grab the log!”

Her prayers were granted – she felt a weight on the other side of branch. She was too weak to lift it up – she just tensed all muscles, holding with all her might and waiting for him to come out. January managed to climb to the edge, then he let branch loose and grabbed ice. Maya dropped the log and grabbed nape of wolf, pulling him on surface. Malawolf fell on ice, panting heavily and then Talbourne princess sensed that her visions became again one, but in the same time it started to become darker and darker.

“So… we… live…” moaned hybrid. “But still… the best… before us… We could freeze to death…”

Maya fell to the ground, losing all awareness. She just felt that January grabbed her fur and – being too weak to put her on his back – he was dragging her on the ice to bank direction. Yet she didn’t hear as hybrid murmured with shivering voice.

“My father was the best puller in Alaska… I have it in genes… Mush!”

*

Even if January looked, he wouldn’t noticed three blurred silhouettes, floating over the river. It was snow-white wolfess, pitch-black wolf and malamute of bicoloured coat. They were looking on wolfdog carrying Talbourne princess to the bank. Three was silent, finally dark wolf said with a bit embarrassed voice.

“Thanks, mom…”

“Yeah.” Added malamute. “It was a pleasure to cooperate with you, ma’am.”

“Oh.” Smirked white wolf. “Don’t imagine too much. I’ve helped you only because of my sweet Maya.” But then she added with softer voice. “But I’m really grateful to your son that he saved her.”

“You know… father’s genies.” Said dog and smiled.

“No problem, mom.” Said dark wolf, whom mortals call Shade.

*

Black’s unit found the icehole about one hour later. Maybe they would ignore that, but Snow noticed the log and some marks on the snow. Trail stopped about fifty yards farther, because of falling snow, but they had a proof that runaways survived and knew general direction on their escape. Targets were going still north, but on the Pack bank. Somehow it was very favourable for pursuers, because there was smaller probability of help for Maya from Talbourne side. The Pack was a problem, but not so great there, because with every mile north they were closer to human seats and Pack soldiers – the same as Talbourne – avoided to go there. So for wolves humans were the main danger, but Black hoped that they would be lucky.

“And Maya and January got shot by hunters.” He murmured and set off north-east. “Form a tyraliere!” he called to his companions. “They most likely hid somewhere here. They are exhausted and frozen. They want get rest in some den. Find that den!” seven affirmative growls answered him.

*

Aarre wasn’t strategist, but he was a hunter. He treated the rescue mission as a hunt, so he acted as wolf on lead of his pack. He left centre region of search to Ea and Varjo, while he directed more north, almost to humans seats. He wanted to find January before anyone else… and check what would happen. For his mission he picked up ten wolves, only most trusted ones, from old Uniea military or children of his brothers-in-arms. He was absolutely sure of loyalty of those soldiers and whatever order he would give, it would be fulfilled. But he hoped that he didn’t have to give any order. Maybe Talbourne would be quicker.

To his companions he had a perfect explanation. January, although he was a good and brave wolf, unwillingly betrayed. Because he didn’t want to resurrect the glory of Uniea clan. He simply followed crazy idea of Steele, what was noble and sublime, but crazy indeed. In times of trial, when fate of reborn Uniea clan is about to decide, responsible wolves have to make a serious decision.

“I’m so sorry January.” Thought Aarre. “But I really wish that Talbourne finds you first. You simply shouldn’t be back. And… sorry, my brothers… I am Uniea… but I don’t care about it anymore. I have my own quest to do.”

“Faster!” he called to his unit. However he was aware that most likely, when he found January, he would have to wait.

*

Maya was too weak to open her eyes, so she just enjoyed a warmth. She felt the pleasant feeling all over her body. Even pain – that in paw and that in head – was small and insignificant, comparing to overwhelming caress of warm touch. After immeasurable time, when she partially quenched her thirsts for heat, she started to think from where that pleasure came from. Then she opened her eyes.

She didn’t see too much. The den was small and dark. Thought snow that cover entrance was dripping a little of milky light, but enough only for Maya to see the lair under fallen tree-roots and January, nestled to her side. Wolfdog was busy with licking her rear paw – she almost forgot about injure that Lake inflicted her.

“Lake…” she sobbed, recalling all what had happened. “God… That’s not real! That’s hasn’t happened!”

