The Calm Comes After The Storm - sayer unkown

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The sun was just peeking over the horizon as two dogs ran through the streets of Nome. "Come on slowpoke!" Kayla called over her shoulder to her friend, Auroa. The black dog laughed and increesed her speed. Kayla grinned and turned the corner sharply. She and Auroa had been doing this every morning for the past few months, ever since they turned a year old. Old enough to become sled dogs. Kayla threw back her head and let out a joyful howl. She and Auroa had been dreaming of becoming sled dogs since they were pups. And now, in just a few weeks, they'd have their chance!

"Hey Dreamer!" Kayla snapped out of her thoughts and saw Auroa had passed her. Kayla shook her head to clear her thoughts, then raced after her. Auroa had given Kayla the special nickname Dreamer, since she tended to daydream alot. Auroa was the only one who ever called her that, since they were the only two who knew about it.

Kayla caught up to Auroa by the time they reached the post office. "Hey Kodi! Hey Dusty!" they called out as they dashed by. Kodi was well known for two reasons. One, he was the son of Balto, the town hero. Two, he was the lead dog on the mail team. Dusty was also on the sled team, but was soon to be taking a break, she and Kodi were exspecting pups. Both older dogs gave them a nod of greeting.

Auroa slowed down and stopped just in front of the bakery, their end marking point. Kayla attempted to do the same, but slipped on a pace of ice and collided with Auroa's legs instead. With a suprised yelp, Auroa fell ontop of her. They looked at each other, then burst into laughter. Kayla squrimed out from under Auroa. "Okay, okay, I'm a total klutz. So what else is new?" Auroa laughed, "Oh come on. You haven't tripped for weeks!" Kayla grinned. Auroa was the best friend she'd ever had. They were closer then Kayla was with her sisters. Even closer then she was with her parents.

Auroa got up and shook herself. "Seriously, you have more chance on getting on a team then I do." Kayla gave her a playful shove, "Yeah, me, who trips over her own two feet, has a better chance on getting on a team then you who has champion lines and whose father was on the same team as Balto." Auroa laughed and returned the shove. Auroa's father, Night, had been on the same team Balto had led to bring the anti-toxin  home.

"Come on, I'll race ya to--" Auroa froze midsentence and her eyes narrowed. Kayla looked ahead and saw why her friend had stopped. Nero. Kayla moaned, leave it to him to ruin a good morning. Nero was the son of the second best sled dog in town, or so he claimed, it hadn't yet been proven, and one of the most beautiful huskies in town. Slate and Missy. Both had incredible lines and both were purebreds, so their having pups was no suprise. Nero was the oldest and, Kayla and Auroa thought, the most stuck-up. He picked on 'half breeds' just to show off to other purebreds.

"Quick, mabey he hasn't seen us." she whisperd to Auroa, who nodded. They both turned and were just about to run for it, "Auroa! Kayla!" They both groaned. So close! They turned and pretended to be suprised to see him. He ran over to them. "So, hows the training comming?" Now Kayla was suprised, Nero never asked how their training went. "It's going fine." Auroa said simply. Kayla nodded in agreement. Nero smirked, "Seems kind of pointless, don't you think?" Auroa glared at him, "No. Why?" Kayla saw the fur on Auroa's neck bristle slightly. "Well, it seems pointless to train so hard," he glanced at Kayla for a minute, "When theres no chance you'll ever get on a team."

Kayla felt the fur on her own neck bristle. She knew he was refering to her in paticular. Auroa growled and stepped forward, "Look, why don't you go show off your pedigree to someone who cares?" Nero looked a bit taken back, but his eyes narrowed at her. Then he turned and stalked off. Auroa smiled with satisfaction, "He'll just never learn." Kayla laughed. Auroa smiled, "Come on, lets go home. I'm starving!"

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Kayla stretched herself out, enjoying th suns warmth. Auroa layed next to her on the porch of the house they lived in. Their owners, the Foresters, lived on the edge of town, so they could make get to work eaiser. Mr. and Mrs. Forester, with their oldest daughter Jen, were the leaders of the search and rescue squad to find teams if they got lost in a storm. Kayla and Auroa had been trained to help, though their owners planned on using them on sled teams to.

