Toby trained hard all week, racing up and down the street. He dragged out the dogsled that he and Charlie played with sometimes, and didn't stop barking until Charlie hitched him up. He pulled Charlie all over town, working his muscles to the bone. He was worn out at the end of every day, but the look Loki and Luna's faces made it all worthwhile.

Seven days went by, and then it was time for the race. Two of Pete's dogs stretched a rope taut, then slapped it down on the ground to mark the starting line. Luna was pretty sure Pete's part of the line was a little farther forward, but the angle was so slight that they couldn't prove it.

"Okay," said Luna. "You both know the rules. No tripping, tackling, biting or accepting of help during the race. Run down all the way to Main Street, take it to the General Store, and come back by the same route. Each time you hit the turn, and at the store itself, you have to pick up a flag to prove you didn't take any shortcuts." The flags, which were Loki's idea, were the remains of various items the wolf cub had damaged or destroyed. "First one back across the line wins."

Toby grimaced. Pete's gang had driven a hard bargain on the racetrack, and he knew that most of it would be out of sight from the starting line, leaving Pete and his gang to do whatever they liked.

"On your marks," Luna called out.

Both dogs hunched down at the starting line.

"Get set…"

"Ready to die?" Pete whispered.

"I heard that, Pete!"

Pete lifted his head and glared at Luna. "It was just an expression, Princess Prissy."

"Go!" Luna shouted, pretending she hadn't heard. Toby was off like a shot. Pete, still awaiting a response from Luna, didn't realize Toby was gone until the blusky was almost to the turn. Spluttering in protest, he took off.

Luna was getting ready to fend off the protests of Pete's gang, but the pack of dogs was nowhere in sight. "Come on, Loki," she said, picking up the wolf cub and heading for a roof at the corner. "Let's make sure we see what happens."

Toby snatched the flag from its place at the turn, making sure he left another one for Pete. Pete followed close behind, taking the other flag. Toby easily widened the gap between them until a gray blur shot out from the side of the racetrack and bowled him over. Pete ran past as one of his gang's members ran roughshod over Toby and then took off.

"Did you see that?!" asked Loki from his and Luna's vantage point. "That hit-and-run creep just clobbered Toby."

"It's not over yet," Luna replied as Toby got back up and continued running.

True to Luna's expectations, Toby easily caught up to his half-brother again before a rope sprang up in front of him, pulled tight at knee level. Pete, who had obviously been expecting the trap, easily jumped over it, but Toby was bowled over into the snow.

"Come on, Toby, you can do it!" yelled Loki.

"Hang in there, Toby!" Luna shouted in encouragement.

Pete made it to the second stop ahead of Toby and grabbed both flags! "Ha, ha!" he jeered as he dashed past Toby on his way back.

Toby gritted his teeth and ran the rest of the way to the turnaround point anyway, then chased after Pete. About a length behind the husky, Toby fake-tripped and fell on his face.

Pete turned and let out a derisive laugh, dropping both of his ill-gotten flags in the process. Quick as a wink, Toby was on his feet and gone, taking one of the flags with him. Snarling, Pete took off after him again.

Toby was almost to the corner when half of Pete's gang jumped him, burying him in a mass of dogs. Pete ran past and grabbed the last flag, then jogged towards the finish line.

"No fair!" screamed Luna.

"Cheaters!" Loki howled.

Toby gritted his teeth. "I didn't train all week to lose!" he yelled, throwing off three of his attackers. He kicked another one in the face, forcing him to let go, but by then two of the first three were on him again.

"We gotta help him!" yelled Loki, but Luna stopped him.

"We can't," she said, "or we'll sink to their level. Toby has to win this one on his own, or he'll lose. All three of us will."

In the massive pileup, Toby was quickly losing strength. He couldn't hold under the weight of six dogs. There was only one chance. With a groan, he slumped to the ground. Laughing, the dogs got off of Toby. Released from their weight, Toby sprang up and dashed away to the corner. Pete was strutting haughtily as Toby grabbed the last flag and headed for the finish line.

"Go, Toby!" yelled Loki.

Startled, Pete turned to see Toby coming up behind him. With a grunt of surprise, he shot to top speed and headed for the line. Toby ran as hard as he could, but Pete made it across a full two lengths ahead as his gang gathered around to cheer.

"Well, Toby, it looks like you lose."

"I did not!" protested Toby. AYou cheated!"

Pete scoffed. "Prove it. Nobody saw, stupid."

"I did," said Luna, coming up behind them. "I was watching the whole race, and I saw every one of those stunts you pulled!"

Pete and his gang chuckled. "Like anyone's going to believe you. It's your word against ours. That's one to thirteen."

"Oh, I beg to differ," Toby grinned. Time to pull the ace out of his fur. "I had witnesses posted all along the racetrack. I'd say there were, oh, at least fifteen of them. Since I know how terrible you guys are at math, I'll clear that up for you: Fifteen witnesses, plus myself, Luna, and Loki, makes eighteen to thirteen, our favor. You lose."

Pete growled. "Since when do you even have that many friends?"

"It's called being sociable, Pete. Try it sometime."

"Also," added Luna, "Toby tells us you made him promise not to tell about what you did to Loki. But you never made me or Loki promise anything, so we're free to tell all we want. And we will unless you forfeit right now." Pete growled, and Luna added cooly, "My sisters live just a block away. You remember Phoebe, don't you, Pete? The one you so affectionately say has a mouth the size of Alaska?" she asked, quoting the very words Pete had once used to describe Phoebe.

Pete hissed through his teeth. "Ah, I've got better stuff to do anyway, ya wimps. Come on, guys, let's go."

Loki was all smiles as he ran in circles around Toby, jumping and yipping. "You did it, Toby! You did it!"

"We did it," corrected Toby. "Come on, guys. Our work here is done."