and hatred. And if Caspar was right about Mel hating him, then the rest of his fear would probably be right on target too. “So what do you want to do?” he asked.

Caspar shrugged. “Maybe I could just go home and act like nothing happened? The scratches might be better by tomorrow.”

Pete scrunched his chin, then nodded. “Okay, maybe you should...”

But that was all he got out before Toby himself poked his head outside. “Caspar? Pete? What are you guys doing here?”

Both exchanged a doomed look. “Uh, we just sort of ran into each other...” Pete began.

“...and thought we would stop by,” finished Caspar. “But if this is a bad time to visit, we could...”

“No, no, come on in... I guess,” Toby cut him off.

With nothing else to do, both of them entered. “You two all set for the-” he stopped cold as he caught a glimpse of Caspar's chewed-up ear. “Good grief! What happened to you?!”

Caspar looked at the floor. “I... hurt myself.”

“I can see that. Come here, let me see it.”

Caspar tried to protest, but Toby managed to get a close look at the ear. “Hurt yourself? Son, I know teeth marks when I see them. Who did this to you?”

A lump began to form in Caspar's throat. But with no alternative, he told his father everything. When the tale was done, Toby just stared at them in disbelief.

“I thought if I didn't tell you, things would just sort of smooth out,” Caspar explained.

Toby stared at his son, then looked at Pete in confusion. “And you just went along with this?”

Pete looked embarrassed. “Well, it seemed like a good idea.”

“Pete, I thought even you would know better.” Then, realizing what had left his mouth, Toby caught himself. “I mean... oh, I shouldn't have said that.” He looked over at Caspar, uncertain of how to go on. “Caspar, can you wait here a minute? I need to talk to Pete alone.”

Caspar's drooping ears and tail made it clear he wasn't happy, but he nodded. “Sure Dad.”

Toby took Pete into the kitchen. “I guess you were trying to look out for Caspar, and it's not that I don't appreciate the thought. But I want the boys to feel like they can talk to me when they have problems, and it doesn't help when you tell them not to.”

“Well, I didn't exactly tell him not to.”

“No, but he looks up to you.” Toby sighed and rubbed a paw between his eyes. “Look, I know you mean well, but if something like this happens again, follow through and make sure they talk to me, okay?”

Pete felt small. “Sorry,” he uttered.

Toby sighed too. The frustration was getting to him, and here he was taking it out on Pete. “I forgive you. And... sorry if I'm tense lately. Things have been... hard.” Turning back to the living room, he remarked, “I just hope I can get things sorted out with my kids.”

He walked over to Caspar, who sat looking confused.

“Dad?” asked the pup in a small voice. “Did I do something wrong?”

“No, of course not.” Toby paused and sat. “Well, maybe a little.” He dropped to his stomach to look his son in the eye. “I understand why you didn't want to squeal on Mel, especially after he got so mad at you already. I don't blame you one bit for wanting to keep the peace with your brother, but the next time you have a problem you should come talk to me about it, no matter what. Okay?”

Caspar nodded, wagging his tail for the first time since his fight with Melchior. “Okay, Dad. So, what now?”

Toby rose to his feet. “I think I'd better go have a talk with Melchior. Do you know where he is now?”

Caspar paused to scratch his ear, then stopped with a wince as his claws struck a shallow tooth mark. “Yeah, his human said he'd have to spend the night outside to teach him a lesson.”

Toby nodded. “He'll be in their back yard. Goodnight Caspar. You'd better get along home.”

“Melchior? Melchior.”

The young dog tried to hide behind his doghouse. 'Maybe if he doesn't find me, he'll go away.' he thought.

But he out of all his siblings should have known better. Even if Toby hadn't already known, his nose lead him right to the gate. “Son, we need to talk.”

Mel kept silent. “I know you're behind the doghouse. I can see the chain.”

Reluctantly Mel came out of hiding. “What is it?”

