A Promise of An Unbreakable Bond
Michigan, Ashley, Mr. Shanik & Tulla(c)Autumntornado
Saba(c)CatLuvsZuko
In the very middle of no-where, there was a small town in Alaska, the town of Nome. This small town had become very famous due to the heroic acts of a wolf/dog who had saved so many lives during the diphtheria epidemic of 1925. His story became a legend, and swept across the world. However, this hero was not only a hero, but a father as well.
In the streets of Nome, a loud and unpleasant noise could be heard from a small wooden crate. The sound was coming from a small, but obviously vocal, wolf/dog pup, otherwise known as one of Balto’s daughters, Aleu.
On the other side of the crate, there was another one of Balto’s daughters, who had her paws covering her ears. “Aleu, could you just quit that…that noise? Urgh.” Mumbled the red-faced pup, in utter annoyance.
As the two sisters argued, one of their brothers observed their bickering, but, shortly after turned away and rolled his eyes at the two. He thought their fights were petty and foolish, especially since that day had been the adoption day. In his eyes, they all should have been making the best of the very little time they had left with each other.
Apart from the bickering, he was sure all of his siblings were excited to finally be getting new homes, their first homes. He was quite thrilled himself. However, the male pup still thought his sister, who looked an awful lot like their mother, Saba, was by far the one who seemed to be looking forward to it the most.
Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by a gentle, but firm voice. It was his mother’s, she was telling Aleu to stop her howling, which Aleu blamed on her excitement. Thankfully for the red faced pup, Jenna’s plead had worked and Aleu kept quiet.
And then, Saba jumped in, literally. “I’m excited too !” She exclaimed, glancing at Aleu with her green and blue eyes. “I can’t wait to get a human !” Saba spanked the floor of the crate with her forepaws, with her rump in the air, letting out a playful growl. “And chew on their socks !” She concluded enthusiastically, before she whipped her small body around and pounced on top of the observing male pup.
“Ha ! I got you Michigan !” Teased Saba, while she kept him pinned to the ground. She had certainly surprised him, his eyes were wide with astonishment. Saba was hardly ever able to pin him.
Michigan sneezed and blew his unusually long bangs away from his nose. “Ew, Michi ! Did you have to sneeze in my face?” Complained Saba, as she quickly got off her brother and let him pick himself up.
Michigan gave his sister a smirk. The long banged pup approached his sister and pretended to sneeze all over her. Saba simply laughed. “Ok, ok. That’s enough.” She giggled.
Soon, her giggles ceased. “Look, there’s a boy, he looks like he might want us. He’s looking right at us !” Called out Saba, as if she was trying to alert everyone in earshot.
In fact, if that’s what she had intended, all of the hybrid pups yipped and whined excitedly as they too noticed the boy. They began jumping up and down inside the crate, running into each other and bumping around.
As the boy approached us, a puzzled look crept upon Saba’s face. “Papa !” She barked. Her father turned his head to listen to his daughter, his ears erect attentively. “Are you getting a human too ?”
Balto gave her a smile, with a hint of amusement in his sparkling eyes. “Nah, humans like cute little puppies like you. Not old grizzly grown-ups like me !” He gave her an affectionate pat on the head with one of his rather large paws.
After Balto had given her his answer, Saba returned to observe the young boy, along with her brother, Michigan. “Who do you think he’ll take ? Are you scared?” He prompted.
Saba shook her head. “I don’t know…” She gazed up at the boy with her brilliant eyes. The boy’s arms reached down into the litter of pups, and scooped up Dingo.
The long banged hybrid’s heart sank down into his chest. He loved Dingo, his brother. Michigan shot a glance at Saba, her green and blue eyes gave away the same heart break he was feeling.
Silently, we sat and watched to what may happen next. “Daddy, I want…” The boy lifted Dingo up to his father, obviously trying to give his father a close up look. “This one!” Concluded the young boy with a smile, before skipping away happily with Dingo in his arms.
The moment after the boy was out of sight, Michigan realized that, not only was he sad that his brother was gone, but he was also disappointed that he wasn’t chosen first. Oh well, thought the hybrid, at least it meant he would have more time with his beloved siblings.
“I’m really really gonna miss him…” Saba sighed, interrupting the hybrid pup’s thoughts.
