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III.I. Alliance

I shall ask the Father, and he will give you another Paraclete to be with you for ever
John 14:16

Weather was cheering to fast ride. Unless convoy reached the forest on the other side of pass, they were just sliding in silence. Jimmy, leader of second sled was almost touching the first card, careful not to lose the way. Gunnar Kaasen was sure about route, because he was convinced that his best guide, Steele, was leading. In fact the leader was Balto, however spirit of malamute was still saving the convoy. In blizzard no one, even wolfdog, was able to see the road, so clear track after last travel was matter of life and death. Balto ran as fast as he could, because of two simple reasons. He wanted to see the track before it was covered with fresh snow. And additionally he wanted to be sure that master Kaasen wouldn’t go back for Steele, when he notice the lost. But Norwegian was too wrapped up with driving sled to sensing any tragedy.
As we said, they stopped after passing icefield, in forest of Buckland area. That was just a pine wood, but after running in pass and on slope of Yukon Range it seemed to be a save haven. So both mushers stopped their sleds and started to make a camp.
“We did it!” was still repeating Peter. “We went through the Eagle Pass!”
“Don’t be so haughty.” Interrupted him Gunnar, overscreaming the blizzard. Although they were in forest, wind was howling loud. Still reminding them how close they had been to death. “That was not you, but Steele. If not he… Well, anyway. Give me that lad here, I must thank him.”
“What?” surprised musher.
“I asked you to return me Steele, at least for a while.”
“But… I thought your leader was running with you.” Said Peter with uncertain voice.
“Where is Steele? I sent him to your sled…”
“I didn’t harnessed him…”
Norwegian stood up and ran to dogs, digging dens in the snow. No one had seen the absence of malamute yet, but when human started to call his favourite and looking in ready holes, murmur started among dogs.
“O, my God!” gasped Maya. “There is actually no mister Steele here!”
“What?” barked Raynor. “He had to run in your team… It’s impossible…”
“Dad?” asked Kodi quietly, looking on the brink of forest and raging element farther. “Did mister Steele…”
“I fear he stayed there.” Replied Balto, trying to repressed the shivering of his voice.
“Oh, no…” whispered Kodi. Dog felt that thanks to him died three companions.
“We go back!” called Gunnar Kaasen, preparing card. He turned to Peter. “You may stay here, I just have to back on pass and…”
“Sir! It’s useless.” Replied young musher with serious voice. “We would never find him in such a weather. And… we no longer know the way. If he was leading us, now…”
“Dammit!” shouted Norwegian and kicked the snow under his feet. “But we must…”
“There’s no use.” Called Peter. “I’m very sorry, sir, but we just can’t…”
“Steele.” whispered human. In eyes of hard and tough musher appeared tears.
*
Steele couldn’t estimate time of his unconsciousness, because in snow cave nothing changed. Or maybe it became even more firm prison, because warmth of malamute melted some snow and frost turned water into the solid ice. Only clue to examine the time under surface was diminution of Steele’s adipose tissue. It was funny to watch on dying of own body. Steele understood that he was knocked out maybe even for four days. Meanwhile his body was struggling with low temperature, that caused extremely high energy consumption. Steele was wounded, not in condition to do anything except of regenerating his injuries. However his body awoke him, because it hadn’t more energy to do that. Dog awoke from cold.
He was too exhausted to stand up, so he just took a look around, checking his situation. It was even worse that he could expect – the tunnel where sled and team had gotten out, was buried with mass of fresh snow. Steele crawled to wall of his prison, touched it and understood that he was trapped under ice. Almost – it was mass of dense snow, firn and actual ice, mush to hard to pierce it even by healthy dog. And Steele was cold, hungry and crippled. His real-left paw was completely paralysed. But then his stare came across two bodies of dogs.
“Hey! Wake up!” he called, but then he understood those were victims of avalanche: Bart and Fitch. So he crawled to them, however it was rather an order of body than mind. He put his head on stiff carcass of Bart and inhaled deeply, in the same time sniffing smell of meat.
“So, it came to that?” he thought. “I’m going to eat dog’s meat? For what? Just to survive few days longer?”
But then before his eyes appeared a picture of Berenice. She was looking on him with love and devotion. And something was unusual in that view – she was in advanced pregnancy. It was impossible – according that she conceived that night before departure, eventual pregnancy should be visible for about month. But that shocked Steele and brutally let him know the whole situation he was. “My children are here, on this world. Still unseen, but present. I’m already father. God! Why it came so sudden! This is definitely bad time to die.” Then he thought that every time is rather not good to die, however he hoped that God got the point. “I must live! I must get away from here and return to Berenice… I’m not able to, but I must.” He recalled all data about tunnel. It was a five metres pass in snow – something easy to dig by human with spade but extremely hard for lamed and exhausted dog to repeat it. Almost impossible, that why Steele had to try.
“I’m sorry, pal.” He murmured and plunged his teethes in Bart’s body. He required energy to live and work and eating carcasses was the only way to secure that. With disgust he was devouring portions of puller’s body, however with every bite he felt stronger. Warmth was slowly coming from his stomach and waking up half-asleep body. A small hope sprouted in heart of malamute.
After he ate about ten pounds of dog’s meat, he hobbled to the mouth of tunnel and came to dense mass of snow. It was heavy and overwhelming, but he could dig. With heavy effort, but he could. So puller laid on belly and started to slowly mowing his paw in monotonous move, carving in firn. When he understood how slow he was going, he stopped and thought for a while. He estimated his chances on about one third, before he run out of food (God! He was thinking about those dogs as food already!) and oxygen. One third to get out and then he had to get some meat and cross mountains with wounded legs. His odds were minimal, however malamute had to try. While digging, he had in front of his eyes picture of pregnant Berenice, looking on him with silent plead in her stare. That was really cheering – Steele had no other choice that to dig in snow and crawl ahead.
Dig and crawl. Dig and crawl. Dig and crawl… and that maybe up to Judgementday. To prevent his mind from madness, he was entertaining himself with thinking what he would do to Balto, when he finally get him.
*
Sleds returned to Nome on 4th February. Somehow Nomers were there on outskirts of city to greet survivors and rescuers. Maybe they were waiting there for all the time. At least part of citizens, especially four-legged. Delegation of dog community established something like camp on Northern Road, in building of old fish-preserve factory. It was desolate hall on the outskirts of town. From there was a clear view on road north.
Berenice was there, that was obvious, however she questioned herself what for? To see Steele few minutes earlier? Once she was laughing at such a irrational acting, but when she was in long and fear, she did the same – camped with several other dogs on route to Buckland.
There were expecting sleds just about that time. Everyone on town estimated that way to Eagle Pass could take up to four days and return about so. That meant they had to go back before 7th February and if they don’t, that meant another tragedy or at least complete failure of rescue mission. Of course they could go to Buckland and it was even rational acting if Peter Kinrs or his dogs were wounded, but… Berenice was praying for quick return of Steele and countless times she was bothering Morse with questions about news on post office.
But that morning they finally came – two sleds running fast from Northern Route to Nome. First noticed them Jenna, who announced it with loud barking. Berenice had fell asleep, due to night guard, but instantly stood up, after husky’s alarm. With rest of gathered dogs (including Star, Miko and others) she ran on field in front of factory, where was road.
Early sun was shyly shining from eastern sky, enlightening snowed field and two cards. A sigh of fear sounded among dogs. They expected fourteen silhouettes harnessed to sleds. There were just eleven. “But better that way than none.” Thought she-malamute, but then fear choked her, because she failed to spot Steele.
Both teams reached factory and pack of local dogs set off to chase after newcomers, making ear piercing noise of barks and howls. Most of them were cries of joy and relief, however some voices expressed disbelief and pain. Kurt and Kim, parents of Bart. Rose, mate of Fitch. Suddenly Berenice understood she was also howling with despair. There were no Steele.
Mushers stopped, seeing that dogs were unable to pull further. They released both harnesses and watched their charges, running to and mixing with group of those who had stayed.
She-malamute was walking like in trance. She noticed that Jenna ran to wolfdog and cuddled into his side. Hybrid received this caress with unusual cold, or maybe fear. He was looking for her with his sight, but when their stares met, he instantly turned his head to the ground.
“Where is Steele!?” cried Berenice, stopping before wolfdog.
“Berenice… It’s hard to explain, but…”
“Where he is!?”
“He… is dead.” Said Balto with breaking voice. She even didn’t understood him words, who drowned in noise around, but she read from lips and that was far enough. In the same time she bared her fangs and burst with cry.
“Give him back to me!” cried with despair, pouncing on hybrid.
Balto was surprised and even if he was waiting for that, fast and agile Berenice was unable to stop. She pinned him down to the ground and at random his with jaws on his side. With strength she did it, hybrid’s neck would be squashed, fortunately she didn’t aimed for that. There was even no hatred in that, only a simple and irrational hope to force leader to tell, where Steele really was.
Several dogs came to she-malamute and with heavy effort took her back from Balto. Jenna came to his mate and helped to stand up, and other local dogs were keeping Berenice in place.
“I’m so sorry.” Yelled Balto. “That’s a tragedy and…”
“Where he is?” shouted bitch and tried again to pounce on hybrid. However she was grabbed by many strong jaws. So she just fell helplessly to the ground. Jenna pulled her mate back to Kodi and Dusty, who were greeting with Dusty’s parents. It was a celebration, so redfurred had no strength to cope with another bereavement. What she missed was that Balto was looking on crying Berenice long after they went aside.
“Kodi…” sighed Jenna and hugged her son. Since that moment she paid no more attention of Batlo. And wolfdog was carefully looking as Star and Maya lead off Berenice to Kaasen shed. When she disappeared in doorstep of building he finally turned to his mate.
“I missed you both.” She whisper, licking his cheek. “So good you are here back.”
“I’m back as fast as I could.” Replied wolfdog with hollow voice.
*
Dig and crawl. Dig and crawl. Dig and crawl.
Steele didn’t know how much way to go left, because he tried to ignore length of tunnel and do not estimate the distance. He tried to make a break after every two hours, however he was shut from sunlight and his sense of time would be distorted. It was possible he was resting one for twenty minutes of one for twelve hours. In fact it didn’t matter, the point was to dig and crawl.
It was hard to stay sane in such white prison, where stock of food (“Oh, my God! Food!?”) and oxygen was shortening in every moment. However malamute managed to remain clear mind and act rationally. He was eating regularly, even when he was sick of devouring dog’s meat. He was drinking, however his body refused to receive more moisture. And he was still bothering his mind with any imaginations, just not to let madness crawl in. He was recalling Berenice, memories from recent past, but also those older, like times of plague. Then, not to be monothematic, he recalled Balto, especially picture of Balto from his old dream – wolfdog with bitten throat, bleeding out on the snow.
After few metres of digging (but as we said: he didn’t know how far exactly) Steele came to confusion he perfectly understood motives of wolfdog. Hybrid felt endanger by Steele, feared that new achievement of malamute would shade his fame and – if that was true, what leader still wasn’t sure – Balto hoped to gets Berenice heart. That motivation seemed absurd for Steele (“She with other dog? That’s funny!”), however he knew that sometimes absurd causes are the stronger ones. Dog reconsidered whole case without emotions (he knew that emotions could make his pulse faster, exhaust him and cause faster oxygen consumption) and came to very strange conclusions.
Balto was in fact innocent – he did the same what once Steele did: attempted to kill rival because of own pride and hope for getting mate. Malamute understood that perfectly. That didn’t mean he didn’t want to tear Balto to pieces, however that wouldn’t be exactly a revenge, but just want to secure himself from further danger. Or not – one thing was enraging Steele anyway. It because of Berenice. Balto could not know they were planning pups, however he knew they were good couple, and killing him, he was hurting her also. So even if Steele disown his own rage, he was still angry on behalf of mate and pups.
But then malamute stopped a torrent of his thoughts and with amaze understood that in some conditions he would even be grateful Balto. If he was going to die, Berenice would have stay alone without care. Of course she was independent and in field of self-defence totally save due to her fighting abilities, but she still could stay alone. In that case Steele even hoped that she would be with Balto. “He is a dork, but apart of that he would be a fine mate to secure our kids. Kids… maybe it would be not so bad, if they would grow as wards of great Balto…” He was really amazed that such a thought didn’t enraged him. “But I must think rationally, pride matters not, comparing to security and prosper of my children.” He added, but then laughed in mind. “Think rationally? It isn’t rationally! Berenice would never mate with Balto… and worse she probably won’t be with anyone else.” He crawled another inch ahead. “And that is the next reason I have to survive.” He smiled and fully returned to his routine.
Dig and crawl.
*
Balto came to Kaasen shed about midnight, hoping Berenice was alone. But she wasn’t. In building were at least two other dogs, speaking aloud with bitch. Hybrid hesitated on doorstep, however he entered.
“…I know what to do and… Ow, another <good uncle> to collection!” growled, seeing Balto. “Should I start to throw you out by my fangs?”
“You could try.” Said Star with unexpectedly – at least for him – serious voice.
“Berenice, we wish just to help…” added Maya.
“And you?” asked she-malamute harshly, turning to Balto. “Are you came here to again say how are you sorry and how you pity of my Steele? Go away, before I show how I’m sorry…”
“Stop it!” called Star with more decisive voice. “I can’t call myself Steele’s friend, however I was his charge for long time and if no one could take responsibility for you, I will. I owe that to boss.”
“And you?” asked Berenice, still looking in Balto’s eyes. “Are you <good uncle> because you ruin his career, drove him out of town and recently left him in mountains, in thank for saving your son. That why are you here?”
“You could send me off, but I will wait under your door, for moment you will be able to speak with me.” Said Balto barely sounding decisively.
“No way, I’m coming for him.”
“WHAT?” yelled Balto.
“I said her, that’s no use.” Murmured Star. “But she doesn’t listen.”
“He is alive! I feel it!” Then Star looked on hybrid.
“Balto, is there any chance that Steele is alive?” Wolfdog shook his head. “So you see. Balto was there.”
“And even if!” called Maya. “Have you right to risk life of you pups… your and Steele’s pups to check it? Think for a while! That journey is a suicide and you and children. You don’t have to wait for day of birth – you are responsible for them already!”
“But… but…” she sobbed.
“We couldn’t helped him.” Said Star. “I’m sorry, but I’m also helpless. As well as you.”
“OUT!” shouted Berenice, but after a second she narrowed her eyes in expression of shame. “I mean… I’m sorry… But go away, please.” Three dogs set off to the door. “Balto stays!” she ordered, but then added with softer voice. “If you could…”
“Of course.” Replied confused hybrid. Star and Maya left the shed. Meanwhile Berenice laid down on straw-bedding and showed wolfdog another place. He carefully took his place and asked, looking on bitch.
“How may I…”
“How he died?” she asked with hollow voice.
“I didn’t see his end… in fact no one see and that why we thought he was with us. You know – first team thought he was in second and the second… I’m not sure what happened.” Concluded, putting enormous effort in that lie. “I guess he fell in some crack. Then was a blizzard, and it was hard to see anything. I doubt… if we even noticed his disappearance, I’m not sure if we were able to find him. We had wounded ones and storm was growing.”
“You should have.” Interrupted him Berenice. “He saved you son.”
“Berenice, please, understand me!” called hybrid. “It’s so hard for me… I will be haunted by that evening till the end of my life… I know that is my fault!” cried with sudden bolt of honesty. “And if you decide I’m worthy only of your despise, I accepted it with humility. But forgive me… I failed, but I wanted good.” She was silent for long while and Balto was hearing his own heart clatter. “Now she will decide…” he thought with fear.
“No, Balto…” she whispered finally. “I know I can’t blame you. Forgive me my reactions… That is a shock for me… And loss you just can’t imagine. For me and our children.”
Balto wanted to be silent, but his heart forced him to open his mouth and call.
“Berenice, let me help you! I promise, I will take care about your pup as they were my own… I will make up you for that loss in every way I’m able too!” She was looking for him with amaze on her face, saying nothing. Balto felt scared by own declaration, that was showing many of his emotions. Too many. And she didn’t answered. But she also didn’t say <no>!
“Leave me alone… for now.” Said she-malamute with soft voice.
“You won’t go to the mountains?” Balto wanted to be sure.
“I won’t.” she replied. “I know that Steele, if he was here, would have forbid me.”
Hybrid left Kaasen’s shed with head full of screaming voices. There were blasting his head out with every heart-beat, making him drunk with both fear and hope. When he came further from Kaasen’s house, he submerged his head into snow-drift to cool his fever. It worked only partially.
He felt total chaos inside. I murdered Steele. I don’t love Jenna anymore. I love Berenice. But I made her cry, killing Steele. How it came to that? Jenna, what went wrong between us, that I felt in love with her? Berenice? What have you done with me, that I did what I did? Steele? what would you say about that? I did what you once did… the difference is that I… succeeded. My God… but for what cost?
Although all came as it should have, Balto was crying inside. He was crying because he betrayed Jenna and even more he was touched by Berenice’s misery. He was pity that she lost his mate, but what made her to grieve was reason that Balto felt happy and delighted. Because he was happy and miserable, delighted and scared to death, tore between joy and regret. And he was standing over those two forced inside of him, not sure which one he should follow.
“Leave the dead to bury their dead.” Thought half-wolf. “I can’t change what happened… however I just can’t let fruits of that waste.”
He smiled and raised his head from snow. He know what to do. He was going to reach his aim, whatever it took.
“Thank you, Steele.” she thought. “You gave a lesson I will never forget!”

