town if he was conscious.

So then went not far from Luke’s buildings. There was a lone cluster of junipers, shielded from wind and frost, quite comfortable to rest in. Saba took a place (she used to play there with Aleu… and Everest in puphood) and waited for Glemt to sit next to her. But he – clearly excited and nervous, just stopped on front of her and asked.

“So… what for you were looking for me?”

“Ow, don’t say do don’t know.” Snorted she. “Glemt… You have to notice that something with me is… wrong? Or better to say: wonderful.”

“I don’t know you good enough to judge that.” Replied carefully. She sighed.

“Ow, you guys always make it so hard…” said quietly, then pointed her stare into his eyes and said with decisive voice. “We know each other just several days… But as far I could be sure, I am sure. I love you.” Then added quieter. “I’m waiting for you to tell me – it is wrong or wonderful.”

Glemt split into two separate being – one struck by that declaration, desperately finding for way out. The second one was just smiling inside, sure that Saba won’t be a slightest obstacle for his quest. That second, steel-logic Glemt also was seriously amused by unexpected turn of situation.

“E…” replied, not too brightly. “I think it’s even worse than wrong. Saba, I’m terribly sorry, but it’s just impossible.”

silence. She said nothing, just turned her stare to the ground. Silverfurred calmed down his reasonable alter ego and felt genuine sympathy towards bitch. “If she only knew… But could I tell her? I guess I will hurt her twice in just one day. It’s bad, very bad. It shouldn’t went like this.”

“So…” said Saba and silverfurred heard that her voice was shivering on the edge of sobbing. “May I hear the reasons of this sentence? Why not?”

“Saba… it’s very hard to explain, at least for me.” Said husky carefully. “You showed me lot of heart and I think you are wonderful person. But…” then he just ran out of his eloquence.

“I just don’t appeal to you?”

“You are definitely beautiful female.” Said Glemt.

“But I’m too old for you.”

“No!” snorted dog. “That is not a point, I just…”

“What <just>?” asked Saba, already crying. “You just came here to town, ready to settle down here. I thought you were interest in me. I hoped that…”

“As I said, it is impossible.” Repeated silverfurred. “I think you don’t want to know why.”

“I need to know why!” urged Saba. Then she sighed and asked. “That pack you grew with… You have someone there. Am I right?”

“Yes, you are right.” Nodded Glemt. “I have a mate. Beautiful and noble-hearted wolfess called Elske. I left her, but only to secure the future. I’m still constant to her.”

Saba instantly replied. “But you said, you can’t return to pack. You said that.”

“Maybe I will never return there. But it changes nothing. I just… love her.”

She nodded her head, but was waiting for more answers. Meanwhile Glemt was desperately thinking if a strange sound coming from shed was just an imagination or Balto was already waking up. “Cut it, cut it, cut it!” he yelled in thoughts. “I can’t risk by involving you into a plan! Just go away!” But he remained silent, waiting for her next question.

“But there is something more.” Said Saba. “Some other reason.”

“Please, don’t make me to tell you that.” Replied silverfurred. “I want you to have at least those few more hours of peace of mind…”

“I don’t know what you meant by <peace of mind>, but I can assure you it’s rather hard to achieve after being rejected by dog you love.” She said, mixing irony and sorrow. “How strange!” thought Glemt. “In those words… in that black sense of humour… she is actually so alike to me. Sister, after all.”

“Are you sure you want to know this?” he asked and when she nodded, took a deep breath. It was endangering of whole plan, but Saba had right to know. “If it is family matter, so let’s make it family matter, dammit!” decided in mind. “So, Saba… Actually I didn’t say I don’t love you.” She looked on him with new wave of confusion. “Believe I do… but in way don’t expect. I have to… for I am your brother.”

One, two, three… ten. It took her over ten second to understand what he said.

“What!?” she yelled and that was a cosmic fortune for Glemt. In the same moment awaking Balto sighed painfully in hangar. “What did you say?”

“Listen to me.” ordered silverfurred. “I know that it sound weird and hard to you, but it’s true. I’m the son of Balto and Trinea… you know who Trinea was?”

“Yes, but dad…”

“I’m sorry, he actually lied to you all.” Said Glemt with sad voice. “I’m offspring of his adultery.”

“it’s impossible.” Saba shook her head.

“I am possible.” Said Glemt. “Look at me and tell if I’m real. And I’m son of Trinea.”