Toby looked at him through the slats of the fence. “You were in a fight with Caspar.” There was nothing accusatory in his tone, but to Melchior it was a slap in the face.

“I don't want to hear it.” Mel turned his head away and flattened his ears.

“Why did you do it?” asked Toby, not about to be cowed into standing for the silent treatment his own son.

Mel's scowl deepened. “He wouldn't leave me alone. Besides, didn't you always say that if someone's not in the mood to play, you can't make them?”

“Yes, I've said that before,” Toby replied. “And if it makes you feel any better, I'll make sure to remind him of it the next time I see him. But right now I'm talking to you about you. What you did was unacceptable, and I-”

“Dad, I get it, okay? No more fighting, no more anything. Nothing I do is good enough for you, I get it. Can you leave me alone already?!”

Toby's ears leaned back and his eyes scrunched. “I don't get this. First you...”

But Mel had retreated into the dog house. Toby tried to stick his head in, but there was no room. “Melchior, come out of there. I'm not finished talking to you.”

Mel planted his paws over his ears. “Well I'm done listening.”

A half-hour's time found Toby at home, staring into the fire with a air of despondency. He barely even uttered a greeting when Luna came in the dog door.

“Is everything alright, dear?” she asked, walking up to him.

Toby shook his head. “No,” he uttered in a voice uncharacteristically low.

She sat at his side, feeling the gloom radiate off of him across the three inch gap. “Pete told me about our boys fighting. I figured you'd come here after talking to Melchior.”

He nodded noncommittally. “He didn't take it well.”

She ran her nose against the side of his neck, trying to comfort him. “You tried.”

“I just don't know what to do,” he admitted, his whole body sinking. “First he won't even try to make something of himself, and now he's getting into fights.”

“Did you ask him why he fought Caspar?”

“Of course I did. He said that nothing he does is good enough for me, but I never said that. I've always done my best to encourage him.” He sat and stared into the flames. “I just don't understand,” he admitted. “He has so much potential, but he won't even try to live up to it.”

Luna sighed. “Maybe you should let him decide what he wants to do with his life.”

“But that's just the point!” he protested, rising to his haunches. “He doesn't do anything. He's just satisfied with sitting around his humans' home doing nothing. It's a waste of his talent and a waste of his life. Is that what you want for our son?”

She shook her head. “You know I don't. But pushing decisions, even good ones, down his throat isn't going to accomplish anything except driving him further away. Just look what happened to Caspar. We need to think of something else.”

“Like what? I've done everything I can think of, so unless you've got some idea you haven't mentioned yet...”

“Toby? Toby!” came a bark from outside

Toby ran to the pet flap and poked his head out. “Dad?” he asked. “What are you doing here?”

Rex stood in the street on a leash, with Chief Scotty behind him on snowshoes looking very impatient. “Urgent business. A child wandered off about two hours ago, there's a blizzard coming, and we need all the dogs we can muster.”

Toby nodded. “Right.” As he climbed out the pet door, he added, “Where's the sled team?”

Rex shook his head. “No time. And if the child headed into a wooded area, there's no telling whether we could maneuver.”

Toby nodded as he joined his dad running down the street with the chief behind them commenting on a “crazy time for a father-son outing.” And that gave him an idea.

“Think there's enough time to stop at one house?” he asked.

Melchior was still locked up in his back yard when Toby arrived. “Melchior, wake up! You're needed!”

Mel raised his head. “Huh? What?”

“There's a girl missing outside of town and a blizzard coming on. Your grandpa and I were about to go look for her, and I'd like you with us.”

Mel put his head back down. “No thanks.”

There was no missing the wounded look on Toby's face. “But son, I...”

“Dad, you and Grandpa are the best trackers in Nome, and I'm locked up. I'd just slow you down.”

“I can get this gate open easy, and Pete taught me how to loosen collars. You could keep up with us.”

Melchior lifted his head just long