need more time for that.

*

Natalya awoke on morning and instantly heard quiet voices of Cris and Amber. Dark-wolf was still weak, but he was recovering fast. However dog didn’t ask him about health.

“...so I think they would use Drift Pack Tactics, modified by greater number of wolves. I guess it means two teams, one holding brink of forest and the second attacking from side, sneaking in cover. Ow... ask Natalya for details.”

“What details do you want me to ask?” yawned sleepy she-wolf.

“No, it’s nothing.” Replied instantly Cris, nudging Amber with paw, ordering silence. “I was wondering how it came that he fought with Sergey.”

“Yeah, right.” Agreed dark-wolf. He tried to stay loyal towards both saviours but actually he trusted more to Cris. Maybe it was males solidarity, maybe just some prejudice towards Natalya as a former Drifter. “I said him what happened that day, but if you want I could repeat that.”

“Yes, please.” Nodded silver-furred. “Ow, a hare!” she smiled, looking on prey in snow.

“All yours. We ate already.” Said Cris. Then they both listened to Amber’s story.

It wasn’t too much to tell. Ambitious wolf wanted to become an alpha and if that would be impossible, at least beta of pack. But even his beta-status wasn’t sure, because Sergey decided to made his main assistant Olga from Drift Pack. The second title, needed in such a big group was however still unknown, and might have been awarded both to Amber and Crack. And those two hated themselves from the first sight. They were from different packs but Sergey picked them on one day before crossing strait. They even hadn’t known each other before but because they looked almost identical – both were massive, dark-furred males – pack started to call them brothers was both of them found extremely irritating. So after few arguments with <brother> and Olga, Amber decided that is no time nor energy to lose and found the pretext to challenge the boss. He claimed he didn’t want war and wished original Drift Pack to be more respected. To Natalya and Cris he confessed that was just words, but three days earlier, on the shore, many former Drifters had believed him. So – sensing some support – Amber decided to start duel with Sergey. But he had no luck and lost. Maybe it was because of aching paw that he stretched, being thrown down from ledge by Cris, maybe it because Sergey after wound on his auricle was extremely enraged. However the result was clear – beaten claimant was left to die on beach.

“I’m very sorry about my previous behaviour.” Finally said Amber. “I have never seen my actions as they were, until I was strong and lucky. But now...”

“Don’t be afraid.” Said Cris. “Maybe your paw won’t be as agile as was before, but in few weeks you will be able to run and hunt.”

“Few weeks... on your meat? I can’t tire you so much.”

“I think we’ll make it.” Said dog. And looked on Natalya. She nodded her muzzle. “We will feed you, until we have own food.”

“Yeah, thank you again.” Repeated Amber. “But I think I’m disturbing you and...”

“In what?” asked Cris and narrowed his eyes. He was determined to keep Amber close at least until he was useful source of information about Conquerors Pack. However he noticed as Natalya slightly crooked her lips.

“I don’t know.” Replied dark-furred. “Just...”

“Maybe we should go on hunt.” Interrupted him Cris. “Natalya... will you help me?”

“With pleasure.” She replied and when they went some distance from Amber, she nudged dog’s side with her paw. “TAG!” And they both ran to forest.

*

Day was tiring but also successful. They got one young caribu, what was plenty meat for all trio for few days. They hunted game in small valley on shore, about a mile from grove. So they carried part of meat to Amber but decided to sleep with prey, to prevent scavengers from stealing it. Just before midnight they reached they food-treasury and laid down in snow next to caribu. Effort of passing day should have lull them to sleep quickly, however it didn’t. they were still laying awake, uneasily – however each one of them from different reason.

“Cris...” whispered Natalya. “Are you sleeping.”

“No yet.” Replied wolfdog. He was still thinking about broadcasting next report to Kitty, so he was ready to leave when she would fall asleep. But somehow he was then glad it failed. He was tired of spying, especially spying in front of her.

“What a beautiful night!” she said. The light snow started to fall and distant Aurora Borealis was shining through it with dozens of colours. It looked like giant, omnipresent rainbow in the air. Although it was frosty, maybe even colder than night before, somehow it seemed to be much warmer.

“Right.” Agreed Cris. “Are in your homeland nights like this?” he noticed that she shook her muzzle and added. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to evoke any memories.”

