Dawson - (c)CarribbeanLady
Dingo - (c)Universal
Saba - (c)Universal
Willow - (c)CarribbeanLady
Kodi - (c)Universal
Balto - (c)Universal
Jenna - (c)Universal
Boris - (c)Universal
Stella - (c)Universal
Harold - (c)CarribbeanLady
Big Ed - (c)CarribbeanLady
It was a beautiful winters day in the town of Nome. Children running and playing, adults chatting happily as the light wind swept elegantly down the street. At the end of the short snow filled road was a small but tall house. It creaked in the wind yet it looked so homely and warm that you could just jump through the windows and cuddle up by the fire. The porch was filled to the windows with the whitest of snow but the door was a clear path to the crunched road below.
"Dawson!"
From the very top window came a red faced husky. His yellow eyes gleamed in the sudden sunlight as his dark auburn pupils watched below him. What had called him was another red husky, although she was much older than him. She wagged her curly tail and scratched at her red bandana before continuing. "Oh goodness," she breathed up to him. "I was scared I'd have missed you and the team."
The red husky from the window disapeared from the window and was seconds later beside the other red husky. They nuzzled lightly before the boy husky talked in a deep voice. "Don't worry Mother," he said, chuckling slightly. "I wouldn't leave without saying goodbye to you and Dad. I'll only be gone for a day or two anyway!"
"Oh, but I just can't bare to see you out in the freezing cold," his mother said nuzzling him once again.
"Come on Jenna," another voice was heard as the mother and son turned to see a brown furred, big pawed wolf-like husky step forward. "Dawson's been on many trips before. Why shouldn't he come back this time? Besides, he's got his fathers genes in him." The family chuckled as the brown hybrid walked up to Jenna and nuzzled her deeply. Dawson watched with a frown and a stuck out tounge.
"Ugh! Mom! Dad!" he yelled out stepping back slightly. "Keep that mushy stuff away from me." His parents chuckled as he shook his head. "Anyway mom, its only a race for a few days. I'll be back before you know it. You told everyone that, right?"
"Well if I didn't then you did," she said smiling lightly.
"Dawson!" a voice called as the family looked over towards the young musher. He bent over and slapped his hands on his knees. "C'mere boy!"
Dawson looked over at his parents before dashing off towards his partner, Harold. Sliding in the snow the hybrid came to a tumbling hault beside his master as they exchanged loving embraces. With a few pats and entergetic licks on the cheek the two finally settled down enough so Harold could get to his feet.
"Alright boy, alright!" he cooed rubbing his hand ruffly under Dawsons chin. "Lets go get set up shall we then?"
Nodding quickly Dawson followed his partner towards the start of the race. He hoped his parents would get there in time although it was hard to be known as "The Balto's Son". He really didn't like this title, even though it is the biggest reason why Dawson got on the team. Like father, like son they always say. He loved his father deeply but he just wanted to proove himself and get out from under Balto's shadow.
The crowds were enormous, seemed like the whole town had showed up. Dawson was quick to glance around for his parents only to spot them playing with his mothers owner, Rosie. Unlocking his gaze from this fun her centered it back on the parting crowd which was moving to let he and Harold through. At the end of the parted path was a sled with a few dogs already attached and waiting for their lead to take his place.
"Hey D. Dumbo!"
"Shut up sissy!"
"Why should I? He doesn't deserve my attention!"
Her name was Robin, a golden retriever and she was quite new to the team. Her owners used to own a labrador named Chunk who was put down after being hit in both eyes by a rival dog and becoming blind. It was quite a blow to the team since he was a valued member. Soon after his death the dog beside him moved out of town so two dogs were missing from the team. Harold swore off racing but not before Robin and her twin sister Steph showed up and soon took the missing dogs spot. It was evident Steph had a little crush on Dawson since she gave a cheesy smile everytime he looked at her. Robin, on the other hand, gave no intrest in Dawson whatsoever. She, in fact, spit at his paws when he asked her if she'd like to have a walk with him.
Dawson looked over at the two sisters as Steph gave him a grin. "Honest, Dawn. She don't mean it!" Robin glared at her sister before returning a hate filled stare at Dawson. He just snuffed loudly and turned to follow Harold to the front of the team.
He stood quite still as Harold tied him up at lead, the other mushers doing the same to their dogs. The crowd was too busy chatting to notice one of the other mushers walk over to Harold.
His name was Edward but most men called him "Big Ed" for good reason. He was gigantic and hulking with streath. His long, bushy red beard muffled most of the words coming out of his mouth although he'd shout most of the time. His dogs were no different then he was, cheaters. The only reason they won was because of those snapping mongrels. Ed ruffly slapped his hand on Harold's shoulder before chuckling deeply. "Got yer self a winner thar' Harold?" he laughed shaking his head. "Jus' like his papa I assume?"
