Friend in You

Star (c) Universal Studios

Name (c) Draco

Kiona (c) Catwhohas14tails

Ashes (c) MayaHuskee

            In the little town of Nome, Alaska, a white, brown and tan husky was casually walking through town, looking around at the activity that surrounded him happily. Name and his team were suppose to have gone out on a sled run with their master today, but their musher had suddenly caught a small cold, and was being kept inside before it got worse. The whole team had been disappointed, but hoped their master got better soon so they could go out running again. Name especially loved running. The wind in his fur, flying across the snow…He loved it all. It was also good exercise, but that wasn’t as important to the husky.

            Despite Name’s past, he was a friendly dog. Earlier in his life, a cruel man had abused him, shoving a dagger into the husky’s ear, causing him to go deaf in that ear completely from the damage done. That ear also flopped over a bit, protecting it. It had taken a while to get used to only being able to hear out of one ear, but over time, and help from his master, he had recovered and retained his friendly, outgoing nature. The dog didn’t have many actual friends. Not even from his sled team, save for maybe Ashes, a black female husky that was on the team as well. There was another female on the team, Kiona, a red-furred dog, but she had disappeared from the team after a previous accident on a run. Name had always tried to get on her good side, but some of the time, the husky just thought he was annoying the other. Kiona always seemed the loner type, not really wanting attention. Name hoped wherever she was now she was alright and happy.

            Unfortunately, none of Name’s sled teammates were out today, most likely enjoying the day inside where it was warm. Name liked the cold weather, and with his thick coat, it didn’t affect him much anyway.

            Some of the towns people greeted the husky as he passed through, mostly the children who were used to seeing the sled dogs set free around the town. Name greeted them back enthusiastically; tail wagging as they touched him, giggling happily. Because of his friendly nature, he was pretty popular with the towns’ children. Sometimes they would come out and play with him, something they both enjoyed.

            Pulled out of his thoughts suddenly as he passed an alley, the brown and white husky stopped at hearing strange noises coming from within. Turning back, Name poked his head around the corner, his brown and blue eyes curious as he glanced around. He could hear muffled noises further in where it was darker, as well as laughing. Curiosity getting the better of the husky, Name started in, keeping the right side of his head cocked more ahead of him to better hear what was going on. The sounds were becoming clearer as he got closer, and now he could make out the shapes of other dogs near the back.

            There were maybe about four of them, all of them huddled around something in the corner. The four dogs didn’t look familiar to Name. Of course, it wasn’t too uncommon that travelers came into town to trade or look for work even, bringing their dogs. There were many sled teams around after all. These dogs must belong to the travelers. But what were they doing? Creeping closer, the brown and white dog paused to listen in for a moment.

“What’s wrong? Ya know, yer awfully small for a sled dog…Puny really. Sure yer just not a pet?” The dogs chuckled, joined by a more nervous laugh.

“Eheh…Well my master is really nice. He takes care of us all, feeds us, sometimes he even will give us scraps, and—

“Shut up!” The loud reprimand made the smaller dog jump and cower down, putting his paws over his face, not wanting to be struck, as the dog had raised his own paw to strike. “Yer voice is annoyin’!” Name’s eyes widened as he realized these dogs were picking on the smaller! That wasn’t fair, four against one! Moving from his hiding place, wanting to help, the husky frowned, starting over.

“Hey! Don’t you guys know it’s unfair to pick on others smaller than yourselves, especially four to one? What did he ever do to you?” The four dogs turned at that, looking surprised at first, then annoyed. The biggest of them, a German Shepherd looking dog, turned, sneering at the new arrival.

“Does it look like I care? This ain’t any of yer business neither, so I suggest ya leave.” The larger dog was certainly a bit intimidating, but Name wasn’t about to back down. The brown and white husky glanced over to the other dogs, who were all looking at him now as well. Name’s blue and brown eyes locked with the smaller dog’s blue a moment. Then, noticing they were all focused on him now, yelled.

“Run!” The small husky blinked once before acting, and moving to dart through the opening the German shepherd had made. Unfortunately, said larger dog saw it and turned back, knocking him down and back.

“Where do you think you’re going scrawny? Did I say ya could go?” the shepherd’s ‘friends’ all chuckled, moving to surround their victim again and taunting. Name’s frown deepened. What could he do? He wasn’t going to let this unfair abuse continue. Turning around, the husky began kicking at the snow below, launching it back at the dogs. It seemed to work, the snow hit them all and got their attention. “Hey you, you’re asking fer it now…! Ya wanna join yer friend that badly?” The shepherd’s lip rose threateningly.

“Why don’t you just leave him alone? What satisfaction can anyone get out of picking on the weaker?” Snickers were all he got as answers.

“We’re rather bold aren’t we? Would you rather us do it to you?” At that Name blinked. Well, that wasn’t exactly what he had wanted either…He certainly didn’t want to be picked on either, he had had enough of that already. The other dog noticed, smirk widening. “Maybe we ought to teach ya a lesson as well, eh? Ta mind yer own business!”

“H-hey, don’t hurt him…!” The small husky coward back down again as the three dogs surrounding him snarled, silencing him. “Eheheh…Please?”

“What was that runt? Ya say somethin’?” The said ‘runt’ furiously shook his head, grinning nervously at the others towering over him, eliciting snickers. Their attention was once more redirected as Name began to bark, loudly. Maybe if he made enough noise and brought attention, the dogs would back off. It was Atleast worth a try. The husky was running out of ideas.

            As the four dogs realized the plan as well, they started over, intent to stop this annoying husky from giving them away and spoiling their fun. Name paused to swallow nervously once, before picking back up with his barks, backing up as they advanced. Inwardly, he prayed his plan worked.

