The summer was coming to the end at once and the rains were intensifying with every following week. By the end of the September, the air was no longer that heavy and the cool was present by the time October showed its face. Soon enough, with the first snowfall coming anytime soon this month, this meant the good news to the sled dogs!
Right on, Beringo knew that if he and his team were to collect their second victory in the final annual race of 1921, they had to stay in shape and begin their training already. Whether there was snow or not, they already used the first day of October as their first day of training to go to the beach and run.
Also, to make sure that Aniu's presence remained secret to Roger, Beringo had talked to her few nights ago to let her know about their trainings and she agreed to remain in the forest nearby whenever they were training and would come only at the night when Beringo and Aniu would usually see one another. It could be said that they were still waiting for their groundbreaking date.
"Alright, we can do this, my friends! We can show to the other teams that the months of resting and relaxing didn't slow any of us down!" Beringo encouraged them to prepare themselves for their run. While Indiana and Dakota, as well as Justin and Hallie, were in a relationship with one another, they were going to make sure that their romance could be put aside for the sake of their careers.
"You know me, Beringo! I never faltered with my condition." Dakota was the one who said this and obviously enough, no one found it surprising because even then Dakota would find some time to stay in shape. Indiana, Justin and Hallie weren't as active as she was in that period, yet someone like Indiana should have been in shape as the second-in-command.
"You can say anything you want about me, guys, but when we start running, I'll prove you all wrong who think I'm out of shape!" Roger didn't let the prejudices and jokes trample him because when he meant business, then he was the last one laughing. Beringo decided: "Alright, before you all set your arguments on fire, we better get running now!"
Thus they all lined up one to another and started training from the edges of the town to the old boat and back. The outcome? Indiana, after running there and back again, among the others, panted hard because of the run he'd made, asked him: "How… how was this… for the first training… Beringo?"
"Pretty good, I must say! I'm pretty pleasantly surprised!" Beringo, who was somewhat in better shape, was also panting, but it wasn't that noticeable. His entire team was catching some air, but Beringo's optimism wasn't shaken: "You've all done some pretty good running! I will admit, while we weren't as fast as the last time back then, with enough training sessions we'll be back in shape in no time."
"That's... a relief." Hallie was panting from her run and unlike Dakota, she seemed to be least fit in this run. Still, for what she'd given today was pretty satisfying and all that was necessary was to push the boundaries ahead for the future. She asked him: "So, are we running again tomorrow the same time?"
"Pretty much we all do." Beringo confirmed her answer and his teammates couldn't complain even if they wanted to. It was their duty after all. Even Justin, who was more laidback type of dog in the team, spoke: "Well, it may be funny to hear it from me, but I agree with you, Beringo. I really feel like taking another victory this year!"
"Hey guys, guys! Now that we are all here, I think it is about time I take you to meet someone!" Roger remembered something and judging by his tone, it meant to him a lot whatever he intended. Indiana didn't have to think about this twice: "Is it about time you tell us about your girlfriend whom you didn't want to tell us about before?"
"Ha ha ha, very funny, Indiana! But you're right in an another paw." Roger admitted that him not revealing his girlfriend to his friends was making him feel burdened. Still, he carried on: "Well, she isn't pretty much a social female and she has a bit hard time to trust others, but she's agreed to meet you in personal today in front of the church!"
"Really? I wonder if that female is someone who we haven't met before?" Beringo wanted to sound like in front of his friend that he was still single even if Roger would tell him anyhow to mind his own business eventually. As for now, Roger let them know: "Follow me! Who knows, maybe she could be in our group as a friend, but not as a teammate."
"We can always use an extra female in our friend group, Roger." Hallie liked this idea when their bulky tan friend led them back to the town all the way to the church. The bell was tooling nine in the morning by the time they had arrived over there. Roger remained hopeful over here with the meeting.
"So, how does she look like?" Dakota asked him because she, Hallie and Beringo might have never seen that female before whereas Indiana and Justin had a glimpse on her that one night months ago. Roger answered her with: "Say no more, there she comes!" He pointed with his muzzle westwards.