“Don’t worry, the boy who took Dingo is really, really friendly, like mom said, I heard her. And he lives in our town.” Comforted her brother as he slid closer to her. “And Saba, no matter what happens, you will always have me.” The male pup nuzzled his sister affectionately, as if his gesture was a promise itself.
Saba turned her delicate looking head away from him, which surprised him. “You can’t promise that I’ll always have you. You know you can’t.” Her voice cracked with pain as each word stumbled clumsily off her tongue. “Maybe a stranger from another town will take you away.”
The long banged hybrid lowered his head as he watched his sister walk away. Saba was right, anyone could adopt him and take him miles away from his birth-place. Michigan shook himself, as if trying to rid himself of all his negativity and went to join his sister.
“I’ll miss you Saba…You were always the best one to play-fight with.” Complemented the red faced wolf/dog pup, giving Saba a playful, rough lick on Saba’s ear.
“Thanks Tulla. I always loved playing with you too, you were always harder to beat then Michi !” Joked the green-and-blue-eyed hybrid, winking at her brother.
The day flew by quickly as the hybrids by eager, happy children. The second of the pups to be adopted was Tulla. It was a young girl who had adopted her. Saba and Michigan were adopted at the same time, but, by different children. The child who adopted the male wolf/dog pup was a young girl, while Saba was adopted by a young boy. Both were relieved that they recognized both humans. They were friends of Rosy’s, just like Dingo’s human.
Both of the children were excited, but the girl seemed to be more open about it. “C’mon let’s go to Rosy’s house, she'll be so happy to see that we both got one of Jenna’s puppies!” The girl said enthusiastically to Saba’s new boy.
“Alright, let’s go. Rosy'll help us name them!” Said the boy, in a calm, but content tone, before the children started off toward their friend Rosy’s house.
When they arrived at Rosy’s house, the girl knocked on the door, hardly containing her excitement. Before long, Saba and Michigan heard little footsteps running to the door. The hybrids guessed it must be Rosy’s footsteps, since they sounded rather small.
The door, as expected, flew open. At the sight of her friends with the pups, Rosy bounced with joy and greeted her friends happily. “Common in Ashley, Josh!”
“We need some help naming our new puppies. Can you help us name them?” Josh asked happily.
“Sure, I would love to!” Rosy answered excitedly.
Ashley and Josh entered the house. They set their new pups down while they removed their coats, mittens, hats, scarves and boots. The hybrids sat in the entrance and waited for their children to be done taking off their winter clothes.
“Isn’t it great? Our humans are friends!” Michigan declared to his sister with joy, as he gave her a gentle lick on the shoulder.
“Yes, I can’t believe it though!” Saba replied with a smile, seconds before Josh picked her up, carefully.
“Common Ashley, let’s go to Rosy’s room !” Exclaimed Josh excitedly.
“Yeah, let’s go!” Rosy agreed with him hastily.
Ashley simply gave her friends a quick nod, picked her pup up and walked after them. When she entered the room, Josh and Rosy were already sitting on her bed waiting for Ashley to join them. Ashley put the long banged pup on the bed gently, then, sat next to him. She’s so gentle with me, thought the male hybrid, he was glad he had been adopted by such a kind young girl.
“Hmm, so, what should I name my pup?” Ashley inquired.
“Well I like the name Gianni….What do you think Josh?” Suggested Rosy as she gave Michigan a scratch behind his ears.
“Well I like the name Kiro.” Josh added with a smile, looking at the hybrid in the eyes, as if connecting to him.
“Hmm…Well, I really like Kiro…” Pondered Ashley as she looked at the long banged wolf/dog. After a few brief moments of silence, Ashley had made her final decision. “Yes, I think Kiro suits him perfectly !”
Kiro, thought Michigan, he liked his new name. However, he only wanted humans to call him by that name. It seemed only right to him; the same would go for Saba, he wouldn’t refer to her by her human name either.
“Ok, now it’s my pup’s turn to be named!” Josh said excitedly.
“Well, she looks like a bit of tomboy, compared to Jenna, anyway. So, Simarra sounds like a good name.” Stated Ashley.
“You’re right, she does look like a tomboy. Less delicate looking then your average female husky.” Josh agreed.
Rosy smiled and nodded in agreement. Michigan could see that his sister was glad the humans knew she wasn’t petty, by the heavy sigh of relief she had let out.
“Well, I think Simarra suits her personality best as well.” Josh looked at Saba with a bright smile.
