The Calm Comes After The Storm - sayer unkown

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The sun was just peeking over the horizon as two dogs ran through the streets of Nome. "Come on slowpoke!" Kayla called over her shoulder to her friend, Auroa. The black dog laughed and increesed her speed. Kayla grinned and turned the corner sharply. She and Auroa had been doing this every morning for the past few months, ever since they turned a year old. Old enough to become sled dogs. Kayla threw back her head and let out a joyful howl. She and Auroa had been dreaming of becoming sled dogs since they were pups. And now, in just a few weeks, they'd have their chance!

"Hey Dreamer!" Kayla snapped out of her thoughts and saw Auroa had passed her. Kayla shook her head to clear her thoughts, then raced after her. Auroa had given Kayla the special nickname Dreamer, since she tended to daydream alot. Auroa was the only one who ever called her that, since they were the only two who knew about it.

Kayla caught up to Auroa by the time they reached the post office. "Hey Kodi! Hey Dusty!" they called out as they dashed by. Kodi was well known for two reasons. One, he was the son of Balto, the town hero. Two, he was the lead dog on the mail team. Dusty was also on the sled team, but was soon to be taking a break, she and Kodi were exspecting pups. Both older dogs gave them a nod of greeting.

Auroa slowed down and stopped just in front of the bakery, their end marking point. Kayla attempted to do the same, but slipped on a pace of ice and collided with Auroa's legs instead. With a suprised yelp, Auroa fell ontop of her. They looked at each other, then burst into laughter. Kayla squrimed out from under Auroa. "Okay, okay, I'm a total klutz. So what else is new?" Auroa laughed, "Oh come on. You haven't tripped for weeks!" Kayla grinned. Auroa was the best friend she'd ever had. They were closer then Kayla was with her sisters. Even closer then she was with her parents.

Auroa got up and shook herself. "Seriously, you have more chance on getting on a team then I do." Kayla gave her a playful shove, "Yeah, me, who trips over her own two feet, has a better chance on getting on a team then you who has champion lines and whose father was on the same team as Balto." Auroa laughed and returned the shove. Auroa's father, Night, had been on the same team Balto had led to bring the anti-toxin  home.

"Come on, I'll race ya to--" Auroa froze midsentence and her eyes narrowed. Kayla looked ahead and saw why her friend had stopped. Nero. Kayla moaned, leave it to him to ruin a good morning. Nero was the son of the second best sled dog in town, or so he claimed, it hadn't yet been proven, and one of the most beautiful huskies in town. Slate and Missy. Both had incredible lines and both were purebreds, so their having pups was no suprise. Nero was the oldest and, Kayla and Auroa thought, the most stuck-up. He picked on 'half breeds' just to show off to other purebreds.

"Quick, mabey he hasn't seen us." she whisperd to Auroa, who nodded. They both turned and were just about to run for it, "Auroa! Kayla!" They both groaned. So close! They turned and pretended to be suprised to see him. He ran over to them. "So, hows the training comming?" Now Kayla was suprised, Nero never asked how their training went. "It's going fine." Auroa said simply. Kayla nodded in agreement. Nero smirked, "Seems kind of pointless, don't you think?" Auroa glared at him, "No. Why?" Kayla saw the fur on Auroa's neck bristle slightly. "Well, it seems pointless to train so hard," he glanced at Kayla for a minute, "When theres no chance you'll ever get on a team."

Kayla felt the fur on her own neck bristle. She knew he was refering to her in paticular. Auroa growled and stepped forward, "Look, why don't you go show off your pedigree to someone who cares?" Nero looked a bit taken back, but his eyes narrowed at her. Then he turned and stalked off. Auroa smiled with satisfaction, "He'll just never learn." Kayla laughed. Auroa smiled, "Come on, lets go home. I'm starving!"

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Kayla stretched herself out, enjoying th suns warmth. Auroa layed next to her on the porch of the house they lived in. Their owners, the Foresters, lived on the edge of town, so they could make get to work eaiser. Mr. and Mrs. Forester, with their oldest daughter Jen, were the leaders of the search and rescue squad to find teams if they got lost in a storm. Kayla and Auroa had been trained to help, though their owners planned on using them on sled teams to.