Others looked at his direction and they were indeed surprised by the female who was seen coming towards them. It was a Siberian husky and a blonde one! Her eyes were teal colored and not to forget, her collar was also matching her eyes, with the golden tag embed on her collar as seen on her neck. Roger didn't waste his time.
"Hey, honey, it's wonderful to see you!" Roger came to her and the two nuzzled one another, with her answering back: "Sweetie, it's good to see you too! You were running with your friends, I see. Are those your friends?" She noticed five other huskies over there and the sight of Indiana and Justin made her realize this was not the first time she'd seen them.
They were seen discussing something with one another and then Roger nodded. He turned his head back to his friends, telling them: "My dear friends, I'd like you to meet my girlfriend. Justin, Indiana, you've seen her before, but now hear her name! This is Shanice!" The name was pretty unique to them as they looked curiously at one another and at one point did Indiana ask: "Janice?"
"No, no, Shanice!" Shanice corrected Indiana because he must have heard it wrong. Either way, Indiana liked it 'Shanice' better because it sounded pleasing to his ears. Then again, Indiana couldn't have her but Roger. Shanice's voice sounded pretty sweet to listen at and when she giggled, it was even sweeter than Hallie's giggling.
"So, all these months you and Shanice together, eh?" Beringo wondered how come he did not introduce her to others. Roger nodded, being proud that he now had someone like Indiana, Justin and Beringo, although in his mind it were just Indiana and Justin. He let them know: "Well, after a while, she wanted to meet you at once."
"I am curious about why she hadn't done that before?" Dakota asked, thinking of making an another friend and have a trio as Aniu, whom she respected as Beringo's girlfriend, was just not the one to be in this town trio among them. However, Shanice backed a step behind and Roger noticed how Dakota's words were… not really wise.
"Easy, Dakota, you should give Shanice some time." Roger let her know, because he didn't want to hurt Shanice's feelings and make her feel insecure among his friends. "Why?" Dakota asked, not being sure what she said to make his girlfriend back away. Roger explained to her: "Shanice is not really sociable and she has… trust issues. It is not your fault, you know. I won't say it is hers either, but she is like that."
"Why? Did something bad happen to her back before you met her?" Hallie was eager to know all because she wanted to welcome a new friends with her wide paws. Shanice then spoke: "You know that I can hear you? Look, I will tell you eventually why, but I rush ahead to tell you why I'm like this, it just makes me feel… fragile."
"You're right, sorry. We'll let you breathe." Hallie apologized, thinking that for some things time was necessary. As for the boys, who were waiting to meet her personally, Justin commented: "You know, to think about it… all the time we've been waiting to meet Shanice better, I think it was actually worth the wait."
"Yeah. Roger can thank us for bringing him to that feast. For someone as chubby as him, he's got a good female, not gonna lie." Indiana admitted. The two huskies, one tan and chubby and other blonde and slim, they seemed like a match made for one another, as if the love arrows were not wrong to hit them both and have them bind their destinies together.
"Maybe when she gets used to us, which I see will take a while, just imagine a multiple date with all of us!" Justin thought of this as a brilliant idea and only Beringo's comment made him think again: "Don't forget that it'd be six of you only. Aniu and I are having our relationship known only to you four." He made it sure that he said this quiet enough so Roger and Shanice couldn't hear it.
"Yeah, we know. But hey, Roger still thinks that you're single. I hope he won't start suspecting you if he sees you talking casually with his female!" Indiana joked, thinking how that misunderstanding would be funny in one paw. Beringo looked at Shanice, who was closely sticking around Roger, and let him: "You know, Indiana? I don't think that will happen. She doesn't seem so comfortable around the ones she doesn't know well."
"I know, my friend, I was just joking!" Indiana didn't mean it anyhow, knowing that he'd not be fond of the rift among the friends in the team. As for now, they got to meet Roger's girlfriend and there was time for them to meet her better without pressuring her to reveal anything personal unless she desired to do so. Along with many other things coming ahead.