"Hey Dreamer." Auroa nudged her. Kayla blinked and looked up at her, "Hmm?"  Auroa smiled, "I heard theres a storm due tonight. Think we'll have to go out?" Kayla smiled, "I hope so. Well, I mean I hope not. Uh, I mean, um, lets hope they don't send the teams out, uh.." she stumbled over her words. Auroa laughed, "I know what you mean. We don't want the teams to be in danger, but we do want some action. Right?" Kayla nodded, grateful Auroa knew her so well. 

Auroa got up and stretched herself out like a cat, "So, want to take another run around town before sunset?" she asked, refering to the fact that thier owners went on lock down at sunset. Kayla nodded and stood up. "Walk to the Kinshakes house, then the ussaul route?" Auroa pointed to the blue house that their closet neighbors, the Kinshakes, lived. Kayla nodded and they set off.

Chatting and laughing as they walked, Kayla felt someone was watching them. She stopped and looked over her shoulder, just in time to see a curtain in the Kinshakes house flutter close. "What is it?" Auroa noticed she had stopped. Kayla shook her head, "Nothing. I guess I'm seeing things." Auroa ruffled her hair playfully. "Soon the only thing you'll see is my tail!" she told her and darted forward. "Not if I can help it!" Kayla laughed and chased after her.

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Kayla and Auroa finneshed their run and got home just as Amy, the Foresters younger daughter, called for them. Kayla jumped up on the couch while Auroa claimed the rug in front of the fireplace. Both raised their heads when Jen came in and plopped down on the floor next to Auroa. Auroa thumped her tail in greeting and Jen scratched her behind the ear. "Kayla!" Kayla's head snapped around as Amy tackled her into a hug. Kayla's tail wagged in greeting and she started licking Amy's face.

The fell into giggles. Kayla barked playfully, urging her to play. This was routine for her and Amy. Jen and Auroa coazied up together with a book by the fireplace, while her and Amy tussled on the floor until they where tired. Or until dinner. "Dinners ready." Mrs. Forester called from the kitchen. All four raced to the kitchen. Kayla and Auroa took their places by the fridge, while Jen and Amy sat at the table. Mrs. Forester was just taking her seat when Mr. Forester came in. "Uh oh." Kayla whisperd to Auroa, who nodded. Mr. Forester did not look happy, which ment something was wrong.

Mrs. Forester must have noticed, "Whats wrong dear?" Kayla and Auroa continued eating, but turned their ears toward the table to hear. Mr. Forester sighed, "Theres a blizzard comming and one of the dog teams hasen't returned yet." Kayla and Auroa's heads snapped up and shot each other a look. "Which team?" Mrs. Forester asked. "The head mail team." he anserwd. "Thats Kodi's team." Auroa whisperd, Kayla nodded, her thoughts realing. Kodi's team was never late. Had one of the dogs sprained something? Had they been attacked? Had the musher fallen off and was knocked out? "Does that mean..?"

Kayla snapped back from her thoughts. Jen had spoken up and was looking abit excited. Her father shrugged, "If they don't come in soon, we'll have to go look for them." Jen jumped up from the table and squealed. Kayla and Auroa exchanged looks. Jen hardly ever acted excited about going out in a blizzard. "You said the next job I could do myself remeber dad?" Jen told her father. Well that exsplained that. Mr. Forester nodded, "All right, all right. First lets see if the team can get through first."

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The team still hadn't shown up when the blizzard hit. And it hit hard. Kayla cringed at how loud the wind roared and seemed to shake the little house. Auroa seemed nervous as Jen and her father's voices carried from the kitchen. Though their voices were slightly muffled, Kayla could hear them fine. "But Dad, you said I could take the next job!" Jen told her father, "Yes, but I was hoping the storm wouldn't be this bad." her father was saying. Silence followed. Then Jen spoke again, "How about I only go as far as the woods? I'll take it nice and slow." she added. "But the roads are ice.." Mr. Forester started. "Dad! I'll be careful!" Jen assured him.

Minutes later, Jen came out followed by her father. "Auroa! Kayla! Come on s!" Jen called as she headed to the entry way. Kayla sprung to her feet, but Auroa was reluctent. "Kayla, I don't think we should go." Kayla turned to her, "Why not?" Auroa looked out the window, "Because, it's really bad out their, and the roads are ice." she paused and her voice lowerd, "What if we crash?" Kayla nugded her reassuringly, "Come on Auroa, Jens a great driver. We'll be fine." Auroa still seemed hesitent, "But--" she started, "Come on Auroa, please?" Kayla urged. Finnaly, Auroa gave a small smile and got up. "All right, but if we crash and die, I'll blame you." she teased. Kayla gave her a small shove and they ran out to the truck where Jen was waiting.