"Hey Dreamer." Auroa nudged her. Kayla blinked and looked up at her, "Hmm?"  Auroa smiled, "I heard theres a storm due tonight. Think we'll have to go out?" Kayla smiled, "I hope so. Well, I mean I hope not. Uh, I mean, um, lets hope they don't send the teams out, uh.." she stumbled over her words. Auroa laughed, "I know what you mean. We don't want the teams to be in danger, but we do want some action. Right?" Kayla nodded, grateful Auroa knew her so well. 

Auroa got up and stretched herself out like a cat, "So, want to take another run around town before sunset?" she asked, refering to the fact that thier owners went on lock down at sunset. Kayla nodded and stood up. "Walk to the Kinshakes house, then the ussaul route?" Auroa pointed to the blue house that their closet neighbors, the Kinshakes, lived. Kayla nodded and they set off.

Chatting and laughing as they walked, Kayla felt someone was watching them. She stopped and looked over her shoulder, just in time to see a curtain in the Kinshakes house flutter close. "What is it?" Auroa noticed she had stopped. Kayla shook her head, "Nothing. I guess I'm seeing things." Auroa ruffled her hair playfully. "Soon the only thing you'll see is my tail!" she told her and darted forward. "Not if I can help it!" Kayla laughed and chased after her.

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Kayla and Auroa finneshed their run and got home just as Amy, the Foresters younger daughter, called for them. Kayla jumped up on the couch while Auroa claimed the rug in front of the fireplace. Both raised their heads when Jen came in and plopped down on the floor next to Auroa. Auroa thumped her tail in greeting and Jen scratched her behind the ear. "Kayla!" Kayla's head snapped around as Amy tackled her into a hug. Kayla's tail wagged in greeting and she started licking Amy's face.

The fell into giggles. Kayla barked playfully, urging her to play. This was routine for her and Amy. Jen and Auroa coazied up together with a book by the fireplace, while her and Amy tussled on the floor until they where tired. Or until dinner. "Dinners ready." Mrs. Forester called from the kitchen. All four raced to the kitchen. Kayla and Auroa took their places by the fridge, while Jen and Amy sat at the table. Mrs. Forester was just taking her seat when Mr. Forester came in. "Uh oh." Kayla whisperd to Auroa, who nodded. Mr. Forester did not look happy, which ment something was wrong.

Mrs. Forester must have noticed, "Whats wrong dear?" Kayla and Auroa continued eating, but turned their ears toward the table to hear. Mr. Forester sighed, "Theres a blizzard comming and one of the dog teams hasen't returned yet." Kayla and Auroa's heads snapped up and shot each other a look. "Which team?" Mrs. Forester asked. "The head mail team." he anserwd. "Thats Kodi's team." Auroa whisperd, Kayla nodded, her thoughts realing. Kodi's team was never late. Had one of the dogs sprained something? Had they been attacked? Had the musher fallen off and was knocked out? "Does that mean..?"

Kayla snapped back from her thoughts. Jen had spoken up and was looking abit excited. Her father shrugged, "If they don't come in soon, we'll have to go look for them." Jen jumped up from the table and squealed. Kayla and Auroa exchanged looks. Jen hardly ever acted excited about going out in a blizzard. "You said the next job I could do myself remeber dad?" Jen told her father. Well that exsplained that. Mr. Forester nodded, "All right, all right. First lets see if the team can get through first."

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The team still hadn't shown up when the blizzard hit. And it hit hard. Kayla cringed at how loud the wind roared and seemed to shake the little house. Auroa seemed nervous as Jen and her father's voices carried from the kitchen. Though their voices were slightly muffled, Kayla could hear them fine. "But Dad, you said I could take the next job!" Jen told her father, "Yes, but I was hoping the storm wouldn't be this bad." her father was saying. Silence followed. Then Jen spoke again, "How about I only go as far as the woods? I'll take it nice and slow." she added. "But the roads are ice.." Mr. Forester started. "Dad! I'll be careful!" Jen assured him.

Minutes later, Jen came out followed by her father. "Auroa! Kayla! Come on s!" Jen called as she headed to the entry way. Kayla sprung to her feet, but Auroa was reluctent. "Kayla, I don't think we