III.II. Another Paraclete

Dig and crawl.
Steele lost his routine. He didn’t eat nor drink water from snow. He also knew that his body was unable to accept neither food nor moisture. Moreover was unable to stop the fever burning it. Oxygen was almost gone, dog was breathing with carbon dioxide and other toxins of own body. Hypoxed muscles were doing their job only thanks to steel order of will. Dig and crawl, was repeating half-dead malamute.
Steele knew he lost – even if he was about to reach the air, he was too exhausted to get any food and survive. All his logic advised him to give up and surrender to pleasant sleep of death. But love, who was guiding him for past two years was driving him still further, even to receive more of suffering. But he had to try. He owed it to Berenice.
Suddenly Steele sensed that snow before him was thinner and it got aside easily. So he was on the end of journey to die under the stars… But wait! Something was wrong… I was going too easy, so dog had hallucinations, or… someone was digging from the other side.
Fresh air his Steele’s lungs like a hammer. Sudden deluge of oxygen caused unexpected nausea and shivers. He were barely sensing he was pulled out by someone’s jaws and put on the snow under midday sun. He was breathing again and making up for days of oxygen fast. Consciousness was returning to him slowly, but he finally noticed that some small dog, mongrel of some kind, was standing over him.
“If you are going to die anyway, say it. I’m hurry right now and I wish to go farther.” Steele’s answer was just a hysterical laughter. “*****! You are alive and there is a chance that it will stay that way…” murmured yellow furred mutt. “I guess you want me to feed you and…” Steele was still laughing, due to oxygen shock. “God dammit!” shouted newcomer. “I’m really want to kill that Balto quick and have it done, so…”
“You want to kill him too?” asked Steele, laughing even not being sure what was talking about.
“What could you know about it?”
“I know some Balto from Nome. A real *******!” gasped malamute, still giggling and shivering in fever. “He killed me and now he is going cheat my old girlfriend and mate with my mate, because I’m dead.” Yellow furred nodded his head with indifferent expression on his muzzle. He seemed to saying: <Doctor advised to nod>. But suddenly he narrowed his eyes and asked with confusion.
“You are talking about Balto, son of Black and Aniu?” Laughter of Steele ceased on one second.
“He his son of Black and Aniu?” gasped with weak voice. “The last from Ravens Pack…”
“What the hell!?” called yellow furred. “Are that wolf-slaying malamute?”
“How do you know Aniu and Black?” asked Steele. because of still being in shock he added automatically. “They killed my father…”
Mongrel shook his head, as if he wanted to dispel an illusion, but when he noticed that malamute was still there in front of him, he said.
“That is impossible, however I must check it. Do not die for a moment pal! I will get something to eat and you will tell me more.”

Good to know that Steele has a strong will to survive. Not just for himself but for his mate and pups. So he's met Victor. With him together they will crush Balto. (Hope they do! He's caused enough heartache) Great chapters! Update soon!

So here is: Steele is back in play.

IV.I. Ahead, to the past

Then Peter went up to him and said, 'Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times?'
Jesus answered, 'Not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times.
Matthew 18; 21-22

