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Sven left the train terminal, pulling his heavy wool jacket tight to keep out the sharp gusts of icy wind that seemed to cut right through his charcoal gray fur. Basil was a bustling boomtown, the main point of entry for the multitudes of furs looking to make their fortunes in the northern land rush. A place of infinite possibilities compared to the rest of the United Territories.

It was also where the North Guard was headquartered, and that was the fox's destination. Somewhere to put the skills he'd picked up in army to good, and more profitable, use. Right after he arranged for a place to stay.

The Broken Tusk Inn was a name he got from one of the rail workers. It seemed as good as any of the other weathered buildings he past.

The local townsfolk eyed the fox as he walked past them, their glares weren't too friendly. Thankfully, Sven didn't have to ask for any directions because he had already been told where to find the inn. As the vulpine walked, his feet treading through the snow, he couldn't help notice how the buildings were situated. There was no apparent pattern or rows, like there was in the cities back in the Southern Territories, here the buildings were placed at random, and sometimes awkward places. His ears lowered slightly when he realized that he could easily get lost in this town without a proper map. After awhile, he soon found the inn after coming across a few dead ends. The fox opened up the door and went inside, shutting it behind him. The atmosphere in the inn was not what he was expecting, it was quieter and a lot calmer than he would expect of an inn that had it's own tavern. There were several furs at some of the tables, a pine marten playing darts with a bobcat, a grizzly and an elk arm wrestling, and off to one side of the tavern was a larger table with a group of furs, who were mostly canine. There was a couple wolves, but they were all wearing the same thing. A red parka and a pair of thick black pants. None of them wore any shoes or boots, they seemed perfectly comfortable walking around on just their footpaws.

Sven dropped his bag in front of the bar and flagged down a lynx who was busy keeping glasses filled. The fox had enough money to last the month up here, but he wanted to find a job as soon as he could. After paying the feline for a room he pointed to the table of canines.

"Are they with the North Guard?"

The lynx nodded. "Yup. Learn to recognize those coats. They're the ones who'll be saving your ass when you get into trouble out there."

Sven smirked. He didn't plan on needing saving. If anything, he planned to be one of them before long. He picked up his bag and walked over to the table. His ears pointed forward despite his nerves. He cleared his throat and jumped into an introduction.

"Hey guys. I'm Sven Hastur, and I think we're gonna be working together."

At that, the entire table went silent, and all eyes turned to him. Sven lowered his ears and slightly tucked his tail between his legs. One of the wolves snorted loudly, leaning back in his seat with his arms crossed in front of his chest. The grey fox couldn't help but notice the wolf's unique color pattern, black fur with thin white zig zaggy lines going across it. One of the canines, a grizzled husky, suddenly spoke up, and his tone wasn't the least bit friendly.

"And what makes you think that you could join the North Guard? Huh, kid? Let me tell you a little secret, round these parts, folks like to keep to themselves. Living out here in this weather? This isn't some pampered ride. If I were you, I'd turn round and get back on the train."

Sven lowered his ears even more, his tail curling between his legs more noticeably now. Several of the canines scoffed at the sight, then whispered amongst themselves. The oddly colored wolf in the meanwhile took a drink from his tankard, then got up.

"I'm gonna go grab us some grub gentlemen, I'll be right back." He then moved past the fox, his elbow lightly tapping him on the arm.

The vulpine perked his ears slightly, then quickly grabbed his things and headed over to the bar where the wolf was leaning against the counter. After exchanging a few words with the lynx, he looked to the fox.

"So you're looking to join the North Guard? Well, I have to say you're off to a pretty bad start. Don't go introducing yourself so blatantly around here. The North is a dangerous place, and the same goes for it's cities and towns"

"I can handle myself," Sven protested. "I've been in the army."

The wolf cocked an eyebrow.

While what Sven said was technically true, he purposefully left out that it had only been for a year and a half, that he had to lie about his age to get in, and that he was never anywhere near combat. But his point stood. "I really was." He turned his head away, hating that he was coming off as a whining pup.

"If you say so," the wolf shrugged. "I'll tell you what. Go get some sleep and if you get up early, you might catch me down here having breakfast. We'll have a little privacy and we can talk."

Sven knew that tone. The wolf was going to try to dissuade him. He nodded anyway. His mind was made up and there wasn't anything on earth that could change it. And if he played his cards right, he might be able to talk the wolf into putting in a good word for him down at the North Guard headquarters.

"Alright. I'll be here." He slung his bag over his shoulder and headed up the stairs. Before he was out of earshot he heard some laughter coming from the North Guard table. He didn't have to turn around to know it was directed at him.

Sven found his room small and with just the bare essentials. But it was all his. And after months spent sharing a barrack with thirty other furs of questionable hygiene and infested with mosquitoes, this place felt like heaven. He dropped his bag and collapsed on the bed, trusting his internal clock to wake him at sunrise, just as it had for the past year.

***

As it turned out, his internal clock woke him up at what felt like early, but when he looked out the window he saw it was still dark out. The fox groaned, then sat up. He wasn't going to be able to get back to sleep, if he knew himself well enough that is. Getting up, the fur got himself ready, then headed out to the bar area. To his surprise, he found the wolf sitting by himself at the same table, eating a breakfast of eggs and ham.

Going over, Sven asked, "Uh, what time is it?"

The wolf stopped eating for a moment, eyeing him then motioning to the empty seat right next to him. The fox sat down, waiting for the wolf to speak. After gulping down the bite he had been chewing, the wolf looked to him.

"It's 4 am."

"Oh," The vulpine nodded at that. "That would explain why it's still dark out then"

The larger fur snorted loudly at that, then looked back to him.

"The fact that the sun only comes out for three months of the year should also explain why it's dark. Come afternoon it's going to be brighter, just enough for you to see, but then that's it."

"Oh." The vulpine lowered his ears slightly at that, but then the fur next to him spoke up again.

"The name's Jack. Jack McAlister. I'm the lead dog for one of the sled teams."

"Uh, Sven Hastur, at your service.... what does a lead dog do?"

The wolf eyed him for a moment, then sighed softly and took a bite of his eggs, taking his time to chew and swallow. Then he set down his fork and knife.

"Not even introduced for three minutes, and you're already asking questions? You've got spirit, but a little too much enthusiasm. Having too much enthusiasm can often distract you from the little things, and out here, that'll get you killed," Sven gulped at that, and nodded, "Anyway, to answer your question, the Lead Dog is the one that's in charge of the team. Now on the team there's the lead dog, the point, the scout, two wheel dogs, and the dog on the back of the sled controlling how the sled turns and brakes. My team is in need of a scout, since the last one we had was killed on our last outing. But I'm not convinced you have the right stuff for the job, much less for joining the North Guard."

"Hey, I've got the right stuff," Sven said. "I know how to work hard, I don't complain -much- and I'm a quick learner."

Jack continued to chew his eggs.

"I already know some survival skills from basic training, all I need is a chance and I can pick up the rest. Trust me. I'm a fox. We're naturals when it comes to scouting."

Jack shook his head chuckled. "I don't know about that."

Sven growled. "I'm doing this one way or the other. If you don't want to be helpful, I'm out of here."

Jack put down his fork. "I am being helpful, kid. I'm telling you to go home. Or find yourself a less dangerous job... like whaling, or setting explosives down in the mines." He rolled his eyes at the fox's determined glare. "But if you're dead set on dying out on the ice, you can follow me down to the HQ. Maybe you'll get lucky and they need another paper-pusher. You can read, can't you?"

"In two and a half languages," Sven smirked. "But I didn't come all this way to do paperwork."

It was hard for Sven to know if the wolf admired his tenacity or just found it irritating. When Jack finished eating he led the fox out onto the cold street. Sven was determined not to show that he was cold, instead hoping that he'd get used to the frigid temperatures before his first mission. In Sven's mind he already made it on the team, now it was just a matter of convincing the rest of the North Guard who might not see it his way.

It didn't take long before the wolf led Sven to a large building. There were several other furs wearing the same parka standing outside the building, chatting amongst themselves. Leading the fox inside, Jack went over to a black siberian husky.

"Hey, have you seen Vandala around? We have a new recruit here wanting in on the job" The husky eyed Sven at that, but then nodded.

"Yeah, she's in her office. At the moment she's meeting with one of the Military Corps people, so I don't know if you'd wanna--"

Jack simply turned and headed further into the building, leading Sven down a long hallway before reaching the door at the end. He opened it without even knocking. Sven soon found himself in a small office, and sitting in one of the chairs in the office was a black german shepherd in military uniform. From the pins on his uniform he could tell that the canine was a high-ranking officer. Sitting on the other side of the desk in the office, was a slender female vixen. She eyed the wolf after he had barged in.

"Jack, I'm in the middle of a meeting right now."

Jack nodded softly, but then said, "I know, but there's a new recruit here, and he's wanting to join the North Guard so--"

"Well then start putting him through training" The wolf blinked at that.

"Van, look at him, do you think he's even remotely North Guard material? He'll get killed out there!"

All of the sudden the german shepherd narrowed his eyes slightly, then smirked as he looked at Sven. "Private Sven Hastur, fancy meeting you here"

Sven swallowed and gave the Shepherd an unenthusiastic salute. "Commander Franklin, sir."

"At ease, Hastur. You don't need to salute me anymore." He smiled in his crisp, almost unnoticeable way. "Must have been really sick of the swamps to bring you all the way out to this frozen wasteland."

The vixen straightened in her chair, taking exception to the canine's words, but not correcting him. "There it is, Jack. If he's made it into their ranks, he'll be good enough for ours. Besides, we need the furs, half our regions are staffed with skeleton crews as it is. Now, a little privacy?" She waved Jack toward the door with a soft smile.

Jack closed the door and turned to find Sven grinning ear to ear.

"Told you," he hummed.

Jack sighed. "Shut up. Let's get you your gear."

The fox was practically bouncing on his feet as he followed Jack back down the hallway. All of a sudden, the wolf stopped abruptly, and Sven nearly ran right into him. Jack eyed him, then opened up the door he was next to and went in. Inside the room was an assortment of different sizes of parks and the thick padded pants.

"Go through these and pick a size that fits you, I'll be in this other room"

The wolf then opened up a different door and went inside. Sven came forward, then began picking through the clothing. Moments later, he heard the wolf call out.

"Hey Sven! Short range, medium range, or long rang?"

Sven took a guess that the wolf was talking guns. "Long range, Jack. Good looks like these were not meant to be close enough for a fist fight," he laughed.

He found a parka that almost fit and pulled it on. It felt warmer than the coat he arrived with, and the red worked well with his dark fur. He walked to the next room to see Jack chambering a round into a long barreled rifle. Sven caught a box of shells the wolf tossed to him.

"You know how to handle one of these?"

The fox folded his arms. The wolf might have been convinced that he had been in the military, but still had no faith in his abilities. Sven was used to getting that reaction, but it still annoyed him. He was going to have to prove himself. "Yes. I can shoot. I'm pretty good at it too."

Jack handed the fox the gun. "Its got a lot of kick to it. Keep it firm to your shoulder or it'll break your collarbone."

Sven nodded and pulled the breach back, double checking to see if it was loaded like he'd been taught. "Thanks for the advice. Um, which end do the bullets come out of?"

"Keep joking, kid," he growled and threw a strap for the gun. Sven yelped out a laugh as it hit him in the head. "Why don't I introduce you to the rest of our team? They should meet you so they'll have something to say at your eulogy."

Sven laughed again, but a little more nervously this time.

The wolf then led him out of the room, but not before grabbing a box of revolver shells. He glanced back at the fox, then said as he led him out of the room, "After you meet the team, we'll start your training. We need to get you ready for going out into the field with us. Now, I can't provide any of the scout training, not my area of expertise, so I'll touch base with someone on that. But what I can do is get you used to pulling a sled"

Jack took the fox up the stairs of the building, then down another hallway before going into a room with a large table in the middle, standing about the table were members of the North Guard. Jack took Sven over to the corner, where four furs were hanging out and talking amongst themselves.

The wolf cleared his throat, then said, "Guys, I want you to meet the newest addition to our team"

The four furs stopped talking and looked to Sven. The fox was used to having a lot of diversity ever since he had joined up with the military, so he was able to tell for the most part what the furs were. The grey one was a wolf, no doubt about it. The one with the mix of navy blue, light grey and dark grey looked to have fox, husky, and wolf characteristics, which he thought was a bit odd, but whatever. The light brown and white one was part lab and part wolf, in the military it was common to have those kind of variations. The loyalty of a dog and the fierceness of a wolf was highly regarded, especially when they were put as personal guards. The vulpine moved his eyes over to the feline, and blinked. The feline looked to be part sabertooth cat, which, was rather odd. The oddest part of it was that he looked to be part grizzly too, not to mention that he towered over the other three by a good six inches at least. The big feline stared down at Sven, and he could feel his ears fall back as he had to crane his neck slightly to look up at the big cat. Jack suddenly gave the fox a nudge, and he blinked back into reality.

"O-Oh! I'm Sven Has--" The navy blue fur interrupted him.

"Sven's fine, I doubt we'll be able to get to know you enough before you're dead. The greens never last long out here"

The fox gulped softly at that, and Jack spoke up, "Sven, this is Davin, he's our Point Dog. The grey one is Jaiden, one of our wheels, the brown one is Mason, our second wheel, and this big guy is Lokir."

"Davin," Jack motioned for him. "Help me show him how the sled works."

Davin sighed but followed as the wolf lead them back down the stairs. There was a shed built onto the back of the building. Sven waited outside while they brought out a sled. It was still dark and Sven tried to remember what time Jack said they would get some light.

"This is a standard sled," Jack began without preamble. "We can outfit it for whatever the mission calls for, but there's always around three hundred pounds of survival gear." He started pointing at the packs strapped to the sled. Blankets, tent, kerosene lamp, rations and tools. Sven struggled to back up his claim of being a quick learner and tried to memorize where everything was.

Jack walked around the back. "You don't need to worry about this end."

"Why not?" Sven asked.

"You're too small. We've got Lokir for pushing. All you need to do is learn how to help pull. Davin," he called.

"Aye, Jack. Sven, over here."

The fox looked at the harness attached to the thick pull rope. There looked to be a lot of adjustable straps. Davin handed it to him a smirked, an unspoken challenge for Sven to figure it out or ask for help.

"Nope," Davin said after Sven's first attempt. "Too loose here. We hit a hill an' it'll choke you. Not a bad first try for a green." He reached over and started showing Sven what he did wrong.

After a moment, the harness was fitted on snugly, and Davin backed off with a chuckled.

"Alright, now, a couple things you'll need to know. First, keep up with the sled. If you trip while we're pulling at a high-speed or while we're going downhill, we won't be able to stop fast enough. You will get ran over by those behind you, and the sled itself, although, you'll be taking those in front of you along for the ride. The scout is in the exact middle of the gangline, two behind you, two in front of you. I don't know about Jack, but if you trip and take me down with you and get me hurt in the process, you better hope that the sled kills you, because if it doesn't, then I will."

Sven laid back his ears at that and stared wide-eyed at the fur. "Y-You're joking, right?"

Davin cracked his knuckles, his eyes narrowed, "Try your luck and find out"

The fox gulped at that, his tail tucked between his legs. The wolf hybrid snorted, then continued on.

"Second thing, always listen for the lead dog to bark a command. 'Gee' means left, 'Ha' means right. When Jack whistles while we're moving, that means stop. When he whistles when we're standing still, that means go. Ha and Gee are only used in emergencies, The stop and go all the time," He looked over to where Lokir was. "Hey Lok, grab the training sled will ya?"

The saber nodded, heading back into the shed. Moments later he pulled out a smaller sled. It had wooden boxes stacked on it and tied down with rope. The big cat was pulling it like it was nothing, and Sven couldn't help but smirk softly. That looked easy enough. Once Lokir reached them, he tossed Davin the small gangline to the training sled, then motioned for the fox to come. Once the vulpine was close enough, Davin hooked him up to the sled.

"Alright, this sled weighs a hundred pounds," Sven's ears lowered at that. "You're going to pull it around the outskirts of town while me and Jack stay with you. The way we'll be taking you goes through some knee deep snow along the way, so you'll have to be prepared for that. Now go"

Sven jumped. He put everything into it and managed to pull the sled a foot before slipping. He got back to his feet and strained again, getting it going.

"Don't slow down, Sven," Jack advised. "It's harder to get it moving once it stops."

Sven grunted. "When pulling... don't stop... good advice."

Davin laughed sharply. "If ya can joke, ya can pull faster." He slapped the fox on the back and started moving ahead at a slow jog. "Let's go," he clapped his hands. "Keep my pace."

By the time they made it halfway around the edge of Basil, Sven felt like his lungs were on fire. His sarcastic quips deteriorated to a harsh wheezing. Quitting never occurred to him. He had too much to prove now and would rather pass out in the snow than ask for a break.

"Making good time, kid," Jack said. "Don't start slowing down now."

Sven growled and a pressed on. He started to think he could do this, that once he got to the halfway point, he could fool himself into think he was heading down hill. It was a good plan until Davin shouted a warning.

"Deep snow ahead. Watch your step."

Sven didn't have the energy to ask what that entailed, but as his leg sank up to the knee in a drift, he was able to guess. The vulpine made a valiant effort and made it another twelve feet before one of the sled's runners sank, causing it to tip into a turn and bringing Sven into the snow with it.

He suddenly heard Davin say, "Alright kid, that's enough"

Before he could even try to protest, the wolf hybrid came over and unclipped him from the gangline. Jack came over as well, helping the fox to his feet.

"You did better than I thought you would. Coming all that way with a hundred pounds behind you then about twelve feet of thick snow? Most didn't even make it this far. But don't think you're off the hook with that, I saw how tired you were getting. If you had gone any further, you most likely would have gotten yourself hurt. When you're pulling with the rest of the team, you let us know if we're going to fast for you, got it? The weight of the sled is distributed amongst all six members, so that takes a huge load off you, and--Dav, what is it?"

The point dog had paused at what he was doing, staring out at the snow covered landscape. His eyes were narrowed, and his body tense. Jack reached down, pulling a large revolver partway out of the holster on his left leg that Sven noticed just then.

"Dav?"

All of a sudden a gunshot rang out, and immediately Jack grabbed Sven and dove to the ground with him while Davin took cover behind the sled. They all heard several distant snarls, and Jack looked to Sven.

"Hey, Sven are you alright?" The fox nodded, his eyes wide.

The wolf growled, then got partway up and bringing his revolver to bear. After scanning the landscape, he quickly pointed it and fired.

"Davin, grab Sven and get back to town! The Maguruq shouldn't come too close to it, so hurry!"

The wolf hybrid nodded, then quickly rushed over and grabbed Sven, pulling the fox to his feet and making his way back to town while giving support to the vulpine. Jack lingered for a moment, firing off a few more rounds then following not too far behind.

"Who are they?" Sven asked. He kept trying get a better look at the distant figures.

"Maguruq," Davin said as he yanked Sven along. "Primitives. Trust me, you don't want to get captured by them, so keep up."

Sven hurried along. "Are they attacking?" His ears flicked as Jack fired off another warning shot.

"Your guess is as good as mine. We'll have to figure it out back at the HQ."

Lokir and Mason were standing out by the sheds, each held a rifle. Sven ran to the big sled and picked up his gun from where he'd stored it while out on his training run. A flurry of quick words were exchanged between the North Guard members.

"Some local said he heard shots," Mason said in clipped tones.

"Aye," Davin nodded. "Maguruq."

Lokir cocked his gun. "This close to Basil? Why?"

Jack interrupted them. "Lokir, Davin, guard the gear. Mason, go find Jaiden and tell him to be ready. I'm going to talk to Van, see if she knows what's going on."

"What about me?" Sven asked.

Jack waved him along. "Come with me. You'll just get in the way out here."

Sven's ears went back. How was he supposed to prove himself if he didn't get a chance?

They both headed back inside of HQ, where furs were rushing about. There were shouts here and there, Sven heard the word 'Maguruq' more than once. Jack took the fox all the way to the Head's office, where he burst inside to find Vandala simply sitting behind her desk, signing paperwork.

"Van, there's been Maguruq sighted just outside of town!" The vixen didn't look up, and simply continued signing.

"And I must be concerned about this, why exactly? You know as well as I do that those savages never come within 100 yards of the town. They know that they're outnumbered. They may be savage, but their not stupid"

Jack eyed her at that, "So you're not the least bit concerned about their presence?"

She sighed at that, then looked up at him, "No, I never said that I wasn't concerned, I only said why must I be. The Maguruq are probably trying to set up some sort of blockade, maybe try to starve the town of supplies. But even if they try, they won't succeed. Basil get's most of it's supplies via railroad, and we have radio links going out to the nearest military fort not even 40 miles away. So there's need for concern, but not too much concern. Just make sure no one leaves town until the Maguruq are gone"

Jack left with a growl. Sven ran to keep up. "W-what does that mean?"

"It means she won't take the threat seriously until they start burning down buildings. Until then, we do what she says. I'll take the team up to the North road. It gets the most traffic. At least we can stop anyone from going out and getting themselves killed."

It took only minutes for Jack's team to get themselves hooked to the sled, slightly longer because of the new fox. But Sven found it a lot easier to pull as part of a team. They made their way through town. Word had spread fast and was met with mixed response. Some furs were boarding up their shops, next door others were carefree, not letting the threat interfere with their drinking and gambling.

The strangest sight Sven saw was a group of furs arguing with some of the North Guard. Jack didn't slow the pace but from what Sven could overhear, they were arguing with some of the locals who wanted to put together a posse and go after the Maguruq. Even new to the north, Sven was positive that was a bad idea.

The party finally reached the North road. It wasn't more than a rough dirt trail that lead out of Basil, but it was the main road to some of the nearby mining camps. Jack had them position the sled across the road before lining up for orders.

"Alright. We have to stay here and make sure no one leaves town, and in the process make sure that the Maguruq don't get any closer. Sven, you said you were good at long-range, so now is a time where you can prove that. You'll be with Mason and Jaiden. Jaiden's our sharpshooter and Mason's our Rifleman. If you three see any Maguruq come within range of a shot, take it, but double check before you do. We don't want any civilians who could be coming into town getting killed. Davin and I will be about 20 yards away from the sled in the direction of the town, as to discern anyone from trying to leave. Lokir, you'll stick with the sled and make camp, no telling how long we'll be out here."

Jaiden and Mason took Sven off to the side of the road where some of the snow cleared from the path provided them with some cover. Mason scanned the icefield. "Watch the green," he told the wolf, "I'll cover the right flank." He slung his rifle and hurried to the other side of the road.

"Sven, right?"

"Yeah." The fox cocked his rifle and looked down the sight. He would have liked to take a few practice shots. For now he'd have to trust that the North Guard kept their weapons well maintained.

"We've got a bit of a custom up here," Jaiden smirked. "When a green makes his first kill, he's got to bring back a trophy."

Sven turned to the wolf. "What?"

"A trophy. You know, something that proves you're a real member of the North Guard. No one's going to accept you if you don't."

Sven's ears flattened. "When you say 'trophy'..."

Jaiden covered a laugh with a cough. "Lokir's knife has a bone handle, and didn't Jack show you his necklace? Ears. Kinda like those nice vulpine ones you've got."

"W-what!"

Jaiden couldn't contain his laughter anymore. "I'm just messing with you, green... well, mostly. Can't be too sure about Lokir."

Sven rolled his eyes. "Not funny."

At that point Mason fired off a shot, and Sven looked just in time to see a distant figure topple to the ground. The fur snorted, then continued scanning the landscape while Jaiden did the same. Every now and then the wolf squeezed off a shot, more so than Mason did because he was the sharpshooter, and had better aim with his scoped rifle. The fox looked out, trying to see if there were any Maguruq close enough for him to prove his marksmanship, but unfortunately, there were not. Mason and Jaiden were picking off every single one that popped into sight. The day seemed to drag on like this, the vulpine inwardly complaining to himself about how he had just gotten the rifle, and haven't even been able to fire off a shot. All of a sudden Jaiden piped up again.

"The numbers are starting to dwindle down, they must be backing off. Either that or they're sneaking closer and closer and just not letting us see them. But anyway, hey kid, wanna know a little something about the Maguruq?"

The grey fox couldn't contain his sigh, but he nodded anyway, "Alright"

The grey wolf ignored the sigh, and proceeded, "They used to be just like you. The term Maguruq comes from the Tikaani word meaning Call of the Savage Dog, and we know you don't know who the Tikaani are, or even the Tukluk, so I'll tell you about them before continuing rambling on about the Maguruq. The Tikaani and the Tukluk are the natives of this land, the Tikaani consists of dozens of large wolf packs. Their territorial, and on the occasion they come in small groups to one of the settlements to trade. But they're not hostile, so long as you don't offend them or trespass on their land. The Tukluk are the caribou and they're nomads, traveling from place to place in the northern wastes. Now, back onto the subject of the Maguruq. It's said that the Maguruq were mostly southerners, who traveled here to the north in search of wealth and opportunities, but they somehow went mad, found they couldn't survive out here so they turned savage, preying on unwary travellers. You can also call them cannibals if ya want."

Sven tightened his grip on his gun. He was afraid to ask if there were warning signs, if the Maguruq grew in numbers. Living in perpetual dusk for a portion of the year had to effect a lot of the inexperienced furs that came north for wealth and opportunity.

He looked at the wolf. "Did they ever try-" Heated shouts interrupted him.

They both looked toward town. A small crowd had gathered. Jaiden swore. "Me and Mason have things covered here. Go see if Jack needs help."

Sven didn't waste his time arguing. There was nothing for him to shoot here. He kept low until reaching where the tent had been set up by the sled. Lokir was already backing up Jack and Davin. Sven jumped over the sled and came to a sudden stop when Davin raised his hand.

"Stay back. Some of the local had a bit too much moonshine an' wanna go Maguruq hunting. Let Jack see if he can't talk some sense into them."

Jack was staring down a grizzly. The bear held a lantern and a shotgun, his deep rumbling voice boomed in the open air.

"Let us past. We can take care of ourselves. Some of us been livin' up here longer than you been alive."

Jack kept his temper in check. "It's not my decision. HQ say's Basil's on lockdown. No one in or out." The wolf kept his eyes on the bear's gun, still hoping to diffuse the situation without having to shoot the locals. That wouldn't be good for public relations and would all but guarantee him a lengthy lecture from Van.

The bear growled, and stepped forward, the wolf standing his ground. "Let us pass, or we make you let us pass."

Jack only scoffed at that, then called out, "Lokir? Come and teach this bear some manners."

The grizzly looked to the feline with a sort, and smirked, but the smirk went away when Lokir slowly rose from where he had been sitting on the sled. The saber came forward, his eyes locked onto the the grizzly. Suddenly, without warning, the large cat lunged forward, connecting his fist with the the bear's face and knocking him to the ground. The grizzly was out cold. Several of the townsfolk backed off, retreating back to the town while a few grabbed the bear and drug him back. Davin then looked to Sven with a smirk.

"Another one of Lokir's uses."

As the crowd decided that the fight wouldn't be worth it, they slowly trudged back back into town. With the Maguruq either pulling back or laying low, Sven was finally able to put some of his training to use. Coping with long stretches of mind numbing boredom. He was left staring out at the empty expanse, Mason and Jaiden's shots growing further and further apart. After a few hours of nothing Jack shouted for Sven.

The fox found Jack and Lokir sitting crouched by the tent. "Still glad you joined the North Guard?" Jack asked with a grin.

"I'm not complaining," Sven shrugged. From the stories he heard from the other soldiers, excitement was often times worse than the boredom. Sven decided he could wait for his time to impress the group, but he wasn't going to rush it.

Jack nodded, apparently pleased with the answer. "It's been over an hour since I heard a shot. I'm going to start having us take shifts. No clue how long we're going to be out here, so we need to start thinking about keeping alert. Davin's going to watch the road out, I want you to call in Jaiden. Lokir will watch the camp and get us up to take the next watch in five hours."

"Wait," Sven's ears twitched. "Let me take the first watch. Mason and Jaiden did most of the shooting. They might need the rest more than me."

Jack looked skeptically at the fox, suspecting the vulpine wanted the first watch so he might get a chance to shoot a Maguruq straggler. He sighed. "Alright. Go get the others. And I want you to move the position closer to camp. If you see anything you can't handle, tell Lokri."

Sven's lips curled. He wasn't a pup. He didn't need to be closer to the camp. "Yes, sir," he said in the same unenthusiastic way he'd said it for over a year.

The fox went over to where Jaiden and Mason were. "Hey guys, Jack wants you two to go and get some rest. I'll be doing the night watch."

The two furs exchanged looks at that. Jaiden shrugged, then popped another clip into his rifle before getting up and heading to the tents while Mason reloaded as well. When he got up, he gave Sven a hard stare before heading back. The fox watched as they left, considering Jack's words about moving the position closer.

After a moment, he decided to settle in there, confident that he could take care of himself. The fox then turned his attention back into the darkness of the night, doing his best to keep an eye out for any movement. For two hours, nothing happened. He saw no shapes out in the dark, nor any signs of life out there.

Boredom began to seep in again, and he began messing with his gun. The vulpine had been given a regular lever-action rifle, a .45 Winchester to be exact. From what he heard about them, they had a pretty big kick, but it probably wasn't anything he couldn't handle. The fur let his guard down by mistake as he unloaded one of the bullets to see how big it was.

All of a sudden, he felt something grab the end of his rifle, and he looked up, his heart skipping a beat as he found himself staring right into the eyes of a large wolf. Sven yelped, and tried yanking back his gun as the lupine bared his fangs and snarled. The Maguruq yanked his gun away from him, spinning it around and pointing it right at the fox's face. Sven could see his life flashing right before his eyes. He snapped his eyes shut when he heard the gunshot, but after a second or two, he realized that he was still alive and he opened his eyes. The wolf was clutching his chest, Sven's gun slipping from his grasp before the stray toppled to the side, then lay still.

"Sven!"

He sat up at that, looking back towards the tents, where Davin was standing with his rifle raised. One of the tent flaps opened up, and Jack came out, revolver in hand. Seeing that there was no danger, the wolf headed over to where Sven was, then growled when he saw the Maguruq and spun about to face the fox.

"Didn't I fucking tell you to move the position back?? There's a reason why I say these things, I don't say them just for the hell of it! This position is over-looking a ditch, so a Maguruq can easily hide down there while you're not paying attention, then sneak up on you! That's why it needs two or more furs guarding it, so one guy can keep an eye on the ditch while the other take out any visible threats! Now get back to the tent, I'll wake Mason up and have him keep watch. You're bunking with me from this point forward so I can make sure you don't go out and get yourself killed on my watch! Now move it!"

Sven's tail curled between his legs as he trotted after Jack. Sven waited outside the tent while Jack woke Mason. When the lab-wolf mix came out yawning, he shot a displeased look at the fox. Sven's ears flattened in his hood. This was not the first impression he was hoping to make.

"Sven," Jack's harsh growl had the fox rushing inside. The wolf pointed to the bedroll next to his. "You're not leaving my side until I know you've got some common sense in you."

Sven nodded. He glanced at Jaiden, but the other fur looked to be in such a deep sleep, the gunshot didn't even make him blink. He looked back at Jack. "Sorry."

The wolf shook his head. "Don't be sorry, be cautious. And be obedient until you know how things work out here." He laid down and padded the roll next to his. "Now get some sleep. If we don't hear from HQ, we are going to be up at dawn taking the first watch."

Sven nodded again and pulled the blanket over his head. A few minutes later and he heard Jack sigh softly.

"The stray didn't hurt you, did he?"

Sven smiled to himself. "No. He just snuck up on me. I could have taken him though." A small camp pillow thumped him on the head and he giggled before Jack growled at him to get to sleep.

The fox slept as best he could, scenes of what could happen in the middle of the night dancing through his head, often waking him up only minutes after he fell asleep. With a small sigh, the fox rolled over, then let out a soft meep as he found himself facing Jack. The wolf had his eyes wide open, staring right at him. At first, Sven thought the fur was wide awake, but then after a moment he noticed the lupine's controlled-breathing, then doubt flooded his mind. Moving his paw up, he waved it in front of Jack's face, and blinked when he got absolutely no response from the wolf. He was familiar with the term that referred to sleeping with one eye open, but he never thought it possible to actually do that, and Jack was sleeping with both eyes open! When he looked a little closer, he saw how the wolf's eyes were out of focus. The fox didn't know what compelled him to do so, but he softly poked the wolf on the nose. Later on upon reflecting on his actions, he decided to simply go with the excuse of making sure the wolf wasn't actually dead. But the moment the tip of his finger made contact with the wolf's nose, Jack's eyes came into focus and Sven let out a yelp when he found the lupine's hand tightly squeezing his wrist. Jack narrowed his eyes.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"N-Nothing! I-I was just, uh.. uhm, I was making sure you weren't, you know, dead or something! I-I've never seen anyone sleep with their eyes open before!"

The wolf eyed him for a moment, then snorted and let go of the fox's wrist, "Whenever I'm not sleeping in a cabin or a bed for that matter, I always sleep with my eyes open"

Sven had trouble sleeping the rest of the night. He had the unmistakable feeling of being watched now, even with the blanket pulled over his head. Add to that the possibility of being killed and eaten by the Maguruq. When Jack woke him up to start their watch, Sven was still gripping tightly to his gun.

"Wake up, kid," Jack said as he left the tent. Jaiden was already outside, stretching. The others were coming in.

"You watch the town. I'll show the green where he screwed up last night," Jack clapped the wheel dog on his shoulder and turned to the fox.

Sven's ears flattened, but he tried not to let it show. Jack motioned him to follow a few yards from the tent. "Alright. What do you see out there?"

Sven squinted. "Nothing... Ice?" He saw Jack's disapproving look and tried again. "Enough cover to conceal an army if they move slow and know what they're doing?"

The wolf grinned softly. "Exactly. And the strays maybe crazy, but they know the land. To spot them, you're going to have to learn this land too. Connect with it."

"You mean, like camping? Because I just paid for a room in town. A warm room. It would be a shame to let it go to waste, right?"

Jack snorted with an almost invisible smile. He'd let the fox worry for a while. It might keep his senses sharp.

The two furs then staked out the position that Sven was at last when he had gotten jumped by the Maguruq. Mysteriously, the savage wolf's body was nowhere to be found, and he looked to Jack in question. The black wolf was eyeing the spot where the body was as well.

"You don't want to know what's happening to the body right now. All I'm going to say is that the Maguruq's probably took it." The fox shuddered at the thought of that.

All of a sudden Jack spoke up again, "Do you know what our main job out here is Sven?"

"Uhm... search and rescue?" The wolf snorted at that, taking out his revolver and spinning the cylinder for a moment, then putting it back into the holster.

"It's running the mail." The fox gawked at him, and Jack nodded. "Yeah, that's what the North Guard was originally all about when it first was founded. To keep the people of each Northern Settlement connected with each other. The Search and Rescue is only a side job for us, and only came around as an idea about ten years after the founding of the company. Our routine job is to run the mail, clear the trails, and keep peaceful relations between the warring northern tribes. As soon as the roads out of town open back up, teams will be running mail again, though not my team. I'm getting you into scout training as soon as HQ calls us back"

Sven's ears went up and his tail wagged. "So you really think I've got what it takes to be a scout?"

"I didn't say that... But I'm willing to give you a chance."

It was good enough for the fox. Usually that was all he needed when he set his mind to something. Just a chance. He stayed vigilant until noon when the sky looked like dusk. That was when a new team of North Guard relieved them. Jack briefed them on what they'd observed. Mostly nothing, but still incredibly odd that the Maguruq would press this far toward Basil.

Jack led his team back to the headquarters. There was a more frantic atmosphere than usual.

"Lokir, get the sled restocked. I want us to ready at a moment's notice. Mason, get some more ammo and extra kerosene. Sven." the fox perked up, "still with me. Can't have you getting in the way down here."

Sven sighed and jogged after Jack. The wolf pushed his way through the packed halls, taking note of the military uniforms. The United Territories didn't send this many representatives if there wasn't trouble on the horizon. He opened the office door without knocking again.

"Van, what is going on around here?"

The vixen looked up from her work, then simply stated.

"There is a meeting I must attend with the leaders of the military corps, they'll discuss the Maguruq threat to Basil, as well as discuss introducing a military headquarters here. Though I'm not going to allow it, townsfolk don't need the corps strutting about the town. In the meantime, there's a package that I'm going to need you to deliver to the Copperfox Mining Town, though I've postponed it's needed delivery date because you have an untrained scout on your team."

"Get someone else to do it, there's no need to wait around for his training to come through"

Vandala shook her head at that, then said, "No, I need your team to deliver it. No one else makes the cut. This is Priority One mail, and your team is the only one who I can safely say is qualified enough for it. Now, get him over to Samuel, his training begins immediately."

"But what about the Maguruq--"

"I said go! Don't argue with me Jack"

Jack huffed at that, then grabbed Sven by the collar and yanked him out of the room as he turned and left. The fox yelped, then stumbled a bit and quickly caught up. The wolf didn't say anything as he lead him back down the hallway, going out into the main room and looking around for a moment, before heading over to a Maned Wolf who was wearing a different style of parka. His parka only went down to his waist, and stopped there, and it looked to be thinner, and lighter than the park that Sven was wearing. Jack cleared his throat when he neared the Maned Wolf, and the fur looked to him, then eyed the fox.

"Jack."

"Sam."

"So what does she want?"

"She wants you to start this fox's training right away."

Samuel raised an eyebrow, then looked back to Sven, "A fox as a scout huh? Kid it seems like you were born for this position. Foxes make excellent scouts, since they're agile and quick. Why don't you come with me and we'll get you some proper scouting gear? Including a new gun. That rifle you got is fine, sure, but you'll need a revolver for a fast draw sidearm, and a long rifle for picking off far away targets. We'll also get rid of that parka and those pants, and I'll set you up with the same set up I have, several sets. Follow me."

Jack snorted, then turned and left as the maned wolf headed down another hallway.

The maned wolf took Sven to a room similar to the one he got his gear in yesterday. This room seemed more specialized. He traded in his clothes for copies of what Samuel wore. They were lighter and thinner. Sven stretched his leg and was sure this would make running a lot easier. But one thing did occur to him.

"Um, Sam, won't I be too cold to in this?"

The wolf shook his head. "Scout gear might not hold in cold as well, but it balances out by being more water resistant. Feel that layer under the inside lining? That's whale skin leather. When you're crawling through mounds of snow or camped in a tree in a blizzard, you're going to stay nice and dry... for a while anyways."

Sven nodded and started closing his coat, making sure it fit right. Samuel went to a locker and brought out Sven's new weapons.

"Standard Scout Revolver."

Sven ran his fingers over the ornate scrollwork. It was lighter than the one he'd handled in the army, but that meant he'd be faster with it. After getting a holster he practiced drawing it a few times, impressed with its balance. He gave it a twirl before putting it away.

"And this is your rifle. Remington Rolling Block."

Sven's eyes lit up. This was what he wanted. A solid long range gun with great accuracy. He held it up and looked down the long scope. "If I had this last night, there wouldn't be anymore Maguruq problem." He fingered the trigger with a satisfied smile. "What next?"

"Outside. I've got to make sure you know how to shoot."

Sven scoffed. "I was the best in my division! I could outshoot any fur in the North Guard. I think it's safe to skip the basics, Sam."

The maned wolf stared at him for a moment, an eyebrow raised. "Oh you do huh? Well then, I have a challenge for you."

Sven smirked at that, setting the lever-action rifle he had aside and slinging the Remington Rolling back onto his shoulder using the gun sling, before grabbing ammo for both guns.

"Alright, I accept this challenge, now what is it?"

The maned wolf looked around for a moment, then walked over to a table with some food on it, and grabbed an apple. "Follow me"

Sven followed Sam out of the room, and out of the building. The two of them headed through town, till they reached a large field, whereupon the maned wolf stopped and looked to the fox.

"If you're as good as you say you are, than all you have to do is to shoot this apple. You hit it, good for you. You miss and hit something else... well let's just say you wouldn't want to do that."

The grey fox smirked at that, unslinging the rifle then grabbing a round and loaded the gun, taking note of how the gun only could hold one bullet at a time. They were out in a field, what else could he possibly hit if he missed? Then he noticed how the maned wolf was walking out into the field, so he stopped what he was doing and stared. Samuel walked out about a hundred yards, then stopped and turned to face Sven's direction, his arm held out. Sitting on the maned wolf's hand, was the apple. Was he supposed to shoot it like that? The fox about, noticing how there was a strong wind. If he missed...

Sven cocked his head to the side. "A-are you serious?" he called out.

In response Samuel straightened his arm, balancing the apple on his palm.

Sven stood there for a moment, hoping this was a joke. Sam was not moving. The maned wolf fully intended for Sven to shoot the apple.

The fox growled to himself, then lifted the rifle. The apple filled the center of the scope. He lowered the gun and shouted. "Sam... damn it, hold it out a little more. And up." As unpleasant as the idea of a raging wounded maned wolf out for blood was, Sven didn't think he could live with himself if... "Now down move," he shouted before mumbling quietly under his breath a string of curses and questions about Sam's mental stability.

He raised the rifle again, holding it tight to his shoulder. The apple was in the scope again. Sven held out a finger, feeling for the wind as he slowed his breathing and moved the crosshairs to compensate. He tilted up to account for the distance. Another second ticked by, Sven's breath grew still. His finger gently pulling back on the trigger until-

The air cracked. The gun kicked back and Sven shut his eyes, afraid to look at the aftermath. There was no screaming, which had to mean Sam was dead, or- Sven peeked.

Samuel was walking back across the field as if nothing had happened. Sven needed a moment to catch his breath.

"Not bad," Sam smiled and tossed the apple, minus the top bit. "You barely got it, but you did hit."

Sven looked at the apple in his hands as Sam walked by. "Keep up, kid. We've got a lot of training and little time."

Sven sighed and took a bite of the apple as he hurried after him.

As they walked, the maned wolf spoke up, "Your aim is good enough, so we won't have to work on that much. What we will work on is a hip fire with your revolver, but that will come later. First You need to know what scouting is all about. As a scout, you're at times responsible for the survival of your fellow sled dogs. When the snow is deep, you will take the lead. You'll have a 20 foot line attached to a scouting harness, which is smaller and lighter than the normal harness. What your job then will be to make sure there are no hidden crevices up ahead, because at times the team will have to go off the path. You'll lead them along the safest route possible, but even the safest route, can still be dangerous."

An otter nearly walked right into Sven at that point, and the stranger quickly mumbled his apologies. Either that or cursed at him, he wasn't quite sure.

"Also as a scout, you'll have to be able to predict the weather when the lead dog calls on it. Scouts are trained in watching out for snow storms and such. The other dogs on your team have enough experience to catch the signs, but they'll rely on you to verify them, to see whether or not it's safe. There will be times where you find yourself wandering in dangerous territory, and at this point the lead dog will have you unhitch from the gangline. Upon which you'll do as your position suggests, and that is scout. Often times, when out on the trail, there will be two tents. Both exactly the same size, each able to house two sled dogs. Now there are six dogs on your team, so that means that two dogs will always be out on watch duty. Unless there is a storm, then the sled is covered up with a tarp, while the tents become more... crowded"

Sven paid close attention the rest of Sam's lessons, making sure not to boast anymore. He was quickly instructed in tracking, improvised shelters, navigation and stealth. While he still had a lot to learn, the fox was feeling confident in his role as scout.

"What about the Maguruq?" he asked.

The maned wolf rubbed his chin. "That's not really my area of expertise... or anyone's, I guess. But always assume they're more at home out there than you or I could ever be."

Sven swallowed. The strays had a home field advantage out there, suddenly his guns didn't fill him with as much confidence as they had. After another few hours of bushcraft Sam declared that Sven had learned as much as he could in the short time that they had.

"You better go find Jack. Knowing him, he's probably got a job."

Sven nodded. "I think he was assigned to make a priority one delivery."

Sam whistled. "Impressive." He shook the fox's hand. "Good luck, Sven. If you make it back, maybe I can teach you a little more."

Sven's ears flattened. "Thanks... I think." He heard Sam laugh softly as he left the field to find Jack.

He found the wolf by the shed that housed all of the North Guard sleds. The team was working on loading up the sled while Jack was talking to a golden lab wherein a green uniform with a red cross on it. Sven immediately recognized the symbol as the universal symbol for medic or surgeon. The wolf spied the grey fox as he approached.

"Sven, come over here and meet our field medic for the journey, Lieutenant Abel Smith."

The golden lab came over to Sven at that with his paw outstretched. "Everyone just calls me Abel"

Sven shook his hand with a nod, "I'm Sven, Sven Hastur. Everyone just calls me Sven... for the most part anyway"

The field medic nodded softly at that, then Jack came over. "The Lieutenant here is going to be riding on the sled, so we've made room for him. We've packed light, because the sled will be too heavy in case we have to cross a frozen lake. I hope Sam taught you how to tell whether it's safe to cross a frozen lake or not Sven, because we do that more than you'd think"

Sven nodded. "Yes, sir." He winced, really wanting to break himself of the habit he'd picked up in the army. "Yeah. He taught me all about looking at the crack patterns, what sounds are safe and what sounds mean we should run. He even told me a little about how to rescue anyone who goes through."

Jack nodded at that. "Good. But let's hope that last part won't come up." He motioned toward the sled. "Able, get strapped in. Sven, hook up to the line. We're already behind."

The fox did as he was told, getting harnessed right the first time. Jack checked out his team before being the last to hook up. He gave a signal to Lokir and a sharp whistle cut the air. Working in unison they had the sled moving at a quick pace. First making their way to the North road, Sven could see the faint signs of their presence from last night. He smiled as he realized the training Samuel gave him was working. He looked out at the icy fields beyond and was suddenly aware of how many Maguruq could have been lurking out there yesterday. Signs of them were plainly visible until the sled was several miles out of Basil when the Maguruq signs disappeared.

Jack was just as vigilant. This close to Basil used to be considered relatively safe, but with the strays recent incursions he couldn't afford to let his guard down.

The wolf led the team down the trail at an easy rate of speed. Sven found that the northern cold had a sharper bite to it now that he had a thinner parka, but he did feel more unrestricted in movement now. The weight of the sled had been increased by the field medic, but the team seemed to be moving fine enough. In his head Sven was going through all the training that Sam had put him through in what little time they had. Jack's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Sven! What's our heading??"

The fox blinked, then quickly dug into his pocket and pulled out a compass, checking the direction that they were heading in. "North to Northeast!"

Jack did some mental calculations. "In two miles we'll break for a rest. Should put us at Dead Goat Hill."

Sven had no idea where that was or what it meant. Sam had given him a few maps but the fox only had time to glance at them. In two miles he found that the term hill was used rather flexibly in these parts. It was more of a lump in the ground, indistinguishable from any of the other low hills except for the pile of rocks on top of it.

Jack and Lokir slowed the team to a stop. Sven unhooked himself and sank to the ground, crouching and catching his breath. He looked at the rocks on top of the nearby hill. "So, that's a grave?" he panted.

Jaiden crouched next to him, not nearly as out of breath. "Yup. They say, in the early days of the North Guard, they found this old prospector goat frozen solid. They didn't have big enough teams back then to carry him into town for a proper burial and the ground is to hard to dig. So they piled a bunch of rocks on top of him and that's how this place got its name."

Sven looked at the wolf. "That's kind of sad... and creepy."

Jaiden smiled slyly. "That's not all. You see, the goat's spirit has never been able to rest since then, so he waits on that hill for travelers... every so often the North Guard finds bodies, striped of winter gear and frozen solid..."

Sven stared wide eyed.

"Sven!" Jack called out, making the vulpine jump. "Put that scout training to use. Get up that hill, scan for threats, check the weather outlook and take our bearing again."

"W-what?" Sven whimpered.

Jaiden burst into laughter. "Just messing with you, green. That's just an old cairn that tipped over. I don't know why they call the place Dead Goat Hill." He slapped the fox on his back and left to help Mason unpack some rations.

Sven growled under his breath. "Not funny!"

The grey fox took a deep breath at that, reaching down and touching his revolver on the grip before getting up from where he crouched and beginning to make his ascent up the hill. The grey fox moved carefully enough so as to not slip and slide all the way down. Once he made it to the top, he checked around for any signs of danger firsthand. Taking the small pair of binoculars that hung about his neck, he then slowly scanned the surrounding snowscape. He was extra careful as to not skip over anything that looked even a little suspicious. After discerning that there were no threats, the fox checked the weather. So far, everything looked alright. There were some dark grey clouds way off to the East, but they didn't look like any storm clouds. Sam had said that the storm clouds up here had strange patterns in them, and the more patterns in the clouds, the more fierce of a storm it will be. After checking the weather, he did a quick check on their heading before eventually making his way back down the hill.

Jack tossed a strip of jerky to Sven as the fox jogged over to him and gave his report.

"Smooth sailing for the rest of the day, it looks like," the wolf said around a mouthful of dried meat. He knew how deceptive looks could be in the wild. "Keep an eye on those clouds. If you notice any change, we'll start looking for a campsite."

Sven nodded and began eating. The travel really worked up his appetite but with the team he didn't feel nearly as exhausted as he had when Jack and Davin took him out with the training sled. He looked over at Abel, a mischievous thought coming to him. He moved to sit next to the golden lab.

"Hey, Abel, Do you know why they call this place Dead Goat Hill?"

The fur lowered his jerky. "Jaiden already tried that one."

Sven heard the wolf snicker. With another annoyed growl Sven moved back to Jack, sitting close enough to feel the big wolf's body heat. He looked up and smiled. "Priority One mail, huh? Sounds pretty important. Do you know what it is we're carrying, Jack?"

The wolf looked to him for a moment, not minding how close the grey fox was to him, this not going unnoticed by Sven.

"Not a clue. We could be delivering illegal arms for all I know. Hell, it could even be a crate full of TNT, which just in case, no lighting any fires near the sled. In fact, no lighting fires near the sled period."

Sven looked back to the sled for a long moment, curiosity creeping up inside of him. "Are we allowed to look and see what's in the package?"

Jack shook his head, "Against regulations. I don't want to have to deal with Vandala tearing into me about opening up a package meant for someone else"

Sven's curiosity burned. He kept looking at the sled between bites of his food.

Jack stood up. "Let's go, team. We still have a few hours before we call it a day."

The other furs grumbled as they set to work re-securing the medic and then themselves. Sven's muscles had the dull ache that came after a day of hard work. He didn't mind it too much and it would help him get to sleep, unless he had the first watch. The terrain grew rougher and the hills were growing harder to avoid.

Jack glanced over his shoulder, noting the tired looks on his companions. If the land was flatter he might have kept them going another hour or so, but navigating the downward slopes could be tricky even when well rested. He gave the signal for them to slow.

Sven could only think of two things. Sleep and what their cargo might be. One he was sure he could take care of, the other he was sure he shouldn't dwell on.

It wasn't long before Jack called out, "Alright dogs, let's bring it down to a trot!"

In front of Sven, Davin slowed down, so he slowed down as well. Now the team was moving at an even slower pace. He perked his ears when he felt someone tap on his shoulder, then looked behind him at Jaiden.

"What do you want?" The wolf's ears laid back at that.

"Hey come now, you don't have to sound so hostile.."

The fox splayed his ears when he detected genuine hurt in the wolf's voice, "O-Oh, I'm sorry... I thought you were going to try and yank my tail again, metaphorically that is."

The wolf snorted at that, and shook his head, "Nah, ain't feeling in the mood for that. Sides, if I wanted to yank your tail, I'd do it like this"

He suddenly grabbed the fox's tail and gave it a hard yank. Sven let out a loud yelp of surprise, causing the point dog in front of him to nearly jump out of his fur. Davin spun about at that, the sled coming to a halt. Sven was about to open his mouth and explain, when his words were practically burned away on the tip of his tongue by the intensity in the wolf hybrid's glare.

"What the bloody devil was that for?! You nearly gave me a heart attack you bloody fox!"

Sven shrank away from Davin's anger, "I-I didn't...Jaiden--"

"Trying to put the blame on your fellow sled dog now huh?" Davin jabbed his finger into the grey fox's chest, "The next time you try pulling something like that, then go blaming tryin ta blame it on your fellow sled dog, I'll see to it that you go to sleep with a black eye, ya hear me?!"

Sven whimpered, nodding quickly. He felt his anger bubble up inside of him, but it wasn't directed at Davin, it was directed at Jaiden. Someone cleared their throat, and all three turned to see that it was Mason.

"We should get moving, and with a faster pace now that it's likely we've attracted attent--" He never finished that sentence. For at that moment they all heard Jack shout out.

"Shooter!!"

They all heard the gunshot, and Sven watched with horror as Mason let out a loud grunt, clutching the left side of his chest before crumpling to the ground and laying still. Jaiden ducked down, unclipping himself then grabbing Mason and dragging him to the medic, who had taken cover on the other side of the sled. Without thinking, Sven threw himself to the ground while Davin and Jack fired several rounds up the hillside. After that, there was a brief moment of silence before Davin spoke up.

"Should we send someone after the bastard?"

Jack starkly replied, "No, too risky."

Then the lead and point dog headed over to where their fallen comrade lay. Sven got up looking just in time to see the medic check Mason's pulse, then lower his ears and closed his eyes for a moment. Abel looked up at Jack, and slowly shook his head.

Jack growled. Sheltered by the surrounding hills, stunted evergreens would provide them with some cover while they slept, but the only way to be sure was to keep a watch posted. Jaiden, the team's sharpshooter and Sven were tasked with watching the hill tops in case the shooter made another appearance. Jack oversaw the handling of Mason's body. The fur may have kept to himself most of the time, but he was still a brother in the North Guard. Lokir held up a shovel and looked questioningly at Jack.

"No," the wolf said. "We'll take him with us to Copperfox. I don't want to risk a Maguruq digging him up."

The bigger fur nodded sadly and put the shovel back on the sled. Davin finished putting up the last tent and Abel had the body tightly bound in a tarp. The camp was well protected from sight and wind but the sickly evergreens wouldn't keep out any stray bullets. Jack moved to where Jaiden braced himself against a dead tree, gun aimed toward the crest of the nearest hill.

"Any sign?" Jack asked.

"Nothing. The bastard is probably waiting until we're asleep. Let me go after him."

"I already said no," Jack snapped. He didn't want to risk another death.

"Then let me go," Sven spoke softly. The two wolves looked at the fox. He was crouched behind a rock with his rifle propped on it. "None of us will be able to sleep with whoever is out there. I- I can do this. At least let me climb that hill. Even if I don't find him, it'll give me a better vantage point to watch over the camp."

Jack stared at the fox for awhile at that, then finally let loose a small sigh. "Just promise me that you'll be careful, alright?"

