covered the battle. Rest of pack, still standing on shore, ceased to see their leaders.

“That way we are dying.” Whispered Vis to Annen, standing next to her.

Beta wanted to reply, but in the next second came another wave of Talbournes. Nine remaining Beeches stood in fierce resistance.

VII. Bounds of Blood

Glemt pounced on Balto and hit. Both canines fell on ice and slid several metres further. It was few metres away from nearest shore – to avoid being detected Balto chose way west. When they stopped on white layer a loud crack sounded and they noticed numerous cracks surrounding them. It was too late to regret – ice started to fall apart and breaking of whole layer due to tension and freed river current was just a matter of time. Glemt understood he had a little time. “If I don’t force him now, we will die.” Thought.

“CONFESS!” he growled and grabbed Balto’s neck.

Strong dog raised hybrid on his paws then threw him to ice again. Layer grinded again and one of cracks opened just before two dogs. It ran further in shore direction and soon even audience on beach noticed the deadly danger for ones on backwater.

“No!” called Saba to Kodi. Husky entered the ice and was running to father. But seeing break in ice, he stopped uncertain. “Kodi, back! We will kill them both!” yelled his sister.

Meanwhile Balto stood up and tried to resume his run. But he was hit in side and fell again, accompanied by more and more loud cracks. Glemt grabbed his front-right paw and pulled hard. Wofdog was dragged back few metres and silverfurred was still repeating his words.

“Confess! Tell them, before we both die!”

“Glemt, this is madness!” yelled Balto.

“I don’t want to kill you.” Replied dog. “Just tell the truth!”

“I already did!” Husky lost his temper. He stopped, grabbed Balto’s neck, again raised him and slammed into ground. “I haven’t done it!” repeated Balto, but he was muffled by sound of breaking ice. He rolled aside to save himself from falling into new crevice.

“Do not lie again!” shouted Glemt. “You killed her! Confess!”

He pounced on hybrid, almost falling into crack. Due to unbelievable agility he avoided a hole and hit wolfdog in side. They both slid several metres further, while husky got better grab on hybrid’s neck. Then he could kill him easily.

But he didn’t want to.

“Dad…” cried Glemt, holding Balto’s throat. “Tell them!”

“No, Glemt…”

“She loved you!” yelled dog. “Why…”

“She was a killer. She killed dog that witness to my innocence and…”

“Don’t you dare to say that!” growled silverfurred and raised his head, lifting also Balto.

Hybrid’s head was over ice, but rear leg were still on the ground. He noticed his chance in that. Gathering all strength he had, he threw his leg, tripping dog. Glemt fathered and fell down on Balto and ice. Balto took it with slight pain, but for ice it was much too much.

In one second bruised, however still integral layer turned into shattered mass of floats. Under-current tore it’s roof to pieces and in moment Balto and Glemt found themselves drifting on one of icefloats. Moreover that white island moved rapidly, throwing away it’s passengers.

Silverfurred took an instant look around. To the still layer he had about ten metres – easy to make in three or four jumps. He had just to pounce on float… overthrowing it and sending Balto to the water.

“Father!” he yelled unwillingly.

Instead of jumping away, he grabbed falling wolfdog and pulled hard. He almost lost his balance, but somehow managed to lift hybrid over brink of float. But whole floe started to overturning, and two canines started to submerge into freezing water. Glemt did only thing he could.

“Dad, jump!” screamed.

Seeing that still a bit confused and weak Balto is pouncing too slow, the again grabbed his neck and jumped himself. It was hard to lift additional mass, so pounce of husky was much shorter that was required. They didn’t made it to another float. Seeing that, Glemt pounced on side of floe. He pushed Balto further into trunk, still partially based in solid icelayer.

“Grab it!” ordered husky.

Balto grabbed trunk with front paws, but he submerged into water. “It’s over.” He thought, when frost instantly drained his strength and pulled down. But then he sensed some basis under his body. That Glemt was lifting the hybrid up.

“Grab it!” cried silverfurred, spitting with water. Balto cowed his rear paws and reached the edge. Another push from Glemt moved him further on safe float.

“Glemt…” he whispered, seeing silvefurred, desperately struggling with unexpectedly strong current from below ice.

“Dad…” gasped dog and in the same moment he was sucked underwater.

*

“Run!” called Fort to Elske and Tro. He was wrestling with Aleu and been chocking by steel grip of Wemer. Both bitches were holding Lightning on the ground. Nearby laid lifeless body of Gerth who had a misfortune of reaching place of battle and met Tro’s fangs, while he was going to Aleu.

