Year of the Wolf

Prologue – For Those Who Died

Kostan for long time hadn’t enough time to understand that the battle was lost. He was running between valley and path to Icy Bluff and trying to control chaos of fierce combat. He never hoped for victory, but he really believed that refuges could be evacuated. So after lieutenant Kuono died, he decided to took over the command in gorge and ordered all remaining soldiers to block path for every cost. Before that the defence of refuges was under charge of most trusted of his wolves – his son.

Kostan had been second pawmaster of Uniea Clan, and after death of Vian – who was killed by Talkeet in fit of fury – should had become first tutor of clan martial arts. But when Talkeet took over the Uniea, Kostan fled to forest, sensing what disaster would bring death of Daie and Vian. He took son and daughter in law with him and most likely that why they all avoided slaughter in final battle with Aleu’s forces. But when in spite that his clan was defeated, Kostan was fighting still. Although his rank was more official one, not a military charge, he acted like a field commander. He gathered all what left from First Fang under leadership of lieutenant Kuono and he persuaded officer to breach back to old Uniea territory.

But that quest turned out to be much harder than they both expected. With every step to Home Cave they met more and more refuges, civilians and wounded soldiers – of Uniea and its allies. Kouno and Kostan had no other choice than take them all. That why they were so slow and Shadow’s First Team caught them so quickly.

Second pawmaster chose the field of battle wisely – he ordered refugees to cross Yu Range via Eagle Pass and hide in one of numerous valleys of eastern side. He, leading about forty wounded and tired soldiers, made an ambush on Ice Fields just beyond Eagle Pass. All what for they could hope was to slow down about eighty enemies.

Advantage of Talbourne wasn’t crushing – not much more than two to one. For defenders, aware of terrain where they stood, it shouldn’t be something impossible. But First Fang was just a shadow of that unit from few months before – most of wolves were wounded, all were tired, also army was half-starved. Meanwhile Shadow’s wolves are well prepared and fresh to the fight. It was an achievement that Uniea lasted over four hours, taking about thirty of enemies with them.

Path down to valley was a last stand, where Kostan left wounded Kouno. Lieutenant was living dead, with serious internal bleeding and rest of his group – in fact those were six survivors – were also unable to move further. Second pawmaster decided he wouldn’t help them in dying in more efficient way.

“Right, go!” panted dying Kouno. “Make sure that refugees made their way home. We will stop them… for a time being.” So Kostan ran east with all his might.

In column of refugees there was almost no military personnel. Just few wolves too wounded to fight in mountains, stayed there. One of them was Taisten, Kostan’s son. Running through dense forest to deeps of gorge, pawmaster had a clear premonition that his son was already dead. That feeling turned out to be right.

Just when sun hid behind the horizon, old wolf entered the clear space on bottom of valley. Bodies of wolves covered most of area, stopping white snow with few dozens of grey-red points. It was all what left from Uniea survivors. Kostan recognize friends and charges, counted that eventually no one got out from there. And if no one did, Taisten was surely dead. Proud sergeant of Uniea would have never left his clan.

But then his heart stopped for few long seconds. There was someone alive! Some silhouette was standing above one of bodies, bended down to dead. Kostan gulped – he recognized the survivor, as his daughter in law – Muista. He also recognized the dead one, as his son – Taisten.

Wolf came closer to that silent scene. Dead wolf looked as mirror reflection of father. They both were well-built canines of grey fur and sharp-carved muzzle features. Only difference was that old – over nine year old – commander had thinner coat with some hoary fur, while young soldier looked like avatar of young and health. Of course except those several parallel wounds on belly. And except of simple fact he was dead. His father noticed that on muzzle of wolf locked an expression of concentration and determination. Most likely greyfurred bled to death barely noticing it, fighting until the last moment.

Wolfess standing over him was beautiful and silverfurred bitch of blue eyes and gentle muzzle, then twisted by waves of cry. She was spotted with blood, but Kostan with ease concluded it wasn’t he blood. She was fighting too, in spite of her state and health, but it was too small to change the outcome of battle.

“Muista…” whispered Kostan. She raised he head, looked on him and burst with another cry.

“You too… But I was here for the end… I tried, but there was so many of…”

“Hush.” Whispered former pawmaster. He came closer and nestled to shivering wolfess. “We must go ahead.”

“Go ahead?” sobbed she. “What for? He is dead.”

“For time being we are not.” Replied wolf. He kneeled down and with decisive move took her on his back. In spite of age, Uniean was still a strong canine. Carrying his daughter in law maybe wasn’t the easiest thing to do, however he was able to transport her for a while.

Muista was weak even before battle. She always was a strong wolfess, but events after defeat of clan broke her. She was pregnant with Taisten, but sudden retreat from winter lair cause the miscarriage and loss of whole litter of five. But mother had no time to mourn her children, because she had to run farther. In incoming few weeks she lost most of her friends, almost died from hunger and complication after miscarriage, finally she saw death of her mate. Kostan was the last creature binding Muista with world.

“I’m sure he would wanted us to run… and survive.” Panted old wolf to wolfess on his back. In fact he knew it was a lie – if not presence of Muista Kostan would have just waited for persecutors and attack them from ambush. Just to take at least few of them and avenge dearth of his last child.

“There is no place to run, dad.” Sobbed Muista. Uniean was silent for a while, then replied.

“Taisten is not with us anymore. Don’t call me <dad>. Now I’m just <Kostan>.”

“All right… Kostan.” Replied wolfess. Then her cries stopped and she added with stronger voice. “You’re right, as always, you’re right. Please, stop.” Wolf stopped and she got down on her won paws. “Yes, we have to survive. But now I can go by my own.”

“You’re still…”

“I’ll be fine.” She snorted. “At least as fine as I could be… Let’s go to find some shelter. We must rest and…”

“…and?” asked Kostan, sensing some new, dreadful tone in her voice.

“We will avenge Taisten. Whatever it takes… Are you with me, dad… Are you with me, Kostan?”

I heart of old wolf something return on its place. He was no longer burdened with guilt, because he had a chance to repent. He survived death of all of his children – he felt as if that was a crime. But then he saw a way to make it up.

“Of curse I am!” he growled. “Death to Aleu!”

*

Shadow was gathering his soldiers and still waiting for Remer squad. Finally he noticed giant brownfurred wolf, exiting the forest. After him were coming twenty of his guardians. Talbourne marshal sighed with relief, however instantly he asked himself silently what cause that disobedience of his best soldier.

“I guess the same what always.” He replied himself a second after. “Revenge.” Then he called aloud. “Remer!”

“I’m here, sir!” replied brownfurred.

“Where have you been? We must form the unit and pursue remnants of…”

“No, sir!” interrupted him guardian. Shadow gasped with amaze. “A mutiny?” he thought, but he was wrong. His subordinate was not disobedient, but too enterprising. “There is no one left to pursue. There are no survivors.”

Marshal gasped again, looking on blood-red mouth of senior guardian. “O my God!” he thought. “He killed those refugees! All of them! Since death of his brother…” He recalled death of Wemer two months earlier. “…he is pushing Unieas mercilessly. We have to somehow hide that incident from Aleu. She won’t stroke us for that!” But in the same moment he understood that all errors and mistakes of Pursuing Company couldn’t be hidden forever. Lightning’s scouts will soon report it to Aleu, even if master scout promise to keep it in secret. “Damn it! I’m fighting Unieas and now I’m fighting to keep my wolves in order… and additionally I’m fighting Lightning, not letting him to blame me of all this mess… This war sucks! I’m sick of it!”

“Sir!” called Iamack. She was one of scouts assigned to Security Team from Lighting’s recon. Most likely she would report her commander about Remer’s… performance, as soon as they reach the Home Cave. But then she was still under marshal’s command and tried to act like his soldier. For a while… “Sir, I see the trail. We have at least one survivor. Shall we track him?” Remer narrowed his eyes, as if he cursed himself that he let a single creature to run alive.

“No!” replied Shadow with angry voice. “Regroup and head back. They await us in home.”

*

Cold evening turned to icy night and blizzard came. Kostan blessed that weather, because it prevent Talbournes from any further pursuit. He and Muista fond some shallow lair under roots of fallen tree and hid there, covering themselves with fresh snow.

Wolfess wasn’t crying anymore, just burning inside with her new fever. All weakness caused by wounds and earlier injuries passed, then leaving just efficient mechanism, ready to fight. Kostan slowly started to reconcile with simple thought.

“We aren’t meant to survive, just to die in vengeance. Maybe that’s right – we have no home to return, no future to plan… I’m old, I’m going to die soon anyway. But she… It’s bad that she is doomed also. But we can’t let Taisten’s murderers to walk free.”

It was cold, so he nestled closer to sleeping wolfess. She moaned in her sleep, most likely taking old wolf as his son. “Let it be.” Thought former pawmaster. “Let at least in dreams she has some comfort, forbidden her in this cruel world.”

Blizzard raged on.

I. Strange Alliance

Corporal Buck was very proud to be corporal. He was already five day after his promotion.

He was assigned to little scouting team, consisting only two more wolves apart of him. But corporal repeated to himself that was an important mission. In Eagle Pass region, two months after official end of war something bad started to happen. More and more Talbourne liaisons and couriers missed. Just like that – were sent from Eagle Campsite to Shadow’s Team position further to Yukon Valley, but never reached that destination. So marshal sent searching team to investigate it. One of those teams was led by Buck.

His subordinates – just few weeks earlier his companions from security unit – that meant: Riik and Gin, were as young as he was and as avid to gain battle glory as he was. But Buck was the leader and hoped for the most. He really believe that he would find the cause of all losses. It was clear and sunny day – very warm as half of March – so tracking in that weather was easy. To kill the silence of marching, he started a talk with his companions. Again on the same subject.

“Those are bloody Uniea partisans. They still can’t believe we beat them.”

“Yeah, you beat them all, Your Corporaless.” Smirked Riik, but he made it quiet enough for commander not to hear him.

“Even you don’t believe it.” Replied Gin with emotional voice. He was maybe even more excited than Buck. “Sir Shadow drove away all remnants of Uniea far to east. They can’t operate in this region.”

“Some desolated group.” Replied corporal. “But we will beat them as we did in battle of Home Cave.”

To say that was overstatement was very kind for Buck. In day of battle of Home Cave he was just freshly allowed to combat private, guarding sidelines and was almost wiped out with his unit, but in last moment to attacking wolves of First Uniea Fang came news that Talkeet was dead and strike broke down. That why Buck survived battle and that is why he became a corporal.

“But how we could find them? That is so large area…”

“We are to search for trails…” replied Buck.

“Sir…” murmured Riik, stressing irony in his voice. “Maybe we drop those songs about future victories and look ahead? I guess to find anything we should be sharp and ready.”

“I am sharp and…” In that second they entered clearing between two masses of taiga forest. They all in the same moment noticed solitary silhouette of canine in the centre of glade. “…ready.” Finished corporal, ashamed he let that came so sudden.

He took a quick look around, searching for ambush, but after a while he came to conclusion that single creature on clearing was actually single. It was dog, black and white spitz – malamute most likely. He was hobbling into wolves direction, showing weariness and indecisiveness. However he was still coming closer to Talbournes.

Because dog was half-bended, they missed he was powerfully built and muscular. They noticed only he was rather old and lean. That’s why Buck and Gin jumped down from slope of hummock, two metres down on glade. Riik wanted to follow them, but he stopped in last second.

“Buck, maybe we should be careful…”

“Stay here, coward and cover us.” Snorted corporal and walked ahead. Gin went after him without hesitation. Meanwhile Riik came to conclusion that something was very, very wrong. He turned back and…

Two wolves came to dog. Malamute stopped and raised his head, watching on soldiers with surprise, as if he noticed them just then. Buck stepped forward and giving his voice tone of additional decisiveness, asked.

“Who are you? What are you doing here?”

“I’m just… passing by.” Replied dog, sounding of fear. “I did nothing wrong!”

“Perhaps.” Nodded Buck. “But if you were hanging here for some time, you might tell us about some of our friends that got lost here.”

“Here…” murmured dog, still with shivering voice. “That is very bad area. Many strange things happen here.” He came closer to wolf.

“Like what?” asked confused corporal. “Do you know something about Talbourne soldiers lost here?”

“Depends on which soldier you mean?” answered malamute with question. Buck felt a wave of premonitions, but he asked involuntary.

“For example Mitchell. He was a liaison.” Buck knew Mitchell since trials of recruitment.

“No.” Dog shook his head. “I don’t recall him.”

“And Betty of scouts?” asked Gin from behind. He also didn’t want to do it, but curiosity prevailed. To surprise of wolves, dog seemed to think for a while, then replied.

“Yeah… You mean greyfurred bitch, about three years old?” Gin nodded. “I remember her. She was going here about week ago.”

“And what?” asked Buck.

“Well…” said malamute with quiet voice. He came closer and stopped just next to Buck. Corporal bended his ear to lips of dog. “I remember her well.” Said black and white. “I ate her.” And in next seconds he killed Buck.

Gin saw only as strange, old and tired dog in moment transformed to muscular-built creature who jumped ahead and bite corporal’s throat. In the same move he dragged yelling wolf down to snow and let him loose, throwing with blooded neck. Gin didn’t wait for any explanation and turned back to run.

He noticed that on clearing entered several wolves, but surely none on them were Talbournes. So private sprang ahead, passing group from left and right. He turned to slope of hummock, where he left Riik on guard. He hoped that enemy didn’t block the hardest was to get out. He was wrong.

While he was climbing on that wall he noticed that snow on brink of forest was spotted red and motionless body of Riik laid nearby. Two bitches – one of smooth silverish coat and deep blue eyes, second of grey fur, spotted with few wide scars on head. They both smiled with malicious smile and in the same moment bended down to climbing wolf. Gin had no chance to dodge. Two bitches bit his front paws in knees, then quickly let his loose. Wolf, yelling due to pain, fell back on clearing.

“Twenty heart beats.” Called old, sandy furred wolf, exiting from forest. “You beat the record of last time.”

“Practise makes perfect.” Laughed malamute, coming closer to wounded Gin. Dog was no longer hobbling and his energetic moves seemed to be an example of health and perkiness. “I guess that one won’t alarm anyone. Who’s turn to finish?” asked and bared his fangs.

“No, stop!” called silvefurred wolfess. “We must interrogate him!”

“Darling…” murmured spitz. He came closer to bitch and rubbed to her side. “That is just low ranked pawn. He won’t tell you…”

“We can’t kill him!” she replied. “I will interrogate him.”

“Thank you, ma’am. I will traaaauuuuuu!” screamed Gin when wolfess stepped on his wounded knee, pressing damaged joint.

“Ow, I see.” Murmured one of wolves from ambush. “She wants have some fun. Right, Avengers, let’s look for some dinner.” He turned back and set off to forest. Rest of pack followed him, leaving on glade only malamute, silverfurred and – of course – Gin. Talbourne couldn’t move an inch – his paw was scorching with terrible pain.

“So my dear…” murmured wolfess and again pressed enemy’s knee. When prisoner ceased to scream, she continued. “It would be nice, if you tell us routine of Home Cave patrols and location of guard units around Central Talbourne Forest.”

Gin wanted to spit on face of persecutor and call that he won’t tell her. But his lips disobeyed and he just panted. “I don’t know.” It was true – no one equipped him with so important knowledge.

“Let’s refresh your memory.” Said bitch called <darling> by malamute. Then she pressed again, breaking the knee-joint capsule. But after several seconds she stopped, seeing that prisoner started to lose his consciousness. “Is now better?”

“I don’t… I don’t…” sobbed wolf.

“Tro!” called malamute with sharp voice.

“What?” asked wolfess. “We’re going in right direction.” Then she bit another knee, purposely piercing second joint capsule. That operation done by fangs caused a little less pain than doing it with press of paw. A little.

“I don’t know!” Gin burst with tears.

“He doesn’t know!” said dog. “Just kill him and let’s go hunt.” Hearing that malamute wanted to kill him without any further variations, prisoner thought that black and while persecutor was the most merciful creature on Earth.

“One moment.” Replied female called Tro. “Maybe he is son of someone important.”

“Keeping hostage alive would be very helpful in eventual trade.” Murmured dog with irony, but his words were muffled by piercing scream of Gin. Tro discovered that wolf had two more legs. “Should we talk about it?” asked a bit irritated malamute. “If you are not satisfied with my nightly performance, you could just tell me, not expressing your emotional and biological needs by playing surgeon.” Tro stopped, with jaws put to last unhurt leg of Gin. She slowly raised her head, looking with fear on crying wolf. Finally she said with breaking voice.

“I know… I’m stopping… I don’t know what possessed me.”

“So finish job properly and let’s go to rest.”

“I’m sorry, soldier.” Whispered Tro to ear of Gin. But wolf didn’t hear her. All his senses were filled with pain. “You were brave, you don’t deserved such a punishment. Only your leaders have.” She quickly bit his throat and stood up, not waiting for prisoner to die. She instantly followed dog. “Steele, wait for me.”

“I you want a kiss, I suggest you to clear you muzzle from this mess.” Malamute turned back, showing blood, dripping from Tro’s fur. “Why the hell you did that? You know that so low ranked soldiers know nothing.” She nodded her head. “So why did you…”

“I like it!” she replied honestly. “As you said once: I learned to enjoy it.”

Steele gasped silently. It was a curse for a tutor to have resistant students. But having ones surpassing teacher was even worse. Especially if the subject of teaching was a revenge.

“Is that better?” asked Tro, after rubbing her muzzle on the snow.

“Yes, much better.” Nodded Steele. She came closer and he licked her face. “Now we can look for others.” They set off to run into forest, following fresh trail of Avengers Pack. Meanwhile, on clearing behind them, private Gin was finally passing away from the world he failed to understand.

