putting the same leash around his neck as he did with Copper. They walked into and office were Kasey began to sign papers. Bracken began to think off Copper again and sadness filled him. He would never see his friend again why were good byes so hard.

Kasey took Bracken to his house in Nome were he was greeted by a rather odd little dog. He was small and stout with black and brown fur. "Your the new mutt" he spat in a british accent. "Mutt" Bracken growled "I'm a Pure Sable Malmute" he snapped to the small dog. "Ha well I'm a Permboke Welsh Corgi my name's Charlie." he stated. "I'm Bracken" he said. "You must be for the sled team" Charlie growled. "Just over grown dogs working to hard if you ask me." he stated. "Well no one asked you." he growled to the small dog. Kasey whisteled from outside and Bracken raced out to him. "This is the team" he sighnaled to the dogs that lay around in the barn. Bracken stapped inside and all the dogs surronded him greeting him like old friends except one big black dog who stayed put.  

Chapter IIII: Sweet Victory 

Bracken sat waiting at the door. Kasey's friend Spencer was comeing over and he always brought treats. He had been here for about a week and he knew all his teammates names. That was good cause he was lead dog. Spencer pushed open the door and Bracken jumped up to lick his face. "Hey..Boy." he sputtered through licks. "Sit" Spencer commanded and Bracken sat awating the treat. Spencer tossed the treat down and moved toward the liveing room as he ate the treat a big dog followed. He looked up this dog was a Bloodhound and had a familiar look to him. Brackens eyes got round "Copper!" He yelled jumping and pinning the dog. "Who the heck are you" the dog growled from beneath him "What do I look Like a-" he stared at Bracken. "No way....B-Bracken" he said with a smile. Bracken nodded. "Oh my god" he barked as they rolled in the floor play fighting. Bracken landed on top of him with his ear in his mouth "I can't belive it's you Copper." He barked happily. "It's great to see you to" he laughed. As the dogs rolled apart. They stood up and stared at each other "Boy did you grow big" Copper said amazed. "Yeah you to" Bracken said looking at his friend. "Oh guess what.." Copper barked in excitment. Bracken tilted his head. "I traked a wolf" he barked happily. "Wow that's great" Bracken yelped so overwhelmed to see his old friend again. They spent the rest of the day playing and talking just two friends reunited once again.

Bracken padded along the sidewalk with Copper at his side. They were going to watch the mail be delivered. Two of the dogs from the team tagged along too. Marco and Polo the brothers. The four dogs padded along when Bracken just stopped. "What's up" Copper said looking at him. "Yeah we gotta go the team will be here any minute" Polo barked.  Bracken sniffed the air a scent almost to familiar he followed. "Copper you smell that" he said. Copper lifted his nose and sniffed. "Yeah" he answered. "Can you track it" he barked. Copper puffed out his chest "My specialty" he said putting his nose to the ground and sniffing. They followed the hound until he stopped. "What happened" Bracken asked. Copper sniffed "It stopped" he barked. Bracken padded up next to him with Marco and Polo behind him.  Bracken saw a dog sitting outside the post office  and began walking toward him with out thinking. "Were you going" Polo shouted after him and Marco Barked. He stopped about three feet from the dog. The dog turned and they stared eye to eye but saying nothing. The dog's eyes got round "Bracken" he said standing up "Is that realy you" he stared at Bracken. Bracken smiled "Toni" He wagged his tail jumping and pinning him. The brothers laughed fighting.They jumped up and stared at each other. Bracken smiled "Mom can't save you now" He growled lunging and grabbing his brother's ear. "Oh hey lay off" Toni growled.  "It's great to see you again Toni" he barked licking his brother. "Actually It's Antonio" he corrected Bracken. "Eww Special" He said grabbing his ear again. "Come on Bracken ya over grown pup" he said pulling his ear free. "Aww come on Toni" he said holding his brother's head down. "Antonio" he corrected. "If your name were Spot I would still call you Toni" Bracken mocked. "So your his brother" Copper barked trotting up toward them. "Yep this is him..Toni" he said looking at his brother. Antonio shoved him off and looked at Copper. "Bloodhound" Antonio said. "Yep" Copper said. "Bet your a good traker" Toni said. "Bet your a good sled dog" Copper said. Toni looked at his paws "I'm not a sled dog" he whimpered. "Oh" Copper said. "Wait your not a sled dog but your related to a great leaddog like Bracken" Polo ventured. Toni folded his ears down "I can't be a sled dog... happy" he growled as he stormed away. "See ya later" Bracken called after him. They all looked at Polo "You had to go there" Bracken snapped. As they turned to leave a female dog rushed past them. She cowered Behind them "Hide me" she whimpered. They turned to see a huge doberman Creeping toward them "You mutts seen a little Girly any were" he snarled. "no sir" Copper said. He nodded "if you do find me" he growled walking away. Bracken turned and looked at her "Nice to meet you to" He said looking at her. "Sorry but he was a little mad....Anyway my name's Callee" she said. "Copper,Bracken,Polo,and Marco" Copper barked. "Marco and Polo" she laughed. Marco snarled. "Calm down" she yelped. "oh he can't talk" Bracken said. She looked at Marco. Just then Kasey came through town. He stopped and looked at Callee. "Looks like we got a knew teammate" he said patting her. And she became an offical sled dog.

Chapter V: A Road Less Taken

Bracken opened his eyes dim light filtered into the barn. He lifted his head relizeing he was the only one in the barn. Charlie's short,stout form entered the barn. "Well good morning...Prince Bracken" he sneered padding over to him. "What do you want Charlie" Bracken muttered. "Your needed in the courtyard my lord" he barked in his british accent. Bracken rolled his eyes and got up and trotted out into the yard seeing the sled packed down and everyone had there harnesses on. "There you are" Spencer said slipping on the leather harness and his collar then walking off. Shadow padded over to him. "Well our first big trip...If you give up now I'll take over lead dog and save you the humility" he said sure of himself. Bracken smilled "I'll think over your offer." Shadow glared at him before trotting away. "This is great" Callee barked running over to Bracken excitment covered her face. "Our first trip...and guess were to" she barked happily. Before Bracken could speak she barked "Nanana" her eyes shone brightly. "Really" he smiled. She nodded before Kasey called them to get in line. Bracken wagged his tail remembering his training when ever Kasey called he took his place at the head of the team. He raced along and stood infront of Shadow and Splint. "This is great my first trip" Splint barked. "Your last to I assume" Shadow snarled. "What's that mean" Splint stated. "You can barley run" Shadow mocked as Spencer hooked them up. "That's enough Shadow!" Bracken growled. Shadow flinched but remained calm. Copper bounded through the snow towards him."Guess who gets to come with you" Copper barked proudly. "No way...Someone better than you" Shadow barked behind them. Copper rolled his eyes "I get to ride on the sled with Spencer" Copper said. "Awsome" Bracken barked as Copper raced over to his master to settle down. 

"Mush" Kasey's voice rang out. They had finished the delivery and now were on their way home. It was night the stars shone brightly over head. The team was moving slowly. Splint limped along whimpering he held his broken leg up in the air. Kasey let them stop and unhooked everyone. They all were asleep within minutes. Bracken awoke to a snuffling sound he saw Copper sniffing around on the ground. Bracken lifted his head "Copper what are you doing" He muttered. Copper looked at him "I smell" he sniffed "Wolf" he answered. Bracken stood up and slipped his head out of his collar. Then trotted next to Copper's side. "Really" he said his eyes round. Copper nodded. There was a slight movement in the bushes. Both dogs turned and looked seeing a pale brown wolf standing there his eyes wide