smaller but accustomed to northern life dogs would took a duty in sled. One of them was Arrow. And she unfortunately got that nasty injury. So ice had a head full of heavy thoughts, but that kind of matters was still easier for him than the others memories. The anniversary of Sky’s and Steele’s death was closing, and Ice tried as he could not to recall the missing mate and friend. But it was useless, as ever. Quickly he turn from sled matters to that terrible vision from previous October.

Steele, standing over dead Sky, with madness in his eyes. Distant howls of wolves. Taste of swallowed tears and rage. An end of era. Somehow – an end of old Ice... But then greenland shook off his heavy thought, because he noticed two silhouettes, clearly waiting for him before kennel’s entrance.

“Daniel, David.” Whispered dog, looking on twin huskies.

“Hi, Ice.” Said Daniel, the darker of brothers. “Do you have a minute?”

Leader nodded his head, being quite surprised that David was there too. Twins were almost inseparable, at least for most of time. But there was a strange paradox of that family – Daniel was Ice’s best friend, but David hated sled leader in all his heart. Probably he projected his loathe from lost Steele on his brother-in-law and in talks with Daniel admitted that his hostility to elder is quite irrational. But that old argument was still dividing both dogs.

“Yeah, sure. What is the matter?” asked greenland.

“David has something with you.” said quietly Daniel.

“Ow, wait, I have no the seconds with me.” Replied dog with irony, expecting another argument. “But for what Daniel is here?” he asked in mind.

“No, Ice...” interrupted David. “I want to... ask your pardon... for all that in recent times.”

“Huh?” he asked confused. Daniel nudged his brother so David continued.

“I’m sorry, Ice. I was very unfair for you. I let my old argument with Steele to affect me.”

“So, there will be no seconds required?” asked ice with amused voice. But when he noticed ashamed muzzle of husky, he added. “Sorry about that. If you want to put all this aside, I’m ready to do it, David.” Light-furred dog lowered his ears with humility and thankfulness. “Better late than never. It’s nice to welcome you in our crew.” Said greenland with relaxed voice. He went to David and friendly nudged him in side. After a moment of polite chat, light-furred dog entered the kennel and ice stayed just with Daniel.

“It’s because the anniversary of Sky’s and Steele’s death is coming?” asked his friend with amaze. Husky nodded his muzzle, but it could meant both: yes and no. “ E... you made him to do it?”.

“No, he wanted to end it anyway. I just... helped him to make final decision.” Ice nodded his head with understanding. “But anyway, let talk about something lighter. You were on date?” smiled Daniel.

“What?” gasped confused Ice.

“Well... you were with Arrow, didn’t you?”

“As an elder of town I’m responsible for every dog in Buckland and...”

“Come on... I think that Arrow is great bitch. I hope that you pride yourself with your <elder’s duties>. Just tell me, as a friend...” but then he noticed that Ice narrowed his eyes in drown in own thoughts. Rather unpleasant thoughts. “Ow, I’m sorry. Is that...”

“Sky.” Replied greenland. “Sky was the only one.”

“E... I’m not good in such stuff, but I think that she would be glad if you found another mate. Life is going on... You know... your kids are almost mature but I think that growing without mother... or at least step-mother isn’t the best for pups.”

“Daniel, you are genius puller.” Replied Ice with easy but still a little tensed voice. “But don’t think too much about matters that are... as far from pulling sled as that one is.” Advised leader and entered the kennel.

III. The Heart of Winter

Anyway, for now just forget about apple-trees. But we won’t exit the garden. Because house of my owners was the greatest and most attractive from whole Nome, my sisters often visited me. When boys were playing theirs games we had our own. It was too wrestling and sparing, but only in girls company. What a pleasure would be fighting Yuk and Kodi if they were much stronger from early puphood? So we three: Aleu, Saba and I was playing and fighting like real wolves in packs. Of course, Aleu was the strongest of us. And I was the weakest but it didn’t mean I always loose. I learned to pretend completely helpless. Girls were beating me poorly, probably afraid of hurt me. And I just waited for right moment and surprise them with unexpected move. Who expect the weakling to choke, bite in neck or scratch in underbelly? Aleu and Saba definitely not. So sometimes I won, maybe no so often as Aleu, but for sure more frequent that my strength and endurance deserved to. As I said: forget about apple-trees, but as far as I remember it always happened next to that cluster.

