Chapter 1: Perfect Timing
The sun peaked up over the mountains as Anika breathed in the cool air. "Good morning kiddo," said a friendly voice from behind her. "Oh good morning Dad," Anika said as she turned and looked at her father. "What are you doing out here so early?" Kodi asked his daughter as he sat down next to her. "Well… you know just wanting to see the sun rise." Anika said nervously. Kodi knew his daughter better than she knew herself. "Right…" Kodi said raising one eyebrow. "What are you really doing up this early?" Kodi asked as he cocked his head to the left. Anika sighed as she looked down to the porch. "Okay, okay… I was wondering if you would come down to the beach and train me." Ankia said with her ears down low while looking back at her father.
Kodi chuckled. "Like father like daughter I see." Kodi said with a smile. "Dad! Please!" Ankia begged. Kodi knew he couldn't say no to his little girl, and so he gave into her. "Alright Ankia. Just let me tell your Uncle where we're going." Kodi said as he stood up and started to make his way back into the house. "Yes!" Anika cheered as she stay out on the porch. Kodi chuckled as he walked into the house. Kodi walked by the living room and spotted his other three kids sleeping along with his mate Dusty. Berry was also fast asleep on the couch with some droll coming from his mouth. Kodi smiled before making his way up the stairs and into Thomas's room.
Eighteen year old Thomas was sleeping in his bed when Kodi walked in to wake him up. "Hey Thomas." Kodi whispered as he nugged Thomas's arm his muzzle. Thomas jerked awake as he looked at Kodi. "Hey," Thomas said tired as he sat up from his bed. "What time is it?" Thomas said with a yawn. "It's morning sleepy head," Kodi said with a chuckle. "Smart ass," Thomas said as he looked at the clock. It was 6:35 am as Thomas stood up from his bed and stretched. "So why did you wake me up so early?" Thomas asked as he walked over to his bathroom. "Anika wants me to train her," Kodi explained. "Train her for what?" Thomas asked as he started brushing his teeth. "Well you know… train her like a sled dog," Kodi answered as Thomas rinses out his mouth. "I thought you were done with those days?" Thomas said as he cleans out his toothbrush.
"I am, I just… Well I could teach her some things like my dad taught me things," Kodi answered. Thomas nodded as he puts his toothbrush away. "What about Jack, Nova and Eli? What if they want to join you?" Thomas asked as he step out of his bathroom. "I could show them some things as well…" Kodi said with a chuckle. "What's so funny?" Thomas asked as he looked at Kodi. "I mean, it's not like they are joining the mail team or anything," Kodi added with another chuckle. Thomas just looked at his dog with one raised eyebrow. "What?" Kodi asked looking up at Thomas. "I hate to break it to you Kodi. But sled dog racing runs in your family like a straight bloodline," Thomas explained as he changed into his clothes.
Kodi lowered his ears and looked down to the ground. "Yeah that's what I'm worried about. Kodi said with his head still lowered. "Cheer up buddy. They might not all want to be on a sled team. This might just be all for fun." Thomas said as he patted Kodi on the head. Kodi smiled as he looked back up at Thomas. "Alright well. I better get going to school." Thomas said as he started to make his way out of his room. Kodi followed behind him as they made their way down the stairs.
Thomas walked into the kitchen and grabbed some milk before heading out the back door. Kodi had walked into the living room to wake up his sleeping family. "Hey Dusty," Kodi said as he nudged his mate with his muzzle. Dusty opened her eyes and looked at Kodi with a smile. "Hey," Dusty said as she sat up slowly. "What's up?" Dusty asked with a yawn. "Anika is waiting outside for me to teach her some things about sled dog racing and…" Before Kodi could finish Dusty cuts him off. "What? I thought we were done with those days?" Dusty spoke up. Kodi lowered his ear and sighed. "I know we are… but I don't see the harm in teaching them a few things about being a sled dog," Kodi explained.
