she failed to stop him. She wasn’t courageous enough to say what she was really feel. She was too scared he would just nod, excuse her, but in the most gentle way show his indifference towards her.

Because Berenice in her short life discovered whole range of creature’s emotions and the last one of that  scale was love. She loved Steele not because he was handsome, strong or witted. She loved him because he was her. Or at least he thought that. Malamute was whole her word, became everything in those few weeks of their journey. She lost her parents but she hoped she found treasure of the same value.

Hope, hope, hope. The mother of fools.

So she had to manage herself. She shook her head to rid off tear from her face. When she looked with clear sight, she saw a giant rottweiler, looking on her with inquiring stare.

“Are you lost, baby?”

“Yes, I could say that.” She replied.

IV.I. One by One

I pine for you; my heart thirsts for you, my body longs for you, as a land parched, dreary and waterless.
Psalm 63;1-2

It was one of the first summer nights. Snow melted down and May’s sun had warmed forests of Alaska enough to judge the weather as: warm. For those who survived frosty winter of 1925 it seemed even hot.

Juniper Pack, founded on ashes of lost Raven Pack had suffered a lot during winter months. They had a badluck to cross infected areas and some pack members got a bubonic plague. Additionally unfortunate fight with two of sick and mad malamutes claimed life of three others members. So group – once counting over twenty wolves – then was just small, ten-members pack. However alpha male, called Okto was happy that they survived anyway.

And life in their group was reclaiming it’s place. Okto’s mate: Elema gave birth to five pups and additionally Robert and Viki had more four pups. It was risky move, allowing two betas to mate and produce a litter but by his sixth sense Okto knew that it was necessary, it was the only way to secure future of pack. After hard winter many animals fallen and every population had to restore its number. But the most damaged group were predators, who starved not only due to lack of prey but also because plague made them to carefully select every victim, leaving possible carriers of illness. That caused the strange situation where population of herbivores was significantly more numerous than carnivores. And Okto knew that in coming year there will be plenty of food for wolfkind. That why he greeted additional litter in his pack with leniency. So wolf could been sleeping with ease and dreaming of secure future of his group. However his sleep was broke just before the dawn.

“They are hungry, as always.” Whispered Elema, pointing on five furballs, seeking her breast. “I think you should go.”

“Yes, my dear… give me just a minute.” Murmured Okto with sleepy voice.

Wolf barely repressed call of his body to close his eyes again. He stood up and started to wake up whole pack. All, apart of nursing mothers, had to help leader in his hunt. So wolves were slowly standing up and gathering in formation. Okto came once again to his mate and pups and gave a gentle lick to whole six.

“We will be back soon.”

“Take care, my love.” Whispered Elema and return a kiss.

“Go!” called alpha to his pack.

When they exited pan on eastern slope of Yu mountain, Okto did what had been doing since few weeks. The special conditions of that spring required special tactic on hunting. So he ordered his wolves to scatter and separately seek for game.

“So guys, we trained this before.” Said with unexpected joy. It was beautiful morning and he felt alive as ever. He was filled with pride from his offspring and beautiful mate. His pack was growing stronger and future seemed bright. For the very first time after decline of Ravens Pack Okto felt save and happy. “We’ll form a wide line and sweep this forest to Thepi Creek. I’m waiting for report of everything larger than a fox. Got it?”

“Sure, boss!” replied Robert instantly.

Okto used to be anxious about loyalty of beta, if he – after having a pups – would try to object alpha’s power or even try to depose him. But birth of Viki’s litter changed defiance wolf a lot. He turned out to be first to help and every task, he obeyed every order of leader, probably knowing that fate of his children depended on wealth of whole pack. Robert turned out to be a real friend – another cause for Okto to fell contentment.

“So, let’s go!” instructed leader and eight wolves set off into forest.

*

Steele had been observing Juniper Pack since few weeks. The number of enemy made him extremely careful and cunning. He had been looking for the best way to get to Okto for long time and finally he found it. They had a system of hunting, a constant formation of battue, where alpha was almost every time in the same – most remote on south – position. Although Steele would have no chance against while pack, but sudden attack on single, unprepared wolf was possible. That was what he was about to do.

He waited for Okto to go far from his next pack mate. Nearest companion of alpha was beta male called Robert, strong and fast warrior, what malamute had observed. So Steele had to do quick what he wanted to do.

