Two Side’s to Every Story
By Highland Wolf
Balto and all the characters
are © Universal Studios
Kari, Shadow, Sasha and Jess are characters belonging to Highland Wolf, ONLY!
Do not use without permission!
Chapter 1 The Dog Show
Kodi and Kari gazed up at Balto as he told them the story of how he saved Nome. They were listening closely to his every word. They had longed to hear it, and Balto had finally agreed to tell them the whole story.
“So when I arrived back, I was just in time…” Balto said, beginning to end his story. Jenna was sitting next to him. They were in Jenna’s living room and the fire was burning bright, crackling and snapping. “And all the children of Nome, including my girl, were saved because of your dad,” Jenna said after him, and then smiled at Balto, who was looking a little embarrassed. “Wow, dad! What a cool story!” Kodi said.
“Yea!” Kari said, “One thing though, what happened to Steele after you brought the medicine back?” Jenna couldn’t help but laugh a little. She hated Steele more than anyone and was glad what had happened to him.
“Steele? Well, he left town. The musher’s found him no good anymore. He had ‘lost his edge’ as they said. Steele left Nome to go live in Anchorage. Not sure what happened to him after that. Probably became somebody’s pet,” Balto told them, and couldn’t help laugh a little himself. Kodi and Kari laughed too.
“That showed him, eh?” Kodi laughed.
Balto looked out the window, and saw the sun rising up. It was early morning; Kodi and Kari had woken them up extremely early, just to hear the story before they had to start work.
“You better go, you two. Kodi your gonna be late for the mail run,” Balto said to them. Kodi nodded then stood up, along with Kari after him.
“Have a good day you two! And good luck, Kari!” Jenna called as she walked over to the door.
“Thanks mom!” Kari shouted back.
“Don’t worry, we won’t be a second late to come and see you win the grand prize!” Balto called over too her. Kari blushed, then walked out the door with Kodi. Jenna laughed then snuggled up to Balto. Balto smiled down at her.
“Good luck, Kari! It’s too bad I won’t be able to see you today,” Kodi said as they walked through the snow in the centre of Nome.
“That’s ok, Kodi. I understand,” Kari smiled at him.
“Anyway, I better go over to the team. It’s nearly time to set off. See you later Kari!” Kodi said, then ran over to the post office. The team greeted him, as he got strapped up. “Your late today, Kodi!” Kirby said a little annoyed,
“We’ve been waiting for you!”
“Hey, cut him some slack will ya guys! He’s the best one on the team!” Dusty said to Kirby and Ralph. Kodi smiled at her, and Dusty looked at him and smiled back. The musher called and the team were off at full speed with the mail.
Kari walked along the streets. She saw Jess, one of her best friends, trotted over to her, and Sasha from the other side. Jess was the daughter of Dixie, one of her mom’s friends, and Sasha just moved to Nome a couple of years ago. Neither were huskies, but they were both show dogs and have been friends with Kari ever since she joined the Show Dog Club of Nome.
“Hey, Kari! Excited about the big day, are we?” Sasha said.
“Well, yea! I guess I am! Nervous too…” Kari answered back.
Jess laughed, “That’s normal, sweetie! All starter show dogs get that on their first competition! Soon you will be fearless, like me!” Sasha laughed at her,
“You?! You can’t go up on stage without your knee’s knocking, please! Don’t tell me your fearless because that is so not true!” Jess gave Sasha and angry look and was about to burst out in rage, but Kari began to speak before she could say anything.
“But, girls, I’m really nervous! There are dogs all the way from Anchorage in this competition, how can I compete against such champions?”
“Don’t worry so much Kari! It will show up on stage and you do not want that, let me tell you. A nervous dog, is not a beautiful dog,”
"Yea, just do your best, sweetie! They are gonna love you!” Jess added in.
“Really? Do you think they will?” Kari said, feeling a little better.
“Oh, yea! Of course! Believe me, Kari. Have I been around champions, or have been around champions? And I know! That you can make it,”
Kari smiled and felt a little better. They walked into the dog salon and the bell above the door rang out. Kari trotted in, holding her head high, trying to make a good impression on the people. She was taken over to a bath and placed in. Kari was drenched with icy cold water, but was able to keep a straight face. Shampoo was rubbed into her fur and washed out with water. The same happed to Jess and Sasha. They were put in tubs right next to her.
“I wish they didn’t have to have the water soooo cold!” Kari shivered. She has had baths for months now, but never really said what she thought of them. It was her nerves that were acting up on her.
“You’ll get used to it, sweetie,” Jess said. She was managing to still look smart when she was getting water plunged over her head. Unlike Kari, who couldn’t look more unhappy. She usually didn’t mind the cold water. She was just so anxious.
“Hey, looks like we got here early today, eh Kodi?” Dusty panted once they had reached White Mountain. “Yea! We’re getting better…” Kodi said, “And faster!”
“Yea well, I’ve been working really hard lately,” Kirby said.
“No you haven’t!” Ralph laughed mockingly, “You’re the one slowing us down!”
“You can talk can’t you, Ralph!” Kirby barked angrily. Dusty and Kodi rolled their eyes. “I can see another argument coming on,” Kodi sighed and Dusty laughed. But they didn’t have long to argue. The musher got back with a new bag of mail, placed it onto the sled then shouted to the team. Kodi barked, then set off along with the rest of the team, at full speed out of White Mountain.
“We will have to get home even quicker, now!” Kodi laughed. Dusty laughed too. They ran through deep snow howling. Kodi suddenly felt a tug from behind him and he tripped over backwards unexpectedly. Kirby was yanked back as well and the whole team fell in a muddle.
“Ralph!” Dusty shouted angrily.
“Sorry, Dusty,” Ralph said. Ralph had accidentally knocked into Dusty and with his weight and strength, forced her to fall to the ground.
“Dusty! Are you alright?” Kodi asked as he helped her get back onto her feet.
“Yea,” She said then looked at Ralph crossly and said in a sarcastic-angry way, “I’m fine!” Kirby looked at Ralph and began to shout at him, starting another argument. “You guys! Come’on! This is no time to argue!” Kodi shouted over their voices.
“Yea, what is it with you too lately?” Dusty asked, “You’ve been arguing so much!”
Kodi looked back at Dusty, “You sure, your alright?”
“No, really. I’m fine, Kodi,” Dusty smiled at him, “Let’s get moving shall we!”
Kodi barked with excitement and the team straightened out and set off again, back on their way to Nome.
Jenna and Balto walked towards the dog salon. They decided to wish Kari good luck before she went out on stage. The bell on the top of the door case rang as they pushed in open. Kari looked over at them, and her face lit up. Kari’s fur was being brushed carefully and delicately, and bows were put in her fur. Jenna smiled and looked astonished at how beautiful her daughter was looking. Her fur was silky and smooth, and glistened in the light.
“Uh, Jenna?” Balto said as he saw Jenna in a daydream.
“Huh…” Jenna said, “Oh! Right. Good Luck Kari! We will see you soon!” Kari smiled at them, and Jenna and Balto left the salon.
"She looks so beautiful, Balto,” Jenna said.
“I know,” Balto said back, “Just like you,” Jenna blushed then nuzzled into Balto.
“Come on then, Jenna,” Balto said, “It’s nearly time for the show,”
“Are you ready, Kari?” Jess yapped excitedly as she waited for Kari too appear from the curtain that hid her. Kari paced out and Jess and Sasha gasped.
