A brown husky panted as he ran, but then, who wouldn't pant when having to pull a sled? He ran with his team as they passed trees through the forest. The husky was behind another dog. It was at the front of the sled. It was the lead dog. He had always wanted to be lead dog, and was close to getting it. He ran as a cabin appeared in view. The team passed a town as everyone said hello. They knew the team. Soon they reached the cabin, it was medium sized and was attached to a shed. Brown and brown were it's colors. The musher unhooked the dogs and opend the shed as they ran inside.
" Hey Max! Today was a good run, wasn't it?" A brown and cream dog shouted, as he panted.
" Yeah, I think I saw a wolf!" The cream dog answered. "It said it always had wanted to meet a sled dog!"
Everyone laugh as the husky shook it's head. He had this interest in wolves. How they lived and hunted. Of course, pulling a sled was far more fun.
" Now, you know that I'd never leave you guys." He answered.
" Yeah Ibbiq, you'd just ask the wolves to let you go." Max joked.
Ibbiq chuckled, his friend always tried to be the clown. He looked at all his friends. Then all of them went and ate. The musher walked in just then, he smiled, patting one of the dogs on the head.
" I hope you are ready, tommorrow we're going to Fairbanks, so rest up."
Smiling, the dog finished his food. He walked up to his owner, and licked his hand. Chuckling, he walked to the couch, and sat down. Ibbiq followed, and sat on his lap. Soon enough, all of them were sleeping.
The next morning, all the dogs were hooked up, only, just then, the musher did something strange. He hooked Ibbiq in Rex's place. "A couple more places, and I could be lead dog." The husky thought.
Loading the mail onto the sled from the post office, the musher yelled Hike! And soon the dogs were running. Man walked into the post office, asking for a package.
" You think they'll be okay?" The man asked.
" Yeah." Another answered. " Why'd you ask?"
" Heard a storm's picking up, and there's a slight chance it'll be a rough one.'
" I heard about it also." He answered. " But the chances are less than 25%."
The customer grabbed his package, tipped his hat and walked off. As he walked he looked at the clouds. They were humongous, and black.
" But a chance is a chance, and looks like this one took that chance, and won." He muttered, then hurried home.
The husky panted, as he ran behind his teamate. They had been going this speed for a while, and he, as all the other dogs, were tired. As they ran, Ibbiq thought to himself. However, his concentration was interrupted by a sudden smell, although it had dissapeared instantly. He stopped, yanking and startling the rest of his teammates. All of them had tripped over one another, and Ibbiq ended up (Or should I say down?) at the bottom of the heavy pile of sled dogs.
The musher yelled to put increase the pace, however he was interrupted as a drip landed on his forehead. Looking up, he could see black thunderous clous, not to mention they had an enormous size. He gritted his teeth, and repeated the command fully to the dogs, them obeying instinctivly because of training.
After a while, the huskies had slowed down, but still went at a good speed, about a canter, the musher could've sworn he saw a patch of pink snow. He ignored it, and shook his head. After a while, he could see another patch, more red than the lightish pink. He had also noticed the dogs slow down a bit, so he ordered them to stop.
Looking around, he lifted Ibbiq's paw, and could see a sharp cut on it, also a bit deep. Sighing, he started to unpack, and took out his tent. He grabbed Ibbiq, and brought him inside, once having unclipped the rest of the huskies.
" What's wrong? What happened?" A red and cream husky asked, looking around.
" I don't know Sadie, but let's make dens before it's too late." A gray malamute said, digging out the snow.
Everyone agreed, and did the same. After a while, Ibbiq had come out. He sighed, and started digging his den, burying as fast as he could. It was hard, since he could only use one paw. That night, the storm increased more and more by second, and a light snow surrounded them, then turning into a blizzard. There were no signs of it decreasing.
Getting out of the tent, the human looked around, and shouted for his dogs. They got up, destroying their dens. Hooking them up, he ordered them to mush, looking for a safer place to stay, leaving behind the tent, for there was no way he'd pack up, and freeze at the same time. However, after a while, they were still out, their heads tucked in to avoid getting stingy snow on their face. Unfortunantely, the blizzard picked up even more, and they were lost.
Looking around, he sighed, and grabbed Ibbiq. Knowing the dog for a long time, he hoped he'd help them get out. He swapped the lead with the brown husky, and then returned to the back of the sled, yelling mush so they would run. Ibbiq, although surprised, started to lead them, looking for anything. Suddenly, he felt more weight on his shoulders, and looked around. One of the dogs had collapsed.
