was obviously complaining.

''What an ungrateful kid.'' Kaltag complained. ''Beating the other sled dog and running away didn't make any good here.''

''We know, sir.'' Vincent said. ''But hey, this might the the only delivery to run.''

''Yeah.'' Dana said. ''I'm going to vet tomorrow. And if the results show that I'm pregnant, this team will be on break for a couple of months.''

''Hey, Dingo.'' Nunivat said, heading to her brother. ''Getting ready for the delivery?''

''Yeah.'' Dingo said. ''This could be our last before the break ensues. And it's possible that Dana might be pregnant.''

''Okay then.'' Nunivat said.

''How was your night with Thunder, by the way?'' Dingo asked.

''It was beautiful.'' Nunivat replied. ''But we just started dating, you know.''

''Yes.'' Dingo said. ''Well, see you later, Nunivat!''

''Later, Dingo!'' Nunivat replied as Dingo's team headed to White Mountain.

Later...

Nunivat was lying on the porch of her house, while Thunder was making her company.

''I see that your brothers' friends are going to check out if they're going to have pups.'' Thunder said.

''Yeah, Dusty and Dana told me.'' Nunivat said.

''It sure is nice to have nephews and nieces, right?'' Thunder said.

''It sure is.'' Nunivat said. She blushed a bit as she thought that Thunder and she might not have their own pups, but she was sure he wouldn't mind to have pups. As she was about to tell him something, Jenna came by.

''Hey, mom.'' Nunivat said. ''Anything new?''

''Well, we got bad news.'' Jenna said. ''Dingo's team is lost, and it's possible due to blizzard out there. I just came to ask you if you would join me and Balto to find them.''

Nunivat and Thunder looked at each other first. They were going to a trip!

''Sure, mom.'' Nunivat agreed. ''What about you, Thunder?''

''If you're going, then I'm going.'' Thunder said.

''Good.'' Jenna said. ''Let's go find Yukon and ask him. Aleu, Kodi and Saba declined the offer.''

Soon enough, they found Yukon near his house, accompained with Yin and Yang. Then, Jenna told him the situation.

''I might as well go.'' Yukon said.

''If you go, I go.'' Yin said.

''If you go, then not without me.'' Yang said.

''Okay, let's go to Balto.'' Jenna said. ''He might have found someone to join us.''

As soon as Jenna with the others reached the old boat, she was right. Balto was waiting for them, but not alone. He was accompanied by Muk, Luk, Boris and Stella.

''I see you found the volunteers.'' Jenna said.

''Yeah.'' Balto replied. ''And I see you did. Well, we better get moving!''

''Right, let's go!'' Boris said.

A group of 11 left Nome and headed to the west towards the White Mountain, following the sled trail leading to there.

After an hour or two, they reached a snowy forest. As they were walking, Luk mumbled something to Muk, who replied: ''Sure, why not?''

Both took some snow and started throwing snowballs everywhere. Boris was annoyed by that so he turned around and said: ''Husssssh, quiet you two!''

Balto heard some movement in the distance, which made him nervous. He heard Boris hushing the bears from playing and intervened as well: ''Guys, he's right. We don't want to attract the unnecessary animals.''

''Alright.'' Muk said, dropping the snowball in the ground.

Then, an another sound occurred, now a little bit louder.

''What was that?'' Stella asked, looking towards the source of the sound.

''I'm not sure.'' Balto said. ''But whatever it was, we better get out of here.''

''We should scout ahead in case of any danger.'' Stella said. ''Come on, Boris.''

''Right behind you.'' Boris said as they both flied off.

Soon enough, the dogs and the bears reached a small clearing, merely avoiding the danger. Boris and Stella returned as well.

As they passed near the cave, Yukon stopped and sniffed in the cave. Everyone noticed that.

''What is it, Yukon?'' Balto asked.

''Dad, this is Dingo's scent.'' Yukon said. ''He must be in here.''

