patient. “That yellow man and Sky took a real care of me. Is that you who took me yester day from post?” Ice nodded his head. “Thank you.”

Meanwhile Sky brought them remnants of sausages and (found somehow) fresh meat from Tazku’s store. He honestly divided it in three parts, but she gave a little more to Steele, as he was a patient. Dogs started a meal.

“All is coming in good way.” Bitch was telling with full mouth. “Elders condemned Blade’s and his comrades acting. They judged that he takes all responsibility on what has happened, including his own condition. Until he recover, you can replace him in mister Ash’s sled team. Of course, when you will be in better condition.”

“I hope it will be soon.” Replied Steele. “I wish to be useful here and to deserve on meat I’m eating.”

“For next few days you shouldn’t tire yourself.” Judged Ice. “But then... Whatever – council want to speak with you. When you will be able to walk, we will take you to the kennels. There you will officially ask for citizenship in our community.”

“Citizenship...” thought malamute quite embarrassed. In Nome all was different – instead of traditional hierarchy and long-tried customs the real authority of dogs community was the leader of best sled. Namely: Steele, at least for four previous years. Dogs life and hierarchy was based on annual race, so town was ruled by not wisest but strongest one. For former leader the customs of Buckland were new but seemed to be honest and clear, so he didn’t fear of the council.

“I could go even now...” he said, but then he noticed Sky’s stare full of discontent. “But maybe I’ll wait to tomorrow.”

“Right, I’ll tell the elders. You will stay here?” asked Ice.

“I think... yes.” Said malamute, seeing nodding sister.

“So good night. We will see tomorrow. Thank you for those delicacies.”

Greenland nudged Steele’s side (this unwounded side!) in friendly way then he licked Sky’s cheek and went out from storage. Outside was dark already and malamute was almost sleeping. After  Tazaku’s anaesthesia still he was feeling dizziness and unnatural rhythm of his body. But before he let himself to take a nap he prepared the second bedding from fur-coats in room’s corner. With that work he was surprised by Japanese, who laughing gave to dog some fresh straw. Then human examined animal one more time and laughingly waved his finger.

“Don’t scratch.” Said. Then he wondered and asked. „Do you have some name, guest? Well, probably not yet. For own name you have to deserve. No one should chose it, it comes in time.” He stroked malamute and wolfbitch and return home.

“Yes” thought former leader. “I’ve lost my old life and I don’t deserve even for own name.” He yawned and laid down on fresh straw.

“You have to sleep as much as you can.” Agreed Sky. “If you wake at night, just wake me too. Ok?”

„Don’t you exaggerate a little?” asked quite ashamed Steele. “I am the big brother and I should be overprotective...” she just nodded with her muzzle and put him on bedding, additional covering him with some fur-coat. Maybe for the first time in his life former leader judged that being ill have some advantages too. “Sky...” he asked shyly. “Do you know, what has happened with our mother?”

“I’m sorry Steele. She is dead.” Replied bitch with sad voice. “She died two years ago, in good people from Anchorage. After that breeding sold me to miss Sara, so I’ve got here... But mom to last days was so proud of us all... She seemed to wait for something and listening to every news from north. She was telling that I have siblings there and I should be proud that they serve humans. She loved us very much.”

“In my case probably more than I’ve deserved.” Whispered Steele. “But this is our dog’s life... we can’t fight it.” Sky went to him and licked his cheek.

“I’m not alone.” She said. “I have you.”

“And Ice.” Added malamute.

“Yes... and Ice.” She agreed with a little shy voice. “What do you think about him?”

“I think... well... If you are glad of him I’ll be glad too.” Then some troubling thought came to his mind. “Don’t I disturb you... eee... your family life?” And she turned her stare into the ground, hearing that.

“No... Actually we aren’t mates... for now. He lives with Ashes. But...”

“All right, good he is at paw.” Replied Steele with sleepy voice. “Tomorrow you will tell me more about Buckland. Now I even can’t hear my own yawning...” he murmured and put his head on straw.