Squinting his eyes, he started to run, and later found a cave. Staying in there, he nudged the alaskan husky, going by the name of Max, who had gone unconcious, and felt the cold mingle with his nose. Slowly, his friend's chest stopped heaving up and down, and it seemed as if shine was drained out of his pelt.
Looking at his owner, he whined. The human shook his head, and petted him sadly. All of them went to sleep, hoping that the snow storm would clear out by tommorrow. When dawn came, their hopes had turned into reality, and a beautiful white snow lay upon the entrance.
Wagging his tail, Ibbiq licked his owner awake, and then started to do the same with the rest, but something was wrong. Only half of them awoke, the rest lay still and limp. The beauty of that snow, had come with a price.
Hooking him up, the brown husky lead them into a different town, being a trail different from where they had gone, where they could rest. On the way, two more dogs sickened, and, because treatment wasn't found at time, they had passed away.
Ibbiq mourned his friends. He'd miss them, and hoped to see them soon, in the other world. Being back in his town, the lovely town of Nome, Ibbiq was always found with his ears laying flat on his skull, and he couldn't help but stay silent, for he had no idea on what to say. This could only make him think about the sled dogs. Their team was dissolving, and would soon be nothing.
" Without sled dogs, there isn't a mail team, and without a mail team, there is no mail, which means-"
" I'm sorry, but you're fired." The post man said, tipping his hat.
" Wha?" He asked.
" I've put the paycheck on your front door. Sorry." He said, and walked inside.
Every single dog was staring up at the post man, All the dogs mourned that their friends would have to go. That night, when eveyone was asleep. The shed's door open and there stood the musher with another person. He grabbed Ibbiq as the husky woke up, startled, but still groggy.
" Shhh, Ibbiq. Meet your new musher." He whispered to not wake the others and cause a panic.
Ibbiq sniffed the man, who seemed creepy to him. He was kinda chubby and short, wearing a thick black coat, some worn out gloves and a wreack of boots. Ibbiq couldn't help but growl at him, raising his hackles and was hooked up to a sled, behind the lead dog, who was a black dog with a barely noticible white spot.
" Hehe, you're gonna be in for a treat."
Ibbig looked up, still sleepy. He was unaware of what was happening, but his instincts could tell him something was wrong. Even so, he was sleepy, until the yell of mush startled him. It wasn't his musher's voice, but he obeyed, everything making clear sense. As the man yelled, every dog in the barn awoke startled, and ran to the window to see a sled team going away, taking a familiar husky with them. The dogs looked through the window as their friend left.
" I'll miss him." Said Sadie.
" We all will." Another dog added, a small whine added at the end of his sentence.
The next day, Ibbiq was in a rude awakening, literally. He was kicked in the ribs by his new musher, and was then put behind the lead dog like before. He noticed that his harness was all worn out, dirty and worn out. He sniffed it to get used to the sled, although he was a bit surprised to find a dog scent on it.
" I wonder what happened to the last dog." He thought, raising his head and looking around. His thoughts started to wander...
...But then yanked forward, pulling the sled, when he felt a whip. He ran as fast as he could, but couldn't seem to catch up with the others. This team must've been really experienced. He never felt the need to hurry last night, they must've been tired too. He had almost tripped, but regained balance. That is, until a dog behind him lunged, bitting his leg and making Ibbiq trip and fall. The musher got off, walking up to the dog with anger, and unhooked the brown siberian husky. He pulled him to a place away from the other dogs, and started hitting him with a whip as hard as he could, snaps echoing through the canine's ears as he was punished.
" Idiot dog! Dare you make the same mistake, and I'll give you more than just a whip!!" He shouted, his face turning red with every swung of arm he gave.
Ibbiq jumped as his owner hit him. Ow, ow, OW!! How it hurt. However other dogs just stared, watching blankly. He howled in pain, and whined when the owner had finished, leaving deep wounds on his back. However, the husky still had to pull along with the others, until they returned from their warm up. The musher unclipped the dogs one by one, and tied each dog to a specific post outside. Ibbiq was tied as well, and he lay down in the snow, a little dog bowl standing beside there.
" What are you looking at?" He asked it, but sighed, nonethless it wouldn't respond.
" One day here and I'm talking to my bowl." He thought to himself as he sat up, turning his head to face the exit of the kennel. All day he didn't eat, or get something to eat for that matter. None of the dogs did, but he was the only one who was bothered by this.
