the floor, squishing it with his foot.

‘’That cocky bastard! I can’t wait to wipe that smirk off his stupid face! Now I need to be alone. I have to cool my jets and get prepared for tomorrow. It may be good for all of you to do the same. Get some sleep too.’’ he replied sharply and walked out of the secret ring. Balto, Rail Wolf and Jessie looked at each other. They knew Brent was in a bad mood.

Upstairs in his room, Brent laid in bed, not able to get to sleep. He looked over and saw the empty side of his bed, where Ginger normally slept. He wanted nothing more than to defeat the idiot who took the love of his life. Brent’s anger wore him out and he fell asleep within five minuets.

Nome Arena, June 26, 1952, 11:56 AM,

The arena was packed with dogs of ever species and age. In the dressing room, Brent’s team got into their attire and was warming up. Finally, with only a minute to go before the event started, Brent got his team into a huddle. He smiled and said, ‘’well guys, this is it. It’s do or die time. And remember we’re in it to save Ginger. Now, who are we?’’

The rest of the team yelled out, ‘’The Wolf Pack!’’

Brent smiled and led his team to the door of the dressing room. Waiting behind the huge doorway to the ring, The Wolf Pack watched as an Australian Shepherd got into the centre of the ring and yelled the introductions into a microphone.

‘’Ladies and gentlemen,’’ he shouted in an Aussie accent, ‘’let me welcome you to the first annual Nome Wrestling Tournament. You will see feats of acrobatics and combat that have never bee seen before, so sit back and enjoy. Our first match is about to begin!’’

The Wolf Pack waited in suspense. Suddenly, a female Australian Shepherd wheeled out a large tournament board into the arena. She set it up behind the private box. The Shepherd in the ring pointed to the board and explained, ‘’this tournament will be in single-elimination format. The winner will be the wrestler who out-beats, out-pins and outlasts their opponents. Now, let me introduce the two first wrestlers,’’ the Aussie Shepherd turned to the entrance and shouted out the intros, ‘’first in the red corner, from the beautiful state of Montana, weighting in at 214 pounds, “Ironman” Malcolm Silver!’’

The crowd cheered as a silver and cream husky walked toward the ring. He grinned happily and turned his head toward each side. He wore a military uniform with many medals on it, and had on a military hat. He climbed into the ring and went to his respective corner. The Aussie then yelled, ‘’and now for the wrestler in the blue square! Weighting in at 196 pounds, and residing from right here in Nome, Alaska; it’s the one; it’s the only. It’s Balto!’’

Brent pushed his friend encouragingly out into the lighters arena. Balto walked toward the ring with a calm look on his face. The crowd was going nuts, cheering and yelling out encouraging things. Balto wore a black muscle shirt, cut jeans, a black bandanna, black wrist bands and black elbow and kneepads. He climbed into the ring and the match began. Malcolm smiled and replied, ‘’I may be a youngster Balto, but I ain’t unskilled!’’

Balto returned the smile with his own.

‘’No, but you’ll be unable to win in a few minutes.’’ He said. Malcolm shook his head and pointed to the clock, all the while keeping his eyes on Balto.

‘’The match only lasts for twenty minutes.’’ He pointed out. Balto shrugged and remarked, ‘’then that gives me nineteen minutes to beat you senseless.’’

Balto then rushed at Malcolm, putting him into a grapple. Malcolm tried to free himself, but Balto was too quick. Grabbing Malcolm’s thigh, Balto spun him around and landed a Scoop Slam on his opponent. Malcolm got off the mat and lunged at Balto’s legs, but missed horribly. Balto kicked Malcolm in the jaw, making the poor guy fall onto his back. Balto picked his up and threw Malcolm into the turnbuckle. Malcolm went face-first into it. Balto the grappled Malcolm and slowly climbed up onto the top ropes. The crowd gave a huge gasp as Balto grabbed Malcolm around the waist and jumped backward, slamming the husky’s head right into the mat. Balto took a deep breath and felt his adrenaline starting to increase. Suddenly, Malcolm recovered and put Balto into a Sleeper Hold. Balto tried to breath, but Malcolm’s arms were tight enough around his neck that barely an ounce of air could get through. Balto clutched his teeth and grabbed Malcolm by the back of his uniform. Balto then used all his strength to haul Malcolm over his head and slam him into the mat. Malcolm gave a small yelp as he felt himself rushing toward the ground. Malcolm hit the mat with a huge crash. Balto picked him up and grabbed Malcolm around the neck. Brent and his team knew what was about to happen. Balto jumped into the air and landed his finisher. Malcolm’s face made contact with Balto’s shoulder with such a force that he saw stars spinning around his head. Balto put Malcolm into a Leg pin and the Aussie Shepherd called out the count, along with every dog in the arena.

