huskies got that same pattern so there's no chance."

Some heads nodded but Pirate spoke, "The team has just reached the town." Star cocked his head and Jenna sniffed the air.

"How can you tell?" Nikki said. Pirate chuckled,

"I was put into tracking training because of my acute sense of smell. Hell, even the trainer said it was better than a wolf's." Balto smiled at the new dog.

Kaltag meanwhile was thinking hard. Pirate couldn't possibly be related to him. His fur was a tan and Pirate's was a blazing red which made him a bit jealous. The patch on his eye was a brown and Pirate's was a black. Pirate was at least a bit taller at the shoulder than him. There was no way he was related to this dog unless...

"Hey Kaltag let's go!" Nikki brushed past Kaltag and Kaltag shook his head a bit. "See ya Jenna, Balto, and Pirate." Kaltag said as he turned to follow Star and Nikki. Jenna smiled and waited for the team. The sound of barking and racing feet soon came to their ears. Balto smiled at Jenna and Pirate pawed the door to tell Mel the team was here.

Once the team had exchanged hello with the three and rested for a bit they were let loose of their harnesses. Balto and Jenna were making their way back home after a hello with their son. Avalanche however seemed a bit worried.

"Hey Avalanche what's bugging you?" Kirby asked. She simply just sighed and looked at her kind friend.

"Someone was suppose to meet me here after the run was complete." Dusty, Kodi, Ralph, & Pirate looked at Avalanche.

"Who is this dog?" Ralph asked.

"My friend's family is visiting so I thought you guys might want to meet her." Avalanche said then a bark came just from the end of the street. The team looked up and Pirate's jaw dropped.

A yellow/white husky was trotting toward them and as they came nearer she slowed to a smooth trot. "Sorry I'm late Avalanche." She said breathlessly as Avalanche met her halfway.

"Oh it's alright. Come and meet the team." 

"Everyone this is my friend Shasta. Shasta the two lead dogs are Kirby and Kodi." Kirby and Kodi stepped forward and smiled at Shasta. Shasta smiled back and she giggled at the bit of drool hanging from Kirby's mouth. Kodi gave Kirby a shove as Ralph and Dusty were introduced.

"So Avalanche where are you at?" Shasta asked.

"I'm a wheel dog with Blaze but he already headed home." Avalanche answered. Pirate meanwhile waited by Ralph but Avalanche just had to tell Shasta who he was.

"This is Pirate one of the team's good friends." Shasta's and Pirate's eyes met but she looked away first.

"Hello Pirate nice to meet you." Shasta spoke bashfully.

"And to you to Shasta." Pirate tucked his right leg under him and his left leg slide in front of him, performing a bow. Shasta smiled and as the females walked in the front of the group, the guys walked behind them.

"You are such a show off!" Kodi joked and the guys laughed.

"I do have to admit she's quite a beauty." Pirate arched his neck and the guys busted into laughter again.

"In you dreams!" Ralph said.

Back in the "Team Shed" as Ralph calls it the fire crackled. Dusty and Shasta were speaking about different things. Kodi & Ralph were enjoying a good game of tug-o-war as Pirate, Avalanche, & Kirby watched. "Come on Ralph!" Kirby barked and Pirate cheered, "You can do it Kodi!" Ralph let go of the rope and Kodi went tumbling back.

"Trying to break my jaw Kodi?" Ralph said and the watchers got a big kick out of that.

"Oh please spare me the lecture about your broken tooth." Kodi laughed. Another round of laughter went up. Pirate however was focused on Shasta. In his mind it was as if she had a glow of happiness around her.

"Hey Pirate wake up!" Kirby shouted in his ears. He only flicked his ear and Avalanche growled before she nipped his tail. Pirate yelped as he sprang into the air.

"A fool in love." Ralph chuckled. Pirate growled and he heard Shasta chuckle.

"Looks like the tracker's back." Matt snapped as he walked in.

"Leave me be Matt." Pirate growled.

"Fine and who do we have here?" Matt said as he made his way by Dusty and Shasta. Dusty growled at him but Shasta spoke quietly, "I'm Shasta."

Matt gave a devilish grin before putting a paw on Shasta's back. Pirate's hackles raised. Shasta shook with angry at Matt. "If you don't lay your paw off me I'm going to shove your snout up in your tiny little brain." Matt quickly withdrew his paw and was quite shocked. Pirate gave a chuckle as she was just more than an angel but one with some hell's fire.

"Sorry." Matt spoke flatly.

"Come on Shasta. Let's head home." Avalanche spoke as she rose from laying down. Shasta trotted to the door and stopped.

"Good night everyone." She spoke before she followed Avalanche. Pirate sighed before Matt gave a growl, which brought him back into reality.

