Weeks passed and Marion had fully adapted herself back to the sled service. Ever since she saw her mistress treating her puppies fairly well, she'd started to worry less about them being left home whenever she and Clark had to go. Clark was clearly faster in adapting to that change.
However, a new concern had struck both of them. Their puppies were going to be two months any day soon and it was clear to them what that meant: the adoption of their puppies. Those two months they had spent went as quick as flash and it could seem like neither of them wanted to let their puppies go… but they had to.
So while Marion was walking one chilly day with her puppies around the town, Clark was going to catch up with them. He had decided to overhear the plan of their masters when they were planning to give the puppies for adoption. Marion wished that the adoption was bound to happen the same day when she and Clark were at home.
"Look, mommy! Puppies!" A little blonde haired girl, around five years old, saw the four puppies under Marion's care. Beringo, Amak, Ridge and Bethel saw the little girl coming quite curious and happy to see these adorable little balls of fluff. Her mother, also a blonde, long haired person, noticed Marion among them.
"Oh, mommy! They're so adorable! I wish I could adopt one now!" The little girl was thrilled when the puppies were starting to jump around her happily. Her mother understood that, but couldn't do it right here on the street. She told her: "I know, sweetie, but we have to talk to their owner first! It depends when the owner will decide to put them for adoption."
"But how are we going to know whose puppies are these?" The little girl asked while she was patting Bethel by her head, who was licking her palm in return. Her mother recognized the mother of the puppies: "This is Marion, and she is Jakob's dog. We cannot be hasty about the puppies yet, but I'm sure he'll be glad to have you one of the puppies soon!"
"Alright then! I can't wait! I do like this white female over here!" She pointed at Bethel who raised on her rear legs, seeking for some more cuddles. Her mother, before taking her further, let her know: "If we're lucky enough, maybe we'll adopt her. But first, this is Jakob's decision to make!" With that said, they had to move on, but not before the little girl waved to the puppies and Marion.
As for Marion, she was trying not to think of that day to come, as every single second with them mattered to her. Bethel followed the little girl and her mother a little bit, but knowing that she had to stay with her mother and siblings, she stopped and watched them leave. She asked her mother: "Mommy, what did that human mean by adoption?"
Marion opened her mouth and just as she was about to tell her what was going on, she heard a familiar voice coming from the side: "Marion! Puppies! I've made it! Marion, I've found out… hey, hey! Yes, daddy is here!" He had to endure the shower of joy when the puppies yipped simultaneously: "DADDY! DADDY!" upon seeing their father.
She smiled for a minute to see this scenery with the puppies jumping at their father, with Beringo being the most successful one and he started biting his father's ear gently. Yet, other things mattered right now when she had asked him: "Did you find out anything about the adoption? Is there going to be any?" The word on "a" made the puppies raise their eyebrows and Amak asked his parents: "Mommy, daddy? What is that adoption?"
Now there it came and both parents sighed, realizing that the truth had to be revealed. Clark gazed at her mate's brown eyes to tell her: "Marion, I know how hard this is going to be for us, but if we don't let go of them now… we'll always wear that burden for the decision we've made..." She looked like as if were trying not to cry.
"I know… but it just feels unfair that it had been this short and now we have to let go…" Instead of succumbing to her emotions, she sighed deeper and looked at her puppies how all four of them gathered around their parents. Clark had begun: "Puppies, you must be wondering what this adoption is all about? It means that you'll have new humans as your new owners in your new homes."
"The what?" Ridge asked his father in disbelief. Did he hear that right… no longer would they be living under their father care and mother love? After all they had given to them now they had to live away from them… but why? Amak didn't seem like he liked that idea when he had protested: "But mommy! Why can't you decide about this? Why do we have to be adopted?!"
"Because this is neither your mother nor my choice. Our masters made this decision. Puppies, by the next Monday, which is in five days, you'll be given for adoption, which is why we'll spend all the time we have together until that day and make our goodbyes something to be remembered!" Clark decisively said this, hoping that this'd ignite an another hope in them.
"But if we do get adopted, will we still see each other? Will we stay in Nome?" Bethel asked her question and while neither of them were making promises, Marion said this encouragingly: "Most likely we all will. The nearest town is pretty far from where we are and we'll see how you would grow up in your new homes!"