3 years later
Three years had passed since that fateful day. Since then, Ashley was no longer an excited, seven year old girl, she had become a calmer, but still happy, ten year old girl. Her love for hybrid remained full and constant. Although, her father never even liked the long banged wolf/dog. His eyes filled with mistrust burned into the fur of Michigan. Every. Single. Day. Her father absolutely loathed Ashley’s wolf/dog for the simple reason that wolf’s blood poured through Michigan’s veins. The hybrid learned to ignore and deal with the father’s hatred, he just kept his thoughts focused on Ashley. She loved him and trusted him. That’s all he needed to know.
“Good morning, Kiro.” Ashley said, before a yawn escaped from her.
Michigan lifted his head and stretched. In response, he howled on low note, which was his way to say “Good morning”. He strolled up to the girl and placed his forepaws on her bed. The long banged hybrid licked her face vigorously.
“Hey stop that, it tickles!” Ashley laughed as she pushed her beloved pet away from her face playfully.
“C’mon boy let’s go have breakfast.” Ashley said. She pushed her blankets off herself, swung her legs out of bed and walked into the kitchen, drowsily.
Attentively, Michigan followed her. His stomach growled in demand for food. As if she had heard his stomach’s declaration, she poured some food into a bowl on the ground. Then, she went to serve herself some breakfast. The hybrid ravenously devoured every piece of food in his bowl.
“Wow, you were really hungry!” Ashley said with a warm smile as she poured some cereal in her own bowl.
Michigan trotted up to her and licked her one of her hands happily. As he was licking her hand, the wolf/dog swerved his ears backwards. He heard heavy footsteps coming toward the kitchen. Her father had awaken.
“Good morning Ashley.” Her father greeted warmly. His gaze changed drastically when he spotted Michigan. He gave him a cold. The hybrid shifted his eyes away from the man, and turned his attention back to Ashley.
“Good morning Dad...Do you always have to be so bitter to Kiro? He hasn’t done anything wrong, he has given us three years of loyalty to and nothing less.” Ashley said with a desperate look in her eyes.
“He’s unpredictable. He could lose it any second! That wolf/dog, can’t be trusted! He has wolf’s blood.” Her father protested starring at me with a harsh, hateful look in his eyes. And a flicker of fear? The hybrid shook his head; it couldn’t be fear.
“His name isn’t wolf/dog. His name is Kiro! And he can be trusted. He isn’t unpredictable and he won’t lose his mind. Kiro is one of my best friends and none of my friends would ever hurt me.” Ashley retorted stubbornly.
“You will regret having taken that wolf/dog home; I know you will.” He warned before turning around to prepare his own breakfast.
Ashley rolled her eyes at her father and looked down at the hybrid with a warm smile. She scratched his head lovingly. He closed his eyes and let out a whine of happiness. His tail wagged softly.
“I know you would never hurt me or anyone else.” Ashley whispered to the wolf/dog.
Michigan wasn’t surprised that his girl defended him. She loved him with all her heart and would never let anyone hurt him, as like he wouldn’t let anyone hurt her. The long banged wolf/dog lied down under the dinner table, waiting for Ashley to finish her breakfast. It only took her a few minutes.
“Dad can you walk Kiro to the grocery store with you? I can’t walk him today because Gramma is going to teach me how to knit!” Ashley exclaimed excitedly though, there was a hint of pleading in her voice.
“Hmm…Ok, but, I don’t like doing that. I won’t do it all the time…” Her father grumbled as he shot me a cold-hearted glance.
“Thanks Dad, maybe it may help you get along with Kiro a lil’ better! She’ll be here soon to walk me to her house, I should go get dressed.” Ashley giggled, as she left the kitchen to go to her room.
“Well let’s get this over with, come on wolf/dog.” He mumbled in a grumpy tone, as he got up to get the rope that was used as a leash.
“Bye Dad, bye Kiro.” Ashley said, rolling her eyes at her father, as she closed the door to her room.
Ashley’s father and Michigan arrived shortly at the grocery store. Perhaps it would give us a chance to get along, thought the hybrid hopefully.
“Ok wolf/dog, I’ll tie you up right here outside the store. Where I can see you...” He said, narrowing his eyes at the long banged hybrid.