"Hey Kirby. Why is Matt hanging around in here?" Pirate asked as the others started to bed down for the night.

"He's for backup. If a dog on the team gets injured and has to have some time to recover then the backups take their place until they heal." Kirby answered as he circled his spot before he laid down.

"Who's all the backup?" Pirate asked again.

"Star, Matt, Nikki, Kaltag, and I think someone else but I can't remember." Kirby said as his eyes closed.

"Thanks." Pirate whispered before he walked into the chilly night. It was a quiet night as Christmas was only a few days away. "Silent night." He thought to himself. He trotted home down the main street as Christmas lights, hanging from porches, glowed.

***

The next day started out all the same. He would check around Nome, talk with the other dogs before he met up with the sled team, then he would drool over Shasta. Just on the outskirts of town, the team and Pirate played around. A roughhouse match was going on. Kirby had Avalanche pinned but before he could nip her ears, Ralph rammed Kodi into him. Kirby and Kodi tumbled through the snow and when they stopped Kirby was on top. Dusty, Pirate, Ralph, and Avalanche laughed at the sight. Dusty and Avalanche pounced upon the two and had a laughing fit. Pirate sat to regain his breath as before he was nearly slammed into the ground from a Dusty, Kodi, Avalanche attack.

"Hey Pirate how are you?" a voice said from behind him. He turned his head to see Shasta.

"Oh hi. I'm doing well. How are you?" he asked. Shasta sat down beside him and watched the others.

"I'm alright. I heard you track." Shasta said and Pirate nodded.

"Do you have any job?" he asked. Shasta smiled before she answered.

"Unless you call a family dog a job." Pirate chuckled. Shasta smiled and her left ear swiveled to behind her as if she picked up a sound. "You might want to watch out. Kodi's right behind you."

Pirate chuckled but didn't look behind him. Suddenly he found himself on the ground with Kodi standing over him. Kodi barked before he chased after Dusty and Ralph. Shasta stood and lowered her head to where her head was closer to Pirate's. "I warned you." she whispered before she dashed forward to tackle Kirby. Pirate gave a groan before he stood.

Later that night he slipped into his home by the doggy door. It flapped behind him as he looked around his home. Mr. Baker was sitting in his Lazboy recliner reading a mystery book and Pirate's ears picked up the sound of dishes clanking together, which meant Mrs. Baker was washing dishes. Ashley was sitting on the floor trying to find her way through a maze in her fun book. "Pirate!" she said and she rushed forward. Ashley wrapped her arms around him and gave him a big hug. Pirate smiled as he watched her collect her book and followed her upstairs to bed. In her bed she was laying on her side and Pirate's head was almost on the pillow. "We were talking about Lewis and Clark in school. Tomorrow after school I'm going to explore because our Christmas vacation starts." Pirate wagged his tail and he looked at her with his brown, soulful eyes. Ashley giggled before she closed her eyes to sleep. Pirate watched her for a bit before he fell asleep.

***

Pirate was waiting on the porch of his home. The morning was routine and it was now afternoon. "Ashley should be here soon." He thought as he laid his head on his paws. He was soon dozing and didn't realize it was about 4 when he awoke. He yawned and saw Star running toward him. Pirate arched an eyebrow but something in Star's eyes as he drew closer told him something was wrong. "Yes Star?" he asked as he rose to stretch. Star bent his head down and panted, his sides heaved.

"Pirate" Star started. "they need you down at the police station." He finished. Pirate's eyes widen and he jumped down the stairs and galloped toward the station. As he reached it he looked around the station. How the hell was he suppose to get in? Star had managed to catch up. "Back here" he said breathlessly and led him toward the back where the team, Balto, Jenna, Sisco, Shasta, and the backup team waited.

"What's going on?" Pirate demanded rather than asked. The others hushed but Jenna spoke.

"Ashley's missing. She didn't go to her friend's house like she was suppose to."

Pirate was in shock. Nothing seemed real to him. Everything and everyone was in a blur before he put his head down. "Don't worry...you won't have to worry about the funeral. She'll freeze out there." Matt said as he rolled his eyes. A gasp rose and Pirate glared at him. He advanced toward him and his snout was about to touch Matt's. Matt looked into his eyes.

"Why are you so heartless Matt?" Shasta snapped.

Pirate snarled with fury and shoved Matt into the snow. Matt was surprised and as he tried to stand Pirate tackled him and Pirate's jaws were clamped on his leg. "Pirate!" Balto yelled. Matt gave Pirate's nose a nip and Pirate let go. Nikki and Balto dashed forward and separated the two. Pirate tried to jump over Balto his

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