Mean while a short distance from the musher camp two dogs huddle close together for warm among a pile of boulders. The wind picks of whipping fur about with invisible fingers as the canine pair lift noses to the wind for trace of scent.
“Keula should we head back to the team before the snowstorm comes?” the malamute bitch asks partly surprised as the instinctive knowledge that is hers with a simple sniff of the air.
The big male malamute moves himself closer to the bitch and lays his muzzle across her back after finding the female receptive to this contact. “Been in much worst storms. Just stay close to my side.” He soothes giving gentle licks to the back of one of her ears as his nose reminds him of her nearness to being in heat.
Amber smiles softly finding her fears melting away at the calm assurance of the male. So unlike Bryan she thinks to herself wondering if the other male would know what to do in a snowstorm. “I just wanted to say...well that I am sorry about earlier. How I acted and stuff.” The bitch offers while she curls her body against that of her leader, and lead dog he is as part of her all ready feels safe with this male giving her directions.
“It’s not your fault Amber. That husky wanted you as his mate very badly.” Keula replies while rubbing his muzzle over the back of her neck gently scratching the places around the leather straps about the bitch. “He so wanted a husky but when a malamute came instead....”
“He wanted another husky so he would not feel alone?” Amber asks thinking she might finally know what has been going in this team.
“Yes in part I think so as Iiumni probably thinks I am too hard on the team. But when we are on the trail there is no time to ask each dog for opinions. You must follow the dog in front of you without pause.”
“What if one dog refuses to work as a team?”
“Then one of us get hurt or killed. Or worst yet our musher gets hurt.” Keula softly nibbles at one of the bitch’s ears tail wagging as he can tell by her stance she is becoming more receptive to his closeness. “When we get back to our kennel or enter a town talk to the other dogs if they are friendly. Most anyone will tell you about death or disfigured teammates thanks to one dog not listening to the leader.” He replies thinking of the many puppies he has taught what he is teaching her now.
Amber slowly begins leaning her weight into the strong male at her side as idle thoughts of puppies come to mind. “What position do you think the musher will let me run in?”
Keula in stead of answering stands tail and ears in a stance of alertness. “Someone’s coming.” He offers while turning his head to softly nuzzle over one of her ears. Seeing the bitch get to her paws and take a defensive stance at his side he smiles trying to keep his tail from wagging too fast. “I think its Bryan.” He tells her with a soft whisper into one of her ears while she stands beside him. Tongue sliding out of his muzzle he dares tickle the insides of her ear partly playful before going back to a protective posture as he stands side touching that of the females.
“I need to talk to him as well.” Amber replies simply while holding still for the licks of the male beside her. Looking partly troubled she at first does not respond to any of the shows of affection other then letting the male close enough to court and test her readiness. But then she gives him a lick across his muzzle. “You have much to teach me?” she finds herself saying feeling no shame in these words as her nose takes in his musky male scent.
“Think you could allow our musher to at least touch you? You do not have to eat out of his hand or do tricks but he must touch you if you’re to be in the traces with the rest of us.”
“I will try.”