The Age of Cris

Prologue

The pack was gathered in front of cave’s entrance. In that strange moment many feeling were mixed among Drift Pack members. Wolves were touched by tragedy that had happened and was happening still, but also they were ready to run on the slightest sign of danger. They had escaped the enemy, but the enemy was still near. Even death of the alpha couldn’t stop that endless alert.

It was October afternoon, but on Chukchi Peninsula meant an almost a night. Light frost, soften by warm ocean-current from Bering Sea, made that afternoon beautiful. Aurora Borealis was shining on snow-covered taiga forest. A gentle snowfall filled the air, made evening milky-bright, glowing with soft and soothing warmness. It was about 5 Fahrenheit degree, but for northern wolves that was pleasant and optimal temperature. Groove, where they had found a shelter was also beautiful – a mixed wood of pines and larches was covering the slope of moderate rock. There was a den in rock and inside that cavern was lying Alexander. His view was drastically disturbing the peace of scene. Alpha was dying.

Over wounded leader’s body were standing three wolves. Natalya, daughter of chief and pair of betas: Olga and Sergey. Alexander probably wasn’t recognizing them already, but he was calling his children. Not only Natalya, who was standing before him, but also her four litter-siblings, who had died long before. Betas were just looking on passing leader, silver-furred she wolf was trying to lick father’s wound from pus, although she knew it was useless. Injury was already inflamed and a fever was killing once mighty Drift Pack’s alpha. It was just a matter of time when he was to pass away.

“Natalya?” moaned old, silver-furred male, in moment of clarity. He recognized his daughter and was desperately trying to tell her all he had on mind. But his body was too weak to stand it. “Please...” Natalya expected a last warm farewell, a words of love from dying parent. But Alexander was a leader even in his last moments. “My child... you must get the pack out of here. Far away... I it’s possible, beyond the sea. You have to success where I failed... That is your family... save it!”

And those were the last words of chief. Then he just coughed and ultimately fell silent. Silver-furred nestled to his side and when she heard no breathing she burst with cry. She was a strong and independent, almost three-year old female, but in that moment she felt like a tiny pup, when two years earlier her mother died.

Olga and Sergey slowly went out from cave, saying nothing. But they serious stares were telling everything. Just a few seconds later whole Drift Pack cried with one, mighty howl to salute deceased leader. Betas joined it too, but Sergey – heavy-built male with brown fur and a scar across his forehead – tensed his face in uneasy expression. After a moment of common call, he ordered with decisive voice.

“Silence! Humans could hear us!” pack stopped a howl and looked on beta. Although Alexander left no clear last will, most of wolves thought that Natalya, as daughter of chief, was about to take a lead. But beta immediately started to play a role of leader. In fact, no one was ready to resist it – pack was too scared by tragic events of last week and Natalya was still cuddling to father’s side, crying not like a alpha, but helpless omega. So brown-furred male had no rivals.

“We will celebrate our leader and protector in some better times.” Continued beta. “But now we must leave this place. Humans with rifles are still tracking us.”

Under orders of Olga, the pack formed a rank to march away. Meanwhile Sergey entered a cave and nudged Natalya’s side. She was still cuddled to Alexander and seemed to be totally indifferent for surrounding world. Beta hemmed to catch her attention.

“Hey, we must go.” Whispered, trying to sound soft. “Humans...”

“How nice, you are still waiting for me.” Replied she-wolf, mixing in her voice a tune of grief and an irony. “I though you are so busy with ordering your pack...”

“Natalya... don’t say that!” murmured beta. “You are the daughter of the leader and you will...” he stopped for few seconds then added. “Just understand me, that pack needs to be lead.”

“Father said we have to go east.” Replied she-wolf with crying voice.

“We will.” Assured her Sergey. “But I will lead you.” Added in mind. “Just give me some time and I promise I will make you an alpha, as you deserved.”

“Isn’t you who want to be an alpha?” asked Natalya with suspicious stare.

“I see no conflict in that.” Smiled brown-furred and licked her cheek. Then le left cave to announce the wolves. “We are going to the shore! Olga on lead!”

Natalya shivered, hearing willful voice of new alpha, but she couldn’t find a strength to do anything. She was helpless like a child whom she still was somewhere deep in heart. But she had to grow up quick. In that moment she understood that she was on only orphaned, but also left completely on her own with no friend to defend her or her father’s legacy. She clenched her jaws and made a silent sworn over dead leader’s body.

Meanwhile the Drift Pack was setting off in shore’s direction. Rank of wolves was marching in fresh snow. All they were in hurry, because all they had seen what happened to three of theirs companions and chief who had tried to save his charges. Humans in green uniforms were shooting to kill, not seeking for meat or fur. Due to some unintelligible reasons, they want to eradicate whole wolves kind. This was a madness that Drift Pack was unable to fight with. The escape was the only way to survive.

“And we will survive, father!” whispered Natalya in October night. “I will do everything to secure your pack and let no other of our brothers and sisters die. Whatever it takes.”

She was walking on the tail of rank, followed only by Sergey. Wolf few times, pretending that was accidentally, wolf rubbed against her side, giving a possessive nudge. it was clear, he already considered himself as an alpha and Natalya as his mate. Silver-furred narrowed her eyes, trying to ignore her companion, but she started to understand that fulfilling her sworn was much harder that she thought.

I. Home, dull home

Silver arctic fox was sneaking on the edge of forest clearing. It was about midday and sunrays were reflecting on fresh, October snow. She-fox was extremely uneasy and scared by perspective of leaving dense forest and entering a free-air. In deep snow-layer short paws of white-furred were unable to move fast. A clearing, although it had no walls nor fences, was a kind of trap.

But creature slowly entered a glade, wading in snow – her back was just a few inches above the white layer. Fox’s fur was almost perfect white, only in few places some remnants of summer coat were seen. But even those remnants could doom the owner.

Brownish and white mass of fur and muscles sprang on clearing. Long and agile wolfish paws had no problem with long jumps in deep snow and predator got in several second to terrified fox. Claws of attacker clenched on victim’s nape and with sudden move canine threw white fox in the air. She screamed aloud, waving her paws helplessly. Predator was looking few seconds on fox then jumped to catch the prey. With perfect accuracy he grabbed her neck in the same moment when she was hitting the snow-layer.

“Ups...” yelled white-brownish-furred.

“Damn! Cris, have you lost your mind?” moaned shocked fox. “I want to play tag, not to play fly!”

“Sorry, Kitty!” replied wolfdog with clear concern. He laid her on the snow, turning her on back and looking on her paws. “Have broken something.”

“No, no... stop it!” called fox. “I’m fine...” Dog drew back few steps still looking on smaller creature with shame and fear. “Right, in fact it was quite cool.” Said Kitty, standing up on paws and almost instantly submerging under snow-layer. “But don’t do it without warning.” Called from below snow. “But give me a paw, I’ve stuck here!”

Wolfdog gentle grabbed fox’s nape and raised her up. Then he started to forest’s direction, still carrying his strange load in mouth. It seemed quite curious – although brownish-white wolfdog wasn’t too heavy-built but it was anyway probably ten times heavier than white arctofox. It was looking more like wolf with his cub, but that <cub> has foxish coat and furry tail.

Finally Cris put down his friend on trunk of fallen pine in grove nearby. She instantly jump down in snow (there much shallower that in clearing and started to clear her coat. Wolfdog was looking on that for a moment then asked.

“Are you mad on me?”