Sven's felt his heart leap in his chest at that, and he nodded quickly, "I promise!"

The wolf then waved him off, "Then go, and don't forget to keep your head down, and call for help if you need it"

The grey fox nodded then shouldered his gun and quickly headed for the hill that the shooter had been spotted on. Jack watched as the fox rushed off, a small snort escaping from his nose as he grinned. Jaiden coughed at that moment, snapping the wolf out of his reverie. "Ah, yes. Keep an eye on him, it'll be up to you to back him up"

Sven moved silently, stopping in the shallow crevices left by the wind in the hard snow. He would keep still for a few moments, listening as much as he looked. Even with his abundant caution the fox made it to the crest of the hill before much time had passed. The wind was sharper with nothing to block it. Sven crawled along the ground, knowing he was most exposed if he let himself be silhouetted against the sky.

Fresh scrapes in the snow told him when he'd found where the shooter had taken the shot. Beyond the hill Sven could see the hills stretch on, gradually growing rockier and taller, eventually becoming the mountains. It would be impossible to find anyone out there. Sven swore and lowered his rifle.

The fox kept watch for hours, exchanging waves with Jaiden to let the wolf know everything was fine. Just as he was about to signal for a final time before climbing back down, he spotted movement. Not in the hills or valleys he'd been watching, but in the treeline, west of Jaiden. Heedless of his own safety Sven got to his feet, flailing his arms and pointing.

Below, Jaiden raised an eyebrow at Sven's behavior. He couldn't understand what the fox was doing. And if Jack caught this he'd be giving them both double watches for the next year. Sven for being stupid, and Jaiden for letting him. He growled and left the trees, motioning for Sven to get down. This only seemed to agitate the fox. Suddenly the fox was leveling a rifle at him. Jaiden dove for cover as the shot rang out.

Behind him a fur fell to the ground.

Sven hurried over as Jaiden got up, but then faltered when the wolf leaped to his feet and rushed him. Jaiden grabbed the fox by the parka and pulled him close, showing his fangs as he snarled.

"What in the bloody hell is your problem?! Have you gone mad or something??"

Sven didn't answer, but instead he pointed over the wolf's shoulder. Jaiden looked to where he was pointing, his eyes widening for a moment as he saw the corpse on the ground. He let go of the grey fox, then went over and gave the body a kick. It was a Maguruq, and a dalmatian to be exact.

"Er... well I guess I owe you an apology for my outburst.... doesn't mean you're gonna get it though."

The vulpine felt the anger from before bubble up again, but before he could do or say anything, Jack came rushing over, revolver in his hand.

"What happened? I heard a gunshot so I came over as fast as I could."

Jaiden gestured toward the dead canine, then said stanchly, "Our new scout here just bagged himself a big one"

The lead dog looked to the body, blinking in surprise then moving closer before turning the maguruq onto his back. There was a rifle underneath him.

"Well Sven, it seems you've begun to prove yourself as reliable, I have to say that I'm proud of you"

Sven swelled with pride, unable to keep the wag from his tail.

"Don't get cocky," Jack smiled. "Who knows how many more could be out here. You two can finish your watch. I'll have Lokir and Davin relieve you, then I'll take the last watch myself."

Jaiden frowned. "Just wake me up, I'll watch your back. Or better yet, give Able the stray's gun and have him take the watch with you."

Jack shook his head. "You know the regs. Field medics aren't trained for this sort of thing." Being down a fur put added risk of the rest of them, but Jack planned to get an early start the next day and hopefully take them close enough to Copperfox that the Maguruq would be discouraged from following. But if yesterday's incident around Basil was any indication, he has his doubts there would be and place of safety on this run.

"Stay vigilant," he said as he parted. And then looking over his shoulder he added, "that was nice work, Sven. Keep it up."

Sven grinned until the wolf disappeared back into his tent. Jaiden smacked his arm, bringing him back to reality. "He must like you for some reason. Took me six months to hear him say good job to me."

Sven pretended to be shocked. "With your charming personality? I don't believe it."

Jaiden laughed and swatted at the fox again, missing as Sven jumped back. "Alright, enough joking around. Next one to make a kill gets to drink for free in Copperfox."

Sven didn't have any money on him and he doubted there would be another threat that night, but his ego couldn't pass this up. "You're on."

The fox then headed back up the hill, this time accompanied by Jaiden. The two furs set up at the top of the hill, Jaiden with his Rolling block rifle, Sven with his own.

After a few moments, the wolf suddenly said, "You know, I was serious when I brought up him taking a liking to ya, there's something he sees in you I suppose"

"How do you figure that?"

"Well for one thing, he hasn't ever made as much fuss over any of the other greens who came before than he has over you. Perhaps you should bring it up to him sometime, get his side of it, and--"

POW!

The wolf jumped in surprise at that, then eyed the fox, "No bloody way!"

"You know, I've noticed that you guys seem to say 'bloody' a lot, is that a thing out here? Look through your scope at that far hill over there then move two ticks over"

Jaiden quickly looked through his scope. Sven grinned at himself, he had used a term that Sam had taught him. A tick was those little black lines that crossed over the bigger black lines of a scope's crosshair. Samuel had told him that in the North, the dashes going through the horizontal line were ticks, while the dashes going through the vertical line were tocks. Though he forgot why. The wolf then let loose a sigh, and nodded.

"Alright then, you got the kill, and it seems like I'm paying" Sven chuckled softly at that, then set about to scanning the hills again, this time dwelling on what Jaiden had said about Jack.

When Lokir and Davin came to take over the watch Sven was still thinking about what Jaiden said. When the fox thought about Jack there was no denying the warm feeling he felt. They were feelings he'd learned to bury, first before he was left with no other option than to run away from home, and then for the year and a half he was in the army. The warm feelings were what caused him to head north in hopes of freedom to finally explore them.

Sven opened the flap to one of the tents. Jaiden quietly grabbed his arm and motioned toward the other one. The fox instinctively became defensive. He glared at the wolf. Jaiden just rolled his eyes.

"Not with me, you bloody idiot. Jack's in the other tent."

Sven's ears flattened. "Oh..." was all he could manage before Jaiden moved past him into the tent with Abel.

The fox slowly and quietly entered Jack's tent. The sight of the wolf sleeping with his eyes open startled him again, but this time as he crawled into the empty sleeping roll, he kept his head uncovered and faced the wolf. He let himself pretend that Jack was awake, looking at him. The warm feeling eased him into a restful slumber sooner than he would have liked.

After a long while, Sven jumped when he felt someone grab him by the shoulder. When he looked, he saw that it was Jack. The wolf was sitting up and looking down at him.

"I've had a change in plans. We're going to be moving out, it's still night, and the Maguruq aren't as active. The only problem is that we'll hardly have visibility, so you'll be getting your scouting harness on and leading us. Come, get up"

Jack got up and left the tent, calling out to the others. Sven quickly scrambled to his feet, then proceeded with rolling up the sleeping bags. As soon as he left the tent with both bags, Lokir set about taking it down. It seemed that the storm that the Fox had seen had already moved on. Within minutes the tents were down and the sled packed up. Everyone but Jack hooked themselves up. The wolf brought over a smaller harness to Sven, then helped him put it on. He tossed the sleeping bags to the others, then brought the fox over to the front of the gangline.

"Alright Sven, we'll be doing the pulling, so you just focus on getting us through the snow. This is a big responsibility that I'm giving you, so it can't be taken lightly"

Sven did his best to lead the team around any rocks or trees that would slow them up. It was harder for the fox to spot the patches of soft, deep snow. After sinking to his waist in a drift for the third time, Sven shouldered his rifle and picked up a fallen tree branch to test the ground before him. Despite the setbacks, the team made good time through the valleys between the steep hills. Being in the lead suited the fox. He found that his mind wandered less when he was given an important task.

Sven's cartography skills were pushed to the limit. He learned to read a map in the western swamps while on maneuvers with his old unit, but the topological maps of the north were far less accurate. Jack set him the goal of bringing them out of the foot hills to where the rocky ground of the mining country would prove easier to spot hazards. It would have been easier if the fox didn't have to constantly check his compass against what the map said. The regional maps Sven received from Samuel looked more like guesswork than the product of a survey team.

Around the time the sun began to make its brief watery appearance Sven heard a sharp whistle and felt a tug on the line that held his harness. Jack called for a rest. The fox ran back, eager for his morning rations and the opportunity to be closer to the big wolf.

The dogs unclipped themselves and gather around the sled, Jack handing out rations to them. When Sven came over, he was handed a ration just like everyone else. Then the team sorta separated, Lokir eating by himself, Davin eating with Jaiden, the medic staying on the sled, and Jack heading over by himself and sitting down on an exposed boulder. Sven perked his ears and wagged his tail a little when he saw the smaller boulder next to the wolf, and he went over and sat down beside Jack. The lupine paused at eating for a moment to eye him, then he went back to eating.

"I've been through these hills many times before, so we should be getting closer to the end of them. About ten more miles, and we're back out in the snow covered wastes." He took a bite of his rations.

Sven nodded softly at that. "Well that's good at least, right?"

Jack eyed him again, "Something on your mind Sven?"

The fox panicked at that, "Uh, n-no! It's nothing! I was just uh, just wondering what the mining town will be like, that's all!"

"Ah... Well there's nothing to worry about, so long as you stay close, there shouldn't be much trouble. Sides, no one would really try anything with a North Guard, though just in case, no going out on your own. When we get there, we'll deliver the package, then lay up at an inn for a day or two to get some real rest."

Sven nodded absently to Jack's words. In his head he was berating himself for being a coward. He tried rationalizing it, that telling Jack how he felt wasn't a good idea while they were making a dangerous journey and that he didn't want to distract the wolf. But he couldn't lie to himself. He bit angrily into his hard bread.

Sven finished his food quickly. He sat perched on the boulder hugging his knees and wrapping his bushy tail around his legs for warmth. Out of the corner of his eye he watched Jack. Maybe Jaiden had been joking about the wolf liking him. And even if he wasn't, a strong handsome fur like Jack could have his pick of anyone. Sven sighed and closed his eyes.

"Break time's over," Jack bellowed, startling Sven. "I want us out of these hills before we make camp tonight."

They all agreed with that. There would be little peace of mind when every hilltop could hide a rifle and every valley could bring them face to face with a camp of Maguruq. Sven hopped off his rock and started for his harness when Jack's hand fell on his shoulder.

"You ok to scout some more?" the wolf asked. "I know it can be a stressful position."

Sven smiled, probably too wide of a smile, and nodded. "Yes, sir! I mean, I'm good to go." Even through his coat Sven liked the sensation of Jack's hand on him. "I won't let you down." He saluted and hurried to put his harness back on.

Jack chuckled softly as he walked back over to his own harness, watching as Sven clipped himself to the gangline. In nearly a few seconds, the wolf had his harness on. Once everyone was ready, he whistled loudly and began to pull.

The grey fox in front helped the others bring the sled up to a considerable pace, then left all the pulling to those behind him, focusing once again on his job. As he lead the team, he made a vow to himself that the next time he had the chance, he wouldn't panic like he just did back there.

It may be so that Jack might not like him, but the fox knew that his heart would never rest until he knew for sure. Sven spotted a dip in the snow, then moved to the side and avoiding it, the team following. All of a sudden, the fox felt his foot sink down, and he cast his attention downward.

He barely had enough time to see the glint of metal, before he saw the iron teeth spring up from the snow. The vulpine let out a loud cry as the iron teeth snapped onto his ankle, then he stumbled and fell. Only moments later, Jack was kneeling by his side, growling as he gripped the bear trap and pried it open. Sven yanked his foot out, then clutched it and grimaced.

The wolf tossed the trap away, then unclipped the fox from the gangline and picked him up in his arms, cradling Sven as he carried him to the sled where Abel was already waiting with an open medkit.

"Alright dogs! Switch up the gangline, soon as we're cleared we'll be moving again, this time we'll take it slow!" Jack gently laid Sven down on the sled. "From what I can tell, it's not too bad. But the Lieutenant here will take a look at you."

The fox nodded, his ears lowered as Abel took a closer look at his ankle. After having Sven move it around a bit, the Labrador looked to Jack.

"It's definitely bruised, best he stay off it until the bruising has gone down. I'll run with the sled, I've done so countless times and it's no trouble for me."

Sven felt more embarrassed than he did hurt. He went over it again and again in his mind, trying to see how he could have spotted the buried trap. He couldn't see how but he knew he must have missed some sort of sign.

Mercifully, the throbbing in his ankle was drown out by the gymnastics his stomach was performing. The ups and downs of the terrain made the fox think of waves, and reminded him why he headed for Basil to forge a new life instead of one of the northern port towns to try his hand at whaling. Not wanting to seem completely useless, and needing something to keep his mind off of the sled's motion, he unslung his rifle and kept watch over the hilltops for any signs of danger. Maybe if he could pick off a Maguruq, he could feel less guilty about stepping in a trap, he thought.

It was no use. The only signs of movement he spotted were from occasional birds and puffs of loose snow whipped up by sudden wind gusts. The fox sighed to himself stared at the back of Jaiden's head, wishing it was Jack at the back of the line.

*****

Jack growled softly to himself as he led the team. This was turning out to be a worse run than he thought. First Mason was killed, and now his new scout was injured. But the wolf didn't blame Sven for not seeing the trap, he wouldn't have seen it either. Sometimes old traps were left behind by their owners, or their owners didn't survive long enough to pick them back up. The snow covered the traps, making them invisible to the naked eye. The wolf could only hope that Sven would be alright... Jack shook his head at that. Why was he second guessing the medic's word? It must have something to do with Sven... Seeing how the fox looked to impress him every passing hour of every day, Jack had to admit that he's grown quite fond of the vulpine. The last time he had been fond of someone was long before he could remember, and they ended up migrating south and never coming back. Was he willing to risk trying again with someone else? Especially with someone in his own team? The wolf sighed heavily at that, then focused back on the trail. These were thoughts for another time.

*****

Sven felt himself being lifted. He yelped and inadvertently kicked his leg out. The sudden movement forced a whimper.

"Easy, there. I've got you."

Sven blinked up blurrily. It was Jack. Was this a dream, he asked himself. The continued pain in his ankle told him it was not. "I- I can walk," he offered, knowing it was an overstatement, but he didn't want to appear weak.

Jack snorted. "Be glad you're a fox. If you were a bigger fur, I'd take you up on your offer." He ducked under a tent flap.

"I fell asleep?" Sven groaned.

"Don't beat yourself up over it. Abel says it's good for the healing process."

Sven's ears flattened and the wolf set him down on a sleeping bag.

Jack looked down at him warmly. "Lokir's setting up the kerosene stove. I'll bring you something warm"

"Thank you, Jack," he said softly. Sven reddened under his charcoal fur. "Sorry about-"

"Could've happened to any of us," Jack cut him off. "I'll... I'll have Abel take another look at you before he goes to sleep. We made it out of the hills, so I think we can afford to stretch the watches enough to give you the night off."

"No, I can still do my part. All I need to do it make it to some place with a good vantage point."

The wolf smiled warmly. "We'll see what the medic has to say. I'll come back when the chow's done."

Sven's ears flicked. "Um... c-could you stay for a little bit? I mean, if you're not busy." He looked away and brushed at some nonexistent dirt on his coat.

Jack blinked at that, then grinned softly and came a little closer, settling down on the bedroll that was next to the fox.

As the wolf sat cross-legged he said, "Sure, there's nothing that immediately needs doing right now, I can stay for a bit."

Sven looked back at him with a grin, unable to keep his tail from thumping the ground softly.

"So how did you end up in the North Guard?"

The wolf snorted with a small grin, "Well it's not much of a story really, I was born up in Fort Richards about a hundred miles. After about sixteen years of living there, I decided that I wanted to travel, so my parents agreed on moving to a more southern part of the Northern Territory. They arranged an escort and we were packed up and on our way to Basil. Along the way.... our caravan was ambushed. Not by Maguruqs, but by a band of thieves who call themselves the Ice Fangs. Many died that day, including my parents. I was one of the lucky survivors, so me and a few others got away from the chaos with one sled. I helped pull all the way to the nearest outpost, where we were cared for and refitted. Then we were off again, this time we made it to our destination. Everyone went their separate ways, leaving me all alone. I tried making myself a living, but being homeless out here? It would only have been a matter of time before I would have gotten killed, if it weren't for Van. She found me one day, half frozen and half starved, so she took me under her wing. She had me do small things here and there, until I reached an old enough age to join the North Guard. When she offered, I took it without hesitation and I've been a part of the company ever since."

Jack was quiet for a moment before looking at Sven. "What brings you out here? And don't say money or adventure. I'll know you're lying."

Sven laughed. Jack was right. Sure the chance for a quick buck and a fun time were part of it, but it went deeper. "Running," he shrugged.

"It started when I was still a pup. My family immigrated to the United Territories before I was born, but they brought their Old World way of thinking with them. They didn't like who I took a fancy too as I started getting older... It got pretty bad and after one too many beatings, I set fire to the barn and ran away."

Sven looked down at his sore ankle and kept talking. "I ended up running west and after finding out that starving wasn't much fun, I told a few white lies and joined the army. Turns out, they weren't much more accepting than my family was. I hid who I was for as long as I could, but after a year and a half I knew it wasn't what I wanted. So... I got discharged and I came here. Someplace new, where I could start fresh."

He looked up a Jack. "When I saw Commander Franklin the other day, I wondered if I ran far enough. I wondered if I'd find what I was looking for out here."

Jack raised an eyebrow. "Are you going to run away again?"

Sven shook his head. "I don't think so. I like the way this fresh start is going."

"Oh really now? And what part of this fresh start do you like exactly?"

That one got the fox's heart racing. His face turned red under his fur, and he quickly looked away while twiddling his thumbs.

"Uhm... it's not really a part, more than it is a certain fur..."

The wolf grinned at that, "Oh is that so? And who caught your eye, hm? You've hardly been around or even talked to any females, hell, the only one you've been around the most would be...." Jack stopped and stared at the fox, Sven's tail started twitching. "Me..."

Jack continued staring at the vulpine, who proceeded to avoid eye contact. The wolf then laid his ears back.

"It is me, isn't it?" Sven gulped, and that only confirmed what the wolf was thinking. "You've grown attracted to me? Of all furs, me?"

Sven's racing heart felt like it was about to rip itself out of his chest. The arctic temperatures turned tropical and he had to fight the urge to take off his coat, knowing full well how that move would be interpreted.

He touched his face, almost able to feel the ghost of the bruise he'd gotten the night before he resigned from the army. He'd been in town. Drinking with some of the furs he'd thought were his friends. It was supposed to be a celebration. Cole, a hulking siberian husky, physically not unlike Jack but worlds apart temperamentally, was getting promoted and transferred to a base farther south. Sven had a little too much and half jokingly offered a kiss for good luck now that he. Cole also was drinking heavily and couldn't recognize the part of Sven that wasn't joking when he accepted.

Sven kissed him full on the lips. Cole immediately punched him in the eye and left in a storm of curses. That night when Sven snuck back to the barracks Cole promised he'd never say a word about it and even apologized for hitting him, but the damage was done and Sven knew he had to move on.

The fox looked at Jack with glistening eyes. "Yeah... Of all furs, you. A-are we ok? I'd understand if you want me out of this tent, a-and if you want me to leave Basil-" his voice caught in his throat and he turned away, curling his tail around himself.

The wolf stared at him in silence for a long moment, before shaking his head to clear himself of his thoughts.

Then with a clearer head, he replied, "No no, that won't do at all. You're as much of a part of this team as I am. Hell, Jaiden and Davin even are getting to like you. I mean, Davin hasn't threatened to beat up anyone as much as he had to you! Lokir on the other hand... it's hard to tell sometimes with him. If he likes you, he'll let you know in his own way and all but--"

"Jack," The wolf stopped when Sven interrupted him. "I asked you if we're okay, as in you and I.."

The wolf stayed quiet for several moments, to the point of where the fox began to fear the worst.

Then all of a sudden, "Yeah, we're okay Sven. Hell, perhaps we can even see where this takes us."

Sven's tail thrashed and whipped at an unshed tear. It was the best response he could hope for. He lunged at the wolf, forgetting about the pain as his foot twisted. "Thank you!" he gasped into Jack's shoulder before remembering himself and pulling back as fast as he'd wrapped his arms around as much of the wolf as he could.

"Sorry," he whined hastily. "I promise you I won't let my feelings affect my duty again."

Jack smiled faintly. "I know, Sven." He looked at the tent flap, sniffing. "I think the food's ready. Keep warm and I'll grab you something."

"Yes, sir," Sven saluted and wrapped a spare blanket around his shoulders, getting a laugh from Jack as he exited.

The cold air immediately filled his lungs as soon as he was out of the tent. It did nothing to clear his spinning mind while it struggled to process all that had happened between him and the fox.

Lokir looked up at his approach. The saber was hunched over a pot that hung above the teams small portable stove. He lifted a ladle of the thick stew he'd been heating and took a deep breath. "Done," he declared grimly.

Jaiden sauntered over, a knowing grin splitting his face as he looked at the other wolf. "You look," he scratched his chin as he searched for the right word. "Happy?" he tried. "Anything in particular? I mean, we've known each other for a long time. That's not a look I see you sporting very often."

The wolf eyed Jaiden at that, "Save it, I know that you had something to do with all this, you usually have your part in something whenever things go an unexpected way."

Jaiden shrugged softly with a smirk, "Come on Jack, we all noticed how you mope around sometimes! I just said a few words to get the inevitable rolling a little sooner than later."

"So you admit that you had something to do with Sven coming out to me like that? I know that you were eavesdropping, you usually always do."

At that point Davin came over, having overheard what was being said. "We all like the kid Jack, and if you weren't gonna go for it, then one of us would have"

The wolf rolled his eyes and snatched away the food from Lokir, "Well I'm happy to know that all the members of my team were looking to get comfy with the new scout." It was obvious sarcasm.

Jaiden and Davin started laughing as Jack spun about on his heels and headed back to the tent he shared with Sven. Lokir simply sat where he was at fire, remaining silent.

Sven's ears perked up when he saw the wolf enter the tent. His stomach rumbled at the scent of the food. Jack handed him one of the bowls he carried and sat down.

"Thank you," Sven chirped. The stew tasted as good as it smelled. Barley and potatoes, with cuts of meat he couldn't identify. "Mmm, caribou?"

Jack spooned at his bowl. "There's meat in this?"

Sven's laugh was infectious. Jack leaned a little closer. Sven stopped laughing, feeling the gravitational pull of the wolf. He moved to meet him when the tent flap flew open. Davin stood there wide eyed.

"Maguruq. They must have followed us out of the hills."

Jack leapt up. "How many?"

Davin shook his head. "Wasn't me that seen 'em."

Jack growled. "If this is another of Jaiden's jokes-"

"Wasn't him either. The medic says he saw shapes on the horizon."

Jack looked at Sven, calculating how difficult it would be if they had to flee. "Get Abel a gun. I need everyone armed in case he really did see some strays." Davin left, Jack took a step to follow before halting suddenly and turning around.

Sven opened his mouth to say something but without warning Jack stooped down and planted a hard kiss. Sven was too stunned to speak when Jack pulled away and grinned before leaving to attend to the latest emergency.

*****

Jack rushed out of the tent, his revolver already out. The wolf went over and met up with Abel, who was eyeing his gun.

"Where did you see the shapes?"

The lab perked his ears at that, then pointed over towards several large dead trees. The trees were well enough away from the light of the fire that an movement would be seen as a shadow. Bringing up his revolver, the wolf slowly made his way over with Jaiden and Davin flanking him. But before they even got close to the trees, a large shape stepped out into the open. Jack's eyes widened slightly, and he quickly pushed Davin and Jaiden's guns down before they could fire a shot. The shape moved into the light, and was revealed to be a large wolf, but he wasn't Maguruq. The lupine was big enough to the poi t where even Lokir would have to look up at him. He was wearing a tribal parka, with a revolver at his side and a machete in his hand. When he saw the guns lowered, he put away his weapon then came closer.

"I am Naruk, of the Tikaani. This is our territory North Guard, why are you trespassing on our land?"

Jack put away his revolver, "We ask of your pardon for our trespass, but we cannot pass through your territory as we always do. This time one of my dogs is injured, and we can't proceed until his injury is healed."

The massive wolf eyed Jack for a long moment, before saying, "Show me to your wounded dog, I have much knowledge in the art of medicine. I can provide whatever help that I can and get you on your way."

The lead dog sighed softly, then replied, "Please, my team is weary from pulling the sled, if we could just--"

"I will pull your sled until you are at the border of our territory. Already the Peace Treaty between the Tikaani and the Northern Settlements is at risk by you staying here. It is stated that you may pass through our territory, not spend a night in it. Now, Show me to your wounded"

Jack nodded in defeat, then motioned for the Tikaani to follow while Jaiden snickered softly to Davin, "Sven'll get a kick from seeing his first Tikaani!"

Sven pulled the hammer back on his revolver, leveling it at the tent's door as the sounds of footsteps in the crunching snow drew closer. The flap opened and he breathed a sigh of relief when it was Jack. He lowered the gun.

"What's happening out there? Do you need me-" his words morphed into a surprised yelp as the biggest wolf he'd ever seen filled the opening behind Jack.

Jack put up his hands to calm the fox. "Easy, Sven. He's not Maguruq. He's Tikaani. He's going to help you and then we have leave."

Sven whimpered but he set down his gun. Jack moved over to him, sitting next to him and putting an arm around his shoulders. Naruk moved closer, the tent's lantern casting him in a web of flickering shadows.

"He stepped in a trap back in the hill country," Jack said. "The teeth were too dull to pierce the skin, but our medic says he needs to keep off it at least until the bruising goes down."

Naruk knelt in front of the fox and pulled Sven's leg straight. Jack could see now the swelling where the jaws had clamped down. Sven turned his head away, burying his face against Jack to hide his fear and pain while Naruk dispassionately examined the injury in a way very different than Abel had. The Tikaani ran his hands up and down the fox's leg, chanting in a low voice.

"I need to prepare a medicine.Might I use your fire?"

Jack nodded. "Anything you need."

Naruk left without another word.

Sven looked up at Jack. "W-why is he in a hurry to get rid of us? We were only going to spend the night."

"Because Sven, if we stay the night here, we'll break the treaty between Northern Settlements and the Tikaani. The Tikaani outnumber settlers 10 to 1, and if war was too break out, all of the settlements will be overrun. Even Fort Longing, the largest military fort in the Northern Territory will be overrun eventually. All we can hope to do is survive out here, because the Tikaani are also monitoring how many settlers are in the North. In the treat it states that only ten thousand settlers are allowed to be here. It's unfair, but that's just the way things are. Now, I want you to be strong like you always are. Tikaani medicine.... it's not for the faint-hearted."

Sven was afraid to ask what Jack meant by that. He pictured knives and clubs, unsure how that could be called medicine but fearful that would be answered along with why the wolf need fire. Jack held him as Naruk came back in after a few minutes.

In one hand he held a cup, small by Tikaani standards, that looked like it was carved from bone or ivory. In the other hand was a tuft of dried herbs, a light gray smoke rose from it. Sven tensed as Naruk knelt in front of him again.

"W-what are you going to do?" Sven asked.

Naruk held up the smoking herbs. "Open your soul so that the medicine works. Breath deep."

Sven had no intention of complying when the Tikaani blew the puff of smoke in his face. Naruk knew this too, he'd set down the cup and squeezed Sven's ankle. The gasp that preceded the shriek flooded his lunges with the acrid cloud.

"Hey!" Jack growled. There was a limit to what he was willing to endure in the name of keeping the peace. Naruk ignored him, chanting low at the coughing fox.

The effects were immediate. Sven felt his hands and feet start to numb. A cold thickness felt like it was crawling through him. "What the hell did you do to me!" he demanded. Jack could feel him struggling.

Naruk nodded. "A strong spirit." He looked to Jack and handed him the cup. "Make him drink this, and be ready to leave."

Jack whispered harshly into Sven's ear, "stop struggling." He took the cup and looked at the strange hot liquid.

"What's in this cup?"

Naruk eyed the wolf for a moment, then closed his eyes and said, "It is a very potent herbal medicine. Once ingested, it will make it's way through the body to any wound and begin the healing process. There are some mild side effects, like temporary blindness for a couple hours. But, if the medicine isn't taken, I'm afraid that the cloud he just inhaled will kill him by dissolving his lungs from the inside. Have him take the medicine, or he will die."

With that the Tikaani got up and left the tent, leaving Jack alone with Sven, and an ultimatum.

Sven snarled after the Naruk then looked up at Jack, making the choice for him. "Give me the cup."

Jack did. "I know this sounds bad, but I promise you, they know their medicine."

Sven sighed and put the cup to his lips before lowering it and looking at Jack again. "Just promise me that if anything goes wrong, you'll shoot the Tikaani."

Jack smiled at the fox. "That goes without saying."

Sven tipped his head back and swallowed it all, hoping he could avoid the taste. He was not that lucky. "Blagh! This is awful!" he shouted.

"Most medicine is," Jack said soothingly.

"Yeah but most medicine doesn't..." his fingers dug into Jack's arm as Sven tensed again. "Blind you," he finished with a whisper.

Jack Held the fox tight. "It'll be better in a few hours. Just relax and let it work." He nuzzled against the side of Sven's head. "At least there's not much scenery to miss out here, right?"

Sven laughed sarcastically then smiled.

All of a sudden, Sven's vision blurred slightly and the fox felt his eyes throb. The vulpine let loose a whine, then clutched his face and shut his eyes tight. When the throbbing went away, he reopened his eyes. Realization hit him at that moment when he found that he could no longer see, that his eyes were wide open but his world completely dark.

"J-Jack, I-I can't.... I can't see!" Sven was beginning to panic. He had never been blinded in his life, he never once lost any of his senses.

The fox dug his claws further into the arm of the wolf's parka, clinging to him as if for dear life.

"Hush... just lie down," Jack eased him down onto his bedroll, then patted his arm. "Just stay right here, while I go out and help everyone pack up the sled. We'll save this tent for last, and I'll come an get you before then and help get you selected on the sled, alright?"

Sven nodded with a whimper as Jack promised to hurry. He listed to the sounds of the wolf leaving, hearing the rustle of the tent flap as it opened and closed. He felt the slight gust of wind brush against him. The fox began to hum to himself while he waited impatiently for his ordeal to be over.

*****

"Why isn't the sled packed," Jack demanded. His team picked up their pace.

Davin tied down a strap and looked at Jack. "Everything ok? I thought I heard some yellin'."

The wolf sighed. "It will be ok." He looked at the brooding figure crouched just outside the range of their small campfire. "It will be a lot better as soon as we're out of Tikaani territory." Davin nodded solemnly and got back to work.

"Jaiden, save that tent for last," he shouted. A tap on his arm made him jump. It was Abel. "What?"

The medic frowned slightly. "I'm feeling a little in the way out here. Might I tend to the patient? Even if all I can offer is comfort, at least it will feel like I'm doing something."

Jack gave him a weak smile. "Yeah. That would be nice... But announce yourself in advance. Whatever Naruk gave him brought on a temporary blindness that's supposed to last a few hours."

Abel's eyes widened with concern and he hurried for Jack's tent. The wolf called out after him, "tell Sven we'll be ready to go in just a few more minutes."

Jack then looked over towards the Tikaani, who was still sitting in the same place, just watching all of them pack up their things. It wasn't too long before all they had was the last tent, so Jack went in himself and found Abel tending to the blind fox.

"Come on Lieutenant, it's time for us to pack up the last tent." The lab nodded, then got up and left.

The wolf came over, and helped Sven to his feet, "Don't worry, I got ya" The fox clung to him, staggering a little as he was led outside. Davin, Jaiden and Lokir then set about taking down the tent, which only took a couple minutes because all three were working on it. Once the tent was down, they first brought over the stuff that was inside of it, putting it on the sled then rolling up the tent and putting that on the sled. As Davin finished with cinching down everything, Jack secured the fox on the sled.

"Everything will be alright, okay Sven?" The vulpine nodded softly.

At that moment the Tikaani came over as Davin was attaching the gangline to the front of the sled. He too it from the point dog, then looked to Jack.

"I will move slowly, so your scout does not fall off. I do not need any help."

And with that he started to pull. Naruk easily showed everyone up by bringing the sled to the speed of a slow jog within seconds, not appearing to be bothered by the weight at all.

Jack moved along side of the sled. He watched Sven and offered occasional words of encouragement. The fox was still visibly scared by the blindness but he covered it well under a facade of annoyance, glaring blindly at what he figured to be the back of the Tikaani.

Naruk knew the terrain better than any of the North Guard and was able to swiftly avoid any of the usual hazards that would have otherwise slowed the sled. Naruk tirelessly managed to cover several hours worth of travel in only a little over one hour. His run wasn't excessively fast, but never let up. At a rocky outcropping he slowed to a stop and waited for the rest of Jack's team to catch up, only the wolf was able to keep up with the relentless pace.

"Our lands end at the next forest. If you wish, I can take you farther east where your sled would be easier to pull over the ice fields."

Jack looked back as Lokir was the first to reach them, out of breath and looking tired from the lack of sleep. His team couldn't keep this up much longer.

"No, bring us to the treeline and we'll make it on our own." He bent down by Sven, "how are you holding up?"

The fox shrugged with a smirk. "Doing great, except for the blindness."

The Tkaani perked his ears at that, then cleared his throat and said, "It is good that you have him tied down to the sled."

Jack eyed the large wolf at that, "What do you mean?"

"The second side effect is about to kick in, and that is delirium. For about an hour, the fox will become hopelessly insane. You'll only be able to speak to him sanely for a couple more minutes. When a warrior in our tribe is given this medicine, we have them strapped down so that they cannot hurt themselves, or run off into the wilderness, blind and completely insane. Though I don't have any reason to show compassion for your fox, I will admit that one of my weakness of the flesh is for the vulpine species, so I am more or less concerned that he will harm himself."

"What?! Why did you mention this before??," Sven was growling at the Tikaani's back. "I don't want to go mad!"

"It will be only for an hour, which starts....now"

All of a sudden, the fox grow tense, his fangs baring as he began straining against his bonds. Moments later, the fox snarled loudly. Sven raved incoherently, growling, snapping his jaws and screaming. Jack was both horrified and outraged that Naruk would not have mentioned this before promising to mend the fox's ankle.

As the team waited against the jutting rock to catch their breath before making their final move through Tikaani lands, Jaiden spoke up.

"Isn't all this yelling going to draw attention?" He motioned around. "Strays?"

Naruk cut in. "Maguruq do not enter Tikaani territory."

Davin snorted. "Yeah, and they also don't get too close to Basil, but we just spent a night on the north road fending them off. We lost someone to the bastards just the other day. The Maguruq are getting more aggressive."

Naruk's stoic expression faltered for only a second, but Jack caught it. The Tikaani were well aware of any United Territories settlements and Naruk knew Basil's importance as the North Guard's main base. If the Maguruq were willing to risk probing their defenses, there was nothing to prevent them from doing the same here.

"Tie his mouth shut," he ordered. "We won't delay any longer." He looked out into the darkness and Jack wondered if Tikaani ever showed fear.

Jack went over to the sled and grabbed a small rope, then stepped up beside Sven. He laid his ears back when he saw the frothing at the corner's of the fox's mouth how the vulpine's eyes were now devoid of any color at all. Sven snarled and snapped his jaws at every little sound, often spinning about his head to do so in a different direction. Seeing him like this, brought out a sense of misery in Jack. But, he quickly overcame it and lunged, grabbing the fox's head and holding it still while quickly wrapping the rope around his muzzle, tying his jaws shut tight. As he did this, he failed to notice that one of the vulpine's arms were coming free, and by the time he did notice, it was too late. Sven let loose a muffled snarl of maddened rage, and slashed out with his claws. The wolf let loose a loud yelp as he felt the claws dig into the side of his neck where the parka wasn't covering it, and he staggered back clutching the wound.

"Jack!!" Davin sprang forward and quickly grabbed the fox's arm while Jaiden rushed over and helped tie it back down.

The field medic sprang into action, grabbing his medical kit and rushing over to the lead dog, quickly sitting him on the sled away from Sven, and removed his paw from his neck. Abel's eyes widened slightly, and he ripped opened his kit and quickly grabbed medicinal wrapping supplies.

"His claws went in pretty deep, I'm going to have to apply coagulant and wrap your neck in gauze or you'll bleed out"

Jack panted as he ignored the temptation to lash out at the Labrador as he applied the coagulant to his wound. Once his neck was wrapped up nice and tight, he sighed heavily, looking back at the fox who was now tied back down and secured properly.

When the wolf spoke, he spoke softer than before, "I hope those bindings are strong enough to keep him held down. How long is his insanity supposed to last?" The last part of what he had said was directed towards the Tikaani.

Naruk glanced back at him, "His blindness will be gone within the hour, but his insanity will last yet another hour. Keep very careful watch on him, for he may try to escape his bindings. If he does, and he attacks you.... well, let me say that it is a very difficult thing, having to put down someone who is close to you as a friend, or something else that is even closer."

Naruk checked Sven's binding himself before he lead the furs away from the rock. This time he was forced to move at a much slower pace as Jack staggered along, held up by Lokir. The reaction the fox was having to the Tikaani medicine was strong, but the tribal dictate wouldn't allow for the North Guard to spend the night in their territory.

Abel argued loudly for a few hours rest, almost drawing as much attention to them as Sven had before being gagged.

"Abel," Jack said. "I'm fine. We can rest when we reach the forest, and after that a few nights at the inn in Copperfox."

The medic huffed but relented, falling back from the large Tikaani so he could keep an eye on both of his patients. As Naruk predicted, Sven's sight was back before too long. Abel held his hand in front of Sven's face and moved it, watching the crazed vulpine follow it. He reported this to Jack only to find the wolf nearly too weak to keep up from the loss of blood. Lokir noticed too but every time he attempted to carry Jack, the wolf seemed to find the energy to resist.

Despite their slow moving pace, it didn't take too long before they reached the edge of the forest. Naruk stopped pulling the sled at that, then went over to Jack and took something out of a small pouch that he carried.

"Here, these are medicinal leaves. Mash them up into any sort of soup or stew and eat them. They will help heal the wound that the fox had given you, if you choose to take them. But either way, your wound will scar," He looked around for a moment, then continued after giving Jack the leaves. "Here is where I leave you, the borders of our territory. You may make camp on the border itself, for it serves as neutral ground used for trading. Here I must leave you."

Then without another word, Naruk turned and began walking away. The North Guard members then noticed for the first time a small pack of wolves in similar attire as Naruk, and the large wolf was making his way to meet them.

Abel shook his head. "As a trained medic, I strongly advise against any of us taking more Tikaani medicine." He looked at Sven. The fox strained at the ropes that bound him.

Jack looked at the leaves. The tribal medicine may have been strong, but it was also effective. "Davin, Jaiden, set up the tents. Lokir, heat up more of that stew."

Abel opened his mouth to protest but Jack was quicker. "As a precaution, you can restrain me until we're sure of the leaves effect. And it'll just be me and Sven in one tent. The rest of you will have to share." Jack slid down the tree he leaned on. Abel sat next to him. The wolf appreciated the medic's concern, but as the team leader, this was his call to make. "No more discussion."

Abel nodded. "I know. At least let me stay in the tent with you and Sven."

"What good would that do?" Jack genuinely wondered. "You heard Naruk. If Sven gets out while still in this frenzy, the only course of action is to shoot him. And who knows what the leaves are going to do to me." He shook his head. "Thank you, Abel, but you're too valuable to risk. Stay in the other tent and be ready to treat whoever's on watch, just in case worst comes to worst."

The lieutenant nodded softly, but then looked over to Sven for a moment, then back to the wolf. "But what about Sven?"

"What do you mean 'what about Sven?' I already told you"

The lab shook his head at that, "Not that, I mean why don't we just leave him strapped to the sled? It's going to be too dangerous to try and unstrap him in order to move him, and as lead dog, you wouldn't want to put anymore of your team in danger, would you? On top of that, you're too weak to handle him. Leave him on the sled for the remainder of the hour, let his sanity return."

Jack stared at Abel for awhile, before finally letting loose a heavy sigh and nodding, "Alright, fine. We'll leave him on the sled for now."

"As a precaution when you use the leaves, yes I agree that you should be bound, but the Tikaani didn't say anything about the side effects of the leaves, so perhaps there are none?"

Jack snorted. "Naruk wasn't exactly specific about the blindness or murderous rage either. Give me an hour or so. Then you can make the call if I'm not a danger to anyone."

Abel thought that over for a bit. "That sounds reasonable."

The medic stood to leave and Jack caught him by the arm. "Tell Davin I need to see him." The wolf felt the pull of sleep, his head dipped, springing back up to se Davin.

"Tell the others," he pointed, "to be damn sure of what they're shooting at if it's coming from that direction. The only thing that might possibly make this day worse is accidentally starting a war." Davin promised and right behind him was Lokir to take the leaves to add to the stew. Jack's medicine would be ready in moments. He looked at the sled. Sven wasn't struggling as much, but after the night he was having, Jack wondered if there would be any point in trying to wake him before noon. For that matter, the wolf wondered in what condition he'd find himself when it came to pull the sled.

Lokir finally finished the small portion of stew, handing the wolf the bowl.

Lokir watched with a guarded expression as the wolf took the bowl from him. Jack didn't see the expression on the larger fur's face as he drank from the bowl. The wolf licked his lips after a moment, then looked over to Abel.

"Well, this isn't too bad--"

At that moment Jack felt a hard throb in his chest. He gasped loudly and clutched his chest as his vision began to go out. But then he realized that he wasn't going blind, but losing consciousness instead. The wolf snarled softly to himself, determined to stay conscious. But something that he ate... the stew with the leaves, was creating weird sensations inside of his stomach. Finally, with a loud gasp, he toppled to his side, his world going dark as he slipped out of consciousness. The wolf fell through darkness, with no light for him to see. He just kept tumbling, and tumbling deeper and deeper down.

After a long while, his eyes widened when he saw a bright white light come out of nowhere from deep within the darkness, and all of a sudden the wolf sat bolt upright with his eyes wide open and a snarl ripping itself from his throat. He then froze, and blinked.

"J-Jack?" The wolf spun his head about at that.

He saw Sven sitting up from his bedroll, staring wide-eyed at him with a look of fear in his ears. Jack stared at him for a moment, before lunging forward and pulling the fox into a tight hug. Sven meeped loudly at that, but then after a moment he pressed into the embrace.

At that moment someone softly cleared his throat, and the wolf perked his ears and looked over to see Abel sitting up on his own bedroll in the tent, and he growled softly.

"I thought I said to go sleep in the other tent." The lab snorted at that, then moved over to Jack and began carefully unwrapping the medical bandages from around his neck.

"You should see how small that other tent is, there's hardly any room in there at all, and here you have more than enough room to house another fur. Next time you pack the sled, pack a smaller tent if it's privacy that you want."

Once the bandages were off, Abel checked the wound, and snorted, "Well the Tikaani sure does know his stuff, your injury has been healed, but your neck is going to be sore for awhile."

Sven perked his ears at that, "A neck injury? Jack how did you get a neck injury?"

The wolf let go of Sven at that, then avoided his question by looking back to Abel, "How long have I been out?"

"Three hours, we haven't had any trouble ever since you passed out in the snow. It seems that the Maguruq are still fearful of the Tikaani. We've been getting frequent visits from them, and in one of their recent visits, ah, they left a little something for us. A gift they had said."

The wolf narrowed his eyes at that, and got up from where he was then left the tent. Outside, he found Davin talking to a stranger, another wolf, no.... it was a coyote in tribal gear. Davin paused in mid-sentence, looking over to Jack, and the coyote turned to look as well. He stared at the wolf for a moment, before coming over.

"I am Quinar. My chief sent me here with an escort as a peace offering for any misgivings that you may have from your experience with Naruk. My escort have returned to the pack, and now I am here to fill in for your lost member. The chief insisted upon it."

The wolf crossed his arms in front of his chest, and at that moment Sven came out of the tent, "Jack, you avoided my question, what--"

"Not now Sven."

The fox stepped back at that, then sighed softly and nodded, "Yes sir.."

Jack gave his exhausted team another three hours, promising them an extra day in Copperfox. With the addition of Quinar he could afford to push them. When the prepared the sled both Jack and Sven insisted they were well enough to resume their place on the gang line. Abel offered another series of strong objections but in the end relented.

Naruk had been right when he warned that the forest would make moving the sled difficult. After a discussion with their Tikaani it was decided to move east, around the forest and back into the open tundra, before resuming their normal course. The unexpected trouble in the hills already had Jack well off his normal route, but with Quinar's help Jack figured they wouldn't take much longer than normal to reach the mining town.

With a sharp piercing whistle the journey continued. Sven marveled at how good his ankle felt. With his mind unencumbered by pain, he couldn't help but wonder what happened to Jack's neck. He worried he'd missed another Maguruq attack after he'd lost consciousness. He also wondered why he was tied up when he woke. Abel said very little about the events of last night, deflecting his many questions. Sven glance over his shoulder to where the coyote had taken Mason's position.

It would be a long trip if he had to keep an eye on the fur, so while they were all relatively well rested he turned his head and hoped to get a feel for the Tikaani's personality. "Hi. I'm Sven."

To his surprise, the coyote smiled warmly back at the fox in front of him. "Hello Sven, I'm Quinar. How is your ankle?"

Sven blinked slightly, but then grinned softly, a slight wag coming to his tail. It certainly seemed like Quinar was a very pleasantly tempered fur.

"It's doing well, the medicine Naruk gave me has worked it's magic!" The coyote nodded at that.

"That is good, it seems to me as if the medicine has succeeded with both desired effects"

"Desired effects? What do you mean by that?"

"Well, the medicine has two purposes, to drive away the pain and infection, and to cleanse the spirit. I can tell right now that your spirit is thoroughly cleansed, but you must be sure to keep it that way."

The fox tilted his head at that, paying careful attention as to not trip of his own feet. "How do I do that?"

"Well there are various ways, and one of those ways is too remain true to yourself." Sven blinked at that, then nodded with a grin.

Sven had every intention of staying true to himself now. It was the reason he came this far north, and the reason he'd told Jack his feelings. The stars seemed to finally be aligning for the vulpine.

The team rounded the forest by noon and elected to put off resting so they could take advantage of the limited daylight. The Tikaani medicine must have been equally effective for the big wolf. He pulled as strong as ever and stayed alert to any hint of danger. When Jack called for a break some of the team were almost ready to collapse.

Quinar waved off the offered rations, smiling and explaining that he'd brought his own. Sven looked at the coyote's food. A strange paste wrapped in sealskin.

"Would you like to try some, Sven?"

The fox backed away. "Heh, I think I'll stick with dried meat. Besides, I've got to talk to Jack right now." He quickly walked away before Quinar could insist on his generosity.

Sven found Jack checking the lines on the sled. The wolf looked up at his approach.

"You've bee avoiding my question Jack, about the neck wound?" The wolf lowered his ears and shook his head.

"Sven please, it's nothing really, just drop it."

The fox crossed his arms over his chest stubbornly. "You're being offly cryptic about all this. Are you hiding something? How could the team trust their lead dog if he was hiding something from them?"

At that, Jack threw down the harness he had been inspecting, then approached the vulpine. Sven laid his ears back and widened his eyes when he was grabbed by the front of his parka and brought close. He may have crossed over the line on that one.

Jack growled loudly in Sven's face, then said. "Don't you ever, doubt the loyalty of this team, you hear me fox? They would die in the name of loyalty. You're still new to this team, and don't forget it!"

Sven couldn't look away from the wolf's glare as he felt a heavy pang in his heart. "Y-Yes sir..."

The wolf let go of his parka, then turned away, clenching his fists then unclenching them and letting loose a heavy sigh. "You wanna know what happened with my neck? What happened while you were suffering from the effects of the medicine?"

Sven gulped slightly, but nodded. "Yes, I do."

"You attacked me, and from what Abel said not too long ago, nearly killed me. End of discussion. Now go and get something to eat."

The fox stared widely in shock at Jack. He would never hurt the wolf! Not intentionally at least. He stared down at his claws, his hands shaking a little just from the thought of them ripping through Jack's hide. That's when he saw the bloodstains on his claws, his ears splaying to the sides. With a small, subdued whimper, the vulpine turned away from the wolf and headed over to where Lokir was setting up a small campfire, hugging himself tightly with his tail tucked slightly between his legs.

Sven collapsed himself next to Lokir. His emotions tore him in every direction. He didn't want to be alone, but he wasn't in the mood to argue with Davin or joke with Jaiden, and Quinar didn't deserve his mood swing. He looked up at the saber.

"I attacked Jack?"

Lokir nodded silently. Sven hugged his knees to his chest and stared blankly at the snow.

"Yes and no would be a better answer," the big fur said. "It might have been your body, but it was you in there," he put a finger to Sven's head.

Sven sighed. "I guess that explains why I was tied up."

Lokir nodded and sank his teeth into his food.

"I think I hurt Jack's feeling just now."

Lokir grunted.

Sven looked at his hands again. The faint crimson under his claws disgusted him. He picked up a handful of snow and started to scrub off the dried blood. "How do I apologize for something like this?"

Lokir stopped chewing. "Clawing his throat or hurting feelings?"

Sven thought for a moment. "Both."

"I'm sorry?" Lokir offered with a shrug.

Sven cracked a smile. "You know, Lokir, you're very wise. Despite what Jaiden says about you."

Lokir paused at that, then grinned back and gave the fox some food. Sven tore into it, his stomach suddenly reminding him exactly how hungry he was after missing the chance to eat when they were stopped before.

The fox tensed a little when Jack came over and sat across from him on the other side of the fire. Taking a deep breath, Sven set down his food someplace where it wouldn't get dirty, and went around the fire to sit beside him.

"Jack..." The wolf perked his ears but stared into the flames. "I wanted to say that I'm sorry for what I said back there... I crossed the line, and I won't ever do it again. I'm also sorry for... giving you that wound"

The wolf then looked to him. "I don't blame you for hurting me, you weren't in control of yourself anyway, but you're forgiven for it. As for the other thing, well, so long as it doesn't happen again, I'll accept your apology for it."

Sven smiled and thumped his tail. He had to use every ounce of restraint not to dive across the fire and tackle the wolf in a warm embrace. But he doubted a serious fur like Jack would want such an unprofessional display of emotion in front of his team.

Quinar's words about being true to himself echoed in his head. "Maybe you want to make sure I've learned my lesson. Tonight. A long lecture in the privacy of your tent."

Jack nearly choked. "Uh, yeah. I think that might be the thing to do. I should make sure you know how to keep control of that mouth of yours."

Lokir rolled his eyes at the poorly disguised flirting.

The vulpine's smile curled higher. "Oh, I think I have very good mouth control."

Jack leaned forward. "We'll see about that."

The saber sighed, snapping the wolf and fox out of their private world. Sven blushed, almost igniting his charcoal fur. Jack laughed and changed the subject.

"That Tikaani has really made himself useful. We might even make Copperfox ahead of schedule. It's too bad the North Guard isn't more successful tempting them into our ranks."

At that moment Quinar came up to the fire, crouching down and putting his hands to it to warm them. "Very few Tikaani would join the North Guard and forsake their life out in the snowy wastes."

Sven perked his ears at that, "What do you mean Quinar?" Jack and Lokir were looking to the coyote as well.

"Tikaani can never leave their pack behind. If they do, they are forbidden to return. Should they return, the price can be quite...... heavy."

"As in, death?" Quinar looked to Jack and shook his head.

"Something far worse than death I'm afraid. But many have said that death would be more than welcome."

Sven opened his mouth to ask more. His natural curiosity insatiable at times. But a sharp look from Jack and an imperceptible shake of his head silenced the fox.

Sven picked picked up a stick and poked at the fire, slightly annoyed that the wolf's will power. First the mysterious package, now a potentially fascinating Tikaani tradition. Sven changed the subject.

"Hey, Quinar, how do you survive out there. I mean, out on the icy wastes... there aren't enough trees to keep fires every night. And kerosene and whale oil, you can't possibly trade enough for the amount you'd need."

The coyote laughed softly. "You're right. But there are ways around the land's limitations if you look hard enough."

Sven's ears jutted forward, urging the Tikaani on.

Quinar smiled warmly. "One way is to dig below the ice on the tundra. It's hard work, but if you go deep enough, you can find moss. And when we skin a fresh kill before it freezes you can scrape a layer of fat from the muscle. Put enough of that on the moss and it'll burn slow... like one of your candles."

Sven's eyes went to one of the shovels in the sled.

Jack sighed. "No Sven. Can have you expending too much energy until we're in Copperfox."

Sven's ears lowered. He understood Jack's reasoning, but patience was not one of his virtues.

The coyote listened quietly to this, then looked back at the fire for a long moment before speaking again.

"You said Copperfox. Do you have any idea what's going on there?"

Jack perked his ears at that, then turned to look at Quinar, "No, why? Do you know something?"

"News travels fast in the Tikaani packs, messengers are always on the move. Word is, that there was a raid in the mining town of Copperfox. One of the Tikaani scouts went into town, disguised as a local. The buildings are boarded up, not many townfolk wander the streets. The mine itself is guarded, and when the scout questioned the guards, they had said that it had been a bandit raid but they were low on guns and ammunition, so they had sent for more."

The wolf looked back over to the crate on the sled, understanding now reaching his face.

"Ah, so that's why the crate is so heavy. That solves the mystery of what we're transporting at least."

"Bandits, or Maguruq?" Sven cut in. "The strays were closer to Basil than they usually are," he looked to Jack for confirmation.

The wolf nodded. "He's right. When we left town there was a heavy military presence too. But nobody's saying much."

The coyote's ears flicked. "Well, whatever's happening we should prepare ourselves for the worst."

Jack agreed. When they finished with their meals he ordered his team to clean and check their weapons. It was now doubly important their cargo not fall into bandit of Maguruq paws. He made his way to where Sven was perched on the edge of the sled and unloading his rifle. The fox looked up.

"I know what I'm doing. You don't have to check on me."

Jack smirked. "Don't take it personally. You're the new guy. And... if I'm not mistaken, you did almost get yourself killed in Basil."

Sven dipped his head and blushed. "Yeah. But I know how to clean a gun."

Jack sat next to him and watched the fox work. Sven suddenly seemed flustered, his fingers bumping the bullet he'd balanced on the crate. He reached out to catch it, but Jack was quicker. Their fingers touched, both lingering a little too long. Sven grinned and tried to pry the bullet out of Jack's fist. The fox began to growl playfully.

