to die in vengeance. Maybe that’s right – we have no home to return, no future to plan… I’m old, I’m going to die soon anyway. But she… It’s bad that she is doomed also. But we can’t let Taisten’s murderers to walk free.”

It was cold, so he nestled closer to sleeping wolfess. She moaned in her sleep, most likely taking old wolf as his son. “Let it be.” Thought former pawmaster. “Let at least in dreams she has some comfort, forbidden her in this cruel world.”

Blizzard raged on.

 

I. Strange Alliance

 

Corporal Buck was very proud to be corporal. He was already five day after his promotion.

He was assigned to little scouting team, consisting only two more wolves apart of him. But corporal repeated to himself that was an important mission. In Eagle Pass region, two months after official end of war something bad started to happen. More and more Talbourne liaisons and couriers missed. Just like that – were sent from Eagle Campsite to Shadow’s Team position further to Yukon Valley, but never reached that destination. So marshal sent searching team to investigate it. One of those teams was led by Buck.

His subordinates – just few weeks earlier his companions from security unit – that meant: Riik and Gin, were as young as he was and as avid to gain battle glory as he was. But Buck was the leader and hoped for the most. He really believe that he would find the cause of all losses. It was clear and sunny day – very warm as half of March – so tracking in that weather was easy. To kill the silence of marching, he started a talk with his companions. Again on the same subject.

“Those are bloody Uniea partisans. They still can’t believe we beat them.”

“Yeah, you beat them all, Your Corporaless.” Smirked Riik, but he made it quiet enough for commander not to hear him.

“Even you don’t believe it.” Replied Gin with emotional voice. He was maybe even more excited than Buck. “Sir Shadow drove away all remnants of Uniea far to east. They can’t operate in this region.”

“Some desolated group.” Replied corporal. “But we will beat them as we did in battle of Home Cave.”

To say that was overstatement was very kind for Buck. In day of battle of Home Cave he was just freshly allowed to combat private, guarding sidelines and was almost wiped out with his unit, but in last moment to attacking wolves of First Uniea Fang came news that Talkeet was dead and strike broke down. That why Buck survived battle and that is why he became a corporal.

“But how we could find them? That is so large area…”

“We are to search for trails…” replied Buck.

“Sir…” murmured Riik, stressing irony in his voice. “Maybe we drop those songs about future victories and look ahead? I guess to find anything we should be sharp and ready.”

“I am sharp and…” In that second they entered clearing between two masses of taiga forest. They all in the same moment noticed solitary silhouette of canine in the centre of glade. “…ready.” Finished corporal, ashamed he let that came so sudden.

He took a quick look around, searching for ambush, but after a while he came to conclusion that single creature on clearing was actually single. It was dog, black and white spitz – malamute most likely. He was hobbling into wolves direction, showing weariness and indecisiveness. However he was still coming closer to Talbournes.

Because dog was half-bended, they missed he was powerfully built and muscular. They noticed only he was rather old and lean. That’s why Buck and Gin jumped down from slope of hummock, two metres down on glade. Riik wanted to follow them, but he stopped in last second.

“Buck, maybe we should be careful…”

“Stay here, coward and cover us.” Snorted corporal and walked ahead. Gin went after him without hesitation. Meanwhile Riik came to conclusion that something was very, very wrong. He turned back and…

Two wolves came to dog. Malamute stopped and raised his head, watching on soldiers with surprise, as if he noticed them just then. Buck stepped forward and giving his voice tone of additional decisiveness, asked.

“Who are you? What are you doing here?”

“I’m just… passing by.” Replied dog, sounding of fear. “I did nothing wrong!”

“Perhaps.” Nodded Buck. “But if you were hanging here for some time, you might tell us about some of our friends that got lost here.”

“Here…” murmured dog, still with shivering voice. “That is very bad area. Many strange things happen here.” He came closer to wolf.

“Like what?” asked confused corporal. “Do you know something about Talbourne soldiers lost here?”

“Depends on which soldier you mean?” answered malamute with question. Buck felt a wave of premonitions, but he asked involuntary.

“For example Mitchell. He was a liaison.” Buck knew Mitchell since trials of recruitment.

“No.” Dog shook his head. “I don’t recall him.”

“And Betty of scouts?” asked Gin from behind. He also didn’t want to do it, but curiosity prevailed. To surprise of wolves, dog seemed to think for a while, then replied.

“Yeah… You mean greyfurred bitch, about three years old?” Gin nodded. “I remember her. She was going here about week ago.”