Balto teethes had made a serious damage and Steele even made things worse, using wounded paw in his desperate attempt to release himself. Malamute didn’t saw his injuries but from murmurs of Victor he understood that it was bad.
“There is no other way.” Said mongrel. “I will take you to some cave and you have to recover, at least few weeks.”
“I need to go to Nome as fast as it’s possible. Or at least send a message I’m alive.”
“No way!” snorted yellow furred. “You can’t walk now, and even if you try, you will make things worse. And I can’t serve as you messenger – even if I could – because leaving you here means your death. For that coming week I must feed you.”
“Yeah, you don’t have to recall me that.” Murmured Steele angrily.
It was dawn of another day, both dogs were in improvised den in snow, still on ice field. Victor had brought remounts of some deer and malamute was highly amazed how such a small dog was able to done that. After his miraculous rescue Steele was still exhausted and shocked, that why he reacted quite nervously on mongrel. Victor stood it with unusual patience.
“Temper, temper.” Smiled yellow furred. “We just made a deal. You paid for meat with your knowledge and contacts in Nome.”
“I just… let that rascal to beat me up!” murmured furiously malamute.
“In surprise.” Noticed Victor. “It just happened.”
“And I can’t repay for that… I swore…”
“Yeah, yeah.” Nodded yellow furred. “That part he have already fixed. I will do the dirty part. However, I need you alive for this.”
Previous evening, after Steele generally recovered after his carbon intoxication, partial dehydration and hunger, both dogs exchanged scraps of own stories, concerning Balto. When Victor was digging a hole for night, Steele told him about his search of Ravens Pack and its deadly outcome. Then he mentioned about totally different case, that meant: wolfdog.
“That is the same.” Replied tired mongrel. “He is son of Black and Aniu.”
“You kidding me!” gasped malamute.
“Am I looking for someone with sense of humour?” asked yellow furred. “I was tracking them for last… ow, hell, it was almost five year.”
“How old are you?” asked a bit confused leader.
“Six.”
“So you have… an interesting life.” Said carefully Steele.
Victor didn’t know why he did it, however he did it. He told that strange malamute about his life, about Agatha and wolves, his life in Selawik and journeys in mountains. He had never show that much to anyone, even to Daisy. But that wounded dog seemed to understand him in way that Victor never expect would someone understand.
“I’m sorry.” Said finally.
“No, you don’t.” replied yellow furred.
“Well, I didn’t know your mate and I’m not talking about her, because indeed that wouldn’t be honest. I mean that I’m sorry to take your vengeance. It seems that you have taken a lot time in vain.” Victor unexpectedly laughed.
“You are interesting, puller.” He said. “And it seems that I need you for time being. I will guide you safe to Nome if you let me kill Balto and help me to do that.”
“Deal.” Agreed malamute.
So on the next day they moved to safer place, partially shielded from avalanched by some rocks. It looked funny – Victor was pulling, or better to say: dragging Steele on snow, grabbing his collar. It was way down, however it was still dangerous, so sled leader – and then also <sled cargo> was guiding his saviour about the path. That way they got to the rock pile.
“Den is ready.” Announced Victor. “But wait, I will help you.” He came to dog and dragged him inside.
“You seem to be skilled in such <nursing> stuff.” Noticed with half-irony Steele.
“Because I am. Since Agatha.”
“Ow, sorry.” Murmured malamute.
“There is nothing to apologize for.” Snorted mongrel. “I’m recall my love anytime I want and I like it.” Lied. In fact remark of Steele touched him deeply. “But now lay here and I will check in that forest nearby has any game inside.”
“How the hell you are going to feed us both?”
“I’m skilled in that too.” Said and disappeared in growing darkness.
*
They were living that way for about week – Victor was hunting, Steele was bored and his body was trying to heal wounded leg. On eighth day they decided to move down to find some cave. Possibility of another avalanche was still low, however if some accident would have happened, Victor couldn’t guarantee Steele’s safety in improvised keep. So they came to some cavern in Yu’s slope (way don was looking funny – giant malamute was constantly supporting on back of smaller dog) and took it as own. Somehow it was their own – it was the same crack that once Victor and Agatha took as shelter, then it was used for some time by Berenice’s parents and finally Victor had been camping there year earlier. So it brought both dogs some memories.
“Berenice…” said Steele with dreamy voice, on one evening when they were lying in cave. “When you see her, you will understand why I just let Balto go… Man, sometimes I think that I just threw away in vain that year I was running in mountains and looking for those wolves. I mean… it’s good that scums are dead… but I haven’t resurrected my father. And it actually caused that I was with Berenice a year earlier.”
“I can’t say I envy you that.” Snorted mongrel. “However it’s nice to hear you have your own way.”
“Haven’t you ever thought… to do something else than that revenge?” asked Steele.
“No. I don’t need such a plans right now.”
“E… never? Haven’t you… You know, any bitch have never…” Victor interrupted how with snort. “Ow, never mind.”
*
Balto became an often guest in Kaasen’s shed. In fact after death of Steele almost whole town recalled that malamute actually had done few nice things for community. Suddenly some started to talk about his sled leader career, some other reminded that Steele was saviour of Peter Kinrs’s and his team. Because it’s always much easier to show respect and admire to someone is not there, malamute became a hero, almost in the same degree as Balto three years earlier. Shed of master Gunnar became in some sense a central place of town and if Berenice and Steele used to ignored in society, then Berenice alone became a mayor figure of Nome community. But a deaf figure, because she totally shut from any other dogs.
There were some exceptions, most notable that Star and his niece: Maya (saved by expedition) were regularly visiting pregnant bitch. She seemed to be tired by that constant care, however she accepted that if huskies let her be alone for most of time. The third guest was Balto in person. Berenice was rather indifferent towards wolfdog’s concern, however she let him be with her for even more time that she let Star. Balto was easier companion, because he was rather silent (shy?) companion. She-malamute could accepted quiet presence of hybrid.
Labour was quite easy and Berenice gave birth to five pups, two dogs and three bitches. Master Gunnar called them: Steele (of course…), Sharp (it was just coincidence, Norwegian didn’t know he gave him grandparent’s name), Arrow, Regne and Sol. All of them looked somehow like mother’s mirrors, however when they started to open their eyes, Berenice saw that all of them had unusual for their breed blue eyes. Just like Steele.
“May I…” asked Balto on doorstep of shed. She-malamute just nodded her head so he entered. “Ow, they are beautiful.” Smiled hybrid, coming closer to pups, sucking mother’s breast.
“Yes, I notice that.” Said Berenice, but in that statement was no irony, just a sad indifference.
“May I look them closer?”
“Yes, sure.” Replied malamute, however when Balto was carefully touching pups, she was looking on that with watchful stare as if she was ready to take back her children by force. Wolfdog stroked tines, and but then quickly crawl back to mother, scared by new and unknown scent. “Maybe they even somehow sense that I killed their father.” Though Balto with spark of madness.
“Berenice.” He asked with breaking voice. “Please, tell me, how may I help you.”
“Now you can’t.” she replied. She wanted to add <but you could have brought back Steele>, but she didn’t. “Just… Balto, I’m very grateful that you told them about Steele’s past. Very grateful. But somehow I just can’t forget that he died saving your son. So please forgive that I’m sometimes harsh for you, because of things you haven’t caused.”
“I will go now.” Said wolfdog. “But if you need my help… my accompany, just tell. I’ll be here instantly.”
“You have your family.” Noticed Berenice.
“I guess you need more care than they, right now.” Replied, exiting the shed. Then he added in mind. “And I need you more than them. Than Jenna.”
He wanted to return to his boat, but she intercepted him before he left Nome. It could eb pure coincidence, or she was waiting for him. It didn’t matter – Balto was really irritated to see Jenna.
“You were with Berenice.” She noticed with voice seemingly washed out from emotions. In fact she was really scared about Balto, however she wasn’t sure what exactly she was fearing.
“I was.” Nodded hybrid. “I guess, apart of Star and Maya, she let only me to watch over. Her pups have week right now.”
“Why are doing it, Balto?” she came to him and nestled to his side.
“I killed Steele.” said wolfdog without emotions.
“No!” she yelled with voice full of emotion. In fact what was relief, because the believed – or wanted to believe – that concern of her mate was caused only because of guilt. “That not true. It was an accident!”
“However Steele is dead and I could had prevent it.” Said Balto honestly. “I doubt if I ever forgive myself… and that why I’m responsible for those pups who will never see their father.”
“Yes… that’s so alike you.” Jenna murmured, still nestling to his side. “You are so noble and caring… But I think you have to take care more about me… Please, let’s go to your place today. Let it be like… in old good times.” With some sixth sense Jenna however knew that something was wrong. She wanted to have him just for herself and was desperately looking for way to secure that. She didn’t expressed it even in thoughts but maybe she even hoped that they would have pups once again. Mistress Rosy would accepted that.
“No, maybe not.” Replied Balto and Jenna tensed in his paws. “I will take you home and back to me. I must reconsider few things.”
