Where The Heart Takes You

Chapter two: Feeling Unwanted

Kodi woke up the next day and went straight for the musher's house. Today was Sunday so they didn't have to deliver post. Kodi couldn't get in so he walked to a crate next to the window. He leapt on it and looked through the window. He could see the musher eating breakfast. Kodi looked at the ground inside and saw the pup walking around. Kodi suddenly smiled when he saw the pup.

'Hey Kodi'!: Kirby yelled behind him. Kodi fell of the box from shock. He looked up and saw Kirby standing with a smile. Kodi grinned and got up and tackled Kirby. Both laughed and got up.

'So are you ready to train?': Kirby asked. 'Oh right, yeah': Kodi said. He forgot all about that.

'Come on then, let's go': Kirby said and the four of them left for the beach.

#

'Morning sleepy head!': Boris yelled loud in Balto's ear.

'Aaaaaahhhhhhhh!': Balto screamed and he jumped up. 'What did you do that for!': Balto asked a little angry.

'I don't know, was I so loud?': Boris asked.

'Boris, you were yelling in my ear': Balto said.

'Oh, sorry Balto, I didn't mean to. I've been away so long with Muk and Luk that I forgot I don't need to yell at you. Forgive me': Boris said.

'You know I will, Boris': Balto said. 'Well I guess I'll go into town. See if something is happening. Maybe check out the pup'.

'Ah the pup, I'm quite interested in it. Can I come with you?': Boris asked.

'Of course you can. Let's go': Balto said. Together they walked towards town.

'Morning little one': the musher said to the pup. She just looked at him. She wasn't afraid of him anymore. she knew he was okay, because he took her in and fed her. 'I guess we should give you a name': the musher said. The pup slowly got up and walked over to the water bowl. The musher sat down on a chair and thought about a name. He couldn't think of one. 'Well, let's just take you outside for some fresh air. We'll think of a name later': the musher said as if he could talk with the pup. He took a collar with a lash. The collar was white with blue spots. The musher sat down on one knee and hold out his hand for the pup. She looked at him and carefully walked towards him. The musher let her smell the collar and lash. Then he carefully put the collar on her neck. It fitted perfectly. The pup struggled and panicked. The musher said reassuring words and she calmed down. She trusted him. 'Good girl': the musher said and then he opened the door and went outside with her.

Balto and Boris were at the post office. They looked around, but saw no one. They walked further down the street and saw the musher of Kodi coming outside. He wasn't alone. The pup was walking after him on the lash. She looked a little scared of this big town, at least it was big for her, but she also looked quit happy. A man came walking towards the musher. Balto and Boris had an idea what was going to happen.

#

'Hey': a man said annoyed to the musher.

'Oh hey, how are you?': the musher said.

'Fine, but what are you doing?!': the man said.

'What do you mean?': the musher asked.

'That! What are you doing with that brown and white monster': the man said angry.

'What's wrong with her? She is just a brown puppy with white paws and a white stain on her left': the musher said.

'Yeah right! That is a wolf pup!': the man said still angry.

'So what!': the musher responded, now angry too. More people came to see what was wrong.

'You can't keep a wolf!': the man said angry.

'Why not, she's not with her wolf family. She learns to act like a dog here': the musher responded and many people agreed with him.

'You can't change her instincts!': the man said with his own group of people who believed his words.

'Why shouldn't she be allowed to stay here, Balto is!': the musher said.

'Balto isn't a real wolf': the man said.

'He's part wolf. Even that small part can awaken his wolf instincts and Kodi is also part wolf. Should I throw my own dog out for his wolf heritage!': the musher said feeling offended. He lifted the pup in his arms so that no one could "accidentally" kick her.

'Well maybe yes, maybe we should throw out all dogs with wolf in them': the man said. All the people watching were shocked. The man noticed he was the only one to think like this.

'She might be a wolf, but I have reasons to believe she is part dog. To be exact part husky': the musher said. Everybody looked at him.

'Prove it then': the man said with a grin. 'If she was a pure wolf she wouldn't trust me so quickly. Just this morning I put a collar on her neck for the first time. She hardly struggled at all. She is surrounded by all these people and not even growling. She may be just a pup, but even wolf pups this age act aggressively when they are surrounded by so many unknown to them': the musher said.

