wolves took that news quite well.

“They are tired too.” Said Steele, looking on the scene below. It was sunny, January day - frosty yet clear. About midday, just after his son ordered his Pack cease to exist. “They were living for four long years in something… odd. The same odd as was Talbourne.”

“I see.” Replied Maya. “Now I see it clearly. I’m glad that you two succeeded – you and January.”

“With such an assist he was bound to win.”

He saw tears in her eyes and hugged dead wolfess. Of course those were not actual tears. Of course that hug was not what we could name like that. In sky-world all is different, but somehow similar. Steele tried to comfort Maya.

“Look, I know that…”

“No, it’s not about me.” She sobbed. “I’m just happy. Happy that all ended good and all live happily…”

“Except of those who died.” Noticed malamute.

“Yes, but it’s a price I would pay again and again.” She added. “It all is going in good direction. Surely not to utopia, surely it won’t be ideal, but if world someday was perfect? Now I know that our… and nature’s way if in the end much better than dreams of Aniu and Tenu.”

“Sure.” Smiled Steele. “Look, they downthere seem to be rather satisfied.”

*

In case of the Pack it all went smoothly. Because coalition was already divided into packs, wolves just joined their families and started to walk away. Soon on the square in front of Main Haven Cave stayed just small group of those who were meant to live near Yu Range. And some creatures most dear to January.

“Your speech was so touching, that I really regret it was the last one.” Said Kaata and laughed with her cheeky laughter.

She came to January and gave him a short kiss in his lips. Quickly after events in Home Valley silverfurred became old Kaata – her charming insolence and black sense of humour returned. All her fears died with Maya – she had no longer a rival and in the same time she had clear conscience. After all she stepped down, seeing as January really loved Maya. Brownfurred’s death wasn’t a tragedy for silverfurred, but as Kaata thought – God witness! – she should hadn’t died, if she wanted to be with January.

“I still feel strange, keeping the Pack’s cave.” Murmured malawolf. “That could be taken as a sign I’m still a ruler of some kind. We should have gone from here, leaving it free.”

“Leave it, if you wish, comrade.” Replied Kaata. “I’m staying here.”

“I wonder what would you do, if I really went away.” Murmured hybrid.

“I don’t know… maybe biting your tendons to keep you in place?” She laughed.

Then Ea and Aarre came. Together with heavy dose of shyness, as if they were two years juveniles. They stopped in front of hybrid.

“Oh, mom…” said January. “Kaata still wished to stay here. Perhaps she is right, because our pack will be rather big. With Varjo and Toma…”

“Son… are you looking for two betas?”

“Mom, of course…” started Beech Pack’s alpha then looked on Aarre. “Two?”

“Well…” she turned her stare into the ground. But her son looked on Aarre and smile.

“That was what we planned before. Aarre, this is my vengeance.” And two wolves burst with airy laughter, recalling their talk on East Bank just few weeks earlier.

“I’m not sure what they are up to.” Said Kaata. “But I guess they laughing at you.”

“Let them laugh.” Replied Ea. “Do not analyse. The war is over and you could stop to be intelligence-agent.”

“And what I should become?” asked silvefurred.

“It would be extremely embarrassing, if I gave January siblings, before you gave him children.” Noticed Ea.

“That’s kind of blackmail, I could be subjected willingly.” Smiled Kaata.

Ea stopped Aarre giggling by kissing him. Then she looked east where some Uniea wolves are going in Yukon direction. No, wrong – those were not <some> Uniea wolves, but all of them. Uniea Pack that Kova revived (her son was an alpha, but she kept the power in fact) consisted just twenty jaws and that was perfect number for an ancient family. Uniea Clan was lost and already mourned. The Uniea Pack was alive and will be, I guess as long as there are wolves and forests in Alaska.

Rest of day Beeches spent on saying goodbye to various pack that were leaving Haven. None of wolves of those families was longer subdued to January, but due to old sentiment, all former members of Defensive Coalition just for one time wanted to bow before old leader.

