"Hey guys, why is there an older gray dog instead of Della next to Fritz in his team?" Roger looked at his rival team and noticed that instead of the familiar sky blue eyed female Alaskan malamute was an another dog. Lewis looked like on his face as if he had the answer they were just looking for.
"Because yon lassie Della will ha' wee ones in a nae long time!" Lewis answered, revealing something that explained why Della was not next to Fritz. However, thanks to his Scottish accent, this was something that Beringo and his friends had a hard time to figure out what he said until Beringo asked him: "Did you just say that Della is… going to have little ones?"
"Aye! Her master ha' placed her aff the team fur some time! Yon dog next to Fritz lad… he will bring nae victory fur them! Beringo, lad, ye and yer friends are winning today!" Lewis proudly wished him the victory that was awaiting them, all while he and his friends were amazed by this revelation. Della was pregnant with Fritz's puppies and out of the service for some time!
"Beringo, hey!" Scottia rushed from the side before Beringo and his friends were ready to go. She stopped just in time not to collide to him, with Beringo telling her: "Easy there, Scottia! You just got me on time before I leave. Where is Koyuk at? Oh, there he comes." He actually didn't have to ask where Koyuk was because he came right away.
"Beringo, have you heard the news about Della from Fritz's team?!" Koyuk wondered if the news had occurred to Beringo in any way possible and Beringo gave him the affirmative look to say: "Lewis just told me. She's just pregnant and instead of her there's some other gray dog replacing her and he doesn't seem too happy."
"He seems like as if he used to be a sled dog, right?" Beringo asked them if they had any knowledge about Della's substitute. Not that they could offer a lot, but Scottia did him know: "From what I've heard, that dog was once in a sled team, but he got pretty scarred in one of deliveries and was out of service for months and months, thus rendering him out of shape and making him pretty much grumpy."
"But not Lewis-like grumpy?" Beringo was hoping that they were not going to make fun of Lewis when they said "grumpy" and they weren't thankfully. Koyuk let him know: "No, when it comes to be grumpy, Lewis actually is a nice dog to be around. This one… as if he has not a single bit of kindness left in his soul. Be happy he wasn't replacing any of your friends."
"Will do. I think I should go, master is looking for me!" Beringo let them know when he saw Nash waving to Beringo. He didn't waste a second to get to his harness with his friends in the team before they were positioned at the start line, just how Fritz's team was. However, everyone in the sled team but the gray dog deemed pretty anxious.
"Teams, prepare yourselves!" That announcer with a megaphone yelled, the mail bags being given to both teams, standing in between each. One bag for Nash's team and other one for Kaasen's team. Announcer continued: "We're gathered here to witness the last year's champion, Peter Nash, and his team, in a final annual race against the challenger, Gunnar Kaasen, and his team, on the final annual race of 1921 to the town of Golovin!"
Beringo and his team were ready and excited for today's race. However, Fritz's team was wishing them no luck and so Beringo's team decided to hold off their wishes. They were still pretty anxious with this gray dog next to them. In the matter of the seconds were: "Three… TWO… ONE!" BANG! The bullet being fired from the announcer's gun was heard. The race was on!
There were the two teams against one another and this time they had a town that was on a closer distance then it was the last year. For the first half on their way to Golovin, both teams were pretty much tied while mushing through the snow and ice, avoiding any hazards from the mother nature. As it seemed like both teams were formidably equal to one another.
"I said shut up and move!" This voice came from Fritz's team and at first it was suspected that either Fritz or his friends snapped at others. However, Fritz was heard saying: "You don't command my team! I am the one who is in charge!" The growl that followed soon was coming from that moody gray dog, who showed him his fangs, making Fritz feel helpless.
"Looks like they had to choose the cheapest and worst substitute possible!" Indiana commented, noticing how Fritz's team was now in a disadvantage due to the tensions rising among them and giving Beringo a massive advantage by the time they had reached Golovin. When they were ready to move back with the mail bag being given to him for Nome, Fritz's team was seen just right there in the wild. They still hadn't made it halfway!