“Oh my goodness gracious me, you look stunning Kari!” Sasha said to her.
“Oh, sweetie! You so have it in you! Beauty is in your blood, just like me…” Jess said. Sasha gave a laugh and Jess gave her another look telling her, don’t start! Sasha and Jess immediately forgot the subject and gazed back at Kari.
“You look lovely, Kari! Your gonna steal the show!” Sasha said and Jess nodded. Kari was glad to hear their compliments, but she was still rather shy.
“Remember, Kari! A nervous dog, is not a beautiful dog!” Jess said. Kari nodded, and lit up her face and smiled.
“Much better,” Sasha said. Kari heard her name called and knew it was time for the show. “Good luck, Kari!” Sasha and Jess shouted as she walked out of the back door. A tent sort-of thing was set up behind the stage for the dogs to sit and wait till it was their turn. Kari saw dogs come and go as they walked onto the stage. She could hear the claps of the people of Nome, cheering the dogs. Suddenly, Kari’s owner called her over and she walked along the side of her. They walked up the steps and onto the stage. The people began to clap. Kari looked around nervously and saw her parents at the very back. She realised that she was looking nervous. A nervous dog is not a beautiful dog. Kari turned her nervous walk into a delicate trot, and held her head high. She smiled sweetly and trotted around the stage happily. Kari soon got the hang of it, but before she knew it, her turn was up and she was off the stage. Jess and Sasha greeted her back in the tent.
“You were fantastic, Kari! Absolutely marvellous!” Sasha said.
“You did soooo well, Kari! You are going to win for sure!” Jess said.
Kari reddened in the face. She sat down and listened to her two friends talk. She was glad that it was over. More dogs went up as time past and soon they were nearly all done. Kari saw a beautiful fluffy white husky walk down from the steps.
“Oh dear, look at that one there,” Jess said watching the dog sit down elegantly, “That dog’s gonna be hard to beat,”
“That’s one of the best show dog’s around. I’ve heard of her. I think she’s all the way from Anchorage, touring Alaska’s husky shows,” Sasha said.
“Is this a husky dog show?” Kari asked.
“Yes, of course it is, Kari! Didn’t you wonder why me and Jess weren’t in it?”
“Oh, I didn’t really think about it I guess,”
“Oh, oh! Their announcing the winners!” Jess butted in as the judges on the stage decided who they wanted to win. Kari listened closely as the commentator spoke.
“In 3rd place! We have Tika!” Suddenly, there was a loud boom of cheers and claps. “And in 2nd place!” She heard the man call, “We have lovely red husky Kari!” Kari suddenly gasped in astonishment as she heard her name called for second place she was taken onto the stage with the roaring crowd cheering her on and she was pushed onto the second place podium. She saw at the back, Balto and Jenna, barking and cheering her on. She could also see Kodi, who had obviously got back just in time to see her. She was astonished and wasn’t able to keep a beautiful, or even a normal, face! The man called out the champion of the dog show,
“And in 1st place! We have this beautiful dog, all the way from Anchorage, Dove!”
Kari saw the fluffy white husky walk onto the stage in all her glory. The cheers raised in volume as the ultimate, 1st place, champion stood on her podium and shone with pride and beauty. Kari wasn’t surprise that Dove, which seemed to be her name, got 1st place. As she looked out into the cheering crowd, she suddenly saw something gleaming at her. Bright, blue eyes. She gazed at the eyes and saw they belonged to a handsome, muscular black and white husky. But in a minute, he had gone.
Soon, the dogs were able to leave and Kari walked off to go find her family.
“Well done, Kari!” Jenna said,
“You did so well! I’m so proud of you!”
Jenna nuzzled into Kari and smiled. “Yea, well done sis!” Kodi laughed and also gave her a nudge. “You did good today,” Balto said and smiled.
“You must be glad it’s over, eh?” Kodi laughed. Kari nodded, then began to laugh as well. Kodi barked and Kari barked to. Suddenly the two of them were chasing each other and rolling in the snow barking and yipping happily. Kari was messing up her fur, but she didn’t care. She was just glad the whole thing was over. Balto and Jenna watched as they rolled about in the snow yipping and giggling.
“Their both just big pups inside, aren’t they?” Balto chuckled.
Chapter 2 New Dog in Town
The sun was setting on the small town of Nome, and everyone was snug and cosy in their homes, except for Kodi and Dusty. They were strolling down the shore by Balto’s boat. “That was a good run today, wasn’t it Dusty?” Kodi said.
“Yea, you were really fast. Unlike Kirby and Ralph!” Dusty said angrily.
“I wonder why they are arguing so much? They’re not usually like that,” Kodi said.
“You know them, Kodi. We will never understand them,” Dusty laughed and Kodi laughed again too. Balto heard their laughs and looked over the side of the boat. He saw Dusty and Kodi talking, walking side by side. He smiled at them. Boris waddled over and stood next to Balto. “What are you looking at?” He said.
“Kodi… and Dusty,” Balto sighed.
“Ah… this is love,” Boris said.
“What?” Balto chuckled, “Nah!”
“Yes, yes! They are just like you and Jenna,”
Balto looked at Kodi and Dusty. Maybe Boris was right, maybe it was… love.
“It’s getting dark. You better go home,” Kodi said to Dusty.
“Yea,” She said and looked Kodi right in the eye.
The two of them stood in silence for a while, until Kodi said,
“I guess I will see you tomorrow,”
“Yea! Tomorrow! Do you want to come down here again? The sunset was so beautiful, and the sky…” She stopped and stared back at Kodi.
“Tomorrow, then,” He said, and Dusty nodded, then ran off into Nome.
Kodi sighed and began to walk back himself.
Kari laughed with joy as she and her friends talked about the show. They were sitting inside the Old Mill. All the dogs would hang out there, but it was just the three of them that night.
“Honestly, he was such a handsome dog! Looked a bit like Steele actually,”
Sasha said.
“Steele?” Kari asked.
“Yea! He wasn’t as big though,”
Suddenly they were interrupted by Jess,
“Steele?! Well let’s hope he looks like Steele!”
“What do you mean, Jess?” Kari asked.
“Haven’t you ever seen Steele? He is such a handsome dog! Even though my mum, who used to like him too, said that he’s a two-timing liar, I still can’t help to love him!”
“Love him?! How can you love him?!”
“Hmm, I guess your family are on the ‘I hate Steele Club’ aren’t you,”
“What do you mean by that?! Nobody likes Steele! What’s to like!”
Kari was getting a little annoyed. Jess just laughed.
“Kari, please. If you ever saw him, it would be hard not to fall in love with him! If you do see him, I promise you, that you will fall in love with him and never want to be apart from him!” She said, still giggling slightly. That tipped Kari over and she stood up in rage.
“I would not fall in love with Steele! I would never do that to my dad, or my mom! Your wrong, Jess!” She shouted then ran out the door.
Kari rushed out into the street. The sun was down now, and the sky was pitch black, with the moon beaming down on her. Kari walked in the direction of her house. She was furious. How could Jess say something like that? She stomped through the snow. She was so angry that she didn’t pay any attention to where she was going. Suddenly she bumped into someone and fell backwards into the snow.
“Watch it!”
Kari looked up and in her rage couldn’t help blurt out, “No, you watch it!”
Suddenly the figure came into focus as it stood into the light of the moon. It was a dog. He was large and strong looking.
“Hey, your that dog who came second today in the dog show,” He said. Kari stood up and stared at him. His eyes were bright blue, and stood out on his dark face.