Jack smiled and growled back just as playfully, gripping the bullet even tighter. Sven couldn't suppress the wag of his tail as he applied both hands to the wolf's fist as he kept trying to pry the bullet out of it.

Jack chuckled at the fox's attempts, "Is that all you got? Seems to me like I need to put you onto a heavy training schedule to get your strength up!"

Sven growled again at that, then suddenly lunged forward and caught the wolf off guard as he pressed his lips firmly against Jack's. The lead dog's grip on the bullet eased up, and Sven was able to finally pry it out of his fist.

The vulpine broke the kiss, and leaned back with a smirk. "Who needs strength when you're a fox? All I need is cunning~"

"Cunning?" laughed Jack.

"It got me into the North Guard."

"That was more a combination of luck and determination."

"Or was it?"

Jack smiled at the fox but didn't say anything.

Sven put the bullet in his pocket. "Trust me, I can be very persuasive when I need too. For instance, right now I'm thinking about charming a big strong wolf out of his pants."

Jack raised an eyebrow. "You overestimate the challenge in that, Sven."

"There's a lot of logistical work involved, Jack. I might be new to the northern frontier, but I have to take into consideration how I'm going to keep us warm. If I don't use my cunning, we could end up frozen together in a very awkward manner."

Jack laughed at the thought. "And what has your vulpine cunning come up with."

Sven slid close, putting his arms around the wolf and looking up at him. "I think we can squeeze into one sleeping bad if I take off my clothes. Then I'm planning to use you to stay warm while I sleep, and then worry about getting dressed in the morning."

Jack rolled his eyes. "Put your gun back together. Naked or not, I'm going to want you ready for any trouble we might face."

Sven smiled again, his tail lashing back and forth.

"Give me a kiss and I will."

Jack eyed the fox at that, then made an attempt to gently push the vulpine away, but found that he was clinging tightly to him.

"Tonight I will, not out in the open like this."

"Oh so you're afraid of showing affection in public then?"

Jack growled. "I'm not afraid of anything!"

"Then kiss me Mr. I'm-not-afraid-of-anything."

The wolf shifted his weight a little, then leaned down and softly pecked the fox on the lips.

"There."

"Oh no, you're not getting away with that! Kiss me like you mean it."

Jack blinked at that, then looked around again while laying his ears back. "But I--"

"Fine then," Sven let go of the wolf and turned his back to him. "I guess you really don't care about me then. We'll just go back to being part of the same team, both on and off the job and nothing more than that. I do suppose that as a big strong lead dog, you have quite the reputation to--"

Jack growled and grabbed Sven, spinning him about and pulling him into his arms before kissing him passionately on the lips. The grey fox melted into the wolf, murring softly into the kiss while they both heard Jaiden cheering them on.

"Woooohooo! Best kiss I've ever seen, you get him boss!"

Jack rolled his eyes after opening them, then broke the kiss and gazed down into the smirking face of the fox in his arms.

"Now THAT was cunning."

Sven giggled softly at that. "See? Told you so~"

Jack sent Sven into his tent, eliciting another cheer from Jaiden.

"Knock it off," Jack said. "I just want him well rested for when I give him the last watch before we move out."

"Sure," Jaiden smirked.

Jack called for the rest of his team and Quinar to gather around before he assigned the rest of the watches. Davin and Jaiden were up first.

"Quinar, can I ask you to take the second shift with Lokir?"

The coyote nodded. "My pack instructed me to give you all the assistance I can."

"Great. Me and Sven will finish the night." Jaiden began to say something but was silenced with a harsh look from the big wolf.

Before Jack left for his tent, the medic caught his arm.

"I, uh, I understand you have pressing business to attend to, but I'd still feel better if I checked out your wound before you..."

Jack sighed. "I assure you, Abel, I'm fine. Tikaani medicine might be a little unorthodox, but it is effective."

"All the same-"

"Abel," Jack growled.

Abel put his hands up, "alright, alright. Just don't come crying to me if you pull a muscle." The medic grinned as the wolf stomped toward his tent.

Jack found that Sven was already in a sleeping bag by the time he entered the tent. He also noticed that the fox's clothes were tossed to the side.

"Uhm, are you--?"

"Mhm, completely naked big guy~! Now come join me before I start to freeze."

Jack could only smirk softly at that, before turning around and tying the tent flap shut. He licked his lips slowly, since Sven couldn't see it, then began to strip out of his clothes. The fox watched anxiously, squirming a little as he felt a familiar warmth down at his crotch. The wolf soon stripped himself of the last of his clothing, then turned around. Sven gasped softly when he finally saw Jack naked, his eyes taking in every contour, every scar, every detail. His eyes lingered on the wolf's plump sheath and balls. Jack cleared his throat softly, trying to hide his nervousness as he knelt down by the vulpine, then began easing his way into the sleeping bag. Sven scooted over as much as he could, giving Jack some room. Once the wolf was fully inside the sleeping bag, Sven caught him by surprise by pressing himself into the wolf's arms.

Jack felt Sven wiggling against him. They were snug, but movement would be tricky. "Um, how are we going to-"

Sven pressed a finger to the wolf's lips. "I have an idea." With that he got a look of determination and Jack watched as he worked his way down into the sleeping bag.

Sven grinned. His nosed disappearing and darkness enveloping him. He tingled at the feel of Jack's fur and his scent. The fox snaked his way lower, curling between the wolf's legs. He started kissing the bulging sheath, coaxing the lupine's cock.

Jack sighed, propping one arm behind his head and reaching down to stroke Sven's head through the cover of the sleeping bag. He could hear the fox humming happily, and feel his narrow vulpine tongue hard at work. Jack had to grit his teeth to keep from making too much noise when he felt Sven's mouth take him in.

The lump in the sleeping bag started bobbing up and down.

Jack couldn't suppress the low moan that escaped his muzzle as he felt his length in the vulpine's muzzle, his claws gripping the fox's head through the sleeping bag. His tongue rolled out of his mouth and he began to pant, slowly beginning to thrust up into Sven's mouth.

"Nnnnn..."

The wolf hadn't felt this kind of pleasure in a long while, he hasn't even given himself the satisfaction of getting himself off in at least an entire month, and now in this moment, all of his bottled up lust was beginning to bubble up to the surface. Sven murred softly as he continued sucking off the lupine, working his tongue around the throbbing length and down to the growing knot.

Sven struggled to fit as much of Jack as he could in his stretched jaws. He shifted until he angled one arm up high enough to fondle Jack. Muffled sounds of the wolf's delight filtered in through the thick fabric. A clumsy paw attempted to guide him in the dark. He smiled.

Jack could feel himself starting to throb, the tight heat of Sven's mouth was driving him mad. He growled out Sven's name, doing his best to warn the fox of his coming eruption.

Sven could feel the wolf tighten. The final push of pleasure before his found himself swallowing the wolf's seed. Jack's grunting reached a fevered pitch, his hand pinning Sven down until he was drained. Then Sven felt Jack's arms go limp. Gasping in the close air, the fox attempted to wiggle his way back out of the sleeping bag... only, this was proving difficult.

"Hey, Jack?" Sven called out with his face pressed against the wolf's heaving chest. "I'm kinda stuck." The hand down by Jack's knee started tapping. "How about some help?"

Jack perked his ears at that, then chuckled softly and gripped the fox. "Heh, perhaps when we get to Copperfox, you'll be stuck on something other than a sleeping bag"

Sven's face turned a little red at that, as he knew exactly what the wolf was implying. Jack pulled him out from where he had been stuck, then nuzzled the fox softly while humming gently.

Sven giggled, and nuzzled him back as they cuddled for warmth. "That's if we don't come across any trouble in Copperfox Jack... I really hope we don't though, it's been so long since I've slept in an actual bed!"

Jack raised an eyebrow at that. "Getting tired of sleeping bags already?"

"N-No it's not that, it's just uh.... uhm... more room?"

The wolf smirked softly at that and chuckled. "Can't argue with that"

Sven wasn't lying about his plan to use Jack to keep warm. The fox nestled into the wolf's arms, falling into an easy sleep. Jack knew he should do the same, but for a while he just wanted to relish in the sensation of not sleeping alone.

Somehow he did drift off, waking when he heard the crunch of the crisp snowpack outside of the tent. He blinked the world back into focus and his hand coming off Sven's back, feeling for the revolver under his pillow.

Someone tugged at the tent flap, finding it tied. "Jack?"

Jack let go of the gun. It was Lokir. "I'm up."

He nudged the sleeping fox. "Sven. Our turn at the watch."

Sven mumbled something and growled before opening his eyes. "Already?"

Jack smiled. "Yes. Now get dressed before you freeze."

"Wha-" Sven started ask right as Jack pulled him out of the warm sleeping bag, yelping and swearing at the sudden cold.

The wolf smirked softly at that, getting his clothing on without much complaint then clearing his throat as he watched Sven scramble for his clothing with a satisfied smirk on his face.

"I'll see you outside by the sled, there's something that I want to do before we begin our watch."

The fox perked his ears at that, but nodded quickly. Jack then left the tent, going over to the sled and sitting on it towards the back end where the crate was. He ran his hand along the wood, an idea turning about in his head. It wasn't long before Sven came out of the tent. The grey fox immediately came over to the sled, his ears perked.

"So what is it that you want to do?"

The wolf grabbed something out from behind the crate, then tossed it to him. The vulpine caught whatever it was just barely, and when he looked closer at it, he saw that it was a crowbar.

"Open the crate."

The fox jumped a little at that, then looked to Jack. "But I thought we weren't supposed to open up the deliveries?"

The wolf waved him off at that, then replied. "Just open it. I have to know what's in there. Quinar said that there was some sort of raid in Copperfox, so I want to know who the guns are going to. Local, military, or what."

"How would you be able to tell?"

"The types of guns. If it's finer quality, then it's military. Good quality would be locals, and rougher quality.... you already get where I'm going with this, so open the crate Sven."

The fox nodded softly, then came forward and stood by the sled for a moment, staring at the crate. After the moment passed, he took a deep breath, then jammed the end of the crowbar underneath the lid of the crate and pried upwards. After putting some force to it, the lid finally popped off, and Jack took a look inside.

"Son of a bitch..."

Sven ran his fingers over the finely machined barrels. He recognized the make. Military.

"What does it mean, Jack?"

The wolf folded his arms. It meant a lot of possibilities. Outside interference in the affairs of the fiercely independent settlers. Heightened friction with the Tikaani. Open conflict with an intense and aggressive force like the Maguruq. It all boiled down to one thing. "Trouble, Sven. It means trouble."

Sven pounded the top of the crate back on while Jack paced. The relief of satisfying his curiosity he should have felt was lost. Jack wasn't the type of wolf to fret over nothing. It made Sven uneasy to see him like this. He put the tarp back over the cargo and moved to stand next to Jack.

The wolf moved his worry to the back of his mind. There was nothing he could do at the moment, and he couldn't afford to let his guard down out here.

"Alright, Sven." He pointed to the uneven ground to their east. "You see that. If we're going to any visitors, it'll more than likely come from that way. You've got a scope so I want you to keep an eye out. I'll circle around the back of the camp before checking on you in a few."

Sven narrowed his eyes at Jack's word choice, but the wolf didn't notice. He needed a moment to clear his head after the revelation of their cargo.

Jack made his way around the camp, thinking hard about the military weapons. Just because they were military, did not mean that the military had sent for them. The wolf didn't want Sven to worry, since he had seen the guns themselves. He'd rather have the fox think that there was a military presence in Copperfox than otherwise. The wolf thought back to when the Military Corps had discussed terms about Copperfox with Vandala. The locals wouldn't stand for an open military presence, and they would often act out, physically, in protest. So a gathering of the town council had been arranged, and one of the generals from the corps along with Vandala herself were present. Everyone had come to an agreement that there would only be two soldiers posted in Copperfox. One at the mine, and one in the town. This was what troubled Jack the most. Two soldiers wouldn't need two dozen rifles with all that ammo, and this revelation only left the wolf with one thought, and he didn't like it one bit. They could be going right into a trap.

Sven glanced over his shoulder at Jack's return. "See anything?" he asked.

Jack shook his head. "Quiet as a tomb. Anything out there?"

"No, sir," he said, still unable to break the habit he'd picked up in the army. "Nothing."

Jack leaned on the sled, his mind still on who could want the guns. "Do you still have those maps on you?"

Sven set down his rifle and dug into his pocket. "Right here. Why?"

Jack unfolded one. Running into the Tikaani had already taken them off of the more predictable North Guard route. "I want you to take us east. If we can swing wide enough around Copperfox, we can hook back and enter town from the north."

Sven looked at the map. He put his scout training to use and calculated how much time that would cost them. "That'll mean we won't arrive before midnight."

"I know." Jack could see the questions swirling behind Sven's curious eyes. He sighed, deciding not to leave the fox in the dark. "I'm not sure about all this. Records show only two troops in Copperfox. If they managed to talk the locals into allowing reinforcements," he shrugged, "they'll just need to wait a few more hours. But if someone else put the order for these rifles through... I don't want us walking into a trap."

The fox lowered his ears at that. "A trap? But.... But Vandala wouldn't have just sent us straight into a trap, would she?"

The wolf didn't answer for a moment, but then shook his head. "No of course she wouldn't. I've known Van for years, and she's not a traitor."

He looked up into the dark sky for another moment, whereupon Sven spoke up. "What happens if it is all a trap? What would we do then?"

"We do our job. Even if it is a trap, we have a job to do and that is to deliver the package."

"But Jack--"

"Sven, trust me on this. Whoever ordered these guns aren't gonna just kill the ones who delivered them, there's nothing to gain from killing us. When we reach Copperfox, we go in from the North side of town, and we'll take the package to where it needs to go. Once we deliver the package, we try and stay at the inn for a night or two, and then--"

The grey fox interrupted him at that. "But... if the town is overrun by bandits or maguruq, and their holding the soldiers hostage, the only ones who'd be able to send for a shipment of military-grade firearms, then why would they risk letting us walk free? We can't just waltz on in there!"

Jack stopped at that and stared at Sven for a minute. The fox was right, if the town was taken over, then whoever took it over wouldn't just let a small group of witnesses walk free.

Jack was quiet for the remainder of the watch, studying the scout's maps and half listening to Sven's suggestions before sending the fox to check the back of the camp so he could again have some time to think.

Sven kept his eyes on the dark as he moved around the tents, pausing to listen for the sounds of the other furs sleeping. He knew they would be moving out soon and wondered how much Jack would tell them. The wolf trusted his team but until the wolf had a plan, Sven couldn't see the point in alarming the others.

While Sven pondered this he heard footsteps coming toward him. He leveled his rifle and fingered the trigger at the figure taking shape.

"Just me, Sven."

The fox lowered the barrel. "Quinar?"

The coyote nodded a greeting.

"What are you doing up?" Sven could feel his pulse still racing.

Quinar grinned. "Only what fur wouldn't do in his tent."

Sven laughed. "Oh. Sorry for pointing this at you," he patted the rifle. "Might want to give some warning next time."

"I'll remember that," Quinar said as he went back in the tent.

Sven stood there a moment longer, listening for any other sounds before shrugging and making his way back to the wolf.

He found Jack crouching down and staring off into the darkness, revolver in hand. The wolf was absent-mindedly spinning the revolver's cylinder.

"So.... what will we do once we get in town? "

"I'm not sure, we can't just walk on in there like you said, it'll be idiotic. I'll have to think on the matter some more before making any decisions. Why don't you go and patrol the outer reaches of the camp again? Can't stand to let our guard down, especially with this new information."

Sven nodded softly, then went back to patrolling the camp. He decided to make a routine after awhile, keeping his patrols to a certain route,"

Sven's patrolling wore a faint path into the snow. He lost track of how many times he circled the camp but shortly before the team was to start the new day the fox had a feeling that something wasn't right. He stopped behind the tents and looked around.

For a scout it took Sven an embarrassingly long time to recognize what he was noticing. Two sets of prints leading in and out or the woods. One was Quinar's, but the other...

He thought back to the quick training Samuel had given him. Kneeling down in the snow, Sven tried to make out who left the other foot prints. They were big, but not the size of Lokir's. At least he didn't think so. He tried to follow the track but nearer the tents the snow was flattened by the previous watches. He didn't know what to make of it.

Sven chewed his lip, wondering if this was important enough to tell Jack. If it was just one of the team that left them, the fox shuddered to think of the teasing his worry might earn him.

Before he could make up his mind Sven heard Jack whistle. He brushed the snow off his pants and ran to see what the wolf wanted.

The fox made his way over to where Jack was. He found the wolf sniffing the air, so he decided to sniff it as well. The fox's ears shot up when he caught a faint unfamiliar scent.

"Jack?"

"I don't recognize it, but it seems like the scent is fading, so whovever it belongs to is long gone. Did you notice anything irregular during your patrol?"

Sven nodded softly at that. "I saw tracks, but it was hard to tell who made them."

The wolf nodded softly, then suddenly produced a shrill whistle. Moments later, the others started coming out of their tents yawning as they did.

"Alright everyone, pack up and hitch up, we're getting on our way a little earlier than usual."

This was taken without question, and everyone got to work packing everything up. Sven hurried over to the tent he had shared with Jack, going in and grabbing everything out and taking it to the sled.

Jack moved them faster than normal. He'd settled on making a wide easterly circle to get north of Copperfox. Davin noticed the slight deviation.

"Jack, there a reason we're not making due north?"

The wolf wasn't sure he was ready to reveal his plan. "This might be a safer route," he said vaguely.

"Safer from what?" the point dog wasn't so easy to throw off.

"It's flatter ground," which was technically true, "less spots for shooters to take the high ground."

Davin grunted in assent.

Over the churning snow and wind Sven was able to catch snippets of their brief exchange. He wanted to be of some help. He looked over his shoulder. "Quinar, did you notice anything out in the woods last night?"

The coyote's ears flicked. "Why?"

"I saw some-" Sven stopped. If Jack wasn't ready to tell Davin, he'd probably be pissed at the fox giving away too much to an outsider. "I, uh, I thought I heard an owl in the trees."

Jaiden laughed. "I thought those oooh, ooh, noises were coming from you."

Sven snarled and looked away. It was strange that the Tikaani would ask why instead of giving a straight answer he thought. Sven decided he'd try again after they took a break. And after he nailed Jaiden with a snowball.

Soon enough, Sven caught sight of a column of smoke just over the next rise. Before he could alert Jack, the wolf was already bringing the sled to a stop. The lead dog unhitched himself, then came down the line to Sven.

"Unhook and come with me, your rifle has the farthest seeing scope out of all of ours, Sven I want you to help me with taking stock of the situation."

The grey fox nodded eagerly at that, then unhitched himself and hurried after the wolf. Jack led him up the rise, and near the top the lupine got down onto his stomach and crawled the rest of the way with Sven following suite. Once at the top, Jack looked to Sven and pointed down the other side.

"Scope it out"

The grey fox nodded, grabbing out his rifle then looking down the other side of the hill at the mining town that lay at the bottom for a moment, before looking through his scope.

Copperfox looked a lot like Basil, but much smaller. No real plan to its layout and the buildings were not designed for comfort.

"It... It looks almost deserted," Sven said scanning the empty streets. "Some of the buildings look like they've been boarded up. But I'm not seeing any damage... maybe it's because of the weather." Sven searched for evidence of bullet holes or scorch marks to no avail.

"What about the smoke," Jack prodded.

"Coming from the big building... can't tell if it's a town hall or what. No movement in any of the windows that I can see." Sven looked at Jack. "Maybe we should try the mines?"

The wolf's brow knitted. Copperfox had a small population, but it wasn't likely that the town would look so still. "No." The long low building with the wispy column of gray smoke rising from its chimney looked like the safest place to find answers. "At least not if don't have to."

"What do you think we'll find there?"

"I'm not sure Sven, I'm not sure. Let's get back down to the others." Jack made his way down a little before getting up and heading back with the fox following close behind.

Soon they were hitched back up and moving towards the town. Sven could see the tenseness in Jack as they came within sight of Copperfox, as if he was expecting a shot to ring out at any moment. Before they reached Copperfox, a fur suddenly stepped out from cover near a large snow covered log. His paws were raised displaying that he wasn't armed. Jack whistled, and the team slowed to a stop. The fur, a dalmatian, slowly came closer.

Jack bristled a bit. "That's enough! Who are you?"

The dalmatian stopped, then replied, "I'm just a sentry, please, I mean you no harm."

"Why is there a sentry posted this far out of town?"

The dog looked around for a moment, before looking back to the North Guard. "We were hit by bandits in the night, they call themselves the Icefangs. They took over our mine and kills anyone who comes within fifty yards of it. One of the soldiers were killed in the night rid, but the other survived. Do you have the shipment?"

"Yeah," Jack said cautiously. "But we're not handing it over until we speak with the soldier."

The dalmatian looked over the rest of the team, his eyes lingering on the distinctively dressed Tikaani. "Alright, follow me." He turned and waved his arms twice, signaling to someone concealed in the snow. He turned back to Jack. "Just don't go waving your guns around."

Jack's arm tensed when the dalmatian picked up an old shotgun before leading them into Copperfox.

Closer now, Sven could see occasional eyes peering out from behind the boarded windows. He shivered. He cleared his throat, hoping to break the eerie silence. "D-Davin?"

"What?" the fur growled back.

"Have you ever heard of the Icefangs?"

Davin sighed. "Not now, kid. Keep ready."

Sven watched him pat the bulge of the revolver holstered inside his coat. The fox swallowed and lowered his ears as they neared the big building with the smoke. It looked smaller up close, he thought. A roof made of salvaged lumber slanted almost to the ground, and the spire of the chimney wasn't made of stone as he'd thought, but repurposed pipes he assumed were left over from mining equipment.

An older black lab came out as they approached the building. Sven gasped softly when he saw him. He recognized the lab as the famed Sergeant Allen McGyver, the war hero who single-handedly saved his whole platoon from an enemy ambush. As a result of his heroism, he had been wounded, and was given the purple heart and honorable discharge. There were so many war stories about him. The fox could feel his heart racing now, he never would have thought that he'd ever be able to meet his favorite war hero face to face! But before he could do or say anything, Jack unhitched himself and came forward and shook hands with the Sergeant.

"I'm damned glad that you arrived here when you did, my munition stores were starting to run low."

Jack nodded at that, then brought the Labrador over to the sled as the rest of the team began unhitching themselves. "We came across some trouble on the way sir, I even lost one of my dogs, which is why I have a Tikaani traveling with us. He was a gift from his Chieftain to replace my fallen comrade."

The lab looked at the coyote. "Tikaani. Good furs," he declared with a nod before hoisting one of the rifles out of the crate. "Shame it came under such circumstances, but you're lucky to have his company."

Sven edged his way behind Jaiden. Part of him wanting Jack to introduce him, part of him too afraid to make eye contact. It wasn't every day that the fox was face to face with a hero. McGyver put the rifle back and shook Jack's hand again, this time introducing himself. Sven took another step back when the canine mentioned his military credentials, worried that Jack might point out the fox's connection the army. Thankfully he didn't.

"Well, Jack," McGyver said, "'fraid I can't let you and your team take the south road out. Icefangs have sharpshooters overlooking it from the mine. C'mon inside. You can warm your bones before you decide if you want to spend the night. He patted the wolf's back and led him into the building like they were old friends.

Sven felt a pang of jealousy. He knew it was unfair, but it-

"What are you doing, Sven?" Jaiden turned around, reaching to see if the fox had put anything on his back.

"Nothing," Sven said defensively.

The wolf rolled his eyes. "Let's go see if they have any food before Lokir has a chance to claim it all."

They followed the rest of the team into the dark smokey building.

There was a large table in the first room, and it was lined with food. Just as Jaiden had predicted, Lokir was helping himself to the food. None of the other furs in the room even tried to approach him. Jaiden sighed audibly, then went over and sat next to the saber, grabbing some food and beginning to eat. Sven looked around for a moment, then saw Jack conversing with Sergeant McGyver at one end of the table. Quinar was chatting with some of the locals, something about medicine from the strands of conversation the fox's ears picked up. It was no surprise to him when he saw that Abel was over there as well, often cutting in and questioning Tikaani methods. Looking around some more, the grey fox saw that Davin was off by himself sitting at the far end of the table. With a small shrug, Sven went over and sat next to him. The point dog looked up from his food at that.

"Just coming over to keep an old fur company?"

"N-No! I just wanted someone to talk to, ya know? How old are you anyway?"

Davin didn't answer at first, but took another bite of steak then replied, "forty-five years. Been in the North Guard for thirty."

Sven stared at him at that. "You were only fifteen when you joined? How did you get in at that age?"

"Kid, back then they were a lot less strict about age. Vandala was only thirteen when she joined up, and that vixen is fifty years old."

Sven had poured himself some water and had been in the middle of drinking it when he heard that. Water sprayed from his mouth and all over the table as he coughed it up.

"Wh-What?! Vandala is fifty years old?! She looks-"

"Like she's twenty? Well that's Van for you."

"The army is kind of like that," Sven said. "Well, it's not that they aren't strict about age requirements, it's just that they don't dig too deep if you don't give them reason to."

Davin looked at him. "I thought you looked a little young to have enlisted. My money was on you lying about it"

"What?" Sven laughed. "You've seen me shoot."

"I've also seen you brag. Didn't think everything you said could be backed up."

Sven blushed with a smile.

Davin slapped his back. "Well, yer secret's safe with me. What is the penalty for falsifying government papers? Up to three years?"

Sven gulped and Davin suddenly barked out a laugh. Sven cautiously joined in. From across the room Jack called out, interrupting them.

"Sven, come here."

The fox's ears flattened. He was kind of hoping to put off coming close to McGyver until he managed to find some courage, but Sven wasn't that lucky. He put his hands in his pockets and made his way to the wolf.

Once the grey fox reached the pair of furs, McGyver spoke before either of them could.

"So you're the new scout that Samuel told me about over the telegraph. I hear you're quite the shot."

Sven blushed at that, coughing slightly then stammering. "Y-Yes sir, I-I'm a pretty good sh-shot."

"Well I have a job for you, and strictly for you because it needs a scout. No one can get close enough to the mine without getting killed, but what I need you to do is get to the radio station on the edge of town. The only issue is that it's directly above the entrance to the mine."

The fox's eyes went wide. His hero was sending him on a mission! He coughed again to cover a gleeful yip. "Y-yes, sir! I can handle it." he saluted.

McGyver and Jack chuckled, turning the fox red as they moved to the table. Jack cleared off a spot, shooing away Lokir and Jaiden who were still helping themselves to the offered food. The older fur unrolled a crude map of the town and pointed out their position relative to the radio.

"The best we'll be able to do is create a distraction with some of those new guns you brought us. Getting in is going to be up to you. And I won't lie, the odds are not pretty."

Sven nervously chewed his lip as McGyver walked him through what to expect. "It's three stories, built right over the mine's entrance. The entire place is crawling with Icefangs. Can't say what they want, but they've held the mine against every counter attack I could throw at them." He stepped away from the map, letting his words sink in.

Sven was beginning to understand how dangerous this would be. "W-what do you want me to do when I get to the radio?"

"Try getting in touch with Fort Richards. It's the closest Military fort around Copperfox. Radio out for reinforcements."

The fox nodded at that, then opened his mouth to say something before the labrador cut him off by leaning in close and saying softly so that only he could hear, "Son, I'm going to be honest with you. The possibility of you not coming back is very high. If you get caught, you'll either be dead, or captured. So far, I've heard no reports of what they do to prisoners"

Sven nodded mutely, not trusting himself to speak. McGyver nodded in understanding. He turned around and whistled. Five of the local furs, including the dalmatian they'd met at the edge of town, stepped forward.

"Get yourselves one of the new rifles. We're gonna give them a field test." The lab smiled grimly as they hurried out the door. Then turning to Sven again, "the best we can do is make some noise, maybe draw a couple of eyes off your approach. Wish we could do more." He saluted the fox and followed after his volunteers.

Sven started after him but Jack caught his harm. "We'll be right there, just going to give Sven a few more shells for his revolver." He pulled the fox away from the door, pinning him against the wall so the the wolf's body hid him.

In a quick low voice Jack spoke. "Come back alive, Sven. That's an order." He kissed him, roughly swiping his tongue into the smaller fur's mouth before pulling away.

Sven blinked. "Yes, sir, Jack." He forced a smile and the two furs left the building.

They followed Sergeant McGyver towards the edge of town after he and the locals loaded up on ammo and guns. Jack reached over and gave the fox's arm a soft squeeze before the Sergeant spoke up.

"Alright son, veer off here and approach the mine from the Southwest, we'll keep their eyes on the Southeast."

The grey fox nodded, then took a deep breath and turned down an alley. He glanced over his shoulder to see Jack once last time, before he turned a corner and began making his way towards the mine. After about ten minutes passed, his ears perked when he heard the gunfire. The more distant sound of the return fire hit his ears, and he quickly picked up the pace. It wasn't long before he reached the edge of town, then headed for the mine, which lay ahead

"One... Two... Three!" Sven growled and sprinted for the only cover he could see between the edge of town and the mine. It was an overturned barrel and a couple snapped beams that had been intended to brace a tunnel.

The fox kept as low as he could, skidding into the debris. He covered his head and held his breath, waiting for the sound of whizzing bullets. When nothing came he took a deep breath. Crawling around the edge of the barrel, Sven looked through the scope of his rifle. He could see figures silhouetted in the second and third floor windows. His finger itched to take a shot, knowing that those were the fur's shooting at Jack and the others. But that would mean his own death and the failure of his mission.

He spat a curse and lowered the rifle to look at the first floor. No lamps blazed in the few windows. The door was shut. He strained to see what kind of a lock might be on the door but he was too far away and it was too dark. It didn't matter he decided. There wasn't much chance of him being able to break down the door no matter what held it closed. But the windows looked unboarded.

Another series of cracks rang out from town. Sven ducked lower, pressing his face to the snow. Brief flashes followed by the noise of the return fire came from the upper floors. Sven didn't waste another moment. He scrambled across the open ground, almost down on all fours. He came skidding to another stop against the weathered wood walls of the building. He was breathing hard, flinching at every sound.

Before chancing to look through the window above him, he opened his coat and took out his revolver. He looked at the gun and put it back in its holster. If he started shooting, Icefangs would swarm him in seconds. Sven took another deep breath and started to rise slowly.

When he got a closer look at the window, he saw that the latch was open. Taking advantage of this, Sven grabbed the bottom of the window and slid it up to open it. The grey fox then climbed in through the window. Inside everything was dimmed. There were a few lamps here and there, but even their light was faded. The fox made his way to the other side of the room to another door, opening it up slightly and peeking inside. His ears perked when he saw the radio set up next to the stairs. Quickly, Sven opened up the door and went in. The vulpine rushed over to the radio, grabbing the headphones and putting them on. He remembered how these worked, so he immediately set to try to dial it in to the right frequency. But all he got was static. Every frequency was just static. A sickening thought came to his mind at that point. What if the bandits tore out the wires? If they did, then there was no way he'd be able to reach anyone using the radio. Taking the headphones off, Sven tossed them down and looked over to the side, his ears perking when he saw the telegraph key. Going over, he tapped it once, a flood of relief hitting him when he saw a green light flick on. The telegraph was untouched. Quickly summoning his memories on the telegraph code, the fox began tapping away at the key. The fox prayed that he was doing it right. Soon, he finished out the message, and stepped back. Now all he needed to do was get back to--

Sven felt something slam right into his side. "Guh!!"

The fox crashed into the wall, his hand reaching for his revolver but it was too late. He felt a large paw wrench the gun away from him, and before he could react to it he felt a fist connect with his stomach. The vulpine doubled over, panting heavily from the pain. Whoever it was, didn't give him any time to recover. He was slammed back against the wall and pinned there. When he finally was able to look, he saw that his attacker was a large canine, he wasn't sure what kind. The canine looked to be a cross between a great dane, and a german shepherd. The bandit growled loudly as he kept the fox pinned against the wall. With his free paw, he patted the vulpine down.

Sven struggled, kicking wildly. The canine lost his grip momentarily, his big hand sliding up. Sven took the opportunity and sank his teeth into the bandit's forearm. For a flickering moment the fox could imagine himself spinning out of the fur's grasp and diving for his gun, coming up with it pointed at the towering Icefang. But as fast as that fantasy played out in his mind, the bigger fur was able to drive a fist into Sven's nose.

Sven screamed, the taste of copper flooding his mouth. His vision exploded into a blinding flash of light. Before Sven could process the shock of what had happened the Icefang drew back his hand again, grunted a curse, and knocked the fox into darkness.

***

Sven awoke in the same darkness that had claimed him. He tried to open his mouth to scream but found it had been tied shut. His arms were tied tightly behind his back as he lay on a hard surface, blindfolded and helpless. He flashed back to coming out of the Tikaani medicine induced delirium, bound and gagged like this. But Jack was there with him then. He whimpered and thrashed his head, trying to get whatever covered his eyes off. The surface was gritty, he was fairly sure he was on a floor. He rubbed the side of his face on the ground, almost moving the fabric enough to uncover an eye.

The sound of heavy approaching footsteps froze him.

He soon felt someone grab him from behind, lifting him up from the ground. When the grey fox sagged a little, he was thrown into what felt like a chair. After which his blindfold was wrenched off. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust, and when they did, he felt his heart sink. Two large furs stood before him. The one who had captured him had his arms across his chest, his forearm bandaged from where Sven had bit him. The other fur was a large cougar, who was eyeing him with hate.

"Why da 'ell didn't ya just kill 'im? It won't do us any good ta leave 'im alive. Boss said no prisoners."

The canine snorted, then growled deeply and stepped closer, reaching down and lifting up the fox's chin. "To hell with what the boss says. Look at this fox, he's a keeper in my book. If the Boss doesn't want no prisoners, then we'll just take this one as a slave. Look at him, what do you think we can do with him?"

The cougar stared at Sven for a long while, before suddenly grinning darkly. "I can think of somethin ta do with 'im alright"

The vulpine felt a chill run down his spine at that. They were really thinking about doing what he thought they were thinking about doing? Were they? He whimpered as the canine grabbed his head and turned it to the side for a moment.

"Wouldn't want the risk of the little bastard chomping it off. The fucker nearly took a good chunk out of my arm, so until he learns his place, I don't plan on putting his muzzle to any use. His other end though, that's another story."

The grey fox flattened his ears at that, now completely sure what they were planning on doing to him. He was powerless to do anything to stop them.

Sven started to shake, making the two furs salivate.

"I want 'im first," the cougar said.

"Hah!" the canine barked sharply. "No way. I caught him. I got bit. I get him when he's fresh."

"Ain't gonna be anything left after you've had yer fill." He turned to the fox, grabbing him by the muzzle and shaking it. "Ya here me? Tell this fool you want you want me to break you in. I'll be gentle. Promise."

Sven felt the room start to spin. He couldn't believe this was happening. He shook his head free of the cougar's grasp, shaking his head and trying desperately to plead through his gagged mouth.

The cougar smiled. "See. He wants me."

The canine growled. "No, he doesn't. And even if he did, he doesn't get a say in this." Without warning he kicked the chair over, sending Sven to the floor again and banging his head. "Hold him still while I get his pants off."

The words threw Sven into a frenzy. His trapped yells straining his throat but making little sound. He pulled at his bonds until the canine stomped on his back, knocking the air out of lunges.

The cougar came over, kneeling down and pinning the fox to the ground using one knee while the canine grabbed hold of his pants. There was nothing Sven could do but struggle in vain as he felt his pants get undone and pulled off of him. The chilly air hit his bare legs, right through his fur and down to the skin. He felt the canine grab hold of his underwear, ripping them off then growling something to the cougar. The feline let Sven go, and the grey fox was about to try and squirm away before the canine grabbed him from behind and forced him onto his feet and up against a wall. Sven felt like he was going to be sick to his stomach when he heard his captor undoing the front of his own pants. The canine grabbed his tail with one paw, and forced it up. The fox let out a muffled yelp as he felt the large warmth press against his rear.

The canine leaned forward then said darkly, "The more you resist, the more it'll hurt, fox." He had spat out the last word.

Sven vaguely heard the cougar mutter, "Take it easy on 'im Morag, don't break 'im before I get my turn" To this the canine, Morag, only snorted before repositioning himself a little.

Morag let go of the fox's tail, sticking two fingers in his mouth before reaching down and forcing them up inside of the fox. Sven arched his back a little, whining loudly as he felt the canine's fingers push up inside of him, slavering up his insides with saliva. After a moment, the fingers left his hole. Sven gasped inwardly as he felt the fat tip of Morag's meat press into him, then arched his back even more and squealed as the bandit gripped his hips and forced his length deeper inside of him. He didn't stop there either. The canine continued forcing his meat deeper and deeper into the fox's tight hole before his large knot was finally pressing up against the outer ring of Sven's hole.

"Nnff," The canine grunted. "Tight little bastard aren't you? Probably never been used before either!" Sven squirmed a little, doing his best to make it uncomfortable for the canine, but Morag only let loose a low moan, then gripped his hips tighter and started to thrust.

At first the canine took it easy, thrusting slowly into him, and Sven could almost say that it was enjoyable, even though he was getting taken against his will. But then Morag started thrusting faster, and the fox arched his back and mewled loudly as the fur started pounding away at his hole. His body reacted to the treatment in a way that made him blush scarlet, his own length pushing out of his sheath and beginning to throb as the canine bucked into him faster and harder. After what seemed like an eternity, Morag growled loudly and gave one finally heavy thrust into the fox, gripping him tight and forcing his knot inside of the vulpine's tight hole. The canine snarled as he came, his large balls emptying themselves deep inside of Sven.

Sven was whimpering through his gag, tears streaming down his face and his nose beginning to stuff up. The cougar shoved Morag out of the way when he heard the fox start to choke. The larger fur's knot popping out of his hole.

"Fuck, he can't breath. Take the gag off him before he dies."

"Let him," Morag laughed.

"Hey, I may not have many standards, but one of them is that I only stick my cock in something with a pulse."

Morag shrugged and pulled out a knife. He wasn't worried about the fox yelling anymore. He doubted the intruder would live through the night at this rate. A quick slice took care of the ripped cloth that had tied Sven's jaws shut. The fox gasped, sucking down as much air as he could.

The cougar dug his claws into Sven's side, making the fox squeal as he was positioned for another round.

"Please..." he begged softly, "no more."

"To bad I didn't go first," the cougar mocked. "These barbs are gonna hurt like 'ell now." He reached forward and grabbed Sven by the throat before thrusting deep into his wet and gaping hole.

Sven wailed until the cougar tightened his grip, cutting off his air again. The fox was reduced to weakly pulling at the bigger fur's iron grip and hopelessly fighting for a full breath whenever the cougar's fingers loosened with every jarring pump of his hips. For the fox, it felt like this hell went on forever. The cougar's feline cock scraped at his already battered insides. He only knew the cougar had finished when he was allowed to slump forward so the cougar could pull out, finally sparing his ass further pain.

"Can't believe 'e was still tight after ya got done with 'im" The cougar let go of the fox, and he slumped to the ground, panting and whining softly.

Morag snorted at that, then gave the fox a little kick. "I may want to go another round with him then."

Sven whimpered softly at that, shaking his head quickly and pleading, "N-No please! N-No more!"

The canine snorted, then kicked the fox's pants back towards him. Sven grabbed them, then desperately began tugging them back on. Both bandits watched this in amusement.

"What now? Ya gonna kill 'im? Ya had your fun, but if the Boss catches wind of this, 'e'll 'ave both our 'eads."

Once the fox had his pants on, Morag came over and kicked him violently, sending him back down onto the ground with a yelp. "Let him go."

"What?! Have ya lost your damned mind Morag?? What was all that business about making 'im a slave an' everythin'?"

Morag shrugged, then gave the downed fox another violent kick. Sven yelped again, this time curling into a tight ball on the ground, making the canine snort out a laugh.

"Grab some rope then, I don't plan on taking him with us, but I sure as hell won't let him run off to tell his friends over there in town. Probably not much use anyhow, I caught the little snitch sending a message with the telegraph. Military will be all over us within a week, so we best move on."

The cougar chuckled as he grabbed some rope, "Remember that one I got? I was standing right above the rise and sniped 'im out from among those bastards who were shootin' at us. Come ta think of it, 'e was wearin' the same color coat as them North Guard folk. One less bastard ta report in I guess, got 'im right between the eyes."

Sven's heart panged at that as he held absolutely still while listening to the cougar. The feline crouched down and began tying him back up again while Morag stood by the doorway, blocking any chances of escape. But Sven's thoughts weren't on escape in that moment. All he could think about was what the cougar had said.

Sven felt numb. His body and mind were close to collapse. Fear, not for himself but for Jack was all that kept him going. He didn't want to draw any conclusions from what the cougar said, but it was hard not to.

The two Icefangs tied him tighter than before and began to drag him back into the radio room. Morag opened the door to a supply closet. He threw out an industrial sized spool of wire and a crate labeled transistors. The cougar tossed Sven into the dark room and blew a kiss.

"See you later," he laughed and shut the door.

Sven struggled to hold it together. An hour passed before he could think of anything other than Jack. He knew he had to get out. His wolf needed him. His team needed him. He couldn't give in to despair before he knew all the facts.

He rolled to his back, pinning his numb arms uncomfortably under him. From what he could make out in the dim light, the room was smaller than the one he'd rented back in Basil. It was lined with floor to ceiling shelves. He put the last of his strength into banging his knees against the lowest shelf, overturning a box. He prayed that something useful had spilled out as he crawled backwards to blindly feel for anything that might help him.

After a moment, the fox felt his fingers grab hold of something. After a moment, he felt a huge wave of relief when he discovered that he had grabbed a small knife. The fox then quickly held the knife in a certain way and began sawing at the bonds on his wrists. After what seemed like hours, he finally cut through his ropes. Quickly, Sven then started cutting the ropes that tied his feet together and once he was free of those, he carefully open the door a little and peeked out. The cougar was standing out in the room, but he had his back to the fox. From what Sven could tell, the feline was messing with his revolver. The vulpine gripped the knife tighter, then snuck out from the closet. He quietly crept up behind the cougar, then bared his fangs and grabbed him from behind. Before the bandit could utter a sound, Sven slit his throat, then stumbled back as the mountain lion toppled to the floor and laid there, clutching his throat as it spewed out blood. The grey fox took his revolver back from the doomed cougar, then hurried over to the doorway and looked out, thankful that no one was there. He quickly climbed back out of the window, then staggered a little before beginning to run as fast as he could. All he wanted to do was get as far away from the mine as possible. Thankfully it was already dark outside, so the darkness helped shroud his escape. Far behind him, he heard several gunshots, the bullets whizzing past him.

Sven ran blindly into Copperfox. He wasn't sure if these were buildings he'd passed earlier that day, and he didn't care. As long as he was putting distance between himself and the Icefangs, he was fine.

The gunshots died down as he rounded the fourth building. He sank to the ground , breathing hard and clutching his revolver in both hands. He listened for sounds of pursuit but the blood racing in his ears made it impossible. Impulsively the fox stood and ran across the narrow gap that separated the buildings. He began to pound on the door.

There was no answer. He moved to the next building and began to beat on the door. If he could just find a local, he could explain who he was and get help making it back to the town hall.

"I heard it coming from over there," shouted a voice.

Sven's eyes went wide. Rather than chance being captured again he ran, not intending to stop for anything, until he turned a corner and was greeted with the butt of a rifle. Once more Sven got a taste of his own blood as he dropped to the snow.

The last echoey sounds be heard was a rifle being cocked, and then a different voice, familiar, yelling. "Don't shoot! He's with the North Guard." Sven's vision blurred, swirling the black and white spots of dalmatian fur before everything faded.

***

Sven woke up with a loud scream, sitting bolt upright then panting heavily as he looked around him wildly. His ears flattened instinctively when he heard the sound of rushing footsteps. The fox looked about desperately for something to defend himself with, then jumped with a loud yelp when the door burst open in front of him. The grey fox didn't see who it was, for he had immediately curled up into a tight ball on the bed. His fur prickled when he felt someone touch him, and he spun about and shoved whoever it was back.

"GET AWAY FROM ME!!"

After a moment, he opened his eyes a bit more when whoever it was didn't touch him again. The vulpine froze for a moment when he saw who it was.

"Easy Sven, it's only me" Jack slowly came back to the side of the bed, reaching up and placing his paw on the fox's leg.

Tears flooded Sven's eyes when he realized who it was, relief and happiness overwhelming him as he threw his arms around the wolf, hugging him tight and never wanting to let go. Jack squeezed him tight, then after a moment gently pulled away from the hug.

"I was so worried when you didn't come back, I.... I thought you were gone. I've never been this happy to see someone in my entire life."

Sven nodded at that. "I can say the same about you Jack, after I had gotten captured, I thought it was all over for me. Then I heard about someone getting killed by one of the bandits, and I thought that it was you...."

The wolf lowered his ears at that, then sat down in the chair that was next to the bed. "No... it wasn't me. But I wish that it was... Davin was the one that got killed out there, we're going to bury him tomorrow..."

Sven lowered his ears as well. "Jack... I'm so sorry I--," He stopped when he realized that the wolf was avoiding his eyes completely. "Jack? What's wrong?"

"I.... I can smell them you know... the two who had taken you." The vulpine felt a heavy pang in his heart at that.

"J-Jack, it wasn't my fault, they captured me and they... they...." He couldn't bring himself to even say it.

The wolf shook his head, then got up from the chair. Sven now felt his heart drop into his stomach at then, then began to get up.

But Jack stopped him. "Get back into bed and lay down, you need your rest. After you've rested go and wash that stink off of yourself."

"Jack wait I--"

The wolf didn't let him finish, instead he walked out of the room and shut the door behind him. Sven whimpered softly and sank back down onto the bed, his ears drooped more than they ever have been as he stared at the closed door.

***

When Abel and Jaiden came into the room early the next morning they found Sven staring blankly at the ceiling, not acknowledging their arrival.

"Good morning, Sven. I trust you slept as well as to be expected. I would have come last night, but we weren't the only ones to take casualties. By the time I finished extracting my third bullet of the night, Sergeant McGyver thought it best that you be allowed to recuperate before I gave you a thorough inspect-"

Jaiden smacked the medic on the arm.

"What!" Abel asked with annoyance.

Jaiden motioned to the catatonic fox before reaching out to touch his shoulder. "Are you alright, Sven?"

Sven jerked at his touch, rolling to his side and pulling the blankets over his head. "Go away," he said softly with a dry throat.

The two furs exchanged looks and Jaiden motioned for Abel to do something.

"Uh, we can forego any examination if you wish. I only brought Jaiden with me to assist in getting you to the tub. The locals were kind enough to heat enough water for a bath."

Sven ached but he also felt filthy. He threw off the covers and shrugged off any attempts the other two made at helping. When they'd shown him to the small room with an iron washbasin. he firmly told them to leave, slamming the door.

The fox stripped and stepped into the warm shallow water. He dropped with a splash. Sven sat for a moment until his thoughts caught up with him. Then he leaned forward and cupped his hands, slashing away his tears.

Not too long into his bath, the sound of the door opening reached his ears. He looked up and tensed a little. Jack was standing at the door with a towel around his waist. But the wolf hadn't seen him yet, he was talking to someone outside in the hallway.

"Well, if they're pulling out then we won't have to worry about them sneaking in during the night and cutting our throats. Keep me posted about it, alright?" There was a quick reply, then Jack gave a nod and turned to look into the washroom.

He froze when he saw Sven, but then quickly regained his composure and flicked one of his ears in what seemed like a slight annoyance.

"Seems like the bath is taken, I'll just go to the next room then."

The grey fox thought desperately as the wolf began turning away. "J-Jack wait! Please!" The wolf stopped at that, and Sven said the only thing he could think of. "Please, I know that this is all my fault, that if I had been careful enough I wouldn't have been caught, that if I wasn't trying to impress the Sergeant none of this would have happened. But please, there must be some way to make it up to you, isn't there??"

Jack remained silent for several agonizingly long minutes, before he finally spoke up. "Get yourself clean, get some rest, and focus on your duties. This is not a discussion to have right now, we'll save it for when we're back in Basil." With that the wolf stepped out and shut the door behind him.

He felt his wet fur beginning to bristle. He'd apologized, he took the blame, yet still Jack wouldn't listen. He reached for the nearest thing he could grab, the bar of soap. With all the strength he could, Sven threw it at the door. It gave a hollow smack. Hot tears stung his eyes before the soap stopped skidding

***

The ice crystals made his fur feel heavy and he knew it would dry his skin, but the fox didn't want to stay in Copperfox any longer than he had to. It was dangerous to be outside with damp fur, but Sven was under the impression that his anger would keep him warm. When he began to shiver he quickly reevaluated that. Lokir was tying down the fresh provisions the team was given. Sven went over to him and cleared his throat.

"Can I help?"

The saber looked at the fox, thinking. "The crate of biscuits they gave us is shaped wrong." He pulled a rope on the sled, freeing some of the more rectangular crates the North Guard used. "Easier to keep these secured. Fit as much as you can in with our stuff, then give the rest back to sergeant McGyver."

Sven nodded and went to work. It was a struggle to keep his mind blank but the cold air and the dull job was helping.

Lokir watched him out of the corner of his eye as the fox worked, then after a moment, the saber spoke aloud. "You are troubled? Is there something that you wish to talk about?"

Sven jumped a little at that, but then lowered his ears and shook his head. "No.... No I think I want to keep it to myself..."

"It is better that you talk to someone about your troubles, otherwise they stay inside of you and bottle up, and this is never good."

The fox knew that Lokir was right, and after a moment he sighed heavily, then nodded. "Alright... I think Jack is upset with me, like, really upset with me."

"Because you were captured and taken against your will?" That caught Sven by surprise.

"H-How do you know that?"

The saber shrugged, then continued working. "Word spreads around. It also helps to eavesdrop every now and then."

"Oh.." He stared down at one of the crates.

"It's not right."

"Huh?"

Lokir stopped what he was doing and looked at the grey fox. "What Jack is doing to you right now, how he is responding to this situation. He has no reason to be angry at you, and he shouldn't go out of his way to be."

Hearing someone else say what he'd been thinking pushed him the verge of becoming emotional again. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. "Thank you, Lokir..." he looked up at the saber.

Lokir smiled down at him softly. There might not be anything the big fur could do to make Jack see the error of his ways, but the fox felt less alone now. The two worked through the morning, adding to their gear as other team members trickled in and out. The only thing Copperfox couldn't provide was replacement kerosene for their camp stove.

"W-what about whale oil?" Sven asked with a shiver. His damp fur was taking a toll on him now.

"Would not work," Lokir grunted. "Not important if we camp where we can find enough wood. Just takes longer to cook." He pulled a tarp over their loaded sled. "You look cold."

"I'm not," Sven lied.

"Go in. Warm yourself before it is time to leave."

"No, I'm fine. I-I'll just wait out here with you."

"Sven," Lokir shook his head. "If you worry about seeing Jack-"

"No," Sven insisted with a less than convincing whine. "I'm just... I... " He looked down. "I'm scared... and angry. What if he doesn't forgive me?"

"If he doesn't forgive you for something that was out of your power to stop, then he is not the ideal mate for you and you should find someone else. But Jack is good leader, it is worth waiting at least until Basil to make your decision"

Sven gulped softly at that, then nodded and was about to help tie down the tarp when Lokir stopped him. "Go and get warm. You're more likely to freeze while your fur is wet, then you would be no use to us and we'll have too dig two graves instead of one."

The grey fox let loose a small sigh, then nodded again in agreement. Lokir smiled softly then gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze before letting go. The vulpine then headed back inside, immediately going over to a fireplace and sitting down in front of it, more than grateful for the warmth. He then began to ponder what the saber had said.

Sven took off his coat hoping his fur would dry faster without it. Then picked up the poker to prod more life into the fire.

He didn't want to believe what Lokir had said. That Jack might not be the right mate for him. It wasn't fair to be forced into that question, he thought. But the way Jack treated him wasn't fair either. He stabbed at one of the logs, hearing it pop as it split. His ears swiveled as they picked up McGyver's gruff voice.

"Waiting until noon would be best," the lab said, entering the room. "The sun won't soften the ground much, but it's more about making it less of a depressing send off. Moral is key out there in the wastes."

"I know. But I was hoping to be underway sooner rather than later."

Sven's ears flattened at the sound of Jack's voice. He hunched his shoulders forward and hoped the wolf wouldn't notice him. By the sounds of their footsteps the two furs moved to the long table in the center of the room before stopping.

McGyver sighed. "Think it over before I have my furs start digging. And I also want to write a letter of commendation for you and your team. Without your assistance, we'd all be in a heap of trouble."

There was a brief pause at that, then, "No, all we did was do our job. But it's Sven you should really be thanking. He went out of his way to follow through with your orders, and he sacrificed a lot in order to see that they were fulfilled."

The fox's heart skipped a beat at that, and he became more grateful that there was a chair sitting between him and the table, blocking him from sight.

McGyver snorted softly at that. "That scout of yours? Granted, he did do as he was told, but he didn't sacrifice very much for the cause."

"He was raped by those son of a bitches! In my eyes, that was more of a sacrifice than either of us would dare to make. He lost his innocence to those filthy bastards!"

The lab chuckled at that. "If he even had his innocence before that. He is a fox you know, and foxes do what foxes do best."

Jack growled loudly at that. "You know what, Sergeant? I think our talk ends here. Don't you ever disrespect any of my team ever again, especially him! Just because your a war hero, doesn't mean I can't kick your ass."

The sound of a chair scraping across the floor was heard, then angry footsteps faded away as they left the room. McGyver let loose a sigh, then got up and left as well.

Sven waited for the sounds of their footsteps to fade then jumped up. He felt like a new fox. Jack stood up for him, against one of Sven's personal heroes no less. Sven blinked and rethought that. McGyver wasn't half the fur he'd thought he would be. Jack was more of a hero to the fox, flaws and all. He grinned at that.

He took a halting step, wanting to run after the wolf and throw his arms around him, but he couldn't. Not yet. His ears lowered again and a whine escaped his throat. He wanted to give Jack the time he needed.

His tail swished for the first time since yesterday. He winced, wondering how long it would take for the pain to go away. Not wanting to dwell on that, the fox put his coat back on and went in search of something to do.

He found Quinar leaning against the doorframe, staring at the town. The coyote wasn't a member of the North Guard and he wasn't a settler. It left the fur in the unfortunate position of needing too much oversight to be of much use. He greeted Sven.

The fox smiled. "Do you know if anyone needs a hand?"

Quinar frowned. "Your medic just chased me away for helping too much. You might want to see if you have any better luck with that stubborn dog."

Sven did have some limited training in first aide. "That sounds good. Where is he?"

