineer said as he placed Nikolasa on the ground.

"Or very stupid travelers." The voice laughed "Didn't your humans told you it's dangerous to roam here at night?"

Antara was pretty sure she knew that voice.

"Not just any travelers" a figure came trough the darkness "If it isn't Antara."

"Gibson?!" Antara was shocked "What was he doing here?"

"I have not forgotten what you said to me earlier" Gibson smirked "You did a terrible mistake by going here."

Then Antara remembered what she said earlier that day, even if Gibson now looked dark and cold as he has never been before, she could still notice the pain when he talked about it. It was too late for apologies tho, she looked at Nikolasa whimpering in fear, and Mountaineer's legs trembling uncontrollably didn't help either.

Antara heard another laugher mixed with growls comming through, she stood back as Gibson looked in anger.

"An enemy gang!" He said.

A larger group of dogs came out of the same darkness as the others.

"Oh but if it isn't old Jagger and his goons" Gibson spat, at the larger dog in the front 

The large dog let out a growl "Get out of my territory you pest"

"You think you and your pups can take me alone?" Gibson stood defiantly "I'm staying here"

"I believe I can take you" Jagged growled "You stinky neutered piece of-"

Gibson quickly lunged at Jagger as both dogs started to wrestle, the remaining dogs cheering.

Antara crept closer to Mountaineer "Let's get out of here at once...!" She pushed her brother, and started to get farther away from the quarrel. 

As they left the territory they reached a large house which Nome could be seen from a distance.

"Is it here?" Mountaineer said "The place?"

"Yes" Antara said "Wait here" 

Antara entered the doggy door. Leaving Mountaineer and his daughter outside.

"Father?" Nikolasa said

"What Niko dear?" He said

"Are you sure she is my aunt Antara?" Nikolasa said "You told me she was nice, gentle, and that she liked pups, but she's nothing like that"

Mountaineer looked down "I don't know what's wrong with her dear. She hasn't been herself lately."

 Nikolasa looked in disbelief, she just couldn't believe it.

"Mountain" Antara called "I'm back" Antara said as she brought another dog with her.

"Ohhh Mountain~" A young dog came by "Hi lovely"

"Aaaah not him!!!" Mountaineer's fur bristled in shock and fear "Not that f-f-freak"

"Shut up!" Antara growled at her brother "Stephenie told me he can take care of Nikolasa"

"Oh right right right my dear" Steph nodded happily "Ok like,where's the puppy"

Antara took Nikolasa and placed her in front of him.

"Oh gosh!" Stephenie sniffed the pup "Isn't she a cutie, just look at her, oh dear gosh Antara she's like identical to you"

Antara rolled her eyes "Oh boy..."

"She's a nice lady" Nikolasa smiled.

"I'm a male" Stephenie blushed "Never mind I mean like I'm unable to have pups you see I'm...fixed" He looked down in shame "I always wanted a pup to care and love, and if you can't take care of her...I'd love to"

Mountaineer hesitated, but Antara eventually convinced him.

"Please take care of her Steph" Mountaineer begged.

"Like my own child" He said "I got three more sisters living here, she will have plenty of love"

"Thank you Steph" Antara smiled "I don't know if it means to me but-"

Antara stumbled down rolling on the floor "Urrg I feel...dizziness...pain"

"Antara are you all right!?" Stephenie tried to help her stand.

"I think I'm sick" Antara struggled "It's not the first time I feel this way. it must be something I ate"

Stephenie recognized such patterns "It once happened to one of my sisters" he smiled.

"What?!" Antara said, still struggling from the pain.

"Oh you lucky lucky lovely girl!" Stephenie exclaimed.

"I'm lucky...for feeling sick?" 

"No my dear, you are expecting pups!"

"WHAAAT!?"

"You are pregnant!" He celebrated "Oh who's the lovely father?"

Antara was completely shocked, she even stopped paying attention to the pain "Oh no JT..." she thought.

She was surprised for life.

***

Summen von* Buzz off

*** damn what the stupid my leg hurts imbecile damn damn damn stupid brother and his stupid mate I hate them damn those pups damn damn damn