was why he simply walked among gathered wolves, paying limited attention of Rose’s drama and came to Maya. As soon he toughed her, similar effects affected her. Those two withdrew from ledge, leaving visual phantom of brownfurred.

“Where we’re going?” asked Maya, still confused with so many improbable events.

“Far from those madwolves.” Replied January. “Just… follow me, right?”

She followed, asking no more questions and tempering her curiosity. But when they reached the Fighting Pillar, she smiled in mind, slowly understanding, what he was about to do. “He will announce himself Talbourne Alpha.” She cried in mind, barely repressing joy. “And then we become mates!”

Path up was a serpentine, coming on sides of pillar. Those seven coils took them up to snowed roof of rock. There instantly magic coats disappeared – after all Steele had to save his strength for harder battle. Maya could see January, who came to edge of pillar. She came after him and kissed him passionately. However she sensed as his muzzle was tensed.

“Maya…” he said with soft voice. “Whatever would happen, be aware that I love you. I love you as no one on this world. Remember it. And know, that I will forgive you everything.”

“Jan, what you are talking about?” she asked with confused tone. “We will be together, right?”

“Maya, please, announce you are taking over your clan.”

“But Jan… shouldn’t we do it together.”

“No, it must be that way.” He said and two tears escaped his eyes. “Maya, I’m so sorry it came to this!”

*

Shade and Aniu were looking on scene with confusion. Finally white-furred wolfess turned to Steele and said with calm voice.

“Thank you with saving Maya again… But believe me, we would deal with it ourselves. My son and me. Why did you do it?”

“Soon, you will see.” Replied dog. He gently crouched down, being ready to pounce on Shade. “Let’s the party started!”

 

XIV. Apoliteia (Of Puppets and Puppeteers – reprise and also “How to gain and lose Empire in weekend: Handbook for dummies.”)

 

Chaos is usually beautiful, but most creatures who are in chaos have much too much on their heads to marvel at it. Those creatures usually are desperately fighting to stay alive and thus all beauty of the unpredictable escapes them. But sometimes chaos manifests itself in such amazing way that it has a power to freeze all life in admire.

Tram chose five soldiers he knew of being skilled. He didn’t remember their names, just recalled they were serving in First Unit in old times when his father Everest was sergeant there and later was in Alpha’s Own Guard, when Saba was on lead of whole clan. Those picked wolves didn’t protest, however they seemed not to be very avid to fight against Stardusters.

“Sir.” Said silverfurred male, who’s mane was – if Tram recalled right – Brian. “Just… let us do our job. Stay in centre of line and do not charge before we do.”

“Yeah, sure.” Smiled Tram, who had no will to step before the rank.

They formed a line and stopped against Stradusters. Pack ordered in strange formation, where Rose was behind arc of friends. But seeing her, Brian felt some uneasiness – it seemed that accused group knew how to fight. Rose was not shielded, but simply put back to pounce behind the enemy’s line. Perhaps it was a suicidal plan to win the fight, to order fragile female attack in the hardest charge, but Brian learned that Stardusters didn’t want to win the fight. They wanted just to kill Tram.

“Sir, take cover!” called Talbourne and in the same moment two lines of combatants clashed.

Tram was pushed back by Black and Rose fell on them, aiming on his nape. Those two rolled aside and stronger, yet completely surprised male was being chocked by desperate female.

“Mom!” called Max and started a scared howl with his two sisters.

Presence of pup was noticed and wolves, who just moment before wanted Rose dead, then reconsidered their cheers. After all lost of Stardusters meant a family tragedy. Then stares came down to Sheik, who was running to Teele.

“Stop it! I order you to stop it!” yelled Aleu’s son.

“Sorry, boy.” Replied inter-alphess. “But it’s the law.”

“Screw the law!” growled Sheik and jumped ahead to assist his mate. He was stopped by two scouts. “Let me go, God dammit!” he yelled. “Can’t you see they kill her?”

Istana thought just a time of blinking eye and stepped back. “Sir, I could help you to stop them.” she said.

But in fact Rose was going quite well. She pressed Tram to the ground, locked her jaws on his nape and clenched them. Saba’s son tensed his muscles and prevented sister-in-law from killing him in one blow, but just for time. He got weaker and weaker with every second and he would be most likely done for, if not Brian’s relief.

Soldier ran to Rose, grabbed fur of her back and in one decisive move tore her away from Tram. She flew back, holding a patch of male’s fur in her jaws, fell on the snow and slid farther on slippery snow. And then chaos broke out.

