Balto felt his heart race as he whizzed through the small town. He had gotten away! Those damn meat cleavers couldn't get him now! He could feel the meat flying in between his teeth as he ran. Balto glanced behind his shoulder as he ran. There was no one behind him. He heaved a sigh of relief as he came to a halt, his paws dragging through the snow.

Balto stared into the darkness, waiting to hear the voice of the owner who was chasing him. He waited but heard nothing. The cold wind continued to blow, bristling Balto's fur. He shivered. It was cold. He had to find shelter. But where to? Where could he spend the night?

He jumped as he heard a noise to his right. Balto spun around, looking for the intruder. Again, there was no one there. He perked up his ears just as he heard some voices.

"I swear, I thought I saw him go this way.'' Balto could feel panic settle in. He had to get out of here. He scanned the snow for a place to hide. He found a trash can, and, still carrying the meat that he had stolen in his mouth, ran towards the trash can.

He raced to the trash can, the meat flapping in his mouth. As soon as he reached the trash can, he jumped right in. He was briefly enveloped in darkness before he smacked into something. Balto grunted as he did this. It must have been an animal or something, because the thing cried out in protest and Balto quickly darted out of the trash can, immediately regretting his decision. Whatever it was, it was alive and moving.

Balto's eyes flew open when the trash can lid flew open and a white feather-y object emerged from the depths of the trash can.

Balto stared at the creature for a second, trying to determine what it was. The creature stared back at him, its eyes shooting daggers into his skull.

"What are you staring at?'' The creature squawked. Balto yelped and dropped the steak he was holding. It was then that he realized what the creature was; it was a goose. Balto felt his cheeks redden in embarrassment. The goose stared at him in confusion, trying to figure out why he had just jumped into the trash can. Balto didn't wan to answer for his mistake; he was too embarrassed to say why. The goose looked at him expectantly, wanting to hear an answer.

Balto looked at the goose straight in the face and said "I- I was running from the cook.'' Balto stammered, feeling even more embarrassed than before. It sounded really stupid now. The goose guffawed, looking at him as if he was some sort of idiot.

"Really? A wolf was running away from a cook?'' The goose had a heavy accent; it sounded Polish or even Russian. Balto stared back at the goose, trying to figure out where he was from.

The goose looked even more sour than before.

"What are you staring at?'' he quipped, his tone evident that he was annoyed. Balto blinked, hoping he hadn't been too obvious. (Looks like he had).

"I'm just…trying to figure out where you're from.'' Balto stated, his tone light. The goose let up and his face fell from one of anger to one of happiness.

"I'm from Russia,'' he said proudly, smiling as he did this. He was obviously very patriotic. Balto smiled at him. The goose seemed to notice this and stared back at Balto.

"What are you smiling about?'' The goose snapped, his tone aggravated. Balto laughed. This guy was too funny.

"I'm sorry, it's just…you seem really proud of your country,'' Balto explained.

"Wha- Of course I'm proud of my country.'' The goose stated. "Aren't you?''

Balto nodded. He was. He loved America. Sure yeah, life as a half-dog, half-wolf breed sucked at times, but it definitely had its advantages.

"I- I am,'' Balto said, now feeling awkward.

"You're American, I see,'' The goose observed.

Balto nodded. "Yes. Yes I am.''

"You apologize like an American.'' The goose said firmly. Balto paused, unable to say anything.

"Aren't you going to eat your dinner?'' The goose asked, pointing to the meat with a flap of his wing. Balto peered at him for a second, unsure of what he was talking about. He looked back at where the goose was pointing and said "Oh.''

The steak sat there, getting cold. He mentally kicked himself in the head for leaving it there. He had totally forgotten about it.

Balto rushed to the steak, snatching it up and quickly began tearing it apart. He was so hungry he felt as if he was practically going to die. Balto looked over at the goose, who was staring at him with a look of disgust.

"You're really going to eat it like that?'' The goose asked, clearly disgusted with Balto's eating habits. Balto swallowed his goof and turned back to face the goose.

"Do you have a problem with the way I eat or something?'' he asked, now starting to get aggravated. The goose stared back at him, his eyes shooting daggers. He had tried being friendly but honestly the goose was getting on his nerves. Maybe he should eat him instead.

"I have a problem with you tearing your food apart like a beast.'' The goose spat. Balto rolled his eyes. Whatever. Screw him.

"Fine. Be that way.'' Balto growled and walked back to his dinner. As soon as he had begun biting into his food, he heard a noise like a growl. Balto's ears perked up at that. He knew that sound; it was the sound of someone's stomach growling for food.

Bakto glanced over at the goose, who was now embarrassed. He covered his stomach with his weathers and glared back at him. Balto let his anger toward the goose drop. He felt sorry for him. He was hungry and he clearly didn't have anything to eat. Felling guilty for eating, Balto tore some of the steak off with his claw and decided to offer it to the goose.

"Do you want some?'' Balto asked, using his paw to push the piece he tore off towards the goose. He shivered as he did so. The wind was starting to howl. The goose looked over at Balto, shocked at his gesture.

"What?'' The goose asked, voice raspy and confused. Balto gestured to the steak.

"Would you like to have a piece?'' The wind was starting to pick up. The cold was beginning to become unbearable. Balto continued to stare the goose down, refusing to leave until he got an answer. The goose looked at him, confused

"You want to give me that?'' he asked. Balto quickly noticed that the goose spoke in this self-pitying tone, as if he was undeserving of food. The goose paused for a second, then shook his head.

"I can't take it.'' The goose stated, shaking his head. He turned away from Balto, staring at the wall opposite of him. Balto sighed, feeling defeated. It was getting colder, and he wouldn't be able to stay out here much longer. Balto smacked his lips together in annoyance.

"Oh c'mon, you have to eat something.'' Balto insisted. The goose shook his head again.

"I can't.'' he said, refusing to look at him. Just take it already Balto thought Please. I'm offering this to you.

"Please,'' Balto begged, his voice cracking. Snowe was now beginning to fall. "You're hungry, Please take it.'' Balto saw the goose' shoulders fall and he turned back to face Balto.

"You would do that?'' The goose sounded surprised, as if he had just realized that Balto had been offering him food. Balto nodded at him, now eager for him to eat the meat so he could hopefully find a place to hide during the night. The goose looked at Balto, and, for the first time that night, smiled at him.

The goose reached over and began eating the steak. Balto smiled. Good. Now he could find a place to stay. He gasped when he heard the goose speak up. One glance down and Balto realized that the goose had eaten his dinner already. Startled by this, Balto stared, unable to say anything.

"I'm Boris, by the way.'' The goose said, extending his wing to Balto. Balto smiled and awkwardly shook his wing.

"Balto'' Balto said, smiling at the goose. All of a sudden, he heard a voice say "Come on men. He went this way.''

Balto turned to Boris. "Let's go out of here.'' Balto suggested, turning on his heel to leave. Boris nodded and followed him as he ran off into the snow. Neither of them knew this, but this was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.