Worse, each one carried a sharp metal stick.
The back of Lucky’s neck prickled almost painfully with the sense of threat. His flesh and fur rippled with fear, as the dogs beside him trembled and snarled. All three dogs let loose another volley of furious barks, but there was no stopping the longpaws.
“Bite them!” shrieked Dart. “Bite!”
“No, we shouldn’t do that!” barked Lucky wildly.
“But the sticks! The sticks!”
“They’ll use the sticks on us if we bite them!” Lucky barked, trying to sound confident. But they will probably use them anyway!
Then another sound cut through the air, higher even than the distant roar of the loudcage. This time it was the longpaws who halted, frozen to the spot and looking up in alarm. The sound was a wild, bone-chilling howl, full of menace and death. In that instant, Lucky could smell the longpaws’ fear. They reeked of it, even through their shiny yellow fur.
No wonder. Even Lucky felt horror thrill through his guts, and he knew he had nothing to fear—not from his own Alpha. . . .
Everything around them was still; even the loudcage had fallen silent. A few leaves drifted in the breeze, touching a longpaw’s eyeless face. The howl came again, echoing eerily, and the longpaws looked all around now, turning, searching desperately for the source of that threatening sound. One of them yelped in unease, but Lucky could not tell which one.
The longpaws were confused and uncertain. It was the dogs’ only chance. . . .
“Now!” barked Lucky.
The three of them bolted, skidding past the frozen longpaws and racing for the forest. Lucky heard the longpaws’ barks, but he did not look back. He was certain they wouldn’t chase them into the trees—not now they’d heard that dreadful menacing howl.
Slowing down once they were under the cover of the trees, with Twitch and Dart at his paws, Lucky drew breath, his heart pounding. Dart was panting with the remnants of panic, but Twitch managed to gasp, “Good for Alpha. That showed them!”
It did, thought Lucky, impressed despite himself. He glanced around, peering through the trees, but he could not see his leader. Nor could he see the longpaws—Alpha’s howls had terrified them into submission, and they had not even laid eyes on him.
Delight in their escape, and admiration for his new leader, faded to something far less pleasant as the three dogs made their way carefully back through the unfamiliar patch of woodland. By the time they could smell their own camp again, there was a hot, clenching ball of dread in Lucky’s belly.
Who would ever want to get on the wrong side of that lethal, ill-tempered dog-wolf? What dog in his right mind would deliberately set out to deceive and betray Alpha?
Yet, that was exactly what Lucky had done.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Lucky could feel cold tremors in his skin. Alpha’s yellow eyes seemed to focus just on him as the three dogs padded into the clearing, and the tip of the dog-wolf’s tail twitched slightly.
What had the dog-wolf known? Lucky wondered. Had his howl been simply a coincidence, or had he saved them deliberately?
Lucky felt the hard tug of tiredness in his bones. He would have liked nothing more than to slump down in his sleeping-place and doze until sun-high, but he knew they had to report to their leader.
“Well?” drawled Alpha, his throat rumbling. “What happened?”
Dart was still out of breath, as much from fear as from the run. “Longpaws, Alpha. And the biggest loudcage I’ve ever seen.”
“Loudcages?” came Fiery’s voice. Lucky could not tell if the muscular dog was afraid, or contemplating hunting the enemy.
“It was like a house that could run,” Dart continued, and Lucky saw Twitch glance quickly at Spring, the wild-born littermates clearly wondering what house meant. “Lucky knew what it was.”
Alpha turned back to Lucky. “Did he now? Oh, I know about loudcages, too. Dirty, dangerous brutes.”
“I used to see these big loudcages in the city, Alpha,” said Lucky, keeping his eyes low and his tone respectful. “They are not like ordinary loudcages—they can chew up the earth and eat it for dinner. And something else was there, too—”
“What?” Alpha’s tongue lashed his jaws.
“I’m not sure. It wasn’t another loudcage. It was more like a giant fang, biting into the earth.”
“That’s right, Alpha,” confirmed Dart. “And the longpaws there were like nothing I’ve ever seen.”
“I’ve seen these longpaws before,” said Lucky in a low voice. “They’ve been around since the Big Growl, lots of them. I think they might have something to do with it.”
