Authors Note: Isaac, Batool, and Caylen are © Jayfur. Also, Rosie (Rosanna) is a teenager in this fanfiction.
The sound of the Bugle
Dedicated to, All dogs who deserve a destiny
Isaac
I looked into darkness, I was cold and I could smell my mother's scent near. I wiggled next to her and suckled milk from her flank. It was warm and made me feel safe from my surroundings. I felt other bodies my size suckling my mother too. I whimpered until mother nuzzled me back to feeling safe and warm.
I soon found that I had two siblings. When I opened my eyes, my siblings and I would play and fight outside. when the weather was too cold we would play inside. My brother was blind but a good fighter. I kept feeling the need to help him around until I found out that he could sense everything around him. He never would ask for help and I admired him for that.
When we were six weeks old, my mother let us visit our father. He was gray and brown and smelt of the wild. I learned that he was a stray who lived on a boat near the ocean. He and my mother would play with us a lot. They didn't give us named until we were eight weeks old. My mother would start calling us by names. She would say,
"Isaac! Batool! Caylen!"
We would run to her and soon we found out our names independently. She called me, Isaac. My sister, Batool. And my brother, Caylen. I liked me name because not many dogs had it. Batool was a blue gray colour, I was a dark brown and gray like father, and Caylen was red and white like mother.
One day after we were named, mother's master put us outside in front of the house so we could explore Nome. Mother said that, Rosie her master, would not sell us like our other siblings. I never met them except for my brother Kodi. He delivered the mail to Nome a lot and we would see him every other day.
We liked the town of Nome because it was small and peaceful. I like the sled race track, it was big and three sled's where parked on the side. Since today was Sunday the race wasn't held today.
"Momma?" I asked.
"Yes, Isaac?" She replied.
"I wan't to be a sled dog when I grow up."
"I bet you will be the best sled dog ever."
I smiled and raced after my brother and sister as they play fought on the track.
"I'm a sled dog!" I barked.
We raced around the track, I slowed down to match Caylen's steps. He was slower than Batool and me because of his blindness. I nudged him forward to give him a head start.
Batool
I rolled around on the ground and pushed Caylen off. We where play fighting on the sled track. I saw Isaac run over to us and bark that he was a sled dog. I smiled and broke into a run, we would see who was the sled dog!
Caylen fell behind and I slowed down next to Isaac. We both pushed him forward and ran slightly behind him. I stayed on Isaac's heals.. Mother was watching us from the side and smiling at us.
"Look Momma!" I barked as I ran past her.
"You are the fastest pups ever!" She encouraged us.
I smiled as Caylen reached the finish before us, he would feel better now instead of worthless. I felt Isaac jump onto my back and roll me over. Laughing, I pushed him off and howled my victory.
"Why are you so happy?" Isaac asked suspiciously.
"Because a girl can pin you down o' wise one!" Caylen laughed as he walked up to us.
Isaac smirked and jumped, knocking us off our paws. We all rolled on the ground and laughed.
"Okay you three time to head home." Mother said as she walked up to us.
"Aw, but we're having too much fun!" Caylen whimpered.
"The sun is falling behind the mountains, I don't want the night's cold air making you sick."
I grumped as we walked home, trying to get there before Caylen and Isaac did. We raced all the way there and Isaac reached the porch first. Rosie came outside and picked up Caylen, hugging him close. She petted mother and we went inside for bed.
Caylen
I licked Rosie's cheek and she put my down in a basket next to my brother and sister. I yawned and lay on one of the small pillows inside the basket. Mother had her own basket next to us. Batool was sniffing around and the smell of hot chocolate filled the air.
I was restless. I wondered what Mother could tell us if we asked her questions about her past.
"Mother"
"Yes Caylen?" She whispered.
"What does papa look like?" I asked.
Batool and Isaac both lay down beside my and looked at my mother like they wanted to hear a story about our father.
"Well, he's brown and gray like Isaac."
"Why do all the dogs in Nome admire him?" Batool asked next.
"I suppose you'd want to know by now huh? Well, when your father and I where very young, he was an outsider who everybody teased. Nome had an outbreak of Diptheria-" Mother started.
"Whats Diptheria?" I asked.
"Diptheria is a bad sickness that human pups get when they get too cold." Mother replied.
"Oh"
"Anyways, A sled team was set out to get medicene from Nenanha and bring it to Nome. A bad snow storm got the team lost and your father set out to find them. When the town knew that all hope was lost...he came back with the medicene and the team. He's a legend now." Mother finished "Now go to sleep, your little eyes are drooping like crazy."