“And what?” asked Buck.

“Well…” said malamute with quiet voice. He came closer and stopped just next to Buck. Corporal bended his ear to lips of dog. “I remember her well.” Said black and white. “I ate her.” And in next seconds he killed Buck.

Gin saw only as strange, old and tired dog in moment transformed to muscular-built creature who jumped ahead and bite corporal’s throat. In the same move he dragged yelling wolf down to snow and let him loose, throwing with blooded neck. Gin didn’t wait for any explanation and turned back to run.

He noticed that on clearing entered several wolves, but surely none on them were Talbournes. So private sprang ahead, passing group from left and right. He turned to slope of hummock, where he left Riik on guard. He hoped that enemy didn’t block the hardest was to get out. He was wrong.

While he was climbing on that wall he noticed that snow on brink of forest was spotted red and motionless body of Riik laid nearby. Two bitches – one of smooth silverish coat and deep blue eyes, second of grey fur, spotted with few wide scars on head. They both smiled with malicious smile and in the same moment bended down to climbing wolf. Gin had no chance to dodge. Two bitches bit his front paws in knees, then quickly let his loose. Wolf, yelling due to pain, fell back on clearing.

“Twenty heart beats.” Called old, sandy furred wolf, exiting from forest. “You beat the record of last time.”

“Practise makes perfect.” Laughed malamute, coming closer to wounded Gin. Dog was no longer hobbling and his energetic moves seemed to be an example of health and perkiness. “I guess that one won’t alarm anyone. Who’s turn to finish?” asked and bared his fangs.

“No, stop!” called silvefurred wolfess. “We must interrogate him!”

“Darling…” murmured spitz. He came closer to bitch and rubbed to her side. “That is just low ranked pawn. He won’t tell you…”

“We can’t kill him!” she replied. “I will interrogate him.”

“Thank you, ma’am. I will traaaauuuuuu!” screamed Gin when wolfess stepped on his wounded knee, pressing damaged joint.

“Ow, I see.” Murmured one of wolves from ambush. “She wants have some fun. Right, Avengers, let’s look for some dinner.” He turned back and set off to forest. Rest of pack followed him, leaving on glade only malamute, silverfurred and – of course – Gin. Talbourne couldn’t move an inch – his paw was scorching with terrible pain.

“So my dear…” murmured wolfess and again pressed enemy’s knee. When prisoner ceased to scream, she continued. “It would be nice, if you tell us routine of Home Cave patrols and location of guard units around Central Talbourne Forest.”

Gin wanted to spit on face of persecutor and call that he won’t tell her. But his lips disobeyed and he just panted. “I don’t know.” It was true – no one equipped him with so important knowledge.

“Let’s refresh your memory.” Said bitch called <darling> by malamute. Then she pressed again, breaking the knee-joint capsule. But after several seconds she stopped, seeing that prisoner started to lose his consciousness. “Is now better?”

“I don’t… I don’t…” sobbed wolf.

“Tro!” called malamute with sharp voice.

“What?” asked wolfess. “We’re going in right direction.” Then she bit another knee, purposely piercing second joint capsule. That operation done by fangs caused a little less pain than doing it with press of paw. A little.

“I don’t know!” Gin burst with tears.

“He doesn’t know!” said dog. “Just kill him and let’s go hunt.” Hearing that malamute wanted to kill him without any further variations, prisoner thought that black and while persecutor was the most merciful creature on Earth.

“One moment.” Replied female called Tro. “Maybe he is son of someone important.”

“Keeping hostage alive would be very helpful in eventual trade.” Murmured dog with irony, but his words were muffled by piercing scream of Gin. Tro discovered that wolf had two more legs. “Should we talk about it?” asked a bit irritated malamute. “If you are not satisfied with my nightly performance, you could just tell me, not expressing your emotional and biological needs by playing surgeon.” Tro stopped, with jaws put to last unhurt leg of Gin. She slowly raised her head, looking with fear on crying wolf. Finally she said with breaking voice.

“I know… I’m stopping… I don’t know what possessed me.”

“So finish job properly and let’s go to rest.”

“I’m sorry, soldier.” Whispered Tro to ear of Gin. But wolf didn’t hear her. All his senses were filled with pain. “You were brave, you don’t deserved such a punishment. Only your leaders have.” She quickly bit his throat and stood up, not waiting for prisoner to die. She instantly followed dog. “Steele, wait for me.”

“I you want a kiss, I suggest you to

Previous Page

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Next page