“They had shiny yellow fur.” Twitch shivered. “Black faces without eyes—or mouths! And they weren’t afraid of us, as they should have been. They had big sticks, and tried to capture us.” The other dogs glanced at one another with alarm, and Omega’s ears flattened with fear. Mulch backed a few steps closer to Fiery, the hair on his hackles rising as he growled low in his throat.
Dart took a step forward, giving a short, sharp whine. “But they were afraid of you, Alpha.”
“Of course,” growled the half wolf. “But you were right to flee. Never get closer to longpaws than you have to. It is good that you found out about them, but . . .” His head slowly turned to Lucky. “It was careless to put yourself at risk of capture. Don’t do that again.”
Lucky bit back a retort, his eyes briefly meeting Sweet’s. She stood beside Alpha, with a similarly stern look. Lucky tried to see kindness beneath the expression, but wasn’t sure it was there. He sank lower to the ground. “Yes, Alpha.”
The dog-wolf gave a great wide yawn that showed every one of his white teeth. “Longpaws like these were always encroaching on wolf territory. Always trying to take over the wild, eating up the earth, and stripping the land of cover and prey. Perhaps they are up to the same tricks here. We need to stay alert.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
Lucky blinked at his leader. It was just the briefest of glimpses into the world of wolves, but still Alpha’s words thrummed in his belly, sparking a hot curiosity. Why, he wondered, had Alpha left the wolves to run with dogs? Was it his choice? Or had he been thrown out, perhaps? He would not have been surprised if the wolves viewed a half dog as weaker, inferior.
But he did not dare ask the Pack leader. Instead he went down on his forelegs and flicked his ears forward. “I don’t know how you knew we were in trouble, but your howl gave us our chance to escape. I’m grateful to you.” Dart and Twitch bowed onto their forelegs as well, their eyes fixed on their leader.
Alpha did not reply for a moment, nor did he explain his insight. He gazed down coolly at Lucky, his tailtip still lightly drumming the ground.
Then he looked away disdainfully. “That? That was nothing. All I did was open my jaws. That’s why I’m Alpha of this Pack, City Dog.” Behind Lucky, Mulch snorted a scornful half laugh.
Feeling awkward and a little humiliated, Lucky rose and stretched, then shook himself. He would have liked to snap at Alpha, but that would have been foolish. What would it have cost the dog-wolf to simply accept his thanks? He had wanted to show his gratitude, because the longpaw attack and their close escape had shaken him to his core. He’d been polite—deferential, even. Yet all Alpha had shown in return was his arrogance.
Lucky felt like a fool. He couldn’t win. Alpha’s arrogance gnawed at his patience, making him feel constantly on edge. Great Howl or no Great Howl, he could not live like this.
Alpha had closed his eyes again, as if entirely uninterested, and his huge body sprawled languidly across the rock. Clearly their audience with him was at an end; Twitch and Dart were already drawing an excited circle of listeners with their tale of the terrifying longpaws and their savage loudcage.
“You would not have believed how big it was!”
“And the noise.” Dart shook her head violently. “Like nothing you’ve ever heard!”
As the dogs in the Pack discussed the
ir new threat, their barks and yelps tumbled over one another like play-fighting puppies.
“What damage can loudcages do?”
“Is there any way we can hurt them?”
“Do they really have longpaws inside them?”
Lucky knew that, soon, the questions would come to him. He did not feel much like being the center of attention, so he slunk across the clearing to a warm patch of sunlight beneath a thin birch tree.
Remember this feeling, Lucky—you will not be with this Pack forever!
He would have to use his time wisely from now on. Patrolling was all very well, but he’d been in danger of relaxing too easily into his comfortable Pack role, and that was not why he was here. If he was going to find out everything he could about this Pack and its leader, he was going to have to get himself promoted to hunter.
Head on his paws, he breathed out a sigh as he watched Pack life go on around him. Twitch had stretched out on a grassy bank to catch a lucky ray of Sun-Dog’s light, and Dart had trotted across to visit with Moon, sniffing affectionately at the clumsily crawling pups, whose eyes had fully opened now. The largest pup tumbled over to land on top of his sister and Moon patiently pushed him upright again.