*

While more and more times passed, Steele become angry. Since two months they were operating near Eagle Pass, on only communication route between Talbourne Territory and conquered land, but still without achieving on what he hoped. Avengers managed to wipe out few patrols of Talbourne and kill several liaisons. But those were just giggles to the side of monstrous body of last and only Clan of Seward Peninsula. Those “retail” damages done to enemies were far from expectations of pack. But Steele still stopped his new companions from suicidal expedition into heart of foe’s territory. Not that he was scared and surely not because he didn’t hoped for vengeance too. But he was lacking of vital information. Before leap in unknown he wanted to know strength of forces usually left in Home Cave, know something about leaders of enemy units – to sum it: he wanted typical intelligence data that single pack was unable to gather at its own. Meanwhile hot-headed Avengers insisted. Especially Tro.

Steele awoke after night of not so optimistic dreams. He found himself lying in snowy lair, next to silverfurred bitch. He couldn’t say he and Tro were mates. To be exact – they were pair in most vulgar, biological sense, but malamute didn’t expected (and wasn’t disappointed, finding out he had right) any emotional bond with former alpha. They share their bedding and plans of vengeance, occasionally few words daily. Nothing more than that.

Steele liked that way to be, because it gave him much joy (sometimes he judged that a bit too much, considering his age. After all he wasn’t a juvenile any more.) and small doze of responsibility, exactly what he enjoyed. He didn’t love Tro, however she fascinated him as curious phenomena – her hatred towards Talbourne was shocking and odd even for cold-blooded malamute. However Tro had also a dark side (or better to say – even darker side) – she wanted to achieve her goal instantly. Steele had to restrain her hurry.

“Right, sweetheart.” He nudged her in side. “It’s time to wake up.”

“Will we set off today?” asked wolfess with first words that day.

“No, only for hunt.” Replied Steele and exited lair to snowed outside. “We still have to gather some data about Talbournes.”

“You repeat it since two months.”

“I will stop, if you also stop you silly requests.” Snorted Steele and started to wake up rest of pack.

They wasn’t a pack anymore. Just a military unit. Nine wolves: Tro, Elske, Annen, Blad, Hviske, Brann, Regne, Venn and Sno, plus one malamute: Steele. Once Beech Pack, after death of Glemt, Fort and shamaness Vis and joining of spitz became a group walking together in one, particular aim – to kill Aleu. Steele was a leader, but not in typical sense of that word. He was a god and master in every military situation. But for the rest of time he was just one of ten, listening to Tro and Elske, who ran pack before and then. Even former omega was no longer omega. Sno became the same member of that strange congregation as once alpha – Tro. They were learning to be soldiers. For some of Avengers that process was too slow.

“We should go today.” Said Elske, coming out from snow. She used to urge Steele as well as Tro. She also was avenging mate and brother.

“The same, old song.” Snorted malamute. “We won’t go, until…” then he froze, turning his sight aside. “Crew, ready to kill?”

Pack took a defensive position, looking for danger that dog noticed. Soon they found two silhouettes, standing on top of pan, above them. Male and female wolf were looking down on waking up camp. Finally Steele called.

“Do you think you can kill us with those stares? I suggest you some physical contact…” and he waved his tail with irritation.

“If we wanted to fight, we have already started it.” Replied male. “Now I want to talk. Are you Talbournes?”

“Guess, old mutt.” Replied Steele. “Do you think that anyone here and now would deny he belongs to winning side of just ended war?”

“So you are Talbournes?” asked greyfurred again.

“I asked you: do you think that?” repeated Steele.

“Right, no one would say he is not of Talborne.” Nodded old wolf.

“Wrong, pal! We’re not!” laughed dog. “We are as far from those bastards as we could be on limited area of Alaska.”

“Kostan, something is wrong.” Whispered Muista.

“I know.” Replied wolf quietly. “When dog waved his tail, he ordered three of his wolves to sneak to us from behind. They are coming right now, while he is playing on time.” In the next moment he kneeled down with warning bark, so silverfurred did the same. Annen, Venn and Blad attacked in the same moment. Dodge of victims confused them, but they jumped again.

“Ahead!” called Kostan and sprang down to the pan.

He bounced on slope and flew to Steele. Old malamute was a bit surprised, but acted properly – he welcomed enemy with open mouth and ready paws. Tro – standing just next to – never saw anything like that. Wolf hit malamute, but dog already turned back and with unbelievable speed grabbed attacker’s paw. He pulled it, trying to throw wolf away, but strange warrior managed to pull himself to enemy and grab his neck. So both combatants fell on the snow, wrestling and exchanging fast blows.

Meanwhile Muista jumped down and found herself surrounded by six of pack. She took a defensive pose and looked on fighting too, uncertain what to do. She was also amazed. She never saw anyone who could match to Pawmaster of Uniea Clan. Kostan was old, but his technique was legendary. If he was fighting against a single opponent there was no possibility he could fail his attack. But it happened.

Both canines started to dance a deadly dance around each other. But how different from normal duel that combat was! Both enemies were old creatures, careful not to tire themselves too fast, measuring every move. So after long moments of estimating the other’s movements, it came a quick wave of exchanging blows, much to fast for audience to observe those. Just two elder predators were moving around each other, like flames in fire – with the same speed and deadliness. Finally Steele jumped back and called with decisive voice.

“Right! You’re in.”

“I still haven’t my jaws inside of your belly.” Snorted Kostan, ready to next attack.

“And you won’t have, if you wish to go with us.”

“Kostan, what…” started Muista.

“Calm down, sweety.” Replied her Steele. “We accept your offer in our fight against Talbourne.”

“Shouldn’t we introduce each other first?” asked Venn with mixture of confusion and irony.

“Do you know, what we plan?” asked Steele, looking on grey wolf.

“Yes, we followed you since four days.” Replied pawmaster.

“Three days.” Corrected him dog. “Initially you were following that Talbourne unit we killed. That was an accident you encountered us.”

“You claim you knew we followed you?”

“That was I who almost reached your lair.” Replied malamute, recalling two nights earlier.

“I saw you and knew…”

“Wait a sec…” interrupted Muista. “What is going on?”

“Yeah!” supported her Venn. “Won’t we kill them?”

“I discourage to start from that mutt.” Said Steele. “He was Uniea martial arts tutor. They used to call them <pawmasters>.”

“And you are…” asked Kostan.

“So we’re cool?” asked Venn, looking on Muista.

“I guess…” nodded wolfess.

“Sorry.” Said wolf. “I didn’t meant… Or wait, I meant to beat you down, but I hope you won’t take any offence.”

A laughter sounded in forest. Not too loud – during war loud laughers are not welcome – but honest enough to calm down stressed situation. Annen and Blad went down from cliff, and stopped next to newcomers.

“We could exchange our touching stories later.” Said Steele. “But now – if we want to go together – we must establish some hierarchy and explain few things. That mutt…” he pointed on Kostan “…is my second in command.” Wolf growled, hearing that insult.

“You are dreaming!”

“Again, pawmaster?” asked Steele, showing his fangs. “Relax, pal. I have to be a leader. I bring five times more firepower to this deal.”

“You bring?” gasped Annen with irritation. “We are not your…”

“You see – my bellowed subjects.” Smiled Steele. “We are like one, big family.”

“I won’t let myself and Muista under your command, unless you prove…” started Kostan. Steele interrupted him.

“…that I will give you vengeance you seek. I know. I went through it few weeks ago.”

“You still haven’t led us to Aleu!” called Annen with angry voice.

“Hear declarations of my loyal soldiers.” Said malamute to greywolf. “I’m trying to guide them to land of Talbournes, but I need more intelligence data. I guess that you, as former   Uniea soldiers, could help us in that.”

“Perhaps.” Nodded Kostan. “But still I won’t let you to lead.”

“Ow, November, don’t spoil our newfound beautiful friendship…” replied Steele to confusion of all wolves there.”

“This guy has very irritating custom to instant-making new friendships.” Whispered Venn to Muista’s ear. “By the way, my name is Venn.”

A fresh snow started to fall on confused wolves. All excitation of fight ceased and they seemed to accept they all were one team. Steele knew that most of alliances are extremely hard to start. So he didn’t started that one – he just passed over it, as it that was already done.

“It’s cold here.” He said, although it wasn’t so bad. It was just him, who was a bit hot after fight with Uniea. “Let’s go to some better place. Denser forest, or some…”

“With them?” asked old Annen, looking suspiciously on two new wolves.

“Of course, August.” Replied dog. “Those there last two months we were waiting for.”

“Is that normal for him?” asked Kostan, looking on Steele.

“Good question.” Replied Elske. “We know him just two months.”

“And you survived…” sighed Muista with tone of admire.

“Are you going?” asked Steele, turning back to wolves. They set off in forest direction.

Malamute was thinking hard and coming to more and more optimistic conclusions. He did it – he had a party capable of performing his plan. He had a Uniea pawmaster under his command and all his knowledge. What seemed to be impossible just two moths earlier, then became just very hard. Steele smiled and licked his lips.

“Balto…” he thought. “The vengeance after those years will taste even better. I wish to see your face, when you learn that you daughter is dead!”

II. All the Year Around

They insisted few hours, before Steele explained them his new manner. He just started to call his pack with names of months. Initially that wasn’t a problem for wolves – accustomed to half-crazy attitude of dog-guide – but became a problem when Steele, ow pardon, December ordered them all to use those nicks among themselves.

“I told you, you are not pack anymore. We are just a military unit, twelve-pieces army with single purpose of inflict some damage to Aleu’s lot. We have to start act like soldiers.” Said Steele, when they were resting after their first collective hunt with new-joined Unieas.

“Act like soldiers, huh?” murmured Venn with sarcasm. “Should we learn how to salute?”

“If I say so, you should, February.” Replied commander.

“Is that some ranks system?” asked Kostan, who was addressed as November since that morning.

“Close. Hit but not sunk.” Replied Steele/December. “If something changes, it must change in every aspect. I want you to forget about pack, past and all what joined you when your dead ones were alive. It’s only disrupts us. Now we are Avengers. We drop our names and sworn vengeance above all else. It’s extremely important.”

“Sounds extremely cliché.” Noticed Annen. But he didn’t protested – he understood what Steele – or December – was up to.

“So, I want you to accustom to your new names, because you will use those until we bite Aleu to dead or die in the process. I don’t mind you return to born-given names in afterworld.” Said Steele.

“What a liberal approach!” sighed Venn and smirked.

“Remember, my name is now December. I’m the commander of our pity lot.” Continued Steele. He pointed on Kostan. “Call him November and obey him as the second in command. If I’m out or dead, he takes a lead. You are October.” Added, turning to Tro. “Third in command. You…” looked on Elske “September. Annen is called August, you… sorry baby, I forget what was your name.”

“Muista.” Said wolfess.

“So once Muista now is July. Blad is June, Hviske is May, Brann is Aprill, Regne is March, Venn is called February. And not surprisingly, Sno will be January from now on.”

“That’s more like a boy’s name.” Protested Sno. Steele laughed quietly and replied.

“I expect you to be tough as a male should.” Replied leader. Then he took a look on whole pack. “So please, forget your previous names. You have to call yourself that way in combat, in rest, while chatting, arguing and declaring love each other. Period.”

“What a crap…” snorted Kostan, but seeing calming stare of Muista, added. “But I could accept that stupidity for some time. After all soon we will win or die.”

“So we are setting off?” asked excited Elske.

“Yeah. Hit the bells. We are coming on the party.” Said malamute and stood up. “Because we know that main Shadow’s forces are deep in eastern side of Yu Range, I hope to find area of Home Cave almost unguarded.”

He started to carver in snow. He made lines in whiteness and after few minutes in centre of wolves-ring appeared improvised map of Seward Peninsula. Steele lived with humans long enough to learn many useful things. Some of that knowledge helped him in past and saved his neck while he was in troubles. Some of it he just started to use. For example – idea of map. It was too hard for canine to draw an exact plan, but schematic map with basic scaling was within range of agile dog. Of course Steele even didn’t try to draw isolines, but he recompensed that by making a snow drifts to symbolise mountains and hills. His map became almost tree dimensional model.

“What the hell is that?” gasped confused Muista.

“One of means of our victory.” Replied Steele, smiling. “November, go ahead. Show us the location of posts and guards.”

“Is this…”

“Imagine that picture is seen by birds if they fly high enough. Just as if you could look from the hill… anyplace you like.” Explained malamute.

“Smart.” Nodded Uniean. “I will try to show what I know.”

And he started to point important location of Steele’s scheme. With piece of bark he indicated Talbourne Home Cave (malamute added deep line, crossing that point, to show Talbourne Creek), cones became places where enemy units used to stay. After about half an hour of work, whole model was ready.

“Please, try to remember it.” Said Steele. “We can’t draw it every time we want to plan something. Also we could not have enough time and strengths to do it during our expedition. So look carefully and carve it into your minds.” He quickly drew also a line between mountains and leading to bark of Home Cave. “Here we will try to go.”

“That’s Eagle Pass.” Noticed Annen.

“Good, you start to recognise map-system.” Praised him Steele.

“I mean that in March it’s not the safest route.” Explained old wolf.

“We crossed it with hundred creatures.” Threw Kostan in.

“Sorry, I missed the remaining ninety eight.” Snorted former beta.

With no warning pawmaster pounced on Annen, overturning him and reaching his throat. They rolled aside, wiping large part of map with their bodies. Steele reacted instantly, seeing as Kostan’s teethes pressed trachea of old beta. He jumped too and bit Kostan’s neck, hard enough to make bitten muscles to stop. They wrestled for several second – Uniean tried to bite Annen in spite of grab on his nape, Steele pressed and pressed, finally making pawmaster to let his hold loose. Just after that malamute threw Kostan on the snow, but being careful not to break more of model.

“November, August, stop it!” he gasped. He put panting Annen on paws and added with anger. “That’s all in topic of maps.”

“Don’t you dare to…” growled Kostan.

“November!” called Steele. “August asked a very important question. He surely didn’t mean to offend your dead ones.”

“They died in fight!” gasped Muista.

“Why?” asked Annen, regaining his breath. “Why they allow Talbourne to catch them so quickly?”

“We were wounded, tired and…” cried Muista. Kostan was still growling. Most likely if not Steele he would pounce on Annen once again.

“You went the narrowest path of all possible ones.” Said old beta indifferently. Although he was bleeding a little from neck, he seemed to be cool. “It’s not surprisingly they tracked you. But if you go via Buckland Pass…”

“It was impossible!” cried Muista. “We were almost hundred! They would easily detect us there.”

“Maybe.” Replied Annen. “But we are twelve. Steele…” he turned to commander. “Why are we going the shortest and most predictable – and dangerous - way, instead of sneaking where they wouldn’t expect us?”

Muista came to Kostan and rubbed to his side, calming Uniean down. Pawmaster was still looking on Annen with rage in his stare, but he understood what beta had on mind.

“And you was in such a hurry few days ago.” Smirked Steele. “But I will explain you. They won’t expect us to cross Eagle Pass, because they think it’s too dangerous. And it is too dangerous for pack, unit or sled. But not for us. We aren’t numerous, we are determined and we don’t fear of losses. We will cut that way easily, if I lead you. I went that pass many times, having sled to guide. Are satisfied with that, August?” Annen nodded his head. “So now apologise to November and July. That remark was not too smart.”

Old beta carefully came to Unieas, not sure if he wouldn’t be attacked again. But Kostan and Muista stayed calm, so he just nodded before them, lowering his ears in gesture of apology. After that Steele just set off due west.

“All right, we ate, we argued, we reconciled. So we could go. November, on my side. Show that you are commander here.”

So that way they start their expedition, leaving all behind. It wasn’t too hard, because there was not too much to left.

*

Shadow finally gathered his units. After failed search of Uniea partisans, loosing two more patrols and serious uneasiness in own army, marshal was in bad mood. He decided to return home. He needed a break and a moment of consideration. He hoped that Aleu would give him straight orders, not just general wish to appease the war. Inspecting his units, he sighed with relief, seeing well known silhouette on lead of scouting team.

“Dash!” called wolf with joy.

“Yeah, that’s me.” Replied his brother in law.

Dash returned to duty. No one asked him to do that, but since time of Talkeet’s deflection, his father decided to fight as an ordinary soldier. And that didn’t changed even after death of Telkeet. So alpha’s brother became just ordinary field commander, in rank of sergeant. Shadow always thought that was a stupidity that Dash tried to repent for crimes that he hadn’t committed. But then he was really glad to have trusted kinswolf at his side. First that was just another trusted person. Second, he was technically Lightning’s scout-wolf, so Shadow wanted to ask him for few favours.

“It’s good to see you!” said with genuine joy. “Are you hungry? I have…”

“There is no time!” replied dog. “We have a serious problem!” he said quickly, taking kinswolf aside.

“What’s the problem?” asked surprised marshal. In exhausted and scared stare of Dash he sensed troubles. Real ones.

“You must see this.” Said scout, leading him into night and denser forest. They entered a small glade, where in light of moon Shadow noticed trails of camping. About ten wolves had been there some time before.

“What? Those are our mysterious assassins?” asked surprised marshal. In fact he was angry that his wide-scaled searching failed, while his brother in law managed to find wanted ones just by a chance, so near to their camp.

“Look on this.” Said Dash, coming to strange marks on the snow.

Shadow tried to comprehend what he saw, but failed. Those were just trails of some carving, then marks of some fight and additionally some purposely put there bark pieces and cones. maybe it looked a bit mysterious, but surely not dreadful.

“No idea what that is.”

“A map.” Said Dash. “You know what the map is?”

“I still have no idea.” Replied Shadow honestly. “You are the smart-head, born among humans to tell me that.”

“Exactly, humans.” Said sergeant. Shadow shook his head with confusion. “I mean: this map was done by canine, but that one was a really smart or he was raised among humans, because he know what the map is. We have tougher enemies that we thought, Shadow.”

“I still see no real…”

“Look!” ordered Dash. “Stand here…” he took marshal few steps ahead. “And watch those shapes.” Shadow nodded, but it was clear he still wasn’t comprehending brother in law’s thinking. “Imagine you are a bird and you are watching landscape below.”