January was watching his former subordinates with care, checking if forming of packs was going smoothly. Of course, they were some tensions, alpha-duels, but just in case malawolf kept two combat packs of mist trusted soldiers to appease any conflicts. It was no longer his concern and those two units were freelancers (were they?), but malawolf knew that nothing was so hard to plan and run as spontaneous and enthusiastic events. Dissolving the Pack was no different.

Of course January – after advises of mother, Varjo, Kaata and Aarre – kept some emergency procedures. For one year Pack’s military was to be ready to came to Haven on January’s call. Just in case if some overambitious member of late Talbourne clan would try to rebuild power of dissolved organisation. However January was almost sure it wouldn’t happen. Nature took her turn and life of Alaskan wolves seemed to returning to traditional path.

January hoped Nature took. Not because he was sure it was the best way, but he knew that was what his father wished.

Ian, Flame and Toima came to say goodbye, but it was just a symbolical one. <Frosty Pack>, named that after <Frosty Pass>, as kind of humoristic memento for Ian, consisted of whole scout’s family with brownfurred as an alpha and Toima as an alpha female. They wanted to take some cavern about ten miles north from Haven, to stay in neighbourly terms with Beeches.

“I guess it can’t be helped.” Judged Ian. “The Pack will be some kind of unity for some time. We will visit each other, support each other… but until it is accompanied by some authority over, I guess it’s all ok.”

“He made some buddies even on Talbourne side.” Laughed Kaata, looking on malawolf, but then stopped, somehow scared not to pull a nerve. “Sorry…”

“Never mind.” snorted January. “Have a good trip… whatever short it is. See you!” He looked on his mate, mother and new gained step-father. “Are you going?”

They all turned to Main Haven Cave that then become just a Beech Cave. Perhaps as it was almost empty, without hundreds of Pack’s wolves it could seem a bit scary, but in fact January considered it as more comfortable then.

*

“Sweet endings.” Murmured Steele. “Few more kisses and I’m gonna puke!”

“Due to place where we are, you should be extremely careful.” Said Maya and they both burst in laughter.

“Holy smokes!” smiled malamute. “I like your talks. You would fit my family perfectly… or maybe you will? After all, when January mated with Kaata, you are still available.” added malamute.

“We are dead, Steele.” replied Maya. “Just in case you haven’t noticed…”

“Well, yes, but for some time we will be here, in-between the Sky and the Earth.” He looked down. “Listen… I really appreciate that you are with me here, helping me out… But you know – if you are really missing your kins, you could go higher… to meet them.”

“No way!” smiled wolfess. “I mean, I miss them… but they won’t escape. We will all meet in few years. And meanwhile I could watch January, help him and protect him. That is what I want. I guess that is also why you are here too. Am I right?”

“Sure, I still have to rear that lad.” Laughed malamute. “But see… there are also some other reasons we are put here in charge. You know… previous arbiters of the sky took a holidays. A short - not longer than few centuries - holidays to make up for lost time. To again say <sorry> and explain all misunderstandings.” He looked up.

There, many miles upper, maybe so high that no earthly measure could express that distance, on the highest firmament were lying two wolves – mother and son. They were nestled to each other, talking quietly, perhaps she was singing a lullaby to her pup. Both parent and child were centuries old but mother will always be the mother and son will always be the son. Some things would never change.

After a long and completely useless argument, Aniu and Shadow were loving family once again.

The End

 

Taka_PL - November 2007/February 2008

All characters are protected with copyright and belong to their creators

Original Balto Trilogy characters (just Steele?) belong(s) to Universal Studio

Characters taken from “RTW Saga” belong to Anthony Rotramel

All new characters belong to Taka_PL

 

Additional Notes:

Motto of the story is taken from Nicolas Gomez Davila (1913-1994)

Inner text quotes are taken from Josef Maria Klumb’s lyrics “Adoration to Europa” (ch I.) and  “Bellum, sacrum Bellum” (ch. XIII)  performed by Von Thronstahl. “Bellum, sacrum Bellum” excerpt is rough translation of German lyrics made by author. Original text is as follows.

 

„…Bellum sacrum bellum…

Die Truppen von morgen

Sie geben uns Geleit

Marschieren auf die Zukunft

In eine neue Zeit.“

Sorry for poor translation – I’m poor German-speaker.

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