The Tikaani sighed. "I can take you to him. It's not like I have anything important to tend to." He led the fox to the nearby building that Abel had taken over as a field hospital to treat the injuries some of the locals had sustained in their fight against the Icefangs.

They found Abel in the building, fretting over a fur's leg. The fur, a lynx, looked as if he had been put under with some sort of medicine, as he made no sound while the lab stitched his leg. Sven went over to the medic, then cleared his throat.

"Is there anything that I can do?" Abel perked his ears at that, then paused and looked to the fox.

"Well.." He said cautiously. "I do suppose that I could use a little help. I need some more medical supplies from the store in town, bandages, wrappings, gauze, medicine, whatever you can get your hands on. My personal stores is beginning to run a little ragged, and I'll have to restock on anesthetics. That is, unless if perhaps along the way you get shot, and you want me digging into your body with a pair of metal tongs to pull the bullet out without any anesthetic?"

The vulpine eeped at that, then quickly spun about and rushed out of the building. Again, with nothing else to do, Quinar followed close behind.

They got directions to the town's general store, one of the few businesses still in some semblance of operation. Sven opened the door and was greeted with the click of a hammer being pulled back on a gun. He froze.

"Oh. Welcome to the Copperfox Store."

Sven slowly turned his head to see a deer set down a hunting rifle. One of his antlers was missing and the dark circles under his eyes testified to his lack of sleep. "I'm Horatio. If there's anything you need help with, don't hesitate to ask."

Sven looked around the store noticing most of the shelves were cleared and the windows were boarded up. "Um... medical supplies?"

The buck sighed deeply and limped his way from behind the counter. Sven could see the fresh blood stains from when he'd last changed the wrapping on his calf.

"What do you need? We've got bandages, tonics, surgical thread, anest-"

"All of it. As much as you can spare."

Horatio stopped. "And how will you be paying?"

Sven looked at Quinar who shrugged back. "I can write you an I.O.U." Sven offered.

"Get out," the deer said.

"Fur's are hurt. We all need to chip in," Sven insisted. "I promise you'll be paid back."

"By whom?" Horatio snapped sharply. "The mayor that none of us remember voting for? He's dead. Killed in the first raid. The military? We're still waiting for some of us to get paid for building that stupid office from three years ago that the bandits just burned down." Horatio huffed and looked at Sven's North Guard coat. "Your furs? The North Guard is so choked in bureaucracy, the mine will be dry and the down deserted by the time they get around to processing the request."

Sven was speechless. Before he could recover, Quinar jumped in.

"What about Tikaani? We trade here from time to time. If I pledge that my pack will pay you, will you let the fox have what he was sent for?"

The deer hesitated at that, but then rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He stared at Quinar for a long moment, before finally heaving a heavy sigh and placing his hands on the counter.

"Alright, you have yourself a deal. But since you're taking all of my medicinal supplies, and I won't be able to restock for an entire week, I'll be charging triple the original price for each thing you take. Now grab what you need and get out."

Quinar laid his ears back at that, and Sven looked to him for a moment before remembering the task at hand. He quickly went over to one of the shelves full of medical supplies, then began grabbing as much as he could. The coyote helped as well, his ears laid back still as they stripped the shelves bare. The two furs then left the shop, and began hurrying back.

Sven looked to the coyote and asked, "Will your pack be alright with this? You're making deals that seem to me like they should be made by your chieftain"

The coyote looked to him, then kindly replied, "Please Sven, don't trouble yourself with the matters of my pack. They're my troubles to bear, and mine alone when I confront the chieftain about them."

The two furs carried their loads back to Abel for his inspection. They found the medic washing a disturbing amount of blood off his hands and Sven felt his stomach begin to churn.

"Ah," Abel gave a tightlipped smile at their return. "Let's see what you've managed to procure." He cleaned off a table in what once might have been a study before necessity turn the home into a hospital. He hummed to himself. "Very good, considering where we are." He held up a cloudy glass bottle with a label neither the fox nor the coyote would hazard to pronounce. "And a fair bit better than dried Tikaani herbs," he chuckled.

Sven's fur bristled. "Come on, Abel. The Tikaani stuff worked."

Abel narrowed his eyes. "You weren't the one out on the ice struggling to keep Jack from bleeding out with a gaping neck wound."

Sven hung his head. Jack's name and the thought of what happened while temporarily deranged was still painful to hear. "Yeah, well... Quinar had to pledge that his pack would pay for all this stuff that you're so impressed with."

Able set down the bottle. "They charged you for medical supplies? Sven, didn't you tell them you are with the North Guard?"

Sven rubbed his arm for a moment. "Well I didn't really have to. The shopkeeper recognized my parka and knew I was from the North Guard, but he refused to give out the supplies still."

"Huh... strange. Well, at least the Tikaani proved to be of some use after all."

Quinar bared his fangs and growled at that, stepping forward with his fists clenched and opening his mouth to say something. But before he could, the grey fox interrupted.

"Quinar has been very useful to us Abel. Without him we wouldn't have made it to Copperfox in time." The lab eyed the coyote while Sven said this.

"Alright, so the Tikaani--"

"Quinar, his name is Quinar."

Abel looked to the fox, blinking when he saw the seriousness on his face before clearing his throat. "Quinar, I meant, has proven more useful than I initially thought. Now please, let me get back to my work, and it'd be best if you didn't stick around Sven, I don't want you getting in the way. Oh and take the Tikaa-- Quinar with you."

The fox huffed at that, then tapped the coyote on the arm. Quinar gave the medic one final glare, before turning and following the vulpine out of the building.

"Asshole." Sven muttered once they were out of earshot of Abel.

Sven walked with the brooding coyote back to the town hall. "I know you don't need anyone to defend you, I just- He's so close minded!"

That brought a smile to the coyote. "Thank you, Sven. It's a rare quality... sympathy. And to keep that quality after what you went through... Abel was lucky you have control of your temper."

Sven turned his head away. Did everyone know, he wondered. Quinar saw his discomfort. "I didn't mean-"

"It's alright," the fox said. "I'll... learn to live with it."

The coyote's ears splayed and they slowed down as they reached the building. He surprised the fox, taking him by the shoulders. "You are a strong, brave fur. Don't let events you couldn't control define you." He pulled the fox into a stiff embrace.

Sven could sense this wasn't a Tikaani custom, and one Quinar was only attempting for Sven's benefit. He laughed and returned the fur's uncoordinated hug, whispering a thank you before they broke away, both blushing. Quinar made an awkward exit, leaving the fox to another laugh. But Sven's levity was quickly interrupted by a deep angry growl and the slamming of a door with enough force to splinter the wood.

Sven's heart sank. Did Jack witness the Tikaani's attempt at affection? He whimpered, looking at the building's door where he swore he'd heard Jack's growled rage.

He felt his heart sink even more when he saw that it was Jack. The was glaring at him with his fists clenched and his teeth bared.

"You--You--"

"Jack wait please! Please before you come to any conclusions!" That silenced the lupine, leaving him to simmer in his rage. "Quinar was only comforting me after what happened yesterday with those bandits, he saw that I need some form of compassion so he gave it to me. Please, don't be angry with me for something that I never had any control over!"

That seemed to take some of the anger from the wolf. "You're fucking right that you had no control of what happened with those Icefangs, none of it was your fault, not in the slightest."

The fox blinked at that. "Then.... Then why are you made at me?"

"I'm not mad at you! I'm mad at the fact that I have no control of these things, that I couldn't stop them from happening! I was powerless to do anything, and.... and... oh fuck it, I ain't waiting anymore!"

Before Sven could so much as breath a word, the wolf charged forward and grabbed him, bringing him into his arms and into a deep passionate kiss.

Jack's tongue probed every corner of the fox's mouth, exploring and tasting the fox like it was the first time. Sven gasped for air when Jack finished.

"Y-you're not mad at me?" Sven asked. He held tightly to the wolf, afraid that this was all a fragile dream that could end if he didn't concentrate.

"No, Sven," Jack said softly. "I was mad that I'd failed you."

Sven squeezed tight. He felt the wolf's breath on the top his head. He felt so safe in Jack's arms. It was a jarring change from how he'd felt since that night. The realization struck him like a brick. He let go, standing still, the wolf still holding firm.

"I needed you, Jack," he whispered.

"I know. I'd have given my left eye to have gone in with you."

Sven push his way out of the comforting arms. "I meant later that night! After I killed one of the furs that raped me. After I was chased and shot at. After I got back!" His eyes started to tear up. "You left me alone and afraid. I needed you that night," he choked back a sob and turned away, not wanting Jack to see him this broken and weak.

The fox felt the wolf set his hand on his right shoulder. "Sven... I.... I'm sorry... I wanted to be with you, I really did. But every time I looked at you, I couldn't help but think to what had been done to you. The more I thought about it, the angrier I became, and the more sure I was that I needed to be away from you."

Sven could his feel his heart starting to break at that and he shook his head. "I had no one that night, no one to hold me and tell me that I was going to be okay, no one to show any compassion to me, no one...."

"Sven please," Jack's hand gripped the fox's shoulder tighter. "Please, let me make it up to you, let me make it right."

The vulpine spun about at that, knocking the wolf's hand away from him. "How can you make this right?! You can't turn back time! You can't go back and change anything! It's already done, and can't be undone!"

Unable to stand it anymore, Sven shoved his way past the wolf and into the building, tears running down his face now. It took a moment for him to recognize where he was. He was in the building where he had woken up in after being cracked in the skull with the butt of a rifle. Now knowing where he was, the vulpine lurched off down a hallway just as the front door opened and Jack called his name. The fox ran until he found the room that he had slept in, then went in and quickly slammed the door shut. Finding that the door had a lock, he locked it without hesitation, then went over and threw himself down on the bed and buried his face in the pillow as he sobbed. Not long after, someone banged on the door.

"Sven, open the door and let's talk about this! Sven please!" The grey fox curled up on the bed and ignored Jack's voice. "Sven, please open up the door! I'm sorry that I wasn't there for you, I'm sorry for everything!"

Still the fox ignored him. After what felt like hours, the banging on the door and the rattling of the door handle came to a stop, and silence fell outside the room.

***

Sven didn't remember having fallen asleep, but he woke to a dark room. The sun's brief time in the northern sky had passed. He stared through a slot in the boarded window, looking at the sliver of inky sky he could see. As he became more alert he could hear muffled voices coming from the other side of the door. He tried to pick out who they belonged to. Was one of them Jack?

He slowly sat up, listening to a fur stomping away from the room. Then came a soft knock that startled him.

"Hey, Sven?"

It was Jaiden.

Another knock. "Uh, we're going to bury Davin. I don't know if you're religious or not, but if you want to pay your final respects, I guess now is the time to do it."

Another soft knock.

Sven cleared his throat. "Yes... I'll be there. Thank you." He owed Davin a last goodbye. The fox quickly walked to the door, fumbling with the lock in the dark. He opened it, surprised to see the wolf standing there.

"You're being an idiot," Jaiden said flatly.

"What?"

"You are doing exactly what Jack did. He was sitting outside this door all day. He was talking about staying in Copperfox another night. He's clinging to the hope that you might get over this. But I know you, Sven," Jaiden paused scratched his chin. "Well, I know a lot of foxes. Emotional. And prone to holding irrational grudges."

Sven opened his mouth, outraged that Jaiden thought he could reduce his complex personality to a few stereotypes. But before he could start yelling the wolf held up his hand, stopping the fox.

"He's hurting now too," the wolf said. "Is that what you wanted?"

Sven shook his head and felt shame starting to gather.

"Then forgive him. You two obviously need each other. And one of you has to stop acting like a pup to get this ball rolling. Now, come on. Sergeant McGyver's going to say a few words. We don't to miss that, do we?" he asked sarcastically.

Without another word, Sven followed Jaiden out of the room. The wolf led him outside of the building then up through town.

To take his mind off confronting Jack, the fox thought of a topic to bring up. "Where are they going to bury Davin?"

Jaiden glanced over his shoulder at the vulpine. "There's a graveyard by the warehouse. They bury all of their dead there."

"Are they going to do anything special? Is Mason being buried as well?" Jaiden nodded at that.

"Yes he's going to be buried along with Davin, no idea why they waited this long to bury the poor guy. The ceremony will be like all the rest, nothing special either of them."

Sven nodded at that, then fell silent again, simply going back to his thoughts as he followed the wolf.

Sven guessed that much of the remaining residents of Copperfox had turned out for the burial. Almost a hundred. Some carried rifles.

He froze when he saw Jack. The big wolf was talking to McGyver in front of two shallow holes. Sven swallowed his unease. He understood that the ground was frozen solid much of the year, but looking around at all the low bumps in front of improvised grave markers made him wonder if it was disrespectful to not put in the added effort.to dig the graves deeper.

Jaiden noticed the fox stopped. He stood next to him, not pushing him. "If you can't handle this-"

Sven shook his head, comforted by Jaiden's uncharacteristic caring. "I'm fine."

Jaiden waited for the fox to start walking again. They stood across from the two graves, the wrapped bodies of their comrades laid out in the earth. Sven closed his eyes, not wanting to see the corpses and not wanting to risk eye contact with Jack.

McGyver cleared his throat, a booming sound that brought silence to the already hushed crowd.

"We don't have a reverend in Copperfox," the old lab began, "so I'll do my best to honor these two heroes who gave their lives in service to their fellow furs."

He read a few prayers from an old book before closing it and doing his own eulogizing. "I said they were heroes," he looked over the small crowd. "And I meant it. We owe a great debt to them and to each other. Only by coming together can we rise about the cruel indifference offered by this world.

"Mason and Davin may have departed from us, but they leave behind a valuable lesson in their selfless and honorable lives. The best way for the living to honor the dead is to carry on their work. And these two furs were committed to the work exemplified in the North Guard. Charity. Bravery. Even love for their fellow furs. Love is one of the few forces that prompt us to willingly take the risks and accept the fate that these heroes did."

McGyver bowed his head and the crowd followed suit, reflecting on his words. Sven opened his eyes to the sound of shovels scattering dirt on top of the dead. He looked up and saw Jack starting from across the way. As McGyver recited a closing prayer, the fox knew he had to forgive Jack.

As the wolf headed off, Sven quickly hurried after him. The fox waited until they were both out of sight from everyone else, before running up and stopping in front of him. Jack came to a stop, looking at him with slightly drooped ears.

"Sven, I--"

"Jack, let me talk first." The lupine blinked, but then nodded softly. "I'm sorry for running out on you like that yesterday... Jaiden told me that you didn't even get a wink of sleep last night, that you just stayed outside my door... I feel ashamed of myself for doing this to you..." The fox lowered his ears as he finished.

Jack stared at him for a moment, then reached back and rubbed his neck. "I haven't exactly been very cooperative either. I know that what happened to you wasn't your fault, and I don't blame you for it. I wasn't there when you needed me the most, and I regret it. I'm sorry that I wasn't there for you... I wasn't thinking straight. Could you possibly forgive me?"

Sven fidgeted for a moment, before looking into Jack's eyes and giving him a very soft smile. "I'll forgive you if you'll forgive me."

The wolf blinked at that, but then grinned. "You're already forgiven Sven, you're more than forgiven."

The fox lunged forward, throwing himself into the wolf's arms and hugging him tight. "You're already forgiven in my book too Jack"

The lupine smiled softly, then wrapped his arms around the vulpine, holding him tight as he pressed the front of his muzzle to his forehead.

Jack put an arm over Sven's shoulders and walked through the dark town. "It's pretty late," the wolf said with his nose pointed to the sky. "And neither one of us has had much sleep lately. Think we should spend one last night here before heading back to Basil?"

Sven blinked. "You're asking me?"

"Yes," Jack grinned. "You're our scout. You do a lot of our navigating, you should have a say in this."

"Then, yeah. It would be, uh, safer if we left in the morning after we've all rested." He wagged his tail and yelped at the sudden pain it gave him.

"What's wrong?" Jack was alarmed.

"Nothing. Just my stupid tail still hurts."

"Did Abel look at it?"

"Probably," Sven giggled. "You know the effect we foxes have on everyone."

Jack snorted. "Be serious, Sven."

"Alright, alright. I'll see him in the morning. Tonight I just want to make up for lost time and feel those arms around me." He tugged on Jack's hand, tightening the hold the wolf had on him. "I think I'd rather have Quinar check it out instead of our medic."

Jack almost choked. "Not a chance."

Sven looked up at him. "Why not? As long as we ask the right questions, Tikaani medicine seems just as..." he stopped and noticed Jack's expression. "You're not jealous because you saw him hug me, are you?" he said with false surprise.

Jack smirked and reached over with his other hand to pat Sven's chest. "Not jealous... Possessive, maybe. But only about what's important to me."

"Jack please? I trust Quinar far more than I trust Abel...please, please swallow it up for now? For my well-being?"

The wolf stared at him for a long moment, before letting loose a heavy sigh then nodding with a small grin. "Alright then, go on back to the room, and I'll have Quinar come and see you."

Sven nodded quickly at that, then gave the wolf a quick smooch on the lips before turning and heading back to the building where his room was. The fox didn't have to wait long once he was there, for soon his door opened and Quinar came inside followed by Jack. The wolf shut the door behind him.

Quinar came up to Sven with a concerned look in his eyes. "Jack told me that you were having pain in your tail and that I needed to come have a look. When did the pain start?"

"Uh, right after my...encounter with the icefangs."

"Ah, I see... May I?"

The grey fox nodded, then turned around. He grew slightly tense when he felt the coyote's nimble fingers feeling their way along his tail. Right before they reached the base of his tail, they stopped, meaning the coyote was hesitating.

"Is there something wrong?" Sven looked back at him.

"Have you felt any pain yet?" Quinar gave a soft sigh when he shook his head in reply. "Then.... I'm going to need you to take off your pants."

"Wait what??"

Jack growled, stepping forward at that. "You can just check him how he is now. There's no need for him to remove any articles of clothing!"

The coyote looked to the wolf, then replied firmly, "Jack, listen to reason. If he is seriously hurt down there, then I need to find out. If there has been any damage, and you don't let me check, the first time you two make love, could be your last."

That stopped the lupine in his tracks. He stared at Quinar for a moment, then finally growled. "Alright, fine.... but no funny business, you hear me? You coyotes are just as bad at foxes... uh, with the scheming I mean!" He had quickly corrected himself when he saw the hurt look in Sven's eyes.

The fox took a deep breath, then reached down and undid his pants, sliding them down to the ground and shuddering a little as he felt the cool air hit the fur on his legs, as well as other more sensitive parts of him. Quinar went back to inspecting his tail. The coyote carefully gripped the base of it, then lifted it up before kneeling down and getting a closer look. Sven could feel his face beginning to flush as the embarrassment began to hit him. After a moment, he let loose a yelp when he felt the coyote's finger press against the spot just below the base of his tail, and pain exploded throughout his body. Quinar then cleared his throat, then stood back up.

"You can put your pants back on Sven, carefully though. It seems that you have a small fracture in your tailbone. Were you at all thrown violently down onto your rear?"

As the vulpine hurriedly, yet carefully, put his pants back on, he nodded in response. "Yeah, when they tied me up and threw me into the supply closet. I landed on my butt pretty heavily."

"It's just a hairline fracture, but you have to be careful or it'll get worse. If it does get worse.... you'll lose your tail."

Sven stared back at his luscious tail in horror. He wasn't a red fox, so his image wasn't as important, but it was still pretty important, and he loved his tail. To lose it... "Uh, isn't there something that I could do to help keep any stress off of it?"

The coyote nodded at that. "Of course. I have a think leather band that is just for this kinda of situation. You see, this is one of the problems in the Tribe, when males lock themselves into combat they get injured sometimes. This is one of the known injures, a fracture to the tail. Now, it's going to be a little distracting at first, but what I'm going to do is tighten the band around the fracture very tight, and it'll keep the fracture from getting worse. You need to keep it on for an entire week so that the bone will mend itself. Now, let me go and get the leather band, I'll be right back." At that the coyote left the room.

Sven crossed his arms frowned. Jack didn't wait to comfort him. He wrapped his arms around the fox.

Sven laughed into the bigger fur's chest. "I get it, Jack. You're here for me."

The wolf let go. "Damn right. And I'll be here for that tail, too."

Sven playfully punched him as Quinar came back in holding the leather band. It resembled a tiny corset the size of Sven's fist. Quinar put it on and stepped back by Jack to admire his work.

"I look like a horse!" Sven whined. His neck twisted so he could see the way his tail stuck out now.

"It's better than the alternative," Jack said.

"And it's not permanent," Quinar added.

Sven tried to wag his tail but the stiff leather at its base limited its movement. It felt awkward and unnatural but with a few steps Sven noticed some of the pain was alleviated. He paced the room. "Does it look bad?"

Jack and Quinar answered no in unison.

"It's common for Tikaani warriors to wear these from time to time. It marks you as a fighter."

"Yeah," Jack smiled. "And the way it shows off your-" He stopped himself from finishing. "Well, it looks good on you. Let's just leave it at that."

Sven rolled his eyes. He could already the imagine the jokes Jaiden would make tomorrow.

Jack suddenly coughed softly, then looked to Quinar. "Is there anything else that you need to do Quinar?"

The coyote only grinned at that, then turned and began heading for the door, "Oh hush, I know you two want your privacy. But no mating until the tailbone is healed, I don't want to have to drop a cup of fleas on you while your sleeping, Jack."

The wolf flinched at that, then fiddled with his hands for a moment until the coyote shut the door behind him after exiting the room. Then he took one large step forward, sweeping the fox into his arms and pressing his lips firmly to Sven's. The vulpine murred happily into the kiss, melting into Jack's embrace gratefully.

Their closeness and sudden privacy had an immediate effect on the fox. He slid his hand under the wolf's coat.

"You heard what Quinar said," Jack scolded. "Don't make me tie you up for your own good."

Sven snarled playfully. "Fine..."

The wolf picked him, ignoring the yelp of surprise, and carried him over to the bed. It wasn't a large bed, but they didn't need much space. Jack set Sven down gently, maneuvering the fox so he wouldn't come down on his tail.

"On your stomach," Jack said.

"Yes, sir," Sven giggled.

"Not like that, Sven. I don't want you rolling over and hurting yourself." He climbed in and turned on his side, draping an arm and leg over the smaller fur.

"This is almost as bad as the sleeping bag," Sven said, his face muffled against the pillow.

"I didn't hear any complaints."

"And I didn't have any clothes on," Sven quickly pointed out.

"True," Jack laughed and reached out for the end table to turn down the oil lamp.

The wolf pressed against the fox once he had turned down the oil lamp, holding him as they lay in bed. Sven closed his eyes and let loose a small sigh of content. Though after awhile, he opened his eyes again.

"What are we going to do?" He whispered, loud enough for Jack to hear.

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"About... the team? We... We lost two already..."

Jack nuzzled him softly at that. "I know Sven. The only thing we can do is get back to Basil. Since we won't be in much of a rush, we'll be more careful along the way. By the time we get back to Basil, your tail will be healed and I intend to celebrate... privately."

The fox blushed at that, then nuzzled the wolf back before saying. "You didn't answer my question really though. What are we going to do about the missing members?"

"Well, we'll have to wait until we get a replacement point and a replacement wheel. Til then we'll be running simple mail, which means we'll be taking a smaller sled. Lokir will pull that on his own, while the rest of us will carry small courier bags with mail in them. We'll only use the sled for emergencies, and for carrying our supplies, which we'll pack lighter."

"What about Quinar?"

The wolf frowned. "What about Quinar?"

"Well, he said that his chieftain gave him to us as a gift, so that means he'll be able to return to the Tikaani whenever he wants, but he doesn't have to, right?"

Jack eyed him for a moment, then grinned widely. "You want him to stick around, don't you?"

"Well, he is a much better medic than Abel, and he has a nice temperament and doesn't make me wanna bash his teeth in" The wolf chuckled at that.

"Is Abel really that bad?" Sven nodded. "Well, we'll ask Quinar about it in the morning before we leave. If he wants to stick around, I'll be more than happy to accommodate for him, and he'll be welcome."

***

Sven felt a sudden chill. His eyes opened and he realized Jack was already up. He yawned, getting the wolf's attention.

"You've got a few more minutes. I was just getting up to make sure the sled's prepped and ready before we go."

Sven stretched and pulled the covers off. "I'm awake now. I'll come with you." He stood and looked over his shoulder at his tail again. "It's not too noticeable, is it?"

"You're a fox. Your tails are meant to be noticed."

"Not my tail. I mean is it noticeable that it sticks out more?" He reached back and stroked the wide leather band at its base. "I don't want anyone getting the wrong idea about me."

Jack suppressed a laugh. "You look fine, Sven. No one will even notice when you've got your coat on."

They left the room and walked outside. The sled was just as they'd left it, only with a small dusting of snow that lay on the tarp. While the wolf checked over the ropes Sven looked around at the silent town.

"Think they'll be ok?"

Jack looked up. "Copperfox? Yeah. The Icefangs are starting to pull out."

Sven nodded. "You're not worried about why they were here in the first place?" He bent down and scooped up a handful of snow. "There were a lot of them. They could have attacked the town... Why did they want the mine?"

Jack shrugged and retied a line.

Sven shaped a snowball and tried to work out which window was to the room Jaiden slept in. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't banditry about making money? The general store had more useable supplies than the mine. What were the Icefangs planning to do? Lug unrefined ore halfway across the north to find a refinery that would risk buying it? And they'd need a lot just to turn a profit. Like a train worth of-"

"Sven," Jack interrupted. "I don't know. Why are you interested?"

The fox shrugged and pitched the snowball to where it thumped loudly against the side of the building. "Just weird is all. Should we wake the rest of the team now?"

"Could you? I want to be away from here as soon as possible"

Sven nodded at that, then quickly packed another snowball then rushed inside before Jack could ask anything about it. Using his nose, the vulpine eventually found Jaiden's room. He tried the door, finding that it was unlocked. Then with a small snicker, he quietly opened the door. Sven found the wolf sleeping in the bed, snoring softly with one paw behind his head and the other...somewhere else. The fox was thankful that Jaiden wasn't the kind of fur that didn't use the blanket to cover himself up.

Taking aim, Sven shouted, "Attack!!" Jaiden sat bolt upright, his eyes flying open, and was rewarded with a snowball right to the face.

The wolf yelped in surprise at that, then stopped and glared at Sven for a moment. "You.... Come here!!"

The vulpine yelped and rushed out of the room as Jaiden threw off his covers and darted after him. He ran down the hallway, looking over his shoulder when he suddenly ran right into something, or someone. The fox nearly fell on his butt, but he felt someone grab him and prevented that from happening. When he looked, he saw that it was Lokir.

"Sven! Wait until I get my hands on you!" The fox eeped at that, then quickly hid behind Lokir.

Lokir was still half asleep as he held out his arms and separated the two squabbling furs. Another door opened at all the commotion. Quinar stuck his head out.

"Jack wants to get moving," Sven told the furs. "Where's Abel?" He hadn't picked up his scent yet.

Quinar stepped out of his room. "I think he spent the night in his hospital."

Sven nodded. "I'll go get him. And, uh, Jaiden, you have some snow on you." He reached past Lokir to flick the melting slush off Jaiden's shoulder only for the wolf to rush at him. Lucky for the fox, Lokir's reflexes were quick enough to hold Jaiden back again.

Sven laughed and ran from the building while Jaiden shouted after him. He was still laughing when he reached Abel's building. The door was unlocked and he let himself in. The place smell of antiseptic. From the state of the main room, the medic had been hard at work for most of the night. Apart from the four injured furs in residence, many of the locals were taking advantage of their unexpected access to a trained medic and had stopped by in a slow trickle since word first spread.

Sven found Abel slumped at table in the kitchen, asleep next to a half eaten sandwich.

"Hey, Abel, wake up!" The lab stirred a little, then opened his eyes.

"Mm?"

"Come on, everyone is already up and getting ready to leave. Either get up, or we'll leave you here!"

Abel groaned at that, then took out a pocket watch before groaning again. "It's only 6 am... I fell asleep just two hours ago!"

The fox crossed his arms over his chest at that, unable to keep from smirking to himself. "Well it's time to get your lazy ass up then, isn't it? Ah well, I'll just tell Jack that you had decided to stay here in Copperfox."

He turned away, but before he could take a step, he heard the lab grumble loudly. "Alright, alright.. I'm coming."

The vulpine gave a small chuckle, then made his way out of the make shift hospital. He headed back over to where the sled was, finding Jack talking to Quinar. He watched as they shook hands and nodded to each other, his interest becoming piqued.

"What was all that about?" the fox asked after Quinar was out of earshot.

Jack smiled. "That was the ground of us coming to an agreement."

"Really?" Sven's tail attempted to wag only for the leather strap to restrict it.

"Yeah. He told me about how the Tikaani were on the hook for the medicine. I told him how much some of my team has come to respect and admire him and that, obviously, the North Guard would reimburse his pack, but if he wanted stick around with us, he could always tell his pack he's staying to make sure we live up to our promise."

Sven nearly hugged the wolf right then and there but a sharp look from Jack said to keep it professional. "Uh, thank you, Jack. You'll see this was a smart move." He reached out and patted the wolf's arm. It annoyed him how even under that thick coat he could imagine the rough solid mass of muscle that he'd have to wait to touch more intimately. "Oh, that reminds me. Our medic was up most of the night helping the needy," he rolled his eyes.

"You say that like it's a bad thing," Jack grinned.

"He'll be half asleep. Wanna bet how many times he'll fall in the snow?"

"Hmmm, I say ten times, and if I win, you owe me half your pay when we get back" Sven's ears perked a little at that.

"Wait.... we get paid for this?"

"Of course we get paid, hell, Jaiden wouldn't be doing this if we weren't getting paid!"

"Well... alright then, I say fifteen times, and if I win, I get half of your paycheck!" Jack smirked softly at that, then looked over towards where Jaiden was sitting on the sled with his harness on.

"Speaking of Jaiden, what did you do to him? He's been giving you the stink eye ever since you came over."

Sven lowered his ears slightly, then rubbed his arm. "Well... I, uh, I sorta shouted and woke him up, then I, uh.... threw a snowball in his face."

The wolf blinked at that, then smiled widely and chuckled heartedly. "So that's what that snowball was for! Well, you better be prepared for his revenge, he's been sitting over on the sled deep in thought for about ten minutes now. How much ya wanna bet that he's spent the ten minutes thinking of horrible ways to get back at you?"

"I'm sure he'll try," Sven laughed. The fox was no stranger to good natured prank wars.

Jack stretched then called for his team to harness themselves. Abel nearly slipped as he sat down on the sled. The fox and wolf exchanged a grin, and they were off.

***

Jack had his team leaving from the north, wanting to avoid being too near the mine as the Icefangs withdrew. The loss of Davin would slow them down quite a bit, but he'd already resigned himself to taking the return journey slower and more cautiously now that there wasn't a town depending on them.

By their first break they were heading south again. They found a shallow gully that protected them from the wind while Lokir doled out the rations. Sven took the opportunity to work on his scout training. It only took the fox a few minutes to realize what he'd been missing all morning.

"Jack," he called, "that darker patch of sky... are those storm clouds?"

The wolf nodded. "I've been keeping an eye on them. There's a good chance they'll break up before becoming an issue. But good spot," he patted the fox on the head much to the smaller fur's annoyance.

Sven frowned, wondering how he'd missed the gathering mass of clouds and how long it took Samuel to learn all he knew about scouting.

The fox then decided that once he had some time, he would go back to Samuel and continue learning more about scouting. As the team got back on the trail, the fox made sure to keep a careful eye out for anything suspicious. They made good time that day, having no troubles along the trail. When they stopped to have their midday meal in the alcove of an icy glacier, Jack made a comment on how well the day was going so far, but how they should still keep their guard up. As they finished eating, they hooked back up and were on their way again. The lead dog led them up a rise, til they were over-looking a frozen lake. Jack then looked back to Sven.

"Sven, did Sam teach you about standard procedure when crossing a frozen lake?"

The fox thought back. "Yes, sir. I mean, he told me about it. He said there wasn't time for a demonstration. But I can do it."

The wolf was torn. He didn't want to coddle the fox, but this was a dangerous part of the job. He would have felt a lot better if Sven had more training. "What exactly did he teach you?"

"The scout unhooks from the sled and goes first. Then I have to listen for the noises the ice makes. Sam told me that different kinds of cracking and groaning be different things. So I should be able to know when the ice is getting too thin."

Jack stared out at the frozen lake.

Sven could see the wolf considering his options. "I'll be careful," Sven insisted. "A-and it'd probably be safer to cross here rather than go around. There's not a lot of cover on the coastline, and if those clouds bring a storm, we shouldn't let ourselves be caught in the open."

Jack sighed. "Alright. But the first sign of danger, or even the first sign you're unsure of, you come right back to the sled."

Sven saluted, suddenly thankful that Quinar's leather band kept his tail from wagging too noticeably.

The fox unhitched from the sled, then slowly made his way out to the edge of the frozen lake. Cautiously, he took a step out on to the ice. He detected no sound, so he proceeded on. He made it out about thirty feet, before he heard a crack, then froze. His mind began to race at that, quickly figuring out the thickness of the ice from how loud the crack was. He should be alright. Sighing in relief, he continued forward. Every now and then the sound of cracking reached his ears. Finally, he heard a particularly large crack, then stopped, and looked around. He was halfway across the lake. Judging by how loud the crack was, he knew that this was where the ice was the thinnest. But it couldn't possibly hold the weight of all of them and the sled as well. Turning around, he headed back with his new information.

Once he reached the shore, Jack strode forward. "Well? What's the verdict?"

"It's too risky. The ice is too thin in the middle."

The wolf thought about that for a long moment, then pointed to the ice near the shore. "What about that?"

"Huh?" Sven looked to where he was pointing. "Oh that? That ice is two feet thick judging by how thin the ice was in the center. It can definitely hold all our weight, why?"

Jack only nodded, then cleared his throat loudly. "Alright team, we're crossing this lake. Lokir, Jaiden, you know the drill. Grab the two hundred foot rope and anchor as well as the icepicks."

Sven quickly grabbed the wolf by the arm. "Jack are you crazy?? The ice will break!"

"That's my plan." The fox stared at him in shock and confusion. "We make an ice raft big enough for the sled to float on. One of the anchors will be embedded in the ice raft, while four of us go across the lake, carrying the rest of the rope to the other shore. Using the ice picks, the two who will remain on the ice raft with the sled will break apart the ice, allowing the raft to be pulled across the lake by the four on the other shore. Sven, you will go across the lake with Abel, Quinar, and Jaiden. Lokir and I are the strongest in the group here, so we'll need to stay with the sled to make sure that the anchor stays in place and to break and clear away the ice in front of us. Jaiden bring that anchor here!" Jaiden brought over what looked like a metal claw with four sharp spikes on it, all pointing down.

A very long rope was attached to the back of the claw. The wheel dog eyed Sven for a moment, then cleared his throat and said, "Jack here calls this the anchor, but I call it the Ice Claw"

Sven lead the three furs across the lake. He stopped part way to make sure they kept enough space between themselves so as not to overburden the thinner ice, then following his first tracks, they cautiously made it to the far shore.

Reaching the incline of the beach, Jaiden sat down and tossed the remnants of the coiled rope at Sven. "I don't see why I had to carry it the whole way."

Sven and Quinar took the rope over the small embankment of ice that washed up during the North's brief summer before the lake completely froze over. They hammered the clawed metal as deep in as it would go.

Qiunar looked at the long dark strand that ran back to the sled, and the two distant figure who were working to hack loose the ice they were anchored to. "Sven, have you ever seen this process?"

"No. Have you?"

The coyote shook his head and they went back to Jaiden and Abel, readying themselves to pull.

After awhile, Sven perked his ears when he saw the ice raft break free. One of the figures stood up, then waved his paws in the air. The fox looked to the others.

"Alright, heave!" They all began to pull together.

As he pulled on the rope, Sven watched as Jack and Lokir broke and cleared away the ice, making a path for the ice raft to float through. The fox then began to wonder where this idea came from, but then figured that he'd just ask Jack once they got to the shore.

Jaiden grunted, then said, "Keep a tight grip on the rope. It's unlikely that it'll break, but it's not the rope you need to be worried about. I've done this dozens of times with Jack and the rest of the team. Something about the ice breaking apart creates wind currents across the lake, s'pose it's from all that trapped air rushing out from under the ice."

The two distant shapes were pulled closer. Sven could now spot which was Lokir and which was Jack. They swung their picks in unison and in their wake was an ice choked channel that was already beginning to freeze over where the ice raft had been chopped out.

"Hold up," Jaiden shouted.

Sven looked up from the rope. They were signaling something. "What does that mean?" he asked the wolf.

"Their Ice Claw is coming loose. They need a few minutes to re-secure it."

"Few minutes?" panted Abel, "give them an hour if they want."

Jaiden laughed. "I'd be all for that, but if the raft refreezes, it'll make our job twice as hard."

Quinar tapped Sven on the shoulder. "Listen."

Sven's ears perked up. "I don't hear anything."

"That hollow, hissing. Wind."

Now the others were hearing it to. Jaiden swore and leapt to his feet. He began to signal a frantic warning to Jack and Lokir.

Jack looked up from what he was doing when he noticed how the raft was beginning to move on it's own. He blinked when he saw what Jaiden was doing, then narrowed his eyes and cursed to himself.

"Lokir! Secure the anchor!"

Without hesitation, the saber grabbed a hammer off the sled and brought it down hard on the claw. As a result the spikes dug deeper into the ice for a better hold, and that's when the wind hit.

Sven was yanked forward towards th icy cold water, his life flashing before his eyes as he was about to fall into it. Quinar gasped, and quickly lunged, grabbing Sven by the back of his parka and yanking him back. Abel grunted as he was started to get dragged due to the sudden increase of weight. Jaiden snarled loudly, digging his feet into the snow and bracing himself as an anchor, knowing the claw they had over on their side wouldn't hold for very long.

"Grab the damn rope and pull!!"

The four furs grabbed the line and put everything they had into dragging their friends across the lake. The wind was taking the sled in a new direction and for every foot they manage to pull Jack and Lokir, the raft moved a yard east.

Jack's ice raft began to swing further from the straight path they'd been taking. The mass of their thicker ice shattered its own way through the center of the lake. The wolf shouted instructions to Lokir and the two of them set to hacking at the ice in their new route. The friction of the raft meeting solid resistance started to fracture them.

"Not good," the saber grunted, swinging again.

"I see it," Jack said. "If we can just make it to where it's thick enough to support the sled, we can loose the anchor and get off the raft." In truth, the wolf wasn't sure that would be an option for them. They were barely past the center point of the lake and he could already see the splinters turning into cracks.

"If we go down, grab the pull line, I'll cut us free and we might have a chance."

"Freeze to death, rather than drown," Lokir grumbled.

"Then swing faster and let's hope it doesn't come to that!"

Lokir grunted at that, then began swinging his pick even faster and harder, often growling loudly. The ice started giving way a little faster. All of a sudden, the ice raft lurched heavily when it hit something more solid. Jack looked, and saw that they had reached one side of the lake. His ears fell when he heard the raft beginning to break apart.

"Lokir, quickly grab as much as you can off the sled and let's go!" They both rushed to the sled, Lokir managing to grab a good portion of the food and three of the sleeping bags while Jack grabbed one of the large tents.

They both then dashed for solid ground, Jack stumbling and falling as the raft broke apart. Thankfully, the wolf landed in the snow, then sat up and looked back as their sled sank down into the lake. With a heavy sigh, he waved to Sven, letting him know that they were alright.

Sven ran down the coast, followed closely by the others. Jack and Lokir were staggering off the ice, the few supplies they managed to save in tow.

"Jack! Jack, are you ok?" Sven jumped over a mound of ice, skidding to a stop. "Is Lokir alright?"

Jack dropped the packed tent and shook the frost from his fur. "We're ok." He looked back to where the sled sank and amended his answer. "Well, we didn't drown anyways."

Jaiden went to Lokir, taking one of the crates of food he carried. The saber set the rest of his load next to the tent. The team looked at the pile, none of them wanting to say what they were all thinking. The wind howled across the uncaring lake and Sven shivered.

"Is this enough?" the fox whispered.

Quinar answered in the silence. "Tikaani have survived in worse conditions, with far less."

Sven appreciated the sentiment, but even he knew the Tikaani were different. They were raised in this environment. Survival was ingrained in them from birth. The food might last them a few days, but shelter was definitely going to be a more immediate issue.

"Who gets the sleeping bags?" he looked up at Jack.

"Well. We'll stick to our watch schedules. Two on watch, four getting rest. The sleeping bags are big enough to where two of you can share if. Though... it is going to be a little tight.. meaning there are going to be a few things that may happen, whether--"

Jaiden interrupted him at that. "I'm not sharing with Sven."

The grey fox looked to him at that, but before he could say anything Abel spoke up. "And I'm not sharing with Jaiden, have any of you even seen how he sleeps?"

They gave each other the evil eye, and Jack sighed loudly, getting everyone's attention again. "None of you are going to have a say. We're going to pull lots"

The wolf walked over to a long dead tree and snapped a few twigs off. He turned his back and made some adjustments.

"Alright. I've got six sticks, two short, two medium and two long. Now, who wants to go first?" He gripped them so only the tops were visible.

Quinar put his hand up. "I don't understand."

Jack smiled. "You pick a stick. Whoever picks the matching length shares a sleeping bag with you."

The coyote nodded and pulled one of the twigs. Abel picked next. The two furs compared.

"So, I'm not with Abel?" Quinar asked.

Jack shook his head. Lokir drew and glanced at Quinar.

"At least I'll be warm," the coyote laughed as he found he was paired with the big saber.

Jaiden stepped up and grinned. "Who's gonna be the lucky fur?" He yanked a twig, longer than the others. Abel sighed audibly in relief.

"Sven, your turn," Jack said.

The fox's ears flattened. "I- I kind of thought..."

Jack looked at the two remaining sticks. "Under any other circumstances I would. But we are in a bad spot, and I'd rather not have anyone questioning my impartiality."

Sven's tail curled between his legs. "Yes, sir," he said without enthusiasm and picked. Before he could look at what the others had drawn, Jaiden was already protesting loudly.

"Are you kidding me! Jack, don't do this to me. Wolf to wolf, I know you and him want to share a bag. I volunteer to switch with you."

"Not so fast," Abel shouted. "You picked and got Sven. Deal with it. I happen to find my randomly chosen partner quite adequate."

Jack rolled his eyes. "Thanks for the complement, Abel."

Sven growled at Jaiden, "you better sleep with your hands outside the bag tonight!"

Jaiden growled back. "To hell with that! My hands'll freeze by the time I wake up! You're stuck with me, so you have to deal with the fact that my hands are going to be inside, and possibly around you. Though don't go and get any bright ideas!"

The fox narrowed his eyes then looked to Jack accusingly. "Didn't you hear what he just said??"

The wolf groaned, then rubbed his temple before replying, "Sven, I heard what he said. You two should be nicer to each other and stop trying to get on each other's nerves. Think of it as bonding with your teammates, that way you'll share a deeper connection with them."

Jack looked at the sky. "Let's see if we can get a few more miles in before we set up camp."

"Good idea," Sven smirked. "Maybe I can step in another bear trap and spare myself a night with him."

Jaiden glared back. "Oh, I'll gladly put you out of your misery. Wouldn't want you to suffer the indignity of brushing against my hand tonight."

They began to growl and Jack cut in. "Knock it off. I want everyone to load up on what they can carry. Got it?"

The less than happy team obeyed. Lokir took the tent, being the heaviest item. Jack, Quinar and Jaiden split the boxes of food between themselves. Sven took one of sleeping bags and as much of the rope as they could salvage.

"What should I do with the anchor?" he asked.

"Bring it along," Jack said. "Maybe it'll come in handy." It was a good piece of metal, and if things grew desperate, they might be able to trade a trapper or prospector for food.

After they ate some rations, they started packing up. Quinar went around, asking everyone for their harness. Everyone gave them up after asking what he was up to, but the coyote gave them no indication of what he was doing. He went over and crouched down with all of the harnesses, taking out his knife and beginning to do something with his back to everyone else. Sven tried creeping up and looking over his shoulder, but Quinar merely stopped then moved farther away.

"Terribly sorry, I can't let any of you see this."

After several minutes later, the coyote stood up and turned around. He had turned the harnesses into four different... things.

"We can put these one our backs and carry supplies in them. Their like your modern pack, but more reliable."

Sven thought this would have been easier, to march through the snow without the drag of the team's sled. But the loads the furs carried made each of them have to solely endure their own burdens. The team aspect was blurred. Seven, Quinar and the two wolves wore the Tikaani style packs. They did a great job securely holding the cargo, but even Tikaani ingenuity couldn't lessen the weight.

Jack whistled sharply, calling for the procession to halt. He kept looking over his shoulder and Sven thought Jack might be looking at him, but the wolf was making sure the team kept a somewhat uniform pace. Abel kept falling behind, Lokir slowing to watch over him. This left a wide gap in the line.

Jack impatiently looked at the sky. It was starting to get late and he still hadn't found an adequate campsite for the night. He looked around. The only stand of trees was at the base of a low hill. An odd break from the monotonous frozen plains. Sven nodded in that direction, silently urging Jack to give them a rest for the night.

The wolf did not look pleased, but unless they were planning to risk spending the night on the move, he would have to make do.

With a heavy sigh, the wolf looked around one more time, before nodding. "Alright, we'll go make camp in those trees. Could be useful for cover if anything."

The team then headed off for the trees. Once there, Lokir took out the tent and began setting it up while Jaiden and Abel helped him. Quinar set down what he was carrying, then looked up into the trees before going to the nearest one and climbing nimbly up it. Sven watched with interest, and came over to the tree.

"What are you doing up there?" The coyote looked down at him.

"As a coyote, one of my better skills is as a Tikaani Scout. We often use trees as a vantage point, and also use them to our own advantage. From a tree we could keep a look out over a wide area, without having to constantly patrol."

The fox thought deeply about that, then turned and went over to Jack to voice his opinion. "I think we should use the trees as lookout posts."

Jack stopped what he was doing and looked to the fox. "What do you mean by that?"

"Well, according to what Quinar said..." The fox told him what Quinar had said, explaining how they could use the trees to keep an eye over the camp while Jack listened intently to this. "...and if we could make ourselves blend in with the tree more, then we wouldn't have to worry about any maguruq or bandits seeing us and taking us out before raising the alarm."

Jack looked up. The trees were narrow and spindly. He guessed some were dead. "Are you any good at climbing?"

Sven scoffed. "Of course. One of the best." It was a lie, but how hard was it to not fall out of a tree?

Jack rubbed his chin. "Lokir's too big to make it that high. Go see if Abel can help us out when his and Lokir's watch comes up."

Sven gave a quick salute and dashed off to find the medic. Jack laughed to himself and looked back up at the trees. It wasn't a bad idea, assuming no one fell during the night.

Sven jumped over the pile of wood Jaiden was attempting to start on fire.

"Hey!"

Sven turned his head, intending to stick his tongue out, but then he remembered he would be sharing the sleeping the wolf. Better to not make the wolf angry. He came to an abrupt stop and sullenly walked back.

"Sorry about that Jaiden."

The wolf looked up at the fox wearily, his eye flitting to see if the smaller fur was armed with a snowball. "It's alright... just watch where you're running."

Sven bit his tongue, not trusting himself to hold back the many snappy retorts he was considering. Instead, he gave a half nod and continued to look for Abel.

He found Abel going through his medical kit near Lokir, who was preparing a small amount of the rations for everyone.

"Hey Abel, I got a proposition for you!" The medic looked up at that.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, actually Jack wanted to run this by you since I came up with the idea," He didn't want to say that Quinar had come up with the idea, for then Abel probably wouldn't go along with it. "Lokir is too big for the job, so you'll have to do. What I'm talking about is using the trees as look out posts."

The lab thought about that for a long moment, then finally nodded softly. "I suppose I could do that during my watch, it'll give me a better vantage point over the camp and the surrounding area"

Sven smiled as he rushed back to tell Jack the good news. He again passed by Jaiden, who couldn't get the sparks from his flint to catch.

"No luck?"

The wolf barked out a sharp laugh. "I see why you're our scout. Such keen observation." He sat back on his knees and huffed on his cold fingers. "I think the wood has been on the ground too long. It's soaked up too much moisture."

Sven frowned. "There were no axes in that we saved?"

Jaiden shook his head. "I checked. Lokir's got a small hammer with the tent kit, but I'm afraid that's not going to be of much help. See if Jack wants to send some of use deeper into the trees. Maybe there's a sapling we can snap off."

Sven returned to Jack, telling him the good news and the bad. "We need a fire, right, Jack?"

The wolf was quiet for a moment. "I don't like the idea of splitting the team out here. Most of us are down to our sidearms and only as much ammo as we took with us. I'm not sure if I want to risk anyone getting jittery and shooting at shadows."

"But we need the wood for the fire, where else are we going to--"

"Sven please. I have enough to deal with already. If we can't make it back to Basil in three days, our food rations will run out. Have you ever been out in the northern wastes without food? Water is easy to come by, just melt some snow and there you have it. But food? That's more difficult."

The fox lowered his ears at that, but then perked them up again. "Let me take a look at something, I haven't really used it very much because I'm not too familiar with the land."

He reached into his parka, then took out a map. Opening it up, he began looking over it. Jack came over and looked over his shoulder. After a long moment, the vulpine looked back at him.

"Uhm, a little help?"

The wolf smirked softly, then leaned closer, planting a swift kiss on the side of Sven's muzzle before pointing to a section of the map. "We're approximately here."

Sven eyed their location, then looked around for a moment before pointing at a small dot. "That says Outpost. Can we head there?"

"We could. But I'm not even sure whether or not the outpost actually has someone there. It's not really a go to place for the North Guard, more for the Military Corps than anything else."

Sven put his fingers to the map then held them up, showing jack the distance between his finger and thumb. "It's only this far. Don't you think it's worth a look?"

Jack sighed and took the fox's hand in his. "Sven, that's half a day's walk, in good weather. If those gathering clouds whip themselves into a storm-"

"Then it would be safer to wait it out in a shelter that's more sturdy than that canvas tent," Sven cut in.

Jack opened his mouth, closed it to reconsider, then started again. "Maybe. But only if the weather looks bad in the morning. If their isn't a significant chance we'll find ourselves in a blizzard, we're not chancing a stop that's out of our way and might be empty." He put his hand on the fox's shoulder. "Should we go see if Lokir's got the rations ready?"

Sven nodded and they started to walk.

"Hey, Jack?" Sven looked at the wolf, "if it means anything, the army is a whole lot more likely to just leave supplies behind, even if they've mothballed the outpost. After seeing the North Guard, you'd be amazed at how much gets wasted."

Jack snorted. "Our tax dollars at work."

As it turned out, Lokir already had the rations sorted out and was already eating. He looked up as the two furs approached, eyeing them both at the moment then motioning to a pair of rations. Sven grinned softly, grabbing both then handing one to Jack.

"Oui Jack, Sven talked to you about the wood?" Jaiden came over, grabbing a ration then leaning against a nearby tree.

"Yeah, I'm not going to send anyone out to get wood. Sven already brought to my attention something that could possibly be of use to us, but we'll have to see whether or not it plays out in the morning. As soon as everyone's done with rations, I want everyone except the two who are going to be on watch first, which will be Quinar and I, to get whatever they need to do done, then head in to bed"

Sven and Jaiden whined in unison. The proceeded to eat as slow as they could, drawing out the inevitable. When Jack's temper finally got the best of him and ordered the two into the tent, they ran. Jack was not a wolf anyone wanted to deal with in a bad mood.

They stood looking down at the sleeping bag. Sven could have sworn it looked smaller than it used to.

Jaiden smacked Sven's arm. "Let's make a deal. No pranks until we're out of danger. Agreed?"

Sven rubbed his arm where the wolf had gotten his attention. He took Jaiden's offered hand and shook. "And nothing weird, ok?"

Jaiden looked shocked. "Whatever do you mean?"

Sven started to snarl. "Try to keep your hands off of me... And keep them off yourself while you're at it."

"Hey, no promises! I only do what comes natural."

Sven sighed angrily.

Jaiden walked around the sleeping bag. "Ok, don't take this the wrong way, but how did you and Jack manage?" Jaiden laughed at the fox's expression. "Don't look so surprised. I told you word gets around quick in these parts. So tell me, how did you squeeze in there?"

Sven's snarl grew. "Not that it's any of your business, he went in first, and I slid over him."

"I bet you did," Jaiden winked.

"Yeah, well it was easier because we weren't wearing this thick gear-" he eyes widened. "Jaiden, no! Leave your clothes on!"

The wolf stopped in the middle of taking off his parka, then eyed the fox. "Sven come on. We can't possibly fit in there while wearing our gear. I'm just taking off my parka and whatever gear I have on. I have a shirt on underneath all this, and the pants... well I was planning on leaving them on anyway. They're thin enough."

"Just, keep your clothes on! I'm not sleeping with you while you have your clothes off!" The words slipped out before he could even realize what he said.

Jaiden smiled widely at that, take the opportunity as it had been given. "Oh? So is that it huh? You only sleep with other guys while they have their clothes on? Kinky."

Sven's face turned bright red at that. "I-I didn't mean it like that! Just, ugh! Fine, take off your clothes, whatever" He crossed his arms over his chest at that.

The wolf smirked, the stripped off his parka and all of his gear until he was only wearing a long-sleeve shirt and his pants. Quickly, he slipped into the sleeping bag then smirked up at the fox.

"I'm waiting~" He teased. "Oh, and take off your gear as well. I get hot pretty quickly."

Sven groaned. He glanced at the tent flap, wondering he was willing to risk Jack's wrath and see if he could argue for a switch with anyone else. His ears flattened and he knew it wasn't worth it. Then turning and slipping out of his coat he hurried to the sleeping bag.

"Put your arms up," he motioned, "just until I get in."

Jaiden could barely contain his laughter as Sven knelt next to him and stretched his leg into the bag. The fox began to crawl backwards, pressing against the wolf.

"What's that?" Jaiden asked.

Sven froze, realizing what it was the wolf was talking about. "Nothing!" he sped up his efforts to wiggle in next to the wolf.

"No, that thing on your tail-"

"It's nothing. And if I feel you touch it, I will bite you."

"Is that so Jack has easy access?"

Sven made a final push and got his shoulders into the bag. "That's not funny."

Jaiden shook his head. The fox was spooned against his side. He was able to pull his one arm in, but the other couldn't get past Sven. He shrugged and did the best he could.

Sven yelped in surprise. "Are you putting your arm around me?"

"Don't flatter yourself. I'm just trying to keep my hand warm."

