the neighbors house, and turned back. I saw my pawprints in the snow. I tried to match every one of them as I walked back.

---

When mother took us to see the sled dog race, it was crowded with people. They all pulled out money to gamble on the winner. I sat at the sidelines two feet away from the finish. Caylen and Isaac sat on both sides of me. I looked at the four teams that stood before us. One was lead by a sturdy brown german shepard. The next was lead by a black and white Alaskan Husky. Another was lead by a white snow terrier female. The last was lead by a dog who smelled familier. Siera! She was our sister who was born in Kodi's litter. She had a white muzzle and red everywhere else.

"Sierra!" Isaac barked.

"Huh?" She looked over at us and Smiled.

But the gun shot a blank and the teams ran off. I was hoping Seirra's team would win. We howled after her as she ran out of site.

"Who do you think will win?" I asked my brothers.

"Seirra!" Caylen barked happily.

"Seirra definetly!" Isaac agreed.

After two hours we heard barking. Seirra was running beside the brown German Shepard. The German Shepard crossed the line first and Sierra came in second.

"Way to go Seirra!" Mother called from behind us.

 

One year later

 

Caylen

 

When we where a year and six months old, mother told us we needed to find owners or jobs like Kodi and Seirra. Isaac I guessed would be a sled dog. He left to go find a sled team at the sled house who would accept him. Batool wanted an owner. I didn't want either. Somthing inside we wanted me to run wild.

A few days later, Isaac had found a team, and an owner, that would take him in. Batool had gone to the new pet shop and got a house owner. I told my mother goodbye and walked outside. I smelt the fresh air and walked down the steps, my red fur warm under the sunlight.

I walked into the outskirts of Nome and followed the sweet pine scent into the forest. I stoped and scanned my surroundings. Once I got an image in my mind, I began to walk through the forest. I smelt every tree and dodged it perfectly. I came up to a stream and lay down n a damp rock that lay on the shore.

"I must be far from Nome now" I said to myself.

I fell asleep and woke up the next morning before Dawn. I began to walk through the trees again, carfull of the brambles under my paws. Birds sang above my head and I smiled. It must be great in the forest, to be wild.

"Hello." A voice sounded behind me.

I heard ferns rustle and pawsteps walk toward me.

"What is a yound blind fellow doing out here in the Forest?" She asked.

"Um..." I struggled to say somthing.

"Come to my pack's cave and tell be all about yourself and what you are doing in my territory." She said kindly.

I nodded and I followed her through the trees into a cave. I could smell the scents of many different wolves. They where familier and they smelled like my father. Wild and free. I smiled and sat down.

"Our leader has died recently and no wolf shares his blood." She told me.

"Um...I'm sorry for trespassing into your territory." I whispered.

She remained silent.

"I was raised in Nome, Alaska and I've always wanted to run free. Being blind and living in Nome make me feel like I don't belong. I wanted to join a pack like yours and live the way wolves do. I'm part wolf but I have dog blood too." I stated.

"I see, well..." She started

"Well?"

"I smell your fathers scent on you, His name is Balto. He is a legend to dogs and wolves."

"How?" I wondered.

"I'm guessing you know about the way dogs see him right?"

I nodded.

"Balto's mother was the leader of our pack. The Alpha Female to be exact. She was a legend for being wise and peacefull to the forest and its animals who roam its grounds. When Aniu was pregnat with Balto, it rained for many nights non stop. We grew hungry and the animals had fled from loss of prey. But when Balto was born, the sun shone. Aniu died from lack of food. But Balto is know as the wolfdog who brang back the sun." She said.

"Wow, my father was a real hero!" I said, surrprised "Anyways, what is your name?"

"My name is Annabelle" She replied.

Annabelle...

 

Isaac

 

I woke up in the sled house and looked around at the team. This would be our first racing day of the season. After Batool found an owner and Caylen ran off into the forest, I had pretty much practiced my dream everyday. Now it would all pay off. My owner, the musher, had named me Buck. I still went by Isaac to the dogs on my team. Six dogs where on it, including me. I was the leader of the team. A tan female named Bethany was the second leader. Duke was a black siberian husky who was middle league. Starlight, the daughter of Kaltag, was middle league. And Downson and Net where wheel dogs.

Bethany stirred and rose her head, so did Net and Starlight. They looked around sleepily and Net stretched his limbs.

"Good morning" Starlight yawned.

