Mike Dillingham - Alaska Dogs and Iditarod Mushers - The Adventures of Balto, Back of the Pack, Honor Bound, Rivers

“Okay Rivers, what is going on?”

Come on Mike, you are a smart human. Can’t you see that I want to be first and that the team is telling you that by blocking Nitro?

Mike picked me up and said, “Doctor Jim, we are going to use Rivers first.” As he put me on the table next to Sunny, I could hear her breathing, very slowly, very softly. I am sure she was resting. If her eyes were open, I am sure she would have said something to me. I was becoming very worried and scared. Did I do the right thing? What if Sunny needs more blood than I can give her?

“He is the smallest of the three, Mike. I have to be careful how much blood I take out of him,” Doctor Jim said. “Hmm, he was very calm when I operated on him. He will be Okay.” Doctor Jim continued, “That gives us the two bigger dogs in case we need more.”

“Yes,” Mike said. “I bet they had this plan to let Rivers be first. Makes you wonder sometimes how smart these critters really are.”

I felt the needle prick into my front leg where Doctor Jim wanted to take the blood. I heard my teammates move closer to the table. “Are you Okay Uncle Rivers?” It was Christmas.

“I am fine Little One, don’t worry.”

“Rivers, is that you?” It was Sunny.

“Yes, it is me,” I replied. “Don’t talk. You need to rest and let the blood transfusion work,” I said.

“Rivers,” she said. “Will you tell me how you see me in your mind’s eye?”

I answered, “Only if you get better and we run the trails again.”

She asked, “You promise?”

I answered. “Do you promise to get better?”

“Yes,” she said as she drifted off to sleep.

I heard Doctor Jim say, “All done, Rivers, you did a good job.” I never felt him take the needle out of my leg. Mike picked me up and laid me down in the big pile of straw that we have in the warming shed. I heard Christmas come over and sit next to me.

“Well Mike,” Doctor Jim said. “I think we did it, but we will not know for sure for another 12 hours or so. Do you mind if I keep Sunny here for the night?”

“I was going to recommend that since Nitro and Lakota are here and you might need them,” Mike said. “Let me get the team fed and watered.” He added, “I am sure they are hungry after this adventure.”

I heard Mike command the team back to the yard for chow. They all left, knowing Sunny needed her rest. I needed mine also and I was just about to doze off when I heard her silky soft voice say, “Thank you, Rivers.”

I heard Mike and Doctor Jim come in and out of warming shed several times. I just rested there in the soft straw listening to Sunny’s breathing. However, nature does call and I headed to the yard. I wandered over to a far corner and softly howled my prayers for Sunny into the quiet of the night.

I felt a dog sit besides me. I was puzzled since I did not hear any footsteps. There was no dog scent either. “Who are you?” I asked.

“Now Rivers, I feel hurt that you did not recognize me,” a familiar voice chuckled.

“Aurora!” I said excitedly, “Aurora Gooddog! What are you doing here?”

“She answered, “I am here for you, Rivers. You did some very brave things today, even risked your own life for your friend,” She said. “Racing down that trail as fast as you could, and not being able to see. Facing that wolf, knowing you had no chance against it. After defending your friend, you gave her some of your blood. That is a lot to do in just one day. You made me proud that I am your Guardian Angel Dog.”

I replied, “My friend needed help and that is all that matters. I know she is destined to fulfill her Husky destiny.” I paused, and then said. “What do you mean, Guardian Angel Dog?”

Aurora answered, “Humans have Guardian Angels. Dogs have Guardian Angel Dogs. Most adult humans forget about their Guardian Angels when they grow older. Most dogs do not know they have a Guardian Angel Dog. We kind of watch over you.”

“Do Sunny and my teammates have Guardian Angel Dogs? I asked.

“Yes and no,” she answered. “I won’t tell you about your teammates except for Christmas, she does have one.”

“And Sunny?” I asked. “Nope, not yet.”

“Why?” I asked.

“We just have not gotten around to it yet. Besides there is a shortage of Guardian Angel Dogs, right now.” She continued, “See, Rivers, Guardian Angel Dogs are dogs who have crossed the Bridge and have shown that they care for others. Once they do that, some are given the job of Guardian Angel Dog.

“Will you be Sunny’s Guardian Angel Dog?’ I asked.

“I am too busy. I have a bunch of dogs to take care of,” Aurora replied.

“Okay,” I said. “Let her have my spot on your list of dogs to watch over.”

There was silence. “Rivers, why would you do that?” Aurora asked.

“Because she has been through so much that she needs and deserves a Guardian Angel Dog. I have done a lot. And I bet you were there to smooth trails for me as I ran them so I would not fall or trip and let my teammates down.” I pleaded, “Now it is her turn.”

“Rivers, you are a true champion to think of someone else like that. Okay, tell you what I will do. I will sign on as Sunny’s Guardian Angel Dog and make time for her and you also.” Aurora continued, “You can never tell her or Christmas about this. They have to believe on their own. Agreed?” she said as she put her paw on me.

I replied. “Agreed. Thank you Aurora. Will Sunny get better? I asked

“I don’t have any idea about that nor any power to help,” she answered. “The power to heal comes from within you. Sunny has a strong desire to live and since you seem to know her pretty well, then you know the answer to your own question,” she said.

Aurora continued. “Well it has been fun chatting with you, Rivers, but I have work to do. Take care.” With that, she was gone.

I walked back to the warming shed. I lay down next to Sunny. I must have awoken her because she said, “Hi Rivers, good night,” and she went back to sleep.

Mike woke me up and said, “Mornin’ buddy, you must be hungry. Here is some chow for you.”

“Yes Rivers, it is chow time.” I jumped right up when Sunny said that. “You okay?” I asked.

“A little weak and this thing on my leg itches, but other than that, I feel pretty good. Now,” Sunny continued with a stern tone in her voice, “you promised me that if I got well you would tell me what I looked liked in your mind’s eye, Rivers.”

“Are you sure I said that?” I joked. “You were pretty out of it last night and after I gave you some of my super high test, grade ‘A’ Alaskan Husky blood, I got a little tired. I do not remember saying anything like that.”

“Mister Rivers!” she demanded. “What do I look like in your mind’s eye?”

“Okay Sunny, don’t get your fur up. You look like a pretty lady dog with a thing on your rear leg!”

“Rivers, you are so frustrating,” she shrieked.

“Yes, I know,” I said as I laughed, “That’s what friends are for.”

Mike and I took a walk on a trail that I had never walked on before. This trail was on some kind of hard stuff that Mike called sidewalk. There were many people walking on the sidewalk and Mike told me that there were some benches where people could sit down and rest. Mike said we were in the town near where we live. Mike told me that a town is a place where the stores are located, where he can buy things like food and sled dog harnesses. This is a little confusing to me. Is the town the place where Mike hunts for our food?

It was very noisy and busy, but I was not scared. Sure, I could not see all the things around me, but Mike was with me and he is a good leader. He would talk to me and describe all of the things that were around us. When Mike describes things to me, I can see them in my mind’s eye.