stomach so he attacked.

He climbed on trunk of fallen tree then jumped into enclosure and landed on small clearing. Instantly he caused panic among animals, who thought they were stuck by whole wolfpack. Herd scattered and sought cover on whole area, ramming gates and barriers. And probably that saved reckless hunter – only three from herd decided to resist, those were: giant buck with his mate and few-month-old calf.

They chased dog into the corner of enclosure (fence was easy to jump over... but only in one way: inside. Corral’s area was in small pan, so malamute had to jump much higher than before. Unfortunately he failed.) and all family started merciless ramming of trespasser. For few minutes Steele was shunning horns and hoofs, then – in ultimate desperation – he struck on young calf. In strike hit of his jaws he hit in armpit’s artery. After next minute of evading, he noticed that young caribu fell down and his shocked parents in rage ramming the fence. They crushed the barrier and run to the forest, leaving hunter with his lucky prey.

When Steele satisfied his very first hunger, he realised what he had done. With burning shame he pulled the carcass away from the corral and finished his meal outside. “Great!” thought desperated. “How I started my service to local humans? By stealing!” But he couldn’t turned it back. If he didn’t feast on fallen calf he would has died from hunger – just at the gates of new home he sought. And that would be extremely pathetic end. So he ate as many as he could and hid remaining meat under the snow (a bit farther from the corral), hoping that this crime would be never discovered. “They probably blame the wolves. Yes – wolves like I!” But at the evening, hobbling because both exhaustion and overeating, he entered Buckland.

He was greeted by absolute silence. Town, much smaller from Nome, three hours before the midnight was already asleep. If even in some windows some light was seen, from any sound the wanderer couldn’t recognise a living soul. So Steele was marching in silence and darkness on the main street of Buckland. However, he felt some strange feeling – like someone was watching him from cover. If arrival of the stranger could pass unnoticed by humans, fore sure it couldn’t by dogs. When he moved farther into town’s centre, he felt serious anxiety. In air he smelled a scent of hostility. Shadows were slowly emerging from between houses and following newcomer. Malamute got to main town’s square and sat on the snow, waiting for greeting. But when shadows came closer he stood up and gathered whole remaining stock of humility that he had.

“Welcome, friends. I wonder if you are interested with new...”

Fighter? No, not this word wanted to say Steele, but fighter’s experience saved malamute from instant defeat. He sensed the charge of stalwart spitz and rapidly fell to the ground. Heavy body of his adversary flew just over lashing his paws with sharp claws. Former leader was acting faster that thought – instead of thinking about this surprise, he rolled aside, evading jaws of two, twin-looking huskies. Then instantly stood up and jumped back, because after robust leaders whole crowd of smaller dogs was attacking.

Spitz stoop up too and blocked backing malamute’s way. Steele risked an acrobatic move, jumping on enemy’s back and pouncing over him. He luckily made it, broke loose from circle of persecutors and started to wall of houses. But that was a strategic mistake. Former leader was used to loose and sloppy development of Nome (which expanded rapidly during the Golden Rush). There the houses were scattered and valleys between buildings were too wide to block them with junks and ubiquitous stuff. But Buckland turn out to be completely different – houses were standing tight, like they were supporting themselves from bursts of frozen winds. Steele understood (too late!) that he run from one trap to another – he was surrounded by wall of building from one and semicircle of enemies from the other side. Only three of dogs could match up to him but next dozen could in it’s mass take him down and beat to death or hold for trio of main adversaries. So malamute stood, leaned against nearest wall and turned his stare to persecutors.

“How I’ve transgressed your laws?” howled aloud, drowning out the clamour of minor dogs.

Meanwhile with his rear paws he was examining building behind him. He discovered the glazed door, unfortunately it was closed. He supposed (and hoped) he found the post. “And now I’m playing for time... Damn it! What a wonderful start in the new home!” whispered in mind, looking on menacing muzzles of locals.

“You are not from here!” was yapping small terrier, carefully hiding behind husky-brothers.

“How did you get it?” murmured malamute. Then he added louder. “I’ve done nothing wrong.”