All the people agreed with him and everybody decided she could stay. The man walked away furious. A little girl came closer and asked to pat the pup. The musher sat down on one knee and let the girl pat her.

'She is so cute!': the girl yelled happily. 'Can I name her?': the girl asked.

'Sure I couldn't think of one so I can use the help.

'I like Shanti': the girl said.

'That's a nice name': the musher said.

'It's perfect. It means peacefully and she is exactly that': the mother of the girl said.

'You're right. That name is perfect. So what do you think little pup?': the musher asked. The pup barked and it went on in a howl. 'I guess that's a yes': the musher said. Shanti was her name now.

Balto and Boris saw the whole scene. Balto walked towards the musher. The musher put Shanti on the ground. Shanti looked at Balto and smiled. Balto smiled back. Boris looked at the pup suspicious. Shanti jumped on him and licked his feathers and then howled. Boris quickly pushed her off. Shanti looked sad.

'Ow, Boris. She was just playing': Balto said.

'Yeah, playing. I don't like that': Boris said. The musher and Shanti continued their walk. Balto and Boris decided to go to the beach to check on Kodi and the others.

#

'Good, very good, Kodi!': Kirby yelled. Kodi and Ralph were running at high speed and making sharp turns on the beach. Ralph always slipped and Kodi now did very well.

'Alright, now you Kirby': Kodi said when he came to a halt.

'Alright, Dusty are you coming?': Kirby said.

'Yep, I'm coming': Dusty responded. Kirby and Dusty did the same exercise as Kodi and Ralph, while Kodi and Ralph watched. After a while they were done.

'Alright then, now we need to practice slippery ground. The pond close to balto's boat will do. Come on': Kirby said. All four of them left the beach and went to the pond.

#

Balto and Boris arrived at the beach only to find no one there. 'Hmm, where could they have gone?': Boris asked.

'I don't know. There're tracks over there. They probably went that way': Balto said looking to the right.

'That's near your boat, right?': Boris stated.

'I guess they're training somewhere else now. Lets go see': Balto said. They followed the tracks. They weren't walking long when they heard them. They saw the pond and the four of them slowly walking over it. At least they were trying. 'Kodi what are you doing?': Balto asked.

'Dad! Hey, we are trying to walk on slippery ground. Kirby's idea': Kodi said.

'And why do you need to do that?': Balto asked with a surprised look.

'Because we almost crashed into a rock yesterday': Kirby said.

'What! Why didn't you tell me Kodi?': Balto asked shocked.

'Because nothing happened. We avoided the rock, but barely and that's why we are training. So we never get so close to crashing again': Kodi explained. Balto calmed down.

'We have something to tell you Kodi. We were just in town and you wouldn't believe what happened': Balto said. Kodi looked worried. Balto and Boris told what had happened between the musher and the man and that the pup was now named Shanti.

'What! How could that man say that. What a horrible person!': Kodi yelled angrily.

'But our musher is the best. He just stepped up for Shanti and Balto and you Kodi! He's the best': Kirby said loud. The others agreed and Kodi calmed down. Deep down Kodi felt that if he ever saw that man hurt Shanti or his father or any of his friends, he would attack him.

#

The training was over and it was getting late. Balto said he would go stop by Jenna. Boris went to the boat. He was exhausted. Dusty, Ralph and Kirby left for the shack. Kodi said he wanted to hang around a bit. Everybody left and Kodi went to the post office. He waited there, because no one seemed to be inside. Then he saw the musher walking with Shanti. Quickly Kodi ran towards him. The musher saw him coming. Kodi stopped in front of him and looked at him. The musher patted him. Shanti walked from behind the musher and squeaked at Kodi. Kodi snuggled her. Shanti squeaked some more and snuggled him back. The musher let Shanti get inside. Kodi stood there watching her. 'Come on then, if you want to be with her so much': the musher said. Kodi walked inside and lay down on a cushion next to Shanti's basket. Knowing she was alright he fell a sleep.

P.S.: Shanti is my own character. I made her up, so don't try and steal her!

This was second chapter. Please Review!
Next Chapter: What I'll Do To Protect Someone