to settle here.” He paused, then added with quieter voice. “By the way, I’m really grateful for what you are doing. I didn’t expect such a warm welcome.”

“You are… welcome.” Replied Saba awkwardly. “I want to show that Nomers are really hospitable.”

Soon they reached town square and Saba asked Glemt to wait a while. Dog sat down in snow of street and started to carefully observe all wonders around.

*

Aleu went to Nome to see parents, leaving her unit on outskirts. Using that opportunity to act freely, Lightning sent his scouts for careful reconnaissance around. Vicinity of town was mostly open area, easy to watch, but the real danger was hiding in the forest. Nome was placed near seashore in valley of torrent called Dorothy Creek. Where valley was slowly ascending into hills, forest started. The conventional border of human’s and wild’s zone was wide backwater of river. Then frozen – pool was landmark of last man’s space before mountains. Also it was another border – on east there were free lands, where few wolfpacks were hunting and dwelling. On west started a territories that Talbourne clan claimed. Some said that was  just a temporally line and biggest clan of Alaska would move further just after subduing remnants of Uniea. But on that moment it was the edge of Taulborne’s influence. Lightning was very unhappy to go further.

“They are there.” Reported Jack, one of senior scouts. “A small, eleven if I counted properly…” Sure, he counted properly – he was the best in his job. “But there is a problem – they already know about us. They drew back to deeper forest, but are ready to strike. We don’t know what is their aim, but rather not we, at least not directly.”

“Of course, not we.” Snorted master scout, as sometimes Lightning was called. “With eleven warriors - even very skilled - they won’t risk an open battle. But if they know that Aleu is there, they would prepare some sudden assassination.”

“It’s strange, sir, but until now they haven’t cross the river. Even single scout! Just as they respect our territory.”

“Or are so careful.” Noticed greyfurred. Then he added. “Not tell about it to Securers. Will and rest would be surely want to strike at once, what is stupid and risky. If we lose some jaws here, we will be more vulnerable in way back.”

“I understand it, sir.” Agreed Jack and turned back to get back to his duties.

Lightning went on the shore of backwater. It was about two hundred metres wide area, covered with ice. The layer had to be thick, but fragile, due to fierce frosts week earlier and much higher temperature then. And under it dark waters of pool were flowing slowly.

“It looks scary.” Thought greyfurred, coming on the ice. “To fall down there means death.”

Some malicious voice in his head whispered to him that current operations somehow reminded that backwater – easy on first sight and deadly in possible outcome.

*

Glemt was waiting on square, thinking how much he looked as odd one. Many humans and dogs were passing him by without word nor reaction, but husky’s alienation most likely was clear. After about quarter through main street went sled with dog team, then it stopped in front of big house near centre. Musher quickly unharnessed his pullers and seven of spitzes laid down on snow with visible fatigue. Only one of them – black and white husky from lead of team, didn’t laid to rest, but came straight to stranger on the square.

“I don’t recognise you.” Started straight.

“That is no shame, I’m new here.” Replied Glemt, trying to sound nice. It was something strange about that dog… Something familiar. “This scent!” thought silverfurred. “Just like Saba. If it could be another child of Balto? I sense it! I wonder if he senses something unusual about me.”

“New…” snorted leader.

“Yes, that’s correct. But I mean no troubles. Just… looking for something.”

“For what?” inquired dog.

“Do you think that another puller would be needed here?” asked Glemt.

“I doubt.” Replied black and white. “We have over ten full teams here.”

“Any reserve?”

“Hey!” called a bit irritated dog. “When I say: no it means: no, you got it?”

“Kodi!” they heard voice behind them. It was Saba, leading few other dogs. Glemt took a look back to see brownish furred wolfdog (“That could be Balto? My father?” thought instantly), gentle redfurred bitch, then some… wolf. “It can’t be.” Snorted husky in mind. “If my nose is right and I was told the truth, it should be Aleu of Talbourne! Whole <family> in place!”

“Kodi!” repeated Saba. “What’s wrong with you? This is our guest!”

“He is… weird.” Said leader then came closer to sister and parents. “I sense something strange in him.”

Glemt heard that, due to his sharp, wolflike senses. “Damn, you should!” thought with hidden smile. “You should, brother!” Then he added aloud. “I’m terribly sorry, if I offended someone. I new here and don’t know customs of your place. I just…”

“Calm down buddy.” Said Balto. “Walking here is not a crime.”

“Strange voice.” Thought Glemt. “So… gentle and somehow weak. Not like voice of murderer. Curious.”

