The snow fell on his head like little balls of fluff. Balto walked around looking for his dad. Tuck, Balto’s older brother, was watching him and Makyaa. They were only pups at the time. Balto felt a slight breeze circle around him and jumped frightfully. Tuck looked at him and laughed.
“What’s your problem?” he smirked.
“Nothing, the wind just scared me…” Balto replied in a pouty voice.
Tuck rolled his eyes and gazed off the back porch into the mountains, looking at the evergreens. Balto stumbled over to his older brother and looked up at him.
“Tuck? Do you miss mom….?” Balto asked softly and then too gazed into the mountains.
Tuck sighed. “…Yeah….”
Balto looked down sadly. All he could remember about his mother was that she was as white as snow and had a soft, warm voice. Makyaa never even really thought about her mom. They were never close. Makyaa was always “daddy’s little girl” and loved sled races. However, Balto was always curious about his mother. He always wondered why it was that she never lived with them, or why they only saw each other every other day. You see, Buck was a lead dog on the number one dog sled team in
“Tuck, whatever did actually happen to mom?” Balto curiously asked him.
“…..Bear. Dad had left you and Makyaa home because you both needed to be at the vet. When we got deeper in the woods, a large black bear approached us. I wanted to help but Dad told me to hide in a log that was nearby. So, I did. Then saw this bear take his paw and swipe dad into a tree. He struggled and fell to the ground. Mom tackled the bear, and bit its neck. That’s when I heard the gun shot. The bear fell along with Mom. The bear was dead and Mom was hurt bad. Dad stood up and ran to me. I then watched as Mom struggle to get up. He went to her and tried to help. She looked at him and nuzzled him. And then…..” Tuck stopped. He looked at Balto, tears falling from Tuck’s eyes. “…she fell. Mom collapsed to the ground dead. Blood came from her back and stomach where the bear had swiped at her…”
Balto sadly looked down. Tuck looked back out into the mountains. Eyes watering, tears falling.
“But Balto, even though we cannot see her, she’s still with us. In our minds, hearts, dreams, her spirit roams with us.” Tuck spoke softly still watching the forest and mountains. A breeze blew into him. He closed his eyes.
“I can feel her…” Balto said slightly happier.
Tuck smiled at his little brother. He was glad Balto understood what he meant. All Tuck really though about was Aniu.
Later on that afternoon, Buck came home. Balto and his twin both tackled him playfully. Tuck didn’t do anything. There relationship wasn’t close at all. He blamed Aniu’s death on Buck; therefore, he showed no respect for him at all. Buck walked passed his stubborn son. Tuck ignored him.
“Hello Tuck” Buck said while reaching to nuzzle him. Tuck rolled his eyes and dodged the nuzzle. He began to walk outside.
“You better quit disrespecting me! Or else you’re going to be homeless!” Buck yelled at him. Tuck paused and looked at him.
“Id rather be homeless than be killed by a bear” Tuck smirked.
“Look, you need to get over this “its Dad’s fault Mom’s dead” thing. I know it’s hard to face her death but you need to quit blaming it on everyone” Buck growled at Tuck. Tuck ignored him and went outside and lay on the lawn chair.
Buck watched him walk away and sighed. He then walked over to a cabinet and slid out his dog food bowl. Balto and Makyaa walked over to him and plopped down.
“Daddy, do you think they will ever let girls be in on a dog sled team?” Makyaa asked lovingly.
“They already do sweetheart, but no girls ever stay on the teams, and most mushers don’t pick girls. You have to be really good. Why do you ask?” Buck smiled.
“Well, because I want to be a lead dog just like you, daddy.” She said proud.
do you think I could be a sled dog even though I’m part wolf?”
Buck hesitated. “Most likely, or at least I hope so by the time you and Makyaa can start racing.”
“I want to be a lead dog like you, Daddy.” Balto yipped and then glanced at Makyaa. “I would be much better than a girl.” He smirked.
“Girls are better than boys because boys are stupid” She smirked back and pounced on her brother. They began to wrestle. Buck rolled his eyes and continued eating.
The owners finally came in later that night. There was a happily married couple, their teenaged son, and little daughter. Tuck’s owner Evan, the son, came home that night off his crutches. He had been injured in a football game 2 months ago, and had just got his cast off today. When he walked in through the door, Tuck barked and happily ran up to him. He jumped up and rested his front paws on Evan.