            The smaller dog remained where he was; too unsure to decide whether to run or help the other husky that was trying to help him. The brown and white husky sure was being brave, considering four larger dogs were after him. Wasn’t he scared at all?

            Oh Name was scared alright. This wasn’t how he had originally figured his plan would work out. Clearly these dogs wanted trouble. He was beginning to think he had gotten himself in over his furry little head. The shepherd dog was glaring him down, the others behind him. “You’d be wise to shut up fluffy, or we’ll do it for ya…!”

            Well, he had atleast succeeded in grabbing their attention from the smaller husky. Name had no time to react as the large shepherd suddenly pounced on him knocking him onto his back under the other. Now nose to nose with the angry dog, he couldn’t manage to even speak, too shocked. Now he was the one surrounded. Any attempt to get up was thwarted as the dogs all chipped in to keep him down. “Not so brave now, are ya?”

“Hey what’s with the one floppy ear?” One other dog taunted, reaching out to bat at Name’s left ear. While Name was deaf in that ear, he had a fear of it being touched, ever since that incident leading to his deafness. The husky gasped and moved away from the touch, shutting his eyes instinctively. The bully dogs found this quite amusing, laughing at his weakness.

Suddenly the lead shepherd howled in pain, jumping and whirling around, coming face to face with his previous victim, who was latched onto his tail. At being so close, the smaller dog reverted back to his nervous state, the brave streak that had caused him to act disappearing as quickly as it had come. Slowly, muzzle stretching into a nervous grin, the dog released the German shepherd’s tail.

“Uh, sorry, heheh...I was just—oof!” the shepherd’s back leg struck out, hitting the other under the jaw and sending him sprawling back. The stunned husky scrambled to his feet, looking to run away, and made a run for it past the dogs.

Seeing the shepherd ready to go after the smaller husky again, Name also scrambled to his feet, slipping past the three dogs that weren’t paying attention. Just as the large dog made to lunch at the retreating figure, the brown and white husky slammed sideways into him, knocking them both over. The small husky, hearing the noise, paused at the entrance to the alley. Name noticed.

“Keep running! Go!” With that, and seeing the shepherd getting to his feet again, looking murderous, the husky took off again and disappeared. Good, he had escaped. When a shadow stretched over him then, Name gulped. But now he was in trouble…With a snarl, the German shepherd dog loomed over him.

“I’ll make you pay for that one…” Name clenched his eyes shut at seeing the dog lunge at him. Suddenly though, a whistle interrupted them.

“Razor, Niro, Shag, Jack!” The dogs all froze, and raised their heads. “Come on boys lets go!” Another whistle. Name didn’t quite know what was going on but could guess that the call was from the dogs’ master, and those were their names. Who was who, the husky didn’t know. He looked up at the shepherd as he snarled again and finally backed off, looking more than irritated.

“Consider yourself lucky, mutt…That we’ll never meet again…” With that, and a final glare, he and the other three dogs moved off towards the entrance and disappeared.

Name remained where he was another few moments, sighing in relief as his heart began to slow its rapid beating. That was too close. If that call had come just seconds after…No need to think about that, the husky thought as he rolled to his feet, shaking off the snow. It was over, that’s all that mattered now, and he was still in one piece. It was partly thanks to that other husky, who had perhaps unintentionally granted them that time. Speaking of that husky, Name now wondered where he had taken off to. He hoped the other hadn’t been hurt.

Putting his nose to the ground, Name knew it might be hard to try and track the other dog, not being that skilled in tracking. But it was worth a try atleast. Leaving the alley, the brown and white husky slowly followed what he thought was the smaller husky’s scent down the road. Eventually, after backtracking a couple times, the scent brought him to a place behind a house. Looking around, Name saw a series of crates and overturned barrels back near a shack. Trotting over, the lop-eared dog poked around a bit, startled when a sudden shuffling made him jump. At the back at one of the long wooden crates, Name could faintly make out the form of a dog in the dark.

“Hey, that you, from the alley?” Name’s ears perked. It had to the same dog, judging by the nervous fearful voice. More shuffling was heard, and the brown and white husky backed away from the crate seeing the other coming out, if slowly. When the dog finally stuck his head out, glancing around briefly, his blue eyes caught Name’s. Smiling, Name was glad to see he was unhurt.

“I sure had a hard time finding you. Guess I need to work on my tracking skillz. So what were you doing that made those dogs go after you?” The other dog sat down, sighing.

“I didn’t do anything. I was in the alley when they just showed up and started picking on me.” Name frowned.

“Why didn’t you just let them?” The other’s blue eyes caught his own brown and blue again.

“You saw them, how big they were…And I was outnumbered. I’m not very brave, but I’m used to being pushed around. Thanks for helping me, not many would do that. They didn’t hurt you?” Name shook his head.

“No, their master called them, saving my butt, that’s for sure. They wereabout to do something. And no problems, I wasn’t going to just sit back and let them bully you. It’s against my morals, even if I didn’t go about helping the right way, heh.” The other smiled a bit at that. “Oh, and I should thank you too.”

“Thank me? For what? I didn’t do anything but cause more trouble…” The smaller husky looked confused, waiting for the other to elaborate.

“If you hadn’t given us more time by’ taking the tiger by the tail’, they would have gotten at us.” The other’s smile widened some at that, tail giving a slight wag.

“Really? I did that?” Name nodded. “Wow, thanks! I would have never thought that. Mostly everyone thinks I’m either annoying or dumb…” The brown and white husky frowned.

“Well that’s not very nice or fair. Some friends…”

“I don’t really have any friends either…” Silence.           

“What’s your name?” The other blinked at the sudden question.

“Um, my name is Star…” Name watched the other a few moments, before moving to sit next to the smaller husky.

“Well Star, I’m Name, and I’m gonna be your friend.”

They both smiled.