Lucy(c)Blackwolf123, Cody(c)Blackwolf123, Kelsey(c)Blackwolf123, Kito(c)Blackwolf123

Linder sniffed around in the snow. He could smell Cody nearby. They had just met a week ago, and had arranged to meet here. Cody didn't have much time on his paws, as he was a professional racedog. Suddenly, a huge red shape plunged out of the trees and landed right on top him. "Umm.....You're squishing me, here." Linder said. Cody jumped off of him. "Hey, how's it goin'?" he barked. Linder shrugged. "Not bad. " He tried to sound indifferent, but Cody wasn't fooled. "Things still not going well with Crystal?" he guessed. Linder rolled his eyes. "You could say that." he said. Crystal was one of the most popular dogs in town, but unfortunately for Linder she had never thought twice about a male dog goggling at her as she walked down the streets of Nome. His meetings with her always ended up with her rolling her eyes or trotting away giggling uncontrollably. Cody grinned. "Okay, what did you do this time?" Linder gave a dry little cough and told him an account of this morning's Crystal-impressing escapade, in which she had walked away rolling her eyes leaving him sprawled in the snow. At this, Cody burst out laughing. "Man!" he howled, rolling on the ground. "Just a little kindness might do the trick!" Linder shrugged and waited for Cody to get control of himself. When Cody's laughter had subsided, Linder suggested a race. Cody walked after him, still chuckling.

Crystal awoke to find Keefie, a little Samoyed puppy, standing over her. She yawned, "What is it?" Keefie rolled over on to her back and whined, "Will you play with me?" Crystal sat up. "Can't Kyra play with you?" Keefie scowled. "That's what she said!" Crystal sighed and stood up. "Yay!" Keefie yipped. As Keefie raced to the door, tripping over her own paws, Crystal couldn't help smiling. When she walked out the dog-door, she felt the usual blast of cold air hit her in the face. As soon as she was out the door, Keefie bounced around and yipped, "Let's go, go, GO! Crystal laughed as she ran beside Keefie. Then she looked down. Keefie was gone! Crystal sighed. Now it was her task to find Keefie. She turned in the opposite direction and started down the street. She passed Cody, the famous racedog's house, and then, at the next house, saw a "For Sale" sign that had been covered with another sign that said: "Sold". She stopped, interested. It wasn't often that someone moved to a little town like Nome. As she watched, a black and white female dog pushed the dog-door open and trotted down the front steps. Noticing Crystal, the dog trotted across the yard. "Hi." she said. Crystal smiled. "Hi, Are you new here?"she said. The dog nodded. "Yep. I'm Lucy, by the way. What's your name?" Crystal answered her. Lucy nodded again. Then, out of nowhere, Keefie shot into veiw and ran right into Lucy. "Sorry." she stammered, her eyes as big as dinner plates. But Lucy was laughing. "This is Keefie." Crystal said. "She lives with me." Lucy nodded, still laughing. Then Keefie rolled onto her back and said, "Can you play with me? Pleeeeeeeeeeze?"

Linder looked around the woods. A tiny scuffle in the leaves caught his eye. It seemed to be connected with the mousy smell he had noticed a moment before. Before the mouse could do anything, he struck. He demolished it in a couple of bites. Deciding he would get more in town, Linder trotted out of the forest and into Nome. "Hey Linder!" "How's it goin' Linder." He was sort of like a celebrity for being part-wolf, probably because of the famous Balto, whom he was also distantly related to. Dogs expected things like that from him, too, though usually he could avoid making a fool of himself. Crystal seemed like the only dog who did not care about his wolf heritage. She regarded him as completely normal. She was the only dog he would have liked to think him special; she thought he was just a pain. Actually, he thought, Crystal wasn't the only one who thought him a pain. Blaze, a proud, conceited racedog, regarded him as something that was just getting in the way, and Linder felt exactly the same about Blaze. Speaking of Blaze...... "Hey wolfdog." A black and tan husky strutted up to him. Linder scowled, making Blaze smirk delightedly. "Grumpy today, are we," he said. Linder growled. "Oops, " Blaze said. "Better get ahold of that 'inner wolf' before it attacks someone." Linder's patience snapped. He jumped at Blaze, who, not expecting the attack, was squashed flat in the snow. Linder jumped off him. Blaze stood up, turned to face Linder, then promptly whirled around and sped off in the opposite direction. "COWARD!" roared Linder. "YOU GET BACK HERE AND FIGHT!" Ignoring curious stares, he walked toward the beach, vaguely wondering if Crystal would be there, laughing with her friends or playing in the salty spray. Catching sight of Balto's boat, he turned, ignoring the dogs calling his name, and walked up the ramp. Balto was lying beside a pretty red husky. He smiled when he saw Linder. "Hey Linder." he said. Linder smiled. "Hi, Balto. Who is this?" he said. "This is Jenna." Balto said. Linder gulped. "Hey." he said shyly. Jenna smiled warmly. "Had a good day?"  Balto asked. Linder sighed. "Not really." Balto looked intently at Linder. "What happened?" he asked. "Blaze?" Linder shuffled his paws and nodded. Balto chuckled. "Blaze loves showing off for me, the slimy, stuck up--" Jenna glared at him. " Eh-hem.....How's Kodi?" Linder asked. Balto shrugged. "He's, um, okay. The mail team is getting better and better." Balto didn't meet Linder's eyes when he said this. The three dogs talked until dusk, and then Rosie called Jenna home, and Linder set off for his bush.