“Ow, I see!” smiled commander. “That someone drew what he remembered about air view of Alaska… Home Cave in particular!” he added, recognising only visible and clear part of map. “Werk!” he cursed.

“Yeah, I meant exactly that.” Said Dash. “Whoever was here, wants to reach the Home Cave. He knows much about us and our army.” He points on cones, placed in lairs of guarding teams of Talbourne. “And he plans no good to us. Aleu is in danger.”

“Wait…” gasped Shadow. “He knows it! Part of our forces are here, away from home. In Cave no one knows about any danger, units are scattered for easier hunts…”

“Let me form small liaison team with wolves of my choice and let us run home.” Said Dash. “Now Lightning is in command of eventual defence. He is good in intelligence stuff… but that human-raised canine could surprise him. I want get beck home as soon as it’s possible.” Shadow nodded his head. “We must…”

“No!” opposed Dash. “You have an army to lead back. I will manage this. I promise!”

Marshal sighed, but silently admitted that his friends was right. He was needed there with army. And he couldn’t ordered whole army to rally home, because so huge group would move very slow. An idea of Dash was an optimal one.

“How long ago they went away?” asked Shadow.

“Six, maybe eight hours. They have serious advantage, especially they move quickly. Group is small.” Replied scout.

“But… that <map>, as you said, is incomplete.” Noticed Shadow. “Only part with Home Cave is visible. How do you know the route of assassins?”

“I don’t know.” Confessed Dash. “So we must go the shortest way and pray we pick some trail in progress. If not, we just go home and alarm them all. By the way… They wanted to wipe this map out. Thanks God they missed that fragment, that we know what is going on.”

“Right, take whom you want.” Agreed Shadow. “If I may advise you, take the best trained in combat. All of my wolves could climb mountains, but some of them are better in fight.”

“May I take Remer’s unit?” asked Dash.

“If you wish…” replied marshal, with double relief. First – he gave his brother in law the most deadly warriors he had. Second – he also gave him most troubling part of his army. “Good luck, Dash!”

*

“Crap!” Yelled Steele, running in deep snow of mountain slope. “Why haven’t you told me, they are so close!?”

“I did!” replied Kostan with snort. “You just wasn’t listening.”

“Ow, never mind.” Steele turned back to rest of unit. “Are you still with me?”

“We are, Ste… December.” Replied Venn from back.

“How January is going?”

“I’m fine sir!” replied young wolfess with irritation. “I’m not slowing you down.”

Steele decided to check himself. He slowed down and let Venn and Sno catch him. He started to run just behind them, watching steps of the youngest members of team. It always is easy to judge if one is running easily or by last of his strength. Steele took a look on two of his soldiers and estimated they could run. Maybe not all the way to the other side, but… But about it he was going to be worry later.

“You’re doing great!” called commander to former omega’s ear. “If I ever have a son, I will name him after you?”

“January, or Sno?” asked bitch and smiled in darkness of March night. By that jest she wanted to cover exhaustion that slowly claimed her.

*

Maybe it sound improbable, but they managed to made their way via Eagle Pass. They reached Ice Fields few hours before dawn and came to summit of was about midday. Group – all, including Steele and Kostan – was dying from exhaustion, but they made also way down to stopped at bring of Seward Forests on next day dusk. Steele commended a break and few seconds after he fell into fresh drift of snow.

Rest of pack laid down too, almost instantly falling asleep. It took even more then five minutes for Steele, Kostan and Annen to prevail overwhelming sleepiness. They all stood up (looking each other, a bit surprised that others managed to came to the same conclusion) and started to wake half-slumbered companions.

“Wake up, fools!” panted Steele. “You will freeze to death.”

“Dig in snow, or you’ll be cold.” Supported him Annen, nudging Sno. Sno made an extraordinary effort, especially if we remind her fragile constitution. However she was also the most tired one. She even didn’t awoke. Old beta sighed and started to dig hole for her.

“They are right.” Kostan whispered to Muista’s ear. “Stand up for a while and I will dig bedding for you.”

“She should be able to do it herself.” Snorted Steele, just passing them by with hobbling. He was so exhausted that he was tottering. He looked a bit as drunken human.

“Let it be our problem.” Snorted former pawmaster. Steele came closer to them, wanting to scold them, but old wolf added. “She got wounded in the battle. Month ago she almost died after miscarriage.”

“Ow.” Murmured malamute. If cold hearted dog was able to feel any sympathy at that moment was quite close to that state. “Why haven’t you told me, before we started?”

“If I did, would you changed your plans?” asked Kostan rhetorically. Steele shook his head.

“Cease it!” panted Muista. “I’ll be fine. There is no need to treat me as a cripple.” Then she fell to hole dug by pawmaster.

“Any guards?” asked Kostan.

“Useless.” Replied Steele. “Even warned we would be unable to defend ourselves. Besides, they rather aren’t looking for us… here.”

“I hoped you say that.” Replied Uniean and entered lair. The same where Muista was – he had no strength to dig another one. Wolfess smiled through her sleep, feeling warm body of Kostan at her side.

Steele was looking on that scene and on others efforts of Avengers to take cover. In his heart he felt something strange, and somehow alarming. Malamute was watching his subordinates with concern. He shook his head to dispel that impression, but it didn’t worked – he still was worried about their conditions (that was still acceptable) and comfort (that sounded scary) and wished they all have good places. Not because he feared they would get cold and be less efficient in future combat. Because he wanted them not to feel any pain.

“Great!” he snorted in mind. “I chose time and object to show emotional attachment perfectly! I’m looking on living deads! They will all die in just few days… and I most likely will die too. So any sympathy towards them is irrational… and dangerous. I can’t be spoiled by tenderness in such crucial moment.”

“Steele, are you coming?” asked Tro from her den. Malamute with amaze noticed that she dug bigger burrow, enough for two. For him – she put additional effort for him. He entered that den and cuddled to female.

Some absurd thought sparked in his mind. He didn’t love Tro. Apart of short time in Nome, when he believed that he loved Jenna, Steele never attached to anyone. And even if Tro’s heart was still filled with her love to Fort. Fort was dead, but it didn’t matter. So relationship between wolfess and malamute was something different… yet still was something strong. A bit too strong for Steele to stick with it easily.

“At least I will let her warm up.” Thought dog. But it wasn’t the point. He felt that he needed her closeness badly. He covered entrance to burrowing with fresh snow and soon after drifted way to black plane without dreams.

*

Dash set off on morning. He wanted to go at night, but he understood that forming proper unit was even more important that few hours of way. He needed at least fifteen jaws to confront mysterious enemy and he decide to take almost all Remer’s soldiers. But they had to rest at least for few hours. Dash allowed on that, hoping those hours weren’t crucial. He needed strong pack of warriors – after all he was chasing dangerous enemy and it would be extremely stupid to die on fangs of own game. However he sighed with relief, when about dawn Remer awoke him up and reported they are ready.

“Fourteen jaws, excluding me.” Said senior guardian. “I had to left four of mine soldiers have to stay here, due to minor wounds. But we will kill them anyway.” He saw trails of enemies and was burning with want of battle.

“Good…” nodded Dash. “Remer… I must ask you for something.” Wolf looked in eyes of his dog companion with curiosity. “I mean it: obey me! I know that formally I’m just sergeant, or senior scout if you prefer old title, additionally not of your unit. But I’m also Aleu’s brother and her life is the stake. Shadow chose me as leader of that hunt and I hope you will respect it.”

“Sir!” replied surprised wolf. The idea of disobeying Balto’s son sounded strange to him. “I never meant to…”

“I mean your… overzeal about your duties.” Explained Dash. “I don’t want to see you freaking out, just after see those wolves. We have a mission and Shadow’s orders.” He turned away from warrior and went to order march to his new unit.

“With all due respect, sir.” Whispered Remer, when dog went away far enough not to hear him. “Neither you nor Shadow have nothing to do with my mission. I will kill ones who murdered my brother.” And he smiled with half-mad smile.

Then he joined to column of his unit. Dash was on the lead, because he – as most skilled in scouting stuff – was not only a leader, but also a guide. Remer took his position on the end of group, next to Grace. That was his little… their little secret. Grace once was a mate of Mark, killed in Nome two months earlier. Remer took to his unit wolves who mourned death of someone who was close. That was one of his unofficial condition of joining to team. So all of his fourteen guardians were sworn avengers, burning with bloodlust. He also had something like own intelligence. Thanks to Mary, once mate of his brother and then new mate of intelligence officer – Gilbert, he found that mysterious pack who killed Wemer was most likely the same pack that was responsible to kills in Yu Range. It wasn’t a coincidence he volunteered to Shadow’s expedition. He – as well as his companions – were fighting no longer for the greater glory of Talborne, but to greater glory of its dead ones.

III. Behind the Enemy Lines

Initially the way was very easy for Avengers. Old Beech Pack knew that land well – it was their land before Uniea War. After war and tragic events on Nome Backwater, Avengers – led by Steele - fled from those forests and started their guerrilla near the Eagle Pass. They left their home, because attachment to place would make their revenge more difficult. Talbournes, seeing that area on north-east from Nome was vacant (six more pack fled from them too, while five others joined Aleu’s forces) they claimed it.

Those conditions made Avengers attempt much easier. In spite of joining, Talbourne Clan counted about eight hundreds regular clanners and about two hundreds from allied or subdued packs. But they occupied whole Seward Peninsula and additionally waged war on home territories of Uniea, behind Yu Range. That meant lots of wolves had to watch over… not just big, but enormous area. Low average density of soldiers on Talbourne lands was tempting to storm it in one, surprising strike. After breaching the outer defence… that meant: Shadow’s offensive, eventual saboteurs would enter almost unguarded forests. Of course in Home Cave stationed almost one third of Talbourne forces, but Steele hoped that Aleu, hearing about possible attack would send most of them in searching. Fruitless, hoped malamute.

So Avengers were running on well known paths of old home. Steele led them, because he also knew those forests. His numerous adventure, fights and retreats happened nearby too. Only Unieas were new there.

“I knew how it looks, but I never suspected it is so… terrible.” Murmured Muista, walking between Kostan and Steele. They crossed a small, half-frozen torrent and entered pine forest of old Beeches keep. Dog was wondering why the heck Beech Pack was called like that, in spite there was no beeches around. But he decided not to irritate his new pack with indiscrete questions.

“What do you mean, July?” asked leader. “Don’t you like our land?”

“That is dead’s land.” Explained Kostan. “On Daie’s court I was also responsible for general intelligence agency. We studied population issues on Seward Peninsula.”

“What?” gasped malamute, not slowing his march. “You did what?”

“With team of elders we were estimating sudden expansion of Talbournes. That led us to some very interesting conclusions.” Steele nodded his head, encouraging old wolf to talk. “We learned that something improbable happened on Alaska… I mean that two pack in the same time started their sudden expansion on neighbour groups. Those were Uniea Pack and Talbourne Pack.”

“Deer’s droppings!” snorted Steele. “Both them are conquering others since generations.”

“We learned it too.” Confirmed Kostan. “But you would be surprised, if you know more about that. Uniea started they conquers four generation ago with Daie’s great grandfather. On the other side of mountains Talbourne entered that path just three generation ago, maybe even two, counting leaders. We believe that once alpha of Talbourne, called Nava, started that process about thirty years ago. Pack… - or then we should it call <clan> - soon make up any backwardness, due to easier geographical location on corner of land and lack of dangerous enemies. It seemed impossible, like those two conquers were leading by some unseen paw. Leaders of both clans – whoever was in charge that time – made perfect decisions, as we look on those from future expansion perspective. So sooner or later those two rivals had to meet and clash. But… I don’t understand further events. We should have won that war. All objective circumstances were on our side. Talbournes were unprepared, exhausted with earlier conquers, had worse officers…”

“I guess that every losing side say something like that.” Noticed Steele. “But tell me something more. You said that you observed all processed around the war. So what caused that behaviour of Talbourne and Uniea? All I know about wolves leads me to conclusion that such conquers are unnatural for your kind. And if they are natural, why that expansion happened here and now? Or there and then.” Corrected himself Steele. “If such possibility of clan’s expansion existed in the past, why it succeeded just few generations ago?”

“Some said those were heavenly verdicts…” said Kostan, sounding with a tone of shame in voice. He wasn’t a superstition wolf, but all his fight in rational reality was shaken and crushed by past year.

“You just claimed you have some scientifically approach to the world. I see you also like the backroads.”

“Some old wolves, who remembered Daie’s grandfather… I heard about it in my puphood… So they claimed that Daie’s line was blessed by Aniu, because alphas of that family followed ways of Mother of Wolves. But they left those commandments many years ago, so Great Aniu decided to support the other clan instead. It happened to be Talbourne.”

Steele laughed, with no malice intentions – just that story amused him. He found in Kostan very strange and complex personality, mix of rational mind and many absurd beliefs (it was not only about Aniu, Steele noticed his second in command was superstitious in many other aspects), also a tough courage blended with some very unwarriorish sentiments. He didn’t want to offend old wolf, but sometimes he didn’t know how react on his strangeness.

“I repeat what I heard.” Said Kostan, with tensed voice. “I just recalled that some wolves said Daie’s ancestors were loyal Aniu’s followers, but when it changed, Mother of our kind turned her muzzle away from us. That is just a legend…”

“But only thanks to this legend you could explain that your side has lost.” Finished Steele. Then he understood he really offended wolf. He added quickly. “I didn’t mean to make fun neither on your clan nor on you in person. I just… Maybe let’s back to original subject. What you said about dead land?” Muista answered on that.

“War and even earlier expansion of Talbourne thinned total number of wolves of Alaska. I mean: that one group is getting bigger and bigger...”

“I got the point.” Replied Steele. “But he is getting bigger mainly because of those who join it. Meanwhile he bleeds and cause others to bleed in those fights. Last war was surely a massacre.”

“It’s not only about that.” Threw Kostan in. He was still angry on Steele, but interesting subject wrapped up mind of wise wolf. “Wolves are meant and designed to live in packs, usually not larger than twenty creatures. If few packs merge into bigger group, we call it <clan>. But clans usually are born for few weeks, just to help in hard hunts of late winter. Uniea and Talbourne were phenomenons – they somehow existed for seasons and years… but that isn’t a way of Nature. Clans, as bigger, are less efficient mean of survival.”

“What do you mean?” asked Venn, who was marching just after them and heard that talk.

“Simply – giant groups spoil the balance of natural food chain. There is much waste more in hunts in huge gatherings. Additionally clans thin down number of game, destroying local ecosystems. So they have to move farther or extend area of hunts… to break another ecosystem. If Uniea and Talbourne haven’t starved yet, it was done only thanks to wasteful exploitation of environment and constant wars, that kill many of soldiers. Uniea and Talbourne grew bigger, but total number of Alaskan Wolves got lower.” He sighed with thoughtful expression locked on muzzle. “It’s hard to say something like that about own clan… but we were parasites. If Talbourne were destroyed too, I would believe that was Nature’s self-defence.”

“From now on we are Nature’s self-defence!” smiled Venn. “We will cut as many Talbournes as we could. Right Ste… I mean: December?”

“You’re right, Defender February.” Assured him dog.

Soon after that talk they reached valley proper for rest. It was ordinary pan with denser forest and small clearing on bottom, where some creek ran. Shielded from wind and snow, almost cosy, tempting to camp there. Steele decided to stop, because it was almost dusk and place seemed perfect. That would be also the last opportunity to hunt, before banzai run into interior of Talbourne land. They were in dead zone – yet far enough from main forces to fear of patrols and marauders, but still too far from centre to be afraid of Home Guards. At least all of they hoped that.

“Logically you have right.” Judged Kostan. “But logically Uniea should have won the war, so better be careful.” Be he didn’t expected attack either.

To be exact: squad of Second Talbourne Division didn’t expect that he would attack them too.

*

Beta squad of Second Division was led by sergeant Darko, darkfurred young wolf, yet experienced soldier who managed to prove himself in Uniea War. But all his military instinct vaporised as soon as the war was finished. Then he was more playing veteran that acting like one. But he had a reason. With his unit travelled group of civilians – some Home Cave wolves, sent by Aleu to winter lair, for easier hunting. Squad had to escort them, but Darko was focused on escorting one particular person.

Shiela was four years old female of almost white fur and gentle muzzle features. She was mother of two pups, but they were after-comers. Their father had fallen in Battle of Home Cave. Young widow needed a support, a friendly paw to help her in not so glorious fate of war-victim. Darko performed that role perfectly. He instantly fell in love with beautiful wolfess and tried to be her chevalier and defender. It wasn’t as easy as he thought initially, mostly because of two very spontaneous pups, be he didn’t give up. Shiela seemed to slowly accept those advances, however she haven’t said any word, encouraging admirer. She still was mourning after just deceased mate, however was closer and closer to give up to her new relationship. So a new happy family would have been created, if not a serious dose of back luck.

Darko managed to persuade Shiela to leave pups with other refugees and took her for a walk. According to military statute it wasn’t a smart move, because sergeant was responsible for organising guards. And – what you are probably suspecting already – valley was so tempting and ideal for spending a night that it happened to be the same perfect valley that Avengers had chosen. Both groups entered the same gorge from two sides, so Darko leading Shiela on romantic walk, came right into area where Steele’s wolves were. But let me describe this.

Talbourne squad and civilian group were laying themselves to rest in quite decent order, but lack of commander caused also lack of appointed sentries. Two corporals – Ea and Bilir – were as tires as rest of eight soldiers, so they just ordered squad to lay in circle and stay sharp. Then they fell asleep. Civilians laid at random in thin forest, staying much too loud than they should be to make soldiers sentry duties easy. So in improvised camp stayed ten soldiers and ten more civilians, not counting several pups. Those were mostly older wolves and mothers with children.

Shiela and Darko came deeper in forest, closing to the other mouth of valley where – on similar and almost analogous glade Avengers tried to sleep. Only Tro and Steele went a bit further – that meant: on west – to find a bit of calmness for themselves. But because encounter took place closer to Avengers location we might assume – just to order our story – that Talbornes attacked their enemies, not opposite.