The truck was warm inside and Kayla hoped in back with Auroa. The truck rocked as it hit the rough dirt road coated in ice.  "This is crazy." Auroa mutterd under her breathe. Kayla nudged her slightly, "Don't be such a worry-wort. We'll be fine." she assured her. Then the truck hit a bump just then and she tumbled off the seat. Shaking her head, she looked up at Auroa, who had stayed on the seat. Her eyes were wide with fear. Kayla looked ahead and froze. Something was standing in the middle of the road, and it wasn't moving.  Jen swerverd to avoid crashing into it, but the tires slipped on the icy road.

Kayla felt the truck as it started falling over. "Auroa!" she screamed. There was a bang, a sicking feeling of falling, and then nothing.

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Kayla's eyes flutterd open. She was surrounded by darkness. She sat straight up, but a sharp pain shot through her head and leg and she caught her breathe. "Ow!" she gasped. "Kayla?" she stopped, she knew that voice. "Ty?" she asked slowly. She heard a sigh of what sounded like relif. "Oh Kayla your finnaly awake!" she felt him nuzzle her, but she couldn't see him. "Ty, why, why is it so dark?" she asked. She heard him breathe, but it sounded sharp. "Ty? Where are we?" she felt a wave of dizziness, but ignored it. "Your at the vets. You've been out for two days." he paused, "Do you, remeber anything?" 

Kayla shook her head. "Wheres Auroa?" As soon as the words came out, she remeberd. The road. The creature. "We crashed!" she gasped. "Yeah." Ty said softly. "Oh no. Is Jen okay?" she gasped as she sat up, ignoring the pain that shot threw her. "And Auroa?" Ty didn't anserw. "Ty?" she felt her heart suddenly somersault with fear. "Ty! Wheres Auroa? Is she here to?" she demanded, her voice catching. Ty took a shaky breathe. "Jen's in the hospital. Shes fine, just a few broken bones. But Auroa.." he hesitate, then took a deep breathe, "Auroa's gone, Kayla." Kayla felt sick. "No." she whisperd. She starred into the darkness. It couldn't be true. "No! No, No, No! She can't be! She can't be de ad! Your lying!" she cried. "I'm sorry." Ty whisperd softly. "The vet said nothing could be done." he told her.

"No!" Kayla cried, pain erupting out of her. Her cry turned into a howling scream. She couldn't stop it, she didn't want to. She was vaugly aware of Ty's barking, calling the vet and a assintent in. She barley felt something her shoulder. Her howl faded to a whimper, then sleep closed in on her, dragging her into more darkness.

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The next few days, Kayla lay in a recovery cage at the vets. She cried as if her heart would break. She had broken a few ribs and her head ached, and the vet had said something about her eyes, but she welcomed the physical pain, despretly wanting to block out the emotional. It was all her fault. If she hadn't pushed Auroa to go with her, then she'd still be alive. The team had been found, they had seeken shelter in a cave, and were fine. But Kayla didn't care. Auroa was gone, and it was all her fault.

Her parents, Ty, Caption, her other brother, and Ivory, Captions mate, sometimes stopped by.  "How are you feeling?" Caption asked her. Kayla starred at the direction of his voice, then the words just burst out of her. "It was my fault!" Caption didn't speak for a minute, "What do you mean?" he sounded confused. "I killed Auroa!" she cried. "I made her go! She didn't want to! I made her!" She heard Caption place his paws on the cage. "No, don't say that!" he exclaimed intensly. "You didn't kill her! She wouldn't have gone if she hadn't wanted to! You know that!" She felt his tounge licking her cheek gently. "She wouldn't have gone if it weren't for me." her voice sounded like a croak. "It's all my fault, and I'll never forgive myself."

