I’m coming from forest.” Said honestly husky, carefully dosing the truth he could reveal. “I was raised by a wolfpack.” Saba’s eyes sparked with surprise and wave of interest. “Opposite to many false rumours that could be spread here, I’m not eating dogs.” Added just in case.

She replied with burst of laughter, even more airy than before. She had to sit down on snow of street and then in moment of clarity she asked herself with simple question: “How many times I laughed since Everest is gone? I don’t know, but he made me smile twice as we talk few minutes.”

“Don’t you?” asked, still giggling. “Nice to hear that. Believe me, I know something about wolves… and dogs living in wild. My sister is…” then she stopped and looked on him with serious stare. “O, my God, where are my manners. My name is Saba, daughter of Balto and Jenna.”

Strange. Usually she wanted to hide that fact from any encountered dogs. But that time she unwillingly said it at once. To catch attention of stranger? She was to scared to ask herself about that.

“Balto!” thought Glemt in the same seconds. He had to put much effort not to show his confusion. “Hit in the first shot. She is… my sister!” Cutting the further thoughts, he replied aloud.

“Nice to meet you… I’m Glemt from Bear Mountain.” Said dog and with long-taught habit, lowered his ear and bended down his head, expressing friendly intentions. Saba could knew many about wolves ways, but town thinking was much stronger in her. She took it gesture as something completely different and raised her front-right paw. A bit confused Glemt was ready for everything, so he improvised – licked her paw with gentle lick, hoping he just performed some commonly accepted action, not offending bitch.

“So Glemt…” said Saba, a bit confused too. But suddenly she reacted on his address. “Bear Mountain? That’s near of my sister’s territories!”

“Those are no one’s land. Aleu just claimed it as the strongest.” Wanted to reply husky, but he repressed his mouth in last moment. Then he thought it was dangerous to tell anything more about him. “They could know more than I expect.” He said aloud. “It’s a small world after all.”

“So, what brought you here?” asked Saba. Glemt was thinking for about second, but decided to play his dangerous game further.

“Your father.” Said quickly, then faked he regret those words. “I mean… I was a wild dog for many years… And I never tasted a life among humans. I was raised by wolves, but I’m domestic one because of my blood. I need to taste the life in town… And I wish to start it where is the famous Balto, hero of Alaska.”

“Ow, cut it.” Replied Saba, however she was glad husky was flattering her parent. It meant – at least she thought that – stranger was somehow interested also with her. “My father is really a modest guy. I bet he would feel a bit embarrassed, hearing that.”

“I won’t repeat it.” Said dog. “I just want to see him.”

“That’s not a problem.” Smiled Saba. “By the way – do you have a place to sleep? And something to eat?” He shook his head. “As I thought. For a moment I could take you to Tycha and Tim. They live in old keep of my father, so they will surely host you.”

Glemt was no longer listening, just thinking quickly about his new situation. He had to have a plan. Coming to the town he didn’t think over most of details. Just to get there and confront Balto. But that could be much more complicated that seemed initially.

“Thank you, Saba.” Said when she finish her speech and followed her in shore direction.

*

“Are you jealous?” asked Tro with a playful voice.

“It isn’t funny.” Snorted Elske. “He is there now, out of our range. And answering your question: not at all. Do you think he could…”

“No, I’m sorry.” Replied alpha. “Just a poor joke. But don’t worry, he will be all right.”

“That’s not all he is all right.” Said scarred wolfess. “He also had to challenge his past, to return to us.” Not waiting for friend’s answer she stood up and commanded to pack. “We are returning to forest on night. Night guard as usual.” Maybe Tro was an alpha and Glemt’s sister, but Elske was his mate. It’s nothing strange she felt personally responsible for operation.

*

Special Team organised by Aleu was containing four scouts of Lightning’s Intelligence and Reconnaissance Unit, ten best warriors chosen by Shadow, and alpha herself. The last element of group was Lightning, guiding his charges and his leader. He was furious.

It was something completely different to organise a one-time expedition in Nome Area, to clear Uniea partisans. They could encounter one or two shattered units of enemy, tired of war and sick of defeat. But going there with alpha herself changed whole operation into… something nasty. They were strong, well trained and deadly, but also were a giant beacon, calling all enemies of clan with tempting offer: track us! Attack us! We have Aleu of Talbourne Clan, protected just by dozen of guards and one of her closest advisors. Kill us and decapitate the clan.