As much as they didn't want to leave their parents and be adopted, Beringo actually was the one who had the least concerns about this when he said it, joyfully: "Maybe it isn't that bad! What if I have owners who have a kid like little Viktor? That would be fun!" If their new owners, once adopting them, have little kids, like that one girl who was interested in Bethel, then maybe the adoption was not that frightening at all!
Marion and Clark spent every moment they had t with their puppies before the adoption the following Monday. Of course, it required them on Friday to go on a mail delivery, but as usual, they had done it quite fast due to Marion's and Clark's persistence to be home with puppies while they still had time left…
Monday morning…
After giving the breakfast to puppies to satisfy their hungers, Gundarsson and Viktor led the dogs out to the porch where they had them placed in the box fitting for double the number of them inside. There were letters written on the paper that was glued on the box's exterior that wrote: „PUPPIES FREE FOR ADOPTION! DO NOT MISS YOUR CHANCE!"
"I'm going to miss them, pappa." Viktor told his father as they sat on the bench in front of the box to overlook the adoption. His father placed the hand on his shoulder and wisely told him: "I know, Viktor. But it is for their best to find the new homes and start their lives anew. Maybe they'll have owners as good as us, maybe better!"
The puppies, being overlooked by their parents closer, were playing together for the last time, chasing one another in the small box where they had enough space to share. Beringo, who had been thinking about the family he'd live in with the kid there, was the most excited about the entire adoption and Marion could clearly see it.
"Beringo, don't waste all your excitement yet, or you'll be too tired to play with your new family after being adopted!" Clark joked on Beringo's excitement, who couldn't help himself but answer his father: "But daddy! I'm just so excited that when I get adopted, I'll be playing with the kid in their family! Oh boy, oh boy!"
"Just like how that girl had an eye on me last week!" Bethel seemed to be also excited about the adoption and she hoped that little blonde girl would find her and if she were to be adopted by her, they'd be the best of friends, as a human and a dog. Though, Amak and Ridge didn't share that enthusiasm.
"Mommy? Will we still see each other when we get adopted?" Amak asked the question his sister had from the last week and once again, Marion remained firm about this question to tell her son: "Amak, it's okay! Of course we'll be seeing each other after you're adopted! Just think how your father and I will come to you and your siblings to make sure you're fine!"
Amak nodded as he wanted to stay faithful about seeing his mother, father, brothers and sister while growing up. Ridge commented: "And while we all grow up together in Nome, we may share the experiences with our new owners! How cool is that?" It sounded like a great idea to them and so the brothers had joined the excitement.
Within minutes, the box of puppies was finally catching the attention of passengers, but it was one of them who had the eye on this the most. It was a musher, presumably younger than Gundarsson was and he had a short brown hair, white musher hat and black coat. It seemed like the puppy adoption had caught his attention.
"Hello, I see that you're giving the puppies for an adoption?" The young musher asked Gundarsson when he had approached the porch. The puppies saw the human looking at them curiously while Gundarsson answered: "That's correct! I was hoping someone would come to adopt one at least around this time!"
"And you may be lucky now, because let me see who I might want to adopt…" The young musher answered to the older one and inspected each one of the puppies, wondering who was the one he was looking for the most… and he made his choice as he had reached with his hands for none other else than Beringo, raising him from the box.
"I like this gray one. Does he have a name?" The younger musher asked as he was holding him gently like a baby in his arms. Gundarsson answered: "That is Beringo. He is the oldest of the four in here!" As if he had scored the fortune with him, the younger musher smiled at the puppy he held just to answer him: "Hey there, little Beringo! Guess what? I'll be taking care of you as the new owner!"
Gundarsson and Viktor had expected this and were happy that the things were going smooth. Even so, the puppies in the box started yipping excitedly when they heard Beringo was getting a new home and so were Marion and Clark. Then the younger musher said something that toned down the excitement: "Alright, soon I'll have the things packed up and we'll be off to Buckland in less than hour!"