“Yeah, of course...” hissed arctofox and dog lowered his ears. Then she burst in laughter. “No, I’m not, just sparring with you. Well, so big and so naive...” Cris seemed to lost his temper and again grabbed her nape with clear intention to throw her away. “Stop! Sorry... I’m just...”

“Sparring.” Smiled dog, letting loose fox on soft snow. “I know.” And burst in laughter too.

Kitty stood up, shook snow from her coat and looked on her strange friend.

“Ow, that’s better.” She said. “Morning you was cool and chilled like a ice-float. But that is the Cris I know.” She went to wolfdog, jumped on his back and lower her muzzle to his ear. “And that was a nice trick with throwing me up. But don’t make it after meal, please.”

“You don’t want to play, or don’t want a meal?” asked dog, still smiling.

“Ow, I forgot, you provide me them both.” She slid down from bended Cris’s back and landed in snow, that time with graceful agility. “Thanks, man. You’re the nicest wolf I know.”

“I’m not a wolf.” Murmured dog, sitting in snow and based on pine trunk. “I’m a...”

“I know, I know, I remember it well.” Replied Kitty. “Half malamute, one-eight Siberian husky, one-eight wolf and quarter Alaskan husky. God!” murmured fox “I wonder how you seat your family on Christmas-table!”

“I never tried to gather my family, because many of them want to kill some others.” Replied dog with voice full of both irony serious sadness.

“You mean your father and grandfather?” asked Kitty.

“Not only.” Said Cris. “Now, when Ami is in Niju’s pack and Spark and Mark are in Galena sled...things got a bit tangled.”

“Anyway, could can always invite me on Christmas-dinner. Just warn your mother about it, because she tried to eat me last time.”

“I always do it.” Murmured wolfdog. “You are feasting on our prey for two years.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah...” snorted Kitty. “Should I everyday thank you that you don’t eat me and you allow me to eat some of your leftovers?”

“No, just... I’m sorry, Kitty. Today I’m mad on everything, although I shouldn’t” he said.

“What’s up, man?” asked fox. “See the bright side of life. For example – you even haven’t noticed that I moulted recently. How do you like my new coat?” She straighten her back up to show her white fur, but when god just nodded his head, she looked on him with suspicious stare. “Just spit it out.” She nudged wolfdog friendly, although she had to stand on her rear-paws to reach his side.

“I’m rotting here.” Said Cris, jumping on fallen pine-trunk. “Ami went to live with wolfpack. Spark and Mark are running in the sled in Galena. And I’m still living here with mom and dad, without even getting my nose outside peninsula...”

“Well...” said Kitty. “Why do you say it’s bad life? Also I think that is very noble that you help your parents...”

“Yeah...” murmured Cris. “I even can’t thinking about leave. Dad needs a help in huntings and he could just have problems to manage with mom if I go away... But still I wish to... I don’t know.”

[“I wish” song. Tune is fast, lively and a bit mysterious.]

[Cris and Kitty are standing on the brink of forest. Dog goes to fallen trunk and bases his front-paws on pine stem. He strokes the trunk and sings with pensive, looking on horizon in clearing’s direction.]

I wish to leave my home, sweet home and see where I am not
I wish to know where I could roam, what I could reach in fact.

[He raises his paw to forehead, shielding his eyes from sunrays, to see better. Kitty looks on him with surprise and a bit confused stare.]

Maybe somewhere, far from here there is a world for me
I wish to taste it - what is near get old so fast, you see

[On words <So fast, you see> Cris again strokes trunk, but then he scratches it with claws. Tune is disrupted by false tone of that scratch. Kitty raises her paws and plug her ears.]

I feel just like a blind cub when
Is still inside the mother’s den
But feels it is the time to open eyes

[Cris is standing under a trunk, that might looks like he is in some den. So dog jumps up on stem and slides from it. With impetus he slides further on snow, then he gets to frozen lake. Kitty is trying to keep up with dog, but she “drowns” in the snow. Finally, when she gets to lake, she is exhausted. She shake the snow off her fur.]

I hope to go out - guess, for long
Cause only way could make me strong
And only run could make me reach the skies

[Cris is sliding further on the lake. Then he gets to air hole and stops in last moment. Some crack shows on ice, but dog seems to ignore it and goes over the hole, looking up, on the sky.]

Chorus:
Leave my den and go ahead
Being still is being dead
I want live so fast instead
To see and taste the wildness’s bread
To leave the den

[Kitty runs to Cris. She pass next to air hole, but ice is already broken. Fox stands on one of small ice-floats and it suddenly overturns upside-down, putting white-furred underwater. Cris is singing few seconds further, but when he notices he has no more audience, he turns back and see that Kitty is not there. Capture of fox knocking in layer of ice from below. In spite of charming smile, she is clearly fainting.]

If God created that world to be
Surely to taste, not just to see
To march thought it, to feel so free
Outside my shell, to open sea
To leave the den

[With decisive push of paws Cris overturns the ice-float once again, getting Kitty on surface. She jumps on solid ice, shivering and shocking off her fur. On words <to open sea> dog grabs her and takes her to the shore. Seeing he is cold, he hugs her to chest and wrings water from her furry tail. Fox is looking on it with irritation, but she anyway nestle in warm dog’s fur.]

I wish to step my father prints, but surely not the same
I wish to go without the hints, get know myself the aim
Maybe somewhere, far from here there is a quest of mine
Because my den is small but stirred – I’m sure I’ll choke in time

[Cris puts Kitty on pine trunk in well sunny place and then he looks down on his pawprints, that he made just a moment before. He puts his paw in one of prints. Change of capture: we see small paw (of tiny Cris in puppy times) in track of bigger paws. Small Cris raises his stare and sees Steele, calling to him and hastens him. Pup runs to his father, but he has problems to get through the deep snow. Change of capture to present time. Cris raises his paw from print.]

That urge drives me to look beyond
My tiny den, all day along
And wonder what is on the horizon

[He jumps high, pouncing over the trunk and Kitty and grabbing a cone from some other tree nearby. He lands in deep snow and shakes off it from fur. Then he turns his stare on trunk and Kitty.]

My paws burning with a fire
To run faster, to jump higher
I wish grab that day before it’s gone

[He sings still, pointing with paw on sun. it slowly starts to fade down over horizon.]

Chorus:
Leave my den and go ahead
Being still is being dead
I want live so fast instead
Until I can and I can yet
To leave the den

[He grabs Kitty with jaws and puts on his back. Then he bases with front-paws on the ground and presses with rear ones on trunk. It falls down to snow.]

If God made world our place to stay
Till our last breath, till judgment day
I wish to even go astray
Cause some day will fin my way
To leave the den

[Dog is looking on setting sun, singing, but apart of that he is totally indifferent on world around him. Kitty jumps down from Cris’s back then stands before him and waves her paw before his eyes. Dog makes no move, until songs ends and a howls sounds.]

Then a howl sounded in forest. Cris raised his ears to hear it clearer. Then he turned his head north, where howl was coming from. Wolfdog shook his head and looked on Kitty.

“That’s dad.” He said. “He woke up and want me to help him in hunt. I must go.”

“Wait!” called fox, coming to dog and climbing on his back. “You will get me to Green Valley.” When he tried to look on her (although it was rather difficult, because she was already on his back, she added. “Come on, this snow is much too deep for me.”

“What would you do, if you wouldn’t have known me?”

“I would tame some other wolf, who knows how to play tag!” she replied and when Cris shook his beck with anger, she added. “Right, I’m sorry, you are irreplaceable. And you are not a wolf, but half malamute, one-eight Siberian husky, one-eight...”

“Let’s go.” Snorted Cris and started to run in snow.