" Hey, take care of your bowl. If you lose it you won't get another one." The chinook tied to his side told him, a bit sternly.
Ibbiq half smiled, half heartly. At least he was good enough to tell him some advice. That was interrupted by the lead dog, who was tied to a post on the other side. He started to bark and bark for no reason, and it annoyed, obviously.
" Does he ever shut up?" The brown husky asked.
" Shh!" The chinook silenced. " He'll hear you." But it was too late.
The dog could only glare at the nervous Ibbiq, and lunged, being pulled back by the leash. He pulled harder and harder, and the rope that held him got thinner and thinner, the hard threads untieing. Ibbiq stepped back as far as his leash let him, and soon was doing his best to defend himself from the lead, as his own rope set his limits.
The musher saw through the window what was going on, and ran out the door. He separated the two dogs and hit them both with his whip he had used earlier. Finished, he put them in seperate kennels, and went back to eat. Ibbiq looked at the door, and walked up to it. He started digging from under it,
Ibbiq had tired out and was resting on a tree. He caught a smell, it seemed wild and untamed. He gulped and looked around, some bushes near him rustling. He turned to face them and saw a silverish gray and creamy white wolf with aqua blue eyes staring at him. A low growl emitted from it, and he noticed it was obviously annoyed.
" State your name, tresspasser." It said with anger, it must've been a scout.
Ibbiq just froze, his muscles tensed up as he stared blankly at the wolf. By the voice he could tell it was a she, a she-wolf. His mind was at panic at what to do, although at the same time he felt happy to see a wolf this close.
" You know, it is rude to not respond." She said coldly, interrupting him of his own thoughts. He could only stare, trying to decide on what to say.
" Maybe you are the kind that don't talk." She added, and turned around to start to walk away.
" No!" He blurted out all of a sudden. "I... I mean... Well, um. My name is Ibbiq."
The she-wolf stopped, and turned her head a bit to the side, to be able to see him from the corner of her eyes. " Hmm, you do talk. Island." She turned around.
" Well, what are you doing here?" She added.
" Running away."
" From who?"
" A human."
" Stupid humans. I'm not surprised." Island said, sitting down.
" I don't understand. Why would he treat us like that?" He asked himself.
Island sighed. " You have to get out now. If someone sees you, they won't hesitate to kill you." She said, looking at the sky in embarrasment.
" Could you maybe help me find a cave?" The husky answered, starting to follow her out of the marked territory.
" That I can do." She said, anf then kept quietly.
They both headed towards the limit boundaries of the place, and pretty soon were out. Weeks later, Island had a talk with the alpha, and he had made up his mind.
" Hello Ibbiq. He started. "Island has told me about you. I will put you on a trial basis of two weeks. Then we'll see if you can join the White Mountain Clan."
" Yes, sir. I hope I do well." He answered nervously.
Everyone went back to their stuff except a white wolf with golden eyes. It walked up to Ibbiq.
" Hi." She started. " My name is Aniu."
" Uh, I'm Ibbiq. Nice to meet you, Miss." The husky responded.
" So, why are you out in the woods instead of town?" She asked.
" My former owner kinda mistreated me so I ran away. Then Island found me." He said, turning to look for his friend.
" Island?" She asked. " That's weird. Scouts don't do that."
" You know her?" He asked, a bit shocked.
" Of course. We're friends, and the wolf you saw her nuzzling is her mate. His name is Stripes." She said with a smile.
" Do you have a mate?" He asked randomly.
" No, not yet." She said, shaking her head.
" Well, I need to find a...cave to sleep in." He said, and walked off.
" Good luck with that. I hope you know how to hunt." She ran up to him.
" Oh, Island's been teaching me." He admitted, though it felt weird.
Aniu nodded and left. Ibbiq had this strange sensation in his tummy, it was pleasant and weird at the same time. He wanted to follow her, but a home was what stopped him. He turned around and searched an available spot. The next day he was going to help in the hunt. A chance to impress Aniu. She was coming also, and Island too.
" I'm kinda nervous." He said, anxious.
" You'll get used to it. I used to feel that way when I started hunting too." She answered.
" Come on! Someone found a herd of deer!" The gray wolf shouted from some rocks.
Everyone headed towards the herd.
" Good. Now Ibbiq, Island, Aniu and Stripes, you'll help me. The rest knows what to do." The Alpha ordered.