Buckland?! What was Buckland? Was that some kind of place not near Nome? Did this mean that little Beringo… was not going to be in Nome…?! That whole idea did not bode well to the little puppy when he started squirming hard from his hands as the musher, and even Gundarsson shouted: "Whoah! WHOAH! EASY THERE, BERINGO! Calm down!"
"No! NO! Let me go! I don't want to go! I don't want to leave my home!" Beringo was releasing himself from the man's grip as the tears were seen in his eyes. The sole thought of not seeing his parents and siblings for a long time was terrifying him already. First he was very excited to be adopted, but to find out he was going to be raised outside his birthtown?
"Look, Beringo, I cannot change my mind about Buckland, but I can let you be with your family for a bit more before we go, okay?" The musher asked him this while he was still trying to calm the crying puppy down. Never did these two men nor the kid see this puppy be this upset before. He let Beringo go for a few minutes.
His siblings from the box watched their eldest brother bolt straight to his mother and clinged on her left front leg tightly, yipping in tears: "Mommy, please! Don't let the man take me away from the town! I don't want to leave any of you!" Marion also didn't like where her son was going nor did Clark, who was saying: "Beringo! Beringo! Calm down, it is going to be okay!"
"But how it is going to be okay, daddy?!" Beringo asked his father with the tears remaining in his eyes. Marion licked the tears off so her son could see her and others better. Marion, who tried to stay calm and not let herself tear up, told him in not really calm tone: "Beringo… my son… I know that you want to stay here in Nome… but this is no longer mine nor your father's choice… your new owner is now who decides here…"
"But… but… but what about you? What about Amak, Ridge and Bethel? Am I ever going to see you all?" He glanced briefly at his siblings, who were terrified by the fact that their eldest brother was going to be raised outside Nome. Clark was the one who wanted to warm him him: "Beringo… don't panic. Even if you do end up living in an another town and get raised there… remember that you will always have us by your side!"
"But… how?" Beringo asked him with the tears in his eyes, the last of them. He had no clue that his father was thinking on his heart and mind where he'd always have them. Even if the words weren't heard from his father, Beringo could feel that he had started feeling that warmth that would start making him thinking of second thoughts about this.
From there on, Beringo could feel that all he could do was to accept his fate about being adopted and raised in new town. Both of his parents had deeply nuzzled him for the last time as if they were giving him the last of mother love and father care. All while his new owner kneeled nearby, waiting for the puppy to be his last moments with his family.
"Come on, Beringo, we'll have to go now." His new owner scratched him behind the ears as he had to get used to his new family, new owner, new environment. He could hear Amak telling him: "We're going to miss you, Beringo!" And of course, Ridge followed soon after: "Good luck with your new family!" The icing on the cake was when Bethel told him: "I hope that we'll see each other again, brother!"
Then his new owner raised him above the ground and held him in the hands. He waved to his siblings slowly to tell them: "Goodybe, you three! I wish you luck in finding new homes and I hope I'll see you again!" And then, he looked at his parents for the last time to tell them: "Goodbye, mommy. Goodbye, daddy. I love you both!"
"We love you too, son." Marion bid him farewell as she was calming herself down. Clark smiled warmly at him, hoping that this was not the last time he'd see his eldest son in his left and so he reminded him: "Goodbye, my son. May the fortune follow you out there and may we see each other again in the future." As for Gundarsson and Viktor, they had waved goodbye to Beringo and his new owner.
"Okay, boy. Let's get to my residence where I have my things already packed up. It's going to take us few days to reach Buckland, but I'll tell you this - you'll like your new home!" His owner told him the most basic things what was going to be his life like once they were going to reach the town that was just north of Seward peninsula…
In less than an hour, Beringo saw his new owner already having his gears packed up for the journey, mostly clothes, personal belongings and some food to carry on to their days-long journey to Buckland. Soon enough, they had headed eastwards, towards the town of Koyuk, which was a crossroad that would lead them northwards to Buckland.
Travelling to a such place was mostly either on foot or relied on the transport provided by locals to a certain extent, length-wise or monetary-wise. Nights were not that terrible either, but on Wednesday night they had to seek the refuge at the mountain cabin due to an imminent raging snowstorm. The generosity of the cabin owners saved them for that night.