*

Steele waiting near the Northern Road. From unknown reasons he often goes it that particular place, near the pan, about ten miles from seashore. It was there, where Sky had died. Although it was four years earlier, somehow malamute was thinking like it happened just day before. Old dog often goes down to valley to spend at least few minutes next to grave of his sister. Or at least in place where she had made her final breath.

“Are hearing me, Sky?” asked in mind. “If you sometimes feel a little too heavenly there, look on me, down. I think it might amuse you... So, If you see me, what would you advice me? It got so complicated those days and...”

“Dad?” called Cris from hill nearby. “Dad, where...”

“I’m coming.” Replied Steele and started to climb on the slope of pan.

It wasn’t so easy as in his youth. Steele was almost thirteen year old and age started to claims for him. He was still strong and independent dog, but youthful agility and efficiency of his muscles had faded away forever. He was hobbling a little on front-left paw, due to rheumatism that was intensified during frosts and heavy winds. First heavy frosts of that winter had already come, so Steele no longer could hunt alone. If some of that ache got him in deeper forest, he would be in danger. Cris had to assist him.

“It’s a shame, that father of family is helpless without ones who he should take care.” Thought Steele. “But in fact Cris is no longer pup. He is almost three year old... I’m sure he stays with Alue and me only because he is afraid we can no longer live our own. Well... good he is worried about his mother... But I... I had my time, and I’m going to leave soon. This blasted paw is reminding it all the time.”

“Dad?” called Cris once again. But then he noticed Steele. “Wait there, I’m coming.” He said and started to go downhill.

“No.” barked malamute. “We are going up anyway. Not so old yet, that you have to drag me on the snow.”

“Sorry, father.” Said wolfdog, but then he ran to parent and supported his side, ignoring a murmur of irritation. They both went on hill and stood on small clearing. It was enlighten by setting sun and fresh snow was sparking red. Surely Cris would stood in amaze and stare at beautiful view from that hummock but he was panting from effort, after run with Kitty on his back, then after climbing with father. Steele would marvel at landscape too, if not another wave of pain in his paw. Malamute just clenched his jaws, saying nothing.

“So, what’s now, dad?” asked Cris.

“Sniff.” Instructed Steele. He was just looking on deeper forest, but not even observing (Cris had much better sight), but thinking heavily.

“Nothing, dad.” Replied wolfdog.

“So follow me.” Said Steele and set off on west.

Years of living in forest of Seward Peninsula had taught him how to find a game even without tracking it. His senses, dimmed due to age were secondary in that search – experiences of hundreds of hunts was telling him where he would find some real meal. He was marching ahead for several minutes then he stopped and turned to son.

“Now. Sniff.” Cris raised his nose and smelled the air.

“Deer. One buck, cow and maybe some calves. About a mile north-west.” He looked on parent with confusion. “How could you sense them? It was impossible to smell them from Northern Road.”

“Night is coming, winds is coming.” Replied Steele instinctively scratching his front-left paw. “If there were some game on open clearings of Green Heights, it was very probable they wanted to find some shelter for night. There is no so many valleys here...”

Then some howl pierced a silence of the evening. Cris dropped his lesson and turned his muzzle to the source of the sound, on west. He knew that voice and Steele knew it too. It was Flame, son of alpha of Peninsula Pack. He was also a mate of Ami – Steele’s daughter and Cris sister.

“Ow, your wolves have some business.” Said Malamute. “Right, but first we find that deer, if they haven’t escape yet...” But howl became even louder and then was directed towards Steele. “What?” gasped dog.

“Dad, they are calling you!” said Cris. “They ask you for help.”

“If they are so kind, they could go here in person.” Murmured Steele, but he set off in call’s direction. “Come on, we will see, what’s up. Just call your mother we won’t be in den...”

“They call mom too.” Added Cris, hearing the next part of message. “Something bad is in the air!”

Father and son started to march on the range of snow-covered hills. Moon was already on the sky and was shining on wanderers. There was no cloud on firmament, what was heralding a frosty night. Howls of wolves sounded gloomily, although landscape was clear.

II. Our Land

They met Aleu and others by pure accident. She was also going to answer the howl, and in forest of Green Valley she met Ami and Flame, who were looking for her. They all were just thinking of calling Steele and Cris, when father and son entered the same clearing.

“Ami!” smiled malamute, seeing his child. “Good to see you... at last.” He added with slight tone of irritation. Since Ami joined the Peninsula Pack she had visited her parents maybe four times. But Aleu instantly pinned her stare on mate, silently saying “Stop it! She is mature now!”

“Hi dad, hi, Cris.” Replied dark-furred bitch. She was strong and beautiful female, surely deserving the title of alpha, that she was about to take, when Flame would success his father on pack. She seemed to inherit the biggest part of wolf’s heritage from whole family – although only her great-grandmother was a pure-blood wolf, Ami was living in forest like any other predator. In contrast to Spark and Mark – who seemed to inherit almost only malamute’s genes – she was maybe more wolfish that her companions from Peninsula Pack.

“Hi.” Murmured Cris. Wolfdog was a perfect mirror of his mother. A features of dog and wolf were mixed in him. His coat was half brownish after mother and half white after father. Maybe that why he never decided neither to seek his quest among humans, nor to try join some forest pack – he felt the best on the border, exactly like his parents.

He went to his mother, gave her a lick in cheek, then came to Flame and Ami. He licked his sister and nudged his brother-in-law in side, with neutral, but rather friendly sign. Then he looked on whole company with questioning stare.

“But what’s going on? Why can’t you howl the matter or sent some messengers to us?”

“All our pack is observing intruders.” Replied Flame. “We also asked Dymitr’s pack for assistance. All predators of peninsula are responsible for peace and order here...”

Then a silence of night was disrupted by scream of fear. Cris looked on brink of forest, where two more scouts from Peninsula Pack were chasing something in snow. He started to run there, because that call had sounded familiar.

“Because we interrupted your hunt, we’ll get something to chew for you.” Said one of scouts, pouncing on running prey.

A while shape shunned paws of wolf and with amazing speed jumped on some trunk. Then it jumped once again, landing on branch of larch, six feet above the ground – too high for predators to get it.

“CRIS! Call them off!” yelled Kitty, because that was she.

“Damn!” murmured wolfdog and went to wolves. “Hey, stop. She is under my personal environmental protection.” Scouts stopped do jump in branch’s direction and looked on Cris with confused stares. “Just... leave her and count it as a snack for me.”

Fox jumped down and agile landed on Cris back. She poked out her tongue at wolves, but when that snapped theirs jaws with hungry stares, she cuddled to her protector’s nape. Cris shook his back to hush his passenger then he set off back to parents. Meanwhile wolves were talking.

“Right, we will go.” Agreed Steele. “So go first, I will join you. In the weather like that I prefer an easy walk.”

“I will go with your father.” Said Aleu, looking on Ami. “We will get to the Haven in few hours...”

“Mom!” yelled Ami. “We are calling you, because we need you. This is the matter important for all of us... And leader wants to hear father’s opinion.”

“If he is so thistly of it...” murmured malamute. “... let’s invite him here. I bet that lazy-bone...”

“Dad!” gasped Ami to her father’s ear. “Stop it! Not in front of Flame.”

“I knew Niju when he was younger than you are now and...” started dog, but then came Cris with Kitty, followed by scouts.

“So will we go?” asked wolfdog.

“Hello, mister Sledded-one!” smiled Kitty, looking on Steele. “Hello, Mrs. Sharp-teethes.” Added, jumping down and landing next to Aleu.