I smiled in reply and stood up. I walked over to the food stock and nibbled on the leftover crumbs. The bowl was half empty and I wanted to save some for the other dogs. I trotted outside to find the air was freezing. I backed up into the barn again and sat near the furnace.

"Its freezing out there!" I whimpered.

"Great, some race it will be when we're freezing our taiols off!" Downson barked as he and Duke awoke.

"Aw man!" Net complained.

"Hey, we'll warm up by the furnace until its time to go, we need some heat in our body.

For two hours we sat in front of the large furnace, warming our fur to bone. I saw Net start panting, but he stayed next to the furnace. Downson was smart and slept next to it.

This is going to be a llllooonnnggg race... I thought

 

Batool

 

My owner gave me a pat on the head as he walked outside to play softball with the kids on the street. He was younger than Rosie was. I liked him and he liked me. He named my Jenny.

When I found out his name was John, I started to feel the need of being outside. Momma John would always keep me inside the house. One day I scratched on the door until she finally opened it.

I jumped outside and breathed the non stuffy fresh air. A black male was walking past the porch and glanced up at me. I looked into his eyes and he looked into mine.

"Uh...Hi" I mangaged to say.

He dashed away without a word. I lay down on the proch and scanned the road. I saw John playing ball with two other boys his age. An old widow in her garden. And a cat rustling in a trash can in an alley. I sighed, life just wasn't fun anymore without Isaac and Caylen.

"Sorry I ran off" I heard a voice say.

I jumped and turned my head. The black dog was sitting next to my on the porch. I hadn't noticed him walk up the steps.

"Its okay" I didn't borther ask why.

"I'm Carter." He said.

"I'm Je-Batool" I replied.

"Hi Batool"

I sat up and layered my tail over my paws. The soft wood on the porch reminded me of the porch of mothers house.

"Hi Carter"

Both of us sat in silence. Unable to know what to say. I looked around, trying to think of somthing. The boys where still playing ball across the street. And the widow was watering her garden.

"Are you new?" Carter asked.

"Um, I am to this house but not to Nome."

"Really?"

"Yah"

He gazed into my eyes and turned away.

"I have to go. My master probably wants me home." He insisted.

"Okay"

He jumped off the porch and ran down the street. I pushed my way down the steps and watched the boys. One hit John with the ball on the face. I growled and lunged at the boy. He pushed me off and John walked back into the house.

"Jenny!" Momma John called.

I ran up the steps, over the porch, and into the house. I still had the image of Carter in my mind as I lay on Momma John's bed. I soon fell asleep and dreamed about Carter.

 

Caylen

 

"My name is Caylen" I replied to Annabelle.

"Nice name" She replied.

I smiled and shivered against the cold.

"I'm guessing your coat isn't thick enough yet?" She guessed.

I nodded and she pulled me deeper into the cave. It was warm here and I lay down, wondering what Isaac and Batool where doing today. Annabelle lay down next to me, her fur barely touching mine.

"You say your pack doesn't have a leader?" I asked.

"He died a few days ago."

"How?"

"He was chased my a falcon to the waterfall peek. He had no choice but to jump over. He drowned soon after he hit the water." Annabelle said softly.

"Wow, he was brave to jump." I said,

"Caylen..." She started.

"Yes?"

"Would you mind...leading the Snow Cliff Pack?" She asked.

I gasped. A blind wolf dog lead a whole pack? What an honor. But how can I lead a pack if I don't even lead my own sight? Wait...This is my chance to be free from feeling worthless!

"I would be honored." I stated.

"Thank you" Annabelle nuzzled my cheek.

 

Isaac

 

The musher, who I found was named Derian, hitched us up to the slay at noon. Our fur was warm and the cold seemed to not be there. We hauled over to the sled track and stoped next to the team that was there already. It was lead my a red and black Alaskan Klee Kai.

I can beat this mouse I thought.

The other two teams pulled up and the men that stood on the sidelines pulled out wads of cash, ready to gamble for the winner. Same thing like last year. I remember my first sled race. With Batool and Caylen. I miss them so much now. But I've got a sled race to win!

The blank fired and I dashed off slowly. I stayed in third while Downson was yelling at me to run faster. He didn't get it that I was saving energy. I saw the team in second appear in view. We ran over a plain that was just a land of white with no ending. The sled was lead by a white breed I didn't know. I passed him and left them shocked in the dust. We ran for a few more miles until I saw the sled for the team in first.

It was the alaskan klee kai! I didn't let them know I was there, so I ran off sideways. He wouldn't be able to see he from the corner of his eyes. I neared away

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