"Hike! Hike!" Nash ordered them because he didn't want to have all this drama happening over here because how one team was slowed down. When they were leaving the town of Golovin behind them, Hallie commented: "Oh wow, speaking of embarrassing, this is going to be the race Fritz and his pals won't treasure!"
"Serves them right for spreading that false rumor of Beringo!" Roger said this, albeit his response might have been too harsh, to put it mildly. Beringo did not want to wish any ill luck to his opponent, because they had to do their half of race and as said, they were going to have a major advantage today and if not, win the final annual race of 1921!
,
The race itself went very smoothly for Beringo's team and when they looked for it, Nome was just right in front of them! They didn't even notice that Fritz's team was even further behind them! With the first flare fired in the sky, this just poured them some additional hope, knowing that the victory was right ahead of them!
With every step they had made and they pushed ahead, closer they were to the victory! Two miles, one mile… just the last stretch left to be done! Last year's race was a tense showdown between the teams and this one had the fortune smiling to Beringo's team. There it was, the finish line, right in front of them, with the crowd already gathering…
"Come on… we can do this!" Beringo encouraged them for the last meters in front of them and with all their might, in the matter of seconds, Nash's team had crossed the line! Slowing down and eventually dropping down in an exhaustion, all the dogs panted in joy that they had achieved their second victory in their careers when it came to final annual races.
With their hearing being a bit blurry, Beringo could hear briefly that announcer how Nash's team was undoubtedly the winner of this entire race of 1921. Only then they heard the first three-miles flare for Fritz's team. All in all, an easy victory and it was as sweet as honey. Just then, they saw the newcomers coming to them with joy and pride!
"Well done, Beringo! Second major victory in your career!" Scottia congratulated him first, giving her friend some air to breathe. Beringo was panting on his back and couldn't expect anything else but their praises and also for his teammates. Koyuk told them: "When we saw you from the distance coming alone, we were all right along that this was your victory!"
"You… were… right! I… I didn't… actually… doubt you!" Beringo was coming to his senses with all the panting and breathing after this race. As for others, Lewis and Shanice were also present and while talking to Shanice, Roger asked Beringo: "Where are… we off… to now…, Beringo?!" The celebration was to come next and it was obvious where to next.
After they finally caught some air and rested, the winners had taken their friends to the boiler room, all while leaving Fritz's team behind with that unpleasant older gray dog. Once his owner came to take him home, it could be seen between Fritz and his friends what kind of relief this all was to be rid of that dog. As if Fritz regretted having him as a teammate.
Once in the boiler room, which was now hailing as the place for the winners, Beringo's entire team, Scottia, Koyuk, Lewis and Shanice shared the laughs and jokes in the room, along with some stories, such as Lewis' old homeland tales, Scottia's love for the nature and Koyuk's poetical words on stars, skies, clouds and Northern Lights. As for Shanice…
"Hey, come over here, you guys! Shanice has something to important to tell you all!" Roger called for his friends to come to them and so Shanice could let them know: "Hey, hey. You may be guessing why I wasn't really trusting you all and wasn't that sociable when we met? It has nothing to do with you actually, it is with me when it comes to that issue."
"Dae tell us, lassie, what's yer life issue?" Lewis stood by her as if he wanted to comfort this young female he didn't know a lot, as if he were her uncle figure. Shanice inhaled and exhaled few times before answering them: "Well, you may not have noticed me in the town until this summer. I come from this mountainous land named Utah."
"Utah? I don't think I've heard of that place before." Hallie was curious about this funny name of the land Shanice was from. Though, as she was close to chuckle, she hold her laughter because the following was not really funny: "When I was younger, there was this one male I liked a lot and even I thought that he had feelings for me. We were living like a heaven life for that times we were together. Then he had moved out one day."
