went out from sled and saw a dog on snow. “Another stray... But here?”

Sara noticed that newcomer went to Aleu and licked her cheek. She ran to first team and grabbed Ralph’s shoulder.

“Harness him to your sled.” She asked.

“Are lost your mind?” cried trapped. “That’s a stray!”

“No, he will lead us.”

After few minutes Cris for the very first time in his life felt a harsh caress of harness. He was placed next to David in first line of Ralph’s team.

“So you have never pulled?” murmured husky with hopelessness in his voice.

“He will manage.” Said Aleu. “I’m pulling for eight hours and I’m using to it.”

“Damn!” called David, who was sharing the mood of his owner. “A band of amateurs. Son, can you walk?”

“Yes, sir!” replied Cris. He still didn’t see a thing, but Lucas was still near. Family was almost at full strength.

XII. Warrior of the North

Flame woke Steele two hours after midday. It meant it was almost evening, at least in technical sense. Sun was slowly setting over the forest, giving the red rays on snowed wood and dog’s den under a pine. It was something in that scene that Steele shivered and not because of cold.

“This day is getting old.” He thought. “It’s still bright and yet warm, but it’s getting to dusk. Just as me. Well... who knows it this is not the best time.”

“Your meal, sir.” Said Flame, putting a haunch of caribu in front of malamute. He nodded with gratitude and started to eat. “Sir?” asked young wolf uncertainly.

“Yes?” and seeing stare of youngster added. “No it’s finished. I will fight with him.”

“Sir, please, reconsider it.” He turned his stare to the ground. “Ami wouldn’t forgive me, if you die because of me.”

“If she shares the philosophy of your and your father, she will understand it. The strong will survive.” Smiled Steele, swallowing the portion of meat. “Sorry, just kidding. But look on that from my perspective: she wouldn’t forgive me, if you gets hurt.”

“Thank you, sir.” Replied Flame. “But it’s so unfair... You are fighting instead of me, however I’m younger, and – with all due respect – surely stronger.”

“I’ll try to surprise you all.” Murmured dog. “But now help me...” he outstretched his front-left paw. “It is aching as hell. I must warm it up. Can you massage it? Here. I don’t want them to see it.”

“Sir, if your paw is...”

“It is thirteen years old.” Replied Steele. “So it could ache a bit. But it won’t fail me. Not this time.”

*

Sergey was waiting for time of duel with serious anticipation. He was walking among Drifters and Conquerors, arguing with Crack, Olga and Sasha, just to cover his unrest. Of course he wasn’t scared by some old dog who had challenged him, but whole situation got more and more complicated. They all were hungry. Peninsulas and Buck, who were in outer circle, were able to hunt, at least with some scouts. And them were surrounded. Few times Sergey was close to make a final decision of breaking out, but ultimately he left it. He wanted to determinate the war then and there. That why he was in hurry.

“I will kill that idiot.” Growled to betas and Sasha. “Then we will attack those humans, eat them and provoke locals to action. The faster we are done, the better.”

“Natalya will be in danger if we rush on humans.” Noticed Sasha. “Sergey stopped, looked on her with fury and gasped.

“She is not a pup. If she wants to be an alpha she has to take care about herself.”

“She is wounded...”

“So what? Our main goal is to rid off those rascals around.”

“Crack!” called Sasha with tensed voice. “Don’t listen to him. He doesn’t care of Natalya, as well he didn’t care for your brother. Do you think he will be more scruples when will come time for you?”

“Amber wasn’t my brother!” growled dark-furred.

“But he could be.” Noticed Sasha. “He looked just like you. I mean: you could share his fate.”

Sergey snapped his teethes in front of gamma’s muzzle.

“Are you bossing now?” asked with venomous voice. “I will lose my temper soon.”

“With losing me, you will also lose about fourteen jaws.” Smiled Sasha. “Watch your tongue.”

Sergey furiously hit with front-right paw in ice. It cracked loudly. Although it was frosty day, the cracks on ice and then refreezing of pool made ice-layer very fragile. What was worse – the fresh snow covered most of air-holes and dangerous places so walking on that thick ice... was actually walking on thin ice after all. Fortunately Steele appeared, marching slowly from the shore.

“At last.” Smiled Serger. “Are you cold, old dog, that you want to die earlier.”

“I wish to finish you before supper.” Replied malamute, although he was intending to stretch the duel as long as he could. “But first I wish to visit humans.”

“Say them <goodbye!>” laughed Sergey.

“I will forward it from you.” Smiled Steele and went to the island. Although he tried to hide it, the hobbling was clearly seen.

