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All things have to end. So, now the is the Grand Finale.
Ps.
If anyone is concerned: BAR is abbreviation of Browning Automatic Rifle. I have no idea, how it came to Buckland. But it isn’t as weird as posthumous order for Arashi Tazaku;)
More info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1918_Brow ... atic_Rifle

XIII. Flame and Ice

Let’s see it from the air-perspective:
On island were two humans and wounded wolf. Arashi and Gunnar were holding theirs guns and waiting for situation to get clearer. Natalya was howling to her former pack-mates to stop the fight. Near to island were standing Conquerors Pack and Drifts Pack, then they formed a one group, looking on duel before them. Bucks and Peninsulas also were gazing on fight, cheering Steele. But before fighting wolves then were three silhouettes: Sasha, Amber and Crack. When Crack was securing them, his sister and brother made an effort to divide malamute and brown-furred, what they made barely. To that situation came sleds.
Ralph on first sled – still sliding – aimed with machine gun in group of wolves. Seeing that whole team froze, waiting for David’s decision. Husky barked an order and however neither Alau, Ami nor Cris knew the code of pullers, they successfully took that instruction. LEFT! Cried leader and whole sled turned.
Burst of automatic fire swept the ice-layer. Ralph overturned and fell on sled and probably thanks to that a rounds destined to hit Peninsulas just hit the ground several yards from nearest wolf. However it still caused serious mayhem. Heavy <O point three> bullets crushed ice before them. Next to siblings, Sergey and malamute a big crack was created. Before any of canines reacted, it started to extend.
Just one, slight impulse was required to free potential energy of frozen layer. Because temperature was so low, water froze rapidly in very unnatural way. Whole layer was stretched and fragile, so after hit of bullets numerous flaws grew. In about minute whole ring and area near of it became a web of cracks, slowly breaking.
Sasha jumped quickly headed and with two pounces he reached the solid ground. Crack grabbed Amber’s neck and they started to carefully jumping on ice-floats. Barely, but they joined their sister. Steele and Sergey stayed on big but remote float. Seeing all mayhem around, brown-furred decided to use the situation. He pushed hard the panting and lying helplessly malamute. But then he cause something he didn’t expected.
Steele was old dog, however he was still muscular and – what quite obvious – heavy, almost as wolf. Brown-furred was standing on two paws, with two front-ones pushing enemy. His paw-pads made significantly lesser friction than lying body of malamute. So Sergey instead of pushing enemy, just pushed himself to the brink on float. He managed to growl with confusion, then he disappeared behind the edge.
Ice-cracks were speeding fast to Peninsulas group. Because in front of pack were Niju and Flame. Father and son found themselves on one, small float, waving on moved water. Younger wolf instantly lost his balance and started to fall into frosty water. Seeing that Niju reacted instinctively – he jumped up and fall, hitting the ice below him. Float worked as a lever, throwing falling Flame aside in shore’s direction. Dymirt and some gamma, who were standing on brink of solid layer, managed to grabbed fur of half-submerged wolf into jaws. Niju landed on ice, smiled seeing his son is safe and then a wave caused by his jump overturned float. Flame turned his head back to see drowning father. Alpha howled in that howl sounded many things at once: “Strong will survive.” “Lead my pack” “I love you.”
“No!” called Ami.
Overturned sled was in snow-drift. Cart broke on tree, musher was threw away and then was desperately digging in snow to find BAR. Harness got tangled and confused dogs were still tangling it, by slowly exiting from below the snow-surface. Ami was up as first and she could see scene on ice.
“Cut me!” yelled to Daniel, Eva and Aleu thrown in snow next to her. Immediately three jaws grabbed a three main belts of harness and after just moment Ami was free.
Steele was laid on float and submerged his paws into the water. He was trying to row in place where Niju fell, but he saw no sign of friend. Some voice in his head again called: “Save your pack!”, but malamute knew he could jump after wolf. If dog die, fate of packs and humans was grim – it was over fifty raging wolves against man with machine gun. Whatever it would end, meant slaughter. Steele was only solid connection between two worlds: of man and of creatures. “I’m sorry, friend.” Murmured, looking on air-bubbles coming from the water. “I can’t risk their lives.”
And then came Ami.
Dark-furred was jumping on loose floats, overturning most of them, but managing to escape before they were gone. Finally she got to icy-island where Dymirt and Gamma were pulling shocked Flame out. She passed next wolves and jumped ahead.
“There!” called Steele, pointing with paw in eventual Niju’s direction.
Ami was strong she-wolf, she was swimming excellent. But in freezing water every second was important, before body gets hypothermed. And she had to find a drowning father-in-law.
“It’s bad idea!” yelled Steele, still padding on his float.
“Of course it is!” smiled Ami. “I’m you daughter after all!” So dark-furred took a deep breath and disappeared under surface.
Almost no one was looking on Natalya, when whole chaos started. But she stood up and started to hobble in cracks direction. She passed Arashi and Gunnar, still aiming with rifles, entered on ice. And when she saw events in front of her, she speeded up.