"Oh my. Was it the last time you've seen him?" Indiana wondered if this was the reason why Shanice was not actively talking to others, but she carried on: "No, it was just almost a year I have seen him again. And he… he found an another female for himself. Even if I tried to open his eyes to our past, he was just… he was treating me coldly! As if we have never been friends!"
Roger let her rest the head on his chest as she could feel the tears coming to her eyes, but she was strong enough to carry on: "And when he had acknowledged me, he said that he feared and accepted we weren't going to see one another again but we did. For that time, he had chosen her over me and ever since I have been having issues with not just males, but everyone, fearing that they'll double cross me for the things I've never done…"
"Shanice. Shanice! Look, you got to meet my friends over the last few months and you may have taken some time to give them their trust and I'm telling you, they'll never think of double crossing you no matter what, alright? Here, you can talk to them, Beringo especially, and I am sure that he'll respect you properly!" Roger encouraged her to be with the ones who would never ever think of putting that knife in her back at any point in the future.
She looked at him and realized that it was none of their fault that a wound in her past was opened so she apologized: "I'm sorry for being this hysterical, everyone. This is not my party and also not the day I get all this attention, but I didn't want to repulse you anymore. I hope you're not mad at me." Judging by their looks, they didn't look like so.
"Shanice, I know how it hurts you in the past, but look at all of us! We can help you forget those painful memories. Hallie and I, and Scottia to, can provide you some female friendship so you can live in present!" Dakota was openly telling her that there was nothing that Shanice should be concerned about. There was a whole lot ahead in her life, still left unexplored.
Now that the females, even Scottia, could get to hang out with one another at this victory party, it wasn't until Koyuk asked Beringo: "Hey, I have to ask you something and I don't want Dakota to hear me." Since Dakota wasn't too far, but at the same time, wasn't paying attention either, Beringo asked him: "Go ahead."
"Don't mind me if I find it funny, but I'm not here to make fun of you for your reaction on Dakota's yelling, Beringo. I talked to Indiana and he told me that… Dakota might be pregnant?" Koyuk asked this and truth to be said, Beringo didn't care if Koyuk was going to chuckle, but he found it curious about this question.
"What makes you think so, Koyuk?" Beringo wondered if Koyuk's guess was true, but Koyuk wasn't providing him with a reliable source: "Well, I'm not really a dog who will know something like this, but I noticed that Dakota's reactions are the same one as Della's from not long ago. Heck, Lewis told us about Della being pregnant!"
"Aye, ah ha' heard and seen at maself! Della's master said yon lassie should nae be in the team fur weeks fur the guid of her and Fritz's wee anes. Ah ken say yon lad Fritz was happy he will ha' wee anes wi Della, but he was nae happy she was going to be aut fur the final race!" Lewis explained to Beringo where he'd heard this information so he'd not sound like he came up with something that was out of blue.
"He told us that first, you know? We were the first ones in his way to know the news." Koyuk explained how he also knew that information. This was something Beringo wanted to know in the first place yet he asked: "Lewis, do you know by any idea who that dog was who was replacing Della in his team?"
"Ah dinnae ken yon, Beringo. But ah ha' heard yon dog is nae a pleasant lad! He looked quite angry he was in yon team." Lewis wasn't sure who Della's substitute was but one thing was for sure - Lewis was grumpy but pretty fun to be around with. That other dog though was just grumpy and most likely someone who no one dared to disturb…
"Hey everyone, I would like to share some news!" Justin's voice was heard now that the discussion about mystery were lifted and everyone turned around the gray and chill dog in the centre of the boiler room. He let them know: "Well, remember how the last year we've won and didn't notice that Dakota and Indiana left this room in secret, only to find out they were on their first date?"
Dakota and Indiana nostalgically remembered that day exactly a year ago when they smiled to one another and therefore, Justin told them all: "Now I'd like to tell you this - now that they celebrated their victory with a date in secret, I have in mind the opposite! Hallie, would you love to come on a date with me tonight to celebrate the victory?"
