don't!" Spitz bellowed as he and the team gave chase. Balto joined them, taking up position at the front of the pack with Spitz. "What are you doing here wolfy? Come to see some of your friends?"

"I'm here to help you, and they definitely aren't my friends," Balto replied. Spitz scoffed, but without any other reason to push Balto away, he let him lead the group with him. The dogs were fast, but the wolves could keep the same pace, remaining ahead of them. Suddenly, two more wolves burst out from a side alley, colliding with them and causing them to trip over one another. The wolves quickly got up and darted away, while Balto heard another voice yelling after them.

"That's right, run away! That's what you get for trespassing!" a tan Chinook yelled as he ran out onto the street, followed by a red chow and a smaller grey husky. It was Kaltag, Nikki and Star. "Balto! There you are," Kaltag panted as everyone resumed the chase. "Just who were those clowns?"

"I think I know about as much as you do Kal," Balto replied as the group continued running after them. "I was walking home when I picked up the scent of three of them. They looked like they were going to surprise Spitz and his crew."

The wolves turned down another street with the dogs still in hot pursuit. By now, the collective barking from the dogs was starting to rouse the humans, and lights were coming on in houses as they passed.

"The three of us found two more of them in one of the supply sheds. They had already shredded some of the harnesses and it looked like they were trying to make off with one of the caribou carcasses," Kaltag explained. "I don't think I've ever seen them do anything like that."

"Neither have I," Balto panted. "If a wolf does come, it's either for food or shelter. Why would they be targeting things that they would normally have no interest in?" The wolves turned down into one of the alleys and the group followed, but in the cramped space they were forced to slow down. They reached an intersection and Balto stopped, looking down each of the paths. They couldn't see their targets, and after taking a quick sniff of the ground, Balto found that the wolves had split up, each taking one of the three available paths. "They've split up, so we'll have to do the same," he said. "Kaltag, Nikki and I will go on the path to the left. Spitz, you lead another group straight ahead, while Kari and Star can lead a group to the right."

"There are several dead ends in these alleys; there's a good chance that we might catch them," Kaltag put in.

"Yes, but if anyone traps a wolf, proceed with caution. There is nothing more dangerous than a wolf that is cornered," Balto urged.

"But there's more of us than there are of them," Spitz said indignantly. "Why can't we-"

"Trust me on this one," Balto cut in. "Any animal that feels trapped can become ten times more dangerous than usual - I would know. Besides, the aim here isn't to trap or hurt them; it's simply to get them out of town. Can I hold you to that Spitz?" The husky paused for a moment, before nodding. "Alright, let's go," Balto finished and the dogs split up. Balto led his group down their alley, keeping their senses tuned to detect any possible sneak attack. The alleys were completely silent, with the only sound being their own breathing.

"Look down there!" Kaltag exclaimed as they passed another side alley, seeing a wolf before it darted away. They gave chase, following it as it twisted and turned through the alleys until, as Kaltag predicted, it hit a dead end. In the way was a fence, and the wolf, whom Balto recognized as the female from the group, was frantically digging under the fence to try to get through. She had just started to squeeze her head under it before Kaltag and Nikki each grabbed one of her shoulders in their jaws and pulled her back out.

"Don't worry, we don't want to hurt you," Balto assured her as she struggled against the dogs' grip. "I just want to finish the little talk we started earlier."

"There is nothing to discuss!" the she-wolf barked. "You were the ones that provoked this! You may have me, but I'll never do what you wish!"

"That's too bad, because I just wish that you'd leave us alone," Balto replied. "I don't know what you think you know, but I'm not your enemy."

"I don't believe you! All you dogs are the same; you can't be trusted!" she barked as she continued to thrash around. Balto knew that if this continued, someone could get hurt.

"Guys, let her go," he said, and they released her. "See, I'm not such a bad guy. I'm going to let you go, but I don't want to see you in this town again, you hear me?" he urged. She gave no reply, only snorting at him before slipping under the fence and off into the night.

"Wow, she's a piece of work," Kaltag muttered while Balto tried to make sense of this.

"Why would wolves come after Spitz's team out of all the dogs in town?" he thought. "Either these wolves are more intolerant than I thought, or Spitz isn't telling me the whole story. There's more behind this and I want to find out what it is."

---

Chapter 2: Taking Stock

The commotion raised was enough to wake most of the town, and while the townspeople surveyed the damage, several dogs gathered in the old mill to find out what they could. It was a commotion of questions and answers, with everyone trying to make sense of what had happened. Soon Jenna entered and rushed to Balto, quickly nuzzling his chest. "Balto, what's going on? Everyone's saying that wolves attacked some dogs in town and... and that you had been attacked too," she said, her voice wavering slightly.

"It's true; I caught a few of them trying to sneak up on Spitz's team while Kaltag found some others vandalizing supplies," he replied. "Don't worry, I'm fine and we were able to chase them off."

"But why? Wolves have never come after us like this," she said.

"I don't know, but we'll find out more soon," he answered before an older St. Bernard came in. This dog's name was Doc and if anyone needed to know what was going on, he was the dog to go to.

"Alright my friends, I know you're a little shaken up tonight, but the threat has passed thanks to the actions of a few of our own dogs," he said. "I just listened in on the human's conversation; they say that the wolves did more damage to their supplies than to the dogs they went after."

"What did they go after?" a smaller dog named Dixie asked.

"They chewed through and destroyed a few sled harnesses, some snares used for trapping, and had tried to drag a fresh caribou carcass away. They didn't get far with their last item, as Kaltag caught them and chased them away," he listed.

"But why go after those things?" a malamute inquired. "I thought wolves would rather go after dogs than their supplies."

"A second group did go after Spitz's team," Balto put in. "I tried to ask them why, but I couldn't get a straight answer from them."

"Do you know who they were?" Jenna asked.

"No, but I have a feeling that someone in here does," he replied, and looked over at Spitz. "Spitz, is there something you want to tell us?"

At this, Spitz immediately scowled at him. "Why are you pinning this on me? I didn't have anything to do with what the wolves did!"

"Are you sure?" Balto asked. He had started to form a theory about why the wolves had come, but he needed proof, so he turned to Doc. "Doc, you wouldn't happen to know whose supplies were damaged would you? Was it anyone in particular?"

Doc seemed a little surprised at the question, but he did have the answer. "Yes; it was Mr. Davison's supplies that were damaged, along with his caribou that the wolves tried to take."

"Davison… he's your owner isn't he Spitz?" Kaltag asked, and soon all eyes were on the grey husky. Spitz nodded, causing the room to murmur.

"The wolves attacked Davison's supplies and dogs," Balto started. "I wouldn't have thought to ask if it wasn't for an interesting bit of information you gave me earlier this morning. Didn't you say that you had a run-in with a pack of wolves?"

Spitz hesitated. "… Yes," he replied. "What are you getting at lobo?"

Balto ignored the insult and continued laying out his theory. "I don't think that this attack is random; I think it's connected to the wolf pack you encountered this morning," he explained. "The wolves got pretty close to you tonight; close enough for you to take a sniff. I didn't recognize them, but did you?"

Spitz thought for a moment, until his eyes opened in realization. "My goodness you're right. They smelled just like the wolves we met this morning."

"So the wolves attacked in retaliation for your intrusion," Kaltag finished.

"Possibly, but I don't think that wolves would come after us after only one scuffle," Balto continued. "Spitz, I want you to tell me the truth. Has there been any other time that you've encountered the wolves. Were there any other skirmishes between you?"

Spitz seemed to avoid Balto's