"No way! How did that happen?" Roger asked Beringo the next day, around afternoon. While both were outside, both of them were being greeted by not just dogs, but humans as well, hearing them say: "There are our new aces!" or "Well done on your victory!" It was going to take them and their friends some time to get over that attention they'd been receiving.
"I'm telling you, Roger! I don't know if I should have expected that or not, only by the wild guess." Beringo told him. He could have told this to Justin and Hallie as well, but knowing how these two were still sleeping and were most likely to talk with Indiana and Dakota, he knew that Roger was the only one he could rely on.
"And you don't sound like you never expected that to happen, did you?" Roger was a bit puzzled with this one, only for Beringo to answer: "Truth to be said, ever since I've saved Indiana's life from the fall, I saw that fear and relief in Dakota's eyes. As if… as if she didn't want anything to happen to him. I mean, not to me too, but especially to him."
"Maybe that was like the first time these two had hots for one another. For what I know, they had never snuck out of the house in the middle of the night ever since we've returned from that perilous delivery until they had their chance last night, right?" Roger was connecting the dots right here and it was plausible that he'd do something like that.
"Perhaps. I mean, it was a great day for us all yesterday so they wanted to use the party to sneak out and have their first date! To be honest, I was rather afraid something bad happened to them." Beringo was still trying to think about how crafty Indiana and Dakota were to have their date leaving the main party in boiler room.
"You know, Hallie had in mind to pull a joke on Indiana by secretly putting a grounded salmon in his bowl. Guess what happened to that?" Roger revealed something Beringo wasn't following. He looked at him, wondering if he was right that Indiana got sick, that this was because of Hallie's prank? Well, no. Roger patted his stomach, giving him the answer.
"Taking one for the team, aren't we?" Beringo was amused what kind of sacrifice Roger had to take for Indiana and in fact, it seemed like it didn't affect him any badly because: "It would be a shame if something like that ended in disposal from Indiana's side. I mean, that's still a food, amirite?" It would have been certainly a shame if something like that ended up being disposed while it was digestible and fresh to eat.
"Right. Though, now that I think of them being together, sometimes I think if I did the right choice myself." Beringo opened him the way on something Roger might not have been aware of, asking him: "What do you mean, Beringo?" He recalled some of his thoughts and ideas back from the past few weeks.
"I mean, at one point, months ago, I was thinking to ask Dakota out. Now that won't work and besides, maybe it was for the best she's with Indiana." That was his long answer short and it seemed like Beringo was regretting nothing, even if Roger asked: "But do you feel anything towards her? I mean, do you ever get that feeling you want to be with her?"
"Want me to say the truth, Roger? No, not really." For a such question, Roger got his answer back fairly soon because Beringo let him know: "In fact, here's what's the thing. You all guys are like my family, brothers and sisters. Dakota was the first one I met from you all and all the time she's been my friend, like a sister figure to me. So if you want to know, I just never had that real feeling she's the one. Maybe I was sounding a bit too desperate."
"Oh come on, don't say that!" Roger disliked the idea that someone like them would be desperate just for staying single. Even Beringo wished he stopped after saying that Dakota was not the one he ever desired. Roger switched back: "Well, anyhow, your birthday is behind the corner. Maybe you'll get a wish this time? You know, a female for yourself!"
"Heh, good call." Beringo chuckled, thinking that Roger was going to settle him with someone and if that someone was Hallie, then Beringo would know that Roger was not even trying. If he were to tell him the truth who he wanted to be with, he'd be deemed as crazy and his ticket to say goodbye to his reputation was one way ahead.
"Say, do you think we can make them reveal to us others about their dating or we'll wait for them to reveal by themselves?" Roger wondered what was the best choice in this case and Beringo's response was simple: "I think we should let them reveal their relationship to us. In the end, they'll figure out that they can't keep their secret for long."
"Yeah, I guess that makes you right. I don't think I'd like to make them mad with forcing them to tell us. Dakota may sometimes poke at me for being a gourmet dog in the team, but I don't think it'd be right if I do something that'll make her genuinely upset." Roger concluded himself that Beringo's idea made more sense. As for now, they were going to wait for a while until Indiana and Dakota were to reveal their secret to them, Justin and Hallie.
