“Mush! Mush!” yelled the musher. It was going to be a close race between the two. The darkish brown and crème muscular dog was running at full speed. He saw the town of Nome and knew he was almost there. “Marty! We’re not gonna make it!” screamed the dog behind Matt. “We ARE going to make it, Mickey! Just keep running!” yelled Marty. Marty squeaked just a tiny more power in his speed. He was really tired but he did not want to loose against his most hated enemy of all time: Tiger. He looked more like a panther than a tiger but his looked so devilish and tigerish they named him that. Neck to neck less than a mile away from Nome, because of this, Matt was so tensed up he didn’t even feel his tiredness.

“Matt you’re goin’ to fast!” cried Dawn. Marty didn’t care. He would just have to pull them the whole way. He ran and ran but he was still tied with Tiger. BOOM!!! He knew the gun was shot. Half a mile left Marty thought. The road was narrowing enough to put the teams next to each other and Marty didn’t like that one tiny bit. “We meet once again Marty Warty.” said Tiger with a smirk. Marty snarled at Tiger then turned his focus back on the town of Nome. “Your not gonna win this time Marty, I’m just gonna take the glory right out of your paws!” cackled Tiger. “I don’t race for the glory Tiger! I race for fun unlike you!” Marty growled.          

They entered the town stilled tied. Marty’s legs felt like they were running uncontrollably. Marty closed his eyes and breathed heavily. He used up all the rest of the energy he had left pushed and focused only on the finish line. He crossed it and ran a bit farther so half the team wasn’t stuck behind the finish line. He heard happy shouts and yells and a few harsh jeers which worried Marty a little. He lifted his head with his exhausted neck to see the commotion. His mouth dropped. He’d won. He, Marty, had won the race he had always dreamed of winning. He managed to put a small smile on but then it quickly and turned to his man. He had this enormous smile face and was caring something very odd.

He pulled the harnesses off of Marty’s sweat soaked body and placed the odd thing around Marty’s neck. It glittered and shined like nothing else. Marty suddenly realized what he was wearing. The golden collar. He never really cared if he got the beautiful collar, but he still wore it with pride. His whole team was unharnessed and immediately ran to Marty and jumped around him. “You were awesome Marty!” “We were with ya the whole time!” “You beat Tiger!” is all Marty could make out from all the comments he was given. “Let’s give a big congratulation to John’s sled team!” shouted the announcer. “And congratulation to Marty, Mickey, Dawn, Nuke, Red,

Bingo, and last but not least Binky!” Loud happy shouts were yelled and all the sled dogs went to the boiler room.        

“Wow, I’m soooooo exhausted,” slumped Red “but that was soooooo worth it.” “Your Dreams have finally come true, Marty!” exclaimed Dawn with sweet voice. Marty fell to the ground in complete exhaustion and heard a large CLUNK from his collar. “Yaaa, we did” Marty said with little breath. “Oh and Red, PALease stop saying things that end with ‘o’ like this: SOOOOOOO!” Red gave Marty a hard frown. “I can say WHATEVER I want tooooo say.” Red gave Marty a smart-alec grin.  Every one of the sled dogs ears twitched in the direction of loud snoring. Binky was sleeping quite heavily from being exhausted from the race. “It’s to silent.” whispered Bingo with a smile. Everyone started laughing. Bingo was so-called a sled clown.

Bingo was three different colors. Bright, bright red with bright, bright yellow with a bright brown stripe from his nose to his ears, he looked like a clown so he didn’t even have to make a funny comment. Well, Red was, very red hence he was named Red. He had a small bit of grayish white with mostly red. Dawn was mostly a creamy brownish color all over her body. Mickey had a black “stripe” from his nose, covering his eyes, down his back, to the end his tail. He was built frail, but was quite fast. Nuke, well, no one really knew what color Nuke was. He was kind of a bluish, grayish, pinkish color. Binky was built for definitely for pulling weight. He was all orange; it was dark orange that really fit him.

“Marty! Bingo! Red! Binky...” yelled their musher. Binky woke up with a start, hearing his name. “Wha… Wha… Wha is goin’ on?” He blurted out. “Time to go home guys!” yelled the musher. “C’mon guys time for restin’” said Marty with weariness. They walked silently all the way home. “Storm’s gonna come in, better stay warm.” said the musher to his dogs. The dogs were in their small but cozy cabin. Then every one heard snoring. It was definitely Binky. One at a time they all went to sleep.

