fighter she was ready to fight with every adversity. But as humble creature she was ready to reconcile with things she couldn’t change.

“Jenna.” She thought. “He still loves Jenna.”

Some sixth sense drove to Rosy’s house. Some seventh one, probably available only to females, allowed her to know the rival in redfurred Alaskan husky, who was playing with her adolescent children in snowed garden. Without slowing down, she jumped over the fence (four feet high!) and stopped in front of bitch.

“Who, the heck, are you?” asked confused redfurred.

“Are you Jenna of Nome?” asked Berenice. She nodded her head. “Could you send your pups inside?” she pointed on house.

“What do you want from mom?” asked Kodi. He was seven moths old, but he was mature over his age and was most bold of his litter.

“Just few answers.”

“Kids… go to mistress Rosy.” Asked Jenna carefully. She felt something dreadful about that stranger, however it wasn’t danger directed into her. When whole six went away, she again looked on malamute. “What do you want?”

“Who is Steele for you?” she asked with harsh voice. On husky’s muzzle appeared a expression of total confusion. “Do not say you don’t know about who I’m talking about!”

“This Steele?” asked Jenna quite awkwardly.

“Purebred malamute, blue eyes, heart of real dog.” Replied Berenice.

“I’m not sure if we mean the same person, but the only Steele I used to know was…”

I can’t say that the next hour was the most hard for Berenice. She lived in hardship for all her life. However that time turned out to be most disgusting. “So what why…” she thought, listening to Jenna’s tale.

*

Steele was cursing himself, Nome, Balto, snow, Star, humans, Berenice, Jenna and the sun (although he wasn’t sure because of what in particular), briefly, he was cursing whole world. They knew. Rumour about his return had spread with unbelievable speed, putting the telegraph in shame. Some saw him next to refinery. Some other brought news about escape from breeding and connected him with that. Of course, most of rumours were completely nuisances however they did damage. Balto was surrounded by his guards, namely: Nikki, Star and Kaltag. Few more dogs were hanging around. The news had been spread that Steele (pronounced with diabolical accent) had freed one of dog-killers from League Breeding and with his assistance he was going to assassinate Balto. In spite of rage, malamute smiled, thinking what would Balto said, seeing that his presumably assassin is two year old beautiful bitch.

But that thought led him to Berenice. Something was crying in him that she would get know the truth about him. “Truth?” thought dog. “What is that? She will learn that I left my sled and tried to kill Balto. She would never hear that I led them thought most dangerous parts of route, including Eagle Pass. That is not fitting to my image. I’m villain, murderer, pup-eater. Period!” So most likely the only creature on the world who admired him (“Love? No, she couldn’t be serious. And even if… not from now on!”) now was on the best way to despise him. “And maybe it’s good.” Smiled Steele in mind. “That is a banzai charge, most likely I won’t get this alive. It’s easier to exit this world, knowing that no one would cry about that.”

The dusk was coming and malamute was coming too. Sneaking on streets of own town was absurd, however necessary. He well knew the town and was going easy. The harder part of mission was to get directly to Balto.

“I saw him! On my own yes!” called Michael, small terrier, who had been always annoying Steele.

“I wish you to explain how could you see on some other’s eyes.” Thought Steele, but didn’t stopped to crawl on snow, parallel to the main street.

“He is here!” called terrier, pointing on… exact point where malamute was hiding.

It had to be pure coincidence that he guessed. Terrier probably actually saw on his own eyes, but on mind’s eyes the spot on snow that took as malamute’s coat. And he accidentally was right, as that broken clock that two times a day shows the right time. Anyway – didn’t matter what happen, Steele was in trouble. He just crawled under one of houses (“Thanks God it haven’t solid ground-foundation!”) and started to go to the backyard. Unfortunately on backyard he herd also some noises. “A chase! A hunt!” thought with tone of amusement. “They are hunting on me!” So he turn right to small lane between housed. Sun set and leaving Nome in almost complete darkness. Most of humans were already going to refinery, to see Dog Warriors League. Steele reached the yard and stood up. Then he turned back to return to main street. Unfortunately it wasn’t as simple as he thought.

“Hi, boss…” smiled Star with ironical tone. “Long time not to see, huh?” There were many others dogs there. Kaltag, Nikki, huskies from master Gunnar breeding and others. But no Balto. Steele understood that he was about to die in vain.