“Natalya!” called Cris, chewing his harness to get free. He was still snowblind, so he saw just blurry silhouettes on ice, but he sensed that his love was going to be heroic in extraordinary stupid way. “Stay where you are!”
“I stay with my pack!” she called and jumped to the air hole. Then she surfaced in free water and started to swim. To another place where air-bubbles were seen. Where Sergey drown.
“What?” gasped Steele. But he was just one – he had to follow with float Ami and Niju.
Then just next to Natalya emerged Ami, holding her alpha by fur. She smiled with relief and started to swim in Steele’s direction. In next few seconds another two muzzles showed on surface – Natalya’s and Sergey’s. Brown-furred was clearly unconsciousness, but still alive. Malamute waved his paw to show them direction. Whole four was slowly coming to float.
“Dad, it’s all right!” called Ami and then she disappeared. Just like that: in one second she, Natalya and their load were on surface and moment later they were pulled under ice-layer.
It happened what had to happened – crack on ice reached end of backwater, that means: beavers lodge. But it was old one and strength of crushing damaged whole structure. It broke, letting current flow at its full speed. So two bitches and theirs unconsciousness charges were sucked under still ice-layer. Steele gasped.
Finally Ralph got the gun and with triumphal cry he raised it from the snow. With impulse move, taught even during the Great War, he threw out empty clip and placed the new cartridge. Then he aimed gun on the backwater.
“Ralph!” called Tazaku from island. “Give it!” and he pointed on ice.
To island was retreating about forty wolves, probably scarred by previous burst. The ice between Ralph and surrounded friends was clear and it was just about fifty yards of slippery ice. Cursing loudly Ralph put BAR on ice and pushed it with all his might. Instantly after he reached for his colt in pocket. Machine gun slid on frozen surface, passing amazed wolves. Finally it got to the island’s shore, and was picked up by Gunnar.
“You know what to do?” asked Arashi.
“What we have to.” Replied Kaasen.
Mixed group of wolves stopped, seeing gun pointed at them. Norwegian steeped few steps ahead, standing on ice and looked down. Some of predators, especially those from Russia, knew that view well – human with powerful, automatic gun. They were too far to get to him, at least before he shoot all his clip out.
“Werk!” barked Olga, looking in black hole on the peak of rifle.
“Trust me.” Smiled Norwegian and opened fire.
Bullets hit the ice, crushing it easily. If there were wolves bodies it would be a slaughter. But Gunnar wasn’t aiming in wolves. At least not those wolves. He pointed on shades under ice, pulled by current. He fired about five yards before them and was shooting until his last round.
A big air-hole was opened. From there four silhouettes emerged. Half-drowned Ami, Natalya, Niju and Sergey were floating helplessly in few-yard-hole in-between humans and pack. They froze for several seconds then Arashi called.
“What now? We have to also pull them out?”
Then creatures ran to ice-hole and grabbed four companions. They made it in last possible moment, because bodies were sucking under ice again. But about ten jaws quickly grabbed sinking ones and took them on ice. Mean while Arashi waved his hand to Gunnar.
“Draw back to the fire.” He whispered. “I prefer not to test wolves gratitude.”
Trapped jumped back over the defensive fence. He reached the bottle of vodka from his pack and broke it on brush-wall. Then Tazaku threw a flaming branch from camp-fire on it. Poured with alcohol fence burst in flames and become glaring barrier in one second. Humans shielded on the other side of they defence, reloading rifle and revolvers.
“To the forest!” called Dymitr, who after knocking down all alphas was the last leader able to bring some order. “Take wounded and get out of here!”
Four packs – concordant as ever – retreated to grove nearby. All – including Niju and Sergey, carried on back, but without Steele, Natalya and crew from sleds. After about minute malamute got to the solid ice, jumped out from float and ran to his family.
“Ami!” called.
“With packs.” Replied Cris.
“Aleu? Cris? Natalya?” cried dog, but he saw that everyone is safe sighed. “Any wounds? Anyone still on Ice?”
“I’m glad to see you too, Steele.” Said Ice, totally confused by whole situation.
“***** it! They missed!” growled Ralph, raising his colt and pointing on Natalya, as she was the new wolf her didn’t recognize. But a concordant growl of all wolves and dogs stopped them. “She is in team too?” asked and burst with spasmodic laughter. Mean while Sara came from second sled, holding colt in one hand and two clips for BAR in second.
“Dad!” she called.
“We are all right!” replied Japanese. “We will beck there when we find some ice-passage.”
All canines who had taken a bath were taken care by sled teams. For every wet fur, two dogs laid next to, warming survivors up. Except of Natalya – apart of Eva and Daniel who were warming her, joined Cris, laying next to them and licking she-wolf’s face. After about minute from forest returned Flame, looking for father and mate. When he noticed they are next to humans, he barred his fangs, but quick look of malamute calmed him down.
“Ami?” asked wolf. “Dad? Are you all right.”
“It was better.” Replied alpha with weary voice. “But it would be much worse if not your girl.” Added, looking on Ami.
“Come here.” Called Steele. “Our big family is almost at full strength. But look, it seems that flame and ice could live together.” He added and smiled seeing that wild wolf was laying nest to sled greenland. “Ow, no one got my joke?” asked malamute with surprise. “O, my God! You even don’t know each other! Flame, that is Ice, leader of Buckland’s sled team and elder of town.”
