the wolf of black fur, lying on flat floor of chamber. Malamute learned that room had no actual floor – on the ground he sensed glass-like plate, under which the world of living could be seen. He was straight above valley where he had fallen a moment earlier.

“Nice view!” smiled dog. “I bet that rent is terrible.”

“If I were two-legged, I would clap at you.” Snorted wolf. “But I’m walking on four paws. However your ending was touching… But this changes very little. You are dead!”

“I noticed that.” Replied Steele.

“So how suppose we are going to finish our plan?” yelled darkwolf.

“They will take care for that.” Said Steele, pointing down, more on east. Haven wasn’t visible from that perspective, however Shade well knew what malamute meant. After all he discretely helped the Pack to settle that fortress.

“Your family was to be our last resort!” called angry wolf. “They could fail us…”

“They will do what we failed.” Interrupted Steele. “Whatever is sounds, I sacrificed myself only to make their way easier. I trust them.”

“How touchy!” murmured Shade. “So all our plan is simply postponed?”

“You waited thousands of years to settle your argument with mother. Wait just few years more.” Advised Steele. “And meanwhile, make some focus on Haven. I want to see if they are all right.

*

January was eight months old. He was sleeping in main complex of Haven Cave, already in own chamber. Just next to was Ea’s and Steele’s room and both those chambers were strictly separated from main cave where Pack had first quarter. It was part of chief’s family. Of royal family, whom no one allowed to call royal. King forbade.

January was lying in deep slumber, but suddenly he opened his eyes in unclear impulse.

“Father?” he whispered into night. No one replied him, but chief’s son felt that something terrible had just happened.

 

I. War, sweet War

<two years later>

 

January exited the cave just after he woke up. However the time was late anyway – young wolfdog wasn’t especially lazy creature, but lack of duties allowed him to rest much longer than he used to. He knew that state was just temporally, so he was using maybe the last opportunity for adolescent idleness. In just few weeks, maybe even few days, he was about to be introduce as a mature member of the Pack.

It could sound strange, but after knowing Pack’s fresh, but strict rituals, it gained much sense. January was almost three years old wolfdog, whose appearance was a perfect mix between malamute father and greywolf mother. His constitution was wolfish in almost every way – long, thin paws, muscular, yet shapely body resembles line of his forest ancestors. But head of creature was marked with father’s genies – a bit too heavy (in wolves standards) muzzle and very pointed ears was accompanied with pair of blue eyes – odd view as for wild’s resident. Also fur of young canine was mostly black with inner coat of white, giving in result mix very unusual as for giant gathering of wolves there.

So adolescent hybrid already finished teachings that mother, Varjo and Aarre gave him. Most of his contemporaries were already involved in duties of the Pack. But Aarre – as his tutor and carer decided to a stretch a bit future leader’s youth. He aimed for particular time, to introduce January as Packmember as soon as Haven are reached by news of Shadow’s death. Old Talbourne leader was about to pass and Pack beta-alpha wanted to make a real spectacle with showing how winds of History blow.

“The hidden movers frown

our holy banners fly

Watching their stars go down

Our sun is rising high” he repeated, answering on January’s questions. Of course he meant setting Talbourne clan and raising power of the Pack. Whatever poetical it looked, it also was set to have serious ideological impact – when old and corrupted Empire of late Aleu was grieving its chief, the new leader was coming in father’s pawprints on the other side of mountains.

With introducing January as a mature Packmember he should become also alpha-alpha as his father once. That meant also unofficial “regency” of Ea and Aarre ends then. Ceremony was set on winter solstice – what was also a symbol for careful watchers. That day was a victory of the sun, from then on day was prevailing the night with raising higher and higher. Ea was gifted in such ideological matters. Mate of once and mother of future alpha-alpha took her duties to family line very serious.

And she made most of court to help her.

“Sir!” called Kaata – young, silverfurred and blue-eyed wolfess of January’s assist. “What woke you up so early?” she added with irony.

She was member of “Family Pack” – kind of unnamed court of leader. Ea and her son were officially living only with that family – group of closest advisors of Steele and regentess. However Kaata – most likely as a daughter of intelligence-commander – was in the same time companion of future chief. She was January’s pup-playing-mate, but later she become actual adjutant of wolfdog. And simply friend.

