Note: The chracter Steele is copyright to universal studious and Amblin Entertainment. I, in no way own him. Amber and Slick are entirly copyright to me, wolflover421.
Steele: Another Chance
A handsome black and white husky padded into the town of Applegate in the dead of the night. He was hoping that he'd finally get another chance here.
*flashback*
Steele was nervously looking around at the dogs surrounding him. "I can explain. Give me a chance!" he pleaded, trying to squirm his way out of the tight situation. "We aready know how the story goes, Steele, you selfish, ingnorant, little pig!" a dog shouted. "Your stupid greedy self told a fake lie about Balto and the team dying, and it backfired on you. You though he wouldn't make it back. But he did." another one shouted. Steele realized there was no way out. Just then Doc, the St. Bernard appeared and made his way throught the gang of dogs. "Steele, I hearby banish you from the town of Nome. Get out of here in less than 24 hours, and if my dogs can still sense you, I will let them hunt you down and kill you wihtout any restraint." Doc announced gruffly. Steel ran for his life, while the other dogs were snapping at him, calling him names, harassing him as he ran through the town and into the outskirts of Nome. That's when he saw the path to Applegate, where he could start a new life, be given a chance.
*end flashback*
Steele shuddered as the haunting memories of the dogs jaws snapping and calling him names, harassing him, trying to attack him floated into his mind, seeming as almost he was back again in Nome. He shook himself, trying to get the thoughts out of his head. Just then, he stopped. The most beautfiful dog he had ever seen, ever prettier than Jenna, was standing directly up ahead. She had a sleek cream and tan coat, and beautiful, sparkling blue eyes. She was very skinny and slim, he could tell she was athletic. He didn't realize he was staring wth his jaw dropped, until she came over to him.
"Staring at something?" she asked.
"I--uh- yes-I meam, no, I mean--hi." he stuttred, making himself look absolutley ridicuous,
"Are you new here? I haevn't seen you before. Welcome to applegate." she said warmly, laughing at Steele's expression. His jaw had dropped down again. She lifted her paw and gently closed it shut. Steele felt a tingle of enjoyment and excitement go through his body, and he smiled.
"Yeah, I'm new here, I just got here actually." he replied, attemting unsucessfully to act cool. She looked Steel up and down, trying to decide what to make of him.
"I'm Amber. What's your name?" she asked soflty.
"I'm Steele. This place looks....nice." he said, commenting on the beuaty of the area.
"It's my favorite place in all of Applegate." she muttred, looking around. "Would you like me to show you around?" she added.
"Why not?" he replied happily. As she walked by, Steele was still transfixed by Amber. He couldn't help but to stand there awkwardly, staring. She turned around and signaled for him to follow her. He did so without hesitation.
By the time it was their last stop together, it was early morning. "This is the basement. This is where most dogs come to....spend the night together." she said, walking in, winking as she brushed past. She flicked him gently on the cheek with her tail. Steele felt that tingling sensation again, like whenever she touched him.
"Thanks for the tour, I really appreciate it. I should get some sleep." he said, yawing. He laid down on the floor and was asleep within minutes. Then he felt something warm against his fur, and that odd tingling sensation once again. Amber was laying down beside him. "I'm too tired to go anywhere else..." she yawned, and trailed off, drifting into a peaceful sleep. Steel grinned to himself, and nuzzled her lightly. He himself drifted off to sleep.
It was noon by the time they had both woken up, and Steele just had to let it out. He had to tell her.
"Amber, I know we've only known eachother for a day....but, on that tour I felt something...special. Nothing like I've ever felt before. It wasn't only on the tour, either, It was last night, too. It might sound wierd to you but I....I...." he said to her.
"I love you. More than I should, considering I've only known you for a day." he whispered softly. He nuzzled her, waiting for a reply.
"Steele, I don't know what to say.....I felt the same thing too. I love you back, steele." she whispered softly into his ear. They nuzzled eachother, eachothers muzzles digging deep into the others fur. Amber moved closer to Steele, and at the same time, Steele lifted his head. Their noses touched, and they both blushed. Neither of them pulled away, though. They were in love---true love.
