trickle down Chester's face as the last pup was named, a proud and happy smile on his face.
''My little girl'' he half-whispered, nuzzling his chin on the top of Stacy's head.
Jenna padded up to Balto's side ''Oh Balto, aren't they darling?'' she nuzzled him lovingly. Balto nodded.
''They are'' he turned to Chester. ''Your gonna be a great dad to them Chester''
The black husky smiled ''And you'll be a great uncle to them Balto''
Balto smirked ''I'll do my best, and I'm sure Boris will do the same'' he chuckled as he thought to how the goose would react to the news, and the thought of being chewed to pieces by three rambunctious pups.
Stacy let out a sudden yawn. Chester noticed.
''You get some rest Stacy'' he nuzzled her as she lay her head down close to the pups.
''Whilst I still can. I doubt either of us will be getting much rest in the coming weeks'' she giggled softly. Chester smiled.
''We'll manage somehow'' he got to his feet as Stacy closed her eyes and padded up to Balto and Jenna.
''Thank you for coming, it means a lot to us that we can rely on you for help should we need it''
Jenna smiled ''Of course you can Chester. It's the least we can do after all the help you gave us''
Balto felt a slight twinge in his back leg, and glanced down. Although the fur had grown longer since then, the bite wound was still visible. A permanent reminder of the events that almost destroyed him. He glanced back up and smiled at Chester.
''Exactly. We owe you a lot of thanks Chester, so don't hesitate to ask if you need anything''
''Thank you Balto. I really appreciate that, Uncle'' he chuckled, before padding back and lying down near Stacy.
Balto and Jenna turned back to the door, where Lance was waiting.
''Not bad are they?'' he chuckled.
''They're precious Lance'' Jenna replied, a motherly smile on her face.
''So Lance, when will it be your turn?'' Balto smirked. Lance shrugged.
''Who can say? I'll just have to keep my eyes open until Miss Right comes along. Heck, it worked for you guys didn't it?''
Jenna nuzzled Balto's neck ''It sure did'' she smiled as Balto licked her nose.
''Can I trust you to spread the news to everyone else?'' Lance asked. Balto knew he was referring to his own kids, and nodded.
''Of course. We'll be seeing Kodi later today once he gets back from the mail trip, and he'll tell Dingo and the others''
Lance smiled ''Thanks Balto. I'll see you two later, yeah?''
Balto and Jenna nodded, before padding out of the boiler room leaving Lance alone with his thoughts.
''Miss Right. I already know who she is'' he sighed, a smile on his face.
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Later that day, Lance was walking down Main Street lost in thought.
''I'm really happy for Stacy and Chester, I am. It's just...'' he sighed. He knew exactly what was wrong. He was in love.
''But...I doubt she feels the same way''
His thoughts were cut short as he spotted a familiar face across the street. His breath caught in his throat as he looked upon the object of his affection. Saba. Balto's daughter.
She was exactly a spilt image of Jenna, with her glowing burgundy coat, bushy tail, and slender legs. Her eyes, looking elsewhere for the time being, had a glistening shine that made him feel weak at the knees. She was in a word...beautiful.
His thoughts were rudely interrupted as Star padded up to him ''Hey Lance! How are you doing?''
Lance said nothing, but continued to stare at Saba as she padded round a corner towards her mothers house.
''Lance?'' Star asked.
''Oh, sorry Star. My mind was...elsewhere'' he said softly, tearing his gaze away reluctantly.
''Hey, I heard about Stacy and Chester! How many are there?'' Star asked excitedly.
''Three. Two boys, one girl'' Lance smiled.
''That's fantastic! They should be really proud!''
Lance chuckled ''For the time being. But wait a few weeks, and you'll find that they may have changed their minds!'' both dogs laughed.
''Well, I'd best be going. See you later Lance'' Star said, before padding away down the street.
Lance sighed. Although it was cold, he felt warm inside. He smiled.
''Saba'' he said quietly, before padding away.
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Stacy was woken up suddenly by the sound of a door slamming shut. Opening her eyes slowly, she jumped up in alarm as she realized she was no longer in the boiler room. She was standing inside a dark alcove, her paws cold underfoot from the damp rock. Scanning round, she could make out a shape in the darkness in front of her. Carefully, she padded up to it.
As her eyes became adjust to the darkness, the thing in front of her became to take form. What she saw almost made her throw up in horror.