"Look, Beringo, we made it… Buckland!" On Friday early afternoon, the sight of the town, a very small one, laying on the left bank of the small, unnamed river, or named by the natives, was in their sight. Surrounded by the snow plains, it was quite curious why did Beringo's new owner choose a place like this? "Let's get going. I hope my place was maintained."
Holding Beringo in one hand and his bag in other hand, his owner descended towards the town and noticing how almost every resident of this place was a native, it made him look like a sore thumb among them. Were they even aware of him and had he known their culture and language? Just then, they had stopped in front of the house, on the doors labelled "P. Nash."
"This is where we're living, Beringo. With your new family too!" His owner, presumably being named Nash, let him know what was waiting for him and the curiosity got the best out of the puppy… who were the family he was going to meet? Human family? Dog family? How were they like? Nice? Caring? Tough? Unpleasant? Scaredy?
Aside from that, the doors of Nash's residence opened and it revealed an older Native American looking at Nash. She had greeted him in the language Beringo could not understand - Inupiaq language. Nash, surprisingly, also knew that same Inupiaq language when he was heard talking courteously to an elderly woman. With the smile on her face, and his, it was all well.
"Okay, don't worry about that. The kind old lady was looking after this place and I'll pay her for maintaining it. Not in money, as they don't understand it. Rather from a souvenir I brought from your town, boy." Nash explained to him as he had entered the house with the puppy inside, closing the doors with his left leg. Then he had placed the puppy on the floor.
"Alright, I will take care of some things right now and you get yourself comfortable and I hope you'll love your new family!" Nash told him as he was seen heading towards the dining room. As for Beringo, he got his chance to gaze at the living room he'd been in and was he surprised by the looks of this room itself.
An old green armchair in one corner, the floor made entirely out of spruce, the windows made out of hard wood to prevent any draft coming to them, the warmth of the fireplace nearby and the basket in one room that was made out of straw from the south and a soft looking violet pillow in there. Was that his bed to start with?
"Hi, you must be the puppy from Nome!" The voice, belonging to a female puppy, was heard when Beringo saw the black furred, ocean blue eyed, female peeked behind the old armchair. Beringo was surprised to find out that his new "family" was this black female puppy. He answered her nervously: "Y-yes… yes I am. You are my new family?"
"Not just me, there are some others!" The female puppy giggled when one other puppy, a brown one, with slightly brighter brown eyes, a male one, peeked from behind and was surprised to notice the new puppy. He was the only brown eyed puppy among them. But that was not all when the voice from the other side caught his attention and Beringo saw three other puppies over there.
Among those three was one female and two males. The female was gray, with the green eyes, dark green ones. Next to her was a gray male, slightly brighter gray fur he had and his eyes were sky blue, Then there was a male with the fur that was gray with a slight touch of tan. His eyes were also green, but brighter, as if they were bright as grass.
"Hi, you all! Well… yeah, my new owner brought me from Nome… my name is Beringo!" Beringo introduced himself to the puppies when they were encircling him, out of curiosity and of course, that circle was soon broken. The female who had seen him first, black one, introduced herself: "Nice to meet you, Beringo. I am Dakota."
"Hey, Dakota." Beringo got to know the name of the first puppy, then the brown puppy that was next to her, introduced himself: "And I am Indiana." Beringo found that name pretty interesting: "Indiana? That is a cool name you have." Then, those other three puppies came along and the female got to introduce herself first.
"Hi, I am Hallie." The gray female puppy revealed her name and while smiling to her, he got to see the gray male next to her coming and wondering whether he was Hallie's brother or not, he let the male introduce himself: "My name is Justin." Beringo smiled to his friend while asking himself whether these two are siblings.
"And my name is Roger!" That gray puppy with the slight touch of tan finally introduced himself and seemed to be the most excited to meet the new one. Optimistic he looked, Beringo looked at each one of them to repeat: "Dakota… Indiana… Hallie… Justin… Roger… nice to meet you all! So you're my new family?"
The puppies looked at one other and each of them giggled when they heard him say "Family", much to his confusion. Indiana stepped out and let him know: "Well, our master, Nash, he said we'd be a family, but the truth is, none of us six are related to one another! We all come from the separate families!" Maybe Beringo was taking "Family" a bit too literally?