Truth to be said, on Beringo's birthday, Christmas day to be exact, there were some things to be revealed among them anyhow. As for now, all six friends were now on the beach, enjoying holiday the best way they could. Nothing so far was surprising, even when Beringo was told five times already: "Merry Christmas and a Happy birthday, Beringo!" In some cases "chief".
"How many years will I have to listen to these double wishes?" Beringo amusingly asked his friends now that he had to face it every single year to come about him being double wished. Hallie let him know: "Get used to it, Beringo! As long as we can last, that long your Christmases and birthdays will be special! Not all of us have that pleasure, you know."
"Guess so, Hallie." Beringo couldn't argue with that fact even if he wished to do so. So far so good, nothing was spoiling this day, not even while it was snowing. He looked around himself and gazed at the old boat that was far on the beach. Old, worn out and torn out, it rested there, a bit far from the shore. In the middle of nowhere.
"Guys, you have noticed that boat before, haven't you?" Beringo wondered if others were aware of the presence of old ship down there. Justin looked at where Beringo was gazing, saying: "Yeah, lots of times. Though, why is that old boat so far from town? I mean, couldn't humans just dock it like other boats in down?"
"I don't know about that. I've been close to that boat before and it's got a big hole down there. That's beyond repair, only worth for fire log!" Roger gave his thought of what else could that boat be used for. Still, Justin remained optimistic: "But hey, do you think there's still something left in that boat? Maybe something precious?"
"Maybe so! You know what humans say in those tales of old boats? That they may be hiding some treasure! Why don't we go over there and find some? Our master will earn so much fortune!" Hallie found that as a great idea, thinking what kind of wealth was going to sit on them should they try to find something.
"Don't count on it, Hallie. I've checked once myself what's there and trust me… old rugs and metal bucket. Smells pretty damp in there." Dakota, much to Hallie's misfortune, broke her hopes. For once Hallie sought some fun, only for a reality to break down her hopes, with her muttering: "Oh." It seemed like Justin was not amused how Dakota shattered Hallie's joy.
Then, while they were still sitting or laying down, Beringo suddenly felt the gentle breeze waving through his fur and his attention focused at the old boat again. Only, it was not the old boat he was looking at. Instead, a surprise and astonishment in his eyes when he looked farther from boat… something he was not expecting to happen today.
"No way! Could it be…?" Beringo noticed a white figure over there, gazing from a smaller hill. The white fur would have made the figure invisible had it not been for the golden eyes standing out among the whiteness. It was her… it had to be her! Beringo could only dream that he'd meet her again… until now!
"Beringo? Beringo! Do you hear me?!" Indiana, who was mostly listening to what others were talking, grabbed Beringo's attention. With him blinking and looking at his friend, he asked him: "What?" Indiana looked at him quite curious that his response was "What?". Still, being a friend, Indiana asked: "Beringo, look, there's something you should know."
"Hold that thought." Beringo was already expecting Indiana and Dakota to give their big news. But first, he gazed back towards boat and beyond. His surprise was flushed away with disappointment now that the white figure with golden eyes… was no longer there. It felt like Beringo swallowed a lemon. Even Indiana asked him: "Beringo? What are you looking at?"
"Me? Oh, uhm…" Beringo realized that him gazing without any valid reason in distance would mean that something was not right, but he quickly told him and others: "Did you guys felt a slight breeze? Because I did and it came from the boat!" He was hoping that the others were going to look at him as if he were mad.
"You're not the only one actually. I felt a breeze too." Roger saved him from here and even Hallie nodded, as if she felt it too. So far so good, saved by the quick excuse. Then he asked Indiana: "Oh, what you were going to say, Indiana? Sorry that I interrupted you." But Indiana was not really bothered with that, because he further added: "You got nothing to worry about, my friend! In fact, even Dakota has to say something… well, both of us."
"Oh?" Beringo had to fake his surprise should these two reveal that they were a couple, same for Roger. As for Justin and Hallie, they were not even aware of them going outside, so Dakota started: "Have you wondered that night when we had our victory party… or at least noticed, that Indiana and I had left in the middle."
