Here you can read my story The race!(seql comin soon!) The Race The Alaskan wind whipped through her dark black hair, the snow smacking her face. This was the first time Haley Siku went dog sledding. The freeze, the barking of dogs, snow, and most of all, the ice was what she loved. The sound as the blades skidded across the ice brought a grin to her face, and yet she didn’t know why. The one thing that inspired Haley Siku to go to the North was the ice. She was drawn to it. She did not know of her connections, that her ancestors thrived in the North. But once Haley got to the North she loved it. Her father was amazed how she was drawn to the ice, and how ironic it was since their last name meant ice in Inuktitut Haley, 13 looked like a musher, the shortness, the smaller eyes, dark hair and the round face. Outside of sledding Haley’s life seemed quite dull, she didn’t play a sport or instrument, she also didn’t have many friends. Eventually, when she got better she decided she was going to enter in the Iditarod. Her father paid to fly her and her dog, Max from California to Alaska. Once she got there she felt at home, and was late so had to grab the team waiting for her and go. They were at the starting line, Max was excited, Haley was excited everyone. The bell rang and Max, a large black and white husky mix took the lead. They were in the lead for a couple weeks when it happened. A bird fluttered across Max’s nose and distracted him for an instant, that instant lead to plummeting downward into a large basin. No one was hurt, luckily. They looked around, and saw a large stony, snowy bowl surrounding them. Haley felt like one of the last bits of cereal in the bowl, all alone. Haley tried for a long time to prove she could do it and pull with the dogs up and out but failed. Haley knew that she couldn’t get out on her own as soon as she started; she resorted to using her cell phone. As she regretfully pulled it out of her pocket Max licked her hand encouraging her to use it. Haley had wanted to do this unassisted to prove she could fend for herself, but the dogs did not deserve to freeze because she wanted to be independent. Haley punched in her dad’s number and hit the green button. Despite her sacrifice she was only answered by a woman sounding more computer than human saying, I’m sorry but either you have not made a payment or you have roamed outside the service area please try again later. Haley threw the phone and cried to Max who laid by her and seemed to cry too. A few days after the failed cell phone call they were still alive, hunting and learning survival skills. Haley thought she had found a way out of the immense basin they were in but it was dangerous. She thought it through and decided to do it. If they went at a slanted angle it would be easier, but the danger was the footholds where fragile. She harnessed the dogs up and said “Hike Max!” Max pulled against the harness and slowly started the ascent up. One of the ledges looked very sturdy, but as Max put weight on it gave way Max started falling downward. Haley realized he was everything to her and took the life threatening leap. Haley grabbed him by the harness, seemed to float for a second and somehow ended up dangling over the edge. She tossed Max up and saw the ledge split. Max grabbed her parka and pulled her to safety. Haley raced on wondering what place she was in. She didn’t direct Max anymore she trusted him entirely. After days of running Max turned north and stopped in front of a huge completely frozen lake. Haley gasped, and smiled, Max looked at her and gave her his uhm, I’m smart look. Haley’s hands gripped the drive bow, and pushed her feet to the footboard. Haley was a seasoned musher when it came to ice, so he ran as fast as he could. They crossed the finish line. Haley realized they won, her father told her how he was so proud and how she won and she said “No Dad Max won, not me”. Haley thought about what she just said, and realized that before this race she would of never of said that. Her father almost cried, her disappearance had worried him and later confessed her connections, that her last name Siku meant ice. BY:RAINBO 3771 NO COPYING