“What?!” barked Ice. “You are alive and you are still the elder. Steele, what the hell happened here... and there... and then?” asked confused dog.
“Well, it will take some time to explain.” Smiled malamute. “But we have now time to explain.”
Natayla and Sergey were yet awake. Brown-furred moaned with pain, drawing attention of human doctor who reached to his pack to bandage wound on ear. But wolf ignored those efforts and looked on his saviour.
“Natalya... why?” asked.
“You were drowning.”
“But... I tried to kill you.”
“Maybe, but you were and you are from my pack.” She replied with serious voice. “Whatever happen, I have to take care about you.”
“Will you let me back?” asked brown-furred with amaze.
“Of course. But Sasha will be beta... and as you probably know, I have a candidate for alpha-mate already.” She licked Cris cheek and closed her eyes. She was extremely tired. Then they heard a sound of plane.
Eyes of dogs and wolves turned to incoming machine. Only Cris was looking with stare for something different. He noticed barely visible silhouette of dark-furred pup who went to Aleu and Steele, who were talking standing among town dogs. It looked a bit funny, when tiny ghost climbed on rear-paws to lick mother’s and then father’s cheek. Cris understood that no one other would see of hear the strange guest. Then Lucas looked on brother and said, probably not aloud but directly to mind of brownish-furred.
“I must go.”
“Can’t you...” asked Cris to understand he was also was talking not with his voice.
“No. But this is all right.” Said ghost. “If I go, it means that from now on you are safe. By the way...” coming to Cris he stopped nudge on Ami’s side. “Don’t tell it parents, because they won’t believe you... Just know that I really regret that I didn’t make it and be with you all a bit longer. But will be close, even if You don’t see it.” And in the same moment silhouette disappeared.
*
Philip Fering was piloting. Additionally it was a plane borrowed by his money. Neither Jack Straw – the Alaska Governor’s Special Environmental Commissioner nor John Ash were avid to fund it. US Government did what it could, giving Straw any plenary powers to appoint the area of the new national park, but gave him nothing more. The Great Crisis was still causing chaos even on remote state of Alaska. Fortunately the King’s Government turned out to be more generous. The case was fixed: it was a joined venture of Canada and US to create a special zone for wild animals. Wardens got the additional instructions on that case and Alaska governor assigned some funds for compensations for farmers for eventually killed cows. But anyway most of new pack had to be driven on eastern side of border, to Yukon. But that was the part that Philip hoped to order his American friends. Or American-Japanese-Norwegian friends.
“Prepare for landing.” Warned Fering. “Parachutes are in hold.” John and Jack Straw instantly stood up and set off from cockpit. “Stop! I was just kidding!” called Phillip and he added with quieter voice. “Those bloody stiff just can’t appreciate some well, English sense of humour...”
He lowered the plane. It was huge Fokker F. VII, triple engine machine, designed to hard conditions of the North. It was also equipped with float-undercarriage to land on lakes. Philip turned nose to plane down and smiled.
“Here they are!” called to still a bit scared companions. “And they were even so kind to clear ice from landing run for us...” He took another look, searching for something in forest. “But there are those wolves. I can see just bunch of well tamed dogs.”
*
Fokker landed easily, what pleased humans but scared wolves. They were still aware of strange, humans machines, however not as terrified as few weeks ago. Two-legged beasts turn out to be acceptable... in few cases.
“So, what’s the plan?” asked Cris, when he was standing with wolves in grove. Meanwhile his parents were telling whole story to dogs of Buckland.
“Quite simple.” Replied Natalya. “Peninsulas and Drifters will go back on their seats. They will try to make a room for one new pack and if they failed, we will worry about then... then. Conquerors... will be created as independent pack. It will be lead by Amber and Crack. Sasha still isn’t sure if she stays with me as beta or goes with brothers east. Because they have to move east. Yukon, I guess.”
“And Drift Pack?” asked Cris with tensed voice.
“It’s obvious – I will lead it.” Smiled she-wolf. “Not alone, I think.”
But then Cris narrowed his face and went away from circle of wolves. Natalya followed him to shore of backwater and asked.
“Cris... what happened? Aren’t you happy to be my mate and pack-alpha?”
“Natalya...” whispered dog with tensed voice. “I want it as nothing else on this world, but...” he sighed and looked in her eyes. “My parents need help. After that fight, dad might to cripple for good. Mom won’t be able to take care of him alone...”
“We will take him with us...” said Natalya firmly.
“Hobbling dog slowing down wolf-pack?” asked Cris mournfully. “It won’t work. I must...”
But then she interrupted him with kiss. They fell silent, caressing each other for long while and when they finally finished, silver-furred said.
“It was a time of miracles. I’m sure we could expect at least one miracle more.”
“What do you mean?” surprised Cris.
“Look!” Natalya pointed on humans, sitting next to the camp-fire.
*
“I still don’t get it.” Confessed Philip. “Why don’t you want to tell me, what happened here?”
“My friend...” said Arashi. “One thing I’m sure: you wouldn’t believe it.”
“Anyway.” Replied Canadian. “Now it’s your worry, I have much work back in Yukon. You must think about constant care over the park and some foresters in lodges...”
“We will manage it.” Assured Gunnar. “How do you think, Steele?” He stroked his dog, who was lying next to fire. “With Steele I’m sure we will manage.”

