The orange hybrid ran through the wilderness and into the town. The people there were going about their business just fine. When they saw him a few gossiped. It was to be expected since he ran out of town in a hurry. Word probably already got around that he'd bolted.
Solaris shook this off however. Right now he needed to find his team, no his family, right away. They were probably on the beach for their daily run so he started there. It was easy to find it considering all you had to do was look for a big fishing trawler. Balto had lived there for years when he first started out and wife them had become a great meeting spot.
When Solaris saw it in the distance he picked up the pace. He could make out the forms of several Quadrupeds running along the coast.
"Balto!" He called out. "Guys it's me!"
"Look I know I was wrong to abandon everyone like I did, I was too lost in my own little world or despair to see how much I was missed or needed right back here with you all, I should have thought things through better. This time I'm back for good and while I was gone I've come to the conclusion that retirement is not in my cards yet. So fill me in on what has happened since I was off in never never land revaluating my situation" he added stoutly.
It had been a few weeks now since he'd just off and disappeared into the woods without a trace. Now here he was again. Trying this all over. This was going to be a tough week of getting the trust he lost back. That was for sure. But he owed so much to his team and brother most importantly that he was not going to go down without a fight. Not this time surely.
"Hey you don't have to apologize to anyone." Balto responded with a smile. "You've been carrying a large weight on your shoulders for the past few months. It's not going to be easy to get over this but we can pull through. Anyway enough mushy stuff let's get down to business. We have a race in three months we must prepare for. It'll be our big break of the year and get us out of our destitution."
Solaris nodded his head. It made sense that the only way to recover from a bad race was with another race entirely. That was a sure fire way. "Ok so we gotta take another gamble so to speak?" He asked his wolf-dog brother, who nodded in conformation. "Well that's going to be easier said than done but I can handle it."
The whole team nodded in agreement. All except one quiet looking Husky in the back, but we'll get to him later. Right now Solaris had to figure out how to get another sled even.
"I had to get a job." Balto rolls his eyes in exasperation when the subject came up. "I work at Mr. Santelli's meat shop jumping through hoops now.
"If it helps, the local PD is accepting new recruits right now during the offseason, Perhaps some of you guys could get a job working for them, You'd make some solid cash doing so. I will probably be going over there when I leave here to see what they are looking for, It can't hurt to try right?" Solaris suggested,
Surely at least they could keep their dignity with this job instead of literally jumping through hoops to make ends meet. This was also a very physical job which was great for them because it kept them in shape for the ever important next racing season. Because none of them would ever say it wasn't their livelyhood. In fact most of them would have no life without it at all. and that would just downright suck. Never a dull moment in this tiny, isolated little town in the middle of nowhere. That for certain.
"I strongly recommend you guys follow me over there. We need the money if we plan to continue racing this season. From what I'm told if we can work enough hours we can make more than double what we need to pay our debts off and to buy new race equipment for this season" he added "Trust me, it may be a dangerous job but danger is where the money is at"
"Well I guess if we have no other options." A sarcastic voice spoke up. "Here I thought today was going to be smooth sailing. Now I'm getting saddled with the icky jobs."
A black and white husky with an odd bandit mask like fur pattern spoke up from behind the group. The very same one who wasn't in total agreement with Solaris's return. To him all the orange wolf-dog had done so far was cause trouble. Not that he hated him, he just wanted better leadership.
"Kurai quit your bellyaching." Balto grunted to the young husky. "You aren't even full grown yet know your place. We need these jobs to get a new sled of we're sunk."
Kurai merely rolled his eyes and went back to mumbling. Solaris cleared his throat and led everyone to the PD station. It was there that they were given several smelling tests to see of they knew how to track things. Most of them passed with flying colors save for Nikki who was better at eating than smelling out things.
Not long after they were assigned partners to do patrol with.
Not too long after they started patrolling, The police chief in town got a disturbing lead into a possible illegal dog fighting operation on the western outskirts of town. It had supposedly been taking place in a remote section of woods that was hidden by local development over the last few years. No one knew how long it had been going on now. But it was. On top of that a few locals had reported a pungent alcoholic gas in the air in that part of town. Which also made it possible these cowards were using illegal alcohol sales to fund their so called "activities" in their ring of hell as Solaris put it.
He happened to overhear a few of the cops talking to a local civilian about it and growled in frustration and disbelief that there were still people that ruthless and cruel in his town. He rallied his troops/officers together and informed them of the situation that they were about to head into.
"The reason I have you all here right now is because I overheard the chief talking to some other officers and apparently they've received an anonymous tip that there may be a fighting ring being illegally operated in the western part of town. As well as reports from a few others in the area of a pungent alcoholic musk in the air near the suspected operation's location. There's an old abandoned warehouse on that side of town's outskirts that has been abandoned for about nine years now, The last I know it was a stilling operation before the prohibition kicked in back in 1920 and has been defunct since 1921 now. It's a perfect cover up operation because the building itself looks too innocent to the general public for anyone to think it would house illegal activities" He told his fleet. "We need to get in there and get these bastards off of our streets before anymore innocent lives are jeopardized. I spent 3 years of my young adulthood in one of these rings of hell and let me tell you this. its a lot worse kind of hell and suffering than any of you will ever know. I lost many friends along the way in that...cursed place and as long as I breathe I will not let anyone else fall victim to that wicked torture" he stopped before it got too deep.
"Now lets go get these scumbags off of these streets and where they rightfully belong, behind jail bars" he rallied his unit.
They followed the scent they were given fairly easily. It was so strong that it led them to the area. The nauseating smell permeated the air the closer they god. Soon even Nikki's eyes started to water up. When the smell got to its peak odor they were standing in front of a secluded building outside of town.
It didn't take long before the human cops rushed the premises and broke up the operation. in all five crooks were apprehended, On top of fighting they uncovered as expected thousands of dollars worth of distilling equipment used to produce and sell illegal booze.
"Good work everyone, Glad to finally have these cowards off of our streets. This illegal stuff should make us thousands of dollars alone. This will really help us with replacing our equipment for the new season now" Solaris said to his unit on the way back into town
When the team arrived back at the station they went to get their payment. It was a decent amount to which Johan happily took it. They were now a lot closer to reaching their goals but there was still work to be done. But for now the day was over with.
Balto and the others yawned tiredly and went to their sleeping quarters. Solaris however stayed outside to think. The calming winds soothed his troubled soul.
They had to get more money, practice and win a race very soon. It wasn't going to be easy...especially since he wasn't eager to get out onto the sled very soon. He knew he had to work up to it but...
"Solaris?" A voice spoke behind him. "You ok?
"I'll be fine. Just not so sure about racing again so soon. We dont have the money for decent equipment yet and the last thing I want or need is for another accident to happen under my lead and kill someone else." he sighed.
Really it was the truth. Were they rushing things, was it too soon. Was it even worth it. Only time will tell for right now.