sir.” Said brownfurred and came to wolf. She was tired and she sat in snow involuntary. Tenu smiled.

“Why? Can’t I call you my princess?”

“Please…”

“Don’t worry.” He interrupted. “I made my promises to your uncle. I will help you to get this lot’s respect. But not now. There are still possibilities…”

“I’m tired of that!” cried Maya. “I wish I were somewhere away from here. In Nome with grandparents… or anywhere else. But it’s… disgusting!” she pointed on another quarrel among Tram’s and Sheik’s acolytes. “Uncle is dead and they are… for what they are arguing?”

“Right, go rest.” Advised Tenu. He stood up and gently helped her to stand. Then pushed her into cave’s direction. “I let you know, when you are needed… to your clan, of course.” Maya went away with uncertain steps and general sighed. “What a pity… she is so innocent and sweet.”

Maya actually wanted to get to Alpha Cave, but she came across Sheik, Rose and their pups. She initially smiled, seeing stepbrother and trio of his children, but then she noticed harsh stare of Rose. Redfurred wolfess was looking on Maya as on rival and no courtesy talk would cover it.

“Oh, my God!” gasped Sheik, with genuine fear. “You look terrible… I mean… You look beautiful, but You seem to…”

“I slept outside.” Said brownfurred. “Just… happened.”

“Come one, go with us.” Ordered Sheik.

Maya for in that moment smiled. She always knew it! Her Sheik, best friend, cousin and stepbrother was whom he always had been. So was so caring and protective… When he nudged side of Maya guiding her to Main Caves Complex, she had no doubts about him. “Those are only stupid sidekicks, who say nonsense about him. He would never be envy about leadership. He cares about family… he cares about me.”

“Sweetheart, take her and pups home.” Said Rose. “I have few things to do. I will join you soon.”

“As you wish.” Replied Sheik, always listening to his mate. “Kids, let’s go.” And all five went to cavern’s entrance.

Rose stayed in place for the while, until pups, Sheik and her sister-in-law entered the chambers. Then she turned back and headed to Second Division Quarters. What was called so proudly, was simple a pine-plant with several dens and rock-cracks and was serving as a residence for Ami’s soldiers. Rose had no interest to Ami, but she wanted to talk with Black.

It happened that Black, Snow, Lake and other her friends from old pack were in the one unit of Second Division. Partially it was a coincidence, but Rose and her friends helped the fate. They all were from Stardust Pack, that two years earlier voluntary joined Talbourne. That way they got – instead of eradication – the new home and Rose herself also a mate, who happened to be son of Aleu. Redfurred wolfess loved her new family, yet she also loved the old one and trusted former packmates more than any other. And then – when she had a quest for trusted friends – it was obvious she picked her old companions.

“Hi, boss.” Said blackfurred wolf, called simply Black. He was a sergeant of Ami’s forces. “Hey, guys, Rose is here.” He called into deeper plant for rest of old Stardusters.

“Yeah, hello all.” Replied redfurred.

“So, are you big-boss already?” asked Snow with smile on his face. “When Sheik will be announced as a new alpha?”

“That is a difficulty.” Replied Rose. “He is not only one to the office. Tram is drooling to jump there too and Maya… eh, we have a problem with that two. But if something happens to Maya…” She quickly reported about all rumours and tension among clanners. They were listening and finally Black – most likely the brightest of them all – said.

“So… hypothetically… if Maya dies, that is almost certain that Sheik takes power… and you with him.”

“Exactly.” Nodded wolfess. “That is not only matter of me and our wolves… it about whole clan. Sheik will be the perfect leader…”

“But only with you by his side.” Threw in Lake, light redfurred male. Rose instantly hit him in forehead with paw.

“Shut up!” she gasped. “Maybe I’m helping my mate in some decisions, but after all he will be ten times better leader than Maya and million times better than Tram. And those two seem to plot with each other…”

“What?” murmured Snow. “They are cousins! Have Tram inherited… aaa… such inclinations after his parents?”

“I know they are in forth grade of consanguity…” said redfurred, then added louder. “Or actually in third and half… it’s really gross… but never mind. I will take care about unfriendly gossip about that degenerate. But you must take care of Maya.”

“E… permanently?” asked a bit shocked Lake.