“So… Glemt…” said redfurred bitch. From scraps of information he had got from Annen he knew her name was Jenna. “Why have come here?”

“I’m looking for new home.” Replied husky, a bit uncertainly. “Maybe here I succeed.” In well prepared gesture, he glimpsed on Kodi. “If you allow me.”

“Kodi, come on.” Sounded some voice from kennels. Young she-husky was calling her mate and leader.

“I have to go.” Said puller awkwardly, still looking on Glemt with suspicious stare. Then he turned back.

“Forgive my son.” Said Balto. “He is just tired after a trip. Let me introduce us: that angry one is Kodi, my son and leader of team. Here is my mate, Jenna and daughter: Aleu. Saba is already familiar to you, I guess.” Dog nodded his head, murmuring something that sounded like: Glemt, but nothing more. “So, boy, we could go inside. My master’s hangar is a warmer place.” Silverfurred thought that mild weather of that sunny day wasn’t unpleasant, but followed wolfdog without a word.

All five – newcomer, Balto, Jenna, Saba and Aleu went to big shed, proudly called “hangar”. If not a plane inside it would be nothing more than ordinary cote, but the purpose was really matter. Entering inside and sniffing aroma of meat, Glemt recalled that he actually ate none of caught gull, just had left them to hosts. So unwillingly he looked on bowl filled with food and barely repressed hungry call of his stomach.

“Please, suit yourself.” Said Balto, noticing need of his guest. “Luke will surely give second helping.”

“Thanks, sir.” Replied Glemt and sat down in front of bowl.

“So… Saba said you were raised by wolves…” started Balto, but in the same moment his daughter snorted meaningly. Aleu raised her eyes hearing that.

“Yes, that’s true.” Said silverfurred, swallowing portion of meat.

“May I ask which clan?” instantly threw Talbourne’s alpha.

“Not likely if you know it.” Replied Glemt. “Small pack from slopes of Bear Mountain.

“Aleu!” gasped Jenna. “This is our guest. Why you…”

“I could only say I have nothing to do with Uniea clan, however it’s a bit hard to prove it.” Said instantly silverfurred, trying to turn whole dialogue into joke and leave dangerous topic quickly.

“Yeah, sorry.” Said alpha. “It’s just… habits of war. I’m still learning to trust others again.”

Whatever politeness towards guest meant Jenna in next quarter Glemt was interrogated. Not directly – just both Aleu and Balto asked so many courtesy questions that Lightning and his intelligence unit would be proud. Fortunately husky had already consistent version of answers. Those were as close to the true as possible – smaller lie is always easier to maintain than big one.

“I want to test myself in pulling stuff.” Said finally. “Who knows, maybe that is the thing I’m destined too.”

“But why you so badly wanted to see Balto?” Asked Jenna.

“Honestly speaking he is the reason I made my decision to came here.” Replied Glemt, somehow savouring how they misunderstood him. “I heard that story of serum run and many later of his adventures.” Then added in mind. “Especially one. Deadly interesting.”

“I don’t know how we could arrange that.” Said finally Balto. It was clear that however wolfdog pretended it was nothing, story of Glemt flattered him deeply. He just like to feel again as a saviour of town, in spite that almost five years passed from that moment. “You have to attract one of our mushers to test you. But until that you have to have a place to sleep.”

“I could camp in forest.” Said silverfurred. “I used to.”

“Yeah, I almost forgot from where you are.” Smiled Balto. “But I think you could stay in hangar for time being. At least until you get to the kennels.”

“If I get.” Added husky. “I don’t intend to eat my eat for free. I hope to prove myself worthy. But now, I have to learn more about your town. Is there any person that could teach me that?”

“I guess Saba has already volunteered.” Noticed Jenna, looking on daughter. Since death of Everest, Saba was very lone. She took this loos deeply and Jenna took an impression since that day she raised some barrier from world outside her. But that stranger had something special – he seemed to break that wall, or at least make a small gap in it. Redfurred knew nothing about stranger, but somehow already liked him for making her daughter smile.

“I can’t impose myself so much.” Replied Glemt.

“That’s not a problem.” Assured Saba.

And that way it came – Glemt was located in Luke’s hangar then most of that day and all following one he spent with Saba on seeing the vicinity of town and get knowing to dogs there. Newcomer was surrounded by a serious interest of locals from two reasons – wolf-raised one was not so often event in Nome. Additionally every dog that was possible boy-friend of Saba was popular, not