home.

But half way there, the wind started to pick up. Not to the point where it was dangerous, but the visibility degraded so much that the dogs had to slow down.

“Why are we slowing down?” Kodi asked Kirby.

“We have no choice, unless you want to us to crash into a tree or a boulder, this is the speed we will maintain.” Kirby answered with an annoyed tone.

“Oh, don be such a worry-wart” Kodi chuckled.

“Hey don’t call me…” Kirby started, but was immediately cut off by Ralph.

“Hey! Watch where you're going!” He yelled.

Kirby had been too concentrated on the conversation, and therefore he didn’t see the tree in time. Ralph had tried to turn them away from it but he couldn’t do it alone. Kodi saw that the tree was going to hit Dusty. Without thinking, he pushed her out of the way. They both avoided the tree, but instead of hitting a dog, the tree now caught the line connecting the dogs, and the sled stopped in an instant.

Dusty heard moans and grunts all around her. Slowly the team managed to get up, pretty shaken but unharmed. “Phew, that was a close one.” She said with a sigh.”Thanks for pushing me out of the way…Kodi?” She noticed that Kodi was not in his harness beside her. “KODI!” She yelled at the top of her lungs.

What she didn’t know, was that Kodi was in fact just a few meters away from her, knocked out from the impact. He had somehow slipped out of the harness when the sled came to its abrupt stop, and then hit the ground.

Dusty quickly got up and started looking for Kodi. It didn’t take long before she saw her red friend laying the snow. She got up and ran the few steps over to him, fearing the worst. But just as she got to him, Kodi started to wake up.

“Ugh… Anyone got the number on that train?” He mumbled. Dusty let a smile cover her worried face.

“Glad to hear you're ok” She said sarcastically.

“Yeah, I'm just a little shaken that’s all.” Kodi assured her.

“Then why are we sitting here, let’s get home before nightfall.” Dusty said while walking back to the others. Kodi snickered and got up to follow her, but when he tried to get up, he fell back down screaming. His left side was searing with pain. Dusty heard him and jolted back to his side.

“I thought you said you were alright?” she berated him.

“I thought I was…” It was tough to speak between the seizures of pain. “Must`ve broken a rib or something.”

“Then stay down, Il get the musher.” Dusty spun off towards the sled.  As she got to the sled, a concerned Jason wanted to know what was happening.

“What's going on over there? We heard Kodi scream like he got his leg chopped off.”

“He got hurt while saving me from hitting that tree. I-I think his hurt pretty bad and he can’t get up.” Dustys eyes were close to tearing up as the shock from seeing her friend wounded on the ground warped into an unfathomable panic. She ignored Jason’s dumbstruck expression and started barking at the musher, signaling him to follow her. He caught the message and followed her to the place behind the tree where Kodi was.  By the time they arrived, some of the other dogs were standing around him, looking concerned. The musher got over there and examined the wincing husky. His hands soon found the location of the problem, as he touched Kodis left side, the dog let out a pained howl.

“Yup, looks like a fractured rib. I don’t think it’s completely broken, but he is in no shape to be moving around, let alone run.” The musher carefully lifted his wounded dog and carried him back to the sled and put him where the cargo usually was, but seeing as they were on their return trip, it was mostly empty, save from some necessary supplies. Kodi was gently tucked in a blanket. The dogs were strapped back up in their harnesses and soon, Nome was coming into view. 

When they arrived into town, it went straight to the vet’s office. He released the dogs so they could head home before he carried Kodi inside the office. All the dogs went for the boiler room, all except one; Dusty remained, sitting outside the door to the vet, trying to hear how Kodi was doing. She didn’t hear anything, and soon she laid down on the porch and waited. A tear fell from her eyes.

This is all my fault.

I’m sorry

”Sorry.” The substitute
for longer words.

Dusty walked the streets of Nome. It was the morning after their dramatic return from their first run. Kodi was still behind closed doors in the vet’s office. Dusty had left the porch as the sun started creeping over the rooftops, she had to get warm and eat something.

