“From now on we are Nature’s self-defence!” smiled Venn. “We will cut as many Talbournes as we could. Right Ste… I mean: December?”

“You’re right, Defender February.” Assured him dog.

Soon after that talk they reached valley proper for rest. It was ordinary pan with denser forest and small clearing on bottom, where some creek ran. Shielded from wind and snow, almost cosy, tempting to camp there. Steele decided to stop, because it was almost dusk and place seemed perfect. That would be also the last opportunity to hunt, before banzai run into interior of Talbourne land. They were in dead zone – yet far enough from main forces to fear of patrols and marauders, but still too far from centre to be afraid of Home Guards. At least all of they hoped that.

“Logically you have right.” Judged Kostan. “But logically Uniea should have won the war, so better be careful.” Be he didn’t expected attack either.

To be exact: squad of Second Talbourne Division didn’t expect that he would attack them too.

*

Beta squad of Second Division was led by sergeant Darko, darkfurred young wolf, yet experienced soldier who managed to prove himself in Uniea War. But all his military instinct vaporised as soon as the war was finished. Then he was more playing veteran that acting like one. But he had a reason. With his unit travelled group of civilians – some Home Cave wolves, sent by Aleu to winter lair, for easier hunting. Squad had to escort them, but Darko was focused on escorting one particular person.

Shiela was four years old female of almost white fur and gentle muzzle features. She was mother of two pups, but they were after-comers. Their father had fallen in Battle of Home Cave. Young widow needed a support, a friendly paw to help her in not so glorious fate of war-victim. Darko performed that role perfectly. He instantly fell in love with beautiful wolfess and tried to be her chevalier and defender. It wasn’t as easy as he thought initially, mostly because of two very spontaneous pups, be he didn’t give up. Shiela seemed to slowly accept those advances, however she haven’t said any word, encouraging admirer. She still was mourning after just deceased mate, however was closer and closer to give up to her new relationship. So a new happy family would have been created, if not a serious dose of back luck.

Darko managed to persuade Shiela to leave pups with other refugees and took her for a walk. According to military statute it wasn’t a smart move, because sergeant was responsible for organising guards. And – what you are probably suspecting already – valley was so tempting and ideal for spending a night that it happened to be the same perfect valley that Avengers had chosen. Both groups entered the same gorge from two sides, so Darko leading Shiela on romantic walk, came right into area where Steele’s wolves were. But let me describe this.

Talbourne squad and civilian group were laying themselves to rest in quite decent order, but lack of commander caused also lack of appointed sentries. Two corporals – Ea and Bilir – were as tires as rest of eight soldiers, so they just ordered squad to lay in circle and stay sharp. Then they fell asleep. Civilians laid at random in thin forest, staying much too loud than they should be to make soldiers sentry duties easy. So in improvised camp stayed ten soldiers and ten more civilians, not counting several pups. Those were mostly older wolves and mothers with children.

Shiela and Darko came deeper in forest, closing to the other mouth of valley where – on similar and almost analogous glade Avengers tried to sleep. Only Tro and Steele went a bit further – that meant: on west – to find a bit of calmness for themselves. But because encounter took place closer to Avengers location we might assume – just to order our story – that Talbornes attacked their enemies, not opposite.

“Isn’t it a beautiful night?” asked Darko, leading his companion through dense bushes. It was indeed beautiful night, almost full moon just after snowfall that painted all the world silver, but from location they were it was barely visible. Sergeant hoped to find some clearing soon.

“Yes, it is.” Replied Shiela politely. “But Darko, where are we going?”

“Ahead… that night calls us.” Said soldier and smiled. She had to smiled too, partially already under spell of enamoured male. They rubbed their sides and from that moment walked touching each other.

“Stars.” Whispered Shiela, looking up. Forest got thinner, so they could see the sky. “Do you think they are watching on us? I mean if Jack sees us…”

“Please, don’t talk like that.” Interrupted her Darko. “I’m sure he is there… but he doesn’t wait for you to howl. He wants you and pups to go on, to be happy. He expect you to live.” He gently moved his muzzle to Shiela’s face and touched with tongue to her cheek. She backed suddenly, that hit wolf with nauseating wave of shame and self-anger. Just few heart-claps later he understood that she hadn’t run because she wanted to stop him. She had been just thrown away.

