seeing as Elske went to unconsciousness Kelleth with clear intention to finish him. “Leave him, we need a prisoner.”

“Now you are playing hostage-trades?” asked Tro with irony. Her muzzle was clear that time – she rub away all blood soon after she bit her last victim.

“Come with me.” Ordered Steele. “Let ask him some question.”

“December…” stopped him Muista. She was going to small drift of snow, where she saw two moving balls of fur. “The job is not finished.”

“Hm?” asked malamute and then he noticed them too.

Two pups of Shiela were quivering in snow. Muista came to them and smiling with almost motherly tenderness stopped over tinies. She would have looked calming and soothing if not a blood dripping from her mouth. She hadn’t cleared her muzzle. Wolfess opened her jaws…

“Stop!” called Steele. “What the hell are you doing?” In the same moment he asked silently: “And what the hell I’m doing? Am I giving pardon to the enemy?”

“Finishing the job.” She replied. “Carry out your order to let no one alive.”
”I said: stop killing!” growled dog.

But she didn’t listened. She bended down to one of pups and grabbed his front paw in her mouth. She pressed and child squeaked with cry. Steele pounced ahead and in few jumps came to silveruffed. In the same second Kostan set off, however not to stop Muista, but Steele. He hit his side, pushing him away from route of pounce.

“Let her do it!” growled former pawmaster.

“I forbid you!” called Steele with all his might and decisiveness.

“Why?” asked wolfess. “Have you gotten soft recently?”

“I order you to let those pups go!” repeated Steele. In the same time in his mind he was quickly looking for any logical explanation of that move. “Why I’m doing it?” he asked himself. “Those are pups… but everyone whom I killed was a pup once. Age is not an excuse from being enemy. In few years those two will join Talbourne army and will support of its conquers. Killing them now we most likely are saving some lives. I know this, why I can’t understand this?” Look into scared eyes of pups – it was a girl and a boy – enlightened him.

“I need them as your countermeasures.”

“What?” gasped Kostan.

“I don’t pay you for curiosity, November.” Snorted Steele.

“Yes, you don’t pay me at all.” Noticed wolf. “But if you say so… July, leave them.”

“Why!?” asked Muista. “Because of Talbournes I lost my pups. And mate. I want them pay.”

“Do you want become the same as they are?” asked Steele, aiming to move her heart. He hit with words strictly to her chest, but found there no heart.

“Exactly!” smiled Muista with evil smile. “They show me the way. They kill pups, wage the merciless war and win. I just follow the example of winners.”

“Are you feel all right, killing helpless enemy?” asked Steele with amaze. Initially he thought that was a feeling reserved for him.

“Much better than that.” Replied Muista. “I feel wonderful!” Steele sighed and repeated his order.

“So I’m sorry to spoil your fun. Leave those pups alone!” In corner of his eyes he noticed that Kostan nodded his head, supporting Steele’s order.

“All right.” Replied wolfess. “I’m living those foes to you… chief. I’ve given a mark to that boy.” She pointed on wounded leg of pup. “I think that it will stay with him for whole life. If he one day kills you, you will be able to recognise your error today.”

“Nice to hear you are looking on life in such long perspective.” Sighed Steele. Then added to Annen. “August, keep those pups alive.”

Soon after all they returned to Kelleth. Wolf was already awake and even tried to crawl away, but two fast hits of Kostan immobilised him again. Then second in command steeped back, leaving space for Steele.

“I saw that.” Whispered soldier. “I thank you for letting them live.”

“Don’t bother with that.” Snorted Steele. “I can’t afford for such a luxury for you.”

“I know that.” Sighed prisoner. “I don’t know who you are, but I see you are determined.”

“So you got the deal?” asked Steele. “You talk and we kill you fast.” Wolf shook his head, or at least tried to and failed due to wound on neck.

“I’m a soldier.”

“And she’s a freak.” Dog pointed on Tro. Then he smiled and called back. “Annen, bring those pups here.”

Pupils of Kelleth narrowed in fear, when he noticed old beta carrying scared youths. Pups were put on the snow between wounded one and Steele. Then malamute said with quiet, yet decisive voice.

“I think now you know the deal. So, will we talk?”

“What do you want?” gasped pov.

“Just a simple information.” Explained dog. “Where were you going and where are the nearest Talbourne units.”

“You are… Uniea.” Whispered Kelleth. “But how it’s possible?”

“Soon you will ask Daie in person.” Replied Steele. He grabbed girl-pup into his paws and put his claws on her throat. “But we are in hurry. Talk and let’s end this farce.”

“Swear you won’t kill them!” yelled prisoner.

