voice. “So it somehow is true. His real father killed his real mother. So tell me more – how that poor child could endanger our pack?”

“I can’t say it with certainty, I have just premonitions.” Explained Vis. “I know that he wouldn’t do it purposely. In my vision it was said that he would <lead us> to end. There was nothing about his will nor intention, only that he was a cause.”

“Of course he couldn’t do it purposely!” snorted alpha. “He will be loyal to family, I’m sure of that.”

“Still, he would be a cause. There is only one way to solve this.”

“He will stay in the pack!” growled leader decisively. “I won’t banish my own son!”

“I never meant that sir.” Replied Vis with tensed voice. “My vision said that he <leads> to doom. I know that he is your male heir… but promise me that he won’t be an alpha after you. Choose Tro and her eventual mate as successor.”

“That’s…” sighed leader, but then added. “No, you are right. We can’t play with our destiny. I will speak with Bry, then make my final decision.”

“Than you, sir.” Replied shaman with relief.

*

Although summer was beautiful, Forer was dying. Wolf was strong, but old – his time had to come sooner or later. He just was about to follow his mate – Bry, who had died in winter. But circle of life was ready to make it’s turn – almost mature children of leader seemed to be ready for a change.

“No.” Glemt interrupted father’s speech. “I mean, yes! I mean… Dad, I don’t want to hear it, because you won’t die.”

“Everyone someday does.” Noticed ill leader.

“Someday doesn’t mean today.”

“But could means tomorrow.” Said Forer. That talk took place in pack’s cave, where dying chief was lying on brushy bedding. He asked only for silverfurred husky to accompany him. He had some father-to-son business.

“Nevermind, just don’t talk about death.” Asked Glemt. “But in second case, you are right. I know well that wolf should lead our pack. I promise you I won’t ever challenge Tro for leadership. She is my sister, I love her. You all are my pack, I love you. I care about our future.”

“I’m proud of you, son.” Whispered alpha. “You would be great leader… But for a price.”

“Tro and Ford will take your place… But not soon. You will be all right, dad.”

“I’m tired, Glemt.” Replied Forer. “But happy. I’m leaving peacefully, sure about future.” Dog wanted to interrupted him, but he continued. “I’m not your father by a blood, by I always considered you as my son. Your mother was thinking the same. I really glad that fate gave us you that night, three years ago.”

“I love you.” Said Glemt. “And I miss mom. I’m proud to call myself your child.” The silence covered air in the cave. Dog was about to burst in tears, repressing himself only due to male’s pride. He understood what his father was on the end of his path.

“Right… cut down this pathos.” Smiled Forer. “I lived a good life as a wolf and I could die as a wolf. Now call your sister. We must announce her she will be the next alpha…”

Mighty chief of Beech Pack died following night.

*

“Briefly, that’s all.” Finished Annen.

“So you all… My parents and you… knew about the prophecy and said me nothing?”

“For what?” asked Vis with ironic smile. “What would you do?”

“Make sure that I won’t endanger my family!” said dog firmly.

“Cut that, brother!” interrupted Tro. “It’s just a dream. Somehow you haven’t killed us all in all those years and I doubt if you will in future.”

“But not certainly!” noticed Glemt.

“What the heck you are talking about?” asked Fort. During all Annen’s tale he was still marching from one to other corner of chamber, struggling with his emotions. The day after he decided to make a desperate step – to step down from leadership. Somehow decline of Glemt would had sounded for him appealing… if it wasn’t explained in such absurd way. “You don’t want to lead because of that prophecy. But if that prophecy is true… - what in my opinion is doubtful – it will be fulfilled anyway. It’s not an simple instruction, just… writ of fate.”

“Ow, that’s comforting.” Snorted Vis, but then she returned to her grave pose.

“I should leave the pack.” Said Glemt.

“No way!” called Tro.

“Not without me!” called Elske.

“You are out of your mind.” added Fort.

“Listen to me… all of you.” Said dog. “I know it sounds strange, but I feel that answer on our question lies in my past. I must confront it. Maybe the prophecy is true, maybe not. It better not to risk. I will just travel to Nome and see my biological father on my own eyes…” Seeing confused stare of Tro, added. “Don’t worry, I will never forget who is my real family. I just have to cut all bounds that keeps me between two words – our pack and town. When I make sure I break that family curse… I will return to you. That just a short trip.” He saw as Vis nodded her head.

“You lie.” Thought shaman. “You will never return, until you will sure that nothing would endanger Beeches.”