---
When I woke up the sun was not fully above the mountains yet. I yawned and pushed my way from between Batool and Isaac. I heard Momma Rosie making coffee and Papa Rosie reading the newspaper.
Momma Rosie picked me up and I gave her a lick on the cheek. She stroked my back and put me back down. I followed the smells around the house. I remembered that Kodi would be visiting today. We hadn't seen him in a week because of the mail runs.
"Batool! Isaac!" I barked.
"Wha...?" Isaac asked, sleepily.
"Get up you lazy furball."
The sun was above the mountains now and mother stirred and sat up.
"Kodi should be here in about an hour, we better hurry if we can get to the post office in time." She said softly
Batool scrambled over me and Isaac lead me away with his tail. I jumped out the dog flap behind Batool and waited for mother. She was eating some of her food before we left.
"Caylen!" I heard Isaac bark.
"What?" I asked stoping dead on my tracks.
"You where about to walk off the porch!"
I grumbled under my breath and let my senses read my surroundings. Batool was sniffing at some meat smell in the air. Isaac sat and scratched his ear, a tick pinched his skin underneath it. Two dogs walked around Nome, bored, across the street. I could hear the crowds of people awaiting the sled dogs to return from the race. The porch steps where two paws in front of me as well.
I jumped down the steps and my paws hit the snow. It was cold and crunched beneath my paws. I flicked it away with my tail and sat down. I didn't like the wood proch because the earth was easier to sense under me.
Isaac
Mother came outside and we walked down the steps next to Caylen. I lead him the direction we where going in so he wouldn't get lost. I could hear the crowds and remembered that I wanted to be a sled dog. We where heading away from them though.
When I saw the post office at last, I recognised that Kodi was already there. He stood beside his mate, Kirby, a brown golden retreiver. He was talking to Dusty, a gray alaskan husky.
"Kodi!" Mother barked when she saw him.
Kodi looked up and smiled. He trotted over to us and nuzzled mother.
"Hi Kodi!" Batool said.
"Hi everyone." Kodi said.
He was storng and his limbs where muscular from running the mail for miles a day. He lifted Caylen with his muzzle and slid Caylen on his head. Caylen giggled and yawned.
"I'm guessing that you guys nearly woke up." Kodi guessed.
"Since dawn." I replied.
"Ace! Lets go!" Kodi's musher called.
"Well, I've got to go." Kodi ushered as he dashed away.
As Kodi and the team dashed of with the new mail, we decided to explore the town.
"Mother can we go watch the sled teams win?" Batool asked.
Mother shook her head.
"I'm going to show you all around Nome remember? We can go to the sled races tomarrow."
"Okay..." I grumped.
Mother told us that Nome only had six streets running throught it. She showed us the butchers market and never to steal meat from there. We saw the old sled race track, It was just a line or posts that seemed diserted.She said a dog named Steele used to run on this track. After she showed us the town we went home. Rosie had put out meat for us to eat. I munched down on a slice and saw Caylen sniffing his.
"It's okay, eat" I assured him.
He bent his head and started to munch away happily.
"Rosannna!" Mama Rosie called.
"Coming mom!" Rosie yelled back.
Rosie went back inside and I yawned and stretched. I was tired to the depths of earth. I lay down and watched the sun set behind the mountains.
Batool
I finished my meat slice and walked over and sat beside Mother. We watched the sun set and I wished Caylen could see it. It was so beautiful! Caylen had never seen the Northen lights either.
Poor Caylen... I thought to myself.
Caylen lay down next to Isaac and drifted off into sleep. Mother picked him up and Isaac and I followed her inside. We settled in our beds and the warm air made my fur feel good after being outside in the cold. I rested beside Isaac and soon fell asleep.
The next morning, Caylen and Isaac where out of bed before I awoke. I followed their scents outside. Mother was still asleep and the sun was high above the mountains. Isaac was discribing the Sunset to Caylen.
"Its beautiful, Caylen" I whispered.
I sat beside him and licked his ear. It had been ripped yesterday when we where walking around town. He ran into a fence bolt and it tore. It didn't hurt him I don't think. He didn't even yelp.
"Thanks Batool" He whispered back.
Isaac kept discribing the Norther Lights and I krept down the steps and jumped in the snow. I loved snow more than my brothers would ever.
I walked as far as I was aloud to, the neighbors house, and turned back. I saw my pawprints in the snow. I tried to match every one of them as I walked back.