“Come here buck,” Evan’s dad called. Buck came walking up to him and sat in front of him. “Good boy,” he said while petting Buck’s head.
The dad walked into the living room to turn on the TV. He then grabbed a t newspaper and sat on in his recliner. Buck followed him and laid down next his master’s feet. Evan then ran upstairs o his room with Tuck happily chasing him. The mom went to the kitchen to start dinner while Marie, the little girl, played with Balto and Makyaa.
Up in Evan’s room, Tuck laid on the bed while Evan played video games. He put his head in Tuck’s side to use him as a pillow. They stayed like that for about an hour and then the phone rang. Evan got up and answered the phone in his room.
“Hello?”
“Hey Evan.”
“Oh, hey Marcie,”
“Are we still going to the movies?”
“Yeah, we’re still going. I’ll leave in 5 minutes.”
“Ok, see ya then.”
“Ok, bye”
Evan then hung up the phone and turned off his TV. Tuck watched him as he grabbed his letterman jacket off of the bed and headed for the door. Tuck knew he was leaving.
“Come on Tuck, let’s go downstairs.” Evan said commandingly.
Tuck jumped off the bed and ran down the steps with Evan. Tuck followed Evan into the kitchen. He put on his jacket.
“Evan, where are you going? Dinner is almost ready. Don’t you want any?” His mom asked.
“No thanks Mom, I’ve got a date with Marcie. We’re going to the movies.” Evan replied.
“That’s my boy” His dad spoke form his chair in the living room.
Evan laughed. “I’ll be back by 8. Don’t worry.”
Evan ran out the door and walked to Marcie’s. Tuck, now bored, went out the dog door to go find Dumpster, his childhood buddy. He went to the alley behind the meat locker. That was where all of Tuck’s friends hung out at.
“Hey Tuck,” Dumpster said.
“Hey guys, what’s up?” Tuck spoke as he went to lay down on an old torn up mattress.
“Nothing really. Hey did you hear about Aruk?” Dumpster asked.
“No, who’s Aruk?” Tuck responded now confused.
“Your dad’s new component. He was the best lead dog in Chugiak. His family moved here to
“Wow.” Tuck said not really caring.
“Aw, don’t worry Tuck. No one can beat your dad.” Zep said.
After he said that a black and white husky approached them. “Oh really? Well, I have a feeling that old dog is going to lose next race” the husky smirked.
“Oh…hey Aruk” Zep quietly said.
“Hello boys, I’m looking for a friend of mine.” Aruk asked in a aggressive way.
“Who?” Dumpster asked curiously.
“Crawl” Aruk grinned.
“What?” Tuck asked confused.
“Crawl, me and his dad were old friends.” Aruk smirked.
Crawl then walked out form the meat locker. “What’s up Aruk?”
“Come with me Crawl, we need to talk about something.” Aruk said grinning again.
Crawl jumped off the stairs and followed Aruk to who knows where.
“What’s going on?” Tuck asked Dumpster seriously.
“I’m…I’m not sure Tuck.” Dumpster replied also confused.
Tuck then looked up at the sky and noticed is was getting dark. He needed to be getting home.
“Hey guys, I got to go. I’ll see you all tomorrow.” Tuck said as he began to head home.
Once home, Tuck noticed crawl and Aruk walked down the front steps off the porch. Buck was sitting sternly on the porch, watching them walk away. Tuck looked at them and had a bad feeling. He walked up the steps to the porch, and sat next to his dad.
“Dad?” Tuck asked worried.
“Yes..?” Buck replied not looking at him.
“What was that about? What did they want?” Tuck said looking over at his father who he never really talked to.
“Oh nothing really, just a…a…little bet.” Buck hesitated.
“Dad, what kind of bet? What’s going on?” Tuck asked worried.
“Nothing Tuck, just don’t worry about it,” Buck said still zoning out.
“Dad, just tell me. It sounds bad. What is it?” Tuck stammered.
Buck sighed and looked down. “They…they want Makyaa.”
“What?” Tuck exclaimed.
“Yeah…Aruk demanded that if I don’t lose on purpose, they get Makyaa.” Buck sadly said.
“Why do they want her? She’s mixed anyway.” Tuck asked now very confused.