“Isn’t it a beautiful night?” asked Darko, leading his companion through dense bushes. It was indeed beautiful night, almost full moon just after snowfall that painted all the world silver, but from location they were it was barely visible. Sergeant hoped to find some clearing soon.

“Yes, it is.” Replied Shiela politely. “But Darko, where are we going?”

“Ahead… that night calls us.” Said soldier and smiled. She had to smiled too, partially already under spell of enamoured male. They rubbed their sides and from that moment walked touching each other.

“Stars.” Whispered Shiela, looking up. Forest got thinner, so they could see the sky. “Do you think they are watching on us? I mean if Jack sees us…”

“Please, don’t talk like that.” Interrupted her Darko. “I’m sure he is there… but he doesn’t wait for you to howl. He wants you and pups to go on, to be happy. He expect you to live.” He gently moved his muzzle to Shiela’s face and touched with tongue to her cheek. She backed suddenly, that hit wolf with nauseating wave of shame and self-anger. Just few heart-claps later he understood that she hadn’t run because she wanted to stop him. She had been just thrown away.

Steele sprang from below snow-surface and literally snatched light female with his charge, flying with her few metres away. That was well aimed charge – he grabbed her neck and in the flight he pressed his jaws, plunging teeth into her throat. Before they reached the ground again, Shiela’s trachea was squashed on width of dog’s mouth.

Steele landed, letting bitten bitch loose. As he predicted, when first wave of shock passed, she tried to scream with all her might. But when she inhale, into her lungs came not an air but deluge of blood. Red moisture of her own veins flooded her pulmonary alveolus. In very primal impulse Shiela tried to expulse that choking mass with remnants of air that remained in her breast. But it was no longer a scream. She managed just to sound with quiet gurgle before she died. Steele didn’t look on that, he just bounced from snow and jumped back to help Tro.

Tro attacked sergeant. She hadn’t set it all up with malamute, so her charge was an improvised one. Steele wanted to order her just to draw attention of enemy while he was finishing female, but silverfurred decided to attack. In first try she just rammed the side of wolf with all her impetus, but because she weighed much more than Darko, it didn’t work. But she managed to bit into his nape and pull ahead to enemy. Sergeant faltered, but resisted that pull.

In that moment Steele attacked. He just pounced on enemy’s back, pressing him to the ground, what gave Tro a second to free charge. She pinned his muzzle to the snow with both front paws and bit at random. She plunged her teeth into forehead and one of wolf’s eyes. If not closed mouth, soldier would had screamed with piercing cry.

Steele managed to take a better grab and pressed his jaws on nape of enemy and when Tro still was pressing Darko’s muzzle to the ground he clenched his mouth and after several seconds heard sound of breaking spine. He waited few moments as dying cramps, then let dead one loose. Tro noticed just after that job was done and she came down from enemy’s head.

“Crap!” gasped Steele. “We encountered some patrol!”

“That was a civilian you took down.” Noticed wolfess.

“Clear your muzzle.” Snorted dog, seeing that Tro’s lips are stained with blood. When she bended down to snow, he added. “Yes, but this one was tough. Go for rest, I will scout here.”

“Be careful, Steele… I mean: December.” Said Tro quietly.

“Who’s saying that?” murmured dog. “Always let me deal with stronger enemy, understand!? But now – go!” And he turned back, on west to search for companions of killed couple.

*

Ea opened her eyes, sensing that something was wrong. She was rather gentle and weak female – access to regular military she gained thanks to sharp senses and ability to feel even more than those senses told. Bilir hadn’t noticed anything abnormal, because he was sleeping hard next to her.

“Hey, wake up!” she whispered to his ear.

“Jack has this watch.” Replied wolf with half-sleeping voice.

“Open your eyes, that’s me, Ea!” she nudged his side. “We are no longer in training camp! This is a mission.”

“Jack’s in particular…” replied corporal, but then he comprehend that he actually was outside Home Cave Area, training was over and he was in service. “What’s wrong.”

“It’s so silent here.”

“Yeah, and very romantic.” Smiled Bilir. “Are you done with Jack, by the way?”

“It’s not funny!” snorted Ea. “Boss is not here!”

“So what’s a problem?” asked corporal. “I guess he noticed that this night is romantic night too and he used the opportunity. I bet that Shiela is not here as well.”

“But it takes too long…” said Ea, looking around.

“Maybe you underestimate sarge’s abilities…” replied Bilir and in that moment he was hit with paw. “Calm down, I’m trying to be nice, but in middle of the night it’s not easy.” He noticed as Ea stood up and set off to the forest. He whispered after her. “Stop! Have you lost your mind? You’re going to… interrupt them?”

“We have no sentries guarding.” Said wolfess, two hours too late recalling her duties. “Boss should have thought about that.”

“Wait!” Bilir stood up too and ran to friend. “Don’t do that. First – you could make a serious mess, disturbing sarge and that chick, second – think that will happen, if he is back here.”

“He will set the sentries.” Replied Ea.

“Are you sick of sleeping?” asked Bilir rhetorically.

“We must go. Come with me.” Ordered Ea with tone that suggesting she was at least Shadow’s adjutant. Corporal Bilir had no other option that to follow her.

They entered dense bushes, following the same route that Shiela and Darko had made about two hours earlier. They were walking slowly, observing and listening carefully, but not to spot any eventual enemy, but to make sure they wouldn’t find their commander… in flagranti. But hearing no such a sound they finally entered the other clearing…

…and that time an ambush went perfect. Avengers were split into two teams, one to kill one of the leaders. Steele pounced on Ea and Kostan attacked Bilir – then other wolves had to flood victims with mass if their commanders failed to kill in first approach. Two corporals had no chances to survive, but the main fear of Avengers was to prevent them from alarming the rest.

Uniea Pawmaster overturned enemy wolf. When they were both falling down, he grabbed Bilir’s neck and clenched his jaws. Then he stood on paws, waving held enemy and wagging them like a just caught game. He finally hit with adversary to the trunk of pine, squashing his spine. Steele had a harder piece of meat.

Ea – however she was much weaker than Bilir – was much faster. She evaded first charge of malamute and even jumped aside then wave of wolves came to her to finish the job. Driven by some supernatural sense of duty, she understood that her main quest was to alert the pack. She inhaled deeply… then fell to the snow, being tripped by Venn, who lost the first wave of attack, but reacted properly, seeing enemy aware of danger.

Ea – spitting with snow that had gotten to her mouth - rolled aside, shunning jaws of Venn. She tried to stand up after few metres of roll, but before she erected her paws, from the air came another persecutor. It was Muista, who knew her job well. Silver wolf put her jaws around muzzle of enemy and pressed, keeping her from opening her mouth. Then came Steele with his aftermatch. Without deliberation he bit corporal’s throat, second time on that evening killing in one move.

Practise makes perfect. That was all.

“Crap!” he snorted, letting dead body of Ea loose. “That was close…”

“I see you’re getting old, December.” Said Kostan, coming to commander. “It took you two attempts.”

“Hold on still and we see if third time I’m be lucky!” snorted dog.

“Boys, calm down.” Said Elske. “We have a serious problem.”

“Yeah, we must think fast, before they notice something is wrong.” Added Annen. “Any plan, December?”

“Right, listen to me.” Started Steele. “I don’t know how numerous it that group, but we have two options. They are too strong for us, so we must flee anyway, or we could win with them, and we will do that. I will decide when I see the enemy… If they are too strong, we are roasted, because our cover is up. That’s why if that is possible, we will try to wipe them out. All of them! We will sneak closer and attack, leaving no one alive to alarm Home Cave. Is that clear?” Reflections of bared fangs was only reply to him. Avengers finally smelt a real blood to be shed. “All right, so follow me. I’m on lead, November follows me, August closes the group. Don’t charge unless I told you, but after that, kill everyone. I hope that I don’t have to explain that order?” He turned to Tro and smiled with malicious smile. “This time you have my permission to make up your pretty muzzle as you wish!”

Unit formed a sneaking formation and set off to forest.

IV. Killing Time

Clearing where Talbourne group was camping was not too large. It was elongated backwater of some torrent, about fifty metres wide and about hundred long. Around it pine forest was tightly embracing that glade, what made any sound from the other clearing inaudible. That also helped Avengers in sneaking to enemy. They were coming very fast, trying to attack before any of Talbourne soldiers would react. However it was vain fear, because second squad slept deeply for all the time when their leaders died.

Steele regretted that there was no time to teach his subordinates the Morse code, that dog had learned during human-service. On the other paw he hadn’t learned wolf-hunting-code too well, so silent communication of body language was very limited during that mission. But they established quickly few things.

The weather was very unfavourable for Avengers – it was clear and frosty night, without any snowfall nor wind. Maybe running of eventual survivors from Talbourne group would be hard, but conditions gave enemies an opportunity to communicate via howling. If any of attacked wolves got away from valley there was a serious chance that his call would alarm some nearby Talbourne units. Avengers didn’t know that there was no military Talborne units in range of howl, but Steele assumed that as a born-pessimist. That why he gave orders to exterminate any survivor, before she or he would alarm anyone else.

But rest of conditions support assassins – due to dense forest they were able to sneak almost to enemy and even form a typical horse shoe-formation. Moreover soldiers were grouped in eastern part of glade while civilians were farther. Steele prayed to his bloodthirsty ancestors that Talbourne warriors would decide en bloc to stand for civilians instead of running away with alert.

Avengers had crushing advantage over claners – maybe counting civilians Talbournes were more numerous, but about military personnel it was eight to twelve. Additionally claners were still sleeping and Steele hoped to take out at least half of them before some real combat start. So plan was simple – kill soldiers, then kill anyone who could betray Avenger’s position.

“Go!” malamute wagged a starting signal with his tail. Twelve death-shadows set off from their hidings.

“Sarge, is that you?” asked Kelleth, private of beta squad, taking dark fur of dog as coat of Darko.

“Guess.” Replied newcomer and pounced towards surprised soldier.

This fight was quick – wolf was still on the ground, while Steele attacked him for ideal position. With first blow dog pinned enemy to the snow with all his mass, then grabbed his throat. Then started a harder part – he didn’t want to kill soldier yet, only to knock him down. Steele had given order to save at least one military to interrogate him, but he suspect that his bellowed Avengers after entering a blood frenzy would slash all living foes, not looking on consequences. So he had to worry of every detail.

“Wait!” wheezed choking soldier. “I’m giving up.”

“That’s cool!” replied Steele and hit forehead of prisoner with his head. Kelleth lost his consciousness.

Then dog stood up and looked back on battle behind him. It was a beautiful view for Steele – he killed so many creatures in his life that we was able to appreciate artistry of bloody scene. Talbourne had been taken from surprise and three of them (not counting Kelleth) had been hit down before they wake. But four remaining soldiers managed to stand up and fight, even if that was no use to win. Kostan killed his adversary and ran to main battle where four privates had been surrounded by tight circle of avengers. He called to Steele.

“Get civilians, we will handle them!”

Dog wagged his tail and five wolves followed him. He stormed on chaotic mass of waking up refuges, giving his bites at random. He was aiming in legs, trying to stop all eventual runaways. But just after him were going Tro and Else, mercilessly finishing what dog had started. Steele heard nauseating sounds of squashing tracheas and breaking bones. But he didn’t stop, knowing that his companions would do the job properly. He just moved ahead, catching more and more victims in his grab. It wasn’t hard – most of them were elders and females.

“Can’t you fight as a male, with equal enemy?” yelled hoary furred old wolf, whose leg Steele squashed in one bite.

“I can, I did and got bored with that!” replied dog plunging his fangs into wolf’s neck. After few seconds of pressing he threw lifeless body of enemy to the ground.

Meanwhile the battle with four living soldiers was going weird – privates tried to pierce the circle and get away to help slaughtered civilians. One of them – older male called Berky (he was commissioned once again after heavy losses of Talbourne just after deflection of Talkeet) – managed to jump over line of Avengers and rushed ahead. Muista crossed his path and hit his side. Both wolves overturned.

But Berky was much tougher that he looked – he quickly grabbed Muista’s paw and pulled hard, standing on his legs in the same time. Wolfess rolled aside, yelping from pain, while male prepared to another pounce. Muista was thrown on snow and due to shock she stayed in place for three seconds. Meanwhile Berky pounced from the ground and…

…as hit in side by Kostan. Pawsmaster flew with enemy two metres aside, aptly reaching his neck. They both fell on the snow, submerging in whiteness and wrestling in white clouds of flaks. Before Muista stood up and ran to that fight, snow around two wolves turned to red.

“Kostan!” called silverfurred with fear. She know that it was impossible for ordinary wolf to win with pawmaster, but view of red scared her in first impulse.

“I’m here.” Replied blood-spotted warrior, standing up. “God, it was close!” He jumped to wolfess and nestled to her side. He was scared too – she just had avoided her death.

“Thanks… November.” Whispered Muista, hugging him. “But I’m all right. We have a work to do.”

So they instantly turned back and rushed to friends. But silverfurred noticed as Blad finished last living soldier, so she turned back again to the columns of civilians. There Steele, Tro, Elske, Brann and Sno were finishing the quest. The most successful runaway made his way only to half a distance to brink of forest. Then malamute took him away with aimed hit in the neck. The battle was over.

“Pack!” barked Steele. “Come to me!” Seeing that all were unhurt (apart of really minor injuries) he sighed with relief. “Good, good. But come here, all of you.”

“Mission accomplished.” Smiled Venn, showing his blooded lips. He personally took one of soldiers. That was his first personal kill.

“You deserved a monument, but now we must think about something. No!” he called, seeing as Elske went to unconsciousness Kelleth with clear intention to finish him. “Leave him, we need a prisoner.”

“Now you are playing hostage-trades?” asked Tro with irony. Her muzzle was clear that time – she rub away all blood soon after she bit her last victim.

“Come with me.” Ordered Steele. “Let ask him some question.”

“December…” stopped him Muista. She was going to small drift of snow, where she saw two moving balls of fur. “The job is not finished.”

“Hm?” asked malamute and then he noticed them too.

Two pups of Shiela were quivering in snow. Muista came to them and smiling with almost motherly tenderness stopped over tinies. She would have looked calming and soothing if not a blood dripping from her mouth. She hadn’t cleared her muzzle. Wolfess opened her jaws…

“Stop!” called Steele. “What the hell are you doing?” In the same moment he asked silently: “And what the hell I’m doing? Am I giving pardon to the enemy?”

“Finishing the job.” She replied. “Carry out your order to let no one alive.”
”I said: stop killing!” growled dog.

But she didn’t listened. She bended down to one of pups and grabbed his front paw in her mouth. She pressed and child squeaked with cry. Steele pounced ahead and in few jumps came to silveruffed. In the same second Kostan set off, however not to stop Muista, but Steele. He hit his side, pushing him away from route of pounce.

“Let her do it!” growled former pawmaster.

“I forbid you!” called Steele with all his might and decisiveness.

“Why?” asked wolfess. “Have you gotten soft recently?”

“I order you to let those pups go!” repeated Steele. In the same time in his mind he was quickly looking for any logical explanation of that move. “Why I’m doing it?” he asked himself. “Those are pups… but everyone whom I killed was a pup once. Age is not an excuse from being enemy. In few years those two will join Talbourne army and will support of its conquers. Killing them now we most likely are saving some lives. I know this, why I can’t understand this?” Look into scared eyes of pups – it was a girl and a boy – enlightened him.

“I need them as your countermeasures.”

“What?” gasped Kostan.

“I don’t pay you for curiosity, November.” Snorted Steele.

“Yes, you don’t pay me at all.” Noticed wolf. “But if you say so… July, leave them.”

“Why!?” asked Muista. “Because of Talbournes I lost my pups. And mate. I want them pay.”

“Do you want become the same as they are?” asked Steele, aiming to move her heart. He hit with words strictly to her chest, but found there no heart.

“Exactly!” smiled Muista with evil smile. “They show me the way. They kill pups, wage the merciless war and win. I just follow the example of winners.”

“Are you feel all right, killing helpless enemy?” asked Steele with amaze. Initially he thought that was a feeling reserved for him.

“Much better than that.” Replied Muista. “I feel wonderful!” Steele sighed and repeated his order.

“So I’m sorry to spoil your fun. Leave those pups alone!” In corner of his eyes he noticed that Kostan nodded his head, supporting Steele’s order.

“All right.” Replied wolfess. “I’m living those foes to you… chief. I’ve given a mark to that boy.” She pointed on wounded leg of pup. “I think that it will stay with him for whole life. If he one day kills you, you will be able to recognise your error today.”

“Nice to hear you are looking on life in such long perspective.” Sighed Steele. Then added to Annen. “August, keep those pups alive.”

Soon after all they returned to Kelleth. Wolf was already awake and even tried to crawl away, but two fast hits of Kostan immobilised him again. Then second in command steeped back, leaving space for Steele.

“I saw that.” Whispered soldier. “I thank you for letting them live.”

“Don’t bother with that.” Snorted Steele. “I can’t afford for such a luxury for you.”

“I know that.” Sighed prisoner. “I don’t know who you are, but I see you are determined.”

“So you got the deal?” asked Steele. “You talk and we kill you fast.” Wolf shook his head, or at least tried to and failed due to wound on neck.

“I’m a soldier.”

“And she’s a freak.” Dog pointed on Tro. Then he smiled and called back. “Annen, bring those pups here.”

Pupils of Kelleth narrowed in fear, when he noticed old beta carrying scared youths. Pups were put on the snow between wounded one and Steele. Then malamute said with quiet, yet decisive voice.

“I think now you know the deal. So, will we talk?”

“What do you want?” gasped pov.

“Just a simple information.” Explained dog. “Where were you going and where are the nearest Talbourne units.”

“You are… Uniea.” Whispered Kelleth. “But how it’s possible?”

“Soon you will ask Daie in person.” Replied Steele. He grabbed girl-pup into his paws and put his claws on her throat. “But we are in hurry. Talk and let’s end this farce.”

“Swear you won’t kill them!” yelled prisoner.

