felt safe and comfortable.

*

As a patient in the best condition, Daniel was quickly replaced from doctor’s house to shed nearby. Storage was built on wall of Tazaku’s residence – it was small shed for fuel for fire but it had also some important residents. A family of greenland.

Ice wasn’t there, so Daniel stayed with adolescent children of elder. Agnes, Lucy, Ari, Steele (junior), Kiva and Armand were pups of greenland and wolfbitch Sky who tragically died year earlier in fight with wolf-pack. Those six was bunch of cheerful and pranky youngsters (for Daniel: a little too cheerful and too pranky) but actually that time siblings were very calm. Husky suspected that boys were aware not to upset future sled-mate (Steele(junior) and Armand wanted to pull the sled even in that year) and theirs sisters were instructed to be careful of patients behind the wall. Daniel, in spite of anaesthesia-confusion was also focused on creatures behind the wall. Especially about one.

“Daniel, I hear nothing.” Ensured him Ari, when he was for once again listening to sounds from Tazaku’s residence.

“Call him: sir!” scolded her Armand. “You are not on familiar terms with mister Daniel, at least unless you are in sled team!”

“Uncle Daniel is not as huffy as you, right uncle?” asked Ari.

“Shhhh!” pleaded husky. “I’ve heard something.”

“Ow... that was just a sound of wind, sir.” Said Armand. “If they were operated, they are still under some tranquillisers... Come on, Ari.” He turned to sister. Leave him to rest.” He once again looked on David, hearing to sound through the wall. “If you need something, just call. We will be on main street.”

“Yeah, thanks.” Replied husky with hollow voice.

So dog left the shed but his sister stayed, gazing with curious stare on her <uncle>. After a minute dog realised that he was observed and laid down to rest, hiding his embarrassment with bored expression.

“She is beauty.” Said Ari. “You fell in love with her, uncle.”

“I just...” gasped Daniel, but then fell silent.

“Don’t worry, dad and sisters will say that you have saved her.” Added brownish-furred bitch. “And as far I know that was indeed. You heard their call.”

“Right, I fell appeased.” Replied husky. “Now you can go to siblings.”

“I will, uncle.” She said and smiled. “But I must say that you are definitely more handsome than that dog who came with her...”

“Go!” barked Daniel, but he was only pretending anger. In fact words of <niece> was soothing his mind. So Ari went to him, licked his forehead and exited shed with confidential smile on her lips.

*

Jack awoke sooner than Cher. After first few seconds of airy confusion, he recalled the events of dramatic night and stood on paws. At least – he tried to. Doctor Tazaku providently bounded him with belts to bedding to pretend him from damaging the stitches. So husky just made a quick look around and then he sighed with relief – Cher was laying on table, covered with bandages but her breast was moving regularly, up and down. “God, I owe You that one!” thought dog. And then also she awoke.

“Jack?” she whispered. Although it was winter day, in room was quite dark – snow almost covered windows and no artificial light was shining.

“I’m here, Cher.” Replied dog. “Don’t move, you were probably operated.”

“But... what happened? Where are we?”

“I’m not sure, but I guess we are among good dogs... and good people.” Said husky. “As far I remember, some dogs drove off wolverines and carried us to their owner. We could be... I don’t know... Maybe Buckland? Or Selawik.” Then he had to stopped in order to catch a deeper breath. He was very weak. “But alive.” He thought. “We are alive!”

“Jack... I’m so sorry that I’ve pulled you into it...”

“No... I’m sorry I wasn’t better carer.” Replied husky. “But now rest. I’m watching over you.”

*

It was evening when doctor Tazaku returned home. He let Ice in (since death of Steele, greenland was main medic’s assistant, almost constantly carrying his med-pack) and they both looked on theirs patients.

“Sleeping Beauty is still asleep.” Noticed Japanese. “But that’s good. Less she moves, faster her paw will knit.” Then he went to Cher and started to examine her.

“Buddy, are you all right?” asked Ice, coming to Jack.

“Cher!” whispered husky.

“Nice to meet you.” Said greenland. “I’m Ice, the elder of Buckland.” Then he noticed that stranger was talking about his companion. “Ow, she... I get it. But don’t worry. My master is the best surgeon on this latitude.”

“Thank you, Ice.” Said husky with weary but clearly grateful voice. “She’s name is Cher and I’m Jack, her...” he hesitated for second, but he decided not to overestimate own state. “Her friend. We were looking for her sister but she broke paw and wolverines...”