"Jaiden," he growled, "your hand is going down my shirt."

The wolf pulled it back. "Not my fault. I can't see through you."

Sven huffed and was quiet for a moment. Then Jaiden broke the silence. "So what is it? That ring on your tail. I won't be able to sleep until I know."

Sven growled and wondered what was taking Lokir and Abel so long.

The fox tensed as he felt the wolf wrap his arm around him a bit more. "It's nothing, now just let it go."

"Aw c'mon, there's obviously something wrong with your tail if you're being this elusive. Seriously though, you need to tell me. What if I start screwin' around and hurt you by accident?"

The vulpine shot him a look at that. "What do you mean by screwing around?"

"Easy there, I'm just yanking your tail."

"Don't do that either!"

It was Jaiden's turn to give him a look now. "Seriously though, tell me."

Sven let loose a deep sigh, then laid his arm across the wolf's stomach. He had been trying to remain as comfortable as possible, but keeping his arms at his side wasn't quite working out so he gave up and moved it to the best possible place for comfort.

"It's a kind of splint."

"A splint? For what? Did you break your tailbone or something?"

The fox shook his head at that. "No, it didn't break. There's a hairline fracture as Quinar had diagnosed it as. So please, no yanking or pulling on my tail?"

The wolf nodded softly at that. "I can respect that."

They both laid there silently for a several moments, before Sven spoke up. "Jack said you're only doing this for the money."

Jaiden perked his ears, then looked to the fox. He studied him for a moment, before looking back up at the ceiling of the tent. His answer came slowly.

"Yes.... and no. The money is a great motivator, yeah, but there are other reasons why I'm here."

"Like what?"

"Well... I guess you can say I'm running away from the life I had down south. I was raised by a rich family, born with a silver spoon up my ass as the lower class often called it. But as I grew older, I realized that the rich life wasn't for me. Sure, I could get anything I wanted, but there was something that didn't seem right to me. When I turned sixteen, my grandfather told me that I was going to inherit the family business... well I guess you can say that I couldn't take it anymore, so I ran away later that night. Took some of my savings with me, and hopped on the next train North. I had learned of the North Guard, people who went out of their way to help the poor. Search and rescue, that sounded like the life I wanted."

Sven listened silently as Jaiden talked, speaking up only when he fell silent "So you ran away because you didn't want the responsibility? Or was there something more?"

Jaiden looked back to him, an eyebrow raised. "Where did you get that from? But yeah, you're partly right. I didn't want the responsibility of managing one of the biggest companies in the Southern Colonies, and I felt like it wasn't the life for me."

Sven opened his mouth to ask something else, when the tent flap opened up and Lokir and Abel came into the tent. Abel was grumbling to himself as he came over to the other sleeping bag, stopping only to eye Sven and Jaiden.

"Comfortable are we? You're lucky. Jack decided to switch things around a little so now I have to share a bag with Lokir so that Quinar and Jack will take the fist watch." The labrador began taking off whatever gear he had as Lokir looked down at the two furs in the sleeping bag.

"I hope you two are getting along. Jack said that there won't be anymore lots. Who we sleep with now, we're stuck with until we get to Basil, or until we get more sleeping bags."

Sven sighed at the news and shut his eyes. Sleep did not come easy with the wolf fidgeting against him while giving Lokir and Abel sarcastic advice on how they could both fit in their sleeping bag.

***

Something nudged the fox's side. He growled and pushed his nose deeper into the soft warms. Another nudge and he opened his eyes.

"Gah!" he yelped as he realized he'd twisted himself to where he was using Jaiden's arm as a pillow and nuzzling into his neck.

Jaiden's eyes were already open, looking at Sven with an amused smirk. Abel was standing over him, having lightly kicked him awake.Sven started to scramble out ot of the bag as fast as he could so the others could take their place.

"Anyone tells Jack about that, and I will literally kill them," he whispered harshly and looked for the big wolf. He saw Jack was sleeping with his back to the coyote, facing the tent wall.

Jaiden started laughing and Abel rolled his eyes. The fox was a little disappointed that Jack wasn't the one to wake him up, even if it would have taken a good amount of explanation. He tugged on his parka and closed it against the chilly air.

"Look for the tree with all the loose needles on the ground. It's the easiest to climb," Abel yawned and looked to purposefully work his way into the already sleeping saber's arm. The cold taking precedence over propriety. Sven found it hard not to smile at two furs, even if he found the medic arrogant.

"Let's go, Sven," Jaiden slapped him on the back and started guiding him into the even colder air outside of their tent.

The fox began looking for the tree that Abel had told him about as soon as he got outside. Jaiden called out to him as he went off.

"Oui! Keep a sharp look out alright? If you see anyone or anything out there, either let me know, or take a shot" Sven nodded at that, looking back over his shoulder for a moment.

This ended up with him tripping over a log and falling flat. Jaiden barked out a laugh as he came over.

"Hey, you alright Swish?"

The fox's ears perked up immediately at that, and he got up in a hurry before turning to face the wolf. "What did you just call me?"

Jaiden held his hands up, a look of innocence coming onto his face. "Now, now, don't get all hackled up! It's just an innocent nickname, y'know? I'm the one who usually comes up with the nicknames, then everyone catches on and it sorta.. becomes a thing really. I've been trying to come up with a nickname for you, but I haven't been able to think of anything. Now that I learned about your tail injury, I couldn't help but think how foxes sometimes have an affinity for their tails and all, and so I thought Swish, that would be a good name right? But... if you don't like it, then it's fine, whatever.." He turned about and walked away, his hands in his pockets and his ears lowered.

Sven began climbing. He thought about 'Swish.' It wasn't the worst nickname he'd picked up. He decided he could live with it and would let Jaiden know at breakfast.

It was easy to see the route Abel and Quinar used to scale the tall pine. And when he reached a good height, he could even see where some of the thinner branches had been snapped off or cut with a knife to give a better view. Sven looked to the north, seeing the thin line that marked their trail. It stretched into the darkness.

To the east was the low hill on the other side of the cluster of trees they'd camped in. He could see well over the top of it and as far as he could tell the snow on it was untouched. Not even feral tracks. To the south, the direction of Basil, was another long stretch of open ground. Snow drifts gave it a colorless desert appearance, it made Sven thirsty.

To the west, where the outpost was marked on his map, the ground looked more uneven. It made him wonder if Jack might have been off in his calculation. If they went for it, it might take them an entire day just to get there. He frowned, caught between wishing for good weather and a speedy return to Basil, and hoping Jack would try for the out post, making their journey more bearable. He was glad he wasn't the fur who had to make the call.

He looked down, spotting Jaiden as he made a slow wide circle around their sole tent. A grin twisted the fox's lips when he thought what an easy target for a snowball his teammate made. But he remembered his promise. No more pranks until they were out of danger.

"Swish," he said softly to himself. The name sounded nicer than he'd thought.

He stayed up in the tree for over two hours before he suddenly spied out a shape. His ears went flat when he saw that the figure had come out only about twenty feet from the campsite. Where did it come from? Jaiden was looking the other way, and wouldn't have any time to react. In the dim light, the fox was able to make out that the figure had antlers, so a deer perhaps? Or a caribou maybe? All of a sudden, whatever the fur was reached into the folds of their clothing, and Sven panicked. He yanked out his revolver and aimed.

"Jaiden get down!!" The wolf spun about at that, seeing the figure.

"No Sven wai--"

Whatever Jaiden was going to say was cut off by the sound of Sven's revolver going off. The figure fell to the ground, then laid still. The fox climbed down from the tree and hurried over to where the wolf was kneeling down next to what Sven could confirm was a caribou... in what looked like tribal clothing.

Jaiden sat back, staring at the corpse. "I told you to wait."

"What? I didn't hear you! I-I just saw him start pulling something out, I thought it was a gun!"

The wolf reached out and grabbed what the caribou was holding in his hand. It was a piece of white antler with a cloth wrapped around it. He then showed it to the fox.

"This is a sign of peace!"

"I-I didn't know, honest! Is he... is he Tikaani?"

The wolf dropped the antler onto the ground, then rubbed his temple. "No, he's Tukluk. The other major tribe in the North. They're just as numerous as the Tikaani tribe, and often just as dangerous when it comes to hostility. I don't think you grasp the situation yet, what you just did here? The Tukluk will take it as a declaration of war."

The fox felt his heart sink at that. "I-I....I.....m-maybe they won't find out, right? There's that possibility.. right?"

At that moment they both heard Jack's voice. "What the hell happened? I just heard a gunshot."

"Swish just signed our death warrant," Jaiden said to Jack.

Sven growled. "You're the one that said if I see anyone or anything, to take the shot!"

"I also said to tell me!"

"There wasn't time to-" Sven started.

"He was a peace envoy!" Jaiden shouted him down.

"A peace envoy that creeps around in the dark, without announcing himself?"

Jack was kneeling, examining the body. "Will you two shut up?"

The arguing furs were not finished. Jaiden picked up and threw the antler at the fox. "Maybe they thought announcing themselves would get them shot if we were bandits."

Sven snapped his jaws. "Well sneaking up on us did turn out to well for him, now did it?"

Jack sprang up and grabbed them both by the front of their coats. "That's enough." he roared. "One more word out of either of you, and I will tie your muzzles shut and make you carry an extra load. Got it?"

The stunned furs nodded, both with their ears back. Sven could feel a whimper rising in his throat before Jack let go of them with a shove as the others arrived. Quinar's eyes went wide, immediately recognizing the severity of the situation.

Jack ignored the flurry of questions. "We have to explain ourselves. An incident like this is going to get settlers killed."

"No," Quinar said desperately, "bury the body, and let's run! They are not forgiving."

"They will find the body eventually and that'll make it all the worse."

"But-"

"Quinar. You're not North Guard and this isn't your fault. If you wish to leave, we'll leave your name out of this."

The coyote hesitated, looking from the dead fur out into the dark wastes. "N-no. I'm sworn to stick with you. No matter the outcome, we'll stand together."

Jack nodded at that, then let loose a heavy sigh as he stared down at the corpse of the Tukluk. "Alright then. Now all we have to do is wait for them to come to us. Which I would think it won't be a long wait. Usually their scouts move ahead of a patrolling party. Let's hope they won't be out for blood when they learn of this, or we'll be the first casualties. Sven, Quinar, Jaiden, take this fellow here and bring him into the camp, lay him down by the tent with the antler on his chest. When the patrol arrives, I'm going to be the one to meet them. Sven you'll be coming along as well, and so will Jaiden, since he was witness to this."

The fox felt his gut tighten a little at that, but without any question he helped Jaiden and Quinar take the caribou into camp. Once they set him by the tent, the fox looked to Quinar.

"How... How bad is this?

The coyote looked to him calmly. "It is very bad. I suggest that you pray to whatever gods you have. For there is a chance that none of us will live through the night... though, some of us do have a better chance of surviving, if things take a turn for the worse." He looked pointedly at Sven, and the fox lowered his ears, thinking back to a rather unsavory memory.

Sven pulled out his revolver and replaced the spent bullet.

"Seriously?" Jaiden raised an eyebrow.

Sven's ears flattened. "One is for me. I-if they-" he shuddered and choked back the memories. "I won't let them take me. I can't go through it again."

Jaiden's face changed. "Sven... You're one of us now. I'd never let that happen to you." He looked around wearily and threw an arm around the fox, giving him a comforting hug. "None of us would let that happen to you. Alright?"

Sven nodded, swallowing the emotion that was welling up. "What happened to 'Swish?'" he managed at last.

Jaiden laughed. "I didn't think you liked it."

"It grew on me."

"Right, Swish," the wolf smiled, "let's go see if Jack wants us to do anything else. I hate waiting around for things to happen."

"Me too," Sven said, surprised they had even this small thing in common. "I know he won't let us, but I'd rather Jack let us go looking for the Tukluks."

"I know what you mean," Jaiden patted the fox on his shoulder, wondering if Jack had a plan B up his sleeve if things went as bad as Quinar feared.

Jack called both of their names, and they hurriedly came over. Sven looked about, seeing if any of the Tukluk had arrived. It seemed that they had not.

"The Tukluk will both here soon, I can smell their scent on the wind. Now--"

"What do we do if things turn bad?" Sven had interrupted Jack.

The wolf looked to him just as calmly as Quinar had. "There won't be much we can do if things go bad. Hopefully they'll have mercy on those who don't put up a fight... but I sure as hell won't go down without one."

The courage in the wolf's words put replaced Sven's doubts with his own courage and he nodded softly with a small, grim smile to Jack. At that moment, Jaiden cleared his throat.

"Jack, they're here." The wolf then turned to look, and Sven felt his heart sink a little when he saw the group of caribou coming towards them.

Doing a quick count, there looked to be eleven, no, twelve altogether.

They came to a stop about ten yards out, only one of them kept getting closer. Leather bands hung with carved bone beads adorned the antlers of the probable leader. He held a staff and wore a long robe over his layers of skins.

Sven balled his hands into fists to keep them from shaking or wandering too near his gun.

Jack raised his hands, show he was unarmed. "Hello."

The caribou extended his free hand, shaking Jack's. "Greetings, North Guard."

They recognized the coats, Sven thought, that had to be a good sign.

"There's been an accident," Jack said cautiously.

"We sent a messenger," the Tukluk looked about, his eyes returning to Jack.

The wolf shook his head. "There was nothing we could do. It was dark, one of my team, he thought-"

"Where is he?"

Jack glanced at Sven and Jaiden, his plan to explain the situation before emotions ran high was already falling apart. "We took him into our camp, knowing you would come for him. It truly was tragic, and I assure you we meant no harm to the Tukluk. Bandits and maguruq. We've lost two of our own this-"

"Show me to my messenger."

Sven and Jaiden could see Jack's worry. "This way," the wolf sighed.

They walked to the tent, Quinar was nowhere to be seen, but Lokir and Abel stood watch over the body. The Medic's face was easy to read, but the larger fur kept his mask of neutral ambivalence, hiding weather he was as nervous as the rest.

The Tukluk knelt down by the body, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he placed his hand on over the fallen caribou's heart and murmured something inaudible, before rising to his feet and looking to Jack.

"You mentioned that one of your team did this? Was it him?" The caribou pointed right at Sven, whose ears went completely flat.

Jack looked a bit surprised at that, but then nodded softly. "Yes... it was. But it was an acci--"

"I wish to speak with him alone, among my own party, and unarmed." The caribou's eyes had strayed down to where the fox was now clutching at the grip of his gun.

Jack hesitated only for a moment, then came over to the vulpine, reaching down and gripping his clenched hand. "Let go of the gun Sven." Tears threatened to flow from the vulpine's eyes, and the wolf laid back his ears. "Sven please, let go of the gun. For me?"

Sven's heart sank at that, and he closed his eyes and forced himself to release the grip of his revolver.

The wolf took the gun, then looked to the caribou. "Alright... take him... but please, don't hurt him."

The Tukluk came over, and placed his hand on Sven's shoulder. "I do not plan to. Whatever comes of our decision, I will bring him back to you. He is in my charge, and therefore will be treated with respect."

"Wh-what are you going to do to me?" Sven whispered as the caribou lead him away from camp, away from Jack.

"There are questions."

"Ask me anything! I swear I'll tell the truth, just please don't take me away," the fox's tail started to ache as it tried to curl itself against the leather brace.

The caribou shook his head, making the hanging beads clack against each other. "You took a life, fox, how much easier would it be to lie?"

Sven tried to argue but his tongue refused to cooperate when he saw the other Tukluk again. Their leader motioned to one of the others, a younger looking caribou, his antlers still small and blunt, to come forward. Sven whimpered, fearing the worst.

"Hold him, but do not harm him."

The younger caribou was still much larger than the fox, meaning Sven had no say in the matter when the vice like hands clamped down on his arms. He watched the other Tukluk begin speaking to the others. His voice was low and Sven wasn't entirely sure he would understand the language even if he could hear. After a hellish eternity of waiting, his captor returned with a caribou that looked even older. Impossibly old, Sven thought. He only realized it was a female when she removed her hood revealing a lack of antlers.

"You take this," her words were dry and cracked, tinged with a thick accent.

Sven looked wearily at the hand that came out from her billowing robes. It looked like woodchips, maybe dried mushrooms. He shook his head, "P-please... what are they?"

"You eat. You speak only truth."

Sven shuddered, straining against the younger caribou's hold. His eyes started to cloud over with unshed tears.

"I promised your companion," said their lead, "that I did not intend to hurt you. Do not make me force you to obey."

Reluctantly, the fox opened his mouth. The female caribou deposited whatever it was onto his tongue, without any fear of the sharp canines of his upper and lower jaws. Sven closed his mouth, and began to chew, his face scrunching a little at the bitter taste before he swallowed. Almost immediately the vulpine began to feel a little strange, and the female caribou stepped forward and gently grabbed him by the chin, lifting up his head so he had to look into her eyes. After a moment, she gave a nod, then looked to the lead Tukluk.

"He is ready." With that, she stepped back, and he stepped forward.

"My messenger was sent to your camp after we saw your tent amongst the trees. Our own encampment is not too far away, and we saw you cross the frozen lake. Our scouts followed you until they reported you going into the woods. Why are you here?"

Sven panted softly for a moment, then looked to him, a little dazed from the strange feeling whatever he had eaten was giving him. "We... we lost our sled when we crossed the lake... had to keep going on foot. We camped in the trees so that bandits or maguruq wouldn't ambush us..."

The caribou eyed him for a moment, then looked to the elder, who nodded softly before he then continued. "We waited for our messenger to return, we had given him a sign that we meant you no harm. But then we all heard the gunshot, so our strongest warriors and our elder came with us. Did you kill our messenger?"

"Y-Yes, I did. It was a mistake that I made--"

"What motivated you to kill him?"

Sven stopped at that, then panted a couple more times before replying. "I didn't know who, or what, he was. When he reached into his clothing, I thought he was pulling out a gun so I... I shot him."

The elder's ears perked at that, and she came forward a little before asking, "You did not know he was Tukluk?"

"N-No... I'm new to the North, just came in from the South on a train last week or so... this was my first run...."

She then looked to their lead, and said, "He does not know of Northern Culture, or of the tribes that wander the wastes. He did not kill your messenger out of hostility, but out of a desire to protect his allies from what he saw was the unknown. He is innocent, and so are his comrades."

The lead caribou nodded softly, before nodding to the younger one who held Sven. The young caribou let go of the fox, then the elder held his chin again.

"We apologize for this inconvenience, North Guard. The mushrooms you ate will last for a remaining six hours. Come, I will walk with you back to your comrades, and tell them what transpired here as well as let them know about the effects of the mushrooms."

Sven walked back in a daze. The world felt unreal, like the backdrop in a play he'd once seen.

"I... don't like this. It... scares me." He blurted it out with our thinking and with little control over the words.

"Do not despair, fox. You will be yourself by midday."

Sven sighed and stared at the ground until he heard Jack's voice.

"Sven!"

The fox didn't wait for the caribou's blessing. He ran full speed through the trees and into the wolf's arms. He choked on a dry sob when the relief washed over him. Jack pulled him away, looking him over. "You weren't hurt, were you?"

Sven shook his head. "My arm is sore from where I was held, and they made me eat disgusting mushrooms, and I feel weird, but they didn't try to hurt me."

"Jaiden, Abel, get him in the tent."

Sven looked around. The entire team was gathered, and armed by the looks of it. Lokir even had the hammer used for the tent spikes tucked in his belt. The fox looked up and smiled. Quinar was in a tree, hidden in the thick pine branches. He had his gun out and trained on the Tukluk who slowly approached Jack again.

"What did they say? Are they going to kill us?" Jaiden prodded in a harsh whisper as he and the medic ushered Sven into the tent.

Sven could not stop himself from giving the wolf a breathless recap of his time in the hands of the Tukluk.

Jaiden sighed with a little bit of relief at that. "Well, if it was like that, then I don't think we'll have to worry about getting killed."

Abel nodded in agreement at that. "If they decided that it was a mistake, then there shouldn't be anything to worry about, should there be?"

"No, there shouldn't." All three of them turned to see that Jack had entered the tent. "The elder told me everything that had happened, and the Tukluk in charge of the group said that it was all just a simple mistake through lack of knowledge. They're not going to let something like this slide again though, so next time, be more careful."

Jaiden looked glanced to Sven for a moment, then back to Jack. "What's wrong with Sven? He seems a little... out of it."

With that Abel grabbed hold of the vulpine's muzzle and turned his head so that he could look directly into his eyes and after a moment, the labrador said, "His pupils are dilated. What kind of mushrooms did they give him?"

"Jack cleared his throat softly, then said, "The mushrooms were some sort of... natural truth serum from what the elder told me. For the next several hours, Sven won't be able to tell nothing but the truth."

Jaiden grinned widely at that, then looked to the fox. "Oh really now? Heh, well if that's the case, Sven what do you think of me? While you're at it, were you comfortable when you were sleeping with me?"

Jack raised an eyebrow at that, then opened his mouth to say something but Sven beat him to the punch.

"I think you're funny... and annoying. I want to punch you but I won't. And you're soft. I should have let you take off your clothes like you wanted. I bet you're soft all over. Would have been so comfortable."

Jack glared at Jaiden, rage in his eyes.

"It's not like that!" He jumped back. "I just said we couldn't fit in there with our coats on! That's all, I swear."

Jack took a step toward the other wolf.

Jaiden yelped. "Sven, quick, what do you think of Jack!" He tripped over the other sleeping bag and covered his head with his arms.

"I think I love him."

Jack froze. The all froze, except the glossy eyed fox who swayed a little.

"What?" Jack asked.

"I don't know," Sven hummed, "I don't think I've ever been in real love. I think this is what it feels like. I don't even mind it when you're bossy and jealous."

Jaiden started to laugh but one sharp look from Jack had him covering it with a cough.

Abel shook his head. "This is probably unethical. He has no control over what he's saying, and as a representative of the United Territories medical community, I really must insist we not abuse his condition. I want both of you out-"

"I think you're a prick," Sven said to Abel without prompting. "You were really caring to the furs who needed you in Copperfox, but Quinar is my friend, and I didn't like how you treated him."

Jack and Jaiden burst into laughter.

Abel rolled his eyes. "Regardless of Sven's condition, I have taken an oath. Now please, let's give him a little privacy while we assess if it will be safe to travel while he's under the influence of whatever the Tukluk's gave him."

"Alright alright, we're on our way." Jack waved the medic waved, then motioned to Jaiden. "Come on Jay, let's tell the others the good news"

Jaiden nodded at that, then began following him out. Once Jack was gone however, he stopped then waited for a moment before looking to Sven.

"See ya later Swish, get well alright?"

The fox nodded with a grin, giving the wolf a wave before watching as Jaiden left. Abel sighed audibly, then grabbed him and moved him over to a sleeping bag before having him sit down.

"Alright, it'll be best if you don't say anything from now on, at least until the effects of the mushrooms wear off. So you just stay right here, and don't go anywhere, alright? I have to go for a quick moment and grab my medical kit on the sled, don't move from that spot." With that, the lab got up then left the tent, leaving Sven by himself.

***

"We're not in any immediate threat," Jack explained to Quinar for the third time. "You can get out of that tree now."

The coyote took one more look into the dark woods, pausing to listen. Then he slid down the rough trunk and landed crouched next to Jack. "Apologies, but you would be extra cautious too if you knew what the Tukluk were capable of." He eased his gun back into its holster. "Sven looked alright from what I could see. They didn't..."

Jack blinked. "No. No, they didn't hurt him. But they gave him some mushrooms that are having a weird effect."

Quinar's ears twitched. He looked past Jack, at Abel running back into the tent with what was left of his gear. "Weird effects? Is it serious? I do have knowledge of my pack's medicine."

Jack gave a quick shake of his head. "Nothing serious. It seems to have acted as a truth serum. The caribou said it would wear off in about six hours, and Abel doesn't seem worried."

The coyote nodded. "Can I see him? Just as a friend, not a healer."

Jack rubbed the back of his head. "Well, I'm sure he would like the company, but I wasn't kidding when I said truth serum. Potent stuff whatever it was."

Jaiden nudged the bigger wolf. "Jack, you're leaving out the best part."

"You heard what Abel said," Jack growled. "It was unethical to hear that."

"Yeah, but we did. Now the question is how you're going to deal with it."

Jack tried to muster up anger at the other wolf's prying, but he couldn't. Jaiden had a point. "I'll talk to him when he's better. Alone, this time."

Jaiden gave an exaggerated frown and a quick laugh.

Quinar made his way over to the tent, opening up the flap and going inside. He found Abel tending to Sven, who was laying down on top of the sleeping bag, answering a question every now and then. The lab perked his ears when he saw the coyote enter the tent, then narrowed his eyes a little.

"I told Jack not to let anyone in here. Sven needs his rest."

"Really? Cause it was Jack who let me in here in the first place. As Sven's friend, I should be able to keep him company if I want to." Abel didn't bother in trying to hide his displeasure at that.

"I don't need any of your foolhardy healing, I'm perfectly capable of--"

"Being a, what do they call it? Oh yes, I overheard Jack and Jaiden saying something about you being a prick, and I absolutely agree with them."

Abel growled, rising to his feet with his paws clenched. But at that moment Jack poked his head into the tent. "Abel, come out here and give them some privacy."

"What? I need to stay here and make sure that Sven's condition doesn't get any--"

Jack interrupted him. "It's not going to get worse. Now come out here, there's something I wish to discuss with you involving the manner of your employment with my team."

Abel's ears shot up at that, and he nodded quickly before leaving the tent. Once outside, he followed Jack over to where Jaiden had managed to get a fire going, sitting beside him on a fallen log.

"I'm glad that you've decided to hire my services, I know that as lead dog you're in charge of who works as part of your team, and I can be of great use--"

"I'm not going to hire you."

The statement shocked Abel, and he fell silent for a moment, before asking, "W-Why not? You need a medic on the team, Vandala had recommended me, didn't she?"

"Yes, she did, and I told her that I'd test your skills out here in the wastes while we're on the job. You do fine work, don't get me wrong."

"Then what is the problem?"

Jack looked at him calmly for a moment. "It's your attitude. Already you've made a habit of getting on the bad side of my team, and the negativity isn't a good thing, not for my team. We found a more reliable, replacement with a better attitude and perhaps even better skills. He knows the lay of the land and it's secrets far more than you do, so I'd think he'd be better suited for the job. I'll ask him after we're through here if he'd like to be hired on, or what it would take for his services to become more permanent. I'm even willing to negotiate with his tribe's chieftain. Thank you for your services Lieutenant, I can't say it's been a pleasure."

The dark-furred wolf then got up from where he was sitting, then left the medic sitting by himself on the log.

***

Quinar sat next to Sven. "I hear you've temporarily lost control of your tongue."

Sven sighed with a soft smile.

"Don't worry, Sven, I will try not to phrase anything as a question."

"Thanks," Sven said. "I'm still a little fuzzy, but I'm pretty sure I've said things I shouldn't have."

The coyote put a hand on Sven's head, feeling his temperature. "If it was the truth, it can't be a bad thing."

"If only that was the case. Maybe things are perfect in the Tikaani packs, but where I come from, truth can get you hurt."

Quinar tilted his head. "Things are far from perfect where I come from, but honesty is a virtue for every fur, for every society... Well, it should be anyways."

The tent flap opened and Jack came in. Sven immediately sat up and started to tell the wolf how glad he was to see him, even if it had only been a few minutes. Jack smiled uncomfortably.

"How are you feeling?"

Sven's eyes lost focus as he stared at the blotch that was Jack. "Confused. Cold. A little hungry... What happened to Abel? Wasn't he just here?"

Jack and Quinar exchanged looks.

"He's smaller than the typical Tukluk. They might not have taken that into account when giving him the medicine," the coyote offered his opinion. "He doesn't say he's feeling ill, so I think it'll pass through as the caribou said, but we can expect his mind to be clouded for a time."

Jack knew then that he'd made the right choice. The Tikaani was a natural when it came to medical thinking. And his bedside manner was leagues ahead of Abel. Their medic might have his heart in the right place, but he was not as good of a fit as the coyote.

Going over, Jack placed a hand on the coyotes arm, and Quinar looked to him, his eyes searching through the wolf's, trying to guess what he was doing. "Quinar, could I have a word?"

"Is it important? I wanted to spend some more time here with Sven before I had to go off and do anything." The wolf nodded softly at that.

"Well we can talk here, in fact I think I want Sven to hear this as well," he looked to the fox, waiting until his eyes returned to normal to continue. "Quinar, I was hoping that you'd like to become a more permanent part of our team."

Sven perked his ears at that and looked to Quinar hopefully, the coyote laying back his own ears. "A more permanent part? I already told you that I was a gift to your team, and that I am sworn to you."

"I know this, but what if you're chieftain decides to take you back? As soon as I get to Basil, I'm going to make a request to our Head. I'll go out and meet with your chieftain, and set up a deal with him so that you can become a permanent part of our team."

The coyote dipped his head in thought. "I... I think I would like that." He raised his head, nodding in agreement with his own decision. "Your team is in agreement with you?"

"Our team now," Jack smiled, "and I can't imagine any objections. You fit right in with us."

The Tikaani grinned at that. "Thank you, Jack. It feels good to be wanted."

"To be fair, this was kind of Sven's idea."

Both the fox and coyote looked surprised.

"You talked to me about this," Jack told Sven. "Out by the sled, in Copperfox, after..." he could see the fox wasn't getting it. "Don't worry, Sven. It'll come back to you once those damn mushrooms wear off." The wolf patted Sven's leg. "Do you think you're well enough to travel? Given the food situation, I'd rather not spend too much time here."

Sven's breathing grew deeper. "I can carry what I did yesterday. But I don't trust myself with the map."

Jack winced. "Sorry, Sven. Shouldn't have asked. I'll tell the others not to say much until you're over this."

"Thanks..." Sven looked at Quinar and then Jack. "Did I say anything... you know, weird?"

Jack looked away. "Let's not worry about that. Abel was right about one thing, it would be wrong to hold you to anything you say right now... but I think we should talk later." Before Sven had a chance to gather his thoughts, Jack motioned to Quinar to follow. "We'll pack up what we can and I'll come get you when we need to take down the tent."

That left Sven sitting all by himself in the tent, wondering what just happened. He then recalled that Jack and them were packing up, so he rolled up the sleeping bag as best he could, then settled down on the ground with the sleeping bag in his lap. The fox stared at the second bag, the vague thought of having to sleep with Jaiden again surfacing in his mind, but the thought was swept away as he acknowledged the truth about his night in the same bag as the wolf. The vulpine began straining his mind to remember, fighting the haze that veiled his thoughts. After a long moment, his eyes widened a little. He could remember listening to the wolf talk about his past, and how he came to be in the North Guard. He remembered how right before he had fallen asleep, he had pressed more into the lupine, and a shudder went through his body. He fell over onto his side, clutching his head and curling up into a ball. He didn't want these thoughts in his head! He couldn't possibly be thinking that way about Jaiden! He's just a friend, a teammate, right? ....Right? He shook his head again, his ears suddenly perking when he heard the sound of footsteps approaching the tent. Quickly, Sven sat up, just as Jack came into the tent.

"Hey Sven, just come to get you and the sleeping bags, oh, you already got one rolled up? That's great! At least the part of your head that knows it's day to day jobs is working at least. C'mon, everyone is ready to take down the tent."

The fox nodded, getting to his feet then handing the wolf the sleeping bag he had rolled up, before making his way out of the tent. He stumbled a little at first, but then regained his balance and headed over to where the fire was still going, sitting down on one of the fallen logs.

"Hey, Sven. You feeling alright? You look a little out of it."

It was Jaiden. Sven nearly fell backwards. He intended to scream but his scrambled brain insisted on giving an honest answer. "Not alright... confused. Very confused... But happy to see you."

His eyes went wide and he gave serious thought to how hard he'd need to bite his tongue to put it out of commission for a few hours. Jaiden laughed, not picking up on the subtext.

"Please, Jaiden, don't ask me anything," Sven whined.

"Oh, sorry. Jack said something about that, but that one just slipped out."

"I-it's alright," Sven took some deep breaths. "I think I'm going to see if Jack needs anything." As he stood he noticed the wolf giving a sly smile that would have looked more at home on a fox. What did he know, Sven wondered. He took a step away before his curiosity won out.

"What?" he asked.

Jaiden's smile grew. "Sven, if you don't want me asking you anything, could you at least do the same for me?"

Sven growled and stormed off. Were all wolves so infuriating, or just the ones he was drawn to, the fox pondered angrily. He found Jack and Lokir had already collapsed the tent and now started to pack it for the day's journey. Jack spotted him immediately.

"Oh, Sven. I've got Quinar loading your pack. We rearranged it so all you need to carry are the two sleeping bags. Bulkier, but lighter."

Sven's ears tilted back. "But I told you I can handle-"

"We'll see at noon," Jack said sternly. "Your balance doesn't seem a hundred percent and I'm not taking chances."

Sven frowned, but Jack was right. If any of them got hurt now, they didn't have a sled to make carrying them along easy.

"Yes, sir... Um, did you decide if we were going to head for the outpost?"

He looked to Sven for a long moment, before handing him his pack. "Here, put this on and see how it feels for you." The fox put on the pack, testing it's weight then looking back to Jack and nodding. "Good, now, I've decided to make for the outpost. After what you said about the military tending to leave behind it's supplies, I figured that we go there and see if we can find anything. If we can't, then we'll just spend the night there."

The vulpine grinned a little at that, his tail giving a wag. He winced as the pain hit him, then reached back and rubbed softly at the splint on his tail.

"How is it doing?" He looked back to Jack.

"It's doing better, it used to hurt all the time, but now the pain has subsided to where it only hurts every now and then. I'm glad Quinar had a look at it."

He blinked after a moment, realizing that his memory had cleared up a little more. Jack nodded at that, then called the rest of the team over, including Abel, who moved slower than the rest.

"Alright everyone, we're all packed up and ready to go. We'll be walking in a standard line, I'm in the front, Sven will be behind me, then Jaiden, then Quinar, then Abel, and finally Lokir. Remember your position, and stay in the line, alright? Hopefully we'll find some sort of sled at the outpost that we can use."

Several miles into their trek and Sven recalled something else.

"Jack... can I have my revolver back?"

"The big wolf stops. "Do you see something?" he asks as he pulls out his gun.

"Nothing unusual. I just remember you took my gun last night. Shouldn't I have it in case we run into trouble?"

Jack kept moving. Just before Sven was ready to ask again, he said, "let me hold it until we're sure you're over the mushrooms."

The fox sighed. "I'm not that bad. I know enough to only use it when I have to."

Jack shook his head. "If anything comes up, I'll toss it to you. Otherwise we wait and see how you are when we reach the outpost."

Sven growled under his breath. He knew he was fine. He'd told Jack he could handle his normal load, and he was positive that he wasn't a danger to the team. He folded his arms and kept walking, kicking at the miniature snowy canyons left by Jack's tracks. Behind him the others walked silently. Sven wondered why it seemed they were moving slower when the absence of a sled should have let them cover more ground with a fraction of their normal effort.

"How much longer until we're there?" he asked Jack.

The wolf turned his head. "A few more hours. Maybe more. The maps didn't specify what sort of terrain we'll be crossing. And even if it did, these things can change season to season. Just try not to speak so the effects don't become a problem again."

Sven's ears flicked. Again? That along with the way Jaiden had been acting began to worry the fox.

They continued on through the ankle deep snow, Sven doing his best as to keep an eye out for any trouble, but he found that if he stared out at the snowy hills for too long, his vision would blur slightly. The fox shook his head violently for the third time already, trying to clear his vision. He was beginning to remember things better now, the memories coming back often in sharp pangs, making him wince slightly every time he tried to think. After awhile, one particular memory stood out, one that was created while he was still on the mushrooms. It was a memory of him being in the tent, of the question that Jaiden had asked, of his... of his answer. The vulpine widened his eyes when he finally realized what he had said. Then another thought reached him, one that made him feel even more guilty. What he had said was true, no matter how many times he tried to twist it, it always came back around to the truth.

A wave of dizziness washed over him. He sank to his knees and began to throw up. Someone shouted an alarm. He couldn't hear who over his own noises. Several hands fell on his back as he heaved into the snow. One, the big one, was definitely Jack's.

"I'm alright!" he gasped, waving everyone back. "I'm... fine."

Quinar and Abel began pushing the others back. "Give him some air," the medic demanded.

Sven looked up at the coyote as he knelt next to him. "I'm fine," the fox whispered harsher than he intended. "It's not the mushrooms. It's... I remembered some of the things I said. Please, don't make a big deal out of this. Someone will ask, and, and-" he stopped and gave up the last of his breakfast.

Quinar jumped back and went to Abel who was busy holding Jack from rushing back to the fox. "Abel? Abel," Quinar quickly whispered his diagnosis into his ear.

Abel turned around. He gave one look at Sven and another at Quinar and rolled his eyes. "I guess that's plausible. But he's your patent more than mine now. If that's your call, it's on your head."

"What," demanded Jack.

"It's not the Tukluk medicine. He's just pushing himself a little hard."

Jack nodded thoughtfully. "Sven! Drop the pack. I'll carry it."

The fox had just finished cleaning his muzzle with a handful of fresh snow. "What? It's only two sleeping bags!"

Jack growled. "Keep arguing and I swear I will start carrying you."

Jaiden started to laugh. Sven blushed and took off the pack. "Happy?" he mumbled quietly.

"Very," Jack snapped.

The wolf then hefted the pack, including the one he had been carrying in the first place, and continued on his way. Jaiden placed a paw on Sven's shoulder, helping him along. Whenever the fox staggered a little, the wolf caught him.

Sven blushed again, then looked to Jaiden. "Thank you..."

The wolf perked his ears at that, then snorted softly, but gave a soft reply. "No problem Swish."

That got a grin out of the fox, and Jaiden beamed softly at him. They all went on for a couple hours like this, until Jack called a stop to the group.

"Jaiden, let's see those binoculars!"

The wolf nodded, before fishing out the binoculars and tossing them to Jack, who caught them and began to head up the nearest snowdrift. Sven took a step forward, making it seem like he was about to follow, before he staggered again and Jaiden caught him.

"Easy there Swish, just stay back here with us, you still got some strength that you need to recover." Sven looked to him to object, but then thought better of it and nodded softly.

Jack kept his team in suspense for several minutes before sliding back down the drift.

"I see it. It's definitely not in use by the army, but there's also no sign that anyone else has been around there. Check your guns. I want us prepared for anything."

Among the metallic clicks of the team's weapons, Sven cleared his throat. The memory of what Jack had heard him say clawed at his throat as he tried to speak. "Can I..." he looked at Jack.

The wolf hesitated. "Alright. But leave the shooting to us unless it's absolutely necessary."

Sven saluted and held out his hand.

"I'm serious, Sven."

"I understand." He took the revolver. Its weight felt comforting in his hands. He could see himself being of some use now. Checking the bullets, he put it in his holster and waited for the others to be ready.

They followed Jack, spaced a wide as when they crossed the lake. Jack said it was to minimize the damage a sharpshooter could inflict. Sven's ears flattened and he began double checking for any signs of life that Jack might have missed.

The outpost itself was a moderately sized square building, secured behind a ten foot palisade made from local pine trees. The snow that they could see gave no indication of recent footfalls, uniformly covering the ground and the slanted roof where the wind hadn't disturbed it. The gate was locked tightly with a chain and padlock. Jack gave it a yank then backed up.

"Lokir, do your thing." Jack moved as the saber set down the packed tent.

Lokir took out the hammer he'd used to drive stakes and walked to the locked gate. Eyeing his target, the big fur lifted the hammer and brought down onto the rusted lock.

The lock smashed open with a loud crack, and the saber pushed open the gate. "No more lock."

Jack chuckled, patting the saber on the back. "Nice job Lok. Alright everyone, let's head in and see what we can find, that was a lock used by the military, so we won't have to worry about anyone being in here. Hopefully."

With that they moved towards the building. Along the way, there showed no signs of life, at least nothing recent. Once Jack reached the front door, the wolf hesitated only to pull out his revolver, then quietly opened up the door and slipped inside. Moments later, he peered back out.

"Place is empty of anyone. Come on in and let's start sorting through what we can."

With that, everyone bustled into the building, seeing that it was full of supplies and began searching. Sven knew exactly what he was looking for. The fox searched through crate after crate, but finding no sign of any sleeping bags. After about an hour, everyone had brought what they found to the middle of the main room. The vulpine looked over what everyone else brought, but sighed softly to himself when he saw no sleeping bags.

Jaiden returned from outside where he had gone in search of a shed where a sled could be kept. "Hey boss, I found a sled, but it ain't a big one. It can carry supplies, but then that's about it. Lokir would be able to pull it by himself."

"Did you find any sleeping bags?" The wolf looked to Sven, then shook his head.

"Well, at least we won't starve," Jack said. Most of what they'd found were boxes of hardtack and dried fish. There were tools, but they would be more useful if they wanted to fix a barn, not cross the icy wastes. He sighed. At least they could make sure the sled was in top condition before heading out.

"Sven, you find anything?" he asked.

The fox shrugged and shook his head, still unhappy about the prospect of having to sleep with Jaiden again. His feelings were confusing enough, but now that he knew he'd told them...

"Hey, wait!" Sven shouted. "That wasn't a whole truth. I found a box of nails and that saw... Quick, ask me again."

Jack tilted his head. "Are you alright, Sven?"

"No," the fox answered giddily, "I'm on fire!" He laughed and jumped. "I can lie again!"

Jack and the others joined in Sven's laughter. For the big wolf it was bittersweet. He felt it would be fair to ask Sven about how he felt now, but he knew the fox didn't have to tell him the truth. He could call Sven away from the others, confess what he'd heard and ask the fox to decide if that was how he really felt... But Jack, a wolf who could face maguruq without flinching, wasn't so sure he wanted to hear what Sven would tell him.

The conversation had shifted without the wolf's attention. Lokir was showing Abel how to light one of the lanterns he'd come across. Jack looked at Sven, then he looked at Jaiden. He had to find out what the fox wanted.

Without hesitation, the big wolf went over and grabbed Jaiden by the arm, ignoring his protests, then went over to Sven and grabbed him as well. Ignoring any questions from the fox, Jack pulled both of them outside into the cold, shutting the door to the building behind them. Then he let them go, and Jaiden rubbed his arm.

"Jeez boss, that was a hell of an iron grip but, didja have to nearly break my arm in half?"

"Yeah Jack, why did you bring us out here?" Sven glanced from Jaiden to the bigger wolf, his ears going back a little as he had an inkling of what this was about.

Jack crossed his arms over his chest, then looked between Jaiden and the fox for a moment before speaking. "Sven. When you were drugged, you said some things that I've been thinking about ever since. I waited until you felt better before confronting you about what you said."

Jaiden laid back his ears when he realized the severity of the situation, while Sven stared at the bigger wolf. "Jack, I was drugged!"

"You were also drugged with a truth serum of some sort, so what you said couldn't have been a lie!" The fox laid back his ears at that. "Can you remember anything that you said?"

Sven remained silent for awhile, at least until it became apparent that his silence was an answer, and when Jack cleared his throat, he confirmed the answer vocally. "Yes... I can remember what I said...."

Jack suddenly went over and stood beside Jaiden, so that both wolves were facing him. "You have to make your choice, now."

The vulpine's eyes grew wide at that. "N-Now?? But Jack--"

"We're not leaving this outpost until I have an answer!" The bigger wolf nearly shouted the last part, and Sven felt his tail try and tuck between his legs.

After a moment, the fox shook his head, and took a small step back. "I-I can't choose between you two!"

"Whoa whoa whoa, since when did you start having feelings for me?" Jaiden had cut in at this point.

Sven looked to him, his ears laid back even more now. "I.... I can't rightly remember.... but that night when we slept in the same sleeping bag, whatever feelings I did have for you only grew stronger... Please Jack," He looked to the bigger wolf. "I can't choose between you both, please don't make me..."

"Sven, I--"

At that point Jaiden cut in again, this time with a joke to try and lighten the mood a little. "Well if ya can't pick between us then, we could always share!" He laughed until Jack's glare shut him up, whereupon his laugh turned to a forced cough.

Sven perked his ears at that, his eyes darting between the both of them. After a moment, the vulpine nodded and suddenly said. "I'd like that."

Both wolves stared openly at him.

"I- I think I like you both... a lot. Could we try this?" Sven's tail curled around his leg.

Jaiden smirked. "I'm game, if Swish is."

Jack took a little longer to recover. He spun on Jaiden. "I don't even share my tools, and, and you want me to share-"

"Hey!" Sven snapped, again surprising the two wolves. "I'm not a toy. I'm not something either of you can just say you own. I- I want to be with both of you. But it has to be the three of us, not just you two and a pet." The slight stammer in his voice and his flattened ears betrayed how scared he was under his bravado. He stepped forward, reaching out and touching both the wolves chests. "This is me choosing," he looked at both of them, "Jack, Jaiden, can we give this a shot? Please?"

Jaiden turned to the bigger wolf. "Come on. We have to try." He grinned and mimicked Sven, "pleeease?"

Jack's scowl finally broke. "This is crazy," he chuckled, "but if this is really what Sven wants," he looked to see the fox nodding excitedly, "then alright."

Sven wrapped his arms around as much of the two bigger wolves as he could, squeezing them close.

***

Quinar, Lokir and Abel were silent as the door opened again. All three stared intently at the three furs coming in. Quinar opened his mouth to ask the question that was on all their minds when he noticed Sven was holding hands with both Jack and Jaiden.

The coyote smiled broadly. He couldn't help but be impressed by what seemed a purely vulpine solution to an otherwise impossible problem.

Quinar hurriedly came over, eager to hear the news. "Well? What happened?"

Jack blinked at that, then quickly began to answer. "It's really none of you--" But Sven cut him off and eagerly began explaining everything that had happened between them outside.

The bigger wolf rolled his eyes at that, but grinned as he listened to the vulpine talk. Jaiden was grinning as well, giving Sven's paw a gentle squeeze, whereupon the fox paused, then leaned up and lightly kissed him on the cheek.

Jaiden splayed his ears as his face turned red and he looked away in embarrassment. "Aw schucks..." The fox giggled, then told the coyote and everyone who was listening the rest, before he finally came to the end, and by that time he was beaming happily.

Jack coughed, then cleared his throat as he let go of the vulpine's hand. "Alright alright, enough gawking you guys. Lokir, gather up some of the food and prepare the rations, and don't bother going light on them either, we have enough food here to last several weeks, and we can't take it all with us. Every fur in this room is going to get his fill tonight," The saber nodded, the began gathering up the food. "Abel, come here."

The labrador came over, and Jack pulled out a heavy lock from his pocket and handed it to him. "Uh, what's this?"

"Go out and lock the gate so that no one can come in while we sleep tonight, and bring me back the key," He watched as the lab headed out, before looking to Quinar. "Hey Quin."

The coyote ceased talking to Sven then looked to the wolf. "Yes Jack?"

"You know how to make traps?"

He thought for a moment at that. "Well what kind of traps do you mean? Do you mean like traps that kill, maim, incapacitate, paralyze, or make a lot of noise on all accounts?"

Jack grinned at that and gave a brisk nod. "All of them. I want traps set up all around this place, no one comes in without us knowing about it," The coyote nodded at that with a wide grin, then left to go about the room collecting what he needed. "Sven, Jaiden," The two furs looked to him at that. "Why don't you two see if you can find a good place to lay the sleeping bags down? Then after that, Jaiden I want you to go out to the shed and check on the condition of that sled, Sven you can go with him. I'll stay here, and sort through supplies."

The outpost was small but it did have a room that looked like it could have garrisoned a few dozen troops. Unfortunately, any cots that might have been present were moved out.

Jaiden shrugged. "Plenty of privacy in here. We could set up one bag here, the other at the far end." He nudged the fox. "What do you think, Swish?"

"Qiunar said no sex until my tail is better. And it's too cold in here."

The wolf laughed. "I knew there was a reason we didn't get it on last night. I'm irresistible."

Sven rolled his eyes. "Maybe a little irresistible... but I think your personality compensates."

"You find me charming. Admit it," he laughed and gave Sven a playful shove. "Alright. If you don't want to sleep here, then-"

"The kitchen. It'll be smaller. And maybe we could light a stove."

Jaiden nodded. "Good thinking. We'll look for some coal when he check out the sled."

Sven ginned at the praise. After dropping off the sleeping bags the two furs went out to the shed. Jaiden went to work freeing the sled from a tangle of rotted ropes and empty crates. Sven looked around for coal or dry wood for the stove. He stopped when he heard Jaiden swear.

"What?"

The wolf shook his head. "It's rusted pretty bad. I'm going to need at least an hour to file off the worst if Jack expects it to run smooth."

Sven looked at the sled. Other than the rust, it was in good condition. "I can help you tomorrow morning. There's enough files for us to use."

The wolf nodded softly at that, perking his ears a little then looking around for a moment. "What? What are you looking for?" Sven asked as he looked around as well.

All of a sudden, Jaiden stepped forward and grabbed the fox, bringing him close and pressing his lips to Sven's. The vulpine eeped softly as he was grabbed, but then went slightly limp as their lips met. The wolf tilted his head slightly to the side, deepening the kiss then pushing his tongue into Sven's mouth as the fireworks began going off behind both their eyelids. The fox slid his hands up and let them feel the lupine's body as much as he could through the parka, then moved them up more and wrapped his arms around Jaiden's neck, his tail wagging slightly despite the pain. After a long moment, they broke apart, both grinning at each other.

"That was... unexpected," The fox licked his lips and the wolf chuckled.

"I was only curious~"

****

Jack looked up as the door opened. He could see the crooked smile of Sven's face and an unbelievably smug expression on Jaiden's. Abel was helping to pack as much food as Jack thought the sled and Lokir could pull.

"How's the sled?" Jack asked. "And if you two were doing what I think you were, I will break your tail, Jay."

The other wolf put his hands up. "Easy, boss. Swish told me what Quinar said. It wasn't easy, and this little fox can really be stubborn when he wants something, but I managed to talk him into waiting until we make it back to Basil."

Sven punched Jaiden on the shoulder and growled with a smile.

"And the sled?"

Jaiden leaned on the back of Abel's chair. "It'll do the job. Needs about an hours work if you let Swish help me."

"If I can spare him." Jack sat back and looked at the impressive, though useless, assortment of supplies. Three rifle barrels, but no bullets, stocks or scopes. Boxes of screws. Six rusted shovels... It was a nice haul if they weren't in need of survival gear. "Either of you see Quinar out there?"

"No," Sven answered. "Do you want me to go look for him?"

Jack shook his head. "No. I don't want you stepping in any traps he's laid. Jay, you feel like volunteering?"

Jaiden laughed sarcastically.

"Alright," Jack laughed, "he should be back soon anyways. Lokir's about done fixing our food."

At that, Jaiden patted Sven on the back, then said "I'll go and get those files and we'll do some work on the sled before chow time, alright Swish? Be right back."

Once the wolf had gone, Jack suddenly spoke up. "So what were you two doing out there?"

Sven looked to him at that. "What do you mean? All we did was kiss a little and go over the sled."

The wolf growled softly at that, his ears laying flat. The fox frowned at that, his own ear twitching a little. Jack was being possessive again, but what could he do? After going through several possibilities in his head, he finally landed on one.

"Jack, I love Jaiden, and I love you too. If I want to kiss Jaiden, or even have sex with him, it's my choice," Sven had finished what he was saying with more confidence than he had hoped.

The bigger wolf froze at that, his fists suddenly clenching tightly shut. "What?" The fox had back his ears at the way Jack had said that one word.

"I-I mean, you seriously can't expect me to just do that stuff with you, right? I love both you and Jaiden equally, and I'm more than willing to show you both how much you mean to me.... you're not going to make me miserable by being possessive.... are you?" It was a low blow, and Sven knew it.

"So I make you miserable? Is that it?" Jack demanded.

"You know that's not what I meant!" Sven shouted.

"Your right, Sven. Of course I always know what you mean. I can read your mind. I knew since you sucked me off in the sleeping bag that you'd have to do the same to every other fur you come across!"

Sven's ears flattened. Jack immediately regretted his words. He also regretted that Abel was sitting right there to witness his lover's spat, but he could only hope to fix one of those problems. "I didn't mean that. I-" Jack watched the fox bolt, leaving the door swinging in the frigid air. He jumped up, knocking over the chair and ran after him.

"Sven!" he shouted. The fox was fast but Jack was determined not to let it end like this. He got within arms reach and dove forward, catching hold of Sven's ankle and tripping the fox into the soft snow. He scrambled to pin the vulpine.

"Sven, please! I shouldn't have said that. Can we just talk? I'm sorry."

The fox was pinned on his back. He wasn't frightened of the big wolf, but his eyes made it clear he was annoyed. "Looks like I'm not getting a choice in this either."

Jack got off him and sat in the snow with a heavy sigh. "Alright, you win. I'm not perfect. I'm possessive, I'm demanding and I have a temper. Just... just go with Jaiden. He's probably better for you."

Sven sat up and brushed the snow off himself. "I'm not breaking up with you, you big idiot. And... that was kind of my fault that you lost your temper like that. I have a way of pushing furs buttons. It's a talent of mine."

Jack nodded in agreement.

"But it hurt when you said that... Like I'm a whore. I didn't think about even kissing him before you said we could try it this way."

"I know!" Jack insisted. "I never doubted you. What I said was spoken in anger... I need you to be forgiving. I swear I'm trying, but you have to give me some time... please?"

Sven couldn't be angry at the wolf. He pounced at Jack, knocking them both into the snow. He attacked Jack's lips like they were finest pieces of candy he'd ever seen. Jack returned the enthusiasm, overpowering the fox and rolling so he was on top. They both jumped when Jaiden's cheerful voice cut in.

"This looks fun. I'd ask to cut in, but wouldn't we be more comfortable inside?"

Jack's ears laid back a little at that, and Sven giggled softly before suddenly becoming abruptly aware of something. "Owowowow Jack get off!! My tail!!"

The wolf quickly leapted up off the fox, reaching down and helping him up. "Sven I'm sorry! I completely forget I--"

The fox whined loudly, reaching back and grabbing gripping his tail, his ears laid back. "G-Get Quinar, please!"

Without hesitation, Jaiden rushed into the outpost before Jack could. Both Jack and Sven heard several shouts, and after several moments Quinar came rushing out with some kind of pouch. Without hesitation, the coyote grabbed the fox's pants and practically yanked them down, before dropping to his knees and quickly checking Sven's tail splint. Moments later, he growled, then took out more of the leather that made up the splint.

"I said no more fooling around! Anymore of this and you will have no choice but to get your tail removed! I'm sorry for this Sven, but it's for your own good." With that Quinar began wrapping up all of the fox's tail, while reinforcing the splint as well.

