teacher for young husky, a deep distrust and aversion towards him was covered with kind of neutral indulgence. “But now we should find some real cargo.”

They went closer to forest, when Kodi chose a tree trunk’s fragment, weighting about twice his mass. After several minutes of tries, he managed to tangled belts so hard, that Glemt was bound also to wood.

“As far as I know it weights more that average cargo for single dog.” Noticed Glemt.

“Yes, that’s true.” Replied Kodi. “But I want to test your limits.”

“If you say so…” murmured dog and pulled.

It wasn’t easy. Almost hundred kilo, additionally cargo was a big trunk, that was carving in snow, making serious resistance. But suddenly Glemt felt enlightened. He couldn’t pull, because he still was a wolf! His paws were shorter than wolves were, but with pose of his body dog tried to make up for that imparity. However it wasn’t imparity! Just a dog’s trait. He had to keep his centre of gravity as low as he could. He lowered his body and in one second rushed ahead. “It isn’t so hard!” yelled Glemt in mind. Way ahead was very tiring, however possible. Belts were burning his back, but somehow he could drag them. “I’m pulling.” He thought with unexpected pride.

“Wow, you’re pulling!” called Kodi. “Are you sure that you have never done that things?”

“No, today I have harness for the very first time.” He said. But then recalled for what he was there. “But it’s most likely blood-matter. I’m a son of a sled-puller.” Added with hidden poison in his voice.

“Curious.” Murmured leader. “You said that you was raised by wolfpack.”

“Both those things are true.” Replied Glemt. Then measured Kodi with careful stare. “Perhaps it’s too early for that move…” he thought. “But according what Drake told me… there is a chance that Kodi will help me… as a loving brother.” Smiled inside. “Boss, could we make a break now?” asked with flattering and ingratiating voice.

“Yeah, sure.” Replied black and white husky. In his words there was no longer bias towards student.

“Kodi, may I ask you a bit personal question?”

“Hm? What question?” surprised leader, when they sat down in snow on the brink of forest.

“I wanted to know everything about Balto… but it happened I learned also about some troubling case that taken place three years ago. I mean case of Trinea.”

“How do you know…” snorted Kodi, then narrowed his eyes and added. “It’s an old event. There is no point of recalling that.”

“But I heard that you was one who believed in Balto’s guilt. Isn’t that true?”

“Even if, so what?” replied leader with nervous voice. “I settled that case. I understood my mistake and apologised my father…” Then he seemed to wake up from inner reverie and growled with anger. “What the heck you want from me? None of your business. Those are matters of my family.”

“Yes I know.” Smiled Glemt with bitter smile. “And because of that, this is also my business.” He stood up, came to confused Kodi and whispered him to ear. “I’m the living and talking proof that you had right then… brother!”

“Werk!” cursed Kodiak.

*

Aleu returned to her unit just for few hours, so Lightning remained actual commander. It was very awkward situation for him – most of fighters from Shadow’s forces mistrusted alpha’s advisor. Maybe Lighting and Shadow were friends, but it was a very harsh friendship. Additionally units of they charge were natural rivals. It wasn’t a secret that senior scout Jack and senior guardian Wemer just hated each other. Lighting heard some rumours it was about some wolfess, but the reason wasn’t important, opposite to outcome.

Every day of they stay on shore of Dorothy’s Backwater he had to appease hot-headed warriors from doing stupid things. For most of time Wemer and his charges argued that they should seek and kill two renegade Uniea units, then check for that mysterious pack on the other side of river. They ignored reports of Lightning’s scouts and wanted to fight instead of think.

“How the hell we won that war?” asked himself master scout. “The only possible answer is that Uniea guys were even worse.”

“We must go!” said for the hundredth time Wemer. His arguing activity raised instantly after leaving of Aleu. “We could just go for a while on the other side to check those strangers.”

“With all forces?” asked tired Lightning.

“Yeah, we crush them quickly…”

“You just said that you want to check… Scouting by mass offensive?” asked master scout with irony, but he was taken seriously.

“Shadow would has already done it!” snorted warrior.

“So thanks God he isn’t here!” called Lightning. Argument burst again.

*

Elske was very careful not to be detected and in the same time not to enter possible enemy territory. So for whole this talk she was lying on backwater’s ice, praying silently that layer hold that. With her white fur and stunning abilities she was able to sneak close to enemies. With her sharp senses she could eavesdrop most of council. But what was real trial for her was a slow withdraw to the pack, carrying so grave news.