"Actually… no? I was busy talking with Scottia in the boiler room." Justin answered her, now that he heard about something he was unaware of. Hallie was also unaware, but Beringo wasn't, even though he was acting surprised pretty well. Roger, however, let them know: "I noticed you two were gone. I wasn't bothering to see where because I thought that you were tired or some of you got sick… right?"
Indiana and Dakota looked at one another and they felt like as if they were going to laugh for a certain reason and Indiana told him: "Well, that was our excuse, Roger. Truth to be said, even if we were tad tired, we weren't sick. In fact, the truth is why we left the party was because… Dakota and I started dating one another."
"What?! No way!" Hallie was genuinely surprised by this revelation, even adding: "You and Dakota? That's great, you two!" Justin also shared away his surprise, all while Beringo and Roger knew this, but both of them were ready so they were both faking their surprises quite well, with former saying: "That's incredible! I didn't know that you two are dating!"
"Well, we've been thinking to give it a shot should we win that final race and while we didn't really think through at first, it turns out both of us are actually feeling something towards one another!" Indiana clearly said what he thought of first and Dakota got to nuzzle him by his neck in public, all to the joy and amusement of their friends. Should this be counted in as the third or as the fourth a charm? Didn't matter anyhow.
"If you two are feeling that way, I think that you shouldn't let go one another then." Justin, while not as a romantic one among them, could surprise them with occasional tips. As for Roger, he told them: "At least you two are together now. Some day one of us will be next!" He was not really aware that his lead teammate was longing to see someone for himself though.
As neither Dakota nor Indiana had to be secretive about their relationship anymore, they were all moving towards town after having some fun in outskirts. While Dakota and Indiana were obviously together, Roger noticed that look in Beringo's eyes. No envy in them, just the realization that letting go off someone for a friend was a worthy move.
Beringo having a birthday wished along the Christmas, latter he was wishing to others, was a Christmas he didn't wish to be any different. He still had that image in his head how he saw her… but was that really Aniu in the distance? Whoever that was, Beringo had to find out by himself, by any means necessary! But he needed a plan and excuse for going out by himself tonight…
When Christmas evening was around, Beringo shared laughs and meals with his friends and teammates all while Nash was being visited by his possible relatives. The dog doors were a good way out and in for Beringo should Nash go to sleep and lock the doors. He had his plan figured out and now it was on him to wait for a gunshot (figuratively, not literally).
With the last of Nash's guests leaving, he was ready to clean the mess in the house and get himself ready to catch some sleep. Even his dogs were seemingly tired and wanted to catch some break. For Indiana and Dakota, for the first time these two openly shared their bed together. Roger, Justin and Hallie were in their own, and as for Beringo…
"Alright, now all that I have to do is wait for them to fall asleep!" Beringo waited, hoping that no one would notice his absence but should someone figure out he was missing, he knew a perfect excuse. Though, out of them all, Justin smelled the tension in Beringo's presence, asking him: "Beringo? What's the matter? Why so anxious?"
"Oh? No, it's nothing, Justin. It's something… that is going to be." He told him, though he was not happy the way and with the words right here and that led Justin to ask: "What something? What's going on?" If now the others were paying attention, this would make things go sour and Beringo didn't think this through: "I'll go take a walk out there any minute soon."
"At this time? Are you sure?" Justin didn't expect that Beringo would take a stroll by himself, even less that he was going to do it in the night! This was clearly suspicious to him, but thankfully, Beringo played it safe: "You know how earlier this day we've come across Lewis and we've talked? Well, he told me that I should come to him at the docks when his master will go late night fishing. It's something important as he says!"
A suspicious look in Justin's eyes was gone now that he said something he could actually believe at because they came across the grumpy shepherd earlier that day and Beringo talked to him. Though, he started connecting the dots, albeit not correctly: "Wait… today is your birthday and it is Christmas so… I know what this is! He's found a female for you, right?!"
Beringo didn't want any other female… because he couldn't stop thinking on Aniu if he had seen her earlier today in the distance. Using his wits, Beringo laughed at his line, saying: "Maybe so! And if he did, Justin, then I'll gladly tell you first how she was like, okay?" Both friends laughed shortly before Beringo knew it was his time to move on. He made it outside on the snowy streets.