"Them? You want to teach the rest of our kids about sled dog racing?" Dusty asked. Kodi opened his mouth to say something but then was interrupted by Jack. "Sled Dog racing?! Come on dad you got to teach that stuff! Please!" Jack with as he stood up from where he was sleeping. Kodi and Dusty both looked at their son before looking back at each other. "Sled dog racing? Are we really going to learn that?" Eli and Nova both asked while looking at their parents. Kodi then looked at Dusty with a smile, Dusty sighed and then nodded. "Alright just be careful," Dusty as stood up and yawned. "You guys are going to behave yourselves right?" Dusty said as she looked at her boys. Nova, Eli and Jack all sighed. "Yes Mom we'll behave," Jack said as he stretched. Dusty smiled as she walked over to her son's and nuzzle them before letting them go with their father.
"We'll be back," Kodi said as he and his boys walked out the door. Dusty smiled as she watched them leave before laying back down. "You guys are coming too?" Anika asked as she stood up from the snow. "What's wrong sis? Don't want to share the spotlight with your brothers?" Jack teased. "No. I just didn't know you guys would be interested in doing sled dog stuff." Anika stated. "Come on Anika. It's in own blood to do sled dog stuff! Right Dad?" Nova asked while looking at his father. Kodi chuckled before answering. "I guess you could say that. I've always wanted to be on the sled team and I chased that dream and made it," Kodi explained as they all started walking down the hill. "How come you stopped doing it Dad?" Eli asked as he walked beside his father. Kodi looked forward and remembered the Henderson run. "Dad are you okay?" Anika asked as they all stopped walking. Kodi forced a smile and looked at all his kids. "I'll tell you guys that story another time," Kodi simply said as he started walking again. Kodi's didn't question any further as they just followed their father down the hill.
Thomas pulled up into the parking lot of the high school and got out of his car. Thomas took a step forward before getting beeped at by a 1989 pontiac firebird. "Hey watch it!" Thomas shouted as he jumped out of the way. As the car parked a teen boy of the same age of Thomas stepped out of the car. The boy had black hair and black colored eyes. He wore jeans, a black shirt with a leather jacket and high top sneakers. "I would be careful. standing in the middle of a parking spot could be dangerous," the boy said with a smile as he grabs his backpack from his car and closes the car door and locks up his car. "Yeah well… it would be nice for a little more warning before getting hit by a car," Thomas snapped back. The boy chuckled before looking at Thomas's car. "Hey! a Nissan skyline 2000," the boy said while walking over to Thomas's car and looking at it.
Just now it came to Thomas's mind that this kid wasn't from this town. "You're not from around here, are you?" Thomas asked as he stood next to his car. The boy smiled and then looked at Thomas. "No, I'm new here. William is the name." William said as he took out his hand and shook Thomas's hand. "I'm Thomas," Thomas replied. "Oh I know who you are," William said with a smile as he let's go of Thomas's hand. "You do?" Thomas asked. William chuckled as he walked passed Thomas. "Who doesn't know you? Your pretty famous around here… almost as famous as Balto is," William said as he bumped into Thomas's shoulder. Thomas turned and looked at William. "What's that's supposed to mean?" Thomas asked. William stopped walking and looked at Thomas. William only smiled before looking down at the ground.
Thomas opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by someone dropping boxes on the ground. Thomas and William both looked across the street and saw a man in his late 60s trying to get his stuff into his house without any help. "Loser," William said before walking away. "You know we could go help him," Thomas said as he looked at William. William only chuckled as he left and walked into the school. "Jerk," Thomas said as he walked across the street and helped he man out. "Need some help?" Thomas said as he started to help with the boxes. "Oh thank you young man!" The man said as he grabbed some boxes. Thomas and the man then walked up to his apartment and office. "You can just set those boxes next to the window," the man said as he placed down the boxes down next to his desk.
