Saba got picked up by a little girl and turned around in her arms, looking over her shoulder and at the life she was leaving behind. She waved her paw to her remaining siblings. She will defiantly miss them, but she was happy to go to her new home and have a human to look after. She couldn’t wait to be trained and to work and maybe even pull sleds like her father. She was almost shaking at the possibilities opening up ahead of her and smiled so wide, it looked like her muzzle might split in two.

      Saba’s owner’s name was Amy. She was a small six-year-old with golden brown hair and icy blue eyes. She was very hyper and could be a bit loud and selfish, but for the most part, she was a great little kid. Saba loved Amy with all her heart the day after they met and grew into very great friends. Amy was great with dogs. She knew how to be firm but not mean with Saba as she was growing up in Amy’s house and learning the household rules. Saba also learned to respond to Sheila, her new name, but she still referred to herself as Saba, although she loves the name Sheila. Saba had been taught to pull sleds and she had become strong and very fast. She could easily pull Amy for hours on a small sled her parents bought for her.

      One day, when Saba was a young adult, she was hitched up to her sled and told to run. “MUSH, SHEILA! MUSH!” cried Amy loudly. At the word, Saba ran off. She darted through the woods and into downtown Nome where she found Kodi, talking with Dusty.

      “Hi Kodi, Hi Dusty,” Saba called and swerved towards them and stopped as they all wagged there tails in greeting.

      “SHEILA!!!! MUSH!!!” called Amy.

      “Oh, Amy’s in a hurry today. Maybe she has a play date with Rosie or Jackie today. Well, whatever it is, I have to go. Bye Dusty and Kodi,” She barked and the husky and the hybrid waved after her. With that, she sprinted on with the sled. They passed through center Nome and to the outskirts of town. They raced along a mushy street. Then, a large van appeared, flanking them; Amy got nervous and called to Saba

    “MUSH!! FASTER, GIRL!!!” she shouted. Saba got unsettled by her tone and began running faster and faster until she was on a full on sprint, but the van kept following them, being right behind them and going the speed they are. Then the van drove up next to Saba. Saba sprinted as fast as she could, very nervous. Then, a large dog leaped out the window, tackling Saba. “SHEILA!!” cried Amy and she leaped toward them, trying to help Saba. Then, a large man stepped out of the van and grabbed Amy and shoved her inside the back of the van. “SHEILA!!!SHEILA!!! HELP!!!!” Amy cried. Saba tried to get up, but the large dog pinned her down and wouldn’t let her up. Then, the man got in the open door and whistled. The large dog leaped in the van and the man closed the door. The van’s engine roared and Saba clawed at the back, trying to get to Amy with the sled still on her back.

      “AMY!! AMY!!! Saba howled, although Amy couldn’t understand her.

      “SHEILA!! HELP ME!!!!” Amy called from inside, banging on the door. Then the van began to move. Saba slides her paws off the back of the van and loped after it, hopping on two legs with the other two front paws scratching on the back. Then the van began to pick up speed. Saba tripped and she fell to the ground with a yip, but quickly recovered quickly and winded after it. The van’s speed steadily rose and Saba pounded after it, leaped up and scratching the back door, the dropping back on all fours and caught up to it again and hurdled over a pot hole and jumped up again, scratching the door, then the van began to move faster and faster and Saba picked up speed with the van. Soon she was tearing after the van. Her paws broke mushy slush into liquid, turning her snow-white paws brown. Wind and slush flew in the air from the tires of the van that blew in her face, sometimes blinding her, but still she raced on. Amy meant the world to her and she wasn’t going to give up just like that. So, on she ran and ran. She had no idea where she was, but she knew that Amy needed her and it was her duty as a best friend to find her. She galloped as fast as she could but the van showed no sign of stopping. Soon she felt like her heart was going to burst and knew that she couldn’t run for much longer. Then, she scratched on the door again and the man driving the van saw her. Then, he stopped the van suddenly and Saba crashed into the bumper. With a yowl of pain, she plummeted to the ground, covered in slush. Then the man drove off with a smirk on his face as he saw the red husky laying motionless on the ground. “SHEILA!!!!!” screeched Amy, hearing Saba’s yowl and hoping desperately that she was ok. The van sped off and out of sight.

