Brian layed curled up at Matthew's feet. Matt looked down at Brian with a smile and patted his dog's head and scratched behind his ears. Brian smiled when he felt his master's warm skin against his fur. He pricked his ear and raised his head and growled lowly.

Matt pulled his hand back as Brian began to growl. "What is it boy?" he asked and stood up from his chair and folded the newspaper he was reading. Matthew only read a two things in the newspaper: weather and fishing news. Matt owned his own fishing boat. He took the job when his father disappeared at sea. Not only was Matt's father lost, but also Brian's. Brian's father Davy Sea Bones; or Davy loved going out fishing with William, Matt's father. Brian's parents always went everywhere with Matt's parents. Doing so, also cost them their lives..

Calypso, Brian's mother always went somewhere with Jackie; Matt's mother. When the family was at home, Jackie went out shopping and Calypso was determined to leave with her, so they went for a car ride, but..never came back. Both Jackie and Calypso died in a terrible car crash. When Matt was 18 his Father never returned from his boating trip and so, both fathers were lost and Matt took up the Family buisness.

Brian licked Matt's hand and whined. He pressed his cold nose into Matt's palm, which made Matt laugh every time. Matt smiled down at his dog and scratched behind his ears. "Okay, boy, we'll go out shopping in town, then head out to sea okay?" he asked.

Brian smiled and licked Matt's hand more. Brian followed beside Matt as his master reached for the leash and clipped it on Brian's collar. Matt was just about to open the door when a knock sounded. Matt swung open the door.

"Ah, Mr. Swooter. How are you this evening?" Brian asked the elderly man that stood in front of the doorway. Mister Swooter was the man that took care of the lighthouse in the cove. He was a family friends with Matt's parents and always let William Anderson on to any seastorms swirling about the ocean.

"Hope ye not going out fishing today, Matt. A ba-a-ad storm brewing." Swooter warned with his bold Irish accent.

"Swooter, you worry too much. I've ridden a storm before, nothing I can't handle." Matt said and patted Brian's head.

"Aye, but tis a storm not even William Anderson's offspring could handle. Take me warning and don't go out today. It be very dangerous for you." he warned Matt.

"Okay, okay mister Swooter. I won't go out tonight, I'll wait till morning." Matt promised, but crossed his fingers behind Brian's head. Brian looked suspicously at his master with narrowed eyes. Almost knowing what Brian was thinking Matt smiled sheepishly at his dog.

"That be smart." Swooter smiled and rubbed Matt's head, then walked away haunched over his cane.

Matt smirked and held up his crossed fingers behind the old man's back, then gripped Brian's leash from the ground and walked off into town, making sure to avoid the old man.

Matt stopped by the old warehouse store and tied Brian outside, then walked in.

Brian layed down in the melting snow and watched as some dogs walked by. He pricked up when he saw his sister Jenna.

Jenna turned her head, happy to see her brother and nuzzled him.

"How are you Brian? At the store again, don't tell me you're going out tonight." Jenna said, blinking her ember eyes.

"Sorry sis, but I have to. I can't let Matt go by himself I'--"

"I'm his gurdian." Jenna finished her brother's sentance. "I know, I know, but I worry about you, I don't want you to be lost to the sea like Father." she frowned and lowered her head.

Brian nuzzled Jenna. "I promise I'll be back." he smiled encourgingly to his sister.

"Hey, Brian." called a familar voice.

"Balto." Brian smiled.

The old hybrid walked beside Jenna. "Going on the sea so early? Going to be a storm." Balto advised.

"I know, but I must if Matt goes." Brian frowned.

Balto nodded, then looked up as Matt patted his head. "Hiya, Balto." said Matt friendly, then untied Brian with one hand, holding a box filled with supplies.

Balto looked at Jenna worried. Jenna, feeling Balto's worry about her brother pressed against Balto's fur.

"Bye guys." said Matt and gently tugged on Brian's leash who hurriedly nuzzled his sister and caught up with Matt.

Matt clipped off the leash on Brian's collar and put it on the box, then walked onto his boat where he placed the supplies in a little compartment under the deck. "Let me go pack, boy." said Matt, rubbing Brian's head as Matt sprinted off to pack his clothes. They usally only stayed out to sea for about two or three days.

Brian hopped onto the boat and layed on the front of the boat and waited for Matt.

"Brian." said a loathsome voice.

Brian picked up his head and growled, spotting the black and white malamute.

"Steele." Brian growled. "What do you want?" he snarled.

"Just came to say bye to my team mate." Steele sat walked over to Brian and sitting a fair distance.

