“Dad! Look!” Kari shouted. Balto ran over to her. There were dog tracks in the snow.

 

 

They had to be new, for snow had been fallen since they left, and would have covered them up. Balto lowered his head and inhaled the scent of the paw print.

 

 

“Its Shadow,” He said, “Come on, Kari! He’s got to be here somewhere!”

 

 

Kari began to bellow out Shadow’s name, while Balto followed the prints and the scent through the snow.

 

 

“Here, Kari! He must be here!” Balto shouted to here.

 

 

The scent and the prints had stopped, but there was no Shadow.

 

 

“Where is he?!” Kari said horror-struck. Balto began to tunnel into the snow until he felt soft, yet freezing fur. He saw black patches appear in the snow, and he continued to dig and dig. It was Shadow for sure.

 

 

“Oh no! Dad, is he…?” Kari asked.

 

 

“No, he’s still alive - only just though. We have to get him back to Nome soon,”

 

 

Balto grabbed onto Shadow’s collar with his jaws and dragged him out of the snow. His fur was frosted over, and he was shaking and breathing heavily. Kari licked his face. One eyelid slowly opened to show a luminous crystal blue eye.

“Kari…?” Shadow said in a faint and shaky voice, but his head sank back down and his eyelid shit down again as he hit the snow.

 

 

“No! Shadow!” Kari wailed.

 

 

“Kari, it’s alright, he’s ok. But we have to go now and get him home and warm,”

 

 

“But dad, we won’t get to Nome in time! And it will be dark in the next hour!”

 

 

She was right. Balto thought hard till an idea sprang up in his head.

 

 

“Kari! I have a plan. It just might work –“

 

 

“Might!”

 

 

“Listen to me, Kari! You have to go back to Nome…  get your brother, Kodi. He and the mail team will run out here and collect Shadow and me – You can lead them. I will stay here with Shadow,”

 

 

“But dad!”

 

 

“No buts! Just go! Before we run out of time!”

 

 

Kari looked to the sky and saw dark clouds forming as snow fell down heavier and heavier. She nuzzled her father one last time the said to him,

 

 

“Don’t worry, dad! I’ll get to Nome in time, and we’ll come right back here for you!”

 

 

She ran off then skidded in the snow to a halt. She looked back at her father, lying there with his head over Shadow to keep him warm.

 

 

She howled to him, and then ran off again, as quickly as possible. Balto smiled, then turned as there was a sudden movement below him. Shadow lifted his head opening his eyes for a second, then fell back to the ground.

“Easy there, Shadow. You’re going to be alright…”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 7  Kari and the Mail Team

 

 

 

 

Kari ran and ran until her feet were in pain. But she didn’t stop. She had to get to Nome before it was too late. She found it hard to breath, and was panting franticly. Kari continued to run, dodging the trees down the mountain side and through the thick pine forest. It became snowier and snowier, and soon it was a raging blizzard, and her tracks were disappearing behind her by the minute. She was so worried for Shadow. She knew her father would be okay, he was experienced in this sort of emergency, but Shadow was helpless. A strong gust of wind blew her side ways and she picked up the pace of her running. Kari speed of the mountain side onto flat land. The wind whistled in her ears even more. But she still didn’t stop. Soon, a light came into view, a red flashing light. Then more and more appeared, golden and shining. She was coming into Nome.

 

 

 

 

Balto laid his head back down onto Shadow’s thick fur. Shadow was stone cold and shivering. Balto quivered himself, as the bitter cold came to him. He had been there nearly an hour now, there was no sign of Kari or the team and the darkness had reached him and Shadow. Balto felt like dozing off, but he held on. He could feel the frost melting beneath his fur and Shadow’s. It tickled, and he sneezed. Shadow opened his eyes again.

 

 

“Wha’s ‘at…?” He said, still in his shaky voice.

 

 

“It’s alright Shadow,” Balto said, “It’s just me, it’s ok,”

 

 

Shadow sunk back into the snow. He was drifting off quickly and his heart rate had slowed down rapidly.

 

 

“Come on, Kari…  please…”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kirby and Kodi had both fallen asleep by the furnace. They had talked long and their friendship was growing again. All of a sudden, the heavy wooden door of the Old Mill flew open and the wind blew the snow from the blizzard inside. A snowflake landed on Kodi’s nose, and he lifted his head up in shock as the icy water trickle down his nose and made him sneeze.

