Chapter 2: Here Kitty, Kitty

Nero turned to Jack with a hateful glare. He punched his friend in the arm as he stamped his foot, "What the hell was that?!" he snapped.

Jack rubbed the spot Nero made contact with, "What? You mean helping you to get on the team?"

"What do you mean?" Nero asked as his tone softened.

"You're going to tell me you don't know?"

"Don't know what?!" Nero exclaimed.

"Balto's son is one of the lead dogs on a sled team. Apparently here," Jack said.

"I didn't know Balto had kids," Nero said.

"Wow."

"Now what Jack?" Nero asked as a he started to wander towards the center of the street.

"No, it's just...for someone who idolizes Balto so much, I would have thought you knew."

Nero let out a quick puff of air, "Can we just find your meat?"

"And here I thought you'd never ask," Jack joked as he took lead.

{{_}}

Nero and Jack continued to run around town looking for the meat. They had cut across the alleys all day but still could not find the meat vendor. Finally they came out onto the street and found the humans picking up their tables and chairs as they packed up the stands.

The two walked, hugging the buildings to the right of them. Nero broke the silence, "Jack."

"Yeah?"

"Why did you tell Balto I was going to go to the beach with him?" Nero asked.

Jack sighed, "Are you still on this?" He looked back and saw Nero's ears pressed flat against his head as he watched the ground. "Why not dude. It's your dream to become a sled dog, right?"

Jack stopped as he turned around to face his friend. Nero walked into Jack's chest and looked up. He rolled his eyes, "Yeah, but you didn't need to speak for me."

A wide grin spread across Jack face as his tone lightened, "Well, good thing I did. Otherwise you would have said no."

Nero walked around Jack as he searched the almost empty street. "Where's that meat? We're going to be late for Balto."

"Now doesn't someone seem excited?" Jack asked rhetorically.

"Shut up," Nero smiled.

Jack laughed as he walked up to Nero's side. "I can almost taste the meat! I can almost smell it. I can smell it."

"You're insane. Is that all you think about?" Nero asked.

"Don't you smell it? We're close," Jack said as he sniffed the air.

"Close to what? The meat?"

"No, the ice cream store. Of course the meat!" Jack exclaimed as he stopped in front of a small shop. "Meat..." He whispered as his mouth filled with saliva.

Nero joined Jack at the front steps to the store, "Huh. Maybe you should go out for Search and Rescue."

"I only 'search' for what I'm interested in," Jack said as he climbed up onto the porch.

"C'mon Jack, there's no way we could even get in," Nero said as he started walking away. "We're going to be late."

"Will you take that stick out of your ass? We're going to be right on time. I have ways of getting what I want," he said as he walked to the back of the store.

Nero hugged the ground as he walked into the alley. "Jack. Damnit Jack, we just moved here and you already want to start something?"

"Look, I have a good idea," Jack said as he climbed up onto a box under an open window.

"Oh, no you don't. Jack c'mon, what if we're caught-"

"Cool it will ya?" Jack looked back as he planted his front paws on the window. "Sometimes I wonder how we're still friends."

"Because I'm the smart one and you're the brute strength."

Jack let out a small laugh as he jumped into the store. Nero heard some shifting and then what sounded like a door being opened. Nero jumped up onto the boxes and peered into the room.

It was pitch black except for a sliver of light coming from an open door. Mist seemed to being pouring onto the floor. "Jack? Hey, Jack where are you?" the gray husky asked as he jumped down into the small room.

"Nero come here," Jack said from the open door. Nero walked into the light and saw Jack sitting on the ground with meat sauce covering his body. "You hungry?" Jack asked as Nero rolled his eyes.

He looked up and found big hunks of what looked like chicken and some big mammal. They were being held up by metal hooks that were attached to the ceiling. Towards the back of the locker there was a small table with a butchers knife stuck into the wood.

"C'mon, we better get out of here before someone sees us," Nero said as he walked out of the meat locker.

"Like me," a smooth female voice sounded from the window. Jack peered around the side of the door and saw a black cat sitting on the window sill with a smile plastered to her face.

"Cat!" Jack snarled as he and Nero started to show their teeth to the feline.

"Wow. That is so scary," she laughed.

"Get out of here or I'll rip you apart," Jack growled.

The cat smiled, "Sure you will, big fella." The cat picked up a can that she found on her way there. "I wonder how big and strong you two are after…oh, I don't know. Someone would make a little noise?"

She tapped the can into the room as she got up and stood on all fours. "Nero, grab it!" Jack shouted. Nero lunged for the can but was too late. The can had already hit the ground before he ran into the wall. A clinking sound rang throughout the meat locker as Jack and Nero's ears flattened against their heads.

"What the hell was that?" said a man from the front of the shop.

"Shit," Jack said as he looked at the cat. "You're so going to get it, pussy."

