unfolded he couldn’t see what Kirby was being dragged by, just the dark shape of someone with him. Kirby got up, shook himself, then charged across the ice at Steele. The dark shape of Kirby’s rescuer seemed to melt into the snow as if it wasn’t there. Who, and more importantly what, had saved him? Steele turned on Dusty, attacking her and dragging her to the lake too. He threw her onto the ice and turned to face Kirby. The two dogs fought and fought. Then Steele grabbed Dusty and ran out to where the ice was flimsy from where it had over turned earlier. Steele stood in front of her and stood against Kirby the dogs fought smashing into each other and trying to overwhelm each other. Kirby had the advantage here but Steele wouldn’t give up. Kirby tried a different approach, letting Steele push him back; he crashed back onto the ice, and then jumped at Steele. Steele, alarmed, ran under him. Then, he turned, jumped over Kirby, grabbed Dusty, and ran back around the other side of Kirby. Kirby turned and came at Steele, but as he made the final charge, Steele reared up and pounded the ice at his feet. It left a pretty big dent. Kirby stopped, uncertain as all the ice around them started to splinter and crack. Then, without warning, it all fell away. Steele, Kirby and Dusty were all plunged into the dark, ice cold water. Steele grabbed at the ice and heaved himself up. Kirby scrambled along some floating icebergs to safety. Dusty came up and grabbed the closest iceberg, then swam to the bank at tried to get up. “I don’t think so.” Said Steele, placing a paw on her head and pushing her under.

“Dusty!” yelled Kirby. She was going to drown! He smashed into Steele and pinned him, but Steele refused to be pinned. He pushed Kirby back with his foot. Kirby slipped on the ice and fell into the hole, on top of Dusty, dragging them both under.

“Happy birthday.” Said Steele, turning away from them. He walked back up the hill to his sleds. But then as he got there something, or someone, threw him aside, then, streaked down the hill and plunged after Dusty and Kirby. The last thing Dusty or Kirby remembered before they ran out of air was the darkness, the cold, the panic and then suddenly feeling the water rush past then as they were pulled upwards out of the icy cold death trap. When Dusty and Kirby woke up, their rescuer had vanished yet again. They got up and saw Steele putting one of the cages into a mailbag.

“We have to stop him!” said Dusty. She was already running up the hill. Kirby ran after her.

“Leave Steele to me!” he said. Dusty nodded to him. Steele had just finished covering the cage with mail when he was pushed up against the boiler room wall. “hi.” Said Kirby. Dusty shoved one of the heavy sleds down the hill towards the lake. It started to slide, and then stopped, held by the weight of the other two sleds. Dusty painstakingly pushed another heavy sled down the hill and now all of them started to move.

“No!!” yelled Steele. Kirby turned to look and Steele’s eyes caught the trailing harness. He kicked Kirby away from him and onto it. The sleds stopped.

“Dusty! The mailbag!” yelled Kirby. Dusty ran for the sled with it.

“No!” Steele ran at her.

“Look out!” screamed Kirby. Dusty saw Steele chasing her. She ran faster than she ever had before, jumped over the sled and grabbed the mailbag from it. As soon as Kirby saw this, he promptly lifted his foot from the harness. One of the sleds crashed into Steele and they all slid down into the lake.

Dusty emptied out the mailbag then unlocked the cage.

“Thanks Dusty!” said Kodi. Dusty smiled.

“I thought I lost you!” there was a moment of silence, and then Kirby broke it.

“Where are the others?”

“In the boiler room, I think. I’ll get them.” Kodi ran around the side of the building and in through the door. A few minutes later, he reappeared at the window. “Found them!”

“Not bad Kodi, get them out here, A.S.A.P.!” called Kirby.

“Thanks Kirby!”

“Kodi…?” called Balto. Kodi looked into the room where he’d freed Balto and Jenna and saw them hemmed in by a bunch of dogs.

“Uh… guys?” he called out the window “update! …we’re having a bit of a problem here!” he looked back to make sure. “Actually…” he checked again. “I think it’s more than a bit… HELP!!!!”