Michigan lied down, and waited for Ashley’s father to return back from the store. Not too far away, the hybrid spotted two teenagers. They seemed to be coming towards the hybrid. He rose to his paws and wagged his tail, guessing they might want to say pet him. They seemed happy to see the wolf/dog. However, there was an odd, strong, scent coming from them.
“Hey look at the dog! Good morning…” One of them mumbled, his words were practically tumbling from his tongue. The young man staggered closer to me.
The wary hybrid took a step back. These boys seemed strangely clumsy and dazed.
“Lez play whack-a-mole, dog…You can be the—*hick*…Mole.” The second one rambled as he as well stepped even closer to Michigan.
Confused, the hybrid began to panic. He couldn’t even begin to comprehend what the young men wanted from him. However, he knew for sure it couldn’t be anything pleasant. Still, the hybrid remained calm and did not growl. The last thing the wolf/dog wanted was to provoke them.
One of the boys had picked up long piece wood from the snow. Michigan shifted his gaze over to the second young man, nervously. Suddenly, before, he could even dodge; the piece of wood met the wolf/dog’s shoulder. Michigan began to bark and growl at them warningly. The young men laughed and started to kick snow at him. The wood was then thrown at the long banged hybrid’s chest. They saw that the wolf/dog was tied to a post, therefore unable to attack them. Or so they thought.
The barks of the enraged hybrid began grow louder furiously. How dare they attack me without reason, thought Michigan. The wolf/dog tugged and pulled, his collar was chocking him, he was breathless, but he hardly noticed. Snap. The very thing that was holding back the sheer rage and fury of the hybrid broke. All the hell and fury of Michigan’s wolf blood broke loose. The wolf/dog flung himself onto one of the young men’s chests. The other one, ran away, what a coward, thought Michigan.
The long banged wolf/dog sank his fangs in the teenager’s shoulder. Michigan’s mind reeled at the taste of blood. Blood, he thought, blood. The young man screamed in pain, and struggled on the icy ground, then, somehow managed to tear the crazed hybrid off. That didn’t stop Michigan, he was out of his mind and thirsty for blood. He lunged for the human again. Success. The hybrid bit down on his arm this time and began to rip at the teen’s flesh. Blood was spattered on the cheeks and muzzle of the wolf/dog. It trickled down to his chest mingling itself with the canid’s own blood.
After a few moments, which seemed like forever for Michigan, he let go of the young man’s now mangled arm, and sprang at his throat. The hybrid indulged himself mercilessly in the blood of the neck of his enemy. The teenager’s body soon went limb and the struggles ceased completely. His breath was heavy and choppy, and the hybrid stepped off of the teen’s body. Michigan licked his canines clean of the blood.
Shaking, he sat down and cocked his head to the right and starred at what the destruction he had made. The wolf/dog wasn’t ashamed nor proud. His confused thoughts were interrupted abruptly. A large, familiar hand was suddenly gripping his neck firmly.
“I knew you were vicious!” It was Ashley’s father, drops of spit bulleted out of his mouth as he spoke.
Michigan’s heart turned to stone at her father’s words. He had been right the whole time. He had done something horrible, and vicious.
The father’s face was red and his icy-blue eyes blazed with fury anger. He starred at the deceased young man, though, still gripping the wolf/dog’s scruff tightly.
Michigan knew her father would never believe that hybrid had been attacked and provoked. Although, Ashley would, he just knew she would.
The furious man dragged the long banged wolf/dog home as the town’s people began to emerge outside of their homes to see what the fuss was all about. Some of them cried, some of them ran off screaming in terror and the rest starred at me in amazement, laced with anger.
One was bold enough to shout, “Hey, Mr. Shanik, you better deal with that monster of yours! Look at what he’s done!”
When the two had arrived home, Mr. Shanik didn’t bring the hybrid inside the house. He brought him to the backyard and kicked him in an old tool shed. Michigan whined to be let out, but, hoping Ashley may hear his pleas. The wolf/dog guessed that Mr. Shanik was going to fetch Ashley.
The hybrid shuddered. He could smell the blood all over himself. He began to lick himself clean of the blood. That day, Michigan had realized that truly, and honestly enjoyed the tast of blood. His desire for it still pulsed within his mind. It didn’t have to be human’s blood, but he knew he needed more. Perhaps if I sleep, my dreams will bring me more, concluded the wolf/dog. Soon enough, his mind began to give way to sleep.