“Tuck, they want to breed her to Steele. So their pup would have enough wolf genes to have the natural instincts. With that, in a race the pup would be remarkable.” Buck explained.
“Why did you agree with the bet, Dad?” Tuck yelled.
“Son, I was forced to. They said if I don’t agree on the bet, then they would kill Balto & Makyaa. You don’t want that do you?” Buck asked.
“No, but I don’t want little Makyaa mating with Aruk’s son either,” Tuck yelled.
“Who said I wasn’t going to drop out?” buck asked now frustrated.
“Who said you were…” Tuck said calmed down. He turned away and went in the house. It was surprisingly 9PM. That meant Evan was home. Tuck figured Evan was upstairs so he raced up to Evans room and leapt on the bed. Evan was watching a movie. He was laying on his bed when Tuck pounced on him. Evan started to laugh.
“Lay down Tuck,” Evan laughed.
Tuck laid down and watched the movie with him. Tuck watched the movie. It was called “Snow Dogs”. The movie made Tuck think about racing. He wanted to race, but he wouldn’t “fit in”. Tuck ended up falling asleep after the movie and so did Evan…
“Where am I?” Tuck spoke softly.
“Home…my son” A warm voice responded.
Tuck looked around shocked. He was in a forest, surrounded by evergreens and standing in about a foot of snow.
“What?” Tuck asked confused.
“My son, it has been long since you’ve been home. As it has been since you’ve seen
Tuck looked around, searching for the voice. And then he thought…
“Mom?” Tuck asked hopefully.
“Yes, Tuck” Aniu spoke.
“But, but, you’re dead. I watched you die” Tuck said still looking. He felt a breeze behind him and jumped. He turned around to the sight of Aniu.
“I’m as alive as I am dead…”Aniu softly said looking at him. “Have you grown; it’s been so long…”
“How’s…how’s that possible. Are you dead or alive?” Tuck asked.
“Dead, my son; however, my spirit lives on. I’m simply a ghost; a guardian of my family” She said and lifted her head up into a howl and the wind blew as she disappeared.
“Wait, Mom don’t leave me!” Tuck yelled.
“Tuck? Tuck, wake up boy!” Evan said petting him.
Tuck jumped up and shook his head. He looked around and then at Evan. Evan laughed.
“What’s wrong boy? It seemed like you were having a bad dream or something. You were moving a lot.” Evan chuckled as he put on a pair of jeans.
Once Tuck realized it was all a dream he sighed. He really missed his mother.
“Come on Tuck, we got to go watch the big race!” Evan said racing down the steps.
Tuck followed and remembered about the bet. His stomach churned and he ran with Evan out to the sidelines. Apparently they had slept through the starting shot, the dogs were already half way around the town. Only 3 more miles were left. Dumpster spotted Tuck and ran up to him.
“Tuck, Buck had the lead at half point. Aruk has to win or else you’ll lose Makyaa.” Dumpster said nervously.
“I know. I can’t lose Makyaa, she’s my lil sis. But Dad being the selfish jerk he is, cares more about his precious racing title more than his own family.” Tuck said watching the track.
“Aw…What’s a matter? Big brother worried about his little baby sister?” Crawl smirked.
“Shut up Crawl!” Tuck snapped.
“What you going to do?” Crawl smirked circling him.
Tuck growled and tackled him. The two began to fight and switched places from top to bottom over and over.
“You guys, quit it!” Dumpster yelled trying to keep them out of trouble.
As the two fought, the dogs came around the corner. Buck was in the lead by a nose. Aruk was right behind him. As they were about to finish, Buck looked around. He looked at Makyaa happily sitting there. Buck looked down with a sad expression and slid to the left at the finish line. Aruk won and Buck came in second. Evan and his family had shocked faces. Aruk proudly pranced to the announcer. Buck stood there and then approached the announcer. He petted Buck’s head and gave him a medal. Aruk looked at Buck angrily.
“Wait a minute, why are you getting a medal? You lost!” Aruk stammered.
“Our new lead dog for
Buck walked over to his family. Tuck stopped fighting and looked at his dad shocked.
“You retired…you threw out another 2 years of championship racing titles for Makyaa…” Tuck said surprised in his father.
Buck nodded and walked over to Evan’s dad. Tuck just stood there. He had completely misjudged his father. He had missed out on so much bonding with his father.
To be continued…