for a few hours? Give her someone to talk to. Then she can get some sleep''
''Really? You'd do that?'' Chester smiled broadly.
''Well, we don't have anything else to do today. And we did promise to help you guys out if you needed it'' Balto replied.
''Thanks Balto. I really appreciate it'' Chester grinned. Balto returned the gesture.
''It's my pleasure. Come on, I'll explain to Jenna and then me and you can talk puppies yeah?''
''You bet my friend!'' Chester laughed. Both dogs began to pad towards Jenna's house.
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Dusty could sense something was wrong. She didn't know what had caused her to wake up, it was still early morning, but whatever it was she was now wide-awake. And with good reason.
The floor she had been lying on was covered in blood. Jumping to her feet, she realized her fur was stained bright crimson. Resisting the urge to throw up, she scanned round her surroundings.
Wherever she was, she wasn't in the dog barn. Darkness swamped her from all sides, and no matter where she looked she couldn't find a way out. What was more, there was no sign of any of the other dogs that had been in the barn with her. No Kirby, no Ralph. No Kodi.
Dusty began to panic. She didn't know where she was, or how she had gotten there. But she was desperate to get out of the darkness and find Kodi. Not looking where she was going, she slipped on one of the puddles of blood underfoot, and fell face first into the crimson liquid. She tasted the salty liquid in her mouth, and she spat it out as best she could. She tried to stand up, but she couldn't.
And that's when she sensed that she wasn't alone within the darkness.
Through the thick blackness, she could make several pairs of eyes staring at her. Dozens of them. Hundreds of them. All of them staring at her with murderous intent. Dusty began to cry, and looked round frantically to get away from the eyes. But each direction she looked, a pair of eyes stared back at her.
She sensed movement behind he, and she jumped to her feet with tears still trickling down her face.
''Who's there? Show yourself!'' she yelled.
From out of the darkness, something stirred. A dark, wolf-like shape loomed out of the shadows in front of her. She heard it snigger.
''I told you I'd be back!''
Dusty screamed as the thing jumped at her...
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She woke up with a start. Looking round frantically, she let out a relieved sigh as she realized where she was. Back in the dog barn. The team had returned back to Nome the previous night, and none of them had heard about Chester and Stacy's news.
Dusty felt something nudge her under the ear.
''Hey Dusty! 'Bout time you got up!'' Kodi's happy face stared at her. Bending down, he nudged her playfully with his nose, before stepping back in alarm.
''Dusty, your sweating! Are you feeling alright?''
Dusty resisted the urge to shiver. The images of her dream continued to play in her head, so vivid. It had seemed so real.
''Yeah...yeah I'm fine Kodi'' she replied, getting to her feet. Kodi looked at her questionably.
''Are you sure? You look as though something’s troubling you''
Dusty smiled ''I'm fine Kodi. Besides, when did you become the caring type?'' she nuzzled him. Kodi broke into a grin.
''Hey, I can't have you dropping out sick can I? We've got another big trip coming up, and I can't have you slowing me down can I?'' he smiled cheekily.
''Oy! Me slow you down? You've got a pretty high opinion of yourself!'' she swatted him playfully on the muzzle.
''Well, your acting the same as you normally do!'' Kodi's face went serious. ''Your sure you’re alright Dusty?''
''I'm fine Kodi. Really'' she licked him on the nose. Kodi did the same.
''Okay then. I'm going to go talk to Dingo; he said he had something to tell me. I'll see you later yeah?''
''Yeah. Bye Kodi''
Kodi smiled, then padded out of the barn. Dusty sighed.
''I didn't want to worry you Kodi'' she sighed. Lying back down on the floor, she closed her eyes. But try as she might, she couldn't get the words in her dream out of her head.
''I told you I'd be back!''
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Jenna had made her way to the boiler room, and was watching Stacy's pups. She watched as the crawled over her, whimpering softly.
''They are so adorable'' Jenna said. Stacy smiled faintly.
''They are when they want to be. But they're real monsters when your trying to get to sleep''
Jenna laughed ''They're like that for the first few weeks, but things get easier''
Stacy yawned ''I hope so Jenna. I've never felt so exhausted as I was last night. They just wouldn't settle down, and Chester was up all night trying to get them off to sleep. I just feel so useless''
''Hey, hey Stacy. You shouldn't feel like that. When I had the kids I felt like that sometimes, when they wouldn't go to sleep and kept Balto and me up all hours of the night. Being a mother is hard work, but it's also one of the best jobs in the world'' Jenna smiled as little Vance and Max began wrestling with each other.