Everyone in this room looked in anticipation at Hallie, who was surprised to be asked in front of everyone, but for the sake of their relationship and their victory today, she lifted her right front paw above the ground, smiled cutely at her boyfriend and answered: "I'm all yours, Justin." This clearly had everyone in the room, even Shanice, cheering up for her answer!
They ever cleared the path for them to go outside now that the dark had fallen out there and since they were leaving, all the males, save for Lewis, jokingly taunted: "Smooth move!" All while Dakota, Scottia and Shanice were having a delightful talk how Hallie was going to have a wonderful night with Justin for their victory!
Justin and Hallie were already out there, going through the streets. They could already notice the decorations being placed on many houses out there, with Justin speaking in a sing-along tone: "Christmas is coming to our town!" Come to think about it, it was around ten more days left until Christmas, a truly wonderful day of the year.
"I love those decorations, Justin! Look at this grassy decoration hanging on that beam!" Hallie pointed at the small green bush with a red bowtie tied above it and hanging on the rope. They didn't know what that thing was, but looking at it just made them both feel like as if their love was pulsing stronger. They just had that feeling.
"What if we were to find one of those in the town, along with a nice dinner and a beautiful view to the seaside, Hallie?" Justin was adding some more logs to this fire just so Hallie could have a wonderful date tonight. She didn't answer him, all because she found his ideas to be quite outstanding so he answered her back: "Follow me, I know the best place!"
It took them a while to find that small green bush with bowtie to carry it and on their way, they had a fortune to find at the docks a freshly caught trout. Since there was no way one'd figure out that a fish was missing from that net, they didn't have to worry about being chased away. The wooden peer where that large boat would dock every once in a month? That was their date spot tonight.
Once they had sat down, with the town being decorated for one of the greatest Christian holidays of the year, and two gray dogs on their date in the night, with the starless sky above them thanks to the clouds and the trout they were going to share, it seemed like nothing really mattered to them but their modest and sweet date.
"Well, here we are, Hallie! What a dating spot, ain't it?" He asked her, wondering whether she was going to have any positive feelings about this date and she seemed to like it, judging by the awe and smile on her face, only for her to say: "Justin, one thing that's missing is that it isn't snowing, but other than that, I like this so far."
"Maybe it does snow. Who knows? There were the times you wished for something and it turned real… just like now!" Justin didn't mind it if Hallie complained about any cons and quite coincidentally, the first snowflake landed on Hallie's muzzle and then the snow started falling, quite lightly for tonight. There she had whispered: "Now it's perfect!"
"I'm glad to hear that. Here, you take the juicier parts of the fish, I'm sure you're going to love it!" Justin offered her the better part while they were sitting and looking at one another with all those snowflakes falling around them. The frozen water below the peers didn't bother them that much and it was salty, bad place to quench thirst.
"This is a pretty tasty fish, Justin… how'd you know I was going to like it?" Hallie wondered if Justin was some kind of psychic or what because he was reading her like a book. Justin placed his paw on her and with that warm smile in the cold air, he told her: "Because, Hallie, you may be a different female by the personality. There could be some dogs who might not share a good opinion for your unique personality, but you're that wonderfully strange female I love, do you know that?"
"Wonderfully strange, you say? Dare I say that you're handsomely quirky to me?" Hallie teased him because she couldn't take those two words too personally when they were said by Justin. They laughed quietly when they had exchanged those compliments and so Justin let her know: "Yes, you do. And I am happy for who I am, just like you are for yourself."
"Can you believe how we've pushed this far in our relationship? I have this strange feeling that we're reaching the peak, you know?" Hallie asked him, hoping that their relationship was going to be eternally bound together and she just had to say it, while they were finishing the last chunks of trout flesh…
"Hallie, for the times we've known one another and shared the adventures together, I don't think I'd want any other female but you! What do you say that one day, you and I, have a family on our own?" Justin dared to say this, hoping that he was being not too intrusive with his suggestion and not even Hallie felt that way.
