< life for her > - Cris spits bloody saliva, takes a deeper breath and speeds up. On words < one I care > Natalya turns her muzzle back and sees Cris about half a mile behind her. But she clenches her jaw and runs further.]

I regret, but I can’t back
Can’t return to mother’s den
                        I can’t mess it up again
                        I must retake what I’m lack
            Heart and stars - so lead me then

[She closes her eyes and run ahead. She is crying, but when frost friezes her tears she also opened her eyes. We see the new spark there – a decisive and willful stare.]

Chorus (Cris):
Heart for heart, kiss for kiss
More you hate the more you miss
In the harshest way of live
Love is your only ally

[We see Cris running with effort. He lowers his head to avoid some low branch. Then he turns head back for a second. View from dog’s eyes – he turns stare ahead again, but we see he runs right to the pine. Cris hits the tree and screen fades to black. Music instantly stops.]

*

It took just few hours for Kitty to find Rin, the best Niju’s scout. Brown-furred wolf was sleeping in his improvised shelter in dead tree-trunk, but he was camouflaged so well, what fox just dropped in his small den. Then all went quickly – sleepy Rin grabbed white-furred in paws and charged with his jaws. Scream of Kitty stopped him in last second.

“THAT’S ME!” cried arctofox. “Wait!”

“Ow... sorry.” Murmured scout. “You should wear some kind of uniform.” He put her on the ground, yawned, casting away remnants of sleep. Then looked on white fox with curiosity. “So what you have for me.”

*

“That’s it.” Smiled Niju, when howl ceased. “We’re going now. Call Dymitr and his wolves.”

“Yes, father.” Nodded Flame. “But... Should I wake Steele.”

“No, let him sleep.” Smiled pack-leader. “He had a hard day. He will catch us tomorrow.”

“But dad... I think he might oppose our plans.” Said dark-furred uncertainly.

“If he is awake.” Replied Niju. “But let him sleep.”

He went off from rock, leaving his son. Flame howled to all coalition members, but quieter, aware not to alarm Steele, sleeping in cave. He exactly understood his father. Although Niju was alpha and as an alpha he didn’t have to consult his decisions with anyone, but a harsh friendship with malamute was still strong with him. “A respect.” Thought Flame. “He doesn’t want to show disrespect towards... old friend and somehow – teacher. My father is wise wolf.” Seeing the shapes of wolves, exiting theirs lairs, he thought that to follow leader pawprints he had to show more courage and wit he had earlier. “You will be proud of me, dad. I promise.” Whispered young warrior.

“Fall in rank.” Called to both pack. “We are going west.”

*

Cris was unconscious, but this was an extraordinary state... of that state. Dog knew he was knocked out by hitting the tree. Although he was senseless, but still aware of what was happening to him. At least in some way.

His consciousness was in some dark place, out of space and time. Cris felt no body, nor any stimulus. But after few minutes of that weird situation, he noticed that some of his senses were also active. From overwhelming darkness something started to appear in front of him. It wasn’t exactly a image, but all in one: view, scent and blow of warmer air. Somehow dog understood that all those signs were well known to him. Scent was almost clear – almost identically like...

“Mark?” asked Cris in darkness. No, that wasn’t Mark’s aroma. And it couldn’t be – what sled dog would do in that dim place?

“Well, not exactly.” Replied some voice. That voice was also resembling something warm and friendly. “But you have another try. Guess who I am.”

Then Cris noticed a light aura in front of him. In white glare of light there was some silhouette of dog... a pup actually. His coat was black-and-white, malamute like, almost as Steele’s one. Eyes of pup were green but somehow a spark of Cris parents were seen in them.

“Lucas...” whispered Cris.

Then all scene changed. A vision returned – dog was seeing the landscape around. Snow, trees – especially the pine that he had hit it. And under it a body of brownish-furred wolfdog. Cris gulped.

“E...”

“No, you are not dead.” Said Lucas. “I just... took you aside for a while. Soon you will awake with a big bump on your forehead, but not more apart this. By the way... I’m impressed you know my name.”

“I have no idea how.” Said Cris, amazed by so many things that he wasn’t able to be confused by that single one. “I even hardly remember you. You died when we have about six weeks.”

“That’s right, brother.” Said pup and went closer to brownish-furred. In fact he looked to be older than six weeks, but Cris was seeing many more strange things to ask for that. Lucas rubbed on brother’s side and added. “Maybe you don’t know me, but I know you well. I was looking for you for all those years. I’m sure you have many questions, but we have no time for explanation. I just have to say you that with grandma Lempi, grandpa Sharp and aunt Sky we are helping you from above. And now came time help you, because you all, but you particularly, got lost.”

“Are came here to say that I have no right to leave my mission and follow Natalya?” asked wolfdog with dreary voice.

“Quite opposite.” Said pup. “I’m here to help you find her... and to do what you wish. But not blindly – you must use not only your heart, but also reason. Do you love her?” wolfdog nodded his head. “But you still care about our family?” Brownish-furred nodded even stronger. “So I’m sure you know what to do now. Am I right?”

“The only way to stop the war is making her the alpha of Drift Pack.” Whispered Cris with understanding.

“Of course.” Nodded Lucas. “It’s not easy, because new pack-members will surely oppose that, but you must give Natalya chance. If that doesn’t happen, will come the war. It doesn’t matter who win – actually no one will win if someone lost.”

“Will you help me?” asked brownish-furred.

“I will.” Nodded pup. “As I was helping you all before. But now you have one more advantage – you now your brother is by your side.” Cris nodded his head. “So what now? Are you ready?”

And before wolfdog managed to answer, some overwhelming force grabbed brownish-furred and pulled him to motionless body on the snow. Consciousness collided with body and it wasn’t a warm greeting. Cris yelled with pain, feeling burning bump on his forehead.