DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING BUT MY OWN OC'S.
I watched the girl, Rosie, thank her parents for allowing her to keep me. To be honest, I wasn't a fan of fish, not even a little, but I couldn't be picky. It was the first thing I'd eaten all day. I was guessing that this meant that I was getting normal food from here on out, not dog food. Neither Balto nor Jenna had made any attempt to talk to me so I reciprocated the action. I was content to keep to myself. After all, perhaps that was best.
"Still hungry?" Rosie asked, seeing that my plate was empty. I shook my head, another natural action for me, though I knew dogs weren't supposed to act so human. She just smiled and took the plate. "I can't let you outside yet, due to your injuries. Doc said it would agitate them. Sorry, but you're housebound for now."
I nodded again and simply laid down on the floor in front of the fire, making sure I wasn't in anyone's way.
Several weeks passed like this. Everyday, I would eat three meals of cooked food. It definately made the family happy when they discovered that I really like raw and cooked vegetables, too, and that I really wasn't much of a picky eater. I was taken to the vet at least once a week so he could check on me, though Rosie always made sure I was well wrapped in a blanket and carried by her dad every time. Today would be the first day I was allowed outside, allowed to roam free. My injuries had healed very nicely and very quickly. After the first week, Balto and Jenna had finally relaxed enough to leave me alone with Rosie. Rosie often spent hours brushing my fur, getting out knots and removing shedding fur. I was grateful. Now, though, was the real test of this town. How would everyone else react to me? I knew from previous experiences that the people accepted me, accepting the stories Rosie and family told about how I'd obviously been a pet before, which explained why I'd walked into town, went to humans for help.
Let them believe what they will. It mattered not to me as long as I knew the truth. They didn't need to know, though. It had to continue this way for now.
"Ready?" Rosie asked as we walked to the door. I nodded, something her family had gotten really used to. They'd also told everyone about how human I acted. Most chauked it up to how I was trained, meant to make me easier to understand and communicate with. Again, let them believe what they will. The truth was in the eyes of the beholder for now.
"Stay safe and have fun," she said, holding open the door for me. I nodded and stepped out into the chillier air. It was definately almost summer, the snow completely gone from the ground, green grass covering the ground. It was lovely. The door closed behind me and I glanced back. After a moment of hesitation, I began making my way through the town. People didn't scream or whisper at the sight of me this time. Several dogs made mental notes when I walked by, but said nothing. A few kids gave me soft pats here and there, some adults following suite. Others ignored me completely or just passed me casual looks.
"Nice to see you out and about, Serena," greeted Dr. Antos. I nodded. He smiled and walked past, going into his clinic. After some time, I caught sight of a large expanse, just outside of town. Several dogs were running around, playing out there. Balto watched them from up on a broken ship, two geese and two polar bears in the background. I made mental notes on that, then sat down on the edge of town, content to watch the dogs play. A few of them had coloring like Jenna, telling me they were related. I had no doubts that Balto was the father, though you really couldn't see it in them. All of them were well fed and well groomed. A part of me felt great envy towards them. They lived such simple lives, never thinking about more than their day to day tasks.
After a moment, I rose and turned, walking back into the town. I passed a few more dogs, then caught sight of two human men arguing, though not heatedly. It was more of a disagreeing discussion than anything. Wordlessly, I stepped over and sat down nearby to listen.
"I want to put Kodi in the lead harness," the musher said. The postman shook his head.
"He's never lead before," he objected.
"He's well trained," the musher pushed.
"You'll need a replacement dog for his current position," the postmaster pointed out. "And all the dogs in town are either pets or all ready on sled-team duty."
The musher looked helpless... so, I got up and walked over. Lightly, I butted my head against his leg. He looked down at me. So did the postmaster. I stepped over to his sled and lightly pushed around the harness. It was a one-dog training harness and sled. I looked back at him, wondering if he understood. He was smiling brightly.
"I may have found said dog," he stated, walking over. After a few moments and a few adjustments, he had the harness on me. The two mail dogs were watching without saying a word. Slowly, the musher pulled back and looked at me. Then he gently placed his hands on my head.