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When the vet said Kayla could go home, he reviled more news. "Mr. and Mrs. Forester?" he had poked in as Jen was lifting Kayla out of the cage. Amy looked up at him, "Mr. Scott, what are these things on her eyes?" Kayla wonderd if that was why she couldn't see, she was blindfolded. She heard Dr. Scott sigh, "Those are to protect her eyes until she was fully recoverd from surgery." he told them. Kayla's ears ed, surgery? She had surgery? "Can we take them off?" she heard Jen ask. Dr. Scott didn't anserw for a minute, "Yes, but." he sounded hesitent. 'But what?" Jen demanded, hugging Kayla closer. Kayla heard the vet sigh, "Mr. Scott, did something go wrong with the surgery?" Mrs. Forester asked. Dr. Scott took a deep breathe,  "The surgery went well and she is recoverd, but, I'm sorry to inform you, that shes blind."

The words made silence fall around the room. Jen was the first to speak, "Blind? You mean you couldn't save her eyesight?" Kayla just sat there in her arms. She'd heard the words, but she didn't really care. "So this is my punishment for Auroa huh?" she said to herself. There went any chances of being a sled dog, though she couldn't imagene being on a sled team without Auroa.  "That doesn't mean she has to be.." Amy asked quietly, not daring to voice her fears. "Oh no. There are many blind dogs that live happy lives, they just need to readjust to their surroundings, and special training wouldn't hurt." Kaylay heard the rustle of paper. "Thank you Dr. Scott." Mrs. Forester said.

Once they got home, Jen took Kayla up to her room. Kayla knew it was Jen's room because she smelled the lavander scented flowers Jen kept. Jen laid her on her bed gently. Kayla sighed and laid her head on Jen's lap. 'I'm sorry Kayla." she heard a catch in Jen's voice. Was she crying? Kayla looked up in the direction of her voice. Jen wrapped her arms around her neck. "I didn't mean to do this to you. I didn't mean to kill Auroa." she cried. Kayla licked what she hoped was Jen's cheek. "You didn't kill her, I did." she told her, even though she knew Jen couldn't hear. Jen burried her face in Kayla's neck and sobbed.

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That night Kayla tossed and turned in her sleep. Auroa's voice kept playing over in her head. "If we crash and die, I'll blame you." Kayla found herself standing in darkness. Auroa was ahead of her, glowing. Tears were streaming down her face. "Why'd you make me go?" her voice echoed around Kayla. "I, I didn't know what would happen!" Kayla told her. Auroa suddenly disappered. "It's all your fault. You killed her." the strange voices echoed around her. "I-I- I'm sorry!" she cried out despretly. "You killed her. It's your fault." the voice still echoed and seemed to grow louder. Kayla felt tears streaming down her face. "Please stop!" The voice grew louder and louder, and then. "Kayla? Kayla?" something was shaking her. Kayla snapped her head up. She could feel Jen stroking her. "Whats the matter?" Kayla just gave a small whine and crawled closer. Jen wrapped her in a hug. "Bad dream to huh?" Kayla nuzzled Jens arm, then drifted off into sleep once more.

Later that day her parents came over. "Kayla?" she heard her mother, Melody, say gently. Kayla just looked in their direction. She heard her mother come to her and her father not to far behind. "How are you feeling?" her father, Jake, asked. Kayla just starred in the direction of his voice. Meldoy sighed, "Well, we just wanted to see how you were doing."  Kayla sighed and turned away from them. "Well, we'll come by again, okay?" Jake asked. He seemed to wait for a anserw, but Kayla gave him none. With a sigh, he and Meldoy left.

Ty came by later that same day. "Heya sis." he sounded pleased, but Kayla didn't greet him. "Guess what?" he asked. Kayla knew he was trying to get her to talk, but she didn't. "Ol' Capt said he'd stop by later with little Ivey." he sounded hopeful. Ivey was one of Captions and Ivorys pups, and Kayla was her favorite aunt. Kayla loved the little pup as well, but even the thought of her coming did'nt lift her mood. Ty gave a depressed sigh, " Aw come on, you don't want little Ivey to see you all bummed out like this do ya?" he nugded her shoulder. Kayla just got up and moved. "How'd you do that?" Ty asked in amazment. Kayla looked in the direction of his voice, a confused look on her face.

"You just walked over a heap of, uh, stuff without even touching it." he told her. Kayla sighed and gave in, "Jen always leaves her magazines three strides away from the window." she told him. Ty trotted over to her, "How'd you know that?" he asked. Kayla shrugged, "I just do." she said simply. "So, why don't you do that every where else?" he asked her. "Because, I can't." she was getting anoyed with Ty. How'd he exspect her to do that? Had he forgotten she was blind? "Sure you could! Think about it, you memroized that route you and Auroa ran every morning right?" Ty stopped. Kayla glared at him, at least she hoped she was looking at him. "I don't want to run that way ever again." she said bitterly. She then laid down, back turned to Ty. "Kay, come on." Ty started, but Kayla stopped him. "Don't. Just go." Ty sighed and turned to leave, "Oh, and tell Caption to forget about coming over." she called to him. That, made Ty fall silent.