Just then. they both realized how hungry they were.
"So, what des a dog have to do to get some food around here?" Steele asked, playfully. "Oh, right, nevermind. I know where." he added, realizing he could get all thr food he wanted at a restaraunt where Amber showed him last night--they gave food to dogs for free out the back door.
"Follow me!" he said, motioning for her to follow him. He led the way, finally stopping outside the back door of the restaraunt. He made sure Aber was right by him.
"I'm suprised you remebred that way. I thought you were gaping at me the whole night!" she teased playfully.
"I did not. It was only 3/4 of the time that I stared...." he answered back in a joking way, smirking. He turned to face the door, and scratched on it 3 times. The cook came out, and saw the two dogs there.
"Here you go! Finest kibble ever made." the cook swaid, placing two bowls down in front of them. Steele barked, and licked the cooks hand.
"Enjoy.." the cook said, shutting the door slowly after stepping back into the kitchen.
"Delicious!" Steele commented, enjoying the kibble.
"You said it." Amber replied, licking her lips. "You have kibble bits right...here." she added, flicking the kibble bit's off of Steele's face with her delicate, tiny paws.
Steele smiled, he was still getting that tingling sensatoin everytime she touched him. He licked Amber, andshe was a little startled by the sudden touch. She licked Steele back, right on the nose, and soon in was a never ending lick fest. Steele finally stopped, his tounge was dry and his mouth had some fur in it. Amber stopped too, indicating she had the same symptoms as Steele--a dry tounge with a mouth full of fur. Then, they both burst out laughing. Amber lost her ballance, and fell into Steele. Steele laughed even harder at the expression of shock on her face.
"I love you." she said to Steele, her snout reaching up to Steele's nose. Their noses touched, and they were both happy.
"I love you too." Steele replied, his eyes still closed.
"Well, well, well. Look what we have here, boys. A couple of lovers! Aww....." a voice sneered from behind the two. Steele and Amber both whipped around, only to see 4 street dogs---mean looking street dogs.
"Go away. Leave us alone. What did we do to you?" Steele snarled at them.
"OOh, nasty nasty. I think I touched a.....nerve." one of them sneered again, this time, shoving Steele. The other 3 advanced on Amber.
Steele was furious! Blind with fury, he charged at the street dog, and tackled him to the ground. "Shut up, take yor stupid gang, and leave. NOW." Steele snarled, pinning the dog down. The other 3 dogs turned around and started to advance on Steele, forgeting abuot Amber. Steele mouthed the word "run" to Amber, and she refused to move. She mouthed the words back. "Just in case" and went behind the garbage can, hiding. At that very moment, about 6 other dogs apperead at the entrance. Steele was hoping they were here to help, he couldn't be able to hold of 10 dogs. One of the dogs stepped up. "Get off of the kid, Ripper, take your gang, and get out of Applegate." ll 4 of the dogs backed off, and ran away with their tails between their legs, yelping.
"Thank you, for saving my life." Steele said gratefully. Amber stepped out from behind the garbage can. "And mine." she added, smiling. The dog nodded and barked to the other 9 dogs, "C'mon, we have work to do. Move it!" he barked feircly, and marched down the street, with the other 9 dogs following him.
"Steele, I have something to tell you." Amber said as soon as the dogs were gone.
"What?" he asked curiously.
"I don't have an owner....I'm a....a street dog." she confessed with her head down.
"That's perfecly okay, my owner kicked me out of his home, I don't have on either now...."
*flashback*
Steele was getting beaten---hard, with a long, cold, painful whip. And then came the kick of the leather boot. He panted, trying to cath his breath. The blow had knocked the wind right out of him. Steele collapsed, tail between his legs, whimpering, begging for mecry. Another kick, and he rolled over. His owner was yelling something...."I hate you, I hate you..." over and over, the cruel beating was teating Steele apart. Then one last blow---to the nose. He shuddred, and went limp, trying to fake an unconciousness. The owner stopped, and walked away. By the time Steele got up, he felt blood trickling down his muzzled from the one last blow. Then Balto came over---the Balto he now despised even more. "Want some help?" he asked kindly, seeing the brutal bweating Steele had gotten. Steele stood up in his usual way, tall and predjudiced. "I don't need--or want--help from a mutt." he said sharply, his head held high. "Since when do you need a pedigree to help someone?" Balto retorted, quoteing hismelf from when he wanted to help Steele and the team. Steele just glared at him not knowing what so say, and walked off, still badly injured. When Balto couldn's see him anymore, he laid down in the snow, and sighed a heavy sigh, hoping no one would see him...
