Born to Race

Chapter 3

Cold winds blew as the greyhounds tried to stay warm on the winter morning. Their short coats did not help them in the cold seasons. The frosty ground was cold and places became muddy from rain and ice.

Tiger was staying close to Sasha more often. Growling if any dogs came close. He would sniff her behind regularly and stood like a guard by her side.

Sasha seemed not to mind, Tiger would sometimes follow her into the cages or around the back of the house.

"What is Tiger doing?" Snowy asked Smokey. "Why is he so close to Sasha all the time?"

"She is on what is called heat," Smokey said matter of factly.

"So?" Snowy tilted her head, still confused.

"She will mate with him soon, if she lets him," the whippet added.

"I still don't understand," Snowy said.

"Never mind! You will understand one day," he barked and padded away.

Snowy shook her pelt, deciding not to worry about it anymore she padded over to the water bowls. Tan pushed her out of the way after she had had a few sips of water. Showing her teeth at Snowy as she lowered her muzzle to lap up the water.

The Boss opened the backdoor and walked over to the dog kennels with a bucket. He filled the bowls with kibble and whistled for the dogs to get inside the cages. The greyhounds hurried to their bowls and ate quickly.

Snowy and Shadow had to share a bowl. There was meat and dry kibble inside their bowl. The pups could not eat the hard food so they gulped down the meat. Tiger growled at Smokey when he came too close to his bowl. The whippet took a sneaky bite at the older dog's food and earned a nip on the ear.

"Touch my food again and you will regret it," he snarled.

"The Boss didn't give us much this time," Smokey said. "Won't you let me have some?"

"No!" Tiger nipped the whippet dog again.

The Boss called Tiger's name in a deadly tone. He hit the space between the arguing dogs with his whip. Making them stumble back in fright.

Then The Boss leashed Tan, Tiger, and Smokey. Taking them out the side gate to his truck.

"Well I guess they are going to be racing this winter," Sasha said.

Snowy watched the man leave with the three dogs. Shadow whined, missing Smokey already. A snowflake fell on the black pup's nose. He sneezed and looked up, blinking in surprise.

"It's raining white stuff!" Snowy gasped.

"No, it's snow, it falls from the sky in winter," Sasha barked and went into her kennel.

"Snow, like my name," Snowy gasped.

The pups bounded around as the snow fell. Feeling happy for the first time in several months.

Sasha kept warm inside her kennel for the rest of the day. While the pups played and the snow fell. Then a woman came out of the house with a young girl. The girl ran around in the snow. Laughing joyfully. She found Shadow and Snowy and cuddled them. Snowy licked the girl's face. She had not seen these people before. Maybe the woman was the man's mate and the girl was his pup.

The girl chased the pups around the yard while her mother watched. Snow was now falling faster. The woman picked the puppies up and put them in the kennel. She patted Sasha on the head and the female dog licked her. Then the woman and her daughter went inside the house.

Snowy was feeling cold, so she pawed the bedding and curled up on top. Shadow slept beside her.

Outside snow continued to fall. Sleet covered the kennels and dog bowls. Hours passed and snow kept falling. Until the yard was covered.

~

Snowy woke up the next morning. The snow had covered everything and the sun was hidden by the dark clouds. It was freezing, and the snow was very inviting. But Snowy could not reach it, so she only looked. Putting a paw out to touch the cold ice. It was quiet around the yard. Smokey and Tiger were usually arguing, they weren't really friends. And Tan liked to keep to herself.

The woman came out of the house and walked over to the cages. She opened them and let the dogs out. Sasha slowly stood up and padded towards the house. The pups bounded through the snow. It was very deep and they almost got trapped. But the female human helped them get into the house.

Inside was warm and cosy. There was a fire going in the hearth and the girl was reading a book on a chair. The dogs laid down by the fire, Sasha sighed as her fur became dry and warm.

The human girl picked Snowy up and put her on her lap. She then began to read out loud to the pup. Shadow sitting beside the girl's feet. Snowy had never been inside before. But it was nice inside, with the fire and the humans to look after her, Shadow, and Sasha. It was better than any kennel or cage and she hoped it would stay like that for a while.