sure does, dad.'' Dusty replied.

''I'm really glad that you won.'' Dusty's mother, Molly, said.

''Thanks, mom.'' Dusty said.

Then, Balto and Jenna entered the house. Balto said: ''And where's our winner son?''

''Hey, dad, hey, mom.'' Kodi said. ''There's no need to praise me that much.''

''Right.'' Balto said, then he said to Max: ''Well, Max, our kids sure have strong spirit and will.''

''Yes, Balto.'' Max said. ''The team work together great.''

''And how does it feel to be retired?'' Jenna asked.

''Well, I may be strong, but not fast anymore.'' Max said. ''Besides, we've been delivering mail for seven years.''

''How does the Dingo's team take the race?'' Dusty asked.

''They took it well.'' Balto said. ''But two of his team mates, Rico and Forrest, didn't.''

''Who can blame them.'' Kirby said from the side. ''They didn't have great pup-hood after all.''

''True.'' Ralph said. ''It seems that they wanted to win.''

As the day passed, more dogs came, mostly Kodi's siblings and their friends. Aleu and Kenai came as well, but they stayed outside so they wouldn't be chased down by Mr. Simpson.

As the evening came, most of the dogs, excluding Kodi, Dusty, Kirby, Ralph, Max and Molly, went to their homes. They were getting some rest now.

''It was one great day today.'' Kodi said, laying in the bed. ''Right, Dusty?''

''Sure.'' Dusty said, laying next to Kodi. ''You did the best in the team, Kodi.''

Kodi blushed upon that. Why'd he be the best if the whole team was doing equally great?

''Night, everyone.'' Max said as he laid down in the bed with Molly.

''Night.'' Kirby and Ralph said as they laid in separate beds.

''Night, dad.'' Dusty said. Then she nuzzled Kodi and said: ''Night, Kodi.''

''Night, Dusty.'' Kodi said, resting his head on Dusty's head.

Later...

Dusty was sleeping tightly, but she woke up upon hearing someone, or something, growling.

''What was that?'' Dusty asked herself as she looked there and there, trying not to wake Kodi up.

Another growling was heard, and Dusty felt that the growling came from her stomach.

''Great.'' Dusty thought to herself. ''I better eat something.''

She thought about going to the kitchen and get some food there, but she decided to not go to the kitchen, as she might spill something and cause mess there.

''To the General Store.'' Dusty thought to herself and carefully got out of the bed. Kodi was still sleeping.

She went through the dog door. When she left the house, she was hit by some snow, but that didn't bother her. She just wanted to eat something and go back to bed.

She made it all the way to the General Store through the blizzard. The Store was obviously closed, but Dusty knew the secret entrance where she could get some food.

She went through the secret entrance and found some beef jerky to eat. She dragged the bag outside. She took one beef jerky and ate it as well.

Just as she was about to eat the second piece, she was attacked from her right side. Then she felt another kick.

Dusty screamed as she was attacked by two unknown attackers. Due to injuries, she blacked out, but before she did, she got the scents of two attackers. They were familiar.

Dusty woke for a second or two, being dragged by two attackers in the alley. One of them said: ''We better leave now!'' The attacker's voice seemed nervous.

Dusty blacked out for the second time. Then she opened her eyes and noticed two dogs running away. She blacked out again.

''Dusty!... Dusty!!'' A faint voice was heard from the distance. Dusty barely opened her eyes.

She saw him, Kodi, panicking upon seeing Dusty laying injured in the alley.

''Dusty! Are you alright?!'' Kodi asked as he was less than one meter from her.

''Kodi...?'' Dusty asked weakly. ''I'm glad you're here...''

''So am I...'' Kodi said, panicked. ''Can you walk?''

''I don't think so.'' Dusty said. ''Can you... take me home?''

''Of course.'' Kodi said. He looked across the alley and found a small, but fitting sled near the trash can. He pulled the sled near Dusty then he raised her on the sled carefully.

''Don't worry, Dusty.'' Kodi said, as he started pulling the sled. ''We'll be home as soon as possible.''