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  "Kayla?" Kayla turned toward the voice. Caption had come anyway. She didn't hear ivey, so he must have at least left her at home. "Oh great." she mutterd. That ment he was going to lecture her. "Kayla?" Kayla knew that voice was Pearl's, her sister. So Caption had brought backup. She heard them both come in the room. "Kayla, we need to talk." Caption's voice had a demanding tone. Kayla sighed. "Fine."  Pearl took a deepbreathe. "Kayla, we know loosing Auroa had a big effect on you, but, locking yourself up and blaming yourself is not going to bring her back." Kayla glared at her sister. "Don't you think I know that?" she snapped.

"Then why are you locking yourself up like this?" Caption demanded. Kayla drew herself up and glared in the direction of his voice. Caption continued. "I know how you feel about lossing Auroa but-" Kayla's eyes narrowed. "Don't you dare say you know how I feel!" she screamed. She felt her emotions boiling. "You have no idea how I feel! You didn't someone!" she felt pain, anger, and guilt sparking from her. "Kayla you didn't kill her! She wanted to go!" Caption shouted. "Caption." Pearl said gently. "She didn't want to go! I made her!" Kayla shot back. "Caption." Pearl said more firmly. Caption drew a sharp breathe, then turned and left. Kayla felt Pearl looking at her. "What?" she demanded. "The sun comes up, and the sun goes down, and what happens in between...Happens." was all Pearl said before she followed Caption out. Leaving Kayla to dwell on what  she said.

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Ivey was waiting outside when her father and aunt Pearl came out. She bounced up, then stopped when she saw their faces. Pearl gave a nod and headed home. Caption returned the gesture and started walking away. Ivey ran to catch up with him. "Daddy?" Ivey asked, Caption smiled softly at her, "Yes Ivey?"  "Is Auntie Kayla sick?". Caption was a little startled by the question, he followed Iveys gaze and sighed, "Well, no" he didn't want to tell her the acident, she was too young and he didn't want to scare her. "Then why does she act like shes dying?" she asked.

Captions head snapped back to his daughter, "Uh, well.." he thought for a minute, "Shes suffering from heartbrake." he said softly. "Whats that?" Caption's eyes filled with grief, "Her hearts in pain."  Ivey's face was full of alarm, "Can't the vet fix it?" she asked, Caption shook his head sadly and started walking away. Ivey looked from Kayla's house to her father, "Why not?" she demanded and ran to catch up with him. Caption glanced at her, then back at Kayla's house, "Because, only she can."

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Ivey refused to belive there was nothing she could do to help her aunt. She tried going to Doc, but he didn't understand her. She tried Lulu, the town pupsitter. But she couldn't help eaither. She was just about ready to give up, when something caught her attention. A small whitw cat. Iveys heart lept. She had heard that white cats gave wise advice. "Excuse me." she called as she ran over. The cat turned and seemed to read her with it's bright yellow eyes. "You seek help for a troubled heart, do you not?" it asked. Ivey was suprised. "Yes. How did you know?" "I have my ways, young one." the cat simply replied. 'Well, no one else seems to know what to do. My aunt Kayla's acting like shes, dying. Is there anything I can do?" Ivey asked hopefully. The cat twitched it's tail and looked thougtful.

"There is one thing. But it is very dangorus to acquire." the cat warned. Ivey nodded. " I don't care." The cat seemed to smile for a minute. "Very well. It is the Rosa Oro, a rare flower that can cure anything." Ivey tilted her head to one side. "Where can I find it?" The cat waved a paw toward the woods. "They are very rare, but they grow deep in the woods." Ivey looked toward the woods. 'What do they look like?" The cat leaned close to Iveys face, it's yellow eyes seemed to see right threw her. "As black as a starless night." The cat then switched her tail and started walking away. "Thanks!" Ivey called. "Your welcome." the cat called back. Ivey turned and was about to start toward the forest when the cats voice called out again. "Ivey." Ivey's eyes widend in suprise. She didn't remeber ever metioning her name. She spun around, but the cat had disapeered.

