leashes attactched to the lines. Diesel, then Dodge, then Nakiska and Dawson, then Bella, Jersey then Anthem and I. Sadie helped Sam harness up each one of us and as soon as i knew it, everything was set. We were hooked up to the sled in the same order as always, looking like a professional race team with our matching colours. Everyone of us pulling at our harnesses, jumping and barking, the exitment always got to me at races. I herd a women begin the count down "5...4...3...2...1...GO!" all the dogs pulled harder when they herd the word go, but Anthem and I waited for the real command. "HIKE!" as soon as Sam yelled the command we were off, me and Anthem pulling as hard as we could. We ran so fast i couldnt even see the crowd cheering for us as we ran past, everything was a blur. "Good luck!" I herd Sadie yell after us. I could hear the team's paws hit the fresh snow, almost like a drum beat. We flew past other teams, running through the trail at a fast pace. Me and Anthem turned left and right as we herd Sam call out Gee and Haw. The whole team was panting now but enjoying themselves. We never stopped running for a minute, even when other teams were taking a break. When my team was over tired i knew, but not today. This was the first race of the season, it was the smallest race, we were going to run the whole thing.

My head came up as soon as i herd the crowd again. I couldnt believe it we were already close to the finish line, i pulled harder on my harness. Anthem sensed the pull and pulled hard as well. The team followed and started to run faster trying to get across the finish line as fast as we could. "Come on dogs!" i herd a call from behind us, my ears twitched back but it wasnt Sam. It was an older man and his team, comin up from behind us. He yelled at his dogs and pushed the sled with his foot trying to pass us. Suddenly the older mans single lead dog was right beside Jersey, he managed to get up beside Diesel. "Not today" i growled to the dog,Me and Anthem lowered our heads, our feet began to pick up speed. My team followed behind us and began to pull harder, the dog on the other team was just as determined as we were. How did he catch up so fast i thought. The lead dog was right behind my foot. The finish line didnt come fast enough, i pulled and pulled. The crowd was cheering so loud it was throwing me off. The older man's team started pulling harder and harder, trying to pass us. We came around the last corner, there infront of us, was the finish line. My heart began to pound so fast i thought it might come right out of my chest. I couldnt feel my legs anymore, i'd been running so fast for so long. But the finish line was right there! "Come on kids!" Sam yelled to us in encouragement. Dont give up i thought to my self, do it for Sam. Me and Anthem pulled harder, and finally we were over the finish line. We made it. The older mans team right behind us. The team slowed to a stop. All of us panting, and our hearts pounding. We won, but that was acually hard, no other team has ever came that close to tieing with us. Or even come that close to winning. I looked back to see who the man was, and the dogs. I've never seen them before, i watched the man get off the sled. He didnt even pet his dogs or tell them they did a nice job. He went straight to Sam. "We could have won" the man said to Sam. Sam just smiled and said "Your team is really fast what a great job they did, I'm Sam by the way" and went to shake the man's hand, the man smirked without shaking Sam's hand and walked away from us and his sled. Two men came up to his sled and began to pull the dogs and sled behind the man. As the lead dog walked by i watched him. His eyes landed on mine, and he smiled. "We will win next time" he said to me in a cocky tone. I glared at him, He was a large siberian husky almost as big as Nakiska, dark gray and white, with brown eyes. I watched him until he was out of site. There was something about him, almost something i could sense, something was wrong. "Good job Maya!" Sam was right beside me, i looked away from the giant husky and right at Sam, i wagged my tail and he gave me a pat on the head. "I have a feeling were going to see that man in more races this winter kids, i guess we better pick up our game."Sam told us. I growled, i dont know what came over me i just didnt like that man, or his team. "Its ok Maya, we'll beat him again." Sam comforted me.

By the time we got back to the cabin, the sun was already setting. Sadie helped Sam put us all back to our posts, and give us all food and water. Then they went inside together. I still couldnt get that mans team out of my head, how did they catch up so fast. And the bad feelings i got from that lead dog. The team was already sleeping, everyone exausted from their first race of the season. I layed down in my dog house, on the straw inside........ We all waited for the next race.