Dog was sneaking with ease. Wolf was concerned on tracking game in front of him and paid a limited attention on own back. So when Okto entered a small pan, from where he couldn’t be seen by Robert. Steele decided to strike.

In fact, it wasn’t even a fight – heavy malamute pinned slim wolf to the ground and with both front paws pressed his muzzle to choke his scream. Victim tried to shake attacker off, but Steele quickly bite his paw, cutting tendon and causing wolf to cower from pain. It was almost midday, forest was filled with birds noise. No one heard sounds of wrestling.

“Relax, pal. It’s over.” Smiled Steele, pressing Okto down. “Do you remember me? This winter, infected dog. It’s really unfortunate for you, that I survived.”

“Mmmmhmm!” tried to scream Okto.

“I’m going to level some debts with you. You were in Ravens Pack. You killed my father.” Steele let loose one of his paws on wolf’s muzzle, but pressed with it his throat, so predator was unable to call aloud. “Aren’t you?”

“Wait!” whispered Okto. “This was not my fault… Aniu was an alpha… and that husky took a lead. I was just a pawn.”

“So no one will cry when I remove you from chessboard.” Smiled Steele. “So say goodbye and…”

“No!” gasped prisoner. “Don’t do it… I’m a father… I have pups with my alpha and…”

“I bet that when you was killing my father, he saved his dignity. You are scum, wolf.”

“No, please…” Suddenly dog smiled, but Okto instead of relief felt just greater fear.

“All right, I won’t kill you.” Said malamute. “Someone else will do that.”

Then he put his jaws on wounded Okto’s paw. Bone cracked and wolf’s eyes narrowed in pain. Steele pressed harder, making tibia’s dislocation greater. In normal fight it was extremely hard to damage enemy’s bone, but in such situation, when adversary was immobile this operation wasn’t more difficult than cracking a bone of prey to get a tasty marrow.

“Three more to go!” laughed Steele and put his jaws on another paw. Okto could had screamed and even hadn’t strength to. In fact he lost consciousness after second crack.

*

When he awoken, his body was just one, giant lake of pain. From all four paws a flame of constant anguish was deluging his senses. However he managed to open his eyes and notice that he was still in that pan, lying on bloodred moss. Two front paws were laying before him, crippled and motionless like they were no longer his. But over that Robert was standing.

“Robert…” whispered alpha.

“O, my God!” gasped beta. “Who did it?”

“That white devil… Help me… take me to our den…” Robert was looking on him for longer while with serious concern but also with half absent stare. Finally he replied.

“I’m so sorry, friend, but it can’t be… Our pack needs a leader, not a cripple…”

“Help me, dammit!” yelled Okto.

“I was admiring you, I must confess.” Continued beta. “For that how you manage to lead us in winter. You was my perfect example… a hero for me. But understand… you can’t be leader now. Our pack just couldn’t manage to feed useless cripple.”

“Robert, what are talking about? Take me to Elema and pups!”

“I will take care for them, I promise.” Assured wolf and bended down to Okto’s neck.

“What you’re doing!? Stop that! Help me!” screamed former alpha, but his successor didn’t stop.

“I am helping you.” He said. “Now.” And grabbed Okto’s throat.

Steele saw that scene from rock above and barely repressed a yell of triumph. It was puppyish but seeing dead body of Okto he felt unexpected bolt of joy. Dog instantly shook his head and inhaled deeply. That wasn’t good time to celebrate. He had much more work to do.

*

Berenice wasn’t sure if world around her was real. However she decided to act as if it was real. Just in case.

Hans, brown furred rottweiler of mister Katczinsky’s breeding was standing against her and baring his teethes. Of course she knew it was just a pose – Hans just couldn’t be angry nor furious on her even – maybe especially – on ring. He had been her tutor and guide in word of dogfighting and had explained her as it worked.

“If it happens I stand against you and we have fight, do not look on my bared fangs. Do not listen to my roars. I’m not wish you to die. Those are just rules of show. If we don’t fell hatred, we must pretend we fell.”

Hans was good in that. In spite he had a heart of innocent child, he looked as a child-butcher. His dreadful constitution and scary (and scarred) muzzle seemed to show the clear intention to kill every life form in sight. But it was just a poser. In his career Hans had killed just two dogs in fight and each case he paid with heavy remorse. Even years