It was clear that days after Scottia giving birth to her and Koyuk's quintuplets, it would be a time to celebrate. Beringo and his friends celebrated, of course, but instead of Beringo having five rounds of meals for guessing the number of puppies correctly, he settled down with just one round, leaving other four rounds for his friends instead.

To think about it, Beringo knew that the town of Nome blossomed with a canine population over the next few months. His friends, save for Roger who was still waiting for the arrival of his puppies, his classy friends, himself and he had heard the rumors that not even Fritz was a father, but his three friends happened to have fathered their litters.

"How did these three ever found their mates is beyond me, honestly!" Dakota commented this situation one day, finding it bizarre how someone as sneaky, cheating and malicious as Cosmo, Laurel and Hardy were, would even have their own families one day. While her puppies were playing with Hallie's, Beringo shrugged: "I have no idea, Dakota. Sometimes it is better not to seek the answers like that."

"I know, but seeing what Fritz and namely his friends did to you that time long ago is still jarring." Dakota explained how she couldn't take this kindly in any way possible. Truth to be said, as long as they did not care for the dogs of their rival team, they could have been safe and sound. Hallie soon joined the talk, asking: "What's going on, you two?"

"Eh, nothing. Just how Fritz's pals are now fathers." Beringo told his quirky friend when she lied down, almost snorting from laughter when she heard it. However, she asked this not bothering to take it seriously: "Are you kidding me?! I mean, sure, Fritz and Della are normally together, but those three… the snitch, the fatso and the jerk are now the fathers?"

"It appears to be so. As long as they don't try to do anything dumb and malicious to our puppies, then we can breathe normally." Dakota let her friend know, showing no sympathy whatsoever, even for the puppies! Just then, Hallie asked Beringo at once: "Beringo, I know that we may be annoying by asking you this, but how long are we going to wait to meet your puppies?"

"Yeah! And besides, you can be safe with us when it comes to Aniu, honestly!" Dakota made sure she stayed loyal to her words, to which he had told them: "Here's the thing - tomorrow I'm seeing Aniu and our puppies and I'll discuss this with her and since she may trust you at this point, I say from that day on, my puppies will get to meet yours!"

"Hear that, we're meeting his puppies!" Hallie didn't hesitate to share those news to Justin and Indiana was nearby, as the two were talking about something. Fortunately, Roger was not present and even Beringo didn't look like he wanted her to say this out loud. Even so, Justin spoke smugly: "Well, well, well, about time someone figured that out!"

"Yeah, yeah, you just joke about it, guys, but I'm honest this time around!" Beringo let them know, genuinely hoping that they were going to have the chance to meet his puppies this time around. Indiana himself liked where this was going so he called: "Puppies, hey puppies! Come over here! There's something you're not going to want to miss hearing!"

"Huh, what's that, daddy?" Max headed first, hoping that if it was coming from Beringo, then his father was right. Even Molly rushed with Max to hear it first, all while Audrey, Michael, Yukon and Palmer took it easy, with Audrey's reaction to those two rushing being like: "Oh, come on!" It wasn't enough as Molly asked: "Beringo, what's uncle Indiana saying? Is it something big?"

"You have no idea, Molly! In fact, it is more like someone!" Beringo happily told them about this and of course, both Max and Molly looked at one another, thinking that this couldn't be any better. Even so, Max had to ask: "And who is that someone… or who are?" Whatever Beringo had to say, both the dark brown male puppy and gray female puppy were happily anticipating.

"You see, honey, Beringo happens to have his own family too! Not to mention, his puppies are around your age!" Dakota told her son about that someone they were going to meet. One of Molly's brothers, Palmer, was curious: "If Beringo has his family and puppies, then how come we didn't play with them?"

"That's because, my son, they live outside the town. They're special!" Justin assured his youngest son what was awaiting them, to which Audrey's response was: "Outside the town? Daddy, that doesn't sound really safe to me!" Though Indiana had other things in mind: "Audrey, mind your talk! And as uncle Justin says, they're special!"

"How special?" Yukon asked, also showing some insecurity about this meeting. Though, Hallie, who bore the most prejudices about Aniu and wolves, told the pups a lesson she learned herself: "Pups, know that no matter what kind of dog breed or even species the young ones are, don't judge them by the looks, but make sure they have a heart of gold!"