“We should stay here for a night.” Said Lightning, with limited hope that alpha would listen to him.

“Come on, I could go still.” She replied. “We are over ten miles from Nome…”

“And that why we should spend a night here.” Said Lightning. “I know that you love that town, but we are wolves after all. There are many hunters in area who will be shot us down if we close to human seats.”

“Are you sure?” asked Aleu.

He wanted to confirmed, but in the same moment his nose was struck by a new scent. Group of wolves. From ten to fifteen, unfamiliar to him. Not any renegade Uniea he knew. Not any pack that Talbourne was in alliance with. Some unexpected factor. But he didn’t tell about it to his leader. “To less information to judge.” He thought.

“I am.” He replied. “Let’s rest, there is almost a dusk.” Seeing that Aleu is still un certain, added. “Come one, one night won’t change too much. Tomorrow we will check how is your father going.”

IV. One, happy family

Next twelve hours passed to Glemt on observing. Going outside town, to old Balto’s boat, he was looking on streets of Nome, then on outskirts of locality. He saw no other dogs, just few of humans (He was proud that he restrained his fear and temper going so close to unknown creatures. Perfect calmness of Saba helped in that too.) to get quickly to his temporally home. He was greeted by surprised, however still kind hosts, then put to sleep in – at least in his eyes – strange conditions.

“Why didn’t I choose to sleep in forest? Is having a solid roof above your head so important?” he thought, but then instantly answered on own question. “I have to use to town’s rules and customs. They just… live that way.”

“Thank you very much.” Said to Tycha, who even brought him some old human blanket for a sleep. “I’ll be fine, really.”

Then he closed his eyes, but didn’t fall sleep. For about hours he tried to hear some scraps of talks of his hosts (he was laying in lower deck, so it was hard). When he failed to learn anything useful, just instantly turn off his awareness and woke up exactly on time he wanted to – just before the dawn.

Then carefully not to disturb still sleeping Tycha and Tim, exited the boat and jump down to snowed beach. He was a bit hungry – maybe not as hungry to feel urge of immediate hunt, but seeing open area, quite wild on Nome Area conditions, he decided to get some game on his own. Because neither Saba nor Tim said about rules of hunting there, he assumed it was free for all. Quickly he also understood why.

Catching five of gulls took him almost an hour. Birds were unexpectedly fast and alert, so usual forest skills seemed be not enough for hunter. But after some practise, Glemt managed to work out own technique that was based on sneaking as close to edge of low beach cliff and jumping on ledge below. It was easy and efficient tactic, however the failure of such a attack meant unpleasant fall from two metres or sometimes even batch in cold water. When husky grabbed his sixth prey and also miscalculated his pounce – consequently being washed by incoming wave – Saba came. She stopped, seeing unusual try of stranger and burst in laughter, when she saw him wet.

“My God… come here, or you will get cold.” She called. “There are many easiest ways to get them.”

“Maybe.” Said Glemt, when he climbed on cliff and put sixth gull next to previously caught. “But the best lessons are those you learn yourself.”

“Get back to the boat.” She ordered. “Tim will catch more food for you. Now you have to dry up.”

“No, no, I’m really fine.” Said husky, shaking off the water. “I could go to the town now.”

“As you wish.” Agreed Saba and led him back to Nome.

*

In way to town, they were mostly silent, finally Saba asked carefully.

“Glemt… say something more about you.”

“You don’t trust me, because you don’t know me?” replied with question dog.

“No, it’s not that.” Contradicted Saba. “I’m just curious.”

“If that is not a problem, I wish to keep it untold.” Said Glemt. “I had some reasons to leave my pack immediately, but I don’t want speak about those.”

They were walking side to side, but Saba hearing that instinctively came closer to husky and rubbed his side in gesture of compassion. In first impulse Glemt was genuine amused by then, but he tried to look as sad as he could.

“But it doesn’t matter right now.” Said, faking he suddenly overcame inner reverie. “Now I’m starting life in town.”

“You know…” said Saba. She backed a bit, but still was walking close to silverfurred. “It isn’t as easy as might it looks. You have to find human owner or team what take you as sled puller.”

“I know that.” Nodded Glemt. “But I think that pulling stuff I have in blood.” Last sentence he said with hidden anger. “Just help me to meet your father, tell me a bit about laws of your place and I will surely manage to settle