did you get back?" She asked.

Nick smiled and sat down in front of her. "...not too long ago Ma'am." He said.

Ami shook her head a little and laughed softly. "Nick, I think we've known each other long enough to drop the Ma'am thing, don't you?"

Nick chuckled. "...sure thing Ami." He said.

Ami smiled at him. "So, what brings you by here so late?" She asked.

Nick smiled sheepishly and looked at the chamber floor. "Well I uh... just wanted to let you know that I was right next door."

Ami laughed. "Nick, you've always been next door."

Nick chuckled. "Yeah, I guess so, huh?" He said. "It's just that... I ran into Timbre on my way here and he said that you were sick so... I thought that I'd drop in and check on you and let you know that if you need anything... I'm right next door."

Ami smiled. "Aww Nick," she said. "That's sweet, thank you."

"You're welcome Ami." He said. "So, how are you?"

Ami sighed. "I guess I've been better." She said. "I've been sick the last couple days."

"Oh, that sucks." Nick said.

Ami nodded. "Tell me about it." She said. "It started a few days ago, I just felt tired all day, thought I might just need to get more sleep, but then yesterday I started feeling sick and today I actually collapsed."

"...oh?" Nick said.

Ami nodded. "Yeah, I was just coming back from a patrol and I stepped into the cave, I'd been feeling bad the whole day, but I stepped into the cave and all of a sudden I felt really light headed... that's the last thing I remember. I guess one of the members of the unit brought me up here. Timbre and Dash came to see me. They decided I was too sick to stand duty, so Dash appointed one of the wolves in Timbre's unit as COG for the day and Timbre volunteered to take my unit out on patrol tonight."

"Well that was nice of him." Nick said.

Ami nodded. "Yeah..." She sighed. "...but I feel bad for having to make him do it. He just got back off patrol last night. This is supposed to be one of his easier days."

Nick nodded. "Yeah... I wouldn't worry about Timbre though, he's a strong guy."

Ami nodded as well. "Yeah... but he still needs his rest." She paused and sighed. "I don't know... I guess I just feel kind of useless right now."

Nick smiled. "Well you shouldn't." He said. "You're sick, nothin' you can do about that. Just take the time they gave you and rest up so you'll get better faster. Then you can resume your duties. Don't worry about it now."

Ami smiled. "Yeah, I guess you're right Nick." She said. She paused for a moment and then decided to change the subject of discussion. "So, did you find anyone?"

Nick sighed. "...only two." He said.

"...two?" Ami asked.

"Well actually one, but the other decided to follow him, so now there's two, though they're not too happy with each other right now."

"What clan are they from?" Ami asked.

Nick smiled. "..no clan apparently, don't even have a name for their pack. The guy is big, huge. He's the Alpha of his pack. His name is Achak. I'm thinking Dash might make him a Lieutenant and take some of the pressure off you guys." He said. "He seems to really know his stuff. The female is named Kiona. She seems kinda strange, but I'll bet she could hold her own too."

Ami nodded. "Nick, what happened to the others out there?"

Nick sighed. "I came across entire packs that had been slaughtered, even the pups... lying dead in the snow where they fell... others were decimated, crippled. They couldn't spare anyone, though a few of them said they would make their way here when they were able..." Nick's voice drifted off and he fell silent.

"That's horrible." Ami said. Nick nodded and she sighed. "We really need to kill Lytion."

Nick nodded again. "Yeah..." He said. Ami started coughing and Nick's expression turned to one of concern. "...are you alright Ami?" He asked.

Ami stopped coughing and nodded. "Yeah..." She said. She yawned. "I'm fine."

Nick smiled. "Well, I'm going to let you get some sleep, you need it."

Ami nodded. "...guess so." She said.

Nick smiled again. "...night Ami."

Ami yawned again and then smiled back at him. "...night Nick." She said.

Nick turned to walk from the chamber and again he was stopped by her voice.

"...and Nick?" She asked.

Nick stopped and turned back toward her.

"I know I'm a Lieutenant now, and with that I have some new responsibilities... but that doesn't mean we're not still friends first."

Nick smiled slightly. "...yeah." He said. "...friends." He said.

Ami smiled. "So I'll see you tomorrow right?" She asked.

Nick smiled and nodded. "...of course. I'll drop in and check on you."

Ami smiled back at him. "I'd like that Nick." She said.

"...till then then." Nick said. "...get some rest Ami."

Ami nodded. "I will, you too. You're bound to be tired."

Nick nodded. "Oh I will Ami, believe me."

Ami grinned at him. "...night Nick."