“As you wish.” Agreed red furred, however she shivered inside.
*
To cross the Eagle pass they dared about fifteenth March. Then they made a few-days stop in forest of Buckland District. Steele could walk on his paws easily, however he got exhaust quickly – for not to burden wounded limb, he had to base on three others what wasn’t too comfortable. For some route Victor was supporting him, but however mongrel was strong, Steele weighed over eighty pounds what made that help very difficult.
So they stayed on western slope of range for few days. Steele was avid to go instantly, but Victor disagreed. He was already thinking about his revenge, so he planned it all carefully, still asking malamute about more and more details of Nome community.
“I think that public charge against Balto won’t work. They could just not believe he wanted to kill you.”
“Of course, they won’t he his a local hero. I told you that already.”
“Yes, but I was thinking over all possibilities.” Replied Victor. “So, what do you propose?”
“Just get to Nome, get rest, get know Balto. You will stay with Berenice and me. When you decide the time is right, you will just make and ambush for him and finish him quickly.”
“No!” disagreed mongrel. “I need him to suffer. I want to kill him in public, for all to see and laugh on him.”
“You said you are good in martials.” Yawned Steele. “However I just can’t believe you are so good.”
“Just help me get know where he lives, what is his daily routine and I will do the rest. How about that?”
“I’m for.” Nodded Steele. “But if you are really want to do it in public, we must think about your escape…”
“I’ve never escaped in my life.” Growled Victor. “And I never will.” He looked on night outside the den. “But you got your score. We will set off tomorrow.”
*
It was a calm evening on third April. Berenice was laying on floor of Kaasen’s shed, with five pups on her side. She just had a dream, that Steele was alive and was back with her. So where she woke up, tears appeared in her eyes. It was not fair! She wanted to cry out on shoulder of someone who would understand her. Alternatively she wanted to have a real fight with hard opponent. But that want was difficult to fulfil, because she needed to watch over pups. And if she got hurt on ring… She recalled Steele’s rebukes just before he had left. Then she sobbed once again, seeing mate in her mind’s eye.
But suddenly some noise sounded outside. Berenice carefully put pups on bedding, then soundlessly stood up and sneaked to door. Those noise was made by art least two dogs who didn’t want to be heard. She-malamute understood that she could get her fight anyway.
The door-hatch moved and in hole appeared muzzle of yellow furred mongrel. He took a look around on room, noticed Berenice, standing over him, and called to his companion.
“It’s clear.”
“… that you have troubles.” Finished bitch and pulled dog inside.
Her attack was improvised put perfectly applied – she dragged enemy, kept by his neck and threw him on the opposite wall. Because dog was light, she expected that he hit the wall and fall down unconsciousness. But she almost fainted from amaze, when attacked with unbelievable speed turned in the air, bounced with his paws on wall and pounced back on her. She shunned aside and when she tried to jumped up again, she grabbed his paw, made a attempt and released him, again sending against wall. Dog again amortised the hit and fell on floor. Then he turned to host… who was already pouncing. With skilful dodge, Victor jumped aside and grabbed Berenice’s neck. She instantly bounced and stood on two rear paws, then pressed attached enemy to the floor.
“NO! Stop!” yelled Steele, entering to room.
“Steele?” whispered Berenice, in the same time pressing Victor to he floor with all her might.
“Get her away!” panted yellow furred, escaping painful grab.
“It’s… impossible.” Murmured Berenice, standing up and stepping to malamute. In one moment she just left a bit beaten Victor alone.
“I’m home, honey.” Said leader, feeling that was rather a stupid remark. “As you probably already have noticed…” She just ran to him and hugged him tight. “It’s all right, I’m alive.”
“Steele, I thought… I though…”
“I thought I’m down too.” Said malamute, licking her cheek. “But I’ve made it. I’ve made it thanks to Victor.”
“Applause is not necessary.” Murmured mongrel, licking a long scratch on his side.
“I’m so happy!” sobbed bitch, crying from nervous relief. “Steele, can you see it? You are father.”
He almost broke out from her hug and ran to bedding where five small furballs were sleeping, unaware of drama around them. Steele looked on them, then he looked on Berenice. When she nodded her head, he bended down and carefully sniffed around all five. Then slowly, aware not to wake them up, started to lick his pups.
“That’s impossible.” He finally said. “I haven’t deserved it.” Smiled to his children.
“That’s true.” Replied Berenice, and went closer to her mate. But she stopped in the middle of way, looked on Victor. “But who the heck is he?”
“Ow, and I though she would never ask.” Murmured yellow furred, looking on Steele.
“That is Victor of Selawik. Dog who saved me from avalanche.” Explained Steele. “It useless to say more, because you won’t believe me anyway.”
“You…” whispered she-dog and rushed on mongrel. Victor, thinking that was another strike, just shielded with paws, ready to counterattack, but after few seconds instead of hit, he felt licks on his forehead.
“I confess…” murmured yellow furred and surrender to that strange caress. Stele even didn’t react for that, because he was still staring on pup like hypnotised.
“I’m terribly sorry.” Said Berenice, helping Victor to stand up. “I just.”
“I know, Steele is back. I understand you have a hard day.” Said mongrel and them malamute looked on them and burst in laughter.
“That is Victor himself.” Said with giggling voice. “My love, don’t you mind if he stays with us few days?”
“Of course not… But wait, tell me what happened there? Dogs said you lost in blizzard!”
“It wasn’t a liar, however it was far from the truth.” Said Steele. “But first give out guest something to eat… and maybe give to me it too. Then sit down and calm down, because my story… is a bit tangled.”
*
They barely stopped Berenice from running to Balto and killing him. To finish whole story Steele had to came to his mate and laid next to her, carefully holding impulsive warrioress. When he finally finished and Victor added own tale, she was silent for a while, then she said with hollow voice.
“Victor… could you leave us just for moment? I have to say something to Steele.” Mongrel nodded his head, stood up and exited into night.
“I can’t wait for that too.” Smiled malamute coming to his mate. “But we just can’t let him outside so long, until we finish…” Then she noticed that her eyes are deluged with tears.
“Steele!” she sobbed. “I…”
“I know, Balto harassed you.” Interrupted her malamute. “And you thought I was dead. I understand that you acted a bit different…”
“No I just… I let him in.”
“If you don’t want to say about it, don’t say.” Said Steele with soft voice. “I don’t care about it.”
“I was constant to you, my love. I swear.”
“Of course, I believe!” quickly replied malamute. “I didn’t want to suggest anything else.
“But he seemed to be so caring… I was talking with him, letting his see out pups… But I promise that was all! I just couldn’t imagine other dog with me in your place.”
“I’m flattered, but you should.” Said Steele seriously. “I authorize you to find someone else if I die again!” added with grave voice, then burst in laughter, hearing that absurd. “Do not cry… Now I’m here again.”
“Balto must be punished.” Sobbed Berenice.
“He must.” Agreed malamute. “But not for what he did to me, but what he did to you. Also for what he did… I call Victor back, all right?”
*
Few hours later they all were sleeping. In Kaasen shed were heard regular breathing of five pups and three mature dogs. Only Victor was half-awake in his strange no-sleep, thinking about what he had experienced in past day. Coming to Nome he thought he would see just his vengeance, but he discovered something else. He actually had never seen a love different that his and Agatha’s. He never seen a happy return of father to his pups, had never seen that stare of father, watching his children. So for the first time since a long time he sensed the missed something important. And however he didn’t admitted that, he was actually envying Steele.
He saw as one of pups woke up in night, sniff with confusion and fear, then nestling closer to mother’s and father’s sides. And then fell asleep. Suddenly Victor felt like that tiny pup.
*
On the next morning they were sitting around bowls of food, brought by Gunnar Kaasen. When Norwegian noticed additional guest in his shed, he just got back to house and prepared another portion. That was indeed Gunnar Kaasen – he was keeping the open house for both humans and caninees. So on the breakfast three dogs were talking about Victor’s plans, when pups were checking if their teethes are already sharp. Fortunately they still didn’t.
“We thought it over with Victor and we decided that making a public charge against Balto is useless.”
“They all should know what he did!” murmured Berenice.
“My love, remember that once I wanted to kill him too.”
“That wasn’t direct strike.” Noticed she-malamute. “And you acted not breaking the Code.”
“However I wanted to kill him.”
“Now I want it too.” She replied. “And I don’t think it’s a crime.”
“Steele let me do that.” Said Victor. “I know that he has own reasons for revenge, but I must punish the last wolf responsible for Agatha’s death. You may call it cruel, because I punish son instead of mother. But Aniu is dead and I still can’t let it go.”
“I don’t understand your motives.” Confessed Berenice. “However you are going to hurt my enemy. Be sure I help you as I can.”
“Will help you, as long it won’t collide with promise I stupidly made once.” Added Steele.
“Thank you… friends.” Said Victor, although he wasn’t sure if he actually know the meaning of that world. “So we should act carefully, not to… au!” yelled, when Steele junior grabbed his ear. “He has a teeth!”