“God, save my Glemt.” She prayed. “It’s Aleu’s escort and they are here for a reason… And until they are here my love isn’t safe. What ever he wants to do with Balto, the consequences would be terrible.”

*

Situation changed a bit – with very little effort Glemt gained an ally. Of course he didn’t say Kodi everything. Just a prologue to that story. He said nothing about death of his mother, nor about his accusation of Balto. The point of story was that Kodi once had right – his father was a liar.

Version told by Glemt was brief and cut. So Balto presumably seduced Trinea. She conceived a litter of pups and when she understood it, she started to urge Balto to take care about her. Wolfdog refused, so desperate Trinea revealed it in public. Balto was judged, divorce with Jenna was announced, giving Trinea a hope to gain a mate. But Balto disappeared, saying he was looking for witness of whole situation. There both Glemt and Kodi had a gap in story (they judged that official explanation of  Balto was rather improbable), until suddenly Balto returned to Nome, somehow made Jenna believe in his innocence and end whole case. Trinea disappeared.

“She just lost her hope.” Said Glemt. “When she understood that your father won’t take care about her and litter, she just set off to the wild… To meet my pack.”

“Ow… that’s…” whispered shocked Kodi. “Glemt… I don’t know what to say… I’m so sorry and I’m so ashamed by acting of my father… I mean…” he looked on silverfurred. “…our father.”

“I’m sorry too…” Said Glemt uncertainly, but sight of leader encouraged him to say that word. “…brother. I know it would be very hard for you and our family… but…”

“The truth should be revealed.” Said Kodi with decisive voice. “I can’t blame you for delivering the grave news. There is an other guilty in this. He happened to be our father.”

“Will you help me?” asked Glemt. “I need to make him to recognise me as son. Believe me, it’s not just a my pride… I need to undo what was wrong in past.”
”I will help you, bro.” Decided leader. Then whispered. “God, why we all were so blind…”

“All right, Kodi. So I need your assistance.” Said quickly silverfurred. “I must gather more information… But you, as local, have to organize whole thing. Could you ask Drake and gathering of dogs in Nome. Tomorrow morning, dawn the best, on Dorothy’s Backwater.”

“Yeah, sure.” Agreed leader, then asked a bit surprised. “Why there? Couldn’t we call them just to Boiler Room or on town square?”

“Please, believe I have a reason to ask for that.” Replied dog.

“If you insist…”

“And one thing more…” said Glemt. “For the time being do not tell your… our family about that. You know… if that information reaches father…”

“It will be hard for them all.” Sighed Kodi. “But I understand what have to be done.”

“Good, thank you.” Smiled silverfurred. “I think you should somehow prepare your mother… but without telling what it is all about.” Leader nodded. “So remember – tomorrow morning on ice of Dorothy’s Backwater. Good luck, brother.”

In impulse he steeped ahead and rubbed his cheek on Kodi’s cheek. Then turned back and went away with quick steps. Still wearing his harness, because he needed it.

*

But in the hills of Nome there was another witness of that talk. Lightning decided to make that reconnaissance himself and it turned out to be very fortunate. However master scout was cursing fate for involving him in such dirty stuff.

“And what should I do?” thought greyfurred. “I can’t repeat whole of that to Aleu. She wouldn’t believe me, besides I don’t want to disturb her. Maybe I should…”

He heard some murmurs, coming from path down. Wolf carefully stood up and started to follow Glemt. Husky was so drown in own thoughts that he ignored signals of second tail. And because he was burned by nervous force, he was still murmuring quietly.

“Balto… father… Now mom will get her revenge. I can’t kill you, but they could… Poor Kodi, my poor brother… we are killing our dad…”

“HOLY CRAP!” yelled Lightening, fortunately only in mind. He stopped, shocked and froze in place. Breathing so loud he was unable to follow his target anymore without risk of detection. “Calm down, calm down…” His mind was working on highest rate. “You must think… If that possible those wolves on the other side are… assassination unit? To draw Balto to Dorothy’s Backwater then to strike… Dammit! We must take Aleu back then prepare escort for Balto!”

Master scout waited for several more minutes, then carefully turned back. Started to walk slowly, then faster and faster to run few minutes later. There was little time. “Not only Aleu got soft after that war. We all overslept! Thanks God at least I woke up on time!”

*

Kodi was also returning to the town. His steps were slow and uncertain. He was again through the same hell. Once he