from aside, how world around is fighting. In my family it was just funny – my brothers usually compete for title of the best carer. Although that Aleu required more care (she was on object of harassment since early puphood), Kodi, Yuk and Dingo were trying to comfort me in the first place. But it was just a slight gradation in siblings love – I think it’s nothing odd nor dangerous. But later, when others dogs were competing for every my glimpse and were doing it for real I came to conviction that is actually disgusting. So I had two choices – to try soothe every rivalry and argument or to learn how to turn a blind eye on it. Guess what I have chosen.

“TAG. YOU’RE IT!” called Eva and nudged David’s side.

Husky was drowned in thought and walking slowly and slippery ice of main street. Mackenzie was heavy-built and running fast in chase of anyone to tag. She wanted good but it ended as usual – David lost his balance and fell on the ground.

“Werk!” he growled, hitting hard ice-layer with muzzle. That was clear but cold day, so streets of town were covered with frozen carpet. Not surprisingly, knocking on it was very painful.

“O! I’m so sorry!” yelled Eva. She bended over him and gentle grabbed his neck to help him stand up. That mean: it was a gentle grab in mackenzies standards – if she would caught some smaller and more fragile dog than strong husky, she would have probably squashed his spine. “I didn’t want to...” Started to explain sandy-furred but David was silent. “E... Dave... won’t you rebuke me?”

“What?” asked confused dog.

“I’ve just pushed and knocked you down. Remembered?” asked with concern. “Or you don’t! O, my God, let me see you head!” she exclaimed with fear.

“No, I’m fine.” Replied husky. “Don’t worry...” he want to move on but then he raised his paw and nudged Eva’s side. “Tag. You’re it!” said with follow voice and started to walk in square’s direction.

“Dave, wait!” called mackenzie. She caught with him up and added with amaze. “You... tagged me!” when husky turned rather absent stare. “Thanks... you are very nice today...” David opened eyes wider, desperately trying to understand what mackenzie was up to. “You know... you haven’t scolded me and... well... What happened?”

“No, nothing.”

“Dave, tell me.” Said sandy-furred and smiled like tiny pup.

“Well, aren’t you playing now?” She sat on the ground and looked on him with unexpected serious eyes. “Right, it’s about Daniel...”

*

Daniel haven’t taken any hostile actions against Jack but hostility was floating in the air. He was surrounding husky with freezing wall of aversion but in the same time he was trying to watch every his step. It wasn’t sure if he was following Cher or his rival, but whenever cherry-furred or Jack was present, Daniel was present as well.

Cher was living in Tazaku’s house due to constant need of changing bandages and examining plaster cast. Beside of that doctor was instinctively sensing that his patient was disturbing his dogs minds. So Japanese placed Jack in kennel and just let Ice to guard Cher. Greenland was living with children in shed next to Tazaku’s residence. But in recent days Daniel became a frequent guest in Ice’s family. He was officially visiting Steele (junior) and Armand, who were training to sled duties, but most time he was spending with Ari, who was helping him as a discrete private-eye over Cher.

“Don’t worry, uncle.” Said she-spitz. “As far as I know, she spends very little time with Jack, although he wanted to change it. But definitely she lost interest in him.”

“And gained in your father.” Wanted to murmur Daniel, but he repressed his tongue. “Did she said anything about me?” asked with hope.

“Well.” started Ari. Although she wanted to soothe her favourite uncle, dad had taught her always to say true. And if she couldn’t, to say nothing. “Not in chats with me... Don’t worry... we are... well... guarding her.”

Despite of nervousness, husky smiled and licked his niece’s forehead. “I owe you that one.” Said and run out the shed. He had to calm his nerves by alone walk.

*

“He just tells me nothing.” Concluded David. “As far as I know him... and I guess I know him quite well... this is bad, very bad.” Eva was still nodding her muzzle but her eyes showed that she was understanding the weight of matter. “You know that since old times I was constantly arguing with Ice and questioning his authority as a sled-leader. But now Daniel is doing that. Do you get it? Daniel, his best friend! My brother is jealous for that... well...”

“Bad bitch.” Finished Eva. “I got the point.” Although mackenzie solved none of his problems, David felt a great relief. After change in his twin’s behaviour he felt very lonely.  So he looked with gratefulness on Eva, but saw anxiety on her face. “But this is not all.” She said. “I heard that master John wants to join her to sled-team. Now, on nearest mail-trip.”

