could sink her teeth into. “That’s good!” she smiled, but then runaway called.

“Wait!” his voice was shivering from exhaustion. “I give up!”

She didn’t understand the message. She still was coming with bared fangs, looking for neck of enemy. Meanwhile guardians got there too, marching just after Istana. Packer was looking on this with muzzle burning with emotions. He repeated, that time louder and more decisively.

“Wait! I surrender.”

Istana wasn’t especially bloodthirsty wolfess. Simply that message is very seldom heard on battlefield. During Pack-Talbourne War it was actuality never heard. So scoutess put her teeth on enemy’s neck and closed her eyes, clenching jaws. Then came an impact from left side. One of guardians simply threw her away.

“Stop it!” ordered sergeant Michael. “He surrendered!”

And then a icy wall broke and Istana understood what had happened. She stoop up from the snow and looked on runaway, who was encircled by six guardians. They stares met, but she turned it down with shame in her eyes.

“I… I…” she started.

“Crap! I’m a bit surprised to.” Said Michael. “But if he gave up, we won’t just slaughter him now. Let’s take him to lady Teele. That will be her problem.”

Prisoner was taken on sergeant’s back and with assistance of two guardians carrier set off in Home Valley direction. Istana stayed in place a moment longer, breathing heavily. Her adrenaline shock passed and she regained full control. Moon ceased to look red and just shove above her. Stars stopped to blink. All was normal so she ran to taken Packer.

“Hey, you… I’m sorry…” she called to exhausted wolf. It was impossible to say if he heard that, because his eyes were closed and in the same time he was panting loudly, maybe in own ears muffling all other sounds. From his mouth was dripping a streak of blood.

“All right, all right.” Replied guardian. “Let him go. I bet he will understand… when he is able too. For now he seems to be out of any consciousness.”

Prisoner moaned louder when Michael accidentally shook him harder. But except of that he made no other sound. So, perhaps for the very fist time on that war, Talbourne had a Pack’s prisoner.

And no idea what to do about it.

 

III. Prodigal Son

 

Not every family deserved on cavern on its own, but some more meritorious ones were given with smaller parts of Main Cave Complex. Flame and Ralph were one of those families, however she thought that after moving of their children, living in solid shelter was a great waste of clan’s space. But residing just next to HQ had the same number of advantages and disadvantages. Quick hearing of bad new was one of those second.

Ralph was commissioned once again. Flame considered it as highly unfair, however she said nothing about it to her mate. Ralph was a real grexot and re-entry to military he greeted with genuine satisfaction. In spite of his age – he was eight – he was considered as qualified to defensive duty. It was a cause of pride for brownfurred wolf.

But Flame looked on that from completely different perspective. She believed that her family had already contributed to the clan much more than it should. Mates had totally six pups. Aneke died in infancy, Ian had accident during Defence Team Qualification. Only Viin survived. From second litter one pup was born already dead (that was most likely caused by hunger that burst just after Bear Clan War), Boran made it, but died year before in battle with the Pack. Istana grew up to be strong and beautiful wolfess – yet she was serving in Intelligence – mother saw her daughter maybe twice a month and each time she was saying goodbye to her, she was almost sure it was a last time. Flame paid her tribute to Talbourne in most valuable currency – the blood. Then she had enough of that.

It happened that Ralph was sent to the same unit that Viin, so father and son were serving together. However it was a slight relief for Flame. Knowing the restless ambition of her mate and of her son, she knew they both with first opportunity would try to show their valour in the most dangerous way. Unit was already at full training routine, so Ralph was for the most time in military quarters.

Each time Flame was falling asleep – so often, alone – she was hearing voices of young soldiers from Alpha Cave sentries. In almost every such a utter she heard her poor Ian, who gave his life in attempt to enter Defence Team. Those wolves… - God! those were just a bit grown up puppies! – were the same. So avid to fight and so unaware of life’s fragility. Flame was crying often. Both over her lost children and those half-lost – on distance missions or ready to march away with spring offensive.

That night she awoke about two hour after midnight, hearing strange voices from behind the way. Someone was arguing, but doing it in whispers and careful utters, like it was a clan’s secret. They were talking something about wounded and prisoner. Each time Flame heard “wounded” she turned herself into one, great ear, trying to determine if that was about Ralph, Istana or Viin. That time when she learned that none of her family was hurt, she simply laid to sleep. Yet arguments from Main Cave didn’t stop.