Rose slid into Maya. And in the same moment silhouette of brownfurred disappeared, leaving just a cloud of snow and confused redfurred in that place. Deathmatch instantly died, as combatants turned their stared to spot where just seconds earlier had been hostage. And then was no hostage.

Black was rational wolf and thinking what exactly happened there was beyond his reach. But he instantly calculated what meant loss of prisoner. He turned to his packmates and yelled with ultimate despair the only command he could give.

“ALL PAWS ON DECK! GET TRAM!”

All six of Stardusters – because Rose stood up too – rushed on Tram. Wolf hadn’t manage even budge, before wave of enemies deluged him, pressing down and pinning into the snow. Brian and his companions jumped just after, but Saba’s son was already trapped.

“No!” gasped Sheik.

“NO!” called a voice from the Fighting Pillar. It was so decisive that everyone stopped. Even Stardusters, just tearing Tram’s fur apart. Above gathered Talbourne felt dead silence. “Stop it.” Added Maya.

She was standing on the edge of pillar, looking on clan in front of her. The plateau of pillar was almost at the same altitude that main ledge of Main Cave, but brownfurred was looking with so unhesitating self-assurance that it seemed she was miles above. Her voice was chilling to the bone in such amazing way that many didn’t recognise young, charming girl they knew before.

“As the new alpha of Talbourne Clan I forbid you to fight! Step aside now!”

Rose seemed to indifferent to that charm, but Black nodded to her with clear instruction of obedience. The situation got dire, so darkfurred was looking for any chance to shun the death. He, Stardusters and Tram’s soldiers stepped back. Only Tram himself stayed on the snow. He was severely wounded, but loud moans he gave assured the audience he was still alive.

“Somebody help my cousin!” ordered Maya. Then she looked back on January standing just behind her.

“Good.” Malawolf nodded his head. “Now, again announce you are the leader of your clan.”

“As you wish, my love.” Replied wolfess with soft voice. The difference between her commands give to Talbourne and sad tone she was speaking with hybrid was stunning. Thankfully no one heard that and no one asked why was that way.

“Wolves of Talbourne.” Called Maya. “Being asked for it by Shadow, my uncle and previous alpha of the clan, I taking an office of alpha. I’m not asking you, what you think about it, I just do it, to save our clan from war and split. If anyone has anything against, I’m waiting for the official challenge.”

In Home Valley silence broke out. Over seven hundreds of wolves were looking on new-acclaimed leader with no response. Of course no one dared to reply. Rose wanted to, but decisive stare of Black stopped her. Sheik also wanted to react, but he simply couldn’t pressed by pangs of consciences and fear about Rose’s fate. Tram wished to say something too, but pain was keeping him silent, or allowing just to cry quietly. But there sounded one voice.

“I challenge you.” Said January, putting all his might to utter it calmly.

Maya turned to him and looked deep into his eyes. She was in tears already, what wolves downthere couldn’t see, but malawolf watched just in front of him. She was breaching fast, gathering her strength to reply. Moment lasted long seconds, making hybrid almost to cry too.

“Why… January?” She asked simply.

“I’m so sorry…” said Steele’s son. “But fortunately I will be punished for that soon. Maya… I love you and I know what must be done. Just do it and know I understand you have to.”

“Jan…” she whispered, stepping aside, away from the edge. “What are you talking about… I’m the alpha! Don’t you understand? Talbourne is under power of wolfess who loves you… I won’t let Tenu nor anyone to hurt your friends and family.”

“Are you sure?” smiled malawolf. “Aniu will be here in moment.”

“Aniu…” uttered brownfurred and then she saw her. “ANIU!” she bowed her head.

“Yes, my child.” The voice of immortal sounded not in the air, but in mind of wolfess. In the same time it sounded also in head of January. But malawolf made no gesture suggesting a respect or fear. “That is me.”

“Aniu… I’m your loyal servant and follower.” Whispered Maya. “I will lead your clan according to teachings you left us… But I’m begging you to forgive and spare family of my future mate. I love January and I don’t want him to suffer… nor to suffer any of his friends.”

“My child.” Said white wolfess, coming to her great granddaughter. She stopped before her and snow, that was gently falling from the sky started to falling through her body, discretely reminding that guest was out of this world. “January is son of Steele, who killed your father. I don’t hold any grudge against him, and you shouldn’t hold too. But he and his pack are danger for our

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