In the shadowy dominion of night, Balto awoke to find himself nestled into Jenna's side, a bear skin rug beneath them, and with the gentle thrum of the fireplace droning on. Thus it had been for the past several weeks since his return, wherein the diptheria epidemic had been checked and Jenna's owners had taken him in willingly. He was still getting used to domestic life, and wasn't sure if he would ever grow fully accustomed to it. At the very least he was still a sled dog: Leading the team back to Nome in near blind conditions had earned him a new-found respect amongst the dogs and humans, and as a subsequent result he was elected as lead dog of the team that Kaltag, Nikki, and Star ran - the team that was formerly Steele's.

He had seen little and less of the husky since his return. While he ran mail, wood, and gold, Steele was either staying at home or with another team doing other things - he wanted naught to do with Balto, and the half-breed didn't entirely blame him. His situation was deserved, but it was understandable. Steele was the top dog, Nome's revered hero, and now he was an outcast much as Balto had been. The wolf-dog could relate, even if the relation was vague.

There was an impetuous rapping at the door, and Balto perked up his ears. Jenna woke up and nuzzled him sleepily, and the humans fidgeted beneath their fur blankets. The knock came again, and the two dogs got to their feet. Balto opened his maw in a yawn, and Jenna pranced over to her owners' bed, coyly pulling off the covers and wiggling her tail. Shivering, the man nudged his wife. "Josie, could you get that?" he said.

With a yawn of her own, Josephine got out of bed, plucking the blanket from Jenna's teeth and setting it back. Donning her slippers, she meandered over to the door and managed a tired "Who is it?".

"It's Phil," came the reply. Phil was one of the town's mushers, running mail to and fro. He had been a long time acquaintance of Josephine and her husband Jonathan, and when he showed up at late hours, it was usually bearing bad news. Knowing this, Josie reluctantly opened the door. Phil smiled sheepishly, a carosine lamp in his hand. "Josie, it's good to see you. May I come in?"

"You don't have to ask twice," she replied, shivering slightly.

Nodding, he entered and set his lamp on the table, turning the flame down low.

"Can I take your coat?" Josie enquired.

"No, thank you," he said. "I'll be off again shortly; I'm just checking in."

"What about?" came Jon's voice as he sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes.

"Well, I'll be curt with you folks; the mayor's daughter has gone missing. He has people going door to door looking for her, but so far no luck. That's what I'm here about."

Josephine and her husband glanced at each-other uncertainly. "We don't know anything about that, but it's mighty odd," she said, looking over to their daughter. Rosy laid peacefully asleep beneath the covers.

"Where would a girl run off to in the middle of nowhere?" Jon added. "It's not like there's many places to go."

"That's why we're searching the town first. If luck has it, she'll be here somewhere - otherwise I don't know what we'll do." He picked up his lamp, then made for the door. "Well, I should keep looking. Sorry for waking you."

"It's all right. Good luck out there," Josie said.

"Thanks. You all take care." He smiled at the dogs and doffed his musher's cap, then stepped out into the cold night.

Josie and Jon returned to bed, minds abuzz with the news. It was seldom that people went missing in Nome, and more seldom for children to do so. Perhaps she had gotten lost in the alleys, or took an unannounced excursion to a friend's house. If she couldn't be found, then they had no doubt that their dogs would be involved in some manner of search team. Balto and Jenna were some of the best sled-dogs in town, and Balto's wolf blood had proven him an excellent tracker - they would be the first to be picked.

Settling down, the two of them closed their eyes and surrendered themselves to sleep - but Balto and Jenna stood wide awake, for they knew a great toil was ahead of them.