The group gathers back at the finish line. "And the winner of the Junior Cross-Country Dogsled race is…Lara Swanson!" the announcer calls. The little girl gratefully pets her dog, while holding the first-place trophy in her other arm as the crowd cheers.
Oran gives Nahook a congratulatory handshake. "Nice race, Nahook."
"Really?" Nahook's face lights up.
"Yeah, you're a mighty good racer. I'm sorry I was so mean earlier. Wanna be friends?"
"Sure!"
"Thanks oodles for saving us, Thunderhawk." Brighteyes says.
"You're very much welcome, but…" a sad look crosses the little Husky's face. "We lost the race. I guess I'm not a winner after all."
"Oh, that's not so," Nahook replies. "You're more than a winner. You're a hero! And this really goes to show that some things are more important than winning; things like being a good friend. You're the best!" The little boy gently picks up his new little friend and cuddles him.
"Does this mean you'd still like to adopt me?"
"More than anything!"
The little Husky's heart fills up with happiness; a big smile spreads across his face as the familiar sparkle of puppy power shimmers around both of them. "Oh, this is wonderful!"
Violet gives a happy sigh. "They certainly both look like winners to me."
Suddenly, Howler gives a howl; the group whip around to see him, as well as Cooler, sitting on the sled. "Okay, crew, time to roll," Cooler says. "We have to catch the late mail flight back to the pound."
The other six dogs promptly embark the sled, and they begin heading off. "Say, Cooler," Whopper inquires. "Do you think Katrina will get back home before we do?"
Cooler hears the polar bear's growl, and glances over his shoulder. "Gee, I don't know, Whopper. Depends on how fast she can run!" He punctuates his sentence with a chuckle.
The bear chases the baddies through the hills in the snowmobile. "Make it stop, Mommie Dearest, make it stop!" Brattina whines.
"Oh, be quiet, Brattina, and keep moving!" Katrina exclaims.
The end.
(Of part two.)