“Ow, hi, Kitty.” Replied malamute. “After such a warm welcome I really don’t regret we didn’t eat you on last Christmas.” Then he turned to Cris. “She was also asked for consultation in that intruders matter?”

“Ugh... no. May she go with us?” asked wolfdog. “If I leave her here, somebody would eat her...”

“If you take her, somebody could do it too.” Said Steele, smiling and baring teethes. When Kitty hid behind Cris paw, malamute added. “Just kidding. You can go... But Cris is carrying you!”

Three wolves of Peninsula Pack looked with amaze on strange conduct, containing leading Aleu, following Steele and Cris with white arctofox on back. Then they turned theirs stares on Ami.

“Ow, just ignore it... That fox is my brother’s pet, since saved her, two years ago.” And she followed her parents and brother.

“Fox hunting?!” whispered Tor, lightest of scouts to his companion – Rin. “That dogs family has some bloody aristocratic hobbies!” But they went after them.

*

About morning, in valley called Haven Valley, the wolves gathered. In that place a hunting was forbidden, so no creature could be killed in sacred pan, where wolfs pack were negotiating and making they alliances. Steele and his family got there as almost last ones. Only representative of Dymitr’s pack was a bit later, but he had the longest way to do.

Some of Peninsula Pack scouts were also missing. Niju sent his wolves to observe others creatures entering area. About two times per hour a series of howls pierced the air, telling council what was happening on the shore. And that was they were about to speak. Guests in number so great, that it made not guests but intruders.

In Haven Valley there was several rock ledges, where more important members of society were lying. On highest right ledge was Hviske, Niju’s mate and alpha of Peninsula Pack. On her left on the same altitude was lying leader. Few meters lower were a pair of betas from Buck Pack - led by Dymitr (once Peninsula member) – who had come there after alert made by Niju. Between them on one ledge were Steele and Aleu as guests on council. It was very strange custom that lone and independent couple was asked to participate on packs matters. But their past was also strange – Aleu had been once an alpha of Peninsula Pack, and both leaders – Niju and Dymitr – had owned theirs lives to Steele. Although relations between forest couple and pack wasn’t always so warm, after Ami, daughter of malamute and wolfbitch, became Flame’s mate, Niju decided to refresh friendship from old times.

“Tell me one thing.” Whispered Steele to Aleu, when they were looking on pack gathered before them. “Do you regret it sometimes?”

“What should I regret?” surprised brownish-furred.

“The pack...” replied malamute. “If not I... you would be still an alpha.”

“I am, Steele.” She smiled and licked her mate’s forehead. “But in my own pack.”

Meanwhile Cris took a seat on valley’s bottom. He felt strange among wolves and didn’t seek a place in some group of predators. Even he decided not to go to his sister and Flame. “I guess everywhere I go, I’ll be the guest. I don’t want to overuse their hospitality.”  Suddenly he recalled he still has Kitty on his back. Fox was silent, probably heavily scared by that throng of wolves around. And maybe that was also a reason that pack was staring on Cris with so amazed and amused stares. Finally Niju stood up on ledge and called to gathering.

“Wolves...”

“And dogs. And wolfdogs and foxes.” Murmured Kitty, to Cris only, but in silence that fell after leader call, she was heard almost by everyone. “Ups... sorry.”

“Wolves!” repeated Peninsula alpha. “We are gathered here to speak about disturbing news. Some new pack is coming to our land.” A murmur of surprise sounded among gathered predators. Although almost everyone had already heard that, Niju confirmed it as fact, not just another rumor. “That is the fourth wolf pack that crossed the strait. On whole peninsula are now ten packs, counting three from Russian land. Eleventh clan will surely endanger us even more. That means starvation for us all!”

“Eleven packs!” whispered Kitty, to Cris’s ear. “Wow... scary! But he should say: twelve! You and your parents are pack as well!”

“Hush!” gasped wolfdog.

“That why I could propose only one thing: stop them on shore, before they enter Alaska for good.”

Another murmur sounded in gathering. This time it was a sound of fear mixed with excitation. The war was about to declare. Touch wolves of Peninsula Pack wasn’t afraid of war... in normal conditions. But this time was different.

“Boss...” called some wolf from back rank. “But scouts told that clan is huge... It’s gathering of remnants of few packs that strengthen one Chukchi group.”

“Yes, I know.” Replied Niju. “They have about forty jaws.”

A gasp sounded in pan. That was a strength! Peninsula Pack contains fourteen wolves, Buck Pack the same and natives could count additionally on Steele’s family. Of course, they could call some others pack from further areas... but newcomers could do the same, asking for help others emigrant’s groups.

“Dymitr is going with all pack to assist you.” Said Hiir, beta of Buck Pack. “He will be here in four days.”

“Those intruders are now on shore, on cape.” Added Niju. “I’m sure they won’t dare to enter our land farther before some scouting. We have some time... to prepare for war.”

“Nice...” barked Steele from his ledge. “I have no idea, why you want to declare war now, before we establish any contact with them, but I’m more curious what do you want from me and my family...”

“Every jaw will be useful.” Said black and white wolf, looking on malamute.

“You can count on me, sir!” called Kitty, giving a salute. When stares of all pack turned to her, she jumped on the ground and hid under Cris.

“Steele!” added Hiir. “Our leader told us, you are the great warrior. You have to teach us, how to fight.”

Malamute smiled with grim smile and stoop up. Exactly in the same moment his paw enflamed with rheumatic pain, but he repress a moan and turned his stare on wolves below. But Aleu noticed that and whispered.

“My dear... that is not your war...”

“I’m not so old yet.” Murmured dog.

“I didn’t mean that. I just...”

“Never mind.” Replied Steele. Then he called to gathered wolves. “I will help you... as I can. But I strongly suggest you think about some other solution. Forty jaws... that is not a sparring. If those wolves are desperate, that could mean fight to death.”

“We will check it.” Said Hviske. “We will send some scouts.”

“Hey, Cris!” whispered Kitty. “How would you like to become a hero?”

“Shut up, Kitty!” gasped wolfdog. “That is not your...” but then he smiled and licked his lips. “I will go!” called to Niju.

Pack looked on him with amazed stares. Cris straighten himself with proud pose but when he noticed that wolves were still looking on him with confusion, he turn his muzzle up, to see that Kitty was again poking out her tongue at them. Wolfdog shook his back and arctofox fell down in snow.

“I will go.” Repeated. “I’m looking like a dog... actually I am a dog, so I could pretend I have nothing to do with you.”

Steele looked on son with amaze and went down from ledge. But before he got to Cris, he was surrounded by several younger wolves, wanting to ask legendary <wolf-slayer> for advices and plead him for training. Then Aleu jumped down to her son, she got thought furry crowd and lowered her muzzle to Cris ear.

“My dear, what are doing! Don’t go in any trouble...”

“Mom, it’s also our trouble now.” Replied wolfdog and Kitty, who just had climbed back on his back nodded her head. “We have to help packs... because we have to help Ami. Or maybe...” he twisted his lips in bitter smile. “...you will get Ami back to our den.”

Then finally Steele got there and looked on mate and son. Ignoring a excited voices behind his back, he said with serious tone.

“Cris will do what he decide. He is almost three year old.” Wolfdog nodded his head with gratitude. “And besides his plan is good. No one would suspect dog of being in league with wolves.”

“No one.” Smiled Aleu and licked malamute’s lick. But then she tensed her face again and added. “But it’s dangerous...”

“For all of us, mom.”

“Pssst!” whispered kitty to Cris ear. “Haven’t you forgot something?”

“What?” hissed wolfdog.

