however with every bite he felt stronger. Warmth was slowly coming from his stomach and waking up half-asleep body. A small hope sprouted in heart of malamute.

After he ate about ten pounds of dog’s meat, he hobbled to the mouth of tunnel and came to dense mass of snow. It was heavy and overwhelming, but he could dig. With heavy effort, but he could. So puller laid on belly and started to slowly mowing his paw in monotonous move, carving in firn. When he understood how slow he was going, he stopped and thought for a while. He estimated his chances on about one third, before he run out of food (God! He was thinking about those dogs as food already!) and oxygen. One third to get out and then he had to get some meat and cross mountains with wounded legs. His odds were minimal, however malamute had to try. While digging, he had in front of his eyes picture of pregnant Berenice, looking on him with silent plead in her stare. That was really cheering – Steele had no other choice that to dig in snow and crawl ahead.

Dig and crawl. Dig and crawl. Dig and crawl… and that maybe up to Judgementday. To prevent his mind from madness, he was entertaining himself with thinking what he would do to Balto, when he finally get him.

*

Sleds returned to Nome on 4th February. Somehow Nomers were there on outskirts of city to greet survivors and rescuers. Maybe they were waiting there for all the time. At least part of citizens, especially four-legged. Delegation of dog community established something like camp on Northern Road, in building of old fish-preserve factory. It was desolate hall on the outskirts of town. From there was a clear view on road north.

Berenice was there, that was obvious, however she questioned herself what for? To see Steele few minutes earlier? Once she was laughing at such a irrational acting, but when she was in long and fear, she did the same – camped with several other dogs on route to Buckland.

There were expecting sleds just about that time. Everyone on town estimated that way to Eagle Pass could take up to four days and return about so. That meant they had to go back before 7th February and if they don’t, that meant another tragedy or at least complete failure of rescue mission. Of course they could go to Buckland and it was even rational acting if Peter Kinrs or his dogs were wounded, but… Berenice was praying for quick return of Steele and countless times she was bothering Morse with questions about news on post office.

But that morning they finally came – two sleds running fast from Northern Route to Nome. First noticed them Jenna, who announced it with loud barking. Berenice had fell asleep, due to night guard, but instantly stood up, after husky’s alarm. With rest of gathered dogs (including Star, Miko and others) she ran on field in front of factory, where was road.

Early sun was shyly shining from eastern sky, enlightening snowed field and two cards. A sigh of fear sounded among dogs. They expected fourteen silhouettes harnessed to sleds. There were just eleven. “But better that way than none.” Thought she-malamute, but then fear choked her, because she failed to spot Steele.

Both teams reached factory and pack of local dogs set off to chase after newcomers, making ear piercing noise of barks and howls. Most of them were cries of joy and relief, however some voices expressed disbelief and pain. Kurt and Kim, parents of Bart. Rose, mate of Fitch. Suddenly Berenice understood she was also howling with despair. There was no Steele.

Mushers stopped, seeing that dogs were unable to pull further. They released both harnesses and watched their charges, running to and mixing with group of those who had stayed.

She-malamute was walking like in trance. She noticed that Jenna ran to wolfdog and cuddled into his side. Hybrid received this caress with unusual cold, or maybe fear. He was looking for her with his sight, but when their stares met, he instantly turned his head to the ground.

“Where is Steele!?” cried Berenice, stopping before wolfdog.

“Berenice… It’s hard to explain, but…”

“Where is he!?”

“He… is dead.” Said Balto with breaking voice. She even didn’t understood him words, who drowned in noise around, but she read from lips and that was far enough. In the same time she bared her fangs and burst with cry.

“Give him back to me!” cried with despair, pouncing on hybrid.

Balto was surprised and even if he was waiting for that, fast and agile Berenice was unable to stop. She pinned him down to the ground and at random his with jaws on his side. With strength she did it, hybrid’s neck would be squashed, fortunately she didn’t aimed for that. There was even no hatred in that, only a simple and irrational hope to force leader to tell, where Steele really was.

Several dogs came to she-malamute and with heavy effort took her back from Balto. Jenna came to his mate and helped to stand up, and other local dogs were keeping Berenice in place.

