Chapter Three:

Heated Interrogation

Trotting happily back home, with the fresh January snow crunching beneath his paws, Star was looking forward to a nice rest. It really felt like things would be more of a breeze now, even if he still had to put up with Steele for now. He knew Balto was right. He would do well in this race. He just had to give it everything he had, as lives were depending on it. The confidence the wolfdog's words gave him really meant a lot to Star. For once, he felt like he could do it. He felt like he finally had control over his own paws. He finally felt like nothing could stop him now.

He was now at the entrance of the town, where he had met up with Balto earlier in the day. The buildings and streets of Nome stood dark and silent before him, aside from a few lights glowing from the interiors of some businesses and homes. A light snowfall began to come down around Star on his walk back. Though the ice and snow never bothered him, he felt it'd be best to get warmed up in the boiler room, at least just for a couple of minutes. From there, he'd head the rest of the way back home. He knew he was going to need a lot of sleep before the big day tomorrow.

The wooden gate leading into the boiler room was still open at this time. As Star peered inside, he found it was empty, as the meeting had concluded a long time ago. Not that he minded. Somehow, it managed to feel even more nice and toasty with no one else around. Star felt very much at ease now. With a long stretch and a quick shake to get most of the snow off him, he laid down on the floor and basked in the temporary warmth, reveling in as much of the feeling he could before it was time to go home and get some rest.

That feeling wouldn't last long.

Still facing away from the entrance of the room since he first entered, he never saw the larger figure making its way towards him… until its stinging voice broke the air.

"So you had the decency to show up after all."

Star's blood ran cold.

That voice was unmistakable. Star shot up immediately and turned around. The sight that greeted him made the fur of his purple and cream coat stand up. Standing there in the doorway of the boiler room… was Steele. His piercing blue eyes seemed as clear as day despite being a distance away from him.

"Jumpy this evening, aren't we?" Steele muttered, his voice as darkly drawn out as ever.

Instantly, Star knew something was up. It was not like Steele to give him any form of attention. Heck, he barely gave Nikki and Kaltag the time of day either, unless he needed them to back him up on something. So to see Steele's attention directed at him of all dogs on his team, or even the town for that matter, fear was already building up inside Star, though he tried not to show it. Something was not right here.

The closer Steele got, the harder it was for Star to decipher whether he was angry or not, for he couldn't tell whether he was either snarling… or grinning… He couldn't be sure, but there was one thing that Star had a hunch about, as much as he wished it wasn't true.

He knows.. He knows about Balto and I…

Star plucked up as much courage as he could in order to speak, but he couldn't help but stutter.

"S-Steele! I- uh… W-what are y-you doing here..?"

Steele's mouth curled upward. If he wasn't grinning before, he sure was now. It was a very unsettling grin that shook Star to his core. The orange glow of the boiler didn't help much either. If anything, it made the larger sled dog look even more threatening.

Steele's voice cut bitterly through gritted teeth.

"I think I'll be the one asking questions here."

The small husky's ears fell slowly as he glanced behind Steele to see him slowly shut the wooden door behind him with his back left paw. All the while, those cold, icy blue eyes remained locked onto him. Star didn't feel warm anymore. If feelings could affect body temperature, he'd be as frozen as an iceberg at the bottom of the coldest ocean. He started to back up cautiously as Steele only came closer, not phased in the slightest.

"Now, tell me, where were you during our little meeting, huh?" Steele made himself sound as casual as ever, but to Star, it only made one thing evident. It was just the calm before the storm.

Star did all he could to keep himself from quivering. He didn't have an answer. Not one that Steele would like at all, that was for sure. So, for once out of his own volition, he decided to take a page out of Steele's book and do what he would do.

He'd lie to him.

"Oh, w-well I was at t-the… the butchers. Yeah, that's it! J-just thought I'd g-get some food before t-tomorrow… hehe..."

Star was still backing up cautiously, keeping his distance from Steele as he slowly made his way around the room. Unbeknownst to him, he was slowly headed in the direction of the large boiler. He didn't notice however, as he was far too busy trying to stay away from the much larger sled dog who just brought himself closer and closer.

Steele noticed.

Slowly, he began to direct oblivious little Star in the direction of the glow that poured out from the boiler. All the while, he continued his little mind game of an interrogation. Keeping Star in suspense until…

"Oh, is that it?" Steele asked with fake interest. "Well, I guess that's just the way of it," he continued, as he began to roll his shoulders. It made such a crackling noise that even Star winced at it.

"A visit to the butchers will work up anyone's appetite. Almost makes you want to… wolf it all down."

Star's heart almost stopped, which only made Steele continue even further.

"...Although if I'm not mistaken, I don't recall the butchers being all the way out there," he pressed, putting more of a disgusted emphasis on 'there' as he gestured in the direction of the old wooden boat.

Star had no words. He couldn't find any at all. There was no hiding it now. At this, he could only tremble. His confidence began to shrink smaller and smaller while Steele's malicious grin only grew bigger and bigger.

