back.” The brute mimicked “This isn’t a place for you husky, I suggest you leave.”

The other two wolves walked out of hiding laughing and growling.

 

 

Chapter 5

 

 

“Get him.” The brute barked. The two “minions” gave a low growl and crept towards Zeeke. Zeeke was observant though he watched their every move and dodged their every attack, or most of it. The female wolf caught him off guard and pounced on him. She bit his shoulder and shook her head.

Zeeke yelped and turned to bit her leg and pulled. Blood dripped onto his teeth he let go with a “bleh”

“Oh can’t stand the taste of blood house dog?” The scrawny she-wolf laughed along with the others. House dog?!?! Zeeke thought. He bared his teeth and flung her off. Their laughing was immediately stopped. Zeeke stood proudly but it didn’t last long. He found his neck in the clutches of the Brute; he was at the brute’s mercy.

He dragged Zeeke by the throat and stood over him.

Zeeke felt the blood from his throat spill onto the snow. He looked up and saw the Brute standing over him. His blood on the brute’s muzzle and teeth.

“I warned you husky.” He snarled “Now you’ll pay.”

Zeeke slammed his eye’s shut and waited for the final blow. He heard snarls and barking but he was to afraid to open his eyes. He waited…Soon he felt a cold nose brush against his cheek.

He slowly opened his eyes “Dad? But how?”

“That’s not important right now. Come, grab you meat and let’s go.” He said while walking off.

Zeeke got up and looked at him with relief but his tone didn’t seem very grateful.

“I never asked for your help.”

Balto stopped and walked back. “Asked? Do you really need to ask for help on a life and death situation?”

“Well-”

“If I hadn’t come when I did you would be dead! Lets go they’ll come back if the know we’re here.”

Balto walked off, Zeeke stayed behind.

“Now Zeeke!”

Zeeke ran picking up the mutton on the process and caught up to his father.

 

Night fell and everyone was already asleep, well to Zeeke knowledge. He sat at the edge of the boat and looked out at the auroras. They were nightlights of dazzling colors. There were times when they would look like a wolf or dog in a howling or running motion.

“Son?” Zeeke heard a voice. His ear flicked once and he turned his head to see Balto. Without a reply he turned his head back to facing the aurora borealis.

Balto walked up and sat next to Zeeke.

“It’s beautiful.” He said quietly “I remember when Aleu and I would sit and watch the northern lights.”

Aleu? Who was Aleu? Assuming it was Balto’s old girlfriend he didn’t bother to ask.

Balto sighed “Son I’m sorry about what happened. I never meant for you to live life like this.”

Zeeke shook his head in disbelief and walked into the boat to get some sleep.

 

 

Chapter 6

 

 

Zeeke woke up later on that night unable to sleep. As upset as he was he felt as if it would be good to talk to his dad. He looked around for him and noticed he was still sitting outside.

Zeeke shook off the blanket and walked over to him.

“Hey dad?”

“Yah son?”

Zeeke walked up and sat down. “I couldn’t sleep. Mind if I sit?”

Balto shook his head. “Zeeke, your mother any I never wanted this to happen. We both wanted all of you to live happily. But your fate is like your sister’s Aleu.”

Zeeke hoped she didn’t die because if that was his fate he might as well stay with a human.

“But dad I am happy.” Zeeke nuzzled Balto.

“I’m glad to hear that.” Balto smiled

Zeeke smiled a response and walked over to his blanket. He wrapped himself in it and quickly fell silently asleep.

 

Zeeke woke up earlier than usual. He thought about the night before, when his father came to save him. He felt like he had cheated his way out, a quitter, a whimperer. He got up and stretched.

Walking out to the front of the boat her looked at the sky. The instant light made him squint his eyes for a second. When they adjusted he looked back towards the sky. A molding of purple, pink, orange and light blue made the sky.

He trotted off to town and spotted Jenna. He slowly walked up to her.

“Hey mom.” He said.

“Oh, good morning Zeeke.” She said

Zeeke folded his ears. “How’s Rosie’s hand?”

Jenna didn’t reply instead she looked at the sky. Zeeke looked back as well with an expression that said one word “Unbelievable”

How could such a beautiful morning turning into dark clouds with thunder getting ready to make a waterfall of rain.

“I’m gonna go, Bye mom.”

“Bye Zeeke.”

Zeeke ran off and down an ally.

“Hey look it’s the runt.” He heard Malt say. Zeeke looked back and saw that her every one in her “group” but Sissy was laughing. He walked back with his ears folded.

“When will you swallow your pride?!” He growled.

“And give up my wonderful life with a stud-of-a-mate? Ha, I don’t think so.”

