a painted picture against the bright blue sky. The snow crunched beneath his paws as he lifted them up and down, getting ready to run.

         His auburn and yellow eyes drifted up to the starter man. He raised his arm as Dawson put his head down to the ground. It was in slow motion as the bullet was released from the gun, making the exciting noise of the start. He pulled with all his might as the sled began to move. This was the life! This was what he loved! The wind flying through every piece of fur on his body as the wet snow lapped against his paws. It was quite slippy at the beginning but he caught his balance and they were off, first out as the crowd cheered loudly.

         As soon as all the teams were out of the town the dogs began to bark, Dawson the most. "Left! No NO! Right! Stop pulling! You two! STOP FIGHTING!" The two wheel dogs who had been barking at each other about who was kicking who stopped and ran in silence. Dawson looked back to the front just as the lead dog of Ed's team cut in front of him. In surprise he skidded to a hault, the rest of the team running straight into him. The sled flipped over as Harold landed a few feet away from the pile of dogs, Dawson on the bottom. The lauging of Big Ed could be heard as they dissapeared into the forest.

         Harold threw his hat away in anger as Dawson pulled himself out from under the pile of dogs. He frowned and slipped out from his harness and slowly walked towards his partner, his tail between his legs and his ears low. He whined as Harold punched at the snow, sending the wet stuff everywhere. He looked up to see Dawsons large eyes looking at him. "Go away!" he yelled throwing snow at the dog who slipped up and whined again running away with his tail even more tucked between his legs.

         They sat there, still in sight of Nome, for some time before Harold got up again and walked over to them. He didn't say anything as he fixed the dogs back into formation. Dawson watched him with large eyes as he fixed his harness. Soon they were off again although in last place.

         As they ran there was no barking. No huffing or puffing. No whining or crying. No fighting or spitting. Just silence along the sled as she flew across the snowy landscape. This was very akward for Dawson. He didn't want to bark commands in such silence. But he had to bare it. That is, until they came to the mountains.

          It was dangerous for any dog, let alone team of dogs. The rocky cliffs were wet with snow and slippy for any wrong steps. But this was the only way to catch up to the others and it seemed Harold was going to take the risk. Carefully Dawson crept past a few fallen rocks and up the mountain side. Had it gotten colder or was that a shiver of fear that ran up the hybrids back? He had heard how his father, Kodi and the mail team made it past here, why couldn't they?

          "Hey D. Dumbo!" He turned his head as the snow began to pelt at his face. He squinted down the line at Robin. "Are we movin' or what?!"

         "Well, yeah! If you shut up for a moment!" he screamed back and looked forwards again. "Come on!" He pulled so the harness cut into his skin and the snow fell heavier.

          Well, maybe it was because one of the dogs cut his paw or maybe he even fell on a rock. But, whatever it was it made him howl like no other. Dawson looked back to try and give the dog an why-did-you-do-that face but it instead was a face full of fear. Behind the team was the largest bear he himself had ever seen. Its boulder sized paws were up in the air so that it blocked the sun with its gigantic body. The roar of anger shook the whole team as they finally noticed the bear. Whining and barking was heard as they tried to run forwards but Dawson was stuck in some sort of trance. His large yellow eyes were drilling into the bear's black ones.

           Finally the bear swatted its paw at the sled and it over turned with Harold flying into the snow. Robin barked franticlly as she pulled herself out from her harness and towards the bear that had cornered her master. Growling and snarling she bit deep into the bears skin, coming out with chunks of black fur in her mouth. The rest of the team cheered her on or barked loudly to try and get Dawsons attention. Suddenly Robin was shaken off and she flew into the sky and over the edge of the moutain, her cries of help echoing in the dry air.

            Dawsons eyes blinked once and his heart beat raced as he jumped out his harness and to the edge of the cliff only to catch Robin's paw in his mouth. "OW!" she screamed as his teeth drove into her delicate paw. "Watch it SNAPPERS!" But the relief could be seen in her green eyes as he pulled her up and back on to solid ground. He then turned and raced towards the bear, jumping on its back and pulling on its ears. The snarling could be heard as it bucked and kicked, trying desperatly to knock the raging dog off him. But thats what Dawson was like, a wolf.

           At last, the bear's back paws slipped on the wet snow and went flying down the moutain. Dawson, who had been thrown off just in time, watched it go as the rest of the team sighed in relief. The wheel dogs had been tending to Harold as the fight was on. The hybrid was breathing deaply as he watched the black figure lie on the snowy ground below. He looked back at the team, his eyes looking like fire so the team backed up with frightned glances at one another. Robin had pulled her harness back on as she looked the other way, he paw in the air.

            Dawson looked sideways to see Harold had been helped back up again and he was waiting for the dogs to pull their harnesses back on. Dawson took his spot up front and jumped forwards, the others following. 

           It seemed like forever until they retruned to have Nome in sight. "I see it! I see it!" Steph giggled loudly as everyone else barked happily. Home was in paws reach! They'd made it! They were going to win!

           The dogs reached the towns big 'Welcome Home' sign as everyone cheered loudly. Dawson felt so excited as they pulled up outside the mail office, the finish point. The first question Harold asked the mail officer was, "Did we win?!" The officer frowned and looked at the snow as he shook his head. "Ah, I'm afraid not Harold," he said.

            The dogs blinked and looked in awe as Dawson's eyes filled with water. He was going to live with Ed now... "Micheal Hensworth won," he said as the dogs whipped their heads up again. Dawson didn't have to go! Ed didn't come in first! The bet couldn't go through! The dogs barked happily as Harold cheered loudly, some of the people confused of why he was doing this. He ran up and unclipped all his dogs as they ran to their families to celebrate, Robin limping with her sister.

             Dawson was last as Harold rubbed his fur ruffly and smiled. "I'm sorry buddy," he said as he patted him. "I shouldn't have betted you." Dawson whined and put his paw on Harold's arm. They grinned at each other before his harness was pulled off. Dawson looked around for the signs of jumping brothers and sisters, a barking mother and a proud father but they weren't there. The people had cleared away and no one had come to see him. His eyes rested on the ship run a shore, his fathers boat.

              He soon reached the boat after running in the wet snow. His large paws climbed the board to the deck to find Boris the goose wiping the floor with a bucket and mop, Stella sitting on a bucket looking very depressed. The two looked up as Dawson came over to them with a smile. "We got second place!" he barked happily. Suddenly his mother came running out from the front of the boat only to stop and burst into tears. Balto jumped from around the corner also and tenderly nuzzled Jenna. "Whats going on?" Dawson asked looking from goose to wolf.

              "It's you're brother, Dingo," Balto said as Jenna sobbed on. "He's missing."