Next day turned to be full of work and emotions for Steele. After morning examination of doctor Tazaku, dog carefully stood up and guided by Sky went on streets of Buckland. It was quite warm and gentle wind from ocean still was sweeping Bears Valley, giving it constant but limited snowfall. Sun went out from horizon for few hours and flooded the whitened earth with it’s warm rays. Malamute was hobbling on main Buckland street, carefully watching his new home. Much smaller than Nome, town has much more charm – solid and nice architecture (not improvised cabins from times of golden rush) and regular development were soothing guest’s eyes. Few pedestrians walking on boulevard seemed to be airy and happy. Maybe that was only subjective feeling of malamute (who left citizens of Nome celebrating they salvation after long bereavement) but people on Buckland were looking on peaceful and calm ones. Town’s kennels where were living all sled dogs (apart of Sky) and big group of minor breeds was a solid building next to town hall (that was in the same time residence of sheriff and local jail). Town hall and kennel was on the one of four corners on main square. On the others were: church with small hospital and school’s rooms, post and shop. Centre of town occupied from that crossing to the river. On the other band were just: the old orthodox church and colony of russian dwellers – White Refugees from times of revolution.

Steele impulsive was memorising all details of his new home, just like good sled leader should examine every new terrain he saw. But his sister didn’t allow him for farther trips, but guided right to kennels where dogs community was waiting. Malamute entered the building, uncertainly following wolfbitch. She placed him in centre of kennel’s chamber and herself she went to old saint Bernard dog, clearly the chief of whole society. Sky was long whispering something to leader. For this time her brother was carefully watching the rest of gathering. There were various dogs – small, big ones, hybrids and pure breeds. He noticed twin-huskies, whom were looking on him with barely repressing hatred, desperately trying to stay calm. Somewhere there was also that cowardly terrier, that time hidden between stronger comrades. Steele ignored view of “old fellows” and focused on dignified bernardine. When Sky finished her long quiet speak, old male raised his paw, hushing all the voices in kennel.

“Are you the Steele of Nome?” asked chief with unexpectedly loud voice.

“Yes. I was called that... some time ago.” Replied former leader. “But if humans accepted me in the service I will bear any name they would call me.” He was speaking with strong and decisive voice, trying to sound polite but not quieter than host. He didn’t want to show any weakness.

“Why did you come to Buckland?”

“I’ve lost my sled.” Replied honestly malamute. “But I don’t want to talk about it.” In kennels sounded a murmur of interest.

“And who you were in Nome?” asked older husky-bitch. She looked similar to hostile twins, so Steele judged that was their mother.

“Once I was... leader of mail-sled team.” Murmur of interest grew. It seemed that many dogs wanted to ask some question but no one dare to interrupt elders. And two old leaders looked on satisfied with answers that Steele gave them.

“So... What do you ask the dogs of Buckland?” asked bernardine.

“I humble ask you to accept me in your pack.” Replied malamute with serious voice. In kennel silent fell at once.

“Sky, Ice... Do you vouch for that stranger?

“Yes, Bernard.” Replied couple with respect.

“Steele...” said old husky. “We know about the... incident, that happened to you two days ago. I ask you to forgive ours youngsters. Bucklanders respect laws of hospitality and I guaranty that this won’t happened again.” She looked on twins with dread stare. “My sons will make sure of that. So... if human give you a harness, you may consider yourself as the dog of Buckland.” She looked on Bernard, who whispered something. “And one thing more... We have vacant in mister Ash’s team due to Blade’s condition. Until Blade is healthy, you will take his place. I suggest that Sky will lead the sled.” Gathered dogs sighed with mixture of relief and surprise and wolfbitch turned her stare on elders with amaze.

“I, Julia?”

“You.” Confirmed husky. “I hope our new friend quickly adapt to the team.”

Steele felt sudden relief and pride of his sister. “Not bad!” he thought and smiled to new neighbours. Some of them took it as expression of kindness, some others as pride of pure breed who intruded himself to theirs town. The wall around guest become lower but was still quite high.