“Well...” murmured fox. “Something like: Mom, dad, take care about Kitty?”

“You will go with him.” Said Steele. “A fox could be a perfect and discrete liaison.”

“He?!” yelled white-furred, cuddling to Cris back.”

“You wanted to be a hero.” Smiled wolfdog. “Take your chance.”

“I want you take your chance!” replied Kitty with shocked voice. “And to take me home...” But no one was listened to her.

Aleu, Steele and Cris went to center of pan, where Niju started to plan reconnaissance and sending scouts in chosen areas. But when malamute came, wolf-leader ask him for fixing the ultimate plan. Cris for the very first time in his life saw how the pack was working. And he wasn’t able to hide his pride, because his father became someone even more important than alpha. He was commonly respected advisor of all wolves on Peninsula. “I can’t let you down, dad.” Thought young wolfdog. “I will be brave and smart as you.”

When the council was over, Niju gave last orders to his scouts, nodded to Steele and Aleu and went out from valley. Flame followed him, but when Ami wanted to go there, malamute stopped her with quiet bark.

“Come here... all.” Said to his family.

They climbed on the lowest and the biggest ledge, where Aleu and Steele had been sitting a while earlier. Malamute had a little problem with coming up, but Cris managed to support father’s uncertain steps, before Aleu notice it. When they all were up, Steele said.

“Listen... whatever is going to happen, you must remember that we are the family. First of all we are responsible for each other, right?” All canines nodded theirs heads, however Ami, looking in direction of marching pack did it as the last one. “I want to help pack with all my heart, but... Well... Niju and Dymitr are my old...” he looked to the sky, like he wasn’t sure what word to use. “...friends. I know them well and thanks to that I can see when they are doing wrong. I want make a deal with that intruders...” Ami wanted to throw something, but Steele hushed her with a wave of paw. “Cris proposed he would go to scout... or to spy them. Yes, good, do it son, but remember, that we still don’t know if they are enemies.”

“Dear...” whispered Aleu. “Don’t you think that all is a bit...”

“Interesting. Like every day of our life.” Replied malamute. “We must be careful, but I hope that carefulness won’t stop us. Cris...” he looked in his son’s eyes. “You must go to that pack and get know about them... Look for everything. Check if those wolves want to fight, claim our territory or just to pass next to us and go further.”

“You can count on me, dad.” Said wolfdog.

“But that’s not all.” Added malamute. “I have to stay here, with Niju and Dymitrs and his pack... Not just to teach them... but also to stop them from doing stupid things. But something else have to be done. Aleu, Ami... you must ask for help... our distant relatives... Our family who is living with humans.”

“Uncle Ice.” Said Ami, although she had never seen the greenland.

“Yes. Him and his friends. And his humans. I’m afraid that crisis is much beyond our powers.”

So he told them what he was up to.

III. Old, good friends

The Anchorage Academy was a low, two-floor building, wide and powerful despite of it. It was like the North itself – prepared for winter winds, solid – maybe not beautiful but useful. It was few weeks after start of academic semester, so countless students were running up and down on stairs of most northern academy in USA. Arashi Tazaku for few seconds felt like he was forty years younger and he was studying. Although that school was totally different from Kobe Physician University but some mysterious climax of academy was the same in every country.

Japanese was entering the building with his son-in-law, John Ash, who brought him there on that special ceremony. In that sunny and warm (as for October) day, doctor was about to be appointee as a honorary professor of AA. Although Tazaku finished medical studies in Japan, he was recognized as famous biologist in Alaska. His private research about relations between caribu herds and wolfpack and its influence on whole ecosystem had caught attention of famous trapper – Gunnar Kaasen. Musher, widely known because his and his sled achievement during Nome-epidemic, six years earlier, was also giving some occasional lectures in Anchorage. He had told local professors about researches of Tazaku and thanks to that works of Japanese was published few years later. Finally, when that books were awarded by few Europeans universities, rector of AA decided to employ exocentric scholar. Of course, Arashi said that he had no intention to leave Buckland, but he would be grateful as honorary professor’s title. Coming to academy on 20^th October he was already regretting that.

“Am I look proper?” asked Japanese.

“For sure better than I.” Replied John.

Trapper was wearing his casual clothes, but doctor wanted to see more officially. He asked his daughter – Sara Ash – to make him some sort of elegant vest. Unfortunately he insisted to wear something... well known to his, so Sara sewed a cloth reassembling a Japanese Imperial Navy lieutenant’s uniform (mark 1903) – the only official vest Tazaku was able to wear feeling comfortable. Additionally, he took his samurai sword and Homeland War Order from Russian War.

“Dad, you could at least spare us that order.” Said John, looking on decoration on Japanese chest.

“Don’t you like it?”

“You got it posthumously, when your HQ thought you died on <Yashima>.”

“Well... yes!” nodded former lieutenant. “But Emperor in person approved it, when I wrote from Buckland about my retirement. And HQ sent it to me by mail...”

“Never mind...” murmured Ash. He opened the glass-door to academy hall and stood in amaze. “So where now?”

“I don’t know... Ari will guide us.”

He whistled and soon after a grey and white furred bitch joined them. It was Ari – daughter of Sky and Ice. Arashi took her to Anchorage, in spite of objections of John and Sara. But he said decisively: “If they want to employ me as a animals specialist, they can’t he surprised if I take some of my observation subjects with me. Right, Ari?” She-dog licked master’s hand and barked with excitation. She was not only great sledge dog but also real adventurer, seeking every chance to see something new. So they had to take her.

“Mister Arashi...” murmured some short man in black suit. “We are waiting in Lecture Hall. Please, follow me.” He looked on Ash carrying a rifle and sledge dog, but he said no word.

“Look, Ari.” Whispered Arashi to his pet. “That is the university. Humans here claims they know more about the nature than we. It’s time to correct them.”

*

Ceremony was quite successful. Tazaku made no more serious faus-fax and his original appearance was greeted warmly by bored professors of academy. In his speech doctor said many bitter words about scientists who have no contact with subjects of their studies. Of course none of that townies professors took any offend, maybe thinking that the fact of living in city on latitude of 61 degree automatically made them Wild-Nature-experts.

“We must observe carefully the world we are changing. Some day we may face the threat that our civilization inflict too deep wound to that wildness. And whole our science is only to be ready on that day. To be ready to prevent disaster, we are preparing in those days.” He finished and drowned in wave of applause.

When he was coming down from tribune, he noticed his old friend – Gunnar Kaasen, waiting for him. Next to Norwegian was standing tall man with European countenance and short, blond hair. He was looking on Japanese with serious interest, in opposite to clapping crowd.

“Good to see you, Arashi.” Said Gunnar. “Have you a minute?”

They exited a loud and crowded hall and go on ledge over main entrance. In spite of shining sun it was about fifteen Fahrenheit degrees. However the blond man went out just in suit, not showing any sigh of cold. “He is not from here...” thought Arashi. “But he is touch, opposite to that townies in Anchorage.”

“Arashi, this is mister Phillip Fering, a vice-director of Royal Woods Management from Canadian Yukon.”

“Nice to meet you, professor.” Said Canadian and shook Japanese’s hand.

“Yeah... nice.” Murmured a bit confused Tazaku. “But what brought you to Anchorage.”

“You.” Replied Fering and looking surprised stare of interlocutor. “As well as mister Kaasen and every man who could help me in solving this problem. Ones who really know the Nature’s way. Not just ignorant scholars.” He went to crash barrier and put a map from his folder. “Take a look. This is a map of my woods, but on left edge you can see the Alaskan border. I’ve indicated with green lines the old territories of wolfpacks. With red lines I’ve indicated the new packs, that entered my park from beyond border. That means something drives hundreds of wolves from Alaska to the east. Initially I though it was your problem, but I caught some wolves from new packs... and I discovered that some of those are Siberian ones. I know that sounds impossible...”

