tried to do it for you!” Then he said aloud.

“They are safe. Those Talbourne took her from human’s trap and hold on the other side. But they said that lady Maya is ready to give us January and Kaata without any terms of admission.”

“I fear Talbourne, even if they bring meat.” Said RAIA commander and Aarre noticed with some surprise that he was shaking on whole body. Calm and cold-blooded intelligence leader was dying with fear about his daughter.

“Lady, if you wish, I could prepare strike team… just in case. But I dissuade any combat action before we have any recon.”

“Prepare.” Ordered Ea. “And wait.”

“Lady…” said beta-alpha with quieter voice. “I’m so…”

“You did, what you was able to.” She said. “No one could predicted that. If you only knew how we failed…” she turned her stare down and Aarre sighed with confusion.

“She… she also has something to do with that mess? January… boy, you have an extremely bad week.”

“Anyway.” Said Pack’s commander. “We could only wait. They are wounded and for now unable to move. Let’s rest a bit.”

*

In forest of Talbourne dominium were countless creatures. Some of them sleepless that night. Many because their way of life, but others because of want. Seven tired, yet still furious wolves were sitting around hunted elk and easing still warm meat. No one dared to speak – all waited for Black to be first.

Darkfurred male satisfied his hunger, looked on companions and uttered with hateful voice.

“We must rest. From tomorrow on we are on new mission. We still have to kill Maya… but not only for Rose. We have two friends to avenge.”

“Black… don’t you think that count could increase because of this?” asked Merik, youngest Starduster.

“Silence!” gasped Black.

“But what we should do now?” yelled Merik. “Kill our Talbourne soldiers?”

“We are not Talbourne!” growled darkfurred. “We never were. Clan is a fake, it never existed. All what counts is your pack, Stardust Pack!”

“But Rose…”

“Listen to me!” He stood up and came to younger companion. “Lake was one of us, because he was of Stardust. Snow was one of us. Rose is one of us and her pups the same. Even Sheik is one of us, but only because he is father of new generation of Stardusters. Understood?”

“But…”

“The pack is what matters. Not some oppressive regime that enslaved us! If Sheik didn’t fall in love with Rose and old Birgy did decide to fight with Talbourne, we would be not their companions, but victims. Don’t forget about it!”

They both were silent for the while, finally Merik asked.

“But now they have advantage. How we would do it?”

“We could wait for proper moment.” Said Black. “And then they will all taste the wrath of Stardust Pack!”

*

Maya awoke, nestled to January’s side. She didn’t opened her eyes for longer while, enjoying the moment. Although all round her seemed to tremble down and fall, presence of malawolf just next to her was sure and soothing. She wished to freeze that minute into eternity. Her beloved was there, not going anywhere, not hurrying anywhere. At least while he was asleep.

But he eventually awoke too. Looked on Maya and she gave him a lick. He initially narrowed his eyes, wanting to say some rebuke, but then smile appeased him. After all, how he could criticise what he enjoyed. They stayed nestling for some time, none of them wished to count.

“I’m sorry, but we must stand up.” Said hybrid.

“I know and I’m not afraid of that.” She smiled. “It all will be good. We will find the way.”

“Yeah.” Smiled January with bitter smile. “After all I’m in your territory. You could dictate all terms you want.”

“Come on… you are guest here. My guest.” She smiled, but it was faked smile. She sensed in his voice some desperate determination and she didn’t like it. “Come…”

But then they heard growls and shout from outside. January stood up and stopped in entrance to den to take a look before he let Maya leave. Soon he found the source of uneasiness. It was orangefurred wolf with immobile front right paw.

“Where is she? And where is that bastard!?” growled lieutenant. Then he noticed January.

“Hi!” said future alpha. “We weren’t introduced to…”

But then Tan rushed on Packer. He crouched to pounce and bared his teeth, so Maya exited lair in last moment to prevent a brawl. She ran to her stepbrother and licked his forehead with joy.

“Maya…” said Tan, quickly restraining his temper. “You’re all right? God, you paw…”

“Hush, Tan, it’s nothing.” She said. “Jan took care about me.” They both looked on wolfdog. “Tan, meet January of the Pack. Jan, this is Tan, my bro.”

“Maya!” gasped orangefurred with amazement. “That’s enemy!”

“I think I should have been introduced to your family all at once.” Said malawolf. “The impact would be deadly, but at least single one.” Tan bared his fangs on Steele’s son.

“No, Tan, listen…” started Maya and stopped next to hybrid. “I know it looks bad… but you must find some friendly terms with him.”

“His father killed your father… uncle Dash!”

