Aniou.

    Together the trio walked through the crowd, gazing around them, eager to take in everything. Stopping at a hotdogs stand Franklin ordered three hotdogs, placing two of them on the floor.

  “Eat up guys, this is my treat” Franklin said biting into his.

      Licking their lips Cathán and Aniou took a bit savoring the taste of ketchup and mustard. The hotdogs were gone within minutes and the trio continued, passing people handing out free US flags, hats, balloons and scarves to the crowd. Taking two scarves off a man, Franklin tied one around Cathán and then Aniou’s neck. They were not the only animals wearing clothing, several other dogs wore scarves, a couple had hats on and a few more had balloons tied to their collars. Walking onto the deck of a boat the trio watched as a magician turned a cigar into a bunch of flower, made three owls fly out of a pillow case and pulled an arctic hare out of a battered top hat. Children cheered with delight as the owls hooted, with the magician allowing the audience to stroke them, letting those over twelve hold the hare and the owls.

     Leaving the boat Franklin led them onto the frozen river, the heart of celebrations. In a section cordoned off with rope people danced, others sat at tables drinking and talking. On a large stage a brass band played with Franklin’s mother and uncle singing, both waving when they saw the trio. All three tapped their feet in time to the music, joining in when the singers asked them to. The mood was lively; everyone having a good time, even the law enforcement officers were tapping their feet.

     As three o’clock arrived the celebrations began to wrap up, the band played their final song, and the town mayor official closed the celebrations. Walking home together the trio saw many sights, the magician getting bitten while putting the owls, the band loading their instruments onto sleds. Couples staggered off the ice together, laughing as they went down, their feet slipping from underneath them. Some of the men picked up their wives, a couple putting them over their shoulders, while others had their arms wrapped around each other. As the saloons closed their clients staggered down the steps, many were unsteady on their feet, walking home with their arms linked together. Some broke into drunken song, others were so far gone they had to be carried home, everyone was happy, with a rosy glow on everyone’s face. There had been no fights this night, jokes had been told, dancing done, tables fallen off,  a few barmaids flirted, several hands of cards played, pockets had been emptied and the new year welcomed in with raised glasses.

 “Would you stay with me tonight?” Cathán asked as they walked.

“I would love to, but I cannot stay at your house, your owners would not like it.”

“Not a problem I know a boat that is not being used, we can stay there” Cathán replied leading her towards the dock. Settling down inside the boat a short time later the pair kissed as they curled up under some blankets, soon falling fast asleep.

             A fortnight later Cathán walked through Anchorage on his way to the start line for a race he and his team were taking part in. It was a charity race in aid of the Anchorage Trust for Orphans, a trust which took care of orphans until a time they reached adulthood or were permanently adopted. The race was from Anchorage to Fairbanks, a race which had attracted many mushers, many seeing it was an opportunity to test their dogs. Cathán and his team had been in the city for a week and in that time he had met many dogs. It had not all been plain sailing as news of his relationship with Aniou had spread like wildfire. Some had been accepting but others had been intensely hostile and Cathán had had many cruel comments hurled his way. Those comments had caused him to consider the nature of his relationship with Aniou.

“Chocolate Paw!”

   Cathán turned around to see a male red and cream husky walked towards him.

  “Hi Fire wondered when you would turn up.”

“Well we did promise to walk to the start together, besides there are things I need to say to you” Fire replied as they walked.

 “Let me guess this is going to have something to do with Aniou.”

“It does. I live in Nome, at least one pack lives nearby, I’ve seen them out on the hills…..I’m happy for you, if you love her then I am happy for you both.”

“Seriously? You a pure breed dog, you’re happy about this?”

“I am, I’ve not met her yet but she sounds lovely, as long as you understand what you are doing, wolves are hated by many dogs.”

“Oh I know about that trust me, but when I’m with her……..I don’t know…..when I am with her……I feel alive” Cathán replied as they reached the start line.

 “Then you have a lot of thinking to do……. Your love will not be accepted, carry on along this trail and things will hard…..just make sure that this is really what you want” Fire replied as they took the positions at the head of their respective teams.

          A few minutes later everyone was ready, a gun went off and the race began, the crowds cheering as the teams raced out of town. In telegraph office a message was sent to Fairbanks informing that the race had begun. The news was warmly received in Fairbanks and was delivered to a waiting crowd that had gathered. In the crowd stood Aniou eager for news, severe storms had been forecast for the coming days, so she was glad the teams had started safely. As the crowd dispersed Aniou walked back through the town, heading for the forest.

  “Well well what have we here? A wolf” came a voice and Aniou turned around to find Amelia and four other dogs.

“Greetings Amelia how may I help you?”

“Knock of the politeness” Amelia snarled walking up to her. “You can help me by leaving Cathán alone.”

“I was under the impression you are with Iron now.”

“I am, but another husky should be with Chocolate Paw, not a wolf like you. He is one of the best sled dogs around….he is for too good for wolf scum like you….you tricked him with your charms”

“Cathán is much too intelligent for that, he is with me through his own choice.”

“No he is not” said one husky as the others encircled Aniou. “You are not worthy of him.”

 “That is not for you to decide….”

“Yes it is….a sled dog like him should not be with wolf scum….he is only with you for fun….it will not last” Amelia said flicking her tail.

“I love Cathán what we have is special and it will last, not matter what you or any other dogs think” Aniou snarled stepping towards Amelia.

 “You are dreaming wolf…every dog in town is against you, they hate what you have. Sooner or later he will come to his senses and leave you….a dog like him will not do something that other dogs do not approve of” Amelia replied laughing as she walked off.

       Watching her walk away Aniou shook her head, heading out of town, trying to ignore what had been said. Running out of town Aniou did not stop until she reached the waterfall.

  “What is she is right? I am a wolf….” Aniou thought looking at her reflection. “No matter how much he fits into my word he is a dog and I am a wolf. I may visit his home but I will never truly belong there, today as shown me that. Whenever I am in town humans and dogs only see a wolf, they cannot look inside me. Perhaps Cathán and I have been fooling ourselves…….what we have may not last. As much as we try……our worlds might be too different.”

       Over the next few days Cathán and Aniou thought about their relationship, the fine weather providing Cathán with the time to think. For Aniou things were different, as her responsibilities as a spirit took up much of her time. Finally the day arrived when the first teams arrived in Fairbanks, with Cathán coming in third out of about sixty teams that had entered. Standing at the finish line Aniou howled joyfully when he arrived, racing over to him.

 “Aniou! I knew you would be waiting for me!”

“I am so glad to see in one piece, you came third, I am so proud of you.”

“It is amazing the winner’s dogs are older and much more experienced than me, wow third I never thought” Cathán replied as his musher released him.

“That just proves your leadership skills.”

“Of which a wolf like you would know little” said one dog snarling at Aniou.

“Knock it off Flint”

“No I will not” Flint snarled. “We all disapprove of you and that wolf scum, you can do better. She is a little scum who is beneath you.”

  “ENOUGH” Cathán snarled jumping onto Flint and biting him.

       For seconds a fight ensued, both dogs snapping and snarling at each other. Then it was over, Flint was panting on the ground with Cathán stood over him, both bearing cuts on their bodies.

 “Never say that again” Cathán