“And we will do you no harm if you leave Buckland immediately.” said huge spitz, whose breed was unknown at the first sight. “A hybrid.” Judged Steele but with no scorn in his voice, just with respectful recollection of dog’s agility and his instant charge. “Go away and don’t back.” Added local.

Former leader was thinking intensively, examining group before him. Those couldn’t be all dogs from Buckland. Trio of sleddogs probably was members of local sled but surely not whole team. Every city had to have at least one five-doged sled and three of reservists. “This is only some smaller gang, lead by local chief... just like my buddies from Nome.” He thought harshly. He knew that hybrid – leading that night assembly – couldn’t give it up. He had to drive off or subdue the intruder, that was necessary to amplify his authority. Malamute considered that there was no use to get without fight. “I just have to make some noise and wait for others dogs to come.” Thought.

“I’m afraid that is impossible.” Replied, trying to sound nice and polite. “I’m wandering since many days, I must rest in warm place. The Sled Code forbids turning the guest out, on the frost and blizzard...”

“I will decide who is our guest and who is... trespasser!” growled spitz and pounced on newcomer.

Steele got another gift from fortune, or maybe ancestors spirits were with him – dog waited to the last moment and deftly jumped aside. Enemy hit the post’s door, breaking the glass in narrow clearance. Former leader heard moan of pain from wounded adversary, but not waiting for other attacks he pounced on twin-huskies, hitting with all his mass the darker one. Surprised dog fell down, letting newcomer out. But his lighter brother instantly caught the fur on enemy’s neck and dragged him down. Steele sensed that menace and randomly hit with his rear paws. Both fighters lost theirs balance and fell on the floor and after just a second they were wrestling on the post’s porch in chaotic fight. But after next few second crowd of minor dog joined that unequal struggle. And the struggle became the slaughter.

Former leader just were rolling on the floor, trying to avoid at least part of hits and not being pinned down in place. Vast headcount of enemies was somehow supporting him – they disturbed themselves – minor dogs were tossing between paws of lightfured husky and made him miss few times. But even that cowardly terrier was biting him hard and painfully. After one minute Steele fell already whole bunch of injuries. He didn’t howl nor yell – because of pride but also because he knew that it was no need. Gang was so loud that malamute was sure it would quickly wake all town. Unfortunately, not fast enough.

Former leader saw the lighter husky, jumping just on him and instinctively covered his muzzle with paws. He was hearing yelling and growling of adversaries, but long awaited, fatal hit hasn’t come. After some time he opened his eyes to see twins and some grayfured bitch before them. She was clearly stopping them.

“That’s enough!” she whispered with freezing voice. “Call off that brutes off. At once! And look for Blade. He is bleeding hard!”

Then she came to Steele, dispersing dogs crowd. No one from recent persecutors of malamute didn’t dare to oppose to her. She sat down next to stranger and without a word she started to lick his deepest cut. When surrounding gang became silent, she stopped that action and ordered, both to all and no one.

“Go for mister Tazaku! Blade is going to bleed out to death! And our guest is wounded too.”

For short time Steele regained focus of sight and saw his saviour. It was young, three maybe four-year-old greyfured and well-shaped female. Eyes of former leader was hit by strange contrast of wolfish fur and aristocratic muzzle features. Bitch was half wolf and half... malamute? If not that coat, she seemed to be perfectly similar to refugee. She was also glaring with warmth, not only physical but also spiritual. Steele sensed unusual charge of disinterested kindness, that was almost sparking on her fur. With relief and pleasure he surrender to caress that was soothing his soaring cuts. After some time he gathered his strength and whispered.

“Thank you!”

“Stay calm.” She instructed. „Soon Ice will be here and then we will take you to some warmer place.”

Former leader just closed his eyes and followed next events by his hearing. After a while he heard human’s steps and chaotic retreat of dog-gang. Man who arrived murmured some words in incomprehensible to malamute language (but tune of voice suggested those were nasty curses) then came to moaning Blade. After a while spitz squeaked painfully and became silent for good.

“You got into nice mess, Blade.” Judged human in correct english, although his accent was sounding odd. “I guest someone outwit you at last!” Man had to went to Steele and bitch because dog sensed their presence just next to. After a while on his lips felt drop of warm liquid and malamute