One of the things that brought back that sparkling joy back to Beringo and his teammates was that the first snow had fallen later that same month and so the mail delivery was reestablished from town to town in Norton Sound area. It seemed like a pleasure for them all to be back in the duty after half a year or perhaps less being off duty.
Beringo was right to judge the entire situation regarding his friends. He didn't have to pressure them in training because even if they had not been active for months, they were still in their prime form. Dakota was the most because even once a day she used this long break as a great chance to train herself. She did the right thing.
From October to November, friends had one another, be it in the team or outside the team. Beringo and Aniu's relationship was doing pretty great albeit none of these two made any major steps ahead. If Beringo had them in his mind, he wanted to have them for the special day. Thanksgiving Day was at the end of this month, but Beringo didn't feel it was that day.
As for Roger and Shanice, their relationship had ups and downs, mostly how Shanice's unpredictable temper could sometimes halt their relationship but everytime there was a way out of their troubles and so both of them could carry on where they had left at. Why was she being mysterious about her past and not really open to talk to Roger's friends seemed like a mystery, but then again, no one wanted to put an unnecessary pressure on her.
It was now somewhere in the last week of November, maybe two or three days after Thanksgiving, when Indiana called Beringo, Justin and Roger to come and gather around him, saying: "Boys, there's something I have to share with all of you! This is really important, between me and Dakota!" His friends, who were still trying to wake up after being awaken this fast and without a proper breakfast.
"Do say it then and make it fast… because if you don't, I'll fall asleep straight ahead, Indiana!" Justin yawned, clearly not being glad for being awaken this early. As for Dakota and Hallie, who were still asleep in the living room, the others were in front of the house. Indiana could not hide his excitement.
"Are you planning a major date with Dakota like a double date we had back in July?" Justin asked, clearly thinking that this had to be a reason why Indiana was like this. Roger had asked: "Did Shanice finally start trusting you guys and now you're arranging a triple date this time?" Beringo said nothing, as if these two took the words from his mouth.
"Justin, you were somehow correct and Roger, Shanice seems to trust us now, but the thing is, none of you got it all correctly. Well, not what I had in mind that is!" Indiana let them know and this seemed like a great opportunity for him to say it, but was interrupted by Beringo, rather unintentionally: "So what's the big deal you're making?"
"Here's the thing, you guys may already know that Dakota and I are dating one another the longest, right?" Indiana started, making sure not to reveal Beringo's secret in front of Roger right here. His friends didn't have to answer in any way possible as Indiana carried on: "She and I have been making major steps ahead for the last few months, but there's at least one more to do to have our relationship completed."
"Oh yeah, such as?" Justin anticipated the answer, hoping that whatever Indiana had to announce was going to sound inspiring and it was: "I will do it - I'll ask Dakota to be my mate. It was about time I do such thing, no?!" He didn't know what other reaction to expect but support and excitement.
That he both got, along with some doubt, but Roger started: "Nice idea. Indiana! She's going to feel like as if you've taken the sky from the star for her! You got my support!" Following him was Justin, albeit his excitement was not as strong as Roger's: "Indiana, my friend, now that is more like it! I just hope that Nash won't mind you two for being mates, if you know what I'm trying to say?"
"Yes, yes, I do! Thanks!" Indiana was actually thinking on one thing and Justin was thinking about the other thing. He was hoping that Nash was not going to mind some extra space in their residence to be made in the future. Then Beringo came and his excitement was the weakest, but also meaningful. He had a good reason why was it like so.
"Indiana, you and Dakota are going to make us all proud for the achievements you've done together and know that you two deserve one another! Though, I don't want to be rude at your decision, but keep in mind that in a few weeks we're going to be in a final annual race!" Beringo reminded him what was coming in December aside from giving his best friend a support he deserved.
