the shadows, Carver looked back at the mill with a vicious grin.

''We've got you now Chester. You just wait and see!''

Clamping one of the posters in his mouth, Carver bolted into the shadows.

*************

''Fight it! Fight it!''

Balto tossed and turned, his fur damp with sweat, his face a mask of pain. He whispered the same words continuously-

''Fight it!''

The dog looking down at him tutted under his breathe.

''He's fighting it. I gotta give him credit!'' Grant muttered to the silver dog at his side.

''I think Carver is making a mistake with him. There's too much risk involved!'' the dog said, one eye on Balto and the other on Grant.

''Vladimir, you think everything we do is a risk! If we did what you told us all the time we'd have no fun!'' Grant mocked.

Vladimir snorted ''You impertinent mutt! You young ruffians are all the same!''

Grant smirked ''Gramps, lets face it! Your a kill joy!''

''Oh, and I suppose what happened in Anchorage was a big joke was it?'' Vladimir snarled.

Grant sighed ''Hey, that wasn't our fault''

''No, it wasn't our fault! It was yours!'' Vladimir growled.

Grant snarled ''If it was up to you, we would sit in the shadows and do nothing! Your time is over gramps! Let the pro's handle this!''

Both dogs looked down as Balto let out a yelp. Grant leaned down closer.

''He's really fighting it isn't he?'' Grant raised his eyebrows.

Vladimir smirked ''He won't last much longer. No one ever does''

Grant smirked and nodded ''True''

A cough from the other side of the floor caught their attention.

''Guess who's back boys!'' Carver smirked.

Grant and Vladimir moved aside as Carver padded upto them, a sickening grin on his face.

''So, how’s our guest?'' he asked, peering down at Balto with fire in his eyes.

Grant huffed ''Fighting us every step of the way!''

Carver smirked ''Good, good! I'd be disappointed if he didn't! This is Balto we're talking about after all!''

''I'm not happy with this Carver. He poses too much of a risk'' Vladimir said.

Carver rose an eyebrow ''Vlad my friend, you know I respect your opinion do I not?''

Vladimir nodded.

''But on this occasion I'm going have to ask you to...keep your mouth shut!'' Carver smirked, then looked down at Balto's fitful form.

''Wake him up. Gently''

Grant raised a paw and nudged Balto. After a few seconds Balto's eyes opened the tiniest bit, and looked up at Carver.

Carver beamed ''Hello Balto! Remember me?''

*************

Doc didn't stop running until he saw Jenna's house appearing out of the darkness. His heart in his throat, he bolted up to the door and banged on it.

''Jenna? Jenna its Doc! Let me in!'' he shouted.

After a brief pause, for what seemed liked hours to Doc, the door opened and a very surprised Dingo poked his head out.

''Doc? What the hell are you doing here?'' Dingo asked, noting the relieved look on Doc's face.

''Oh thank the lord your all right!'' Doc sighed with relief.

Dingo frowned in puzzlement ''Urm, yeah we're fine. Is there a problem?''

Doc nodded ''A very big one. Where's your mother?''

Dingo gestured inside, then stepped aside as Doc padded in.

''What could be wrong now?'' Dingo muttered.

He was about to follow when there was another scratching at the door.

''Now what?''

Dingo opened the door, only for a black husky to barge his way inside.

''Hey! You can't just walk into other dogs...'' Dingo faltered as Chester leered at him.

''You were saying kid?'' the husky asked, his fierce expression unnerving Dingo.

''Urm...nothing'' Dingo gulped.

''Good. That’s what I thought'' Chester smiled faintly, before padding into the living room.

Doc and Jenna were taken aback by Chester’s arrival ''What in heavens name are you doing here?'' Doc asked.

Chester frowned ''You left before I was finished talking to you. I followed you here''

Doc was outraged ''You cannot just barge into other...''

Chester cut him off ''So I've been told already! But this is important!''

Doc fell silent. Chester's eyes fell on Jenna, who looked away unable to hold the huskies fierce gaze.

''I apologize for the intrusion mam, but under the circumstances certain formalities have to be ignored''

''Like manners for example?'' Doc muttered.

''Who are you?'' Jenna asked, feeling slightly unnerved by Chester’s fierce manner.

''I'm Chester, lead dog of the Anchorage team. We've been tracking the perpetrators of the attack for a week, and their trail led us to your town''

''Perpetrators? You mean the wolf attack?'' Jenna asked.

''Not wolves, no. Dogs'' Chester replied.

''Dogs? Are you sure?'' Jenna was taken aback. From the rumors she had heard, wolves could only have perpetrated the viciousness of the attack.

''Very sure indeed. As I was saying, their trail ends here in this town. It's out job to find them before they kill any more of your citizens'' Chester continued.

''Mum, is everything okay in here?'' Dingo poked his head inside.