“But it means…”

“It means we are siblings. I’m sorry…”

She burst in tears, instantly stood up and ran into town direction. In first impulse Glemt wanted to run after her, but he stopped after few steps. He recalled that he had some another quest to do. “It’s my sister… “ thought. “I’m so sorry to hurt her, but I had no choice.” In next second from inside of hangar sounded Balto. Hybrid was still barely awake, not fully aware of his situation, however Glemt ran fast to his prisoner. He had to move before Balto started to make some troubles. Leaving the town was his priority.

“All right, dad.” Said Glemt. “Please, don’t upset me more. I just had hard talk with my sister. I’m really angry.” He started to harness himself. It took him about twenty minutes to do it properly. Then he noticed that Balto was looking on him with more and more sober stare. “Sorry dad. I must make sure you will behave.”

He bended down and pressed hybrid’s neck. He found neck arteries and keep pressing until Balto flew away once again. Then husky started to drag his cargo. With hurry, however carefully.

“It’s my father, I’m pulling.” He thought in the same time amused and scared. “I must be careful, not scratch him.” So he tired to choose the easiest way outside the city.

About four he passed next to last Nome’s building. He had still few kilometres before him, but he already used to puller’s work. It was easy, doesn’t matter what cargo one have. In fact Balto was easy to drag, because his body made rather small resistance. Once for about half an hour Glemt made a stop. Then laid himself next to wolfdog in order to warm him up.

“You are unconscious, father.” He murmured. “I can’t let you get cold because of that. I must take care about my parent. It’s a basic requirement of every ethic. Doesn’t matter what I think about you… Dad… murderer!”

After every stop he stood up, made few deeper breathes and pull ahead. Straight to river’s backwater.

*

Aleu was sleepy, hungry and cold, but she wanted her paws to fly. She also wanted to kill Lightning, however she know that greyfurred did what he should. Master scout call all the unit together, but said nothing about possible danger, until last wolf was in place. For several hours alpha was pleading him and threading him to tell what had happened, but Lightning reported only after he had full force of unit in his charge.

“All tight, we are all in place.” Said, seeing junior guardian Gerth coming to they place. “So I assume that with full escort Aleu is secure…” he looked on leader and added. “Now we could think about your parents.”

“WHAT!?” cried alpha. “My parents are in danger and you waited…”

“I have my duties.” Snorted master scout. “Nursing you is more important for me than nursing Balto and…” in the same time she pounced on him and overturned him into snow. “Wait! Aleu! There is not time for that!” he sighed, being chocked intensively. “We must go for Balto…” She let him go instantly.

“I’m terribly sorry, Light....” Said alpha, understanding what she tried to do. “But… NOW GET TO MY MOM AND DAD!”

“Affirmative, ma’am!” said master scout and wagged his tail as a sight to set off. Unit of sixteen wolves started to run down from quarter on hill. To the backwater they had about eight kilometres of step path down and thick forest to cross, so the hurry was in expectation.

Especially by Aleu.

VII. Original Sins

Just before the morning, Kodi was leading his family to the place of gathering. That meant: he went with mother, Saba and Dusty. They left all younger members of clan in homes, warned by Drake that case was about to be proceeded was a important and serious. Definitely not for pups. Balto was not there – Glemt said that he would take care for that.

It was a silent procession. Black and white husky was drowned in thoughts, very uneasy about coming events. He feared Jenna’s reaction. He remembered how it had been three years earlier – him mother believed in his father’s guilt, but took it hard. When situation allowed on that, she just forgot. It was obvious – she didn’t want to beck to that.

Saba was only sounding element of family, because she was quietly crying. Shadow of unslept night was visible on her muzzle and trails of tears showed too. Kodi didn’t ask. He suspected that Glemt told her about Balto and that was the main reason of sobs. Jenna tried make her talk about it, but she just replied.

“Later, mom. Now we have another problems.”

“What the heck is with you?” asked redfurred. She looked on Dusty. “Maybe at least you tell me, what has happened.” But in weak light of predawn she noticed that her daughter in law was confused too.

“I have no idea.” Replied she-husky. “Kodi said me nothing.”

“Please.” Said sled leader. “Soon it all will be clear.”

“Is that has something to do, with those strange things you told me yesterday?” asked Jenna, touched by sudden premonition.

“You wasn’t listening yesterday, mom.” Relied Kodi. “I assumed you wouldn’t believe me. So now you have to believe Drake… and your own eyes.”

“Kodiak, what do you…”

“Here is Drake, mom.” Said Dusty, pointing on silhouette in