“Kodi! Don’t move!!” yelled Kirby. Kirby and Dusty ran around to the door and burst in. the dogs turned to growl at them.

“This is not going to be pretty” murmured Dusty

“Time to dish it out.” Growled Kirby. Kirby ran at the dogs. One ran to meet him. Kirby leapt at it as soon as he was within range. Just before Kirby hit him, the dog leapt as well. He overwhelmed Kirby and sent him crashing to the ground, then moved on to attack Dusty. Another dog ran at Kirby.

“I’ll rip your throat!” he growled. Then, overcome by rage, Balto slammed into him, driving him into the wall. Another one of the dogs sized his chance and jumped at Balto, dragging him to the ground, and then throwing him at Kirby. Kirby attacked the dog. Balto regained his feet and ran at another target, grabbing him around the neck. The dog he’d attacked ran towards the far wall, and then stopped abruptly with so much force; Balto found himself flying into the wall.

“Balto!” yelled Kirby running towards him, but his path was blocked by two other dogs.

“We’ll crush you!” the growled, running at Kirby and grabbing him on either side of his neck. Balto pulled himself up and leapt at the dog. The dog sidestepped him, grabbing him by the tail and throwing him into the wall again.

“This is the end for you, wolfdog!” he growled

“Don’t.” said Kodi leaping at him. The dog dodged.

“Get him!” he told the others. Two dogs ran at Kodi. The first one he grabbed by the neck and threw away then started a fight with the second. Dusty leapt onto the dog who had spoken, grabbing his neck and hauling him to the ground. The dog got up and ran at another wall, stopping abruptly in front of it, Dusty flew off towards the wall, but just before she hit it, something white streaked across the battle field and flew by Dusty. Dusty rolled in mid-air. Her back legs hit the wall and she pushed off from it. Balto saw the white thing jump over him and looked back at it. It reached the door and glanced back, locking eyes with him for a second. Then it ran off. Balto wasn’t sure whether it wanted him to do something or not, but there seemed to be some significance in its look. No sooner had it gone; all the other dogs ran off too.

“And stay out!” growled Kirby. Balto clambered to his feet.

“Stay here and fight!” growled Dusty, grabbing the tail of the dog who had thrown her into the wall.

“I’ll fight!” came another voice. Steele gave Dusty a shove and sent her sprawling in the snow.

“Dusty!” yelled Kirby, running at Steele. Steele held Dusty down with one paw then turned to face Kirby.

“Back off or I’ll kill her!” Steele growled.

“I might see my way into trading her for Jenna” Steele said thoughtfully after a while.

“No way Steele!” Balto growled. Steele laughed.

“Then come get her.” He replied

“No Balto. Don’t let Dusty die on my account!” said Jenna

“I can’t let you go again!” Balto said

“YOU don’t have to.” Said Jenna walking over to Steele. “He wants me… and he’s going to get me.”

“Very brave, Jenna” said Steele, his voice heavy with sarcasm.

“You can find me again.” Said Jenna. “…I love you, Balto.” Steele let go of Dusty who ran to join her friends.

“I’m sorry Balto!” she wailed. Balto might as well have not heard. He was too angry. He turned to the others, his face awash with pain and anger.

“ok.” He said in a panicked rush. “We go down that street, and turn down the first alleyway, we ambush them there and then we take Jenna and run!” he leapt off. But when he looked back, no one was following. “What are you doing?” he asked

“Balto. Look at me.” Said Kirby. He was bruised and battered and looking rather worse for wear. “Look at yourself. You’re in no shape to be fighting.” Balto knew he was right, almost every muscle in his body ached. “Kodi is in pretty bad shape too. And Dusty, well, you saw what nearly happened to her. Face the truth. We can’t fight. Not in this state.” Balto sighed.

“As much as I hate to admit it, you’re right.” He said finally. “I shouldn’t risk it in this state. What should we do?”

“We should rest. We are bound to be twice as strong when we wake up.”

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