cheek.

"Bye Elliot"

He looked up in alarm as he heard noises from down the corridor, and Balto and Chester burst into the chamber.

"Dingo, are you...?" Balto froze as he saw Frost's impaled form, and the extent of his injuries.

"Oh...my...God" Chester stammered. Dingo limped up to them.

"Dad?" he croaked.

Balto stared in alarm as Dingo collapsed onto him.

"Take me home" Dingo whispered, before passing out in Balto's grasp.

--------------------------------------------

Kodi felt tears come to his eyes as he looked down at Dusty, and the two tiny little pups nuzzled against her.

"They're...beautiful" he said.

Dusty smiled, extremely tired "I'm glad you think so"

Kodi nuzzled her "What should we call them?"

Dusty looked down at her whimpering brood "How about Cassie?"

Kodi nodded "That's perfect. And the male?"

Dusty thought for a moment "Hunter" she nuzzled the cream and copper pup.

Kodi smiled at his new family "Hunter and Cassie. Perfect"

He lay down next to Dusty, and before long both of them were sound asleep.

--------------------------------------------

Balto smiled from the window, before climbing back down where Jenna was waiting.

"How are they?" she asked.

Balto smiled "Exhausted, but that's to be expected. They're adorable pups"

Jenna nuzzled him "How does it feel to be a Grandad?"

Balto chuckled "I'll get used to it. Eventually"

They both looked up as several figures walked up to them.

"Hi Dad. So, how did it go?" Dingo smiled.

Balto smiled at his son.

It had been a month since Frost's death, and Dingo had been making the slow road to recovery. As soon as they had gotten back into town, they had rushed him to the vet, who had treated him as best as he could. Unfortunately, the damage to his eye had been too great, and he had lost vision in it.

Dingo had taken it well enough. As he had said to Balto himself-

"I'm just glad to be alive Dad. That's all that matters"

Balto smiled as a female gray husky padded up to and rubbed against Dingo.

Heather had been in a terrible state when she had arrived at the mill, sobbing for the thought that Dingo had died just like Elliot. When they had brought him to the vets, she had remained at his side every minute through his recovery, and had comforted him at the loss of vision in one eye. It was obvious to Balto that they were in love, and he couldn't be happier.

"Your an uncle Dingo" Balto smiled at his son. Dingo broke into a grin.

"Fantastic! I can't wait to see them!"

Heather nuzzled him "Me neither"

Balto smiled as they moved into a kiss. Toby padded up to his side, a disgusted expression on his face.

"Yuck. That's disgusting!" he turned away from the scene. Balto ruffled his fur.

"Give it time Toby. You'll think differently in time"

Toby snorted, causing Balto to laugh.

His laughter faded as he remembered something.

Lance.

Lance had woken up from his coma a few days after Dingo's return, and Chester had had the daunting task of explaining everything to him. It hadn't gone down well. 

Lance had been furious, at Doc, at Kaltag, everyone. What was worse, was that Joyce had heard the rumours, and had taken off out of town whilst Lance was still unconscious. That had struck a nerve.

Balto sighed. He'd never seen Lance so angry before, and he hoped that he could try to reason with his friend the next time he saw him, before he did anything too rash.

He sighed again, then allowed his smile to return. For now, he had other things to think about.

Kirby snorted "Trust Kodi to find an excuse to miss running!"

Louis shook his head "Kirby, sometimes..."

The two of them broke into fits of laughter, accompanied by Ralph. Balto smiled at the happy scene.

Everything was as it should be. Peaceful, and happy.

--------------------------------------------

On a rooftop high above Nome, a lone figure appeared in the moonlight. Below, the streets of Nome were in darkness.

Raising his head, the figure let out a howl, which cut through the stillness.

"Ahhhwoooooooooooooo!"

If anyone had been awake at that moment, they would have heard what the howl said.

"Begin the operation"

--------------------------------------------

THE END