Chapter 8: The Third Event (written on January 16th, 2022)

September 24th, 2012

The sky was crystal clear. Today was the day when the winner of the Great Wolf Games would be decided. Animals across the United Regions gathered at a gorge where the start/finish line was at. There were wolves, bears, squirrels, porcupines, and other critters of the forest arranged on various levels. Kate overlooked them all from the den's ledge. Marcel and Paddy alighted next to her to deliver some news.

"The gorge is full of spectators, including members of the Central Committee," said the goose.

"Oh, what conversations we have heard," said Paddy.

"Fleet versus Claudette, three years after Kate beat Nars," the goose emphasized.

In the cave, Humphrey addressed his lone daughter.

"However today turns out, I am proud of you."

"Thanks, Dad. I've got this."

Meanwhile, in the gorge, Nars addressed his son.

"Okay, Fleet. This is it. Keep four paces ahead. This is the big one, our last chance."

"Our last chance?" Fleet noticed his father said the word "our."

"Um, you know what I mean."

"Yeah... I do..."

Later. . .

Everyone assumed their ceremonial positions. The teams lined up near the start/finish line with the coaches behind them. Kate stood next to Humphrey. A honk was given from the refs, signaling Fleet and Claudette to approach each other. Nars glared at her and gave a low growl. When the two met in the middle, they gave supportive remarks.

"Hey, good race, Claudette."

"Good race, Fleet." But from a distance, Claudette's parents could read between the lines. The way they looked at each other seemed more friendly than Humphrey and Kate expected. It was as if they were both blushing in each other's presence.

"Are... Are those two smiling?" said Humphrey. "Wait! Are they—?!"

"Humphrey," his mate cooed. "It's okay. It happens." Kate herself seemed to blush. Claudette and Fleet then walked directly to the start/finish line. They were comfortably close, practically shoulder to shoulder.

"D-d-do you see that?! He's... He's flirting with her! That is what dogs do to throw the girl off her game!"

"Is that what you did to me?" Kate teased.

"Well, yeah... and I only scored the prettiest Alpha in the Region." He turned back to Claudette. "Claudette!" he yelled. "Stop flirting with Fleet! You're too young to date! I forbid it until you're your grandma's age!" It was loud enough for everyone to hear. Claudette as well as Kate had never been more embarrassed.

"Oh, my gosh... DAD!" Claudette screamed. Fleet lowered his ears and kicked the grass.

"Could this day get any more bizarre?" said Kate.

"Hey, I think we scored some unexpected support," said Marcel excitedly.

"What?"

"The wolves from the Central Region like to root for the underdog," said Paddy.

"When Claudette wins... you should have her turn to the crowd and shout, 'I'm going to Calgary!'" The goose flapped his wings in excitement.

"Why? What does that even mean?" Kate asked.

"It's a human thing," Paddy answered.

Meanwhile, the lead ref got into his position as Claudette and Fleet entered their running stance. The honk was given, and the two pups took off. The crowd cheered. It did not take long for Nars to insert his input. The two players were already neck and neck.

"Come on, Fleet! Four paces! Come on, Son!"

"Let's go, Claudette!" yelled Kate.

"Take it to him!" Humphrey added.

The circuit was a long one, and it involved climbing out of the gorge. Claudette and Fleet remained next to each other until they began climbing. Claudette struggled to pull herself up the wall.

"Hey. Push from your back legs," Fleet instructed. She followed his direction. "That's it."

"Um, thanks?"

They ran through a forest as a ref followed them from above. They made it to the area with a long waterfall and took a sharp turn. After running through the forest again, they ran along the edge of a cliff. The spectators could see them from the bottom of the gorge. Their cheers continued. Next, there was a rocky hill they had to climb.

"Get up there, Fleet! Get up there!" Nars ordered.

At the top, the two pups stopped and panted hard. They exchanged more smiles. They let ten seconds pass before they continued running. Down the ramp, they hurried. The ramp led back into the gorge. After jumping over a few logs placed in their way, they headed for the boulder that marked a sharp turn. Later, there was another sharp turn, and then it would be a straight race to the finish line. Claudette went first and flawlessly performed the spin-out. Fleet took a deep breath. He jumped and landed but failed to plant his paw. He slid and collided with the boulder. Nars growled and came to his son.