"Don't worry, Beringo. I've got that all under control, trust me. Besides, I was intending to have that great date the next weekend, once December comes, to make it magical!" Indiana knew that with careful planning and having everything in order, he could balance his love life and his career life without damaging his friendships in process.
"If you say so, now let's get back inside. It seems like we're having an another snowstorm coming!" Beringo led them inside, noticing how the gray skies were looming above the town and an old layer of thick snow was going to become much thicker. They could have been thankful that they were not on their mail delivery today!
The weekend was nearing and nothing too exciting was happening. Mail deliveries were ever present and familiar faces were always around. Only for Indiana this meant something new and exciting! To make sure she knew about this date, but how was it going to turn out, Indiana decided to ask her out days in advance.
"Dakota, do you have anything in mind this weekend?" Indiana asked her that Tuesday afternoon, not long after their mail delivery to White Mountain. Dakota didn't seem to notice anything great happening, let her know: "I'm not sure, maybe just hang around with you, Hallie, the boys and get to meet Shanice better. Why do you ask?"
Since it was a casual schedule in her head for those things, he moved on: "Do you think you and I should have an another date? I mean, it has been a while since we've been on one! I have a good feeling about this one, you know?" He winked to her, hoping to catch his charm and somehow it was working when the smile stretching on her face was visible.
"A date, you say? Well, well, well, big boy, I'm yours then!" Dakota mischievously rubbed her tail against his chin as she saw this weekend as a change from her routine. Indiana was already in his fantasies where this date would end on a high note. He let her know: "What do you think you and I go on a date this Saturday evening? I know a special place, just for the two of us!"
"And is it a surprise? If it is, then let me be surprised, Indy." Dakota was getting more and more keen about this idea and while she was already ahead, Indiana sighed lovingly, knowing that nothing could spoil this wonderful weekend for him and it was going to be magical. That view in his eyes was easily spotted by the males, while Hallie was already ahead with Dakota.
"You're going all according to the plan, amirite?" Roger asked him first, noticing that view in Indiana's eyes and Indiana kept sighing lovingly, knowing that this was going to be a great opportunity for him and Dakota this time around. Justin noticed that Indiana was not responsive, he suggested: "How about we whack him with a codfish to come back to his senses and then feed him with it?"
"Nah, let's just let him stand here. When he comes to it, he'll notice that the others are looking." Beringo chuckled. He was not doing this for malicious reasons, but just to fool around on his friend's silly behavior. In the end, Indiana and Dakota held their relationship the longest and them finally sealing it would be reasonable.
At Saturday evening, precisely at dusk, both Indiana and Dakota were getting ready for this date and since they both wanted to look appealing to one another for whatever the occasion was, Roger suggested him this maneuver: To go outside and scratch on the front door as if he were knocking on them, as if he were a male who came to pick his female up.
"Boys, how do I look? Do you think she's going to like my looks?" Indiana was paying attention to every single detail around himself, not wanting to make a fool of himself tonight. Beringo laughed at his anxiety: "Relax, Indiana! You're all fine! Just make sure you don't get all whimsical and have an overinflated opinion of yourself tonight!"
"And besides, I think that for this occasion it's a good idea we put your collar away. She's going to buy your looks this time around!" Justin let him know what he thought of Indiana being stripped from his collar and looking at himself in the broken glass nearby, he was right. For an occasion like this, he was looking "fancier" and the way Dakota could dream of.
"Alright, now it's the time, come on!" Roger led him in front of their house and once they were standing in front, Indiana was curious: "I still think that it was a bitty silly that we're going like this. I mean, we all live in the same house!" Justin however, shushed him and beckoned at the doors, saying: "Now go and call her!"
Indiana didn't hesitate anymore and he couldn't back down this time around. Scratching at the doors, he waited for Dakota to show up at once and when the dog doors opened, it was Hallie instead, who said: "Ohhhhhh, wrong male! Nah, I'm just kidding, Indiana! Dakota, Indy has come for you!" Now the truly fantastic moment was coming and Indiana felt it in his veins.