‘’One. Two. Three! Pin fall! The winner of the first match is Balto!’’

Balto got off Malcolm and put his left hind paw on top of Malcolm’s stunned body, howling loudly and making the entire stadium cheer. Balto had won his first match in the tournament. The rest of his team had done just as good. Brent had knocked out his opponent-Kaltag from Team Trio-in less than five minutes. Jessie had won by pin fall as well, defeating Honeycomb of Team Silver. Finally, Rail Wolf had made his opponent-Itchy from Team ADGTH-submit after he had placed the poor Dachshund into an Indian Death Lock. The Second round was set, and soon both Brent and Amtrak’s team would finally get to face off for the ultimate prize. Ginger.

While the team celebrated their victories, Brent headed off to use the facilities. Suddenly, saw several hospital dogs rushing three badly injured wrestlers to a waiting ambulance. Brent caught an assistant and asked, ‘’what in the world happened here?’’

The assistant shook her head solemnly.

‘’Their opponent nearly killed them. That Team Train-wreck is a real menace. These dogs may never be able to use the parts that were severely damaged ever again. It’s a real pity.’’ She then joined her crew in the ambulances. Brent knew that he had gotten his friends into this mess, and it would be his fault if they were injured or even killed. Brent was going to tell his team, but his bladder overthrew his determination, and Brent rushed off to the washroom at lightning speed.

Flush! Brent smiled as he flushed the toilet. Suddenly, he heard two voices that he recognised from his past.

‘’You think it’ll be safe in here to talk?’’ one asked. The other gave a small snort and answered, ‘’Jesus man, you’re way too paranoid. But if you think it’ll help, sure. Hey, that stall over there should be fine.’’

Brent quickly got off the floor and watched as the shadows of two malamutes appeared under the divider that separated his stall from theirs’. Brent knew that the two were Steele and Inferno. Brent held his anger and listened to the conversation between both villains.

‘’So, what’d you want to talk about Steele?’’ Inferno questioned. Steele looked both ways and whispered, ‘’Balto and his chump team is in the tournament. We can beat ‘em, but they’re a bunch of tricksters. They could find out our weaknesses. Plus, Amtrak says that the injection will only last for a few days more. Once we win the tournament, he’ll activate the serum’s hidden power and turn that chump’s girlfriend into the newest member of our evil organisation.’’

Brent gave a silent gasp as Inferno grabbed Steele’s cuff and asked, ‘’why did Amtrak tell you? You were the first to be defeated, remember?’’

Steele ripped Inferno’s paw off his cuff and replied angrily, ‘’hey knucklehead. Let’s not forget that if it weren’t for Amtrak and I, you’d still be taking therapy in the asylum. So don’t be giving my any of that lip pal!’’

Both dogs growled angrily and snapped at each other. Suddenly, the bathroom door opened and footsteps came toward Steele and Inferno’s stall. Just then, the door of that stall was ripped right off its hinges. Brent then heard the voice of an annoyed wolf.

‘’What are you doing, you buffoons? You should be getting ready for your next matches, not playing hooky in the bathroom! Now get going, before I have to sick S-Man on you.’’

Brent heard Steele and Inferno whimper in fear and run out of the bathroom. Then Amtrak walked out, and all was silent once again. Brent got down out of his hiding position and unlocked the stall door. He knew he had to tell his team. Brent ran to the dressing room, hoping he had enough time.

Brent arrived to find an open door and no one inside. Just then, the Aussie Shepherd’s voice came flowing into his ears.

‘’And now for our first match in the second round,’’ Brent ran toward the entrance of the arena to warn Balto, but he was too late, ’’ in the red corner, the half-breed with all the