“From now on that land is my home.” She replied with tensed voice. “And whatever you think about it, now you are my pack, because you are only creature I can trust.”

“I’m sure not only.” Replied Cris, although inside he was boiling from shame and anxiety. “I’ve just happened to be here and now.”

“But I wish to be that way in future... as long as you want.” Said Natalya and stood up. She went to wolfdog, who stood up to. They almost met with their noses. “Cris... when my father died, I thought I had to grow up or I would die. But it hasn’t happened.”

“Really?” asked dog, gulping.

“Thanks to you I still could be like pup, because you show me that I can trust others. You are so reliable and trustworthy...”

“Well... don’t judge me too hard.” Cris laughed with nervous laughter, hiding his confusion. “O my God!” he thought. “If I fulfil my mission, she would take it as betraying her... because it is betraying her. I’m using her!”

Suddenly Natalya made a step ahead and their noses met. A short caress quickly turned to long kiss and before Cris understood what was happening he drowned in she-wolf’s hug. He tried to say something, break that spell, but when he steeped back, he just looked in deep, green Natalya’s eyes and froze all inside. “I’ll be damned!” though, again kissing silver-furred.

“At last.” Whispered she-wolf. “I found you!”

[“An Outcast” song. Romantic  and merry tune. We hear the song and we see silent scenes in the same time. Singing from background.]

[Capture of Natalya and Cris in the valley. Cris is trying to say something, but she closes her lips with another kiss, then steps back and wags her tail, asking him to follow. Then cut to Natalya’s muzzle. Zoom-in on her eyes.]

Natalya:
A sudden spark of warm
A some fresh air to breathe
A sunlight in the storm
A someone just like me

[She runs and Cris follows. Finally she stumbles and falls into the snow. With laughter Cris falls next to her. Pair starts to wrestle playfully.]

He is so close right now, as if he always was
I don’t why he came but feel he came not without cause
God put his before me, so finally I could find
The one was looking for in dreams, in heart and mind

[Then they stand up and go to forest bring on one of the trees Cris notices his signs on bark for pack-scouts. Before Natalya sees this, he runs there and rub cracks out. Then he smiles, pretending he is airy. Silver-furred goes to him and nestles to his side.]

But he is now right here and so real, so true so mine
An answer to my needs that all aroused in time
A cure for all my fears and wind that set me free
The pauper and the prince at once – an outcast just like me.

[Natalya seems to notice nothing. She starts to wrestle with Cris again, still next to the same tree. That fall on the snow. A Cris paw from  put the capture once again scratches a bark to wipe out every sing of his message.]

Chorus:
Just like me!
Outside the world, where we are just alone
Just like me!
We find time I that I once thought it’s gone
Just like me!
And that’s all I need
To stay the way I am to be
With outcast just like me

[They run back to valley with caribu and theirs beddings. Zoom-in on Cris face. He is smiling but a tune of anxiety is also visible on his face.]

Cris:
Refreshing drops of rain
A cooling blow of wind
To wash my every pain
To soothe my tired mind

[They stop in valley and Cris is repairing Natalya’s bedding, by rearranging the brush. She, seeing this, with blow of her paw destroys the bad. Dog looks on her with confusion but she bends to his ear and whisperers something. He smiled with, a bit ashamed.]

She is so close right now, as if she always was
I don’t why she came but feel she came not without cause
It finally happen – I see her and know she’s what I’ve lacked
I wish to stay here, at her side without more turning back

[They both go to Cris bedding and lays down on brush, side to side. Natalya is licking Cris tenderly.]

When I have exited my den I was blinded by sun
And now I see that it was she and her shine’s going on
So now I follow only star I want to have on sky
And hope that day will never set, at least before I die

[Capture of the sky, view from characters eyes. They look on stars, pointing with paws some shining points. Then shooting stars comes. Capture of pair, looking up – they whisper wished quietly.]

Just like me!
Outside the world, where we’ll together be
Just like me!
I found the find for no one else to see
Just like me!
And that’s all I need
To stay the way I am to be
With outcast just like me

[They again lay down. Natalya closes her eyes with happy and airily face. Cris takes another look around and then fell motionless on silver-furred’s side. He also seems to fall