"And would our puppies be… I don't know, wonderfully-handsomely-quirkly-strange or handsomely-wonderfully-strangely-quirky?" She teased him in here, wondering if he was going to get this joke thanks to their unique compliments for one another. Justin chuckled while listening to her say all those words together.
"I can settle with both personalities! You can choose for yourself if you want to." Justin gave her that opportunity and she used her move pretty well: "Well, if you like both personalities, then we can have our own family with our puppies having all those personalities at once." That snow landing on their faces made them move closer to one another and that one more snowflake falling on Justin's muzzle was licked away by Hallie while giving her new mate's kiss in the snowy night.
Days and days later, with the day humans and dogs both anticipated dearly…
Beringo was still asleep, resting comfortably under his orange blanket. There was no mail delivery for him today nor any recreation so he could, if he wanted to, stay in bed longer and sleep it all away. Only that he chose not to stay. There was a good reason he was going to wake up very soon, or was it someone else who'd do so?
"Alright…" Someone's voice echoed in Beringo's thoughts while still sleeping. It had to belong to one of his male friends. "And one…" The voice intensified, albeit he wasn't sure if it was Indiana's or Justin's. "And two…" Louder the voice was, clearer it was to him to figure out who said it. "And three…!" Now he knew that Indiana said this one.
And then, he opened his eyes, noticing all of his teammates looking at him and before he could say "good morning" to any of them, they all sang along:
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, DEAR BERINGO,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!"
His vision was fully clear right here and Beringo all greeted them with joy, remembering his third birthday! But that was not it because Beringo wished them: "Thank you all! And Merry Christmas to each one of you! Isn't it wonderful to have you all here with me?" Of course, all that joy and amicity with one another in one room was showing how they were treating one another as a family.
After having Christmas wished to one another, unless they had done it before waking Beringo up, they noticed how prettily was decorated the entire room, thanks to Nash's efforts. Speaking of joys, there was one more joy to share and here it came, from Indiana: "Hey, hey, hey! I know that this is Beringo's birthday, but we'd be honored to share some great news with you!"
"Indiana, my dear friend, do not hesitate to share them with us! It is Christmas and sharing the great news should matter to anyone!" Beringo, being quite jovial, allowed his best friend to reveal what the news were. Indiana looked at Dakota and asked her: "Honey, are you going to tell them?" Dakota licked him by the cheek to reveal her answer.
She sat down and one thing that could be noticed was that her belly was containing much less fur in comparison to anyone, but the words said it all: "Everyone, Indiana and I have great news to share. We are going to be parents!" The room had exploded in joy and excitement when they had discovered their great news.
"At first I've thought that me losing the fur on the belly was some kind of illness, but master told me what is going on. I can't believe that I'll be a mother in a few weeks!" Dakota clearly couldn't conceal her joy for knowing that she and Indiana were going to have bundles of joy during the winter. Hallie asked her: "Dakota, I do have one question, were those moments, like snapping at Beringo once and pardon me, devouring breakfast few times before Roger, telling you that you were pregnant?"
"Hmmm, I'm not really sure, Hallie. It could be. I do know it started a day or two before our final race." Dakota couldn't clearly remember all those facts, but judging by the time it had begun, she might have been mates with Indiana for two weeks or so then. Hallie and Justin were a week and few days mates.
While girls were having their talk, boys with exception of Roger, who was getting some treats from Nash, asked Indiana: "Tell us, how are you going to handle it now that you're going to be dad, my friend?" Indiana remained confident in this even if deep inside himself he was both nervous and excited for something new in his life.
"I'll give it my best. I'll make sure that the puppies, once they're old enough, learn some life values and lessons." Indiana gave his briefly summarized idea how to raise his family and both Justin and Beringo liked the idea, especially Justin, if he was going to be a father, which was something he'd have to wait and find out with Hallie.
