Balto gasped unable to process what he was hearing. He was going to lose his sled team. The team that everyone had worked so hard to get here. "Johan there has to be something we can do!" Balto exclaimed in a panicked tone. "We can't just throw in the sled!"
"Well Balto we kind of already did that." Johan sighed dejectedly. "And now we're two sled dogs and one sled short. If ever there was a time for a miracle it'd be now."
Balto and the others thought for a moment. Two sled dogs and a sled? That was going to be a bit difficult. "Well...maybe we could all get jobs." Balto suggested.
"I'm going to start putting in applications to everything I can this week, I'm sure something will eventually materialize here" said Johan still with a tone that sounded less than optimistic.
"The biggest problem is the cost right now. I lost almost $12,000 in that crash and I barely have a thousand left to get by on right now, If I cant come up with at least half of that by the end of next month I'm completely fucked, It's all my fault to start with, With summer approaching work is going to be incredibly hard to find in town and I have no way to travel anywhere, I honestly have no idea what to do guys. On top of all that I don't even know how I'm going to work if they ask me do anything out of town, And many of the jobs here right now require travel" he added
This was a really really bad time of year to be broke because of this being a somewhat isolated town money was not in high supply and while what he said might be true it was highly unlikely to happen. If only time travel was a thing then this would never happen, But that's not reality. and reality is a bitch is it not?
So the team set out for work. Every one of them had a unique skill to utilize. Unfortunately this meant they had to split up and find work. Balto set out to see if he could get money doing fast sled dog stuff.
Unfortunately though that wasn't in high demand right now. The depression had sweeped the states and wasn't getting better. He found that what people needed was happiness. Where does that come from? Most of the time it's making a fool of yourself.
"Ok Balto I need you to jump through this hoop." Mr. Santelli the local Italian deli store manager said. "People like it when cute doggies do Tricks for them. Do this in front of the store to attract customers. If they start getting bored with it then improvise."
"That sounds like a circus act." Balto grunted indignantly. "Can't I run around delivering meat or something? Does it have to be doggy tricks?"
"I already have a delivery boy." Mr. Santelli shook his head. "Now I need a mascot. Be a good doggy now and do as you're told. I'll pay you handsomely."
Balto sighed and dragged the hoop outside. He set it on a stand so it would stay upright. After putting up his best puppy smile he started jumping through the hoop. Needless to say people were bigger suckers than he thought. The townspeople loved it.
Balto the hero dog, jumping through hoops for money. He even did other things. A man told him to roll over so he did so. One told a him to beg for a treat which he did begrudgingly. A kid even had him shake hands. At the end of the day he was payed a good amount considering everyone who saw him went into the deli.
"Well that was discouraging." Balto sighed as Johan came for the payment. "I gotta do this everyday?"
"Yes puppy you must!" The Italian man boomed happily. "That was the best business I had in years. Here's your money Johan!"
Johan took it guiltily Considering Balto had to give up his pride for this. "Thanks for taking one for the team bud." He patted the wolf-dog's head.
While everyone worked their tails off trying not to go bankrupt, Solaris was still in the forest. He knew not the name of the wolf before him but he looked familiar. Almost as if...he was an old friend...
"Stop trying to remember me child." The old grey wolf smiled. "Because you won't. No one ever usually does these days. I'm more of a guide to all truths. You can call me Nava."
Who was this wolf and why was he so...otherworldly? Almost as if he'd fade in and instant. When Solaris blinked Nava was gone. The orange wolf-dog gasped in surprise. That was...odd...
"Forgive me." Nava said from the right. "I blend in with nature fairly well."
"Ok who are you?" Solaris was getting annoyed. "What business do you have with me?"
"I'm a healer of sorts." Nava responded. "Those like you who need guidance...I aid...but I get the feeling you already knew."
"What the?" Solaris was bewildered. "How do you...you make no sense old wolf!"
As soon as he said that everything went pitch black for moment.
When he snapped out of whatever daze he was in, he found himself in this strange cavelike place with a endless ceiling that just faded into pure white haze. He had no idea where he was or how he got here but it was certainly freaking him out. This place was very mysterious and not a sound came from these hollow walls.
"Where the hell have you taken me! I want an explaination now" He shouted to no avail because no one was there to hear his demands, Then suddenly a voice from behind, one all too familar startled him and left him suspended in disbelief for a moment. It was apparent this guy he had met wasn't playing around.
"That voice, Could it...No wait. This is impossible. If this is some kind of trick its not working! Get me out of here!" he shouted hopelessly and tried to shake off this trance he seemed to be in, but it was not a joke. Then he heard it again and this time he turned and indeed there he was, No different than before save for being surrounded by a blue glow that lit the corridor up
"It can't be, Am I just dreaming right now?" he asked the figure before him
Kallisto shook his head and smiled. Solaris got closer to his brother unable to believe his eyes. He'd been dead all this time how was he not now? Was he himself dead too? "Don't just stand there Kallisto...say something."
The red wolf-dog regarded his brother for a moment before saying, "This could've been the other way around...but it really has to be you..." He sighed before nuzzling his troubled brother. "You alone have the power to change and do great things. Things that most of us wouldn't dare to even think of."
Solaris cried and hugged his brother. "That's not true! I can't do anything right and in the end I failed. Everything we worked for is gone...ruined.."
"Solaris..." Kallisto patted his back. "What is it you want at this very moment. Besides having me back I mean."
Solaris thought for a moment. What did he want? Under all this pain and grief he must have wanted something Anything to help him. "I guess...I just want to be forgiven...more than anything...not just by you but...by my friends too..." He finally answered making Kallisto smile brightly.
"Your wants are unselfish and kind." He chuckled. "Just like a pup's...always willing to do for others. Solaris the only way you'll get that forgiveness is by moving on. Accept what life has given you. Never forget...I'm always with you."
With that there was a big flash of light in the cave. The orange wolf-dog shut his eyes tight so he wouldn't be blinded.
Solaris opened his eyes to find he was facedown in the snow. Was that all...a dream? If so then which part? The faceplant certainly was real because he had an epic headache now. "Not exactly how I planned to do that" he muttered under his breath. 'Way to lose your dignity bud' he thought
To make it more embarssing the voice in his head said "I heard that" This was just not his day today. "D-oh!" he exclaimed upon hearing that. If you could see under his thick fur he was probaly red as a volcano by now from self humiilation
"I guess I was wrong to just abandon everyone in town. I hope they all dont hate me by now, I've got to get back as soon as possible and fix this wrong once and for all" he said to himself. Determined he'd make this up to his team and friends.
"I will make you proud brother, Mark my words. I was a coward for running away from everything, Never again" he added. and with that final statement he turned and dashed full speed. the speed that his family was famous across Alaska for towards his home.