---
When mother took us to see the sled dog race, it was crowded with people. They all pulled out money to gamble on the winner. I sat at the sidelines two feet away from the finish. Caylen and Isaac sat on both sides of me. I looked at the four teams that stood before us. One was lead by a sturdy brown german shepard. The next was lead by a black and white Alaskan Husky. Another was lead by a white snow terrier female. The last was lead by a dog who smelled familier. Siera! She was our sister who was born in Kodi's litter. She had a white muzzle and red everywhere else.
"Sierra!" Isaac barked.
"Huh?" She looked over at us and Smiled.
But the gun shot a blank and the teams ran off. I was hoping Seirra's team would win. We howled after her as she ran out of site.
"Who do you think will win?" I asked my brothers.
"Seirra!" Caylen barked happily.
"Seirra definetly!" Isaac agreed.
After two hours we heard barking. Seirra was running beside the brown German Shepard. The German Shepard crossed the line first and Sierra came in second.
"Way to go Seirra!" Mother called from behind us.
One year later
Caylen
When we where a year and six months old, mother told us we needed to find owners or jobs like Kodi and Seirra. Isaac I guessed would be a sled dog. He left to go find a sled team at the sled house who would accept him. Batool wanted an owner. I didn't want either. Somthing inside we wanted me to run wild.
A few days later, Isaac had found a team, and an owner, that would take him in. Batool had gone to the new pet shop and got a house owner. I told my mother goodbye and walked outside. I smelt the fresh air and walked down the steps, my red fur warm under the sunlight.
I walked into the outskirts of Nome and followed the sweet pine scent into the forest. I stoped and scanned my surroundings. Once I got an image in my mind, I began to walk through the forest. I smelt every tree and dodged it perfectly. I came up to a stream and lay down n a damp rock that lay on the shore.
"I must be far from Nome now" I said to myself.
I fell asleep and woke up the next morning before Dawn. I began to walk through the trees again, carfull of the brambles under my paws. Birds sang above my head and I smiled. It must be great in the forest, to be wild.
"Hello." A voice sounded behind me.
I heard ferns rustle and pawsteps walk toward me.
"What is a yound blind fellow doing out here in the Forest?" She asked.
"Um..." I struggled to say somthing.
"Come to my pack's cave and tell be all about yourself and what you are doing in my territory." She said kindly.
I nodded and I followed her through the trees into a cave. I could smell the scents of many different wolves. They where familier and they smelled like my father. Wild and free. I smiled and sat down.
"Our leader has died recently and no wolf shares his blood." She told me.
"Um...I'm sorry for trespassing into your territory." I whispered.
She remained silent.
"I was raised in Nome, Alaska and I've always wanted to run free. Being blind and living in Nome make me feel like I don't belong. I wanted to join a pack like yours and live the way wolves do. I'm part wolf but I have dog blood too." I stated.
"I see, well..." She started
"Well?"
"I smell your fathers scent on you, His name is Balto. He is a legend to dogs and wolves."
"How?" I wondered.
"I'm guessing you know about the way dogs see him right?"
I nodded.
"Balto's mother was the leader of our pack. The Alpha Female to be exact. She was a legend for being wise and peacefull to the forest and its animals who roam its grounds. When Aniu was pregnat with Balto, it rained for many nights non stop. We grew hungry and the animals had fled from loss of prey. But when Balto was born, the sun shone. Aniu died from lack of food. But Balto is know as the wolfdog who brang back the sun." She said.
"Wow, my father was a real hero!" I said, surrprised "Anyways, what is your name?"
"My name is Annabelle" She replied.
Annabelle...
Isaac
I woke up in the sled house and looked around at the team. This would be our first racing day of the season. After Batool found an owner and Caylen ran off into the forest, I had pretty much practiced my dream everyday. Now it would all pay off. My owner, the musher, had named me Buck. I still went by Isaac to the dogs on my team. Six dogs where on it, including me. I was the leader of the team. A tan female named Bethany was the second leader. Duke was a black siberian husky who was middle league. Starlight, the daughter of Kaltag, was middle league. And Downson and Net where wheel dogs.
Bethany stirred and rose her head, so did Net and Starlight. They looked around sleepily and Net stretched his limbs.
"Good morning" Starlight yawned.
I smiled in reply and stood up. I walked over to the food stock and nibbled on the leftover crumbs. The bowl was half empty and I wanted to save some for the other dogs. I trotted outside to find the air was freezing. I backed up into the barn again and sat near the furnace.