      Saba heaved herself up some time later and sat down, dazed, for about a minuet, then, as abruptly as a snap of fingers, she remembered. Amy was in danger. She was still tired and her paws ached like hell, but she knew that she needed to find Amy. She trotted and trotted along, as fast as she could, which wasn’t that fast. Her fur was caked with dirt and snow and her chest was matted with dried blood. She meandered on the street for some time when incredible luck set it. There, on the side of the road, was the van. It had run out of gas and was parked at a gas station and the man was walking back to the truck. He opened the back and threw in a piece of bread for Amy to eat and walked to his door, forgetting to close the back door. Saba leaped inside. The back was filled with empty wooden boxes that had collected dust for some time. Saba and began to pull Amy’s sleeve, making her move towards the open door. But that’s where the good luck ended. The man heard the sled, still harness to Saba’s back, clash on the van wile she leaped up in the back. She heard him open the door to the front and she dashed behind some wooded boxes. Her sled stuck out a little, but the man didn’t seem to notice.

      “Oh, no you don’t!” chuckles the man and closes the doors, locking Amy and Saba in and going to his door and starting the van, then they began to move.

      “Sheila! What are we going to do?” Amy whispered urgently. Saba was all out of ideas. She pawed at the door, but knew immediately that that wasn’t a good idea when she heard the man’s dog barking, he had obviously heard her scratching at the door. The man stopped and opened his door and looked inside. He saw Saba and his face turned red with fury.

      “YOU MANGY MUTT!” He roared at Saba, “Oh, I know exactly what to do with you!” He smirked and closed the door. Saba and Amy looked at each other, surprised that he didn’t do anything and nervous at what he will do next. He sped down the road. Saba stood over Amy, protecting her from the wooden boxes bouncing around the back of the van. Then, the van stopped abruptly and the man opened the door, grabbing Saba quickly and taping Amy’s mouth shut and gave Saba to two men. The men took Saba and stuffed her in a pet carrier.

      “Good night sir,” one of the men grumbled, tipping his hat at the man, wile he walked to his van’s front seat, waves back. The men brought Saba to a small enclosure and tried to get the sled off, but she snapped at anyone who got too close, so they let her keep it. She sat down in it, looking at the stars. A light snow appeared, but the stars and moon where clearly visible. She smashed against the cage like a maniac, desperately trying to get free.

      “AMY! AMY! Amy …Amy ……Amy ……amy…..a…m…y......” Saba’s cries for her owner got softer and more hopeless.  She looks to the stars and sits up, tears rolling down her face.

 (“The Starlight’s Glow” goes with the melody of “The Water is Wide.” Sung by Saba)

The starlight’s glow

The moonlight’s shine

But troubles here

Takes something dear of mine

How can I go on?

What is there left

For me to love

What can I do?

I trusted the stars

To guide me to what’s right

But I was wrong

Are you even there?

I’m losing all hope

All strength to carry on

I needed you

Now I’m on my own

But there’s a light

Through all the dark

A light so dim

But I know that its there

A blaze of hope

Shines through the night

Maybe your there

Still guiding me

Look to the stars

Please guide me to her

I need you know

More then ever before

I know that your there

Keeping me out of harms way

Please help me know

I have faith in you

The starlight’s glow

The moonlights shine

I will follow you

To the end of time

I won’t let her go

I won’t let her die

I know your there

I’ll follow the sky

(Lyrics adapted from the song “The Starlight’s Glow” sung by Bluestar, both lyrics created by Tamaskawolf-BP)

      A fire burned in Saba’s eyes, a blaze of determination as she looked at the metal enclosure she was in. She placed a paw through on of the holes and smiled. Maybe she could escape! She carefully and quietly climbed the fence. She got to the top and leaped down, landing with a thud and the sled landing with a crash on the ground and Saba started sprinting down the street. The snow turned into a blizzard but still she ran on. Soon, the snow built up to about her waist. She walks slowly, but steadily through the side of the street. Her chest broke through the icy crust on top of the snow as she plowed through the frozen sidewalk. Her small paws desperately try to lift above the snow. Her head is bowed so it could break the lethal gust of the wind. Her thick red coat ruffled in the wind and was painted white with the tiny white ice crystals. Saba trudged on, dragging the sled, squinting her eyes and clenching her teeth, gathering every last drop of strength that she had in her to keep moving. Finally, she saw it, the van. It was parked in front of a small field. Saba walked to it and scratched at the back door of the van lightly, then passed out, exhausted. The last sound she heard was Amy.

      “Sheila? Is that you?”