“Werk!”

*

So sled was reformed. In first pair were Ice and Cher. Ash came to conclusion that sight of pretty female would made males to competition and to greater effort. Well he was right... he was too right! In next pair was harnessed twins but it happened so unfortunate that Daniel was after Cher. And after Daniel was Jack in pair with Eva. Closing two of Betty and Marry was the only stable and predictable element of team. Harness was a powder keg.

“Mush!” called John Ash and sled set off.

It was morning of November day, a penultimate trip before Christmas. Frost wasn’t too biting but snow was deep making the way hard. It was the first sled-trip in Cher’s life, and that idea both cherry-furred and Jack greeted with fear. Doctor Tazaku decided that she-dog was ready to pull and just in case, John would release her and take on sled. But despite of anxiety, Cher decided not to oppose.

“This is the way to show myself best in front of Ice.” She thought. “It would be hard, but... Hell! I’m the daughter of great Balto! I have his blood, so I must have some inclinations to that.”

Ash preferred to put the smaller dogs in firsts ranks – this odd custom was because of experience of short Ice and complete incompetence of giant mackenzie sisters. So presence of Cher on lead could thrill whole team. The first day passed quite easy, but probably only because they were running on plain terrain. It was about to be harder, when they reach Yukon Range.

Even on morning next day sled was going quite well, because Ice imposed serious speed. He knew that would quickly tire gentle Cher’s paws, but anyway it was better than long and ever more exhausting way. Great effort in short time isn’t pleasant but sometimes it is easier than constant burden.

“Daniel, David!” said Ice after about an hour of run. “Think how to suggest master that we have to go on tail. It’s better when you would leading...”

“No!” oppose Daniel. “You are going great!” But in this statement was so much hostility towards greenland that it sounded extremely weird.

“We can’t fatigue Cher!” called Jack from third rank. He sensed an opportunity to argue with both Ice and Daniel. “Those bastards!” thought husky. “I won’t let them harass Cher!”. Since his side had been healed, he was seeking an occasion to provoke Daniel or Ice. But until that day it was useless.

“We will do that we are expected to.” Said Ice with wilful voice. He understood that something really nasty is boiling in team. Then he whispered to cherry-furred. “Please, don’t interfere in that. And when you feel that you can’t make another step, tell me... And only me.”

“I won’t fail you, Ice.” Replied Cher, although actually she felt already that she couldn’t make another step.

“Cher, how are you doing? Is all right?” asked Jack.

“Don’t sidetrack on left!” shouted Daniel, however he had no chance to see if husky is really sidetracking. In fact he was (even actually on left) due to anger and dissociation.

“Shut up!” growled Ice who was tired of that absurd. “Watch the...”

But his voice was muffled. Sudden burst of wind covered them in snow-storm. In just few seconds, as they were sliding from forest’s brink to clearing, they were surrounded by white element. John Ash cursed badly.

“Stop!” he called through the blizzard. “We are going to have a break.”

Sled stopped in cover of lone fir and human quickly left vehicle and went to harness. He wanted to make sure that snow-blinded animal wouldn’t lose their was, so he decided to form first rank from the best pullers. In some ways he was very similar to Eva – he wanted good, but it ended as usual.

“Werk!” thought Ice, vaguely predicting incoming catastrophe. “No!”

Ash unharnessed Cher and David... and switched them! So lighter of twins came to pair with Ice and beautiful cherry-furred was placed next to Daniel. Jack growled, barely repressing his rage. Mackenzies were looking on each other, uncertain what to do.

“Jack... it’s all right...” murmured Eva, but he ignored her.

“Mush!” called trapper and cracked the whip.

So sled started, but Jack was still growling. A little quieter then, but maybe that was only result of louder storm. Delighted Daniel was talking something to Cher, but she was too shocked with cold and exhaustion that she understood nothing, just was nodding. Sled was speeding up, but probably due to restless excitement sparking in team. “We must reach Galena... fast!” yelled Ice in mind. “I think, it just can’t be worse!” Ow, poor optimist. It could.

They almost hit the three men on brink of forest. Ash stopped sled, trying to understand what strangers were shouting. Most probably option was some accident on the route, so trapper was obligated to help by Mushers Code.

“What happened?” asked John, looking on three tall men.

“Where the hell you were!” screamed the heaviest-built stranger. “Boss is mad. We thought that they caught you...”

Dogs were more perceptive than human. Ice