IV.II. Surprise!

Dogs we gravely silent, when Steele was hobbling on main street of town. Malamute didn’t said a world, just walked slowly on his wounded leg in post office direction. Some of Nomers were trying to came closer and look in dog’s eyes, just to check if that creature was really Steele (of the holy memory). And just like two years earlier, the rumour spread with light speed. It alarmed Balto who was visiting Peter Kinrs’s kennels. Initially he thought that was a joke, but when another dog barked about malamute’s resurrection, hybrid excused Kaltag and Nikki and ran to the post office.
Around Steele gathered a crowd of dogs, asking constantly what had happened. Balto’s heartbeating stopped when Steele opened his mouth to answer that. But then his jaw dropped when sled leader replied.
“I don’t recall details… there was an awful blizzard.” Said Steele. Then he noticed Balto and smiled radiantly. “I was totally lost and surprised. But it was exactly like in old good times – nothing I would be unprepared.” Wolfdog came closer, carefully looking on muzzle of Malamute. “But somehow I managed to return here.”
“E… Steele?” asked Morse carefully. “Don’t you have a grudge against rest of the team.”
“For what?” leader faked his amaze.
“Well… technically they left you.” Murmured .
“I would have do the same in him… I mean: their place.” Replied dog and looked on hybrid.
“Steele, you are alive…” whispered Balto.
“Yes, I noticed that.” Said dog and almost everybody laughed with airy laughter. Then he steeped closer to the rival and whispered to his ear. “You impressed me, pal. I’m serious… the real genius is the best hidden one. I would have never expected that… So you showed you are good in planning… But you definitely lack in executive area. But maybe… soon I will teach you that!” Then he left confused Balto on the street.
And wolfdog shivered inside, because he discovered that he wasn’t actually feeling guilt and looking the way to mend his crime, but he was feeling anger and was looking the way to correct his error. And do what he did, but then properly.

Let's hope Balto gets what's coming to him and soon. Too bad it can't be a public display... that would have been cool!

Cłaymore:
Well, I’m writing so fast that I even can’t find a while to comment LNT2 nor Doberman. But be patient, soon I will check your stories.

And now the grand final, pt.1 (last chapter, tomorrow just epilogue)

V.I. Vengeance is mine

Never try to get revenge: leave that, my dear friends, to the Retribution. As scripture says: Vengeance is mine-I will pay them back, the Lord promises.
Romans 12:19

