seeing the farther route north – in dense plant pawprints would stayed much longer and because they didn’t, wolf thought that Maya and January were still in grove next to backwaters.

Darkfurred was enraged after death of Lake, so almost two days activity didn’t cause his sleepiness. However it affected his alertness. January was weak after hypothermia and his sensed turned out to be dimmed too. Moreover he additionally tired himself during the hunt. Two canines collided, hitting with foreheads and falling down to the snow. Both were so confused that it took several long seconds, before they reacted. Black gave a war cry and pounced on malawolf.

Steele’s son wasn’t a coward and considered himself as well trained in fight. And that was why he decided to run. He simply estimated chances of combatants – he knew almost nothing about Black, while he was well aware that he was tired, bruised and hungry. Enemy had just to wait for some reinforcements – malawolf had to survive the combat. Generally – retreat was very reasonable solution.

January intercepted Black in air, sending him few yards aside. Then he turned at random direction and speeded ahead. Because of still falling snow, after few minutes he had sure that he lost his second tail. Then he turned east to den where Maya was sleeping. He carried a rabbit, miraculously found just before meeting Black. But there was not too much time to have a breakfast.

He entered lair and nudged Maya. She just smiled in her sleep, so hybrid repeated his move, that time stronger. She gave a quiet yelp of pain and opened her eyes, looking on wolfdog.

“Sorry, but we must go. Eat and come with me.”

“Oh, thanks.” She grabbed rabbit and bit a first bit. Then stopped and asked.

“And you?”

“I’ve already eaten.” Lied January. “But be quick, they are coming.” He stood in entrance to den, ready to block it.

Maya ate extremely quick, most likely overwhelming hunger she felt. After about five minutes the rabbit was cleaned to bones and she gently nudged back of her guardian. January’s nerves were so tensed, then he jumped in place, turning back instantly. He froze just in front of smiling and blood-red lips of wolfess.

“Clear your muzzle.” Said malawolf instinctively. “And then go.”

In fact setting off from hiding was the hardest part of plan. When they were still inside, risk of finding them was serious, yet not so great. However after leaving den even pawprints staying half an hour on snow made a calling evidence of their presence. January estimated they have not more than hour of easy march then they have to run.

“How’s your paw?”

“Better! Now I feel it.” Said Maya with airy voice. But then she must stomped on wounded limp, because she gasped with pain. “And actually it hurts as hell!”

“Right…” murmured malawolf. “Listen, when I say <run>, we run. If you can’t, just climb on my back. But please, don’t do it too hasty. I won’t carry you with satisfying speed.”

“But… have we run?” she asked and he stopped, turned to her and looking right in her eyes said with freezing voice.

“You think that it’s so funny to flee with cowed tail? Lady, I usually show more bravery, but it happened that I haven’t eaten since two days, I’m hypothermed and additionally I’m guiding wounded female. Just… let me be rational this time, not heroic. My father always repeated that good commander knows which battle he cannot win.”

“Sorry…” whispered Maya, turning her stare down. “I actually meant to try negotiate with them.”

“How?” snorted January. “My safety for giving them you?” But then he noticed that on her face appeared two tears. “Damn it!” he murmured. “I did it again. Sorry, Maya I didn’t mean to be rude… just… let me do it in my way. From us two I have a bit more combat and survival experience.”

“Dad taught you?” asked wolfess, still with tensed voice, but trying to start a chat.

“Well… yes… But let’s go.” They moved on.

“You really loved your father.” She said after few minutes of march. “And you miss him.” He just nodded his head. “I’m too. I mean – uncle Shadow always carried about me, but I miss my dad anyway… He died two years ago.” January laughed nervously.

“Yeah, I know that. He died the same day that my father. There is possibility that they killed each other.”

“You blame me?” she asked.

“And you blame me for Dash’s death? If not my father, that war would never broke out.”

“It happened very bad, but you are not guilty of it.”

“Still, I’m fighting under my father’s banner.”

“I believe that’s only because you had no chance to see that my clan is good actually.” Replied Maya. “We… we talk, stay with each other. Perhaps we could mend the split between our parents.”

“You really want it?” asked January, turning his head back to Maya. She nodded, but then sight of malawolf pointed somewhere above her shoulder. “The hunt is on. RUN!”