“Well done.” Murmured Crack with irony. “Recently you are fighting with females, kids and invalids.”

“If you consider yourself as one of them, just tell me!” growled Sergey and bared his teethes.

Meanwhile malamute got to the isle. It changed, mainly because Arashi and Gunnar cut down most of bushes to made a defending-brush. But that wall was also continuously being destroyed, because humans lacked the fuel for fire. Steele entered unseen via one of gaps in brush, hoping that wolves on ice didn’t see it.

“Steve!” called Arashi. “I mean: Steele!” Dog went to Japanese and nudged his leg with his side. “Good to see you, old pal. What brought you here?”

“You won’t understand me.” Barked Steele. “But I have to hope you somehow fell it. Goodbye, master Arashi. Probably we won’t see again. Thank you for all... For saving me... Feeding me and... letting me meet with Sky. I will greet her from you.” Then he went to Kaasen, sitting with rifle next to fire. “And good by, master Gunnar. Thank you for all... and I’m sorry one again. But I must know before I die, if you forgave me that night on serum-run.”

“He looks like he is trying to say you something.” Noticed doctor. “But I have no idea what exactly.”

“Me too.” Replied trapped, petting his old dog. “But maybe we see him for the last time. If we won’t make it with wolves...” He looked in malamute’s eyes. “Just in case: goodbye, Steele. You was always good dog. Always.” However constitution of dog’s muzzle was making it extremely hard, Steele smiled. At least Norwegian thought that.

Dog licked face of old owner and went to Natalya. She wasn’t sleeping but looking on scene with wide opened eyes.

“I don’t know what to say...” she started. “Sir... don’t do it. Remember about Cris...”

“I’m, my child.” Murmured Steele. “That why you must listen to me.” He sat in front of wolf and started to whisper quietly. “If Sergey kills me, there will be no one to stop the slaughter... except of you. If you love Cris, you have to do everything to save pack of his sister. And he is calling help to save your companions. So you have to play on time, use every pretext to postpone the final battle. Niju believes that what he is doing is right. Sergey believes that what he is doing is beneficial. Whatever we think about those motivations those are very strong ones – faith and profit. Usually both of them are good, but sometimes they lead to disaster.”

“But what I should do?” yelled silver-furred.

“You know it well, somewhere in your heart. You are the real alpha of your pack and you are responsible for each member of it.” He bended down to her muzzle and licked her forehead. “Do not fail them. None of them.”

And then he stood up and set off on the ice, right in direction of setting sun. “Save your pack” whispered dog and turned to Sergey.

“Finally!” smiled alpha. “Let make it quick.”

“Good.” Nodded Steele. “Quick. I’ll try to get your throat.” A laughter of Coalition Wolves sounded.

“Laugh, old dog, until you can.” Replied brown-furred. “But now, follow me.”

They went to some square of ice partially cleaned out from snow. It was a ring of about forty yards wide and long. The lack of snow made able the more manoeuvrable combat, what Steele greeted with anger, due to his aching paw. “More running.” Though malamute. “I was running whole my damned life and I’m going to die running. How sweet!” And there was one thing more that should worry Steel, but in fact cheered him up. The square was between island and shore, but near to place where biplane had landed. It meant that ice was thick but very fragile there.

“Owi...” smiled dog and whispered in mind. “If you are up-... or downthere, maybe you will be pleased that your good friend is going to share your fate.” He recalled the scene when he threw the wolf to cold sea. “But this time I won’t take a bath alone. If I’m lucky, I’ll get him with me.”

Snow was still falling and wind grew up, in spite of forest cover. For short while Steele thought with anxiety how the weather could be on Cris route, but then he left gave thoughts. “I have some problems on my own.”

“I’m very sorry, that it came that way.” Said Niju, looking on malamute.

“The only thing I could wish to you, is to have similar and so spectacular end.” Replied Steele with bitter smile. “Maybe you’re right. For everybody time will come. I won’t yell for break! Bring it on!” he called to Sergey.

“He will beat him.” Whispered Kitty to Flame’s ear. “As he beat your father and Dymitr...” Then duel started.

Eyes of all wolves and two humans were pointed on ring on ice. Silence fell in ranks of predators when Sergey made few steps back to prepare way for gaining a rush. Ice made a cracking sound when heavy wolf closed to zone of air-holes, but it stood. So Sergey set of in run to Steele. Malamute was standing calmly in the middle of ring, waiting for enemy to come. Whole wolves gathering was shivering from emotions but he, alone was waiting still. Only his aching