Nice one!

Least everyone will be okay. The humans especially.

So Natalya is willing to let Sergey back into the pack. That's good. Crack, Amber and Sasha are planning on taking their pack to the east. The three of them together will make great leaders.

Good chapter!

Tomorrow just a short epilogue.
If someone is curious how looks mentioned Fokker, check below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fokker_F.VII/3m

I'll be watching for the epilogue

XIV. Epilogue – The Age of Cris

It was about week after last snowfall. Since that time frost had come to Alaska, calming down all life and bringing the silence into forests. Sun was shinning on white and frozen land, but even its rays couldn’t broke the spell of cold. However under that silence still was life. Hidden but still strong. Actually it was the hardest time of winter – end of February when herbivores were falling due to lack of forage and carnivores were falling due to lack of herbivores, so only scavenges had an easy life. Then was the time of trials that Niju spoke about weak ones died and strong barely survived. Usually.
Steele yawned in warmth of stove. He was laying on furry carpet in the middle of forester lodge. From his bedding he saw a white word outside what brought him strange thoughts. He wanted to be there, free and wild, running in frozen forest, looking for the last game of that winter. It was hard life, but surely life itself. The fight always made him sense the blood in his veins and gave him that bitter-sweet emotion that was the point of his existence. It was always be like that – when he was the sled-leader, winner of all mushers contests, but also later when he was alone facing the whole pack of wolves, seeking his own vengeance. In that moment he wanted to avenge Sky, but also – what he was able to face just after many years – standing in front of furious pack brought him the same taste of adventure like the hardest routes in sled. And even later – happy years in forest with Aleu and pups somehow were reminding him the never-ending trial. Every day’s struggle for food and battle with winter frosts. And during his whole, almost fourteen-year long life Steele was fighting. Others dogs, Balto, frost, own weakness, wolves, game of Alaska – it doesn’t matter – it was the real life. For the very first time malamute was calm and out of duties. Living with his master took away from him necessity of hunting and being careful of own neck.
And this was the second thought that came to Steele – it was time for that. In wild he would be probably dead – due to frost or some malnutrition illness. Of course, if not care of Aleu and Cris he would be dead long before, but it was the way of Nature. However that order was... if not disturbed, at least modified by humans. Gunnar Kaasen decided to leave all his employments and became the main warden of new-created wolf-park in Seward Peninsula. He moved to small cabin near to Northern Route, where he lived visited only by his friends: Arashi Tazaku and John Ash. But he was not all alone. He had his dog. And somehow – the wolf.
Steele stood up, sniffing the well known scent. Gunnar, napping on armchair next to stove even didn’t moved, knowing that his dog knew what he was doing. So malamute walked slowly – he was hobbling on three paws – to doors to vestibule and exited by dog-hatch. Then he went thought the next, similar passage to get outside.
For unprepared malamute frost seemed to be biting. Front-left paw instantly started to ache, but he clenched his jaws and ignored it. He looked north, where he noticed Aleu, returning from hunting. But apart of his mate, dog noticed also silhouette of wolfdog, walking from west and more wolves behind. It was the Drifts Pack.
Aleu went to Steele, with pride she put down the killed rabbit. Then she noticed another guests and she smiled radiantly.
“Look, your son came to visit you.” She said.
“And you to, mom.” Said Cris. To wolfdog joined silver-furred bitch, being in advanced pregnancy. The rest of pack stopped about fifty yards from cabin, still too scared by humans to approach closer. Natalya was able to get to seat of two-legged, because she still remembered well the care that doctor Tazaku provided her. So she marched, following her mate, to brownish-furred wolfdog and malamute.
“Hi, mom, hi dad...” said Cris.
“Good day, ma’am. Sir.” Said Natalya officially and nodded her head.
But Ale came to her and licked her cheek cordially. She was so excited with coming pups, almost as parents-to-be.
“I guess not so good, if you were forced to visit your oldies.” Said Steele and smiled.
“Mom! Not in front of pack!” hissed Cris when Aleu was licking him as if he was tiny pup.
“Ow, leave him.” Snorted malamute. “He is alpha after all.”
“Sir, we came here for advice.” Said Natalya seriously.
Steele raised his ears with interest. So now it came the age of Cris and Natalya, but he still was needed by them. An advice – well, it still was some sort of fight. Maybe not with specified enemy but with own ignorance and stupidity. Steele smiled in mind. Both aching paw and ask of daughter-in-law was making him to feel the life. Until it ends, he have to be the best.
Until that day – he was.