He showed direction, then waited as she came on lead. But then noticed as she barely going in deep snow, so he outran her again and started to mark a path. For every minute he turned back too see how she was going. She was going awful.

It was about midday, snow almost ceased to fall and sun shone from above dense - yet leaky - layer of clouds. They didn’t see the chase, but heard it – Stardust wolves were calling themselves with hunting signals. The terrain became easier for both battue and game – forest of Alaska interior started to come down to the sea and Buckland Area. It was easy to run, at least ahead – January judged that try to leave valley of river was doom to be failure – in simple run ahead and down Maya’s imparity was significant, but not disqualifying. But climbing up with wounded paw on east slope of valley would allow Stardusters to catch them instantly. The going on western slope, to Talbourne area was then out of option – on that point river became wider and ice less stabile. Coming on the other bank was dangerous. However January kept that idea as a last resort.

“I’m sorry…” sobbed Maya at his six. “I can’t…”

“Well…” replied malawolf, trying to sound calmly. “You manage to go at your own extremely far anyway. So, come to me.” Be kneeled down, allowing her to climb on his back. “Hold on, but try not to choke me, right?”

January stood up and in next second almost fell down. Dizziness burst in his head and stomach violently reminded him about his biological needs, rumbling loud. He took a deep breath and made first step ahead. It was herder than he thought, yet it happened. “And then, what?” he asked himself in mind. “Are we going north to Buckland, waiting for hunters to shot Maya and capture me to be a sleddog?”

“Hey, you!” sounded a call from behind. “Stop if you want to live!”

“It’s extremely cheap talk in hunting situation.” Murmured January to Maya, marching still.

“January!” Talbourne wolfess recognised Black’s voice. “We don’t want you dead! Just drop her here and go home. That is not your business!”

Maya instinctively hugged closer to hybrid’s neck. Under all circumstances January had no interest in saving her. They had talked nice, exchanged few jests and had generally a good time, but then it became a matter of life and death. Packer had to choose between his safety and – in consequence – safety of Pack’s heir and… Well, Maya wasn’t sure what was on the other paw.

“Come on!” murmured wolfdog. “You really think I could leave you here?”

“I don’t understand why you are doing this.” She whispered. When she noticed that he wanted to reply in his usual way, added quickly. “But I don’t complain.”

“Damn it! Damn it!” January snorted. “If I die, mom is going to kill me! Crap! That’s all in vain…” Suddenly he stopped and looked on the river. “Maya, are you ready for another batch?”

“In hot spring? Yes, please!” she replied, smiling, but then he followed his stare. “No…”

“So I’m sorry, you will swim unprepared.” Said January and entered the ice.

Layer was cracked and fragmented – under mass of two canines more break appeared. Wolfdog chose a solid float, put Maya on it and pushed them from ice-mass. They floated with current freely. Their improvise raft was highly unstable, so malawolf carefully backed to the centre of five yards float and nestled to Maya. “Stay still.” He ordered.

“And that’s it?” she called. “It seems to be safe.”

“It is.” Nodded Packer. “Until we want to land or even make a turn. By the way, do you know, where is nearest waterfall here?”

She gasped with fear, but then her cry turned to laughter. January didn’t resist too and soon after both canines were laughing airily. Malawolf had to counter shivers they make by carefully moving on float, but it didn’t stop him from merry giggling. They were dying, but who said that one can’t laugh for the last time.

“What the crack!?” called Black from the bank. “How the heck you’ve got a sunstroke in such a blizzard? Or I hit you in the head? You are dead already!”

“What a shame…” laughed January back. “So I guess I took a bad path. You promised to let me go freely.”

“After them!” murmured Black to his packmates. “We will go on the bank. They can’t float faster than we run. Maybe they will drown in first river bend. But maybe not. We will try to convince that Packer to leave Maya for his life.”

“And we let him go?” asked a bit shocked Snow.

“Of course, not!” growled darkfurred. “He got Lake, don’t you remember? But don’t threat him now. Perhaps he will do out job for us.”

*

To kill Maya, January had just to push her away from drift. It was highly improbable that wolfess would swam to bank with wounded paw and in that general condition. To be honest, we could add that malawolf also wasn’t sure if he was able to reach the shore. But he was ready to jump after Maya to water if some force threw her away.

They were sailing in silence for long minutes, looking on Black’s unit, running on eastern

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