"G," he said, then moved my head to the right. "H."
He moved my head to the left. I nodded, understanding. He stepped back and smiled.
"G," he said. I turned to the right. He smiled. "H."
I turned left. He shot a triumphant look at the postmaster, then got on the back of the sled. I knew this was the real test.
"Once to the edge of the forest and back should be test and training enough for this one," he told the postmaster, who nodded in agreement. "She's smart."
Then he looked back at me.
"Mush," he commanded. Immediately, I put on full speed and raced out of town. I followed his instructions to a "t" knowing other dogs were watching, taking notes even more on me. I didn't care. I only listened to my musher. When we pulled back into town, back in front of the post office, Rosie was waiting.
"Mr. Simpson, may I have Serena back?" she asked. The musher smiled.
"Of course, Rosie," he answered, then came over and unfastened me from the harness. "Though, may I borrow her everyday for the mail run?"
I heard more dogs approach, one of them looking like Jenna, a male.
"Are you gonna make her lead dog?" Rosie asked. The musher smiled softly.
"Only if my other lead is sick or wounded," he answered. "I need a dog to replace Kodi in the line-up so that I can make him lead dog. May I borrow Serena? She's proven herself to be exceedingly intelligent and quick to adapt. She's also swift, almost faster than my entire team combined, though I have no doubt she can curb her speed to match and work with theirs."
I watched the exchange silently. I knew what Rosie would say, so I tugged at the harness with my teeth, then gave a low whine to her. Rosie's resolve crashed immediately and she smiled, a soft, defeated smile.
"This is what you want?" she asked me. I nodded. "All right. You'll have to get up really early to be here on time everyday."
I nodded again, all ready knowing that much.
"Great!" Mr. Simpson said. "I'll come by every morning to come get her. Thank you, Rosie."
Rosie smiled and nodded. Mr. Simpson patted my head, then took the sled and walked back to his home. Rosie turned to leave and I got up and followed her, not saying a word to the watching dogs. After a while, she stopped and patted me softly.
"There's still a lot of day ahead of you," she told me. "Enjoy it. I'll call when it's time to come home."
I nodded and she walked home. I waited until she was inside before turning around, only to stop in my tracks as I saw all the dogs from before. My eyes scanned over all of them, measuring them up just in case they attacked. I would need to use their strengths and weaknesses against them if I were to win a numbers game. Silence reigned as they just sat there, watching me, and I stood there, watching them. After a few moments, I laid my ears back flat against my head, then turned around and walked away. I had nothing to say to them, just as (it appeared) they had nothing to say to me. It had simply been an intimidation dance, I guess. Soon, I found myself on the edge of the forest. I turned around and sat down, facing the town I'd come to call home. Several dogs continued to play in the open, completely unaware of my watchful gaze. A few pups strayed near the forest, a sight that warmed my heart. So long had it been since I'd seen such bissful innocence.
SNAP!
My eyes flew to the edge of the forest as I saw the carefree pups stray closer. Quickly, I ran thier direction, catching sight of the predator that continued to draw near to them. I pushed my speed to it's max, catching the attention of the playing dogs, who immediately caught sight of what I had. They immediately began screaming for the pups to run and they looked at them, then heard the danger behind them. They immediately bolted for the adults, but the grizzly was bearing down on them, finally bursting from the forest. The humans finally caught sight of it and the men grabbed their guns, running towards it. My speed grew with each second, then one of the pups tripped, landing hard on his chin. He was completely disoriented!
Just before the grizzly reached the fallen pup, I lunged and latched onto it's throat. With a loud roar it reared and swiped me away. I immediately landed on my feet and charged again, making sure to keep it's focus on me. I saw the feverish look in it's eyes. This grizzly had rabies.
I had to be careful not to get bitten.
I continued to bite and tear at it's throat while avoiding it's massive paws, claws, and teeth. Finally, after a deep struggle, I latched onto it's neck one more time, gave it a hard wrench, and was rewarded by a resounding crack. The bear fell limp to the ground and I stepped back, licking the blood from my teeth, then turned and looked back at the people. The men were running forward to make sure the bear was dead. I stepped away and sat down, waiting patiently for them to finish looking him over, the vet making the final say.