"Like what if we were to to befriend a polar bear cub?" Michael joked on this, not being able to collect the two pieces of puzzle, although Molly contradicted it: "Truth to be said, I think you're right, mommy! Maybe I get to befriend a polar bear cub one day, how's that for an idea?" This was something the adult dogs were surprised, somewhat positively, to hear, Molly deciding to look after heart first.

"Don't you think that's a crazy idea, Molly?" Audrey, of course, always had something opposite to add, only for Max to stand by his friend's side rather than sister's: "Audrey, please! If we're meeting that someone or those someone soon. Uncle Beringo, do you think we'll have lots of fun?" The parents and Beringo were heard laughing delightfully.

"Why not? Besides, maybe these will be your new friends like you two already are!" Beringo encouraged them that there was nothing they could be afraid of but rather enjoy the fun that was coming to them these days. It was all on Aniu as well to make her decision if she was willing to meet them soon and how would that reflect for the future.

The next day, just eight days after Koyuk and Scottia's puppies had come to the world, Beringo was with his friends, all of them, home. They were having their usual talk and revelation that they might have finished with mail deliveries for this season, which was reasonable, as the snow was way too mushy for a sled, though today was cold, even for the end of April.

"So, what are you up to for today?" Beringo wondered about their interests this specific day before going to meet up with Aniu and his puppies today, with an important decision to make today. Roger first answered him: "You know me, being by Shanice's side and making sure no harm comes to her, classic." Not even others seemed like they had anything else in mind.

"We'll be with puppies as usual and take them out for a walk, so nothing new over here." Justin let them know, as if ever since they heard the season of mail delivery was over, it'd be a routine for each one of them, to which Dakota said: "You know, I noticed today was a bit colder so if a new snow falls, this may give us an another mail delivery to do!"

"Don't sweat it, Dakota. I think I had enough for this season." Indiana lazily replied to his mate, resting on his back and thinking how the holidays for him had come and so did for the others. Hallie stood to her friend's side: "Easy for you to say! Dakota and I have been in only few ever since we returned. Maybe this will be a new chance."

"Maybe so, I'd not mind one last proper mail delivery." Beringo gave the piece of his mind about this, clearly standing on their side. As usual, Roger was sometimes in his own world when he said: "Alright, you won't mind me if I go now to Shanice? The birth should be any day soon!" They were pretty much excited for him about him being a father.

"Roger? I will come with you to talk to you and others, just gotta make something clear with puppies and others over here, alright?" Beringo stood up, having his intentions before heading outside the town. Roger didn't see anything odd about it, knowing his friend to say: "Alright, I'll wait outside." With that said, he got through the dog doors and Beringo made sure the sound wouldn't come to him, yet.

"Indiana, Dakota, Justin, Hallie… I'm going to tell others about Aniu. Not necessarily her name and who she is, but I'll let them know about who they'll meet very soon." Beringo looked to each one of them, revealing that even he couldn't keep Aniu a secret to him and his friends and even his puppies. They welcomed his decision.

"Beringo! Beringo! Is that someone you mentioned we'll meet the new friends?" Molly asked curiously the lead dog of her parents' team and his answer was him stroking her head with a paw, answering: "Yes of course, Molly! I will make sure that you are going to enjoy playing with them once you see who they are!" Max of course, shared that same enthusiasm although Molly's brothers and Audrey - didn't, but latter one the most.

"Alright then, I shall see you the other day!" He greeted his friends one by one as they all did the same thing, feeling like the next day was going to be something completely different now that Beringo's family was going to be revealed to them! Once he left the house, Roger was already waiting long enough to ask: "Well, what took you that long?"

"I'll tell you everything on the way to Shanice's, unless someone friendly passed by so I'll have to repeat myself." Beringo explained to him, sounding like it was a pretty important announcement to share away. Walking down the streets, he was about to say it when he heard the familiar: "Beringo, Roger, ye lads! Wha' is going on new?"

"Well, you weren't kidding, a friendly face indeed… and Lewis isn't alone either!" Roger was amused by how Beringo's words of coming across someone was either a coincidence or a good timing. Koyuk was by Lewis' side, explaining: "Hey, you two! Scottia asked me to see if there are any news about you and Shanice's family? Are there?"

