I suggest you to clear you muzzle from this mess.” Malamute turned back, showing blood, dripping from Tro’s fur. “Why the hell you did that? You know that so low ranked soldiers know nothing.” She nodded her head. “So why did you…”

“I like it!” she replied honestly. “As you said once: I learned to enjoy it.”

Steele gasped silently. It was a curse for a tutor to have resistant students. But having ones surpassing teacher was even worse. Especially if the subject of teaching was a revenge.

“Is that better?” asked Tro, after rubbing her muzzle on the snow.

“Yes, much better.” Nodded Steele. She came closer and he licked her face. “Now we can look for others.” They set off to run into forest, following fresh trail of Avengers Pack. Meanwhile, on clearing behind them, private Gin was finally passing away from the world he failed to understand.

*

While more and more times passed, Steele become angry. Since two months they were operating near Eagle Pass, on only communication route between Talbourne Territory and conquered land, but still without achieving on what he hoped. Avengers managed to wipe out few patrols of Talbourne and kill several liaisons. But those were just giggles to the side of monstrous body of last and only Clan of Seward Peninsula. Those “retail” damages done to enemies were far from expectations of pack. But Steele still stopped his new companions from suicidal expedition into heart of foe’s territory. Not that he was scared and surely not because he didn’t hoped for vengeance too. But he was lacking of vital information. Before leap in unknown he wanted to know strength of forces usually left in Home Cave, know something about leaders of enemy units – to sum it: he wanted typical intelligence data that single pack was unable to gather at its own. Meanwhile hot-headed Avengers insisted. Especially Tro.

Steele awoke after night of not so optimistic dreams. He found himself lying in snowy lair, next to silverfurred bitch. He couldn’t say he and Tro were mates. To be exact – they were pair in most vulgar, biological sense, but malamute didn’t expected (and wasn’t disappointed, finding out he had right) any emotional bond with former alpha. They share their bedding and plans of vengeance, occasionally few words daily. Nothing more than that.

Steele liked that way to be, because it gave him much joy (sometimes he judged that a bit too much, considering his age. After all he wasn’t a juvenile any more.) and small doze of responsibility, exactly what he enjoyed. He didn’t love Tro, however she fascinated him as curious phenomena – her hatred towards Talbourne was shocking and odd even for cold-blooded malamute. However Tro had also a dark side (or better to say – even darker side) – she wanted to achieve her goal instantly. Steele had to restrain her hurry.

“Right, sweetheart.” He nudged her in side. “It’s time to wake up.”

“Will we set off today?” asked wolfess with first words that day.

“No, only for hunt.” Replied Steele and exited lair to snowed outside. “We still have to gather some data about Talbournes.”

“You repeat it since two months.”

“I will stop, if you also stop you silly requests.” Snorted Steele and started to wake up rest of pack.

They wasn’t a pack anymore. Just a military unit. Nine wolves: Tro, Elske, Annen, Blad, Hviske, Brann, Regne, Venn and Sno, plus one malamute: Steele. Once Beech Pack, after death of Glemt, Fort and shamaness Vis and joining of spitz became a group walking together in one, particular aim – to kill Aleu. Steele was a leader, but not in typical sense of that word. He was a god and master in every military situation. But for the rest of time he was just one of ten, listening to Tro and Elske, who ran pack before and then. Even former omega was no longer omega. Sno became the same member of that strange congregation as once alpha – Tro. They were learning to be soldiers. For some of Avengers that process was too slow.

“We should go today.” Said Elske, coming out from snow. She used to urge Steele as well as Tro. She also was avenging mate and brother.

“The same, old song.” Snorted malamute. “We won’t go, until…” then he froze, turning his sight aside. “Crew, ready to kill?”

Pack took a defensive position, looking for danger that dog noticed. Soon they found two silhouettes, standing on top of pan, above them. Male and female wolf were looking down on waking up camp. Finally Steele called.

“Do you think you can kill us with those stares? I suggest you some physical contact…” and he waved his tail with irritation.

“If we wanted to fight, we have already started it.” Replied male. “Now I want to talk. Are you Talbournes?”

“Guess, old mutt.” Replied Steele. “Do you think that anyone here and now would deny he belongs to winning side of just ended war?”

“So you are Talbournes?” asked greyfurred again.

“I asked you: do you think that?” repeated Steele.

“Right, no one would say he is not of Talborne.” Nodded old wolf.

“Wrong, pal! We’re not!” laughed dog. “We are as far from those bastards as we could be on limited area of Alaska.”