Dakota revealed herself and she was looking pretty, with that groomed fur and like Indiana, she was wearing no collar around her neck, which was fitting for this entire context to be honest. She was wearing no flowers around her ear and it was too cold for one anyhow. Still, her beauty was enough for Indiana and there she asked him: "Shall we?"
Indiana raised his paw at Dakota's and answered: "Follow me, honey!" Beringo, Justin, Roger and Hallie watched how Dakota and Indiana were taking off from here and while Hallie was seeing this as an another lovely date, something she was hoping to do with Justin sometime soon, Beringo, Roger and Justin knew what was unfolding in front of them.
The date led them to find a chain of sausage hanging on the hook of the butcher's, snow falling, but very lightly and not even bothering them that much. With the chilly breeze stirring the sea, forming waves and breeze carrying the snow flakes around the town, it seemed like the entire date for them was a metaphor for an everlasting relationship.
It was in the shed at the end of the town where due to a roof being destroyed from a snowstorm a year ago, they had a lovely sight of the northern spectacle that was Aurora Borealis. It was for the best that this shed had the open roof and a good view on the lights and snow falling inside. Not to mention, the hay below them was making this as a lovely bed.
"Indiana, this is a lovely place for us." Dakota found this abandoned and small shed at the edge of the town as a lovely place to be alone. She was laying on her back next to her boyfriend, who whispered to her: "It is not much from me, but with the sausages, sounds of winter, northern lights and snow from the sky, you know I've made some good choices."
"And I don't ask much for our date, Indy. All we need is a simple dinner and nature around us." Dakota assured him that there was nothing wrong in having a modest date in the places of the world like the town of Nome was on the northwestern end of Earth. Indiana then asked her: "Dakota, do you see a future? I mean, are you and I in that future you see?"
"I don't see any other male than you." Dakota stretched her neck to look in Indiana's eyes and while they were still on their backs, she asked him: "You know that I desire none other than you, sweetie. What do you see in our future?" Clearly Indiana's vision of their future was richer and he dared to tell her.
"I see that for all we've contributed in our relationship together, that one day you and I have a family on our own. Can you imagine us having a family and hear the laughter and excitement of the puppies?" He was hoping that he was using his words the right way and that he was not going to make Dakota feel surprised in a bad way.
"A family? You mean, you and I? Both of us being parents?" Dakota wondered whether she got his words correctly and Indy's warm look in his eyes was enough to give her an answer. She didn't warm up to it yet, but went his way: "Are the puppies being as disciplinary like me and as witty as you?" Just the way she could imagine them the best.
"If you want me to think about it, they can have your organized personality and my sense of humor. That's the family you dream or, riiiiiiiiiiiiiight?" He teased her with those words because he knew that she was actually finding his proposal as the one she could dream of. She finally had answered him what he desired: "I do! Now that you've mentioned how would our puppies be like in the future, I'd love to a mother one day, Indy!"
"As much as I would love to be their father, Dakota." Indiana let her know, letting Dakota rest her head on his chest all while the mixture of Northern Lights were dancing above the shed they were resting. The snow was lightly falling and for the rest of the night, it did not intensify anymore. As if the Mother Nature did not want to spoil these two lovedogs' enchanted night.
The final annual race of 1921 was creeping behind the corner and by the middle of December, there it was. It had just been a bit more than two weeks since Indiana and Dakota were on their magical date. Speaking of them, they were sleeping in bed in their house along with their teammates. Even Beringo was over there.
And he was the first one to be awaken. He had to make sure that he as the lead dog, he prepared his team for the race. He first walked up to Justin and Hallie's bed, whispering: "Justin, Hallie! Come on, you two! We've got the final race to do soon!" Indeed, it didn't need him that much time to wake them up, with Justin saying wittingly: "Right on, chief!"
"And I thought that nickname died out." Beringo rolled with his eyes when he thought this in his head. Hallie got out of the bed before Justin, being ready for whatever was going to be today in their race! As for Justin, he asked Beringo: "Hey, Beringo… can I talk to you in private? I don't want Hallie to hear."