***

The team gathered around the lantern lit table while Lokir served an odd looking -but delicious- improvised casserole he concocted. Sven sat low in his chair, arms folded and the very picture of indignant embarrassment. The two wolves flanked him, alert to any threat after profusely promising to see that no further harm would come to the fox.

"Pout all you want, Swish, we're not leaving your side again," Jaiden smiled and scooped more than Sven could eat onto the fox's empty plate.

"Jay's right for once," Jack agreed. "Yum. Try some of this. Lokir, has really outdone himself."

The saber grinned sheepishly.

Jaiden applauded in agreement.

"I'm glad you two found something to agree on," Sven huffed. It wouldn't have been nearly as bad if the rest of the team knew everything that was going on.

"Yeah," Jack smiled, ignoring the fox's sarcasm, "I'm starting to see how this could work."

Jaiden patted Sven's head and laughed. "You better eat up. You'll need your strength, because once Quin gives us the all clear..." he licked his lips in way that had nothing to do with food.

Sven blushed and sank even lower before picking up his spoon. He was glad his tail was nearly incapable of wagging right then or he was sure the wolves would pick up on his own excitement.

Sven couldn't remember the last time he was able to eat his fill. Back when he was in Copperfox, he never even got to really eat that much, what with the... He shook his head at that, getting the image out of his head. He ate as much as he could until his belly was full, then he leaned back a little.

Jaiden blinked when he looked down at the food that was still on the vulpine's plate. "Swish what's wrong? You didn't finish your food"

Before Sven could even say anything, Jack turned and looked at him with concern. "What? Sven are you feeling alright? Does your stomach hurt? Or maybe it's your head, do you have a fever?" Before the fox could now protest, the bigger wolf pressed the back of his hand against his forehead.

"Jack please! I'm not sick or anything, I'm just full is all, I got a little too much food on my plate and I can't finish it," He hated how the bigger wolf was now treating him like a pup, but he kinda enjoyed the attention he was getting from it.

Jack broke apart a couple of chairs, ensuring the stove in the outpost's kitchen would be burning all night. As the bigger wolf helped Sven get into the sleeping bag without injuring his tail. He also gave Jaiden a stern warning not let Sven do anything Quinar had advised against. Sven gave his own warning when Jack leaned over to adjust the lip of the sleeping bag.

"If either of you wolves even think about singing me a lullaby, I will bite."

Jack and Jaiden laughed, soon Sven joined in. They both kissed him and Sven felt an inner warmth like he'd never known before. He nestled into Jaiden's arms with none of the guilt he felt before. Fully able to enjoy the wolf's comfortable chest, he was soon asleep almost purring as Jaiden's enveloping arms scratched his back.

***

Jack insisted on taking the first watch. He followed Quinar to learn the layout of the traps the coyote had been able to lay.

"And there's a few stakes planted in the snow drift, just far enough from the gate to allow us room to walk around it if we need to get out. They're wooden so they won't be much use if they're wearing boots, but the trip wire outside the gate will give us plenty of warning." Quinar smiled proudly.

Jack nodded, committing it to memory as he has the numerous other snares, deadfalls and tension loaded traps he'd been shown. The Tikaani was thorough in turning the outpost into a deadly maze. Jack laughed to think of the effort the army would have to go through to disarm the place before putting it back to use.

"So... what is the danger of one of us walking into a trap? I know several of them looked pretty deadly, but are they safe to walk up from behind?"

"Well," Quinar thought for a moment, then looked around before turning his eyes back to the wolf. "Yes and no. There are several traps that if we were to approach them from behind, they would go off anyway, and their kill radius is pretty large. So large, in fact, that even walking around right now isn't safe for us, in case there's a chance one of the traps should go off prematurely."

Jack laid back his ears at the thought, looking around quickly. "Uhm, what would that mean for the watch?"

"We could always just stay inside. I can't guarantee that we're completely safe, that no one would try and come in the middle of the night, but I can say that we'll be safer inside, than outside right now. If one of these traps are set off, and we're close by, there's a chance that we won't be walking away."

They went back inside. Jack closed the door and took a last glance through the tiny peephole. Quinar lit a lantern, turning the flame down to a soft glow.

They sat in silence for awhile, only getting up to peer outside occasionally. Then Quinar posed an unexpected question.

"Are you alright, Jack?"

The wolf blinked. "Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"

Quinar shrugged. "I don't know... things are different with the Tikaani, I guess. I just wanted to make sure your new relationship situation isn't taking a toll."

"It's not," Jack said. Five minutes of silence later he continued. "I mean, it's surprising and I never really thought about something like this... but Jaiden has been my friend for years. And Sven is such a good judge of character... I think I'll be alright."

Jack smiled to himself, "Sven was the one who insisted on trying to keep you on the team."

Quinar laughed softly. "He is a great judge of character."

Jack nodded in agreement. It would take some time, but a closer, shared relationship with Jaiden would be a fairly easy transition. Especially if it would make Sven happy.

They both remained quiet for awhile, allowing Jack time to think. He thought about Sven, snuggling up against Jaiden in the sleeping bag until it was their turn to have the watch. He thought about Jaiden again, and grinned softly. Perhaps he could get a little closer to the wolf? Having a three-way relationship with him and Sven could have some unforeseen benefits. Of course Jaiden would probably never willingly submit to him, at first that is. He would just need a little coaxing perhaps.

Quinar suddenly cleared his throat. "Enjoying your thoughts?"

Jack suddenly became aware of the tightness in his pants, and blushed as he turned slightly to the side and adjusted himself a little. "Uh... you saw it?"

"No, but I could smell it. When aroused, male furs release a pheromone with a distinctive smell. We're alone at the moment, care to divulge your thoughts with me?"

"Ugh.... well... it's kinda personal."

"Of course it is, you're getting aroused by it so I suspect that it's personal."

"Erm..." The wolf rubbed the back of his neck at that. "I was thinking about the relationship.... and if I could possibly corner Jaiden and.... perhaps experiment. It would give Sven a show at least, if not satisfy my curiosity."

The coyote slowly nodded at that. "Ah.... will Jaiden be okay with this.. 'experiment'?"

"Well, that's kinda why I said corner him, I'm not really sure."

Quinar gave him a soft grin at that, his tail flicking over and gently swatting Jack's leg. "Then you should ask him before trying anything."

"What if he needs some persuasion?"

"Then by all means, persuade him. But be sure not to go too far, we don't want to have another Sven case on our hands."

The wolf's ears flicked at that, and he nodded softly. "I know.."

***

"Come on," Abel said with a light kick. "Your turn. Me and Lokir are freezing."

Sven pulled his legs in close and growled. Jaiden snickered and tried to roll over, not bothering to open his eyes. Abel sighed and stomped over to where Lokir was relighting the stove.

"You care to give it a try?" he asked the saber.

Lokir nodded with a shrug and passed Abel the wood he was feeding to the flames. "I'll wake them."

Sven and Jaiden opened their eyes at the same time. The bottom of the sleeping bag was beginning to elevate, leaving them to slowly slide out onto the cold floor.

"We're up!" Jaiden yelled and twisted to see Lokir gripping the end of the sleeping bag and grinning softly.

Sven and Jaiden scrambled the rest of the way out, yawning and stretching as the rose. Abel was already taking the bag from Lokir so he could leech some of Sven and Jaiden's residual heat.

"I'm going to remember this when we have to wake you two for a watch," Sven threatened with a laugh.

Lokir came as close to a smirk as he was likely to get. "Jack says not to patrol outside. Quinar overdid it, maybe."

"Then why are we awake?" Sven whined.

Jaiden patted the fox's head in a slightly patronizing manner as he spoke to Lokir. "So what, we just watch the door?"

Lokir nodded.

Jaiden wasn't one to complain about an easy job. "Great. Anything else we need to know?"

"All quiet," Lokir said. He then glanced at Abel, already looking like he was asleep, then leaned in. "Jack, he says you know what he will do to you if-"

"I get it, I get it! No banging the fox." Jaiden grabbed Sven by the shoulder and started dragging him out of the kitchen. "Honestly. They act like I have no self control."

"Well.... do you?" Jaiden slowed down a bit at that, looking to the fox.

"Uh.... for the most part yeah... at times that is. Sometimes I just can't help myself," They were now out in the main room, looking out the windows. "But, if it's any consolation to you, I can be a patient fur when I want to be. Hey, there's a no banging policy in place right now, but that doesn't mean that I can't do this!"

Before the fox could do anything, the wolf grabbed him and pulled him close. "Jaiden what are you--mmph!!"

Jaiden pressed his lips firmly to Sven's, holding him tight as his tongue slipped it's way into the fox's mouth. Sven moaned softly, laying back his ears. He wanted to stay like this forever, but before long Jaiden softly broke the kiss, getting a soft whine from the fox in response.

"Oh," He chuckled. "Liked that huh? Well when we get back to Basil and that tail of yours is healed up? We'll put so much strain on the bed that it'll break the posts!" Sven blushed madly at that.

"Wh-what about Jack?" Sven hoped the dim light hid some of his embarrassment.

Jaiden squeezed Sven against him, letting the fox feel his excitement. "Jack will just have to wait his turn," he said in a low husky tone that drove Sven mad.

"Can he be there too?" he whispered, nuzzling into the wolf's chest.

"Oh you want an audience?" Jaiden laughed. Sven bucked his hips against Jaiden's thigh. The wolf knew he was getting perilously close to having the fox make demands he wasn't sure he was strong enough to refuse. "That's enough, Swish. You're getting too into this." He gave Sven a more chaste kiss and gently eased him away.

"Nnngh," Sven whimpered, "you're such a tease!"

"I'm a tease?" Jaiden laughed. "Do you have any idea what you've been putting me through, having to walk behind you, seeing that tail raised just enough to give me a peek at your-" His words were cut off as Sven wrapped his arms around him again.

It took more effort, but Jaiden was able to pry the sex-hungry fox off. "Calm down, Swish. We're on watch," he smiled. "Doesn't the army court martial furs for fooling around when they're on guard duty?"

"I don't know," Sven stepped back, trying to calm down like the wolf said. "I was stationed in a swamp. What was there to guard against? Mosquitoes?" Sven walked to the door, cracking it enough to let a cold blast of air take his mind off things. It was going to be a long watch, he thought.

The two furs kept a careful watch from inside the building, as much as they could through what windows there was. As Sven moved over to the next window, he blinked when he saw a figure standing outside the locked gate. He watched as the figure climbed the gate, then landed on the other side.

"Jaiden look! There's someone--" He stopped and stared widely as there came a loud snapping sound, the whoever it was outside let loose a yowl of pain, then fell to the ground.

Jaiden came over at that. "What is it Swish? What do you see?"

"There's someone out there! I think they just walked into one of the traps that Quinar set up!"

The wolf snorted at that. "Serves 'em right. Just leave them there til morning."

"What?? I can't just leave them out there! I'm going to wake Quinar." With that the fox hurried into the kitchen, going over to Quinar and Jack's sleeping bag then kneeling down and shaking the coyote.

Quinar woke at that, then looked to him. "Huh? Sven?"

"Someone just walked into one of your trap out by the gate, I think they may be still alive!"

The coyote was fully awake within seconds as he climbed out of the sleeping bag, careful not to wake Jack. He then followed Sven out of the kitchen and to the door where Jaiden was waiting.

The Tikaani then looked to the wolf. "Go and wake the others, Sven and I will go out and see what heppened. Sven," He looked to the fox. "Follow in my footsteps, and watch your step"

With that he opened the door and went outside, the vulpine following him quickly. After navigating through the snow, they soon came upon an arctic fox, laying in red snow and panting heavily. The fox wore nothing execpt for a loincloth, his winter coat having been keeping him warm. Sven could see several wooden spikes sticking into the vulpine's body. Quinar quickly checked the wounds.

"He'll live, if we get him inside quickly."

Sven laid back his ears. "What if he's a maguruq or a bandit?"

The coyote shook his head at that, and began picking up the injured snow fox. "Arctic foxes aren't known for their savagery, and are mostly just scavengers. I have yet to see one that has become a stray or a bandit, now please come and help me Sven."

They carefully carried the arctic fox into the outpost. Jaiden hurried to opened an inner door.

"This way. We'll get him to the kitchen by the stove."

Quinar shook his head. "In here is warm enough. He's lost a lot of blood. He could overheat if we're not careful."

The wolf let the door close and began clearing off a table, finishing just as Sven and Quinar reached it. The arctic fox whimpered. Quinar leaned over him and whispered in a language neither Sven nor Jaiden understood.

"Sven," Quinar said, "bring some water."

Sven ran to the kitchen where they'd left their containers by the stove to keep them from freezing. He tried to be quiet but as he lifted a bucket he heard the floor creak.

"Sven?" Jack was sitting up. "What's going on. Where's Quin?" before the fox could explain, he was out of the sleeping bag and checking his revolver.

"A fox jumped the palisade and walked into a trap. Quinar says he can save him." Sven started lugging the water back to the main room, Jack followed, still unsure what was happening.

The fox brought the water to the where Quinar was, setting the bucket down on the ground next to the table where the coyote had lain the arctic fox on. The coyote grabbed a rag, then got it wet before going back to tending the fox. He looked around quickly then spotted Abel, who was coming out from the kitchen.

"Abel! Come and help me, I need your anesthetics!"

The labrador's eyes widened at the sight of the arctic fox, and without a word of question, he turned and darted back into the kitchen, coming back moments later with his medical bag. Jack came over as well.

"What the hell happened?!"

The coyote didn't even bother looking at him as he and the lab got to work. "The arctic fox jumped the gate. Which means he set off one of the traps so we'll have to keep watch in that general direction now. This one was lucky that he survived, well, as long as Abel and I work quickly, he'll live anyway. But this is going to put us behind schedule."

Jack perked up his ears at that. "What do you mean?"

Quinar again didn't look at him. "It will take at least a week for me to nurse him back to health, and it is not wise to take him with us because he will be in a delicate condition."

"A week?" Jack shook his head in disbelief. A week was a long time out in the wilds. It was likely Van might even send a search part by the end of the week. He looked down at the arctic fox and already knew he couldn't just leave him. The outpost was far from the worst place to be to be stuck. It had a wall, the building provided shelter from the elements and they had more than enough food. Bullets were still a concern. If the arctic fox had been fleeing from something, and not just wandering...

"Sven," Jack barked, "give me the map."

The gray fox dug in his pocket, struggling to look away from the scene playing out on the table. Jack didn't want Sven upset. "Come."

Sven followed. "Is he really going to be ok?"

"Quin says so."

"But it looks so bad." He looked at his hands. "I- I have blood on me."

Jack stopped and turned. "Are you alright?"

Sven swallowed and nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm good."

"Good. Let's trust that Quinar and Abel know what their doing. We've got work to do."

Sven tilted his head. "We do?"

Jack nodded and opened the door, almost hitting Lokir.

The saber was holding his gun "Smelled blood."

"We had a visitor. An arctic fox. Quin and Abel are patching him up," Jack said. "And we're going to be here awhile."

Lokir sighed. "Hope you like dried fish." He walked toward the main room leaving Jack and Sven in the kitchen.

Jack grinned at the saber's level headed practicality. "Sven, go was the blood off your hands and help me with this map. If we know where to expect a threat to come from, we can better prepare." It wasn't something Jack needed help with, and it wasn't an urgent issue, but he wanted Sven to keep his mind off pointless worrying.

The fox nodded, going over to the sink in the kitchen and washing his hands. He thought about being stuck here for an entire week, trying to see the upside to it. After a moment, he grinned softly. By the time they can leave, his tail should be fully healed.

Finishing up with his washing, he then came back over to Jack. "Alright, so how is the map going to help us right now?"

"I thought that we could use the map to better know the area"

"Uhm..." The fox laid back his ears at that. "How would it help with that? It doesn't give any details about the terrain. The only thing we can do is go out and scout the area, because the map measures by miles."

"Right you are," Jack patted Sven on the head. "But see here?" His finger traced a line. "To the west is nothing for two hundred miles. Not even a mining camp."

"Oh...," Sven said hesitantly. "So it's less likely that any bandits are going to be wandering from that direction?"

"Right. As a scout, if you were leading a raiding party, where would you head?"

Sven leaned in to study the map. "This river... maybe. It'll be frozen and allow for quick smooth travel. And the map shows the area as forested, so there'd be plenty of cover."

"Exactly what I was thinking. Mark it as a place we need to check for tracks. Pick a few more spots near us. I have to go check on our guest." Jack smiled to see the fox was already distracted by his task.

As the wolf left the kitchen he again almost ran into one of his team. "Jay."

"Hey. How's Sven. He was looking a little out of it back there."

Jack nodded. "Yeah. I don't think he likes the sight of blood."

"Who does?" Jaiden smiled and stepped past the bigger wolf.

"Hold up," Jack said. "I've got him working on some scouting routes. He's fine."

"Just going to check on him," Jaiden said.

"I said he's good. He'll just ask about the arctic fox. Let him clear his head for a while."

Jaiden stopped and looked at Jack. "Are you saying I can't see him?"

"No," Jack began hesitantly. "It's just... I've known him longer. I know what he needs."

"You met him a day before I did!" Jaiden growled.

"Fine, go bother him if you want." Jack started to leave, then turned and pointed at the other wolf. "You and I are going to have to talk about this relationship later." As far as Jack was concerned, a pack could only have one lead alpha. Jaiden could be a dominant as he wanted most of the time, but when push came to shove, Jack wanted the other wolf to show him some submission.

Jaiden snorted softly, then turned and headed into the kitchen. Jack stared after him for a moment, then sighed and headed over to where Quinar and Abel were working on the fox.

"How goes it?" He noticed how the spikes he had seen before that had been imbedded in the vulpine were now gone, and a smell of blood filled the air.

The wolf's nostrils flared at the scent, something about it awakened a side of him that had lain dormant for a long time. He lifted his lips and growled, eyes locked on the fox. Quinar turned at that, his eyes narrowing slightly when he saw the wolf. Without a word, the coyote moved away from the table, grabbing Jack and forcefully leading him away. The wolf snapped once or twice at the smaller fur, but then blinked when he had gotten far enough away from the table where the fox lay.

"You need to stay back from here, it's not safe for you!" He forced Jack back up against the wall, then reached up and held open one of his eyes with two fingers. "No.... you have to stay back from now on. You've already been exposed"

Jack shook his head violently at that, then looked Quinar in the eye. "Exposed to what? What the hell just happened there??"

"You were just exposed to a special kind of Tikaani medicine. I managed to make it from some of Abel's medicine, but that means that the ingredients are more concentrated, and more potent. It awakens your primitive side, your feral side. From now on, you need to be more careful and think twice before you act, because you're going to become more.... aggressive..."

The wolf blinked at that, staring openly at the coyote. "How long is this going to last?"

Quinar didn't respond for a moment, then sighed softly and said. "Indefinitely"

***

Jaiden leaned on the counter, watching Sven work. "That's a lot of ground to cover."

"It only looks like it. A lot of these places are pretty near the outpost so we can check a few at a time. Probably only need two furs if we're careful," Sven said.

Jaiden moved closer. "Two of us, eh? Who were you going to take with you? Shure Jack might be a little bigger, but I'm a better shot, and he said we need to be careful with our ammo."

Sven looked up from the map and grinned. "Actually, I was thinking about Quin for these close ones, and Lokir for this pass here," he pointed.

Jaiden blinked. "Quinar and Lokir?

Sven laughed. "You really do have a one track mind sometimes. Quinar can cut down on the time I'd spend looking for signs of other furs. He's Tikaani. Almost as talented as me, if he had any of my foxy intuition."

Jaiden rolled his eyes. "And Lokir?"

"I was going to ask Jack to let me take the sled out to this far point. It's half a day's journey, and I have a plan, but I'd need some extra supplies. If Lokir pulls the sled I could be back before the evening."

The wolf looked at the map. "Why scout so far away?"

"When we're done here, this is our way back to Basil. With a little investigating, I can start us off on the quickest route, and if I stash some food somewhere around here," he pointed, "we'll even be able to cut down on the load we set out with."

"Hm, that's pretty smart actually! Nice one Swish" The wolf grinned at that, then leaned against the table that the map was sitting on. "So, there's something that I wanted to talk to you about. Y'know, when we get back to Basil"

The fox gave him a look at that with a raised eyebrow. "What do you mean? Don't tell me that you want a piece of this," He gave a quick teasing swing of his hips, which made the wolf bite his lower lip. "Because you already told me that."

Jaiden gave a quick shake of his head, clearing his mind of the rather lewd thoughts that clouded his head at that moment, reaching down and giving his pants a quick adjustment while Sven smirked softly at that. "No.. Not that. I just wanted to offer you a place to stay and all. We're not always out on the trails, and we spend our rest in Basil where our base of operations is, as you already know. I have a cabin in town, and a big enough bed to fit you, Jack, and myself. What do you say?"

Sven raised an eyebrow. "You'll invite Jack, too?"

Jaiden grinned sheepishly. "Well, I have a bigger place than he does, and you don't want him howling outside the window every time he wants a turn with- Ow!" Jaiden held his arm where Sven had punched him. "What was that for?"

"'When he wants a turn?'" Sven narrowed his eyes.

"Fine, when he wants your attention. Better?"

Sven pretended to think it over. "Hmm... Yes."

"You're lucky that tail is still mending," Jaiden laughed. "I don't know what Jack lets you get away with, but I expect to be shown some respect."

Sven batted his eyelashes. "I've never been good with rules and discipline. I think you'll need to teach me."

Jaiden groaned and grabbed the fox around his waist. "Swish, I'm going to-"

"What?" asked Jack.

They both jumped at the other wolf's arrival. Quinar was right behind. The coyote motioned for Jack to take a seat as he went over to Jaiden and Sven.

"We've run into a little bit of a problem," Quinar began.

Sven gasped. "The arctic fox is ok? Right?"

Quinar stared blankly for a second. "Oh. He's resting comfortably. Might even be speaking tomorrow with the Tikaani medicine I gave him... which brings me to the slight problem."

Jack snorted derisively from across the room.

Quinar's ears started to flatten. "He, uh, Jack, kind of had a reaction to what I gave the fox..."

Sven stared at Jack at that, then slowly began to walk over to him. The fox stopped when the wolf pushed himself away from the wall and came to him instead. Looking up into Jack's eyes, he saw that they had turned to a bright shade of yellow, and his pupils were more prominent.

"Uh... what sort of reaction?" He looked to the coyote at that.

Quinar kept his ears flattened. "A bad kind. The type of medicine I used improves the healing process of wounds and injuries, but in order to do so, it has to tweak the body a little. It brings out the feral side of a fur, a side that in many others, remains dormant. Unfortunately Jack was one of those furs, and hasn't ever been in touch with his feral side before so... the experience is quite new to him, and there for more uncontrollable."

The vulpine's ears began to lower, and he jumped a little in surprise when Jack suddenly sniffed him. "U-Uh, how long is it supposed to last?"

"As I told Jack, it's effects are indefinite. At least until treated, but the ingredients for the treatment are very difficult to find, impossible even. We would have to go out to the Snowpeak Mountains to find it, and that is a very dangerous place."

Sven's shoulders sagged a little, and he looked up to Jack who was looking down at him with interest. "How... How is he mentally? He hasn't even made a sound."

Quinar nodded at that. "He'll be noticeably quieter now, only speaking when he absolutely has to probably. I can't tell you that he'll be the same wolf as you knew before this happened."

Sven nodded, partly to himself. "Show me where the mountain is on the map."

Quinar sighed, "Sven-"

"Jaiden, I need you to help me load the sled."

The wolf's sears lowered. "We can't just-"

"I pulled a training sled a little smaller than that back in Basil. If I just take what I need, I can do it again," Sven said.

Quinar gave him a worried look. "What are you intending to do?"

Sven looked like it was the most obvious question in the world. "I'm going to the Snowpeak Mountains to get whatever you need to fix this."

Quinar tried to reason. "It's not an easy journey. Finding what I need could take-"

"I'll draw a copy of that part of the map and leave half my ammo," Sven cut him off. The sled... well, I need it. If I'm not back, you can either head back to Basil, of wait for Van to send a rescue team."

Quinar looked to Jaiden for help. The wolf gave a slight nod and moved towards Sven. "Swish, be reasonable. Let's take care of what we need to here, go back to Basil and resupply and then go as a team."

Sven's lips curled in a snarl. "I'm not asking anyone to come with me. All I need to know is what I'm looking for," he spun his head, "Quin, show me!"

The coyote perked his ears a little at that, then suddenly swiveled them forward. Sven blinked in surprise at that, knowing a sign of aggression when he saw one.

"No Sven, I will not tell you what the ingredient is, nor will I show you what it looks like. Don't bother asking anyone else, only the Tikaani know of it. Sven, this is for your own good, to go out to the Snowpeak Mountains by yourself, or under-prepared is suicide! Not even Tikaani warriors dare brave those cursed peaks, and those that do, never return."

Sven lowered his ears at that. "Quin, please, please just let me--" One look from the coyote silenced him, and the fox sagged a little in defeat. "All I want is to save Jack..."

The coyote came over to the fox at that, placing his hand on his shoulder. "Jack is in no danger, in fact, you may want to know, that his survival rate has probably skyrocketed by now."

Jaiden came forward as well, Jack eyed the wolf suspiciously as he did. "Yeah Swish, once we get back to Basil, we'll go and confront Vandala about Jack's condition. Then after we've rested for a bit, we'll pack up again, with more supplies and a bigger sled, then set off towards the mountains, alright?"

Sven whined. He wanted to do something. "Jack would go for me."

Jaiden put his arm over Sven's shoulder. "Yeah. But he'd go in a way he was sure would let him come back to you. Don't let us lose you, ok? Besides, this'll be good practice for when you have to deal with Jack in one of his moods."

Jack growled.

"Kidding!" Jaiden forced a laugh. The situation worried him more than he was willing to let on. Jack was his best friend, and Sven was his lover. Both were on the verge of putting themselves in real danger. He decided he would need to keep a close eye on both of them until this mess was sorted out.

"Promise me you'll wait, and I promise I'll go with you, every step of the way." Jaiden said.

"What if Vandala doesn't let us?" Sven asked quietly.

"Then I'll take what we need and we can apologize when we get back," his smile began to put the fox at ease.

Quinar cleared his throat. "I will come too."

Jaiden squeezed Sven's shoulder. "And I know Lokir won't pass up a chance to help Jack."

Sven looked at Jack, then Quinar. "And you promise this isn't hurting him?"

The coyote nodded. "I promise. He's stronger than ever. It might be affecting him in a less than desirable way, but it's still Tikaani medicine. It will do some good."

Sven sighed. "Alright... I'll wait. C-could you two give me a moment alone with Jack? I'd like to talk to him."

Quinar and Jaiden exchaned looks, but then the coyote nodded softly at that. "Alright, we'll give you two some time alone. But be careful, ferals have heighted senses... and are prone to be sometimes a little.. agressive at certain times, if you take my meaning."

The fox tried not to show his uncertainty at that, then watched as they left before looking to Jack. The wolf was eyeing him, his eyes seeming to refuse to go elsewhere. Rubbing his hands together slowly for a moment, the vulpine softly cleared his throat.

"So... Quin said that you were able to talk, so... can you?"

Jack's ear flicked at that. "I can talk."

Sven flinched a little when he heard the wolf's voice. Unexpectedly, it had gotten deeper and had a bit of a rumble to it. Lowering his ears slightly, he then spoke up again.

"Quin tells me that you were affected by his medicine--"

"I heard him," The wolf's quick reply had cut him off. "I feel more alive than ever."

The vulpine laid back his ears fully now. "So.... you like being that way?"

One of the wolf's ears tilted to the side at that. "I did not say that."

***

Jaiden stood with his ear to the door. Quinar gently pulled at his coat. The wolf brushed his hand away.

"Jaiden," Quinar said with a firm compassion. "Sven asked for this to be private."

"Then go. Someone needs to stay here. What if Jack..."

The coyote's ears dipped. "We have to trust their bond is strong enough. I'm," he lowered his eyes, "I'm more worried about his reaction to you."

Jaiden blinked and took his head from the door. "What?"

"How much do you know about your feral ancestors?"

Jaiden considered. "Just what I hear down at the tavern. I'm not the scholarly type."

Quinar nodded. "Well, in the wild, feral packs usually only have one lead alpha male."

Jaiden narrowed his eyes. "Are you saying Jack's going to want to fight me?"

Quinar shrugged and looked away. "Maybe, but it might be something else... I mean, you have a shared interest in Sven. Jack knows that. He might just want to make it clear that he's the alpha in the relationship. And he'll probably want to prove that to you... one way or another."

It took Jaiden a moment to understand what the coyote was driving at. "What!"

"Shh!" Quinar pulled Jaiden away from the kitchen where Jack or Sven might overhear them. "I said 'might.' Abel has some anesthetics. He could make a sedative just in case Jack goes too far. It could take Jack a while to become accustomed to his new primal nature, and I want you to be on the look out for all possible ways that might manifest."

Jaiden pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "Tell me, Quin, are there any other side effects we can expect? He's not going to grow wings, or get pregnant is he?" he hissed with bitter sarcasm.

"No, he's not. But if I were you, I'd watch myself. Be alert should you find Jack and yourself alone together."

Jaiden sighed heavily at that, running his fingers through the tuft of fur between his ears. "So that means my cabin idea is a no go?" He explained when Quinar raised an eyebrow. "I was telling Sven that once we got back to Basil, he could move in with me in my cabin. He was more than warm to the idea, and then I also said that Jack could move in with us as well."

The coyote thought about that for a long moment, then finally said. "No, I think that's a good idea. Jack will be able to grow more accustomed to having to share his love with you, meaning he won't be as likely to do anything drastic."

Jaiden nodded at that, then looked back to the door for a moment, before sighing then moving away from it. The wolf began heading out, before hesitating and looking to the coyote, who nodded and told him it was safe. He then went out to join Abel and Lokir in the main room, where the two of them were looking after the arctic fox.

"So the little guy's going to make it?" Jaiden asked as he circled the table with the sleeping fur.

Abel spoke up. "Yes. I had my doubts, but a combination of the Tikaani- I mean, Quinar's folkways and my modern medical expertise seems to have done the trick. I'm actually quite curious as to what he was up to. I thought the arctic foxes stayed further north of the tundra's, on the glacial shelfs."

Their eye's turned to Quinar out of habit. The coyote chuckled. Never being thought of as this knowledgeable in anything outside of scouting back with his tribe.

"They venture further south sometimes," he said. "But they do avoid outsiders. Even the Tikaani rarely see one this close."

"Then why did he try to break into the outpost?" Jaiden asked.

Quinar looked thoughtfully at the snow colored fur. "They travel in small bands. Usually never more than two or three extended families. Maybe he got separated and needed food. They don't seek shelter unless there's a storm... Maybe he was chased."

Jaiden glanced at the door. "Until we know Jack's in his right mind, the team needs a leader. If the fox is alright, I need to find a ladder. We're going to start watching from the roof until Sven scouts for any bandits in the area. As soon as the arctic fox is awake, come get me." He walked out the door, full of purpose and determination.

Moments later, Jaiden poked his head back in. "Quin, guide me to the shed. I'd rather not step in any of your traps."

The coyote chuckled softly at that, then followed Jaiden out the door. Once outside, he pointed out the trail that he had made that was a safe path to the shed.

"So long as you follow my tracks exactly, you'll be safe from harm. I usually come out every hour or two and check on the trail, just to make sure it hasn't been covered by new snow or such."

Jaiden then followed the coyote to the shed. "Are you able to stick around for a bit?"

Quinar shook his head at that. "Sorry, I have to go make my routine route along the safe paths through the traps I laid out. I'll be clearing out some more snow than usually, so it'll take some time. I'm sure you can find that ladder on your own." With that, the coyote turned and left.

Jaiden sighed softly, then opened up the door to the sled and went inside. He began to look around for any signs of a ladder. As he looked around, he happened to look up and for the first time, notice that the shed had a loft. Going over to the ladder that was there, he tried to move it, then huffed when he found it was bolted in.

"Of course... Might as well see what's up here."

He climbed the ladder, noticing how it creaked on the fourth and seventh rung, then taking note of that. Up in the loft, there was an assortment of crates. Tilting his head to the side curiously, the wolf went over to one of the crates and picked up a crowbar that lay on top of it. Prying open the lid and tossing it aside, he looked in.

The wolf's eyes widened a little when he saw that the crate was full of guns and ammo. "Huh, the military must have left these here.... which means they'll probably be back for them soon," He looked around at the other crates. "They probably wouldn't mind if I helped myself, as well as the others."

With that the wolf began looking through the guns and ammo. After awhile, he sighed and stepped back from the crate, turning around to continue his search for a ladder. Jaiden froze when he realized that Jack was standing there, blocking the only way down from the loft. The bigger wolf was eyeing him quietly, not even attempting to say anything.

"J-Jack! Uh, what brings you out here...in the cold... alone? Heh," he laughed nervously.

Jack remained silent. His eyes locked on Jaiden's.

"I found some guns," Jaiden pointed, hoping to distract the bigger wolf. "I was looking for a ladder, but the only one I've found is bolted to the wall. But, I guess you saw that one." He took a step to the side, putting the knee-high crate between them.

Jack turned his head and Jaiden heard the cracking in his neck as Jack loosened up, readying for something.

Jaiden's eyes widened and he felt the uncommon sensation of his ears lowering in instinctual submission. "Jack, whatever you're thinking, I- I need you to not. O-ok?" He flicked his eyes to the crate, wondering if he could use one of the guns as a club if he became desperate. "Talk to me, Jack. I'm your friend, remember?"

Jack's deeper voice filled the loft, making it seem even smaller. "More than a friend now. Sven made sure of that." He took a step forward.

Jaiden took a step back, abandoning the idea of going for a gun. "M-more than a friend, right? I- I'd like that Jack. But," he couldn't remember a time when he'd felt fear like this, "but, not here, and not like this. Please, Jack. I know what your thinking."

Jack stepped forward, his muscles tense and eyes sharp.

Jaiden found his back to the wall. Jack was huge and intimidating, even before this. Beneath his bravado, Jaiden knew he never had a chance against Jack in a fight. His pulse raced and he remembered what Quinar had said. That Jack needed to be the alpha male. With a shuddering breath he gave his last ditch effort.

Jaiden let his ears flatten and his tail curl between his legs. He whimpered, more out of humiliation than fear, though both were present, and slowly got to his knees. "Y-you win, Ja-" he recalled the look the bigger wolf got when Sven said it, "Sir. You're in charge." He sank lower, trying to make himself look less threatening. "I'll listen to you, Sir. Please, can we go back now? W-we can't leave Swish alone, right?"

The bigger wolf eyed him for a long moment, and there came a brief glimmer of hope that what Jaiden was doing was working, but then that hope shattered into a million pieces when the wolf said, "Sven is safe. He is with Lokir, and the saber will take good care of him."

Jaiden felt his heart sink down into his stomach as Jack slowly approached, "S-Sir please, let's just go back to the outpost, it's.... it's getting cold out here!" He didn't know what else to say, his brain was beginning to short-circuit out of sheer fear.

Jack came to a stop only about a foot or two away from him, the bigger wolf glaring down at him, "Stand up straight, now."

Shakily, Jaiden did as he was told, avoiding eye contact with the bigger wolf. "P-Please..."

Jack grabbed him at that moment, pinning him back against the wall, just one of his hands was enough to pin both of Jaiden's arms behind his head, while the large wolf pressed his forearm against Jaiden's stomach, "It is all good and well that you show submission to me. But I need more than that to affirm my place over you."

The smaller wolf whimpered softly at that, closing his eyes. "Y-You can't do this without my permission, o-or else it's c-called--"

"I know what it's called. Which is why I'm going to make you change your mind," With that Jack moved his free hand down, and suddenly groped Jaiden's balls and sheath right through the fabric of his pants.

The wolf gasped at that, letting loose a soft whine as he felt himself being groped, his tongue sticking partway out of his mouth for some reason. All of a sudden, he felt the other wolf press his lips to his own, catching him off guard. Jaiden's heart was hammering away in his chest as he could feel his sheath begin to bulge from the groping. Then, after several long moments of arguing with himself on the inside, he finally relented and melted into the kiss.

Jack murred at that, letting go of the smaller wolf's arms. He knew Jaiden wouldn't try anything now, and thus only deepened his kiss to make sure.

Jaiden moaned softly into the deepened kiss, his mind having already short-circuited from all of the sensations he was feeling. Sure, fear helped the short-circuiting along, but now, his fear was gone, having melted away once he surrendered to the bigger wolf.

Jack began to unfasten Jaiden's pants. It took the other wolf a moment to realize this.

"Jack, it's cold." He didn't try to stop him.

"I will keep you warm, Jay." He stopped unveiling Jaiden and pulled his parka and shirt off, the heat of lust keeping him from feeling the chill.

Jaiden's eyes widened as they roamed over the sculpted chest. "Jack... I almost forgot how good you look." He reached out to touch.

Jack smiled as Jaiden's fingers brushed up his sides. He let the smaller wolf play for a moment before tugging loose Jaiden's belt. "I think I like it better when you call me Sir," he growled and pressed his nose to Jaiden's neck, taking a deep sniff of his claim.

Jaiden swallowed as his pants came down. He wasn't sure if he liked the idea of letting everyone else know his submission. Then Jack began removing his coat and Jaiden raised his arms to make it easier. "Whatever you say, Sir."

Jack took a step back, appraising his naked mate with an approving growl.

Jaiden shivered. He'd never felt this exposed before a partner before. It was like Jack could see right into his soul. "W-will it hurt, Sir? I'm not used to, y'know." He rubbed his arms nervously.

Jack raised an eyebrow. "Not used to what? Say it."

Jaiden's eyes lowered, coming to rest on the growing bulge in Jack's pants. "I- I'm not used to being on the bottom," he said softly.

Jack lowered his pants, slowly, letting his stiffening cock snake out before letting them fall to the floor. He stepped forward, back to where their chests almost touched. He put his hand around the back of Jaiden's neck, squeezing softly. ""You can still top Sven, or whoever else we might play with... but for me," he leaned in, his lips brushing Jaiden's flattened ears, "you are mine."

Jaiden whimpered, this time in a plea for more. He felt Jack's cock pressing against him. "I can live with that," he shuddered. Then Jack began to push him to his knees. He looked up at the bigger wolf, his eyes questioning.

"Get it wet," Jack growled. "It'll hurt less."

Again Jaiden whimpered. He knew how to suck cock, but the idea of the monster of a specimen before him being able to fit in his hole filled him with a sensual dread. He licked his lips and nuzzled up to the thick shaft.

Jack grinned, resting his hand on top of Jaiden's head to guide him. The smaller wolf went at him like a pro. Jack closed his eyes, letting the sensation of Jaiden's talented tongue take him closer to the edge. He opened his eyes. "Stop."

Jaiden continued to suck, only noticing Jack was speaking when his head was roughly pulled of the hot pleasure stick.

"When I give you a command, I expect obedience," Jack growled.

Jaiden whimpered. "I- I'm sorry, Sir."

Jack's grin returned. "Next time, you will be. Now," he glanced around to the low crate and pointed. "Get on your back."

Jaiden hurried to comply. Fear, lust and excitement creating a volatile cocktail that needed mixing. He moaned as Jack pushed his legs wide and began to finger him.

"Oh, Sir," he groaned and arched his back, pushing against the other wolf's probing fingers.

"That's more like it," Jack rumbled and leaned over Jaiden, Planting a fierce and dominating kiss that left them both breathless in the moments before switching his fingers with something bigger.

Jaiden's moaning grew more intense. He wrapped his legs around Jack as the bigger wolf filled him. "Ohhh, God," he screamed, reaching out blindly and finding Jack's hand. Their fingers intertwined as the bigger wolf pounded into him.

His new feral side had the stamina to last hours, but Jack had made his point, and he didn't want to risk Jaiden catching a cold. He sped up, driving harder, nearly rocking the incoherently babbling wolf off the crate.

When he came, Jaiden howled, a hint of his own deeply buried feral ancestry showing through.

Jack snarled as he forced his knot into Jaiden, gripping the smaller wolf tighter and letting loose a howl that rose above the other wolf's as he came, his seed flooding his mate's insides with warmth.

Jaiden let loose a small shudder as he was filled with the warmth of Jack's hot seed, then began to pant, "Nnnfff.... th-that was amazing, but.... you knotted me Sir"

The bigger wolf huffed a few times, then smirked, "To rightfully claim you as mine"

"B-But we're stuck here until it goes down!"

Jack only chuckled knowingly at this.

***

Vanir's eyes flickered open. Where was he? The fox tried to move, but found that his body was extremely weak, and that movement was not an option. The arctic fox found himself staring up at some sort of ceiling, but there was warmth... there was warmth... the vulpine tried turning his head, and found that it was a lot easier that he would have hoped. He froze when he saw that he wasn't alone. There were three other furs in the room, a grey fox, a labrador, and what looked like a sabertooth. Although the sabertooth looked as if he was part bear. He was slightly relieved when he found that none of them had noticed him yet, so he tried to move again, but to no avail.

Looking at the three furs in the room, he stared blankly at their matching parkas for a long moment before it suddenly clicked. North Guard. They must have rescued him from.... from what? All he could remember was climbing some sort of gate, then a loud noise, and pain... horrible, dreadful pain. He closed his eyes for a moment, then reopened, tears beginning to flood his eyes all of a sudden.

The arctic fox remembered what had happened before he came to this place. He was simply traveling with his family, their elder had decided to move farther south. Along the way, they had been attacked by Maguruq. The memories of seeing his family members being cut down and eaten alive were still fresh in his mind. Vanir only survived by hiding inside of a snowdrift that by luck happened to be close by. He hadn't seen the strays coming, the warning was from a scout who had been traveling a little farther ahead than the rest.... he had met a gruesome fate. But now, Vanir was all alone, no family to go back to, no home, just himself.

He sniffled at that, accidentally drawing the attention of the grey fox. They locked eyes, staring at each other for a long moment, before the other fox suddenly blinked and quickly turned to the labrador sitting next to him.

"Abel! He's awake!" The lab looked at the arctic fox, then quickly got to his feet and came over.

"We.. We didn't expect you to wake up so soon, are you feeling well enough to move?"

Vanir shook his head at that, "....No"

The grey fox jumped a little at that, "He can speak english? Uh, I'll go and call for Quin!" With that the vulpine rushed for the door.

Sven closed the door behind him and prepared to call out for Quinar, then the idea of using this as an opportunity to hone his tracking skills came to mind. He grinned and started to run down one of the coyote's trails, noting the sets of pawprints.

He could see Jaiden's tracks too. They split from Quinar's near the shed. The wolf going in, and the coyote branching off around the outpost. Sven readied to sprint after the smaller tracks when something caught his eye.

Bigger pawprints. Wolf. It had to be Jack's but they were made almost as recently as Jaiden's. A sick feeling washed over him and he bolted for the shed. The door didn't open. Something blocking it from the other side.

"Jay!" he shouted. "Jack?" No answers. He began kicking against the door and ramming his shoulder into it.

Gradually, inch by inch, the door's blockage started to give. When Sven had enough space, he forced his head through the crack. The scent of sex assaulted his nostrils. "Jay? Jack? Are you in here?"

Voices began a hush argument that stopped suddenly with Jack's new deeper voice. "Sven, we're in the loft."

We're? "I can't get-" he braced himself against the doorframe and with all his strength managed to wedge himself in. He landed on the floor, next to the crate of railroad spikes someone had propped against the door.

"Jack," he yelled as he scrambled to the ladder, "Jack, tell me you didn't hurt him!"

He got to the top and gasped. Both his wolves were naked! And Jack was... Jack had Jaiden knotted.

Jaiden had his face covered. "Damn it," he sighed, "Jack you said he didn't have to see this."

Sven stared at the two of them for a long time, his jaw hanging open in shock, "J-Jack.... Wha??"

Jaiden quickly interrupted him, "No no, it's alright Sven! Uh... Jack's gonna be just fine now and-- nnnff!" Jack pushed his knot a little deeper into the smaller wolf.

"Everything is fine Sven," Jack's deep voice still sent shivers down the fox's spine, "I have satisfied my urges to have dominance, for now that is."

Jaiden laid back his ears at that, then coughed a little, "Uh, yeah... for now..."

"Uhm...." Sven rubbed the back of his head at that, "Uhm.... so I'm guessing that you two can't go anywhere right?"

Jack looked back at the vulpine and shook his head, "No, we won't be going anywhere for awhile."

Sven nodded at that, the suddenly grinned and came over. He grabbed the bigger wolf by the rear, giving it a hard squeeze. Jack jumped at that, then grinned and growled softly.

"What was that for?"

Sven only smirked, then turned and headed for the ladder down, "Oh nothing really, just took advantage of the situation. I have to go find Quinar, the arctic fox woke up and Quin needs to take a look at him. Uh, just when you two are finished, go ahead and go back to the outpost alright?"

The fox then climbed back down the ladder, a flash of jealousy hitting him as he did.

He tried not to let the thought surface, but it would not relent. Sven wanted to be the center of their attention. He sighed and kicked at a chunk of snow that had fallen into Quinar's shoveled path. He knew how bratty it made him seem, especially after the way he'd reacted to all the fuss over his tail. He shook his head and decided this would have to wait until later.

He could hear the sounds of the coyote shoveling and picked up speed. He rounded the corner of the outpost and shouted, "Quin! The arctic fox woke up. You have to come."

Quinar dropped the shovel and ran with Sven, questioning him the whole way. The fox had few answers to any of the inquiries beyond repeating the events he'd witnessed.

"It's a good sign," Quinar said. "I had to improvise with what Abel had on hand. And you're sure he speaks english?"

"He knows at least one word, and I think he understood my question."

"This makes it easier. Because arctic foxes live so scattered, there are hundreds of dialects in their language, maybe a thousand. It can be very hard to communicate with them." He pushed back his hood as they neared the door and turned to Sven. "By the way, did Jaiden return with a ladder yet?"

Sven coughed. "Uhm, I think he's still exploring." He quickly opened the door for Quinar, ending the conversation.

Abel was leaning over the arctic fox, taking his pulse. He looked up at Quinar's arrival. "His pulse is steady, but I am a little concerned about his breathing. I'm hoping none of those sharp spikes punctured a lung. It would be beyond the capabilities of even myself to provide the surgery he would need in these conditions."

Quinar nodded thoughtfully. "He might be overheating. Arctic foxes take longer for their bodies to acclimate." He touched the small fur's arm and spoke to him softly. "Can you hear me?"

Vanir looked to the coyote, his chest rising up and down quickly as he panted, "Yes...."

Quinar perked his ears at that, then grinned, "So you do speak english. What is your name?"

The fox closed his eyes for a moment, then replied softly, "Vanir"

"Hmmm, well Vanir, it looks like you're recovery is going faster than expected. We'll have you out of here and back to your family in no ti--- What's wrong?"

The fox was beginning to tear up at that, sniffling loudly, "I-I don't have a family anymore.... we were attacked by strays... they're all dead now.... I'm all alone...."

Quinar laid back his ears at that, then softly placed his hand on Vanir's chest, "I am truly sorry to hear that. Perhaps when Jack returns we can talk to him, see if we can bring you with us."

Sven like the idea of Jack being involved. Jack had been orphaned too, he could sympathize with the poor arctic fox... At least, that's what the old Jack would have done.

Quinar rubbed the fox's chest. "Are you hungry? Thirsty? I'm not sure how long you've been out there."

Vinir sniffled and nodded softly.

"Lokir," Quinar called, "would you please bring him something?"

If it wasn't for the saber's size it would have been easy to forget he was in the room at times. He sat motionless, resting a thumb on the tip of one of his fangs. Seemingly lost in thought.

"Lokir?" Quinar called louder.

The big fur snapped to attention, looking at the coyote. "What is it you want?"

"Vanir needs food."

Lokir nodded and left the room without a word.

Quinar glanced around. Seeing the dishes of bloodied bandages and rags they'd used on Vanir, he silently motioned to Sven, miming for him to take it away. Sven gave a disgusted look but he knew it had to be done. And he did it with as little looking as he could.

Sven entered the kitchen, gagging at the thought of what he was carrying as he dropped the bowl of red hued water into the sink. He sat down at the counter to compose himself. Lokir was busy boiling water and portioning out a handful of the dried beans. The team had found half a dozen dusty sacks that made Sven wonder how old they were. He watched Lokir work, adding other dehydrated foods and the minimal spices they'd found.

"It looks good," the fox smiled. "Smells good too. I really thought cleaning up that mess would have stolen my appetite."

Lokir looked at Sven and the boiling pot. "Enough for two if you want."

"Really?" Sven's ears twitched. "If it's no trouble."

Lokir grinned. "No trouble."

The grey fox nodded at that with a soft grin, "Thank you... say, what do you think of... Vanir I think his name was?"

The saber froze at that, staring down at the boiling pot for a long moment before answering, "I think it is rather unfortunate to have lost family. Many of us have lost loved ones here in the North."

The fox perked his ears at that, "Have you... lost any family?"

Lokir quickly changed the subject, "The meal will be ready soon, but I fear that it needs some more of seasoning. Search through the crates over there and try to find some if you will"

Sven lowered his ears at that, then nodded and got up, going over to one of the crates and opening it up. He began searching through the contents for any seasoning. After awhile the vulpine found some, then took it to the saber.

"Here you go.... Uh... sorry about asking that question..." Lokir stayed silent for a long moment.

Finally, he said, "It's alright. Just do not bring it up again"

***

"Aren't you cold?" Jaiden asked as he closed his parka.

Jack hadn't begun to dress. The bigger wolf looked over at him. "No."

Jaiden shrugged. "Whatever you say... Sir." He sighed. "You're not going to make me call you that in front of the others, right?"

Jack's head tilted. "No."

"Because you said, you didn't have to let Swish know about this."

Jack finally started to put his pants back on. "He came on his own. I thought he would have stayed inside."

"Yeah," Jaiden huffed bitterly. "Now he thinks I'm a..."

"A what?" Jack growled.

Jaiden looked away, suddenly finding it hard to hold Jack's gaze. "Doesn't matter. Point is, I have an image I'd like to protect. And... I actually kinda like joking around and pranking with Swish. Now he might... I dunno, think less of me. Or worse: take it easy on me." He shuddered and his shoulders slumped.

"He won't," Jack said. "When his tail is healed, I will claim him like I did you. He'll see you had no choice."

Jaiden's ears still drooped.

Jack growled, more in mild annoyance than anger. "And when I'm finished, I will let you remind him where you rank in our pack. Alright?"

Jaiden smiled a little at the thought of having Sven, and what they could do. "Yeah. That sounds fair."

The two furs left the shed and headed back to the outpost.

Once inside the outpost, Jack perked his ears as Quinar came over, "Jack, there is something urgent that I need to discuss with you."

The wolf perked his ears at that, "I'm listening"

The coyote nodded, then began, "As you know, I've been tending to the wounds of the our new guest, the arctic fox. His name as it turns out is Vanir, and he just recently lost all his family to strays. So, I was hoping that perhaps we could take him with us. He has nowhere to go"

The wolf thought for a moment, then looked to the arctic fox on the table for a bit, then back to Quinar, "No"

The coyote laid back his ears at that, "Wh-What? Why? Jack we can't just leave him out here to die!"

"I don't want to take on anymore stragglers. It's a no Quin," At that moment, Sven appeared.

"A no? Jack how come?? Quin told me about what had happened to Vanir, and I agree with him. We can't just leave here! That would be cruel!"

Jack growled at that, then let loose a heavy sigh. After several moments of glaring at the both of them, the wolf finally relented.

"Alright. Fine. We'll let him come along."

Standing with Abel, Jaiden folded his arms and shook his head. "I need to learn how Swish does that."

Abel glanced up. "Does what?"

"Get Jack to change his mind so easily."

Abel laughed. "Well that's an easy one. He's sleeping with him."

Jaiden rolled his eyes and walked away. "I really don't think that's it," he muttered, still feeling the ache of the bigger wolf's knot. He went to the table where the arctic fox was lying, his back propped up with one of the team's two sleeping bags. Jaiden was curious about the new and exotic fur but a stranger sight caught his attention. Lokir, the only one of the team bigger than Jack, was sitting at the small fur's side, spoon feeding him a hot meal. The saber was staring intently at his charge.

"Hey, Lok. How's the little fox doing?"

Lokir put down the spoon. "His name is Vanir. And he speaks english."

"Oh," Jaiden shifted uncomfortably. Lokir's tone made it seem like he was intruding on something. "So, Vanir, how are you?"

Vanir spoke softly, his voice almost a whisper compared to the other furs in the outpost. "It hurts to move."

Jaiden hummed, searching for anything else he could say to get a conversation started but a strange look from Lokir made him reconsider. He walked back to Abel, trying not to show how sore he was after his time with Jack. Jaiden found the lab annoying and he was sure the feelings were mutual. But Jaiden felt like talking and his options were limited.

"Is it just me," he started, "or is everyone acting strange since we got here." He smirked, "or stranger, like in your case."

"Don't you have something to do?" Abel huffed.

"Nope," Jaiden said with exaggerated cheer.

The labrador rolled his eyes, then suddenly began to move away, "Hey where you going?"

"Unlike you, I have more important things to do than talk to you," Jaiden frowned at that, then huffed before watching as Abel went over to Vanir.

After a moment, the wolf sighed and decided to go and see what Sven was up to. The grey fox had gone off by himself, and was going through crates off on the other side of the room. Going over, Jaiden tapped him on the shoulder.

"Hey Swish, whatcha doing?"

The fox perked his ears at that and grinned softly, "Oh I'm just looking for some more medical supplies, Quin said that he was running low, and with him looking after Vanir and checking the trails outside through the traps, he doesn't really have the time to look himself."

Jaiden tilted one of his ears at that, "Really? I think Abel and Lokir have Vanir covered."

"Lokir?" Sven looked over to where Vanir was, seeing the saber feeding the fox and occasionally stroking his fur, "You don't think..."

The wolf blinked at that, looking over to the two for a moment, before shrugging, "Who knows? Lokir is a fur of few words, and he certainly hasn't divulged any matters of his personal life with us."

Sven leaned into the box, one leg in the air. Jaiden glanced around before stepping back for a more appreciative view of vulpine ass. Suddenly the fox stood up.

"Hey!"

Jaiden jumped, "What! I wasn't doing anything."

Sven tilted his head in confusion. "What?"

Jaiden realized Sven was excited about what he found, not the wolf's lewd staring. "Nothing, Swish. Did you find what Quin needs?"

"No. Not yet anyways. But I found a knife. You can never have too many knives when you're out scouting, right?"