“I’m so sorry.” Yelled Balto. “That’s a tragedy and…”

“Where he is?” shouted bitch and tried again to pounce on hybrid. However she was grabbed by many strong jaws. So she just fell helplessly to the ground. Jenna pulled her mate back to Kodi and Dusty, who were greeting with Dusty’s parents. It was a celebration, so redfurred had no strength to cope with another bereavement. What she missed was that Balto was looking on crying Berenice long after they went aside.

“Kodi…” sighed Jenna and hugged her son. Since that moment she paid no more attention of Batlo. And wolfdog was carefully looking as Star and Maya lead off Berenice to Kaasen shed. When she disappeared in doorstep of building he finally turned to his mate.

“I missed you both.” She whisper, licking his cheek. “So good you are here back.”

“I’m back as fast as I could.” Replied wolfdog with hollow voice.

*

Dig and crawl. Dig and crawl. Dig and crawl.

Steele didn’t know how much way to go left, because he tried to ignore length of tunnel and  not to estimate the distance. He tried to make a break after every two hours, however he was shut from sunlight and his sense of time would be distorted. It was possible he was resting one for twenty minutes of one for twelve hours. In fact it didn’t matter, the point was to dig and crawl.

It was hard to stay sane in such white prison, where stock of food (“Oh, my God! Food!?”) and oxygen was shortening in every moment. However malamute managed to remain clear mind and act rationally. He was eating regularly, even when he was sick of devouring dog’s meat. He was drinking, however his body refused to receive more moisture. And he was still bothering his mind with any imaginations, just not to let madness crawl in. He was recalling Berenice, memories from recent past, but also those older, like times of plague. Then, not to be monothematic, he recalled Balto, especially picture of Balto from his old dream – wolfdog with bitten throat, bleeding out on the snow.

After few metres of digging (but as we said: he didn’t know how far exactly) Steele came to conclusion he perfectly understood motives of wolfdog. Hybrid felt endanger by Steele, feared that new achievement of malamute would shade his fame and – if that was true, what leader still wasn’t sure – Balto hoped to gets Berenice heart. That motivation seemed absurd for Steele (“She with other dog? That’s funny!”), however he knew that sometimes absurd causes are the stronger ones. Dog reconsidered whole case without emotions (he knew that emotions could make his pulse faster, exhaust him and cause faster oxygen consumption) and came to very strange conclusions.

Balto was in fact innocent – he did the same what once Steele did: attempted to kill rival because of own pride and hope for getting mate. Malamute understood that perfectly. That didn’t mean he didn’t want to tear Balto to pieces, however that wouldn’t be exactly a revenge, but just want to secure himself from further danger. Or not – one thing was enraging Steele anyway. It because of Berenice. Balto could not know they were planning pups, however he knew they were good couple, and killing him, he was hurting her also. So even if Steele disown his own rage, he was still angry on behalf of mate and pups.

But then malamute stopped a torrent of his thoughts and with amaze understood that in some conditions he would even be grateful Balto. If he was going to die, Berenice would have stay alone without care. Of course she was independent and in field of self-defence totally save due to her fighting abilities, but she still could stay alone. In that case Steele even hoped that she would be with Balto. “He is a dork, but apart of that he would be a fine mate to secure our kids. Kids… maybe it would be not so bad, if they would grow as wards of great Balto…” He was really amazed that such a thought didn’t enraged him. “But I must think rationally, pride matters not, comparing to security and prosper of my children.” He added, but then laughed in mind. “Think rationally? It isn’t rationally! Berenice would never mate with Balto… and worse she probably won’t be with anyone else.” He crawled another inch ahead. “And that is the next reason I have to survive.” He smiled and fully returned to his routine.

Dig and crawl.

*

Balto came to Kaasen shed about midnight, hoping Berenice was alone. But she wasn’t. In building were at least two other dogs, speaking aloud with bitch. Hybrid hesitated on doorstep, however he entered.

“…I know what to do and… Ow, another <good uncle> to collection!” growled, seeing Balto. “Should I start to throw you out by my fangs?”

“You could try.” Said Star with unexpectedly – at least for him – serious voice.

“Berenice, we wish just to help…” added Maya.

“And you?” asked she-malamute harshly, turning to Balto. “Are you came here to again say how are you sorry and how you pity of my Steele?