It was Chester. And he was dead.
Stacy couldn't tear her eyes away from the huge gashes on Chester's body, and the massive tear in his throat that was slowly dripping blood onto the floor. Stacy felt sick to her stomach, and turned away from the lifeless body of her mate. She began to cry as she scanned round looking for a way out. When she couldn't, she nuzzled Chester's body. She pulled back as she realized how cold he was, her muzzle stained with his blood.
She looked up suddenly as she felt a chill run through her body. She could smell something in the air, something...evil. She almost retched as the strong scent of blood washed over her.
''Stacy'' a dark voice called out from the darkness. Stacy span round to the source of the voice, and stepped back as she spotted two eyes twinkling back at her. One brown, the other red.
''Stacy'' the voice called again. It sounded like a wail, or a groan. She couldn't tell which. She just stood there transfixed as a dark shape began to take form.
From out of the darkness, two paws raked across the stone arms of a throne, throwing up sparks that flashed in the darkness illuminating the alcove. Stacy felt sick as she noticed how pale the paws were, how matted the fur on them was, and how sharp the claws were.
Stacy began to back away, but the darkness penned her in on all sides. She screamed as the thing in front of her stirred, before launching itself at her...
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''Stacy! Stacy wake up!''
Stacy's eyes flew open as she realized who was shaking her. Looking up, she could make out Chester's concerned face looking down at her.
''Oh thank God! I thought you were in pain'' Chester sighed in relief, before being taken aback as Stacy hugged him tightly.
''Oh Chester! It was horrible! I...'' she sobbed into his fur, the images of the dream still playing in her head. It had been so vivid, and had seemed so real. What was more, she couldn't get the image of the pale paws out of her head, their sharp claws throwing up sparks in the darkness.
''Shh. It's okay Stacy. Your safe'' Chester soothed her. Stacy continued to hold onto him, fearing that if she let go he would disappear. Eventually she calmed down enough to stop crying.
''I'm...I'm sorry Chester. But it was so vivid...so real''
Chester nuzzled her ''It's okay Stacy. I'm here, and I won't let anything hurt you, okay?'' he licked the tears from her muzzle as she lay back down on the floor where the three pups continued to sleep.
Stacy suddenly felt tired, and as her eyes flickered shut she couldn't help thinking one thing.
She knew who it was in her dream.
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On the outskirts of Nome, four shadowy figures looked down on the mutilated remains of their latest victim.
''He didn't put up much of a struggle. I'm disappointed'' one said with a smirk.
''But he's just one, Zao. Soon to be one of many'' another said.
''Indeed Gillifer. Aleu will soon know the true power we have over her clan'' Zao remarked, kicking the dead dog in the head.
''My brothers...'The Pack' has returned!'' Gillifer announced.
Their laughter faded as they walked towards the twinkling lights of Nome.
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Balto was standing outside the boiler room waiting for Chester. The temperature was slightly colder than previously, but the bright sunlight continued to make the snow underfoot glisten.
Balto looked up as the boiler room door opened, and Chester padded outside. Balto noticed immediately how tired the black husky looked.
''Hey Chester, you feeling okay?'' he asked. Chester yawned in answer.
''Hmm? Oh, sorry Balto. It's just...'' he faltered as another yawn escaped his mouth. Balto laughed.
''Pups keeping you awake?'' he smirked. Chester grunted.
''You could say that. They didn't get much sleep last night, and I let Stacy sleep. Believe me, she needed it more than I did''
Balto nodded ''Well after giving birth to them she must be exhausted. She's luck to have you around Chester''
Chester smiled ''Thanks. But actually, it wasn't about the pups that kept her awake'' his smile faded.
''Oh? Then what was it?'' Balto asked.
Chester shrugged ''I don't know Balto. She woke up in a blind panic in the middle of the night, sobbing her eyes out''
Balto frowned ''You mean she had a nightmare?''
''Not just any nightmare Balto. This one scared her half to death, and then when she nodded off she dreamt it again! The exact same dream!''
''Blimey, must have been something serious'' Balto responded.
''Too right it was. She's terrified Balto, scared to go back to sleep in case she dreams it again. She's exhausted looking after the pups, and there's only so much I can do'' Chester sighed.
Balto smiled faintly 'Hey, why don't I ask Jenna to look after her and the pups for a few
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