Iliamna’s First-Love Character Sheet<br />Presented &amp; Written; by Stormer23<br />© For all!!!<br /><br />Characters (So far):<br /><br />Iliamna: A bubbly, sensitive, and fretful dog, which is the main protagonist in this story. <br /><br />Kodiak (Kodi): Iliamna’s father, son of Balto &amp; Jenna of Nome; second lead dog for the mail-dog-sled-team of Nome.<br /><br />Sandy: Iliamna’s mother, daughter of Crysta &amp; Garret  of White Horse, Yukon; mate of Kodiak and mother of all his pups. A beauty of a mix-bred dog, but worries sometimes over her children’s choices.<br />&nbsp;<br />Attu: Iliamna’s sister and her second-best friend, even though Attu can be a bit mean to her, in a sarcastic sense, but is always there if Iliamna needs her.<br /><br />Balto: The famous wolf dog of Nome who long ago (in dog years) saved the town of Nome from the diphtheria plague. Mate of Jenna, father of Kodiak, and grandfather of Iliamna.<br /><br />Muk &amp; Luk: Two cute and a bit dim-witted polar bear cubs who are always together, and live with Balto and Boris on their boat.<br /><br /><br /> 
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Iliamna’s First-Love</span><br style="font-weight: bold;" /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Presented &amp; Written; by Stormer23</span><br style="font-weight: bold;" /><span style="font-weight: bold;">© For all!!! </span><br /><br /> 
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prologue: </span><br /><br /> 
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<div style="margin-left: 40px;">Iliamna walked quietly around the town alleys.<br /> 
</div><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She hummed softly as she listened to the night sounds around her.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She remembered her mother always telling her and her siblings as a pup,<br /> 
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</div>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Don't go too far pups! The night is wonderful, but dangers lurk behind every corner when you're not in insight of the things around you!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Iliamna chuckled at that memory and padded on, her tail now lowering. She continued to hum again, thoughtfully.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She turned many rights and lefts down the alleys of Nome, leading farther and farther away from the main parts of town, coming closer to the woods and forests, and mountains and glaciers and other wonderful wonders wildlife offered.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When Iliamna reached the end of town towards the wilderness, she glanced around in each direction. Then seeing it was safe, and clear, she padded on.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Then she stopped slowly as she spotted an old White Spruce tree.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sap stuck on the side, seeming like something had desperately tried to crack into it. Pinecones hung still from the withered and delicate branches.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Iliamna pattered around the tree in a circle and then sat down as she spotted the familiar marks of dog-made scraped marks from three dogs.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Good midnight Lonely Oak. I've missed you so. How many years has it been since I've seen you last?" <br />She asked the old tree. Silence was her answer. She smiled.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yes, you're right. It's been far too long."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Iliamna laid down in the cold snow next to the tree, not minding the small ounces of sap that stuck through her pelt.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It seems like only yesterday... when I first found you Lonely Oak.... do you remember...?</span><br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Iliamna asked in her thoughts. Then she got up, and dug at what looked like an old upright tree root belonging to Lonely Oak, but it was really a fallen branch from a different tree many years ago, that had been used to hide possessions.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Iliamna dug and dug, until she found what she was looking for... her old collar.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The old thing was ripped, torn, shredded, nibbled on by small critters like mice or chipmunks; it was way too old to be repaired. One strap of it was snapped off, the leather was old and withered like Lonely Oak. The star pendant at the end of it was rusted, and only a smidge of it left was clear, and twinkled brightly as it was titled by Iliamna’s paw delicately. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Iliamna tucked her old collar underneath her stomach, to keep that part of her body off the ground, so she would keep warm, while she nestled in the snow against Lonely Oak, rubbing her coat along its hard and elderly bark.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I remember when I was young….</span> Iliamna thought to the old tree. I mean when we were young Lonely Oak, when I was still an attractive dog. Iliamna interrupted her thoughts in a happy chuckle. <span style="font-style: italic;">I remember the year, it was 1930.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">What a great year that was, I was a year old, learning and becoming quite naïve as I got older. Don’t you remember Lonely Oak? You were just a sapling then. Ah yes, how I was then….</span><br /><br /> 
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nome Alaska: Spring of 1930</span><br /><br style="font-weight: bold;" /> 
</div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chapter 1</span><br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “C’mon Iliamna! You’re falling behind!” Called Atka. Iliamna panted heavily and stopped on the beach. She turned at the presence of a shadow hanging over her. She smiled. It was her mother, Sandy.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Tired, Iliamna?” Her mother asked kindly. Iliamna nodded smiling, looking back up at her mother.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Just a little. But I’m just stopping so I can warm up for later.” <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sandy bent down to nuzzle her daughter lovingly. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “I know. You’re my fast little runner, aren’t you?” She cooed.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “You bet!” Iliamna answered happily and then raced after her siblings.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Atka was at the lead of pups racing across the beach. Iliamna was trying to beat him, but Atka was faster. As the other pups in the litter rested, Iliamna and Atka kept going. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Nearby the waves crashed along the shore, where the pups raced, now along with one of their sisters, Attu, who was now determined to beat both Atka and Iliamna. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kodiak, the pups’ father was nearby on the boat, with his father, Balto, talking but then noticed something black in the water, close to where his pups were playing… oil!<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Pups! Get back towards the grass, quick!”<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Atka and Iliamna heard their father, but Attu didn’t. Sandy was herding the pups back towards the grass, and then too noticed the oil.