      Saba woke up with a start as she heard the engine roar. She had been covered in snow and the man didn’t notice her when he checked on Amy. The blizzard had stopped. Saba was still exhausted from yesterday but determination lent energy to her worn out paws. She leaped up and crashed through the newly fallen snow and sprinted after the van, that was driving slowly along the snowy road. She leaped after the truck and soon was flanking it and the sled slipped on after her. She quickened her pace and was soon running so quickly and smoothly, it looked like she was gliding just above the surface of the road, but the sled was quite different. It was bouncing and rocking at every bump in the road. Soon, she was right next to the front door. She swiftly leaped up to the window, the sled dragging against the ground and snapped at the man. He swore at Saba and swerved off the road. The van smashed into a tree and the back door of the van swung open. Saba pushed herself out of the window and leaped down on the ground and ran next to Amy. Amy got on the sled and they began to run. Then, the man jumped out of the van and stepped on the back of the sled. He grabbed Amy’s arm and pulled her towards the van angrily. Saba’s eyes blazed furiously and she barked and leaped at the man, knocking him over. The sled hit the man’s leg and he growled loudly in pain. He unhooked Saba from the sled and threw her off. Saba landed hard on her side and the man dragged the struggling Amy towards the van

      “SHEILA!!!! HELP ME!!!!” cried Amy desperately as she struggled to get free. Saba got up, stumbled, them leaped at the man again. She nipped him arm, not enough to break the skin, but enough to hurt. The man grabbed Saba and smashed her on the ground. Saba got up again, ready to spring. The man whistled and his large mutt raced to his side

      “Sick’em!” ordered the man, pointing to Saba. The dog leaped on Saba, pinning her down.

      “So we meet again, Sheila,” he smirked. He had heard Amy call her Sheila and that’s how he knew her name. Saba growled and snapped at his leg. He yipped, but still held her down. Saba kicked him off and leaped on him, biting his shoulder sharply. He snarled angrily and pushed her off. Then, he dug his teeth into her throat. Saba thrashed around, scoring her claws on his back, but he ignored the pain and still hung on. Soon, the dog held her throat and pressed down harder and harder. The energy drained out of Saba’s body as he continued to bite her throat. “So, this is how it ends, Sheila,” growled the dog tauntingly, still grabbing her throat “You just give up and surrender the kid to my master. Dogs like you don’t deserve to live.” He didn’t mean most of that; he just wanted to make her feel guilty and miserable in her last moments of life. He pressed down harder. Saba’s eyes swelled with tears, and then she snarled to herself, wile blinking her tears away, why listen to this dog? Man, I’m so stupid! She closed her eyes. She knew that the dog wasn’t right, but she also knew that she couldn’t make it. Suddenly, Amy broke free and tackled the dog. He yelped and turned on Amy. He pinned her down roughly and snarled in her face and she squealed in terror. Saba got up, dazed and hurt with blood still dripping down her neck and chest. She looked around and saw the dog pinning Amy down. Rage surged through her body and she lunged at the dog smashing him off of her and with a yip, he crashed to the ground. Saba wasn’t done with him. He threatened Amy and for that, he must pay. She clamped her jaws on his throat. He yapped. Saba sank her teeth deeper and deeper as blood oozed down her muzzle and onto the ground. The dog thrashed powerfully, lashing at her side. Saba continued to hang on until he gave up, his energy slowly escaping him. She let him go and the dog staggered back, a new respect glittered through his eyes. Saba smiled faintly with she got a good look at him. He was a well groomed grey mutt with a pointed muzzle and a white mark on his chest. His tail was big and furry like hers, but not as big and his eyes were deep amber. His ears pointed up, but flopped down at the very tip.

      The man almost had Amy in the van and Saba lunged at him and sank her teeth into his arm. He had seen her coming and pushed her aside and took out his pocket knife. He crouched down, holding Saba, who was still weak from her battle with the dog. He drew his arm back; ready to strike, but at that moment, a flash of grey passed through the corner of Saba’s eyes. It was the dog. She leaped at the man and knocked him off his feet with a powerful jolt. He roared in pain and fell on the ground, clutching his arm. Saba looked at the dog in disbelief.

     “RUN, SHEILA!!!!” he howled, “I can’t keep him busy forever!” Saba opened her mouth to say something, and then turned away and nudged Amy and the two ran to the sled. Saba slipped in the harness and ran as fast as she could with all her injuries. They came upon a small house and Saba scrabbled desperately on the door. A plump woman opened the door. She looked at the bleeding dog and the terrified girl and lead then inside, fussing over them. She led them into her living room and let them sit on the couch. Then, she unhitches Saba from the sled at leaned it against the living room hall. She wrapped Saba’s injuries to stop the bleeding. She was looking over Amy when someone knocked at the door. The woman went to answer it, and then saw it was the man through the window. Saba looked out to and her belly clenched in worry when she didn’t see the dog. The woman looked at Amy.