“Lake, my friend.” Said Rose, nestling to side of wolf. “You know that Sheik loves his family. Whatever happened, however Maya would be a weak leader – she is Sheik’s cousin and actually she is like younger sister to him. They grew up together and they are very good family. He simply can’t order to kill her.”

“What a pity…” murmured Snow.

“However I can!” smiled Rose. “Sheik doesn’t have to know anything. Simply… you must find the way to lure Maya outside the Home Valley. The best would be a visit on the front. There you could easily simulate some accident, for example Pack’s attack or even premeditated assassination.”

“Wow! You’re really smart!” admitted Black.

“Perhaps that’s why I’m mate of future alpha.” She replied.

But it was not true. Rose genuine loved her mate and pups. She would do anything to secure they future and she was doing right that. She knew that Sheik would be too weak to run that plot, so she decided to help him out.

When she was returning to Alpha Cave, she was smiling and thinking only about Sheik in alpha’s office and about her pups, most likely Max, who would some day inherit the power after his father. She was ion those dreams too – but always aside, only in shade, however always with helping paw, ready to discretely push things in right direction.

“What a pity, Maya.” She thought. “You are such a nice girl… But life's not fair, is it?”

*

On the first glance pawprints on the snow are simply cold marks on white surface. But Istana was so skilled scout that she could read countless things out of trails. After terrifying night when Shadow died and scout heard leader’s last orders, Teele was really scared about life of her subordinate. She sent her to duties around Home Valley, to keep her away from the heat of political arguments. So young soldier was performing her safe, yet almost pointless new assignment, when she noticed something unbelievable.

Pack’s scout was infiltrating Talbourne land.

She followed the trail. In light of dying day it was hard to follow, but sharp eyes of Istana were helping her nose to read the story. And story was very interesting – chased enemy was running in strange way. He was hobbling, most likely because of some permanent paw damage, yet he was moving quite fast. He left small amount of traces, because he tried to miss his tail. But he was in too much hurry to do it properly.

Then Istana heard voices behind her. She turned back to see in light of raising moon a pack of guards from First Unit. She recognise some known-muzzles, so she waited for soldiers.

“Oh, you are from Teele’s division?” asked sergeant, looking on her. “You’ve noticed him too.”

“What does it mean? A scout so close to home?” she asked.

“We are chasing him almost from Buckland.” Replied sergeant. He waged his tail and his subordinates sat down, using the moment of break. “It was a unit of six, that we spotted near Bear Mountain. We almost got them… but they separated!” snorted soldier. “Their commander tricked us, and all five of scouts somehow escaped. We were chasing just leader, when those five most likely returned to the border. At least he battue him here, where he has no chances to escape.” Scout smiled. “Yes, he will see the Home Cave. From inside.”

Then Istana looked again on pawprints to see new, very enriched image. She recalled earlier memories and imagine the runaway. He was going with remnants of his strength. He was doing all he was able to give more time to his companions. They most likely ran straight to the border, while chief was luring chase deeper into it’s territory. He was marching restlessly, ignoring pain (Istana noticed a red mark of blood on the snow) and hopelessness of own situation. There was nowhere to run, or at least the direction of running should be opposite. But still – scout was going in wide arc, closing to Home Valley. He wanted to make sure his unit would escape.

“Poor rascal.” Whispered Istana, standing from snow. “And now we have to take him down…” She looked on securers. “Are you ready?”

They set off and found him just two hours later – there was no use that exhausted scout would outrun fresh unit of guardians. Istana was going with them and she as the first noticed lone silhouette under the starlit sky of winter night. Enemy was running, or better to say: marching on ice field of Northern Valley. Even from distance of over mile, his moves looked odd and desperate. It seemed that runaway perfectly know that enemies are just behind.

In wave that even she failed to understand, Istana rushed ahead. Some voice ordered her to catch that scout before guardians. “He will die.” Thought wolfess. “But at least I’ll make sure that brave rascal will die painlessly.” She outran security soldiers and entered the field.

Packer slowed down, but not because he heard his chase. He was simply out of his breath and Istana noticed more red dots on the snowlayer. She quickly made the distance and without slowing down pounced on brownfurred male. He fell down instantly, having no might to stand up against in mêlée combat. Both wolves rolled in snow few times, then Istana stood on paws and got to enemy. He stopped, lying on back – so he was exposing his throat, belly and all vulnerable parts she could sink her

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