Nick smiled at her. "...night Ami." He responded. Then he turned and walked out of the chamber.

 

Balto was walking through the darkened streets of Nome, Alaska. He felt the cool crunch of snow underneath his paws as he walked along the ice covered sidewalk.

Suddenly he head a familiar voice call his name., drawing out the middle consonant. Balto's ears slid forward as he recognized the voice.

"...Jenna?" He asked. He ran a few more feet forward and stopped. "...Jenna!" He called.

Balto heard the call again.

"...Jenna!" He called. "Jen, hold on I'm coming!"

Balto took off running after her voice, darted into an alleyway, and leaped over a discarded crate. He followed the voice as it called his name four more times and skidded to a stop as he realized he was standing just across the street from the outskirts.

He hesitated, then heard the voice again, yelling this time. "...Balto!"

He through his inhibitions to the wind and sprinted into the outskirts and down an alley. Then he stopped as an ear piercing scream reverberated through the charred wooden walls of the alley.

"...Jen!" He called.

He heard a sound behind him as an old trash can overturned in the alley. He turned and saw Jenna's familiar form stumble into the alley. She was covered in dark red blood.

"...Jen!" He called.

What stumbled out of the alley next was impossible. Balto knew it was impossible, but it was real all the same.

Drake stumbled into the alley. He was a mottled shade of green. One eye dangled uselessly from it's socket, his bones showed through the tattered fur in several places. A large hole was torn in his shoulder.

Balto blinked a few times and saw Jenna stumble and fall in the alleyway. "..Jen!" He called. "Jen hang on!"

"He's after me Balto!" She called. She turned her head to look backward and screamed as she saw Drake behind her. Jenna looked back at him. "...help me." She pleaded. Her voice was racked by her sobs.

Balto couldn't move as Drake dropped his paw and slammed Jenna's head into the pavement. Then he knelt down and tore into Jenna's throat, covering the alley in a spray of bright red blood.

"....NO!" Balto yelled.

He blinked and they were both gone.

"...Jen!" He called. "...Jen where are

you?!" Balto ran out of the alley and skidded to a stop in front of the building just across the street from the more normal side of Nome, the edge of the outskirts. He froze at what he saw.

"...no..." He said. "...NO!"

Jenna was hanging from the front of the building. Her insides had been removed and her brown eyes were blank, dead. Her mouth was open in a silent scream that would echo through Balto's mind forever. "...NO!" He screamed. Above her hanging body were the words "help me" scrawled in bright wet blood.

Balto heard a sweet voice that all of a sudden filled him with warmth. "Go to her son."

Balto looked up and saw a white wolf in the window.

"...she needs you." The wolf said.

"...Mom?" Balto asked breathlessly.

Then Balto blinked and it was all gone...

 

Balto awoke shouting her name.

"...Dad? Dad it's okay." Melody said. She was gently shaking her father awake.

"...Melody?" Balto asked.

Melody nodded, her eyes full of concern for her father. "...yes." She said. "Yes it's me dad. It's alright."

Balto buried his face in his daughter's shoulder and sobbed.

"What's wrong Dad?" Melody asked.

Balto picked up his head. "...it's your Mother." He said.

"...what about Mom?" Melody asked.

"She's in trouble." Balto said. "I had a horrible dream... a nightmare..." he paused. "...it was Aniu." He said.

Melody's face contorted into a look of confusion. "What? No, Aniu is dead Dad." She said.

Balto shook his head. "I don't know how, but somehow she warned me. Your Mother is in trouble. Her life is in danger." He paused and looked at his daughter. "I have to go back home." He said.

Melody nodded. "Alright Dad, we'll talk to Dash in the morning."

Balto shook his head. "This won't wait that long." He said.

Melody shook her head. "Dad, Dash should know, he's the Alpha now."

Balto shook his head again. "No, you don't understand Melody." He said. "If I wait then your Mother will be dead by the time I get there."

"How do you know this?" Melody asked.

Balto shook his head. "I can't explain it Melody." He said. "I just know."

Melody looked at the seriousness on her father's face and paused for a moment. Then she nodded. "...alright." She said. "Go ahead. If you're right she needs you. I'll talk to Dash."

Balto nodded. "I'm right Melody." He said. "My dreams have never been wrong before."

Melody nodded. "...maybe... but with Aniu gone... well, there's a first time for everything."

Balto nodded. "I hope you're right

Melody." He paused. "I've got to go."

Melody nodded. "...take care of yourself Dad." She said.

Balto nodded. "...don't worry about me Melody." Balto said. "...just watch

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