Three Years Later

Macca could smell it and it frightened him. The chanting was all around him and the scent of blood seemed to cling on the air. The large shadowy wolf snarled at him and lunged, its vicious jaws wide open and aiming for his throat. He tried to run but found he could not move. Angrily and in terror he tried to force his paws forward but to no avail. He turned and screamed as the shadowy figure landed on him biting and tearing at his paw!

            Macca! Macca hold still I’m trying to help you!

Macca woke up with a start, his fur feeling icy cold as he shook in fright! His dark blue eyes looked around him in fear searching for the shadowy figure. Instead they fell onto his older sister Elise. She was staring at him oddly and holding his paw tightly.

            Are you all right, you look like you just saw a ghost!

Macca shook his head and answered panting as he tried to reply.

            Yeah…yeah…I think so! Sorry Elise it’s just that I’ve been having these dreams lately…well they’re more like nightmares…but anyways what are you doing here?

Elise nodded at the paw she was still holding and Macca now understood what the stinging pain had been.

            I came over to tell you to get your butt into town and say good-bye to Dallas. But when I got here you were whining and whimpering like a newborn kitten! So I took a quick look and found this!

Macca winced as she dug the large pine needle out from his paw. So that was the mysterious pain. He smiled at his sister’s look of triumph when the needle came out. Elise would always be the responsible big sister.

            There! Now suck on your paw for a few minutes and lets get going!

Macca saluted with his good paw and laughed at his sister’s bossy tone.

            Yes maam! Right away maam!

Elise shoved him lightly but with just enough force to tip him over. Macca lay sprawled out on the ground looking up at his sister laughing at him. Snorting in pretend annoyance he swaggered ahead of her, moaning about how cruel she was to a butterfly nearby.

            I tell you mister butterfly the things a guy has to take! Talk about your abusive siblings! And here I am her biggest fan and this is the thanks I get!

Elise giggled and nudged him forward.

            C’mon you big lump of a brother, Ill race you to the Post Office!

Macca took off after her, and the brother and sister laughed as they ran, enjoying the sunlight while they still could.

            A black and light yellow wolf husky waited patiently by the Post Office. His ears and part of his forehead and face were light yellow, so was his underbelly and the two high stockings that were on his front legs. His eyes were a light almost emerald green and they were surrounded by light yellow eye patches. The rest of him was dark black, and he also had a dark purple bandana loosely fastened around his neck, it shifted as he laid his head down on his front paws.

            It’s a good thing I’m patient!

He thought to himself as he waited for his brothers and sister to arrive. He had just been about to fall asleep when he heard the excited laughter of some other dogs. He easily recognized his mom and dad’s voice, and his older brother Dallas. His sharp ears picked out Balto and Jenna, and it almost sounded like Kinosh was there as well. Sighing he opened one eye just in time to see Dallas charging at him! Jazz yelped as his brother tackled him roughly and started trying to snatch his bandana. He tried to make Dallas let go, but his brother was too strong. As Dallas kept on yanking Jazz shot a pleading glance at his father.

            All right Dallas! I think we can safely say that Jazz is awake and alert, right son?

Jazz nodded and glared at his older brother smiling smugly. It really wasn’t a fair fight anyways! He told himself grumpily.

Dallas was almost twice as big as him yet smaller than Macca and Elise. Dallas’s muzzle, chest and underbelly were dark brown, along with the tip on his tail. He had light yellow ears and eye patches and all four of his had high yellow stockings. His eyes were like their mothers, a light almost caramel brown. He wore a thick gold collar and ran on the same sled team as their older sister. While Jazz was the quiet one Dallas was the complete opposite. He was always filled with energy no matter what the time, and he loved to tease his brothers and sister. He had always idolized Balto and had always known that he wanted to be a sled dog. Sometimes his teasing could get annoying and then only if you snapped at him would he back off. Truth be told Jazz had always envied Dallas and Elise, they got to visit exciting places and have adventures while he and Macca stayed home and watched Muk and Luk hit each other with snowballs.

Hey Jazz look there’s Dingo and Kodi lets go say hi. Macca and Elise still aren’t here anyways and the rest of the team isn’t ready yet. Before Jazz could say anything Dallas had made a beeline for their two friends. Dingo grinned at Dallas and the two started talking like they were best friends. Jazz nodded politely to Kodi and tried to think of something to say that wouldn’t sound stupid. Although he and Kodi had practicly grown up together they were way too different now. Kodi wanted to make the mail team, while Jazz was content to stay at home. He was just about to comment on the weather when he heard the light laughter of Elise floating towards him. His ears picked up and he had to laugh at what he saw, Elise and Macca were running towards town. Macca had held himself back and was letting Elise win when something caught his eye in the group of dogs. Jazz saw his brother’s ears perk up and a determined grin split his face. Jazz turned around quickly craning his neck to see what had caught Maccas attention. When he saw what it was it came as no surprise to him. Near by a dark brown and light grey wolf dog had just walked up to Dingo, and was now chatting happily with her older brother.

It wasn’t often that Aleu came to see the sled team off and she was a bit surprised with herself for actually coming today. She really couldn’t stand those dogs and their owners, hugging and petting them. All it ever did was remind her that she had never gotten adopted and that she probably never would. She resented the fact that nobody wanted her, and she almost hated herself for even being born and for being made fun of by some of the other dogs. It’s just so hard! She thought to herself as she listened to the droning of voices all around her. A sudden noise caused her to look up in surprise and she smiled as she saw Macca skid to a stop in town. He was panting and trying to catch his breath when Elise came running up beside him. She nudged him good-naturedly and then scanned the crowd for a familiar face, trying to pick out her family and teammates. Aleu watched as Elise’s eyes seemed to linger on her and a friendly smile showed on her face. She walked up boldly to Aleu and wagged her tail.

Hey Aleu how’s it going!

Aleu nodded politely and answered back a little shortly. Although Elise had always been nice to her, Aleu had become intensely jealous of the wolf dog.

Fine Elise. Good race, but I couldn’t help noticing that Macca kicked your tail again!

Aleu noticed with some satisfaction that Elise’s eyes fell and her tail had stopped wagging. She tried to stay pleasant but Aleu knew she had won this invisible battle.

Uh yeah, my brothers a great runner. Look Aleu Ill see you later okay, it looks like Kinosh wants to get everyone ready to go.  

An ugly feeling inched its way into Aleu¢s mind and heart as she watched Elise nuzzle Kinosh happily. The jealousy tore at her when Kinosh nuzzled Elise back longingly, and Aleu wanted to throw up. It just wasn’t fair, Kinosh was the most gorgeous husky in this stinking town and he had chosen that wolf dog over her! Now Elise was flaunting that she had him, she was flaunting the fact that Kinosh wasn’t even interested in anyone else. Aleu glared at the two and if looks could kill Elise would have been dead in an instant.

            Aleu are you okay?

Aleu looked in surprise at the concerned face behind her. Macca stared at her curiously and Aleu felt herself blushing. After knowing Macca for almost her entire life Aleu still found it hard not to stare at his unusual bright red and yellow striped fur. Against her better judgement she studied him and let her eyes linger a little longer on his dark blue ones. He was solidly built and looked every inch the pure blooded wolf he was. His red and yellow fur was striped in a diagonal pattern from his ear to tail, and he was taller than most of the other dogs around town. His fur was thick but it still couldn’t hide the muscle he had on him. Realising that she was looking like an idiot she nodded hello and then said the first thing that popped into her head.

How was the race? Are you tired?

Macca looked taken aback for a moment and Aleu wished the earth would swallow her up. His eyes