“You are not in position to make any demands.” Said Annen with harsh voice. “You could only trust in our sense of mercy.” Wolf looked on lifeless bodies of females and elders around and gulped. But he replied.

“We are just going on winter lair. Home Cave is run out of food, so Aleu ordered to scatter our forces.”

“Ow, how sad.” Smiled Steele. “So where is the nearest Talbourne unit?”

“I don’t know.” Said wolf. Steele pressed his paw. “I swear I don’t know!” yelled Kelleth, seeing tears of pup. “Aleu sent most of forces to scatter at random! I have no bloody idea where exactly.”

“We need a military unit in range of two days march!” growled Steele. Most of Avengers looked on him with confusion, but Kostan and Annen understood the trick and smiled. “Where we could find nearest one.”

“You can’t!” sobbed prisoner. “They could be tens of miles away!”

“That is exactly what I wished to hear.” Replied Steele. “All right, nice to chat with you, but we have an appointment meeting with your boss and we are deadly inpatient.” He lowered his jaws to soldier’s throat.

“Let pups alo…” but his voice turned to rattle, when Steele pressed his fangs.

“Right, we’re done!” smiled dog with blood-red muzzle. “I think he told us true and we could go freely. Our only concert is that chasing team from behind.” He stood up and turned to bring of forest. “Try to rest, folks, because tomorrow we will start a real race.”

“And what with…” Muista pointed on pups, under Steele’s feet.

“I kindly ask you to find some other supper.” Replied Steele. “As I said, I need them. By the way – don’t hide the bodies. That is also a part of plan.” Then he put both pups on his back and set off to forest. “Tro, are you coming?”

“He knows what he is doing.” Former alpha assured her former pack and followed the malamute. Rest of group stood for a while in place, looking uncertainly on Kostan and Annen. Finally old beta said.

“Good point. Go to sleep.” And he turned back to his den in snow.

On clearing stayed only Uniea pawmaster and Muista. Old wolf carefully examined her, looking for any scratches.

“Don’t worry.” She said. “I’m fine. Thanks to you, of course…”

“I’m glad to be helpful in my age.” Replied Kostan.

“You are not so old… and I’m not so weak. Let’s go sleep.”

“Will you dig your hole?” asked greyfurred. “I mean, if you have no strength, you…”

“…could stay in your.” Finished wolfess. “I see you just can’t believe I’m able to survive on my own… But thank you. If that is not a problem, I will use your den.” So they also walked back to the forest.

Meanwhile Tro and Steele with pups came to their bedding. Dog carefully put children down to snow, thinking heavily. He wondered if they were old enough to eat only solid food. Feeding them with milk was impossible, because no wolfess in his unit was ready to provide it. Except of… But think that Muista could possibility had some food, was absurd. Memory of her lost litter didn’t woke in her any compassion. Just opposite – Steele thought that asking her for feeding pups would end with violent death of tinies. “She sees in them only small enemies.” Snorted malamute in mind. “Curious – why I don’t share that logical view? Every canine I killed was someone’s son or daughter, every was once tiny and helpless cub. Is our taboo really reasonable? On war there are no innocent ones. Are those pups more responsible for death of Muista’s mate than soldiers we killed today? And to look from the other side – why I have any scruples? I wanted to kill Balto’s pups, when they were defenceless. So what the hell is the difference?” He looked on tired and shocked survivors of his attack and felt that some difference was there. Still he had no idea what.

“What is your name?” asked to boy, seeing that girl was away, sleeping.

“Tan.” Replied pup with shaking voice.

“Tro, take a look on Tan’s leg. I’m not sure if July didn’t make some real damage.”

“I’m not a nurse.” Snorted wolfess, shocked by Steele’s behaviour too. But she bended down to small wolf and examined his paw. “The cut is deep. I think that tendon is damaged.”

“So, boy.” Said Steele to pup. “Even if you have some weird idea this night, don’t run. Your sister is here, there is no one of yours to help you and additionally the pain of what wound will cut you down in minutes if you base on that paw. Understand?”

“Will you kill us?” asked scared Tan. Steele smiled with half-absent smile.

“Boy, believe me – you have greater chances to survive than we have!”

After few minutes also a pup fell asleep. He lost his mother and most of wolves know to him, but shock of that wasn’t strong enough to muffle flesh’s call for rest. So both youths were sleeping between Tro and Steele. Two mature canines were awake and a bit embarrassed by that situation.

“I guess I won’t give you a hug for good night.” Said finally Steele.

“I can’t believe it.” Replied Tro with quiet voice. “You let them live… You really had mercy on our enemies.”

“Don’t talk stupid things.” Replied dog. “They are our countermeasures! We will use them to catch attention of chasing team. I thought it over carefully.”

That wasn’t true – it was improvised excuse for keeping pups alive. Steele invented that talking with Muista. But he couldn’t tell it to Tro. If she had lost faith in him, he would feel… very bad. “Am I close to fall in love?” asked himself. “But according to how low I am now, it would be <raising to love> I guess…”

“Believe me, it’s all the part of a plan.” Said Steele.

“I hope.” Said Tro and closed her eyes.

*

On the next morning, Steele ordered what he invented on previous evening. He took Tan and asked Kostan to take girl-pup, called Cher. Then he pointed a hill before them, where was to be rendezvous point.

“We will take pups to the forest and leave them in rough places.” He explained. “It will force chasing team to stop, to split their forces and waste few hours. Also it will slow them down if they take pups with them, or permanently weaken them, if they chose few wolves to stay with youths.”

“Smart!” smiled Kostan. “If you said it yesterday, I’m sure no one would suspect you for being soft.”

“November!” replied Steele. “I’m not expecting you to obey me, because I’m talking smart things, but because I’m giving you orders. Is that clear?” Avengers nodded their heads. “So let’s go! Annen, you lead, we will join you soon.” Then he went to Uniea pawmaster and whispered to his ear. “Do you know, why I’m sending you on that mission?”

“Because Muista would have torn pup apart instantly after she disappeared in forest?” asked Kostan.

“Exactly.” Nodded Steele. “I hope you will carry out your orders properly.”

And they set off – main group ahead, Steele more on south, Kostan on north-west. Sun was shining from clear sky, so icy frost of night quickly turned into warm, March day. But Steele sensed a blizzard in the air and was grateful to ancestors for that. “That is our chance – snow is muffling trails, misleading chase and calming down sentries. With nature on our side, we have real chance to get to Home Cave!”

“How are you doing, boy?” dog asked pup, who was sitting on his back.

“I’m not sure, sir.” Replied Tan. “My paw hurt.”

“There is no cure for that. Life is rather a painful experience.” Said Steele.

“Sir…” added pup. “Thank you… Thank you that you stopped that cruel wolfess from killing us.”

“As you heard boy, I had some reasons.” Replied dog.

“You are good creature.” Assured Tan with decisive voice. “I believe that!”

“You are wrong.” Said malamute. “Soon you will see that you are wrong. I should have killed you, because if you survive… and most likely you will… some day you will join your clan’s military and become one of wolves I’m fighting with.”

“But I see you are good!” sobbed pup. “I have no reason to fight with you.”

“Your mother is dead.” Reminded him Steele. “You also have a reason for revenge, as any of my pack.”

“But it was not you!” cried pup. “I feel you are different.” Steele smiled and put the pup on the snow.

“You have no idea… But that’s is the end of our road. Here I will left you. Don’t move too much, for not hurt your paw more. Soon some Talbourne will come for you.”

“I will never stand against you, sir Steele.” assured pup.

“We will see.” Replied dog and thoughts. “Yes, we will see. This pup is marked. If I survive this venture, I will have a chance to check what happen with him. But he will do what I expect… our nature is stronger than any oath…” Then he bended down to Tan and whispered to his ear. “By the way: that was I, who killed your mother.” Then he turned back and ran north.

*

Meanwhile about ten miles north Kostan was carrying Cher on remote path on slope of snowed hill. For most of way they were silent, but finally wolf said.

“Are you with me, girl?”

“I am, mister Uniea.” Replied pup.

“Haven’t you any comments on that I’m going to kill alpha of your clan?”

“Why have you killed mommy?” sobbed girl.

“Because she sinned heavily.” Replied Kostan. “She was alive, had pups. Some excuse for her was that your father had died, but she was about to find another mate. She was definitely too happy for me stay calm.”

“You are talking cruel things.” Sobbed Cher. “But I believe you was heavily hurt… Why you hate us so much?”

“I don’t know.” replied wolf. “Most likely because the similar reason that your kins killed my alpha, destroyed my clan, drove us away from home and took all of my children. You know? I had four children. All of them died at war.” Cher shivered on back of wolf. “But I don’t blame you in person.” He put pup down on snow and stood just over her. “I even might be sorry for you. But I can’t forgive you one thing – yesterday you made Muista cry.”

“That wasn’t my fault!” cried girl. “I didn’t want to…”

“I don’t want too.” Replied Kostan. “But to keep some basic balance, I must. You’ve done stupid, upsetting my Muista.” His jaws clenched so fast that pup’s skull was not just squashed, but almost exploded.

Then Kostan spat the blood and set off to rendezvous point.

*

Dash’s team was almost dead. Even Remer was exhausted after the effort they made in previous two days. So when they got to the clearing, they all – without any order – fell down to sleep.

“Keep the sentries!” called one of soldiers. “It could be a trap!” but few seconds alter he was asleep.

“He’s right.” Panted Dash, hobbling still west. “Remer, come with me.”

Warrior almost overturned with effort, but followed his commander into the forest. Even leaders were so tired that any fight nor defence was impossible, but Dash wanted to check some elusive premonition, floating in the air. But after walking about three hundred yards it turned out that sixth scout’s sense was right.

“O, my God!” cried Dash, seeing remnants after the massacre.

Remer gasped too. There was not more than twenty bodies, so less than in cleansing that Talbourne warrior had made just six days earlier, but those were enemies, not worthy to spit at. But then Remer was looking on allied victims and was genuinely shocked.

“Bastards!” he howled. “Those were elders and children!”

“Pups!” yelled Dash, sensing well known scent. That was a trail of Shiela’s children: Cher and Tan. “Remer, we can’t rest! They have pups!” ordered scout. “We must pursue!”

V. Of Love and Hatred

After they met on the slope of Yanny Hill about three hours before the dusk, they started to climb ahead. Steele decided to make a solid rest before entering the next valley. It was cause by simple geographical reason – beyond Yanny Hill was flowing Talbourne Creek. To reach Home Cave they have to walk about twenty miles more up the stream on north-west. But that was the harder twenty miles they could imagine – malamute knew that numerous patrols of Home Area would be in valley, so he was prepared to take a roundabout way. He planned to sneak through “capitol’s vicinity” and entered the core on next night. But to do that they have to rest.

“Crew, listen to me.” Said Steele to Avengers. “I know it sounds stupid… very cliché, but beware that is it most likely last night for some, maybe even for all of us. If even we reach Aleu, I doubt if Talbourne would let us run away. It’s safer to assume we are doomed. Any other result will a pleasant surprise.” Some wolves laughed quietly. “I see you got my point. So let’s rest and prepare to run, because tomorrow there will be no time for anything. Most likely also no time to say goodbye. That will be a busy day – we will die efficiently.” Pack raised their muzzles to fullmoon sky, but gave no howl, being careful not to alarm locals. “ I must say…” continued Steele. “…that time with you was… interesting. It’s hard for me to say such puppyish and soft crap like this… and additionally I remind you I hate wolves… but if I had to be a wolf, I wish to have a pack like your.” He looked on Tro, with uncertainty. “I hope it didn’t sound too stupid.”

“It did.” Replied wolfess with smile and licked his face. “But let’s be stupid, maybe for the last time.”

“Steele…” said Elske quietly. “Thank you… You did a great job, guiding us here. I’m sure that Glemt and Fort would be proud of you.”

“All right, cut the pathos.” Said dog, embarrassed. However it was that strange and pleasant way of being embarrassed. He said what he said honestly – he wished to have a pack like that. “No, be cool just few more hours.” He ordered himself silently. “Tomorrow it all will have no meaning.” Then he added aloud. “So I wish you have good night.”

He turned to place where he dug his den and Tro followed him. “God!” though dog “It became a routine! Are we acting like mates of three years seniority?” he smiled to his thought, but then shivered with uncontrollable quivers.

“What’s wrong, December?” asked Tro, laying herself to lair.

“I just understand that not only I’m sounding stupid, but also thinking stupid.” Re replied.

“Do you want talk about it?”

“No, let the moment be.” Said Steele and kissed Tro.

“Ow, I see, you came straight to the point.” Said silverfurred and returned the kiss. But in that moment Steele froze.

“O, my God!” he gasped. Tro looked on him confused.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m terribly sorry.” Said dog. “But I must deal with something. I’ll be back soon. Will you wait for me?”

“For that last time I could wait.” Said Tro, still surprised, but she didn’t ask more. “I even will wait with pleasure.”

Steele stood up and went to the grove.

*

Not far from there, in small pan next to frozen torrent, went Muista and Kostan. They stopped before snowdrift, easy to turn in comfortable den, then old wolf started to dig the hole. Silverfurred watched it silently, then suddenly sighed with confusion.

“Kostan…” she whispered.

“Shhh!” replied Kostan smiling. “Steele is near. Call me November.” Added with amused voice.

“November… why are you doing this?” she asked. “I mean… why have you started to dig so wide hole, for two.”

“Ow…” replied a bit embarrassed pawmaster. “Right, you no longer need any assistance. I will dig you second bedding.”

“No, it’s even worse!” murmured Muista. “I’m not wounded, not more tired than you… and you still help me in every move.”

“I’m so sorry, July.” Replied Kostan. “I didn’t mean to suggest you couldn’t…”

“No!” she interrupted. “I meant that is sweet.”

“Is it?” asked Kostan and stopped digging.

“Yes, but why…” she started, then stopped with sudden change of expression on her face.

“Please, tell me, what you wanted to tell.” Asked Kostan.

“I think that all what we were through… somehow muffled our senses.” Said wolfess. “We aren’t able to feel what we actually feel and understand what we already know.” She wanted to express some inexpressible thought, but she was out of words. “We will die tomorrow.”

“Yes.” Kostan nodded his head. “But that means you will be again with Taisten.”

“I know that.” Replied Muista. “And I’m happy about it.” She paused and stepped a step closer to Kostan. “But it doesn’t change a simple fact that I’m also happy to be with you tonight.” Old wolf looked on her with confusion, then replied.

“Of I’m happy too and…” He stopped. Well, he was also out of words. Fortunately Muista said simple:

“I love you, Novemeber.”

“I… love you, July.” Replied Kostan and their lips met in long and passionate kiss. In that gesture they both expressed everything. In her emotion was not even a shade of betrayal of Taisten’s memory. Or even opposite – it was a beautiful appendix to bond they had been bound previously. Finally they stopped and she put her head on his shoulder.

“God! Isn’t it stupid he declare it to each other today?”

“Most likely it is.” Replied Kostan. “But surely not as stupid as trying to say it tomorrow…” Then he added with softer voice. “I really love you, July.”

“Get away!” sounded a voice from rock above them. They turned their stares there, to see Steele observing them carefully.

“I think you should get back to Tro.” said Muista angrily.

“I will go there, but first I will send you away.” Replied commander.

“What?” gasped Kostan.

“Exactly what I said – go away!”

“What the hell…” started Muista, but then Kostan asked.

“Have you been eavesdropping us?” Steele nodded. “So what do you mean?”

“Only that what I said. I wish you to run away.” Seeing they both wanted to protest, he added. “We will carry out your vengeance, while you will try to survive. That won’t be easy, but possible – you will set off now and run north to sea shore. Then east to Buckland area. Not only that you will became another countermeasure for us, increasing our chances, but you have some odds to escape. And live!” Wolves were looking on him with lack of comprehension. “Can’t you see? You love each other! You have some reason to live! I’m lost, as well as my pack, but you could leave us behind and try to start things over again. I’ve just understood it, that if there is even slightest odd to save what left from the world in you, you have to try!”

“Are you all right?” asked Muista with genuine concern.

“Yes, I’m.” replied Steele. “For the very first time since long time. Get away.”

Kostan looked on dog with examining stare, but in eyes of leader he found only honest emotion. Most likely it was very first emotion apart of anger than wolf saw in eyes of malamute. It looked a bit confusing, however also very promising.

“You really wish us to live…” he judged. “And I still don’t understand why.”

“God dammit!” gasped Steele. “You want to prevail Aleu… so do it! By living in old, good way you are daring Talbourne with the most dreadful challenge – of own existence. Prove that they are abomination, while you are real wolves.”

“Even if that is not true?” asked Muista.

“And isn’t?” snorted Steele. Wolfess shook her head.

“No, it’s much too late, both for us and for your pack. We have changed. This war changed us, we are merely killing machines. Maybe we found some sparks of wolfity in our heart…”

“Every spark might become a fire.” But Muista shook her head again.

“I would like to… I wish to live with Kostan and forgot about this war, but it’s too late.” She looked on greyfurred. “I’m sorry. I love you, but I went much to far to get back to you.”

“No, I’m coming right where you. I’m just after you.” Replied wolf. Then turned to Steele. “Find some other countermeasures. We are going in. In Home Cave you will need some Uniea military arts!”

“Ow.” Steele smiled. “If weren’t villains, they should call us the heroes.”

“We are heroes.” Replied Kostan. “But we must win, to become praised.”

“You’re hopeless.” Murmured Steele. “And I like you for that.” Added with smile. “I’m going back, to Tro, in particular. So use this night well, because this most likely the last time we sleep.”

“Be sure we will.” Smiled Muista, licking Kostan’s cheek.

*

Dash lost control of his unit, but he had no time be worried about that. With last resorts of reason, he split his squad in to divisions, to follow dividing trails of pups. He – with half of warriors – followed scent of Tan, while Remer was sent after Cher with rest of crew.

