hostile packs. Only Niju looking on worried Flame said.

“It’s about Cris? Your brother-in-law is safe right now. And we can’t go for him, because humans have guns. We will retake him after we’ll deal with those strays. Right?”

“Right, father!” confirmed wolf with official tone. “We will crush them.”

In the other group fate of pair was more in concern. Drifts joined to Conquerors to defend from locals. But they were also looking on unconsciousness Natalya with fear. She was in paws of humans – dreadful creatures with lighting sticks. The only satisfied member of coalition was Sergey, sure that silver-furred wouldn’t get alive from humans grasp.

“So, what now?” asked Sasha with anger, looking on brown-furred.

“Call Crack and we will think.” Said Sergey and seeing that dark wolf came, continued. “We don’t have to love each other to cooperate. We have to rid out those humans and local wolves and then we will finish our argument. But then...” he smiled with grim smile. “I guess we could live in peace. When we kill that lot and subdue survivors, there will be enough of territory and food for both packs... Conquerors and Drifters.”

“But first we have to save Natayla!” growled Sasha with decisive voice.

“Hold your moose!” interrupted her Sergey. “I won’t risk a charge on armed humans. All I can promise that I won’t kill her when humans are here. And later we will finish our duel according to the laws.”

“But we must save her from those hunters!”

“Calm down... We will deal with locals, then wait for humans to freeze or starve. I bet Natalya would stand longer than they.”

Warmth slowly restores senses to both Natalya and Cris. They were lying under Arashi’s coat, to shocked to be confused. After few minutes of regaining the orientation, Natalya whispered to Cris ear.

“We are still alive.”

“And we will... nor now.” Said dog. “Those are friendly humans. It will be all right...”

“Except that our pack are about to slaughter each other...” whispered silver-furred. “And what you will do now?”

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t tell you everything from the start...” said Cris. “Few days ago I thought that I know with whom I am. Niju, that alpha is a friend of my father. His son is mate of my sister. My father...” he smiled with grim smile. “Is alive and probably will be here soon. To fight with your companions, although he doesn’t want that war. My mother and my sister are looking for help for local pack.”

“Cris...” whispered Natayla with tensed voice. She licked his forehead with sympathy. “I know I did bad, saying you all that. You have your own life... And I still wish to part of it, if we manage to do that... and if you still want that.” Dog smiled and their lips joined in kiss.

“Is that normal wolves behaviour?” asked a bit confused Gunnar.”

“Not more weird than all this mess around.” said Arashi, pointing on packs but also looking on pair of mates.

“By the way...” asked Norwegian. “Why that bitch doesn’t escape?”

“Her paw is twisted.” Replied doctor, pointing on one of silver-furred’s limb. “I will take care about that when I am sure she won’t bite my hand off.”

“Do what you think as best.” Replied Kaasen. “But cover me, I’m going for more wood.” He took his knife and started to saw a trunk of dwarf pine. It was exhausting work, but they had nothing else to do. Night was slowly coming to the river’s mouth. Norwegian knew that coming night would be frosty. Fire was a matter of life.

When Natalya and Cris finished their caress, dog looked on her and asked.

“How do you fell? Can you walk?”

“Hobble - yes. But I won’t be able to get thought that packs. If your decide not to stop me, Sergey would take that idea.”

“And he surely won’t let me go...” agreed Cris. “But wait, I’ll try to solve that as I can.” He stood, went on beach and howled to gathered wolves. “Niju, Dymitr, Sergey, Crack... listen to me!”

“Hold on, boy!” replied Niju. “We will take you when we finish off those strays.”

“Ow...” hissed Crack. “And where is your famous <American hospitality>?”

“Dormancing during the winter.” Called Flame and bared his fangs. “I’m ready, dad.” He added with quieter voice.

“I know it well.” Said Niju and smiled.

“WAIT!” cried Cris. “Why do want to fight? There still could be a peaceful solution.”

“No more, Cris.” Replied Niju. “They will not let us go.” He pointed with muzzle on humans on isle. Last rays of sun faded over the trees and cold wind awoke. “Don’t you get it? Why those Russian wolves came to us.”

“To rip your throat!” howled Sergey, but seeing serious stare of black and white alpha, he added. “Actually, we were being hunted all the time. We decided to find a new territory.”