Then, Star began to notice something. He felt an increase in heat and began to feel hot. A little too hot... It was only then that Star finally looked behind him. Right behind him was the large boiler, and Steele was backing him closer and closer towards it. His eyes went wide as he looked back to Steele when he heard his voice again.

"Now let me make one thing very clear…" Steele's voice cut through the air with such venomous disdain.

"That mutt has given me more trouble than he could ever wish to be worth. Him and his little… crush.."

Closer…

Star could feel the heat rising behind him as he continued to back up even closer. He wanted to stop, but he couldn't. Steele certainly wasn't stopping, and Star knew that he'd stand no chance if he attempted making a run for it. He was trapped, like being stuck on a raging river heading straight towards the edge of a waterfall.

"But no more… I want that… half-breed out of the picture altogether, and soon he will be. Once I bring the medicine home a hero, he will be all alone again with no one to run to. Yesterday's news and I'll make sure it remains that way."

Closer…

Star felt horrified. The entire town was falling victim to a deadly illness, yet the only thing the lead sled dog on the team fetching the medicine truly cared for was looking like a hero for some girl. All just to spite Balto. It felt so horrible, especially now that he had gotten to know the wolfdog. Balto didn't deserve any of it. He didn't deserve to have anything taken away from him. Regardless, Star still had no words. He could only back away further in fear, closer and closer to the boiler.

Suddenly, the fur on the end of his long, bushy tail slipped through the grates that acted as a window between him and the fiery interior. Some strands of fur seeped their way inside. He winced from the pain and immediately tucked his tail between his legs out of instinct. He certainly didn't fancy having it incinerated at all.

He was trying to keep as much of his body as far away from the boiler as he could now in order to avoid touching it. What first felt like a nice source of warmth was now a fiery furnace that filled Star with dread each step he was forced to take closer.

"So, as far as I'm concerned, you will not speak with that pest anymore if you know what's good for you. Do I make myself clear?"

Closer…

Tucking his tail between his legs could only keep the distance between Star and the boiler for so long. Steele kept urging him on, getting nearer and nearer, the temperature only rising higher and higher. Star was now inches away and began to brace himself, his back half being showered in the hot, bright orange light that poured out behind him.

Then, he stopped.

Everything Steele said about Balto… was just wrong. How he was handling the medicine situation was even more wrong…

Star's mind returned to the wolfdog. How Balto stood up for him and all the times he comforted him since they got to know each other.

He then remembered the little girl that was brought up in their conversation. A bundle of sunshine just like him, as Balto put it, now stuck in the hospital. She needed that medicine, and so did many others. But that was none of Steele's concern. No, his only concern was to win Jenna over by being a hero. He was doing it all for his own gain.

He was no leader.

As the scalding heat behind him grew as hot as ever, Star was filled with something else he had rarely felt before...

Anger

There was only about a couple inches between his rear end and the grates of the boiler hatch since he had stopped moving. His face turned stern as he looked Steele in the face, Star's blue eyes looking directly to his. He wasn't about to let Steele talk such smack about Balto without defending him now. Truthfully, he was still terrifyingly intimidated but Star, with every ounce of courage he had now, spoke up.

"Leave Balto alone…"

Silence fell.

The only sound to be heard now was the hum of the giant boiler. Steele glared hard and a snarl slowly formed on his face.

"Excuse me…?"

And just like that, Star regretted what he had done in an instant. What little confidence he had then didn't just deflate like a balloon. It popped into nothing but shambles. He was petrified once again.

He didn't feel so brave anymore. He wanted to take back speaking at all more than anything now. His heart began to race, and his legs began to shake violently in fear. His tail curled even further underneath him than before. The look in Steele's eyes said it all.

He was going to rip Star a new one.

The dark chuckle that came from the husky sent a shiver down Star's spine.

"My my, haven't you gotten gutsy all of a sudden?"

Star began to stutter badly, trying to think of anything to say in order to get him out of this. But it was no good. Steele's ears were deaf to his words now. Instead, he continued to come closer.

"You know, your little wolf-dog friend got a little gutsy himself with his… girlfriend. Made me embarrass myself right in this very room. Quite painfully, I might add. Perhaps… it would only make me feel a little better if the same were to happen to you. That'll teach you to step out of line again…"

This was it, Star thought. He had nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. He was going to return home with a nasty and painful burn. The three distinguishable spots that lined his back would be fried. A physical reminder of what would happen if he were to stand up to his leader again. He almost couldn't breathe. The searing heat behind him grew more intense. He began to itch badly from it all but didn't dare start to scratch. It was far too hot for him. He felt like he was suffocating now. Like he was drowning in the burning gaze that clung onto him.