“Dad! Snow!” exclaimed Steele (junior).

He, as his four sisters and brother, had a year and half and was avid to pull the sled. Of course, he was still too young to go on farther routes but he understood that winter he would for the first time practise in harness with master Ash.

“Cool!” murmured Ice with sleepy voice. “But we have about six months before us to watch it.”

“Ow... I thought you show more enthusiasm.” murmured Steele (junior). But his father still even haven’t opened his eyes. “We could sled now!”

“Believe me.” Replied Ice. “Some day you will be sick of it.”

So young dog left his parent and exited Tazaku’s house. On yard his siblings were waiting, already playing in snow with Betty, Eva and Marry, three mackenzie sisters from Ash’s house. Adolescent pups and three years old bitches were – in theory - too grown-up to prank in that way, but start of winter was an opportunity too extraordinary to be grave serious. Even Arrow, usually very serious, was standing nearby, laughing at sophisticated pranks of whole group. If her paw wasn’t still in bandage, she probably would joined the game.

“Don’t worry.” Said David, standing next to grey-furred. “If I understood doc Tazaku, soon you will be completely fit.”

“And then: to the sled.” noticed Arrow. “Right?”

“If you don’t want to go, just... pretend it still hurts you.” Said husky with serious tone. “I won’t tell anyone...”

“What are you talking about?” she whispered. “If I am unable, so with whom you will go on nearest route?”

“Well, in that case mister Ash has to made that lazy chicks...” he pointed his muzzle on mackenzie sisters. “...to some useful work. Of course, I prefer go with you not with those city-dandies, but...”

Arrow felt flattered, that David praised her so much. She was much smaller and weaker than husky and frankly speaking she definitely wasn’t the strongest member of team. But David was talking honestly – he really preferred a help of well known friend than company of untrained novices. On the route not only muscles mattered. It was important to trust team-mates and be ready to work in that team. Mackenzie sisters were fine and pretty females, due to theirs breed were also even stronger than Buckland’s huskies, but seemed more like giant pets than sled-pullers.

“Ice will decide.” Said Arrow. “He is the leader.”

“God, have a mercy on him, when he have to lead them!” murmured David, looking on three females, playing with pups like they were pups themselves. Arrow burst in discrete laughter. But then Ice himself finally woke up, exited the Tazaku’s house and looked on his team.

“All right, dogs!” he called. “Master Ash’s team: fall in rank!” and the first winter training started.

*

Snow found Cher and Jack on the east slope of Bears Mountain, over some tree-trunk. They were following a scent of wolves, but cherry-furred wasn’t sure if Aleu was one of them. Husky suggested that it would be better if she was sure, because encounter of unknown wolf pack, especially hungry pack, could end in pitiful way. But he still trusted in Cher’s instinct, as well as Cher trusted in his. So they both were sure that the second is leading.

Cher was heavily thinking about her further steps. She was searching for over month and she saw no sing of sister. More over, she was still hoping to find some way... any way, to impress father. “Finding Aleu would be nice... but this nothing special. I must get something different.” She was lying, cuddled in Jack side, but in spite of that she was shivering due to cold. And husky was sleeping like a pup – frost seemed to be just a refreshing cold to him. He was smiling, sensing as Cher was close. Probably something very nice was in his slumbered mind. “So, I’m here, that is: nowhere, with my sweet adored and guide. I could start my own pack with him, of course if I could stand that damned frost!” she thought with sarcasm. Then, suddenly, Jack opened his eyes and looked on Cher with serious stare.

“Do you smell that?” asked. She sniffed few times to sense just distant scent of wolves and...

“What is that?” asked surprised. “I don’t know that aroma.”

“I guess those are wolverines.” Replied Jack. “I don’t know how many. Not so far, maybe two miles.” Cher was barely believing that so weak scent had awoken husky, but she said nothing just looked on carer’s muzzle. “That is probably nothing, they... or just he, can’t endanger us. But wait here, I will check it out. By the way I’ll get something to eat.” He stood, leaving bitch without warmth of his body. Seeing that she was shivering, he added. “Wait, I will bury you in snow. This is the best way to save your warmth.”

Cher surrendered passively to Jack’s actions and soon she was under a descent layer of snow. She felt no better than before and started to long for husky’s hug, but she said no word. In fact, she was so cold that she was afraid too open her mouth.

So dog covered her with last portion of snow and soon she heard a muffled steps