Crystal woke at sunrise the next morning. She stretched and yawned, thinking of another day with Linder popping up out of nowhere and going gaga. Then she remembered it was Saturday. Sara, her owner, didn't have school! But, of course, there was no point in waiting three hours 'til eight o'clock for the alarm clock to ring. She jumped off of her box-and-blanket bed and trotted into Sara's dark room. Crystal jumped on the bed and proceeded to yank at Sara's pajamas until: "Ugh....Crystal, do you have to wake me up this early?" Crystal cocked her head. Sara giggled. She sat up and slid off of her tall bed. Crystal leaped into the air and barked joyfully. They were going to go running! Kyra, Keefie, The Cat, Mom and Dad all stumbled sleepily into the room, scowling. The Cat hissed. Keefie laid her ears back. Kyra curled her lip, Mom yawned, and Dad said something that made Mom sputter and made Sara clap her hand to her mouth and giggle.

The crisp, cool wind of a fall morning in Nome woke Linder. He yawned. He wasn't too hungry....He'd walk into Nome and see if Crystal was out and about. She was. He heard her voice around a corner. It sounded shrill and angry. "I don't care if you think I am interfering with you and your precious Blaze! I don't even mean to. I wish he'd just mate you, and stop trying to corner me in the stupid boiler room!" Linder heard Riana, Crystal's friend, speak in her low, gravelly voice, "You wouldn't understand, Crystal." She sounded angry, almost jealous. "WELL," Crystal sounded almost hysterical. "I've got too many problems to cope with right now, even without you acting all jerky!" Linder heard a snarl and a yelp, and Riana came racing around the corner. She shot past Linder and out of sight. Linder stared for a minute. He shook his head. Maybe Crystal was still around the corner. Remembering Cody's words: "Just a little kindness might do the trick.", Linder strutted around the corner, but stopped when he saw Crystal's face. There was a small nick on her muzzle, but it was her expression that caught Linder's eye. There were tears in her eyes, but her teeth were bared in a snarl. "LINDER!" She barked. "I don't need you and your stupid games right now! You are just a nuisance to every dog you come across!" Linder opened his mouth angrily, then closed it again, curled his lip, and scowling, brushed past Crystal and hurried down the street.