"Heh, yeah," Jaiden chuckled. "You should let me come with you when you go out tomorrow."

Sven put the knife in the pile of useful things he'd found. "Sure."

"Just like that?" Jaiden was expecting a bit of an argument. Sven had made it clear Quinar and Lokir were going to be more useful.

"Yeah," Sven said over his shoulder while he rummaged around in the crate.

"Why?" the wolf continued.

"You probably need some time away. And Quin's pretty busy, and who knows what's going on with Lokir. And-"

"Why would I need some time away?" Jaiden grew more serious. The self consciousness he'd feared would come after Jack... claimed him, seemed to be arriving now. "What do you mean?"

Sven turned away from the crate. "Calm down. I just mean that things have to be pretty tense between you and Jack-"

Jaiden snapped, grabbing the fox by his coat and nearly lifting him off the ground. "Listen, Sven," he snarled, "What Jack did only happened because I let it. If you think for one minute I couldn't do the same to you in a heartbeat-" He froze, suddenly seeing the fear in Sven's eyes.

Jaiden let go and backed away. "I- I'm sorry, Swish... I..." he shook his head knowing he'd let his insecurities get the better of him. "I've got to clear my head," he spoke quietly and jog out into the cold air.

Sven stood there for a long moment, trembling slightly. After a long moment, he took a deep breath and leaned against the crate, thinking about what had happened. After the moment had passed, he began rationalizing. Obviously Jaiden was in some kind of distress, or he wouldn't have snapped like that.

"Sven, are you alright?" The fox looked up to see Quinar coming over to him, a concerned look on his face.

"Uh, yeah, why do you ask?"

"There's no need no to try and hide it. We all saw what just happened, save for Jack because he was in the kitchen, but it was better that he didn't see that. What exactly just went on?"

Sven lowered his ears at that, "I think Jaiden is feeling kinda the same way I did back when I was..... you know..." The coyote nodded at that.

"Then I think you should go and speak with him. It won't do any good trying to talk to him in here, too many ears to hear what's being said, I think the shed is the best place to go, in fact, I'd bet that's where he is right now. Wouldn't be safe for him to go elsewhere, not with all the traps and such"

Sven walked slowly to the shed. When he opened the door he immediately saw Jaiden sitting in the far corner, holding his head in his hands. The wolf looked up. Sven kept his ears lowered, hoping to come off as unthreatening as he could.

"Hello, Jay."

Jaiden's head sank back to his hands. "I'm sorry, Swish... What I said was really stupid."

"No it wasn't," Sven walked around the mounds of stacked boxes and eased himself down next to the wolf. "You were afraid."

Jaiden's head snapped back. "No I wasn't!" He sighed. "Alright. So I am. It's not that I didn't enjoy what Jack did... It's that... Well, he was the first to go down that particular road, if you know what I mean."

Sven's eyes widened. "Oh. You mean you never-"

"I've never been on the receiving end. It's probably why I was first attracted to you."

Sven rolled his eyes and let that comment go. "I can see how that could be a big deal."

"Yeah," Jaiden. "I guess I was scared that I'd become, I dunno, less of a male. It's stupid, of course, but when you said that I might need some time away from Jack... I jumped to a bunch of dumb conclusions. Like I was supposed to run away now. I just freaked out."

Sven was quiet for a moment. "Jay, I would never think you were anything less. You're still the same jerk I fell in love with that night."

Jaiden laughed and gave the fox a playful punch. "Thanks, Swish."

Sven laughed and rubbed his arm. "I'd still like you to come with me when I go scouting tomorrow. But on your terms, and only if you want to."

"I'd like that. If I'm not need here, I'll take you up on that."

The grey fox smiled at that, then gave the wolf a soft kiss on the cheek, "Thanks Jay... with you coming a long I'll feel a lot safer"

The wolf raised an eyebrow at that. "Is that some sort of attempt to flatter me Swish?"

The fox smirked softly at that. "Maybe~"

Jaiden stared at him for a long moment, biting his lower lip. "Uh, and how long until your tail has healed?"

Sven grinned widely, then giggled, "I already know what's on your mind Jay, and it's not happening until we're back in Basil"

The lupine stuck his tongue out at that. "My mind isn't always on sex ya know! I was just... concerned is all," Sven gave him a look and he laughed, "Alright alright, it was on sex, this time that is!"

With another smirk, Sven flicked one of his ears. "Let's head back alright Jack? It's starting to get dark out," The wolf nodded, then got up and began following the fox back

***

The next morning Jack walked with Jaiden and Sven to the gate. He unlocked it and pulled it open through the drifted snow with little effort.

"Jay," he started.

"I know, Jack. Guard Swish with my life," the smaller wolf smiled.

The bigger wolf nodded, hesitating before he spoke again. "Not just that... You be careful too."

Jaiden raised an eyebrow. "Jack, I didn't think you had a soft side."

Jack growled playfully and grabbed him in a tight embrace. With his lips near his ears he whispered, "if I have to come rescue you two, neither of you will be able to sit for a month."

Jaiden pulled back but the second he caught the glimmer of warm affection in Jack's eye he laughed. "Careful what you promise me, Jack. I might hold you to it."

Jack turned to the gray fox, affectionately stroking his cheek. "Sven, I want you to obey Jaiden out there. He's got a lot more experience than you do, and you know what I'll do if he gives me a bad report."

Sven had been quick to adjust to Jack's feral influence. "Understood, Sir. We'll be back before sundown."

Jack lean forward and gave Sven a deep, possessive kiss. "Watch your tail."

Sven nodded, a little woozy from the kiss. He gave a lopsided salute and the two furs departed from the outpost. They both wore one of the Tikaani style packs fashioned by Quinar, loaded with everything they would need for a day of scouting the surrounding area. Including, at Jack's irresistible insistence, extra bullets for their revolvers.

Sven glanced at his compass, checking for the fourth time that they were headed to the first point marked on his map. He was determined to prove to Jack that he was becoming a skilled member of the North Guard.

They all headed out towards the first area that Sven had marked on his map. The fox kept his eye out for any trouble, his ears were kept perked and swiveling about here and there in different directions.

Quinar walked beside him. "So, where are we heading?"

"First of all there's a forest nearby here. We'll head there and scout the area, then we'll move in a clockwise direction around the outpost before heading back. I just want to do some recon, that way we know the terrain better."

The coyote nodded at that, then fell back a little to walk with Jaiden. Quinar then began to talk to the wolf, who replied just as quietly

"How has Jack been," Quinar whispered.

Jaiden missed a step and nearly fell. "W-what? Have you heard something?" It was a miracle the wolf didn't shout.

The coyote tilted his head. "No. Did something happen? You can tell me, you know I won't say a word."

"No," Jaiden said, relieved that word hadn't left either of his lovers mouths. "No. I mean, he has been a little more possessive," he swallowed, "um, very possessive. But we reached an agreement now, and I really think he's coping well."

Quinar smiled. "That is good. I was really worried about his reaction. But if he's made it this long without any major incidents, he should be able to reach a level of normal."

"By 'normal,' you mean, this is how he's always going to be?"

"Well... it's indefinite. It could always stay like this, but all furs can have changes of personality."

Jaiden rubbed the back of his neck. "What you told Swish... about there being a way to change Jack back to the way he was, you weren't just saying that, were you?"

"No," Quinar said firmly. "I would never lie like that. But I was also truthful when I said it would almost mean certain death to acquire the ingredients."

The wolf stayed quiet at that, contemplating this. It would require an expedition, and a massive one at that, with perhaps a dozen or two other members. He knew about the Snowpeak Mountains, and how treacherous their peaks were, not to mention that the peaks were a major maguruq territory zone, traps everywhere, danger at every corner, the odds of coming back alive were slim.

After awhile, they came across the forest that Sven was planning on scouting. The fox looked around for a moment, then started going deeper before Jaiden suddenly stopped him.

"What are you planning on doing here again?"

"Oh!" The fox turned to look at him, "I wanted to scout out this area here, make sure that there are no threats or anything."

"If there were any threats, how could they be a threat to us?"

Sven eyed him curiously at that. "Well, I--"

At that point Quinar cut in. "Perhaps we shall keep moving? I am truly sorry to rush you like this, but we are in fact, in dangerous territory."

Sven nodded, then began heading deeper into the trees with everyone following him. As he walked, Jaiden came up and walked beside him. "So I was thinking about the Snowpeak Mountains," The fox swiveled his head about and gave him his full attention, "There's not even a slight chance that we'd be able to make it on our own, or with a small group even. We'd have to speak with Vandala about having an expedition put together, and we'll need funds and at least a dozen other experienced furs to come with us."

"I know. That's why we're going back to Basil." Sven did not like the way this could be headed.

"It's crawling with Maguruq."

"That's why we'll bring guns," Sven said evenly, trying to maintain his temper.

"I don't think you fully appreciate how small the odds of us surviving would be. Jack-"

"Jack would do it for us!" Sven yelled.

Jaiden hushed him sharply. "I know, but you need to be realistic. There is no way the North Guard is likely to approve that kind of an expedition. Not when it's that risky."

"If you don't want to go, just say so," Sven snarled. "With or without you or the North Guard, I'm going."

"Not if it means you'll die!" Jaiden started to raise his voice.

"It's not up to you!" Sven turned and shoved Jaiden.

The wolf growled and grabbed hold of Sven's parka. "I don't give a damn if you saw what Jack did to me. I still make the final decision when it's between you and me!"

Quinar ran between them, pushing them apart. "Now is not the time or the place! These woods are far from, safe. And unless you want to do more than scout for signs of the dangers around here, you will both shut up!"

They both fell silent, shocked at the coyote's outburst. After a moment, Jaiden growled softly, then turned back to Sven.

"You leave me no choice Swish. If I can't reason with you, then I'm bringing this matter to Jack once we get back," The wolf then huffed loudly at that, then stormed past the fox.

Sven growled as well, his arms crossed over his chest as he watched Jaiden walk past him. Letting out a similarly loud huff, he followed the wolf while Quinar sighed, rubbing his temple while Lokir followed silently. Little did they know, that the outburst had attracted some unwanted attention.

After walking for awhile, the party came to a small clearing. Jaiden, now being in the lead, came to a stop and looked around. "Did you guys hear that?"

Sven was instantly alert. "What do you mean? What noi--"

All of a sudden there came a loud gunshot. Jaiden yelled, grabbing out his revolver. There came another shot, the bullet smashing in the snow right next to Sven's foot.

Jaiden didn't think twice. "Back to the outpost! Now!!"

Quinar grabbed Sven, and hurried began pulling Sven back towards the direction of the outpost while Jaiden and Lokir fired off into the trees.

"Lokir, go! I'll cover you!" The saber hesitated for a moment, before nodding and heading back into the tree line after Quinar and Sven.

The wolf backed into the treeline, firing off several rounds before hitting an empty chamber. Growling, he opened up his revolver's cylinder and dumped out the empty shells before he heard the gunshot. Pain exploded in his side, and he let out a loud cry, falling to the ground and clutching where he had been hit. Panting heavily, the wolf snarled and forced himself back to his feet, turning and stumbling after the others.

"C'mon!" Quin shouted as he pulled at the gray fox.

Sven tugged out of the coyote's grip. He dropped to one knee and held out his revolver, pointed into the woods. Lokir was easy to pick out as the huge fur pushed through the low pine branches. The fox's ears bent back in determination. He held his breath...

There! Jaiden. But he was staggering and someone was right behind him. Sven squeezed off two shots, dropping the pursuing figure as the wolf tripped at the tree line. As soon as Jaiden was back up Sven could see the dark red patch on the snow.

Sven charged forward. Another bullet sliced through the air. It took him a second to realize it was from Quinar, covering him as he reached Jaiden. The wolf fell forward into Sven's arms. Adrenaline coursing through his veins, the fox started to drag Jaiden, only dropping him when a wolf burst through the underbrush. Sven fired first, killing the wolf.

"Jay! You have to get up! I- I can't carry you!" Sven whined at the bleeding Jaiden.

Just as Sven began to despair, Lokir and Quinar were at his side. The saber lifted the wounded wolf while Sven and Quinar shot anyone who left the cover of the tree line.

They retreated back to the outpost. Abel and Jack were at the open gate, each holding one of the old single shot rifles Jaiden found in the crate in the shack.

Lokir stopped when Jack grabbed him, looking at Jaiden while the others closed the palisade gate.

Jaiden coughed a laugh, looking at the upside down Jack as he lay in Lokir's arms. "I bet you're pissed you didn't get a chance to come rescue us." His eyes rolled back and he lost consciousness.

***

Jack stood by the table where Jaiden was laying. Quinar and Abel had taken off the smaller wolf's jacket and shirt, and were now assessing the wound. Lokir had picked up Vanir, then moved him over somewhere else. Sven had gone off into the kitchen, since he became queasy at the sight of blood.

Quinar growled, then looked to Abel after assessing the wound. "It was a clean shot, passed right through him. We have to stop the bleeding and stitch the wound until we get him to a surgeon."

"I AM a surgeon," The labrador snapped, "I can stitch him up right now!"

The coyote snarled loudly, making the lab lay back his ears. "I am not going to argue with you Abel! Just do as I say before we lose him!"

The lab swallowed, then nodded and hurried over to the medical supplies. "I have something that'll coagulate the blood, stopping the bleeding. I'll give it to him in a strong dose, to increase the coagulation rate"

As they two furs began their work on Jaiden, Jack stayed silent through it all, remaining slightly tensed. After a moment, Quinar looked to him.

"Jack, can you please go and be with Sven? He's going to need to be comforted, he's going to need you to be there for him."

The wolf perked his ears at that, then nodded quickly. Giving Jaiden one last look, he then headed into the kitchen where the fox was pacing back and forth.

"Sven.... Are you alright?" The fox spun about that, then threw himself into the wolf's arms, "It wasn't your fault Sven"

The fox didn't say anything for a moment, but then looked up at him. "I..... I'm responsible for this... if I hadn't of gotten into that argument with him, he'd be okay...."

The wolf immediately dove for that opening, wanting to take the vulpine's mind off of Jaiden being injured. "What was this argument about?"

The grey fox hesitated at that, then softly said. "It was about me... going to the Snowpeak Mountains and getting your cure, no matter what..."

Jack perked his ears at that. "My cure? Sven, I'm not sick."

"But... but you were exposed to the tikaani medicine and it affected you, woken up your feral side as Quin had put it"

The wolf snorted softly at that, then looked the vulpine in the eyes and holding his gaze. "That is not a bad thing Sven. It may have awoken my feral side, but being honest, I've never felt more alive in my entire life. I know the explosive tendencies of ferals, and if something happens, or something goes wrong, I will let you know if I need a cure. I promise."

Sven wiped at his eyes. "Y-you mean it?"

"I do." Jack let Sven look into his eyes. The fox was looking for any sliver of doubt. He'd forgotten how intense the fox's stare could be. Sven moved closer until their lips touched.

Sven broke the kiss and wiped his eyes again. "Alright... As long as you tell me if you start to feel strange or anything."

Jack smiled. "You'll be the first to know."

The fox was satisfied. "C-can you check on Jay?"

Jack laughed softly. "Sven, he just sent me in here to take care of you."

"Yeah, but-"

"He's with two of the best medics I've ever met out here. If they don't kill each other, they'll make sure Jaiden's better than new," Jack said. "I'm not going to leave my fox alone to worry himself sick."

Sven nodded and leaned into the wolf's big arms, letting the strong fur do what he was told to do, comfort him. They moved to the floor, sitting on the unrolled sleeping bag, holding each other. An hour later and Quinar entered, his hands were coated in blood but he looked relieved.

Sven's eyes widened at the blood on the coyote's hands, and he quickly buried his face into Jack's chest. Quinar flattened his ears at that, then hurriedly went over to the sink and began to wash.

"Jaiden is stable. Abel and I have stopped the bleeding, and mended him as best we could. Let us be thankful for the miracle of the bullet not hitting any vital organs."

Jack nodded at that, softly stroking the fur on the back of Sven's head. "And what is the bad news?"

The coyote hesitated at that, then said. "He can't be put into harness. Not for a full two weeks at least, or the wound will reopen. Once we get back to Basil, one of the surgeons that I am hoping the town has, will be able to give a better assessment, but it is not likely."

The wolf nodded softly at that, letting loose a heavy sigh. He knew how much Jaiden loved to be in harness. He even had a bit of fun for in private planned with the small wolf that involved a harness, but that was a thought for a different time. Now wasn't the time to get his blood flowing in the southern parts of his body.

"Can we see him?" Sven asked.

Quinar dried his hands. "Yes. But I should warn you, Abel is still cleaning up, you might want to wait."

"I'll chance it," Sven insisted and hurried out of the kitchen .

Jack gave the coyote a shrug and the two of them went after the fox. They walked in on Sven already apologizing profusely to the wolf, holding the hand on his good side and trying not to look at the blood.

"Swish, really, it's ok," Jaiden said with a weak laugh. "We would have walked into the bandits either way. At least this way I was in the lead. Do you have any idea what Jack would have done to me if I'd let you get shot? This is nothing." He smiled at the fox hugging his arm. His smile grew wider at the sight of Jack. "Speak of the devil."

Jack laughed. "You seem in high spirits."

Jaiden giggled. "Yeah. Abel gave me something for the pain."

Abel looked up from where he was trying to sop up the blood with an old rag. "A mild opiate, just to take the edge off and keep him from trying to get up."

Quinar nodded in agreement. "He was under the impression this was only a minor scratch."

"He's strong," Jack growled approvingly, "but I'll see to it that he stays down."

Jaiden giggled again. "That's doubtful. Now why don't you come over here and see if you can make my other side feel as good as Swish is making this one?"

Jack chuckled softly, then came over to Jaiden's other side. After a moment, the smaller wolf murred, closing his eyes and suddenly beginning to snore loudly. Sven giggled at that, then looked to Jack.

"Seems to me like that was what he needed!" Jack nodded, then looked to the fox.

"Sven, can you go and do a quick perimeter check? I want to make sure that we won't have any trouble for the night... I also want to stay here with Jaiden for a moment, by myself that is"

The vulpine blinked at that, but then nodded softly and moved away from the table. Going outside, the fox began following the trails that Quinar had made, winding through all the traps and such. When the fox reached the shed, his ears suddenly perked when he saw a set of foot prints heading inside. They were rather large prints, and seemed to have been only matched by the size of Jack's.

Following them into the shed, the fox looked around for a moment before heading towards the loft. All of a sudden, Sven was grabbed from behind. He felt his gun get pulled out of it's holster and tossed aside, before he was thrown forward. Stumbling, the grey fox fell onto the ground, then looked to see who had grabbed him. His ears laid back when he saw who it was.

"Well well well. Long time no see, slut," Sven's heart begann hammering in his chest when he saw that it was the one wolf from before, the wolf who had raped him back in Copperfox, "Somehow, you managed to get yourself free, and you killed my pal."

"P-Please!! Don't hurt me, I'm begging you!"

The wolf snorted at that, then came forward, "I ain't going to hurt you ya stupid fox, so long as you don't give me any reason to. Now, to the matters at hand here. I've noticed that you have a little party holed up in that outpost, so if you want them to live long enough to see tomorrow, then you do as I say. If you don't, guess I'll tie you up again, then go out and give my friends waiting outside the gate the go ahead, and they'll storm this place and kill all of your friends. There's about.. two dozen of us, and we already know about the traps. Why else would there be random trails through the snow?" The wolf came a little closer at that, "Then once your friends are dead, I'll be coming back for you, and this time I ain't leaving you behind, fox. Of course if you help me with a little something, I could just go out to my friends after we're done, and tell them to leave this place alone."

***

Jack stroked the sleeping wolf's head. "Glad you made it back." He leaned down and kissed him.

It relieved Jack to no end that his mates were alright. Even before his exposure to the Tikaani medicine the big wolf had trouble expressing his feelings, now that his more primitive nature was nearer the surface he was torn. Part of him wanted to wake the sleeping wolf and tell him how much he cared, but another part needed to maintain that air of dominant aloofness. He sighed and settled for petting Jaiden while he slept.

Quinar came by and checked Jaiden's pulse.

"The furs that attack you," Jack said, "they weren't strays were they?"

"No," Quinar spoke softly to avoid waking Jaiden. "Too organized for them. The forest has always been a bandit route. I think we were just unlucky and passed through at the same time. It could have been a lot worse."

Jack nodded, not taking his hand off Jaiden's head. "When we move out, I want us to avoid the forest."

"It will mean a longer journey," Quinar pointed out.

"I know. But we've had nothing but bad luck with shortcuts since leaving Basil. We won't tempt fate anymore."

"Are we going to stick to the plan?" The wolf looked to the coyote at that and raised his eyebrow, "About staying here until Sven's tail recovers? You know that moving out will risk him getting injured again, don't you?"

The wolf shook his head at that. "No, I do not. How long until he heals fully?"

"We've been here for awhile already. Even after hurting it a little more, I'd have to say his recovery is speeding along faster than I would think. We should be able to leave tomorrow after I give his tail a quick check up"

Jack nodded at that, continuing to stroke Jaiden's head. "Then it is settled"

***

Meanwhile, Sven whimpered softly as Morag undid his pants, letting them drop to the ground so he could step out of them. The large wolf then motioned for him to come.

"P-Please, don't take me again!"

Morag growled at that. "I'm not going to, stupid fox. Besides, if I want to take you again, I have the full right to do so. I was the one who claimed you first, therefore by all rights, you're mine. Hmph, you're just lucky that I don't decide to take you with me. Now get over here"

The fox crawled forward until he reached the wolf, looking up at him for a moment, before watching as the larger fur reached down and began rubbing his own sheath. After several rubs, he let loose a small moan, his cock slowly sliding out of his sheath. Without waiting for the wolf to boss him around, Sven leaned forward, shuddering as he began licking up the growing length of Morag's meat.

The big wolf growled softly. "That's it...." He placed a paw on Sven's head, pushing his shaft into the fox's muzzle.

Morag clicked back the hammer on his gun and pressed the barrel between Sven's eyes. "Don't get any ideas."

The fox closed his eyes and whimpered. He sucked faster, using his tongue to stroke the underside of the wolf's cock, desperately trying to end the ordeal. Morag moaned, tightening his grip on the fox.

The taste and smell told Sven the wolf had been away from civilization for quite a while. Numbing himself, Sven tried to speculate on the wolf. If the Icefangs pulled out of Copperfox, why were they heading south? They had to know the North Guard, possibly even the military would be looking for them. It would have been safer for the bandits to move west until the heat was off.

The barrel suddenly cracked down on Sven's muzzle. He yelped and fell back, holding his hands over the bleeding gash on the top of his snout.

"Put some effort into it, slut, or I will make this an encore performance of our first meeting."

"Sorry," Sven whispered and struggled back to the wet cock. He kept his mind blank this time. Solely concentrating on the wolf. His tears had nothing to do with the rough penetration of his throat. When Morag came Sven gagged, refusing to swallow even as the wolf held him impaled to the point of suffocation.

"Fuck," Morag sighed, "you foxes really know how to show a wolf a good time." He laughed and let go of Sven's head.

Sven hunched over, coughing up the cum and spitting it at the flood, retching until the only things left were his tears and his terror at what the bandit would do next.

The wolf grabbed his pants, putting them back on then going over and picking up Sven's pistol. Eyeing the craftsmanship, he then looked to the fox. "I'll be keeping this."

Panting heavily, the fox looking up at Morag, tears running down his cheeks. "What about... What about my friends?"

Morag paused at that, then grinned. "Ah. I did say that I'd tell my party to move on didn't I? Well, I'm a wolf of my word, and I intend to keep it that way. Heh, sorry about the smell, the boys and I are heading to a nice little town several miles from here. We're going to revision and refresh ourselves there. See you later, Swish"

Sven's eyes widened at that, but before he could say anything, the wolf was gone, leaving the fox alone. Getting up, he staggered to the door, looking around for Morag, finding no trace of him. It suddenly started to snow, and the vulpine's heart sank. The snowfall would cover the wolf's tracks. He then began making his way along the disappearing trails back to the outpost

Sven stopped outside of the door to the outpost. He gave a shuddering sigh and fell to his knees. There was no way, he thought, that Jack would believe him. That he let it happen again, and that he was too afraid to resist, Sven feared the worst. He sobbed and picked up a handful of snow. Blood from the cut on his muzzle dripped onto it before he brought the cold handfuls to his face.

After scrubbing away as much of the scent as he could, he got back up and opened the door.

Jack was at his side in an instant, asking him what happened and shouting for Abel or Quinar.

"I- I don't know," Sven lied. "S-someone hit me. A-and they took my gun."

Quinar was there first, trying to pry the fox out of Jack's protective embrace. "Please, Jack!" the coyote shouted. "We have to clean his cut."

Abel came running in with a roll of gauze and a bottle of something Sven just knew would sting. Suddenly the fox saw something that terrified him even worse. Lokir was passing a rifle to Jack. They were going to go out. Jack would see the cum in the shed, smell the other wolf. Jack would know he'd lied.

Sven collapsed, bursting into tears in the arms of Quinar as the wolf and saber went outside.

Quinar perked his ears as he sniffed the air, then coughed and looked to Abel. "Here, I'll take care of cleaning out the cut. Go and find some bandages alright?" The lab paused for a moment, then handed him the bottle then heading off.

The coyote rubbed Sven's back for a moment, before suddenly speaking up. "You can't hide it Sven. You may have been able to fool the others, but as a Tikaani scout and healer, I've been trained to sniff out even the most subtlest of smells. It happened again, didn't it?"

Sven froze for a moment, then began to sob again. "Y-Yes, it was the same wolf from before, the one who took me in Copperfox"

Quinar nodded softly at that, then opened the bottle and dumped a small amount of liquid onto the cut. The fox yelped loudly as it began to burn and sting.

"You know Jack will find out," The fox nodded at that, "You, Sven, are considered the alpha female in his point of view, Sven. He will go great lengths as to protect you, but he will also go great lengths as to believe you. Don't make him go so far, only to come up deceived. Honesty is the best policy, especially in the way of love triangles. You need to trust each other, or everything will fall to ruin"

At that moment, Abel returned with a bandage, and Quinar applied it to the fox's cut.

Sven waited for the lab to leave before bursting out in a piercing whine. "How! You know how Jack was after the first time. But now, the way he is? How can I tell him?"

"You can't hide it," Quinar said. "The only question now is if you tell him, or he tells you."

Sven could imagine how that scene would play out. The bug wolf growling about the coughed up cum in the shed, the bloodied snow outside the outpost door. Sven could almost feel those big lupine hands yanking him off the ground to take a deep breath of his face. The rage that would flare behind his eyes when he recognized the scent.

"Please, Quin, I- I can't! Please don't let him find out!" He sobbed in the coyote's arms.

From across the room Jaiden's voice startled them both. "Swish?" He groaned as he sat up, clutching his side.

Quinar moved to force Jaiden back but the seriousness in the wolf's eyes stopped him cold.

"Swish. Come here."

The fox wiped his eyes on his coat sleeve and staggered to Jaiden.

Ignoring the pain, Jaiden put his arms around the trembling fox. "I don't know why you're so upset, but with my last breath, I'll fight to make it better. Now... tell me what's wrong and we'll face it together."

Sven continued trembling as he told Jaiden what happened. "...and then he told me that he'd see me later. Jay, I don't want to ever see him again!"

Jaiden, having listened intently to all that the fox had told him, nodded softly at that. "From now on, you're not to go anywhere without someone being with you, so long as you're not in town that is. I don't want to place restrictions on you Swish, but I don't want to see you get killed either."

Sven was about to say something, when the door to the outpost opened, and in came Jack. The big wolf looked around for a moment, before laying his eyes on Sven. He handed Lokir the rifle, then slowly came over. He stopped a few feet away from where Jaiden and the fox were, then cleared his throat.

"Sven, come here," The fox gulped, then did as he was told, walking over to Jack.

The big wolf placed a hand on Sven's shoulder for a moment, before suddenly pulling him in and wrapping his arms around him, hugging him tight. "I wasn't there the first time it happened, but I'll be damned if I won't be here for the next time. He's going to regret ever coming into contact with you"

***

Jack rearranged the sleeping arrangement for their last night. Abel and Quinar took the first watch while Lokir took a sleeping bag to be with the arctic fox. Jack eased Jaiden into the other sleeping bag and slept on the outside , putting Sven between them to keep him warm.

Jack took two turns at watch, covering for the injured wolf. He spent the entirety of it pacing with a loaded rifle. Sven could tell he was hoping the bandits would return. There was a murderous rage Jack was trying hard to conceal from the shaken fox, but he wanted to get his hands on the wolf that forced himself on his mate. Sven on the other hand, would feel more than content to never hear, see, or think of Morag for as long as he lived.

When Sven woke at the end of the night he saw Jack and Lokir at the counter, discussing how they would move with two injured furs and only a small sled.

"I'm not saying we abandon Vanir," Jack growled, "I'm just saying we offer him the option. He's not like the Tikaani. Arctic foxes do not go to the settlements."

Lokir stood tensely. "This one will."

Jack sighed. "Fine. If he wants to follow us, I won't object. But make sure we have enough rations for him. I'm not letting the team go hungry if it comes down if food starts to run low."

Lokir nodded silently.

"It'll be a slow enough march with Jaiden," Jack said. "A second injured fur makes us an inviting target."

Lokir opened his mouth to say something when he caught Sven's eye. "He's awake," the saber nodded toward the fox.

Jack perked his ears at that, then looked to the fox. "Ah good, you're awake. Come, Lokir will need some help with packing up rations for our travels today. We're heading back to Basil, but before we do, Quinar is going to check on the tail of yours. Has it been hurting lately?"

Sven shook his head at that. "No, it hasn't been bothering me at all"

"Well that could either mean that you've healed, or that you're tail will be coming off," Quinar came over at that moment, turning the fox around and lifting his tail. "Let me take a look at it."

The vulpine blushed as his tail was lifted in front of everyone. The coyote immediately went to work, reaching up and feeling the base of the fox's tail.

"Do you feel any pain?" When Sven shook his head, the coyote began unwrapping the bandages. "You may want to keep your head turned away, the sight of your tail might.... break your spirit"

Nodding, Sven turned his head away. He shuddered as he felt the cool air hit his tail. After a few moments, he heard the coyote let loose a small sigh.

"Wh-What is it??"

Quinar stood up, then placed his hand on the fox's shoulder, giving him a sad look. Sven felt his heart sink down into his stomach.

"Sven.... I'm so sorry..." The fox's ears fell at that, but then all of a sudden the coyote grinned widely, "You're fully healed"

Sven stared at him for a moment, then realized that the coyote had only been screwing with him at first. Twisting about, he stared down at his tail in sudden horror. His tail looked absolutely horrid, shedded fur stuck within all the other fur, making his tail look like a complete mess. Instantly, his self-consciousness took over.

"G-Get me a comb and a brush!" He darted off, tearing open a crate and digging through it until he found a brush.

Abel came over with a comb, and the fox snatched it out of his hand then darted into the kitchen to find a mirror

Sven laughed sarcastically at his reflection in the scuffed mirror as he twisted to get a better view of his tail. The fur was matted and limp but it felt so good to finally brush it. Like scratching an itch after standing at attention during a visit from a commander. The thought made the fox laugh more genuinely.

It took Sven ten minutes to fluff his tail as well as he could. It was never a spectacular tail, but he had a new appreciation for it and promised himself he would give it a little pampering once he was back in Basil. He gave it an experimental swish, grinning as it flicked in its full range of motion.

He started to head back to the kitchen to help Lokir before stopping and heading back to the mirror. Glancing around just to be absolutely sure no one was watching, he reached back and gave it a sharp upward tug. He could feel himself start to blush, but he wanted to be sure his mates could be as aggressive as the wanted when they claimed him.

Back in the kitchen Jaiden whistled lewdly at Sven's return. The fox bashfully curled his tail.

"Looking good, Swish." The wolf managed to sit up without too much pain. His side hurt but as long as he didn't put too much pressure on his wound he was sure he could travel without much difficulty.

Jack gave Jaiden a silent nod of agreement before smirking and getting back to work.

Clearing his throat softly at that, Sven then went over to where Lokir was tending to Vanir. The saber looked to him as he knelt down.

"Your tail alright?"

The fox nodded with a grin. "Yeah, it's never felt better! How's Vanir doing?"

The arctic fox sat up at that, looking to the grey fox. "I'm doing very well, Lokir has been taking very good care of me"

Sven blinked at that, and Lokir merely grinned. "Oh, has he now? Heh, well I do have to say--"

"Your tail doesn't look as good as it can look."

The vulpine stared at the arctic fox at that. "It.... Doesn't?"

Vanir shook his head, then grinned slyly. "I see that you have two males who are both your lovers. If you want to get their attention, and get them yearning for you, you need to care for your tail properly. If you get me a comb, and a little bit of oil, I can do this for you if you'd like"

Jack had left to see to the sled and Jaiden was busy cleaning his revolver. Still Sven felt the need to ask for permission. "Is that alright with you, Lokir?"

The saber gave a slight nod.

Sven hurried back with the comb and a bottle of cooking oil. "Will this do?"

Vanir nodded. "We use fish oil, but I think it's all the same." He motioned for Sven to sit in front of him.

Sven felt a little self conscious with Lokir leaning back against the counter watching them, but there was no way the fox could have asked him to leave. So he tried to make small talk. "So, Vanir... you, um, didn't seem all that surprised by me seeing two wolves. Is, uh, what's that word?... Polygamy! Is that something common in your culture?"

Sven noticed Lokir lean forward, obviously interested in the arctic fox's answer.

"Not really... we can inherit more mates if a member of our pack dies, so that no one ever has to be alone... But that's only if there aren't any other options."

Sven could hear the pain in his voice and regretted bringing it up. He glanced over his shoulder to see Vanir dripping a little oil onto the comb's teeth.

"You speak our language very well," Sven blurted out to change the subject. "I'm just saying that because everyone says arctic foxes avoid the settlements and never do any trading... H-how did you learn to speak it?"

"The whaling ships. They know we help them if they get trapped in the ice, or if they get lost. They are always nice to us."

"Oh," Sven was a little surprised.

Vanir laughed softly. "They say that we're good luck. So sometimes they give us whale meat and we tell them where we saw more whales."

Abel and Quinar came in and started picking up the rest of the packed provisions. Quinar smiled at the foxes and Lokir. "Jack says we should be ready in a few minutes."

Vanir began to comb the fox's tail fur, and Sven craned his neck around and watched him. The fox's eyes went a little wide at how shiny his fur was becoming.

"Is it going to get all sticky?"

The arctic fox shook his head at that. "No, the oil will be absorbed by the fur, allowing all the individual hairs to be renewed and shine like never before. I would offer to do this to the rest of your fur, but I'm sure that you wouldn't want me to do that, as a lot of you city furs are rather self-conscious about showing your extremities to others," Vanir paused for a moment, then suddenly added, "But fox to fox, I think it will bring a shine to your fur that would make your mates drool"

Sven considered it. "I don't know if they would want another male combing me naked."

Vanir giggled. "I understand. It is important to obey."

"What? It's not like that, I- I'm my own fur. I can decide. I just... wouldn't want them to get jealous." He looked over his shoulder. Vanir was trying not to giggle again. "Tell him, Lokir," Sven whined.

The saber turned his head, also trying not to laugh.

Sven growled. "Fine. If they like the tail, you can do the rest of me."

"I don't want to get you in trouble," Vanir said as he went to work on the tip of the gray fox's tail.

Sven huffed. "I told you, It's not that kind of an arrangement. I don't need Jack or Jay's permission to do anything."

"What don't you need my permission for?" Jaiden asked.

Sven yelped. "Jay! Y-you're up? Uh, hi. And don't sneak up on me like that."

Jaiden laughed. "Got shot in the side, not my leg, Swish." He smiled at Vanir. "What's this all about?"

"I'm fixing his tail for you," the arctic fox said happily.

Sven blushed. "He means that it'll look nicer. It's kinda for everyone's enjoyment. I mean, that it looks nice, not the tail itself!"

Jaiden continued to laugh. "Swish, you are so adorable when you try to act tough and end up all flustered."

Sven growled and rolled his eyes.

All of a sudden, Vanir spoke up. "I believe he was about to ask you for your permission"

The wolf looked to the smaller white fox. "Permission for what?"

"For me to take him into the kitchen and de-clothe him, then comb some oil into his fur. I think he is just waiting for one of you to allow him to do so."

The wolf scratched the back of his head at that. "Um.... what exactly do you mean?"

"Oh I'm only going to make him look far more enticing to you and your other mate, I'm sure that you'll love what I do, and it won't take very long!"

Jaiden thought for a long moment, then shrugged and nodded, "Alright then. Go do what you need to do. I'll go and tell Jack about it while you're at it"

Sven's face turned red at that, but before he could say anything, Jaiden was already walking off. Vanir got to his feet, then gave one of the grey fox's ears a little tug.

"Come on, let's get you silkened up"

"Silkened?"

Vanir nodded at that. "Yes, it's the process that we foxes use to touch up our fur. I thought you'd know that already?"

***

Jaiden zipped his coat and stepped outside. He saw Jack rigging a harness for Lokir to use. The bigger wolf heard Jaiden's approach.

"Jay. How are you?"

He shrugged. "Feels like I was shot, but other than that..."

Jack smirked. "Good to know the bullet missed your sense of humor. Why aren't you watching Sven?"

"He's in the kitchen with that arctic fox."

"Vanir," Jack reminded him. "You should still be with him. Until we're back in Basil, I want one of us watching him at all times."

Jaiden grinned. "He wants a little privacy. Vanir's combing oil into his fur and I guess he didn't want everyone to see him naked."

"What?" Even with his deeper voice Jack's surprise was a higher pitch than normal.

"I know, it's weird. He has to be the first fox with a sense of propriety. Usually they can't wait to show off their-"

"Jaiden," Jack growled.

The other wolf laughed. "I know, I know. It's some kind of a grooming thing. The little fur said you and I were going to love it. They're using cooking oil, so I know it's going to make me hungry at least."

Jack walked past Jaiden.

"Where are you going?" Jaiden called after him. "If you're gonna watch, I want to too!" He spun to follow and winced. Something in his side pulled and he swore at the pain. After a few deep breaths he headed off more slowly.

Sven had taken off his clothes in the kitchen, and was holding still for Vanir as the arctic fox combed his fur. All of a sudden, Jack burst into the room, and the grey fox yelped and covered himself with his tail, while Vanir hid behind him.

The wolf eyed Sven for a moment, then demanded. "What is the meaning of this?"

The arctic fox remained behind Sven, peeking out at Jack while Sven gave him a reply. "I'm just having my fur redone by Vanir here, nothing is going on!"

Jack growled softly at that. "Did I say that you could do this?"

The grey fox stared at the larger fur at that. "It's not up to you Jack! It's my fur, it's my decision, not anyone else's. You don't own me, you have hardly any say in what I can, or cannot do! Besides, I'm not doing this for me, I'm doing this for you and Jay"

The wolf raised his eyebrow at that, then looked up and down Sven's body for a moment. "Doing what for us? I don't see any difference in you, other than your tail looking particularly more... noticeable than usual"

Vanir broke in at that. "Uh, I'm not really finished yet Sir, but once I am finished, he'll be far more, as you said, noticeable than normal. Of course we'll have to wait a half-hour for the oils to be absorbed by the individual hairs of his fur"

Sven looked to the smaller fox at that. "You never mentioned that, is it really going to take that long?"

The arctic fox nodded. "Yes, that means you won't be able to put anything on until the process is finished"

Jack suddenly grinned widely at that, his arms crossing over his chest as Jaiden came up behind and looked inside. "He has to wait a half-hour to put anything on? On second thought, I think this is a great idea"

Jaiden quickly added, "I second that thought!"

Sven rolled his eyes at that. "You two.... sometimes I wonder which of your heads does the thinking"

Sven's tail suddenly curled around, covering his sheath. The wolves turned around to see Lokir entering the room.

"You two staying?" he asked Jack and Jaiden.

"Yes," they answered in unison.

"No," grumbled Sven.

The three big furs took a seat at the kitchen counter. The wolves to watch over Sven and Lokir to watch over Vanir. Sven folded his arms and pouted. "Maybe when we get back to Basil, you guys can put me up on a stage and charge admission."

"Don't be silly," Jaiden laughed, "like you said, we're far too possessive to do something like that."

Sven rolled his eyes and let the arctic fox lift his arm. Vanir started to run the comb down the inside when Sven pulled his arm away. He gave an irritated glance to his uninvited audience then leaned into Vanir to whisper.

The arctic fox smiled. "Ticklish? Really?"

"Shhh!" Sven snapped.

Vanir scratched his chin. "I will try to be quick... or your mates could hold you down."

Sven blushed as he heard Jaiden moan. "Don't give them any ideas." He stretched out his arm. "Make it quick."

Vanir nodded, then quickly began combing the fur on the inside of Sven's arm. The grey fox tried to stay composed, but he was unable to suppress a little giggle, that everyone in the room happened to hear.

Jaiden grinned ear to ear at that. "Ya hear that Jack? Seems like our little fox is a little ticklish!"

The bigger wolf chuckled at that and nodded. "Perhaps we can use that to our advantage, I wouldn't mind tickling him into submission"

Sven laid back his ears at that, then let loose a sigh of relief when Vanir finished with his arm. "Alright then, now the other arm," The larger vulpine groaned at that, but lifted his other arm and kept fighting to stay composed.

Once the arctic fox had finished, he moved to Sven's chest, pausing only to slicken the comb up with a little more oil. "I'm going to have to get... down there, if you take my meaning, if I don't then your fur will look awfully mismatched"

Sven turned his back to the wolves and Lokir, much to their very vocal disappointment. The fox had to admit the impressive sheen his fur was taking on made the humiliation almost worth it. Like his fur was made up of tiny strands of silk that begged to be touched.

Vanir knelt down and combed softly at the gray fox's upper thigh, letting him get used to the feeling before moving closer and closer towards Sven's sheath. Vanir enjoyed himself. It wasn't a sexual thrill, it was more calming. He remembered grooming his pack, sometimes just to be friendly, other times to prepare for a mating ceremony.

Vanir sighed and peeked around Sven, looking at Lokir. He wondered if the big fur could ever accept him once he knew all of the arctic fox's secrets.

He looked up at Sven. "Could you spread your legs, please?"

Jaiden started laughing until Jack smacked his arm.

Sven sighed and tried to think unsexy thoughts.

The fox spread his legs, and Vanir began working his way up. It wasn't too long before Sven felt the teeth of the comb lightly brushing through the fur of his balls and sheath. Unable to think of thoughts that were unsexy enough, Sven's sheath bulged a little, and the arctic fox paused for a moment, politely waiting for the bulging to go down. Once it did, he resumed his work.

Vanir even went around and combed the fur on the grey fox's rear, casting a knowing glance towards the two wolves before moving down to Sven's legs. After awhile, the arctic fox got up and moved back.

"Alright, you're all finished. So all you have to do now is wait for thirty minutes, then you can put clothing back on"

"Spin around, Swish," Jaiden laughed, "let's see the final product."

"I'd rather not," Sven said.

"Do it," Jack growled.

Sven sighed. "Does Lokir have to be here?" There was hushed speaking and a stifled laugh.

"C'mon, Vanir," Lokir said, "I'll show you the sled."

The arctic fox's tail wagged. "I would like to see it. It's a little warm inside. Has it snowed since I woke up? I can sometimes smell when it's going to sno-" the door closed and Lokir and Vanir's one sided conversation became muffled.

"He sure gets talkative around him," Sven laughed.

"Turn around," Jack repeated.

The fox closed his eyes and spun to face the wolves.

Jaiden immediately whistled. Sven had to open his eyes to see the look on the bigger wolf's face. "Good?" he asked.

"Very," Jack rumbled in his deep gravely voice.

Sven grinned. "You two should feel it. I'm all soft and, slippery." He blushed and curled his tail around. "Thirty minutes can be a long time..."

Jack caught Jaiden by the back of his coat as the smaller wolf tried to stand up. Jack shook his head. "Not long enough for me."

Sven lowered his ears a little at that, but then the bigger wolf looked to Jaiden. "Besides, we wouldn't want you getting hurt even more Jaiden."

Jaiden bristled slightly at that. "Hurt even more? I won't get hurt by giving it to Swish under the tail!"

Jack chuckled softly, then leaned in a little closer to the wolf and said rather darkly. "And whose to say that I won't be giving it to you under the tail while you're doing it to him? I've already claimed you as my own, and at times I can get a little... rough in the act of lovemaking"

The smaller wolf gulped at that, then quickly said, "U-Uh, we'll just wait until I'm fully healed to try anything, a-alright with you Swish?"

Sven nodded softly at that, not wanting to invoke the bigger wolf's wrath. "A-Alright!"

The wolves sat there watching Sven pace the kitchen. Finally Abel knocked on the door.

"Lokir says it's been a half hour," the lab called out.

Sven was already half dressed by the time Jaiden thanked Abel for relaying the message. He walked up to the wolves. Jack brushed a hand over the fox's cheek, growling with approval. As soon as the bigger wolf stepped back Jaiden went the more aggressive route and slipped a hand under Sven's shirt, running his fingers through the soft frontal fur.

"Oh. Swish! I'm going to use you as my pillow tonight," Jaiden grinned.

"Let's go," Jack said. "The sooner we're in Basil, the sooner we're in my bed." The big wolf ushered them out of the kitchen.

Sven waited until they were outside before he tapped Jaiden on his shoulder. "You didn't tell him about moving into your place?"

Jaiden shrugged apologetically. "I was a little preoccupied with getting shot. I'll bring it up, don't worry."

Sven rolled his eyes. "You're going to eventually stop using that as an excuse."

Jaiden gave the fox a playful shove. "Yeah, yeah. But just leave this to me. Jack might get territorial if I suggest it as moving into 'my place.'"

The fox nodded at that, following Jaiden over to the sled that was being set up. "Oh, did you ever get those runners filed down?"

The wolf perked his ears at that and nodded, "Yeah, I was able to get them filed down some more. The sled should slide over the snow pretty easily now. Gimme a sec will ya Swish? Just wanna run something by Jack"

The fox nodded then watched as Jaiden went over to the bigger wolf. Jaiden tapped him on the shoulder, then waited until Jack looked to him.

"I need to run something by you Boss"

The wolf smirked softly, then nodded and followed Jaiden away from the others. Once they were far enough away, the smaller wolf turned to address his mate.

"Alright, so... when we get back to Basil, we need to arrange the living arrangements and I was--"

"Sven will be staying with me over at my home"

Jaiden shook his head, much to Jack's surprise. "Actually, he's going to be staying over at mine," The wolf quickly added onto the statement when Jack got a dangerous look in his eyes, "Only because I've seen your bed, it's technically only made for one fur, so it won't be able to fit three of us very well. Over at my place, my bed is big enough to fit all three of us, and even have room for another. You can move in with Swish, and my place, will become your place. Is that alright?"

The bigger wolf stared at him for a long moment, before finally giving his response. "That sounds.... fine"

Jaiden took a deep breath to calm his nerves as he strutted back to Sven. "Problem solved," he smiled.

"Just like that?" Sven asked.

"Yup, Swish. Sometimes you just have to tell Jack how it's gonna be, and if he doesn't like it tough sh-"

"Hey, Jack," Sven waved.

Jaiden yelped and jumped to see Jack was still far away by the gate. "Swish! That was not funny!"

The gray fox was doubled over laughing.

Jaiden tried to snarl until he found himself laughing too.

***

Quinar watched Jack pull open the gate, a job that should have taken two or three furs with the uncleared snowdrift that had piled up in front of it.

"Jack?" the coyote called to him. "Should we leave a warning? The entire place is trapped."

The wolf gazed out at the snow. He wanted to say no. There was a chance the bandits would return. But a quick death from one of Quinar's spikes would be too merciful after what they'd done to his mate. And he wouldn't want an innocent fur like Vanir getting hurt again either.

"Yeah," Jack said. "We'll put the lock on the outside of the gate and carve a message above it. Think that would be enough?"

"Maybe, but don't you think it'd be better if we simply took down all the traps? I made them so that it wouldn't take too much time."

The bigger wolf stood there for a long moment, then growled and leaned against the gate before motioning off. Quinar nodded, then went back and began dismantling traps. As they all waited, Jack looked to Sven for a moment, before suddenly clearing his throat.

"Sven where's your revolver?"

The fox lowered his ears at that. "Uh.... the bandit who made me.... uh, back in the shed, he took it from me and kept it. I rather liked that revolver too..."

Jack sighed heavily at that, then looked to Jaiden. "Jay, you're not too injured are you?"

"Ehm... for what?" Jaiden perked his ears, "For helping pull the sled?"

"No, you're not allowed to put on any harness until you're healed. What I was getting at is that I need someone to go back to the shed and grab a gun for Sven, and since you know where the guns are, I would think that you'd be the best fit for the job"

"Sven," Jack continued, "stay by me until Jay gets back."

The fox nodded meekly. He would have liked to object. To tell Jack he could get a gun for himself, but the memories it brought back made him appreciate the big wolf's overly protective possessiveness this time. He kept his eyes down and slowly walked closer as Jack watched the tree line.

"You're ok," Jack said without needing to look at the fox. "Me and Jaiden are never going to let something like that happen to you again."

Sven forced a smile, he knew that was a promise his wolves would give their lives to keep. But a part of him also knew he would need to face his demons alone if he didn't want the memories to haunt him.

Sven leaned into Jack, taking comfort from his solid form.

Before long, Jaiden was walking over to them with two rifles. "Which one do you want, Swish?" he grinned. "I've got as many shells as could stuff in my pockets." He tossed one of the guns to the fox.

Sven nodded as he caught the gun, looking at it and lowering his ears when he saw how poor the craftsmanship was. He recognized the model from back in the army. They were only used for absolute emergencies, and because they jammed so often, sometimes they weren't even good for that. They jammed so often, it was even funny, and what's worse, they could only hold two bullets at a time.

Turning the rifle over in his hands, he then looked up at Jaiden. "Could you maybe go back and get another gun?"

The wolf eyed him for a moment, "Uhm, no I can't. Going up and down that ladder really hurt my side. I can't go up there again, sorry Swish."

"And besides, we don't have time, we're leaving now," Sven turned and looked over to Jack, who then motioned over towards Quinar who was just coming back

Sven sighed and loaded the gun. He liked to rely on his accuracy, but with the rifle he had, he knew that would not be an option.

"Fall in behind me," Jack shouted. The team took up their normal positions. Vanir moved to the back, following Lokir and the sled.

Jack lead them away from the forest where Jaiden was shot, but the wolf knew that any route they took was littered with potential dangers. The wind howled across the snow, concealing much of their tracks and soon began kicking up enough loose snow to limit their vision. Normally the North Guard were equipped with goggles for such occurrences, but most of their gear was at the bottom of a lake.

The only fur unbothered by the worsening conditions was the arctic fox. He squinted his eyes and flattened his ears to keep the snow out. His fur made him almost invisible. He'd never been this far south and always expected it to be different from the ice sheets and barren coasts he grew up on. So far the only thing he noticed was the abundance of trees in some places.

As they moved through the snow, Sven looked back over his shoulder at Jaiden, who was grimacing as he moved. Then he saw that the wolf was actually pulling on the towline.

"Jay, you're not supposed to be pulling!"

Jack looked back at that, then growled. "Jaiden, let go of the towline now."

Jaiden lowered his ears, his shoulders sagging. But he let go of the line as he was told to, then began simply walking along beside everyone else. The fox felt a little bad for the wolf, but he knew that it was for his own health that he was not to do any pulling.

Sven glanced over his shoulder once more. He couldn't tell if Jaiden was depressed about not pulling, or if he'd over exerted himself. The fox did know that Jaiden had too much pride to ask for a break. Sven shook his head and turned forward again.

"Sir?"

Jack's ears flicked in recognition.

"I could use a breather. Any chance we could find a spot to rest, maybe get some rations?" Sven asked.

Jack nodded and shouted for the team to head for the tree line where they would have some shelter from the biting wind. Sven grinned, he'd assumed the big wolf's protective instincts would make it an easy request even if they would be stopping earlier than their normal midday break.

When Jack whistled for Lokir to stop the sled, Jaiden was clutching his side and hiding his obvious discomfort.

"Lokir," Jack immediately began giving orders, "break out some food. Quin, Abel, do a quick sweep, make sure we're not going to have any unexpected guests." He turned to his mates, frowning at Jaiden. "I'm going to have our medic look at your side before we leave, Jay. If you hurt yourself..." he let the threat remain unspoken.

Sven turned around. "Where's Vanir?"

The arctic fox suddenly appeared right behind Sven. "Here I am!"

Sven yelped, nearly jumping out of his fur. He then spun around, facing the smaller fox.

"Where did you come from?? I thinking we need to get a bell for you!"

The fox tilted his head at that. "What is a bell?"

Sven perked his ears, then sighed after a moment. "Never mind..."

The arctic fox sat in the snow watching Lokir unpack rations. He didn't seem to notice the snow building up on his fur.

Sven walked over to Jaiden. The wolf was slumped against a tree. "Are you alright?"

Jaiden forced a smile. "Yeah. Just pulled something."

Sven frowned. "Jack told you not to try pulling the sled."

"Yeah. I know," Jaiden growled. Sven's ears went back and the wolf felt guilty. "Look, Swish, I'm fine. If you want to do me a favor, see if you can keep Quin and Abel off me. I don't need them poking around and making a big deal out of this."

"Jay," Sven whined, "it kind of is a big deal..."

The wolf sighed. "Just let me rest for a few minutes, alright?" He waved the fox away like an aggressive mosquito.

Sven remained silent for a moment, then sighed softly. He thought for a moment, then went over to the sled and began looking through what they had brought with them from the outpost. He soon found a long cloth that Abel had brought along for some reason, then quickly hurried over to where Jaiden still was.

"Here, take off your parka and shirt," The wolf eyed him.

"Why? Are you wanting to see my bare fur that bad?"

The fox huffed at that, turning a little red. He was happy that his fur hid most of the blush.

"No, I'm going to do something that'll make you feel better," Jaiden raised an eyebrow at that.

"Swish I'm flattered, but I don't think it'd be that appropriate to do that kind of thing right out in the open, unless you're the kind of fox that likes doing that sort of thing in public--"

"J-Jay!" The wolf grinned widely as he was cut off, "I-It's not like that! Just please, take me seriously"

Jaiden's grin disappeared slowly after a moment, and he nodded softly, "Alright Swish, I'll do as you say," With that, he took off his parka and the shirt he was wearing underneath it before shivering, "But hurry and do what you're gonna do, it's freezing!"