“And what I’ve done to deserve for your sweetest shots?” he asked.

He came closer and licked silverfurred’s cheek. She laughed, stepped back then playfully kick the snow, sending a portion directly on January’s forehead. Instinctively wolfdog snapped his jaw in her direction, of course without intention to hit her. She laughed again.

“Late waking doesn’t improve your reflex.”

“Early waking doesn’t improve your manners.” Noticed January. “So, what’s up today?”

“Oh, nothing.” She started to walk downhill, to Pack’s main meeting place on slope-clearing. “My father is praying to all ancestors he know, for Shadow to die before solstice. He hopes that old rascal would give you a gift on presentation. By the way, let’s go to him. He has a briefing for you.”

The day was a sunny one. Rays of daylight were reflecting on layer of snow, making wolves to squint their eyes. It was almost midday, so Pack was fully awaken and in middle of daily duties. Well designed machinery of wolves community was working perfectly. Soldiers were training, hunters were transporting freshly killed games – as far as January knew, the Pack was mirroring most of Talbourne traits – so huge gathering of creatures (over five hundreds that winter) was able to run only with hated ways of enemies. “But we are living in this unnatural state, only restore the proper order.” Thought wolfdog, passing by the group of practising soldiers under Kova’s command. Brownfurred alpha-beta nodded with greeting and young hybrid replied with the same gesture. “We will destroy Talbourne, as father planned. Then there will be no clans on Alaska, just packs, as it should be.”

“Hey, what are sublimed thoughts are keeping your head, my lord?” asked Kaata with sneering tone of voice. “Some chief’s matters, I guess. Maybe matrimonial? Are you thinking about some well connected marriage? I heard that Dash’s daughter of Talbourne is still available.”

“Very funny.” Snorted January. “You are speaking almost like my mother. She is thinking as we were actual clan and my power would be eternal. But we are running whole this thing to break any clan-organisation and let no authority bind our kind with unnatural bounds. By the way…” he added quieter, with half-ironic smile. “If we won with Talbourne tomorrow and the Pack dissolved, I guess you would be my mate, as only available female in my pack. Speak about marriage.”

“I just can’t wait for that, my love.” Replied wolfess with laughter. However some careful observer could noticed that airy and jesting reply was not so airy and jesting as it was intended to sound. Kaata was betrayed by few small gestures – quick eye-flash, raising ears for a second and defensive turning her stare to the ground. Deep in her heart she actually wanted it badly, however she had no courage to admit it, even silently – her mind.

“Don’t panic.” Snorted January. “Our war, sweet war is about to be waged for some time. Until that both you and that Talbourne princess are safe.”

They went to small cave on Haven’s slope. It was a quarter for so called RAIA – Reconnaissance and Intelligence Agency. Steele hated so artificial name, but after his death the new habit prevailed and recon unit was started to be called like that. For almost four years of Pack’s history that organisation was lead by its creator – Varjo. Old wolf looked similar to his daughter – he had the same silver coat and similar – yet very virile and scary looking muzzle features. In his character he also seemed to be real Kaata’s parent, because under appearances of warrior he was hiding trickster’s mind and black sense of humour. He was one of closest advisors of Ea, in actual hierarchy of pack second only to Aarre. That day he was leading a briefing for his leaderess, future chief and Pack marshal. There were also Apu and Tulo – two members of January’s personal security.

“Good day, mom, good day, alpha, good day you all.” Said wolfdog, entering the cave.

He came to Ea. She was still young female of stunning beauty – her snow-white fur was smooth as ice and deep blue eyes looking on word with tone of intelligence and softness. However five years old wolfess was hiding inside mind of responsible leader, who was – in rate that her sex allowed her – silently guiding future empire of her son. When Steele took her as a mate, she was just poor girl, orphaned and separated from her family pack, lost in cruel world, passionately loving her saviour and benefactor. But for three years of her “rule” – first by side of malamute, then as mother of future leader – she learned the ways of life and ways of war. Aarre had to admit that she kept much more power that she should simply as mother of Steele’s son.

Pack’s marshal – but was called rather: beta-alpha – was seven years old light greyfurred wolf of

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