Crystal blinked, then opened her mouth in horror at what she had just said. Linder hadn't done anything wrong. Sure, he was a nuisance and an idiot, but that didn't mean she had to say horrible things about him. Not to his face, anyway. Anxiety floated around in her stomach like little butterflies. She felt sickened at herself. Lucy's, she thought, was a good place to go. She had grown closer to the border collie-husky mix in the past few days. Mechanically, she turned around and headed up the street, toward Lucy's. Lucy was lying on her front porch, her tail trailng down the front steps. Her eyes were closed, but Crystal could tell she wasn't asleep. Not wanting to disturb her, Crystal turned around, but after a few steps, Lucy caught up with her. "Crystal," she said. "I thought I smelled your scent." Crystal smiled, but her face then fell once more into misery. Noticing, Lucy softened. "Crystal," she said. "Is anything wrong?" Crystal was silent for a second, and then the words came pouring out: "Riana nipped me because she thinks I am keeping her away from Blaze. Blaze, Lucy, Blaze! What does she see in him? He's arrogant and stupid! She only likes him because he's handsome and famous! I just wish he would get off of my tail! And then I was so rude to Linder! I said 'I don't need you and your stupid games right now.' And 'You are just a nuisance to every dog you come across.' And then he just turned and walked away, glaring at me. It made me feel so bad....." Her voice trailed away. Lucy looked sypathetic. "Wow," she said. "You've got a lot going on." Crystal scoffed "No kidding." Lucy's eyes suddenly widened. "Uh-oh....." Crystal whirled around. "What!" she said, not knowing what in the world could upset Lucy on such a nice day. "That." Lucy said tersely, flicking her ears toward a pretty blond husky accompanied by a large, black, dog with a blue bow. Crystal gaped "Is that.....Kelsey, Steele's daughter? With Riana?" Lucy looked confused. "Who's Riana?" She asked. Crystal kept staring. "My best-......I mean ex-best friend...." Lucy snarled as the two dogs spotted them and sauntered over. "What-" Crystal whispered. Kelsey giggled. "Lucky-" (Lucy growled angrily.) "And is that.....Crystal, with the luckiest dog in town?" Kelsey spat bitterly. Lucy lunged, and Crystal grabbed her by her light blue bandana. Then, Crystal noticed Riana, who had been watching this with the utmost fascination. Crystal, feeling it was safe to let go of Lucy, said to Riana, "Riana....I'm sorry about this morning-" but Riana flicked her tail. "Shut up, Crystal." She said. "Look, I don't wanna be friends with a popular freak like you, so save your breath. From now on, I'm gonna hang with my best friend, Kelsey." Crystal  was surprised at how rude Riana's growling voice could sound. Crystal smirked. "Then, it's payback time!" She lunged at Riana. "NO, Crystal!" Lucy shrieked, but too late. Crystal had already snagged Riana's light blue bow and kicked Riana in the ribs. Lucy grabbed Crystal's turquiose bandana. Kelsey and Riana doubled up laughing. "The dynamic duo!" Kelsey giggled. Riana snorted. "You two clearly need each other.......to control each other's tempers!" She and Kelsey started laughing even harder, and wobbled down the street like a pair of drunks. Crystal and Lucy stared after them, and then Crystal turned to Lucy. "How in the world did you manage to make an enemy out of Kelsey?" Lucy scuffed her paws. "Well...... You know, um, Cody, the, uh, famous racedog?" Lucy began hesitantly. Crystal nodded, so Lucy continued. "Well....um, the, uh, first day I, um, was here, I um, met him, and, um, well, uhhm, you know how Kelsey, um, kinda likes, um, him? I........um.....well.......kinda like, um, him, too. Kelsey, and....um, I kinda, um, fought to be, uh, his mate." Crystal widened her eyes. "And who won?" she asked. Lucy's paw-scuffing had cleared the snow so that two brown streaks showed up clearly against the white snow. Lucy straightened her bandana awkwardly and mumbled, "I did." so softly Crystal could barely hear her. Crystal thought she had misheard. "You......won? Against.......Kelsey? B-but Kelsey is a really good fighter!" Lucy looked panicked. "I knew you would take it like this! I bet you like Cody, don't you?" "I-" Crystal began, but Lucy interrupted. "I'm sorry, but he looked so strong, and handsome, and I-I think he likes me, too, and oh no......" Lucy looked embarrased that she had said so much, but Crystal was laughing. "No worries, Lucy, no worries. I think it's great. And I don't like Cody, I like Linder!" Now it was Lucy's turn to look surprised. "But, I thought he was annoying and he is always trying to show off for you and ends up messing up big-time!" Crystal laughed again. "Yeah, he does, but I think it's kind of cute! That's why I felt so bad for hurting his feelings."

Linder lay with his head on his paws. He had always known that was how Crystal felt about him, it was no surprise that she had ripped...him apart....." And, for the first time in his life, tears fell from Linder's eyes.....Crystal would never, ever mate him....why was he thinking like that?...........it would always be a fantasy....... never reality.... Then, Crystal's scent filled the bush. Linder sat up. What was she doing here? A white muzzle poked throught the foliage, and Crystal emerged. Linder curled his lip. "What are you doing here?" he asked coldly. Crystal laid her ears back. "Linder......I-.....I understand if you don't want me here, but I just came to say.....I'm sorry for what I said, this morning, you know?" Linder wanted more than anything to sink into the snow and dissapear, but that was a pleasure he would probably never have. "Well," he said. "It's, um, OK." Crystal turned to leave the bush, and suddenly stopped, turned, and said hurredly, "I understand if you don't want to, but, maybe you want to come, tonight, with...me around........midnight?" Without waiting for an answer, she hurried on. "I'll be waiting on my porch." Sure that he had just sprouted wings and could take off through the air, Linder gave her a small smile.

As soon as Crystal was a safe distance from the bush, she squealed with delight. Linder had smiled at her! He had actually smiled at her! "Step one..." she said to herself......then giggled. What in the world was she thinking? Then, suddenly, Crystal realized something: her path had been cleared. A few simple words was all it had taken. Linder was hers, and hers alone! Whatever else happened, nothing mattered, excpet for she and Linder. Opportunity unexplored!

Linder sighed. What was he thinking, smiling at Crystal? That invitation for a midnight walk was....... whatever......he'd turn up.................. Crystal likes me! Score!