“I will gladly nod in agree, but first I have to take care about your leg.” Said January. That most likely supposed to sound ironical, but because his voice was shivering with cold, it gave rather pitiful expression.

“January…” she sobbed. “Why…”

“I would ask myself, why we survived.” He replied. “In all those circumstances we should have died at least three times.”

“Oh, yes…” she murmured. “You saved me… Thank you.” she turned to him and licked his cheek. He froze for the while, then give another few lick to her injure. And then raised his head to look in her eyes.

“And you saved me.” Said with soft voice. But then temperature of his voice dropped lower than frost outside. “I told you to go! Why the heck you came back!?”

“But… but… I saved you that way.” She murmured, confused.

“Yes, you are right and I’m alive only thanks to you. But next time, when I say something, you do it, okay?” he paused his voice, then added. “I mean… not forever, of course, but when you are under my protection. Right?” She impulsively nodded her head. “Oh… I’m sorry.” Continued with quieter voice. “I didn’t meant to shout on you… I just… still can’t believe we made it alive.”

“All pleasure is all mine.” She said, smiling.

“No, maybe not all.” Said January. “Maybe you give me a half?”

“So…” she smiled even wider. “I saved you too, right?” he nodded. “So you have to thank me in the same way.”

“As you wish…” murmured malawolf and bended down to her muzzle. But he stopped just before it. “Oh, my God!” he gasped, looking on giant bump on her forehead. “I did it?”

“Oh, Jan… only that way I was able to break the ice.”

“I’m terribly sorry…” said hybrid with embarrassed voice. “Stay low, it might help.”

And he started to lick her forehead, but what had to be a caress, become a medical treatment. January gently remover the blood clot, then slowly sucked blood and pus, to finally clean it with tongue. That was all about <thank you>.

“You are very caring.” Noticed Maya.

“Father taught me much about medicine, when I was a pup. He knew much about it, from times he was living with humans.” Said malawolf. Then added in mind. “And later - as a soldier - he had to know much about wounds and traumas inflicting many.” But aloud he asked just. “How are you… I meant in the first place leg and forehead.”

“Barely feel the paw at all.” She confesses. “And about head… After you took care about it, it is much better… But I still see two of you… a little.”

“Damn it!” gasped hybrid. “And I was thinking about running just now…” He looked again on Maya’s leg. “Well, we have not much to do for now. Let me rest a bit, dry up, then I will go for recon, perhaps I’ll bring something to eat. But now…” He moved closer to her. “May I? It’s just to warm up…”

“Of course.” She said and nestled to malawolf even closer. She desperately needed some touch and warmth – not even physical one, but one that floats from other being. After a while of silence, the sad thoughts returned to her. She closed her eyes to see Lake with blooded neck, giving his last breaths at her feet.

“January…” she whispered with sad voice. “Help me… I can’t stand it… I don’t understand it! Those wolves you fought with… They are from my clan. I thought they were my friends…”

“So, they must be better friends of some other claimant to Talbourne lead.” Said hybrid, but then added with softer tone. “Sorry, Maya. I don’t want to be rude and upset you even more… You just seem to be so innocent… but also so naïve. You don’t understand how politic works and what wolves are able to do, to reach the power.”

“But I don’t want to be that way.”

“It will be, as long as Talbourne and Pack exist. But someday it will cease. Both our clans will cease. That’s what were fighting for. To return to peace of traditional pack…” He paused and laughed with embarrassment. “Sorry, I was talking like a politician too. Forget it. I’ll try to forget…”

“But who…” she sobbed.

“According to date of my intelligence, the other serious claimants are Tram and Sheik. I suspect Sheik, because he has more influence… at least sir Vajro thinks that.”

“But he is my brother… my cousin in fact, but we grew up together.”

“Maybe he doesn’t know about that attempt. But some of his hot-headed acolyte misunderstood his will and…”

“I don’t want anyone to hate me!” she cried.

“I don’t hate you…” said January carefully. “I mean, you are from Talbourne… but… I want to forget about it, right? Do you believe me?”

He licked bump on her forehead, but he did it then in non-medical way.

 

VIII. Leave no one behind…

 

In normal circumstances Black and his team would had found runaways in less than hour. But what earlier was the curse of runners, later became a blessing – because of heavy frost scents were almost insensible and still falling snow was covering any track in minutes. Unit of Stardusters started to methodically search over the forest. Black decided that after seeing the farther

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