Before any dreams had the chance to begin, the door of the tool shed creeked open. It awakened the hybrid, and he was immediately alert, muscles tense and bracing himself for the worst. The familiar face of a young girl peered passed the door. It was Ashley. Relaxation seeped through every inch of Michigan’s body.
“Kiro, you’re hurt! Your shoulder’s bleeding!” Shouted Ashley, sounding devastated. She fell to her knees, in shock. The hybrid crawled closer to her. Michigan tried to comfort her by resting his head on her lap. The wolf/dog whined in happiness, he was so glad and relieved to see her.
Sadly, the moment couldn’t last. “Dad told me what happened. But, I know those teenagers were drunk. Those guys always are. They hurt you, so, you defended yourself. I know you did this for a reason Kiro.” Stated the young girl, determined to believe in her beloved pet.
She paused and looked at my wounds. “I knew you would be hurt, so, I brought some bandages.” Ashley told the hybrid. She tapped the bandages on my shoulder and chest carefully.
“There you go, it should help stop the bleeding,” Ashley said as a few tears rolled down her cheeks. I licked her cheek to comfort her. The hybrid’s wounds weren’t all that serious anyway, if only he could tell her.
“But, you can’t stay here boy. Dad…Dad wants you dead…He wants to shoot you! He told me!” She sobbed. She immediately hugged me around my neck. In return, Michigan pressed himself into her hug
“Come Kiro. I know where you can go.” Ashley said, whipping away her tears, even though they kept coming. “But, first I know you want to say bye to Jenna, Simarra and Balto.” Ashley said.
The two friends searched the town for Michigan’s mother, father and sister, but only briefly and discretely. They found them all in about fifteen minutes, thankfully Simarra was with Balto at the time, so they had only mainly needed to search for Jenna. Michigan explained what happened to them on the way to where Ashley was bringing him.
“Ok Kiro, say your good byes…” Ashley said with a smile and a few tears, and backed away to give him room.
Michigan walked up to his mother and pushed his face into her neck fur, and her bandana. “Bye mom, I’ll miss you and don’t worry, I’ll be fine…” He told her softly.
Next, he turned toward Balto, his father. “Good-bye dad, I’ll be ok. After all, I am part wolf.” Michigan teased with a smirk.
So far, no one had said anything to the wolf/dog. They were all too shocked about what had happened. Then, lastly he slowly padded towards Saba, the snow crunched beneath the heavy weight of his massive paws. Saying bye to her hurt the most. The hybrid pressed his face on his sister’s cheek.
Surprisingly, he still managed to let out a whimper to her. “I will come back…I promise you. You will see me again.”
Michigan backed up slowly from his parents and sister. He turned around to face Ashley. “Ok boy, you seem like you're done...Let’s go…” Ashley sobbed, patting his head.
She led the wolf/dog far from the small town of Nome. He glanced back every so often and watched his birth town fade away behind him as the two pushed through the snow. The thought of leaving his parents and Saba just didn’t seem real to the hybrid. Still, they walked until they reached the beginning of the forest that surrounded Nome. Ashley then came to halt and turned to face Michigan.
“Ok boy, this is now our good-bye…Please just go, I can’t bear to a long good-bye!” She cried, misery cracking her voice.
The long banged wolf/dog didn’t understand what the girl was saying, but, he did understand her body movements. Ashley wanted him to leave. He licked her face, backed away and ran to the mouth of the forest. Then, stopped. Michigan starred at her with grief. She starred back at him, his grief reflected in her gaze.
The hybrid summoned his courage and did something Ashley never, nor even himself, saw him do. He howled. He howled the most in tune wolf-song he could sing. His song consisted of many things. It wasn’t just a sad melody, but, it was also happy. It was a compilation of all the time they had spent together; from when she adopted the wolf/dog, all the way up to this moment, his departure. It lasted awhile, then, came to a slow, steady stop. Even though Ashley didn’t want a long good-bye, she stayed to listen to his song their song.
She didn’t understand it, but seemed to enjoy the lovely song anyway. She whispered, and it was carried off in the wind, like her long brown hair, “Good-bye, Kiro.”
Michigan stood in the icy snow, until Ashley was out of sight. The only thing the hybrid wanted to do was run home, but, sadly he couldn’t, at least not yet. So, he made his way into the forest, alone, lost and heart broken…