“The name’s Shadow. Who are you?” He said, in a proud tone, like he was really proud of himself and his name. “Eh… Kari,” She said.
“Nice to meet you, Kari,” He said with a grin.
“I’ve never seen you here before? Did you come with the dog show?”
“Do I look like a poodle to you?”
“That’s not what I said, was it,”
“I’m a champion sled dog! Well, champion to be. I’m here to race, and beat, other dogs! I heard some of the fasted dogs were here and I want to run against them,”
“Where are you from?”
“Anchorage. There’s no excitement there though. So my owner took me here, to race with Nome’s dogs. Nome is where he got my father,” He said.
“Oh, that sounds cool. Well, I have to go. I guess I’ll see you around then,”
“Wait!” Shadow shouted as Kari began to walk off, “Can we meet up?”
Kari looked back at him surprised. “Tomorrow? In the morning?”
“Well, I guess I’m not working tomorrow. Ok then,”
“Great! Tomorrow morning, in this spot,”
“Alright, I will see you tomorrow then. Bye,” Kari said, then walked off back home forgetting about all that anger and fury she had a couple of minutes before.
“Hey Dusty,” Kodi said as he walked over to the team.
“Your late again!” Ralph barked.
“Yea, if your gonna be a mail dog, get here on time Kodi!” Kirby added.
“No he’s not! What’s got in to you two!” Dusty snapped at him. Ralph and Kirby shut up after that and Kodi got strapped up again.
“Sorry guys, I won’t be late tomorrow! I promise!” Kodi said. Suddenly, the team was off again. Then ran out of Nome and into the wilderness, on the trail to White Mountain. Kirby looked behind at Ralph. Ralph was staring at Dusty smiling. Dusty hadn’t really noticed.
“Hey, Dusty!” Ralph shouted.
“OH NO YOU DON’T!” Kirby barked angrily and skidded to a halt sending the rest of the team to a shuddering stop.
“Kirby?! What on earth are you doing?!” Dusty shouted.
“Yea, Kirby,” Ralph sneered at him with a grin on his face.
“I saw you there! Just because your closer doesn’t mean you have the chance!” Kirby growled at him. Ralph growled back.
“What’s going on?” Kodi asked, a little annoyed that they had stopped for no good reason. “Yea! Why have you stopped us?!” Dusty said angrily.
“Tell ‘em, Kirby!” Ralph laughed.
“Ralph has a crush on you!” Kirby blurted out very quickly.
“What?!” Dusty said.
“ME! I do not! You’re the one who has a crush on her!” Ralph shouted.
“What?!” Dusty and Kodi shouted together completely confused.
“Ralph has a crush on you!” Kirby shouted to Dusty’s baffled face.
“Well, you do too!” Ralph shouted back.
“What do you mean?!” Kodi asked.
Dusty didn’t know what to say. She just stood mouth wide open. Suddenly Kodi could here the angry calls of the musher.
“Come on guys! We’ve got a job too do,” Kodi said and they began to run again. Nobody spoke. The whole team ran in silence.
Kari sat down and waited. She was at the same spot that she met the dog last night. She wanted to know more about him.
“Hi there,” A voice said from behind her. She looked back and saw Shadow walking towards her. He looked very different in the light. He didn’t look so sinister and huge. It must have been the darkness acting on her eyes. But he was still much bigger than her. “Hey,” She said and stood up to greet him, “Do you want to go for a stroll?” Shadow smiled, “Alright then,”
The two of them walked around the streets of Nome.
“I’m hoping to enter some of the races around here. I hear there are some fast dogs here in Nome, and I wanna show how fast I can be,”
“I’m sure you can be pretty fast. Have you heard of my father? He’s the fastest dog in Nome actually!” Kari said excited to tell him about Balto.
“Really? Who?”
“Balto, have you ever heard of him?”
Suddenly, Shadows relaxed and happy face turned to a tense and slightly angry looking face, also astonished and anxious. “Who-who did you just say he was?”
“Balto. You must have heard of him,”
“Um… yea… I’ve heard of him,”
“Great! Hey, maybe my dad will even challenge you to a race!” Kari laughed; she wasn’t noticing Shadow’s nervous tone.
“Um… no… I don’t think… I don’t think we should do that,” Shadow said looking around him quickly in a panic.
“That’s ok! I was only joking! Would you like to go and visit him anyway?”
Shadow suddenly backed off from her slowly.
“Um… emm… I gotta go,” He said and began to run off.
Kari looked surprised, “What? Why?”
But Shadow didn’t answer, he just ran off back to his home.
Shadow was in a big mess. He liked Kari, and Kari seemed to like him, but how could he. She was Balto’s daughter. How could Shadow betray his father like that? He would never do that to him. Balto was trouble. He had to stay away from him. From what his father had told him, Balto was bad news. But Shadow couldn’t leave Kari just like that. He really, really liked her. He liked her a lot. He was confused. Very confused. What could he do? Shadow’s father has had some bad times with Balto in the past. He betrayed his father. He felt the same rage in him that his father, a great champion sled dog, who was run out of Nome because of Balto. His father was the real hero of Nome! Steele.
Chapter 3
The beginning of Kodi’s Troubles
When the team finally got back from the mail run, they all walked over to the Old Mill, where they would hang out most days. Kodi and Dusty walked over at sat side by side next to the furnace. They began to talk and laugh together. Ralph nudged Kirby and pointed to them with his head.
“Don’t worry Ralph, will get in there somehow,” Kirby whispered to him.
“Yea, Kodi doesn’t even have a chance!” Ralph laughed.
Kodi turned round as he heard his name.
“What’s up guys?” He asked. Ralph and Kirby looked a little uneasy.
“Umm… nothing!” Ralph said. Dusty gave him an un-trustful look.
“What are you guys doing?” She asked suspiciously.
“Nothing!” Kirby shouted getting annoyed. Dusty continued to glare at them.
She stood up. “Come on Kodi. Do you want to go down to the shore again?”
Kodi stood up as well, excited, “Yea, sure!”
The two of them walked out the door of the old mill. Ralph checked to see if they were truly gone, then he turned back to Kirby.
“Did you see that?!” He whispered angrily.
“Yea!” Kirby replied, “Well he doesn’t stand a chance against us!”
“But Kirby, this could be a real problem!”
“Don’t worry! I’ll win Dusty over for sure,”
“You?! I was talking about me! It’s gonna be a real problem for ME to win her over!”
“Oh yea! Well let’s just see shall we!”
“Yea, but first we gotta get Kodi out the way!”
“Well, Kodi’s my friend yea, but he can’t stand in the way between me and Dusty!”
“Yea! But I can assure you, it will be my way he is standing in the way off,”
“What do you mean by that?!”
“Well, doesn’t look like you have a chance with her does it,”
“What?!”
Kirby and Ralph began another ear splitting argument.
“Hey, what was wrong with Kirby and Ralph?” Kodi asked.
“Don’t know. What were they on about earlier as well?” Dusty answered back.
They were walking along the smooth snow that was painted orange and pink because of the setting sun.
“Yea, I know. I think Kirby and Ralph have a crush on you,” Kodi said.
“What?! Oh no! They don’t do they!”
“Yea, that’s what they were arguing about, saying that they both had a crush on you. Hey! Maybe that’s why they are arguing so much lately!” Kodi seemed happy to finally find out why they were arguing, but Dusty wasn’t happy one bit. She was worried. How could she tell Ralph and Kirby that she didn’t really feel the same way about them? “Oh no, I can’t!” Dusty said, “How do I tell them?”