"Get up there, Fleet! Get up there!" He spat in his face. Claudette took a look back and saw Fleet struggling to move.

Fleet's legs were aching. Eventually, he continued his run, but he was in too much pain to run faster than the Western. Claudette looked back and thought to herself.

"She's letting him catch up!" said Humphrey. "Claudette, I don't care how adorable you think he is! You take it to him!" But Claudette only moved slower. She slowed enough that she and Fleet became neck and neck for the umpteenth time.

"What are you doing?" asked Fleet.

"Nothing," she answered.

"Yes, you are."

"For the last turn, remember... Lean to the left."

"To the left? Got it."

"Here we go! Lean! Lean!" she urged. The two pups disappeared behind the boulder. A cloud of dirt appeared. The crowd and the coaches gasped.

Suddenly, Claudette and Fleet came out of the dirt cloud reinvigorated. Fleet no longer ran with caution.

"I DID IT! I DID IT!" he exclaimed. They were now one hundred yards from the finish line. Claudette looked at Fleet's legs and could tell he was the one holding back this time.

"Now what are you doing?"

"Nothing," he answered. Nars could tell that something was off.

"Fleet! Go faster!" he yelled. Claudette and Fleet took one last look at each other before they crossed the finish line. They both adjusted their speed. At the finish line, they jumped. The lead ref stood with his wing erect. As they passed him, he swung his wing down and honked.

"Tie!" he announced. Everyone in the crowd was shocked beyond words, especially Nars. The golf birds flew to the Northern refs to confirm their call.

"It was a tie?" Marcel asked. The lead ref nodded confidently.

"Oh, uh, it appears so," said Paddy.

"Fleet?! A tie?! Really?!" said Nars. He stormed to the refs. "We have to do this over!" Humphrey then stepped up to the lead ref.

"Uh, what do we do when there's a tie?"

"The Games end in a... tie!" he replied, obviously annoyed by all the wolves surrounding him.

"Fleet! You come back here!" Nars blocked his son from walking to his team.

"That was it, Dad. Those were my Games," said Fleet.

"What do you mean 'that was it'?!"

"I'm no longer a competitor, Dad. I'm gonna be the new coach of the Northern Region!" Fleet turned back to his teammates. "And I'm looking for a few good competitors for next year!" The Northern team cheered.

Meanwhile, Marcel pushed Claudette to where a few Central Region wolves had gathered. They were recordkeeping secretaries who inscribed everything on bones.

"Okay, Claudette. Now it's your time. You yell. Say, 'I'm going to Calgary!'"

Claudette decided not to give exactly what Marcel wanted. She was too tired.

"Well, we came, we competed, and... we tied."

"No, we didn't tie, Claudette," said Stinky. Her family approached her.

"Nope. We won," said Runt.

Seemingly out of nowhere, a crowd of Northern wolves approached her. They were carrying Fleet on their backs.

"Hey, Claudette! I'm gonna be the coach for the Northern team next year! Ha, ha, ha!"

Claudette turned to the crowd of Westerns.

"Great, looks like I'm gonna have to be the coach for the Western team next year!" The Westerns cheered for the tan pup.

"Looks like we all won," said Kate.

"Yeah," said Humphrey. "All thanks to my coaching, right?"

Claudette and Kate then hugged.

"Claudette?"

"Yes, Mom?"

"You really turned these Games around."

"Thanks, Mom..."

Suddenly, everyone noticed Nars approach Fleet. It was not in a furious manner, not at all. In fact, there were tears falling down Nars's face.

"Son..." Fleet lowered his ears. "I am... I am so proud of you." Humphrey and Kate looked at each other. Everyone was shocked that Nars could say such a thing. Fleet hugged him, his tail wagging. For the first time, he had his father's appreciation. Nars then grabbed Fleet's scruff and carried him to Claudette. The two of them began walking down the gorge by themselves.

"So we better get working on your spin-out," said Claudette, "especially if you're the new coach."

"Yeah, when we're back for the real Great Games."

"HEY! You two stay on the field where I can see you!" yelled Humphrey. Claudette and Fleet simply shrugged their shoulders.

"Okay, Fleet, so you have to lean, then push off."

"Heh, heh. Wait. You never said 'push off.'"

"Well, we were competitors, Fleet."