"Ohhhhhhhhhh!" Beringo howled in excitement when he had heard that, wondering how this all came to be. Hallie got to tell him: "Well, others thought that Justin and I are siblings, but we only met last week!" That made her and Justin giggle as they knew that no matter how similar they looked like, they had no blood relation.
"Want to know what's cool, Beringo? Master Nash will train us to become sled dogs one day!" Dakota cheerfully told her new friend about this and hearing what their master intended, Beringo howled excitedly again to tell them: "That's great! My parents are sled dogs!" This made the other puppies look at him excitedly and reveal some things.
"My dad is a sled dog!" Dakota answered this and it was Justin who gave the same: "And so is mine!" Whereas Indiana gave away: "Well, my mom is the sled dog in the family." Of course, Hallie shared away: "And my mom too!" While they already knew that among each other, along with Roger's backstory, which Beringo had no clue about, and it was: "Well… my parents are not sled dogs, but our master thinks I'm fit to be a sled dog!"
While it could have made him like an odd one out, no one decided to poke the stick on that trouble and behaved like as it that weren't a big deal anyhow. Though, Beringo just remembered what he had dreamed… it was his mother, talking to him and he could visibly remember her face and her sweet and warm words she was telling him.
"I dreamed my mom two nights ago. She told me that with the speed I have, I have a potential to become a sled dog like them… and like you all!" Beringo shared his dream his his new friends and future teammates, who seemed to like his words, like how Dakota said: "That sounds pretty fun! I bet your mom helped you up a lot, Beringo."
Beringo glanced at Dakota at her blue eyes when he felt the emotion and warmth coming from her… as if she were some kind of sister figure to him right now. Just then, Nash had returned to the living room, carrying some plates in his hands and telling them: "Well, I don't know what you have been eating for the last six days, but I got you something new to eat. Lunch time!"
He ducked to place the plates full of chopped raw beef in front of them and the puppies yipped excitedly as they were ready to share their lunch. Beringo couldn't decide where to first, but Indiana and Dakota beckoned to come over their plate while Justin, Hallie and Roger took their already. This looked like a fresh good start for the young Beringo!
The life for Beringo in the new town was not what he'd been expecting. His owner, Nash, had no kids, but him being around with the puppies he'd met when he'd come to live here was something he liked too. They were like his new family, reminding him how his biological family was back there in Nome… he had dearly missed them all…
One particularly warm summer day, two Natives from Buckland were seen fishing in the river in the village for some salmons. Like the majority of the town, they had spoken Inupiaq language only, yet they had acknowledged the presence of the American among them. Still, they had other things in their mind to do rather than bother Nash with unnecessary things.
What had caught their attention, yet that something was they had been familiar for the last few weeks, was when they had heard from the other bank the stampede of dogs barking. The dogs who were owned by Nash were no longer little two months old puppies, but they had been around eight months old, maybe nine, when they were seen running.
Two females, four males… three gray ones, one black, one brown and one with the mix of gray and tan… were running by the river bank. At first glance, it was looking like as if they were racing among each other, as the game of tag had grown over them lately. It wasn't until Nash was spotted at the first house of the town, holding a stopwatch.
Seeing all six dogs he'd owned running towards them, he could spot that the gray male with blue eyes, Beringo, was in the lead. Truth to be said, Beringo had been mostly in the lead when it came to training sessions, though there had been times where he was somewhere in the middle or at least twice he'd come last.
The only dog who was quite competent to match Beringo's skills was Indiana. He had less times when he was in the lead, but so far he only had one time when he'd come last. For most of the runs, when Beringo was not leading, it'd have him or someone else being first. He'd the honor to be the second in these runs.
"And… time!" Nash clicked the stopwatch when he'd seen Beringo crossing the improvised line he'd dug with the stick as there was no snow at this time in year. Beringo, crossing the line first, had pressed his paws against the fresh ground to slow down. As he was, he'd panted in satisfaction, exclaiming: "Yes! Another leading run!"
"Good boy, Beringo!" Nash scratched him behind his right ear as this marked another session with Beringo being in lead, thus making him the most likely candidate for a lead dog. Dakota, who'd come thirdm slowed down close to her friend and let him know: "Nice job, Beringo! You've got the minerals for today's training session!"