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 "The sun comes up, and the sun goes down. And what happens in between happens?" Kayla replayed the words over in her mind. This was crazy, what did Pearl mean by that? "Probley just trying to lift my guilt." she mutterd. Evening was coming and Kayla had no desire to go anywhere, esspecialy now. She sighed and curled herself in a tight ball. She was just dozing off when a rapid clawing came from downstairs. "Probley just Caption again." she closed her eyes and tried to sleep. The clawing came again. "Kayla!" Kayla jerked her head up at that. Was that, Ivory's voice? "Kayla, it's me! Open up!" Kayla sighed and made her way to the door of Jen's room. Caption had probley sent her. Once she made it out of Jen's room, she turned right and made her to the stairs.

Carefully, she climbed down the stairs. By the time she made it to the door, Ivory was ramming agsint it. Kayla nosed the switch on the doggie door and Ivory's head burst through. Kayla sighed. "Please tell me the doors in one pieace?" she asked. Ivory paid no attion. "Kayla! Have you seen Ivey? We've looked evrywhere, but no one knows where she is! Caption said she disapeered after they came to see you! Then Lulu said that she had come by asking about how to cure heartbreak or something, then Kyle said he saw her talking to a cat then ran off!" Ivory stopped and gasped for breathe. Kayla's eyes widend. "Caption you idiot." she mutterd. "What'd you tell Ivey now?"

Kayla opend her mouth to speack, but Ivory stopped her. "And Kyle told me a blizzard was coming! Oh Kayla, Iveys not old enough to face a blizzard alone!" Ivory's eyes were filled with fear and concern. Kayla took a deep brethe. "Take me to Caption." she told her. Ivory nodded and turned to leave, but Kayla hesitated. Was she really going outside? Would she really go in a blizzard? Kayla shook her head. Of course she would. She refused to be responsible for two lives. "Lead the way Ivory." she told her and cautiously stepped out onto the snow. A sudden tingle went through her. Excitment? The last time she had walked on snow was the night of the acident. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she sniffed the air for a sec, caught Ivorys scent, and followed.

Ivory led her straight to Caption. Kayla felt anger boil up, but forced it down, for now. "Caption! What did you say to Ivey?" she demanded. Caption didn't anserw. "What did tell her? That I was dying? And whats this about curing a broken heart?" the questions snapped out and Kayla felt her anger rising. Caption sighed. "She asked what was wrong and I told you were, griveing." he said quietly. Kayla felt her anger cool a bit. "Oh? Then what, you told her to go and find some way to stop it?" she snapped. Not waiting for a anserw, she continued. "Well, now shes running around somewhere with a blizzard coming and we have no clue where she is or if shes safe!" Kayla turned sharply and ran, following the scent of pine trees.

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Kayla didn't know how far she had run or where she was. "Great Kayla, just great. First you kill someone, then you endanger a pup, and now you get yourself lost." she mutterd. A sharp wind whipped through her coat, making her shiver. The blizzard was coming and it was coming fast. "Great, now'll I'll freeze to ." Kayla hunched over as the wind seemed to whip around her, as if it was pushing her. "Probley toward a cliff." she thought. Just then, she thought she saw something. She shook her head. She was blind, how could she see? But then there it was again. A flicker of light, and she could see it. "Okay, now I know I'm seeing things." she told herself.

Then the light flickerd again and it seemed brighter, and closer. Kayla watched as it glowed bighter, until she coudln't look at it. She turned away, but then the light dimmed and she looked back. She felt a gasp escape from her. "Auroa?" she whisperd, not trusting her mind. But yes, where the light had been, stood Auroa, glowing. Kayla just starred. "Hey Dreamer." Kayla felt tears brimming her eyes. "Auroa? Is, is that you?" her voice was barley a whisper. Auroa nodded and smiled softly. "It's me Dreamer." Kayla didn't know if her mind was playing with her because she was numb with cold, or if Auroa was actully there. Before she could decided, Auroa turned her head and nodded at something, or someone.