"Its freezing out there!" I whimpered.
"Great, some race it will be when we're freezing our taiols off!" Downson barked as he and Duke awoke.
"Aw man!" Net complained.
"Hey, we'll warm up by the furnace until its time to go, we need some heat in our body.
For two hours we sat in front of the large furnace, warming our fur to bone. I saw Net start panting, but he stayed next to the furnace. Downson was smart and slept next to it.
This is going to be a llllooonnnggg race... I thought
Batool
My owner gave me a pat on the head as he walked outside to play softball with the kids on the street. He was younger than Rosie was. I liked him and he liked me. He named my Jenny.
When I found out his name was John, I started to feel the need of being outside. Momma John would always keep me inside the house. One day I scratched on the door until she finally opened it.
I jumped outside and breathed the non stuffy fresh air. A black male was walking past the porch and glanced up at me. I looked into his eyes and he looked into mine.
"Uh...Hi" I mangaged to say.
He dashed away without a word. I lay down on the proch and scanned the road. I saw John playing ball with two other boys his age. An old widow in her garden. And a cat rustling in a trash can in an alley. I sighed, life just wasn't fun anymore without Isaac and Caylen.
"Sorry I ran off" I heard a voice say.
I jumped and turned my head. The black dog was sitting next to my on the porch. I hadn't noticed him walk up the steps.
"Its okay" I didn't borther ask why.
"I'm Carter." He said.
"I'm Je-Batool" I replied.
"Hi Batool"
I sat up and layered my tail over my paws. The soft wood on the porch reminded me of the porch of mothers house.
"Hi Carter"
Both of us sat in silence. Unable to know what to say. I looked around, trying to think of somthing. The boys where still playing ball across the street. And the widow was watering her garden.
"Are you new?" Carter asked.
"Um, I am to this house but not to Nome."
"Really?"
"Yah"
He gazed into my eyes and turned away.
"I have to go. My master probably wants me home." He insisted.
"Okay"
He jumped off the porch and ran down the street. I pushed my way down the steps and watched the boys. One hit John with the ball on the face. I growled and lunged at the boy. He pushed me off and John walked back into the house.
"Jenny!" Momma John called.
I ran up the steps, over the porch, and into the house. I still had the image of Carter in my mind as I lay on Momma John's bed. I soon fell asleep and dreamed about Carter.
Caylen
"My name is Caylen" I replied to Annabelle.
"Nice name" She replied.
I smiled and shivered against the cold.
"I'm guessing your coat isn't thick enough yet?" She guessed.
I nodded and she pulled me deeper into the cave. It was warm here and I lay down, wondering what Isaac and Batool where doing today. Annabelle lay down next to me, her fur barely touching mine.
"You say your pack doesn't have a leader?" I asked.
"He died a few days ago."
"How?"
"He was chased my a falcon to the waterfall peek. He had no choice but to jump over. He drowned soon after he hit the water." Annabelle said softly.
"Wow, he was brave to jump." I said,
"Caylen..." She started.
"Yes?"
"Would you mind...leading the Snow Cliff Pack?" She asked.
I gasped. A blind wolf dog lead a whole pack? What an honor. But how can I lead a pack if I don't even lead my own sight? Wait...This is my chance to be free from feeling worthless!
"I would be honored." I stated.
"Thank you" Annabelle nuzzled my cheek.
Isaac
The musher, who I found was named Derian, hitched us up to the slay at noon. Our fur was warm and the cold seemed to not be there. We hauled over to the sled track and stoped next to the team that was there already. It was lead my a red and black Alaskan Klee Kai.
I can beat this mouse I thought.
The other two teams pulled up and the men that stood on the sidelines pulled out wads of cash, ready to gamble for the winner. Same thing like last year. I remember my first sled race. With Batool and Caylen. I miss them so much now. But I've got a sled race to win!
The blank fired and I dashed off slowly. I stayed in third while Downson was yelling at me to run faster. He didn't get it that I was saving energy. I saw the team in second appear in view. We ran over a plain that was just a land of white with no ending. The sled was lead by a white breed I didn't know. I passed him and left them shocked in the dust. We ran for a few more miles until I saw the sled for the team in first.
It was the alaskan klee kai! I didn't let them know I was there, so I ran off sideways. He wouldn't be able to see he from the corner of his eyes. I neared away and turned back, runing sraight for them. I dashed straight inot first place, leaving the second place team far behind. Net howled her thanks to me for letting the team win their first race of the season.