So there were running. Dash, in spite of being formal commander, was on the tail. Maybe he wasn’t as old to feel aging problems, but he also wasn’t young as most of his subordinates. His fear gave him strength, but it was not enough.

Squad left him behind, and Dash thought even that if he died there, no one would notice that. But after about two hours more of run, he noticed that guardians stopped, panting heavily. He speeded up and got to small glade of pine forest.

“Tan!” he panted with relief. “You’re alive!”

“They… they…” sobbed pup. “Killed mommy!” and burst with tears.

“Don’t worry, kid, they will pay for that.” Said one of guardians, Boran.

“But I doubt if it would resurrect Shiela.” Thought Dash. Aloud he ordered. “Boran, take him on back. I won’t carry him… too far.”

Guardian was tired too, but he managed to put pup on his nape. Then whole column set off back. They turned again to valley, because they knew that main trail was going from there. Dash didn’t risked setting rendezvous point on predicted route of assassins, because the knew that smart leader of enemies would be surely shun and mislead eventual chase. So they lost about five hours, meeting in old place – exactly as Steele predicted.

But when Dash and his squad got to the valley, they found another team already there. They were waiting in freezing silence, what told sergeant that something was wrong – even worse that it had been day earlier. And he was right – in light of dying moon he noticed as Remer sat in front of blooded body of pup.

“Cher…” sighed Dash, hobbling to dead girl.

“We found her about ten miles north.” Said Remer with sensed voice. “I swear I will kill bastard who did that.”

“Wait, wait…” said Dash and in the same moment he gasped in pain. He stepped on his front-right paw and felt a wave of pain. When flood of adrenaline backed, he discovered that he had stretched his limb. It was already swollen and aching. “Crap!” thought sergeant. “I can’t run like that.” Then added aloud. “You are half-dead. As we know that Tan is safe, let’s rest a whi…”

“No!” protested Remer. “We must go!”

“How far you will go in that state?”

“Much farther than you, coward!” shouted senior scout. No one – even Dash – reacted on that insult.

“Boss!” called Marry, one of guardians of Remer’s group. “I have mushrooms!”

Eyes of squad turned to her. She stood on doorstep of shallow cave and waved her tail inviting. Few guardians looked on Remer (because he was addressed <boss>) and when he nodded, entered a crack.

“What are you doing?” asked confused Dash. But he already knew it – guardians wanted to boost their strength with toxic mushrooms, growing on rock of cave. Red mushrooms were powerful drug, heavy addicting and destroying even the strongest ones with kidneys devastation and consequent dehydration of body. But on short time it could give almost supernatural addition to power of body. It banished all sleepiness and pain – exactly what guardians hoped for.

“We must catch them.” Said Remer. “Squad, do what you must!”

Dash wanted to protest, seeing as his unit was drugging with dangerous funguses. But he was too weak – he managed only to hug Tan. Both pup and mature wolfdog were shaking due to frost and weariness. In bolt of clarity Dash understood that his squad was going to leave them in place, most likely to death.

“Wait!” he called after forming unit. “I’m wounded! I won’t be able to take him home.” But no one even looked on him. “Stop, God dammit! I’m ordering you! I’m your commander.”

“Don’t worry, sir.” Said Marry, already with sight dimmed with narcotic boost. “We will catch them.” And she turned back to follow Remer. Dash stayed with pup, alone in middle of night and middle of nowhere. The whole situation seemed so absurd, that he would have taken it as some kind of dream, if not a paw – still burning with pain.

“Let them go, uncle.” Whispered Tan. “Let them kill Steele!”

“No, you don’t understand.” Started Dash. “We must worry about ourselves, to find some shelter and… STEELE!?” he yelled with sudden fear. Then the last element of puzzle came to the right place. “You said: Steele? You mean blue-eyed malamute.”

“He killed mommy!” gasped pup with hatred. “I will kill him one day!”

Dash wanted to vomit, but in fact he had nothing in stomach to disgorge. So that was an answer! Strange pawprints of dog, strong evidence that leader of assassins was aware of human knowledge and that violence – so sublimed and almost artistic way of hurting other creatures - fitted old enemy of Dash’s family perfectly.

“I’m sorry, Tan, but we must go.” Panted wolf, standing slowly. “I can’t carry you, but still we must climb that mountain and howl the alarm.”

“I could walk myself.” Replied pup.

“That’s good, boy. Let’s go!” And wounded wolf with tired pup set off up the slope of Yanny Hill.

*

Steele was sleepy, however somehow relaxed. Finally, after over five years of constant trying, he was at doorstep of his revenge. He was an old dog, one would say that too old. He was eleven years old – in that age most of canines where just noble elders, depending on help of owner or pack. He had no owner and his pack was depending rather on him. And he was proud of it – he had an aim in life and he was going to score it. In best company he could imagine.

“Crew!” he called, waking pack up. “This day is the day!”

“It’s not a day actually.” Noticed Venn, digging out from the snow. He had right – there was about three hours to sundawn.

Just after Venn, from the same hole came out Sno. Steele smiled involuntary. Most likely in times of Beech Pack, young male was showing omega of the pack nothing but scorn, the fiercest as he was the next low in the ranking. But their quest wiped out any differences, or even if not, made them easy to ignore. In last hours of life, two young canines needed each other close.

“This world is strange!” thought Steele. “With me was all the same – I understood so many things yesterday – when it’s much too late to change anything! Or maybe it’s purposeful? We could die, because we learned what we had to?”

“No, it’s still a night.” Nodded leader. “But we must entered Home Forest while it’s still dark. Do you know the drill?”

Muista and Kosta just came from grove nearby. Steele almost jumped with amaze, seeing wolfess. She looked so different. From, her muzzle disappeared any expression of pain and hopelessness, just calm smile took its place. “She is beautiful.” Thought dog. “But most likely everyone is beautiful, good and great when she or he find own place and peace. She found her peace in incoming death.”

“It’s simple.” Replied Muista. “We are entering Home Valley, sneaking on southern slope. Before the dusk, we have to get over Home Cave and we infiltrate it when night come.”

“Speaking shortly: that’s right.” Nodded Steele. “Crew, one more announcement. If it happen that some of you survive… and lost a chase, let’s meet here. It’s isn’t very probable, but I’m telling it just in case.”

“If not, we will meet all in Land of Eternal Hunting.” Said Sno. “But don’t die, December.”

“Have I any particular reason?” asked surprised dog.

“Of course!” replied Sno smiling. “You must have a son to name him after me.” Pack burst in laughter.

Steele wagged his tail and Avengers formed a line to follow leader. Dog took his place and set off uphill. They were going in order given with names: from December on front to January on tail. So just after dog was marching former Uniea Pawmaster.

“December?” asked Kostan. “I know it sounds strange, but I thought over many things last night.”

“I could believe that.” Replied Steele smiling.

“I mean about the aim of your quest…” explained wolf. “I can’t say there is no anger in me, but I learned we are doing something more.”

“As you said, November.” Replied dog. “We are Nature’s self-defence. I understood that too.”

“So your vengeance…”

“Is vain and stupid.” Finished Steele. “I even don’t fight for my dead family, but only for spotted pride. But not the motivation is the point. I think we are doing something bigger than anyone of us.”

“But most likely we will fail.” Noticed Kostan.

“And somehow we have already won.” Replied commander. “You know what I mean.”

“Yeah, sure.” Agreed Uniea. “By our trek we put Talbourne at full alert. Most likely we forced Shadow to draw back and stop his conquer. He bought precious time for all Uniea remnants to regroup and prepare for combat. And even more.”

“Continue.” Asked Steele. “I want to know, what the hero I am.”

“Now it’s a mating time.” Said Kostan. “But Talbourne wolves instead of love, make hatred. Instead of forming couples and procreate, they are running in forests, looking for some ghost menace that we are. I bet that losses we inflicted to clan military are even less severe than those we did to its population balance.”

“I always knew I’m a good guy.” Smiled Steele. “I just was shown in very unfavourable light.”

“He’s saint of the cinders – cause incineration // Used for good, is holy, as act of creation.” Recited Kostan some lines of old poem, unknown to dog. However malamute liked to see himself as the angel of fire.

“All right, we both know the point.” Replied Steele. “Even if we fail today, we have to try achieve some minor goals. After all, we are few, they are countless. That life-trade is not bad.” Then he added with quieter voice. “Stay close to me. Whatever happen I need your skills to make some serious mayhem.”

Then over hills sounded a wolf’s call. It was very weak and painful, however – or maybe even because of that – he was loud and piercing. It sounded like alarm. Dog and wolf cursed aloud, scanning area. After moment of thinking Kostan said.

“It’s our chase. They are close.”

“There is only one way to counter that! RUN!” ordered malamute.

*

They instantly switched to banzai mode. Avengers left comfortable path and started to run in forest. That way was much harder, but tracking them in such a dense flora was even harder and was taking much time. But pack couldn’t avoid some obvious disadvantages of that solution.

Remer ordered his wolves to ignore tracks and run directly to Home Cave. He hoped to make an ambush already before main caves complex. It was risky move, but mind of guardian – already dimmed with psychoactive drug – was thinking in the easiest possible way. If assassins were up to kill Aleu, so defenders should cross their way just before that.

“Remer?” asked confused sergeant of Home Guards, Jali. “What he heck are you doing here.”

“Call for alarm! He’s here.” Replied Remer, even without slowing.

Alert reached also Lightning, who was inspecting stationing troops. Hearing howl of Dash, he gasped with anger, asking himself who dared to break rule of communication silence within Home Valley. But then he discovered who’s was that call and he shivered. He shivered once again, when he understood what Dash was saying.

“Alarm!” called master scout.

He growled some orders to civilians gathered clearing and waiting for departure with escort for winter lairs. But that case had to wait. Lightning commanded all soldiers there to form a tyraliere and directed them up the slope. He knew it was a unprepared move, but in case of emergency doing anything was ten times better than doing nothing. At least Lightning believed in that, and such philosophy allowed him to live eight years.

Steele and his squad saw it from upper slope of valley, but didn’t stop they march. Dog estimated that enemy, about four miles ahead and half a mile lower, was too surprised to act rational. More he was afraid of chasing team, who was slowly overrunning him, running in easy path of creek’s bed.

Avengers entered small clearing where totally surprised squad of new recruits was training under oversee of old veteran. There was no time to set any plan – pack just struck down like a storm, rolling over ten wolves as there where helpless roes.

Steele pinned down veteran and with decisive bite hit his paw. Dog didn’t know he was already so adrenaline-boosted. He felt pain in jaws, but then learned he just had slashed the paw away and deadly confused foe is lying on the snow, trying to stand up on three limbs and bleeding to his death. Steele let the paw that was still in his mouth loose and jumped to help his companions. The killing started, but dog knew that reserve of luck was already exhausted. From then on Avengers were also about to die.

VI. Saints of the Cinders

Trainee group was down after no longer than three minutes. But it claimed some price for own destruction. As it could be predicted, the weakest elements of attracters were hit. Regne got a serious hit on her face and though the blood Steele noticed that one of eyes was permanently damaged. Dog almost gasped due to mix of anger, but also an admire – wolfess, except of initial cry, gave no sign of her injury. The same they could say about Sno. Two of Talbourne recruits pounced on former omega, throwing her from three metres wall down the slope. Somehow she managed to overturn in her flight, landing on one of enemies. Bones cracked and soldier laid down dead and broken. But Sno also got a scar, however unseen one. He clashed on body of foe, but then bounced few metres farther and down, hitting cold wall with her side. Second Talbourne tried to get to her and finish her, but Venn jumped here, suddenly pouncing on enemy’s back. After short fight Avenger stood up with few cuts while local stayed on ground chocked to death. Then February ran to Sno.

“Sno!” he called. “I mean… January!”

“I’m fine.” Replied wolfess and coughed with blood. “Just help me stand up… and don’t say them about it.”

He grabbed her nape with jaws and lifted her light body up. Then he noticed what was wrong in her – under fur of her belly appeared an oedema, nasty, pulsing one. Wolf understood that it meant worst possible option – a massive internal bleeding.

“Lead me up.” Sobbed Sno. “I know what happened… but I will manage. At least for a while.”

They hobbled back on clearing where rest of pack was finishing trainee unit. Steele, Kostan and Annen looked in the same moment on former omega guided by Venn, then looked on themselves. So the first victim was killed. Not literally, not at the moment, but wolfess was already doomed.

“I could go!” called Sno. Steele wanted to say something, comfort her, praise her, but then they stares met. She knew she was dying, but she wanted to go further. “I won’t fail you, chief.” Said her eyes.

“Go!” gasped Steele and set off to run. Avengers followed him.

In next kilometre they heard a sound of chase. It was some random squad, patrolling valley due to Lightning’s orders, but it was dangerous anyway. It picked the trail of assassins and followed it with steel decisiveness. Those were young and inexperienced wolves, but they knew the area and moreover were fresh and rested.

“January?” asked Steele.

“Still with you, sir.” Replied wolfess.

“We must run.” Said dog with gentle voice. “They are just after us.”

“I know that, sir.” Said former omega. “I can’t accompany you, but I will slow them down a little.” Venn, walking next to her gasped. “It must be this way, my love.”

“Boss, could I stay here too?” asked wolf.

“I hoped you propose that.” Smiled Steele with bitter smile. “January, February, let them taste your fangs!”

“Will be done!” called first two months.

Steele showed Kostan the direction, than let pack to overrun him. He came to two standing wolves and with unclear impulse nestled to unhurt side of young female. Then he licked her cheek, saying with serious voice.

“Now it became a bit harder, but I really wish to name my son January.”

“If that is a girl, will you name her Sno?” asked former omega, smiling in spite of pain.

“Sure I will!” assure her leader. “I hope she will be brave as her godmother.”

“Go, boss. You have a job to do.” Hastened him Venn. “We will do our, hoping for you to do the same.”

“Take care…” called Steele.

“…for them!” finished Sno and Anned, bursting with laughter. In spite that cause another torrent of blood from January’s mouth, her laughter was honest and airy. Malamute turned back and left them here, having the last memory of fragile and gentle bitch, laughing at incoming death.

“I hope to have enough courage to end in such way.” Thought dog, running to rest of pack.

In next two hours they ran in silence. Even triumphal calls from behind, most likely cries after winning with two left guards. Steele just clenched his jaws tighter, not knowing he actually had nothing to regret. Alone, surrounded and wounded January and February managed to take down four attackers. Not bad as for omega and low ranked pack member.

So silence lasted to about midday, when Regne called. “Boss, I’m seeing funny things.”

“The Home Cave at your feet?” jested Steele, but he knew what she meant. “How bad it is?”

“Very bad.” Said wolfess. “My second eyes is fading too. Let me be another countermeasure…”

“You know you won’t be able to catch us?” asked Kostan.

“I want to catch them.” Smiled wolfess. “To say seriously – as I’m blind I can’t fight with you. But I still could run and I will run for you!”

“I allow.” Said Steele. “Good hunting, March!”

“See you on the other side.” Replied Regne, turning left, more down the slope. “There I will see you properly again…” Those were last words they heard from March’s lips.

About two hours after sun zenith, they encountered line of sentries. The position of attackers was favourable, because they were running almost on the top of valley slope. So just a few Talbourne were on their altitude. When yells of pain made by unfortunate troops who happened to meet Avengers alarmed sergeant Miray, he howled for alarm and sent all his wolves up. But running uphill in dense forest was not a easiest thing to do even for skilled soldier.

Finally Miray got to the end of narrow path coming up. Then he froze in place, seeing lone wolf standing on his route and bodies of his three soldiers lying in front of him. He gasped with fury and started up, to stop just before the range of enemy’s attack. Talbourne understood that he – as almost winded – had limited chance against adversary standing over him.

“You are dead!” he gasped. “Twenty more of my soldiers will be here in a moment.”

“So we have a moment to talk.” Smiled Brann. Then he added. “Don’t worry, those are not only my kills. May and August took those two. I finished just that white one. Come here, I need second one to my record!”

Miray noticed that pointed wolf was his best friend, Marko. He rushed to furious charge, not caring that April had a clear advantage over him. When about ten minutes later Avenger was killed by Miray’s squad, he fell on the rock, but just after body of sergeant. He was lucky too – he traded his life for two foes.

*

Avengers ran until the dusk. About sunset they reached the place above Home Cave. So then only thing to do was to came down and strike on enemy’s lair from slope. Steele knew that their hard route took much time and allowed defenders to regroup. But in the same time attackers took a most favourable position to attack. From then on they had only to go down. With impetus of easy run they could easily breach through tired and confused defenders, looking at random for invisible foe.

Malamute noticed as one of bigger groups was running on river’s bed. When he asked Kostan, old wolf recognised part of Shadow’s army. So they had been overrun, however Steele wasn’t terrified about that.

“The chaos spread throughout Talbourne.” He said, when they had a short break before entering the valley. “They are searching for us still east from here. It will take some time before they pick up our trail again. And when they do, it would be too late. Now they are scattered on wide area and disoriented. That is the opportunity we sought.”

“So what’s the plan?” asked Elske.

“The simplest one – we go down, killing everyone who cross our path.” Replied Steele. “This is the work you all accustomed to.” They laughed and dog gave order to set off. “We can’t fail! Four of our companions gave their lives for us to be here. Use that sacrifice well!”

Then they formed a line and started to ran down. It was a hellish run. Because they were just above the Home Cave, they had before them about kilometre of way down the slope in dense forest. Then was an almost vertical wall, more than fifty metres high, where cave complex had its entrances. Steele hoped that slope had some paths down too.

But before that they marched thought the forest. Soon on their path appeared first patrols. Soldiers - sent in small squads at random - had to find and alarm rest of forces about enemy’s location. In fact they alarmed, however not with communication howls but with yells of pain. Avengers formed a half-circle formation, where Steele and Kostan were on front and in centre. That living tank was crushing any resistance in the way. Wolves – alarmed by calls of friends – encountered at random deadly marching and died on fangs of Avengers. Fresh – because coming down – attackers where clashing with winded defenders, who just had made a climb up in search of enemy. The combat was easy, however not without losses.