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Attu!” She called. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Iliamna turned to look behind her, and couldn’t believe her eyes.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her father, Kodiak was racing to rescue Attu, who had been swept into the waves by the current after losing her footing on a rock. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Then, she had fallen into the water, the oil getting closer and drenching her fur.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Attu!” Sandy called again in despair. Kodiak plunged into the water after his daughter. When this happened, Sandy left the rest of the pups, racing after Kodiak, but was stopped by Muk and Luk, while Balto raced on over to the rest of the pups. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kodi grabbed Attu by the nape of her neck and struggled to get her out of the water. Finally he did. Sandy then dodged the two polar bears and rushed to Kodi and Attu and licked them both fiercely with worry. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Momma…” Attu gasped. Kodi coughed out a bunch of seawater. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Oh Attu, honey. Thank goodness you’re safe.” Sandy nuzzled her daughter worriedly and groomed her, pausing at times to spit out oil or salt from the ocean. Iliamna raced on over to her sister, dodging her grandfather’s sweeping tail. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Iliamna, wait!” Balto called. Iliamna ignored her grandfather and raced on over to her sister. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Attu, you okay?” Iliamna asked. Attu shuddered and her teeth started chattering. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Momma…. I-I’m…. cold.” Attu replied, ignoring the question. Sandy didn’t even realize Iliamna’s presence, as she huddled down beside Attu. When Iliamna padded her mother’s side with her paw; Sandy then notice her presence. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Iliamna honey, please go back to Grandpa Balto.”<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “But Momma, I wanna see if Attu’s okay.”<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “She’s fine, come here.” Sandy invited her over gently.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Iliamna happily joined her mother and sister. Sandy then looked up to an exhausted Kodi. Sandy chuckled a little and apologized to her mate,<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Kodi, thank you. I’m sorry though honey about the daring water rescue.” She joked. Kodi smiled as Sandy licked his cheek.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “It’s fine. I’m just glad Attu’s okay.”<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sandy looked up at her mate with an agreeable smile, and then nuzzled Attu’s muzzle gently. Then she gave Iliamna a playful lick, and got up after Kodi, and herded the two pups on over to the rest of the litter.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All the pups huddled over Attu.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Why’d you hafta fall in the water Attu?” Atka asked obnoxiously. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Attu glared back at her brother, and her fur bristled. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “I didn’t mean to fall in the water!” She growled back in askance. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Atka just sighed obnoxiously and looked away as the other siblings kept pondering with questions about Attu, if she was okay, or not okay. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Atka was getting jealous out of all the attention his sister was getting. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Then Sandy herded her pups home. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Okay pups, say goodbye to Grandpa Balto.” All the pups barked goodbye and followed their parents home.<br />&nbsp;<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chapter 2</span><br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Iliamna soon along with her brothers and sisters grew up together happily. They were now 9 weeks old and were ready for homes of their own. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Iliamna was extremely excited on the day they were waiting outside in a box for humans to choose them to bring home. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “I can’t wait! I can’t wait!” Iliamna barked excitedly. Her sister, Amlia had started howling along with their brother, Umnak excitedly, while Iliamna was barking.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sandy looked down at her pups smiling and hushed Amlia and Umnak quietly. The two pups both looked more wolf-like than dog-like. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Umnak, Amlia, please don’t howl like that. Humans like <span style="font-style: italic;">quiet</span> puppies.” <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When Iliamna heard that, she stopped barking instantly and started racing around the box, playing chase with her brother Adak. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Okay kids, look sharp.” Kodi then barked as some humans approached the box.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Papa, can we get a puppy?” A little boy asked. His father held his hand and nodded smiling thoughtfully. The boy smiled back at his father and looked down at the pups. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He saw Adak stop running making Iliamna crashed into Amlia and Attu who both scolded her in irritation.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The boy smiled at Adak and picked him up happily. “I like this pup, Papa. I’m goanna call him, ‘Hector’.” <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The boy’s father smiled and they walked back to their home close by with Adak, held into the little boy’s arms. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Adak’s brothers and sisters barked goodbye. But they turned when a mother and her daughter, and their friends a another little girl and her mother came by to the puppies. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Momma, can we get a puppy?” One of the little girls asked her mother. The girl’s mother nodded, and girl carefully scanned the puppies. She then picked up Attu. “I like this puppy. We’re goanna call her ‘Anna’.” <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The other mother asked her own daughter if she wanted a puppy. The girl nodded slowly and took a peak at the puppies. Her eyes glimmered and her face brightened as she spotted Iliamna and she picked her up, happily and took her in her arms.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “I’m goanna call my puppy, ‘Rose’.” The girl replied. Iliamna frowned.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But I like being Iliamna. I’ve always been Iliamna.</span> Iliamna thought quietly. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She then waved and barked back at her siblings along with Attu, as their siblings did the same. Iliamna knew she would see them all and her parents soon one day when she got the chance.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But right now she was going home. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To <span style="font-style: italic;">her</span> home.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br /><br />&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br /><br /><br /><br />