Thomas noticed as he looked around the man's apartment that he was interested in Science and history. "Are you a history teacher or a scientist?" Thomas asked as he looked at the man. The man smiled as he took out his hand to shake Thomas's hand. "My name is Bill Elefun. But you can call me Dr. Elefun and I was a science professor in Washington DC and I have a major in history," Elefun explained with a smile. "impressive," Thomas said as he took his hand back. "So what brought you here?" Thomas asked. Elefun laughed before answering. "Well me and my grandson Alistair wanted a new change of scenery." Elefun said as he rubbed the back of his neck. "You have a grandson? How old he?" Thomas asked. Elefun smiled as he looked up at Thomas. "He's seventeen and he should be at school right now as where you should be." Elefun said as he crossed his arms still with his smile.
"Oh um… right I'll see you later?" Thomas asked before leaving Elefun's Apartment. As Thomas closed the door behind him, Elefun chuckled. "He's a nice boy," Elefun said as he started to put somethings away from the boxes. Thomas walked back over to school and walked inside. As Thomas walked into the school he saw william picking on a new kid he had never seen before. "Hey Nerd! Next time get out of my way!" William said as he pushed the kid out of the way before heading into his class. Thomas then walked over to the kid who was sitting on the ground. "Hey are you okay?" Thomas asked as he helped the kid up from the ground. "Yeah I'm okay," the kid replied as he looked at Thomas. The kid has black hair, dark violet eyes and white skin. "Are you Alistair?" Thomas asked as he handed the boy his backpack. "Yeah how did you know that?" Alistair asked as he took his backpack. "I helped your grandfather out with moving his things in." Thomas said with a smile. "Oh... Thank you I was going to help him but he told me I better get to school instead," Alistair said as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Oh I'm Thomas by the way," Thomas said as he handed out his hand. "Nice to meet you Thomas. I'm Alistair as you already know," Alistair said with a smile as he shook Thomas's hand. "Well we better get to class," Thomas said as he took his hand back. "Right," Alistair said as he and Thomas walked into their classroom. As Thomas and Alistair walked into the classroom. They both saw William looking at them with a smile in the back of the room. "Let's seat here," Thomas said as he sat down in front. Alistair nodded as he sat down next to Thomas. "Only my first day and I already made an enemy and a friend," Alistair said as he took out his books for class. Thomas chuckled before patting Alistair on the back. "Just stay next to me and I'll keep you safe from William over there," Thomas whispered to Alistair with a smile. Alistair chuckled with a smile before looking forward as class started.
"Perfect timing Nova!" Kodi cheered as his son raced his way on the beach towards him. "Good formation Anika!" Kodi said as she raced beside Eli and Jack. Anika started to slow down and lose her breath. Kodi noticed this and felt worried for his daughter. Once the three of them made their way to their father, Kodi walked over to Anika who was breathing harder than her brothers. "Anika are you alright?" Kodi asked with concern. Anika caught her breath and then looked at her dad. "Yeah I'm good. Just out of shape that's all," Anika said with a smile. Kodi smiled and nodded. "Good I was worried about you," Kodi said as he nuzzled his daughter. "Hey Dad! Can we go see Uncle Thomas at the school?" Nova asked as he jumped around. Kodi chuckled before answering. "Yeah let's go. School should be getting out soon and uncle Berry should be there already anyways," Kodi said with smile as he started to make his way to the school. All the kids followed their father as they made their way to the school.
Thomas and Alistair both walked out of the school with the rest of kids who were either going home or doing other things in the town. William then pushed past Thomas and Alistair. Making Alistair fall on the ground and dropping his books. "Hey! Watch where you're going William!" Thomas shouted as he helped Alistair up. William only smirked as he walked over to a light red and white Siberian Husky with a dark patch on his right eye and black tips on his ears. "Kaltag?" Thomas whispered to himself. "Huh? Who's that?" Alistair asked as he picks up his books. Thomas then started helping Alistair with his books before answering. "Oh Kaltag was a sled dog who was on the sled team back when the serum was happening." Thomas explained as they both stood up. "But this dogs is different… Kaltag has a dark brown patch on his left eye and this one has a dark patch on his right eye. He's almost a spitting image of Kaltag," Thomas explained.
