“Rein?” It was Ghost. He nodded and let her to come closer.

“So… we will fight soon, Ghost. Isn’t it everything you want?” He asked her with wild vigor in his eyes. “Sure. But-“

            “We will fight, Ghost… we will fulfill our duty and stand our ground fast! Enemies won’t come through,” the Doberman continued, ignoring her silent but. “Rein, listen. Everything I want is-“ she whispered again, but the Doberman was immersed in his visions of a glorious battle. “We will crush them! Tear to little bits! We will-“

            “Rein… please…” She whispered and licked his cheek. He stopped. Why did she kiss him? He looked at the shepherd and leaned his head. “Ghost?”

            “Rein… I think I-“ The rest of the sentence was interrupted by Ghost’s master, who had been searching for his dog all the time and now he finally found her. “Here’s my little girl! Ghost, come here! Come here!” She looked at the Doberman once more and then turned back and trotted to her master. Rein shook his head. “What did she want?” he whispered in a silent question but the answer didn’t come. The Doberman sighed and headed to his tent. The night was coming and he wanted to be fresh and ready for the battle he wanted to win… for Ghost.

----------

            Few hours later in Nome. The sunset was announcing the night was close. Balto had a great day so he hoped his happiness would endure even through the night. He was wrong. As he was walking down the main street, he caught a familiar scent coming from a strange place... let’s say he wouldn’t have expected this scent coming from one of dark alleys. “Will?” he looked around an ran in the ping and obviously trying to die. “Will, what’s going on? Tell me?” Balto whispered. “And ydirection of the scent. His nose was right. The Doberman was lying in one of the alleys, weeou shouldn’t lie on the snow. You’ll get cold and-“ Then he realized that was exactly Wilhelm was trying to do. Die because of cold.

“She left me…” the answer was simple. Balto sighed and lay near Wilhelm, trying to warm him. “So she found somebody else. It happens.”

            “It happens? And does it happen like that?” And he told Balto how it had happened. After that, Balto scowled. “Yeah, you are right. This is just not normal.” 

            “You tell me…” Wilhelm coughed and bit his lip. “Anyway,” Balto looked at the sky, “you shouldn’t cry and go home. The night is coming… or if you’d like to talk, we can go to the boiler room.”

            “Okay. I think the boiler room will be enough.” They walked quietly. Wilhelm didn’t know what to say and Balto was trying to think something up. He hated seeing the savior of his daughter in such situation. But no matter how much he tried, he wasn’t able to create anything soothing and comforting. Finally, the door of the boiler room appeared in front of them. Wilhelm didn’t even check if somebody was in. He entered the room without thinking and saw something he couldn’t believe. Steele and Eily, lying snuggled together, laughing and caressing and Will was sure if he hadn’t come, they would have done something even worse. When Eily spotted him, she gasped. Steele heard her so he stopped nuzzling her and looked around, confused slightly. “You.” That wasn’t a question. That was a declaration of war. Wilhelm growled and cursed himself. He still remembered how he had defended Steele. But now, he wanted to kill him in many painful ways. “Yeah, me…” the doberman hissed coldly and stepped aside, letting Balto see what was happening. “Steele?” That was everything Balto was able to say. Steele smirked and shook his fur like nothing really interesting was going on. “Can’t you wait for a little longer? I have work to do here…” Wilhelm growled once again. He had never felt such disgust and hate, not even towards his enemies… but this dog who was standing in front of him learnt him how to hate. “What… what is this supposed to mean?”