"Sorry, not yet, Koyuk. But any day soon!" Roger let him know that there was nothing to worry about the arrival of his puppies, to which seemed like a relief and even Lewis was taking this lightly: "More wee anes, aye? My, my, this town gets bigger awry month langer ah am 'ere!" He wasn't wrong due to a 'puppy boom'.

Was this a coincidence that he was seeing three dogs at once he wanted to tell them about his secret? He kept it for too long and he no longer wanted to have it as a secret and they all deserve to know… Those were the thoughts rumbling in Beringo's head when he noticed those three talking to one another, but their talk was inaudible to him at the moment until…

"Roger, Lewis, Koyuk, there's something I need to share with you… and I think I shall let you know about it briefly." Beringo finally said it, being aware of what he was saying and now he was not going to back down to which they looked at him curiously, Koyuk asking: "What is it?" It felt like this secret was now more of a burden than a relief.

"Roger, you've been assuming that I was single all these months, over a year, right? Well, that was something I have been telling you because… Lewis, Koyuk, I have someone in my life, only that she lives outside the town." Beringo let them know about the most basic things they could know right now, causing them to raise their eyebrow.

"Are ye sayin' that ye ha' yer own lassie, aye?" Lewis was quite surprised by this revelation, clearly not seeing this one coming and Beringo answered: "I say you're right, Lewis. The thing is, I have a special bond that has lasted over a year and like all of you, I have a family with her, but the thing is, I had made a deal with her that I wasn't going to tell anyone until the time was meant to be for me to tell you."

"Oh…?" Roger was clearly taken off guard by this revelation, not assuming at one point anything odd about Beringo's secret, but as he was finding it out, it felt all that strange, letting Beringo speak: "Look, I didn't want to hide it from you, but since the rest of the team knows about her for some time, I think it was about time for me to reveal it."

"Did you say you have a family with that female? That's wonderful!" Koyuk clearly wasn't expecting for anything else to happen but joyful memories to come if he was to meet Beringo's puppies, not being aware who they were. Roger asked him: "If she lives outside the town, she… she is not dangerous, is she?"

"Heaven forbid, no!" Beringo didn't like hearing anything about Aniu being 'dangerous' because she wasn't. Even Lewis felt that word was not fitting in, telling Roger: "Ach, dinnae say yon! Ye never ken if a lassie is a sweetheart, Roger!" Roger backed up a bit, feeling a bit ashamed for saying these words: "I didn't mean it."

"We know that you didn't, it's fine now." Beringo let him know that he didn't mean any hard feelings to him for asking such question. Now these news reached them quite unexpectedly. Koyuk thought about it to let him know: "Beringo, if I were to see your female and your family, you should know that Scottia won't be able to see them for at least a month."

"Same with Shanice, she doesn't go outside a lot these days." Roger also found himself in this situation, relating quite well to Koyuk's situation, to which Beringo let them know: "Trust me, if she agrees, as of tomorrow you'll see the secret I didn't want to reveal but I guess that I couldn't hold it any longer." No one actually seemed to resent him for that.

"Dinnae worry, me lad. Ance we see yer lassie and yer wee anes, we will be sure to warmly welcome them!" Lewis enthusiastically told him what he had in mind, clearly not wanting to let his son figure down over a secret. "After all, Koyuk lad ha' five wee anes: Dom… Saba… Jenna… wha' are the names af ither two?"

"Manitoba and Seward." Roger got this quicker than Koyuk, which was surprising due to Roger not being really known for fast thinking to which he amusingly asked them: "What? Even I have some hidden depths!" They were all nodding, all while the cold wind stirred their furs, with Beringo's answer being: "That you do."

"Say, Lewis, why don't you come and see our puppies again and try to memorize their names once more?" Koyuk invited him to his place so he could get himself familiarized with the little ones, his answer being: "Ah dinnae see why nae. Well, ye two lads hold in there and ah will see ye later!" Thus the red classy husky and a grumpy shepherd had walked away.

"So, are you going to tell me a bit more about her? I mean, we're in the team, Beringo!" Roger asked him, continuing to Shanice's place and just as they were in front of her house, he told him: "You have to wait until others know too! So, you'll have to wait for more details the other time." Roger looked at him with the smirk on his face, saying: "Alright then, keep your secrets!" On the other paw, Koyuk was definitely going to tell this to Scottia.

