collided with the snow.

''Come on!'' he ordered, grabbing Karla by the paw and dragging her out of the snow.

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

Up on the first floor, Fitz and Theo glared at the dogs in front of them.

''If you make a move, we'll kill you'' Lance snarled, as he and Stacy approached the two rabids.

Theo eyed Fitz, a glimmer in his eyes.

Before Lance and Stacy could react, both rabids backed into the window behind them, and catapulted out into the snow below. Fitz came down softly, Theo less so. As Lance and Stacy watched on helplessly, both rabids sprinted out into the street.

Lance sighed ''Chester isn't gonna like this''

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

Out in the street, Jenna and Doc looked on helplessly as the first body was dragged out of the vets. Jenna's heart sank.

''Oh Doc, what about Dingo? What about Kodi?''

Doc sighed ''We'll just have to hope and pray Jenna''

Suddenly, Jenna let out a cry of relief as Dingo and Kodi padded out of the door. Jenna ran upto them, nuzzling them and licking their muzzles.

''I'm so glad your both okay'' she cried, tears coming to her eyes.

Kodi sighed ''Mum, they...they took Dusty''

Jenna looked into Kodi's eyes, so full of pain and sorrow ''Oh Kodi...'' she nuzzled him.

Doc padded upto Dingo ''What about Balto?''

Dingo looked back at the vets, and shook his head ''I don't know Doc. I don't know''

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

In a nearby alleyway, a shadowy figure sniggered.

''Oh man...can't fight it...don't...want to...fight it!''

Sweat dripping down his nuzzle, Balto's eyes glazed over completely and a vicious smirk plastered itself on his face. Looking up at the moon, he howled with all his might, froth bubbling to his lips.

'Ha ha! This...is...it!'' he smirked, before padding into the mist.

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

Balto

A New Threat (Part 10)

Grant's eyes flickered open, and he groggily scanned at his surroundings.

''What the hell...?''

It took him a few seconds to realize that he was still in the vets, and he could tell from the splitting pain in his head that he had been knocked unconscious. And he knew by whom.

''Pally, you just made your very last mistake!'' he snarled, staggering to his feet. He noticed the blood staining his fur, as well as the small puddle on the floor. Instinctively, he reached for his throat. His paw came away stained crimson.

''Damn it!'' he pulled his bandanna down over his wounds, and scanned round. Approaching footsteps caught his attention. His lips stretched into a vicious smirk.

''Looks like I won't be leaving empty pawed!'' he thought, quickly hiding himself in the shadows of the corridor.

A few seconds’ later, raised voices echoed through the corridor.

''...and I'm telling you Stacy that Chester is not gonna stand for this!'' Lances infuriated voice reverberated down the corridor.

''Well it was hardly my fault Lance!'' Stacy snapped back. Grant smirked within the darkness.

''I like a girl with attitude!'' he whispered, stifling a laugh.

''I'm not saying it was! But Stacy, we let them get away!'' Lances voice came out as a weary sigh.

''I know, but we could hardly have guessed that they'd chuck themselves out of a window could we?'' Stacy replied. Lance let out a faint chuckle.

''No, no I guess we couldn't. Well, looks like we're all finished in here then''

''How many did we get?'' Stacy asked. Grant perked his ears up.

''Three dead. Vlad, Nick and Renard. But we've not found Grant yet'' Lance answered. Grant snarled.

''And you ain't going to either Lancey boy!'' he whispered, fighting the urge to shout out. He had another plan in mind.

''I'll take one last look around. You report to Chester'' Stacy said. Grant's smirk widened.

Lance's voice took on a hint of urgency ''I don't think you should Stacy. One of those...monsters could be hiding up there, just waiting to...'' he didn't need to say anything else.

''I know, but I didn't come here just to sit around while others are suffering. I'll be fine. Now go''

Lance didn't speak for a few seconds, obviously mulling it over.

''Okay. But...do me a favor? Be careful, okay?''

''I will'' Stacy replied. A second later, faint paw steps informed Grant that Lance had left.

''Bingo!'' he licked his lips, his eyes glistening in the darkness.

Stacy's approaching footsteps echoed down the corridor. Grant sniggered.

''In about three seconds, she will have realized...'' he sang, creeping further into the shadows.

Stacy's face came into view, her eyes scanning round in urgency. She approached Grant's hideaway.

''And, she's gonna be...'' he sniggered, raising his paw.

Stacy stopped, as if she sensed something was wrong. She looked round, but saw nothing.

''Wait'll you see...'' Grant's eyes burned through the shadows.

Stacy took a nervous step forwards, her eyes frantically looking round.

''She's gonna be...'' Grant reared himself up.

