Now, you know your areas of patrol. We meet back here at dawn. Dismissed''

All but one of the sled team left the mill at a brisk pace. The last one, a gray dog with white patches round his eyes, padded over to Chester who turned to look at him.

''What is it Gareth?'' he asked.

''You were talking about this Balto guy Chester. Do you think he could have...'' Gareth replied, nodding down at the poster attached to Chester's harness.

Chester nodded grimly ''It's a possibility. Unfortunate if true, I've met his mate and son''

Gareth shook his head ''We'll just have to keep a look out...just in case''

Chester regarded him coolly ''If my suspicions are true, we'll be forced to do more than that''

''I understand'' Gareth eyed Chester apologetically.

Chester smiled faintly ''Just be sure you do indeed...keep a look out. Now, to your post''

Gareth nodded and padded out of the mill. Chester remained where he was, frowning in deep thought.

A noise behind him caught his attention, and he span round so fast he took the intruder completely by surprise.

''Oh...sorry. Am...am I interrupting anything?'' Dingo stuttered.

Chester sighed with relief, then glared at Dingo ''Never, under any circumstances, sneak up on me kid! I could have killed you!''

Dingo gulped ''S...s...sorry. I was just...wondering if you've...?''

Chester’s features softened at Dingo's scared expression, and he forced a faint smile ''Hey, calm down. You took my by surprise, it wasn't your fault. Just watch it next time, okay?''

Dingo smiled in apology and relief ''Okay''

Chester returned the smile ''Now, what was it you wanted to ask me?''

''I...wanted to know if you've seen my Dad around at all?''

Chester regarded him silently, his pained eyes speaking a silent apology. He shook his head slowly.

''No, I'm afraid I haven't. But if you see me tomorrow I may have news from my teammates'' he replied, his eyes betraying his optimism.

Dingo sighed in frustration ''Right. Well...thanks for your help'' he turned to leave.

''Hey kid,'' Chester turned an incredulous stare at Dingo. ''There's a blizzard starting soon. I'm sure your Dad wouldn't want you freezing to death now would he?''

Dingo shook his head ''Thanks, but I've gotta find him''

''Don't be silly now. Didn't your Dad ever tell you the dangers of wandering about in a blizzard?'' Chester padded closer.

''Well, yeah. But that’s not the point...'' Dingo started.

''And what did he tell you?''

Dingo frowned ''Not to do it, and stay in until it clears. But...''

''Then, if that’s what your Dad told you, why disobey it? You'll be doing yourself no favors''

Dingo felt like a small pup under Chester’s gaze, but he shrugged ''I haven't got a choice''

''Yes you have. You can stay here until tomorrow. You'll have a better chance of finding him in clearer conditions'' Chester said sternly.

Dingo hesitated, looking for the best way of answering ''Thanks, but...''

''But nothing. You'll stay here. I'll look after you'' Chester replied. Dingo rolled his eyes at the prospect.

''But what about my Mum? And my brother needs to know...'' Dingo exclaimed.

He was cut off as the doors to the mill opened, and Jenna padded in escorted by Doc. Dingo could tell that she had been crying.

''Mum? Mum, what’s the matter?'' Dingo walked upto Jenna, who stifled fresh tears.

Doc lay a paw on Dingo's shoulder ''Dingo...it's about your father''

As Doc started to explain to Dingo what Jenna had told him, Chester listened on intently.

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

''Okay boy, lets see if you can stand''

The doctor looked on as Kodi took a tentative step forwards, then another. Despite the cast attached to his front leg, he had no problems standing and walking around.

''Good boy. Well, once this blizzard has stopped, you can go home'' the doctor smiled, petting Kodi on the head.

Kodi barked, then padded over to Dusty who smiled warmly at him.

''Well, how do you feel?'' she asked, nuzzling him playfully.

Kodi smiled ''Not too bad. This thing will take a while getting used to though'' he gestured at the cast.

Dusty smiled ''Well, you'll just have to take it easy for a while. Still, at least it means me and you can spend more time together''

Kodi nodded ''Your wish is my command my lady'' he nuzzled her as they padded out of the room and down a flight of stairs, Kodi taking each step slowly and carefully.

They walked into a large room, where other dogs were sat around, either patients or visitors.

''So, will you be glad getting out of here?'' Dusty asked.

Kodi nodded ''Definitely. I can't stand it just sitting around unable to do anything when my Mum needs my help''

''But she's got Dingo for that. She understands'' Dusty replied.

''I know, but right now she needs all the help she can get. And a fat lot of good I am while I'm stuck in here''

Dusty nuzzled him, forcing him to smile ''You always know how to make me smile''

''I know'' she licked his nose.

