will be around for some time and I will be happy to see you win.” She gentle nudged his side with he muzzle and said.

“But it’s unfair.”

“It’s a life.” Replied rottweiler. “Just enjoy it, as you always wanted to. You are the best now.”

“No! don’t care for that!” cried Berenice. “I hate myself for fighting… for hurting you and others.”

“So why did you start it?” asked dog with surprised voice. “Why did you followed me in that day when you came to Galena? It was your choice.”

“I have to win.” She replied. “I have to be the best… the winner… the hero.” Hans asked with questioning stare. “There is a dog outthere. His name is Steele… All I want is to show him, I’m the best… I’m the best for him.” Rottweiler nodded his head.

“I see… And that why you shouldn’t have any doubts nor remorse. You are doing it in purpose.”

“However I feel like a criminal.”

“Feel like a winner.” Said Hans, however it was clear he was slowly falling asleep due to sedatives. “That’s what is important. I believe Steele will do what I would do in his place, when he discovers why you are doing it. I’m sure you will…” But he didn’t finish that sentence, just got silence in forced slumber. Berenice carefully licked his cheek and steeped down on the ground.

She was still feeling terrible, after she saw what happened to her friend. But apart of that a new feeling was growing in her heart. A hope. If Hans said that she succeed, she will. “Steele, wherever you are, I’m doing it as if you were here, watching me. I hope You appreciate it one day. I wonder where you are, my love…”

She exited into warm, July night.

IV.II Shortening the list.

“Ow, I will ask one time more.” Growled Steele, pressing wolf’s skull to the rock surface. “Where is Black!?”

“He’s dead!” yelled Beth. Wolfess was wounded in side, exhausted after long chase and then knocked down by enraged Steele. she was bleeding from several wounds and she definitely wasn’t in condition to fight. Malamute was also heavily injured but hatred gave him even more might than fear to Beth.

“Dead?” smiled Steele with bitter smile. “I killed Okto, Alima and two others of your lot and every single of them were claiming that rest of you was dead. Alima almost made me believe…” he lowered his voice and got closer to wolfess’s ear. “But she changed her mind when I spoke a little with her mate. His screams turn out to be very encouraging.” Beth gulped. “Let make a deal, bitch.” Growled malamute. “I know where is your mate and your pups. But won’t kill them, if you tell me everything about remnants of Ravens Pack. How do you think?”

“You will kill me anyway.” She cried.

“Well… indeed, I will.” Confessed Steele. “But I have no interest in killing your family, unless you drive me mad.”

“How could I trust you?” asked Beth who seemed do reconcile herself with unavoidable fate.

“Do you remember your friend, Black? Did mention about word of sleddog?” asked malamute. “I promise I won’t kill them. I was a sled leader for years and that should be your guarantee.” She nodded her head and fear became a determination. “So, will you tell me?”

“Promise, and I will tell everything I know.” She sobbed.

“I won’t touch your family unless they attack me, my kin or my human if I ever have one again.” said former leader, not sure if he was going to fulfil that oath. After all, he wasn’t sled dog then.

“I swear I’m talking truth.” Replied Beth with serious voice. “Black and Aniu are probably dead, although no one saw theirs bodies.”

“Continue.” Encourage Steele, a little letting loose his grab. “I will judge if you are honest.”

“Ravens Pack is no more.” She said with sudden bolt of sorrow. “It dispersed few month after we killed your father’s team. That was a hard winter… we almost died from starvation. Aniu had pups and we were desperately trying to feed them… We had to go on hunts with whole pack, including them… Black was an alpha then, however Alima always objected…”

“To the point!” growled Steele.

“We lost in the blizzard.” Yelled Beth. “Maybe the last blizzard in that winter. We failed to find again our den and Black with pups… When snow ceased, we discovered that there were five bodies of pups and no Black. He had to leave them in order to find us… But he failed. No one has seen him later.”

“And Aniu?” asked malamute.

“She took that loss deeply. She left the pack and without any alpha we got scattered. I don’t know where she is now… But some said that white wolfess was seen this winter on Eagle Pass on route east.” Steele burst in laughter. “What?”

“So she met her fate in plague.” Replied dog. “Too bad, I haven’t done that, but…”

“Are you satisfied?” asked Beth with fear in her voice.