With return of Steele some kind of strange fear was cast on town. From humans only Gunnar Kaasen and Peter Kirns knew that malamute had been left on Eagle Pass. When Norwegian discovered that his favourite was back, he screamed, thinking he saw a ghost.
“Steele!” he whispered, when dog just cam to him and with perfect calmness just bended his head to pet. It was on evening of next day, when early spring snow was falling, maybe for the last time before next autumn. “But how… I’m so sorry, Steele… I left you for the second time.”
“Don’t back to that, boss.” Murmured malamute. Of course human couldn’t understand him, but by his body language he expressed the full trust and love towards owner. “I would say we’re equal now.”
“Let me see your leg…” asked Gunnar, bending down to wounded dog’s paw. “Ow, I see teethes again. You were fighting? Wolf?”
“I could say that.” Murmured Steele, reminding Balto.
“But wound cured clear.” Judged trapper. “You had much luck you returned here with such a injure.”
“Enormous luck.” Nodded leader. “But no I must go. Take care, boss.” And he left shocked Norwegian, leaving his house via dog-hatch.
Then he hobbled back to shed, where he found Berenice with pups, but also guests. Maya, Star and Balto. Seeing hybrid, malamute smiled again. But then he took a quick look around. When he not spotted Victor, he sighed with relief. Presence of yellow furred still was mystery for locals. So Steele decided still to play the game that he had fixed with mongrel.
“Good afternoon.” Said malamute with rather indifferent voice. “Something is wrong?”
Star and Maya were looking on him with confusion. Finally husky said. “You are back…”
“Sorry to say that, but I am.” Smiled leader, with his usual irony. In that moment Star actually believed he had a real Steele in front of him. Meanwhile Maya turned her eyes to the ground and sighed with remorse. “Come on, baby, that was definitely not your fault.” Said malamute, nudging her in side. “It was blizzard and you were exhausted and wounded. If many healthy dogs didn’t noticed it got lost, why should you have done it?” Hearing that Balto lowered his ears.
“What happened there?” asked Star.
“Sit down.” Said Steele, but then he asked Berenice. “Won’t they disturb kids?” she shook her head. “So sit down and let’s talk easy.”
Pups were sleeping on mother’s side and she-malamute was laying on special furs-made bedding under wall of shed in the warmest place of room. Gunnar Kaasen took special care about those, not only hoping to have excellent, pure-breeds dogs, but also with concern amplified with guilt after presumably death of Steele.
“Sir, we are terribly sorry.” Started Maya.
“Leave that.” Murmured leader. “I’m alive and that’s matter.” He looked on Balto and smiled with proud smile. Hybrid was splitting his awareness between malamute and Berenice.
“It was an awful accident.” Said wolfdog with hollow voice. “That I failed.” Thought. “I wonder why he didn’t tell about my motives to Berenice. But if he did… would be doomed.”
“It was.” Nodded Steele. “However it’s a past. We all… apart poor Fitch and Bart, survived. It just could have gone worse and I’m sure you are glad that it came as it came.”
“So, I guess you will manage now.” murmured Star carefully. “We will go now.”
“Thank you for your concern.” said Steele. “You thanks you too, Balto. Berenice said you were… very helpful.” Hybrid clenched his jaws, but stayed silent.
“Balto, come.” Nudged his Star and all three exited the shed. After few minutes, when he was sure that wolfdog wouldn’t return, Victor came out from under furs.
“You saw him?” asked Steele. “That is Balto.” Yellow furred nodded. “However, as I said, you still have to find some way to get him while he isn’t among other dogs. Almost every one would stand for great Balto, local hero.”
“No, if you say them what he did.” Noticed Victor, but Steele shook his head. “All right, just help me distract him, when he is in some public place. I want destroy him, not only his body but also his fame. I want him to cry in front of crown and…” Berenice gasped with sudden disgust.
“Steele… Could you leave us for few moments?” she asked. Malamute was a bit surprised, but he nodded.
“So I will go on walk.” He said and exited shed. Using the beautiful night with maybe the last aurora borealis that spring, he went on main street, looking on the sky. Mean while inside Berenice was gazing on Victor with questioning stare.
“Why do you do that?” she asked finally.
“I know that is wrong.” Said yellow furred. “Or it’s wrong in your eyes. But I have no other way, even no other perspective to see the world around. From youth I’m seeking vengeance and I’m sure couldn’t do anything else.”
“But what when you do it? When you kill Balto?”
“I don’t know, I really don’t know.”
“Look at Steele.” interrupted him Berenice. “He was almost like you! But it happened that I helped him to overcome what was dark inside him. We taught each other to live. I’m sure you also could learn that.” He shook his head, but she continued. “Who is Steele for you.” He was wandering for few moments.
“I guess… a friend. In fact the only friend I ever had.” Said yellow furred. “However I’m not sure if I’m able to really understand what the friendship is.”
“And I?”
“Well…” replied Victor uncertainly. “I would like to call you a friend too, but…” She point him a place on her side, and when he sat down, she licked his forehead. “All right, I guess you are my friend, presuming that I know what that means.”
“So there is a good start to leave your old live behind.” Said Berenice. “I’m sure that Agatha was special person, wonderful mate and someone worthy to die for. But isn’t there better to live for than die for? I bet she is somewhere on the sky and praying you are back to life you once dropped.”
“It’s too late.” Said Victor. “I’m now just one-purpose tool. I must do what I was made to.”
“Steele won’t let you.” Replied she-malamute. “If you attack Balto he will stand at your side to help you, whatever dangerous it will be. Not because he has own debts to Balto, but because you are his friend. So you are endangering life of your friend.”
“I, friend?” smiled Victor. “A mutt being friend of pure-breed master?”
“No, I’m sure Steele didn’t…”
“He was calling me <mutt> all the time.” Replied yellow furred. “<You blasted mutt, I want go home!> or <Pick me you, if you can. mutt. I cant walk on my own.>” Eyes of Berenice narrowed in confusion, but Victor just laughed. “And I was calling him <pet> or <mascot>. You wouldn’t believe how long you could insult your only companion, if you have nothing else to do… Those were just jokes. In fact Steele never let me feel I’m worse because my breed. He was judging me only by what I did.” Then he smiled once again. “And maybe we quickly found a common ground because we both don’t like wolves?”
“You see?” asked she-malamute. “You are able to feel something more than just anger.” In the same time one of pups, probably Sol, woke up and climbed on Victor’s side. To help herself in that achievement, she plunged her tiny fangs into dog’s fur. Mongrel didn’t wanted that, but he reacted with smile. Berenice noticed that with satisfaction and put her daughter down on bedding. “I just don’t believe that you can’t see the beauty of world outside your vengeance.”
“I know it’s wonderful.” Said Victor. “But it’s not mine.”
“It could be your!” exclaimed Berenice. “Find the link! As Steele found me, there must be something... maybe someone to bind you with all what you see now so distant. Just try…” Then hatch opened and to shed came Steele. He was panting and on his face expression of excitation was clear.
“*****! You won’t believe it!” he panted. “In front of boiler room… there is a meeting. A judgement actually. Kodi brought in a charge… against himself for remissness of leader’s duties.” They looked on him with amaze. “And more! Maya charged Jimmy for remissness of leader’s duties… because I was lost.”
“That’s is nonsense!” yelled Berenice. “Kodi could feel real remorse for what happened… But why the heck they accused Jimmy?”
“As I found out, it was Jimmy who asked Maya to do that.” Said Steele. “He can’t forgive himself that they left me.”
“So why don’t you stopped him?”
”He didn’t say me!” yelled malamute. “When I came there, the case was already on run.”
“So… there is Balto and most of dog community there?” asked Victor with concern.
“Not now, speedy!” replied Steele. “Let’s think for a while…”
“That’s my chance.” Called Victor. “I all want you to let me closer to Balto.”
Malamute looked on his mate with question in his eyes. Berenice was thinking a while, but then slowly nodded her head. However on her face was seen an expression of sorrow. She really hoped that Victor would let it go.
“As I said, I will.” Replied Steele. “I just strongly advise you to wait.”
“I can’t wait.”
“So, let’s go.” Murmured malamute. “Prepare yourself, I will call for babysitter.” He left the shed.
“Babysitter?” amazed Victor.
“Probably master Gunnar.” Replied Berenice. Then she stood up and hugged to yellow furred. “Don’t die. We will help you as we could, but it’s up to you, how it would end.”
“I will try, I promise.”
“As I said, you have to survive. If you don’t, Steele is ready to avenge you… and that vicious circle will never stop.” Then door opened and to shed entered Gunnar Kaasen, pulled by trouser-leg.
“All right, all right… I’m coming… What happened?” asked Norwegian, looking on pups. “They look fine, I guess.”
“Come on!” called Steele. He let his owner loose and ran out with mate and friend.
“Wait!” called trapped. “What the heck means that? Steele! Steele?”
*
The gartering was made in front of boiler building. It was a semicircle around few dogs inside. Between auditory and wall were waiting Kodi, Maya and Jimmy. Other dogs were looking on that with surprise.
“Kodi, what that means?” asked confused Balto, who just had come from his boat.
“I’m sorry, father, but it must be explained.” Replied husky with breaking voice. “I want to know if I’m worthy still to be a sled dog.”
“Kodi, stop that.” Whispered Jenna who entered semicircle. “No one blames you for…”
“Death of two my friends.” Interrupted her son. “That is not just a mistake. There are victims.”
“Let us go, ma’am.” Said Jimmy with grave voice. “We are doing that we should to.”
“Balto, do something!” called Jenna, running to her mate.
“But what?” They were silent for a while, thinking heavily. Finally red furred said.
