of being free from any worry. So Kerim a bit turned his digging and continued his work. He was piercing through snow easily for about next hour, before he sensed another object on his way.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes, yes.” Replied snowed canine. “Hell, that was a ride!”

“Sure it was.” Agreed private and took a better look on the other survivor. “By the way, from which squad are you? I didn’t see you in the chase.”

“Well, maybe because of that I’m the game?” asked Steele and plunged his teeth into Kerim’s throat.

Dog quickly squashed Talbourne trachea and continued to dig ahead. He was sick of that work and already regretted that he went as a first, letting Kostan follow him in already made tunnel. Moreover Uniea disappeared somewhere and Steele was carving in snow alone, just few times encountering Talbourne wolves. In two cases – including Kerim – those soldiers were alive, so dog had some fun, but it was much too small to cheer him up. He failed.

“Crap!” gasped malamute, sensing another creature, moving just next to him. He rushed ahead, pressing wet snow and froze just before the neck of Kostan.

“That’s me!” replied Uniea. “But I see you have some adventures while digging too.”

“Two hits, plus I found one already dead.” Said dog.

“I see our scores become more and more optimistic today. Are you ready for the last effort?” asked wolf. “The surface is near.”

“Do you really think we could run so easily?” snorted Steele. “I bet that Shadow’s army is already here.”

“More enemies means more targets.” Smiled Kostan.

*

Lightning shunned his death by inches. He was buried with mass of snow and also with guardianess Finia and that allowed him to live. Giant icicle, that fell in second wave of burst, hit the snow just over master scout and if not chest of silverfurred female, it would have pierced Lightning’s neck. However it killed only Finia, whose blood soaked on master scout and froze on his nape. But Lightning was alive.

He was unconsciousness when Gamma Squad of Home Guard took him out. He was carried to safe cave to heal. He awoke after several hours, so he missed last attraction of that night – Steele’s and Kostan’s run.

After rescuing elder, squad was still working hard, searching to Talbourne’s and Avengers bodies. Those first were taken to Memorial Cave, those second just thrown away to the torrent. Dead ones were obedient, not protesting whatever living ones were doing with them.

Junior guardian Mark (by the way – he was brother of Finia, but he missed that his friends had taken body of sister. So then he was still airy, happy, just glad he avoided the white death) noticed some movement on snow, then called to senior guardian Yamaick, who was commanding whole action.

“Sir, we have survivors!”

“If those are those bastards I might neglect any strange incident in report.” Replied leader, very reluctant to take prisoners. He was aware of Finia’s death and was especially hurt by that. He always had a crush on beautiful subordinate and hoped when war would be over… “But let’s check, maybe those are ours.”

Both canines came to two holes in snow where weak movement was seen. Rest of squad was looking on it with curiosity and hope. They were silent when sergeant and private dug in snow. But suddenly rear paws of senior guardian kicked in the air and just after he froze in place.

“Boss, are you all right?” Asked one of soldiers.

“Cut the formalities. Call me December.” Said voice from the hole.

Steele sprang out from digging site with blooded muzzle. Just next to him appeared Kostan, also spotted in red. They instantly set off to run, passing by confused soldiers. No one managed to make a move, before two canines entered a path back. Then guardian Astinae called with all her might.

“ALARM!” But Steele and Kostan were already in run.

They climbed slope up and reached the forest. Encountering no one else, they disappeared among trees, where they were – at least temporally - safe. Malamute felt a freezing stream of blood on his muzzle, so he stopped to wash it away in fresh snow.

And then he recalled Tro and her beautiful face, coloured red so many times in past two months. He continued his run, but after few minutes of burning recollection, body of dog was shaken with wave of cry. Steele, touchiest dog of Alaska was crying, and Kostan, former pawmaster of Uniea clan just didn’t feel properly to reprimand him.

War never changes itself, but changes everyone.

*

Maybe it sounds incredibly, but they managed to lost their tail. Canines ran not back east, but more on south, hiding on slope of Home Valley. Then – it was about midday – both fell to sleep. They had no strength to guard themselves, just hoped that chaos in Home Cave would allow them to wake another day. Or night – they stood up on next dusk.

