I realize you're all waiting for other stories of mine. But while I get them together, consider this a tide-you-over.
This story contains a flashback with events and original dialogue taken from redwolf03's story, "A Second Chance: Copper. Flashback is © redwolf03 of Balto Source.
Taya was having trouble sleeping. She was sure her eyes had been playing tricks on her. All day she kept catching glimpses of a black-and-white dog out of the corner of her eye. But every time she turned to look, there was no sign of him. "It's got to be my imagination," she thought. "He can't be back in Nome." After a great deal of tossing and turning, she finally fell asleep.
Her sleep was troubled by dreams of a snarling malamute fighting with another dog that was part wolf. But the wolf-dog kept changing. One moment it was Balto, then the color would change to the odd, almost metallic mix of cream and red which clad her mate, Copper. Then it would shift back to Balto again. Then the wolf-dog vanished altogether and the malamute was running off with a small puppy in his mouth. The dream was dark and full of shadows, but even so she knew who the puppy was. "Mom!" it called out.
"Luna!" Taya cried out in her dream. She tried to run after them, but no matter how fast she ran she didn't move. She just watched as the dog dropped Luna down a dark hole. Then he turned and laughed at her.
"I'm back," he said. "And I'm coming for you." As darkness closed in on Taya, she heard the laughter growing louder and louder, accompanied by her daughter's cries for help and her own answering cries.
"AAHHH!" she screamed as she woke up. Sides heaving, she stared wildly around the room.
"What's wrong?" asked Copper, awakened by the terrified cry.
Taya looked around, making sure everything was it should be. Only when she had managed to calm down did she tell Copper about her nightmare. "I don't know what's the matter with me," she confessed.
"Well, I wouldn't worry about it," he said. "Dreams don't usually mean a thing. Besides, the dogs that chased Steele out of town said his trail ended right at a cliff. He must be dead this time."
Taya shrugged. "I guess you're right."
Copper smiled and rubbed his face alongside hers. "Relax," he tried to reassure her. "I know Steele's been looming over you for years, but that's over now. And even if he does come back, he'll have to go through me if he wants to hurt you."
Taya shivered. "Don't talk like that. You remember how mad he was at me for becoming your mate. He'd kill you the first chance he got."
"Which won't happen, because he's deeeaad," Copper replied, the last word drawn out into a yawn. "Well, I'm going back to sleep." He gave her a reassuring lick, put his head back down, and was soon quietly snoring.
Taya was just about to follow his lead when a scratching came at the door. "Hello?" called a voice, "Is Taya there?"
Without waking Copper, Taya crept to the window and looked out. A strange mix-breed stood on the front step, scratching the door. "Hello?" he called again.
Taya went to the door and whispered, "Who wants to know?"
"I've got a message for Taya. Is she here?"
'A message?' she wondered. "Yes, I'm Taya," she said after a moment. "What's the message?"
"Somebody wants you to come see them pronto," answered the stray. "Said it was important."
Sensing trouble, Taya turned and headed back to bed. "Sorry, not right now. Come back in the morning."
"He said it couldn't wait. He said it was about Luna."
Taya's ears pricked up. "What about Luna?" she asked.
She could almost hear the stranger shrug. "I don't know, but it sounded important. Listen, are you coming or not? If not, I need to get going."
Taya stuck her head out the petflap. "What's the message?" she asked again.
"You'll have to come with me," answered the stray. "He said it was for your ears only."
Taya followed him down the darkened street. "I'm warning you," she said, "If you're up to something you'll regret it."
The dog shrugged. "I'm just doing my job. I've got no part in this but the two bones I'm getting paid to fetch you. You can believe me or not, it makes no difference to me." He led her to a dark alley, where he stopped and gestured. "In there's where he said to meet him."
Taya looked into the shadows. Even though the sun was beginning to peek over the horizon, the alley was still dark, just like her dream. "I'm not going in there," she said.
The dog shrugged. "Suit yourself," he said. He watched Taya pace nervously. "Look lady, us street dogs don't usually talk to housedogs, but you don't seem stuck-up to me. If you want, I'll watch and make sure nothing happens."
Taya shook herself. 'What is this?' she wondered. 'I grew up in the fighting pits and I can't even handle an empty alley?' "I'll go in," she said at last.
She stepped into the alley and heard a scuffle behind her. She spun around to see the messenger lying motionless on the ground. Standing over him were three dogs, two of which Taya had never met. But the third one she knew all too well…
Oh great, what's Steele up to now?
And just so you know, I do realize Steele is probably a husky. I went with malamute because that's what he is in redwolfo3's fanfics and I wanted continuity.