possible.”

Ketch’s eyebrows had been steadily rising. “The whole mission sounds a little too impossible.”

“My dad’s already done it once,” Chase said, “He rescued Kaila the first time.”

“Your dad’s done a lot of impossible things,” Ketch retorted. His face was creased with worry. “You’re going? You’re going to hate me for this, but…are you sure you’ll be okay?”

Chase felt her eyes spark and her temper flame. “Never ask that question unless you have a death wish,” she murmured lowly, “No, I’m going to go off and get myself killed! C’mon, Ketch! You know I’ll be fine! I made it through Steele’s army, didn’t I? You know I can take care of myself!”

Ketch’s jaw was set. “I’m going.”

Chase gawked at him. “Have you heard a single word I’ve said?” she shrieked.

The alley went quiet. Chase could feel the alleyway dogs staring, so she bent her head and lowered her voice. “Why do you need to come?”

“This’ll be my chance to really see what goes on inside your family,” Ketch murmured, “Plus, whether you admit it or not, you still need help sometimes with your legs. I want to be there for you, Chase.”

Chase’s eyes narrowed. Had it been any other dog but Ketch, they would have been out cold at her feet by now. Her brown eyes ringed with pale gold blazed with cold fury. “Okay. Fine. Even if I said you could go, who would look after them?” She swept her paw out to indicate the street dogs, who were watching them with rapt attention.

Ketch’s brow furrowed. “Ah…”

“Excuse me,” said a soft voice from behind them, “But did you say you needed someone to watch ‘the troops’ while you’re away?”

Chase turned around and was immediately blasted with unpleasant memories. The dog that stood before her looked almost exactly like Steele: the black and white fur, the thin face. The only difference was the dog was a female, and her tongue was black-purple like a Chow’s. And, instead of Steele’s angry blue eyes, the dog had warm brown eyes that shone with a kind light. Still, Chase couldn’t help bristling in alarm. She bared her teeth. “If we did need someone, you’re the next to last dog I would choose.”

The dog looked down, pain in her eyes. “I can only guess who the last would be.”

“You don’t need to guess,” Chase growled, “You know. It’s your father, Steele.”

The dog raised her head, but her gaze was edged now with the slightest bit of fire. “My father is Steele, but I think you of all dogs would know not to judge by appearances.” She stared pointedly at Chase’s missing back leg.

Chase glared so hard she felt like her eyes were on fire. Ketch recognized the look and stepped between them. “Whoa, whoa. Give her a chance, Chase. What’s your name?” he asked the dog.

“Ava,” she said quietly. “I just wanted to know if I could help.”

“Well, we can always take it to a vote,” Ketch said. He lifted his head high, and all the street dogs looked up. “All in favor of Ava being the leader here while Chase and I are gone on some of Chase’s family business, raise a paw.”

The dogs whispered and murmured among themselves, and slowly paws began creeping into the air.

Ketch counted them swiftly, and then said, “All in favor of me staying behind while Chase goes by herself, raise a paw.”

More than a few paws shot into the air, but then they were abruptly brought back down. Dismayed, Chase stole a glance at Ketch, and she scowled when she saw he was shaking his head emphatically and mouthing ‘no’. Her temper was beginning to roar inside her. “Ketch–!”

“It’s decided, then,” he interrupted, “Ava is the official leader until we get back. You’ll respect and obey her as if she were me or Chase. We’ll probably be gone a few days.” He faced Ava, who was smiling timidly. “Good luck, Ava. We won’t be gone long. You’ll be able to keep them in line.”

“Thank you, Ketch,” she replied, and gazed at Chase. “Perhaps by the time you get back, Chase will have given me a second chance under her judgment.”

“I’m just glad I won’t see your face for a few days,” Chase spat. She turned on her heel ad began hobbling out of the alleyways.

Ketch caught up to her, and he tilted his head with a disapproving look on his face. “Chase, it’s not her fault she’s Steele’s daughter. And obviously she’s nothing like him.”

“I know, I know,” Chase sighed bitterly, “But when I see her…it’s like I’m seeing the dog who tried to kill my father and my mother and me, okay?”

Ketch was silent for a minute. “…She’s not Steele.”

Chase whirled on him. “Yes! I know that! I know, I know, I know! But just the fact that she’s Steele’s daughter makes me want to…” Chase bit her lip and held back the violent words burning the inside of her mouth.

Ketch looked at her, and stopped. “If it makes you feel any better, I’ll have someone watch Ava.” He turned and called softly, “Matt?”

A skinny mutt popped his head out from the shadows. “Ketch?”

“Matt, could you keep an eye on Ava for me?” Ketch said, “If anything goes wrong, come find me. Chase and I will be heading…” He looked at Chase quizzically.