Jenna nodded ''Yes, we're fine. I think you've already met Chester'' she smiled faintly.

''Unfortunately'' Dingo frowned. Chester glared at him.

'You wouldn't be saying that if you knew how serious the problem is kiddo! You don't know these guys!''

Doc took a step forward ''Did you...bring the picture?'' he glanced briefly at Jenna.

''Yes. Now, you said that you've seen some of these dogs? I'll need you to give me specific details'' Chester removed the poster from his harness and passed it to Doc.

Doc made sure Jenna didn't see the poster, and he and Chester padded to the other side of the room. Dingo padded up to Jenna.

''Who is this guy anyway?''

Jenna shook her head ''I don't know, but maybe he'll help us''

Dingo glanced at Doc and Chester, who were talking in low voices ''He knows something''

''Who? Chester?''

Dingo shook his head ''No, Doc. He showed up here in a blind panic before. What did he say to you?''

''Nothing. He was about to, once he had caught his breath, and then that husky showed up'' Jenna replied.

''I don't like this Mum. I don't like this at all'' Dingo muttered.

On the other side of the room, Doc pointed at the pictures of Carver, Fitz and Karla in turn.

''Your sure it was them you saw?'' Chester asked.

Doc nodded ''Positive. This one, you call him Drake, he was actually staying at this house. And this one, Karla, she accused one of our citizens of adultery''

Chester nodded ''Typical of Karla''

Doc raised an eyebrow ''You know these dogs?''

Chester nodded grimly ''Only too well''

Doc noted that Chester was continually glancing down at the picture labeled 'Grant' with fire in his eyes.

Doc gasped suddenly, taking Chester by surprise.

''What’s wrong with you?'' the husky asked.

''I...I came over here for a reason, but then you showed up and I forgot! Jenna!'' Doc called as he padded up to Jenna and Dingo.

Jenna looked at Doc ''What is it Doc?''

''The reason why I came over...well, one of the reasons. It's about Balto''

Jenna shook her head ''Don't talk about him. Whatever it is I don't want to hear it'' she walked away from him.

''Oh you'll want to hear this Jenna my girl!'' Doc said.

Dingo frowned at Doc ''We don't care. That dog means nothing to us!''

''But...but you don't understand!'' Doc stammered.

''Excuse me! I need a word'' Chester called out as he padded over, the poster attached to his harness.

''Not now, I'm trying to...'' Doc began, but Chester cut him off.

''No time for that! Whatever it is, it can wait!''

Doc sighed in frustration, and then padded up to Chester.

''What is it?'' Doc all but snarled.

''Since you’re in charge of this town, I need to tell you about what we plan to do about this problem''

Doc sighed ''Fine'' he glanced back at Jenna, who was being nuzzled comfortingly by Dingo.

''First of all, we'll need to put a curfew into operation. No exceptions. We'll also need permission to set up patrols around the town, for your citizens protection''

Doc nodded, all the time glancing back at Jenna. He was desperate to tell her about Balto.

''Thirdly, I want a list of dogs who have gone missing in the last few days'' Chester snapped, forcing Doc to look back.

''What is it that’s so important that this crucial information is being ignored?'' Chester snarled.

Doc frowned ''That dog I told you about, the one who was accused of adultery by one of your culprits, was a very dear friend of mine. He was also the deeply loved mate and father of those two dogs behind you''

''So what? In case you haven't been listening, we have eleven murderous rabids on the loose, and I'll be damned if...''

''I know! But this is important too!'' Doc snapped.

''It-can-wait!'' Chester snarled through gritted teeth.

Doc sighed in defeat ''Carry on then''

''Good. Now, do I have your permission to put these precautions into operation immediately?''

Doc nodded ''You do what you think is best. As long as you prevent any more deaths, I'll agree''

While this was going on, Dingo was consoling Jenna.

''Mum, whatever he has to say it doesn't matter. We're through with him'' Dingo said comfortingly. Jenna had told him about Balto attacking Carver at the meeting, and Dingo was now convinced that he wanted nothing more to do with his father.

Jenna stifled a sob ''It's killing me Dingo, not seeing him. I still love him''

Dingo sighed. He understood his mother’s feelings, but at the same time he couldn't understand why she still had feelings for his father after what he had done.

''Mum, he lied to you. He lied about the mail trip, went with someone else behind you back, and then he lied about it in front of the whole town''

''I know, but...I don't know. Part of me wants him back more than anything. But I can't forgive him for what he did''

''And you don't have to Mum. No one is forcing you'' Dingo soothed.

Jenna nodded, tears slowly trickling down her face. Dingo nuzzled her comfortingly.

Just then, Doc and Chester padded over. Dingo noticed the grin on Docs face.

''What are you so happy about?'' Dingo asked, annoyed at Docs cheeriness at such a distressing moment.

''Jenna,