Andrew walked over to the old barn where he kept his sled dogs. For a man in his forties, he was very energetic, and loved to race his dogs. His lead dog, Chance, was light and dark brown, with even darker brown ears. He was a purebred husky, but he didn’t look it. Once Andrew had entered the warm barn, Chance was jumping on him.

“Good to see you too Chance!” Andrew laughed, and lifted Chance off of him. He patted Chance on the head, and headed over to the other dogs. There was Sonic, a black and grey male husk with black spots on his grey markings, Laila, a brown and cream female malamute/husky mix, Rolo, a black, white and cream female husky and Maxwell, a rust and white malamute. Andrew only had a small team, but he loved all his dogs, and he didn’t need a large team, as he didn’t do any of the major or long races that Nome sometimes held. He patted all the other dogs and put more water into their bowls and put some meat down too. Then he headed outside to clean the sled that he used for races. He hadn’t decided yet, but he saw a race advertised in the paper and thought about entering. Chance stretched and headed over to his bowl for a drink. He lapped up the cool water and took his share of the meat. He lay down on one of the many bales of straw and tucked into the raw meat.   “I’m so tired from racing, I hope that Andrew doesn’t enter that race!” Maxwell sighed as he sat down beside Chance, also eating his meat. He was the oldest, and wasn’t as fast as the rest due to his age. “Me too, I just can’t be bothered.” Chance said between mouthfuls. “You know what we need?!” Rolo said, flopping down on the ground. “A holiday!” The rest of the dogs giggled. “And where would Andrew get the money for that? Sure, he’s a hard worker, but…” Sonic said. The group looked at one another. “Well, it doesn’t have to be that far away, does it?! Maybe just out into the country for a bit!” Laila replied. Chance nodded. “I just hope one of his friends brings it up again. I heard Donny talking to him about it.” Chance said. He walked to the rickety door of the barn. “I’m off for a walk, anybody coming?” Sonic walked up to Chance. “Yeah, I suppose I’ll come too. It’ll do me good!” Sonic laughed, and the two headed outside. They walked through Nome’s main street, then back to Andrew’s working shed. Donny was inside, helping Andrew to clean the sled. He could hear them talking, and while Sonic walked back inside the barn, Chance stopped and listened to his master and Donny. “Honestly Andrew, take a break, go to the country for a while, my, you could even stay in my holiday home at the foot of the mountains if you want! It has a barn for your dogs, everything you’ll need!” Donny screeched as Andrew scrubbed at the muddy sled. “Well, I dunno Donny, imagine all the work I’ll miss, and that race—“ Andrew began, but Donny shook his head hopelessly. “Forget about that damn race! It’s only for fifty bucks!” Donny sighed, and after a while of thought, Andrew agreed that a holiday would be best. “I’ll just fetch the directions to my holiday home for ya’.” Donny said, and walked to open the door. Before the door was opened, Chance ran inside the barn. He didn’t want any humans to know he had been listening. He heard footsteps outside, and went to sit beside the other dogs. Andrew burst into the barn, and he actually looked excited. “You’ll never guess what! We’re goin’ on holiday!” Andrew screamed. The dogs all barked and howled in excitement, and then Andrew left to go with Donny. All the dogs gathered around in a circle. “Finally, he gets the point!” Maxwell laughed, and lay down. “I know, I’ve never been on holiday!” Rolo laughed. “I’m so excited!” “I wonder where we are goin’?!” Laila wondered.   “I hope we don’t go very far. I couldn’t stand having to go in one of those airplane things or nuffin’!” Sonic said. He was afraid of heights, and hated races that made him climb hill and cliffs. Chance laughed. “I don’t think Andrew would have enough money to go on one of those things, let alone with five dogs in tow!” he said and sat down just in front of the door. Maxwell followed him, but pushed Chance as he sat down and made his way out the door. “Where are ya’ goin’, Maxwell?” Chance said as he heaved himself back into a sitting position. “Going to see a girl?” Maxwell blushed as Chance said this, and then started to walk a bit quicker. Everybody laughed. “He doesn’t let his age stop him, does he?” Laila said between giggles. Andrew walked back