“Hush.” Interrupted greenland. “You will tell me that when you rest. For now, both of you are guests of our town. I can assure you that doc Tazaku will pull you through.”

“And now you, my friend.” Said Japanese, bending over husky. “It’s time to change your bandages. Will you be calm or should I give you something for sleep?”

*

Daniel managed to get to cherry-furred beauty just three days later. It was quite a sophisticated plot made by Ari and Steele (junior) to allow dog enter Tazaku’s house when both doctor and the second patient were gone. So it took place on morning few days after, when scratches on Daniel’s side were almost healed.

Dog was given entrance by Ice’s children but then Ari and Steele (junior) discretely left building. So husky went into dim interior but quickly noticed beautiful cherry-furred, lying on bedding in room’s corner.

“Hello...” began uncertainly. “May I come in?”

“You have done it already, sir.” Replied Cher with inscrutable voice. “But it’s your home. I’m the guest here.”

“The guest is the master for me.” Replied Daniel, thinking that he wouldn’t said that if greyish-furred husky was present. “So if I disturb you I shall leave.”

“No, wait.” Said Cher. She noticed that dog was devouring her with his stare. It were the same eyes as Jack’s and she felt always so exited and powerful when males were treated her with that, almost idolatric reverence. Although for last few days she was thinking almost exclusively about Ice, it didn’t make the pleasure of being adored weaker. “I’m sorry for my nerves... You know, your master gave me so much tranquillisers...”

“Does it still hurt?” asked Daniel, coming closer and looking on paw in plaster cast.

“Actually... no.” replied cherry-furred. “But it is so hard to stand being bandaged and immobilised. I feel so helpless...” then she understood that she even didn’t know the name of stranger. “Were we introduced? Excuse, my name is Cher...” She stared on him by few seconds than added. “I remember you! You was there, in mountains... with Ice!” Mention about leader pinned heart of husky. “And you was fighting that wolverine... Thank you so much...”

“It was my duty, ma’am.” Replied dog, stretched between being pride due to thanks and being jealous about Ice. “I’m Daniel, second-in-command in Buckland sled-team.” But in the same moment he gasped in mind, reminding who was the first leader. “Don’t freak, boy!” he thought reasonable. “Ice have nothing to do with that. Apart of David, he is my best friend... and he is still bereaving Sky.”

“Nice to meet you, Daniel. You all are so good for us...” she said. Husky tensed his muzzle when Cher’s companion was mentioned but quickly regained his self-confidence and replied, faking airy tone.

“Well, saying precisely: being good for your companion is my duty. Being good for you is pleasure. So I could say...” And then came Ice.

Greenland knew nothing about plots and endeavour of his children to left Daniel alone with stranger. He was just doing his job as a elder and vet’s assistant. So he got back to check if there is all right with his patient. As it was with Arrow, he was treating that duty with official approach. Just entered house but coming through the dog-hatch, put his back-bag on the floor and then noticed dogs inside.

“Hi, Cher, hi Daniel.” Said with airy and cordial voice. “I hope I haven’t interrupted...” Husky clenched his jaws but said nothing. He just thought. “No! Not now! I was going so well...”

“Not at all, Ice.” Replied Cher, pinning another ice-shards in Daniels heart. “Cher? Ice?” thought husky. And I’m just a “dog who was with Ice” for her!” For the first time since adventure on Yukon Route he looked on friend with clear rage. “I was just talking with mister Daniel about your relief in mountains. About our rescue.”

Even Ice felt a little uneasy, seeing angry and confused Daniel. So he tried to soothe the situation.

“Better with him than with me. Remember that he’s the one who stand for you and kill one of wolverines. Technically, he saved you...” ...but simple-hearted greenland unintentionally did something completely opposite. “...and your mate.” He finished but second later regretted that word. Daniel gasped quietly.

“Ow, he is not my mate.” Replied Cher quickly. “Just a friend...” Husky noticed that cherry-furred saying that was carefully examining Ice’s face, just as he was examining Cher’s. And Ice was staring on Daniel’s muzzle with growing confusion.

“Excuse me...” murmured Husky, barely repressing emotions and stood up. “I must return to my owner.” He exited house by dog-hatch and passed next to returning Jack. Only due to surprise just after hundred yards of fast march, Daniel realised that he wanted to plunge his teethes in Jack’s throat. He speeded up, trying not to think. He was afraid that similar thought would came to him about Ice too.

Seed of chaos had sprouted in Buckland.

V. Fatal attraction

I have always treated a rivalry as a natural part of life. Of course, I haven’t been participating in it, just watching from aside, how