"Now you go inside and make sure you say hello to Shanice in my name! Oh wait, there she is." Beringo was to beckon him to get in the house, but as the doors opened, a man on the doors and Shanice by his legs, to which she spoke in her sweet voice: "I was wondering whose voice I could have heard from outside! Nice to see you too, Beringo."

"Hi, Shanice! How are you holding?" Beringo politely asked her, knowing that the courtesy was the answer in these situations. She walked slowly to her mate and nuzzled him, trying to to strain herself due to her pregnancy, answering: "Oh you know… any day soon our puppies will be born and we'd like you first to come and see them!"

"Really? Me first?" Beringo asked them, being surprised by this gesture. Roger's face said it all: "Well, I won't lie to you, but out of all friends Shanice has met, she told me you're the one she ended up liking the most so that is something to be thankful for, my friend!" Two words were enough indeed, albeit with a stutter coming from Beringo: "T-thank you."

"You're welcome… uh, I already feel exhausted from standing out here, Roger. I can't even be a minute outside and it's driving me crazy!" Shanice groaned, thinking how unfair it was that her pregnancy forced her to be home for most of the time. Roger just told her: "Easy, Shanice! Come on, let's get you back to the bed. Beringo, good luck out there."

"Thank you, Roger, same to you and Shanice." Beringo kindly answered him as he moved on to the outskirts of the city, leaving Shanice to wonder what they were talking about and judging by the look on Roger's face, he was going to tell him what Beringo shared with him and it seemed like he'd be fine with that either way.

Leaving the town behind, thinking how things were going to change with this revelation, he continued onwards, brushing it off how it was windy today. Sure, even clouds were seen coming from the north, but they did not seem like a trouble. Besides, he could spot the puppies and Aniu from the distance, former ones getting excited about their father coming.

"Puppies, hey! I have some great news for you! Aniu, hello!" Beringo saw the puppies in stampede as they were excitedly bouncing around him and Aniu nuzzled him in process, being delighted he could manage today to meet up with them. She asked him: "Beringo, would you like to go to the forest nearby for a walk? We can talk about your great news!"

Since going to the forest was sort of activity every once in a while for Beringo, he normally accepted, telling puppies: "Come on now, you four! While we walk and talk, I am going to tell you about the upcoming days!" The puppies stuck close to their parents as they were leaving the old boat behind, making Aurora ask: "What will happen then, daddy?"

"First I will ask your mother what she thinks and then we will have something to discuss as well!" Beringo let them know what was coming first and as much as the puppies wanted to know, they knew that they had to be patient. Aniu asked: "Well… did you talk to your friends? Anything about me and our puppies?"

"Yes." Beringo spoke, stepping in the first line of pine trees after walking up the hill. Aniu followed him soon after and now that at least part of his friends knew about her, but not the other part or puppies to which she told him: "Beringo, I may or may not be welcomed by them, but if your friends' young ones are eager to meet ours, then I may settle with that."

"What are you saying, mama?" Juneau heard something about 'young ones', as if that meant that they were not the only puppies in this surrounding, her mother answering: "Juneau, your father has spoken to his friends from the town and we've been discussing to meet his friends and their younger ones who may be your friends to play with!"

"You mean, we will have more company to play with?" Eyak's tail wagged when he heard the word 'play', indicating his excitement for more friends, to which Aniu answered: "That's right, my dear son. I have been thinking about your father's plan and I think now it is a good time you get to meet the dogs of the town and their young ones!"

The puppies' joy could not be tamed at this point when they heard who they were meeting the following days. Passing through the forest, Aniu had to ask: "Beringo, I met four of your friends that night, but what about the others? What about their young ones?" Each one of them had to be taken in an account to discuss.

"Well, the fifth friend who was not there that night is Roger. He's the food loving teammate who doesn't always think bright, but he's now going to be a father soon, with his mate - Shanice. Sadly, you won't get to meet her soon because she's too tired to talk anywhere away from her house, but she's a pretty friendly female." Beringo briefly described the other half of his friends.

Giving her some time to soak that information, he carried on: "Then there are two friends who are a bit wealthier than me but they're incredibly generous. Their names are Koyuk and Scottia and you won't meet Scottia soon because not long ago she became a mother. Then there's Lewis, a middle aged shepherd from the distant land who's become a father figure to me ever since my real family moved away years ago. They may be different, but I am sure that once they know about us and our history, they may accept you."