Kodi carried injured Dusty on the sled all the way home through the blizzard. Despite the snow and wind hardening his way home, he successfully reached the home.

''Come on, Dusty.'' Kodi said, as he carried Dusty inside and put her gently on the bed.

Dusty felt the comfort of the bed before blacking out again. Meanwhile, Kodi went to her parents' bed to wake one of them up. He decided to wake up Molly.

''Molly, wake up.'' Kodi nudged Molly as she slowly woke up.

''Kodi?'' Molly asked. ''What is it?''

''It's Dusty.'' Kodi said, looking at Dusty. ''She's been attacked by someone.''

Upon hearing that, Molly jumped out of the bed and raced to Dusty. She got literally scared upon seeing her daughter badly injured.

''Dusty?!'' Molly asked, panicking. ''Kodi?! How did that happen?''

''I woke up and noticed that Dusty wasn't in bed.'' Kodi said. ''I went to the General Store to get something to eat. But as I got there, I found her scent and then, I found her injured in the alley behind.''

''What are we going to do?'' Molly asked.

''Molly, please, stay with her.'' Kodi said. ''I'll get Simpson.''

Molly nodded as Kodi sprinted upstairs. In just one minute, Kodi came back with half-asleep Simpson.

''What?'' Simpson asked as he noticed injured Dusty in the bed. ''What happened to you, Dusty?''

The silence came as Kodi and Molly couldn't tell anything because they were dogs.

''I better get John.'' Simpson said as he put on his coat and headed to the vet clinic.

Just a few minutes later, Simpson returned with John and with Josh as well. While John was checking Dusty's injuries, Josh came to Kodi and Molly.

''What happened to Dusty?'' Josh asked.

''I'm not sure.'' Kodi said. ''I found her injured behind the Store.''

''Is she going to be alright?'' Molly asked, fearing for Dusty's safety.

''She will.'' Josh said, as he noticed her wounds. ''She's been injured badly, but not too much.''

Molly sighed in relief. The whole day turned from joyful to horrific.

Ten minutes later, John finished the job. Dusty had some bandages on her rear right leg and a cast on front left leg.

''How long is she going to have to recover?'' Simpson asked.

''Two weeks.'' John asked. ''If something goes wrong, call me.''

''Of course.'' Simpson said. ''See you then, John.''

''Later.'' John said upon exiting the house. ''Come on Josh, let's go!''

''Later.'' Josh greeted them as he left the house. In the meantime, Simpson went to his bed.

''Molly, look!'' Kodi said. ''She's waking up.''

''Mom, Kodi, where am I?'' Dusty asked, after she noticed the bandages and the cast on herself.

''You're home, Dusty.'' Molly said. ''Kodi found you injured and the carried you home.''

''That's really nice of you, Kodi.'' Dusty said to Kodi as he nodded gratefully.

''Dusty, do you remember who attacked you?'' Kodi asked.

''Not really.'' Dusty said. ''But the scents were familiar, as they belonged to sled-dogs.''

''Sled-dogs?'' Kodi asked. ''It could be anyone!''

''We know.'' Molly said. ''Kodi, we better get some rest, this was one tough night for us.''

''You're right, Molly.'' Kodi said, as Molly went to her bed. ''We'll discuss this tomorrow.''

''Yes.'' Molly said, laying down. ''Good night.''

''Night, mom.'' Dusty said to her mother.

Kodi laid carefully next to Dusty. He nuzzled her carefully as well trying not to cause her an another pain.

''Night, Kodi.'' Dusty said, finally falling asleep.

''Night, Dusty.'' Kodi said. ''I'll be always here with you until you recover.''

The next morning, the other dogs in the house heard what happened to Dusty.

''I don't understand.'' Max said, fearing for Dusty. ''Whoever did this to you, will pay for that!''

''Dad, calm down!'' Dusty said. ''There's no need to make things worse!''

''Yes, sorry.'' Max said. ''Well, your mother and I, and Kirby and Ralph will find the ones who did this to