3:00 A.M. ~

            BOOM…CRASH…CRUNCH!!!!! Loud noises were going on just right outside the cabin’s doors. I’ll go check it out Marty thought. He pushed the weak door just enough to squeeze out. Nothing. Nothing was outside the door. A very heavy wind shoved Marty against the door with a thud. But at the same time the wind carried an incredibly odd. It smells…wild…but how? Marty thought again. He thought he just might make a small adventure to follow the scent. He pushed hard against the strong wind. Because of the wind, he was going in all directions, zigzagging everywhere to try to keep track of the wild scent. Marty stopped to see the biggest paw print in his life. He realized what he was trying to follow, a wolf. He had heard rude rumors and stories about them. “Such, vicious, blood thirsty, stinky, cruel, creatures they are.” everyone said (town dogs).

The wind slowed down, or at least he thought it did when He looked up to a still statue of snow that howled. Marty wanted to run away but he was stuck there with a gaze. It’s a wolf Marty, run, Run, RUN! RUN MARTY RUN!!!! Marty lifted up his muscular but heavy body and started running. His eyes were blinded by the snow, for everything was white, suddenly everything was black.

3 Hours Later~        

“Hmmm…where am I? Wha is goin’ on? Man, I just had terrible dream, this, this white wolf was starin’ at me and, oh man.” Marty mumbled. “Really…” said unknown voice “are you sure it was a dream?” Marty was confused; He turned his head to see that the SAME EXCACT WHITE WOLF was laying down right next to him. His mouth dropped, how this wolf, A WOLF, be lying down next to him. “I want to tell you the rest of what happened.” said the wolf. “Are you sure you’re not going to eat me? And what were you doing around my home?” he asked. “Wait…I need to know your name first.” Marty shuddered. “You certainly ask a whole lot of questions Marty.” she said. How on earth did she know my name? He asked himself. She was calm, strong, and white all over. He decided to wait and see what she had to say. “Why should I tell you my name?” the she-wolf said. “Well… you know my name… somehow and well…Why should I listen to some one telling me a story when I don’t know their name?” Marty said.

The wolf rolled her eyes. “All right, my name is Aniu.” Aniu said calmly. He sighed “Now tell your story. He just noticed she was actually a friendly wolf; it felt weird to him, but he didn’t know why. He kind of liked it being out of his house, thinking of being outside, where was he right now! “Where am I?!?!?!?” Marty blurted out. He stood up so fast he hurt every muscle in his body and fell back down with a bang. “Well we are in, or on my home and what is that very shiny thing around your neck?” asked Aniu. “That would be my collar I, won.” breathed Marty. “Aren’t you supposed to be with a… a… a… group type thingy magigy?” Marty said quietly. “Um… a, pack? Is that what you are talking about?” said Aniu. “Um, ya I think so I don’t really know anything about wolves so you are gonna have to teach me some stuff.” he said with a smile. Aniu giggled. “You have a good sense of humor,” her smile faded “unlike my father, he was a cruel leader.” she sighed. She laid there with a mean and strong look on her face. “What happened? You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want too.” said Marty with concern. He liked this wolf, he realized that not all wolves are evil, and Aniu was really nice, and quite to Marty surprised. “I tell you. My pack had gone without food for 5 days and I knew why. My father was trying to starve the pack for food. It was a absolutely pathetic reason too.” She breathed heavily in anger, “He had found a small amount of food and ate some for him and me so we didn’t go hungry. He lied to me and said the rest of the pack is getting food too. When he actually left me alone for a couple minutes, I asked my friend if she was hungry and she said, ‘Hungry! Hungry! What do you mean by hungry! We’re all starving to death! How could you not see!’ and I told my father what she said and he bit me,” she said quietly. “He bit me because I asked my friend that and I was being courteous. He was a selfish, uncaring wolf he was, so that night I slipped out of the den and ran away. I ran far away so I could never be found by any of them.” she said heavily. “How long have you been away Aniu?” Marty asked. “I’ve been away for countless moons.” she replied. “Uh…. moons?” Marty asked. He had no idea what moons meant. “I’m guessing, it means days in your language.” she smiled. “Wow we are really off topic. So Aniu would you mind telling me another story about when I was trying to run away from you?” Marty said. “Oh alright,” she stood up. “When you ran away from me you ran straight into the woods, I followed you in the woods and I saw you lying next to a tree. My guess was that you ran into the tree and got knocked out. I pulled you onto my back and carried you all the way here onto my boat home. Then you finally woke up.” Aniu chuckled. Marty stood up slowly trying to find the exit off the boat. “Well, thanks for not eating me. But I better go now my friends are probably waiting for me.” He said. When he was about to get off the boat he found it hard to leave her. “Are you going to be safe here alone?” He asked her. “I believe so.” she replied. She looked sad to see him go. Even Marty found it hard to leave a wolf. “Oh by the way how did you know my name and what was that you were doing around my home?” He asked her. “I was listening to your conversation with your friends. Then waited till you guys fell a sleep so I could find food around your home.” she said. He was finally satisfied that his one question was answered.  He thought that most dogs would insult her and run or fight if they found her. But he still had to go home. “Aniu I have to go home but will do you that I visit every so often.” He really wanted to know. There was a slight pause. “Sure Marty why not, it would be nice if you could.” she smiled. He excitedly left the boat and trotted home. He felt better that at least he could still see her. “MARTY!” yelled Nuke. He pounced on Marty, hurting all the sore muscles in his body. “Where were you Marty? We were looking all over for you!” Nuke cried. “I was just taking a walk around town! Please don’t freak!!” Marty lied. He didn’t want his friends to know that he was good a friends with wolf that might have saved his life from the freezing. “Sorry Marty I was just afraid you know. It’s just dawn and you don’t if wolves are wondering around.” Nuke said. Marty frowned. There wasn’t a whole lot to change Nuke’s mind about wolves. “Hey Marty, you had us all worried.” Dawn mentioned. “Ya, Marty, You even had the boss worried.” Binky said. All of his friends gathered around him asking him questions. He never replied though. “You guys are too worried about me! You guys were never like this! Why now!” Marty blurted. He was angry. But how was not easy for them to see that. Dawn stepped up towards Marty. “Marty we were worried about you so much was because of two reasons. Tiger was just sold to a couple a shooters. The people don’t know it, but all the dogs do. And the shooter is looking for wolves. And because your so big and strong like a wolf, they might mistake you for one.” she said. She was extremely concerned about Marty wellbeing.              