Just as he was about to back right into the boiler's door, he quickly dropped to his haunches in a desperate attempt to avoid it by any way possible. Now, all he could do was scoot away from Steele with his front paws, but this only raised his back upwards and towards the door. It was no use. He couldn't get out. He wanted to get out. Not just out of this room, not just out of this nightmare, but out from under Steele. If it wasn't for his selfish greed and malicious intentions, the atmosphere of the sled team would be far more accepting. He wouldn't have to be scrutinized for who he was. More than anything, he wanted Balto. He wanted someone, anyone to hear his silent cries for help as the gap between his slender body and the burning boiler became narrower and narrower. As Steele's face was now within inches of his own, pupils locked hard onto him, Star shut his eyes tight and anticipated the burning sensation to engulf his back when…

"Is someone in here?"

An unknown voice came from outside the room. Star opened one eye to see Steele, who, after what felt like an eternity, was now looking away in the direction of the voice.

He had had enough.

Within a second, Star took his chance and darted away from Steele as fast as he could. Suddenly, he collided with a set of legs and looked up, shaking as he saw a man wearing a grimy dark jacket and holding a lock. It must've been the man who locked the doors to the boiler room every night. He bent over slowly at the sight of the stunned husky.

"Woah! Easy there, boy… Are you okay?"

Star just stood, shivering and staring at the man for a couple seconds. Not only shivering from his encounter, but now the cold wind felt more frigid than ever. He was having a difficult time trying to catch his breath.

As the man slowly reached his hand to check him, Star took one quick final look back inside. He saw Steele, eyes planted on him with an unsettling and satisfied smug grin. The orange glow on his fur taking on more of a devilish red. He felt no remorse or guilt. If anything, he was taking pride in the message he got across to the weakling who dared to hang out with that scoundrel of a hybrid and then stand up to his leader.

It was all too much for Star.

No… No, I can't stay here any longer! I need to get away!

And just like that, he took off. He didn't look back. He didn't listen to the concerned calls from the man for him to come back. All Star wanted to do now was return to the safety of his home.

He didn't stop until he got there.

In hindsight, one could view Star's running off as a good thing. It spared him one final crushing sight.

As he ran off, back into town, the man, after calling for Star to come back, could only scratch his head in bewilderment. As he turned back to head inside, he saw Steele. No, not the intimidating, malicious, quite frankly cold-blooded leader that Star saw. He saw Steele, the lead champion sled dog. The dog that everyone in town cheered for. The man was none the wiser of who Steele truly was. No one could blame him though. He was human after all. Oblivious to all the goings-ons of the town's canines.

"Ah, Steele. Guarding the place with a friend while I was out, I see?"

He reached a hand down to pat the large dog on the head, Steele acting as innocent as ever. He had a knack for pulling the wool over everyone's eyes and getting rewarded as a result. A true manipulator.

"Well, let's get you back home. You and the others got a long journey ahead of y'all. I just hope that your little pal is alright."

With that, once the door to the room was locked, the man in the grimy coat began to guide Steele home. Steele smirked in triumph.

Oh yes, his little "pal" was certainly alright now.

As far as Steele was concerned, he wouldn't dare to pull a stunt like that ever again.

Author's Notes: I'd be lying if I said I wasn't eager to reach this chapter while in the early writing stages of this story. Of course, writing the slow moments of a story is something I still enjoy. They're essential to almost any story after all, but I guess I was rather interested in writing a bit of an intense scene. Perhaps it was all the ideas I had for the describing the thoughts going through Star and the overall desperation and claustrophobic nature of his situation. The idea of bringing Steele into the story as a legitimate threat to Star stemmed from some slight inspiration I got after reading maybe one or two fics centered around him (I think. It's been a while since I had the idea for this chapter). Regardless, there's also just the common knowledge to anyone who's seen the film on how malicious and cynical Steele is. The few short moments that show Star legitimately frightened of him also kinda aided the idea. Of course, preferring to keep my stories true enough to the original film, I made sure the scene was tense but nothing too out there, if you get my meaning. Kinda how I prefer to do my stories. More of a tame middle ground most of the time. Putting Star's panic and anxiety into words was interesting too. As someone who deals with anxiety, especially socially, I'm sure a good bit of the descriptions that popped into my head were somewhat taken from experiences that invoked vaguely similar feelings. I guess it's one of the reasons why Star resonates with me so much, despite his pretty small role in the film. He always strikes me as very anxious and I've seen him described as lacking confidence, which I definitely see too, so he's kind of relatable in that sense. Don't exactly have much else to say regarding me writing this one aside from going in as much as I could to set the atmosphere and hopefully make an impactful scene to really put Star's fears of Steele and the pressure put onto him into perspective, so I'll refrain from dragging this on for too long. Only thing I'll add is that, contrary to the original plans of having the story ending around here, I just couldn't have Star's story end on such a disheartening note, so I chose to press on with the next two chapters which I hope y'all enjoy as I put a good amount of extra creative heart into them. :) (I swear I word this like it's something groundbreaking when it's really just me struggling on figuring out how to word these lol I'm still rather proud of this story and chapter overall, even if I lack anything to say in the notes sometimes.)