It was true. Also being beside Matt 24/7, Brian was also second lead dog on Steele's team. And Steele always took a some-what liking to Brian because he had the same fire of running like himself. But, Brian didn't feel the same way, because he knew Steele was a loathsome, envyess, glory-hound.

"Well, hurry up and say bye." Brian snorted.

Steele smirked. "Bye." he waved his tail and ran off just as Matt came out with a water-proof suit case.

Matt threw the case over onto the deck, Brian taking it into the cabin where the other stuff lay. Brian returned to watch Matt push the boat into deeper water. When Matt was about waist deep in water he hopped on board and turned the boat and off they went, toward the dark grey skies..

---

The storm came fast and hard. Already waves washed over the deck on the boat, the wind howled violently in Brian's ears, but he stayed sturdy and remained by Matthew's side. The boat bucked wildly up and down on the vicious waves, which clashed against the sides of the boat.

Brian whimpered, but the wind grabbed at Brian's voice and ripped it from his throat. Matt glanced down at his dog and patted him, then quickly gripped the wheel. Matt panted heavily, rain pelting them both like bullets. Lightening struck above them and the skies ripped open with vengence, the thunder seeming the shake the boat underneath them.

"Only a few more minutes!!" Matt screamed over the howling winds to Brian. The storm had been going for about ten minutes, with no sign of letting up in a 'few minutes'.

Another lightening crashed and the boat bucked upwards as a wave crashed into the boat and it sent Matt and Brian over board..

Matt swam with a fursiouty and crashed out of the surface. He was lucky enough to surface by the boat. He gripped the side the boat with all his might, not caring that it was slippery, only clinging to the boat was he going to survive. "BRIAN!!" Matt shouted over the roaring waves as Poseiden gave all hell waters to Matt and his ship.

Matt couldn't hold on anymore. He pulled himself over the side and thunked onto the deck. He snatched a flashlight from the bag and pointed it at the dark waters, trying to see through the abyss. Then, he snatched some rope and tied himself tightly to the side of the boat. "BRIAN!!" he shouted again, and he strained his ears till they bled(not really) to hear through the roaring water and pounding waves.

Then, he could hear loud barking. He searched the waters, and spotted Brian struggling to keep his head above water. Matt tied the rope to the rings on the boat and dove into the water and swam as fast as he could to get to Brian. He swam with the strength that not even Poseiden's storm could keep him. Just as he was about to grab Brian, he disappeared, swallowed by the waves. Matt gripped the flashlight in his mouth and dove under the dark waves that threatened to drown him and Brian.

He swam violently through the dark waters, keeping the shimmering light on the sinking body. "BRIAN!" he shouted under water, he could feel the rope grow taunt and he reached out the best he could, an inch..a centimeter...a miliameter...closer and closer he got to the paw of Brian, but then he reached the length of rope. He stared angerily as Brian sunk into the dark abyss, where not even the brightest light could touch him.

Matt screamed underwater and swam back toward his boat...forced to leave his friend to the mercy of Poseiden and to sleep forever at the bottom of the raging seas of his new kingdom..

---

Matt coughed loudly as he layed limp on the deck os his boat, letting the waves wash over him, then he felt a hot light shoot on his face and he looked up into a bright light.

"MATTHEW!!" came a loud voice and Matt could do nothing, but raise his hand, then let it drop to the ground limp.

Matt felt his body being picked up and placed onto a warm bed made out of tough cloth. The only words that lingered on his lips was..."Brian..Brian.....Brian..." Matt finaly grew into unconsious and his world went dark..

---

"Stupid boy was lucky to be alive."

"The dog wasn't with him, he lost his dog..He won't think of himself as alive without, Brian.."

"The dog could be replaced, his life couldn't. Let him wake up to a new puppy, buy him one that will let him forget about that dog."

"He won't think it the same. The lad had that pup forever.."

"Let the dog go in peace, he'll be missed, but it best not be said again."

"Very well,"

The door shut and footsteps went distant.

"Brian?" Matt mumbled and opened his eyes. He stared at the familar white sealing of his house. He turned his head and saw Mister Swooter sitting immutable on the chair.

Swooter turned his head. "Hi, lad. How you feeling?" he asked.

"My dog..Where's Brian?" Matt rasped.

Swooter lowered his eyes. "Your lucky to be alive, lad. I think it best you forget about your dog.."

"Where's Brian? Where's my dog?" Matt repeated as if he were in a daze.

Swooter scratched his head and sighed, folding his hands on the warm bed sheets. "We