The birth of Steele and his siblings was a joyous one for Nome. Not only was Steele's father Titanium, the greatest slled-dog from Nome too Barrow, to Anchorage, that day Titanium had won a very competitive race. Steele, in short, was destined for greatness.

His mother, Lucinda was the prettiest pure-bred malamute in town. Everyone knew that Titanium and Lucinda were put together by their owners but neither of them objected. This gave Lucinda a popularity boost and Titanium good, strong pups.

Though Lucinda was disappointed Titanium wasn't there for the birth, she dared not complain to him. No one except a few dogs in town were aware of Titanium's foul temper. The only ones who knew were Lucinda, Titanum's chronies Black-Jack, Soot, and Cosmic, and Titanium himself.

The first words Titanium said to Lucinda when he barged through the dog-door were, "How many boys?"

Lucinda drooped her head sadly, "2...but one of them's weak"

"Well, how many do we have total?"

"6"

"6?! And all you could have were 2 boys? You're a disgrace!" He spat at her.

Lucinda cringed at his harsh words. Then suddenly Steele moved and whimpered.

Titanium gave the little being a strange look, and sniffed it. "This one's strong. He'll do I guess. The other one's we'll sell. But this one we're keeping."

Lucinda sighed, "Whatever you say Titanium."
__________________________________________________________ (
Three monthes later)

"Dad, Dad,Dad,Dad!" Steele pranced around Titanium's strong legs.

"What?" Titanium growled...This little mutt was getting real annoying. He couldn't wait until Lucinda's owner took him off his paws to begin traing for sled-racing.

"Are you going to bring me around town today? You said you would!!"

"Alright FINE. But be quiet. I'll even show you some new friends for you," Titanium smirked. These friends he was meaning ,were his friends pups that were born around the same time as Steele.

"Great!" Steele exclaimed.

They were soon off around town when they ran into a goose and a small brown runt.

"Frail goose, what peice of grime do you have with you today?" Titanium frowned, circling the duo with Steele following close by.

"Back off Titanium. There's nothing of your interest here," Boris said angrily.

"Stupid mallard, If i wasn't intrested I wouldn't ask. Now I said...What do you got?" Titanium growled smacking the yong pup the goose had with him to the ground.

Steele widened his eyes but kept quiet, thinking to himself 'I didn't know Dad could be so mean. I wonder if he would do that to me....'

Titanium sniffed the cowering puppy,"Ha, you got yerself a wolf-dog here? Stupid bastard of a child. I can see why his mother and father left him. This sniveling mutt has no place anywhere, let alone here in Nome."

The dog started sniffling and Boris rushed over and covered him in his feathers. "Leave Balto alone Titanium, he did nothing to you".

"Like I would want to associate myself with that sorry excuse of a canine. Come on Steele let's go," Titanium laughed.

Steele's eyes met Balto's. They were full of pain and sadness. He looked quickly away before his father would notice. He scampered after Titanium silently. But before they turned the corner he looked back to see that Boris and Balto had already left.

"Dad what was wrong with that Balto kid?"

"He was a mutt, a half-blood. He was half wolf half husky. I don't want you to play with him,"Titanium said not even looking down while he spoke.

"But he seemed pretty nice-"

"NO! If I see you even looking at that runt I'll bash you so hard into the wall you won't even be able to walk,"Titanium growled, his ice-blue eyes frigid with anger.

Steele yelped and side-steeped,"Ok Dad..sorry"

"Don't say sorry. It's a sign of weakness. And no son of mine will be weak." They soon caught up with Black-Jack,Soot, and Cosmic, all with their sons.

The pups were introduced as Nikki,Kaltag, and Star.

"Whats shakin 'dere?" Nikki, the pudgy chow, asked.

"Oh nothing. Just got finished meeting another dog."

"Another pup? Oh was it that brown one that walks around with that goose? He looked nice," Kaltag said.

"Ye-" Steele started to say but then remembered what his dad said. With a cold look in his eyes, he said" No he's not. He's a rotten half-blood who doesn't deserve to be in Nome."

"Well thats not-" Star started but Kaltag cut him short witha look.

"Ok. Then we'll stay away from him," Nikki said.

Steele smiled maniacly,"Good"

"Come on Steele, let's get home," Titanium said walking away.

"Ok Dad!" Steele smiled and walked away from the pups without a second glance.

Once they were out of earshot Nikki said, "That lil'-"

But Kaltag started," He's so annoying, so mean, so sniveling so-"

"He's not good at first impressions!" Star interuppted with a smile. But that smile faded when Kaltag gave him a look and hit him on the head sharply with his paw.

~End Pt.2