“Tell them what?”
“That I don’t feel the same way!”
“Why don’t you give it a shot? Go out with one of them,”
“What?! Are you crazy?! With Kirby or Ralph! Besides, how could I choose between them, it’s not fair on me, or them!”
“I guess your right there. But come on, you should try it! It would be fun!”
“There’s another… reason too…”
Kodi looked at her. She was blushing slightly, and seemed quite shy to tell him.
“Go on,” Kodi said happily.
“I… kinda have feelings… for someone else,”
Kari walked over towards the dog salon. She didn’t feel like getting her usual bath and beauty. She was so confused about Shadow. Why did he run away like that? What did he have against her dad? She had to tell Jess and Sasha. She had forgotten all about what Jess had said and she thought it might make her feel better to tell someone. Kari walked in and the bell rang as the door shut.
“Hey Kari! Sorry, about last night, sweetie…” Jess said as she walked over to them. Kari got placed into a metal tub and bathed. Jess continued to talk to her,
“I didn’t mean to upset you, Kari! I didn’t know what I was saying! I…”
“Never mind that, Jess! It’s ok!” Kari interrupted her, “I have something to tell you,”
“Oh, what is it?” Sasha said excited to hear the news.
Kari was about to answer but she was soaked by a bucket of water. After the water had drained out her face, she started to speak again,
“Well, last night. I met this dog…”
“Oh! Tell us, tell us! Who is he?” Sasha asked.
“No, no! What’s he look like? Is he handsome?” Jess laughed, excited to hear Kari’s story. Kari began her story, “He’s a new dog, he just moved here from Anchorage. He’s a racing sled dog, and wants to race the dogs here,”
“What does he look like?” Jess asked again. Kari laughed.
“Well, kinda striking actually! He’s large, and strong. He has jet black fur and bright blue eyes,” Kari told them. Sasha and Jess both looked at each other.
“From Anchorage? And he’s large, black fur and blue eyes? Handsome?” Jess and Sasha said together. “Yea, that’s what I said,” Kari said surprised.
“Oh my goodness! I think you have just described Steele!” Jess shouted with joy, not even realising how this might affect Kari. Kari looked astonished, but also furious again, “What?!”
Jess and Sasha looked worried. They didn’t want Kari to get angry and upset again. “Honey, don’t get upset!” Sasha said quickly, then gave Jess a cross look, “Jess doesn’t know what she’s talking about…”
“Can I not say anything without you bringing up Steele?!” She shouted, furious at what Jess had said.
“Kari! Please don’t get upset again! Don’t storm out!” Jess panicked. Kari stood up out-raged. The woman that was bathing her tried to sit her down again but Kari wouldn’t budge.
“Storm out?! I have every right to ‘storm out’! Can you not mention that stupid dog’s name for one second! I can’t believe you!”
Kari suddenly jumped out the tub, soaked to the bone, infuriated.
“No, Kari, please! Finish your bath first, get dried off! You’ll freeze to death if you go out in the cold like that!” Sasha said, trying to stop Kari from storming out again. But Kari didn’t listen, she ran out the door, dodging all the humans and out into the cold. She shivered the second she got outside. She was wet to the bone, and she could feel her fur freezing. She had too get back home. Kari ran as fast as she could to get home, shivering and shuddering. Suddenly she bumped into someone and fell to the snow. She got up and violently shook it off. She was still in a very bad mood. It was Shadow she had bumped into.
“Oh, Kari! I have to… um… tell you… umm,” He started, but then noticed she was soaking wet, “What are you doing so wet?” Kari suddenly burst at him in rage,
“I am wet because someone couldn’t stop talking about that stupid, idiot dog Steele!”
Shadow gasped at her then said quietly, and quite angrily,
“My father is not… an idiot,”
“What? Your… father?” Kari asked, still shuddering because she was so cold.
Shadow didn’t say anything. He looked around him quickly then began to run.
“I gotta go now,” He said anxiously. Kari suddenly became livid, and she wasn’t going to let Shadow get away again. She ran in front of him.
“NO! Tell me what is up with you?! Why are you running away from me?! Do you NOT like me! Is that it?! What?!” Kari shouted in his face, furious again. Shadow stared at her. Then he sighed.
“Ok,” He admitted, “Your father… doesn’t go well with mine…”
Kari fuming face suddenly disappeared as she stared at Shadow. She just remembered what he had just said. Shadow’s father, Steele… Kari’s father, Balto.
“Oh… no…” She said slowly as she suddenly realised why he was running away. Steele and Balto. Not a good match. Kari herself felt like running away.
“Yea, I know. What am I gonna do?” Shadow said, worried.
“Your father… is Steele?” Kari said slowly. Shadow nodded and sighed again.
Kari slowly turned to an angry tone, “Your… father… was Steele? The same Steele, that made fun of my dad, attacked him when he was trying to help, made him lose his way by marking the trail wrong!” Shadow was baffled at what she was saying. He had never heard such nonsense in his life,
“What?! He never did that! It was Balto who did all the bad stuff!”
Kari got even more infuriated with this, “My father! He was the one who saved Nome! Steele was the one who was so greedy and wanted everything for himself and made my father’s life a misery!” Shadow also got infuriated,
“No! Balto made my dad’s life a misery! Balto was the one who made him leave town! You don’t even know what he did to my father, do you?! You know nothing! Cause your father won’t have told you the awful things he has done to my father!”
“You’re the one who doesn’t know what your father actually did!”
“That’s not true!” Shadow barked then turned around so he wasn’t even facing Kari.
Kari realised that she didn’t want to fight with Shadow. He was her friend, even if he was Steele’s son. But what if Shadow was telling the truth? She thought. No! She could never betray her father like that, and go to Steele’s side. Steele had obviously told Shadow lies, and Shadow didn’t know to believe them. She could see that he doubted that what he himself had said… was true. Kari changed her tone to a soft, calmer tone, “I’m sorry Shadow… I didn’t mean too…”
“No! I… have to go…” Shadow said quietly then ran off.
“Wait, Shadow! Where are you going? Shadow!” Kari shouted after him, but he didn’t reply. She sighed. Suddenly, Kari could feel a sudden chill run up her spine. She shivered and realised, that she had get home before she froze to death.
“What are we gonna do, Kirby?” Ralph whispered to Kirby. The sun was just rising, and the team were getting ready to set off.
“What are you talking about?” Kirby asked.
“You know… Kodi?” Ralph whispered as quiet as he could when he said Kodi.
“Oh! That thing…” Kirby said, “Umm… we need a plan,”
Ralph nodded along. Suddenly, the musher yelled, and Kirby and Ralph had to stop their conversation and run through the snow.
When the team got running, Kirby looked behind him to see Ralph smiling at Dusty again. Kirby stopped himself again and leapt on Ralph.
“I’m not gonna let you, win her over that easy!” Kirby barked in his face. Kodi and Dusty were furious that Kirby had done the same thing again. The musher was too. He walked over to them and began to speak, “All right, looks like you two can’t be anywhere near each other, I will move you Kirby… hmm… over here at the back, and you will be replace you with… Dusty,” The musher said as he took Kirby by the collar and swapped him with a dog at the back, “And it looks like you were having some problems with Dusty as well, Ralph. So I have even more reasons to move her too the front. I think you deserve to be at the front with Kodi,” He moved Dusty next to Kodi then moved the other dogs around.