"Yes, sure. What is it, Justin?" Beringo agreed and making sure that Hallie was not paying attention, he admitted to his friend: "Beringo, if we win this race tonight, I think I'll go the same path as Indiana when he and Dakota had that romantic night!" What an outstanding move that was to ask someone for that magical night in case of victory.
"Oh, ho, ho, nice!" Beringo already saw this happening, strongly believing in the victory they were seeing today. Though, Justin also told him: "But if we lose, I guess I'll give Hallie some time to get over it." Only for Beringo to tell him encouragingly: "Don't look that way! We may be facing Fritz again today, but we will show them who's in charge!"
Now that was the enthusiasm to talk about! Just then, Hallie nudged Roger in his bed: "Roger! Roger! Get up! We are having the important race soon!" Surprisingly, Roger was actually taking it seriously as he was already on his paws, albeit his eyes were still showing how sleepy he was, but ready for the great day nonetheless!
"Hey guys, I talked to Shanice before I returned home. She told me that when we're done with the race, she'll tell you why she isn't that sociable. Besides, now she is feeling comfortable around you." Roger let them know about the progress in his relationship with Shanice and it was something they were glad about.
"Alright then! Indiana, Dakota! Wake up! The race is nigh!" Beringo got them up, with Indiana being first to respond and already on his paws. However, Dakota groggily answered him: "Just give me a minute, Beringo…" He clearly was not paying the attention to her tone but said: "It's alright, take the…"
"I SAID, GIVE ME A MINUTE!" Suddenly Dakota snapped at Beringo and in the next moment, Beringo frighteningly clinged on Justin when he heard that and to be honest, no one else was expecting this. Even less when Dakota's face showed surprise for the tone she used. She lowered her ears in an embarrassment for what she had just done, apologizing: "I… I, uh, I'm so sorry for yelling, Beringo!"
"Just please don't do that again… okay?!" Beringo was still coming to his senses after being unintentionally shouted at. Right on time, Nash descended from the floor above and being ready for the race, he asked his dogs: "Are you ready for your fitting breakfast? Today we will show how strong you are as a team!" All the dogs licked his palms in gratitude.
The breakfast was done in no time and the team was ready to move on. However, this was the only time when Roger was not the first one who finished his breakfast when they were eating it all together. This time it was Dakota who'd finished first, while Roger was a bit more than halfway done whereas Beringo, Indiana, Hallie and Justin were done only a third!
"Relax, Roger! She may have beaten you today, but we know that you are going to be in form for fast eater again soon!" Indiana comforted him with the right words, yet Roger didn't need any comfort right now. He was quite stunned by the revelation that Dakota would ever beat him in eating contest. Why was she like that out of sudden?
"Looks like we're having a crowd in front of the start line. As if this final annual race is going to be something much more!" Beringo let them know when he had seen what the crowd of people was in front of them. As for Roger, when he'd finally seen a familiar figure, he told them: "Excuse me, will you? Hey, hey Shanice!"
Of course, the blonde female husky with teal eyes cheerfully greeted her boyfriend and also was seen wishing good luck for their race, with Roger's lovestruck eyes being ever-present. It was also when Lewis' voice called for not only Beringo, but the rest of the team: "Guid mornin, ye lads! Are ye ready fur the race?"
"What do you think, Lewis? We have been waiting for this race for months!" Beringo laughed cheerfully when he saw the look on Lewis' face that was somehow beaming in an unexpecting hope. He moved on to say: "Guid! Ah ha' some news and yer all going ta like 'em! Yer winning the race today!"
"Really, how?" Dakota wondered what made Lewis think that this was going to be their victory today. He just advanced: "Ye ken fur Fritz's lassie?" While this was a bit hard to figure out for Beringo's friends, Beringo was about to say it, but Hallie somehow got this faster: "You mean Della, right? What about her?"
"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.
To be continued...