was hoping for, paws treading across the floor. A tan snout stuck through the doggy door and took a few sniffs then Kaltag’s jaws opened. "Come on in son." The tan snout withdrew. Pirate slipped through the door with ease and his eyes had to readjust to the darkness. Kaltag had walked to the kitchen to the window where the moonlight shined through. Pirate walked closer. "Now what’s got your harness in a knot?" Kaltag asked.

"Have you heard stories about a Spitz/Husky cross?"

Kaltag thought about it for a minute. "Yesterday Star was talking about something like that. The dog that killed the mistress love and is cursed or something like that."

Pirate sighed. He recounted the tale to his dad and then describing each of the events that happened to him, Ralph, and Dusty. Kaltag gave a shocked expression. "Jeez…that was a close call. So close even a fly couldn’t fly through or…" Pirate gave him a please-don’t-start-rambling-on-right-now look. Kaltag hushed himself. "Go on…"

"Well anyway she came up to me and told me the truth." Pirate told what had happened earlier that day. "I want to help her in whatever way." Kaltag gave a concerned look.

"But try not to find yourself in a fight that could cost your life." Pirate nodded.

"I’m going to the house with Shasta and Avalanche if they come. You and I can’t be the only ones who know the truth."

"Then I’m coming with you. I want to be on the upbeat of things to you know." Pirate smiled at his dad. "Lead the way." The two headed out into the night to Emily’s at a trot. Once to the comfy home, Pirate and Kaltag sneaked to the back of the small house. When they reached the gate, Pirate slipped his nose under the latch and pushed it up. The gate creaked open a bit and the red husky dashed inside. "You sure are handy with that nose son." Kaltag said as he slipped through the gate quietly. Pirate chuckled as he waited by the back door. "You sure they can hear you?" Kaltag asked as Pirate scratched at the door a few times.

"They’ll hear us, especially Avalanche." Pirate smiled and Kaltag had to smirk. Suddenly, the two could hear paw steps coming closer. Pirate backed a few steps away as the gray head of Avalanche emerged from the doggy door.

"Pirate! What are you doing here?" She snapped. Apparently, Avalanche wasn’t in the nicest mood about her sleep being disturbed.

"Hi there Avalanche." He spoke cheerfully trying to cheer her up. It didn’t work. She growled. "May we come in? It is urgent." He asked.

"We?" Avalanche wondered then her blue eyes fell on Kaltag. "I’m so sorry Kaltag, I didn’t see you standing there." She looked at Pirate again. There was something in his eyes, like a haunting shadow or an innocent glint of light. Whatever it was, it held the urgent thoughts. "Well if it’s urgent, come on in."

"Thank you." Pirate spoke softly. She smiled before pulling her front body back through the door to let the other huskies in. Kaltag entered first and as Pirate was walking through the door, Shasta was arousing from her sleep.

"Who is it?" Shasta asked before giving a yawn.

"I’m a little gremlin ready to pounce on your dreams." Pirate responded. Shasta gave a chuckle.

"Very funny Pirate." Pirate chuckled. Shasta got up and led the three to the living room, where the bits of the fire were slowly dying.

As they sat down around in a circle, Avalanche asked, "So what’s so urgent?" Shasta’s head snapped to attention. Pirate sighed.

"The white dog, Spitz/Husky cross isn’t causing the bad luck." He waited for a response and there was none. "It’s the black wolf dog. He’s savage and will not think once about attacking anything, canine or man. For some reason which I believe his negative attitude is causing such bad luck to others."

"So you’re saying it’s this black wolf dog known as Demon is the one causing all the trouble? What makes you think this? Cuz every time she pops up, bad things happen to good people!" Avalanche spoke harshly. Shasta shot her a hard glare for speaking so harshly.

"True but Pirate how do you know this?" Shasta asked.

Pirate sighed and glanced over to his dad. Kaltag nodded. Pirate raised his head. "I have spoken to the white dog." Avalanche gasped and Shasta gave an oh. "Her name is Crystal. She does not mean harm to anyone except Demon. Demon killed her owner and so she attacked his. Demon enraged at her, apparently vowed to himself to one day kill Crystal and hope to rid himself of his lost owner."

"How will this help?" Avalanche spoke. Shasta was thinking about it, the new information treading in her mind.

