five miles south from place that was usual outpost of the Pack. In normal conditions on the other bank there should be some Talbourne patrols, watching for possible assault. But January assured his army that all enemies were standing in old place, waiting for support that would never come. Malawolf didn’t intend to meet with Tenu again. Instead of that, he guided his forces via frozen backwaters and entered Talbourne Dominion not harassed by any threat.

Before he went ahead, he came for the last time to Aarre to give last orders and make sure all was going as they had planned. At least at first glance it was. Old Uniea looked on hybrid and asked.

“How long it would take, before they notice.”

“I guess that some time… but be quick, if you are able. We don’t have to risk.” Beta-alpha nodded his head. “And remember – don’t say a word to my mother before I go far enough. Then carry out your orders. I know you will obey all her wishes, but she doesn’t have to know. Right?”

“That is kind of your vengeance, my alpha?”

“No, that’s kind of my thanks. She will understand.”

”If you survive this trip…” murmured commander.

“Cheer up!” smiled January. “Recently you wanted me dead, remember?”

“You have the same sense of humour that your father had.” Said Aarre.

“Let’s assume that was a compliment.” Replied malawolf. “I’m going. We will meet in Home Cave. Until then, take care of my soldiers.”

“It will be done, alpha-alpha.”

*

In fact it took some time before they noticed. Tenu was sure that January would be just a bit late, stopped by some pack’s issues. But those “pack issues” could take a day or two. But three? Maybe January returned to Haven and there announced his leadership. But all heard wolf howls just on the other side of Reindeer Creek. At morning of third day general started to revise his assumptions.

He was a bright wolf, rational to the core and that was his main weakness. If he decided that January had an interest to deal with him, he acted as if that was a irrefutable dogma. But after seventy two hours of waiting mercenary started to doubt in his own infallibility.

“Check the bank.” Ordered lieutenant Kimby. He already regretted that he sent Tan with Maya. Orangefurred was Talbourne, but trusted one. After two years of perfect service he had nothing to do with cry-pup that Tenu remembered from his earlier days.

“Yes sir!” replied Kimby. “I’m going now.”

He was back in just half an hour. And even before that he howled on alarm. He ran to main outpost, to meet Tenu ordering a fall of troops. He was exhausted after long run, so he fell down in front of general.

“Report!” ordered mercenary. “What the hell happened?”

“They… came through… about ten hours ago.”

“WHAT!?” yelled Tenu. But before he fell in rage, he gave the required commands. “Setting off now! Direction: Home Cave. Maximum possible tempo of march in perspective of three days… Ten hours!” called to the sky. “He lied to me!”

“Sir, he actually gave no word.” Noticed Fida. General slapped blackfurred wolfess with his paw. He was too weak to hurt her, but it was obvious that any sign of discontentment was worse torture for female than tearing her fur apart.

“Shut up!” yelled mercenary. “You two go with me. We must run faster and warn the Home Cave. Howl to Home Cave…” commanded to nearest liaison. “Tell them that most likely whole Pack’s army is on the way!”

Of course Packers heard that warning howls and Aarre ordered to speed up. How ironical was that in Home Cave alert gone unnoticed. Simply all wolves there were so wrapped up with boiling conflict inside the clan that they forgot about war with someone outside.

And January just ignored series of communication howls. He was running, guided by Flame and Ian and not thinking about anything. It was so simple – to speed ahead and take no heavy thoughts into mind. He was running away from decisions, and with every step he felt lighter. He was closer and closer to Maya.

*

Steele was looking on it from the sky making no comments. Not that no one would hear him – he would always call for Shade to chat, but in last… days, or whatever was the measure of time in afterworld, dark wolf became rather silent and secretive. And that was not good – after all he was the basis of the plan.

“Hey, Shade!” called Steele. Noticing that his companion was not replying, he moved. In land of dead space matters not, so malamute just focused his will and found himself just in front of dark wolf. But also in front of second immortal. Aniu.

“Shade, what the heck…” Then Steele noticed white wolfess. “Oh, lady Snow-white. What a surprise. May we help you?” asked with irony.

“No, you cannot help it.” Said Aniu with tone of such sureness that Steele felt fear. That’s not common in afterworld.

“Shade, what is going on?”

