like that right after, Balto stormed out. Some say he’s gone to the woods. For what reason? I cannot tell you.”

            After he had finished, Doc looked around. Many of the dogs before him had looks of pure aw. Some even had anger and enraged faces.

            “I knew it!” shouted one gray female husky. “He was a good-for-nothing liar from the very beginning!”

            “Yeah!” commented another, “It was all just an act! He probably found Steele’s team and took him down so he could get the glory!”

            “Please calm down.” said Doc almost shouting. “We’re letting our imaginations take over.”

            Before Doc could say more, they started to leave, telling anyone and everyone they could find about how they had been deceived. Within the time span of fifteen minutes, Balto was now public enemy number one. Doc’s words had been twisted into a horrific tale and not even Balto’s friends were thrilled with what they heard.

            “Ah. What hit me?” asked a confused Balto. “I feel like a sack of hammers fell on my head.”

            His eyes took a while to adjust to the darkness where only a few holes of light broke through. He could tell that he was in an enclosed structure with what appeared to be no exit.

            And from behind him, he could here a voice. “So happy you could join me.” it said.

Chapter Eight:

            “Who, who’s there?” Balto asked shakily. “I don’t want to fight.”

            “Balto! It’s me! Kaltag!” Kaltag said.

            “Oh, phew.” Balto sighed with relief. “I was starting to get nervous there for a second.”

            “Yeah,” said Kaltag, “you were shaking like a leaf! You’d a great one to scare on Halloween!”

            “What are you doing here?” asked Balto, “An even better question would be, where are we?”

            “If only I knew. You could say we’re lost, out of place, not found, just plain stuck!” Kaltag looked around in the dark. “Oh that’s right, I don’t have Star to interrupt me. And I don’t have someone who I can take my frustrations out on. Unless you want to sub Balto.” Kaltag smiled.

            “Eh… I’ll pass.” Balto smiled back. “But first things first. We have to find a way out.”

            Balto looked towards a crack of light coming from a door.

            Kaltag also looked in the direction. “Don’t even try it. It won’t budge.”

            Balto felt the dirt crumble between his paws when something clicked.

            “Kaltag, I think I have an idea.” he grinned. “But I’ll need your help.”

            A fire burned freshly in the hearth of the fireplace, warming up the temperature and the atmosphere in Jenna’s house.

            “So… what do you think?” asked Ritchie anxiously to Jenna.

            Jenna looked over Greg. He was a sturdy malamute with a slightly ruffled hairdo. He had jet black fur and a snow white stripe from his head to his tail. And the thing that got Jenna was his icy blue eyes.

            “Umm. Dad? Mom? Could you leave me and… Greg is it? Alone?” Jenna asked.

            “Oh, sure thing honey.” said Duchess as she proceeded out of the room, motioning for Ritchie to follow.

            After the two were alone, Jenna walked over towards her bed by the fireplace and Greg followed her. She turned back around and stared into his eyes. Greg gave her a warm smile.

            “Is it hot in here or is it just you?” he asked cleverly.

            Jenna just smiled back. “Nice pick-up line. But you didn’t need it.”

            She slowly leaned her head in and closed her eyes and when Greg got the hint, he did too. The whole time, Ritchie and Duchess were watching from around a corner.

            “Told you that he’d be perfect for her.” said Duchess quietly.

            “And best part is-” said Ritchie.

            “He’s not any part wolf.”

            “But- But Balto. I tried this as a puppy and it didn’t work. The fence was too deep.” said Kaltag.

            “Well…. We’ll just have to try.” replied Balto as he dug his claws farther into the earth. “I doubt that this shed is as deep down as a wire kennel fence… But I could use some help.”

            “It’s worth a shot. I want to stay in here about as much as I want to have fleas.”

            Kaltag walked over by Balto and started to dig down. The two continued this for awhile, gaining ground, but little at that.

            “Balto! We’re not getting anything done. The dirt just keeps filling back up!” Kaltag groaned.

            Balto stopped for a second. “You’re right… Wait…. I’ll dig down, and you get the dirt out of the way so it doesn’t do that.”

            So they started again. With what they had worked out, they actually got more done. Soon, outside the shed, the snow rose and fell until suddenly Balto burst from underneath it and shortly after followed Kaltag.

            “Now let’s find who did this.” Balto said.

            “All I know is He’s back. He’s the one who knocked me out and threw me in there.”

            “You mean Steele?” asked Balto.

            “The very one.” replied Kaltag gravely.

            “Then we better go and find him. But before we do, Kaltag, do you mind if we make a slight detour?”

            “No problem Balto.”

            “Where do you think Susan’s going all the time?” Nancy asked Tom solemnly as she sat down in a chair in the living room near him.

            “Eh, who knows? Anywhere I suppose.” answered Tom with little concern as he stared at the fireplace that was across the room.

            “I’m serious,” she said frowning. “It’s getting close to the anniversary, well second, since Robert had passed.”

            “Maybe she’s visiting that old vessel outta town?”

            “Well, it makes sense. That was his old ship. I guess that storm was too much for him. I mean, how could it have been grounded that far up on shore with a huge gaping hole like that?”

            “You never know dear. Ya just never know.”

            “Ah, here we are.” said Susan as she stepped up to a building with a small sign that read, ‘Carter Selling inc.’ with smaller letters reading, ‘If it can be sold, you can buy.’

            Susan casually walked inside and a bell by the door made a casual