            The next VERY EARLY morning he went to see Aniu. “Hi Marty!” Aniu pounced happily towards Marty. “Hi Aniu.” said Marty. BANG!!!!!!!! Aniu’s and Marty’s head whirled around in the direction the sound came from. “Over here Dave! We got one! That’s a big load of fur!” said a voice way back in the distance were the sound came from. “Aniu run!!!!” cried Marty. “Marty what’s the problem?” asked Aniu. “Aniu run!! It’s the shooters!!!!!!! GO RUN NOW!!!” He yelled. A large black blur of enormous amount of wait jumped on him. Aniu ran away just in time and her white coat perfectly blended her in with the snow so she couldn’t be seen. “Oh hello there farty. I’ve been waitn’ for this moment for a long time, and I’m not so sure about you but, I’m glad it came true.” He chuckled. Tiger’s owners were far back and so were the guns’ which was good. Tiger did not expect something to come out of Marty. Marty had pushed himself up into Tiger’s chest blowing Tiger way off balance. Then Marty stood over Tiger and bit at his head. Tiger howled in pain he never expected. The same sized dogs rolled and bit at each other until Marty slipped. Marty lied on his side staring up at Tiger. Tiger was aiming for Marty’s neck and Marty shut his eyes. He felt no pain and thought he was dead. But he heard other growling of Tiger in the background. He opened his eyes to see Aniu had just saved his life. He stared at the fight opened eyed and mouth. She got a hold of his ear and tore it. Tiger screamed. Aniu growled loudly and stared to run after Tiger He ran like crazy in the other directions. Aniu came towards Marty. “Come on Marty run! Follow me!” she yelled. Marty followed running after her in the snow. She blended so well with snow that he found it hard for him to see her.  They ran far away from Nome, and he wasn’t sure if he would ever return home. They slowed down to a stop and both breathed heavily. “Where are we Aniu?” He wondered. “I don’t know Marty, but let’s lie here until morning.” she said. Aniu lied down in the snow and shivered. He knew he wasn’t a whole lot of warmth but he could try. He lied right next to her warm and furry body. She looked at him with a weary smile. He had a feeling that Tiger was going to the town dogs how he had tried to save Marty but Marty got blinded by the snow and fell of a cliff or something. He would obviously deal with it later. He soon fell asleep next to Aniu.