“Crap!” gasped Mike, sergeant of first Unit, temporally appointed as sentry commander in Cave. “What the heck I should do with him?”

“Just wait for Teele.” Advised Michael. “I guess she would be interested with some real POW.”

“Lady Teele won’t be here in eight hours.” Replied sergeant. “After those crazy days she got a fever and she was taken to strict healing. I’m not authorized to wake her nor…”

“So call general!” snorted senior guardian.

That was odd suggestion, caused most likely only by Michael’s weariness and want to rid off the problem fast. In whole clan’s military was a great divide between Home Forces, including First and Second Unit, as well as Teele’s intelligence and Tenu’s Strike Force, including old Third and Fourth division with new formed units of general. Before Shadow’s death the system was running smoothly – First and Second Unit under Henry and Ami were focused on guarding the cave, occasionally giving some teams to Strike Force. Tenu was commanding about two hundred wolves in front line and using help of some guardians. All tensions in chain of command – and there were some, because mercenary was widely mistrusted by Talbourne wolves – were cooled by alpha himself. But when alpha was gone… actually no one knew if Tenu took over the whole authority over Talbourne Military or he maintained just command over his two Divisions. However when Teele was unavailable and case serious, wolves in Main Cave saw no other option except calling the foreign commander.

“No! wait!” Said Cayce – old, whitefurred sergeant of First Unit. “We will manage it. Just… Teele will decide, yet for now we will make sure he survive. Put them on those bedding and prepare something to eat.”

Guardians willingly subdued to their colleague. In spite there were two more sergeants – Mike and Michael, they both had nothing against being commanded by older wolf. Cayce was veteran of Uniea War, long-cadence sergeant, perhaps candidate for lieutenant soon. He was definitely ten times more trusted than mercenary general.

“Let me see him…” said whitefurred, coming closer to prisoner. Enemy scout was put on brushy bedding and two guardians laid next to, to warm him up. He started to show some signs of conscience and finally opened his eyes.

“Hey, you!” said Cayce, mixing in voice harshness with sympathy. “You are the prisoner of Talbourne Clan. Don’t do anything stupid, so we won’t hurt you, all right?”

“What… what?” whispered prisoner.

“It’s over.” Said Michael. “We caught you few miles north from here. You are in Home Cave.”

One of guardians put a piece of meat in front of scout. He started to eat fast, trying to make up for long time of fasting and enormous effort he had made. It took few minutes before he swallowed his portion then he looked on his keepers.

“Oh…” murmured brownfurred. “Wait!” he gasped with spark of fear. “And others?”

“Well. It seems that your trick worked.” Said Cayce. “We failed to intercept your unit. But we have you. Tell me, what is your name.”

“I’m sergeant Ian of scout unit, serving in RAIA under sir Varjo.” Replied prisoner with just one breath.

“What was your mission?” asked Cayce.

“I’m sergeant Ian of scout unit, serving in RAIA under sir Varjo.” Repeated Ian. “That’s all I’m allowed to tell you.”

“Crap!” gasped Mike. “We might have killed him and he still plays a hero! Let me…” started sergeant, coming closer to prisoner.

Ian covered his muzzle with paws, as if he was expecting a hit. Then he repeated. “I’m sergeant Ian of scout unit, serving in RAIA under sir Varjo. That’s all I’m allowed to tell you.” Cayce sighed heavily.

“Oh, you’re a stubborn boy…”

“Sir, let me soften him!” called one of guardians, but old sergeant just waged his tail with decline.

“Right, show me your muzzle.” Ordered whitefurred. “Go on, I won’t hit you… at least this time. So… put away your paws… God, are your muzzle is classified too?” Finally Ian uncovered his head and Cayce looked at him once again. Then sighed with amaze. “E... e… what was your name, again?”

“I’m sergeant Ian of scout unit, serving in RAIA under sir Varjo. That’s all I’m allowed to tell you.” Introduced himself Ian.

“Ian, Ian…” repeated Cayce. “I swear I know you… but how? From where you are from?”

“I’m sergeant Ian of scout unit, serving in RAIA under sir Varjo. That’s all I’m allowed to tell you.” Stated prisoner firmly, however he was ready to shield his muzzle again.

“Oh, never mind…” murmured Cayce and turned to exit. “We will talk with him when lady Teele is here. For now, just keep him in place.” He started to walk outside.

“Sir!” called Ian after him. Whitefurred

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