clouds promised a clear sky for that night. Kodi couldn’t have asked for better weather. He came upon Dusty’s home and made his way to the small shed out back. As he stood before the door, his nerves began to get the better of him.

What are you doing? It’s only been two months! Slow down tiger. Kodi backed away, and began to pace back and forth.

What am I doing here? What will I say? He glanced at Dusty’s shed. I can’t do this. He started toward the fence, and stopped. No, I’ve come too far to turn back now. With his mind made up, Kodi padded up to the door of the shed and tapped twice with his paw. A moment later, Dusty appeared.

“Kodi?” she paused and yawned, “What brings you here so late?”

“I didn’t mean to wake you. I’m sorry,” Kodi replied, turning to leave.

“No, it’s fine, really,” Dusty insisted, “What’s the matter?”

“I was wondering if…” he hesitated.

“Yes?”

“…if you would like to go for a walk in the woods?”

“Sure,” Dusty replied.

Kodi noticed an odd sparkle in her eyes. Could it be that she feels the same as I do, he wondered as they set off together.

Before long, they entered the forest on the outskirts of Nome. As pine needles crackled under paw, the rising moon shone brilliantly through the cracks in the tree tops, casting radiant beams of silver among the branches. Finally, they arrived at a grassy hill overlooking a shimmering waterfall. Dusty gasped and laid down, her eyes aglow with amazement. Kodi lay down beside her.

“Oh Kodi, it’s so wonderful,” she whispered, “Have you ever seen something so beautiful?”

“Yeah, once,” he replied softly.

“What was it?” she asked, still transfixed by the sparkling waterfall.

Unseen to her, Kodi leaned closer and whispered into her ear, “You.”

Dusty turned in surprise. Kodi smiled sheepishly, slightly embarrassed.

“Kodi, do you love me?” Dusty said, looking him right in the eye.

“Yes, Dusty, I love you,” he replied, meeting her gaze, “I’ve love you since the day I met you, and I’ll love you until I die.”

“Thank you,” Dusty whispered, leaning closer and kissing him.

 

Just one week later, Kodi padded through the falling snow on his way to Dusty's shed. His team had just arrived after a four day run, and the darkened sky only compounded how exhausted he was. The white flurries melted quickly on his fur, but he didn't care. His mind was set on one thing, or rather one person.

He nudged the door open, glanced inside, and smiled. Dusty lay sleeping on her cushion, so he slipped inside and shut the door gently behind himself. Crossing the room, he lay down beside her, but barely had his eyes closed when he was suddenly pushed over on his back and pinned to the floor. He almost didn't open his eyes, because he knew who it was, but he did anyway and smiled. It was Dusty.

"I still haven't gotten used to that," he said. Before she could blink, he had twisted her beneath him and pinned her to the floor. Smiling up at him, Dusty replied,

"Me neither." She kissed him on the cheek and he climbed off of her so they could lay side by side. "Kodi..." she said, "While you were on that last run...something wonderful happened."

"What's that?" he said, moving his face closer to hers.

"I'm pregnant."

The two were silent for a moment before Kodi said,

"Dusty, that's...that's beautiful." He nuzzled her. "Just like you." She smiled and nuzzled him back, but her smile faded when she looked back into his eyes.

"Kodi what's wrong?"

"I-I feel a little...light...headed..." With that, he rolled over and sprawled on the floor, not moving. Dusty, on the other paw, wasn't sure if she should scream... or laugh.

 

Dusty took a shallow breath and ran her paw across the grass, as she looked out onto a sparkling waterfall.

“So this is the place…where we started our family?” she said softly, glancing back at Kodi. He nodded. “I wish I could remember. I’ve tried, but I just can’t!” she sobbed, sinking to the ground in despair. Kodi sighed.

“It’s alright Dusty. At least we tried.” He padded up beside her. “C’mon, I’ll walk you home.”

Dusty half-turned toward him, eyes full of tears, and opened her muzzle to speak. But suddenly, all speech was stolen from her tongue as a brown blur slammed into Kodi from the side. He and his attacker tumbled head over heels until finally the stranger pinned Kodi at the base of the hill, glaring down with fiery green eyes. Before Kodi could speak, he put his paws over his throat and pressed down hard.

