still. Only his aching paw was shaking a bit, what dog couldn’t stop. And everyone were sure that the first brown-furred’s charge would finish all the duel. Sergey stated to run and gaining speed. Five yards before still Steele he jumped up in powerful pounce. He flied three yard above the ground, stretching his paws to pin enemy down. Falling snow dimmed whole scene – Sergey landed in white cloud and his attack, as well as surprisingly fast retaliation of Steele was unseen. But when dust felt down from under white cumulus appeared both adversaries, turned with back to each other. Steele was where he had been, Sergey stopped about five yards behind him. They both were panting heavily. After moment of freezing silence eyes of all spectators turned to brown-furred. Particularly – to his head. Directly – to his ear. And being precise – there was no ear. Wolf’s second auricle was ripped out.

“YOU... MUTT!” howled Sergey with overwhelming rage.

“Not mutt.” Replied panting Steele. “Pure-breed Alaskan Malamute, you stray!”

And then all happened in one moment. Amazed spectators saw as Sergey turns back to enemy and Steele runs to it. They collided face to face, falling on ice and rolling aside. But malamute quickly let wolf go and quickly – however: with heavy effort – stood up. Sergey slid closer to fragile ice, however he was so furious he didn’t notice it.

He jumped back on Steele, but dog shunned that charge easily. Malamute even tried to hit enemy with front-right paw, but he missed. That didn’t calmed a fury of brown-furred, who landed and turned to dog. He started to run, without jumping, just to faster get to enemy. They both collided again and started to roll to air-holes. Ice made a cracking sound, announcing everyone what Steele was intending to do.

“No!” whispered Kitty.

“Of course not!” growled a new voice behind her. “Stop it!” called aloud.

“Amber!” cried fox. “What you are doing here!?”

“Returning my part of deal.” Replied dork-wolf. His paw was still swollen but he was walking firmly. Wrestling enemies stopped and looked on him. “Where is Cris?” asked newcomer. “I have to return him a favour.”

“He is away.” Said Kitty. “But that malamute on ice is his father.”

“Right... I’ll take care for father instead of son.” Smiled dark wolf. “Sergey, leave him!”

“Look!” called Olga to Crack. “Your brother is alive... and he is back!”

“HE IS NOT MY BROTHER!” called both twin-looking black wolves.

“Ow, how do you know it?” asked Kitty. “But they have human doctor there. I suggest the blood-test and...”

“It’s absurd.” Called Amber, coming closer to Crack. “I can’t be his brother, because I grew up in Chukchi pack, who saved me from human hunt. I even remember my parents: Simon and Lilia...”

“E... Amber...” whispered Crack to ear of wolf. “There is a problem...” he added with almost inaudible voice. “My parents named also Simon and Lilia...”

“And were killed by hunting humans too? Don’t be ridiculous.” But Crack nodded his head. “What!?”

“I know this story!” called Natalya from the isle. “My father once told me that after some human hunting when whole pack was killed, three other groups found dead mother with three living pups. Because it was hard winter, alphas of those pack decided to divide triplets among them and raise as own... I know it because one of them was...” she looked on Drifters ranks. “...e... Sasha.”

“WEKR!” growled all three siblings: Sasha, Amber and Crack. They sounded with so perfect timing that then instantly fell silent, confused.

“So...” yelled Sasha. “Are we...”

“Sasha!” called Crack. “Cover Amber!” he ran to dark-furred, who was marching in Steele’s and Sergey’s direction. “Forgive me brother... I let it because I didn’t know...”

“Forget it!” replied Amber. “But are you with me now?”

“Of course I am!” he nodded his head. Then Sasha came.

“We separate them?” she pointed on malamute and wolf, who were ignoring whole touching family matters around them and chocking themselves with firm grips of jaws on each other’s neck.

“Yeah!” nodded Amber. “That dog is father of Cris who saved me.”

“And he is mate-to-be of Natayla.” Added Sasha. “And she is my friend after all.

“All right! Stay where you are!” growled Crack. He turned to back and was barring his fangs. What was more confusing he seemed to do it to both Strays and Coalition. “We will take care of those guys.”

Meanwhile Sasha and Amber with effort separated Steele and Sergey. They made it in last moment – malamute almost lost his consciousness. So both enemies fell on ice, panting heavily. Steele had few cuts on side and brown-furred’s ear was still bleeding.

“What a mess!” murmured Amber. “And what we are going to do now?”

“Natalya?” called uncertain Sasha. “Any plans?”

