anxiety.

“Hey, you! Get back on your place!” called Norwegian but then he froze.

He noticed on the slope of pan a single silhouette of giant, darkfurred predator, carefully sneaking to the sled. Trapper grabbed with quick move his revolver and aimed on intruder. In the same time he reached the load, searching for more paraffin. Darkfurred creature growled dreadfully.

“Well, it looks quite grim.” Murmured human and added some norwegian curse, unknown on Alaska. He quickly took a look on lamp and estimated he had not more time. He raised his colt and fired five rounds to shady figure. Wolf had to be prepared for that because he agile jumped aside, shunning shots. Norwegian frozen, uncertain to risk to lose his last bullet.

“Wolf! A damn smart wolf!” yelled Dusty. “Kodi, we can’t help you if master don’t release us!”

“Wag in Morse code?” asked Bart who clearly hadn’t understood earlier joke.

“Werk!” cursed leader. “I can’t move in those belts!”

Predator seemed to wait for that, because he was slowly stepping down from the slope and started to encircle the sled. He wanted to reach it from behind, knowing that only Kodi could defend trapper from his pounce. Husky was well aware of that situation and sweating with cold sweat.

“Any advices?” asked with shivering voice.

Lamp was fading out, what Steele knew well. He estimated perfectly the distance and predicted every move required to that attack. He had to kill only Kodi to get to the load. He was cursing the fate that put on his way his brother-in-law, but he didn’t hesitate. On the other hand were lives of starving Aleu and five of theirs pups. He had to bring them meat that night – another day of hunger would surely take a life of pup, maybe even of all pups. And Aleu wouldn’t stand it. “In life with humans it wouldn’t happened. But we had to stay in forest. The call was too strong.” Thought former leader and made another step ahead.

“Wait! Who are you?” called desperate Kodi, sensing with sixth sense that bounded in belts he had no chances against the enemy.

“I won’t tell you, brother-in-law.” Thought malamute. “And I won’t tell Aleu that I killed you. Forgive me, Owi. I still hate you but now I understand you. You were hungry...”

“Wait, wolf! Please, let us go!” cried Dursty. But Steele didn’t even notice it.

“God, forgive me. Jenna, forgive me! I will kill your son to save your daughter. Remember that is not her fault. Again I failed... again someone I love. But I must save Aleu and pups. This is my pack from now on! I have my duties.”

Norwegian again raised a colt to face to shot for the last time. But aiming in fading circle of light suddenly he froze. His stare met with enemy’s stare. They recognised themselves in that moment.

“Master Gunnar...” yelled shocked malamute, but he didn’t slow his steps.

“Steele?” whispered Norwegian. “My Steele? You are alive!”

“Master, I beg you: don’t resist!” barked former leader having no hope to be understood.

But he was understood. Somehow, in way so strange and miraculous like the Nature herself, in crossed stares of dog and human souls crossed too. In one second whole history of Steele’s life, from escape from Nome do night encounter three years later became clear to Norwegian. He didn’t KNOW but he did FELL it all perfectly. And he heard in his heart that desperate <Forgive me!> that called from eyes of the best sled-leader on North.

Human lowered his gun and with shaking hands grabbed the bag of dried meat. He threw it away the light-circle just before malamute’s paws.

“Good luck, Steele!” he whispered, when dog caught the precious load with his jaws. After a while malamute disappeared in dark forest. He was running in hurry to share the pray with mate and children.

What I know for sure: the Age of Steele had been just begun.

[This is Cris – Dorica’s project of one of Steele’s and Aleu sons. So there will be a sequel? Who knows? We have a hero already;)]