attention and I am a Lieutenant, you will give me the respect my station deserves, understand me?"

Nick blinked. "Yes Ma'am." He said.

"Good!" Ami yelled. "Nick, what the hell are you thinking? What are you doing?"

"I don't understand Ma'am." He said.

"You don't understand?!" Ami shouted. "Really Nick, Achak tells me you're shirking your duties, talking back, falling asleep on post? ...come on Nick, you're smarter than that... you know better than that."

Nick sighed.

"...now what's wrong Nick?" She asked.

Nick remained quiet.

"Nick, Achak tells me that he found you asleep on post, don't you know that he could have killed you?!"

"...what if I wanted him to?" Nick asked.

Ami was shocked and stepped back. "...wha... what?" She asked.         

"What if I don't want to live anymore Ma'am." He said. "See I knew this girl, and I really liked her, but she turned out to be a real heartbreaker, and now I really don't care anymore. If I can't have her in my life then I don't want life at all."

"Nick...." Ami started, but she didn't have the words and so, fell silent.

"What ma'am?" He asked. "...and don't even say I'm sorry, or I love you. All that will do is make it worse."

"...Nick, you're not only endangering yourself with your actions." Ami said. "...you're endangering the whole clan..." She stopped for a moment. "Nick, this isn't you, this isn't the Nick I know."

Nick shook his head. "No, I'm pretty sure you killed him." He said sharply.

Ami walked back around in front of him. "...Nick, listen... if you don't start towing the line and doing your job Achak is going to report you to Dash."

"...so?" Nick asked. "...then you won't have to worry about me anymore."

"...what do you think Dash is going to do when he finds out what there was between us?" Ami asked. "...besides you, who else do you think is going to be in trouble?"

Nick smirked. "...well let's see I'm pretty sure he'll bust your tail, if you get to stay in the defense force at all."

Ami looked hurt. "Nick... I've worked my whole life to get to where I am now. I've sacrificed a lot, I've suffered and I've bled for this clan. I deserve this position. ...you talk about it like it doesn't mean much to you, but it means a great deal to me. No matter how cold you act I know you still care about me in there somewhere... please... don't do this, don't mess this up for me. If you can't do this to save yourself.... do it to save me, please Nick."

Nick sighed. "...why should I help you?" He asked. "Why should I care about you at all?"

Ami sighed. "Nick... not long ago you said you loved me. If that was true... love doesn't just die."

"...unless it starves to death." Nick said.

"Nick please..." Ami said. "I did what I did because it was best for both of us right now, and you know it. Think about it, really think about it and you'll know it too. We cannot be together right now. We just can't be. Later, when we're not at war, maybe things will be different, but for now things are better the way they are."

Nick sighed.

"Nick... please don't push Achak." Ami said. "He will turn you in, and I don't want to see anything happen to you."

Nick shook his head.

"...please Nick." She said. "...give me a chance, wait a while, things may be different then, maybe then we can be together... please?"

Nick sighed again. "...alright Ma'am." He said. Then he shook his head. "...I mean... I will Ami." He said.

Ami smiled and a tear ran out of her eye before she could stop it. "Thank you Nick." She said. "I know it's hard, believe me. I cry myself to sleep every night just thinking about it, but..." She sighed. "...it's the way things have to be."

Nick nodded. "...I'm sorry Ami." He said. "I've been selfish, immature, and I've brought more stress to you... I'll try to do better." He said.

Ami nodded. "Very well." She paused and then snapped to attention. "...ten-hut!" She called.

Nick stiffened up and looked dead ahead.

"Nick, you will report back to third unit to resume duty with them. You will not be present within the patrols today, but instead will fall back a day, talk to Timbre and see if he needs an extra sentry. Do you understand your orders Nick?"

Nick nodded. "Yes Ma'am I do."

"...good." Ami said. "Nick I don't want to see you back in here for something like this again."

Nick nodded. "...that shouldn't be a problem." He said.

"...good." Ami said. "...see that it's not." She paused. "...you're dismissed Nick."

"...dismissed Aye Ma'am." He said, stepping backward. "...good evening Ma'am." He spun around, but was stopped by Ami's voice.

"Nick..."

He turned.

"I think when no one else is around you can just say goodnight."

He smiled. "...night Ami." He said.

She smiled back. "...night." She said.

Nick turned and walked out of the chamber.