''Dingo?'' Jenna asked. She got no reply.

''Dingo?'' Balto asked. Again, no reply.

''I'm going to check inside.'' Balto said.

''Okay, be careful.'' Jenna said.

When Balto entered the cave, he realized that the cave was actually an abandoned mine. Dingo's scent was still here, seeming fresh. But then he saw something unpleasant.

He noticed a hole in the middle of the corridor. The hole seemed fresh. Balto headed to the exit of the cave.

''And?'' Jenna asked.

''This is a mine.'' Balto said. ''Dingo was here, but he and his sled team must have fallen down the hole. The hole is fresh, but not too deep.''

''We better get in.'' Jenna said, being followed by the others. Soon enough, they reached the hole.

''How're we going to help them up?'' Nunivat asked.

''Maybe with that wooden beam?'' Thunder asked, pointing at the wooden beam that seemed hard enough to handle enough pressure.

''Good idea.'' Balto said while pushing the beam. Yukon helped him as well. Soon enough, the beam was put in position.

''Come on, y'all.'' Balto said. ''I hope we shall find them.''

Everyone agreed as they headed down the hole in search of Dingo and his team.

Chapter 27: All couples
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Meanwhile, on the other side of the hole...

''This is just great...'' Kaltag said, looking around in a weak brightness around. ''Trapped in a hole while hiding from the blizzard...''

''It could be much worse.'' Fiona said, also looking around.

''It could.'' Kaltag replied. ''But not as nearly bad when my team got lost while delivering medicine few years ago.''

Dingo's team were struggling in the darkness. Their musher was knocked unconscious and he was laid down on the sled with the mail bag nearby.

''Are you doing okay?'' Dingo asked Dana, concerned about everything happening around.

''I'm fine, Dingo.'' Dana replied. ''Don't worry, we'll be all fine.''

''I know.'' Dingo said. ''But I wonder how bad it can be... We're not sure if you're going to have pups yet...''

''Dingo, it's alright.'' Dana replied. ''I'm sure we will have.''

''What was that?'' Rico asked as he heard some whispers in the distance.

''Ssssshhh.'' Dingo hushed everyone. Then, the whispers got more audible.

''Are they rescuing us?'' Vincent asked while listening for the whispers.

''If they are...'' Kaltag said to Dingo. ''Then that'd be no one else than your father, kid!''

''You sure, sir?'' Dingo asked.

''Dingo?'' A voice asked. Dingo recognized that voice. It was Balto.

''Dad?'' Dingo asked. ''Did you come to rescue us?''

''Why of course I did.'' Balto said. ''But I'm not alone.''

''We found the way out.'' Another voice said. It was Jenna.

''Really?'' Dingo said.

''Yeah!'' an another voice said. This time it was Yukon. ''Just follow us!''

''Right!'' Dingo shouted. ''Come on everyone, we are being rescued!''

''Just on time!'' Kaltag exclaimed.

All the six sled-dogs got up and started following Balto, Jenna, Yukon and the others. Then they reached the place they had fallen down into.

''Just be careful on that beam.'' Yukon said.

The sled team climbed carefully up the beam and soon enough, they left the mine and they were out in the forest again.

''Is everyone ready?'' Balto asked as everyone confirmed. ''Good, just follow me and we will be on the track again!''

But as soon as they continued running, Balto smelled a scent of something dangerous. The same scent he had caught before, only it seemed closer.

''What is it, dad?'' Dingo asked Balto as he noticed that Balto was getting more nervous.

''Dingo, get back to the track immediately!'' Balto said. ''Someone lead him to there! I'll distract this something from you.''

''I'm going to help you, dad!'' Yukon said, but he was followed by Yin and Yang.

''I'm joining you too.'' Jenna said.

''Fine.'' Balto said. ''Thunder, can you lead them back to the track?''

''Sure thing!'' Thunder said, running off while Dingo's team and the others followed