Aniu briefly glanced at the human town from the forest hill, thinking how it was going to be to bond with those canines whose owners were humans and albeit none of them were responsible for that skirmish years ago, she felt a bit uneasy, but at the same time, she settled with: "I think I will get to like your friends if I must say!"

"Good! Puppies, you may be interested to hear about young ones!" Beringo called them to come closer and once gathered around, Balto was fast enough to ask first: "When are we going to meet them, mama, daddy? Will they like us?" Aniu smiled to her youngest pup, nuzzling him to whisper warmly: "Of course they will, Balto. I will give my words for that."

Balto, out of all his siblings, actually felt like every second he had spent with his mother was the most precious moment in his life he'd been living for the past two months. Sure, he loved his father and siblings, but nothing that could break his bond with his mother, her white fur, her golden eyes and her soft and warm voice that'd keep him safe.

"Who are those young ones, daddy?" Juneau still wondered who they were, how they looked like and how they were like in terms of personality. Beringo let them know: "Well, I will tell you altogether! The twins of one litter are Max and Audrey. He's got his parents' love for mail delivery like me while she is more interested in being in the center of attention."

"Are there more?" Aurora wondered if those two were going to be enough for them, to which Beringo continued: "There is the other litter of four, one female and three males. I don't know the males that well, but I do know that little Molly shares the same love as little Max! I think with those two you may end up getting along better."

"I can't wait to meet them then!" Eyak joyfully bounced around the snow and trees when he heard who he was meeting the following days. The joy of the family could be heard in the forest, clearings and mountain slopes. Though, what had followed ceased their joy gradually when they felt on their furs that the wind was getting stronger and the clouds from the north had increased in numbers, also growing darker.

"This is not a good sign! Aniu, Juneau, Eyak, Aurora, Balto! Stick close! I think the snowstorm is coming!" Beringo didn't like this at all, feeling the temperature dropping and the mother nature getting unrested. Aurora asked: "Daddy?! What's going on, why is suddenly everything moving?!" There was only one thing they had in mind - return!

"Stick to your father! We're returning to the boat!" Aniu shouted, knowing what kind of danger lied in being separated from one another in this blizzard. With every second it was gaining on strength and after the first few weak snowflakes, they became bigger and bigger, to which Beringo shouted: "Stick close to one another! We can not let ourselves separate from one another!"

"Daddy, wait!" Juneau managed to stick close to her father and it was hard to see her, only her face revealing her position and Eyak was even harder to spot as the storm was raging and raging, for which Eyak yelled: "Daddy, wait for me! I don't want to get lost!" He also stuck close to his father all while Aurora and Balto were together with Aniu, both shivering in fear.

"Daddy, look out!" Aurora yelled when she saw Beringo stepping on something that was crumbling below his paws and before he could realize, in the mist, wind and snow, he ended up losing his grip and falling with the scream down, albeit Juneau and Eyak remained above with Aniu, whose scream was overpowered with the wind: "Beringo!"

The fall lasted like for three seconds and once he landed down, Beringo surprisingly remained conscious and he didn't feel the pain once he hit the ground. He cold must have numbed his senses that he ended up landing in the pile of the snow. He carefully got on his paws, yelling to above: "Aniu! Puppies! Wait, I'll come back to you!"

As he moved on, he stumbled and almost collapsed in the raging blizzard, blaming the fall and concussion for disorientating him. Still, he could not lay down there because he had to find his way above and make sure that his mate and their puppies were on safety! This was not the time for playing any kind of games, but a rescue!

Then he felt the weakness in his legs and almost collapsed again, now feeling the frostbite on his paw pads. This could not be good… he could not let his senses go numb in this situation and the climbing up the hill was going to be challenging if he kept collapsing! He gained some more strength to move, as long as his legs were allowing to…

But for the third time he moved in the raging storm, he actually collapsed and while he did not feel the pain at first, he actually started to feel something on his torso… possibly the frostbite?! Once he gained his pawing, he moved on and glanced at where it hurt him in the torso and his eyes widened in shock and horror!

He was leaving the red spots behind him, dripping from the wound he sustained in that fall and more he paid attention to the found, more it pained him… He needed a medicine, a treatment! Nome was so close, yet so far to reach and the blizzard was just making him disoriented… and where were his family, his friends?!