“Wow!” Kodi said, excited about running next to his best friend.
“I know! I can run right next to you now!” Dusty laughed. Suddenly the musher yelled his command and they were off again, with Kirby and Ralph in a terrible mood.
Kari woke up from a long sleep. She was lying next to a roasting fire in Jenna’s house. The room was warm and cosy. It seemed to be early afternoon, and Kari was supposed to be at the dog salon. But she didn’t really care too much. She didn’t really want to go back just yet. She was still really angry at Jess and Sasha.
“Have a good sleep?” Jenna asked her as she walked into the room.
Kari looked over to her and smiled, “Yes, thank you. I still feel a bit dozy though. It’s so cosy in here!” She walked over and sat next to Kari.
Kari had stayed the night at her mothers. She was tired and upset, and wanted to talk to her mother and get a good rest that she deserved.
“What happened to you last night, Kari? Why were you wet and frozen?” Jenna asked in a worried tone that mothers have. She hadn’t asked last night because she had looked so angry and confused. Jenna just left her to curl up by the fire and dry off. Kari told Jenna the whole story, even about Shadow and Steele. She wanted to tell someone, and Jess and Sasha were no help at all. Jenna was surprise to hear all this, “Steele’s son?”
Kari nodded then said quickly, “But, mum, he is really nice! Not anything like the Steele you knew! But there is another problem…”
“What?”
“Well, Shadow has been told another story… and he hates dad,”
“What?! Hates Balto!”
“Yea, Steele told him some really bad stuff about dad and I told him the true story, but he doesn’t believe me!” Kari was panicking.
“Calm down Kari!” Jenna said, “We’ll sort this out, ok? Don’t worry so much,”
Kari smiled then gave out a long, unexpected yawn. Jenna smiled back and licked her daughter’s forehead.
“Your still tired, you have to wake up so early every morning, and what a day you had yesterday. Take the day off dear, get some rest,” She said then got to her feet, “I’ll be back later, I have to go visit your father,” Jenna walked out the room. Kari lay her head on the soft carpet and watched the dancing flames in the fireplace, then fell straight to sleep.
Jenna trotted through the thick snow over to Balto’s boat. He was sitting on the side watching Nome.
“Balto!” She shouted to get his attention. Balto looked down at her then grinned. “Good morning, Jenna,” He said.
“More like, good afternoon!” Jenna laughed.
“Oh, right… the time’s really flown by. Wait there,” Balto leapt down from the boat and walked over to Jenna. “So, how’s Kari doing?” Balto asked her. Jenna sighed then said, “Balto, we have a problem,” Balto sat down and showed Jenna that he was ready and anxious to hear what she was going to say. Jenna continued,
“Well, I think she’s in love…”
Balto’s face lit up, “In love? That’s good! That’s great news!”
Jenna didn’t answer back, she didn’t want to tell Balto who with, but Balto had to ask,
“So, who’s the lucky guy?”
“That’s the problem…”
Balto was suddenly concerned at the sound of this, “Jenna, who has she fallen for?”
“He’s… he’s… Steele’s son,”
Balto paced around Jenna. Steele’s son? Who would want to have a son with Steele anyway?! Who could possibly like Steele?! Balto thought to himself. Jenna watched him walk up and down the snow with a slightly angry face. “Balto. She’s say he’s really nice…” Jenna said, trying to calm him. Balto didn’t answer.
“The only problem… is that, he’s heard a different story,” Jenna continued.
“Of course he has! He’s Steele’s son!”
“Balto calm down, we’re just going to have to try and win him over,”
“That’s not as easy as it sounds, Jenna! This is Steele were talking about,”
“No, Balto, this is his son. We still have to try,”
Balto stopped pacing and glanced at Jenna. She would never give up.
“Hey dad, hey mom!”
Balto looked behind Jenna, and saw Kari running over to them.
“I see you’ve got all your strength back then! Have a good sleep?” Balto asked.
“Much, thanks dad!” Kari answered.
“Kari, we were just talking about you and Shadow,” Jenna said. Kari looked at Balto.
“What are we going to do? He won’t believe me!” Kari said to Balto, hoping he had heard that part of the story.
“We will have to tell him the whole story,” Jenna said.
“But what if he still won’t believe it! Remember, he was told this by his father! Who is he most likely to believe!” Kari said.
“Well, Kari, we’re just going to have to try,” Balto said mimicking Jenna. Jenna smiled at him and licked his face.
Ralph and Kirby walked over towards the old mill. Kodi and Dusty were already sitting inside talking. Kirby stopped in front of Ralph.
“Hey, look inside. There’s Kodi… and he’s next to Dusty! I say we tell him now!” He said, “Right Ralph… Ralph?” But Ralph had wandered off. Kirby looked around for him. He was walking towards a white dog. “Ralph! Hey Ralph, were are you going?!”
But Ralph didn’t answer; he walked up towards the white dog. It was Dove, the dog who had won the dog show.
“Hey, who are you? I’ve never seen you here before?” Ralph asked her. Dove looked at him and they smiled at each other.
“My names Dove. I’m from Anchorage, Who are you?” She said nicely.
“My name’s Ralph. Are you here to stay?” Ralph asked.
“I think so. I travel a lot, but my owner is wanting to stay here for a while,”
“Oh, that’s good,”
“Do you… want too…” Dove started.
Ralph listened intently to what Dove was going to say.
“Would, you want too… watch the sunset together?” She finished, smiling.
Ralph laughed with joy and jumped around. Dove laughed too.
“Yea! I’d love too Dove!” Ralph said happily. Then the two of them walked off to find somewhere good to watch the setting sun.
“I think you should enter in a dog show, you would win!” Kodi told Dusty.
“Oh, Kodi, don’t be stupid! Besides, I’m a worker, not a show dog!” Dusty snorted.
Kodi said, “Yea! You’re a mail dog!”
The two of them laugh together. Kirby interrupted them and pushed in between Kodi and Dusty. Dusty stared at him crossly, “Kirby? What are you doing?”
“Can I, talk to Kodi for a second?” Kirby asked. Dusty looked angry and was about to say no, but Kodi said, “All right,”
“Come over here,” Kirby said and pushed Kodi into the corner.
“What’s up, Kirby?” Kodi asked nicely. Kirby looked behind him to see if Dusty was looking, but she wasn’t bothered, she was just licking her paws happily.
“Look Kodi, I sorta have a thing for Dusty…”
“Oh dear. Emm… Kirby, I know,”
“You know? What do’ya mean you know?”
“Well, I sorta got it. But there’s… a problem with this,”
“Yea, I know. It’s too do with you,”
“What? Well, its kinda too do with me but it’s more to do with Dusty!”
Dusty heard her name and walked over to them.
“What’s going on you two? Why did you say my name?” She asked them.
Kirby ignored her and continued to talk to Kodi.
“So, look Kodi, just don’t get in the way,” He said, then walked out of the old mill into the snow outside. Kodi looked rather angry at what Kirby had said. He wasn’t wasn’t going to stand aside. Dusty didn’t like Kirby the way she liked Kodi.
“What’s wrong Kodi? What did he say to you?” Dusty asked rather concerned about him. Kodi looked at her then they walked back over to the furnace.
“Nothing,” He said.
