Heyyy wanted to let you guys know that the beautiful magiesheartlove inspired this! I hope you guys like it because a Balto!Au is perfect for these two!
@magiesheartlove You beautiful girl ;)
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"Cmon Lance! We can still catch the end of the race." Keith yelled excitedly
He raced along running as fast as he could his large paws carrying him farther and farther.
He could hear the shouts of the men and barks of the dogs and it sent a shiver of excitement up him. He laughed taking off as he leapt from pole to pole his friend flying after him.
"No no no I am a delicate country bird . . I hate going into town" Lance grumbled
Keith threw a grin over his shoulder at the bird
"Ahhh come on, whats the worst that could happen?" He asked innocently before laughing as he sprang off of a barrel. Lance shrieked grabbing his tail but Keith grinned flicking him off.
"Please! Why do I let you talk me into these things!" Lance yelled as he landed into a pair of pants on a cloths line. Keith jumped grabbing the clothesline and used his momentum to swing to the other side.
He grabbed lance setting him down but the goose slipped sliding down the roof. He landed on a rack of moose antlers and yelled at someone pulling out his tail feathers.
"What-" Lance grabbed his tail feathers back.
The comment, however, died in his throat when the man pulled out a large cutting knife. The man held up the knife the swing lining up with his neck but then Lance was being yanked back out by Keith.
"Bring that back you theif!" The man yelled but Keith laughed already bounding onto the next roof.
"You are putting me down now? Huh mr. Golden retriever?" Lance mumbled his voice muffled by Keith's mouth.
"Oh yeah, yeah What ever you say Lance" Keith sighed tossing the goose out of his mouth and making a face as he spit out a couple feathers.
He shook his head before taking off again. Lance followed rolling his eyes "Every time there is a race you run around like your in it" He complained
"One day . . . I will be" Keith replied wistfully He grinned as he slid down a narrow roof and jumping down into and open window. He walked out side ears perked as he listened for the announcer.
"Lance Sanchez is no Spring chicken!" Lance yelped as he slid down into the huge pile of snow next to the building He shivered shaking the snow off his feathers "or a spring penguin!" He added shaking his head.
Keith rolled his eyes taking another moment to catch his breath. Lance grumbled before flying up onto his back. As far as he was concerned it was the safest.
"Look! The two mile mark!" A man announced yelling over the cheers of a crowd.
"C'mon we dont want to miss the end!" Keith said brightening up. He took off heading for where the finish line would be.
"Woah no way that would be Trágico" he paused "I was being sarcastic" He added.
Keith laughed running ahead Lance still bouncing on his back. Keith's thoughts started to wander as he started thinking of a certain husky.
"Do you think . . Allura will be there?" He threw over his shoulder hopefully
"Oh you mean that spicy strawberry blond husky you talk about about all the time? Amigo you are love struck" Lance said rolling his eyes
"No i'm not . . .She's just nice" Keith mumbled ducking his head bashfully
"Oh sure!" Lance laughed Keith hushed him as his ears began to pick up the race. He raced forward and Lance huffed grabbing onto his neck to hold on.
Keith came out of the shadows Lance moving to sit up on the fence shaking out his feathers.
"Allura! Stay girl!" A shout rose over the crowd and Keith immediately looked for the source hearing the familiar name.
Keith's brain stopped working instantly. Allura was smiling while her owner Pidge was hugging her giggling waving a mushers hat in her other hand. Allura noticed and smiled over at him her blue eyes sparking.
A sudden gust of wind from the dogs racing past suddenly tore the hat from Pidge's grip.
"My hat!" Pidge tried to grab her hat but Allura grabbed her sleeve in her teeth.
Keith watched the hat float upward resting just a few feet in front of the finish line. He looked back and forth between Pidge's upset look and Allura sad one and he knew what he was going to do.
He took off Lance shouting after him in Spanish but Keith ignored it. He pulled ahead feeling his pulse racing as he passed the musher and eventually the first line of dogs
"It's that stray dog! He'll ruin the race!" Some one yelled causing Keith to wince. He closed his eyes flattening his ears and growled before opening them and pushing on.
He was approaching the lead dog now. Lotor, who gave him a sneer. Keith had managed to ignore all the other dogs in the team but it was harder to ignore Lotor. The malamute unnerved him to no end.
