you had planned, my lord,” he said. “The prisoners are talking among themselves, concerned for their own lives.”

“Very good, Ler, I’ll see you’re rewarded for your vigilance. Well done,” said Lord Shadow, nodding in the darkness of his cave. “Now leave me. I wish to be alone.”

“Yes, my lord, of course.”

Once Ler had left, Lord Shadow gave a private smile.

 

 

At the same time, an aged silver wolf lay sleeping in her earthen den when Cedar burst in, accompanied by a brown wolf with a tan patch over his left eye, one of the border guards. She woke with a start.

“Cedar, haven’t I- What in Aniu’s name happened to you?”

“He’s just run from the furthest extent of the patrol, my lady,” said the border guard. “He must catch his breath.”

“The patrol? Where’s Gail? Where are the rest of them?”

Cedar, having finally regained his breath, barely managed to remain standing.

“We were attacked!” he gasped. “They came at us from every angle. Five of them went after Gail alone. We couldn’t reach him! Forgive me my eva, forgive me.”

“Cedar, please calm down and tell me who attacked you.”

“Wolves of the Ice Mountain pack, my eva,” he panted, collapsing before her.

Daciana leapt up and put an ear to his chest.

“The poor dear’s passed out from exhaustion,” she said, turning to the border guard. “Bertolf, as captain of our guard, I trust you and you alone with this: We must prepare for war.”

“War, my eva?”

“Yes, Bertolf. Gather the warriors quietly, so as not to alarm anyone, and breathe not a word of this conversation.”

“Yes, my eva.”

Just then, a howl filled the air, echoing from beyond their borders.

Bertolf inclined his ears.

“It’s- It’s a declaration of war, Daciana!” he gasped, looking in the direction of the howl. “The Ice Mountain wolves claim they foiled an attack made by our warriors on your order.”

“I gave no such order.”

Bertolf turned to her.

“My eva, we must attack.”

            “Bertolf, I will not let this war consume us.”

            “Then we must act now before they have a chance to strike at us!”

            Daciana turned away and paced around her cave. Finally, she stopped and without turning her head said,

            “I hereby give permission for an attack on the Ice Mountain pack.”

            She sighed.

            Bertolf nodded.

            “It will be done, my eva,” he said.

            But as he turned to leave, Daciana turned her head toward him.

            “Bertolf-”

            He stopped and looked back.

            “Do what you have to; end this war before it starts.”

            Bertolf nodded and left.

            Daciana sighed again and looked at Cedar.

 

 

            Yet even as the Eir clan warriors set out for Ice Mountain territory, a small band of wolves made its way stealthily thru the forest beyond their range of sight or smell, following a thin trail of blood…

 

 

Chapter Five

 

The leader of them raised his head and howled his warriors forward. They burst from the tree line and ran toward the den as fast as their legs would carry them.

            They never made it to the other side of the clearing.

            Suddenly, wolves came at them from every direction, even from behind. The leader reared back and rallied his warriors in a circle, but before they could form together, their attackers were on them. They fought bravely, and in dying took many of their foes with them. Only their leader remained, his brown fur stained with blood. Three times the circle closed around him and three times they were driven back by his fangs, but on the fourth time, two leapt at him and tore at his throat. He cried out in agony, but his eyes filled with rage.

He had a tan patch around one eye.

            “Lesals! Traitors! Murdereeeeeers!”

            Balto shot awake in the middle of the night, breathing hard and covered in a cold sweat. He glanced at Jenna, snuggled comfortably against him and laid his head back down. Though the nightmares had been getting steadily worse, he wondered if he should tell Jenna. Maybe she could explain them. After all, hadn’t she always entrusted him with her secret fears and looked to him for consolation?

            This is silly, he thought. There’s no reason to worry her with this. Not now.

            Yet even as he closed his eyes to sleep again, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he knew the murdered leader from his dream.

           

 

            Little did he know that hundreds of miles away, another had had the very same dream. But rather than dismiss the dream, she planned to act on it, and woke her pack to begin their trek…

 

 

            Balto and Jenna listened anxiously as Cloud Runner briefed Desai.

            “The Ice Mountain pack has declared war on the Eir clan, and I fear this war will envelope us as well, sooner or later.” She turned to Balto and Jenna. “Our territory is no longer safe for you, my dear friends. You must return to Nome; I’ll send a security detail with you.”

            “Isn’t there some way we can help you?” Jenna asked.

            “You can help me by getting out of harm’s way. Please…” She turned to Desai. “Gather three of your best and direct them toward Nome.”

Just then, one of the border wolves padded slowly up to Cloud Runner and whispered something in her ear. Her eyes betrayed her surprise, as did her voice.

“When? Are you certain?” she gasped.

The sentry nodded gravely.

By this time, everyone’s attention had turned to him and Cloud Runner.

“What’s wrong?” Jenna said.

Cloud Runner swallowed hard.

“Come with me, everyone.”

 

There were no dry eyes as the members of Cloud Runner’s pack gathered around the body of an aged white wolf. Echo had passed on to the next life.

“It’s a bad omen,” someone said. “For him to die with a war so soon…”

“Everything happens for a reason,” Cloud Runner reminded the rest. “It was meant to happen.” She turned to her mate. “Desai, if you would, please make sure that Balto and Jenna have their escorts.”

“Cloud, we don’t need escorts,” Jenna insisted. “We could follow the sled team trails far from here.”

“I won’t take that risk.”

Jenna started to protest, but Cloud Runner sensed it.

“I have already lost a friend this day, and I will not loose you two!”

Jenna sighed and nodded.

By then, Desai had returned with three strong wolves, and Cloud Runner signaled them in the direction of Nome. They stepped into a protective triangle around Balto and Jenna, and set off.

As they walked away, Cloud Runner felt the wind whip her fur, and she whispered a prayer as she shed a few silent tears for Echo.

 

 

Slowly, Cedar rose from the cloud of unconsciousness that enveloped him. He blinked his blurred vision away and shook his head. Daciana sat in front of him.

“Your information was helpful, Cedar,” she said. “We’re taking action against the Ice Mountain wolves right now.”

“Then I should be with them!” Cedar said. “I can’t let Gail’s death go unpunished!”

“Shh! Be still. You need your strength,” she soothed. “You’ll stay here with the rest of the security detail.”

“Is Sadera still here?”

“Yes, I asked her to stay behind as well.” The old eva sighed. “Now rest.”

“As you wish,” Cedar said softly, standing up and padding out into the woods, where he found Sadera.

“Cedar, it’s good to see you again,” she said warmly, “I’m glad you’re alright.”

            Cedar nodded, barely acknowledging what she’d said.

            “I’m sorry about Gail,” she whispered, “I know his leadership meant a lot to you.”

            “It wasn’t just that he led me, he was my friend,” Cedar replied, shaking his head. “He cared for me.”

            Sadera felt her heart sink as she eyed the young wolf, and she thought of her sister Vella and her pack.

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