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 11:

 

Tiembe looked around him. His chances of escape were fairly bleak. There were four dogs alongside him that were at least twice the size of Timbre. Their fur held scars and marks that spoke of many fights, and obviously they'd been won. He couldn't make much out in the darkness, but when it had been daylight he'd seen two more dogs by the door to what appeared to be an old warehouse of some kind. The dogs were keeping him in a back office that had been long since abandoned by its previous owner.

Tiembe smiled. "So, how long am I in for?" He asked sheepishly.

The dog at the side laughed. "...life." He growled. "...but don't count on that being too

long."

Tiembe gulped. "...but... why?" He asked.

The dog growled and turned. He may have been big, but he was fast too.

Tiembe found himself on the floor of the office. His jaw ached from the strike and he decided to stay down for the time being.

"Hey, back off!" A voice called. "...it's not his time yet."

Tiembe looked up and saw his savior approaching. He climbed to his feet and was about to thank him when the dog stepped into the moonlight. "...Josh?" He asked.

Josh nodded. "...indeed." He said.

"Why are you doing this?" Tiembe asked. "...have you lost your mind? Those guys hurt Shay. Why would you let them do that."

Josh laughed. "...oh I'm sure they stung her a bit... they wouldn't hurt her. They're under specific orders not to."

"...orders?" Tiembe asked. He looked around at the dogs. "How can you give them orders?"

Josh smiled. "I just promised them what no one else would give them."

"...what's that?" Tiembe asked.

"...justice." Josh answered. "I mean... let's face it, you pose just as much a threat to these guys mates and daughters as you did Jenna.... or Alyse? ...or maybe you can still taste the blood from Gemeni's murder."

"...what?" Tiembe asked. "...Gemeni's.... she's dead?"

Josh scoffed. "...don't act so surprised Tiembe."

"...what about Jenna and Alyse?" Tiembe asked. "...are they... dead?"

"I don't know." Josh said. "...but I'm sure you do." He walked over and put his paw on Timebe's throat, holding him down. "Tell me Tiembe, did you kill them? ...did you rip them apart and hide them so that we wouldn't find them? ...did you keep them somewhere nearby?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Tiembe asked. "...you're crazy Josh."

Josh laughed. "...you, calling me crazy? I'm not the one that slaughtered young females just because they fell in love with me."

"That's behind me." Tiembe said. "I've dealt with that demon."

"...have you?" Josh asked. "...then why do Jenna and Alyse dissappear right after you do? If you love my sister so much why did you leave her?"

"...I was afraid she'd get hurt because of me." Tiembe said. "I had a dream where... where she was killed."

"...so you left to protect her?" Josh asked. "Do you really expect me to believe that?" He growled. He pulled up his paw and smacked Tiembe in the nose. "I love my sister!" He screamed. He hit him again. "You almost killed her!" He hit Tiembe again. "How can you say you love someone you tried to kill!" Josh hit Tiembe again and then he stepped back.

Tiembe slumped to the floor.

Josh was breathing hard and he stepped up to Tiembe, placing his paw on his throat to hold him down. "Your time is coming Tiembe." He said. "I'm giving you time to think about it, to think about all those you killed one more time. Tomorrow your day of judgment arrives." He smiled. "...and don't expect this judge to give into sob stories."

Josh spit on Tiembe and backed off.

"...hope you enjoy your last night alive Tiembe." He said. He laughed and walked away.

 

It was early in the morning when Balto trotted up to the old mill, though the sun hadn't risen yet. He ran up and scratched on the door. He'd made awful time on his journey here, but as much as Balto wanted to get here quickly, arriving in one piece was more or less a good idea and with the Shadow Clan in the area he couldn't afford to be careless. He wouldn't do Jenna any good dead.

It seemed like hours before the door to the Old Mill creaked open and Astarre stood in the doorway.

She yawned. "...what is it?" She asked. "...do you have any idea what time it is?"

Balto smiled. "Hey Astarre."

Astarre's eyes snapped open. "Oh, Balto!" She stepped out onto the porch and nuzzled him. "How are you? I thought you were staying with..." She sighed. "...at the Talbourne.

Balto nodded. "I'm fine, and I was. ...but I had this dream and... well, is Blaize around?"

Astarre nodded. "Sure, I'll go get him."

Astarre disappeared inside the Old Mill and momentarily Blaize appeared to take her place.

"Dad, good to see you." He said.

Balto smiled. "You too son." He said. "How are things in Nome?"

Blaize sighed. "...not too good dad." He said.

"Oh?" Balto said. A concerned look came across

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