Balto his barricade to get back at Matt but Kodi shoved him into the snow. Matt trembled behind Nikki. Pirate snarled at Matt.

"You bastard! You just love to be a nuisance don't you?" Pirate snapped as he stood. Matt didn't reply but he didn't need to as Pirate walked away from the group, his anger fuming.

At six the team was in their cozy shed as Pirate walked in. He shook his fur to loose the snow flurries that had fallen on his coat. "I've decided to go out there and find her. I'm not leaving it to the police team." Pirate said.

"Are you crazy? You'll die out there!" Avalanche said.

"She's right. The blizzard is settling in." Ralph spoke.

"I don't care! I have to find her." Pirate answered.

The team was quiet. Pirate looked at each of their faces. "See you guys later." He started out the door but Dusty spoke.

"We'll come with you!"

"No! I want to do it myself." He said lowly. Mutters rose from the team as he trotted out the door.

"He's nuts!" Kodi said as Ralph shook his head slowly.

"But he wants to do it alone." Kirby said before he added, "So we'll let him." Dusty sighed.

***

Pirate was struggling through a snowdrift. He had reached the forest edge following Ashley's weak scent. He shivered not from the cold but of the feeling of being alone. He looked around to see if he could pick out her tracks. The wind blew and snow was being tossed around. He sighed before he squinted his eyes and picked up a faint track of Ashley's snow boot. "She must be this way." he thought. He went into a slow trot following the track. With the blowing snow his sight wasn't as good and he stumbled to the snowy ground. Pirate took a deep breath as he staggered to a stand. "Have to find her." he thought as he trudged on.

Back at the shed, both teams waited as well as some of the town dogs. Everyone was quiet wondering if they should do something. Kaltag seemed to be talking to himself before he stepped in front of everyone. The other canines looked at him wondering what would he say. Kaltag looked at each one before he cleared his throat. "Ashley should be in front of the fire wrapping some last minute presents with Pirate at her side being a goof. Then he would lead her to her room and the two should be awaiting for Santa Claus to arrive. But no they're not...cuz they're out in the forbidden cold with a blizzard coming." Some heads nodded and a few mutters. Kaltag took a deep breath before he continued. "I should know Pirate very well." A few confused dogs looked at each other for an answer. "I know that he likes to do stuff on his own but my son made one mistake." A gasp swept through the shed. "It takes more than one dog to save a life. I'm going out there to find him and Ashley. Now who's going to help me?" Kaltag raised his head and looked at each canine again.

Shasta looked her friends then stepped forward. She sighed and waited. Soon Kodi and Dusty joined. Kirby, Star, and Ralph stepped into the line. "I guess I'm coming to." Nikki spoke as stood by Ralph. Kaltag smiled before he looked at Shasta. She smiled back while her blue eyes sparkled.

"Then come on! Let's get them back!" Kaltag barked as he rushed outside into the unforgiving night.

***

Pirate had caught a fresh scent. It was Ashley and it seemed she was stumbling around, blinded by the snow. His spirit was brighten and he quickly took after it. Even though his legs were sore he felt nothing.

***

The search party had taken up Pirate's path and had slowed to a slow canter. "I hope we find him soon." Ralph said as he stayed behind Kodi.

"We'll find him. Alive I hope..."Kaltag answered. Mumbles were heard but Kaltag shrugged them off. They continued to follow his track but was getting covered by the light part of the blizzard. Finally they made it to the forest edge. "We got a bit of a break." Kaltag spoke as the trees blocked some of the harsh wind.

***

Some time later Pirate was hunched behind a snowdrift. He had fallen on a patch of ice and his left leg was sensitive to the ground. He finally found a large drift where he could limp to then hunker down. He sighed before he lowered his head and thought, "I can't do this at least not alone." He was losing his faith then a sweet sound came to his ears. He lifted his head and his eyes try to make things out in the blowing snow. It seemed like he had heard it before but where? He stepped forward then he recognized it. It was singing. His eyes widen and tried to run but his leg slowed him down. It was the song that Ashley's mother always sang to her.

"The gypsy rover went over the hill.." Pirate's heart lept and tried to go as fast as he could toward the sound of it. Bark! Bark! He slowed to a walk as the singing stopped. "Pirate?" a little voice called out. Pirate smiled then his eyes picked out something peeking out from behind a drift by a large pine tree. "Pirate!" Ashley ran forward and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Oh Pirate you found me!" Tears rushed down her cheeks as she cried into his neck. Pirate closed his eyes in content but flew open as he realized his misson wasn't over. He had to get them back...alive. "Oh Pirate you're hurt!" Ashley exclaimed as she held his leg in her hands. Pirate nudged her. "Ok..lead the way."  He turned and with Ashely clinging to his collar followed his soon disappearing path.