"Ahh, don't mention it, Dakota. The fortune smiled to me today, but not every time." Beringo friendly dismissed her remark as flattering, even if it was not the fortune that had him winning these sessions, but the dedication and potential. Dakota winked to him amusingly and said: "You call yourself fortunate? If I were you, I'd be honest with myself… our yourself, however you please."
Beringo chuckled about that statement, looking at her. Dakota was doing very well in her runs, bearing the most wins after Beringo and Indiana. She had four unfortunate times when she'd come last, of which one was her stepping on the sharp rock that made her bandaged for a few days. She was back in form surprisingly soon.
"But hey, remember that you have both parents being sled dogs, my friend. Most of us have at least one, save for Roger, whose parents aren't sled dogs." Indiana came to his friend to show some gratitude for the victory his friend had achieved. Roger was quite close to overhear Indiana's statement about being the only dog not from sled family.
"My mom and dad may not be sled dogs, Indiana, but they'd be surprised how fast I am for what I give! I might make my siblings sorto f envious about that." Roger reminded him, which had given him the reason to snicker about it, even though he never intended to make his siblings jealous. Dakota told him: "For what I can see, Roger, you're doing also quite well!"
She was not lying. While Roger was not the biggest ace among them, scoring less wins, he was not really the least victorious among them. He had a fair batch of wins, yet also some last place records. Still, he didn't have the most last places to go with, making him a "golden middle" dog in these session. He smiled on her compliment.
"Congratulations, Beringo. I might have made it to the podium if I hadn't had a bit too much breakfast today." Justin came to congratulate his friend to Nome, but also indicated that his performance was not the best he'd given. Hallie showed some appreciation to him: "Justin, relax. We're not in a competition! There's nothing bad in coming last place."
"Maybe so, but I should lay off the amount of meal I eat for breakfast, Hallie." Justin said this, not being very proud that he'd the most last places to go with, but he'd it compensated with a fair round of wins. Hallie wasn't that "sore loser" herself, but among her future teammates, she'd scored the least wins to begin with.
"It's fine, Justin, Hallie. We're going to be a team soon and who cares who comes first and who comes last?! We'll have to deal with the opponent sled teams when it comes to sled races!" Beringo had offered them to take it easy as not every defeat meant embarrassment. This was something that the others could have possibly seen him as their future lead dog… or maybe Indiana? He had the potential too, but opted not to reveal it.
From what these six friends knew about each other, they had been a family to one another. They were like brothers and sisters, but like any siblings, their relationship was not perfect. There had been times when they bickered and argued over time things, but never had these been lasting for more than few hours. They just couldn't let anything derail their relationship, but at the same time, nothing was ever perfect.
"For you all, I have to say that you've done a pretty good job. Justin, I know you're a good runner, but you've could done a better run today. I might have given you a bit too much for breakfast." Nash congratulated to them each and even Justin, who'd felt embarrassed by this statement, much to Hallie's benevolent amusement. "Come on, let's head back!"
He had led them back to their home and those two natives who'd fished salmon from the river were also returning with quite of a hunt. Nash politely greeted them and had talked with them in Inupiaq. One of these two, the younger one, saw Nash's dogs and specifically Indiana, who'd watched the prey they'd fished not long ago.
That native seemed to be delighted to see Indiana and had him offered a piece of salmon, wondering whether the dog would take it or not. Indiana had carefully sniffed the fish and his face was saying it all - he was not interested. Knowing that he'd been joking all along, the native laughed cheerfully and cuddled the brown dog by his neck, something he'd liked at least.
"Well, this was strange of this human, but I like it how he's nice to me… or us in general." Indiana let his friends know when they watched how that man was a friend to dogs and they had watched them leave while Nash led them home. They were welcome among those people, even if they had preferred wolves as pets for some reason.