 

 

“Kodi!”

 

 

Kodi looked over at the door and saw Kari standing in the doorway looking stunned. He quickly got up and walked over to her.

 

 

“Kari! What’s wrong? You look terrible, come and sit by the furnace,” He said.

 

 

“No, Kodi, there’s no time!” Kari said, “We have to go and save Shadow!”

 

 

“Shadow? Who’s…?”

 

 

“No time, Kodi! Shadow and dad are out there in the dark waiting for us to save them! We must go now!”

 

 

Kodi looked shocked and his mouth was hung open.

 

 

“Kodi! Please!” Kari whined, ”We don’t have time for this! Come on! Get the mail team together we have to leave, NOW!”

Kodi nodded, and ran over to Kirby and woke him up. Kari ran back outside and down town. Dusty was lying outside her owners house on the porch asleep.

“Dusty! Dusty, wake up!” Kari yelled. Dusty raised her head and stared at Kari,

“We must gather the mail team! No time to explain, come on!”

Dusty didn’t entirely understand what Kari was saying to her, but she new it was important and she had to go with her. Dusty got up and close behind Kari.

 

 

“Kari?! What’s happening? You look awful dear,” Jenna asked as Kari ran past her. Kari slid in the snow still she stopped, and looked back at Jenna.

“Oh mom! Dad and Shadow…  their…   we have to save them!” Kari said then ran off again. Jenna looked baffled and ran after her.

 

 

Kari had collected everyone up and told Jenna very quickly what happened.

“Kari, you stay here,” Kodi said.

“Wait a minute! This is my rescue, there for –“ Kari argued.

“Kari! Your not a sled dog, you can’t run on the team, and you can’t be on the sled because then were would dad go, ok?”

“But how will you find him then?”

“Oh yea,” Kodi said, blushing, “Eh, I guess you do have to come, heh heh,”

“I’ll lead the way! Follow me, ok?” Kari said, “Now lets go before time runs out!”

The team were all together and ready to go. Kari ran on ahead and the team followed. Kari felt so important and proud of herself. She had never felt so much excitement before in her life. All she ever did was go to the dog salon, get bathed and washed, talk with her friends, play with her brothers and sisters. But she didn’t have long to think about it, she had to remember where Balto and Shadow were through the blizzard.

 

 

 

 

Balto felt the water freeze through his fur. Shadow wasn’t going to last much longer. He hadn’t moved or opened his eyes in a long time, and he was only just breathing. Balto pressed his ear against his body, and could hear a very faint heart beat.

“Oh, come on Shadow,” Balto said, “Don’t go now…”

Suddenly he heard the patter of paws against the snow, along with howls and barks. Balto looked around, but all he could see was the flurry of snow. He howled out. There was an answer back. It was Kodi…   and Kari!

 

 

Kari could hear Balto’s howls. She ran ahead on ahead to reach him. Balto suddenly saw Kari burst out of the blizzard and dash at full speed over to him. She cuddled close to Balto, tears from her eyes.

“Kari, we need to get Shadow home, he’s not going to go on for much longer,” Balto said. Kari nodded and barked to the team, who came through the blanket of snow the same way Kari had a moment before.

“Dad!” Kodi shouted, “Are you alright?!”

Balto nodded then stood up on his feet awkwardly. He was stiff and frozen. He lifted Shadow up and Kari took hold of his collar. The pulled him over and placed him on the sled. The musher secured him in and wrapped him up in a thick blanket. Kari licked his face again, but this time there was no movement.

“Come on guys, we need to get him to Nome fast!” Balto said, “I’ll run alongside Kari. Alright team! Mush!”

The mail team bolted and darted through the landscape with Balto in lead along side with Kari.

 

 

Nome was soon in sight, and the team saw themselves running into the streets. They skidded to a halt and Balto and Kari ran to Shadow. The musher picked him up and took him into the Old Mill. He was placed on the wooden planks next to the furnace and wrapped up tight. Then the musher ran out to go find Shadow’s owner. Kari ran over to him and sat down, her head resting on his neck.

“Oh Shadow…  your alright now, your safe,” She whispered.

Balto smiled at her. “He needs rest,” Balto sighed.

“Dad, I’m going to stay here beside him tonight,” Kari said.

Balto nodded then walked out the door and shut it, but leaving it a little ajar.

 

 

 

 

Chapter 8  The Truth

 

 

Previous Page

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Next page