Sven stared at the bandaging on his wolf's mid-section, then took a deep breath and reached out. He gave it a soft tug, seeing how it was barely even tight. The vulpine then began wrapping the cloth tightly around the wolf's mid-section, pausing for only a second when he heard Jaiden grunt softly. Tying the cloth tight with a knot he learned in the army, the fox then stepped back.

Jaiden tried stretching and moving about, and his ears perked when he felt no pain. "Wow Swish! What'd you do??"

Sven smiled softly. "It's a trick I learned in the army; if you tie a cloth or some sort of rope around a wound tight enough, it'll relieve you of the pain. But you have to be careful not to over-exert yourself"

Quinar and Abel returned from their look around the forest.

"Anything?" Jack asked.

"Quinar shook his head. "No, but the wind was knocking snow from the branches. I can't be sure there's no one out there."

Jack cursed. He didn't want to risk another ambush. "Get yourselves some food, then I want one of you to take a look at Jaiden. Make sure he's alright."

When the two furs left, Jack took out his revolver, checking to see it was free of snow. He would keep an eye out while the other ate.

Lokir handed Abel a block of tasteless dried meat. The lab raised an eyebrow. "I was hoping for something warm." He shrugged and smiled at the saber.

Quinar took his ration and saw Sven and Jaiden eating theirs under a barren pine. It didn't look like they were being intimate, so the coyote went over to eat with them. He greeted them and sat down.

"Where's Vanir?" the coyote asked.

Sven pointed to a mound of snow several paces away from Lokir and the sled. "He's covered himself... You don't think he'll freeze, do you?" the fox asked.

"I wouldn't worry," Quinar said. "Arctic foxes were born for this kind of life."

Sven looked over at the mound of snow that covered the arctic fox for a moment, before getting up and moving over to it. Reaching out, he cleared away some of the snow before stopping when a pair of bright yellow eyes were looking right at him. They stared at each other for a moment, before Sven decided to break the silence before it got weird.

"Uh, comfy?"

The eyes blinked. "Yes actually, I am very comfortable"

"How? Doesn't the snow make you more... cold?"

"Not really, you see the snow around me actually completely encases me, and it doesn't allow for any of my body heat to escape, so I am kept warm. Although that is beginning to gradually change now that you've broken through the shell of snow"

Sven laid back his ears at that. "Sorry, I was only curious"

There came a soft giggle at that, then a cheerful reply. "It's alright, I can understand your curiosity! Although, do try to not satisfy your curiosity too often out here, more or less it can get you killed"

The grey fox nodded softly at that, then went back over to where Jaiden and Quinar was, feeling the arctic fox's eyes drilling into his back as he did. Even as he sat down, he could still feel Vanir staring at him

"I keep getting the impression that being outgoing and curious is a bad thing in the north," Sven smirked.

Quinar and Jaiden agreed in unison.

Once Abel and Lokir finished eating they stood guard while Jack grabbed some food. The big wolf joined the others under the tree.

"Quin, did you look at Jay?" Jack said as he took a bite.

The coyote wiped his hands in the snow. "Not yet. Just about to."

Jaiden put his hands up. "Not necessary, I assure you. I'm feeling a lot better after that meal."

"I just want to be sure," Jack said.

The smaller wolf sighed. "Swish tightened my bandages. I really do feel a lot better now."

Jack's eyes narrowed. "I don't recall saying my orders were optional."

Jaiden tired to hold his gaze but couldn't. "Boss, c'mon. I-it's cold out here, and Swish would have noticed if anything was wrong."

"He's our scout. Not a medic. Don't challenge me on this, Jay. You know what I'll do to y-"

Jaiden stood quickly, "Alright! I get it." He pulled his coat halfway off and motioned to Quinar, still avoiding eye contact with the bigger wolf.

Sven caught the hint of a snarl pull at Jaiden's lips. He didn't like his mates fighting. His ears flattened and he tried to calm the situation. "Jack, did you see Vanir? He's become one with the snow," Sven laughed nervously, but Jack kept his eyes on the other wolf.

After a moment, Sven sighed, then went up to the bigger wolf. "Jack I need to talk to you"

Jack waved him off, keeping his eyes on Jaiden, who looked utterly humiliated. The fox clenched his fists a little, then grabbed the bigger wolf by the wrist and yanked down on his arm. That got Jack's attention, and the wolf looked down at him.

Sven growled softly, "Now."

Jack blinked at that, then nodded softly. He followed the fox away from Jaiden and Quinar. Once they were far enough away, Sven stopped and turned to face the wolf, his arms crossed over his chest.

"I think you need to lay off Jaiden and stop being so hard on him"

The larger wolf narrowed his eyes at that. "He needs to be disciplined so that he doesn't question me--"

"Let me correct myself then. You have to lay off Jaiden some, or you don't get any of this," The fox reached down and rubbed the side of his rear.

Jack laid back his ears when he realized what Sven meant. "Sven-"

"No, Jack. I saw what you and him were doing in the shed. Wasn't that enough to prove that he's trying? That couldn't have been easy for him, and now you're just bullying him?"

"I care about him!" Jack growled. "A wound like that, out here, away from any real treatment, it's dangerous, Sven."

The fox lost some of his composure. "I- I didn't mean that you don't care. I just want you to see things from Jay's point of view."

"Why don't you try to see things from my point of view?" Jack stepped forward, towering over the gray fox, his voice growing deeper and louder. "I have two mates to protect and care for. One wants to undermine my authority whenever he feels like it, and the other would work himself to death if I didn't watch him constantly!"

Sven swallowed. "I see..." He started to take another step back but Jack reached out and cupped the back of the fox's head.

"Don't be afraid, I didn't mean to yell at you." He took a deep breath. "I've got urges that are getting harder to control... I haven't even had the chance to properly claim you yet. It's gnawing at me like a bad case of fleas." His hand slid down Sven's back.

"You make it sound so romantic, Jack," Sven snorted. "Why don't you just drag me off behind a bush and rut me like a feral."

It took Jack several seconds to decide if he was offended. Knowing Sven's irreverent personality, the wolf decided to laugh.

Sven let out the breath he'd been holding and leaned against Jack, unfolding his arms and holding on to him. "Just try not to be so hard on Jaiden. He's not as... flexible in his roles as I am. And I hate seeing you two mad at each other."

"Fine, Sven," Jack huffed.

"And maybe give him an apology?" Sven asked hopefully until Jack's embrace started to squeeze uncomfortably tight. "Never mind!" Sven grunted until Jack loosened. "I'm sure he'll get over it."

Jack chuckled softly at that, then gave the fox a slow lick on the forehead. "Let's get back to the others, I'm sure that everyone has finished eating by now and we can head out"

"Head out? Already?" Sven followed Jack back towards the others, "Can't we spend some more time here?"

The wolf glanced back at him at that, "No, we need to get back to Basil as quickly as possible. We still need to recruit a new point and a new wheel, therefore we'll be spending some time in town. You can get more familiar with the town and it's locals while we're there. I won't plan on leaving for another job until we have the right supplies, and manpower, and no one else will be leaving without my say either," Jack suddenly looked over his shoulder pointedly at Sven, who laid his ears back

Jack shouted for the team to get ready. Vanir shook the snow out of his fur and sniffed the air. The wind had died down and he could pick up the scents of the other furs. He took another deep breath, hunting for any signs of danger. He couldn't imagine there being anything that his new companions couldn't take care of, but he felt almost as protective of the big saber as Lokir had acted towards him.

He stayed back, only moving to follow when the team was a few yards ahead. From his vantage point he could see the tension between the two wolves. He didn't pretend to know the reasons behind it, though he felt bad for gray fox who seemed to have tasked himself with smoothing things out. But arctic fox packs were small and the common foe they found in the harsh northern weather meant there were rarely quarrels, and so he soon lost interest in the reserved manners and strained words of the lovers.

For a time he watched the two furs who had healed him. They made a strange pairing and Vanir doubted they too were a couple. But it was hard to say for an arctic fox.

Then at the back of the procession, Vanir smiled at the big fur who pulled the sled. He spoke little and reviled even less about himself, but the arctic fox was drawn to him. He made a game of hopping from one big saber pawprint to the next in wide strides while he thought on what to do next.

The group were making good time, as Vanir observed after several hours had passed by. They had left the spot where they had stopped far behind, and were moving at a good pace. The arctic fox silently watched from where he was at the back as Jaiden made his way without no signs of having any trouble. The wolf still wasn't helping with pulling, but he wasn't limping either so whatever Sven had done to him seemed to be working.

Turning his attention back to Lokir, the fox caught an idea, then picked up his pace. Once he was close enough, he gently tugged on the saber's parka sleeve, getting the bigger fur to look back at him.

"What is it like in a settlement?"

Lokir blinked for a moment, then thought about his answer before giving it, "It's.... like a large group of your own kind, except that everyone has a stable place to live and there are buildings to keep you warm and keep out any danger, for the most part."

Vanir grinned softly at that. "So do you live in one of the buildings?"

"Yes," the saber answered slowly, "I do, I share a cabin with another fur, though I am not always there. Him and I usually are out and about, sometimes running short mail trips to nearby settlements. We were both born and raised in the Whitelands, so we can handle ourselves when we're on our own."

Lokir knew that the arctic fox was trying to conversate, and the big fur was doing his best as to oblige.

Vanir looked away and thought for a minute, then looked back up at the saber. "When we get to Basil, will I be staying with you?"

"Of course, the cabin has separate rooms so we can share mine. From what I can tell of you, your kind does not wear very much clothing, but you are really good at hiding your.... unmentionables from sight with only a loincloth"

The arctic fox's face grew a little warm as he blushed. Vanir wasn't like other males, meaning that he wasn't born with all the necessary... 'parts' as a male should be born with. He remembered back when he traveled with his family, that his siblings would occasionally point fun at him, teasing about how in the first decade of his life he had been identified as a her and not a him.

This line of thought brought on another problem: How was he supposed to tell the saber about this? If Vanir wanted to pursue the bigger fur with the intent of a mateship, then the secret would have to come out sooner or later

Toward the front of the line, behind Jack, Sven was trying to see if Jaiden had cooled off. The wolf didn't enjoy being ordered around, something Sven could sympathize with. He glanced over his shoulder. Jaiden walked with his arms folded, the hood pulled forward enough to shade his eyes.

Ahead of Sven, Jack was to concerned with leading them to worry about relationship troubles. Sven couldn't fault the bigger wolf any more than he could fault Jaiden. Jack had always been protective. Ordering Jaiden to let Quinar check him had been an act of love. Though that would be hard to convince the brooding wolf behind him.

Sven sighed and jangled the bullets in his pocket. He walked on in absent thought until he nearly walked into Jack. The wolf stopped.

"Sven," he said.

The fox moved next to him. "Yes, Sir?"

"When we stop for the night, I want you to scout ahead. The terrain is getting rougher and I don't want a repeat of our first crossing. Just check for Maguruq signs. If you find anything, we'll go wide and try to avoid them."

The fox nodded softly at that, thinking for a moment before perking his ears a little then blurting out, "I want Vanir to come along"

Jack faltered a bit, then looked back at Sven, his eyes narrowing a little, "Vanir? Why Vanir?"

Again, the grey fox felt the eyes of the other fox boring into his back as he stood there for a long moment. Why did he want Vanir to come along? The arctic fox's name had popped up first in his mind, and he had blurted it out without hesitation. After the moment had passed, he finally decided to come up with something on the spot.

"U-Uh... I just wanna have someone to go with me, that I don't have any deep kinda bonds with... uh, and perhaps he can detect things that Quinar or myself would miss if he had gone with me or if I had gone by myself?"

Jack stared at him for a moment, before finally giving a stiff nod. "Alright then..... I'm not sure if your reasoning is very... convincing, but I'll allow it"

Jack stopped the team at the base of low hill. It gave them just enough shelter to block the wind.

"Quin, Abel, get that tent up," Jack barked. "Lokir, start fixing chow." He turned to Sven and nodded.

The fox looked for Vanir, finding the fur looking out at the snow. "C'mon, Vanir. Let's go make sure this place is safe for the night."

"Me?" Vanir sounded surprised.

"Yeah..." Sven again found himself improvising, "You don't want to get bored sitting around with nothing to do. And maybe you could teach me some things."

"Like with your fur?" Vanir tilted his head.

"Well, I was thinking more like survival skills, but sure, I like to be fairly fashionable," Sven smiled.

Vanir laughed and followed after him. The walked out sight from the camp and Sven started talking.

"Are you familiar with the Maguruq?"

Vanir pursed his lips and thought for a moment. "We arctic foxes know of them, but we always avoid them like we do most other outsiders."

"Yeah, why is that, if you don't mind me asking?" Sven asked.

Vanir shrugged. "That's how it's always been."

Sven wondered how the fur would adapt to life in Basil, if it was even possible for him to adapt. He spotted a hill that looked higher than the others and the started up it to get a better view.

The arctic fox followed close behind, glancing around before reaching the top of the hill. Once at the top, he looked around again.

"So... how do you normally avoid others?"

Vanir looked to the grey fox. "By various ways," He closed his eyes for a moment as the snowflakes fell from the sky, lifting his hands up and letting the flakes pile on his palms, "Like for instance, we can tell where travelers are just by the way the snow falls from the sky. The Spirit of the North is kind to all of his charges, and the vulpes lagopus are more in tune with the Great Spirit than all the other inhabitants save for the Tukluk"

Sven stared at the fox for a long moment, before rubbing the back of his head. "Uhm.... does this... Great Spirit help you a lot?"

The arctic fox perked his ears and looked to Sven at that. "You wish to get in touch with the Spirit of the North? To follow him?"

"Well... first I'd like to know what it is this spirit actually does..."

Vanir nodded softly at that, then grinned. "He has influence in all that happens in the North. Many inhabitants claim that they are better scouts because of the blessings that the Great Spirit has lain upon them. But to follow the Great Spirit, you must pay homage to him, and earn his blessing"

"Homage?" Sven perked his ears. "Like what? I don't have to sacrifice a fur, do I?"

Vanir giggled. "No, nothing like that. More of a show of devotion. Let the Great Spirit know you are receptive, and will work for his blessings."

"Ok," Sven looked around, seeing no signs of any danger. "Tell me what I have to do."

"First you must fast. Make yourself vulnerable to the Great Spirit for the next part." Vanir glanced at the sky. "Starting now."

Sven blinked. "Out here? Couldn't we do this in Basil, Where it's safer?"

Vanir grinned. "No, Sven. It's good to do it out here. It shows the Great Spirit you are serious. So no more food today or tomorrow. By tomorrow night your body will be ready."

"W-what happens then?"

"You go out and meet the Great Spirit," Vanir said as if it were obvious. "Spend the night alone, in the snow, showing you will suffer for his blessing."

"What about my turn at watch?" Sven asked.

Vanir pondered this for a moment before his ears sprung up. "I'll watch for you! Show me how that thing works," he pointed to Sven's rifle and held out his hands like a pup reaching for candy.

Sven hesitated for a moment, then sighed softly before handing the fox the rifle.

"Keep your finger away from the trigger unless you want to shoot something"

He then began teaching the arctic fox how the gun worked, showing him how to aim and how reload. Finally, he looked around for a moment.

"Alright then, are you ready to shoot it?"

Vanir perked his ears at that. "Yeah!"

Sven grinned a little, then pointed off in the distance. "Alright, look down the sights and fire, try to find something to aim at"

Vanir nodded, then took aim and pulled the trigger

Vanir yelped. He dropped the rifle and nearly fell backwards down the hill. The gray fox reached out and grabbed him before he tumbled back.

"Sven!" Vanir whined and rubbed his shoulder. "That hurt."

Sven tried not to laugh as he helped rub the arctic fox's shoulder. "Yeah, sorry. I should have warned you about the kick."

"Is it always so loud?" Vanir touched his ears.

Sven picked up the rifle and dusted the snow off it. "Did you hit your target?"

Vanir looked down the hill at the rock peeking out of the ground cover. "No. Not at all. I thought the magic would have made it hit..."

"Vanir," Sven sighed, "I told you, it's not magic, it's technology. Try to remember that when you see a train."

"Train?" Vanir tilted his head.

"Nevermind. Here, try again. We need to get you good enough to cover for me while I go meet the Great Spirit tomorrow."

Vanir smiled. "Your mates will allow you, right?"

Sven narrowed his eyes. "They are my mates. Not my owners." He scratched his chin, "but I should make sure I'm not on watch with Jack tomorrow."

Vanir only grinned softly at that, then took the rifle as Sven handed it to him. It took him a moment, but he managed to get it ready to fire again on his own.

Sven watched as the fox took aim again, stopping him before he could pull the trigger. "Here, press the butt of the rifle against your shoulder," Vanir gave him an incredulous look at that, "You'll still feel the kick, but it won't hurt you as much. Plus it'll make your aim more accurate"

The arctic fox hesitated a moment, before nodding and pressing the butt of the rifle against his shoulder. "Like this?"

"Exactly like that"

"Why is it called a butt?"

Sven blinked, then thought for a moment. "Um.... I'm really not sure"

"But... you're sure it's not magic that makes it work?" Vanir asked.

"Yes. Now concentrate. And remember, squeeze the trigger, don't pull it." Sven adjusted the arctic fox's grip.

Vanir took a deep breath and flattened his ears against the coming bang. He squinted down the sights, finding the rock. This time when the gun went off he didn't drop it. A puff of snow went up next to the rock and the arctic fox cheered.

Sven patted his back. "In an emergency situation, cheering is generally frowned upon. But nice shot."

The two foxes spent another hour shooting and going over what Vanir would need to do while Sven was out in the wilderness. They arrived back in camp as the others were gathered around the fire eating.

Sven sniffed the air and swore. It smelled good but he was committed to learning the ways of the north. Jack was the first to see their approach and immediately waved for Sven to come over. The wolf was holding an extra tin plate of food. Sven again cursed under his breath.

Jaiden whistled. "C'mon, Swish. Your food's getting cold."

Sven approached slowly. "Um, I kinda ate while I was out scouting." He could tell from the questioning looks he would need to elaborate. "I grabbed a few biscuits and some dried meat before I left. I wanted to be thorough and I wasn't sure how long I'd be out there."

Sven did help himself to the space between the two wolves, smiling up at them and hoping the conversation was over.

Unfortunately he found that it had just begun.

Jack looked down to him, "I noticed how you were teaching Vanir how to shoot."

Sven blinked at that. "Uh.... how did you know?"

"I followed you for a ways, then watched you for several moments before heading back. Why were you teaching him to shoot?"

Before Sven could answer, Vanir suddenly blurted out, "He was teaching me to shoot so that I could take his watch for him after fasting for all of today and tomorrow"

Of course, this caught the wolf's attention. "Fasting? No, absolutely not. You need to eat to maintain your strength Sven"

The grey fox opened his mouth to say something, but again, Vanir beat him to it. "He is preparing himself to meet the Spirit of the North, and fasting is required in order to meet the Great Spirit"

Sven sighed for a moment, then added, "This is my choice Jack. You can't just go around and tell me what to do. Yeah sure, you're my mate, but that doesn't give you the right to order me around all the time. I'm going to fast, and you can't stop me."

The fox stood up at that, then began heading to one of the tents that had been erected. "Come on Vanir, you can explain more about the Great Spirit to me in the privacy of a tent"

The arctic fox nodded, then followed quickly, leaving Jack glaring after them.

Jack growled and took another bite of his rations.

Jaiden stared at the bigger wolf, his anger starting to boil over. "What the hell, boss?"

Jack turn his attention to the smaller wolf, but this time Jaiden wouldn't be so easily intimidated.

"I would never get away with something like that! But you let Swish walk? Seriously," Jaiden growled.

"Jay, do not test me right now," Jack snarled.

"No, Jack. You've been completely unfair. I'm starting to think Swish was right. Maybe we should go to the mountains to get you changed back."

Jack jumped to his feet and Jaiden fell backwards, his arms up to fend off any attack. But Jack wasn't going to hit his mate - not in front of the team at least. "Get up," he roared. He looked at the stunned faces of the others. Calming his voice as best he could, the wolf attempted a smile. "I'm going to have a private discussion with my mates. We'll be needing the tent to ourselves for a few minutes, if there are no objections," Jack could plainly see there would be none.

He grabbed Jaiden by the arm, still managing to be careful with his side as he practically dragged the fur to the team's tent.

Inside the tent Sven was watching the arctic fox talk animatedly about all the times the Great Spirit had intervened to help him. Suddenly the flap flew open and Jaiden was shoved inside, an annoyed look creasing his brow. Right behind him Jack ducked in.

"Vanir, out," The large wolf snapped.

Vanir gave Sven a worried look and quickly scampered away.

Jack closed the tent flap and turned to face his disobedient mates.

"I am not going to stand for being ignored and disobeyed any longer, this all is going to stop. When I tell you something, I expect you both to listen to me!"

Sven growled and stood up at that. "I for one, am not something that you can just order around! I'm not a pet, I'm not a slave! I don't have to listen to you Jack, I control my life, I control what I do or don't do, no one else!"

Jaiden nodded, standing by Sven. "I agree with Swish here. Ever since that incident back at the outpost, things have changed. The most obvious thing, is you Jack. I mean, what the hell? This is not how mates are supposed to treat each other! We have our own ambitions, our own choices. You can't just go strutting about and dictating what we can do in our free time"

The bigger wolf growled softly at that, his left ear beginning to twitch, showing how angry he was. "You both have been very disobedient, all I want is the best for you, yet you go off and shun whatever I say! None of us are leaving this tent until this matter is sorted out"

Sven huffed at that, then headed for the tent flap. "I need to go and speak with Quinar about something, and--"

At that moment Jack's hand darted out, swatting the grey fox's muzzle and knocking him back. Sven yelped, tripping and falling onto his rear then looking up at the bigger wolf, his eyes becoming watery. Jaiden narrowed his eyes and got between Jack and the fox.

"Don't you ever hit him again, if you do, I don't care if you think you're the high and mighty alpha or not, or even if you're my mate. If you hit Sven again, you'll have me to deal with" The wolf then bared his fangs at Jack, growling menacingly as he stood protectively over the fallen vulpine.

Jack's hands clenched into fists before relaxing. His ears fell back. How could he make them understand?

"Jay... We lost two of our best friends on this mission... How can you say you won't let me protect you both?" He sighed. "I can't lose you."

Jaiden's stance softened, he turned to help Sven to his feet. The fox was holding his nose, his eye watering. "Is this what you call protecting, Jack?"

"I'm scared, damn it," the big wolf flared. "Is that what you want to hear? You're working yourself to death, and he wants to starve himself and wander around in the forest all night! I don't think I could go on without either of you." Jack slowly moved to Sven, keeping his motions slow so as not to frighten him. "Sven, I am so sorry..."

Sven felt Jaiden squeeze his arm in a show of support. He could feel his own hands getting damp but he wasn't sure if it was from his breath or if he was bleeding. He didn't want to check so kept both palms firmly planted.

In a nasally voice, the fox asked, "you're scared?"

Jack looked away. "Yeah. I have been ever since the outpost. It's like my primal side keeps telling me I have to do more to keep you safe." He sat down on the floor of the tent facing away from them. "But if you fear me instead of love me, what good is it? When we get to Basil... I want you both to decide if you can deal with me like this. If not, I stay at my place until I find out what Quin needs to fix me. Then I'll go and get it myself."

Jaiden and Sven stared at the bigger wolf for a long moment, before Jaiden snapped his fingers. "Unfit to lead!"

Jack eyed the smaller wolf at that, "What?"

"In the case of an illness or after effect of a drug that clouds a lead dog's sense of judgement, then he or she is proclaimed unfit to lead!"

The big wolf stared at him for a moment, then growled darkly "Are you challenging me?"

The other wolf eeped at that, then quickly shook his head. "N-No! I just mean that we can tell Vandala that because of what the Tikaani medicine did to you, then she would more than likely organize an expedition to collect the cure!"

"Am I that bad?" Jack asked.

Jaiden and Sven exchanged looks. The fox sniffed and wiped his nose. The bleeding stopped. "N-no! We don't think so," he looked to Jaiden for agreement. "But... think of it as preventative. It could get to the point where your instincts override your reason, and then it could get really, really bad."

"Yeah," Jaiden added. "We won't say anything yet, but keep that in mind. We just want you to feel good. We, uh," he brush a hand over the back of his head, "we love you, Jack."

The awkward silence was broken when Sven pulled Jaiden along and knelt next to where Jack was sitting. He pulled his two lovers into a warm embrace, his tail swishing wildly.

***

The furs around the campfire were all staring at the tent flap when it opened. Even Vanir seemed interested, but the others had the social grace to pretend they weren't gawking.

Quinar was the first to notice the slight trace of blood around Sven's nostrils. "Everything alright?"

Jaiden and Sven looked to Jack. The bigger wolf sighed. "It will be."

That brought a small grin to Quinar's face, and the coyote turned back to face the fire. Once Sven sat down near the flames, Vanir scurried over and began whispering to him. Jack looked over at them with interest, though he couldn't overhear anything that was being said.

At that moment, Lokir came over. "Jay, I need to speak to you"

The wolf looked to him. "About what Lok?"

The saber looked over to where the arctic fox was still crouching next to Sven and whispering to him, then back to Jaiden. "It's something.... too private to discuss around certain ears"

Jaiden gave him a puzzled looked at that, but then followed away from the others while Jack sat down in the snow. All of a sudden Quinar came over, then reached out and grabbed the wolf's muzzle. Jack instantly snarled and snapped at the coyote, who yelped and yanked back his hand. The smell of blood reached Jack's nose, and his nostrils flared as the scent began to bring forth very powerful urges.

"Wh-Why did you do that?" He couldn't contain the growl that rose from his throat.

Quinar cradled his hand looking intently at the wolf. "You'll see"

Jack's vision turned slightly red, and he pressed his hand to the side of his head and growled deeper.

***

The saber kept walking, glancing over his shoulder to make sure Vanir wasn't following him. When they were a good distance away he turned to Jaiden.

"I want you to promise you won't spread this."

Jaiden put his hand over his heart. "I swear. Now, what is it?"

Lokir nervously thumbed one of his fangs, collecting his thoughts. "Vanir. I fancy him."

Jaiden's eyes went wide. He couldn't repress the happy laugh as he congratulated his friend. "Took you long enough! All those nights in the taverns, I was starting to think you had some parts missing," he slapped the big fur's arm.

Lokir rolled his eyes.

"What do you need me for," Jaiden asked. "Do... do you need someone to have the talk with you? Because I-"

"Jay!" Lokir snarled. "I was hoping you might be able to tell me what to do next? How do I get what you and Sven, and Jack have?"

Jaiden smiled. "Lok, there's no mystery to it. Just go up to the fur and tell him you want to see more of him."

Lokir raised an eyebrow.

Jaiden grinned, "see, it works two ways. That line has never failed for me."

Lokir sighed. "I should have asked Sven."

"Nah, don't worry about it. I'll try and fix it so you get some privacy tonight on watch. And, yes, you will talk to him tonight. Tomorrow he'll probably be preoccupied with Swish... if Jack let's him go through with the native ritual."

The saber nodded softly at that, and the two of them began heading back when they both heard a savage snarl come from the direction of the fire...

***

Jack could feel the feral side of him becoming more and more fierce as the smell of blood lingered in the air. It hazed his senses, clouded his thoughts, kept him from thinking straight. The coyote backed away, his ears laid back as the wolf rose to his feet, his entire body trembling. All of a sudden, he lost control. The big wolf launched himself forward with a loud snarl, his claws extended and his teeth bared. Quinar yelped, falling back onto the snow. At that moment, Sven jumped in the way, and let out a cry of pain as he felt Jack's claws rip through his parka.

The fox fell to the ground, and the scent of new blood hit Jack's nose. The large wolf froze when he recognized it as Sven's, and the haze that clouded his mind cleared away. He stared down in shock at his mate, who was laying on the ground and clutching his side.

"Sv-Sven, I--" He stepped forward, but all of a sudden the wolf was shoved violently back by Jaiden, who seemed to appear out of nowhere.

The smaller wolf was baring is fangs menacingly, his gaze piercing into Jack's own eyes. The bigger wolf tried to return the intense look, but found that Jaiden's gaze was too fierce, and he laid back his ears and backed away.

Jack backed away, his tail bristling and curving forward. Jaiden stood firm, making sure Jack kept moving. In an instant the smaller wolf was at Sven's side.

Quinar was already putting pressure on the fox's side. Abel shoved the coyote into the snow, taking his place.

"What is wrong with you!" the lab barked.

"I was-"

"Go!" Abel pointed furiously toward the tent. "With the state of mind you put him, go and make sure he doesn't do anything stupid."

Quinar's ears were still flat. He nodded silently and followed after the wolf.

Lokir jumped up. "Stay," he told the arctic fox as he ran after Quinar. He was the only one of them that could hope to match Jack physically.

Abel opened the shredded parka and looked at Jaiden. "Get my bag from the sled. And be quick." The wolf moved without hesitation. "Sven, can you hear me?"

"Yes," Sven grunted.

"You will probably pass out when I sterilize the wound, but I want you to know you'll be alright. Jack's claws didn't penetrate too deep. I'm far more worried about infection out here, so I will have to use something a little strong. I'll get you something to bite down on."

Sven felt Abel holding his hand. He turned his head. "Thank you," he said softly.

"No need for thank yous, it's what I trained for," Abel nodded.

Sven laughed. "I'm sorry I called you a prick."

Abel grinned. "You'll say worse once I douse you in disinfectant, trust me."

Jaiden came to a skidding stop with the medic's bag. "Is he-"

"He'll recover. Slight scarring is the worst we can expect if I can clean the wounds," Abel said as he dug out a green tinted glass bottle. "Jaiden, if you would be so kind as to take off your belt, fold it a few times and give it to Sven to bite on. I'd hate to have to sew a tongue back on out here too."

Jaiden nodded at that, taking off his belt and putting it in Sven's mouth as Abel took out the disinfectant. The lab then looked to the fox.

Are you ready Sven? We'll do this in 3...2.." Abel didn't even get to one, instead he just splashed the disinfectant onto the wound.

Sven let loose a muffled scream as he felt the pain, biting down hard on the belt to the point where his teeth pierced the leather. Once the pain went away, Abel started bandaging up the injury. At that moment Quinar came back over, his ears laid back, Lokir followed close behind.

Jaiden looked to them. "How is he?"

The coyote rubbed the back of his head at that, not really wanting to say anything so Lokir spoke up. "We looked in the tent for Jack but... he wasn't in the tent. We found a set of footprints leading away from the camp"

At that moment, snow began to fall.

"We have to find him!" Sven yelled.

"We will," Jaiden stopped the fox from struggling to his feet. "We will, Swish. But you need to stay here." He stood. "Quin, Lok, grab your guns. We need to move now, before we lose the tracks."

"I can help," Vanir jumped up.

"Help by watching Swish," Jaiden said.

Sven tried to protest but Jaiden was firm. He watched the wolf lead the other two into the woods. As soon as they were out of sight Sven was again struggling to stand.

Abel sighed. "I could sedate you, you know."

"Or you could help," Sven lowered his ears, hoping his innate vulpine adorableness might have an effect of the cold lab.

Vanir caught on to what Sven was doing and joined in, staring wide eyed at the medic, his tongue poking out the corner of his mouth.

Abel growled. "If anyone asks, you threatened to shoot me."

Sven grinned. "I could punch you, if you want to make it look real."

Abel rolled his eyes. "Oh shut up. I'll get your... where is your rifle?"

"Right here," chirped Vanir as he loaded it. "Let's go!"

Abel sighed heavily at that. then followed Sven and Vanir as they hurried out after the others. Moments after they had left, a she-wolf peered out from the tree line where she had been hiding, waiting for several moments before sneaking into the camp and beginning to go through everything.

Meanwhile Jaiden followed close behind Quinar, who was following the tracks. The snowfall began to become more and more of a problem as the tracks started to disappear over time.

The coyote glanced back at Jaiden and Lokir. "He is moving very swiftly, possibly on all fours here and there by the looks of his tracks. In other words, he's moving much faster than us right now!"

Jaiden growled at that, picking up the pace. Quinar and Lokir did as well. The trio ran on and on, until they suddenly came upon a frozen lake.

Quinar stopped at the edge of the ice, kneeling down and examining the tracks that disappeared onto it then looked around.

Jaiden growled, "Why have we stopped?!"

The coyote looked up at the wolf at that, his words coming slow and deliberate. "The trail ends here."

"What do you mean?? Obviously Jack crossed the ice, so we need to follow!" He started forward, before being grabbed by Lokir.

The saber shook his head slowly. "No telling which way he could have gone. It is likely that Jack came here to this lake on purpose, knowing that we have three furs able to follow scents and tracks. Over the frozen lake, the scent disappears, and the tracks do as well"

Quinar slowly rose to his feet at that, looking out onto the ice. "There's no telling which way he could have gone"

Sven raised his hand, signalling for Abel and Vanir to stop. He could see the others standing at the edge of a frozen lake. They were standing, talking. Suddenly Jaiden cupped his hands to his mouth and Sven heard the echoing shout of Jack's name.

"They lost the trail," Sven whimpered.

Two gunshots rang out. Sven dived to the snow and twisted around. Vanir was reloading the gun. The barrel still smoked in the frigid air.

"Vanir! What the-"

The arctic fox fired into the air again. Abel rushed him and wrestled the gun away.

"The snow is falling too heavy. They will head back," Vanir said. "Jack loves you. He'll hear the gunshots and have to check on you... it's nature."

Sven's eyes lit up. He turned to see the others running towards them. Before they could get any closer, Sven opened his jacket, lifted his shirt and tore off the bandages.

Abel yelled. "What are you doing!" He watched in shock as the fox whimpered, digging at the wound. "Have you lost your mind?"

Sven reached out with his bloodied hand, wiping it on the trunk of a tree. "He'll smell the blood!" Sven said. "H-he'll have to come back, right?" he looked to Abel and Vanir, desperate for confirmation. "Right! H-his heightened senses will smell it... he has to come back..."

Jaiden charged through the bushes to find Sven, Abel and Vanir. "Who's shooting! And why aren't you at camp?"

The wolf froze when he saw the blood, then growled as he saw the fox's bloodied hand. "Swish, you didn't claw open your wound did you?!"

The fox whimpered again, staggering a little. Before he could fall, Jaiden rushed forward and grabbed him, sweeping him up into his arms then looking over to Quinar. "Quin, you know which direction the camp is in?"

The coyote looked around for a moment, studying their surroundings before nodding. "Yes, follow me"

As he began leading them away, Sven whimpered again, looking up into Jaiden's eyes. "H-He'll come b-back, right?"

The wolf stayed silent at that, not wanting to answer his mate's question. Eventually they reached the camp, only to stand staring at it in horror. The entire camp had been ransacked.

Quinar and Abel rushed forward, desperately looking through whatever remained. Once the others caught up with them, Quinar came forward with his ears lowered.

"There's only enough rations to last a day, tops...."

"Absolutely wonderful," Jaiden snarled. They were stuck in a blizzard, they were nearly out of food, and the team leader had run off. Not to mention his and Sven's injuries.

The wolf assumed command. "I want whatever we have left put in the tent. No point in setting a watch in these conditions, we'll just have to risk it. I want us all together. Maybe we can keep warm enough to survive the storm." He looked down at Sven in his arms. The fox's eyes were closed and his breathing was shallow.

"Bury the tent," Vanir said quietly. "I-it's how we live on the glaciers, and we don't even use tents. The snow will keep the warmth in."

It sounded counterintuitive to the wolf, but the arctic foxes did somehow manage to survive in the most inhospitable climate he could imagine. "Alright. Lok, help me with the snow. Quin, Abel, bring the sled right to the flap. If it gets buried out there, we might not find it."

Jaiden laid Sven on the floor of the tent, swearing as he found the sleeping bags were gone too. It would be hard, and depending on how bad the storm got, travel might be impossible in the morning, but if they could make it through the night, he could send Quinar and Vanir out hunting. He figured they would have the best luck, not that luck had been with any of them on this mission.

At that moment Quinar came over with a bag, kneeling by Sven and gently having him sit up a little. "I found some medical supplies, so I'll patch him up as best I could"

Jaiden sank down onto the ground beside them and watched as the coyote began working on the fox. After several moment had passed by, he spoke up. "Do you think he'll come back Quin?"

The coyote paused for a moment, then laid back his ears and kept working. "If you want me to speak honestly? The likelihood of Jack coming back after hurting Sven like he did is very low... He may not even be able to find us if he wanted to. The blizzard will erase all traces of our scent, and Jack has never been out here all by himself when the feral side of him is in control, so he may just keep on going, perhaps try and outrun the storm or find shelter. Seeing how little of shelter there is out here, it is likely he'll have to travel for awhile before finding anything suitable"

The tent's roof sagged as they piled more snow on it. Vanir took Lokir inside and told him to push until their shelter took on a more domelike shape. The arctic fox made sure the protective covering was at least a foot and a half thick before ushering the others inside.

"One more thing," Vanir chirped as he rushed back into the blizzard. He returned a few moments later with a stick.

"All we have to worry about is keeping an air hole open," he said as he thrust the stick through the top of the flap.

Jaiden could already feel the temperature begin to rise. He would have even smiled at the prospect of surviving the night, but there were so many problems left ahead, it was impossible not to become despondent.

The furs were pressed together. Only Sven had the room to lay flat and Vanir suggested putting the weakest furs in the middle.

"No," Jaiden shook his head. "I'll hold him and keep him warm tonight. If he starts to shiver, I'll give him my parka."

Vanir nodded and crawled over Abel, suspiciously finding his way next to Lokir. The saber looked to Jaiden for help. The wolf mimed putting an arm around the fox. Then Jaiden sighed and stroked Sven's fur, wondering what could happen next.

Lokir looked down at the arctic fox that was snuggled up against him, then took a deep, silent breath and wrapped his arm around the vulpine. Vanir only nestled deeper into the saber's fur, before falling asleep. Lokir stared at him for a moment, before grinning softly and closing his eyes.

As everyone else got comfortable, Jaiden perked his ears a little when he felt Sven relax in his arms. He looked back down at him and watched him sleep for a moment, before leaning down and softly pressing his lips to the fox's forehead. He was going to have to make a tough decision tomorrow. They couldn't stick around and wait for Jack to come back. According to what Quinar had said, there was little chance of it happening.

So it would come down to either leaving, and getting back to Basil and resupplying, or staying here and risk either starving, or getting attacked by bandits or strays. Whoever had raided the camp while they were gone had also made off with all the ammunition for their guns. They wouldn't stand a chance in a fire fight.

***

Lokir woke to the sounds of Quinar digging out an opening in the solid wall of snow that covered all but the top few inches of the tent's door. He could feel the arctic fox holding onto his arm. He looked at Vanir

The saber was still staring at the arctic fox when Jaiden opened his eyes.

"We're alive," he mumbled unenthusiastically. He shook Sven and then woke the others. "Everyone, outside."

The assembled in a changed landscape. In the dim northern light everything seemed to sparkle. The fresh fallen snow gave the world a false sense of peace. Jaiden looked at his team. Spirits were low but they all looked capable of what he intended.

"Here's the plan: we leave now. We'll take the food, but there's no point digging out the sled or the tent. We can't be much more than a day away from Basil. We just keep walking until we're there. I want Quin and Swish out scouting the way. We can't afford any fights, so no shooting, just keep us away from anything that looks suspicious. Vanir, you trail behind and let us know if anyone's following. Lokir, Abel... help me carry the food and anything else we can salvage."

Sven's ears fell. He knew they couldn't wait for Jack, but he still held a flicker of hope. When no one was looking, the gray fox bit down on the inside of his hand, leaving a trickle of blood to mark the trees. He would leave Jack a way home, but that was all he could do.

They began making their way through the snow after Lokir pointed them in the right direction, whereupon Quinar confirmed it. As instructed, Quinar and Sven stayed up in the front while Vanir remained at the back. The arctic fox kept a sharp eye out for anything that might be following them while Abel and Lokir helped Jaiden with carrying things.

After several long hours had passed by, the town of Basil came into sight. All members of the team breathed a sigh of relief, then eagerly picked up the pace so that they could get within the town limits.

Jaiden dropped the pack of tinned vegetables he'd taken. Quinar and Sven were sitting on the snowbank that lined the side of the road. He jogged across the field, leaving Abel and Lokir to wait for the arctic fox.

"We made it."

Sven looked up at the wolf. He forced a smile. "We're home, Jay."

The wolf grinned. "Not yet, but we will be soon. I am going to have to spend several long, excruciating hours with Van, trying to explain what happened."

"Will we look for Jack?" Sven asked hopefully.

Jaiden looked away. "The North Guard will send out search parties. They won't let us go until we're fully rested and the team is restocked."

Sven's ears sank momentarily before he stood up and embraced the wolf. "We still have each other. We'll get through this. I'm sure of it."

The wolf stood there for a long moment, before giving the fox a forced grin. "Yeah... Well, once we get back into town, we'll have the doc take a look at you and me both, then get you settled in at my place."

Sven nodded softly at that, getting back up on his feet then rubbing his arm as he looked down to the ground. Jaiden lowered his ears, then came closer and set his hand on the fox's shoulder.

"Hey.. I'm positive that Jack is alright, and I'm sure that he'll find his way back here eventually"

"But I want to go out and find him Jay..."

The wolf nodded softly at that. "I'm not going to lie Sven... there is a chance that Van might not let us go after him... But I promise that I'll do my best to talk to her, alright?" Sven nodded softly at that.

At that moment, Lokir and Abel caught up with Vanir trailing behind them.

"I'm going to talk to Van with you," the saber said.

Jaiden nodded. He doubted the North Guard would make Vanir an official member, but he was sure that wouldn't stop Lokir from working out a way to keep him close.

The arctic fox stared in silent awe. He'd never seen a settlement before. He was expecting a bigger version of the outpost, not the bustling sprawl of Basil. A million questions ran through his mind, but the most pressing one was first to bubble out.

"What happens to me now?" he asked.

"My place," Lokir had planned it out. They'd even discussed it briefly, but he didn't mind repeating it to the small fur. "I will take care of you.

Vanir's tail swished happily, his eyes still glued on the looming settlement. His life was about to change, as were the lives of his new friends. His new pack.

Lokir motioned for the arctic fox to follow as Jaiden began leading the others into town. Almost as soon as they were in town limits, the wolf took Sven over to the town doctor, a male whitetail deer by the name of Doctor Stalsworth. Even though the vulpine did protest a little, in the end he begrudgingly allowed the doctor to look over his wounds. Jaiden showed Doctor Stalsworth his own wounds, but then declined the buck's offer to have a check up at the moment.

"I have to go speak with Vandala before I get myself checked up Doc. But I promise that I'll be here after I'm finished with everything today alright? I'll come in tomorrow"

Doctor Stalsworth snorted at that, crossing his arms over his chest. "A promise for tomorrow isn't as good as trying today. Come back and see me as soon as you finish up your business, and I mean today Jaiden"

The wolf grinned softly at that, then nodded. "Alright Doc, I understand," He then looked to Sven, "I'll be back once the Doc has you all patched up alright Swish?"

The fox nodded at that, "Alright Jay, I'll see you when you get back"

After raising his hand in a silent, temporary farewell, Jaiden left the doctor's office then met Lokir and Vanir outside, motioning them to follow him to Headquarters.

The North Guard building was as busy as it was when they'd set out. A never-ending flow of furs on a loosely defined mission to keep the north safe and connected. One thing had changed. Jaiden spotted two uniformed soldiers outside the main door. He wondered how big of a storm the military would whip up once they found that his team- Jack's team, he corrected himself, looted one of their outposts for supplies.

He looked over his shoulder. Vanir was holding onto the saber. The arctic fox had probably never seen so many furs in his entire life. And few furs seemed to have ever seen a nearly naked arctic fox before either, if the stares were anything to go by.

"Why don't you two wait in the gear room for a bit. I'll come get you once I've softened Van up."

Lokir could see the discomfort in the smaller fur. "Alright, Jay."

The wolf watched walk down the hall then rapped on the office door.

"Enter," said a gruff but feminine voice.

Jaiden sighed and opened the door. "Vandala! My favorite vixen!"

"Jay?" She stood up. "Where the hell were you? We've got a search party out. You were due back days ago!"

"A search party? Good. You need to send out about four more. Jack's run off."

"Jack?" her hard stare softened for just a moment.

"He was exposed to Tikanni medicine. It messed with his mind and he took off so he wouldn't hurt us. Get me a map and I'll show you where the teams need to start their search."

"I- I can't spare anyone else. Not even for Jack..." She collapsed back in her chair. "More settlements have been hit since you left. We think it was the same organization that attacked Copperfox. The army's got us running recon missions and keeping the lines of communication open where the telegraph's are out. It's bad, Jaiden. Real bad."

The wolf stared at Vandala for a moment, then shook his head. "Van there must be something you can do! Please, I'm begging you!"

The vixen shook her head in a final sort of way. "No Jaiden, I can't spare anyone else"

"Then let us go after him! We just have to get restocked, get us a new wheel and a new point, then we can head out"

Vandala blinked at that, "A new wheel and point? What exactly happened while you were out?"

Jaiden sighed softly, rubbing the back of his head. "What happened was we ran into unforeseen complications. We lost Davin and Mason, along with Jack. But we did gain a medic, one that is better than Lieutenant Abel, although they make a great team"

"Vandala nodded at that, rubbing her temple. "I'll get a new wheel and point assigned to you. Two wheels in fact, because you're gonna be taking over Jack's position. I'm also going to be issuing you two guards to head out with you so you'll need a bigger sled. But, I can't spare any teams for the search for Jack, not even yours Jaiden. I need you patched up, stocked up, and ready to head out for recon and communication management to several of the settlements, and this isn't a suggestion, it's an order. However, lay up here in Basil for a week or two, get some rest"

"Yes ma'am," Jaiden said dejectedly and started to rise. "Oh, there's one more thing..."

"Don't make my paperwork and harder, Jay," Vandala moaned.

"You know those arctic foxes that live out on the ice sheets?"

"You think you saw one?" the vixen smirked.

"No. We brought one back. He can speak English too."

Vandala blinked.

Jaiden motion for her to follow. "He's with Lokir down the hall. I don't know what you can do, but maybe you can put him down as another scout so we can take him with us. He really came in handy."

Vandala followed the wolf. "I'll bet. You know the prospectors say they're magic, or spirit beings... any truth to those rumors?"

Jaiden laughed. "Van, you know better than to believe everything you hear in the tavern."

They found Lokir sitting on the bench in the equipment room.

"Where's Vanir?" Jaiden asked.

Lokir whistled and the snow white fur came out of the back, a belt and a holstered gun added to his otherwise sparse wardrobe. He shyly smiled at the vixen. "Hello."

Vandala stared openly at the arctic fox for several long moments, before placing her hands on her hips. "Hello there, Vanir was it? Welcome to Basil," She looked to Jaiden at that, "I wasn't expecting you to bring back one of the snow foxes. If you want him as a scout, I won't object, but he'll need to go through with a bit of training with the one who supervised Sven's training. For the life of me, I can't seem to remember his name, it's been such a hectic week"

Jaiden nodded softly at that, a grin coming to his lips, "That's fine with me ma'am, I'll have him start the training as soon as we get him settled. Lokir plans on having him live with him, if that's alright"

The vixen nodded softly at that. "Yes that's alright. It saves me from having to do more paperwork to get Vanir his own accommodations. As soon as this whole mess gets sorted out, we'll see what changes will have to be made. But for now, rest up, heal up, and prepare for making another run. I don't know which one you'll be doing, but be ready to make a long trip"

The wolf nodded softly at that. "Yes ma'am"

Looking back to Vanir, Vandala inclined her head a little. "It was nice meeting you Vanir, I do hope we can talk more during the week, but for now, I need to get back to paperwork" She then sighed heavily, before leaving the equipment room.

Vanir looked from Jaiden to Lokir, then back to Jaiden. "She seemed really nice. Uh, before we go anywhere, you are aware that Sven needs to continue to fast until he is ready to meet the Great Spirit, right?"

Jaiden scratched at his ear. He could understand now what Jack was objecting too. "Yeah, but he's hurt. He'll need his strength back."

Vanir nodded. "But the weaker he is, the closer to the Great Spirit he will get."

Jaiden did not want to be the kind of fur that spoke for his mate. "I'll talk to him and see if he's still up to it... Nice gun by the way."

Vanir smiled. "Thank you. Lokir says he will let me have bullets for it once he teaches me..." he looked to the saber, "what was that word?"

"Safety," Lokir said. "I first have to teach you safety."

Jaiden laughed. "I better get back to Swish. He's probably getting bored waiting for me. Take care," he waved to his friends and left the North Guard Headquarters.

***

Sven laid back on the examination table, throwing a wadded paper ball at the ceiling and trying to ignore the pain from his fresh stitches. He heard the building's door open and he missed the ball. It bounced off his nose and rolled to the feet of Jaiden.

"Jay!" Sven sat up, shirtless and grinning.

"That's a good look on you, Swish," the wolf smirked.

The fox hopped off the table and went to greet his mate. "Is everything going to be alright?"

Jaiden considered the question. It was deeper than Sven realized. Jack was still missing, bandits were running wild, and they only had a week to rest up before heading back out. But they did have each other now. And that would be enough.

"Yeah, Swish," Jaiden held the fox. "Everything's going to be alright."

Sven pressed himself into the wolf's embrace, his tail swishing back and forth, true to his nickname. After a moment, he looked up into Jaiden's face. "What did Van say about Jack?"

The wolf replied slowly, "She said that he'll have to wait for a bit, she wants us to do another run to one of the settlements after we've gotten stocked up and rested. Meanwhile, we'll be getting two new wheels, a point, and two guards, meaning we get to take one of the big sleds. They've been made to make pulling them a lot easier I hear"

Sven stayed still for a long moment, thinking on what Jaiden had said. His heart weighed heavily in his chest as he thought about Jack being all alone out there in the snowy wastes. After that moment had passed, the fox then buried his snout into Jaiden's neck fur.

"Jack's is going to be fine, r-right? I want to go out and search for him now but...."

Jaiden hushed the vulpine softly, holding him tighter. "Didn't I say that everything will be fine Swish? For now, let's forget about our troubles until we're back out on the trail, and let's get you uh," He coughed a little, "Accommodated, at my place, alright?"

The grey fox nodded. "I haven't eaten anything yet, and I don't plan to until after I meet the Spirit of the North, but... Vanir never said anything about not engaging in other... particular activities"

To show what he meant, Sven allowed his fingers to trail down Jaiden's stomach, then lightly grazed the front of the wolf's pants. Jaiden licked his lips at that, then grinned.

"I think it'd be best that we head over to my place now, that way I can... show you around, beginning with the bedroom that is"

The fox grinned widely at that. Right before either of them could leave, Doctor Stalsworth suddenly showed up. "Not so fast you two! Sven, you still need to rest here for the night, you as well Jaiden. I'll not have you running off before I can inspect that wound of yours"

Both furs let loose a groan at that, then Jaiden sighed heavily and looked to the doctor. "Alright alright Doc, I'll let you have a look at me"

The buck snorted at that, then turned away. quickly, Jaiden leaned down and planted a soft kiss on Sven's lips, then put his arm around the fox's shoulder as they both followed the doctor into the back.

***

"We're both doctors," Abel huffed at the deer. "Well, alright, the coyote is more like a healer, but we still demand to see your-"

"Quin! Abel!" Sven ran to them.

"Sven, how are you? How is Jaiden?" Quinar brushed past the deer who'd been keeping them in the waiting room.

"I'm fine. Doc Stalsworth had to sedate Jay. He said you two might have left the bullet in him so he went probing around."

Quinar and Abel both glared at the deer.

"I said, 'bullet fragments.' I'm sure you both did the best you could under the circumstances." he laughed nervously and made a hasty retreat.

Sven laughed. "I tried to stay with Jay during the surgery, but once I started throwing up, he yelled at me to leave. But Jaiden should be waking up any minute now. Do you want to say hi?"

Quinar jumped at the opportunity. Abel crossed his arms and thought. "Well... I suppose he is my patient as much as he's anyone's. I guess I should check on him."

Sven grinned. "He'll be happy to see you, Abel. He told me he wants you to stay with the team. He said you work well with Quin."

Abel blushed. "I- I'll think it over," he said, but they all knew his answer from the smile he tried to hide.

Sven led the two furs into the back room where Jaiden was just waking up. The wolf opened his eyes, then looked to Sven with a wide grin. "I was hoping that your face would be the first one that I would see"

The fox blushed at that, then giggled softly before rubbing his mate's arm. "Quin and Abel are here to see you and see how you're doing Jay"

Jaiden looked to them and chuckled softly. "Hey you two, been getting into any trouble yet?"

Abel snorted at that. "You don't know the half of it, Quin here has been having me show him around the town, and I can certainly say that he attracts a lot more attention than I would have thought"

The coyote lowered his ears at that. "I already told you, I didn't mean any offense when I called the innkeeper fat, I-I was only being honest!"

"Well you being honest got us chased out by a goat waving about a butcher's knife!"

Jaiden listened to them bicker for a moment, a smile spreading across his muzzle. The wolf then carefully sat up, holding his side as he did. "Glad to see that you two are getting along so well. Abel, did Swish tell you about my offer?"

The lab stopped bickering and nodded. "Yes, he did. I told him that I'll think it over, but to be honest I've already thought it through before we even got here. I'd like to take you up on your offer, I rather enjoy working with Quin, as well as the rest of you"

The wolf nodded at that, then scooted back a bit and leaned against the head of the bed. "Good, you better get restocked with your medical supplies, both of you. While we rest here, you both can perhaps get to know each other's methods a bit more, that way when we need medical attention, you'll both be more than ready to give it. I think you for coming out to see how I am, I'm feeling a lot better now. Doc says my stitches should heal up by the end of the week if I keep taking my medication on time"

Sven gently squeezed the wolf's hand, "I'll be here to remind you to take them Jay"

The wolf nodded at that, then leaned towards the vulpine. Sven smiled, and met him halfway, their lips pressing firmly against each other as they kissed deeply. Abel and Quinar both watched with wide grins, then glanced to each other before quietly backing out of the room. Everyone had things they needed to do before they were ready to head out again.

As he kissed Jaiden, Sven couldn't help but think of how much his life had started to change already, and how much of an impact both Jack and Jaiden had on those changes. He wanted them to be happy, and he wanted to be happy with them. As soon as they were able, the fox was positive that Jaiden would talk to Vandala again about going out and looking for Jack.

The kiss was soon broken, and the two furs pressed their noses together with their eyes closed, enjoying the time they had to be with each other.

***END OF PART ONE***