Later, that same night…
Roger couldn't get any sleep. He fell asleep along his friends earlier, but it seemed like as if he had been awaken in the middle of the night. What was it that prevented him from sleeping? Was the bed too uncomfortable? Did he eat less? Was he thirsty? Well, the answer was: "I hope that there's still some water left in that bowl…"
It was the thirst that had him awaken and creeping slowly to the other side of the room, where their water bowl and old plates as their dishes were put. The plates were empty, clearly, but the water bowl still had some fresh water left inside, much to Roger's relief. He muttered to himself: "Well, I hope I will go back to sleep after this…"
Lapping the last water drops in the bowl, it was enough for him to quench his thirst and he could get back to bed. Sharing it with his friends, he was hoping that no one was going to be awaken by his stirring. But before he headed there, something had caught his attention and it was one of his friends being awake. That friend of his was not facing him, but at the bright moon out there through the window…
"Beringo? Is that you?" Roger had asked, having a feeling it could have been Beringo. He remembered how his friend, for the first few nights in Buckland, had troubles sleeping in a new home. The dog looked at him from his side view and Roger recognized that look, making him feel like he should come to him.
"Beringo? What's wrong? We've got an another training in the morning!" Roger whispered when he was close enough to his friend, yet Beringo did not shush him, as if it were quite unecessary thing to do. Sitting next to him, while seeing what his friend was looking at, he heard him talking: "Roger… there are some things that have kept me awake tonight…"
"How so?" Roger wondered about the things he was talking about. Beringo sighed, as if watching the moon made him have a journey to the past, to which he glanced at his friend to admit: "Roger, did you ever feel like that you said to yourself that you'll get over adoption, but it still haunts you from being far from home?"
Indeed, Roger and other dogs were not from Buckland, but from any other possible town in Alaska. Beringo was clearly having hard times getting over it and Roger? Well, his answer was: "I dunno what to tell you in here, Beringo. It's not that I don't miss my family. I miss them, like anyone else in this room, but we have taken it easy."
Beringo rose his eyebrow when he had heard something like that, which made him ask: "Like how?" A curious question gave a curious answer: "Simple, as much as I want to see my family again, I just tell myself once a day that day will come. When? It doesn't matter. It can be tomorrow, next week, next month or next year! But in the end, there's always a chance I'll see them again."
Whereas Beringo still had that mixed feeling about the time he'd return to his family, he wished that he was like Roger in this situation - just tell himself once a day that the reunion was bound to happen. He answered him: "Alright, if that's what you say… but there's one other thing I kinda cannot get out of my head and I can't be the only who have seen it!"
Now Roger rose his eyebrow, even if he had that feeling that he could already know what Beringo was talking about. Then again, he was courteous enough not to interrupt him, not after he heard: "I have noticed something like… sparkling between…" He stopped at the moment to see the two friends of his in bed, then he continued: "...Indiana and Dakota."
For a moment he was regretting saying this, thinking that Roger would tell him to lay off with that questions, but it was more surprising when Roger answered him: "To be honest, so did I. There's something sparkling between Hallie and Justin. So I guess you're not the only one who thinks the same way, my friend."
It was a relief that he was not the only one in this, otherwise someone would think that he was mad. This made him sigh again, as if it were an another problem in his life, which he answered: "This makes me feel… I don't know… that I should find a female for myself… So I can also leave a good impression in a team."
It could be said that Roger was not amused by what he said, but he partially let it go, especially the way he'd told him: "Beringo, what's the rush? We're all young! These four may get along with one another and bond closely, but like you, I don't have a female for myself! Guess what? I like being a lonely male and if anything, I'll know when the time for me to find that special someone is going to happen."
Basically, Roger was somewhat opposite in the things that Beringo was not - relaxed. If he was right, then Beringo wouldn't have to rush with the life decisions, but just wait for it. He shrugged it off, knowing that there were no more arguments about it: "You're right. Maybe I'm just trying too hard and too fast at this point."
Roger gave Beringo that smug look and then he yawned, noticing how late it was. Even Beringo got on all his fours to let him know: "C… come on. We should get some sleep… it's pretty late…" Both males had walked away from the window and headed to the bed they had shared with the others, which was pretty large.
"Night, Roger." Beringo wished him goodnight when he laid down next to Hallie at one side while Roger was next to Indiana, whispering back: "Night." All in all, Beringo knew how there was a lot more in life to be done and making hasty decisions in the youth would cause more trouble than use, something he had in mind as his eyelids were getting heavier.