As Sara did her homework, Crystal's thoughts wouldn't drift from Linder...... the expression on his face when she'd invited him on a walk......... the way he pranced along the street when he spotted her...... his embarrased grin when he fell flat on his face...... Crystal giggled to herself. Then she realized Sara had gotten up and gone to dinner. Crystal followed, sure that she smelled hamburgers. When she arrived at the table, Kyra, the dalmation mix who lived with Crystal and always had more energy than Crystal had ever had in a week, was slobbering all over Mom, who was sitting at the table bunning hamburgers, looking disgusted. Keefie was following Dad wherever he went, because Dad had a plate of lettuce and Tomatoes. Keefie loved produce. The cat was reclining in the middle of the kitchen, his belly taking up more space than his body. When the family sat down, Crystal made sure she was sitting closest to Dad. He was the one who gave tidbits. Sure enough, five minutes into the meal, a chunk of hamburger descended in Dad's hand. Mom cleared her throat loudly. Dad turned red and said hurredly, "What were you saying, Sara?" Sara giggled and said, "I made a new friend today at school. Her name is Hannah. She's new here, from Anchorage. She's really nice. Plus, she has a dog named Lucy!" Crystal perked her ears. Sara was friends with Hannah! She and Lucy would be able to see each other more often! See each other........She couldn't wait till midnight, when she and Linder would go on a stroll........would he turn up?......What if he didn't like her, and this was all a joke?.......

Linder swallowed nervously. What if Crystal had forgotten? What would he do then? He shook his head. If he chickened out, would Crystal be mad? Then Linder realized something: he had no idea when midnight was! He would have to just have to go now and wait under Crystal's porch until she came out. He set off, the cold night wind whipping in his face. When he reached Crystal's dark house, he curled up under the porch and waited. An hour later, he yawned. Panicked, he got up and ran a lap around the house. He must not fall asleep! But running around a big house top speed had tired him. He lay down under the porch again, thinking: I can't fall asleep. I can't fall asleep. I can't fall asleep. I can't fall asleep. Over and over and over and.......... Sniff, sniff......"Linder?" He was awoken by Crystal's voice in his ear. He started and leaped up, banging his head on the ceiling. Crystal laughed. It was a different laugh than he remembered. Kinder? More Sincere? "Crystal!" he said. "I'm sorry! I didn't have any way of telling when midnight was! I didn't mean to fall asleep-" Crystal grinned. Linder wondered how could she be so relaxed. They walked out from under the porch, and when Crystal's tail touched his shoulder, a shiver ran through his body that had absolutely nothing to do with the cold. Crystal suggested they take the route that led to the beach. Linder followed her in a trance. How would this turn out?

Crystal shivered as she led the way. It was so cold. She was about to ask Linder if he wanted to turn back, but something inside her told her not to break the silence. There was something in it.....not a tense feeling.....the silence seemed so.......heavy. She slackened  her pace so that she was alongside Linder. He flinched, and Crystal looked at him nervously, but he seemed to enjoying himself. His step looked relaxed, almost sloppy, and his muscles weren't so tense. Suddenly, Crystal realized that he was shivering, and she was, too. She almost turned back, but something inside her said, 'Wait'.

As Linder walked on the dry sand of the beach that they had now come to, he thought his feet weren't really touching the ground, that he was floating. Then, he noticed that he was few steps ahead of Crystal, and when he looked back, she was shivering and stepping heavily. He slowed his step and hesitantly pressed his fur into hers. She visibly relaxed and retaliated by sighing and slowing down a little. Then, Crystal stepped in sandcastle moat that one of the children in town had probably made that day and was sent sprawling. Linder rushed to see if she was OK, but when he reached her, she was laughing. He began to laugh, too. Crystal had a hard time getting up, but Linder then noticed that was because she was laughing so hard. When she managed to get to her feet, she knocked into Linder, and he began to chase her down the beach. She was faster than he was, but he would notice shortcuts to take faster than she did. Finally, they collapsed in a heap. They laughed. "Thanks for inviting me," Linder said. Crystal smiled, a much warmer smile than he had ever seen her smile. "Thank you," she whispered. Linder was puzzled. "Huh?" Crystal cocked her head and laid her ears back. "For coming." she said lightly. She reached her head forward. She was too close, too close. Linder wanted her to back away. If she........ But...... No........ Too late.... Her nose was in his fur........ Stop....... She had drawn her head back....... Her clear, blue eyes were gentle.........Her mouth twitched into a smile.......Linder could not help himself. Before he could think, he had given her a sheepish grin and licked her nose. "Boy, will everyone talk...." he murmured. Crystal grinned. "A moment like this, and all you can think about is gossip?" she teased. Linder laughed. "Remember the time when I tried to steal a sausage for you, and I ended up getting hit by the butcher with a link of them?" asked Linder. Crystal giggled and nodded. "Uh-huh. I walked away laughing so hard." Linder nodded and laughed. Crystal stood and stretched. "Well, Linder, we'd better go," she sighed. They turned and walked toward the sleeping town, paces evenly matched, and wind whipping their fur as the stars glitterd coldly from above.