“…Northeast,” Chase muttered grudgingly.

Matt saluted her. “Yes, ma’am!” He scurried away and ducked into the alley where Ava and the rest of the dogs were.

Ketch turned to Chase. “Better?”

“Was Matt following us?” Chase asked suspiciously.

Ketch chuckled. “Yeah. He just wanted to make sure we got out safe. We’re pretty well-respected in the alleys, but you can never be too sure.” He shook his head. “Me and Matt, we’ve been through a lot together. In fact, this will be only my second time out of Nome since the escape we made together!”

Chase was too distracted to ask Ketch to elaborate. “Try not to sound so happy about it,” she grumbled. Her thoughts flicked from Ava to Copper to Kaila. Great. Now she had three dogs to worry about. Four, including Ketch.

Though she would have never admitted it, deep down she was glad he had come. Being alone got rough after awhile. It was nice to have someone besides herself she could depend on.

Dusty rushed into the house and slowed to a stop at Kira’s paws. Kira jumped up, and once again the pups stirred, and Silver growled in his sleep. Dusty prayed silently for the pups to sleep on, and miraculously they did. He wasn’t sure how he could stop the pups from coming with him if they heard him break the news to their mother.

“Dusty, what is it?” Kira asked, “What happened?”

Dusty took a deep breath. “Kira…I have to go. Out of town. Kaila ran away again, and we don’t want to lose her again. We’re all going after her to bring her back. Well, my litter and my father are. My mother’s staying behind.” He knew Balto would find some way to convince Jenna to stay. It would make the journey even more dangerous and difficult if she came with them.

Kira’s eyes glittered fiercely as she straightened up. “So you’re leaving me behind, too?”

“I never said that, but…” Dusty mumbled.

“It’s always the girl that gets left behind, have you ever noticed that?” Kira fumed through gritted teeth, “I don’t want to be the pathetic girl who is useless for everything except sitting around and worrying!...No offense to your mother, Dusty. But I’ve been there! I survived out there, and I was even with pup then! We were separated for two months! Do you think I want to go through that again?”

“Listen. I don’t want to leave here,” Dusty whispered, “It seems barely yesterday that we got back from all that. But Kaila’s my sister. I know I lost you for two months. If I don’t go, and the rest of my family doesn’t go, I may lose her…forever.”

“Well, then, one more dog will make getting her back all the easier,” Kira declared.

Dusty shook his head. “No. Kira, think of the pups. You’re a mother now. You can’t just leave them whenever you want. They’re still little. They need someone to take care of them until they get homes of their own, and even that event could only be days away.”

Kira bent her head, hiding her expression. “I hate being useless.”

“You’re not useless,” Dusty murmured, standing beside her and brushing his head against hers, “You’re kind, you’re faithful, you’re beautiful…”

“But useless,” Kira finished abruptly. She lay down beside the pups and looked up at Dusty. “If you’re not back in a few days…”

“I will be. I promise,” Dusty said. He nuzzled her softly, and touched each of the pups with his nose. “…I love you guys.”

Kira nudged him away. “Your sister could be halfway to Barrow by now,” she said, “Go.”

Dusty went, letting the doggy door slap shut behind him.

All three pups immediately popped up.

“I’m going with Dusty!” Silver announced, scrambling up and away from Kira’s grasp. Gail squealed and followed her brother to the door.

Kira snarled, and the two pups froze. “Don’t you dare,” Kira growled.

Silver and Gail slowly pivoted around, ears down, eyes huge with fear.

“Sorry, Mom,” Silver managed to stammer, “But Dusty’s going to save Kaila! He…he could need help!”

“If Dusty needed help, I would be going, too,” Kira told her son. She leaned forward and picked him up, dropping him at her feet.

“Well, at least Dusty gets to go out of Nome!” Gail yipped, “I want to go somewhere, do something! It would be so great to get out of here!”

“Be careful what you wish for,” Kira murmured. She picked up Gail and deposited her beside Silver. Kira looked at her youngest pup, Robin, who had yet to say a word. “What about you, Robin? Any questions, comments, or complaints to add to your brother’s and sister’s?”

Robin blinked up at her. “I…I don’t know,” she mumbled softly, “I just hope Dusty gets back soon.”

“He will,” Kira said, licking Robin’s little ears reassuringly, “He will.”

“I don’t care what Mom says. We’re going after Dusty,” Silver muttered to Gail.

“No monkey business from either of you,” Kira said firmly, “I’ll act like your jailor if you give me any reason to.”

Silver grinned innocently, but behind his blue-green eyes the wheels were beginning to turn to form an escape plan. Nothing was going to stop him from seeing the part of the world that wasn’t Nome.

Dusty flew