“Stand up, bro!” cried Elske.

It was almost impossible, but alpha managed to do that. He just let Aleu go and lifted on his paws. Wemer was still hanging on his neck, but Fort gathered all his strength and suddenly turned aside. Warrior made an arc in the air and been threw away due to centrifugal force. Senior guardian hit the rock on the shore then – unconsciousness – fell down to the river. Frosty water and strong – just freed due to backwater ice’s breakdown – sucked him under. That was the end of one of the most faithful Aleu’s soldiers.

But it didn’t save Fort. Meanwhile Talbourne alpha managed to stand up too and bite exposed throat of enemy. It was clear blow – Fort’s neck exploded in burning blood and surprised wolf fell down.

“NO!” cried both Tro and Elske, but it was too late to change anything. Both females left Lightning and pounced on Aleu. Guardian Mark came in last second.

Talbourne wolf hit Elske, throwing her few metres away, then pressed Tro into the ground. Not waiting the further outcome, Aleu stood again and ran to the shore, where she saw rest of her forces. Mark wanted to follow her, but in the next second Tro’s jaws tore his throat.

Meanwhile Elske pounced on enemy alpha again. But in the air she collided with Jack, jumping with assistance. They rolled away, wrestling and trying to find each other’s necks.

Tro had already give up this fight. She stopped over dying Fort’s body and bended down to lick her mate’s lips for the last time.

“Glemt… Save him…” whispered alpha male and passed away.

With new impulse Tro raised her stare and looked on backwater. Her terrified eyes caught the view of silverfurred falling to the crack and Balto, standing over him. “No… it’s not real…” she whispered and wave of tears deluged her eyes. But then came the rage. She turned back, looking on nearest Talbourne soldier.

*

Balto jumped from trunk on solid ice surface. Because of fight, that part of layer was almost cleared from snow. He saw silhouette of Glemt, submerging deeper and deeper into cold water. “He… saved me.” Thought wolfdog. “He gave his life… for fath… me?”

But silverfurred reached the bottom and bounced on it, trying to reach the surface. It water was still, he would had a great chance. But current took dog few metres downriver. He hit not the free space, but still intact icelayer. It cracked, covered with crannies, but held. Dog was again sucked down.

Balto started to hobble with desperate try to follow trapped under ice Glemt. He was watching on dog, gathering his strength to another try and jumping one again up, to reach for the light  and air. And observed as struggling body of husky moved again up, but then is stopped again by hard barrier of ice. Again new crannies appeared. Again, layer held.

“No…” gasped wolfdog.

And Glemt sunk once again, but with desperate attempt again bounced from bottom and sprang up. Bubbles of air that dog desperately tried to keep in mouth, slowly freed outside, surrounding the drowning one with white aura. He closed his eyes and then hit frozen roof. Balto prayed that this time ice just let go, letting diver to take breathe, but it was impossible to pierce so thick layer with so small mass of husky.

Muzzle of dog hit the ice and Glemt lost his breath. He opened his mouth, letting air go and water to deluge his lungs. In the last seconds he opened his eyes and looked up, exactly into Balto’s stare. Coming down he moved his lips. Hybrid was almost sure that dying silverfurred whispered his last word.

“Father…” Then he disappeared into darkness of water.

“GLEMT!” called Balto, hitting with paws into surface of ice. But it was much too late – layer just stopped desperate blow, filling wolfdog’s limbs with both cold and fire.

In next second Kodi finally got to his father. Without deliberating, he just grabbed his neck with jaws and pulled him back before new cracks reached that place.

“Get away!” he called. Then Balto seemed to awake up. He looked on Kodi with sober stare and replied.

“E… yes, run!” Both dogs speeded to the shore.

*

Tro failed to remember much from following moments. She just saw the aura of red, covering whole world and urging her to rage on. She slammed on random enemy with unbelievable luck breaking his paw in first attack. Then she jumped aside, scanning area for next opponent. She saw Aleu, being guided by Lightning on the other side of river.

“You are dead!” she growled. “I swear I will kill you and every single pawn of yours I encounter. Or I die trying… but not count on it!”

She rushed to pounce ahead, but then someone slammed in her side, stealing her breath and consciousness. That was the last thing she could recall from that fight. Then she just faded out.

Elske was fighting in similar haze, not feeling time nor exhaustion, nor even wounds on her side. Seeing her charging on three Talbournes, Annen