***

Shasta paused. She had heard something to their left. Star looked at Shasta. "What is it?" he asked as he shivered from the cold.

"Didn't you hear something?" she asked the others.

"Just the wind." Kirby joked. Shasta looked down at her feet then back up at them.

"But I heard something." she spoke. The group mumbled then they continued following Pirate's path.

***

Pirate and Ashley had to rest. Pirate laid down in the snow. "Pirate come on! We got to keep going before it gets worse!" Ashley threw herself on the tired dog's body and cried. "It's all my fault boy! I'm so sorry!" Pirate lifted his head and gave her wet cheeks a lick. "Oh Pirate I love you so much!" Ashley laid her face in his think fur. Pirate shifted until he was laying on his belly. He looked down at Ashley. Her life was in his paws. He lifted his head and gave a howl. A howl full of sorrow and lost.

***

The whole group heard the howl. Ears perked forward and alert took the stance. "It's Pirate!" Shasta dashed forward. The group quickly followed the excited dog. "Come on!" she yelled as she breathed for every ounce of air as she ran harder than she did before.

"Pirate!" Kaltag called out. Not far from the group Pirate lifted his head again. He heard his name even over the loud crying of Ashley. Ashley choked back her tears as she realized her dog had sensed something.

"What is it boy?" she said quietly. Pirate quickly staggered to a stand and threw his head into the air to send another howl.

The pack took a turn to their left. His scent now was closer and new energy flowed in everyone. Kaltag led the pack hoping they wouldn't be too late.

***

Pirate limped a little over 3 feet to his right. AHH!! Kaltag collided into Pirate and they tumbled into the snow. Jubilent barks filled the air as the search pack surrounded Pirate and Ashley. New hope sprang up in Pirate's and Ashley's hearts. "Now how do we get home?" Star asked and the canines were silent.

"One of us is a tracker." Shasta replied as she smiled at Pirate. Pirate's soul was suddenly all sunshiney and he could feel he was about to drool but he harnessed his feelings about Shasta and raised his head in a commanding way.

"Let's go home!" he barked before he put his nose to the ground. Ashley grabbed his collar and stayed at his side. Kaltag was on his other side with Shasta behind him. Kodi, Dusty, Kirby, and Star were in the middle of the group as Ralph and Nikki were in the back.

Even with the scent almost disappearing Pirate kept on. The wind became suddenly hard and it almost blinded everyone. The dogs hunched closer together as they had reached the forest side. Kodi raised his head and his eyes picked out the lights of Nome in the distance. "We're almost home!" he shouted out. Hearing those words, the entire pack pushed harder and had to go slower as they struggled through the snow. Ashley kept falling and everytime Pirate was at her side to get her up.

"Home!" Ashley cried out as her eyes then found the lights. She tried to go faster, running on hope instead of strength. As they neared Nome the dogs started to bark to wake the town. More lights turned on and people hurried out with their coats on. They wondered what was going on. Mr. Baker ran out of the house and joined the large group by the edge of town. His wife followed him As they realized it was the mail team with other dogs and Ashley they cheered. "Ashley!" her mother yelled as she ran toward the pack. The canines slowed as they reached the town and Ashley broke from the group. "Mommy!" she cried as her mother lifted her into her arms and hugged her tightly. Mr. Baker dashed foward to see his daughter. The dogs were being petted by everyone as the people chattered.

"How did they know where she was?" "They're heros!" "Oh her parents are so happy!" "She's a lucky girl!" were many of the things the humans said. The dogs shot happy expressions at each other as many hands tried to touch them. "Who found you honey?" Mrs. Baker asked. "It was Pirate." Ashley answered. "Thank you Pirate." Mr. Baker stroked the husky's neck.

Pirate smiled then the mayor spoke as he patted his head, "Good dog Pirate." Cheers went up again. Ashley was quickly rushed home to be checked by the doctor. As people headed home, the team walked toward the shed.

***

Once Ashley was asleep Pirate snuck out of the house to the shed. The fire's embers were dieing as the team were speaking with each other. Pirate entered the shed and everyone was quiet. He looked at each of

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