I saw Nome coming into view just like the other teams had, the crowds where louder than ever. We ran straight over the line and I stopped, panting. We had won! Men were shouting for joy with their profits as others grumbled from loss. Net walked over and nuzzled me, her hazel eyes softly meeting mine.
"Well done race, Isaac." She congradulated me.
The other dogs came and congradulted me as well. I felt a burst of pride in my chest as Net walked beside me was we walked back to the sled barn. As she walked into the barn I could help remember those hazel eyes drifting into mine. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. If I could only...
"Net! Where are you!?" I cried as I ran through a snowy plain.
She had dissapeared from my side as we walked through the snow, talking about the northern lights. She had disolved and I could hear her voice calling:
"Isaac...Isaac..."
"Net! Where are you?" I cried once more.
A mountain apeared before me and the rocks began to fall. I yelped as a large one fell toawrds me. I ran but it followed every step I took.
Blackout.
I jolted awake. I was dreaming. Thank goodness. Net was asleep next to me and Downson was standing near the furnace, staring at me.
"Are you okay Isaac?" He asked.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"You where yelping Net's name in your sleep. I tried to wake you by saying Issac...Isaac.." He replied.
"Oh, It was just a nightmare." I said quickly.
"Whatever you say Isaac." he said as he lay down and fell back asleep.
Batool
Carter and I had been seeing each other every day since last spring. Winter was coming early and the air was too cold to be outside, even with my thick coat. Carter still came through the dog flap when he visited.
"Carter, I have a question." I asked him one day on his visit.
"Yes Batool?" He answered.
"Where do you live with your owner?"
"Um...well...Batool. I need to tell you somthing." He sounded worried.
"What is it?" I was anxious.
"I don't have an owner...I'm a stray. Please don't hate me!" He confessed.
"Carter...I don't care if you are a stray. I love you. You can live with me and John." I assured him.
"Really?" He asked hopefully.
"Yes, really." I replied, nuzzling him.
---
After a couple of weeks, John took me to the vet for a simple check up. I got my injections and was very healthy. The doctor called momma John and she came to pick me up. The doctor asked her aside.
"What is it?" She asked.
"Jenny is pregnat with puppies." He said.
They talked a little more but I was focused on having my first litter. I was so happy!
"Do you know who the father is?" The doctor asked.
"A new dog has been staying at our house for a while. He seems attached to Jenny. That is a safe bet he's the father." Momma John insisted.
I cant wait to tell Carter!
Caylen
Annabelle was still asleep when I awoke. I saw blackness. I was blind I had forgotten. I Got up and stretched, my limbs creaking. The other wolves seemed to know by now that I was their new leader.
"Caylen!" A wolf ran up to him.
"Good morning Des." I asnwered.
"Will you send out hunrting patrols? The sock if almost gone." Des said.
I remembered everything Annabelle had taut me last night. Hunting patrols, stock pile, gaurds, wolves names.
"You, Conan, Gregor, and Tundra." I ordered.
Des dipped his head and backed away to follow his new leaders orders.
Wow, Its great being a leader. Nobody judges you by being blind.
I stopped to pull a tick from my fur and Annabelle woke up. She yawned and walked over to me, pulloing out the tick.
"Well, you seem to be handling the leader job quite good this morning." she said as Des and the others went on hunting patrol.
"We need to move the pack, this territory is losing prey from the snow." I said.
"Good idea." Annabelle agreed as she walked around to tell the other wolves about the move to a new territory.
---
When the patrol came back, little prey hung from their jaws. We would have to move before tomarrow. We ate and when every wolf from elder to pup was full me got ready to leave.
Annabelle stood at my side and I lead the way through the forest. We stopped at a great lake that seemed familier. Mother had talked about it before. On the other side of the great lake, my sister Aleu had her pack. I wanted to meet her some day. We walked to a grassy part of the great lake's shore.
"This is perfect Caylen!" Annabelle assured me.
I was happy that the pack would be safe.
I hope Isaac and Batool are safe... I wondered
Isaac
I awoke the next morning to find snow covering the ground uo to three feet of snow. No race today. I yawned and Net nuzzled me. I smiled and lay back down, my muscles where frozen.
"Cold huh?" Net asked.
"Lets move to the furnace." I suggested.
"Ok" She said as we stood up and settled next to the warmth of the furnace.
Net's fur shone from the small light that shone from the fire. I smiled and nuzzled her ear. The other dogs hwere asleep or out training with Derian. She nuzzled me back and I felt the best I had in a whole lifetime.