If there was someone who'd suspect of his friends that he was not going to the docks, thinking he lost his mind, Beringo decided to go the first part of his way to the beach by going to the docks. Once he was sure that he was halfway to the docks, he knew that he had to make his turn in the alley next to him… and return to the snow beach!
Going across debris and trash cans, Beringo soon found his path to the snow beach and glanced at the old boat that was laying there. While he had to rely on his hope and luck that should he see a familiar white figure from there, this was going to be his third charm! Wasting no more time, Beringo rushed to the old boat.
Soon enough, he was standing by the hole on the side of the boat and feeling the damp air coming from it, Beringo initially didn't consider going inside, but the urge was strong to see what was in there? Making his way inside, he could notice some decaying planks on the side, old rugs placed down, a metal bucket with a patch of ice in it, a very shallow plate and a mop. It seemed like the treasure from this old wreck was looted times ago.
Still, Beringo wasn't bothered with that because he climbed up the deck and now had a pretty view on the town, which was still shining with Christmas lights. He gazed on one side at the ocean, mountains on the northern side and on the eastern side, more mountains, but a path to White Mountain and Golovin for his mail deliveries.
I was the sight to the east made his eyes widen and gasp in surprise. A familiar white figure, standing at the snow hills not far, with those familiar golden eyes… were gazing right at him, Not with the cold and frightening gaze, but warm and kind one… she was smiling at him, as both of them had not seen one another in weeks… even that Beringo's voice stuttered: "A-Aniu?!"
Hearing his voice from the boat, Aniu gently trotted towards the boat, her saying: "Beringo, it's been a while since we've seen each other. I have longed to see you again!" But not as much as he was, seeing how the one he couldn't stop thinking at for weeks, was right there, smiling at him and this time, she was not vanishing every time he blinked… like before.
Seeing how the way down was not too tall, Beringo wasted no more time to jump down and land into snow and sand. He rushed to her as she did to him and just as they were at one meter from one another, they both stopped, but Aniu made her move first by nuzzling him by his chest, something he did not see coming! At least not this way.
"Aniu, I knew it that was you whom I saw earlier today! For weeks I had been thinking about you and I hoped dearly to see you again!" Beringo couldn't hide his enthusiasm all because how this pretty white wolf saved him from the cold and merciless clutches of mother nature. He continued: "Can you believe it that we're seeing each other after weeks?"
"Well, it is in your view weeks, but I've seen you more than that." Aniu admitted, feeling the giggles coming to her. She didn't want to make herself sound like as if she were stalking him actually. There she let him know: "Beringo, I couldn't wait to meet up with you! I've been thinking for a long while when I'll see you again, my friend."
The word she just said made Beringo feel like all the time in the world had stopped, or at least, slowed down. Never he'd thought that their second meeting would be this soon or even the fact that she saw him as her friend even if he was a pet and she was a wild animal. Beringo realized that he shouldn't mention anything related to this "friend" topic.
"Aniu, how did you ever find out that I live here? Surely you've followed our scents, haven't you?" Beringo was curious how Aniu was even capable of orientating around Alaska, wondering if him questioning Aniu's wilderness skills was a smart idea anyhow? She wasn't mad when he asked her thankfully and so she had her explanation.
"Beringo, when you'd returned to your friends that time along, I couldn't stop thinking how I've saved your life and the thought that we'd never get to see one another again. I decided to let you and your friends move on and I eventually and silently followed you and I was fortunate to keep up with you to reach the place you've been born to!"
Beringo liked how Aniu was alien to common words he could hear from the humans in Nome and then again, she was a wolf and who knew if she'd encountered humans before? She told him: "And when I think of you, you're a friend that I needed. I was growing tired of living alone and as if the fate called me to make friends with someone like you."
These words made Beringo feel pretty touched. All those visions he had of Aniu were not making him mad and in fact, as if his fate wanted him to be with her! What if their fates were meant to bond into one? No, not yet! There was still a lot to go for both of them and he had to make sure: "That sounds… plausible. Now that we're together again, how long you'll be here?"