Stacy smiled ''Listen to me complaining! I've only had three, you had six! How on earth did you cope?''
Jenna laughed ''It was hard, and sometimes the hours were really long, but it was all worth it in the end'' Jenna watched as the three tiny pups snuggled up to Stacy.
''I know I shouldn't make a fuss. I'm usually not one to make a big deal out of things. As a team member you couldn't afford to. But last night I...''
Jenna looked up at Stacy ''Balto said that you were having nightmares last night. Was that what kept you awake?''
Stacy paused, then nodded ''Yes. Jenna, last night...I have never been so scared in my entire life. It was so vivid, and seemed so real'' tears began to trickle down Stacy's muzzle.
''It's okay Stacy. You can cry if you want'' Jenna said sympathetically.
''No. I did enough of that last night and look where it got me'' she wiped the tears away with her paw.
''The scariest thing is...that I think it will happen. I think something terrible will happen to Chester, and I won't be able to help him''
''Stacy, nothing is going to happen to Chester. He's tough, and he wouldn't let anything stop him from being with you'' Jenna replied firmly.
''But it was so vivid Jenna. I've never had dreams like this before'' Stacy began to tear up again.
''And that's all they were Stacy. Dreams. Nothing more. You can't let them interfere in your life like this'' Jenna responded.
Stacy nodded ''I know your right Jenna. I'm sorry, I shouldn't be acting this way. I have to be strong for Chester, and the pups'' she leant down and licked each tiny pup in turn.
Jenna smiled ''It's okay Stacy. I'm here to help, just like I promised''
Stacy returned the smile ''I really appreciate it Jenna. Thank you'' she suddenly yawned heavily.
''Why don't you get some sleep? I'll look after the pups'' Jenna said.
A few moments later, Stacy was asleep. Jenna looked down at the three pups cuddled up next to her, and smiled.
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When Lance saw Saba again, he was a bag of nerves.
''Just go up to her, and start a conversation'' he thought to himself.
He took a step forwards, and then faltered.
''But what do I say? 'Hi Saba! Listen, I've not talked to you much but I think I'm in love with you?' Yeah, that'll be the smartest thing you ever did!''
He sighed, and continued to watch her. She was so beautiful, her burgundy coat glistening in the morning snow. He wanted so much to call out her name, really loudly, just to get her attention. But he couldn't.
''I wouldn't know the first thing to say to her. I'd look like a total idiot'' he mentally told himself.
''Besides, how would Balto react? Or Dingo? Or Kodi? None too happily I'll bet! I'm just not good enough for her''
He was concentrating so hard on putting himself down, that he didn't hear someone approach him.
''Hi Lance''
Lance jumped up with a start. In front of him was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen in his life. Saba.
''Oh! Erm...hi! Hi Saba! How...erm...how are you doing?'' he smiled in embarrassment. He felt his cheeks burn.
''Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!'' he thought. ''What a dumb thing to say!''
''Not too bad thanks'' Saba replied, not minding the words he chose.
''That’s...that’s good to know. So, erm.... what are you doing today?'' he gave her a goofy grin, hoping that he didn't look as embarrassed as he felt.
''I was just going over to the boiler room to see Stacy's pups. My mums over there already'' she smiled at him, turning his legs to jelly.
''Oh right! Yeah, she's really tired after last night. And who can blame her, giving birth to three pups aye, heh!''
''Smooth'' he thought sarcastically.
Saba smiled sweetly at him ''Were you going anywhere yourself Lance?''
Lance felt his cheeks burn red ''Me? No... erm...I wasn't going anywhere. Why?'' he looked at her with a hopeful expression.
''I was wondering if you'd come with me? Kodi and Dingo are busy, and I don't want to be wandering round town on my own'' she smiled up at him.
''Oh…erm...sure! I'd...I'd be happy to, heh!'' he replied.
''Yes! Yes! Yes!'' he was in ecstasy.
Saba smiled ''Thanks. Shall we go then...uncle Lance?'' she giggled.
Lance laughed, if a bit to over the top, ''Sure thing! It would be my pleasure!''
As Saba padded in front of him, Lance felt the happiest he had been in a long time.
''Mission accomplished Lance my friend! It's a start!''
Snapping out of his thoughts, Lance ran to catch up with Saba.
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Balto and Chester were at Balto's old boat where Boris was busy
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