neck. He turned to sled, where Daniel and David were finishing to place John Ash in stable position. Trio put half bitten belts on theirs necks and set off to the north. They were carrying just a man, so sled gained speed fast and quickly disappeared behind road bend. Chances to find some help were significant, of course if wolves wouldn’t back... or were stopped.

Greenland took a final sight back, on brother-in-law, with heavy heart knowing that he was seeing him for the last time. That night he lost both beloved mate and true friend. That was the hardest moment in whole dog’s life. Since that night the smile of once merry sled leader from Buckland was never as radiant as before. But Ice had his duties – return to children and raise them in memory of beloved mother and brave uncle. That why he turned his stare ahead and drove Daniel and David with growl.

And Steele tenderly, like mother her child, caught sister’s body and pulled it away from road. He left her under high pine in deepest point of pan. Then he covered her with few heavy branches and hid in snow nearby. He waited.

Because wolves could be back in any moment, to take theirs wounded friend. Dymitr was still moaning quietly, bleeding on the white snow. Bullet hadn’t damaged any main artery but paralysed predator’s muscles for good. Poor hunter was about to die not from wound but due to cold and hunger. So he amazed when Steele (although he had view to kill in his eyes) carefully covered him with snow, providing precious warmth. “Is this dog so cruel that he is going to torment me longer... until I die from hunger?” thought hunter. And malamute returned to his hiding and was guarding the prisoner and sister’s body. Although wounded Dymitr hasn’t attracted wolf pack, but dead Sky attracted many scavengers.

At first Steele killed arctic fox, then two raccoon dogs and finally a single weasel. Whole that lot was trying to get some from leaderess carcass and being torn to pieces by malamute, mad due to despair. Load of fresh bodies grown next to bereaving brother, and new carcass attracted more and more scavengers. Scent of cooling meat was tormenting nose of dying Dymitr, turning his starvation to hell’s torture. Steele had already started his vengeance on wolf pack using all available methods.

But no one returned for shot companion. No one came to match with suicidal fury of the malamute. When next day woke up above frozen Alaska, Steele shock off layer of snow, went to sister’s body and once more licked her muzzle in last farewell. Then covered her with layer of snow, so any scavenger couldn’t get her. Later he came to Dymitr’s shelter and took wolf from below.

He greeted harbinger of death with truly relief. “So he spare me more torments.” Thought wounded predator and with gratefulness turned his throat for fatal blow. But that blow hasn’t come. Instead of that hunter smelt even more intense smell of meat and opened his eyes. Steele put a raccoon dog’s carcass before him and waited. Confused Dymitr was taking looks on food than on enemy then again on food, uncertain what was about to happen. Finally malamute lost his temper and growled with hateful voice.

“Eat!”

There was no need to repeat that – wolf grabbed meat with his jaws and started to devour giant portions. First wave of fresh energy deluged his body, slowly warming it up. Meal came exactly in last moment it could save the prisoner. After he swallowed last piece, he turned inquiring stare on his <saviour>. But giant dog only put another raccoon dog on front of him. Then he repeated.

“Eat!” And seeing the endless amaze in hunter’s stare, he added. „Eat! You will teach me how to kill the wolves.”