“But wolves from USRR are fleeing on ice-layer from Chukchi Peninsula.” Finished Tazaku. “Yes, I know few such cases. It’s natural that some of that numerous pack choose to go east due to lack of preys.”

“Yes, but on last year it grew to scaring scale!” replied Fering. “And now begins the season when ice-layer allow wolves to migrate. And they will migrate, because communist authorities are continuing the massive hunts on predators.”

“Barbarians!” gasped Gunnar. “They claims they helping local people by driving of carnivores and that way they promote the Progress. But it’s only a blind atrocity, destroying the ages of natural balance...”

“And that why I need your help.” Added Canadian. “When such a throng of wolves will enter Alaska people would be scared. They would start a massive hunts too, so wolfkind on north would be seriously endangered. You must be my eyes on Seward Peninsula. You must track new pack and report about it to your local authorities. You must...” He stopped, looking on Japanese. “I’m sorry, professor. I got too far. I know you have own duties and that is surely quest for younger ones...”

“Of course, we must!” exclaimed Arashi. “Right, Gunnar?” Norwegian nodded his head without hesitate. “Until I have strength to hold my rifle, I will guard my land. Whoever threaten it – humans or animals.”

“Great!” smiled Canadian. “That would be perfect – if you case have to win, who could support it better than the most famous musher in Alaska and most bizarre professor of Anchorage Academy?”

“She!” laughed Arashi and whistled. Instantly Ari ran to them and pounced on Fering. Without any aggression, but licking man’s face – she sensed that human was friendly and was a ally of her master. “She is a quarter wolf.” Added Japanese. “I will be proud to help that beautiful creatures.”

“My old, favourite dog choose to live in wild.” Said Gunnar. “I doubt if he lives still, but I believe that he had pups with some wolf and whose wolfdogs are now princes of forest... Yes... Those woods are my life. And I will defend my life as I could.”

Then John joined them. After escaping of crowd of local bored women, thirsty to see real northern trapper, he found father-in-law and Kaasen. Meanwhile Fering started to explain his plan of creating special sanctuary for wolves, using powers of both American and Canadian authorities.

“Right!” said Tazaku when he finished. “John, you will help sir Philip to interest press and gubernator with that case. Gunnar and I will get some evidence that whole action is required. We need make some preparations. Buy stocks, cameras, good maps... borrow a plane...”

“I know a pilot who could sell us a working plane on fair price.” Threw Ash. “His name is Jack <Duke> McReady.”

*

Drift Pack was spending its very first night on Alaskan shore. They all were hungry and scared, but Natalya was more hungry and much more scared that the others. Since the day of her father’s death she was able to eat just few pounds of meat – shock and exhaustion dimmed her senses and even needs. Also Sergey had become a real alpha. And that was another cause of silver-furred fear.

Pack was lying in cluster of dwarf-mountain-pines, just few steps from shore. The ocean was fizzing restlessly and breaking waves were the main sound heard by wolves. But that was quite easy and friendly noise. Night was clear, snowless, but thanks to that cold. Temperature dropped to about minus fifteen Fahrenheit degree, in spite of warmed wind from over the strait. Almost every pack-member was already asleep, apart of Sergey and Natalya.

“Are you cold?” asked brown-furred, looking on alpha’s daughter, cuddled in pines cluster.

“I am.” Replied she.

“Maybe you want me to... warm you?” smiled new leader.

“Thank you... I could take care of myself.”

“I bet you could...” murmured wolf, coming closer. “But it would be more pleasant if I do it for you.”

“Leave me alone!” sobbed Natalya. “What do you want? You are an alpha!”

“Ow, don’t cry my dear.” Hissed Sergey, lowering his muzzle and licking her forehead. “I just want you... to rule by my side.”

Natalya instantly stood up and jumped back from wolf’s hug. She snapped her teethes but rather in hollow gesture that in real challenge. Sergey was stronger and she couldn’t count on decisive help of the rest of pack. They were crestfallen after recent tragedies and had no will to interfere in leaders matters. Maybe Sasha, Natalya’s friend... but she was just one, where Sergey had own followers. Especially since he had taken some lone wolves to pack. Now from fifteen original pack-members Drifters grew to be over forty jaws group. And newcomers were listening to brown-furred, not to the daughter of old chief.

“Leave me alone!” cried silver-furred. “You made me almost omega by your games. Take you lead and let me be!”

“No, Natalya...” whispered wolf. “I need you as a mate.” He licked his own lips and looked on her with greedy stare. “Don’t you want to be an alpha again?” then he added quieter. “And I would be good to mate with alpha’s daughter. Leader’s blood, after all...”

“LEAVE ME ALONE!” cried she-wolf and ran away from pine-grove.

Some wolves opened their eyes and looked on Sergey with curiosity. Leader smiled and replied with soothing tone.

“Calm down... Nothing has happened... She had a bad dream...” So awoken ones laid to sleep again.

*

Natalya was running in random direction for few minutes, but then she stopped on the beach. Sea was growling with its calm growl of breaking waves, cooling hear and cry in she-wolf’s heart. Silver-furred look on open water, partially covered with ice, partially with loose ice-float but in majority clear. Somewhere there was her lost home, but she had no reason to go back.

“And have I any reason to stay with my pack?” she asked herself. “That is no longer my family... They don’t care about me... They can’t protect me...” She sobbed, but her voice was muffled by the waves. “I have to my place here... Anywhere I go, I’m homeless. Dad!” she turned her muzzle to the sky. “Help me! Tell me what to do... Where I should go?”

But clear sky was silent. Or maybe its voices were drowning in noise of the sea. Natalya sighed and turned back in forest direction. She was afraid to back to Sergey, but actually she had no other place to go. “That is the unknown land. And my pack is group of unknown wolves to me. I wish to have to shelter... at least my own, small den to hide from them all.”

[“My den” song. Tune is sad and touching, full of longing.]

[Natalya is slowly walking on the beach. Behind her back a cold and hostile see is boiling with waves. Sand is partially covered with snow and on that muddy whiteness she-wolf is marching with effort. She starts to sing.]

World is so wide, is so great
But I think it’s too small still
I can’t find a place to wait
All the storms are coming here 

[She tries to hide in some rock-crack, but after few seconds – on words <coming here>, water from broke wave splashes her over.]

There’s no haven in my sight
Where I could just rest a while
Nowhere lair where I could hide
When the storm comes as my trial

[She exits a hole. Then she comes to the forest. Some nightly creatures escapes from her, seeing the predator, but she looks scared as well as them. Wind is blows, showering Natalya with snow. Because her fur is already wet, snow stick to it. She shake it off with irritation. She runs further.]

But there must be safer place
Side where I could lap my face
Have an hour of silent rest
Gather strength to daily test

[Finally, she lays under some wide three, nestling to moss there. Zoom-in on her face. She closes her eyes and tries to sleep. But then moon clouds over – uneasy Natalya opens her eyes. She stands up and walks on sandy dunes of forest’s brink.]

Chorus:
I am looking for my den
Doesn’t matter where and when
Just to find my home where I can live it through
And maybe someone, friendly arm
Would guide me there and make den warm
Because I’m looking for a home for two

[She looks around, as if she is looking for her dreamy home. But some blow of wind again shower her with snow. To avoid unpleasant cold she jumps down to rock-crack.]