Chapter 5 Missing
Jenna slowly opened her eyes, and then yawned. Outside on the windowpanes, crystal clear water oozed down the icicles and the early morning sun shone through onto Jenna’s face. Rosie was still asleep, so she jumped down of the bottom of Rosie’s bed and walked down the cold morning staircase.
“Good morning Ka-” Jenna said sleepily than realised that she wasn’t there,
“Oh, Kari? Are you here?”
But there was no answer. Jenna looked trough the house the walked out the door into the frosty morning and looked around outside.
“Kari?”
There was no sign of Kari anywhere. It as too early for Kari to be at the dog salon.
I will check anyway Jenna said to herself. She looked through Nome for Kari, and the little town soon became busy. Jenna still didn’t find Kari.
“Balto!” Jenna shouted. Jenna wanted to know where Kari was and if she was all right, and the only place left to look in Nome was Balto’s. Balto looked over the side yawning and looking a little annoyed that someone had woken him up. When he saw it was Jenna though, he smiled.
“Morning Jenna, what are you doing here?” Balto asked, still yawning.
“Kari, I can’t find her anywhere. I thought she might be with you,” Jenna told him.
Balto jumped down from the boat.
“I’m sure she’s around here somewhere Jenna, don’t worry,” He reassured her.
“But Balto I think she had gone to find that Steele dog! She told me last night he had run away and she hadn’t seen him since and -” Jenna said but Balto interrupted her.
“Jenna, why don’t we go looking for her again? I’m sure she’s fine though,”
Balto and Jenna walked into Nome with Jenna crying out ‘Kari’ over and over again. Balto was still yawning. He didn’t look so worried on the outside, but he was slightly troubled on the inside. He knew though, that Kari wouldn’t have gone far. She was a smart dog, she knew how to look after herself. But then again, she was still young.
“Oh Balto, where could she be?” Jenna said.
They still hadn’t find Kari. Balto was now slightly concerned.
“I don’t know Jenna, but we have to find her soon. I’m going to search for her out of Nome,” Balto said. There was no chance that Kari was in Nome, they had searched everywhere.
Kari sat down and panted. She needed a rest from all the running and shouting. She felt like crying, but she stopped. She didn’t want to lose herself.
“Shadow!” She shouted again, “Shadow, are you here?”
There was no answer, only the echo of her barks. She sighed then gazed down at her paws. There was no hope of finding Shadow. It was one dog in a huge forest that stretched for miles from Nome to White Mountain. He could even have walked back to Anchorage.
“No, don’t be so foolish Kari, how could he walk back to Anchorage?” Kari told herself just under her breath. Suddenly, she could her footsteps. Kari stood up, and looked around her. All she could see was snow and massive, over towering pine trees. The echo of the footsteps made it impossible to find out which direction they were coming from. “Shadow? Is that you?” Kari said quietly.
She felt frightened.
“Hello? Who’s there?” She said.
The footprints were becoming louder and louder, and getting closer to Kari.
Kari started to yell she was so frightened, “Who’s there?! Please… stop! Shadow!”
The footsteps suddenly became a run. Kari screamed with fright then began to sprint across the snow. She stared back looking for whoever’s footsteps they were. All of a sudden, Kari felt herself falling. She was so tense that she hadn’t noticed the drop. Kari felt a quick rushing pain as she hit a hard and snowy ledge. Kari gasped for breath then looked around her. She hadn’t fallen far and luckily hit a ledge and not the bottom, far down.
“Kari!” Balto shouted.
He had noticed someone in the woods and started to run towards them. Balto knew it was Kari, he could recognize her voice. He looked over the edge and saw her lying on the ledge.
“Kari!” Balto shouted to her, “Are you alright?”
Kari looked up and sighed a sign of relief.
“I’m fine dad!” She called back up, “How did you find me?”
“That doesn’t matter right now Kari, what matters is getting you out of there!”
He looked around trying to find something that would help Balto get Kari back up again. There seemed to be an old rope buried in the snow that some sled team must had left years ago. He tugged on it and the snow whipped off. It was firmly trapped in the deep snow and with a great heave, Balto fell backwards and pulled it out.
“Kari!” Balto shouted, “Look, do you see this rope? Grab onto it,“
Kari clenched the rough frosted rope with her jaws and held on it tight.
“Now, you have to climb up, and I’ll pull,”
She placed her front paw on a snowy ledge then lifted up her back leg. Soon, Kari was safely on top with Balto panting with exhaustion. Kari ran over and nuzzled her father.
“Thanks for saving me dad!” She shouted with delight.
“Nothing too it.” Balto said, then there was a long silence before Balto said, “Why did you run off? Your mother is worried sick about you Kari!”
Kari felt angry with herself.
“I’m sorry dad, I should have told you I was going…” She said.
“Why did you go?”
“Shadow’s gone missing, and it’s all my fault! I shouted at him the other night and he ran off… away from me! I can’t find him anywhere! I searched all through Nome, then came out here… but I haven’t even found a trace of him,”
Balto frowned at her.
“Kari, I don’t want you wondering out here on your own, it’s dangerous! Why didn’t you tell us about Shadow going missing?”
“I don’t know… I thought you might say it wasn’t important enough – wouldn’t let me go – maybe say you didn’t want to lose me just for Shadow. I just thought you wouldn’t care,”
Balto sighed, then said softly to Kari,
“Kari, why would I not care? Even if he is Steele’s son, his life is at stake. That is more important than what I think of him. I went looking for Steele, don’t you remember?”
Kari nodded, then smiled.
Balto raised his nose into the wind. He couldn’t find the scent of Shadow. He frowned then carried on walking hastily through the snow. As they got further up a mountain side and the trees became less and less, the temperature dropped and the wind howled. Snow was beginning to flow down fast, and darkness would soon reach them. Balto sighed, then turned round and faced Kari. He looked up into her troubled eyes.
“Kari, the weather is getting worse, and your mother will be more worried than ever –“
“Wait, I know where your going with this dad!” Kari said, “No!”
“Yes! Kari, you need to go back home – it’s not safe for you here – I will carry on and look for Shadow,”
“By yourself? No, dad, I can’t let you do that! Besides, this is all my fault, and I…”
“This is not your fault Kari, this was bound to happen sooner or later. You need to go back to your mother,”
“No, I’m not gonna leave you dad,”
Balto smiled at the thought, then nuzzled into her and sighed. Alike with Alue, Kari had too got Balto’s stubbornness, and Balto knew it.
“Alright Kari –“ He said, “But we have to be quick, we’re running out of time,”
Kari nodded, and they continued to pace through the deep snow, up towards the great mountain that watched over them.
Kirby sat at the edge of Nome looking out at Kodi and Dusty. They were both sitting on the shore talking, as the sunset. Kirby could hear a voice behind him, he turned round to see Ralph. Next to him, was a beautiful pure white dog. She was the same size as Ralph and had a tail that curled over her back and twisted at the end.
“Kirby, I would like you to meet Dove,” Ralph said, smirking.
“Oh yea, that dog you saw earlier. Nice to meet you,” Kirby said, but he wasn’t really interested. He turned back round so he could frown at Kodi some more.
“Eh, Kirby? Are you still after Dusty?”
“Yea, so,”
“Well, she’s kinda with Kodi now,”
“Oh come on! Dusty’s just being friendly, she doesn’t really know how Kodi feel’s about her! Kodi ain’t right for her, it’s obvious isn’t it?”
“No. I think Dusty know how Kodi feel’s Kirby…”
“Oh shut up Ralph! Just go away!”