"Why would you want to know?" Harold asked getting up and facing the other musher in the eyes. Dawson growled low in his throat as he stood by Harolds side. "Heh heh," Ed chuckled again looking down at Dawson. "He ain't got 'em yellow eyes from jus' no one." Ed looked back up at Harold, a more serious face. "I be willin' to make a bet with ye' thar Harry."
"The names Harold," he snapped back as Dawson looked on with serious worry. Harold was not one to back down from a challenge which got him caught up in betting. He had already lost many of his dogs and Dawson was worried he'd loose others. "What kinda bet?"
"Well, its pretty simple," Ed said grinning a wide yellow smile. "I'll make ye' a bet that if you win then you can choose anythin' of mine ye' want. But, I win, I get yer lead thar." Dawson blinked quickly as they both looked down at him.
Harold wouldn't bet Dawson. They were partners. They were best friends. They were... "Deal." The agreement was finished as they shook hands and went their seperate ways. Dawson looked around in confusion of what had just happened.
"Dawn!"
He looked back up to see his brother and sisters; Saba, Willow, and Kodi walking towards him. "Oh," he said sighing. "Hey guys."
"Whats up Dawn?" Kodi asked sitting beside his older brother. "You ain't sick are yah?"
"Naw," Dawson answered. "I've just been included in a bet between Harold and Ed."
"What kinda bet?" Willow asked with a short tilt of the head.
"If Ed wins...he keeps me."
"What?!" they all gasped. "Harold wouldn't do that!"
"Oh, but he did," he said sadly. Willow looked up and over to Ed who was quickly yelling at his dogs. "You want me to go over there and rip him apart?" she asked, her fur raising and her teeth coming out from hiding behind her lips.
"No," Dawson sighed. "I don't wanna start a scene." He watched his paws as the siblings fell into silence. He raised his head again asking, "Hey? Wheres Dingo?"
"Last time I saw that runt was yesterday whining about you leaving," Saba said licking her paw daintily. Willow snarled and whipped her head over to her sister.
"I knew it!" she barked loudly so Saba stopped in mid lick to stare at her. "You selfish cow! He's our brother for goodness sake! You don't give a rats ass for any of us! You prissy little..."
"Hey!" barked Balto as he and Jenna came running over. They're father stepped between the two girls, now muzzle to muzzle with Willow. "What is wrong with you this week? Attacking other dogs, shouting at you're sister. Calm down!" Willow stared straight into his eyes, breathing heavily with her brows furrowed.
"Fine," Willow said before turning, giving her sister and dirty look, nodding towards Dawson for good luck and strutting off, her nose in the air. Balto sighed as they all watched her go. "What was that abou...?" Balto began to ask but was interupted by the warning bell. Jenna licked Dawson cheek for luck and the family ran off the track. He grinned and turned his eyes forward to the rising mountains in the distance.
It was a clear day. The clouds were parting to let the sun shine its warm rays on to his fur which he welcomed with a wag of his tail. The mountains looked like a painted picture against the bright blue sky. The snow crunched beneath his paws as he lifted them up and down, getting ready to run.
His auburn and yellow eyes drifted up to the starter man. He raised his arm as Dawson put his head down to the ground. It was in slow motion as the bullet was released from the gun, making the exciting noise of the start. He pulled with all his might as the sled began to move. This was the life! This was what he loved! The wind flying through every piece of fur on his body as the wet snow lapped against his paws. It was quite slippy at the beginning but he caught his balance and they were off, first out as the crowd cheered loudly.
As soon as all the teams were out of the town the dogs began to bark, Dawson the most. "Left! No NO! Right! Stop pulling! You two! STOP FIGHTING!" The two wheel dogs who had been barking at each other about who was kicking who stopped and ran in silence. Dawson looked back to the front just as the lead dog of Ed's team cut in front of him. In surprise he skidded to a hault, the rest of the team running straight into him. The sled flipped over as Harold landed a few feet away from the pile of dogs, Dawson on the bottom. The lauging of Big Ed could be heard as they dissapeared into the forest.
Harold threw his hat away in anger as Dawson pulled himself out from under the pile of dogs. He frowned and slipped out from his harness and slowly walked towards his partner, his tail between his legs and his ears low. He whined as Harold punched at the snow, sending the wet stuff everywhere. He looked up to see Dawsons large eyes looking at him. "Go away!" he yelled throwing snow at the dog who slipped up and whined again running away with his tail even more tucked between his legs.
They sat there, still in sight of Nome, for some time before Harold got up again and walked over to them. He didn't say anything as he fixed the dogs back into formation. Dawson watched him with large eyes as he fixed his harness. Soon they were off again although in last place.
As they ran there was no barking. No huffing or puffing. No whining or crying. No fighting or spitting. Just silence along the sled as she flew across the snowy landscape. This was very akward for Dawson. He didn't want to bark commands in such silence. But he had to bare it. That is, until they came to the mountains.
