Troubled Mind/ News

Feet slipping on the wet snow and the weight of the sled burdened on their backs, Kodi and the sled team pulled up and stopped just infront of the U.S.A Post Office in the small town of Nome. Kodi stood for a second, tounge lolling form his open mouth heart thumping wildly. One man came up to ruffle his fur and Kodi licked his hand in return. Soon the musher came and untied him. Kodi bounded away with the rest of the team after him. Their tails were held high and their hearts were gay.
" Kodi" came a sweet voice and Kodi swung round to face his mother, Jenna the russet Siberian husky. Kodi smiled.

"Hi Mom" he said nuzzling her neck in comfort. Jenna let her tail wave a bit but broke their connection quickly.

"how was the trip?" she asked, knowing that Kodi wanted her too.

"Oh it was great" said Kodi bounding around her excited. " lead dog is a hard job but I'm getting used to it" Recently, Kirby ,the last lead dog had given up the position to Kodi and Kodi could not have been more proud. He was following in the pawsteps of his Dad thought Jenna.

Kodi stopped jumping and stood motionless.

"where's Dad?" he asked suddenly. Jenna sighed deeply.

"recently your father has been going to the mountains alone Kodi, he has something on his mind" Jenna spoke slowly. Kodi nodded.

" Maybe I will go and see him later"

" Come on Kodi lets go" called a voice Kodi glanced at Dusty his bestfriend.

" Coming, Bye Mom" he said. Jenna laughed and shook her pretty head. Rosie came to her side and the two carried on.

Balto lay watching the sun set, his head lay in his paws and his eyes were clamped shut. He was lying in the same place that he had waited for the plane. But he was not waiting for anything now, he was thinking. The sun shone on his coat and Balto opened his eyes. He scrambled to his feet and paded to the cliff edge. Glancing down his eyes searched but found nothing. He let out a sigh when a familiar voice broke his concentration.

" Balto this is stupid, we spend morning looking for something that's not there. And you wont sit nowhere for ten minutes" Boris the Snow goose said as he ran down to meet the hybrid. Following him was two polar bears, one of them was calling again and again.

" Uncle Boris ,Uncle Boris, slow down" but Boris payed no attention to them.

" Balto come down this instant" Boris called again. Balto let out a irritated sigh.

" Boris" he said turning and jumping of the rock. " Shouldn't you be with Stella?" Boris shook his head comicaly.

" No Stella made me look for you, Jenna is worried Balto go to her" Balto shook the dew off his coat and ran across the snow. Suddenly a howl was heard. Balto's ears pricked, this was what he had been waiting for. He ran to the crest of a hill and the long, musical howl ended. It had been inlike any othe he had heard before. But Balto could not see anything. His tail dropped and he lowered his ears and he walked back to Nome and Jenna.

Fluetta, or Etta as her friends called her walked into the boiler room and grinned. In one corner sat Kodi, Dusty, Ralph and Kirby and in the other Kaltag, Nikki, Star and Steele, who had been let out of the boiler room quite sometime after Balto ad returned.
Fluetta trotted up to Kodi and Sat inbetween him and Kirby.

" Hey guys" she said licking a clump of snow off her pretty tan coat.

"Hi Etta" said Kodi " Have you seen my Dad around here, he's been missing all of today." Etta was about to say that she had not seen him when Balto entered followed closly by Jenna.

" yep, he's over there" Etta smiled and Dusty giggled with her. Kodi rolled his eyes and left them. He joined Balto and Jenna, who where now sitting with Kaltag, Nikki and the rest.

" Dad why wern't you there to greet me?" Kodi asked. Balto dropped his head.

" I'm sorry son, something came up, but I saw you run into town, you did well as lead dog. I'm proud off you" Kodi seemed to visably swell up with pride.

" Thanks Dad" he said smiling. The door swung open and Mel, the post office dog came in followed by Dipsy, his rather large friend.

" Attention" Mel called out trotting to the centre of the room. Dipsy followe him and said.

" Does anyone have something to eat?" she asked. Dixie and Sylvia who were sitting at the back of the boiler room laughed and tossed Dipsy a bone.

" ATTENTION" called Mel again and the room fell silent.

" Now tomorrow we have some new dog staying here, they need to feel welcome so no rude words e.c.t"

The whole of dogdom must of heard because no one spoke form then on. They filtered out and Kodi and Dusty walked home ,talking.

" Why do you think Mel made such a fuss over the two dogs?" Dusty asked

" you know Mel he makes a fuss over everything" laughed Kodi.

" yes but still……" Dusty faded off. " oh well goodnight Kodi"

" g'night Dusty"