Everybody looked at Eily who seemed not to be able to decide about whom to look at. “Eily… this is Steele. I don’t expect you know him. But you should know he is able to sell others’ lives for his own good. Or… Hasn’t he told you about his great submission to the serum run? Ask anybody… you will hear that-”

            “Shut it, you half breed. It was you who ruined everything!” Steele snapped. He felt the situation wasn’t good and he was losing his temper. “Everything? Like… exchanging your everlasting glory for something as low as a life of a child?” Balto whispered firmly. He took a deep breath and told everything Steele had done. Eily seemed more and more shocked as she heard about Steele’s deeds, which hadn’t been an example of fine manners at all. And Steele? He looked at the door but Wilhelm was sitting there, watching him carefully. He didn’t want to fight. He knew he wouldn’t have any chances. So instead of using the door, he chose the window. Not waiting for the end of Balto’s speech, the husky jumped. He managed to jump out from the window but the glass shards left deep wounds on his body. He fell to the ground, trying to stand up. But the blood loss was so great that he couldn’t do anything apart from listening to Balto’s steps that were closer and closer. “Steele, Steele…” Balto sighed, “Why?” The wolf dog bowed his head. He didn’t want Steele to be hurt. And seeing his enemy in blood was painful. “Steele, why did you do it? We don’t want to hurt you we want to help-“

            “Shut… up, you… scum,” Steele hissed, crawling away. “Steele! Wait! You need help!”

            “I don’t need your help!” Steele screamed. He was defenseless, almost dead and still, Balto was so … pathetic. Steele began to laugh. There was nothing else he could do. Soon, the lights in the nearest house went on and a man came outside with a gun in his hand. He had heard the noise of the broken glass, so he went to check it. But then, he spotted something lying on the ground. The man came closer and kneeled. “Oh god… it’s Steele… but-,“ he let his gun be and looked at the husky. Then he picked him up and went away. Without a single word… Balto nodded. He was sure the man would take him to the vet. Steele was simply too good to die.

            Meanwhile, Eily and Wilhelm were alone in the boiler room. His look was cold and hostile. Eily had broken his heart. Moreover, she- , no, he didn’t want even to imagine what could have happened. “Will, please… I… I was so stupid. I didn’t know he was lying and-“

            “You didn’t believe me when I told you how much I loved you. Now, I have no reason to trust you,” the Doberman whispered coldly. “I was… so stupid…”

            “I heard that already. Go… and come back when you are mature and wise enough.”

Eily bowed her head and headed to the door. She hoped… she wanted him to say: ‘It’s okay… I forgive you… I love you.’ But his lips remained closed and his look was cold. She passed him by and the night hid her from Will’s eyes. “Let’s go home.” Will said when he saw Balto coming back. “Everything is done here…”

----------

            A new day was rising. But soldiers had been ready and in position long before the dawn. There was nobody who wouldn’t have been nervous or scared a little bit. Even Napper had a strange, uncomfortable feeling. And the same for Wolf, Danny and Renna. Wolf sighed and whispered Mut’s name. But no response. That was quite unusual… every time called, he replied. “Mut?” He shouted. That was no good. Their leader, although informal, was missing.      

Nobody cared. Mut wasn’t that important. At least, as not important as the things that were going to happen. Wolf knew there wasn’t time for panic, but he couldn’t help it. Mut was the one who knew everything, who foresaw everything. And now, he was gone. "Where the hell is he? Where-" Wolf mumbled nervously and Renna noticed. She leaned her head and asked him: "What's wrong, hun?"

    "Oh.. just.. have you seen-"

    And then it began. Someone fired and one shot unleashed hell. Numbers of gunshots filled the area. Bullets buzzing around, tearing flesh... cries of wounded and limp bodies of dead. Germans were prepared well and they were experienced... maybe too much for Napper's taste. Still, the terain... Americans couldn't see enemies well, so they were firing just in the deriection they presumed the enemies to be. "WHAT?! HOW THE- HOW DO THEY KNOW?!" Napper shouted and fired few rounds. "They couldn't hear us! They couldn't see us!"

    "I just don't know, sir," White shouted back and tried to aim at any enemies he could see. "We have to-"

    -Clang-

    "White?!" Napper gasped and looked at his soldier. He was lying on the ground motionless. "Medic! I need a damned medic!" Napper shouted. It was everything he could do. "We cannot stay here! We need to push! They will kill us all!" somebody shouted and blowed a whistle. The whistle- sound telling you: ATTACK! NOW! 'About goddamned time...' Napper made a mental note.