Ralph was taken aback, and stomped away with Dove. Kirby continued to stare at Kodi and Ralph. All of a sudden, Kodi turned his head round so he was looking straight into Kirby’s eyes.
“Dusty, it’s Kirby again,” Kodi said, “He’s been watching us…”
“What is with him today?!” Dusty said and stood up looking furiously at Kirby. Kirby noticed her angry face and walked down to see what was wrong, but he thought he knew the answer.
“Eh, hey Kirby,” Kodi said, uneasy, but Dusty stepped in front and burst out.
“Kirby! Why have you been watching us?! It’s not right!”
Kirby gaped at her, then said,
“It’s Kodi! He hasn’t told you what he really feels about you!”
Dusty yelled, “How dare you Kirby! I know how Kodi feels about me! And it’s no business of yours!”
“You don’t really know! Kodi’s in love with you!”
Kodi gasped in shock. He couldn’t believe Kirby just said that. But Dusty stayed put with the same look on her face, no change at all. Then she said something that surprised both Kodi and Kirby.
“Yea, and I love him,”
Kirby looked at her in shock, along with Kodi. But Kodi had a different shock from Kirby, a joyful and excited shock. Kirby had a terrible, ‘that can’t be right’ shock.
“You… you do…” Kodi smiled at her. Dusty nodded then smiled back.
“What… did you say?” Kirby said.
Dusty grunted the repeated her line slowly so Kirby could hear perfectly.
“I – love – Kodi,” She said.
An even wider grin burst out of Kodi’s face. She loves me… he thought to himself.
Kirby stood in silence for a while in distress, thinking over what Dusty just said. It was hard for him to take it all in. Dusty just waited for him to speak again with a scowl on her face, but Kodi next to her couldn’t look happier.
“But Dusty – don’t you – wouldn’t you,” Kirby sighed. But he understood Dusty’s face clearly. He hadn’t a chance with her anymore, she was in love with Kodi. Kirby felt awful inside. He felt angry and heart broken. Not to mention embarrassed. He sighed a long and mournful sigh, and looked like he would burst into tears, then ran off.
Kodi edged round the huge wooden doors of the Old Mill. There Kirby was, lay down on the floor and staring into the heart of the furnace flames with a miserable look on his face. Kodi walked in and sat down next to him. Kirby sighed, then still keeping his gaze on the flames, he began to speak.
“I’m sorry Kodi. I just… wanted me and Dusty to be together so much that when she said that she loved you, and you loved her and all that… I just – I just couldn’t take it”
“I understand Kirby,” Kodi said, “I’m sorry too…”
“Kodi, I was being selfish. I know now I can’t have Dusty… she has already found her perfect partner,”
Kodi smiled.
“Thanks, Kirby,”
“Dad! Look!” Kari shouted. Balto ran over to her. There were dog tracks in the snow.
They had to be new, for snow had been fallen since they left, and would have covered them up. Balto lowered his head and inhaled the scent of the paw print.
“Its Shadow,” He said, “Come on, Kari! He’s got to be here somewhere!”
Kari began to bellow out Shadow’s name, while Balto followed the prints and the scent through the snow.
“Here, Kari! He must be here!” Balto shouted to here.
The scent and the prints had stopped, but there was no Shadow.
“Where is he?!” Kari said horror-struck. Balto began to tunnel into the snow until he felt soft, yet freezing fur. He saw black patches appear in the snow, and he continued to dig and dig. It was Shadow for sure.
“Oh no! Dad, is he…?” Kari asked.
“No, he’s still alive - only just though. We have to get him back to Nome soon,”
Balto grabbed onto Shadow’s collar with his jaws and dragged him out of the snow. His fur was frosted over, and he was shaking and breathing heavily. Kari licked his face. One eyelid slowly opened to show a luminous crystal blue eye.
“Kari…?” Shadow said in a faint and shaky voice, but his head sank back down and his eyelid shit down again as he hit the snow.
“No! Shadow!” Kari wailed.
“Kari, it’s alright, he’s ok. But we have to go now and get him home and warm,”
“But dad, we won’t get to Nome in time! And it will be dark in the next hour!”
She was right. Balto thought hard till an idea sprang up in his head.
“Kari! I have a plan. It just might work –“
“Might!”
“Listen to me, Kari! You have to go back to Nome… get your brother, Kodi. He and the mail team will run out here and collect Shadow and me – You can lead them. I will stay here with Shadow,”
“But dad!”
“No buts! Just go! Before we run out of time!”
Kari looked to the sky and saw dark clouds forming as snow fell down heavier and heavier. She nuzzled her father one last time the said to him,
“Don’t worry, dad! I’ll get to Nome in time, and we’ll come right back here for you!”
She ran off then skidded in the snow to a halt. She looked back at her father, lying there with his head over Shadow to keep him warm.
She howled to him, and then ran off again, as quickly as possible. Balto smiled, then turned as there was a sudden movement below him. Shadow lifted his head opening his eyes for a second, then fell back to the ground.
“Easy there, Shadow. You’re going to be alright…”
Kari ran and ran until her feet were in pain. But she didn’t stop. She had to get to Nome before it was too late. She found it hard to breath, and was panting franticly. Kari continued to run, dodging the trees down the mountain side and through the thick pine forest. It became snowier and snowier, and soon it was a raging blizzard, and her tracks were disappearing behind her by the minute. She was so worried for Shadow. She knew her father would be okay, he was experienced in this sort of emergency, but Shadow was helpless. A strong gust of wind blew her side ways and she picked up the pace of her running. Kari speed of the mountain side onto flat land. The wind whistled in her ears even more. But she still didn’t stop. Soon, a light came into view, a red flashing light. Then more and more appeared, golden and shining. She was coming into Nome.
Balto laid his head back down onto Shadow’s thick fur. Shadow was stone cold and shivering. Balto quivered himself, as the bitter cold came to him. He had been there nearly an hour now, there was no sign of Kari or the team and the darkness had reached him and Shadow. Balto felt like dozing off, but he held on. He could feel the frost melting beneath his fur and Shadow’s. It tickled, and he sneezed. Shadow opened his eyes again.
“Wha’s ‘at…?” He said, still in his shaky voice.
“It’s alright Shadow,” Balto said, “It’s just me, it’s ok,”
Shadow sunk back into the snow. He was drifting off quickly and his heart rate had slowed down rapidly.
“Come on, Kari… please…”
Kirby and Kodi had both fallen asleep by the furnace. They had talked long and their friendship was growing again. All of a sudden, the heavy wooden door of the Old Mill flew open and the wind blew the snow from the blizzard inside. A snowflake landed on Kodi’s nose, and he lifted his head up in shock as the icy water trickle down his nose and made him sneeze.
“Kodi!”
Kodi looked over at the door and saw Kari standing in the doorway looking stunned. He quickly got up and walked over to her.
“Kari! What’s wrong? You look terrible, come and sit by the furnace,” He said.
“No, Kodi, there’s no time!” Kari said, “We have to go and save Shadow!”
“Shadow? Who’s…?”
“No time, Kodi! Shadow and dad are out there in the dark waiting for us to save them! We must go now!”
Kodi looked shocked and his mouth was hung open.
“Kodi! Please!” Kari whined, ”We don’t have time for this! Come on! Get the mail team together we have to leave, NOW!”
Kodi nodded, and ran over to Kirby and woke him up. Kari ran back outside and down town. Dusty was lying outside her owners house on the porch asleep.
