Reindeer Creek before them. All Stardust packers were there and although no one was hurrying them, all were giving their best to be fast.

“So good that Rose sent Sheik to slow them down.” Panted Lake to Snow, running next to them. “That way we will outrun them and have some time to prepare an ambush.”

*

Kova set her troops in forest, hidden on the edge. From exercises they made day earlier on near frozen lake, they know that rescue team was able to get to January in just twenty seconds. But future alpha had to survive those twenty seconds and that was keeping commander in constant fear.

“He is coming!” whispered wolfess, looking on January, entering the ice.

It was a dusk and snow started to fall slowly. It wasn’t so cold, but Kova preferred that it was fifty minus, but visibility was better. Future alpha was about to almost disappear into grey clouds of fall.

“We should halt the action.” Snorted Kova.

“Come on, boss.” Murmured Viiv – sergeant of her unit. “It’s all set up…”

“I sense an ambush too.” Nodded alpha-beta.

“No, I meant it all was set up… settled with Talbourne. That Maya is already here. Scouts saw her.”

“I really don’t like it.”

Meanwhile January was marching on snowed ice to the middle of river. In surface was even indicated the point of middle, accepted by both sides (Packers and Clanners spent about two days in measuring it and arguing that the other’s measure is farther, but finally the compromise was accepted). He stopped before that place, marked with gently cracked ice – enough to show where was the axis mundi, but still much too delicate to endanger two wolves on ice. However if all the forces from both sides would have entered the layer, it could broke. Kova was shivering, thinking about that.

She came out of nowhere. Simply emerged from clouds of falling snow, almost indiffering from the aura. Her light brown fur and blue eyes seemed to be made of snow itself, but not of its coldness but softness. Her steps were gently and carefully, that January could have thought that innocent creature simply can’t have anything to do with any plot.

January could have thought about beauty of newcomer, but he didn’t. He was too confused to do that.

“I am January, son of Steele and Ea. Speaker of the Pack.” He said uncertainly. “And you are…”

“Maya, daughter of Dash and June, heir of Shadow and Aleu.” She said what Tenu told her to stress. “It’s nice to meet you, sir January.”

“You…” gasped malawolf. “You will be Talbourne alpha?”

“You sound disappointment.” Said beautiful wolfess. “I’m sorry to miss your expectations.”

“I’m delighted to meet you.” Said January and came closer. He lowered his ears, but being careful to show not submission, but just respect towards female. Then he bended down his head and licked her paw. More snow dimmed the scene around. “But… are you able to negotiate the fate of prisoners?”

“I’m.” she said. “You must believe me, as I believe you. But of course I recognised the son of famous Steele…” she tried to say that calmly, but some tones of tension left her lips. After all Steele was the enemy. Steele’s soldiers killed her father. January noticed that.

“I’m sorry to meet your expectations.” Said coldly.

“I didn’t mean it… just… Let’s go on walk.”

A bit surprised malawolf turned right and took a lead, guiding his negotiation partner. He sensed that Maya was totally lost and is trying to play on time or to give him initiative. So he tried to carry on the talk.

“The weather isn’t the best… I mean, I like it, but my companions from my shore are a bit nervous.”

“Yes…” nodded Maya. “My friends probably can’t see me too. So I hope you don’t plan to kill me.”

“We are not on battlefield.” Replied January and she smiled. But then she learned that sentence could be read on more than one way. “So… I could say that all five prisoners are alive. No permanent injuries, although I must say they are bruised.”

“You were so interested in fate of prisoners yourself?” asked Maya with friendly curiosity.

“Well… actually that was I, who bruised two of them.” Confessed malawolf. “We haven’t POWs before. Just we had to get some when I heard that Ian was caught…”

“That’s your friend?” she asked. He stopped and looked in her eyes. “Come on, I guess that’s a not classified subject.”

“Perhaps it is.” Said January. “If you know how much I care about Ian, you could bid the price…” Then he sighed. “I could say a friend, but actually he’s like a brother to me. We grew up together.”

“He’s an orphan?” she asked.

“It’s a bit more complicated.” Replied Packer. “Just… my mother loves him as if he were her son. Only that’s why she agreed on that trade… But let’s back to the meeting point. I guess they are mad on us already.”

Maya smiled and went after malawolf. He slowed down and matched with her, to shield her from wind. Even without knowing it, two young canines moved closer, gently touching each other’s side. They were going for few minutes in silence.

“So…” she started. “You will be an alpha of the Pack?”

“For a while.” He replied. “When the war is over and your clan prevailed, we will dissolve as the Pack. From then on there will be no leader, except of packs alphas…”

“You are so strange…” she whispered. “You oppose our beautiful dream with so high spirit. What makes you so hostile towards the Path of Aniu?”

“I guess that both: the path and Aniu.” Replied January. “But I think we shouldn’t talk about politics. You know… we will exchange prisoners and say goodbye and then we could even meet on battlefield and…”

“I don’t want to fight with you.” Said Maya forcefully. “I will became an alpha and thanks to that I will make a peace with you. Will you help me?”

“I wish to… but… Maya…” he replied automatically. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean…”

“It’s all right.” She said. “Call me Maya. All right, January?”

“Yeah, great…” smiled malawolf. “But I wanted to say that first of all we should settle down that hostile trade, right?” she nodded her head. “Are you ready to go and see prisoners, or I should go with you first.”

“Oh…” Maya hoped that moment would come not so fast. “Actually your friend is not here… but in Home Cave.” He was silent for a while, then answered.

“So… that way we will make just partial exchange – two prisoners before and three after we see Ian.”

Maya should have told: “Three before and two after.” But she replied just: “As you wish, January.”

“Christ sake!” gasped malawolf. “Won’t you negotiate about that? How the hell you conquered whole peninsula with such naivety!”

“Maybe it wasn’t a conquest.” Said Maya. “Today we’ve made a first step. I believe that soon we learn that not so much is dividing us.”

“Right.” Nodded January. “Enough for today. It was nice anyway… So until tomorrow…” He again bended down and licked her paw.

“Have a peaceful night.” She said and turned to her bank.

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