He was feeling the dread when he imagined Aniu leaving and not showing again until months again. Her revelation changed his mind: "What? No, don't be silly! I didn't just come here to greet you and then leave! To be honest, I'd settled in the forest behind those hills in a small den. That way or another, I may be safely away from humans and hostile dogs."
He liked how she had thought this through, should their fates bond. He found it peculiar about her new lifestyle: "But what about your life in the wild?" And she even thought this through: "Do not worry about that issue. I may not be living the life of the wolf if I'm going to be seeing you, but I will not abandon my wolf side because it's essential for my survival."
So he had nothing more to worry about her, except for some other things as he was saying: "Aniu, it's great that we'll get to see each other now! But you know that dogs and humans, as you've mentioned, may be hostile to see you. I'll try to make sure to keep our friendship secret over here, alright?"
As she appreciated honesty, Aniu had to think this through if Beringo was feeling awkward about their friendship or not. Still, she answered him while in a flow: "Do not be concerned. All that matters is that we're closer to one another than before, even if you're living in a human settlement." Another thing that made Beringo feel amused by her choice of words.
Though, he saw in her eyes when she mentioned "human", that made her feel melancholic? This had to do something with her past! Still, this was their first meeting in weeks and Beringo didn't want to bring that up until some other time because he already had in mind: "Aniu, I may be living with humans and I may be busy with my friends and duties, but know that I'll always find the time so we can see each other. How is that?"
The look on her face was saying it all and her words were also enough: "I like your compromise, Beringo. As long as you're not letting your duties and friends down, then I may be happy for the sacrifices you're doing." So, generally speaking, she dearly appreciated his compromise and that was enough for him to acknowledge it.
He realized that he could not be outside for too long otherwise this would have turned things suspicious in his friends' eyes and he explained: "Aniu, I want to stay with you some more, but I must return home soon! I don't want to get into any trouble." He hoped that Aniu was going to understand if this was their first meeting.
"Then you should go! Beringo, I will always be in those forests and I'll come whenever you are free. So long, and take care of yourself." Aniu was understanding over here that she was willingly letting him go home. The dog and the wolf nuzzled and before parting ways, Beringo told her: "Thank you, Aniu. We'll get to see one another soon."
She turned around to return to the forests on the north and as for Beringo, he turned towards Nome and made sure that he had to be home not too late, giving away a story to Justin about Lewis' surprise. Being close to the town, Beringo had to take a path home from which he'd come from, to make sure his scent wasn't going to give away where he'd been and whom he'd seen.
Returning from the alley and backtracking his pawsteps, Beringo made sure that he was with Lewis all the time and he had a story to cover things up. He came to a familiar location where he'd pushed his head through and soon enough, with his entire body he'd come to the sleepy bedroom where his teammates were resting, Dakota snuggled to Indiana.
And as Beringo was about to silently creep into his bed, he heard Justin's voice: "Beringo, you're already back! What happened out there?" His voice wasn't loud enough to wake the others up, much to his relief. But as Beringo was about to tell him, Justin's nose caught the scent off Beringo… Aniu's scent! How did not he think this through?!
"Wait… don't tell me… you've been with another female! Lewis found you someone!" He was hoping that his ideas were good enough to prove himself right. Beringo tried to remain calm at first and he was doing it… another story to cover things up and it started with: "You know what, Justin? Would you believe me that I saw another female!?"
"Really, how was she like?" Justin wondered if after Indiana and Dakota, Beringo would be next with the female and there Beringo answered: "She's nice, but for most of our meeting she was not interested and she felt like talking about herself. So I decided: Take ir or leave it? I had chosen the latter, though no offense to her."
Justin yawned and inspected the situation the best way he could, saying: "Well, you might have chosen her, but if she was like that, maybe it was for the best that you decided not to continue with her. Well, good night then!" Justin summarized things up, based on his wrong calculations before dozing off in his bed.
"Night, Justin." Beringo muttered, moving to his bed in front of the fireplace without any fire in it right now. He was right about seeing a female, but a wolf one! He laid down in his bed under his orange blanket feeling how his eyelids were getting heavier. He yawned and while feeling the dream coming to him, couldn't stop thinking on how well his first encounter with Aniu was like. He longed for that encounter for weeks and he had to rely on his wits in order to see her in private.