teeth.

Fitz padded over ''Wow! What a piece? Can I have her?'' he looked up at Carver, who shook his head.

''Maybe later. For now, keep an eye on her. Make sure she isn't...tempted to escape hmm?''

Fitz smirked ''You got it!'' he leered at Dusty, who shrank back in Jack's grasp.

''Jack, let her go''

Jack released his grip, and Dusty found herself unceremoniously dumped onto the floor. Jack looked to Carver.

''The truck?''

Carver nodded ''The truck''

Jack nodded, then disappeared back into the shadows. Carver leered down at Dusty.

''Welcome to my humble home''

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

Jenna lay huddled in Dingo's fur as she looked on at the vets. A few more bodies had been brought out, each time she felt sick to her stomach, and prayed that none of them were Balto.

Dingo shook his head ''This is bad. I don't know where he is''

Kodi looked at him ''And if that Chester guy gets his paws on him...'' he didn't need to finish.

Jenna suddenly looked up ''I'm going after him''

Dingo and Kodi stared at her open mouthed. Dingo shook his head.

''No, Mum you can't. It isn't...''

''Safe?'', she cut him off. ''I know that, but what I do know is this. I love your father with all my heart, and I will not stand back whilst he is out there suffering! Rabies or not!''

Kodi lay a paw on her shoulder ''Mum, Dingo is right. It isn't safe for you to go out there''

Jenna shook her head ''I don't care. He needs me, and I need him. He came to my rescue before, and now I have to return the favor''

Before either son could stop her, Jenna took off down the street. Soon, she disappeared out of sight. Dingo snarled in frustration.

Kodi looked at him ''She's right you know. Dad would have helped us no matter what the risk''

Dingo stared at him ''I know but...but this is different. She's putting herself at risk, and I...I don't know what to do''

Kodi placed his paw on his brothers shoulder ''We pray. That's what we do Dingo. We pray''

Kodi looked up just as a frantic Chester ran out of the vets and padded up to them.

''Oh thank God I caught you...'' the rest of his speech was cut short as Dingo barreled into him and pinned him to the floor.

''Hey...kid what are you doing?'' the husky struggled under Dingo's weight.

''Because of you, our mother has gone out looking for our Dad! And she might not come back again!'' Dingo snarled, pressing Chester into the snow.

''Kid...listen. I've...I've got an idea that could help!'' Chester stuttered. Dingo stared at him, and relaxed his grip.

''What idea?'' he asked as he climbed off of Chester. The husky staggered to his feet.

''Listen, I haven't told you the whole truth. The thing is...your Dad didn't attack my brother. He was completely innocent once again. That's why...I didn't tell you about the toxin''

''Toxin?'' Kodi snapped, sizing up to Chester.

Dingo glared at the husky ''You mean to tell me you had a cure for my Dad the whole time? And you didn't tell us?'' Dingo resisted the urge to go for Chester's neck.

The husky looked to the floor ''I made a mistake. But, I want to make amends. When we were in Anchorage, the humans created a toxin that could fight the rabid infection. Now, this is important. It's crucial that we catch your Dad tonight, before the infection takes full effect. Tomorrow will be too late''

Dingo and Kodi just stared at Chester. The husky looked at them with deep sadness.

''For what it's worth, I'm sorry I put you and your mother through so much pain. I know I don't deserve your forgiveness''

''You help save our Dad, and you'll have deserved that forgiveness'' Kodi looked at Chester.

''But if we're too late...we'll make you pay'' Dingo added. Chester nodded in understanding.

''Thank you. Now, let's get to work! Lance!''

Lance padded up to the group.

''Get the rest of the team ready, and bring the sled. We're going after them''

Lance nodded, and then ran up to the rest of the team to relay the order. Chester looked up at the moon

''I just hope I'm not too late''

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

Ten minutes later, the team was racing across the frozen plains, Kodi and Dingo making up the vacant places of the sled. They were tracking 'The Packs' scent, and it was strong.

Suddenly, Lance barked for them to stop, which they reluctantly did. Chester looked at him.

''What is it Lance? Why did we stop?''

Lance gestured to the left ''The scent splits off down there Chester. They must have split up''

Chester nodded ''Okay. Right, we need to do the same then''

He looked back at the rest of the team ''Lance, you take four guys and go to the left. The rest of us will carry on with the sled''

Kodi faced Chester ''We're staying with you Chester. You've got the toxin after all''

Chester nodded ''Of course'' he turned to Stacy. ''And your staying too Stacy. I won't have you risked again, okay?''