“You are not in position to make any demands.” Said Annen with harsh voice. “You could only trust in our sense of mercy.” Wolf looked on lifeless bodies of females and elders around and gulped. But he replied.

“We are just going on winter lair. Home Cave is run out of food, so Aleu ordered to scatter our forces.”

“Ow, how sad.” Smiled Steele. “So where is the nearest Talbourne unit?”

“I don’t know.” Said wolf. Steele pressed his paw. “I swear I don’t know!” yelled Kelleth, seeing tears of pup. “Aleu sent most of forces to scatter at random! I have no bloody idea where exactly.”

“We need a military unit in range of two days march!” growled Steele. Most of Avengers looked on him with confusion, but Kostan and Annen understood the trick and smiled. “Where we could find nearest one.”

“You can’t!” sobbed prisoner. “They could be tens of miles away!”

“That is exactly what I wished to hear.” Replied Steele. “All right, nice to chat with you, but we have an appointment meeting with your boss and we are deadly inpatient.” He lowered his jaws to soldier’s throat.

“Let pups alo…” but his voice turned to rattle, when Steele pressed his fangs.

“Right, we’re done!” smiled dog with blood-red muzzle. “I think he told us true and we could go freely. Our only concert is that chasing team from behind.” He stood up and turned to bring of forest. “Try to rest, folks, because tomorrow we will start a real race.”

“And what with…” Muista pointed on pups, under Steele’s feet.

“I kindly ask you to find some other supper.” Replied Steele. “As I said, I need them. By the way – don’t hide the bodies. That is also a part of plan.” Then he put both pups on his back and set off to forest. “Tro, are you coming?”

“He knows what he is doing.” Former alpha assured her former pack and followed the malamute. Rest of group stood for a while in place, looking uncertainly on Kostan and Annen. Finally old beta said.

“Good point. Go to sleep.” And he turned back to his den in snow.

On clearing stayed only Uniea pawmaster and Muista. Old wolf carefully examined her, looking for any scratches.

“Don’t worry.” She said. “I’m fine. Thanks to you, of course…”

“I’m glad to be helpful in my age.” Replied Kostan.

“You are not so old… and I’m not so weak. Let’s go sleep.”

“Will you dig your hole?” asked greyfurred. “I mean, if you have no strength, you…”

“…could stay in your.” Finished wolfess. “I see you just can’t believe I’m able to survive on my own… But thank you. If that is not a problem, I will use your den.” So they also walked back to the forest.

Meanwhile Tro and Steele with pups came to their bedding. Dog carefully put children down to snow, thinking heavily. He wondered if they were old enough to eat only solid food. Feeding them with milk was impossible, because no wolfess in his unit was ready to provide it. Except of… But think that Muista could possibility had some food, was absurd. Memory of her lost litter didn’t woke in her any compassion. Just opposite – Steele thought that asking her for feeding pups would end with violent death of tinies. “She sees in them only small enemies.” Snorted malamute in mind. “Curious – why I don’t share that logical view? Every canine I killed was someone’s son or daughter, every was once tiny and helpless cub. Is our taboo really reasonable? On war there are no innocent ones. Are those pups more responsible for death of Muista’s mate than soldiers we killed today? And to look from the other side – why I have any scruples? I wanted to kill Balto’s pups, when they were defenceless. So what the hell is the difference?” He looked on tired and shocked survivors of his attack and felt that some difference was there. Still he had no idea what.

“What is your name?” asked to boy, seeing that girl was away, sleeping.

“Tan.” Replied pup with shaking voice.

“Tro, take a look on Tan’s leg. I’m not sure if July didn’t make some real damage.”

“I’m not a nurse.” Snorted wolfess, shocked by Steele’s behaviour too. But she bended down to small wolf and examined his paw. “The cut is deep. I think that tendon is damaged.”

“So, boy.” Said Steele to pup. “Even if you have some weird idea this night, don’t run. Your sister is here, there is no one of yours to help you and additionally the pain of what wound will cut you down in minutes if you base on that paw. Understand?”

“Will you kill us?” asked scared Tan. Steele smiled with half-absent smile.

“Boy, believe me – you have greater chances to survive than we have!”

After few minutes also a pup fell asleep. He lost his mother and most of wolves know to him, but shock of that wasn’t strong enough to muffle flesh’s call for rest. So both youths were sleeping between Tro and Steele. Two mature canines were awake and a bit embarrassed by that situation.

“I guess I won’t give you a hug for good night.” Said finally Steele.

“I can’t believe it.” Replied Tro with quiet voice. “You let them live… You really had mercy on our

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