bringing everyone to a stop. "We can't just run in one direction all night – he'll get away, and we can't let that happen again."

"We could cover more ground if we split up," Steele suggested.

"But splitting would just make us more vulnerable," a younger dog protested.

"I know, but at this point we need to cover as much ground as possible," Balto affirmed. "You can make your teams as big as you want to stay safe, but the second you see something, I want you to signal, then pursue. This wolf is a lot more dangerous than you think," he said, before turning to Sonya. "C'mon, you and I can work as a pair. We're probably the best trackers around." Sonya nodded, and the dogs split up, tending to follow the lines of their teams with their groups. They each went in different directions, radiating out to cover any direction Tikani could have gone in.

"Can you at least tell me what's going on here? One second you're the most level headed dog in the world, and the next you're calling for a headhunt," Sonya asked. "What is it between you two that's behind all of this?"

"The thing is, this isn't the first time that I've tangled with this wolf. His name's Tikani, and he's probably the most dangerous wolf I've ever met," he started, before telling her the entire story. He told her about the skirmishes with the sled dogs and how that led to him trying to negotiate a truce between them and Tikani. He explained how they were going to exchange his mate - who had been left behind in one of the raids - with a dog that had been taken, but that only led to disaster. "Unfortunately, Kari's brother Spitz wanted to take matters into his own paws. He broke Kisa out, but that only led to disaster," he continued, telling her how Kisa was shot by humans, and how Tikani reacted when he saw his mate had been killed.

"He broke the deal off and vowed to avenge her death," he continued, telling how Tikani later came back, and tried to lure Jenna into a trap to kill her as revenge. They narrowly escaped, but were pursued for almost three days, where it wasn't only their lives in danger. "Jenna was carrying our pups at the time, but that news would also turn out to be our salvation." He continued on with how a group of three wolves learned the truth, and how it conflicted with one of their rules of engagement. Wolves were forbidden from harming a mother carrying pups, and when the pack learned the truth, they turned on Tikani, ousting him and finally making peace with Balto.

"After that, we never heard or saw from him again," he finished. "I thought that he might've given up, or died by now, but I guess I was wrong. He's here, and he's going to try to finish what he started two years ago."

"I guess to say your life had been eventful would be an understatement," she added. "And to think I thought the serum run was the only action you've had to deal with."

"Oh, I've had plenty of excitement in my life… some of it you might not even believe." They had been running through the woods for almost half an hour by now, following the faint traces of Tikani's scent. They stopped and took a moment to catch their bearings, both of them sniffing the ground. Tikani had definitely passed by here, but there were old scents mixed with new, almost as though he had doubled back to try to confuse them.

"I can't get a good fix - maybe someone else has spotted him?" she suggested.

"No, we would've heard something by now," Balto said, his ears twitching as he tried to pick up any sound from the quiet wood.

"You don't think he's gotten away again, has he?"

There was a pause, before he replied, "No… he's here. He's just biding his time." While there were multiple scents, he could still pick out the freshest, and it was only a few minutes old. His attention focused on a certain grove of bushes where the most recent scent trail ended. He started to creep forward, his body tensing up as it anticipated an ambush. "Just stay back a moment - he's close."

"Wait, what if it's a trap?"

"If I'm the one he wants, then who better to spring the trap?" he replied, before continuing to creep forward. Each step brought him closer, his heart pounding as it tried to ready himself for the next round with Tikani. He was almost there, his nose brushing up against the branches, before he heard a cry that made him jump. However, it was a cry from behind, and turned in time to see Tikani on Sonya, the two of them rolling on the ground and right down a small hill.

The attack had come so suddenly, Sonya was already rolling down the hill before she even knew what was going on. The world was a blur of snow, trees and fur during the tumble, but when she finally stopped, she saw only a gaping abyss. The attack had taken them right to the edge of a canyon, with her staring down a never-ending drop.

'A cliff… why does it always have to be a cliff?' she thought, springing up to face her foe. Tikani charged to knock her off the edge, but she sidestepped him. She latched onto his flank to avoid his jaws, but that just resulted in him bucking madly, like a steer trying to fling a cowboy off its back. One of his back legs caught her in the chest, knocking the wind out of her and breaking her hold on him. She coughed and gasped from the blow, and heard Balto howling out for help, while trying to run down the hill to her. She knew she couldn't handle Tikani alone, and tried to dash back to him, but Tikani was quick to take advantage of her flight. Sonya was only a few steps up the hill before she was yanked back. Her leg stung, and she saw that the wolf had bit down on her leg, before starting to squeeze with his jaws. Balto heard her yelping as she tried to pull free, but Tikani didn't let up until a loud snap cracked through the dark night.

Sonya didn't think she'd ever screamed as loudly as when Tikani broke her leg, the pain becoming a white hot fire that burnt her body, making her see stars. The shock weakened her, and with a swing of his head, he sent her flying right into a nearby rock. She impacted with a dull thud, before landing in heap, out cold. Tikani would only get a moment's reprieve though as Balto set himself on him, going right for the wolf's neck. Tikani had hurt another dog, and for Balto, the time for mercy had passed. Now was the time to stop this mad wolf once and for all.

Tikani turned enough so that his attack would be just a glancing blow, but Balto still held firm. The wolf thrashed and bucked, but his jaws held, his fangs locked into the flesh of his neck. Tikani snapped, but couldn't get a good enough angle to strike Balto. Finally, he elected to roll to the side, bring the attached wolfdog with him, trying to crush him under his own weight. They were both on the ground now, rolling in the snow, and it was only when Tikani landed right on his chest that Balto was forced to let go and suck in air. However, that brief opening would cause everything to turn around, and Tikani took the opportunity to lash out. This time, it was him with Balto's neck in his jaws.

Balto tried to push him off, but the wolf was far too heavy, and had his fangs locked around his neck. Tikani's jaws pressed painfully around him, constricting his windpipe, and threatening to pierce his jugular. Once that vital vessel was punctured, it would all be over in a matter of seconds. 'No! It can't end like this,' he thought as he tried in vain to free himself from the death grip. Despite his efforts, the wolf held firm, and he knew he couldn't wrench himself too hard, or risk doing more damage to himself.

"This is for you, Kisa," Tikani growled, as Balto's vision started to darken at the edges. He was so close to finally avenging his mate's death; he just needed to find his vital vein and tear his throat open, ending his vengeful quest. Only a few moments away from victory, he would have it ripped away as quickly as Kisa had been from him. Something grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, making him gasp and break his hold on Balto. Whoever it was, they were easily as strong as him, as it didn't take much for his assailant to fling him away from Balto, sending him skidding across the snow until he was right beside the cliff's edge.

"Oh no you don't you damn, dirty wolf! You're not hurting another dog here!" the voice bellowed as Balto sucked in the sweet air. As his vision started to return, he saw his saviour was a very familiar black and white husky. Steele and Tikani squared off, growling and bristling at each other.

"Stay out of this, dog! This doesn't concern you, so I'll give you a chance to step aside and save yourself," Tikani growled, but his offer was only met with snide laughter.

"Oh that's rich - did you say that to the other dogs you attacked too?" Steele returned.

"They were necessary casualties," Tikani said. "When hunting, you always try to thin the herds before going after your real target."

'So that's why he went after them - he was eliminating as much potential resistance to make his final strike against me easier,' Balto thought, before their snarls met his ears. The two combatants lunged, meeting each other halfway. Steele and Tikani savagely exchanged blows, biting and slashing at each other, each trying to do the most damage. Balto shakily tried to get up to aid Steele; even though they were rivals, he wasn't going to let Steele fight