“Exactly.” Nodded Niju. “And when more wolves come where, there will be less game for us all. So pack will hunt closer to humans seats... or even for humans animals. And even people of Alaska will start a massive hunts on us. The only way to prevent that... is to decide here and now, who is destined to live!”

“No!” called Cris. “It doesn’t end in that way.”

“Shut up, dog!” barked Sergey. “You know nothing.” Wind grew stronger, showering wolves and humans with some snow from trees.

“Cris...” whispered Natalya. “Is there any way to stop that?”

“If you forgave me, everything is possible.” He replied.

“I didn’t forgive you. You did nothing you must shame.” Said silver-furred. “I grew up in those days and saw that you did what you have to... But now... show me once again that my puppyish dreams are true... That there is some way to save us all.”

“Niju!” called dog. “How do you know you will win? Your wolves would die too!”

“But those who survive, will be strong and safe!” replied wolf, looking on Cris with decisive voice. “One, when I was just young and stupid youngster, my old alpha, Nava, taught me many important things. Initially I thought that as a wolf I’m the master of all life. But then, with him, I understood that we are just a part of a Great Design, the order we can’t oppose and we shouldn’t.”

“That means we have to kill each other?” yelled Cris.

“Don’t blame me.” Replied Sergey with innocent smile. “I want to kill you to get land for my pack. But I have nothing to do with those moonshine.”

“Yes.” Said Niju. “As the Nature intended. The strong will survive and the weak will die. I’m sorry, son, but there must be that way. You say we’re doing it because of humans? Yes and no. They are subjected to Grand Design too. If we follow it, they have to follow also. We can’t shun our fate, but stand it as proud and strong species. We walked this land before humans came here and we will walk it long after they will perish. But to do that we must follow the ways of Nature, as we were following for ages.”

“I think that is nonsense.” Added Sergey. “But we will fight anyway.”

“You will understand it soon.” Said Niju.

[“Survival” song. Tune is sublime and a bit scary. Melody of verses a bit resembles “Grand Design from WQ, except to totally different rhythm and structure.]

[Niju is standing on ice, in rank of wolves from Coalition. Next to him is Flame, looking almost like father. He looks on parent, from his face expression we see the pride and want to show his valour to the father. He also is still barring teethes to scare the enemy. His paws are a bit stretched, ready to charge on enemy. Niju sees this, smiles but then starts to declaim with serious voice:]

Now I'm saying what I was told
When I was just a young fool
There one way we can afford
Being free by follow rules

[Music starts. Niju shows with paw the surrounding landscape. He goes ahead and gets to the line of Conquerors and Drifters. Although whey are growling on enemy’s leader, Sergey wage his tail to let him in. Old wolf passes the rank of adversaries.]

Since moment of a life-blood started in veins of this land
We are following the route that draw on Earth the unseen hand
It is guiding us still towards the perfection and the peak
Being strong is heaven that we seek

[He comes closer to the island, carefully avoiding ice-cracks made by landing plane. When he is about twenty yards from shore, Gunnar raises his rifle and aims on him, but Niju jumps aside with unexpected speed.]

All this purge to reach salvation is to weakness cast away
This is route for only those ones who could stand the trials I say
This is one and only duty for the creatures to fulfil
Stand and kill or to be killed

[Then he again comes to isle’s beach. Gunnar is still aiming on his and Arashi holds a flaming torch in his hand. But wolf seems be indifferent towards humans. On words < purge to reach salvation > he comes to air-hole and submerge his cut paw to cold water. Blood-spot is washed away, however we see on face of Niju that holding limb in water is very unpleasant. But he stands it with ease and shows Cris his cleared cut. He comes closer puts it on dog’s shoulder. On words < kill or to be killed > scratches his throat with a claw, of course making him no harm, but Cris follows wolf’s paw with stare.]

Chorus:
The survival of the fittest
And for weakling just death’s call
Call it cruelty for the weaker?
That’s the fairest deal of all!

[He turns to all pack and sings with louder voice. He pushes Cris with his paw – dog falters due to surprise, but regains his balance and stands still and firmly.]

Rules are simple, immutable
For one lives the other dies
No more dishes on this table
Than reach only, earthly prize

[Niju gets back to rank of newcomers. He chooses some she-wolf from rank. She is small and weak, possibly omega of pack. He pushes her, but she stands on spread paws, enduring