“I could say so. Good girl.” Replied Steele, nudged her muzzle with paw and then plunged his fangs in her throat. He was holding her few moments until she stopped her kicking  then stood up and looked on mountains on west.

“So, I’m done here, father!” called to silence of valley. “I took care of your friends. Now I wish to focus on mine.”

He had no idea if father was looking on him. In some way he hoped that not. After all Sharp was a hero, who died standing for his master and Steele was just an ashamed outcast. However malamute felt he did right. If he had no share in father’s glory, at least he gain lion share in his revenge.

“But now I’m finish with that.” He murmured, starting to climb to Eagle Pass. “Balto, be ready to die. Unfortunately I won’t go so easy on you.”

*

Fortune has her own sense of humour. This time her joke was especially well done, however main characters of that drama were unaware of playing in it. Berenice even didn’t recalled a name of town. That was Hans who helped her in that.

“I knew it.” Smiled rottweiler. For previous few months dog got older few years. Since he left arena and ceased to fight, he turn out to be old indeed. He was barely walking, often with help of Berenice. Malamute’s blow in head probably was a cause of his problems with sight, because old warrior was almost blind. However he had good hearing and discovered what was going to be. “You’ve been promoted to higher league.”

“I don’t want to leave.” She sobbed. “I don’t want to leave you.”

“Nonsense! Here you won’t make any career. Nome is the biggest centre of dogfighting apart of Anchorage itself. That move is the shortest corridor to the top.”

“I don’t want to lose you and master Katczinsky!” she said with decisive voice.

“And he doesn’t want to lose you. However – with heavy heart - he sold you. Because he knows it s for your good. I heard that Martin Eden is good owner to his dogs.”

“Yes, but he is in Nome…” murmured Berenice. “How will you do here when I…”

“I’m not so old yet.” Murmured old dog. “And in fact, moving to Nome… Wait… You said that your Steele was sled leader in…”

“NOME!” exclaimed malamute. “I’m going to Steele!”

And however she had no guarantee that her beloved was three, she already believed that she was close. In one second whole sorrow cause by lost of friend mad owner vaporized to overwhelming hope for meeting Steele.

V.I Of Life and Death

Do good unto thy friend before thou die, and according to thy ability stretch out thy hand and give to him.
Sirach 14:13

Winter came suddenly.

Just quite warm September turned to frosty October. Snow felt yet about fifteenth, and with start of December frosts were as sever as used to be in January. So on that winter morning Steele was marching in two feet deep snow, almost freezing. But he cared limited attention on that.

It was his third approach to Nome and – he hoped – the final. Previously he had been scouting and observing Balto’s living routine. What he had learned discouraged him to frontal strike. The first reconnaissance had ended almost as a tragedy. Steele should had been prepared for that, however he was shocked by view of Balto coming along with Jenna, surrounded by pack of pups. Malamute in last moment repressed his rage and stayed in his hiding, but he wanted to tear his enemy there and then. Reason ordered him to withdraw and learn more about current situation. That was a good decision.

Balto was strong in Nome. That meant: he was commonly respected, he could count on support of almost every member of society. Although wolfdog had weaker eyes and less sharp fangs he had dozens of additional eyes to guard over him and dozen of additional fangs to defend him in distress. So Steele had to commit his vengeance in secret. But how to do it, when hybrid was partially living inside of town? On winter Balto left his boat and moved to Boiler Room, probably to be closer to Jenna and his kids. He was visiting his remote keep just few times a week. It was hard to sneak and make an ambush there because goose called Boris and two polar bears were also living on beach. But ambush in the city was ten times harder. Those dozens of eyes would have been observing every Steele’s move, alarming Batlo at the very first sign of danger. Additionally when hybrid was in town he was almost always with Jenna (“That’s too much.” Thought Steele. “I cant kill that rascal in front of HER!”) or by trio of his new sidecks: Star, Nikki and Kaltag (“Guys, so you haven’t missed me?” asked in mind with irony. “I guess it’s your nature to serve as someone’s underlings.”). Malamute was curious how would his old “friends” would act in eventual confrontation (“Do not fool yourself! They will support the stronger… that is more numerous!”), however he felt not sure enough to try.

After week of constant thinking and planning, he was enlightened. A chance had happened – in Nome was going be a open of Dog Warriors League. On evening of fifth December almost whole town – and surely vast majority of dogs – would be on outskirts of Nome in old Gold Refinery. That was the time to strike.

Steele decided to move on