Yeah! So finally it’s done. My first clear happy-ending fanfic, with some clear positive and just half negative heroes, without main character-killing and last but not least: without usual gore stuff, like eyes-ripping or head-blasts-off from point blank shoots:) Shortly: I will rate it as [everyone]. Maybe not everything went as I planned (but if some day I be fully satisfied with my work, that would be the end of all progression;), but I like TAoC anyway.
I’m looking forwards some complex reviews, here on site (it will be sent soon), fanarts and so on.

Now that's what I call a happy ending. Everyone lives and nobody dies. Very nice! I like this one too.

Hello Everybody!
I’m sorry, I’m not on site/forum last days, but I went into berserk with writing my master's thesis. I’m watching site/forum but I have time for almost nothing. When I’ll finish, I’ll sure celebrate this with some new fanfic <lol2>

Hey now, don't worry about not responding. Having to write a thesis can take up a lot of time. It's alright. Good luck with it.

Writing a thesis is indeed more important than the forum.
I'm just curious; what is the thesis about?

For now I could say that it is connected with TLK. When I’ll finish, I’ll surely boast of it;)

Welcome everyone!

For now I’ve finished writing main part of my magister’s thesis and I have a bit more free time (for creating stories and for making up all your ffics I’ve missed in last few weeks). So I’m thinking what to write now, because I have lots of ideas to develop. So look on pool and decide what You wish to read in the first place.

viewtopic.php?t=14703&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

TLK:
1). “Previous Round (of The Circle of Life)” – long, epic story about Zira’s and Sparthi’s youth – prequel to TSH/TGQ/TNR trilogy. Probably primary interesting for Zira’s fans like me.
2). “Father's Day” – direct sequel of TSC/TGQ – story about events right after start of Vitani’s and Tanabi’s reign. What happened with our friends from previous tales and a story about three lionesses, seeking their fathers – namely: Windy Rouges from TGQ. Recommended for all TGQ-fans.
Balto:
3. “Tale of Three Sisters” – story about puphood and growing of Mackenzie Sisters from TDoN/TAoC. Recommended for all who likes my characters from TAoS/TDoN/TAoC
4. “Vengence is mine (I will replay)” – this is a long and epic series of stories about alternative Steele’s biography. Because Steele, fleeing from Nome, took east, not north direction (as it happened in TAoS), whole history went in different way. Probably most interesting story for Steele-fans.

Hmm.... it's hard to decide as all your ideas are brilliant

Well, to be honest, since your last story was a Steele story, you should (if you want) go with a TLK story.

You have a nice summary. 'Father's Day' sounds interesting as does 'Previous Round of the Circle of Life' To know Zira and Sparthi's childhood and what they were like. Nice plan!

Mind if I suggest 'Father's Day'? The others look really good too but whatever you choose is fine with me!

So, I’m gathering ideas for FD, but pool is still on. If some of You have other suggestions, write about it!