Steele quickly noticed that no one found him, no one killed him, so consequently he was ready to action. But he had no idea what he could do then. Howls from valley told him that Shadow and main part of his Great Army had just returned. So in Home Cave and its nearest vicinity was over three hundreds of skilled soldiers. Another attack was not just highly improbable, but its success would be the matter of cosmic luck, not abilities of last two Avengers.

“So, what’s now?” asked dog, looking on just standing up Kostan.

“I’m old.” Replied wolf. “This night I felt rheumatism in my paws. Somehow it’s good that I will die still on paws.”

“Yes, I know that.” Snorted Steele. “But do you have any particular idea, a way of using our pitiful lives?” Uniea nodded his head.

“I have.” He looked on darkening valley, estimating distances and possible difficulties. “You are commander, so you will have the harder part.”

“I know…”

“You will survive.” Added Kostan with serious voice.

“What?” gasped malamute.

“Just like I said. You most likely will survive this. And then your quest will start.”

“Explain yourself, November.” Snorted Steele.

“It’s simple. There is dark yet. In valley still reigns the chaos. They are looking for you… thinking you are the only survivor.”

“They saw you too.” Noticed dog.

“Really? I was just one of countless wolves there. In hole where I exited from is the body of Muista. They will blame her for death of that soldier. They will think she killed one of them, but died in fight. No one would recall me, nor my scent.”

“And so what?” asked Steele, sensing some brilliant in its simplicity idea.

“You will be my countermeasure.” Explained Kostan. “You will run away, alarming the whole army. While they – being sure they are chasing the last surviving attacker - would lower their garde. I will sneak to present Aleu’s quarter.”

“Assuming you will find it.” Murmured Steele. “Assuming that I will escape the chase.”

“You will.” Smiled Kostan. “You’re the damned artist in that. You’ll just follow the advises you gave me. North from here and then east on the shore. If you’re lucky, you will find some Uniea partisans. In fact that is your primary objective.”

“Go on!” Steele encouraged him. “I can’t wait to hear what I’m planning.”

“That’s your part.” Replied wolf. “But I believe you will manage it too. You’re the chosen one, somehow I feel it. You will gather all resistance against Aleu and train them, as you trained Beech Pack. But think large – on whole Alaska there are hundreds of wolves who would eventually support your battle. In few years…” Steele interrupted him with burst of laughter. Wolf seemed to take no offence – he just waited until dog cease his giggle and then looked on him, ready to answer every question.

“Hey, smart-head, haven’t you missed something? I’m in your age. I don’t know how longer I could live this way, but in few years I will be surely an aged-wreck of canine. Those last moments for me as a warrior.”

“Maybe.” Nodded Kostan. „But first as a leader. Real leader.” He judged Steele with careful stare and added. “You will gather a huge army to wipe Talbourne out. That is a danger for you for becoming like them, but I hope you will resist it. You are much too individualist to stick with group. Even if you’re a leader.”

“So, you want me to fulfil the promise I made to Sno?” asked Steele, smiling.

“What?” asked Uniea. “Ow, yes, I remember. After all you will need some heir to pass your quest on him. You must think in years, because the task you have, the task of restoring old way of things, is much greater than a single life. The reaction is unavoidable, but real reactionary measures the time in generations.”

“So according that schedule I still could manage…” murmured dog. “But I still miss few things. First of all, are you sure that I’ll be able to find any Uniea remnants?”

“I’m sure.” Nodded wolf. “Even if we didn’t kill anyone, our mission was a success, because we gave over a week of time to my companions. There are many soldiers of Daia’s banner, who still act like they are in service. In that week that surely started some organisation, most likely many independent squads. Gather them in one.”

“Why do you think I’m able to achieve that?”

“I believe.” Replied Uniea. “Remember, how you were laughing when I told you about faith that Aniu is guiding Talbourne. I share that believe too.”

“Great.” Snorted dog. “So assuming you are right, I had against my cause some overambitious ghost of wolf, who is boosting her descendants strengths.”

“Not all descendants.” Said Kostan. “There is also a hope in that. There is another being, unseen for most of creatures, who dwells on the edge of our reality. He is Aniu’s son and he fights with her. Some call him Shade.”

“So we’re equal.” Smiled Steele. “For the time being I will stay with my rational beliefs to stay generally sane. But thanks for a fairytale.”

“That’s not a fairy…” started Kostan, but then stopped and smiled. “Never mind. You will find it yourself.”

“Why me?” Asked

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