From the moment the vet’s door closed last night, she felt guilt eating at her heart. She couldn’t explain it, but it was there. She eventually arrived at the boiler room; she dodged a myriad of questions from the team as to where she had been and how she was doing. She ate the food that was left for her and lied down at her spot near the roaring fire, pretending to be asleep.
Why do I feel so sad? She asked herself. I know that he will be okay…but still.

Dusty suddenly realized that Kodis parents didn’t know what had happened yet. She jumped to her feet and ran through the door, ignoring the quizzed looks her teammates gave her.

She didn’t stop until she arrived at the shed which Kodi had once mentioned was his parent’s home. She looked at the sky; the sun was getting higher, so they would probably be awake now. She raised her paw to scratch at the door to signify her arrival, but she stopped herself.
Wait, what should I say to them? “Hi, I'm Dusty; I'm on Kodis sled team. I just wanted to say that your son is currently lying unconscious in the animal hospital with a damaged rib and is in a lot of pain.”

She shuddered at the prospect of being so forward.Yeah, that won’t make them panic at ALL! She shook off the thoughts of Balto and Jenna’s reaction to the news, and decided to improvise. That in mind, she tapped the door with her claws. She instantly heard someone coming to the door.

“Kodiak?” It was Jenna. “Oh, sorry.” She apologized. “I thought it was my son knocking.”

Dusty felt her heart sink. “Well, he’s the reason I have come here…” She took a deep breath. “Is Kodis father here? He should hear what I have to say to.”

Jenna nodded. “Balto, can you come to the door please?” Dusty had to fight the tears as she heard the fear in Jenna’s voice. Here we go… she thought.

“Yes dear, what’s the matter? Balto came running to the door, hearing Jenna's distressed voice. Jenna simply nodded her head towards Dusty.

“Hi…” Dusty found her voice very weak. “My name is Dusty; I'm on Kodis sled team.” Her voice was picking up. “Last evening, when we were on our way home from the mining camp north of here, a storm was picking up while we were still in the forest.” Dusty tried hard to pick the right words, but the worry building up in the listeners faces made it difficult.

“We didn’t see the tree in our way until it was too late, we tried to avoid it, but couldn’t. Right before the tree hit me; Kodi jumped and pushed me away from it. But the tree caught the line and stopped us so fast that Kodi was thrown out of his harness.” She took a breather, trying to control her shaking voice. Balto and Jenna were staring at her, eyes wide open.

“Is…Is he okay” Jenna managed to force out with trembling voice.

“He will live, but I think he landed on a rock or something, because he broke a rib, or at least fractured it. He's at the vet’s office right now; I haven’t seen him since last night… I'm sorry.”

An awkward silence broke out. Balto looking at Jenna, Jenna looking at Dusty and Dusty looking at the ground, head bowed.

Balto broke the silence. “Well, at least he will be alright.”

Dusty kept looking at the ground.”Yeah, I guess...”

“Then why do you look so down?” Jenna asked with a comforting smile, trying to get eye contact.

Dusty avoided her gaze.”Because somehow, I feel like it’s my fault…” She broke down in tears, covering her face with her paws.

Balto cleared his throat.”Il go check on Kodi.” He whispered to Jenna, and walked away.

Jenna walked to the sobbing Dusty. “It’s not your fault.” She said flatly.

Dustys crying ceased. “B-B-But, if it wasn’t for me…”

Jenna cut her off. “No. Il say it again; It’s NOT your fault.” Dusty lifted her head to Jenna's eye-level. “Now, come with me. You look like you haven’t slept in days.” Jenna led Dusty into the shed and onto a blanket in a warm corner. Dusty was surprised at how tired she was. She fell asleep before she hit the floor.

Jenna watched the sleeping husky. Oh Kodi, please don’t let this break you spirit…

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Balto arrived at the vet’s office by noon. He knew the front door would be closed, so he went to the doggie door at the back to gain entrance. He walked inside on silent paws, but was startled by a voice from behind.

“Hey