Unbeknownst to either of them, they were being watched.

An open window on the far side of the room was an easy viewpoint into the vets. As Kodi and Dusty continued talking, a shadowy figure watched them in amusement.

''Well...well...well. Looks like your back on your feet Kodi. Shame the same can't be said for Sanchez''

As the first snowflakes began to fall outside, the assailant climbed down from his vantage point. Glancing round, he spotted several more windows leading into different areas of the building.

''Oh yeah, I'm gonna enjoy this'' he smirked.

Glancing down the street, he smiled in amusement as he spotted something through the falling snow.

''Ah! About time you showed up!''

Taking a final glance up at the access window, he disappeared into the swirling white.

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

''And that’s how it is Dingo. I'm so sorry''

Dingo let Doc's words sink in, not saying a word. Not moving an inch. His mind was just a blur, unable to let what Doc had just told him sink in completely.

His Dad was rabid.

Doc lay a paw on his shoulder ''Dingo, I mean this from the bottom of my heart. I am so sorry''

Dingo shrugged the paw off his shoulder, and stepped back. Suddenly, his legs gave way underneath him, and he collapsed to the floor. Doc rushed upto him.

''Dingo? Dingo, are you all right?''

Dingo's head snapped up, his eyes ablaze.

''Am I all right? Am I all right? Of course I'm not all right! How could I?'' he yelled.

Doc froze at Dingo's sudden outburst, and was unable to hold his gaze.

Dingo lay his head on his paws, a single tear cornering his eye ''How? How could...'' he stared blankly at the floor.

Doc sighed ''I don't know Dingo. I wish I could...''

''What? What could I possibly do to help him?'' he thought. No answers came to him.

Dingo stood up and stared at Doc ''There's nothing you can do Doc. There's nothing anyone can do''

He padded upto Jenna ''Mum, did he look...okay?''

Jenna nodded ''He was fine. At least, he looked fine'' she let the tears run down her muzzle. At that moment, she just wanted to die.

Dingo turned and looked at Chester, his eyes blazing ''You knew didn't you? You knew, and you didn't tell me! Why?''

Chester looked squarely into Dingo's eyes ''It wasn't my place to tell you kid. I don't know you do I?''

Dingo snarled. He didn't know what to do, but at that moment he just wanted to yell and tear something apart.

''I'll KILL him! I'll rip his throat out! I'll...I'll...'' he couldn't continue.

Doc stepped back in fear at the look in Dingo's eyes. Such anger he had never seen before in his life.

Chester walked in front of Dingo, and laid a paw firmly on his shoulder.

''Kid, listen and listen good. The dogs we are dealing with are the most vicious, bloodthirsty animals you could imagine. You go looking for them, you wouldn't last two seconds. I've seen it before. I've felt exactly the same way. And you wouldn't be helping your Dad by getting yourself killed''

Dingo glared at him ''How could you possibly know? You can't possibly imagine how I feel''

Chester's grip on Dingo's shoulder tightened ''How could I know? I'll tell you how I could know! One of those animals murdered my daughter!''

Dingo was taken completely aback at this sudden burst of emotion from Chester. The black husky released his grip and padded away to the podium, leaving Dingo at a loss for words.

''Your...daughter?'' he stuttered, his eyes unwavering from Chester.

The husky nodded ''See kid, it's personal for me as well''

''How?''

Chester sighed ''This has been going on longer than you all think. Before Anchorage. Months before''

Doc frowned ''This has been going on for months? How do you know that?''

Chester looked at him, an immense sadness in his eyes ''Because I saw it. I was there when it happened. On both occasions''

Jenna padded up to Dingo, who nuzzled her comfortingly ''Both occasions? How do you mean?'' she asked.

Chester regarded her, then smiled faintly ''I know how you must feel. For what it's worth, I have great sympathy for what has happened to you''

Jenna nodded, a few tears running down her face ''Thank you''

Chester nodded, then turned to Doc ''You want to know the whole story? Your sure?''

Doc hesitated, then nodded ''Yes. Please tell us''

''Very well then. I'll tell you''

Chester's voice lowered, and his features set to a grim and weary expression.

''I've been involved in tracking 'The Pack' for five months now. The first time I came across them was in Applegate. I was stationed there for a few weeks, my family back in Anchorage. I'm not usually the emotional type, but I missed them''

He paused for a second, as if trying to force himself from breaking down, then continued.

''Applegate is a large town, but news travels fast. And one day, I became aware of certain things going on. Murders to be precise''

''Several bodies had been found in and around town. We suspected bear attacks; the bodies were so viciously mutilated. But the teeth marks, they were far too small for bears. So we suspected wolves. This wasn't right of course, but at the time we didn't have