acceptance Aniou she was invited to the celebrations that night, many keen to hear about life in the wild, in return telling her stories of town life. By the time the party had finished that night Aniou had been except by some of the town dogs, but also had experienced first paw the harsh comments and rejection of others. Both Cathán and Aniou now understood the difficulties and criticisms they would face being friends.

       Three weeks after the race Cathán stood outside his home waiting for Aniou. As he waited he thought about his feelings toward the white wolf, feelings which he at last understood. His breakup with Amelia had allowed enabled Cathán to admit his feelings to himself.

  “Alright you have to keep your feelings to yourself today, just until you figure this out properly. For one thing you are both different creatures, she is a wolf and I am dog, you saw how the team reacted the other day. You have just come out of a long relationship you need a couple of days more to think things through. But do I, maybe I should just tell her? Chances are she…but what if she does not feel the same way about you. Is it really worth telling her and risk losing what you have? If this goes wrong she could cut contact with you, no it might be better to keep your mouth shut and enjoy what you have.”      

    As Aniou walked up to his house, Aniou tensed as she heard the barking of the other dogs, some of whom had not been friendly to her when she had met them. Seeing Cathán she relaxed a little.

  “Welcome to my home” Cathán said wagging his tail.

 “So this is where dogs live, thank you for inviting me” Aniou replied looking around   with curiosity.

“My pleasure” Cathán replied leading her around to the sled sheds.

         At the sleds the pair found that a two dog training sled had been left from a training session earlier that morning. Overcome by curiosity Aniou sniffed it, picking up the scent of the two dogs that had last pulled it and Franklin who had driven it. Coming to the leather harnesses Aniou picked up the scents of leather.       

  “Would you like to try pulling it?”

“Are you being serious?” Aniou replied looking at Cathán in shock. “In case you have forgotten I am a wolf, there is no way I could pull a sled.”

“Of course you could, the two dogs that pulled were rather large, we can easily fit in the harness.”

  “I have always watched you dogs pull sleds, I have wondered what it felt like.”

 “Then slip that harness on and try pulling the sled with me” Cathán said looking at her with a grin.

   “Alright I will try pulling a sled, just this once.”

    “You will not regret this” Cathán replied as he held the harness up.

        Stepping into the harness Aniou shock herself as the leather settled on her fur, finding the weight unusual. As Cathán stepped into his own harness, the joy that he always experienced set in.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s go!”

    The pair set off running past the kennels, the dogs barking in shock at the sight of husky and wolf running together. Leaving the compound the pair headed for the forest, the sled runners leaving tracks in the snow. Passing into the forest Cathán picked up a well travelled trial, one that headed from Fairbanks, eventually arriving in Anchorage. The pair soon settled into a pace which was comfortable for both of them, with Aniou soon growing used the sled. Together the pair past landmarks and places they had encountered on foot. From the trial side animals watched the pair in awe at the sight, never had they seen a wolf pulling a sled, well at least not a pure blood wolf. As they ran, each admired the other, looking away when they caught the other looking. Wolf and husky ran side by side, their speed matching perfectly, they paws leaving prints in the snow.

  Then the forest ended, the pair were on open ground, the frozen river in front of them. With a nod to each other the pair kept going, running onto the river, their paws leaving tracks in the snow. Reaching the opposite bank they passed a family of beavers, the animals very startled at the sight. Following the trial the pair ran across the open ground, running until they reached the top of a small hill.

  “How was that?” Cathán asked as they stopped.

“Tiring and very odd, I would not like to do it every day” Aniou replied slipping out of the harness.

  “Well dogs are trained from an early age, you did well to say it was your first time, you kept pace with me.”

 “You set a slower pace to compensate for my inexperience” Aniou panted lying down.

“I did at first but then I set my normal pace for these conditions, you kept up with me at a race level pace” Cathá replied laying down next to her.

 “I did? No wonder I am tired, and that was with an empty sled as well.”

“It would have been harder with a human on board.”

“You are an amazing dog Cathán…….no other dog would be willing to….”

“Not many wolves would be willing to pose for a portrait” Cathán stammered. “You are a friend of mine, a close friend…. The other day at the race, what happened…it was for the best….Amelia and I had been having problems.”

“I am sorry for that…but…….you are my friend….but I want….I mean” Aniou replied looking away.

“We have grown close….I see you as…. I…..”

“I…. I love” Aniou and Cathán said together, looking at each other.

“You feel the same as I do!” Aniou replied in shock.

“Yes a thousand times yes, for months now” Cathán replied nuzzling her gently. “I have loved you for a long time.”

“Cathán you have my heart….you won it by simply being yourself.”

“You gained mine by…..I don’t really know how, only that I love you.”

“That is enough for me, as long as we can be together” Aniou replied as they gazed out across the forest.

 Love of two worlds

      With the revelation of their feelings for each other Aniou and Cathán spent more and more time with each other, and their respective friends soon noticed a change in them. In their different lives their love was hidden as much as possible as both wanted to keep things private. Together in the forest they were happy racing through the snow, playing together and spending hours talking. For Cathán the relationship had a noticeable effect as he always ran faster whenever he saw Aniou during them. Neither set of friends could work out who was affecting their friend but they it had to be someone special.

     Walking through town on New Year’s Eve the pair admired the decorations, the lights strung between the shops, the tree in the town centre. From inside the theaters and saloons music could be heard, accompanied by same wonderful singing in the former and some very tuneless and off key in the latter. Families and couples walked along the streets, heading to and from various places, paying little mind to the pair. The town was out in force to welcome in the New Year, with many choosing to gather on the banks of the river, the setting for an outdoor concert and from where the fireworks would be lit. As the clock struck ten to midnight Cathán led Aniou to the town bank, taking her up onto its roof.

“The view is amazing, what are we waiting for?”

“Midnight will begin the New Year and then fireworks will be set off.”

“What are fire works?”

“Wait and see” Cathán replied as the clock struck midnight.

        Suddenly there was a screech followed by a loud bang as rockets exploded in the night sky, sending multi colored sparks everywhere. Aniou jumped at noise utterly shocked at the sight. More fireworks lit up the sky rockets, roman candles, Catherine wheels whirled while children waved sparklers as the sky was pink, purple, blue and silver stars fell from the sky. Watching from the roof Aniou and Cathán had one of the best views in town, occasionally waving to other dogs and several cats that were sat on other roves.  

 “Cathán this is amazing” Aniou whispered as they watched.

“Just like you” Cathán replied as the show ended and the band began to play. “Come on, let’s go and watch the band, my musher’s wife is singing.” 

       Leaving their spot the pair walked down to the river, meeting several of their friends on the way. Reaching the river they were met by a large crowd and the smell of food cooking on open air stalls. There was a carnival atmosphere, everyone out for a good time, the best of the American character coming out.   

  “Cathán Snow” Franklin called walking up to them wearing a hat bearing the US flag. “I thought you would be here Snow” he said stroking Aniou.