"Don’t you see Avalanche?" Avalanche looked at Shasta. Shasta rose to her feet. "Demon is causing the bad luck as to what Pirate said, his nasty attitude. Also Pirate you mentioned to rid himself of his lost owner?" Pirate nodded. "Demon if I’m correct, still feels fiercely loyal to his owner and he thinks that killing Crystal will finally let his master peaceful rest."

Everyone in the room was confused at what Shasta just said. "You lost me on the second sentence." Kaltag spoke. Shasta just sighed. Pirate had always been amazed at how quick of a mind Shasta had.

Shasta explained the theory and finally some heads were nodding in agreement. "But do you know when he will strike?" Avalanche asked. Suddenly, an eerie howl floated on the chilly wind. Pirate walked cautious to the window, wondering what he would see or would he see anything. He reared on his back legs and placed his paws on the sill. As Pirate peered through the glass, he saw nothing at first then he saw him. When he walked, his shoulder blades could be seen under the skin. Some of his ribs were showing and he had some flesh missing from his left hind leg, something Pirate didn’t notice when he first met him. Demon’s neck level with back, his piercing yellow eyes, shifted from side to side. Already two dogs were with him, and out of the alley another joined him.

"I think you need to come look at this." Pirate spoke without taking his eyes off the wolf dog. Kaltag rushed to the window and spotted them.

"Man he’s a real ugly son of a…"

"Hey!" Avalanche snapped.

Kaltag gave her an annoyed look. "I was going to say feline." Kaltag moved out of the way so Shasta could see. She gasped.

"Do you think he’s gathering a small army?" She asked. Once Avalanche heard army, she shoved herself onto the window.

"Man you were right Kaltag! I bet he wasn’t the most friendliest when he was a pup." Avalanche exclaimed. Pirate’s thoughts were racing. What could they do? How could they warn her? How could they find Crystal? He suddenly snatched an idea.

"Avalanche and Shasta! Gather up the mail team. Kaltag find any dog that’s awake and not taking forces with Demon." Pirate put his front paws back on the floor.

"And where do you think you’re going?" Shasta asked.

"I’m going to warn Crystal. And it seems we’re going to need all the help we can get." He replied. The other three looked at each other.

"Son I don’t think it’s a good idea." Kaltag spoke. Pirate looked at his father.

"Do you want a dog like Demon, running around on Halloween, terrorizing children, dogs, and everything else?" Kaltag looked a little ashamed.

"I see the point."

Pirate walked to the back door. "Now come on, we got a plan. Stick to it. Bring all the dogs you can round up and meet me at that old shack, where Crystal lives." Before anyone could object, the red husky was out the door and dashing down the street the other way from Demon.

Kaltag looked at the two. "Now you heard Pirate. Let’s get to it!" Avalanche barked and Shasta smiled. The three headed outside and went their separate ways. Avalanche galloped to the home of Kodi and Kirby. Shasta went down the alley to where Ralph resided. As she got to Ralph’s box, she slowed to a walk to regain some breath from her hard running. "Ralph?" Ralph was sound asleep, snoring loudly. She sighed and whispered a bit louder, "Ralph." He didn’t budge. Shasta nudged his paw. Ralph gave a snort and tucked his paw under him, without opening his eyes. Shasta growled and yelled, "Ralph!" Ralph startled awake.

"What did I miss? Uh?" He looked at Shasta before giving a yawn. "What is it Shasta?"

"Ralph you have to come quick! We got to pick up Dusty and get going!" He arched a brow at her.

"Why?"

Shasta growled. "There’s no time to explain. Someone needs our help!" Once she said help, Ralph stood to his feet and jumped to the ground.

"You said we have to pick up Dusty?" He asked and Shasta nodded. Without another word, the two started off at a run to Dusty’s which wasn’t far.

***

Pirate looked up at the rickety shack as he stood 10 yards from it. He swallowed his fear as he thought back to the chill he would feel. He felt the chill a little but he shook it off. He raised his head and howled. Pirate waited and then his ears picked up the sound of creaking wood. His ears perked as his eyes were locked onto the front of the house. "Pirate?" Pirate’s head whipped to the porch on the right, where the white female stood. Crystal hopped to the ground and walked closer, clearly surprised to see him