Before Alistair could speak and talk further about Kaltag. Berry ran up to Thomas and jumped on his shoulder. "Hey buddy! How was school? Did you get me the apple?" Berry said as he searched around Thomas pockets. "Don't be scared Thomas! Raccoons are very nice creatures and they only want a snack," Alistair said trying to stay calm. Thomas laughed before grabbing Berry's apple from his bag and handed it to him. "It's okay Alistair he's my pet. Well more like my friend than a pet, he hates the word "pet" so he's just my best friend," Thomas explained as Berry took a bite of his apple. "Oh okay," Alistair said as he smiled while rubbing the back of his neck. "Hey Thomas! Nice rat you have there!" William said as he walked up to Thomas and Alistair.
"Berry's not a rat!" Thomas shot back. William chuckled as he crossed his arms. "So his names Berry? What kind of Berry? Maybe a strawberry? Or maybe a blueberry?" William said as he started to laugh. This got Thomas heated in anger, but Berry beat him to it. Berry took one last bite of his apple and threw the remaining apple at Williams face. "Hey! what the hell!" William said in anger. Thomas and Alistair both started laughing. "That wasn't funny!" William shouted as he grabbed Thomas by his jacket. "Hey! I'm the one who got hit in the head by an apple," Thomas said with a smile. William then let's go Thomas and then backs up. "So how come your dog looks so familiar?" Thomas asked as he looked down at Williams dog. "Scotty here is the grandson of Kaltag who was on the sled team of the serum run," William said proudly with his arms crossed.
Scotty even puffed up his chest and looked proud of his ego. "Heck. Scotty here can outrun any dog here in town," William said still acting proud of himself. "Ha! Sure I'd liked to see that happen!" Thomas said with a smile. William then got serious and glaired at Thomas. "I don't see you having a dog here! Even if you did have a dog and not a raccoon I bet Scotty would bet your dog in a heartbeat," William said with his face getting red. Thomas looked past William and saw Kodi and his kids walking up to the school. Thomas smiled at this as he crossed his arms while leaning up against his car. "Actually I do have a dog and here he comes now." Thomas said with smile.
Alistair couldn't believe his eyes as Kodi walked up to thomas. "I didn't know you were Kodi's owner!" Alistair said with a smile. "Kodi Who?" William asked as he looked down at the red and white Husky. Scotty looked over at Kodi's kids and eyes Anika. Anika blushed a little bit as she looked at Scotty. "Kodi. Son of Balto, you know, the towns hero Balto." Thomas with a chuckle. William smirked as he crossed his arms and kicked some snow. "Scotty could still beat that old man in a race anytime," William said still with a smirk. "Wanna bet?" Thomas asked raising one eyebrow. William laughed before answering. "Nah I already know Scotty could beat him if he really wanted to," William said before walking away with Scotty right behind him. "So your scare to lose?" Thomas asked as he watched William walk away.
William stopped on his tracks and looked at Thomas. "I ain't scared! I just know Scotty would smoke him!" William said now getting angry. "Then let's prove it," Thomas suggested. "Do you think dad can beat the new dog?" Nova whispered Eli. "Come on guys we all know dad can smoke him," Jack added. William then walked up to Thomas and got in his face. "We don't have to prove anything to you losers," William said with a smirk before walking away. "Watch this," Jack whispered to his brothers. "Hey Scotty! We all know our dad could beat you anytime!" Jack said with howl. "Stop it Jack!" Anika said now embarrassed. "What it's true," Jack said as he looked at his sister. Thomas shook his head before looking at Alistair. "I think he was scared." Thomas said with laugh.