Zeeke growled and lowered his head along with creeping towards his sister. But two male huskies jumped in front of her and started barking.

“Get out of my town WOLF!”

 

 

Chapter 7

 

 

Zeeke sighed and ran off to the woods. He ran nonstop until he came to a river. He followed it and soon came to a large body of water. He ran slowly walking into it until his two front paws were under the water.

He looked into the water; a drip of rain fell and disturbed his reflection. When the water settled his reflection looked like a pure wolf.

Zeeke closed his eyes and ran through the shallow end of the water until he reached the other end. Rain pored and thunder rolled over. He stopped and looked back then began running again. Maybe never to return to town.

 

****

 

“Jenna.”

“What is it Balto?” Jenna asked worriedly

“Have you seen Zeeke? He’s been gone for a while.”

Jenna folded her ears. “He has?”

Balto nodded. “We got into an argument and I thought we made up, but I guess not.”

“I’m going out to find him.” Balto said as he nuzzled Jenna.

“Be careful”

“I will.” He said and ran off often sniffing for Zeeke’s scent.

 

****

 

Zeeke lay under a tree. The pines kept the rain out but it was very crowded. The dry, brown pines that lay under the tree poked him. A tear slipped from his eye and rolled down his face. Why was Malt like that? Why couldn’t she be like their other siblings Sissy, byte, Kodi, Moon and, Sumi?

Zeeke took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

 

****

 

Balto ran through the rain trying not to loose Zeeke’s scent. Balto slipped in a huge mud pit. He got up but it was deeper than he expected. The more he struggled to get out the deeper he sunk.

He heard a bear that seemed to be coming up from behind him. He looked behind him to see a massive paw swipe at him.

 

Chapter 8

 

 

 

The rain had let up some and the birds were starting to come out and sing. Zeeke got up and walked out from under the pine tree. He explored his new home. He stumbled upon a huge mud pit. There was a lump of something in it. Thinking it was easy pray he tested to see if the mud was sturdy enough. It was still a bit wet he would fall in for sure.

The figure looked at him then dropped its head.

“Dad?” Zeeke asked to himself “Dad!” he cried. Zeeke ran into the mud and after his father. He often fell and had to swim his way out.

He reached Balto and looked at his back. Gashes went down his back. The blood was too dry to tell how much there was.

He looked over to another lump in the mud. It was a bear that had suffocated.

“Don’t worry dad. I’m gonna help you get home.”

 

***

 

“How are you dad?” Zeeke asked.

“I’m fine son thanks.” Balto lay under his blanket on the boat.

Zeeke nodded and said “I’m going to town.”

“Ok son.” Balto yawned.

Zeeke walked to town. He spotted Malt looking in the hospital window.

“Malt?” He asked.

She didn’t answer. Zeeke walked up and looked into the window as well. There was a sick little girl lying in bed.

“She’s sick.” Malt muttered

Zeeke looked confused. “Sick? With what?”

“A very bad case of the flue, it’s a sickness that can be fatal if not treated right away.” Malt said quietly.

Zeeke thought for a second. Should he feel bad? She was always mean to him and treating him like dirt. Could she be turning over a new leaf? What if her human pup does die? Malt only lived for her girl.

Zeeke shook his head. And jumped off the crate. “She’ll be fine.” He said while walking away.

“They’re out of medicine.” Malt said.

 

 

 

 

Chapter 9

 

 

 

 

Those words stung Zeeke. He turned around “Are you sure?”

Malt slowly nodded, He saw a few tears drip from her eyes. For the first time in his life he felt petty for a human.

 

A race of teams was being held in town. Who ever made first retrieved the medicine from Anchorage. The race was to White Mountain and back to Nome.

Zeeke looked for Kodi and his team. He planned on running along side them and winning. For Malt and for her girl, for all the others who needed it.

The gun sounded and the dogs set off, so did Zeeke. He was out of site but stayed near. It was hard to keep up but it could be worth it in the end.

Since the unusual storm they had the snow has been nothing but ice and slush making it very hard to run. Zeeke ran on a hill along Kodi’s team. He kept hearing noises though. He often looked out of the corner of his eye. Something popped out from behind a bush. Zeeke jumped and fell down the slippery hill. He landed in front of Kodi’s team. Kodi gasped and forced himself to stop causing on of the dogs to bend their leg and break it.

In desperation the musher put the dog in the basket and hooked Zeeke up.

 

Surprisingly Kodi’s team made first. That’s the advantage of being on a mail team. The dogs were praised while Zeeke ran over to the hospital and looked into the window that Malt’s human pup lay in.

She was lying in be asleep with Malt

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