"Oh no!" Lance cried before flying over head trying to catch up to the wolf hybrid. Lotor snapped at Keith a enraged look on his face.
"Out of my way Lobo!" He growled before trying to bite him and trip him up. Keith gave him a wolfish grin as he dodged it. He lunged ahead and grabbed the hat before running out of the way of the sled and letting him win.
Lance waddled over to him crossing his wings and huffing at him. "When will you learn to stay on the side lines eh?" He asked
Keith shook his head still gripping the hat and slowly walks over to Pidge to return it.
"Keith! What a crazy thing to do! and just to show off for a pretty girl" Pidge grinned taking her hat. Keith grinned softly while looking over at Allura with soft eyes. She looked back warmly
"I'm sure Allura would love to have you on our team!" She exclaimed holding up the harness for him. Keith examined it curiously. Was he really going to get to do this?
He gingerly lifted a paw to try to help her put the harness on him but he was interrupted by a large man grabbing pidge away from him
"Hey hey hey!Pidge honey stay away from him" The man warned He started to kick know at him and Keith felt his stomach drop as he slunk out of the harness ashamed.
"Dad!" Pidge cried reaching for him as he sadly started to walk away.
"I'm sorry but he might bite you, He's part wolf" The man explained
Keith visibly winced hearing that word. He lowered his head and slowly walked away. He was about to slink back home when another voice caught his ear.
"Hi there Allura, Enjoy the race?" A deep voice purred.
Keith looked back feeling a pang of sadness hit him in the heart. Lotor was talking to Jenna and she didnt look like she was trying to get away.
"Yeah, almost as much as you did" She replied coolly making Keith sigh.
Keith walked away slowly his long tail brushing the ground.
"Thanks jenna!, Let's go celebrate, I know where all the bones are buried" Lotors voice echoed in his ears and Keith winced finally taking off so he wouldn't be in earshot.
The more Keith walked away the more his head lowered. Sometimes he wondered why he even tried. Lotor always managed to get Allura's attention and he got shunned.
Lance looked like he was going to say something. He opened his mouth closing it for a second before opening it again and closing it. Keith sighed turning away feeling a bit better that his friend was trying to cheer him up, even if he failed
The shouts of Pidge calling Jenna caught his attention once more and in an instant all thoughts of rejection were gone. Keith gave a smile and took off making sure Lance was following.
He jumped through a hole in the fence before trying to skid to a stop realizing he wasnt in the alley anymore. Allura looked up surprised as Keith skidded to a stop in front of her their noses touching in an accidental Eskimo kiss.
"Ohh" Was all Allura could say
Keith realized what happened and felt his ears droop as he skidded back an inch or two in embarrassment. He chuckled nervously not knowing what to say.
"U-uh Allura . . .uh . . heh" Keith stammered. Allura smiled and Keith felt his heart soar. Maybe he had trouble getting to the race and seeing Lotor always made him upset but seeing Allura made it worth it somehow.
"Lura! Come on!" A voice suddenly called Allura turned for a second seeing her black and white haired male calling her Pidge smiling next to her.
Allura turned back but to her surprise the handsome wolf-hybrid was gone. She sniffed around going into the hold in the fence still not seeing him but Pidge called her again.
She sighed giving the alley a longing look before leaving barking a greeting to Pidge. Keith shook his head squeezing his eyes shut before taking off back through the alley way.
He slowed to a walk as he caught back up with Lance who had the smarts to stay back. They walked along and Lance shook his head putting a wing on his friends back.
"Keith, Amigo I am sorry but there are some things I can't do for you. I am goose not Cupid" Lance said
"Yeah" Keith mumbled quietly
"Didn't make the team . . Bingo" A deep voice suddenly taunted from behind
Lance froze and Keith felt his chest swell with anger. He was just fine until Lotor decided to show up. He came to a dead stop and Lance got in front of him.
"Don't listen to him, Don't look at him. Live a long life" Lance ordered Keith growled quietly to himself before spinning around with a look of anger
"My name . . is Keith" He spat
Lotor smirked as he walked further into the alley but Lance let out an aggravated sigh.
"But you can call him. Idiot" Lance mumbled through gritted teeth shaking his head
"I'm sorry Keith . .Keith the half breed" Lotor sauntered past the rest of the gang emerging into the alley. Star, Kaltag, and Nikki laughed as they came up behind Keith.