"Beringo, I may be crazy to ask this and by no means anyone else would consider it as a sane idea, for the times we live in, but were you really considering with Aniu to have a family with her?" Indiana asked him this and he tried hard not to snicker at this, thinking that his suggestion was just too ridiculous to consider in the first place.
"You may think it's a foolish idea, Indiana, but what if I do have a family with her one day? If I do, our puppies may be different, but if you were to give a chance, would you think of seeing them one day? They may not be as savages as you think just because on Aniu's side, you know." Beringo didn't hesitate actually and while they gave him that weird look, they had to respect that opinion coming from him, no matter how strange it was.
"Well, I'd be a hypocrite if I were to tell you that your idea is weird because now that Hallie and I are mates now, I do find her weird, but in a good way. Therefore, I won't judge you for your decision, Beringo!" Justin had given him the support although he was among the ones who was the most hesitant about Aniu. And as for Indiana…
"Ahhh, what the heck, my friend! If you want to have a family with her, go for it! We won't be telling anyone, don't you worry!" Indiana had also given him a support and Beringo knew that despite the overwhelming odds, they were going to accept him for having the strangest female of them all, saying: "Thank you, boys."
"Hey, hey, check out the doggy treats master is sharing! You better hurry before I eat the ones meant for you!" Roger called them to join him in begging for treats, already having two treats in his mouth. Males and females didn't waste their time but to have the treats being given to them all while Nash was patting them and wishing them a Merry Christmas, as if those dogs were like his children.
The Christmas day and also Beringo's birthday were going pretty well. With people singing Christmas carols from doors to doors, giving one another presents and wishing all the best to one another, this Christmas in 1921 felt both traditional and enchanting. Dakota being revealed to be pregnant seemed like as a great Christmas present to everyone.
Yet Beringo had one more thing in his mind. Not only that this was a Christian holiday and also his birthday, but he wanted to tell Aniu about Christmas in general and in the end, ask her to be his mate. He couldn't hesitate anymore, he was going to do it! He did not care if his puppies were going to be half-breed unlike Dakota's, all that mattered was that he loved Aniu with all his heart.
Once the night had fallen, after going across all those Christmas lights and decorations, along with people wishing Christmas and all the best to one another, Beringo made it sure that no one was going to see him go outside the town otherwise things would have turned sour very soon. Once reaching the end of the town, not a single dog noticed him leaving.
Making his way across the snow, that was going to conceal his paw prints as it was snowing, but not terribly hard, he made it all the way to the old boat. Already noticing Aniu from the distance, she radiated with that aura that made him feel like that tonight was it - he was going to ask her in the middle of the magic of Christmas night.
"Aniu, you look wonderful tonight!" Beringo complimented her once he met up with her by the old boat and the dog and the wolf nuzzled one another. Aniu accepted his compliment for being genuinely sincere with her, telling him: "Beringo, I may not know about how you count time, but I do know one thing - happy birthday!"
"And Merry Christmas to you too." Beringo rubbed his nose against Aniu's. She didn't seem to know what Beringo just wished her and while they were walking to the forest behind those hills, she asked him: "What's that Christmas you wished me?" Before having Nome being out of their sight, he asked her: "Do you notice the town glowing in lights tonight?"
"Yes?" Aniu curiously noticed how the lights in Nome were brighter than ever. He let her know: "Today, or rather tonight, now, is Christmas and it is considered to be, as humans say, one of the greatest days in year! It is the time of the year when humans, and even dogs, forgive to each other and also give their love and presents to one another. They say that someone who was born many hundreds of years ago was born on Christmas night… and I was born on Christmas night!"
"I have never heard of that Christmas as you say it, but it gives me the feels about it, very warm feels!" Aniu seemed to be fond of this unique day in the year and even Beringo knew that the one who heard of Christmas once, but never celebrated it himself or herself, would know why it was one of the most beloved days in the year.
