full of joy and happiness.

 

     

 

 

 

The ending of a dream

        Winter had arrived in Alaska the last of the summer sun had long gone, but this also brought fun and adventure. Waking up one morning Balto was amazed at the sight of the snow on the ground having never seen it before. The pups frolicked in the snow under their parent’s watchful gaze, with more than one pup slipping on ice. With their father Suka and Balto raced through the forest, their paws leaving deep tracks in the snow.

    One ordinary day Balto, Cathán and Eagle were walking through the forest when they heard the sound of a human voice. Crouching low the trio looked through the trees to where a human boy sat sketching, it was Franklin. Then Eagle stepped on a twig which broke with a load snap, causing Franklin to look strait at them.

 “Chocolate Paw is that you?” Franklin asked using the old nickname. “It is you, it is great to see you boy.”

   With a nod to his children Cathán walked out of the trees with Balto and Eagle following behind. Reaching his human friend Cathán licked him as Franklin’s arms wrapped themselves around his neck. Seeing the pups Franklin knelt down in the snow, gently placing on hand on their fur, with Balto climbing on his knee.

  “I was right all along Choc, I guessed you had left with Snow I am glad you are happy. I was never angry at you Choc I was happy for you. Thank you for allowing me to meet your pups” Franklin said stroking Balto. “You don’t have to worry about anything, I promise not to tell anyone I saw you.”

   Picking up his sketchpad Franklin drew the trio, capturing each separately and then the trio together as a group, capturing each of separate characteristics. A while later it began to grow late Franklin packed up his things and headed home. As he passed a hill he heard a howl and there looking down at him was Cathán, Aniou, Balto, Eagle, Arden and Suka standing together. Seeing them Franklin grinned at the sight, pleased he could see the family together. Looking down at the human boy Aniou howled before leading the family away, pleased that she had been able to repay Franklins kindness towards her.

      A week had passed since the meeting with Franklin and the family was once again out in the forest, walking on what had recently become a new sled trail. The family were laughing happily together with Cathán telling Balto a story about his racing days, Suka and Arden were racing each other and Aniou was telling Eagle of the time she lived by the sea. Suddenly the group heard the sound of barking dogs and a human’s call. Cathán froze as he caught the scent of the team and sound of the human’s voice became clearer.

  “Run all of you run!!!” he yelled looking at his family. “Into the tress and run as fast as you can.”

“Dad what’s going on?” Balto asked looking his farther.

“Humans, my old….Balto you have to run now.”

“We all have to run” Aniou replied as the team turned the corner.

         On the sled the musher gasped in surprise, as it was Cathán’s old musher and the team was the one he used to lead. Seeing him the musher put two and two together and a determination to get his dog back entered his heart. With a command he called the dogs to a halt as Cathán looked at him in shock.

  “RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!” Cathán yelled pushing his children into the trees, their paws carrying them as fast as they could.

 “Come on” Aniou yelled looking at Cathán.

“Aniou there is no, run you have to….my musher isn’t stupid, he’s seen the pups, he will know I am their father! You stand a chance together, they will not survive without you, if he gets his hands on them……they were born into freedom. You saw the persecution we faced, they will face it, he will try to catch them, run.”

    With that the pair split up as Cathán turned to face his old musher and team mates and Aniou ran off after her pups.  Moments later she saw them up ahead with Balto in the lead leading the others home. Seeing her son, pride surged through Aniou’s heart at his actions and leadership.

“I’m here now” she said nuzzling each one in turn. “You can relax now Balto, I will lead us home.”

“I had to Mum, the others were too scared to find the trail.”

“You did a very good job, I am very proud of you” Aniou replied as they ran up a hill.

        Then they heard a howl from behind them and all turned to see a large rope being thrown over Cathán and him being dragged onto the sled. Time seemed to stop as Cathán let out a pain filled howl, his eyes fixed on his family as he fought for his freedom. Aniou’s heart broke as she watched and Balto stood with open eyes. It was over within seconds as Cathán was tied down to the sled. Aniou threw her head back and howled a note for pure pain, a note which was echoed by her children.

     That night the broken family curled up in their cave, each grieving in their own way, with tears shining in their eyes. Then out of the darkness a stunning white wolf appeared.

 “Hello Mother” the wolf whispered softly.

“Aurora, I am so glad” Aniou replied as the pups looked up. “This is your older sister Aurora.”

“Hi Aurora” Balto said wagging his tail slightly.

“I am pleased to meet all of you” Aurora replied as she and Aniou stepped outside.

    Once out of the pup’s earshot Aurora turned to face her mother, heartbroken at the pain in her eyes.

 “He is being held by a chain outside a human den six miles away from here, this night the human drank something called whisky which send him to sleep. You are more then he knows, this does not have to end this way.”

“How do you?”

“Valeria told me, she witnessed his capture, go mother I will watch over the pups” Aurora replied. “I will cast a spell which will send them into a dreamless sleep.”

      With a nod of thanks Aniou used her magic, appearing seconds later in the trees behind the human hut. There bound by a thick chain the hunt away from the other dogs was Cathán, his head laid on his paws.

“Oh Cathán I am so sorry” Aniou whispered sitting down next to him.

“Aniou what are?”

“I have come to help you, I can….”

“No one can help me now this chain will not come off, the pups…”

“Are safe in the cave with a friend of mine. There is something you do not know about me I can…”

“Please Aniou don’t, it will only increase the pain. You have to go back to the pups they need you more than I do you.”

“But we can….”

“No we cannot” Cathán replied looking at her. “If I somehow vanished my musher will come hunting for us, if he found us he would take the pups and force them to be sled dogs, I would be a captive and you might be killed. Please Aniou this is for the best, if I remain he will not risk hunting you, he will not risk losing me a second time.”

“This all my fault” Aniou cried nuzzling him. “None of this would have happen if I had kept away from you, a wolf and husky should not have fallen in love…”

“Aniou listen to me” Cathán replied looking into her eyes, placing one paw over hers. “If I never knew you If I never felt this love I would have no inkling of How precious life can be   If I never nuzzled you I would never have a clue How at last I’d find in you The missing part of me   In this world so full of fear Full of rage and lies I can see the truth so clear In your eyes So dry your eyes   And I’m so grateful to you I’d have lived my whole life through Lost forever If I never knew you.”     “I thought our love would be so beautiful Somehow we’d make the whole world bright I never knew that fear and hate could be so strong All they’d leave us were these whispers in the night But still my heart is saying we were right” Aniou sang laying over him.     Aniou                                   Cathán “For if I never knew you      “There’s no moment I regret If I never knew this love      Since the moment that we met I would have no inkling of   If our time has gone too fast How precious life can be”    I’ve lived at last”       Looking at each other they kissed as the first rays of dawn touched the land. “Cathán I love you, our love was in vane if we cannot be, our pups, all that we planned.” “Aniou our pups will live free with you as wolves, stay here please, do not bring them to Fairbanks they look too much like wolves to be accepted.” “I swear I

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