Lotor smirked walking over to lance who now took a defensive stance glaring at the large malamute
"Hey goose! You a half-breed too?" Lotor asked his nose stopping just inches in front of Lance.
"Oh no" Lance muttered
"Part . . . . Turkey?" Lotor suddenly shoved Lance backward the short goose falling into a roasting pan and the lid falling on top of him.
"Good word play dere boss" Nikki chuckled
"You are the wittiest, the quickest. Your the drollest the cleverest . . the sharpest, Your the most hilarious . . ." Kaltag laughed
"You crack me up!" Star finished laughing hysterically Kaltag smacked him on the head and the dog fell passing out.
"Lotor! Leave Lance out of this!" Keith growled standing in front of Lance protectively
Keith compared to Lotor was a lot smaller and the size difference was painfully obvious to Lance. He knew Keith would stand no chance.
"Awww Keith" Lotor taunted walking away. His bushy tail slapped his face and keiths face controrted into a look of anger.
Lance silently touched a wing to Keiths tail, his touch barely calming him down, but enough for him not to launch after Lotor.
"I've got a message for your mother" Lotor lifted his mouth letting out a ridiculous howl. Star, Kaltag and Nikki all laughed before joining in howling with him.
Nothing lance did would stop Keith now. He narrowed his eyes and growled the sound somehow deepening in his throat as he started to stalk towards Lotor.
"What's wolf for 'Go chase your tail'?" Star asked drawing Keith's attention.
Keith snarled pinning his ears back at them and Lance jumped up grabbing his tail trying to stop him
"Keith stop woahhh!" He yelled his attempt to stop him not effecting him at all.
"Get him" Lotor said calmly The other three began to bark at Keith but he ignored him his eyes focusing on Lotor.
"Get out of here, Wolf dog. You'd better get back to your pack" Lotor sneered disgust showing in his eyes.
He leaned down until he was right in Keiths face, Keith's furious gaze meeting Lotor's smug one. It was interrupted by Lance suddenly pushing Keith backward shocking Keith
"Maybe its the unrelenting fear talking but i'm seeing wisdom in this advice, Can we go? NOW" Lance said quickly pushing him backward.
Just like that all the anger drained out of Keith. It was stupid and pointless. Keith wasn't good enough to fight Lotor, He wouldn't win. Lance was right.
Keith's anger fell way to defeat and he lowered his head sadly turning away and squeezing his eyes shut. He didn't feel like seeing the look on their face.
Keith felt snow suddenly start landing on him and his heart dropped into his stomach as he realized they were kicking it on him. He sighed shaking his head and getting some of the snow off.
A rock suddenly hit between his shoulder blades and Keith stumbled loosing his balance and falling into a couple of trash cans and planks
It made a clang and Keith jumped up ashamed taking off Lance taking off after him just on his heels.
He kept running and running until he was out of breath. Keith looked up to find himself outside of town.
He looked down his run now slowing to a very slow depressed walk. He headed towards his boat every bone in his body begginning to feel wore out.
Keith froze eyes snapping shut as he lifted his nose sniffing the air. He turned ears coming to attention but they went flat seeing what he smelled.
It was a pack of wolves out on the hill. One of them howled at him but Keith backed away ashamed. He couldn't howl like they could. He never even attemted it.
They disappeared and he shook his head his tail brushing the ground as he walked towards his home.
"Not a dog . . . Not a wolf. All he knows is what he's not. If only he could see what he is" Lance sighed watching the wolves disappear.
~~~
Keith felt better now, sitting out on the bow of the ship watching the Alaskan sunset.
"and what is so interesting?" Lance asked seeing the familar look on his friends face.
"Allura" Keith sighed.
"Ahh is love" Lance smiled "So go make a move! When the angels balalaika's strum the sweet song of love, Tango!" Lance urged him tangoing for a few seconds
"Nah . . she's not my type" Keith mumbled his head lowering as he thought of his wolf heritage.
"And why not? This wolf business again? and what's wrong with being half and half I like to know!. Sometime I wish like crazy i was half eagle!" Lance exclaimed grinning
"Why?" Keith asked the corners of his mouth lifting up
"Better profile for one thing" Lance huffed striking a pose smirking "And no one eats you for another"
Keith chuckled before going back to watching the sunset. Maybe Lance was right.
~~~
Allura paced out side the window nervously. Her human, Pidge was in there with all the other children and she didnt like it.