“Squirm,” Moon said. “Be careful.” The female pup wobbled back upright, only to trip over Dart’s paws. The brown-and-white swift-dog nosed her affectionately.
Fiery, sprawled alongside Mulch, had just growled a lazy order at Omega, who whined submissively before trotting off obediently.
For the moment Pack life was settled, ordered, stable. Each dog knew his place and accepted it. That might be good for the Pack, but it was not what Lucky needed. He had to rise, so that he might gain Alpha’s trust, and convince him that the Leashed Dogs were not to be feared or attacked. He did not have time to work his way quietly up the ranks, waiting for some other dog to put a paw wrong and be demoted. A small tremor rippled through his spine. And if I stay here too long, I might get too settled. I might start thinking of this as my Pack.
He needed to do what he came here to do. And he needed to do it soon. There was only one other way to change his status. He would have to challenge a higher-ranked dog, and then beat him in combat to take his place.
Lucky swallowed hard. Which Packmate would he challenge?
Fiery was pacing toward the nest where Moon still lay with their pups, and Lucky followed him with his eyes. The huge dog was well fed and powerful, sleek with rippling muscle. There was no way he could take on Fiery and win.
Mulch? he wondered. Lucky cocked an ear, thinking hard. He thought he could defeat Mulch . . . but the long-eared black dog’s initial dislike of Lucky hadn’t lessened, judging by the way he seemed keen on disagreeing with him all the time. He would take a challenge very personally, and very seriously, and would not easily let himself be beaten by a “City Dog.” Lucky suspected he would fight dirty if he had to. And the last thing I need right now is a bad wound.
Across the clearing, the young tan-and-white Snap basked in her sleeping-place, her paws and belly turned to the thin rays of light from the Sun-Dog. She was a hunter who ranked above Mulch, Lucky remembered, but she did not have the same vicious resentment. She would not fight so bitterly, and would be less likely to hurt him badly if she defeated him.
Plus, she was smaller than he was. . . .
If I gnaw this over any longer in my head, I’ll never do it. Lucky rose and stretched carefully, clawing the mossy ground, testing his muscles. There were no aches that were bothering him. Standing up straight, he shook himself, then padded determinedly to Sweet.
She sniffed at him. “What is it, Lucky?”
He dipped his head slightly in a gesture of respect. “I want to make a challenge, Beta.”
Sweet sat back on her haunches. Raising an elegant hind leg she scratched long and painstakingly at her ear, then sat still again, studying his eyes. “Very well,” she said crisply. “Who do you wish to fight?”
“Snap,” Lucky told her.
There was a hint of an amused gleam in Sweet’s soft eyes.
“Good luck,” she said with a huffing laugh, and she stood on all four paws and surveyed the clearing. “Packmates! Hear me!”
Surprise and curiosity showed in the dogs’ faces as they hushed and turned to face her. Ears pricked and tails thumped expectantly.
“Lucky the City Dog challenges Snap the hunter,” announced Sweet simply.
Snap’s eyes widened as she rolled onto her front. “He does?”
Lucky padded forward from Sweet’s side, and dipped his head politely toward Snap.
She gave a small, sharp bark. “You’re in a hurry to challenge, new dog.”
Is it that obvious? Lucky wondered, as he heard an amused whine on the other side of the camp. “The City Dog must be tired of living.” It was Mulch.
Lucky ignored him and gave Snap a gruff bark. “I want to rise in this Pack. I may as well start now.”
Snap’s reply was a silky growl. “You won’t rise too far. But every dog is free to try.”
Glancing back, Lucky saw nothing in Alpha’s eyes but cynical amusement. Alpha was so far above the others, Lucky realized, their petty challenges meant nothing to him—except perhaps as entertainment.
“Fight me, then.” Snap rose and stood squarely before Lucky, her muscles tight as drawn-back branches, white teeth bared.
Her eyes were bright and hard and unafraid, Lucky realized, wondering if he’d bitten off more than he could gnaw. But it was too late to turn back now, and besides, it was a risk he was always going to have to take. He curled back his own muzzle as his hackles stiffened.