"Poor beast," he said sadly. "Had rabies."
The men then looked at me.
"Did he bite you?" the vet asked. I shook my head. "Thank you, Serena. That was a very dangerous thing you did now, dangerous, but brave."
Each human gave me a good-natured pat for my work, though my eyes scanned for the fallen pup. He was safely in the group of dogs nearby. His eyes spoke volumes of his gratitude, though I knew now that I was not making any friends among the dogs, just in the way they were standing. They surrounded the pups, their stances defensive, ready to attack if necessary, all of their eyes on me. There was no place among such good-natured beings for something that took lives unflinchingly.
"Serena, I still have to give you a rabies shot, just in case," Dr. Antos said. I nodded and followed him back into town while the men disected the bear, getting out of it what meat they could. Then they set fire to the rest of the carcass. The smell hurt my nose, almost making me want to wretch. Still, I was lucky. I hadn't even gotten a scratch. I took advantage of the beast's feverish mind and inability to truly think. That had aided me in stopping it. Rosie met me at the edge of town, giving me a huge hug.
"You're a wonderful dog, Serena," she told me with a smile, then walked with Dr. Antos and I to the clinic for my shot.
AN HOUR LATER
After being thoroughly checked out, Dr. Antos released me back to the outdoors. Rosie went on home and I wandered the streets again. Soon, the pup I saved ran up to me and I paused, letting him lick my face gently.
"Thank you for saving me," he said. I smiled warmly.
"You're more than welcome, little one," I told him. He smiled and walked back to his mom. She sent me a grateful smile, then lead her pups home. I watched them go and smiled softly, sitting down to watch. The young always brought me great joy. After a few moments, I felt the presense of another nearby. I looked to my side, only to see the team of dogs from earlier. They were silent, but watching. After a few more minutes, one finally sat down next to me, the one that looked like Jenna.
"So, you're to run with us tomorrow," he commented. I said nothing. There was nothing to say to that.
"Is your true name Serena?" asked a female. That one had reason for an answer.
"No," I answered. "But it is now. My name no longer holds true for me, not anymore."
"So you choose to continue under a name that is not your own?" clarfied the female. I merely nodded. After a few more minutes of silence I let my annoyance show.
"Unless you have something more constructive to say, I would prefer to spend the rest of my day alone," I said. "I have much on my mind and no, I do not wish to share. I do not wish to seem rude, but, for the moment, I'm better off alone."
I gave them a few minutes to speak up, then rose and walked away. None of them followed. I was unsurprised. After all, I hadn't been the most friendly person right then. I continued through the streets, just watching everything, then paused in front of what smelled like the musher's home. Lightly, I scratched on the door. After a few moments, he opened it and, with a smile, let me in.
"Welcome, Serena," he greeted. I was unsurprised to see Rosie's dad there. I was certain he and the musher were discussing my addition to the team.
"Are you certain you want to join this team, Serena?" asked Rosie's father. I nodded. "Then you also understand that the musher cannot be held accountable for anything that happens to you on your runs?"
Again, I nodded. He sighed, relenting.
"Very well," he caved. "She's yours in the mornings, but back to us at night."
He and the musher shook hands, then I followed him out. I followed him all the way home, just as Rosie stepped out and called Balto and Jenna home. She was about to call me, too, but saw me next to her dad and opted not to. I smiled softly and simply walked into the home, sitting down in my usual spot in the kitchen for supper. I simply relaxed. I would need all my strength and patience for the day tomorrow, unless other plans were laid.
"Serena?" Balto said, walking over and sitting down next to me, Jenna on his other side. "How are you?"
"Well," I answered simply. "What's truly on your mind?"
He seemed surprised.
"Not to seem rude, but I don't like to beat around the bush," I told him. "Say what you came over to say and be done with it."
"There's a gathering tonight at the big shed," Jenna answered. "You should come. Several dogs would like to get to know you better."
I rolled that over in my mind.