“Stay!” sobbed Elske, nestling to Glemt’s side. “Don’t you love me?”

“I love you.” Replied husky. “And that’s why I have to go.”

“I hope it won’t take much time.” Said Fort.

“Surely won’t.” replied dog.

III. New Dog in Town

Glemt set off almost instantly after making his decision. He rested two days to cure his cuts (gained in fight with bear), then just turn south and started to run. What should had alerted him was that resistance of Tro and Elske was relative weak. Just like two bitches already had reconciled with loss of loved one. Of course, alpha was repeating that he should leave enigmatic and very unsure prophecy and his mate was pleading him to stay or at least to let her go too. But those protests were cut after decisive announcement of Glemt.

“I will go. You won’t stop me.” Then both wolfesses just gave up. Apparently.

“It makes whole thing harder.” Sighed Tro, after leaving resting husky in cave. “Now we have to just follow him, to make sure if he is all right.”

“You mean: whole pack?” asked Elske with uncertain, yet happy stare.

“Of course!” snorted alpha. “Did you really think I would let him go alone? That’s a thin ice. He is going among humans… and most likely will cross some of Talbourne’s territories.”

“Yeah, we have to guard him. But in town it would be impossible.”

“We won’t enter the town, of course.” Replied Tro. “Just wait on outskirts and wait for call. Maybe some liaison would be needed…” Scarred wolfess smiled. “Yes, I mean you. You are the best in scouting stuff of us all.”

“We will do our best… and prove that Vis is wrong.” Said Elske. “Glemt would never harm our pack. Never.”

And day after that talk, husky set off. On the morning, without saying goodbye. He didn’t want to make it any harder. He just left wolf-message, by scratching tree’s bark. [I’ll be back, as soon I will challenge my past. I love you] and that was all. Pack waited until midday to follow him.

“It’s a bit risky.” Said Venn. In his voice was no suggestion to give up, just a noticing a fact. “We have never come so close to humans seats so far.”

“Come on, we will stay on northern outskirts of Nome.” Replied Fort instantly, however he also was a bit nervous about whole action.

“Yes, but aren’t those Talbourne’s areas?”

“Those are no one’s areas!” snorted Tro. “Talbourne can’t be ruling whole Alaska. We can’t cower our tails every time they extend their grasp. That clan is an abomination against all laws of our kind. I bet it is just remnants of countless pack beaten and subdued by line of greedy, tyrant leaders.”

“So far they are going quite well in that.” Noticed Venn. “Under leadership of Aleu they almost wiped out Uniea. Not that I’m crying for Uniea, but…”

“All right, cease that.” Interrupted Elske. “It’s time to go. If we wait, his trails would be covered by snow.”

Snow was falling lightly – nothing that could be compared to blizzard from few days before. However without that precipitation way would be much easier. Glemt was going straight due south, crossing smaller mountain ranges and snowed valleys. He could have chosen longer but much easier way, however he wanted to calm himself and think a while. He was in hurry, but he also understood that to hurry not always means to run as fast as possible. He tried to order his feelings and make sure what he was intending to do.

Leaving the pack was hard, leaving Tro and Elske even harder, but Glemt knew that thinking over it would make his decision much more difficult. He had followed first impulse – after sensing that threat from prophecy was real, he just decided for good of pack. As in hunting, when he was standing for his packmates, as few days earlier, when he saved his leader. It was better not to think over at all – just act.

“But what then?” asked dog himself, shaking his head to dispel images of sister and mate. “What for I’m going to Nome? What would change seeing my real father. Do I want to… kill him?” He stopped, shocked by that thought. Balto was a killer of his mother. But also a father. Many on this world had right to judge that crime, but definitely not a son. “He is my father…” cried in mind, still running uphill. “I’m almost sure he did terrible thing… But I can’t raise my paw against parent. But he is a killer… He murdered my mother to cover his cheats… All I could do to find evidence of that and make him confess.” Then he suddenly laughed. “Mother, father… Why do I care so much? It was Bry and Forer who raised me. I’m a wolf in every way except of my blood.” But that thought took him back to gloomy dilemmas. “And I’m keeping the Law of our kind. There is only one punishment for premeditated murder: death. And if he did it as I think, it was cold-blood premeditated act. He killed my mother… and siblings to cover his adultery. So I should kill him… and in the same time I just can’t!”

Dog was so absent-minded that he managed to perfectly hit the trunk of pine on