looked at each of them. "Thanks guys." he said.

Kirby smiled. "Your welcome." Ralph grinned as his tail wagged.

"You should be thanking Kaltag. He was the one that got us up." Kodi spoke as he raised his head from the floor by Dusty.

Pirate chuckled. "I'll be sure to do that. Now get some rest, you guys deserve it." Pirate left the shed and started for Kaltag's home.

In a few minutes he was on the porch and had pawed the door. From inside Kaltag rose to his feet and trotted out of the doggy flap by the back door. He walked to the front of the house where the handsome husky stood. "Well hello there." Kaltag spoke.

Pirate wheeled around slowly as his leg was still hurting some. He trotted down the steps so he could face Kaltag better. "Hey thanks for coming after me. I realized it was a stupid mistake to go alone." Kaltag chuckled.

"I was wondering how your mother was." Kaltag looked sheepish and Pirate chuckled before he shot him a questioning look.

"Why do you want to know?"

Kaltag gave a sigh. "Are you that blind? I wouldn't be leading the search party if it wasn't true." Pirate thought about it for a minute before he realized Kaltag was his father.

"I'm sorry Dad but...Mom died during giving birth to her 2nd litter. She was bred to some champion and I don't believe any of the pups survived." Pirate looked up at the sky then back at Kaltag.

Kaltag sighed. He knew it was coming. Pirate's mother was easily stressed at times but he wished he could have seen that blaze red husky with one black ear again before she departed. Kaltag looked Pirate in the eyes. Pirate had his mother's eyes. Dark blue that gave the impression you were always up to something. "I'll see you tomorrow morning. Night Pirate." Kaltag spoke and gave his son a smile before trotting to the back side of the house again. Pirate smiled and watched as the tan husky disappeared from his sight.

"Best get home. Ashley will be worried when she notices I'm not there." Pirate slowly trotted home. When he entered the house he made his movement as quiet as he could as he made his way to Ashley's room. Once there Pirate gracefully hopped onto her bed and laid down leaning against Ashley's back. He thought back to where Ashley was speaking of guardian angels. "Maybe I'm her's." He laid his head down with a smile.

Pirate, Shasta, & Ashley-(c)Jahara