Alistair nervously laughed. "Yeah I think so too," Alistair said as he rubbed the back of his neck. Alistair then looked down at Eli, Jack, Nova and Anika. "So who are these wonderful young adults?" Alistair said as he got down to their level and started petting them. "These are Kodi and Dusty's kids," Thomas said with a smile. Alistair then stood up and looked at Thomas. "Dusty wasn't she a part of the sled dog team around here?" Alistair asked. "Yeah she was... for being new around here you sure know lot about..." before Thomas could finish Alistair started to explain. "Before we moved here I did a lot of research on the history here and a lot of the fun things here were the iconic dogs here... but then there was you," Alistair said now studying Thomas.
"Me?" Thomas asked. "At least he said dad was an Icon," Jack whispered to Eli. "Shh," Kodi spoke up. "If I'm not mistaken you were in a couple newspapers from here and New York," Alistair went into further detail about Thomas's past history. "Yeah um... well... those... um..." Thomas tried to word this right but couldn't. "You don't have to explain Thomas I read the articles of what had happened between here and New York. But there's one thing I don't really understand," Alistair states as he looks down at Kodi and his kids. "This should be good," Berry said as he jumped onto Kodi's back. "I'm more into a logical explanation than fantasy and magic. But I read something about magic stones in the article," Alistair said with one eyebrow up now studying Thomas.
"Magic stones?" Thomas said nervously. Alistair crosses his arms and nodded. "Well, maybe we can talk about that later," Thomas said with a nervous laugh. "Good, I would like to study your stones when we get a chance," Alistair said before grabbing his bag. "I have to head home now but until then I'll see you around," Alistair said before taking off towards his home. Thomas sat on his car hood as he watched his new friend head for home. "Well that was strange," Berry said as he jumped off of Kodi and on to the car hood. "Hey Dad you think you could take on Scotty?" Jack asked as he looked at his father. "Give him a break Jack," Anika spoke up. "What? I think he could out run him," Jack said proudly. "Thanks for support son. But I'm done with racing other dogs." Kodi said as he scratches his side.
Anika shook her head and looked to her left and watched as William was talking to girls while Scotty sat next to him. Scotty then turned and looked at Anika. Anika then turned away quickly as Scotty looked at her. Thomas then felt his phone vibrate his pocket. Thomas then took out his phone and saw that his father had texted him. "Hey son can you meet at the bakery," Thomas read. "Yeah I'll be right there," Thomas texted back.
"Alright, do you guys want a ride to the bakery?" Thomas asked as he got off his car hood. "Nah we'll just walk there," Kodi replied as he stood up. "I'll take a ride with you!" Berry cheered as he jumped onto the car. "Alright then I'll see you guys there," Thomas said as he got into his car. As Thomas took off for the bakery, Kodi looked at his kids and smiled. "I may not race other dogs in town but I wouldn't mind racing my own kids," Kodi said as he started to get ready to take off. "Oh your on pops!" Jack said with a smile. "Ready..." Kodi said as all his kids got ready to take on their father. "Set..." Kodi said with a smile. "Go!" Kodi shouted just as he and his kids took off towards the bakery.
Kodiwolf321 A/N: Alright guys here we are in Purpose: Heading Home! Our third installment In the Purpose series. Honestly I didn't think we would get so far into this series and yet here we are! Purpose: Heading Home will have some great twists and turns and along with new characters. Alright guys I really don't have much to say other than thank you for letting me expand this world of mine and let these characters expand as well, and you have some OC's that you would like to enter into this story then feel free to send them to me. Just give me a bio of them and how you would like to be introduced to Thomas and Kodi.
Alright guys I think that's about it for now and if you haven't already checked out the spin offs to Purpose, then check out Animal Nature with Berry and Ozzy. Then check Purpose Shorts. Alright guys I will see you in the next chapter very soon!