beware not to wake Balto and sat on pile of old furs there. Then she licked her daughter’s cheek.

“It just happened, as it happens on their duty.” Added.

Aleu was a tough leader… usually. But all the fear, guilt and confusion was gathering in her heart to reach level it couldn’t be bore. In those moments she need her mother to cry away mistakes and sins and hear words of parental absolution. And she heard it once again.

*

On bottom of Dorothy’s Backwater were laying two bodies of canines. It happened that current took those to one place, next to pool’s mouth, where backwater again turned into river. Lifeless corpses stuck on some trunk of tree and just floated, imprisoned in cold water. Those were: Wemer, senior guardian of Talbourne’s First Division and Glemt of Beech Pack. Both died in their quests and both they believed that what they were doing had some meaning.

Both of them were wrong.

Epilogue – The Prophecy

Annen was right – only thing they could do, was to choose a nice place for Vis to die.

Shaman suffered a mayor internal bleeding, what she understood just after fight. Discovering she was almost done, she asked.

“Take me to the forest.”

Anned and Venn lifted her dying body and followed Tro, guiding remnants of the pack to the mountains. After few hours of march they came to calm and beautiful pan in spruce grove. It happened that single beech was growing there, so alpha decided to stop there.

“Thank you.” Whispered Vis. “It’s wonderful place… so similar to our home.”

Wolves surrounded their shaman, only Tro came closer and bended down to friend and carer.

“I’m sorry I failed in defending Fort.” She said. “I’m sorry we all failed in defending Glemt.”

“We were a pack.” Replied Tro. “Both blame and glory belong to all of us.”

“Were?” asked Vis.

“Yes.” Nodded alpha. “I told it to all already. They agreed. You had right, Vis. In everything.” She sighed and continued. “Yes, Glemt led our pack to the doom. Because from now on, we are not longer a pack.” She said louder for all to hear. “The Beeches are dead, only Avengers left. We all chose to die in our sworn vengeance for lives of Glemt and Fort… and you.”

“No…” whispered shaman.

“Yes.” Said Annen, coming closer. “I’m with Tro too. We are no longer pack. All we need to do is to punish those who killed our family. We will strike and take down Aleu and as many of her soldiers as we manage.”

“That’s a suicide.” Said Vis with tired voice.

“It’s a sacrifice.” Corrected her beta. “We have no other way. It just like you foreseen.”

“Yes.” Nodded Elske, coming to dying shaman. “As you said – Glemt led us to doom. There was no his fault in that, but in the result we are going to die to avenge him. We have no chance to win this war… but we will lose with honour.”

“So it happened as it had to happened.” Sighed Vis. “Do not blame anyone – it was unavoidable.”

“We won’t.” agreed Tro. “We will just follow the path we are destined to.”

“It was a honour to be in your pack, ma’am.” Said Vis, closing her eyes.

“I love you, Vis.” Replied Tro. “When you get there, tell Glemt we already miss him too.”

“But we will join him soon!” said Elske in the moment when shaman made her last breath. “We will join him soon!” called wolfess louder.

“We are you in such a rush?” asked a voice from behind.

Former Beeches turned back to see lone dog in front of them. Black and white malamute in older age was looking on gathering with ironic half-smile. He came closer with no fear, in spite that Venn bared his fangs, growling. Stranger just stopped before Tro and said.

“Let me salute to that brave warrioress too.”

“You even didn’t know her.” Noticed former alpha.

“But she died in battle with my sworn enemies.” Replied malamute. “Just believe me that if I’m able to feel some gratitude, I feel it now.” He bended down to dead Vis and licked her forehead with genuine respect. It looked strange and would looked even stranger if wolves knew who the stranger was and how unwillingly he showed any sign of respect.

“Who the hell are you?” asked Elske with harsh voice.

“A friend.” Replied malamute and seeing hostile muzzles of other wolves added. “An enemy of your enemies.”

“That means…”

“My primary target is to kill Balto, but if you show me you have some chances to do that, I will support your attempt to remove Aleu.”

“Why?” asked Tro.

“My only prize is just a sight of her lifeless body.” Said dog. “It’s a long story, someday I will tell it to you. We have much time now, because – as I said – from now on we are best friends.”

“Are we?” asked Tro sceptically.

“My name is Steele.” said malamute. “You don’t have to introduce. Your little show disrupted my plan of killing Balto in those days. I was observing you and saw whole the thing.” He gasped quietly that no one heard him. “Glemt was so close… why did he hesitate!?” Then added aloud. “It’s nice to meet you, Beech Pack. I always hated wolves, but wolf who seeks the vengeance upon Balto’s family is… like family to me.”

“Why should we use your help?” asked Elske.

“Because I killed wolves, dogs, humans and even more creatures you could imagine. In more ways you could imagine. In number greater you could imagine. And I’m just good in it.” Explained shortly. “But my age is going to claim me, maybe before I fulfil my quest. I need your fangs… you need my knowledge.”

“Do we?” asked Venn and pounced on malamute.

They even failed to see him dodging. In one second dog was standing on wolf attack’s path and in the next he was pressing surprised Venn into the snow.

“Not bad, pup!” smiled Steele. “But it was so expectable that in fact boring. You have some muscles, but we will work over your brains.” He let him stand up. “Listen to me, we could use the chaos that overcame Talborne’s Territories. From now on Aleu will be desperately looking for Uniea’s remnants, after she learned what danger those could be. We will use that situation. The darkest place is under a lantern, as humans say. We will do, what she expects from Uniea partisans – we will infiltrate her domain and kill her in her lair.”

“Nice.” Replied Elske. “But still sounds like suicidal mission to me.”

“I guess you wanted to die? Am I right?” smiled malamute.

“So what your plan changes?”

“I will teach you to die wisely! And for a price!” explained Steele. “I’m not sure if we succeed to kill Aleu… but we hurt her deeply anyway. So what it could be, Tro?” she looked on wolfess. “Will you give your pack under my command?” Hearing that Annen growled with anger. “Calm down, buddy. It’s only logical solution. I will be a leader, because the plan is mine and I will teach you how to fulfil it. And also…” he smiled with malicious smile. “My harm is the oldest one. I have a right to fight for my vengeance in the first line.”

“We are no longer a pack.” Replied Tro. “They are free wolves, and they could do what they want.”

“Ow, I see.” Nodded Steele. “So speak for yourself – will you go under my command?”

“Will you promise me my vengeance?” asked former alpha.

“We will kill her or die trying.” Replied Steele. “Be damn sure about that!”

“So let’s do it.” Said Tro and lowered her ear in gesture of submission.

Elske followed her in next moment. It took a while when rest of former Beeches were think over that proposition. But had they any choice? I guest it was all settled before. They had to follow that path.

“I hope you will show your honesty… sir.” Said Annen, lowering his ears before dog.

“I like your attitude.” Replied malamute. “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

“We are doing it only for Glemt, Fort and Vis.” Said Tro, coming closer to Steele.

“Wrong.” Said dog. “That’s what you think now. But in time you will learn you are doing it for you. Vengeance… is a tasty piece of meat. You will savour it.”

“Maybe.” Agreed Tro. “I see you do.”

“That’s what I was made for.” Nodded Steele and nestled to wolfess side. He lustfully licked her muzzle, but she didn’t resist. “From now on we are the best friends, sweetie. Believe or not, but you are going to enjoy this!”

The End

Taka_PL

Semptember 2007