*end flashback*
"Steele? someting wrong?" Amber asked, seeing Steele's lost look.
"Sorry, just a few....memories." he said, trailing off. 'I've changed....' he thought to himself, rembering how childish he was, sneering, hurting Balto, when he was such a great dog.
Steele and Amber had spent the last 4 weeks together, and they were extremly happy. The past few days, however, Amber had kept bringing up the subject of puppies--it was the begging of Spring, you know. One night, Amber confessed her wishes.
"Steele?" she asked anxiously.
"Yeah?" he replied, almost knowing what she was going to say.
"You know these past few weeks I've been really happy with you, and--I want puppies." she said flatly, wanting to get it off of her chest.
"Are you suggesting that-"
"Yes." she said, cutting Steele off. The both looked at eachother and grinned. They knew what exactly the other wanted. That night they walked into the basement of the old building. Almost as soon as they were both in, Amber rolled over on her back, and Steele grinned. Tonight is going to be fun. He thought walking over to her.
By the time they were finished, Amber was panting a little from excitement. It was the dead of the night then, and they were both tired. Amber snuggled up close to Steele, nuzzling him, and layed her head on his back. They both slipped into a dreamy sleep.
That morning, Amber was up before Steele, and went out for a short while. By the time Steele woke up, Amber looked like she was going to pee from excitement.
"I have exciting news!" she squealed.
"I can tell...." Steele said groggily.
"I'm expecting puppies!" she exclaimed.
"I thought so, after last night. I can't believe I'm actually going to be a father!" he yelled, just as happy, if not more, than Amber was. They bothed frisked about, playfully, until Steele stopped.
"Wait--we should stop. It's not good for the pups." he said, motioning to Amber's belly.
"You're right." she sighed, and laid down. "I think I'll take a nap..." she added, and dozed off.
Steele could tell from her lethargicness and growing belly these past few weeks the pups were definitly on their way. When her belly was so huge she could hardly walk, that night, she collapsed in pain. She knew the pups were coming in mere minutes. Luckily, Steele had insisted that she stay in the basement until he came back with the food. By the time the birthing was over, she had 4 pups---sadly, only one survived the birth. Steele came back, holding a few fat sauges in his mouth, but dropped them and rushed over to Amber, seeing the 1 fuzzy ball of semi-fur curled up tight beneath her. The his gaze slowly turned to the other balls of fur, not breathing, life-less.
"I'm sorry..." he said, nuzzling his mate. "But now, we have one bundle of joy in our lives, let's be happy with that." he aded slowly, nudging the ball of fur. "He has your coatt colours--but my markings. What should we name him?" he said to her.
"I was thinking---Slick." Amber replied soflt,y gently licking the fuzz ball. Steele agreed to the name, and stood up proudly. He was now a full time father.
The next few days passed quickly, and the pup opened his eyes, and could now walk and talk in a squeaky, cute, puppy way.
As the days passed on, Slick grew larger--and frankly, handsomer. By the time he was just 2 years old, he already was the talk of the streets. Girls were all over him, and when he went out he got all the attention. But not once did he let it go to his head. He was quiet, sometimes shy, and never really liked that much attention. He was always kind to others, and gave help when needed. Everyone loved Slick, and it was a fact---until one day, a new female came to town. She had a red-cream coat and stunning blue eyes. She wore a light purple bandanna and went by the name a Saba. Rumor had it, that she was from Nome and her parents were Balto and Jenna. And when Slick saw her, his jaw dropped, in the classic way his father's did, and he though--KNEW--it was love at first sight. But he couldn't love the daughter of his father's enemy--right?
_________________________________
~To be continued in the upcoming fan fic of Slick's life~