Second verse:
Shore is breaking waves of see
I’m listening to this growl
Hoping that it calls to me
Telling now where I should go

[She stops, looking on the sea. Waves are breaking just before her – it looks scary, but Natalya is more sad than scared. She tries to listen in waves noise.]

World is so wide, is so great
I don’t believe it’s so void
So will search and I will wait
Until I find that dreamed point

[She climbs up, back on dune, then goes through beach. Suddenly she notices a pawprints in the sands. She smiles but then her smile fades out, when she discovers that are just her prints. She put her paw in one of the print – it fit perfectly. Natalya runs to the forest.]

Birds have nests and fox has hole
I have no my place at all
Ow, how much I them envy
That must be a different life

[She notices a bird’s nest on the low branch of fir. She lick her lips with hunger, then jumps on low branch. But then she looks on nest and see that some sleeping nestling are in. She freeze for few seconds, then lowers her paws. She jumps down the fir.]

Chorus:
I am looking for my den
Doesn’t matter where and when
Just to find my home where I can live it through
And maybe someone, friendly arm
Would guide me there and make den warm
Because I’m looking for a home for two

[With sad expression on her face she gets back to her pack and takes a bedding in dwarf-pines cluster. She fades down her song and closes her eyes. Falls asleep.]

IV. One, big family

Aleu and Ami were running fast in Buckland’s direction. But the closer to humans seat they less wanted get there. For Ami it was obvious – she was to see men for the very first time in her life (apart of few times, when she and her family were escaping from hunters chase) and she wasn’t scared but just careful. She trusted her mother’s reason but anyway she was ready to instant run away from new, unknown creatures.

And Aleu was scared. It seemed quite funny, even for wolf-bitch, but years in wild almost wiped out merry memories of living in Nome and left just aching recollections of scorn and fear she had been evoking in humans. “They always thought I was a wolf. And they had right – I am.” Thought Aleu. “I hope we find that Ice quickly.”

“Mom, why we slowed down?” asked Ami. “Something is wrong?”

“No, no...” replied Aleu. “I’m just checking the way. But right... let’s go.”

So they started to run down from Bears Mountain’s slope into Buckland Valley. Sun was rising up, announcing new - sunny but frosty - day on Alaska.

*

The plane was a extraordinary attraction for Buckland. Not only that such machines had shown there rarely, but also a fact that Arashi Tazaku bought Duke’s biplane for good was a local sensation for citizens. For Arashi and Gunnar a sensation was the flight, especially the landing. Just before touching the landing clearing, Japanese confessed that he had never been flying plane before, to say nothing about piloting. Of course Norwegian wasn’t pilot too and was convinced that his friend knows how to drive that machine. From altitude of three hundreds to altitude of fifty feet, they were intensively arguing who was in fact the pilot, but in last moment of subsidence they decided they would try do seat the vehicle. And it turns that they both know how to land, because they stopped biplane over fifty feet before brink of dense forest. Machine was still operational and no casualties were reported.

“Damn, Arashi!” cried still shocked Gunnar. “Why did you tell Duke, you know how to fly?!”

“Because I know!” replied doctor. “I was flying in captive observation balloon many times. Besides Ari was delighted by that landing. Right Ari?” asked Tazaku and put bitch from rear seat to lower plane. She wagged her tail with excitation and jumped down in snow. Japanese turned to his friend with innocent smile.

Their further argument was muffled by triumphal calls of gathered crowd of Buckland’s citizens. So they asked audience to help to pull machine to Ash’s garage nearby. But then Sara Ash brought some serious assistance for that.

“Ow, my dear... they will manage it?” asked Japanese, looking on daughter who was leading a pack of sled dogs.

“Wow! That will be a achievement.” Murmured Gunnar. “Nine dogs to over two thousand pounds plane!”

“Good to see you dad... good to see you, mister Kaasen.” Smiled Sara and stared to harnessing dogs to airplane. “But where is John?”

“He has to fix some business in Anchorage.” Explained Arashi. “He will be back in week, I hope. But that let’s try to help our four-legged heroes.”

The new sled team contained nine dogs and was still led by Ice. Nine year old greenland was still in perfect condition and his long-gained experience of leader was priceless in journeys in Alaska. Six of his charges were his and Sky’s children - Agnes, Lucy, Ari, Steele, Kiva and Armand. All of them were now mature and responsible sledge dogs, avid pullers and reliable father’s assistants. The new recruits were Mark and Robert – almost three year old children of Ice and Cher. When theirs sisters - Diana and Julia turned out to be too fragile to pull the sled, those two seemed to manage quite well, as least well for fresh members of team. In case, town has the second sled team, led by old husky David, containing his mate – Mackenzie Eva, five of their children and Eva’s sister – Marry and few additional dogs. But for then it was clear that Ash team was ready to do his job.

“Hi dad!” smiled Ari, coming to Ice. “It was wonderful... I was flying...”

“Well, nice.” Murmured sled-leader. “But I think that dogs are destined to walk the earth, not to fly.”

But then Ari instantly joined to harness and they all started to pull the heavy cargo. Although plane was generally made of wood and linen and apart of the engine and few others elements there was no metal parts, the whole was over two thousand pound weight. Plane was on skies, snow was fresh and easy to pull on it, but anyway it wasn’t the easiest task.

“Mom! What they are doing?!” gasped Ari, looking with confusion on strange scene on clearing.

“Ow, my God!” whispered Alue, shivering on all body. “That... that monster enslaved them!”

In Aleu’s mind the only memories connected with plane were those terrifying recollections of escape from Russia. Her pack was tracked and chased also by such mechanical dragon. Impulsive she nestled in daughter’s side and pressed her down to hide in snow.

“Mom, what’s...”

“Shhh!” hissed brownish-furred. “He can’t see us.”

“But those dogs don’t seem to be in danger... I think.” Replied Ami.

“You haven’t seen that creature in flight!” moaned Aleu.

“In flight?” amazed dark-furred. “But it seems so helpless... Maybe uncle Ice hunt it down and now is dragging the meat to his den?”

But in the same moment Aleu froze. Looking in town’s direction. Her daughter followed that stare and noticed silhouettes of three she-gods on road to Buckland’s square. Two were young bitches with red and grey fur but oldest one was beautiful husky with cherry coat.

“Ow... somehow she looks familiar to me...” murmured Ami.

“Darling, stay here!” instructed Alue with decisive, however still tensed voice.

She started to sneak in deep snow, trying to stay unseen. She set off in cherry-furred direction, slowly marching under white cover. Ami was looking on that with amaze, but she obeyed mother instruction.

Cher was looking on working sled team from road. She nor her daughter didn’t try to help pullers – fragile constitution of bitches made them unable to such hard work. Although once Julia avidly wanted to became a sled-dog as her brothers, Ice forbid her to seek training with humans. “Some dogs are destined to be useful.” He said. “Some just to be beautiful, like you.” Julia had left her pup’s dreams but she always wanted to see pullers in work. And she always took mother and sister with her.

“Look, mom! That thing is huge!” she pointed on biplane. “But dad and team are pulling it so fast...” added with dreamy voice. “I wonder if they are stronger that Mike’s team...”

Mike was husky in Daniel’s team, owned by Ralph Fitch, second musher in Buckland. Since some time Mike and Julia were highly attracted each other, so she event didn’t know which team she have to cheer in local rivalry.

“I hope they won’t try it by contest of pulling that junk around...” snorted Cher and then she disappeared.

Just like that: in one second she was standing in snow next to the road and in next moment there were no one there, just a moderate gap in white layer. She-huskies looked on that hole, looked on each other, then once again on hole and screamed.