It was dangerous for any dog, let alone team of dogs. The rocky cliffs were wet with snow and slippy for any wrong steps. But this was the only way to catch up to the others and it seemed Harold was going to take the risk. Carefully Dawson crept past a few fallen rocks and up the mountain side. Had it gotten colder or was that a shiver of fear that ran up the hybrids back? He had heard how his father, Kodi and the mail team made it past here, why couldn't they?
"Hey D. Dumbo!" He turned his head as the snow began to pelt at his face. He squinted down the line at Robin. "Are we movin' or what?!"
"Well, yeah! If you shut up for a moment!" he screamed back and looked forwards again. "Come on!" He pulled so the harness cut into his skin and the snow fell heavier.
Well, maybe it was because one of the dogs cut his paw or maybe he even fell on a rock. But, whatever it was it made him howl like no other. Dawson looked back to try and give the dog an why-did-you-do-that face but it instead was a face full of fear. Behind the team was the largest bear he himself had ever seen. Its boulder sized paws were up in the air so that it blocked the sun with its gigantic body. The roar of anger shook the whole team as they finally noticed the bear. Whining and barking was heard as they tried to run forwards but Dawson was stuck in some sort of trance. His large yellow eyes were drilling into the bear's black ones.
Finally the bear swatted its paw at the sled and it over turned with Harold flying into the snow. Robin barked franticlly as she pulled herself out from her harness and towards the bear that had cornered her master. Growling and snarling she bit deep into the bears skin, coming out with chunks of black fur in her mouth. The rest of the team cheered her on or barked loudly to try and get Dawsons attention. Suddenly Robin was shaken off and she flew into the sky and over the edge of the moutain, her cries of help echoing in the dry air.
Dawsons eyes blinked once and his heart beat raced as he jumped out his harness and to the edge of the cliff only to catch Robin's paw in his mouth. "OW!" she screamed as his teeth drove into her delicate paw. "Watch it SNAPPERS!" But the relief could be seen in her green eyes as he pulled her up and back on to solid ground. He then turned and raced towards the bear, jumping on its back and pulling on its ears. The snarling could be heard as it bucked and kicked, trying desperatly to knock the raging dog off him. But thats what Dawson was like, a wolf.
At last, the bear's back paws slipped on the wet snow and went flying down the moutain. Dawson, who had been thrown off just in time, watched it go as the rest of the team sighed in relief. The wheel dogs had been tending to Harold as the fight was on. The hybrid was breathing deaply as he watched the black figure lie on the snowy ground below. He looked back at the team, his eyes looking like fire so the team backed up with frightned glances at one another. Robin had pulled her harness back on as she looked the other way, he paw in the air.
Dawson looked sideways to see Harold had been helped back up again and he was waiting for the dogs to pull their harnesses back on. Dawson took his spot up front and jumped forwards, the others following.
It seemed like forever until they retruned to have Nome in sight. "I see it! I see it!" Steph giggled loudly as everyone else barked happily. Home was in paws reach! They'd made it! They were going to win!
The dogs reached the towns big 'Welcome Home' sign as everyone cheered loudly. Dawson felt so excited as they pulled up outside the mail office, the finish point. The first question Harold asked the mail officer was, "Did we win?!" The officer frowned and looked at the snow as he shook his head. "Ah, I'm afraid not Harold," he said.
The dogs blinked and looked in awe as Dawson's eyes filled with water. He was going to live with Ed now... "Micheal Hensworth won," he said as the dogs whipped their heads up again. Dawson didn't have to go! Ed didn't come in first! The bet couldn't go through! The dogs barked happily as Harold cheered loudly, some of the people confused of why he was doing this. He ran up and unclipped all his dogs as they ran to their families to celebrate, Robin limping with her sister.
Dawson was last as Harold rubbed his fur ruffly and smiled. "I'm sorry buddy," he said as he patted him. "I shouldn't have betted you." Dawson whined and put his paw on Harold's arm. They grinned at each other before his harness was pulled off. Dawson looked around for the signs of jumping brothers and sisters, a barking mother and a proud father but they weren't there. The people had cleared away and no one had come to see him. His eyes rested on the ship run a shore, his fathers boat.
He soon reached the boat after running in the wet snow. His large paws climbed the board to the deck to find Boris the goose wiping the floor with a bucket and mop, Stella sitting on a bucket looking very depressed. The two looked up as Dawson came over to them with a smile. "We got second place!" he barked happily. Suddenly his mother came running out from the front of the boat only to stop and burst into tears. Balto jumped from around the corner also and tenderly nuzzled Jenna. "Whats going on?" Dawson asked looking from goose to wolf.
"It's you're brother, Dingo," Balto said as Jenna sobbed on. "He's missing."