The cat laughed, "You can try. I do love a challenge. The name's Kitty, by the way. I'm famous for burglary in this town and don't need some rookies screwing it up for me. See you boys later!" She jumped off the window, with a piece of meat in her paws.

"How the hell did she get meat?" jack asked.

"Probably when the can fell and the guy distracted us-"

The door to the main part of the shop flew open as the butcher came in wielding a long, pointed knife. "What the hell are you guys doing in my meat locker?!" he yelled.

"Run!" Nero said as he lunged through the open window. Jack followed as the man slashed the air with his knife screaming.

"And stay out you thieving mutts!"

Nero and Jack stopped outside the shop in the vacant street, panting. "That was fun," Jack said as his tongue lolled out of his mouth.

Nero laughed, "At least you got your meat. Now can we please get to the beach?"

"Sure. But…can we walk? I mean I know you can go for long distances. But, man, if you haven't noticed: I'm not the fittest dog in town."

"No?! I had no idea!" Nero said.

Jack punched him in the arm as they started to walk towards the beach.

A black cat was sitting on top of the post office's roof as she watched the two huskies. A smile flew onto her face, "I like them. They at least make my work fun." She bit into the hunk of meat as some of the blood dripped onto her fur.

{{_}}

Nero and Jack finally made it to the beach and were greeted by a boat that had been washed up onto the rocks. It seemed to have been sitting there for decades, but it had a clean feeling to it. As if someone would come here and clean the huge piece of metal.

Jack stopped and turned to face Nero, "Okay, Nero, I have to say: I may be getting old but you are young and need to be on this sled team."

Nero smiled, "I know, I know, but-"

"No,' but's. Just promise me you will give it all you got with Balto. Show him what you are made of," Jack said as he placed his paw on his friend shoulder.

Nero smiled, "Thank you."

"That's what brothers are for," Jack said. "Now where is Balto?"

"I don't know. He said he would be here at eight," Nero said.

"Ah, you must be here for Balto! Nero, is it?" someone called to them in a heavy accent. The two looked around but all they saw was a great expanse of white snow. "Up here!" Nero and Jack looked up to find a goose looking down at them shaking his wing. "Please come up!"

"Should we?" Nero asked.

"Yeah, I mean, he's goose and we are two dogs. What's the worst he could do?" Jack said as he found a platform leading up to the deck.

Nero followed him up as the goose cam walking up to them with a wing outstretched. "Hello. I am Borris. Balto's father and the guy who cleans up after him." Jack started to laugh as Boris and Nero stared at him. "Is something the matter?" Boris asked.

"I'm sorry, it's just…Balto's a dog and you're a bird. There is no way you are his father," Jack said.

"Jack," Nero reprimanded.

"No, it's fine. I get that a lot. When Balto was young I took him in and raised him as my own, he's lived with me ever since. And if you don't believe me, you can ask him when he gets here. He had some business to attend to, he shouldn't be long," Boris said as he grabbed a mop. "So you're Jack and you are?"

"Nero."

"Hmm, a strong name. Balto said you wanted to be on the sled team here in town," Boris said as he started to clean the deck.

"Yeah, um…I'm trying. I don't know if I'll make it, though," Nero sighed.

"Oh will you cool it?! You're going to do fine!" Jack exclaimed.

"What?" Boris asked as he put the mop down.

"Nero is worried that he isn't worth the fur on his back. He thinks he won't make it on the team even though he totally can. He just has to chill out and just go for it," Jack said.

"Would you stop speaking for me?!" Nero shouted.

"Are you telling me what I said isn't true?" Jack asked. Nero went silent as he stared into the distant ocean. "As I said-"

"Hey, you guys sorry I'm late," Balto said as he walked onto the platform.

"That's alright, we were just talking about the sled team actually. Nero doesn't think-"

"Would you just shut up, alright?!" Nero interrupted Jack.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, just calm down you two," a female voice said. Nero and Jack both stopped glaring at each other and saw a young gray Siberian husky walk up to Balto's side. Her eyes were a gorgeous sapphire that glistened off the sun like a glacier. Immediately Nero settled down and watched the huskies movements as if she were a dancer in a ballet.

Balto laughed and turned to her, "Thanks for that, Dusty."

"No problem. Happy to help you anytime. Now which one of you is Nero?" Dusty asked.

Nero shook his head out of the trance and sat up tall, "Me. I…um Nero."

"Glad to meet you. We need more gray huskies around here," she smiled as she walked up to him and started to study his body. "You at least look like you could be a good runner. Care to show me I'm right?"

"Uh…yeah. Yeah that sounds good."

She smiled and walked back to Balto, "I'll be waiting for you on the beach when you're ready. But don't take too long."

She left the three dogs and a goose to watch her walk away. "Who…was that?" Nero asked out loud.