Out of the darkness, a white cat came walking out and sat by Auroa. The cat gave a nod of greeting. Kayla was about to ask who the cat was, when a man came and stood beside Auroa as well. He looked familur, but Kayla couldn't place him. "Come Kayla." he said with a warm smile and motioned her to follow. The cat walked after him and Auroa smiled and followed. A little relunctecly, Kayla followed. Exspecting to crash into something at any moment, she was suprised she didn't. After awhile, the man stopped. He turned and knelt down in front of Kayla. His smile was kind and Kayla fought to recinaize him, but she couldn't. He simply pointed forward. "Ivey's in there." he said, then he disapeered. Kayla looked around, Auroa and the cat had disapeerd to.

She felt, strange. How had that man known her name? How did he know she'd been looking for Ivey? After just standing there, she heard something. A whimper. "Ivey?" she called. "Auntie Kayla!" Kayla had never been happier to hear that voice. A minute later, something tackled her. "Auntie Kayla how'd you find me?" Ivey asked as she helped her into a cave. "Uh, I have my ways." she said simply. She still wasn't sure if that man had been her imaganation, or if it had been real. Kayla alid down and Ivey cuddled up next to her and started shivering. Kayla wrapped her tail around her. "Why did you come out here?" she asked. "the c-cat told me I could help you b-b-by finding a Rose O-oro. She said it c-c-could cure anything." Ivey told her. "Why did you want to cure something?" Kayla was pretty sure where this was going, but she had to make sure.

"D-d-dad said y-y-you were suffering f-from heartbreak. And I wanted to he-he-help." Guilt washed over Kayla. She took a deep breathe. "Ivey, I'm going to tell you why I was acting that way." Kayla launched herself into telling Ivey about the acident, what she was feeling, and how she was guilty. When she finneshed, Ivey spoke. "But, if didn't want to go, you couldn't make her, she went because she wanted to, herself. It's not your fault, if it's anyones fault it's the creatures. The creature got in the middle of the road, which made you crash." Kayla listend and realized Ivey, and everyone else was right. It wasn't her fault. Kayla felt as if something had been lifted of her. She gave Ivey a nuzzle, "I know that now." she whisperd.

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The storm finnaly lifted. Ivey said it was still dark out, but Kayla knew she could get back. She picked Ivey up by her scruff and headed out. Ivey stared off by telling her to watch out for trees and rocks, but Kayla knew they were there before Ivey did. After awhile, Ivey had fallen asleep again and Kayla was certain they were almost home. She stopped to sniff the air and listen every once in awhile, but nothing that said they were near town came to her. Finnaly, after what seemed like forever, Kayla smelled the unmistakable smell of Nome. "Ivey, Ivey wake up!" Kayla told her through gritted teeth. Ivey made a yawning sound. "What?" she asked sleepily. "Tell me if you can see anything." she told her. It took Ivey a minute to anserw. "Yes! I see lights! It's your house!" Ivey squirmed with excitment.

Kayla put her down, then threw back her head and howled. A minute later, a howl returned. Kayla could tell it was Ty's. A few minutes later, Caption, Ivory, Ty, Pearl, Melody, and Jake were bounding toward them. Caption reached them first and nuzzled Ivey. Kayla smiled a little. "Uh, Caption, I'm, sorry for what I said." she started, but he reached out put a paw on her shoulder. "It's okay." he told her. As soon as everyone had joined them, they agreed to go back to Kayla's house. When they got there, Kayla  collasped on the rug in front of the fire place. "Come on Kay, spill. How'd you find Ivey?" Ty demanded playfully. Kayla just smiled. "I had some help from a friend." "Ohh, right I understand." Ty tackled her playfully. "I shall make you talk!" Kayla laughed and wrestled him off her.

"Please, you couldn't beat me before, what makes you think you can now?" she lowerd herself in a playful poistion. A sudden thump on her back suprised her. "Thats the stuff Ivey!" Ty cheered. Kayla grinned and gently flipped Ivey off her. Everyone laughed as the three continued wrestling each other.

No one noticed the man, cat, and dog sitting outside the window, watching the happy scene. "I think shes ready." the man said, smileing at the cat and dog. Tha cat smiled and flicked her tail back and forth. The black dog smiled at him and nodded. 'Yes, I know Kayla's ready." the dog told him. The man smiled, "You know her best,  Auroa." Auroa smiled and looked down at the small pup sleeping peacfully between her paws.

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Melody, Jake, Pearl@Claire Cooper

Caption, Ivory@keweel109

Kayla, Auroa, the Foresters, the Kinshakes, Nero, Ivey, Kyle, white cat, mystery pup@me