      “Do you know them?” asked the woman asked.

      “Don’t open it!” cried Amy when she saw who was outside. “Listen, you have to help us. That guy, he- he kidnapped me and my dog, Sheila, and I have to get out of here!”

      The woman just looked at her in shock. “Oh if I had a car, I could help you get home… but all I can do now is call the authorities,” She rushed to her phone and turned back; talking to Amy, “go out the door in the back, child, and run!” With that, the woman called the police as the man continued to bang on the door impatiently.  Amy ran into the hall and grabbed the sled and ran outside. Once in the back yard, Amy hitches Saba to the harness and leaps into the sled.

      “MUSH, SHEILA!!! MUSH!!!!” cried Amy desperately and Saba immediately took off at a full on sprint. The field opened up in front of her, it seemed like she would never get to the forest. She looked back and saw the dog she had fought looking at her with longing eyes. Saba let out a huge sigh of relief that he was ok and smiled, then turned and raced across the snowy tundra, snow trailing like clouds behind her and her paws pounding the ground. She looked back as the dog and the house disappeared and the forest grew up in front of her. Soon, the trees surrounded them as they journeyed back to Nome. Saba made easy work of running through the forest and was soon in sight of Nome. She felt a jolt of happiness sear through her body and thrust her muzzle in the air, howling long, full and loud. She races across the clearing to Nome, her heart soaring and Amy cheered happily in the sled.

     Soon they were in Nome. Saba ignored everyone in the streets calling to them and leaping out of there way and kept running to Amy’s house. Obviously, the news had spread about Amy and Saba’s disappearance. Saba skidded to a halt in front of the house and Amy unhitched her. Saba barked and Amy ran to the door, knocking on it.

      “MOM!!! DAD!!!!! ITS ME, AMY!!!”  She yelled. Amy’s parent opened the door. Amy’s mother let out a squeak of delight and squeezes her tight and her father gave her a noogie and hugged her in turn.

     “Oh, Amy! What happened!?” cried her mother, “We were so worried!”  Amy and Saba sat inside by the fire and Amy told her story.

      The story spread through Nome like a wildfire and soon everyone knew about Saba’s deed. She was considered to be a hero. 

      The next day, Saba was out for a walk when she ran into Kodi. “Saba!” her stammered, “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Everyone’s waiting for you in the boat. Everyone wants to here your side of the story and how you did it, how you rescued Amy!” Kodi barked, and then lead the way towards the boat, “you coming, or what?” he looked back at her

      “Coming,” she called lightheartedly and bounded next to him.

      “…and some dog came looking for you. He seemed lost. Well, we let him come in the boat because we were going to get you anyway. And maybe he would like to here your story.” Saba tilted her head, confuse. Who could that be? She thought. As they entered the boat, Jenna rushed over to her and nuzzled her

       “I’m so proud of you, Saba,” she whispered.

      “Thanks Mother,” she whispered back, licking her in the cheek. Then, Balto came running over to Saba

      “Saba!” he barked, “Good job, daughter.” He nuzzled her affectionately. The, by turn, ever dog and Boris congratulated her. But one dog, a grey one, sits in the shadows, shifting nervously. Saba recognized him at once and her hackles raised, but deep down, she knew that she was overjoyed to see him. All the other dogs saw Saba tense and they all bristled too. The dog backed up until he was pressed against the wooden wall, then Saba walked to him, flattening her fur and nuzzled him.

      “I’m glad you ok,” she whispered to him, licking his cheek.

      “Sheila…. There’s something I need to tell you….” She began, shuffling his paws uneasily. “I don’t know how to say this, but I love you, Sheila.” He flinched, lowering his head as if not wanting to hear the answer. Everyone in the room fell silent with shock, but Saba knew she felt the same. She licked his cheek and they nuzzle each other. All the dogs wagged there tail.

      “Well, this is all very nice and sweet, but we don’t have all day!” scolded Boris “Common, Saba! Tell the story already!” Saba gave a good-humored grunt and settled herself next to the dog and began to tell her story.

      She was done by dusk as all the dogs went home, congratulating her. She left last, saying goodbye to her father and walking out, the dog at her heals. She stopped, looking at the dog.

      “I don’t think I caught your name,” she told him

      “My name is Lazo,” he rasped fondly, nuzzling Saba. Saba nuzzled back

      “You can call me Saba,” she whispered, licking his cheek and they sat side by side, watching Northern Lights dance across they deep Alaskan sky.