“Surprised?” the stranger snickered, “That black husky was wrong about you. It shouldn’t have come out this way, but you’ve forced me to use fatal measures.”

“Seth, get away from him!” cried Dusty, running down the slope.

The stranger cocked his head and struck her with the back of his front paw, sending her skidding across the snow and into a bush.

“Now then,” Seth growled, “where were we? Oh yes, I remember, I was about to end you.”

He put all his weight on his front paws, and his claws dug deep into Kodi’s neck. Kodi struggled and gasped beneath him, but Seth paid no mind. His victim began to shake and thrash from lack of oxygen, and he knew it was only a matter of seconds before Kodi suffocated.

Just then, he was knocked violently off Kodi and into a tree. Quickly regaining his footing, he was shocked to see Dusty growling at him.

“If you ever touch him again, I will kill you,” she warned, advancing slowly toward him.

“What? What’s going on?” Seth demanded, “You remember me?”

“Of course I remember you, you piece of filth,” Dusty said, belting him across the face, “You gained my trust, lied to me, and took advantage of me!”

She took another swing at Seth’s face, but he quickly blocked her paw and landed a hit of his own across her face. Dusty recoiled and swung at him again, but he dodged it and hit her again. Slowly but surely, he was backing her toward the hill.

“That’s not a very nice thing to say, Dusty,” he growled, “Even after all I did for you. If you hadn’t regained your senses, we would have made such a nice couple.”

Dusty shuddered at the thought.

“My place is with Kodi,” she snapped, “I’d rather die than be with you.”

“That can be arranged,” Seth snickered, swiping at Dusty’s face again. She managed to dodge the blow by stepping back beyond his reach, but in doing so she found herself at the edge of the hill with the river far below. Seth laughed. “You’d rather die than be with me, eh? Well then, die!” He barreled into Dusty, knocking her onto her back paws. Suddenly unbalanced, Dusty could not compensate quick enough and without so much as a gasp she fell.

Seth chuckled and padded casually up to the ledge and looked down, expecting to see Dusty floundering in the river. What he saw made him jump in surprise. Dusty lay sprawled on a small ledge less than ten feet below, shaking her head in disbelief. Just then, she looked up at him.

“What’s the matter, Seth,” she laughed, “Afraid of heights?”

Seth lay down at the edge and began to inch his way down the cliff side.

“Unfortunately for you, no, I’m not!” he replied.

“Then let’s see if you can fly!” cried a voice from behind him.

Without warning, Seth was bashed roughly over the edge. As he fell, he reached out in desperation toward the ledge, but in vain. He plunged into the river below and sank quickly out of view. Jade’s unfortunate brother couldn’t swim. Dusty watched him fall in astonishment and then looked up at her savior. Kodi smiled and reached down with one paw.

“C’mon, Dusty, let’s get you out of there.”

A few minutes later, both huskies sat side by side, laughing at their own luck.

“I can’t believe I ever doubted you, Kodi,” Dusty said, “Will you forgive me?”

“You couldn’t have known,” Kodi replied, “That blow to your head must have temporarily erased your memory.”

The two stood up and nuzzled each other.

“Wait, Seth mentioned a black husky,” Kodi gasped, “He might have a partner! We have to get back to Nome!”

 

As Kodi and Dusty took off running toward Nome, across the lake a black husky hidden among the bushes shook his head and snorted. Far beneath the sparkling surface of the lake, he could see the lifeless body of Seth.

“Well, Seth my boy, I must say I’m very disappointed in you,” he sighed, “Oh well, I guess it’s time for me to have my fun.”

 

Late that night, he made his way into Nome. The streets were dimly lit, and he only saw two huskies out and about, but they made their way to the boiler room and didn’t reemerge. Satisfied that no one would see him, he slipped through the alleys and among the houses until he came upon a small shed. The scent of Kodi and Dusty still lingered in the air. I’ll give you something to come home, Kodi, just you wait and see… he thought.

Suddenly, another scent reached his nose, and he

Previous Page

1 2 3 4 5 6

Next page