“Dusty! Dusty, wake up!” Kari yelled. Dusty raised her head and stared at Kari,
“We must gather the mail team! No time to explain, come on!”
Dusty didn’t entirely understand what Kari was saying to her, but she new it was important and she had to go with her. Dusty got up and close behind Kari.
“Kari?! What’s happening? You look awful dear,” Jenna asked as Kari ran past her. Kari slid in the snow still she stopped, and looked back at Jenna.
“Oh mom! Dad and Shadow… their… we have to save them!” Kari said then ran off again. Jenna looked baffled and ran after her.
Kari had collected everyone up and told Jenna very quickly what happened.
“Kari, you stay here,” Kodi said.
“Wait a minute! This is my rescue, there for –“ Kari argued.
“Kari! Your not a sled dog, you can’t run on the team, and you can’t be on the sled because then were would dad go, ok?”
“But how will you find him then?”
“Oh yea,” Kodi said, blushing, “Eh, I guess you do have to come, heh heh,”
“I’ll lead the way! Follow me, ok?” Kari said, “Now lets go before time runs out!”
The team were all together and ready to go. Kari ran on ahead and the team followed. Kari felt so important and proud of herself. She had never felt so much excitement before in her life. All she ever did was go to the dog salon, get bathed and washed, talk with her friends, play with her brothers and sisters. But she didn’t have long to think about it, she had to remember where Balto and Shadow were through the blizzard.
Balto felt the water freeze through his fur. Shadow wasn’t going to last much longer. He hadn’t moved or opened his eyes in a long time, and he was only just breathing. Balto pressed his ear against his body, and could hear a very faint heart beat.
“Oh, come on Shadow,” Balto said, “Don’t go now…”
Suddenly he heard the patter of paws against the snow, along with howls and barks. Balto looked around, but all he could see was the flurry of snow. He howled out. There was an answer back. It was Kodi… and Kari!
Kari could hear Balto’s howls. She ran ahead on ahead to reach him. Balto suddenly saw Kari burst out of the blizzard and dash at full speed over to him. She cuddled close to Balto, tears from her eyes.
“Kari, we need to get Shadow home, he’s not going to go on for much longer,” Balto said. Kari nodded and barked to the team, who came through the blanket of snow the same way Kari had a moment before.
“Dad!” Kodi shouted, “Are you alright?!”
Balto nodded then stood up on his feet awkwardly. He was stiff and frozen. He lifted Shadow up and Kari took hold of his collar. The pulled him over and placed him on the sled. The musher secured him in and wrapped him up in a thick blanket. Kari licked his face again, but this time there was no movement.
“Come on guys, we need to get him to Nome fast!” Balto said, “I’ll run alongside Kari. Alright team! Mush!”
The mail team bolted and darted through the landscape with Balto in lead along side with Kari.
Nome was soon in sight, and the team saw themselves running into the streets. They skidded to a halt and Balto and Kari ran to Shadow. The musher picked him up and took him into the Old Mill. He was placed on the wooden planks next to the furnace and wrapped up tight. Then the musher ran out to go find Shadow’s owner. Kari ran over to him and sat down, her head resting on his neck.
“Oh Shadow… your alright now, your safe,” She whispered.
Balto smiled at her. “He needs rest,” Balto sighed.
“Dad, I’m going to stay here beside him tonight,” Kari said.
Balto nodded then walked out the door and shut it, but leaving it a little ajar.
Chapter 8 The Truth
Shadow slowly opened his eyes. He moaned and lifted his head up.
“Huh…?” He said in a dozy voice, “Where am I…?”
Kari turned round and gasped.
“Oh your awake!” She shouted with joy and ran over to Shadow and nuzzled him,
“I thought I’d lost you!”
“Kari?!” Shadow sounded amazed, “What are you doing here?”
Kari sat down beside him. Shadow’s owner had gone to find some breakfast for himself and Shadow. He had stayed with Shadow all night, like Kari did.
“Eh, saving your life!” Kari chuckled. Shadow stared at her eyes.
“I’ll tell you the story!” She laughed.
After a long talk of how Kari and Balto saved Shadow, Kari asked him what she had been thinking for a long time.
“Shadow, what do you think you were doing running away like that?” Kari asked.
“Oh, I don’t know…” Shadow sighed, “I guess I just wanted some breathing space you know… some time to think. Then I got lost and didn’t know what to do,”
Shadow yawned and he blinked slowly in a dozy kind of way.
“I think you need some more sleep, Shadow,” Kari said sweetly, “You stay here and rest a bit more. I’m going to go out and see my friends and family quickly, I need to tell them the whole story!”
Shadow grinned with a hint of a laugh, but then sunk of to sleep.
Kari walked out into the street. The snow was freezing against her feet that a second ago were warm and toasty next to the furnace. She trotted through Nome to the dog salon, and saw her friends Jess and Sasha sitting on the wooden porch just outside it. She thought it was about time she apologised to them. Kari also wanted to tell them about her adventure last night, she was dying too, and they were her best friends. Kari walked over to them and they looked up at her with slightly worried faces, as if she would yell at them again.
“Jess, Sasha – I want to say that I’m sorry,” Kari said, “I over-reacted, and I know I shouldn’t have behaved like that to my best friends, it wasn’t right. So, I’m sorry,”
Jess and Sasha both smiled at her.
“Oh! Of course we will forgive you sweetie!” Jess said and cuddled Kari.
Kari laughed, “Okay, okay Jess! I’m not dying or anything!”
“So, tell us about last night! We hear you were quite a hero,” Sasha said. Kari would usually feel embarrassed, but this time she wasn’t. She felt more proud of herself and was glad to be able to tell them the whole story and all the tiny details. Sasha and Jess listened in closely, intrigued, hanging on her every word.
Next stop was her mom’s. Kari walked over to her mothers. Balto was still asleep, but Jenna was awake and ready to hear her story. After Kari had told last nights events for the third time that morning, she decided it was time to go back to Shadow. So she left Jenna and trotted back over to the Old Mill.
Once Shadow had found his strength back he got up, stretched and walked outside. The sun was bright and Nome was full of life. People were rushing about, dogs barking. It was all so wonderful for Shadow to see.
“Come on Shadow,” Kari said, “There’s somebody I want you to meet,”
Kari led Balto down and alley and into Jenna’s house. There sitting by the fire with a crimson blanket laid over him was Balto, exhausted. He woke up when he heard the sound of the door creaking open.
“Morning dad,” Kari said, “Did you get a good sleep?”
“Very good sleep,” Balto said and stretched.
Kari stepped in with Shadow close behind.
“Ah, Shadow, glad to see your looking better,” Balto said.
Shadow looked embarrassed. He had been told all that horrible stuff about Balto and believed it and even gone against Kari for it. He felt so stupid.
“Eh… Balto… I’m – I’m sorry,” Shadow said and stared down at his paws.
Balto smiled, “It’s alright,”
“I guess your not so bad after all… you know, saving my life and all,”
“Guess not,” Balto chuckled.
“Thanks, I guess without you… I would be gone. Just like those children…”
Balto widened his smile and beamed at Shadow.
The End
Authors NoteHello all, I hope you read and enjoyed this story! I wish to write some sequels to this fiction soon. If you have read this, please comment and tell me what you thought. Suggestions are always welcome! And please, the characters "Kari, Sasha, Shadow and Jess" all belong to me, so please respect this and do not use without my permission. Thank you!
Highland' Wolf