She barked hoping to gain Pidge's attention and smiled when the little girl looked up.
"Jenna? Jenna! Jenna! Hi girl!" the little girl squealed jumping up and grabbing a coat opening the door to great her dog.
Almost immediately she started coughing and Allura nuzzled her hand worried. Her father came out wrapping up the girl quickly
"Pidge! Pidge come on, Your gonna catch your death out here honey" Her dad ushered her in and she looked back at allura with a sad look
"Come on honey the doctor's waiting" Her dad said softly as the door swung shut leaving Allura standing in it's shadow.
Allura ran from window to window looking for pidge until she finally found one seeing pidge being led into a small room with a man in a white coat.
Allura watched nervously looking between the doctor and her kid's parents. Pidge coughed and the doctor exchanged a worried look with her parents.
"Allura?" came a slightly high voice behind her
"Uh . . Allura" She turned seeing Keith but he was the least of worries right now.
She turned back to the window worried
"Keith . .hi" She said distracted. She watched as the doctor was talking to Pidge's parents
"Hi look . . uh maybe it's a shot in the dark, but I uhh . . I was wondering if you'd . . maybe like . .to go chase a few sticks by moonlight?" Keith asked hopefully chuckling
Allura heard him but it didn't really register as she watched her girl's mom hug her tightly. Something was wrong, she could feel it.
"Allura?" Keith asked seeing her upset look
"Pidge is in there" Allura said softly
Keith jumped up next to her instantly a concerned look on his face. He looked over at her in worry
"in the hospital? Why?" He asked
"She feels warm . . . she has a terrible cough, Keith what's wrong with her?" she asked looking up at him with a helpless face.
Keith felt his heart sink at the fear and worry in Allura's face. He sighed looking back at Pidge but a thought struck him.
"I don't know but . . I know how to find out. Come on" He motioned for her to follow him and hopped down from the window heading around toward the back.
He smiled motioning to a wooden door "I have the keys to the city" He extended a nail lifting up the nail in the locked effectively opening the door and held out his paw
"After you" He smiled politely
Allura nodded and began to walk in noticing his large paws. "Keith" she breathed truthfully she like them and thought they were amazing but Keith coughed embarrassed.
"ah hehe, big paws kinda run in my family" He muttered walking ahead of her and trying to hide his burning face "At least . . .one side of my family" He finished softly turning away.
He walked into the boiler room and turned into a tunnel before checking to see if Allura was following him.
He turned just as she came up on his side and he blinked in surprise
"Stay close" He said before slowly navigating through the darkness.
"He no problem there, It's so gloomy down here . . . . not that I'm scared or anything" She added quickly as she followed his long tail through the gloomy mustyness.
Allura jumped almost running into a spider web. It was suddenly swept away as Keith looked back shaking the cobweb off his tail with a smile
"Gloomy? You kiddin? It's the most beautiful spot in the world! Dogs travel for years just to be right here" He said brightly lifting a cloth off her nose with a large paw
The moved along under the boards allura looked around starting to feel a little creeped out the more she looked around.
"here? I can't see why" Allura murmured still trying to stay optimistic. Keith was certainly acting weird but she was hoping he knew what he was doing.
"That's cause your looking at the bowl half empty" Keith whispered playfully pushing a big pile of broken bottles up
Keith could tell Allura was starting to think he was crazy and he wanted to laugh. He couldn't wait to see her reaction. He stepped in front of the light casting the bottles in darkness
"You see this? It's the polar ice caps" He grinned
"Keith those are broken bottles. And their not half empty, their all empty" Allura replied slowly as if trying to be polite
"The sun . . . " Keith continued motioning to the light behind him from the grating.
"Keith!" Allura exclaimed the corners of her mouth lifting up
Keith moved away causing the light to hit the bottles "And to the north . . . "
The reflection of the bottle caps shone on the oppposite grey wall revealing a dancing mirage of green and purple lights. Allura gasped in surprise her eyes lighting up making his heart pick up.
"The northern lights" She breathed turning to him eyes sparkling "Oh keith you were right it's so beautiful" She exclaimed still staring at the.
The lights seemed to reflect off Allura's sky blue eyes and Keith couldn't help but find himself nodding in agreement. He stared at her with a knowing smile.
"Yeah" He said softly "Beautiful"
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