He stretched his neck while he could stand and hoping that his wound was not going to strain him further, he let out the loud and deep howl, hoping it was going to be loud enough to break the raging of the storm and alert anyone nearby that he was in danger. It didn't strain him that bad, but he felt the pain and exhaustion overcome him as he collapsed on the snow ground again…

"Beringo…! Beringo! Beringo, I am here…!" He had no clue how long was he unconscious, but he could hear a sweet voice in the distance… Aniu! Did she hear his distress howl and followed it?! And what about their puppies?! Were they with her or they were somewhere on safety?! Beringo opened his eyes to see where the voice was coming from.

"Aniu?! Aniu! Juneau, Eyak?! Aurora! Balto!? WHERE ARE YOU!?" Beringo shouted as loud as he could and as long as the pain and wound allowed him. He mustered the strength to follow the voices as long as he could orientate himself. The snow was causing more frostbite on his wound and it was aching him harder, with him hardly being able to combat his pain…

Then he collapsed for the last time and seeing that he was in the middle of nowhere, in the raging blizzard, the town being too far to reach and the voices coming from anywhere… was this how it was going to end? The tears were already streaming down his eyes as he couldn't believe that this was his possible end of the line…

"Beringo!" That voice of Aniu's… he heard it and it was much closer than he could believe! With the snow already covering him, he noticed at his right and his hope rekindled in his eyes, there she was! The puppies were not with her, making him to assume they were on safety, to which he spoke: "Aniu! Oh, Aniu, I almost lost the hope!"

She walked up to him and she seemed like she was able to master her walk in the storm and while doing so, Beringo reached with the last bits of his strength for Aniu and just as his paw was touch hers, something that he was not hoping for happened. His paw just passed right through hers, as if there was no solid place to land!

"What…?!" Beringo asked in disbelief, trying once again to put his paws on hers, hoping that he was not hallucinating. However, when he did it for the second time, he was in utter disbelief when his paw passed right through hers, to which he looked her in the eyes and asked: "Aniu… I don't understand! What's going on?!"

Aniu gracefully lowered herself down in front of him, but the grief on her face was saying it all: "Beringo… I am so sorry! I have found the cave where I have put our puppies to the safety and I promised I would have returned to them, but as I was searching for you… something pierced me in the air and the next thing I knew was…"

"No, you can't be…!" Beringo could not believe with his own ears and eyes, but Aniu's words crushed his final hope: "...I have awoken, but by body laid down in the snow and I am a spirit only talking to you..." A tragedy that he had almost come across and was now unravelling in front of his eyes and he was about to meet his fate… "No… that cannot be true!"

More tears were streaming down his cheeks as he was too weak to move, at the gates of his demise. However, he felt how Aniu was closer to him and even if she was only a spirit now, he felt like she was very alive and well to him. He sobbed, realizing he was passing, and muttered: "Aniu… I am not going to make it… I don't know what will be with our puppies… I have lost everything…"

"Beringo, don't say that! I wish I could help you return, but the greatest comfort I can offer you is to stay with you to the end and one other thing that will rekindle your hope again!" Aniu didn't let go of her mate even if she was in afterlife. If only she could nurse him to health one more time so he could return home…

"What… what will rekindle my hope…?" Beringo muttered, wondering if it had to do something with his puppies? It did, at least in one paw: "When I returned as a spirit, I saw Balto roaming all by himself in the storm, calling for me… until an unexpected animal had come across him and protected our son from the raging storm… he lives and that is what matters the most, as long as his siblings do!"

With the last moments of his short lived life, the memories flashed in Beringo's head… his puppyhood, his siblings and parents, his friends as puppies, them as teenagers and adults, Lewis, Koyuk, Scottia, his rivals, him meeting Aniu for the first time, his love for her, his friends having families on their own, the promises and ideas he'd given to their puppies what they could do… his own family up until this very moment, fatally wounded and aching in frostbite and snow that was not weakening, away from his home…

"I love you, Aniu… Not even death will let me be apart with you!" Bering spoke with the last bits and his love for Aniu would be the final ones when Aniu replied to him, tears down her cheeks, saying: "I love you too, my dear Beringo… may our family find the brightness in the dark that is to overcome them with us being no more…" Before his soul parted from the body to join Aniu in the afterlife, Beringo was certain that his puppies were not gone and would live to see another day...