“Kostan, something is wrong.” Whispered Muista.

“I know.” Replied wolf quietly. “When dog waved his tail, he ordered three of his wolves to sneak to us from behind. They are coming right now, while he is playing on time.” In the next moment he kneeled down with warning bark, so silverfurred did the same. Annen, Venn and Blad attacked in the same moment. Dodge of victims confused them, but they jumped again.

“Ahead!” called Kostan and sprang down to the pan.

He bounced on slope and flew to Steele. Old malamute was a bit surprised, but acted properly – he welcomed enemy with open mouth and ready paws. Tro – standing just next to – never saw anything like that. Wolf hit malamute, but dog already turned back and with unbelievable speed grabbed attacker’s paw. He pulled it, trying to throw wolf away, but strange warrior managed to pull himself to enemy and grab his neck. So both combatants fell on the snow, wrestling and exchanging fast blows.

Meanwhile Muista jumped down and found herself surrounded by six of pack. She took a defensive pose and looked on fighting too, uncertain what to do. She was also amazed. She never saw anyone who could match to Pawmaster of Uniea Clan. Kostan was old, but his technique was legendary. If he was fighting against a single opponent there was no possibility he could fail his attack. But it happened.

Both canines started to dance a deadly dance around each other. But how different from normal duel that combat was! Both enemies were old creatures, careful not to tire themselves too fast, measuring every move. So after long moments of estimating the other’s movements, it came a quick wave of exchanging blows, much to fast for audience to observe those. Just two elder predators were moving around each other, like flames in fire – with the same speed and deadliness. Finally Steele jumped back and called with decisive voice.

“Right! You’re in.”

“I still haven’t my jaws inside of your belly.” Snorted Kostan, ready to next attack.

“And you won’t have, if you wish to go with us.”

“Kostan, what…” started Muista.

“Calm down, sweety.” Replied her Steele. “We accept your offer in our fight against Talbourne.”

“Shouldn’t we introduce each other first?” asked Venn with mixture of confusion and irony.

“Do you know, what we plan?” asked Steele, looking on grey wolf.

“Yes, we followed you since four days.” Replied pawmaster.

“Three days.” Corrected him dog. “Initially you were following that Talbourne unit we killed. That was an accident you encountered us.”

“You claim you knew we followed you?”

“That was I who almost reached your lair.” Replied malamute, recalling two nights earlier.

“I saw you and knew…”

“Wait a sec…” interrupted Muista. “What is going on?”

“Yeah!” supported her Venn. “Won’t we kill them?”

“I discourage to start from that mutt.” Said Steele. “He was Uniea martial arts tutor. They used to call them <pawmasters>.”

“And you are…” asked Kostan.

“So we’re cool?” asked Venn, looking on Muista.

“I guess…” nodded wolfess.

“Sorry.” Said wolf. “I didn’t meant… Or wait, I meant to beat you down, but I hope you won’t take any offence.”

A laughter sounded in forest. Not too loud – during war loud laughers are not welcome – but honest enough to calm down stressed situation. Annen and Blad went down from cliff, and stopped next to newcomers.

“We could exchange our touching stories later.” Said Steele. “But now – if we want to go together – we must establish some hierarchy and explain few things. That mutt…” he pointed on Kostan “…is my second in command.” Wolf growled, hearing that insult.

“You are dreaming!”

“Again, pawmaster?” asked Steele, showing his fangs. “Relax, pal. I have to be a leader. I bring five times more firepower to this deal.”

“You bring?” gasped Annen with irritation. “We are not your…”

“You see – my bellowed subjects.” Smiled Steele. “We are like one, big family.”

“I won’t let myself and Muista under your command, unless you prove…” started Kostan. Steele interrupted him.

“…that I will give you vengeance you seek. I know. I went through it few weeks ago.”

“You still haven’t led us to Aleu!” called Annen with angry voice.

“Hear declarations of my loyal soldiers.” Said malamute to greywolf. “I’m trying to guide them to land of Talbournes, but I need more intelligence data. I guess that you, as former   Uniea soldiers, could help us in that.”

“Perhaps.” Nodded Kostan. “But still I won’t let you to lead.”

“Ow, November, don’t spoil our newfound beautiful friendship…” replied Steele to confusion of all wolves there.”

“This guy has very irritating custom to instant-making new friendships.” Whispered Venn to Muista’s ear. “By the way, my name is Venn.”

A fresh snow started to fall on confused

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