They were eight inseparable friends, all on the cusp of adulthood, but with the spirit of adventurous boys. Their names were as varied as their personalities: Daniel (the natural leader), Leo (the joker), Omar (the serious one), Ricardo (the dreamer), Javier (the quiet one), Matías (the enthusiast), Simón (the skeptic), and Arturo (the observer). Their Friday afternoon excursion had taken them to the Animated History Museum, a place known for its quirky exhibits on classic animated films.
In the farthest room, under dim lighting, was an exhibit dedicated to the legend of Balto. There, eight sled dog collars were displayed on individual pedestals. They weren't replicas; they felt ancient, with an almost palpable energy. There were seven sturdy leather collars, worn from use, and one, the center one, looked like it had once belonged to a wolf-dog.
Daniel, the first to approach, felt a pang of curiosity. "Look, these collars have a strange glow," he commented, and without a second thought, he touched the largest and most robust collar. The others, feeling the same strange attraction, imitated his gesture. Matías touched one with thick, dark fur. Ricardo leaned over the most striking collar. Javier and Omar chose the ones that looked most ordinary. Simón, the skeptic, couldn't resist touching the one that seemed grayish and nervous. Leo, the joker, opted for the brown collar of a grumpy-faced dog, and Arturo, silently, chose the middle collar, Balto's.
As they touched the artifacts, a powerful wave of icy cold and blue-green light enveloped them. The world distorted, and their bodies began to undergo a violent and profound metamorphosis.
Daniel becomes a Gray Malamute: His body widened first, gaining massive musculature. Daniel's face stretched and became rounder, his human nose flattened and turned into a wet, black nose. His body hair transformed into thick, ash-gray fur, growing at an astonishing rate, covering every inch of skin. His hands and feet joined together, his fingers fused, and his nails became strong, blunt claws as his bone structure rearranged itself into the broad, powerful paws of a pack dog. His expression of astonishment gave way to a calmer and kinder, if somewhat clumsy, countenance.
* Leo transforms into a Blue Malamute: Leo's change was swift and dramatic, centering on the thickening of his figure. His bones grew denser, his neck shortened and thickened. The fur that covered him was a deep blue-gray, almost black, with large white markings around his muzzle, which became short and stocky. His eyes retained their playful sparkle, but his mouth elongated into a snout that seemed about to smile. His hands became large, stubby paws, perfect for balancing in the snow.
* Omar Becomes a Brown Malamute: Omar, the serious one, found himself covered in uniform, dense chestnut-brown fur. His face molded into a wide muzzle and a perpetually angry or sullen expression, his eyebrows drawn into two arches of dark fur that gave him an intimidating air. His teeth lengthened and became sharper, visible even when he wasn't growling. The transformation ended with him hunched over, his arms and legs turning into powerful, low canine limbs.
* Ricardo Transforms into Kaltag: Ricardo's transformation was dramatic and twitchy, reflecting the dog's character. His body thinned and stretched. The fur that sprouted was a pale, soft lilac-gray color. His once symmetrical face lengthened into a thin snout, and his blue eyes, Ricardo's, widened wildly, reflecting constant anxiety. His ears grew large and floppy, twitching nervously. When the change was complete, he found himself crouching on four thin, swift legs, his chest puffed out, a sled leash already tightened.
* Matias becomes Star: Matias's body became surprisingly light and loose. His fur grew in shades of brown and beige, with a distinctive pattern. Most noticeable was the expression on his face: his muzzle contoured to show a permanently shocked and nervous expression, his eyes wide open. As the change was finalized, his legs rearranged themselves somewhat awkwardly, and as he tried to move, Matias (now Star) let out a small squeak, feeling the habit of speaking in the third person beginning to invade his mind.
* Javier transforms into Nikki: Javier's change was graceful and swift. An orange-brown coat with a distinctive white stripe between the eyes covered him.
His muzzle became more defined, and his facial expression took on an air of superiority and swagger that Javier had never possessed before. His eyes became large and expressive, often rolling to the side in a snarl. The collar automatically tightened around his neck, and as he stood on his perfectly proportioned paws, he adopted a boastful pose.
* Simon Transforms into Steele: Simon, the skeptic, was absorbed by the worst of transformations. Thick, black and white fur spread over his athletic body. His face became a sharp, elegant muzzle, but his expression hardened into an arrogant, malevolent glare. His eyes narrowed, turning a piercing and cruel icy blue. His chest broadened into an imposing figure, the arrogant leader. The collar, wide and bearing a circular gold emblem, was fitted around the neck of a sled leader. His legs were muscular and long, designed for speed and dominance.
* Arturo transforms into Balto: Arturo's transformation was the most fluid and powerful. His body was covered in a grayish and brown brindle coat, more wolfish than the others. His muzzle lengthened into a sharp, noble profile. His eyes, deep and golden, ignited with a mixture of gentleness and savage courage. His ears stood on end. In the end, he found himself a hybrid wolf-dog, with an agile and strong physique, feeling the weight of being an outcast but also a protector. The collar was simple, made of brown leather, but it seemed to hold a hidden strength.
The transformation was over, and the eight of them were panting, confused, and scared, staring at their new canine forms. But with each passing second, their human memories began to fade. Their names—Daniel, Leo, Omar—faded, being replaced by a new identity.
In Gray Malamute's (Daniel's) mind, only a pleasant feeling of warmth remained, and the vague idea that he should be friendly. Blue Malamute (Leo) now only remembered jokes and an inexplicable desire to play. Brown Malamute (Omar) felt a persistent rage and the need to growl.
The three sidekicks, Nikki (Javier), Kaltag (Ricardo), and Star (Matías), now remembered only their deep loyalty—and fear—of the great leader, Steele (Simón). Their lives as Javier, Ricardo, and Matías faded to a distant echo, overlaid by the trio's nervous chatter and bombast.
Steele (Simón), now the large, muscular black Husky, remembered only triumph, the need to be the best, and the humiliation he felt at the sight of that mixed-breed. Balto (Arturo) felt the weight of loneliness and marginalization, but also a profound sense of responsibility and heroism.
Purpose had taken hold of them. They weren't eight boys; they were the sled dogs of Nome.
The race... the race for the medicine... The thought surged simultaneously through all their minds, a vivid and urgent memory that replaced any memory of museums or human lives. Nome was sick, and the medicine was waiting.
Suddenly, the collars whirred. In the center of the room, where before there had been nothing, a swirling portal of snow and blizzard opened. It was an icy vortex that hissed with the Alaskan wind.
Without hesitation, and driven by instinct and a new urgency, Steele barked an imperious command and lunged for the portal, followed by Nikki, Kaltag, Star, Gray, Blue, and Brown Malamute. Balto, with his kind heart and his newfound destiny, was the last to jump.
An instant later, the museum room was empty, the silence broken only by the icy wind emanating from where the portal had just closed. The eight "boys" had disappeared, arriving in a snowy and icy world, forever transformed into the legendary Nome Dogs, with a heroic destiny to fulfill.