When they were in the forest, where they had a date once, they just noticed something dancing in the distance. The Northern lights, but not the ones Beringo created with the oil lamp and glass shards but the real ones! They were getting closer to their position and the reflection of the lights were seen in their eyes, showing their awe for this natural phenomenon.
"Aniu… have you ever asked yourself where do those lights come from and what's their purpose?" Beringo wanted to know about the lights as the ones that the mother nature painted in the sky and breathed in them to "live". Aniu, however, was focused on something that were in the lights and that sight made her feel like a little puppy.
There were two figures and not just any figures. One was a figure of a black female wolf with golden eyes and the another one was a figure of a dark brown male wolf, also with golden eyes. The black female had a hole in her chest and the male had a hole in his neck, but as if those holes made them very alive. Not to mention, they were smiling to Aniu and she knew who they were… "Faro…? Sami…?"
"Aniu?" Beringo asked her again, wondering why she was not responding. Just by the pure coincidence, he looked right at where she was looking and then he noticed two wolf figures. Even he gasped when he saw them in the lights and at first, he was about to ask her if those were her parents, but acknowledging that they were alive, but deep in the wilderness, he asked her: "Are… are those two wolves who were your father's friends?"
"They are!" Aniu's eyes turned teary when she saw the two wolves who were a part of her puppyhood and as if the wounds they had on themselves were nothing else but mere scratches. Beringo gazed at this spectacle and broke the silence: "Aniu, do you think that the lights… they have a purpose to remain in contact with the spirits of deceased ones?"
"I have never really thought of that before, but it seems that they do. They have come down to me as if something great will happen, Beringo." Aniu let him know. Beringo was going to tell her himself what was that "great" going to happen and if those two, even as deceased wolves, were here for that purpose, then it meant that they wanted Aniu to have Beringo as the love of her life.
He placed his paw on hers and Aniu moved her gaze at his. The pair of blue eyes and the pair of golden eyes were viewing one another and Beringo revealed: "Aniu, if they are here for that something great that will happen, then they are! I do have one question I've longed to ask you for some time."
"Ohhhh?" Aniu wondered whether Beringo's question was that sole purpose of Faro and Sami's descent as spirits to them. He asked her: "Aniu, ever since that night you saved me and for all the times we've been knowing one another and loved one another, if I were to ask you anything for Christmas, then it is just one thing."
Faro and Sami, as spirits in the lights dancing in the forest that surrounded them, had those warm and kind smiles as if Beringo's question was the answer to everything. Finally he made his move: "Aniu, would you like if you and I were to start a family on our own? A family with puppies that carry your beauty and my agility and our courage together?"
"R… really? And what do your friends think of this? Aren't they going to ostracize you for that decision?" Aniu was stunned by this question, but the look on Beringo's face was not faltering a single bit that he ever proved her: "They won't! Indiana, my best friend, told me that if I truly love you, then I should not back down but pursue the future with you together."
If the approval came from the dog who was like Beringo's older brother in the new family was genuine, Aniu's awe was replaced with that gentle and warm smile on her face and even she gazed at the spirits of Faro and Sami, whose responses were just slow nodding of each and there she answered him: "Only with you, my dear Beringo!"
He let her place her head on his chest and he pressed his head gently against her neck while truly proving that nothing mattered to him now that he was truly with the love of his life. In the forest, surrounded by the dancing lights of the north, with the snow falling and covering their furs even more, this was a truly enchanting Christmas and Beringo's birthday!
As for the spirits of Faro and Sami, who saw the new bond raising from Beringo and Aniu, meant to bond them together for the rest of their lives. They also had realized that Aniu had chosen the most unusual male for herselfm but also the true love of her life. As of this moment on, they were ascending back to the sky, only for them tonight to approach in the dreams of the wolves living far in the nature of Alaska, to tell them about Aniu and her future!