Sweet stepped forward, her tail high and her muzzle raised. “Before we begin, do you both understand the consequences? That if Lucky wins, he will join the hunters in Snap’s place?”
Lucky said, “Yes,” at the same time that Snap growled, “It will not happen!”
“May the Sky-Dogs look with blessing on your combat!” Sweet barked formally. “May your fight be fair, and may the outcome be favored by the Spirit Dogs. When the battle is done, we all remain Packmates. And we all shall protect the Pack!”
Just when Lucky thought Sweet’s proclamation might go on forever, the swift-dog closed her muzzle. Thank the Sky-Dogs there was nothing more for her to say, he thought. I’m nervous enough as it is!
“On my word.” Sweet sat down, studying each dog for a long moment. “Now—fight!”
They sprang, claws raking for each other’s weak spots: noses, ears, eyes. Snap was a tan-and-white blur, moving quickly, her ears perked forward and her tail curling over her back. She cannoned into Lucky, slamming the breath from his body, and making them roll over and over. She was trying to beat him with shock before they even started, he thought, but that wasn’t going to work. Springing back to his paws, he flung her off and circled her warily.
Snap too was upright again, but now she was more cautious. Lucky was a good bit bigger, and as his paws found a slight rise in the ground he took advantage, pouncing from above, teeth gnashing at her tail.
“Watch out for his dirty city tactics, Snap!” Mulch barked.
Snap was fast, though. She yelped and wriggled from beneath Lucky, aiming a snap of her jaws at his flank. He dodged just in time, feeling them scrape along his fur and skin. Snap rolled and leaped back, then darted swiftly under his belly for another nip. An excited yelping rose from the crowd of dogs around them. “Nicely done, Snap!” Fiery barked in approval.
Snarling, Lucky lunged, driving her off, then hopped back a couple of paces. Snap was quick, and had surprisingly strong jaws. She was a trickier opponent than he had expected her to be—but as he’d predicted, she did not have the viciousness of Mulch.
She fought not to hurt or maim her opponent. She fought only for the victory.
Still, Lucky knew she would sink her teeth into his flesh if she needed to.
He growled, slinking sideways to keep her in his sight. This time, when she shot forward for another quic
k strike, he had time to dodge and lunge for her, grabbing her by the scruff of her neck and shaking hard before releasing her. Snap scuttled out of reach again, panting and snarling. An excited yapping came from the pups. “So fast, Mama!” one said, and Lucky heard Moon give a low bark of agreement.
“Do you give up, City Dog?” Even as Snap caught her breath she was grinning, tongue lolling. “You might be big, but you’re very naive.”
“Finish him off!” Mulch again, sounding like he wished he were in the fight himself.
Lucky glared a warning at Snap as he stalked, drool dripping from his own jaws. Once again she was quick as Lightning’s fire, shooting under him to bite at his hind leg. The move was one he had never seen in the city, and the pain was sharp and hot. Lucky yelped—as much in anger as in pain—and twisted to lash his jaws, catching her ear between his teeth. Snap squealed, but he did not let go, rolling her over with his sheer weight.
Lucky heard a growl of protest from Fiery. “Don’t let him take you down, Snap!”
“Release!” Snap screamed as blood began flowing from her ear. “Release!”
“Release,” commanded Sweet, and reluctantly Lucky loosened his jaw. It might have been a dirty trick to hang on to Snap’s tender ear flesh, but he was a City Dog—as they never tired of telling him—and he would do what he needed to do to get his victory. The Earth-Dog could take their sense of honor!
The other dogs were barking their opinions at both of them, making suggestions that were almost entirely useless. “Not a fair move,” Lucky heard in Fiery’s deep bark. “Don’t let him get hold of you like that, Snap.”
“Keep her on the run, Lucky,” Twitch yelped, and Lucky twitched his ear in irritation—what did the other dog think he was trying to do?
Some dogs were simply yelping their support for Lucky or Snap—and mostly Snap, Lucky noticed. He let his eyes sail briefly over the watching dogs. The only one not barking or yelping encouragement was Omega.