“MOM?!”

“Tsch!” sounded a hiss from below the snow. “Silence, he will hear you!”

“Mom!” yelled Julia and ran to gap.

Downthere she saw a confusing scene. Chew was lying on the ground of snowy-den, pressed by brownish wolf with blue eyes. She was looking on husky with terror in her eyes.

“Lay low! Quick!” whispered newcomer.

“Who... what’s going...”

“QUICK!”

“E... eee...” gasped Cher, who fried from wolf’s grasp. “What the hell you’re thinking by... Aleu?!” Husky looked on her sister with amaze on face. “Sister, is that you?”

“Quiet! The monster...”

“Call Ice!” barked Cher aloud. “My sister is here!”

Soon after that a clearing drowned in excited barks of sled-dogs. Shocked Aleu tried to escape but she was stopped by Cher and her daughters.

“Cher, we must hide!””

“Come, Aleu... that’s nothing!” replied airily husky. “Just some human’s machine. Ice will finish that route and will be here any moment...”

And then came Ami. She sneaked to dogs, convinced that her mother was caught by enemies. In her first pounce she pushed Cher off from Aleu side, then she jumped on Diana, knocking her on the ground. They all still were in snow-pan, dug by Aleu and extended by her wrestling with sister, so apart of some barks, no one from team noticed any alarming signals. But when Julia pounced on Ami, who was holding Diana in steel grip, wolf-bitch kicked her hard with rear-paws, throwing her few yards away. Town-dog yelled loud, what heard the sled team.

“Ami, wait!” cried Aleu. “Those are friends!”

Her daughter froze with jaws on Diana’s nape, than slowly got loose her grab. Cher stood up carefully, looking with confused stare on whole scene. Aleu came to sister and licked her cheek.

“Cher...” she whispered. “I thought...”

“No, we’re all right.” Replied cherry-furred. “But who...”

“That’s Ami, my daughter.”

“Ow, I’m sorry, ma’am.” Said dark-furred, standing up and coming to mother. “I thought you attacked mom and...”

Than wave of dogs jumped down to snow pan in few seconds immobilizing Aleu and Ami with fast and decisive grabs. Cher screamed with terror.

“Ice, no!” Greenland stood, with jaws on Ami’s nape. It was a strange reply of recent situation, when dark-furred was holding town-dog in grasp. But there was a one difference – to immobile agile and strong dark-furred, Ice required help of Armand and Ari.

“What the hell...” growled Arashi Tazaku, running with rifle, aimed in dogs mass. But then she stood, seeing that creatures, just second earlier fighting, stopped and started to uncertainly sniffing on each other. “Ow... who are those strays? Wolves?” He was examining newcomers with curious stare. “Don’t you eat yourself? May I leave you alone?”

“Everyone, wait!” barked Cher. “That is my sister Aleu and her daughter. They are friends.”

“Ow, My God... what a mess.” Murmured Ice, letting Ami’s nape go. “Sorry, we though you are forest wolves on hunt... But darling...” he looked on his mate. “Is everything all right?” Cher nodded her head. “So we will be back in minute, when we finish to pull that blasted plane.”

Arashi waved his gun and sled team ran back to it’s harness. Meanwhile Cher and Alue in scattered talk tried to understood what happened and how it could be, they met there. Julia was hurt, thanks to Ami’s fast teethes grab. But when that misunderstanding was gone, dark-furred went to her victim with lowered ears.

“No, it’s nothing.” Said she-dog. “Just a scratch.”

“May I...” asked Ami and started to lick a cut.

“Wow... you fighting like... like a wolf.” Whispered Diana.

“Old family tradition.” Smiled Ami.

After just few minutes, calmed and reconciled creatures were talking like friends.

*

Finally – when plane was already in garage and all dogs were unharnessed - whole group came to Arashi shed. That was the building made in place of old storage next to doctor’s house. But Tazaku decided to extend his own kennel and keep there sled-team of his brother-in-law, to provide them better medical care and just for company. Then it was a quite big warehouse made of metal plates, with own heating system and bedding for almost twenty dogs living there. So host and guests entered doctor’s kennel and laid in pleasant warmth of boiler.

“I still can’t believe it.” Murmured Ice. “So we are all the family! Hot it could be, that we heard no word about you for all those years?!”

“I don’t know, Ice, it has just come this way.” Replied Aleu.

“And Steele... God, I thought he died that night when wolves killed Sky...” Ami instinctively narrowed her eyes. She knew that her pack was responsible for that. And she had to say it to her new-found uncle. “You must tell them... all of them – Steele and your children to come here. We even didn’t know each other, running with the same forest for all the time...”

“Steele made sure that no wolf pack would harass sled-teams from Buckland.” Said Aleu. “And of course, from Nenana too...”

“Nenena? What do you mean?” asked Ice, but then he smiled in understanding. “I know! Those siblings from Nanana’s team: Spark and Shadow are your pups! I know it... so similar to Steele...”

“Indeed.” Confirmed Aleu. “Although boy is called Mark. Just humans gave him that strange name...”

“Right... Next time we meet on the route, we will greet them warm... But now... You said you are here because on some quest. Does Steele need our help?”

“Not only father.” Replied Ami. “We all – predators of peninsula are in trouble. Dad said us that your master is special person who could understand us and help us.”

“It would be hard, but if any humans could understand us, he is the man.” Said Ice. “But now rest. Tomorrow you will say about it on our town council.”

Dogs laid to sleep on hay, prepared as beddings. Buckland line of family occupied theirs usual places, leaving for guest the honorary beds next to the stove. But mother and daughter, used to forest’s frosts were unprepared to heat from fire and after few minutes took places nearest to the door. After that all of them fell asleep. However - not all to easy sleep.

Aleu woke with cold sweet just an hour later. Her dreams were full of planes, shooting and angry humans in uniforms. She sobbed quietly, reminding companions fallen during journey over the strait. Cher heard that and stood immediately.

“Sis... what happened?” she asked with real concern.

“Those... planes...” whispered Aleu with shaking voice.

Without any more words Cher laid nest to sister and cuddled into her side. They both fell asleep instantly.

*

Beyond the wall, in house, Arashi Tazaku was still awake, with Gunnar Kaasen looking on maps given by Canadian woodskeeper. Table where Japanese was eating, operating his patients (four and two-legged) turned to be a temporary HQ of their private environmental crusade. On plan were indicated the eventually areas of new wolves activity.

“That’s a job for some federal authorities. I don’t know how much can Phillip and John do in Anchorage.” Said Tazaku with serious voice. “So I propose to start gathering some evidence right now. We will fly over peninsula, especially in Cape Prince of Wales to locate those new packs. When we get them, we will land, if it’s possible or prepare a land expedition with sleds.”

“Sure thing.” Replied Norwegian. “I send to academy my final abdication. After all I’m a trapper, not some bloody scholar!” he looked on Arashi with ashamed face. “No offence...”

“I get your point.” Said Japanese. “I miss for some action too. So I will prepare cameras and maps and you help Sara and Ralph to prepare both sled teams. If the weather is good tomorrow, we will fly our first flight west.... But this time we will get some bigger clearing for landing.” Both men burst in laughter, but after several seconds Norwegian stopped.

“Who is going to pilot?” asked Gunnar uncertainly.

“We will see.” Smiled Japanese and put his glasses off. One think he hadn’t told his friend was that his sight wasn’t as good as few years ago. He had chosen the Northern Clearing for land, because he had thought it was actually frozen layer of Delta Lake. “Flying in plane is even better that in captive balloons.”