Before Stacy could take another step, she felt Grant's weight impact with her. Her legs buckled, and she hit the floor hard. She opened her muzzle to cry out to Lance, but the pressure of Grant's grip cut off the air to her windpipe.

''Surprised'' he sniggered.

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

At the entrance to the vets, Chester glared at Lance.

''Escaped? You let them escape? What is the matter with you Lance?'' his voice came out colder than the snow underfoot.

''I...well...we couldn't expect them to...jump out of the window could we?'' Lance stuttered.

Chester sneered ''Couldn't have expected? Rule number one Lance, is always expect the unexpected! Now, how many did we take out?''

Lance composed himself ''We've found three dead Chester. Vlad, Nick and Renard''

Chester raised an eyebrow ''Renard? Not Krest as well?''

Lance shook his head ''No. We found him dead in one of the baths. Drowned, but none of us did it''

Chester looked round at the other team members ''Who took out Renard?''

None of them answered; as Dingo pushed his way through ''I did'' he glared at Chester.

''You kiddo? You took him out? My my, you really are more than you seem!'' Chester smirked. Dingo leered at him.

'' Don't congratulate me! I didn't want to do it, but when someone's trying to kill me what choice do I have?''

Chester laughed ''You have no choice. You did a great job kid''

Dingo turned away from the black husky. Chester turned back to Lance.

''Where's Stacy? I want a word with her about your incompetence!''

Lance paused before answering ''She's...she's having a last look round inside Chester''

Chester's eyes widened ''What? Who authorized that?''

Lance gulped ''I...I couldn't talk her out of it'' he stammered.

Chester glared at him, then turned to the rest of the team ''Gareth, you come with me. The rest of you, stay here until I return''

Chester turned back to Lance ''You come too. And if she's hurt...I'll make you regret it!''

All three dogs bolted back into the vets. Kodi turned to Dingo in puzzlement.

''Who is that guy anyway?'' he asked. Dingo sighed.

''Dad's worst enemy''

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

Chester looked round frantically, as Lance and Gareth peered into the open offices. Suddenly, Lance let out a cry of revulsion.

''Chester! Come look at this''

Chester and Gareth padded up to where Lance was standing, and peered inside. On the floor, blood trickling from the deep gash in his head, was Max. Beside him, the heavy shotgun glistened up at them, the barrel stained crimson. Chester turned away in disgust.

''Close the door. Give him some...decency''

Lance shut the door carefully, fire burning in his eyes ''I'll kill them for this! Those vicious...evil...'' he shook his head, unable to continue.

Chester nodded grimly ''I guarantee, we will''

''LANCE!'' the shriek cut through the silence like a knife. Chester's head snapped up.

''Stacy! Come on!''

All three dogs bolted up the stairs, and frantically searched each room in turn. There was no sign of Stacy.

''Stacy? Stacy where are you?'' Chester called out, his voice coming out as a panicked yell.

''Chester! Chester help! Grant...'' Stacy's voice was cut off abruptly. Chester glared down the corridor.

''Grant! If you touch her I'll kill you! Grant!''

Barely controlling himself, Chester span round a corner, and came face to face with a familiar grinning face.

''Chester! Glad you finally showed up!'' Grant smirked. He was stood behind Stacy; his paws gripped firmly round her neck. Stacy's terrified eyes pleaded with Chester.

''Grant! If you hurt her I'll...'' Chester took a step forwards, his lips curling revealing his sharp teeth.

''Ah ah! Take one more step and I'll snap her pretty little neck like a twig! And don't think that I won't!'' Grant's voice came out as icy as an Alaskan wind.

Chester looked at Grant, red-hot hatred boiling his blood. He noticed that Grant was bleeding from the neck, his white fur turning a dark crimson. He suppressed a satisfied smirk.

''Who did the number on you Grant? I'll have to congratulate him!'' the husky sneered, amused at Grant's leering expression.

''Find it funny do you Chester? Well, let me give you something else to laugh about!'''

Without warning, Grant dug his claws into Stacy's exposed neck. Blood began to trickle out of the puncture wounds and drip onto the floor. Chester snarled, though it sounded closer to a roar.

''Take one more step and I'll finish the job! You hear me Chester?'' Grant growled, releasing his grip. Stacy panted for breath, her face stained with tears.

Chester held himself back, using every bit of will power he possessed. Grant leered at him.

''Good. Now, let's get down to business. As you can see, I have the clear advantage. If you try to stop my escape, I'll show Stacy here a whole new meaning to the word...pain'' Grant flashed a manic smirk.

Chester felt his resistance crumbling, but he managed to restrain himself ''Just like you did to my daughter? Just like you did to Trix?'' he growled, rage clouding his mind.

Grant stared at him in disbelief, before collapsing into a fit of laughter ''Oh my God...you have got to be...the dumbest mutt...I have ever...''