called wolf, seeing as Starduster was slowly descending on slope of Valley. “Black, you must tell me few things!” Darkfurred didn’t reply, but stopped. “I know it sound stupid and weird…” He took a look around to make sure that none of his soldiers was listening. “Has Rose asked you…”

“We failed to killed her.” Said Black. “But in progress we lost Lake, Snow and Merik. Easy, we will get that blasted lead for you. If Rose decide that way.”

“God…” yelled Sheik. “You did try to kill Maya.”

“And we failed, Sheik.” Growled Black. “If you became an alpha, you will pay for blood of our brethrens, who died for you!” And he set off again.

“No…” whispered Aleu’s son. “Rose… it can’t…”

He didn’t let Black just go away. He went for his troops and said them he had return to home. Orders of Teele were important but strict family business was much more crucial. He joined sad column of Stardusters and marched with them. They exchanged no word, although Sheik wanted to know how exactly he was guilty.

*

Rose was in cave, with pups. It was evening already, so they were asleep, just mother stayed awaken. She was worrying about all the complicated matters around her. She not only had to take care about pups, but oversee the action of black-mouthing Maya and Tram and gaining support of undecided members of clan. She was exhausted after a long day, but anyway she smiled, seeing in doorstep of cave her mate and Black.

But her smile died, as she noticed expression of those two.

“What… what…” she asked with breaking voice.

“They are dead, Rose.” Said Black with mournful tone. “Lake, Snow and Merik.”

She stood up, gently licked all her pups. Then walked outside the cave and stopped on snowdrift on square. There she turned to friends and asked, still not understanding his words.

“But…how?”

“Lake was killed by that blasted Packer, January.” Replied Black. “Humans got Snow. Tenu’s wolves killed Merik.”

In that moment she actually believed it was right. Sending friends on assassination she didn’t even think about possibility of casualties. But then – three of her friends didn’t returned. And that was her fault – if she didn’t send them with mission, they would be there still, jesting together and playing with pups. Rose gave a short cry of pain.

“That… bitch!” she yelled.

Redfurred understood many things in short moment. One of them was the cost of all her plans. She wanted with all heart success of her mate but planning it, she didn’t thought about eventual price. But much more important was the feeling of loss. Rose used to scold and argue with her packmates. Used to, because she understood that should would scold no more on three of them. And that was unbearable. She loved her friends. Lake especially, who was always closest to her, like her little brother she hadn’t. he was always near, sometimes asking for help, sometimes coming with helping paw. But always, always there. And then he was dead.

“No…” she whispered and two tears left her eyes.

“Rose… is that true?” asked Sheik with tensed voice. “Did you ordered them to kill Maya?”

“Yes, I did!” cried redfurred. “It’s all my fault.” Sheik sighed with relief, thinking that his mate regretted her plan. But he couldn’t farther from truth – Rose did regret, but not about the plan, but it’s failure. “My fault! Because of me, they are dead!”

“No, wait!” gasped Sheik. “You must ask Maya for forgiveness.”

“I… must… kill her!” she growled. Black nodded his head.

“No! Stop this madness!” called Sheik. “Black, wake up!” he looked on darkfurred. “You are responsible for Rose’s safety the same as I am. Now we must make sure no one knows it and she is out of suspicions… and eventual charges.”

“There is only one way to make this happened.” Said wolf, smiling with bloodthirsty smile. “To finish the job!”

“No!” yelled Sheik. “You must cover it up!”

“Too late.” Replied darkfurred. “Everyone knows. Tenu, Tan… Teele will soon get to the truth.”

“Stay out of this, darling.” Said Rose. “If something goes wrong… you must take care about pups. Black…” she looked on old friends. “I know how great my fault is… but I must ask you for help again. Will we… finish the job?”

“No, it’s not real…” whispered Sheik.

“We will, sister.” Said blackfurred.

*

Not only Teele had her brains. Tram could think on his behalf too. As soon as he heard about detail of events on north, he went straight to inter-alphess and asked her for protection. Perhaps it was a little biting his male’s pride, but satisfying his reasonable mind.

“It’s your duty to protect me, as future alpha.” Said, looking into eyes of old agent.

“Who knows, if you are future alpha.”

“I am.” Gasped Saba’s son. “I will rule the clan with Maya at my side. Of course, if you fulfil your duties and eliminate the threat.”

“Good…” she said slowly. “I will sent some bodyguards after you, while Tenu is keeping his eye on Maya. But Sheik… I want to know, what he claims, before I would accuse him or Rose.”