Around 9:00 in the morning~~

                  Marty slowly woke up hearing “oomph” in the distance. He turned his head in the direction of trees. Nope, he thought, nothing there. He got up and nudged Aniu. “Aniu, Aniu wake up.” he said softly. “What Marty what’s wrong?” she said quietly. “Well, I need a tour guide through this area and well, you’re my only tour guide he said smiling. She smiled back at him and got up. She then froze with a hard face. She looked behind Marty into the area of trees. “Come on Marty. I know a place that has shelter and is safe.” she sounded confident in her and walked away from the trees. He looked back at them. He had figured out that something in there was watching us. He a quite growl in that area and spun around. Something had pounced on him. “Marty!!!!” Aniu cried loudly. “Just…*choke*… run.” Marty gasped for breath. Something was choking him, and then he was free and breathing air. Suddenly, pain covered his head as something was pinching his neck blacked out.

(Now through Aniu’s eyes.) ~

            She saw everything, frozen struck. Marty was attacked by the same dog she fought yesterday. His owner grabbed the back of Marty’s neck and pinched the back of it. And now, he wasn’t moving, his eyes were closed, lying there limply. Tiger looked at Aniu, just realizing his second worst enemy was standing right before him. Tiger growled and stepped forward. “Shut up you mangy mutt.” said the owner. He obviously cou8ldn’t see Aniu and wasn’t happy with Tiger from the previous days. She couldn’t think straight and for some reason she started running in the opposite direction, towards the boat. She just kept running, never stopping until she reached her destination.

            She collapsed on the boat deck breathing hard. She felt heavy and sick. She fell asleep quickly.

Three days later-

She woke up with a groan. She felt even heavier then before. She got up slowly and walked over to the shore off the boat. She caught a fish and started eating it. By the second bite she felt sick to her stomach. She went towards the boat, leaving the fish behind.  What is wrong with me? She wondered. Once again she fell into a peaceful sleep.  Months went on by without Marty by her side. Everything was the boring same ole same ole. She felt a huge pain in stomach and her legs. It started to hurt worse. She cried a little for Marty and suddenly the pain died down. She heard a whimper. She lifted her head and looked behind her. There were three little balls of fur cuddled together. She smiled. One was a dark cream with white; the other looked just like Marty except lighter and slightly different Facial markings. The third had white paws and a gray tone color all over its body. She was proud of each one of them. She got up and cuddled around them. She wished Marty could see how beautiful they were. They were to her.

3 weeks later-

The gray one with white paws was named Luka. The one that looked like Marty was Balto. And the dark cream with white was Nia. The most energetic was Balto, the trouble maker was Luka, and Nia was the quite one. When Luka was out and Balto, Nia and Aniu were at home until they heard a gun shot. “No!” Aniu jumped up “Stay here. I will be back.” Aniu yelled. “Wait, mom!” Balto cried. But it was too late; Aniu had already jumped off the boat running. (Aniu) Aniu searched all over for Luka but couldn’t find her. “Mom!” screamed a familiar voice. Luka was running towards Aniu panting hard. “Mom I’m scared. Something was chasing me and at first I thought it was Balto it was too big.” then Luka started to sob. Something jumped from behind a tree towards Aniu. Aniu lifted her big paw and swiped the face of the creature. It tumbled and got up. It snarled and growled, then stopped. It’s faced relaxed and stared at Aniu. “A-Aniu?” it said. “Step into the light.’ Aniu said strongly. It stepped into the light. “Marty?” she said. “Aniu.” Marty smiled. “No mother!” Balto screamed. Nia and Balto came running and growling towards their mother. They started growling at Marty. “Children, its O.K. It’s is just your father.” said Aniu. They stopped growling and walked toward him. “Wow Balto, he does look like you.” said Nia. “Ya he does.” Balto had always wanted to see his dad. His mother always talked about him. “Aniu, they are beautiful.” said Marty. “I knew you would say something like that.” Aniu smiled at him. Marty gasped. “Children run,” said Marty staring of behind Aniu. “But dad, we just met.” said Luka. “I’m your dad know do as I say, run.” Something growled. “Run!” Marty screamed and leaped behind Aniu,

Balto-

            “Come on!” Balto yelled. He was running towards the boat. “I wanna fight!” said Nia and Luka. “But we can’t! We aren’t big enough yet!” said Balto. There was no reply. Balto didn’t bother looking back and kept running. H reached the boat and turned around. No one was there. Not mother, not father, no sisters, no one. He waited. No one came. Luka and Nia must have gone back and tried to fight, but his parents he wasn’t sure of. He fell asleep, hoping some one would return. Hoping, waiting.