"We'll see what this night brings, but I make no promises one way or the other," I answered. Both nodded, still getting used to my point-blank personality. I was only like this when I didn't know you. Eventually, I would loosen up enough to talk to them freely, but, for now, the less I said, the better.
Supper passed quickly and I soon found myself back in the night air. Balto and Jenna had left quite some time earlier to go to the shed. Slowly, I made my way over as well. As I approached, a large part of me warned that discretion would be my greatest ally. I needed to not be seen nor heard until I wanted to be. So... I climbed silently to the roof and headed towards an open window, only to pause. The four companions to Balto from earlier today were crowding the window. Silently, I snuck up behind them and sat down, making sure they were unaware of my presense.
"-and then she merely brushed us off like we were some annoying insects!" raged the female from earlier.
"She was so rude!" agreed another of them, a brown male.
"Did you ever consider the fact that she mentioned she had a lot on her mind?" asked the husky that looked like Jenna, the one that had been in the group. "Perhaps not all of it was good things and it put her in a foul mood."
"Kodi's right," Balto spoke up. "We can't judge on only knowing a person for one day."
"She's a wolf!" objected another. "She'll never fit in!"
"Did you forget that I, too, am part wolf?" Balto pointed out. The dog refused to look at him.
"Besides, the humans like her well enough," Jenna put in.
"But she killed a grizzly on her own," said another. "She's too dangerous to belong here!"
"She did it to save my pups, or did you forget that?" snarled the mother from earlier. Unable to hold my silence any longer, I let my anger slip into my voice as I raised it loud enough for them all to hear.
"Nice to know a person can feel both safe and welcome in a new place among beings that are supposed to be good-natured," I commented coldly. Every head whipped around and up to look at me as my icy gaze swept over them. Without hesitation, I leapt down into the middle of their circle.
"If you have a problem with me, now's the time to bring it to the front," I snarled. "But don't be surprised if you end up eating your words before you're through. I'm just in the mood!"
I was unsurprised that no one spoke up, most of them backing away from the enraged wolf in their midst.
"Yes, I am a wolf," I continued to rant. "Yes, I'm rude and bitchy. Do any of you consider the ever so simple concept that maybe, just maybe, there's a reason?"
I whirled on the female and male that had dared called me rude without cause.
"No," I snarled, bearing down on them. They both hastily backed away. "You assume unthruths and are content to live with it."
I looked at the one that had mentioned the grizzly.
"Yes, I killed," I snarled at him. He backed up, too. "The creature left me no choice. Besides, it would have died soon anyway. He had rabies, did you ever think of that?"
Surprised expressions flooded the room, the mother's eyes going the widest.
"Or would you prefer I'd simply stood aside, frozen to the spot, yelling my head off like the rest of you while it tore apart the fallen pup, hm?" I asked coldly. "Ungrateful mounds of fur, be the ones among you so quick to condemn. Next time, I'll be sure to simply act like the rest of you and stand aside while an innocent life is stolen, shall I?"
I then turned a much kinder gaze to Balto, Jenna, the male who'd stood up for me, and the mother.
"The four of you appear to be the only level-headed dogs in this entire town," I commented. "Take that as one of the highest compliments you will ever get from me, for they are few and far between. While others swoop in with falseties and only see what they wish, you search for truth and live the simple motto; innocent until proven guilty. For that, I am grateful."
I trained my eye on the one that looked like Jenna.
"I never got your name, but I'm guessing you're Kodi," I stated. He nodded. "You will lead tomorrow. I will follow, just like all the rest of your team. Whether they can work with me remains to be seen. If it becomes a problem, I won't hesitate and will step down from mail duty. I only joined on behalf of your musher and the fact that he was short a dog in order to put you as lead. If confrontation is the only future we can accomplish as a team, then we are no team and you will have to find another dog."
I let my eyes sweep the room once more, taking in all the different expressions around me, some friendly, some ashamed, some enraged, and some frightened. I then turned and left. I knew well I'd destroyed much hope for friends that night, but a large part of me no longer cared in that moment. If they were going to judge me, there were going to be consequences.