All the wolves (and dog) went to their positions. Soon, a stag was keeping his ground as a group surrounded it. Ibbiq looked for a way to knock it down and soon thanks to him the pack dragged the dear back. As they ate, Aniu sat down next to him. He felt his heart beat faster.
" You hunt very well." Aniu said, with a blush.
" Thanks." He said, nervously.
He kept on eating. Aniu did the same. Ibbiq wondered, maybe Aniu has feelings for him. He did also, she was beautiful. But others also liked her. It was one out of five, and besides, he was a dog. A wolf interested in a dog? No, it just wouldn't seem right. Still, miracles happen. That night, Ibbiq looked out the horizon, into the night. He wondered about his family. That night, the moon was out, but the aurora wasn't. It looked beautiful with all the stars around. He heard some paws crunch the snow and looked around. There standed Aniu, she sat next to Ibbiq.
" The night is beautiful tonight, isn't it?" She calmly said.
" Yeah, it's very pretty." He said looking at Aniu, then quickly turned around and looked at the moon.
" You know, tomorrow's the announcement if you can stay in the pack." She said softly.
" Yeah." He said, staring at the moon.
" Aren't you nervous?" The white wolf asked.
" Oh me? Nervous? No, I think I'll make it."
Aniu: " I think so also."
Ibbiq: " Aniu, have you always wanted puppies?"
Aniu: " Yes, I would. I know that they'd have a good father."
Ibbiq: " And a good mother."
Aniu: " *giggles* Have you ever dreamed of forming a family?"
Ibbiq: " Yes, I used to have this crush on a husky, but we're just friends now. Or used to more like it."
Aniu: " I have to go now. My brother Shaman wanted to talk to me."
Ibbiq: " How many brothers do you have?"
Aniu: " Three."
She got up and nuzzled him, then left.
Ibbiq: " I hope she likes me."
Alpha: " Ibbiq, come up here."
He walks up towards the alpha, Aniu winks at him and he smiles back.
Alpha: " You have shown to be a good hunter, made a friend. And you have a good sense of smell. I have decided to..."
Ibbiq: " (thinking) Here it comes."
Alpha: " Let you be in the pack."
Ibbiq raised his head as wolves cheered him on while Aniu ran towards him and licked him on the cheek.
Aniu: " Congratulations."
Ibbiq: "Thanks."
Island: " Hey, Ibbiq!"
He looked back at Island with her mate.
Island: " Good luck, you're now part of the pack."
Stripes: " I heard about you, name's Stripes. You can see why."
Ibbiq: " I'm Ibbiq."
Stripes: " Ibbiq, where have I heard that before?"
Ibbiq: " It means mountain."
Stripes: " Oh. You don't seem very strong, or big."
Ibbiq: " Maybe, but at least give me some credit for being in a wolf pack."
Island: " That's very true."
Aniu: " Hey, I buried some extra fish. How about we celebrate?"
Ibbiq: " Sure!"
Island: " No problem with me."
Stripes: " Count me in."
Aniu: " Well then, let's go!"
They all headed out. Later, Ibbiq was thinking. He and Aniu were very close friends.
Ibbiq: " Should I ask her? It's worth a try."
He went and looked for Aniu and found her near a creek surrounded by beautiful flowers.
Ibbiq: " Aniu?"
She looked around.
Aniu: " Yes?"
Ibbiq: " I was wondering and wanted to know... do you, maybe, want to form a family, with me?"
Aniu got up and licked him.
Ibbiq: " I'll take that as a yes."
They didn't know that someone was watching them.
Wolf: " Sorry, but Aniu will be my mate. Even if it has to be by force."
He stepped out of the bushes and growled at Ibbiq.
Ibbiq: " Who are you?"
Wolf: " Surely Aniu must've told you about me."
Aniu: " Black Cloud, I've already told you, I won't be your mate."
Black Cloud: " You don't have much of a choice. I brought a pack with me and their much more than yours. Either you be my mate or I'll destroy them all."
Aniu's eyes widened. She looked at Black Cloud.
Aniu: " You wouldn't."
Black Cloud: " I will."
He howled out loud and Ibbiq heard some barking in the distance. Aniu tried to run and warn her pack but Black Cloud got in the way.
Aniu: " Move."
Black Cloud: " It's still early. Be my mate or say good bye to your pack."
Ibbiq: " Leave her alone!"
Black Cloud turned back and looked at Ibbiq.
Black Cloud: " Is this a challenge? Cause it sounded like one."