“You have gut to come here, Steele.” barked Kaltag.

“Indeed.” Smiled malamute. If he was about to die, he was going to do it in classy way. “Where is your wolf master? I hope they haven’t locked him in a zoo…”

“Go away Steele.” called the voice from darkness. It was hybrid’s voice. “That is our last warning.”

“That is your last word also.” Smiled malamute and prepared himself to the pounce.

*

Building of refinery was full of humans. There was hot, stiffing and whole scene smelt with sweat. But Berenice ignored it. Only thing that kept her there was a small hope that Steele would come. And even if he wouldn’t, that he hear about her victory. Because she was going to win. She had no choice.

“I’ll be the best.” And then she recalled the strange Steele’s poem.

[You don’t have to give your best shot, you just have to win it through
Doesn’t matter what you believe, point is they believe in you
Only acceptable example is the leader in this race
You don’t have to be a hero, to wear shining hero’s face]

Those words turn out to be so real for her as never. “I know why he rejected me. He had to do his revenge… And he is right. It doesn’t matter what they say about him… I know him and I know the truth.” If before hearing Jenna’s tale she wasn’t sure if there was a reason to fight on, but then she understood it was. Steele was her and she had to conquer him.

[You just cast away a weakness
Only unforgiven crime
You don’t have to be a hero
To be hero of their time]

But then a whist sounded.

“Lady I’m really in uncomfortable situation.” Said her opponent, local Mackenzie dog. “I don’t want to hurt you and…” He was big, strong and slow as icedrift, so Berenice estimated that shoe could beat him up in few minutes. “Just give up. I will pretend that I…”

“Where are dogs of Nome?” she asked, circling around enemy. “Why don’t they see your victory?”

“Most of them are a little busy right now.” He answered. “We heard that that bastard Steele is back here and…”

“And what?” asked Berenice with fear in his voice.

“Well… Balto said that we should take care of him.”

She lowered her face and was silent for a while. Then she looked on enemy with genuine sorrow in her eyes.

“I’m terribly sorry.” She whispered. “But I must go.”

With unbelievable speed she pounced on Mackenzie and with one move, grabbing his neck and using her mass to lever him. Dog - twice heavy as her – overturned with shock on his face and let her to grab his throat. With her all might – maybe not so impressive as giant mackenzie’s, however –impressive for fragile female, she pressed. The yell of pain meant the end of fight – human judge entered the ring, ready to stop winner from killing loser. But there were no victress anymore. Berenice ran out from stiffed hall and speeded to the town. Although she was never good in running that time she was almost flying. Her Steele was in danger.

V.II. The road ends

Steele estimated the distance and understood he wouldn’t done it. Balto was standing behind line of dogs, about five metres from malamute. To reach him, former leaded had to jumped over the rank, bounce on ground and pounce once again, praying that no one from second rank (yes, apart of three dogs in row there were many others next to Balto) would attack. However he had to try. One chance on ten, but still a chance.

“You’ve done a grave mistake, returning here…” was talking Balto. Steele noticed that wolfdog wasn’t paying any attention on him, just hearing to sound of own voice. “Wow!” thought malamute. “Just one year of being the star made him somehow as I was. Extremely vain. It’s very fortunate for me.” But hybrid was continuing. “You had done enough damage to our city and you should had been punished for that. I really don’t know what to do with you.”

“So die then.” Growled Steele and pounced.

He sprang into the air, surprising all dogs. Only Star managed to reach – the smallest and the weakest one was actually the fastest. He snapped with his jaws on rear-left paw of Steele, biting hard. Malamute easily broke that grasp, however his flight was distorted. He heavily fell on the snow, landing on scratched leg. Steele was a tough dog, immune for a pain in greater degree than his opponents. However it hurt. Badly.

He faltered and fell on the ground just in front of Balto. Wolfdog steeped back with amaze and disgust on his face (but there was also a spark of fear in that), what others dog took as a sing to attack. “And that way it ended.” Thought Steele. Then came a wave of swirling bodies.

Malamute drowned under that deluge. He even didn’t notice who exactly was hitting him. He just sensed a numerous bites and scratches. He rolled aside, covering his belly and throat. Then he grabbed with teethes the one of opponents - it happened that it was Kaltag. He rolled with his enemy once again picking him out from the mob and escaping the deadly mass. Kaltag was so surprised