She smiled and nuzzled him ''Fine by me''

He smiled faintly, then turned to Lance and the others who had uncoupled themselves from the sled ''Take heed. Don't take any unnecessary risks. Understood?''

They nodded. A second later, with Lance at the head, they took off to the left. Chester looked back at the rest of the dogs still coupled to the sled.

''Okay guys, lets move!''

Pulling that little bit harder, the sled team sped off through the night.

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

Jenna was scared. All around her, the forest seemed to enclose around her, cutting off any possible escape route should she have turned back. But she had no intention of doing that.

She had picked up Balto's scent a while back, and she was silently following it. She knew deep down what she would probably find at the end of the scent, and she was mentally preparing herself for the worst.

''Balto. I hope your okay''

As she pushed her way through a low overhanging branch, the scent faded. She looked up concerned, scanning around at her surroundings. She could sense something. A presence.

She wasn't alone.

A faint sniggering caught her attention. She perked her ears up, and heard it again. Closer.

For a split second she thought about turning back. But she had come too far. She couldn't go back now.

Taking a deep breath, Jenna pushed herself forward.

Soon, she found herself in an enclosed circle of snow; tree's penning her in from all sides. She looked round from left to right, but saw nothing.

But she knew she wasn't alone.

A rustling to the right caused her to spin round. What she saw caused her to gasp out loud.

''Why Jenna! What an unexpected pleasure!'' Balto sniggered.

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

Chester, Dingo and Kodi looked up at the factory. They had followed 'The Packs' scent all the way, and it was obvious that they had found their hiding place. But Kodi had picked up another scent, an all too familiar one.

''She's in there. Dusty...'' Kodi had to be held back by Chester and Dingo.

''You go in there all guns blazing you'll be dead in seconds! We need to get in there without them realizing it'' the husky said. Kodi sighed and allowed himself to be pushed back.

Dingo turned to Chester ''How many of them are there still? Just in case we miss one''

''I'm not sure. We counted three dead at the vets, but I can't be sure...''

Dingo grunted ''Fat lot of good that is!''

Chester ignored this comment, as his eyes suddenly rested on a possible entrance.

''Look! There's a window over there. If we could force it open, we could get in without them realizing it. Come on'' Chester took a step forward, but Dingo held him back.

''What about the sled?''

Chester looked concerned for a second, then turned to Stacy ''You stay here with the sled. If you see or hear anything, I want you to run. You understand? Run and don't look back''

Stacy nodded, then nuzzled him ''Good luck''

He smiled warmly, and then turned towards the factory with Dingo and Kodi behind.

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

Meanwhile, Lance's team had come across their target.

After tracking the scent for several minutes, they had finally come to a stop near an old fish refinery. Parked outside was a truck, and it was here that Jack was working.

''Hey, I don't know about you but I've seen enough freaking snow to last me a lifetime!'' he sniggered, staring inside the truck at the assorted crates. Each one was labeled ''Fairbanks Dock''.

Unbeknownst to the German shepherd, Lance had managed to silently creep up on him from behind. While Jack's attention was focused on the truck, Lance took his chance.

With a surge of energy, Lance barreled onto Jack's back, bringing the German shepherd down. Before he could react, Lance clamped hold of Jack's neck, taking care not to sink his teeth in. With a quick twist, Lance felt Jack's neck give way, and the German shepherd slumped to the floor. Staggering to his feet, Lance peered at the truck.

''Looks like you won't be heading for Fairbanks any time soon!''

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

Jenna stepped back as Balto loomed out of the darkness. A sick grin was plastered across his face, and his eyes were glazed.

''Hi sweetie! Did you miss me?' he sniggered, taking a step forwards.

Jenna shrunk back, terrified at the gleam in Balto's eyes ''It isn't like him. He looks...evil''

Balto raised his eyebrows at Jenna's expression ''Jenna? Jenna, why are you looking at me like that? Don't like the new me?'' his smirk widened.

Jenna struggled for words ''Balto...please...I love you...'' she stuttered.

''And I love you. That's why...we have to be together. And you may hate me for this...but in time you'll understand that it was the only way'' he took another step forwards, his eyes twinkling.

Jenna forced back the urge to cry. She couldn't take in Balto's new appearance. The way he was smiling at her, it…terrified her.

She backed up ''What...what do you mean Balto?''

He chortled ''Don't you see Jenna? It was fate that this happened. Just like when you and me met. And you can't fight fate, which is why I have to do what needs to be done''

Jenna's jaw quivered, failing to hold back the tears ''Balto...please...'' she looked at him