One of quick Talbourne managed to surprise May, walking on right edge of formation. He just pounced from side, grabbing her paw and rolling right to overturn enemy. May fell down, wrestling with soldier. She was skilled with martial arts, but earlier wounds weakened her strength.

“Go!” she called, pressing her foe to the ground. “I will take him down.” Steele howled with warrior salute, but he even didn’t slow down his steps.

“Thank you, sister.” He thought.

May kept her promise, because he managed to bite wolf’s side and tore more than pound of living flesh out of his body. Few seconds after a wave of sentries, companions of unfortunate soldier, deluged fighting female, quickly biting her to death. But private Roam – because that was the name of one who wounded Hviske’s paw – died two days later, after general wounds-infection. I think you should know about it.

But meanwhile seven remaining Avengers were coming down with impetus. Forest became thinner and thinner, so Steele ordered to speed up. Finally they noticed a brink of bluff where stood about fifteen regular soldiers. Those were Remer’s guards.

“No!” gasped dog. “It impossible, that they are so stupid.” But guardians were – standing on the edge of cliff with eyes look to kill.

Avengers clashed into line of defenders like boulder falling to the ground. Some of guardians fell instantly, some after agile hits of attackers. Fighting his was to entrance on path down, malamute noticed as his foes were clearly drugged. Red eyes with unnaturally extended pupils, saliva on lips and blood on tongues called to world that Talbournes were not acting rationally but driven by mad impulses of narcotic haze.

“Leave them!” called malamute. “Follow me, we are going down!”

It was too late for Blad – wolf got into fight with three guardians and after getting a hit in desperate move he pushed himself to the edge. Mass of four bodies disappeared behind the edge and soon after everyone there heard a sound of warriors hitting the ground. There was no chance to survive that fall. June didn’t hope for that.

“Go!” growled Steele and entered the path down.

It was a narrow pass, coming in lengthwise, but also a bit down. On the other side, there vertical wall became scattered and cracked, started another long ledge back, to path went lower almost to the bottom, where on bigger ledge where entrances to caverns. So that way happened to be only route down. And that pass Remer decided to block.

He was standing on ledge below Avengers, waiting for attackers enter his range. His mouth was dripping with blood and his eyes were all black, due to maximum extended pupils. He was shouting something partially incomprehensible, but when he noticed Steele and his companions, he called with louder voice.

“That’s you! You killed them.”

“Be precise.” Replied Steele. “Whom I killed exactly? In total, that’s a rather long list.”

“You shall not pass!” cried Remer with anger.

“Screw you!” hissed dog and with sudden kick of paw he threw down a drift of snow.

That mass hit Remer’s head. Guardian lost his balance and fell down, hitting ledge twenty metres lower. He bounced from snow there and slid down to another bluff. He disappeared behind brink of ledge. Soon after sounded a splash of body hitting river surface.

To fulfil the chronicler’s duty, I must tell you that senior guardian of Talbourne, master of pawarts, the best warrior of Seward Peninsula, died several minutes after, hitting with head the rock under Talbourne Creek’s waterfall. Meanwhile Steele and his companions reached the ledge.

They passed next to motionless body of Blad and stopped before entrance to main cave. That was a bit surprise. In doorstep of cavern stood a tight squad of over thirty wolves, with Lightning on lead. Master scout smiled with tone of pride and called to intruders.

“You’ve done well… what doesn’t change you will pay for every of my soldier who died today.” Avengers looked on Steele with uncertainness, while Lightning continued. “But your attempt failed. Dash warned us and we took Aleu out of here.”

“So you wish to be our main target? How haughty of you!” snorted Steele. The he gasped to his companions. “Whatever happens, we have to reach this cave. He might be lying.”

“Any plan?” asked Elske.

“It will cost your lives.” Replied dog.

“That’s for what we are here.” Smiled Annen.

“You see that snow-overhang? No! Don’t look there! Don’t show them what we are planning.” Whispered Steele. “June, August, September, October – engage them! November and I will try to use that trap.”

Hearing that Kostan gasped with fear, looking on Muista, but she replied. “Do it, my love. It has to be this way!”

“Thirty to four.” Smiled Tro. “Nice for our last stand.” She looked on malamute and added with unexpectedly soft voice. “Soon I will meet with Fort, but I hope that he won’t get huffed about it. I love you, Steele. I want you to know that.”

“I… I…” replied dog. In that moment he felt a burning needle in his heart. Some voice called in him aloud: “There are things for you to live…” “Or were.” Replied malamute. “We will meet on the other side.” Said dog aloud. “All of us! But now – go!”

Lightning dropped his jaw almost to the ground when just four wolves – three of them were females – charged at tight wall of his soldiers. He instinctively cried the attack order and rushed ahead himself. Most likely that’s why he missed as dog and wolf ran to path up and disappeared from his sight.

Fight of summer and autumn months was unfair, but Avengers seemed to fail notice that. They formed a rhombus and pierced line of enemies. Lightning’s soldiers were so numerous that they disrupted themselves – not more that four wolves could attack single Avenger in the same moment.

Months were biting at random, but wherever they hit was a paw, side or neck of enemy. From surprised defenders, four fell down in first Avenger charge, because all four of attackers managed to get first chosen target. In war cries of Talbourne sounded Annen’s call.

“Draw back!” yelled old wolf and deadly rhombus started to step back.

Meanwhile Steele and Kostan got to the ledge from where they had thrown Remer away. Dog looked on friend with silent question in his eyes. Former Uniea pawmaster replied with decisive voice.

“Let’s do it. Just after that, we storm the cave!”

With few short pushes, two canines shoved drift of snow. That mass broke a huge overhang and several tons of whiteness started its run down. Steele lost his balance and if not a quick grab of Kostan’s teeth he would have followed his own avalanche. Wolf pulled dog up and they stayed motionlessly until last of snow fell on the ledge. Then malamute stood at his own and called.

“Let’s go!”

They ran down to the ledge to see a pile of snow in place where just before a groups of wolves had been fighting. Although both canines wanted to dig in drift, looking for living companions, or – what was most probable – their bodies, they entered cave, driven by call of duty.

Cavern was silent, after cutting down voices of defenders. It also seemed empty. But then Steele turned back to see some Talbourne soldiers digging out from snow tram on ledge. He looked on Kostan with question in his stare.

“There is no need.” replied Uniea and rushed to wall of cave.

He hit it with his side, causing a wave of quake, that spread on snow-ice layer on wall. Guardians looked with fear up, where mass of snow and icicles where hanging and saw that roof was running to bury them again. Whiteness cut all yells for help.

“Are you all right?” asked Steele, pulling Kostan out of white barrier that snow-burst created. Then cave was sealed tightly thanks to cold wall.

“Yes.” Gasped shocked wolf. “We may go!” and they set off to the interior of cavern.

They were in right place – in chambers of alpha, but there was no alpha. Only five elite guards of Shadow’s Own Unit, looking with confusion of blocked way out. Their leader was a brownfurred wolf about five years old with three parallel scars on his muzzle. He called with voice of anger and confusion and cuts on his face extended due to muscles stretch.

“Aleu is not here. We are.”

“Not for long.” Snorted Steele and whispered to Kostan. “We still have done a nice job. We stormed Home Cave and killed Lightning.”

“Yeah, it’s still a thing to be proud with. But let’s add those five to record.”

“Are you mad?” asked one of guardians. “You have no…”

They even failed to notice when attackers pounced. Steele picked leader, when Uniea pawmaster chose curious soldier. Both victims fell on frozen ground with bitten throats. Remaining three guardians instantly jumped on attackers and will well trained routine tried to kill enemies of clan. Steele was stormed with two foes, Kostan with only one.

However it wasn’t an easy piece of meat. Dog allowed both adversaries pounce on him – he kneeled, letting them fly over him. Then he sprang on his paws and rushed on first soldier in sight. Youngster even didn’t manage to turn back, when dog bit his side hard. In next second another Talbourne hit in Steele’s back with all his mass, but he succeeded with something he didn’t expected to. Dog was pushed away, but he didn’t let his grasp loose. First guardian gave a ear-piercing scream and his companion noticed that malamute was thrown away still holding in jaws piece of soldier’s flesh. With nauseating wave washing his mind, corporal Juniper learned that attacked tore away more than pound of muscles out of his friend. First dog fell on the ground, bleeding with several fountains of blood from cut arteries.

Steele smiled and due to that let loose piece of second corporal. It was too much for Juniper. He turned back and tried to run ahead, but was pressed to the ground by Kostan. Uniea pawmaster immobilised enemy and waited for Steele to come.

“Who are you…” gasped shocked guardian.

“I’m Uniea.” Said Kostan. „But you can call me Revenge.”

“I also like this title.” Said Steele, coming from behind. “Saint of the Cinders.” Then he looked on Uniea. “Is it my kill, November?”

“It is, my friend.” Replied Uniea. Then dog plunged his fangs into victim’s throat.

There was no one left in the cave, apart of Steele-hit unconsciousness corporal, who was bleeding to death. Both canines laid down to the ground panting heavily. It took them over minute to regained breath. After all they were both old creature. They both lived too long.

“So, we’ve lost.” Said finally Kostan. “We haven’t found Aleu.” Steele nodded his head. “But we should try to run anyway.”

“Is there any sense in that?” asked dog. “Now, with base at full alert, we won’t find her.”

“I meant to run away.”

“You want…”

“Just trust me!” interrupted him Kostan. “Let’s go away from here and I will find you some reasonable mean to die.”

“Tro…” sobbed Steele with sudden burst of chocking emotions in his chest.

“Hold on, buddy. Soon you will could cry to the moon as far you want. But we still have a plan to carry out.”

Steele swallowed his tears and looked on friend. “So, you recall you old military habits… I would promoted you, but you see… I’m lacking of months.”

Friends laughed aloud, what seemed a bit scary, minding five blooded bodies on the floor. Kostan gave a salute, what caused Steele’s new wave of laughter. Then they both slowly came to snow wall, blocking the exit. Dog examined it with careful stare.

“I think that faster way outside would be searching for some corridor to other part of cavern system. I believe we are not in dead end.”

“But they will surely set sentries there.” Replied Uniea. “Don’t complain, you old rascal and dig. We will meet on the open air.”

“We will, mutt.” Snorted Steele and came to the white barrier.

VII. An Aftermath

Private Kerim regained his awareness and noticed he was dead. At least he thought he was dead and stayed with that soothing belief for long minutes. Then he asked himself is that not a bit strange that in spite of being deceased he still was feeling cold. So few more minutes of heavy consideration brought him to another conclusion – he was alive, however buried under the snow.

Yes, Kerim was in elite guard of Home Cave, but it didn’t mean he didn’t like to live. He volunteered to that hard service, but he was happy and lifecraving wolf, with new-settled family (his pregnant mate was called Ari) and plans for the future. So after learning he was not finished, he started to move his paws in order to dig himself out. After several minutes, he sensed some shape in front of his tunnel. It was wolf’s side.

“Hey!” called survivor. “Are you all right?”

But corporal Torik, because it was him, was dead. Choked and frozen soldier ignored that question with deadly dignity and continued his immutable state of being free from any worry. So Kerim a bit turned his digging and continued his work. He was piercing through snow easily for about next hour, before he sensed another object on his way.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes, yes.” Replied snowed canine. “Hell, that was a ride!”

“Sure it was.” Agreed private and took a better look on the other survivor. “By the way, from which squad are you? I didn’t see you in the chase.”

“Well, maybe because of that I’m the game?” asked Steele and plunged his teeth into Kerim’s throat.

Dog quickly squashed Talbourne trachea and continued to dig ahead. He was sick of that work and already regretted that he went as a first, letting Kostan follow him in already made tunnel. Moreover Uniea disappeared somewhere and Steele was carving in snow alone, just few times encountering Talbourne wolves. In two cases – including Kerim – those soldiers were alive, so dog had some fun, but it was much too small to cheer him up. He failed.

“Crap!” gasped malamute, sensing another creature, moving just next to him. He rushed ahead, pressing wet snow and froze just before the neck of Kostan.

“That’s me!” replied Uniea. “But I see you have some adventures while digging too.”

“Two hits, plus I found one already dead.” Said dog.

“I see our scores become more and more optimistic today. Are you ready for the last effort?” asked wolf. “The surface is near.”

“Do you really think we could run so easily?” snorted Steele. “I bet that Shadow’s army is already here.”

“More enemies means more targets.” Smiled Kostan.

*

Lightning shunned his death by inches. He was buried with mass of snow and also with guardianess Finia and that allowed him to live. Giant icicle, that fell in second wave of burst, hit the snow just over master scout and if not chest of silverfurred female, it would have pierced Lightning’s neck. However it killed only Finia, whose blood soaked on master scout and froze on his nape. But Lightning was alive.

He was unconsciousness when Gamma Squad of Home Guard took him out. He was carried to safe cave to heal. He awoke after several hours, so he missed last attraction of that night – Steele’s and Kostan’s run.

After rescuing elder, squad was still working hard, searching to Talbourne’s and Avengers bodies. Those first were taken to Memorial Cave, those second just thrown away to the torrent. Dead ones were obedient, not protesting whatever living ones were doing with them.

Junior guardian Mark (by the way – he was brother of Finia, but he missed that his friends had taken body of sister. So then he was still airy, happy, just glad he avoided the white death) noticed some movement on snow, then called to senior guardian Yamaick, who was commanding whole action.

“Sir, we have survivors!”

“If those are those bastards I might neglect any strange incident in report.” Replied leader, very reluctant to take prisoners. He was aware of Finia’s death and was especially hurt by that. He always had a crush on beautiful subordinate and hoped when war would be over… “But let’s check, maybe those are ours.”

Both canines came to two holes in snow where weak movement was seen. Rest of squad was looking on it with curiosity and hope. They were silent when sergeant and private dug in snow. But suddenly rear paws of senior guardian kicked in the air and just after he froze in place.

“Boss, are you all right?” Asked one of soldiers.

“Cut the formalities. Call me December.” Said voice from the hole.

Steele sprang out from digging site with blooded muzzle. Just next to him appeared Kostan, also spotted in red. They instantly set off to run, passing by confused soldiers. No one managed to make a move, before two canines entered a path back. Then guardian Astinae called with all her might.

“ALARM!” But Steele and Kostan were already in run.

They climbed slope up and reached the forest. Encountering no one else, they disappeared among trees, where they were – at least temporally - safe. Malamute felt a freezing stream of blood on his muzzle, so he stopped to wash it away in fresh snow.

And then he recalled Tro and her beautiful face, coloured red so many times in past two months. He continued his run, but after few minutes of burning recollection, body of dog was shaken with wave of cry. Steele, touchiest dog of Alaska was crying, and Kostan, former pawmaster of Uniea clan just didn’t feel properly to reprimand him.

War never changes itself, but changes everyone.

*

Maybe it sounds incredibly, but they managed to lost their tail. Canines ran not back east, but more on south, hiding on slope of Home Valley. Then – it was about midday – both fell to sleep. They had no strength to guard themselves, just hoped that chaos in Home Cave would allow them to wake another day. Or night – they stood up on next dusk.

Steele quickly noticed that no one found him, no one killed him, so consequently he was ready to action. But he had no idea what he could do then. Howls from valley told him that Shadow and main part of his Great Army had just returned. So in Home Cave and its nearest vicinity was over three hundreds of skilled soldiers. Another attack was not just highly improbable, but its success would be the matter of cosmic luck, not abilities of last two Avengers.

“So, what’s now?” asked dog, looking on just standing up Kostan.

“I’m old.” Replied wolf. “This night I felt rheumatism in my paws. Somehow it’s good that I will die still on paws.”

“Yes, I know that.” Snorted Steele. “But do you have any particular idea, a way of using our pitiful lives?” Uniea nodded his head.

“I have.” He looked on darkening valley, estimating distances and possible difficulties. “You are commander, so you will have the harder part.”

“I know…”

“You will survive.” Added Kostan with serious voice.

“What?” gasped malamute.

“Just like I said. You most likely will survive this. And then your quest will start.”

“Explain yourself, November.” Snorted Steele.

“It’s simple. There is dark yet. In valley still reigns the chaos. They are looking for you… thinking you are the only survivor.”

“They saw you too.” Noticed dog.

“Really? I was just one of countless wolves there. In hole where I exited from is the body of Muista. They will blame her for death of that soldier. They will think she killed one of them, but died in fight. No one would recall me, nor my scent.”

“And so what?” asked Steele, sensing some brilliant in its simplicity idea.

“You will be my countermeasure.” Explained Kostan. “You will run away, alarming the whole army. While they – being sure they are chasing the last surviving attacker - would lower their garde. I will sneak to present Aleu’s quarter.”

“Assuming you will find it.” Murmured Steele. “Assuming that I will escape the chase.”

“You will.” Smiled Kostan. “You’re the damned artist in that. You’ll just follow the advises you gave me. North from here and then east on the shore. If you’re lucky, you will find some Uniea partisans. In fact that is your primary objective.”

“Go on!” Steele encouraged him. “I can’t wait to hear what I’m planning.”

“That’s your part.” Replied wolf. “But I believe you will manage it too. You’re the chosen one, somehow I feel it. You will gather all resistance against Aleu and train them, as you trained Beech Pack. But think large – on whole Alaska there are hundreds of wolves who would eventually support your battle. In few years…” Steele interrupted him with burst of laughter. Wolf seemed to take no offence – he just waited until dog cease his giggle and then looked on him, ready to answer every question.

“Hey, smart-head, haven’t you missed something? I’m in your age. I don’t know how longer I could live this way, but in few years I will be surely an aged-wreck of canine. Those last moments for me as a warrior.”

“Maybe.” Nodded Kostan. „But first as a leader. Real leader.” He judged Steele with careful stare and added. “You will gather a huge army to wipe Talbourne out. That is a danger for you for becoming like them, but I hope you will resist it. You are much too individualist to stick with group. Even if you’re a leader.”

“So, you want me to fulfil the promise I made to Sno?” asked Steele, smiling.