“But he is not Steele.”

“So…” Tan looked on newcomer. “You disown your daddy?”

“Maybe it not very elegant, but efficient.” Uttered January. “You want provoke me, to break given word of my safety?”

“Yes or no?” asked Tan with harsh voice.

“My father was the finest alpha in Alaska. Ever.” Said January. He stepped back and crouched, ready to fight.

“No, stop!” cried Maya. “Tan, you must accept him.”

“Why’s that?” asked orangefurred. And Maya nestled to malawolf’s side. Lieutenant gasped with amazement and rage. “No… it’s not true!”

“I love him, bro.” Said brownfurred quietly. “I’m sorry, but I can’t help it.”

“Sir?” asked one of sergeants of Third Unit. “Is this Packer any threat to us?” Tan breached deeply, but replied with calmer voice.

“No. At least not now.” Then added with harsh tone, looking on Maya. “Your father wouldn’t approved it.” He came again to stepsister. “But now you shouldn’t walk. Your paw has to recover.”

“Yes, sir!” smiled wolfess and parodied a soldiers salute.

“Faster I get out of here, the better.” Said January, guiding her back to den.

“That’s only beginning.” Replied brownfurred. Then added with quieter voice. “Please, you must speak with general Tenu. He want to make some truce with you. Would you go with us south? If Kaata is ready, we could return her. Some of our soldiers will take her at your side of river. She would explain everything…”

“Yes, that’s a good idea.” Said hybrid and walked to bush of junipers, where silvefurred was taken and overseen.

She raised her hear, seeing him and smiled. But then a pang of pain grabbed her body and she laid down again. January came closer, examining wound on her thigh. Some wolf of dark-brown coat came there and said to Packer.

“She was extremely lucky. No infection and bullet missed artery by an inch.”

“Kaata… how do you feel?”

“It happened to feel better, my alpha.” She replied with smile. “But also happened to feel worse.”

“She is unable to move at her own, but she is ready to be taken. If you want to send her back, sir…”

“You are very kind to the enemy.” Noticed January, looking in eyes of wolf.

“I’m a soldier, sir.” He replied with smile. “I’m to fight… sometimes to heal. But my commander is to point the enemy. And someday… maybe… he won’t point you.”

“Kaata.” Said wolfdog to silverfurred. “Talbourne will take you on the other side. There…” He took a look around and dark wolf steeped back, for not to hear the talk. “I have some quest for you.” She nodded her head. “Check our army and estimate on how many jaws I could count if… something funny happens.”

“What’s wrong!?” yelled wolfess. “You said you don’t hold the grudge to lady Ea and my father!”

“Of course I won’t hurt my mother!” snorted January. “And she wouldn’t hurt me… But Aarre… He left me there.” Pointed on the other said. “He just stayed and waited as I was beaten down. If not you and your squad, I would be good as dead.”

“So he…”

“I don’t know!” interrupted malawolf. “Just get back and check… discretely, why Aarre would want me dead. Don’t involve your father in it. You are my RAIA now. Right?”

“Right, my alpha.” She nodded her head. “And you?”

“Believe me, I’m not staying here for entertainment.” He lied. “I’m Pack’s alpha, remember? I must investigate if that split inside of Talbourne would help our cause. And moreover I want make sure that Ian is safe.”

“As you wish… my alpha.”

“Don’t make such a sad muzzle.” Said hybrid. “You are going home.”

“Yes, I am.” She said. But deep in heart she felt that her home is wherever January was going. And only there.

*

Runaways got to third point on route and that was their second night in way. Food was prepared, as Istana told them, no one asked inquiring questions. Only few wolves knew Flame, and those who did, esteemed her well, as mother of two soldiers and mate of clan’s hero. Ian was introduced as simply Ian, but wolfess in most cases suggested that he was a fiancé of Istana, but he was going to recover, after nasty paw injure. It all was going smoothly.

Too smoothly.

At the dawn they met Tenu. When they were almost ready to set off, unit of general appeared from nowhere. None of soldiers recognised two runaways, but mercenary himself was very perceptive.

“Bite me down!” smiled hoaryfurred. “A prisoner transfer? But where? To Haven?”

They met on clearing, where stationed one of feed-pack. It was place where Teele sent few families, as Home Cave started to run out from game. Those were civilians, but hey had obligation to help any military Talbourne. Ian took a look around to see that general’s soldiers were tired, but they possibly could run faster then he anyway. RAIA scout estimated his odds to flee as minimal.

“They will stop me.” Said brownfurred, coming to commander. “But I will kill you first.”

“I doubt it.” Smiled Tenu. Then

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