into the barn just as the four remaining dogs finished laughing. He was waving around a map in his hand. “Well guys, we’re gonna be going on holiday in three days. We’ll be staying at Donny’s holiday home, the place where we went for Christmas last year.” Andrew said, dropped some more dog food into everybody’s bowls, put in more water and walked off to pack his things for the holiday. “I can’t wait three days!” Sonic said, chasing his tail. “I’m too excited!” “Well, we’ll have to, won’t we…” Rolo said. And yawned a bit. “I’m tired.” Soon, everybody had drifted off to sleep. That is, everyone except Chance. He looked up at the night sky, but soon he was asleep too… It was the day of the holiday, and Andrew was just packing everybody’s things on the sled. Andrew’s wife, Beth, was staying behind to tend to other things and her cats. Sonic, Laila, Rolo and Chance were all strapped in their harnesses attached to the sled. Maxwell wasn’t coming, as something had popped up, which meant he had to say. Only Andrew knew what it was, and he didn’t think he should tell the other dogs about matters in Maxwell’s personal life. He kissed his wife goodbye, and hopped onto the sled. The dogs pulled the heavy sled, and although there was only four of them, they were all very strong, and got to the holiday home in no time. Andrew took the suitcase inside, and left the dogs outside tied up in their harnesses until he returned. “We’d better be careful…” Sonic said, looking around. “I heard this is wolf territory…” The dogs gulped a little, apart from Chance. “Why are you so scared? They’re our cousins!” Chance said happily. He’d always admired wolves. The way they could run free and do what they wanted, with nowhere they had to return to after their fun. At that moment, Andrew returned to untie the dogs. Once they were untied, Andrew showed them where they would be sleeping, and said they could go wherever they wished, as long as they came back each night or before they went home. Chance was glad about this: he loved the forest. “Hey, guys, I’mma go for a walk. I’ll be back soon.” Chance said as the group were sitting n the barn where they were staying for the holiday. Without listening to another word, Chance skipped out the door.   Chance walked into the woody forest. The trees were green, but covered in pure white snow. To him, the forest was beautiful. He was so busy looking at his surroundings, he didn’t notice the white and very light grey female wolf in front of him. He bumped into her with a thud, and she fell to the ground, along with Chance. She cried a bit, and then looked at him straight in the eye. “Ouch! What where you’re goin’, would ya’!” she said, and dusted herself off as she heaved herself onto her feet. “Who are you anyway, and why are you here, dog?” Chance stepped back as the wolf started to growl. “I’m…I’m Chance, and I’m a husky. I’m on holiday in the holiday home near here with my master.” Chance said, stumbling over his words. This white wolf was rather attractive to him. He stood up straight. “Who are you then, pretty girl?” Chance said, suddenly turning his charm on. The white wolf tutted, then laughed to herself. She smiled. She liked this husky, although if her father found out, he wouldn’t be happy. “My name is Aniu, and of course, I’m a wolf. You’re pretty too.” Aniu said flirtily, and put her tail under Chance’s muzzle. Chance gulped: she smelt so nice, and her fur was soft. Aniu led Chance a bit further with her tail. Lovestruck, Chance, of course, followed. Once Aniu had stopped, she spun round and licked Chances nose. They barely knew each other, but it felt so right. Chance lay down on the cold snow, along with Aniu.
”I’m sorry, we just met, but I…I love you…I’m just drawn to you…the only problem is, you’re a dog.” Aniu sighed. Chance sighed too, but then lay his head down. He had just had a though. Maybe the fact that he didn’t look doggish could come to his advantage. “Y’know I don’t look like a husky, but more wolfish? We could just say that I’m a rare breed of wolf!” Chance laughed, but Aniu took it seriously. “Of course! Dad would never know! But why would you ever meet my family? You have your own life, friends, family, a master…” Aniu sighed, but Chance shook his head wildly. “No. I don’t want to go back. I want to stay. To stay here with you. I never did like being domesticated, and always envied you wolves for your freedom and happiness.

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