Balto smiled, "That's Dusty. She's on the sled team, behind my son. But enough talk, let's do some running okay?"

"Okay," Nero said as he followed Balto to the platform. He stopped as something gripped his shoulder. Nero turned and saw Jack with a sympathetic smile on his face. All he did was nod, but Nero understood. He nodded back and then followed Balto.

He and Dusty were waiting for him down by the water. As he approached, Dusty got up and approached him. "Alright, here's how we are going to do it: You are going to race me. Simple, no?"

"Uh, okay," Nero said as he followed her to where Balto was standing.

"So just stand next to me and get ready. Balto will tell us when to start. We'll stop at that post sticking out of the snow. Ready?" Dusty asked as she stood parallel to Balto.

"Yeah," Nero said as he walked up next to Dusty.

Jack and Boris joined the dogs by taking a seat next to the town's hero. "C'mon Nero! Kick her ass!" Jack yelled.

Nero smiled as Balto raised his voice, "Alright. Ready. Set. GO!"

The two gray huskies exploded as snow was being kicked up behind them. For a girl, Dusty was fast. She passed Nero almost immediately after they started. Snow was being thrown into Nero's line of sight; he couldn't see where he was going. He pushed left out of the blizzard that Dusty kicked up. Nero saw that her tail was could have touched his chin if he were behind her.

But for all her speed, Nero was faster. I'm not going to lose today. Not today and not ever. Remember what Jack said. 'Just promise me you will give it all you got with Balto. Show him what you are made of'.

"What I'm made of," Nero whispered. He brought his head up and a gleam shown in his eye. "Not today!"

He pushed himself forward with his back legs and bound up to Dusty. He ran up to her hind legs as a smile crept onto his face. For one of the first tines in his life, he felt competition surging through his veins. His tongue hung out of his mouth as his smile only seemed to grow.

Finally he made it to her side, they were now parallel to each other. She looked at Nero and saw the big grin on his face. Hmm, guess there is another side to this dog. But I can't let him beat me.

Dusty threw her arms and legs forward with as much force she could muster.

"Not in a second," Nero said.

He followed Dusty's movements and threw his own body into over drive. The post was coming closer and closer to the racing dogs. Nero pushed up ahead and now was at least a head apart from Dusty. He pushed even harder and before he knew it, the post was only inches away.

He stopped as he passed the finish line with Dusty coming in after. He sat down in the snow drool falling out of his mouth like a rain storm. His chest rose and fell in rapid succession. Dusty seemed to be having trouble breathing as well as she came up to him with a half-smile.

"Dang, Nero, you're fast…I…I didn't think you had it in you. I thought you were some…some push over. But I see that I was wrong," Dusty said as she placed her paw on his shoulder. "I think you will make a great member of the team."

Nero blushed and looked away, "Thank you, Dusty."

"And hey, you want to join the team and I at the Old Mill?" she asked. "Balto'll be there too."

"The Old Mill?" Nero asked.

"Oh, I forgot you're new here. It's a mill just outside of town. All the dogs like to hang out there, you should definitely come. Bring Jack too, it'll be great!"

"Um, yeah. I think he- we would both like-"

"Oh, crap, dude that was amazing!" Jack exclaimed as he bound up to the two. "Nero you really did a number on her! Ahem, sorry, Dusty."

She laughed, "No worries, Jack. He deserves it. You really did do great!"

"Thank you both," Nero said.

"Their right, Nero, that was something. You are definitely sled dog material," Balto said as he walked up to him. "I can't wait for you to meet my son, he will definitely let you on the team."

"Oh, uh, thanks," Nero said.

"But, if you don't excuse me, I have to go see my mate. Oh, you know what, you should join us at the Old-"

"Already invited them," Dusty said.

"Always thinking ahead," Balto joked.

Dusty giggled, "You know it. And hey, can I join you? I have to get to my owners house and that's on the way to Jenna's."

"Sure, I would enjoy the company anyways. With all the kids away and all," Balto said as he started to walk away.

Dusty walked after him but not before turning to Nero, "See you at the mill, Nero."

"Yeah, see ya," Nero said as he watched her walk away. He tilted his head and smiled as his heart started to beat faster.

He heard Jack chuckling next to him and looked at his friend. Jack seemed to be holding in something. "What?" Jack exploded with laughter and fell back onto his butt. "What?!"

"You so have a crush on her. You can't even hide it well!" he let out another round of laughter.

"I do not, Jack," Nero said. He watched his friend start to dial down his laughter but obviously wasn't going to let it go. "Can we just get ready for tonight?"

"Aww, wanna comb your fur and brush your canines?" Jack joked. Nero sighed as he walked off. "Oh, c'mon Nero! I was just joking!"

Hope you liked this chapter, and I just wanted to say thanks Kodi! I appreciate all the work you are doing! :)