“Start with easier task, that means that stupid case of Jimmy. Bring here Steele and ask him to say that it was an accident and he blames no one. Then we will think about Kodi.”
Balto shivered, hearing that. And in the same moment came Steele and Berenice. They just entered the ring of dogs and came to Jenna and wolfdog. Malamute just asked.
“What is that mess? You did it.”
“Steele, please, tell them what happened on Eagle Pass.” Pleaded red furred. Malamute smiled.
“I bet you don’t want this.” Said and looked on Balto. Then he added louder. “But in fact this all is useless.” He looked discreetly on side, where Victor was slowly sneaking in darkness, closer to gathered dogs. Malamute sighed silently. He didn’t like was he was doing – not that he had any scruples in helping to kill Balto, but that he wasn’t sure if his fried would succeeded. “I’m alive and I think that recalling what happened on Eagle Pass is pointless.” He turned to Maya, Kodi and Jimmy. “Listen, my friends. I know that was a tragedy, but we must go on. Fitch and Bart were sled dogs and they knew the risk. It could had been anyone of you… But it happened to them. Sad, but we can’t resurrect them by crying aloud.” Suddenly he noticed that Victor climbed on roof of boiler building. He heard his steps upthere and looked on Berenice. She returned that stare with surprise. They both had no idea what mongrel was doing. Malamute felt that he had to play on time, however he had a nasty premonition. “So I propose to just let it go and…”
“I won’t let it go.” Called Kodi.
“And I won’t!” called some voice from roof. All dogs turned to yellow furred silhouette over them.
“Dammit!” gasped Steele. “Don’t do that!”
“And even Steele don’t want to let it go.” Said Victor. “He had own debts to pay. However… he eventually could forgive. I can’t.”
“Who’s the hell is that?” asked Jimmy amazed.
“Balto!” cried Victor. “Are you the son of Black and Aniu?”
“Yes, but who…” asked wolfdog.
“Victor, get down!” ordered Berenice, but mongrel didn’t listen to her. “Please…” she whispered, but that lost in noise of excited dogs.
“Your parents killed my mate.” Said yellow furred without any further introductions. “However I failed to punish them. I came for you.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about…” said Balto with sudden relief. So the case of Steele unexpectedly was cast out to the background. But not exactly…
“And you tried to kill Steele. Most likely you would had succeeded if not my intervention.”
“He is mad.” Murmured Jenna. She looked on Balto and shivered, seeing that her mate was gazing on Victor with jaw dropped.
“Steele stood him in a way to Berenice.” Added Victor. “Or at least Balto thought that. In fact she would have never mate with that backstabber, but he tried anyway. He wounded Steele and buried him in the snow.” Then all eyes turned on Steele.
“Well, it true, however I said nothing, because I have no witness for that.” Said malamute carefully.
“Boss, why haven’t you tell us?” yelled Star, who came closer to the centre.
“And who would you believe? Me or him?” smiled malamute. “And additionally I thought he was just… making his turn. You know what I mean?”
“Balto, what he is talking about?” asked Jenna, looking on his mate.
“Sorry, girl.” Said Steele to red furred. “I said nothing also because of you.”
“So this is true?” she sobbed.
“Mom, we can’t believe that liar!” gasped Kodi, turning to Steele. But then his face froze, probably when dog recalled why he was still alive. “That mean, I…”
“That’s a lie.” Said Balto, however his voice was shivering.
“All right, I believe you.” Interrupted Steele, instinctively scratching his wounded paw. “You could you repeat that to Berenice? That you are faithful mate of Jenna and such a stuff? Just to be sure… that my imaginations were just imaginations.”
Balto looked uncertainly on Jenna, then on Steele and finally turned to Berenice. He stepped few step closer and in the same time Victor crouched to the pounce. “NO!” called malamute and his mate, but it was too late. Yellow furred rushed from roof and flew down to the hybrid. However Jimmy somehow managed to intercept him.
“Get away!” growled mongrel and with almost superdog speed he grabbed husky’s paw and threw him on the wet snow. Then jumped Kodi, aiming on back of newcomer. Victor perfectly sensed the coming danger and shunned in last moment. Balto’s son hit the ground, splashing a melting snow around then turned to enemy. But yellow furred was ready for that and attacked in the same moment.
Actually no one saw exactly what happened. Just in one second both dogs were pouncing on each other, and a heartbeat later Kodi was lying, thrown in muddy snow with Victor standing on his back. Dog there gasped seeing impossible scene, when small mutt beat up twice a big husky.
“Stop it!” cried Berenice.
Everybody froze, only Victor stepped down from Kodi’s back and turned to Balto with hateful stare. Dusty ran to knocked now beloved and yellow furred ignored it. Other lookers stopped their breathing in confusion. A sudden silence fell, only Kodi hit his paw in the snow, making a slashing sound.
“Step aside!” growled Victor, looking on Jimmy. “I have nothing against you. I just need to get Balto.”
“Easy…” murmured shocked husky. “Just calm yourself and…” another noise of splashing snow sounded, again Kodi his the ground at random. “Just stay where you are and…”
Then the air was filled with desperate cry of Dusty. This howl was so loud and shocking that everyone (maybe apart of yellow furred) turned his or her stare in that direction. They saw Dusty, standing over shivering body of Kodi. But what was taken as knock out was something different. On the wet snow around lying dog was gathering a giant pool of blood. From throat of young husky was flowing a red stream of fresh, arterial blood. Dog was drowning in own bloodlet, coughing and hitting with paw in helpless try to stand up. His trachea was squashed.
“God!” gasped Steele and looked on Berenice. They knew what it meant.
In one second crowd of dog exploded. Mass of canines rushed on lone mongrel, still standing in place and looking on Jimmy. Wave of angry creatures overturned stranger and pinned him to the ground. Whole scene drowned in overwhelming noise.
“Stop it!” cried Berenice, then she rushed after Steele in fight direction.
It wasn’t even a fight, but an execution. Mob pressed Victor into the snow and was hitting at random. But from blows of over twenty dogs many hit. It didn’t matter how fast and agile was yellow furred. In point blank range he had no chance to use his skills. He was writhing on the ground, shunning some attacks, but on every one dodged blow, came three others. He grabbed some paw, clenched his jaws and broke it. Then he grabbed someone’s side and pulled, but another attack made him to let it loose.
Berenice and Steele jumped on that mass and with bared fangs and started to pierce to the centre. But malamute was just old, lamed dog. Berenice was master in martial art, but she was helpless against so numerous lot. It took them over minute to get to Victor. She shielded him with own body and Steele stopped over that, growling and pushing back attackers. However it was much too late.
Victor was almost tore apart. One of his paws were nearly ripped out from skin and muscles and a bone was clearly seen. His side was one giant wound, bleeding fast, spotting fur of crying Berenice. On face of mongrel were numerous cuts, one of eyes was changed to the bleeding well. Avenger was dying.
“Get him out, now!” called Steele, but when he heard that Berenice was just crying, he turned back and saw that there was no use.
“No… it’s… too late.” Whispered dog, spitting with blood. “Thanks you tried… but I failed anyway… Weak… whole my life I was too weak.” He closed his untouched eye and sighed with fading breath. “Agatha…” Then he died.
Dog surrounding him just took few steps back, too shocked to act. Next to wall of boiler room stayed just few dogs, over two blooded bodies – of Kodi and Victor. Jenna was crying over her lifeless son. Berenice was gently licking dead muzzle of yellow furred. Between were standing Balto and Steele, looking on each other. Wolfdog opened his jaws, however he had no idea what to say.
Meanwhile Berenice was lying, cuddled to Victor’s body and crying. She was licking his blooded muzzle and silently singing.
“You don’t have to be a hero // To rule place where you belong // You don’t need to be so noble // All you need is to be strong.” But suddenly stopped and murmured with firm voice. “No! He was a hero, and you just failed to see that!”
“My love.” Said malamute. Berenice raised her head from Victor’s body. “I know I’m doing bad… but I have to.” She came to him and licked his cheek.
“Do what you must. I understand…” she whispered. “Let our friend rest in peace… But be back. You already know, I can’t lose you.”
“I’ll be back.” Smiled Steele. “I’m always back on time… or just a bit late.” Then he looked on Balto again.
“It happened bad, however we can’t change it. But I have a duty to do, to avenge death of my friend.” All dogs there bared their fangs, ready to stop Steele if he would pounce on wolfdog.
“You promised.” Sobbed Jenna, raising her stare from Kodi’s body.
“I promised not to stand against Balto.” Nodded malamute. “And I will keep that oath.” Berenice looked on him a bit surprised, but he continued. “However my promise said nothing about others… close to him. Balto, I think I know that neglected Victor. It was some white wolf on the Eagle Pass.”
“Mother!” whispered wolfdog with fear.
“I know that is very improper moment…” smiled leader with devilish smile. “But… tag! You’re it!” cried with all his mind and turned back. Few seconds later he was running at full speed on north.
“Mother!” repeated Balto and set off following malamute. They ran among confused dogs and disappeared in darkness of Buckland Road. All dogs were looking in that direction for a while then again turned to bodies.
“Now, the spirits of our ancestors will judge them.” Said Berenice. “It’s no longer our business. And now, help us.” She ordered pointing on Jenna.
Dogs came closer to two bitches and without word few stronger males took bodies of Kodi and Victor. Then without hate nor malice, dead were taken on outskirts of town to be buried on Green Meadow, the most beautiful place of Nome.
“I didn’t want to be that way.” Said Berenice to Jenna, who were coming next to her.
“What will be now?” sobbed red furred, suddenly cuddling to she-malamute’s side.
“I don’t know.” Replied Berenice. “But whatever will happen, it all will be over.”

