It started with a dream. A dream James Thrashwolf always wanted to do. To run sled dogs and race the Iterana. James Thrashwolf spent all his money to fulfill a dream to raze a first rate sled dog team. He spent the time he needed, race the little races and kept his huskies well fed, and happy. His favorite husky, his lead male husky, he named Longshot after his own on-line presence.

Over time his team became fit and ready and Thrashwolf bit the bullet. He signed them up for Iterana contest. All ready, Thrashwolf set up his sled and the race is called. And they were off, his team paddling with their doggy boots. Hitting the snow, running the snow. They flew threw the land, burning down the trails. The team did well, burning nights and days flying the sled down the trail. It was difficult but Thrashwolf didn't care it was his dream.

The sky darkened, the wind whipped, and the snow started to fall. The sled dogs pull with all their might in the freezing wet snow. James Thrashwolf became less concerned about the race, more concerned about the health and safety of him and his dogs. For hours they trudged through the snow in near blindness, James couldn't see his lead dog. He had to trust his lead dog. He thought about turning around, to stop racing, but he had to go forward. It was his dream, his wish.

Longshot yipped in pain, the sled stopped moving. James Thrashwolf jumped off the slow moving sled going past dog after dog he could see his lead dog trying to press forward, not letting his master down. But his right foreleg was crumpled and bent, his bone sticking out through his skin. James stopped the team and tried to calm his husky friend. Longshot just tried to push forward; he didn't want to let the team down. Thrashwolf soothed and released the harness off his friend who immediately collapsed into a ball of fur. Thrashwolf wanted to cry as he put his friend on the sled, Longshot painful looking fracture would have been the end of him if he were on other mushing parties. But Thrashwolf didn't care if he won the race, just as his friend live.

They pushed on slower than ever, James noting that after he finds any signs of civilization, the race for them was over. The sky cleared up and he look upon the night sky at the twinkling star lights, James Thrashwolf wished for a moment that he could take the place of Longshot, that he could be Longshot, so they could finish the race. In the silence of the night he decided to find shelter in a near by cave and let them all eat and rest. Hoping that once they are refreshed they can press on and get to safety, to help.

James Thrashwolf sleep for a few hours dreaming of flying at unheard of speeds across the snowy tundra. It was beautiful. He slowly woke up, he heard barking and yipping. They sounded like they were all tied up all ready to go. He got out of his bed and put on his remaining clothing. He walked a few feet towards the sled when he heard a sucking crackling sound erupted from inside his chest. His chest felt all tingling, all-powerful. He looked down just to watch the rest of his jacket turn to soft billowing Husky fur. Confused his chest expanded and his waist contracted. His harness appeared from the remains of his clothing. His pants melted into fine fur all over his human body.

But in James Thrashwolf's mind this is all natural. This is the way it is to be; he heard the barking and knew that he had to get into position in the front of pack. He snapped himself into the front of the line before his mittens and hands turn into doggy boots and forepaws. His feet morphed as he felt someone check and tug on his harness. James looked at a human and knew it was his master, James Thrashwolf checking his straps with his broken arm. The human kneels down in front of the changing James. "Are you ready Longshot? We lost a lot of time?"

"That's it my name is not James Thrashwolf, its Longshot!" he announces to his mind. Longshot's rear feet changes and position itself in its doggie boot to be his hind paws.

"You are going to lead aren't you?" James smiles and pets Longshot's soft fresh, new fur. Longshot barks from his human mouth and Thrashwolf bats him forward. Longshot barks and starts pushing on the leads. The other huskies look confused at this changing monster. Not making heads or tails his human musk confused him for only a moment. His privates changed and they could smell their old leader musk. Longshot was back leading the pack, they charged forward. At first slowly Longshot's legs and arms were made for running on two not four. It was slow going as he charged pushing forward, his fur covered legs and arms slowly turning canine. Longshot had a hard time communicating and telling his pack members what to do until his tail slowly emerged pushing out as they run. Longshot felt it emerge but his mind was razor focused on the race, on winning for the sled team, his master. With tail and a body that more matched his husky fur he barked out orders to his team and they raced like the wind.

Flying like the wind Longshot's human face burned. He wined and inside wanted to stop. But he couldn't disappoint his hurt master. His face pushed out, his ears extended, and his eyes lost focus. His blackened nose started to pull new scents as his let out a bark with his new muzzle. The rest of the pack responded and they pulled ahead. The pack pushed and ran through the winter tundra. Pushing themselves to the limits. Longshot guided the pack through dangerous passages, intelligent across dangerous ice, and inspire them to push forward when they couldn't see five feet in front. The sled team pushed as hard as they could until they reach the end. "We made it" Longshot barked to his partners. They hipped and howled in words with the leader.

Exhausted the dogs panted and waited for James to release them from the sled. One by one the husky went over to Longshot. Showering him with licks and muzzles. "The pack was safe. The pack did good," Were the shouts of the dogs. And James finally came up to Longshot and hugged him. Thanking him. Released, Longshot put his paws up on James shoulder and lovingly licked his master's face. This was best time of his life, better than he graduated from high school, better than his first kiss. At that moment, he could turn back to human, to throw away his doggie cares to human worries. He looked at the excited pack, playing and laughing. One of the female husky bitches came and poked at him to come over and play with her.

Longshot thought hard. Hard about returning to the life of James Thrashwolf or being a husky for the rest of his life. He looked at James Thrashwolf, and remembered how it was like being him. And looked at his husky team, his husky pack. The female bitch motioned for him to get over and winked at him.

He licked James one more time and ran over to his pack. James Thrashwolf winces he had to get his arm looked at, but first he needed to get his dogs rested and in safe place where they can be watched. His team did well beside him, and it made him smile.

James Thrashwolf cared and loved for his huskies, especially Longshot his favorite stud husky. He was a smart dog, some say smarter than must humans, and helped keep his team unbeatable. Longshot's bloodline was much in demand, he sired many puppies but never with the same intelligence that he had.