“What?” asked Uniea. “Ow, yes, I remember. After all you will need some heir to pass your quest on him. You must think in years, because the task you have, the task of restoring old way of things, is much greater than a single life. The reaction is unavoidable, but real reactionary measures the time in generations.”

“So according that schedule I still could manage…” murmured dog. “But I still miss few things. First of all, are you sure that I’ll be able to find any Uniea remnants?”

“I’m sure.” Nodded wolf. “Even if we didn’t kill anyone, our mission was a success, because we gave over a week of time to my companions. There are many soldiers of Daia’s banner, who still act like they are in service. In that week that surely started some organisation, most likely many independent squads. Gather them in one.”

“Why do you think I’m able to achieve that?”

“I believe.” Replied Uniea. “Remember, how you were laughing when I told you about faith that Aniu is guiding Talbourne. I share that believe too.”

“Great.” Snorted dog. “So assuming you are right, I had against my cause some overambitious ghost of wolf, who is boosting her descendants strengths.”

“Not all descendants.” Said Kostan. “There is also a hope in that. There is another being, unseen for most of creatures, who dwells on the edge of our reality. He is Aniu’s son and he fights with her. Some call him Shade.”

“So we’re equal.” Smiled Steele. “For the time being I will stay with my rational beliefs to stay generally sane. But thanks for a fairytale.”

“That’s not a fairy…” started Kostan, but then stopped and smiled. “Never mind. You will find it yourself.”

“Why me?” Asked malamute. “Why you are attacking in banzai charge, while I have to run?”

“You are stronger than I.” Said Uniea. “In you spirit you are somehow younger. I had everything in my life. Glory, love, children, another love… another war glory.” He smiled saying that. “But you are still undone. You still are looking for your place. You are just eleven years old child.”

“All right, cut that psychoanalyse. To the point!”

“Additionally, you will live longer than I could.” Said wolf, showing his side. Careful eye would notice a oedema inside his belly. It was sign of some internal damage, most likely wound on liver or other organ. That was telling straight – wolf had not too much of life before him. “I’m glad about that. I’m going to Muista… and to many others you had no opportunity to meet.”

“Greet them from me.” Murmured Steele.

“I will.” Smiled Kostan.

“So, the last question.” Continued dog. “I know my role, but what is your?”

“Ah… the better part.” Said Kostan. “Listen to me…”

[Kostan is going thorough the forest. It’s just before dawn, few hours after he parted with Steele. He is going silently, although he is not sneaking. Just in his walk there is silence itself. Experienced soldier knows how not to be seen. He pass next to few patrols, giving them nods, as if he was one of Talbourne officers. No one tries to stop him.

He hears howls of alarm, when Home Guards are gathering for chase after Steele. He smiles discreetly, knowing that his friend is going well, successfully avoiding any danger. Few times he howls some absurd report too, to cause even more chaos among claners. Without any problem he reaches the Second Cave, current residence of Aleu.]

“You see?” asked Kostan. “I will get there easily. I’m almost sure where Aleu is and I will be there soon.”

“Cool!” snorted Steele. “But tons of guardians will be there too. I think that is a party much above your appetite.”

“Most likely it is.” Said Uniea. “I will judge the situation after examining it on my own eyes. There is high probability that I won’t be able to kill her. But I have a backup plan.”

[Kostan enters the Second Cave and comes deeper, passing by tons of wolves, who ignore him. He finally reaches the main chamber, where is Aleu’s head quarter. Apart of alpha, there are her officers and family. On brushy bedding is lying Dash, wounded and half-awaken, but telling them about his ventures. Just next to alpha sits Shadow, who just has returned with division of his forces. He is tired, however ready to defend his mate, if there is such a need.

Next to Dash is standing Teele – Lightning’s second in command, currently in charge of all recognisance units. She is asking Dash about some details. To that talk about dozen of clan elders are listening.

Then comes Kostan. He just stops next to Teele, seeing that Aleu is out of range of his pounce. He sighs quietly, but then smiles. He says:

“Aleu, of Talbourne. I, Kostan of Uniea Clan, am challenging you of leadership of your group. Let’s settle this as tradition tells us to settle!”]

“WHAT!?” yelled Steele, hearing this. “You are going to do what!?”

“Challenge her.” Repeated Kostan. “Plain and simple.”

“They won’t let you!” gasped dog. “They will tear the living flesh of you, but won’t let to come on distance of pounce to her.”

“I know that.” Replied smiling wolf. “That it’s also a simple genius of my plan.

[Shadow is looking on that scene with disbelief. Thousands of questions are calling in his mind: what does it mean? How it came to this? Why Aleu is in danger? Then a malicious voice shouts at him that he let this happening, he endangered his mate and leaderess. Aleu is slowly standing up, still not comprehending what means the appearance. Quick-tempered wolf is being pushed to action.

If wolf managed to enter territory of the other pack, and he hasn’t asked for hospitality, he is not a guest of pack. He could challenge the alpha of encountered group over the leadership. Fights are in most cases fights to death of claimant or leader. Face of newcomer is clearly showing what he is hoping for.

“I’m waiting for you, Aleu.” Says Kostan, baring his fangs.

But then comes Shadow. He has to react – in walk of Uniea he noticed what others failed to see. A spark of deadly self-assurance, readiness to kill. All others wolves there just ignores a minor threat, but Talbourne marshal knows it isn’t a minor threat. That claimant is a master-killer.

Kostan doesn’t defends himself from sudden back-pounce. He knew that it would come, but he stays indifferent, when Shadow’s paws presses him to the ground and Shadow’s teeth bites his neck.]

“Crap! They will kill you!” gasped Steele.

“I hope for that!” replied Uniea. “Do you understand it? They will break a sacred wolfish law in front of elders of the clan. For all to see how weak and deceitful is Aleu. I bet she will be eager to fight me… But surely one of her guards, maybe Shadow himself, will cut me down, sensing real danger. And that way I will win – I will prove that Talbourne is breaking the very core of our kind’s laws. That clan is an abomination, is not actually real. That it is a crack of being, waiting to be mended. You will mend that error. I believe in you!”

[Kostan is dying, bleeding from bitten neck. His blurred vision focuses on gathered elders and he wrinkles his face, not due to pain, but do to disgust.

“You!” he gasps. “You even can’t face me… You broke the sacred law, outcast! Be damned, you DOG!” and then another bite of Shadow ends his life.

But all gathered there already heard – elders in chamber are looking with confusion of their leaderess. In fact – she broke the law, using his subordinate to kill claimant who had properly challenged her. And in fact – she is dog. Some voices from deeps of minds calls with uneasy tone, asking a question if Aleu was really the best leader. Something changed in Talbourne Clan.]

“That’s only a beginning.” Said Kostan. “The very first hit to that behemoth. But sooner or later we will succeed. Not I, most likely also not you, but ones who fight under our banner will tear that wall down.”

“You are talking like a dreamer.” Said finally Steele.

“That what name of my clan means. Uniea – the ones who dream.”

“Some of dream are nightmares.” Noticed Steele. “One - created by Aleu - surely is.”

“Don’t worry about quests which are not yours.” Advised Kostan. “You have to just burn Talbourne to ashes. As the saint of cinders, you are able to do it.”

“And later?” asked Steele, seeing that Uniea stood us and turned down to valley.

“Those who come after us will worry.” Replied wolf. “But now - go. We have a world to save.”

*

It definitely wasn’t as easy as Steele thought. Initially it was going smoothly, when dog ran unnoticed thought half-sleeping forest. But he had promised Kostan he would make some noise to alert the base. After short consideration he did it in easiest way – he stormed encountered patrol.

“It’s him!” called Shora, but in the next second Steele’s jaws squashed her neck.

Dog jumped aside, letting the second guardian to attack. He decided not to kill young soldier too fast, hoping that he would call alarm. But because inexperienced guardian was focused more on fight, malamute decided to help him in drawing others attention. In easiest possible way.

In next charge, when private Marath pounced on Steele, dog steeped up, shunning the hit, but in the same time he grabbed enemy’s paw and pulled. Wolf fell to the ground, gasping with surprise and pain. But that was much too quiet.

“Auuugh!” yelled Marath, when Steele’s jaws clenched on his paw. Wave of shock was so overwhelming that he couldn’t make a move. So dog was able to press harder and in next few seconds he simply bit the paw away. Private burst with cry.

“Howl, dammit!” thought malamute. “If you don’t be loud enough, I will have to play with your eyes.”

But it wasn’t necessary. When Steele touched again pitiful remnant of soldier’s paw, young wolf gave the purest howl that one could imagine. About two hundreds of Talbourne heard that. They set off to sloped of valley, leaving the main cave almost unguarded. Seeing that Kostan exited the bushes and went the path down, straight to Home Cave.

But for Steele started a run for life. When first rays of light shone from behind the horizon, he was running the northern slope of valley, up hill. On his tail he had over thirty persecutors of Home Guard – the number much too high to even thinking about combat. So dog had to run, and he ran.

But as we said it was a way up, so with every step Steele felt his age and every scratch he had gained in last few days. He understood that even if somehow he reaches the top of hill, he couldn’t run forever. His chase was well rested and it knew the area, so every minute of escape was just bringing him closer to unavoidable death.

“How funny!” he thought. “Kostan, your hopes failed. I won’t get away from this one. You have to kill Aleu yourself.” But malamute felt that was impossible. Brink of forest, indicating the top of slope was closer and closer, however Steele had no guarantee than on the other side there is no more patrols. “All right, Kostan.” He cried in mind. “Now I believe. If there is any good spirit watching over us, could you ask him for any help? I just can’t…”

But in the same moment he exited the forest and passed by the top of slope. He gasped, seeing what was on the other side. It was a small cliff, about thirty metres high, then giant clearing, leading to the bottom of next valley. And further dense forests of Alaska – the sure sanctuary for a running dog. But there was over two miles to reach them and it was straight way down in open space. He had no place to hide. But then dog smiled. He was sick of hiding.

He stopped and turned back, to see first of his persecutors coming out from the forest. It was a young, silverfurred female, so similar to Tro, that Steele barely believed that she was Talbourne. But then dog smiled and sat on snow, waiting for corporal and her squad.

Wolfess stopped, confused, seeing that her target is no longer running and more over he waited, smiling. So she came to him, almost to the brink of bluff and asked said with powerful voice, trying to add herself more of seriousness.

“Stop, you are under arrest!”

“If you are going to perform that in person, I will surely agree.” Said malamute. “But in that case it would be much more comfortable, if you are under.” Wolfess pretended that she ignored remark, but in fact she felt some freezing premonition. “What is your name, sweety?” asked Steele.

“Corporal Spring, delta squad of Home Guard.” Replied female. “You will come with me.”

“Well…” sighed dog. “You are really nice girl. If not that war, I would go out with you, but now I’m afraid that you will come with me. There.” He pointed a valley in front of them. Then hit he overhang of snow.

Avalanche burst in blink of an eye. Spring failed even to scream, before the mass of snow took her ahead, down into the valley. The last thing she saw was Steele, laughing like a pup, who was seeing the snow for the first time. Maybe somehow he was – discovering for the very first time in his life, how beautiful snow is and how funny would be sliding down in deadly avalanche.

Giant mass of snow stopped on the bottom of Valley. By the way, epsilon squad of Home Guard – that was guarding the down of North Valley - hadn’t managed to get away from route of white death.

Epilogue – The New Year Begins

Steele was buried with avalanche for the second time in period of twenty four hours, so he thought he didn’t make it. But he was wrong – as you most likely already know, “third time luck” rule was applied.

Dog awoke in some white place, but not under a snow. It was like a place in clouds – around creature were swirling cumuluses of some light mass. Steele checked it – those weren’t cold, nor wet. He thought that hell is very defective.

“Ow, come on!” sounded a powerful voice from behind. “Don’t you know that all dogs go to heaven?”

“I always thought that saint Peter is a bit taller.” Said Steele, turning back and looking on blackfurred wolf.

Newcomer’s coat was black. Not just dark-brown, but black as moonless night or old ashes in the campfire. No lighter hair was visible on lean-built canine. He was male in indefinite age, but dog could call his appearance rather young one. In opposite, eyes of unknown were glowing with mysterious dark-light. It looked as a wisdom of centuries.

“I’m not saint Peter.” Replied black one. “I was called with many names…”

“…but the one you used to is Shade.” Finished Steele. “Is that right?”

“Good!” smiled wolf. “You know some basics. So our deal will take us less time.”

“Am I dead?” asked malamute straight.

“No, just unconsciousness under the snow.” Replied Shade. “When you wake up, you will have to dig yourself away and run. But you will manage – they don’t expect you to survive that avalanche.”

“I didn’t expected that too.” Confessed dog. “Is that your merit, that I’m still in one piece?”

“I could say so.” Replied Shade. “But don’t count on my powers. In your quest you will have to use natural means. After all the natural state is our goal. I hope that Kostan explained it to you.”

“Is he…”

“Were.” Corrected dark wolf. “He died in Aleu’s cave.”

“So were you in league?” asked Steele.

“No, he never knew about my existence. He just sensed that. Moreover he was a wise wolf. He expressed my plans even better than I could do it. So he was right – I chose you to fight a battle for me. The battle I can’t win here, so I must settle it on Earth.”

“Hey, wait!” gasped Steele. “I’m not an errand pup! Especially your!”

“Easy, friend.” Smiled Shade. “I know that. You will do what you will do not because of me. Your beloved ones… those who died, will force you to fight. I’m just going to assist you with my limited abilities.”

“Yeah, another one to whole bunch of good uncles.” Snorted dog. “But first tell me, who the hell is Aniu.”

Shade took a deep breath – if in the space on edge of living world we could talk about air and breathing – the said with suddenly serious voice.

“She is the mother of all wolf-kind. And mother of dog-kind too. We are one, great family, after all.”

“No one is perfect.” Murmured Steele. “So tell me one thing more – who are you?”

“I’m the one who was born soon after creation of our species.” Replied Shade. “I’m Aniu’s son.”

“Ow, how, sweet!” snorted Steele. “And you two are playing some cosmic chess, where we are pawns? But I heard some tales about you. You killed your mother, didn’t you?” He expected a decisive opposition, but dark wolf just nodded his head with sad stare. “Tell me: why?”

On muzzle of Shade appeared sudden wave of emotions. Wolf closed his eyes and throw from his throat almost a yelping words of complain.

“She always loved him more! She made Light her heir, in spite I was the one who really loved her. She betrayed me, giving the pack to Light and…” Then he stopped, opened his eyes and said with tone of shame in his voice. “That is not your concern.”

“All right, sorry to be so curious.” Murmured malamute. “But I asked only to correct some common beliefs about you. You are not evil.”

“I think that every matricide is evil.” Said Shade, again with tone of half-irony.

“Cut it! I asked if you are kind of devil here.” Said dog.

“You are thinking in very anthropomorphic way.” Replied dark wolf. “I’m an adversity, in particular Aniu’s adversity. And currently I’m doing bloody noble thing by stopping mom from her sick plan to conquer all wolves with our… I mean: Talbourne Clan.”

“Noble?” asked Steele.

“Hell yeah!” called Shadow. “We have to save the balance of Nature and stop that useless conquest. Our aim is to restore the old way of things – wolves living in packs, without any human-state-like tyrannies, that Aleu is trying to start now.”

“But… but why did you choose me?” asked malamute.

“You will learn you have some qualities to do that job.” Said Shadow. “At least I hope that.”

“I’m the killer and…”

“I’m too.” Interrupted him dark wolf. “But currently there is no one else to do that job. The world have to be saved, doesn’t matter who save him.”

“Don’t you think we are a bit too bloody bastards to lead that pious counterrevolution?”

“We are.” Replied Shadow with smile. “Maybe of cinders, but we are still the Angels!”

*

Aarre was leading his group third day in pursue. After their sergeant Vippo died, they all lost their hope. But Aarre decided to try once again. And his squad stayed with him, choosing him as a new commander, in spite that before the war he was just a private. But Vamma, Kova and others had accepted his leadership, hoping he would lead them to revenge on Talbourne.

So when they finally picked up the trail of lost enemy’s patrol, they started to pursue it. Months of shame and defeat were an excellent booster, encouraging them to wipe out that disgrace and destroy the foe, at least as many of them as was in their powers. Aarre decided that they would kill those Talbourne scouts, doesn’t matter what. However he was wrong.

On morning of third day of chase, they entered on snowed clearing where they expected to see trails of beddings. But instead of that they noticed two motionless bodies of Talbourne and… third one, laying farther. Just after that corpse was standing lone, old malamute, who was clearly eating the meat of killed scout. Aarre’s group stopped, seeing that shocking scene.

“That freak ate him!” gasped confused Kova.

Malamute turned out to have unbelievable sharp senses, because he hared that and quickly replied with gentle voice, so contrasting to his blooded muzzle.

“Ow, come on! What’s a big deal? I’m sure you will satisfy yourself with those two. I haven’t eaten even a pound…”

“Sick!” gasped Vamma, coming closer to dog. She was afraid of that weird creature, but she was also curious. That is always a first step to hell, but also to the knowledge.

“I don’t understand your scruples.” Said malamute. “You are shocked that I’m eating a wolf? Besides, that is a Talbourne wolf.” He added with quieter voice. “One of that patrol you were chasing since day before yesterday.” Ignoring surprise on faces of Uniea, malamute continued. “Let me explain. When we die, our bodies become the grass. And the caribou eat the grass. And so we are all connected in the great Circle of Life. What the hell is the difference, if we eat grass, caribou or wolves?” Finished with passionate voice that could be taken either as divine inspiration or pure madness, or maybe both at once, then looked deep into Uniea’s eyes.

“Christ’s sake!” gasped Aarre. “He’s a freak!”

He was genuinely terrified by that dog, but also something in his big blue eyes was calling to him. Involuntary, even without knowing about it, he lowered his ears, as if he was talking with alpha of the pack.

“No, my name is Steele.” corrected him Steele. “But friends call me December.”

Taka_PL

November 2007