Ibbiq: " Go away and leave her alone. Get a life!"
Aniu: " Ibbiq! Don't do anything dumb!"
Black Cloud: " Very well, Aniu. Your new mate will be the first!"
And with that he lunged at Ibbiq. Aniu ran towards her pack and warned them. With that everyone ran to another place. When Black Cloud's pack had reached the place, no one was there. They started to think of Black Cloud and growled.
Ibbiq wasn't really a good fighter. He was losing. Black Cloud grabbed him by the neck and threw him against a big boulder. His vision started to blurry. He saw blurs throwing themsleves at a Black Cloud before everything went black.
Whispers were everywhere. there was one in particular. A warm voice that belonged to a female. Ibbiq's senses finally came to him and he opened one eye. He heard a voice say, He's awake. Everyone stared at him until the voice shouted: " Hooray for Ibbiq the hero!" The brown husky finally found the source and saw Aniu giving him her warm smile as everyone cheered. He slowly got up and walked up to her, then nuzzling her.
Aniu: " You saved the pack. Thank you."
Ibbiq: " I have to take care of you now that we're mates."
Everyone just cheered harder. Some wolves lowered there heads in disapointment. Island and Stripes looked at Ibbiq as he and Aniu nuzzled and licked each other. That night Aniu and Ibbiq slept with each other. In the morning Ibbiq got up and watchd the sunrise.
Aniu: " Ibbiq?"
Ibbiq: " Yeah Aniu?"
Aniu: " Why did you ask me about pups the other time?"
Ibbiq: " I was just curious."
Aniu: " Let's hope that our pups aren't too curious."
Ibbiq looked at Aniu surprised as the sun popped out of the mountains. He was now to be a father.
After two months the day had come. Ibbiq was nervously pacing outside the cave. Finally he was aloud to come in. He looked and saw Aniu with two puppies near her, she had a happy and sad expression. One puppy that was brown was nursing, the other who was cream and white stayed there.
Ibbiq: " My son. He's as beautiful as his mother."
Aniu: " You could've had a daughter, she didn't survive."
Husky: " *sigh* It's a shame, but we still have a survivor. What'll we name him?"
Aniu: " I was thinking of a name, Balto."
Husky: " It's perfect!"
Island and Stripes enter.
Island: " Balto, what a beautiful name."
That day everyone stayed in the cave and welcomed the newcomer. Two days later Ibbiq was outside thinking about his new family. He hears a rustling sound from a bush and slowly a dog comes out, with white stuff on the sides of his mouth.
Dog: " I finally found you, we didn't finish that fight."
Ibbiq: " Go away, I live in a wolf pack and you do not want to be tracked down by them."
Dog: " Oh, I won't go away that easily."
Ibbiq growled as the dog lunged, he got a grip on Ibbiq's leg and bit down. Ibbiq bit his neck as the dog tried to throw him. Soon Ibbiq was the one being bit down by neck, it all happened too fast. He felt his oxigen being cut off.
Ibbiq: " I tried Aniu."
He stopped struggling and fell to the ground. The dog looked up and saw wolves growling at him. Too much to count. The dog thought a moment and ran away, being chased. Island and Stripes saw what happened and soon told Aniu.
Soon enough the silver wolf was laying next to the white wolf, nudging her and doing her best to comfort her.
" I'm sorry Aniu." Was all she could say.
" What will become of Balto?" She said between sobs.
" I don't know, but we must make the best out of the situation."
" Yes, thank you."
In her dream, Balto was laughing and playing with his father as Aniu looked at them from a distance. Then, a shadow of a dog and his human slowly emerged, starting to cover up her family. It passed over them and having ended, she couldn't find neither of them. A fog began to grow in the air. Aniu started to walk around worridly, and turned around all of a sudden, to find Ibbiq, that was seemed to be kind of transparent. Suddenly Aniu woke up, gasping and shuddering at her dream.
She could hear tiny whimpers, and saw her son on the floor on his back. She chuckled, putting him in a better position, and began to groom young Balto.
" Don't worry, I'll take care of you as long as I'm alive." She said with a whisper.
She looked outside the cave and saw a star shining brighter than the others.
" Ibbiq, did you do the right thing?" She asked, blinking.
The star blinked, almost as if answering.
" Guide Balto with the help of the spirits." She said drowsily, laying her head down, she curled up around Balto and went back to sleep. The aurora started to dance in the sky, and somehow, the star dissapeared.