---
When the other dogs woke up, we went outside to see what Derian was doing. He hitched us up to the sled and he drove us into the outskirts. I saw a barn just outside Nome. A little house stood in front of it.
He had gotten a barn for us to stay in! Now we wouldn't be cluttered in the dog sled house forever. Net was so happy she nuzzled me, licking my muzzle as well. I nuzzled and licked her back as we walked inside and settled inside the hay beds for us.
Net and I found one big enough for us to sleep on. We soon fell asleep and rested the rest of the day like the other dogs did.
Batool
I ran into John's house and looked around for Carter. He lay in front of the fire, warming his fur. I trotted up next to him and nuzzled him, tears of joy streamed down my cheeks.
"Carter!" I exclaimed.
"Batool! Is somthing wrong?" He asked, worry in his tone.
"No! The exact opposite! We are going to have a litter!" I barked as I nuzzled deeper in his fur.
"Batool, thats wonderful!" He jumped up and nuzzled me back.
I couldn't wait until they came. I lay down and so did he. We warmed ourselves next to the fire a talked about our lives.
"Carter?" I asked.
"Yes?"
"Have you ever had an owner? Or another mate?"
"I used to have a family in Applegate. They moved to Nome for eight weeks and decided to move again. They left me behind and never came back. They like in Florida now." He told me.
"Wow." I exclaimed.
"I used to have a mate. She was an Alasan Klee Kai. But she cheated on me." He said.
"I'm sorry about your losses."
"Its ok." He replied.
"Batool, do you have any siblings?" He asked me.
"Oh, I have two brothers. One of them is a sled dog, his name is Isaac. I have another brother who is blind but lives in the forest. His name is Caylen."
"Wow, your brothers sure live exciting lives."
"Well they don't have pups coming."
"You never know"
I nodded and rested my head on the ground. I soon fell asleep and dreamed about my pups.
---
I looked around and saw six pups jumping and playing with Carter. I smiled and walked over to them. I smiled and began to run with my pups and Carter.
Carter ran in the other direction and five of my pups followed him. One stayed with me and I didn't know why. She was sitting there, staring into nothing.
"Oh, no" I thought.
She was just like Caylen. Blind. I nuzzled her and she nuzzled me back.
"Momma, why is everything so dark?" She asked.
"Sweet, you are blind."
"Oh..I love you momma"
"I love you too...."
I woke up and smiled. If her daughter was blind, she would teach her all about Caylen and how he handled being blind. The sun was high over the mountain and Carter was still asleep. I yawned and thought about my littler some more.
Caylen
The next day, three pups, two hunters, and three elders got sick. Our Aid-Wolf said the salt water they where not used to breathing made them sick. I inisted on moving again and Annabelle agreed.
We travles for many miles and found a cave near the edge of the forest. I sent out a partol of healthy wolves to scout the area and find out where we where.
When they got back they seemed to have hunted while they where out. They dropped prey inot the stock and reported to me.
"We have a very large source of prey"
"An we are near the town of Nome, Alaska"
Nome, Alaska... It echoed in my mind.
"Annabelle! I want to show you my old home" I told her as I ran into the cave.
"I'd love to!" She said happily as we walked into Nome.
I felt the cold air brush my fur, but by now I had a thick coat to keep it away. I hoped to meet up with Batool and Isaac!
I sniffed my way around and found Batool's scent. I tracked it to a house that must have been her new home. I barked a greeting and a black dog it seemed, appeared in the dog flap.
"Who are you?" He growled.
"Batool's brother Caylen!" I replied.
"Oh...Batool can't be seen right now." He said more nicely.
"Why not?" I knew he was hiding somthing.
"She's giving birth to my pups right now." He said as he slipped back into the house.
"Annabelle-" I started.
I felt that she nodded, saying that I could go in alone. I smiled my thanks and jumped through the door. I heard Batools kind voice and walked into a small room with a basket. The black dog stood over her and watched her suckle her pups.
"Batool!" I barked my greeting.
"Caylen!" She sounded happy to see me.
I walked up to the basket, it smelt like mothers. I tried to count the litter but I couldn't.
"Six pups. One is blind like you Caylen." Batool said.
I smiled and nuzzled her. The black dog nuzzled her on the other side. I heard another dog come inside. Isaac! He walked into the room and sat down beside Me.
"Well...We're uncles now" He murmured to me.
We stood there and watched, I listened, to the new family members with their mother. An unforgetable day it was...
The End