“Those are murderers…”

“This is a liar.” Said Rose, entering Teele’s chamber.

Tram wanted to pounce on sister-in-law and make her beg for mercy, but then he noticed Black and Ram, standing at her side, ready to enforce some respect for claimant’s mate. So he just looked on Teele, waiting her to react.

“Good to see you, Rose.” Said intelligence commander. “I was going to ask you few question.”

“I’m listening.” Replied redfurred. “But are you sure that he should hear?”

“You are charged here.” Noticed Tram. “I advise you some carefulness.”

“He is a liar.” Said Rose. “Perhaps it would be indifferent for me, if he took his sister…”

“Cousin!” shouted Tram.

“…his cousin as a mate, they move away and inbreed happily for years somewhere else.” Spat redfurred. “But I thing he is up to kill Maya and rule on own behalf. I have no proof for that, just my words. You must admit that my words are surer that saliva of this coward and liar.”

“I’m not here to judge it.” Said carefully Teele.

“Tram, I challenge you for life and death duel on Fighting Pillar, in five days from now!” she said with decisive voice.

“Cool!” smiled son of Saba.

“She is female.” Noticed intelligence commander. “She will choose a champion to fight in her name.”

“I guess it will be me.” Smiled Black.

“Werk!” cursed Tram and his will to fight reduced significantly.

“That’s only solution, as for we have no proofs.” Decided Teele. “I give you permission on duel, to decide who is talking truth. Who could withdraw, but it will have an impact on eventual judgement as circumstantial evidence against side that gives up.”

“If you consider yourself as a female, you could always find a champion too.” Smiled Rose and turned back. She exited Teele’s chamber, trying to look cheeky and calm. In fact she was silently repeating words of desperate relief. “We have five days! Five days of time!”

*

On the morning January was still running like a mad, indifferent to his location. He was still at the enemy’s territory, but if he accidentally encountered Talbourne patrol, we should had pity for the patrol. Malawolf was ready to tear apart any creature at sight who upset him, ask how he was doing, mention about Maya, war, father or being alpha. However he wasn’t prepared for simple.

“It’s good to see you, Jan.” He stopped and noticed Ian, standing on his way with brownfurred wolfess at his side.

“Ian…” said confused hybrid.

“Are you escaping?” asked scout. “There will be a chase.”

“I… I actually don’t care.” Murmured Steele’s son with confusion. Reasonable words of old friend put him back on the earth and made him think calmly. “And you… are you running away?”

“Who knows?” smiled Ian. “I can’t explain it, but Tenu let us free… Oh…” then scout recalled all the context of situation. “You know already?”

“Yes, I know.” Nodded January. “Although I still don’t know what exactly.”

“Come on, let’s go on the other side.” The entered the iced surface of river. Then malawolf stopped.

“No, wait. I have to check if I could return.”

Before scout managed to ask for details, hybrid gave howl in cipher that knew only two creatures: he and Kaata. It was theirs puppyish play. Silverfurred from her earliest days had unique mind and talents. She was so gifted to secrets and tricks as her father, so she invented a code that she used only to communicate with January. They were sure that no one had broken the cipher before – so many secrets came that way that if Varjo was aware of rules of that code, Kaata would had been smacked up countless times after setting many naughty pranks with Steele’s son.

The reply came quickly. Kaata assure that Aarre was harmless and if January didn’t believe her, she was able to instantly call for twenty soldiers, chosen for no bounds with Uniea clan. Malawolf howled that was not necessary and entered ice.

“Sorry for that.” Said to Ian. “But I have my secrets too. By the way, who is your companion?”

“I’m Flame of Talbourne.” Said brownfurred female. “Ian’s mother.”

“Oh… Nice to meet you, ma’am.” Said wolfdofg and lowered his ears in polite gesture. Then came closer to wolfess and asked he quietly. “Were you aware why all this was started?”

“No and I’m still afraid to ask.” She replied. “But I’ve already left my clan for my son. Maybe I don’t want to know too much.”

“Good thing.” Replied January. “Not know too much. Unfortunately, I have to.”

“Mother… Jan… I will explain you all.” Said Ian, hearing scraps of that talk. “But please, at least let’s enter the safe site.”

Aarre was waiting on the shore. Malawolf noticed Kaata, laying about hundred yards further and nodding her head. Old Uniea was there not to kill him, just to talk. Steele’s son turned to beta-alpha.

“Go ahead. I will join you soon.” Said to Flame and Ian. They nodded and walked further.

January entered frozen beach

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