No one from amazed wolves reacted on that. The sudden shift of situation made whole gathering speechless. They were just measuring with stares siblings, Natalya, Sergey and Steele. Nothing was certain then. The spell was broken be some new surprise.

“They are coming!” called Kitty triumphal.

*

Cris thought his paws are burning. It is very strange felling when there is about minus twenty Fahrenheit degrees. But he had to stand it. His mother was pulling hard and after all dog was son of best leader in whole Alaska. So Cris clenched his jaws and called.

“That is near! Make a howl, to announce them!” So both teams howled.

Cris still was barely seeing, but Lucas was running before him. Dog was watching brother’s aura, who was leading him strait on road. For whole run pup didn’t say a word but he turned few times with cheering stare and smile. And Cris was sensing the friendly presence – it was enough to overcome the exhaustion.

“I see them!” panted Aleu, who was almost fainting too. “There, in river’s pool.”

“I have one question.” asked David, who seemed to be fresh and strong as if they hadn’t run for miles but just woke up. “How are you going to convince humans not to shoot all that lot down?”
”Why do you think masters want to kill them?” asked Eva.

“Because they are wolves... mostly.” Replied David. “And master Ralph took with him that nasty machine rifle from doc Tazaku’s house...”

“I hope they are alive...” murmured Aleu.

Sled was speeding down from range. Sara was barely keeping it on road, but Ice was doing his best to maintain speed and not to kill his mistress. Meanwhile Ralph was getting out from pack a heavy BAR and checking the clip.

“Damn wolves!” he murmured.

XIII. Flame and Ice

Let’s see it from the air-perspective:

On island were two humans and wounded wolf. Arashi and Gunnar were holding theirs guns and waiting for situation to get clearer. Natalya was howling to her former pack-mates to stop the fight. Near to island were standing Conquerors Pack and Drifts Pack, then they formed a one group, looking on duel before them. Bucks and Peninsulas also were gazing on fight, cheering Steele. But before fighting wolves then were three silhouettes: Sasha, Amber and Crack. When Crack was securing them, his sister and brother made an effort to divide malamute and brown-furred, what they made barely. To that situation came sleds.

Ralph on first sled – still sliding – aimed with machine gun in group of wolves. Seeing that whole team froze, waiting for David’s decision. Husky barked an order and however neither Alau, Ami nor Cris knew the code of pullers, they successfully took that instruction. LEFT! Cried leader and whole sled turned.

Burst of automatic fire swept the ice-layer. Ralph overturned and fell on sled and probably thanks to that a rounds destined to hit Peninsulas just hit the ground several yards from nearest wolf. However it still caused serious mayhem. Heavy <O point three> bullets crushed ice before them. Next to siblings, Sergey and malamute a big crack was created. Before any of canines reacted, it started to extend.

Just one, slight impulse was required to free potential energy of frozen layer. Because temperature was so low, water froze rapidly in very unnatural way. Whole layer was stretched and fragile, so after hit of bullets numerous flaws grew. In about minute whole ring and area near of it became a web of cracks, slowly breaking.

Sasha jumped quickly headed and with two pounces he reached the solid ground. Crack grabbed Amber’s neck and they started to carefully jumping on ice-floats. Barely, but they joined their sister. Steele and Sergey stayed on big but remote float. Seeing all mayhem around, brown-furred decided to use the situation. He pushed hard the panting and lying helplessly malamute. But then he cause something he didn’t expected.

Steele was old dog, however he was still muscular and – what quite obvious – heavy, almost as wolf. Brown-furred was standing on two paws, with two front-ones pushing enemy. His paw-pads made significantly lesser friction than lying body of malamute. So Sergey instead of pushing enemy, just pushed himself to the brink on float. He managed to growl with confusion, then he disappeared behind the edge.

Ice-cracks were speeding fast to Peninsulas group. Because in front of pack were Niju and Flame. Father and son found themselves on one, small float, waving on moved water. Younger wolf instantly lost his balance and started to fall into frosty water. Seeing that Niju reacted instinctively – he jumped up and fall, hitting the ice below him. Float worked as a lever, throwing falling Flame aside in shore’s direction. Dymirt and some gamma, who were standing on brink of solid layer, managed to grabbed fur of half-submerged wolf into jaws. Niju landed on ice, smiled seeing his son is safe and then a wave caused by his jump overturned float. Flame turned his head back to see drowning father. Alpha howled in that howl sounded many things at once: “Strong will survive.” “Lead my pack” “I love you.”

“No!” called

Previous Page

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Next page