“I’m so sorry, Steele.” said dark wolf. He stood up from transparent sky-floor and came closer to his mother. “Don’t take it personally… but you know… Alliances change, the family does not.”

“Tip, please!” asked with confused voice.

“I guess you already know.” Said Shade. “I really did want to help you… but I had my own goals from the start. And recently I learned that those could be accomplished in different way. After all, just a heart to heart talk could help.”

“Still no idea.” Murmured Steele. “Don’t you tell me, you give up! So, you mommy beat you?”

“Our long argument wasn’t a zero-sum game. It was a tragedy that hurts us both.” Said Aniu with soft voice. “It took me centuries to understand that… and for my son it took the same. But we finally learned that all we need is to forgive and forget.”

“You don’t say, that you…”

“I wronged my mother.” Said Shade. “I was proud and selfish. And then I gone crazy to do what I did. But I asked her for forgiveness.” Steele’s jaws dropped.

“Shade killed me.” Said Aniu. “But that was I, who hurt him earlier. I inflicted him wounds that no mother has right to. I failed my son as a mother and I finally understood that. And he forgave me.”

“That means… means…”

“Call your son off, Steele.” said Shade. “There is no more reason for him to fight.”

“Do it, Steele.” added Aniu. “If he even think about hurting my sweet great-granddaughter, I… we will kill him!”

For the first time in both his life and afterlife, malamute felt he was really trapped.

 

XIII. Battle, holy Battle

 

Aarre felt unsure, but it was obvious – after all his venture depended on intelligence data not on careful strategic plan. Simple assault to Home Valley was always an option that tempted him, but due to numerous reasons he always postpone that to future. Before that trip he had to be sure that Talbourne military was split, because maybe better trained, but for sure smaller army of the Pack was unable to strike enemy fortress that was fully wolvved. Old commander knew that possibility of catching clan out of garde, with part of forces still on West Bank and some in home was perfect option, making chances greater and casualties of Packer lesser, but still – that all depended on proper judge of January. Aarre trusted his alpha, but was aware that malawolf was in fact very young alpha.

But for two days it was going all smoothly. Scouts reported about pursuing army of Tenu, but although one wolf could move much faster and catch Packers in several hours, whole army, two divisions of almost hundred wolves each could march with certain speed, unable to increase it drastically. And even if general would ordered frenzy run for his soldiers (Aarre knew that hoaryfurred wouldn’t), wolves of the Pack could speed up too. That was a vicious circle – faster Tenu moved, more exhausted and consequently less efficient his wolves would be. Aarre had even an idea to wait for pursue and gave Tenu a real battle. Perhaps Talbourne were on own territory, but attackers had still numerous advantage. Before mercenary joined his forces with defenders of Home Valley, Aarre could dictate the terms. But he was – as January told him – still going ahead, to reach capital of foes quickly. Young alpha-alpha promised them victory without bloodshed.

That was a cheeky declaration and old commander didn’t believed in that. So he was going to do his job. It was a beautiful moment – he was on lead of his troops, doing what he could do the best and wolfess he loved walked by his side. Ea was silent for the last days, still scared about her son. She needed a helping paw, a care of trusted friend. Aarre also in that field performed his duties gladly.

And Uniea… old commander didn’t believe that January was actually ready to fulfil Steele’s last will. Aarre never fully shared dreams of malamute and expected that his son would make an update, changing and cutting the aims to present times. Whatever would emerge from clash of Talbourne and the Pack wouldn’t be neither Talbourne nor the Pack. But Aarre and his old companions believed it would be renovated clan of Uniea. Old clanes or their children were over a half of army and consisted the biggest grexist group in whole Coalition. Many Uniea wolves were marching along with beta-alpha, connected with him by the same dream. That was their sacred battle of resurrection.

“The march of future troopers

It's leading us on stage

It takes us into future

It takes us to new age” seemed to sing wolves of deceased clan.

“Aarre…” Ea whispered to ear of beta-alpha. “You seemed to be so calm… But I can’t stop fear about January…”

“Well, that’s a soldier’s trait.” Replied greyfurred. “We are uneasy, when you – politicians – have your games, but we instantly calm down when the outcome is about to be settled by well known and measurable means of force. January has a soul of soldier. He prefer to do thing my way!” But in fact Aarre couldn’t be more wrong.

*

January was running with Flame and Ian. They easily

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