V.II. Bye/Die pt. 2

Steele was running with speed that scared even himself. Lamed dog should tire himself with such effort, but it was necessary. Malamute was speeding in wet snow, making another kilometres of road and still maintaining a proper distance from Balto. He was faster (“How it could be?” he thought. “But it’s true.” Replied some voice in his mind), however he had to travel with moderate tempo to let Balto stick on his tail.
Wolfdog was so terrified about his mother that he didn’t think rationally. He just believed Steele that Aniu was still alive and malamute was about to kill her. He ignored very strange acting of Steele, who seemed let him chase, not overrunning him. Hybrid was thinking just about two things – he lost his son and he could lose his mother if he fail.
Steele made that plan spontaneously, just like Balto once decided to kill on the spur of the moment. He wanted to lure rival to the Eagle Pass and… “Well, I didn’t work on that part, but I will.” Thought leader.
They had to eat, hunt and sleep, but apart of that whole chase was just a one moment. When Steele decided to take a rest he speeded up to overrun hybrid for few miles and laid himself to sleep in some shelter. When Balto failed to find fresh tracks he also fell asleep with hopeless cry on face. But on the next day the run started again. And that way over and over, three times before they reached mountains.
On the route it fortunately happened (for both) that there were plenty of food, easy to get. Steele even purposely two times left carcasses for wolfdog, just to be sure he followed him. What was even more fortunate, they didn’t meet any wolfpack. Maybe it was caused by ancestors spirits – two pack accidentally went several miles aside when that strange race was reaching their territory. One of that group was Juniper Pack – lead by Wind, son of Okto. Leader had just depose former chief – Robert and was holding his reign firmly. But that night something advised him to left the valley. He sensed something really strange on Northern Road so he guided his pack away.
He even heard some scary calls from that forest. Some wolf was calling with so dreadful and desperate voice, that leader thought it was a ghost.
“Steele! Stop!” sounded a scary plead over forest of valley. Wind was glad he wasn’t there.
On the evening of third day they reached the ice fields. It was prime of April, snow was melting fast, making usual dangerous place even more deadly trap. Slippery slope was extremely slippery and ice crack almost invisible under dark, melting firn. Crossing that area meat death. Steele entered it with full speed.

Good chapters! Too bad about Victor but at least he'll be able to rest in peace for eternity. Kodi just got in the way. Sad, but it's his own fault. Now for the final showdown between Steele and Balto. One is bound to come out alive, the other not. Question is: which one?

I look forward to the epilogue!

So this is the end. I’m extremely curious of your review, especially over note of my vision. Btw. Which storyline You find better? That one of Taos/tAoC?

Epilogue: A season for… (reprise)

For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3;1

What seemed to be a gentle wind in the forest, turn out to be almost a hurricane on open area. Steele had to run carefully not only to step on some crack, but just not to fall down, knocked out by frosty blows. It was night already, when malamute started to take another metres of ice field. He knew that every false step meant a death and there was no longer Victor near to help him. But he was running anyway, clenching his jaws.
“Father!” he called in mind. “I beg you… Help me.” He wasn’t sure if he had right to ask for that, however he asked. “I know that what I’m doing is wrong. But I need to do it right… I’m not as noble as you, but let me be noble in the way I could. I must fulfil my promise, I gave Victor. I’m not doing it for my vengeance… all right, for that too. But also I’m doing what I was asked by a friend. Can you understand that?”
Suddenly in blizzard before him he noticed some blurred silhouette of giant malamute. It had to be Sharp, Steele believed it. Some voice in his mind was calling that he was following just a fathom of his imagination, but dog was sure that his father came.
“You were the best whole your life… and I was trying to be so. I failed many times, but after every fall I stood up. Your pawprints were so hard… I was running astray, but still near of your path. I did my best.” Ghost seemed to nod his head with understanding. So they were both speeding in walls of snow, right ahead. Steele still wasn’t sure if father was helping him, but premise for that was a fact he was still alive.
“Do you here me? I’m your son, after all. Maybe I haven’t made you proud, but I wished to… I was avenging for you, because I didn’t know any other way to follow your example. I just… wanted to be as you. If not by your way, by mine. I failed, but I tried.”
“You haven’t failed.” Sounded a voice in his mind. “You just… chose a harsh way. Somehow I disagree with many of your choices. But the outcome surely made me proud. You did it by your way, indeed.”
“So, I deserved to be your son?”
“You deserved to be even someone more.” Replied spirit. “To be yourself.”
Then ghost dispelled with sudden end of blizzard. Steele stopped, feeling that the way was over and there is no need to run further. He was in place, whatever that place actually was. He turned back to see nightly landscape with icefield covered with layer of fresh snow. A lone silhouette of Balto was carefully following him. But the path back was no longer visible. So both dogs were in the night on deadly trap with no way back. When Steele understood that, he burst in laughter. When it sounded, some snow slid down, causing a micro avalanche. Malamute then that melting snow, covered with fresh potion of white was in every moment ready to fall down into bluff about two four hundred feet below them.
“What the hell you’re laughing at?” panted Balto, barely climbing to the leader.
“At fool.” Replied malamute. “At you.”
“You won’t hurt my mother.”
“Of course you won’t because she is already dead!” called Steele and a bit more snow slid from slope.
“What?”
“Most likely she died in plague three years ago.” Said dog. “Or maybe she survived. It doesn’t matter. The point is that you came here and you are all alone.”
“You can’t kill me.” Panted Balto, slowly getting stuck in dense snow. “You promised.”
“I promised many things… And I hope to keep all of them.” He noticed a narrow path down, coming lower that way where Balto was. He started to carefully walk there, leaving surprised Balto on centre of icefield. “I can’t kill you, but you blindness will do that.” Explained. “As we both know no one except me is able to safety cross that field. But I will give you a chance to survive… I owe that to Jenna. And I’m doing it because you were really nice for Berenice. Just go down if you’re able to. I suggest you to be quick, before the avalanche would most like come when sun rise. You know… melting snow…”
“Steele, wait!” called Balto. “I’m really sorry for that… Steele! take me down!”
“A dog cannot make this journey alone.” Smiled Steele, throwing down the snow ball. It slid to the brink of bluff and disappeared in the abyss. “But maybe a wolf can... Good luck, Balto!” And then he started to run down, fast but still firmly, as if he was guided by some unseen force.
Balto stayed on the centre of field, too shocked to move. But when he noticed that east part of sky started to became more and more bright, he understood that day was coming. The light was about to reach for him – sun was most likely would cause the avalanche. Steele was running on some other path, wolfdog could chase him, without crossing the unknown area. And that meant suicide. So he just turned back and tried to recall the way he made. Again, the way that Steele had made for him.
“Again after him.” He thought with despair. “Again on his tracks… Why? But calm down.” He ordered himself. “You must go down without any accident. Just one false step and you are out, so be careful. You’ll be careful and you will return to Berenice. That means… To Jenna. Or actually… No, do not think about that now. Just walk ahead, easy… easy… easy… Good, just one step further… good… one step further… good… one steeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee…
*
Steele didn’t react when he heard some noise behind him. He just stopped his breathing when small avalanche was coming down, because dog wasn’t sure if it took him with. But falling snow came far from him, just in bluff direction. Soon after that sound stopped.
Steele felt free. Just free from any duty or order. Something in his heart ceased and where used to be a dark place of anger and envy, appeared just a calm silence, ready to be filled with beauty of his world.
“With Berenice and pups.” He thought. “I’m no longer chasing my daemons. I’ve overrun them. In the end the vengeance was mine… I hope that God won’t huff about that one little competition to His monopoly.”
Suddenly sunlight came from the other side of mountains. Steele was than already in forest, safe from avalanche. So then he couldn’t stop himself from a triumphal howl. At last he was on the lead again.
“As you, dad.” He whispered. “Maybe not by your way, but somehow I came where you are.”

The End

Good ending! Unexpected but good nonetheless.

Your vision of this story was brilliant. We see Steele in a whole new light, the origins of Balto and how Steele really wanted vengeance but in the end found something better. The avalanche separates them both. One must live the other must not.

I liked this a little bit better than TAoS/TAoC. Don't get me wrong they were good but this one seemed to fit the fact that Steele could be seen as a hero in his own right.

What do you have planned next?