Steele sprang from below snow-surface and literally snatched light female with his charge, flying with her few metres away. That was well aimed charge – he grabbed her neck and in the flight he pressed his jaws, plunging teeth into her throat. Before they reached the ground again, Shiela’s trachea was squashed on width of dog’s mouth.

Steele landed, letting bitten bitch loose. As he predicted, when first wave of shock passed, she tried to scream with all her might. But when she inhale, into her lungs came not an air but deluge of blood. Red moisture of her own veins flooded her pulmonary alveolus. In very primal impulse Shiela tried to expulse that choking mass with remnants of air that remained in her breast. But it was no longer a scream. She managed just to sound with quiet gurgle before she died. Steele didn’t look on that, he just bounced from snow and jumped back to help Tro.

Tro attacked sergeant. She hadn’t set it all up with malamute, so her charge was an improvised one. Steele wanted to order her just to draw attention of enemy while he was finishing female, but silverfurred decided to attack. In first try she just rammed the side of wolf with all her impetus, but because she weighed much more than Darko, it didn’t work. But she managed to bit into his nape and pull ahead to enemy. Sergeant faltered, but resisted that pull.

In that moment Steele attacked. He just pounced on enemy’s back, pressing him to the ground, what gave Tro a second to free charge. She pinned his muzzle to the snow with both front paws and bit at random. She plunged her teeth into forehead and one of wolf’s eyes. If not closed mouth, soldier would had screamed with piercing cry.

Steele managed to take a better grab and pressed his jaws on nape of enemy and when Tro still was pressing Darko’s muzzle to the ground he clenched his mouth and after several seconds heard sound of breaking spine. He waited few moments as dying cramps, then let dead one loose. Tro noticed just after that job was done and she came down from enemy’s head.

“Crap!” gasped Steele. “We encountered some patrol!”

“That was a civilian you took down.” Noticed wolfess.

“Clear your muzzle.” Snorted dog, seeing that Tro’s lips are stained with blood. When she bended down to snow, he added. “Yes, but this one was tough. Go for rest, I will scout here.”

“Be careful, Steele… I mean: December.” Said Tro quietly.

“Who’s saying that?” murmured dog. “Always let me deal with stronger enemy, understand!? But now – go!” And he turned back, on west to search for companions of killed couple.

*

Ea opened her eyes, sensing that something was wrong. She was rather gentle and weak female – access to regular military she gained thanks to sharp senses and ability to feel even more than those senses told. Bilir hadn’t noticed anything abnormal, because he was sleeping hard next to her.

“Hey, wake up!” she whispered to his ear.

“Jack has this watch.” Replied wolf with half-sleeping voice.

“Open your eyes, that’s me, Ea!” she nudged his side. “We are no longer in training camp! This is a mission.”

“Jack’s in particular…” replied corporal, but then he comprehend that he actually was outside Home Cave Area, training was over and he was in service. “What’s wrong.”

“It’s so silent here.”

“Yeah, and very romantic.” Smiled Bilir. “Are you done with Jack, by the way?”

“It’s not funny!” snorted Ea. “Boss is not here!”

“So what’s a problem?” asked corporal. “I guess he noticed that this night is romantic night too and he used the opportunity. I bet that Shiela is not here as well.”

“But it takes too long…” said Ea, looking around.

“Maybe you underestimate sarge’s abilities…” replied Bilir and in that moment he was hit with paw. “Calm down, I’m trying to be nice, but in middle of the night it’s not easy.” He noticed as Ea stood up and set off to the forest. He whispered after her. “Stop! Have you lost your mind? You’re going to… interrupt them?”

“We have no sentries guarding.” Said wolfess, two hours too late recalling her duties. “Boss should have thought about that.”

“Wait!” Bilir stood up too and ran to friend. “Don’t do that. First – you could make a serious mess, disturbing sarge and that chick, second – think that will happen, if he is back here.”

“He will set the sentries.” Replied Ea.

“Are you sick of sleeping?” asked Bilir rhetorically.

“We must go. Come with me.” Ordered Ea with tone that suggesting she was at least Shadow’s adjutant. Corporal Bilir had no other option that to follow her.

They entered dense bushes, following the same route that Shiela and Darko had made about two hours earlier. They were walking slowly, observing and listening carefully, but not to spot any eventual enemy, but to make sure they wouldn’t find their commander… in flagranti. But hearing no such a

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