We let the pups down. . . .
He scented Sweet before he saw her. She had climbed the hill to the pine trees and appeared beside him, ghostly in the mist. Lucky felt a twinge in his chest, a confused emotion that he couldn’t place. He kept his gaze focused on the woods in the distance.
Sweet trod lightly and crouched beside him. “I guess you’ll be off again soon.”
It was more of a statement than a question, and Lucky did not reply. The mist was slowly swirling down from the branches of the pines in white loops. Sweet spoke again. “After all, you’re a Lone Dog. You’ve said it time and again, ever since we met in the city. You just seem to end up in the Pack out of, I don’t know, some sense of duty to other dogs. Last time it was for Bella and the Leashed Dogs. This time it was for the pups. Now that they’ve gone . . .” Her voice sounded wistful. “I know you’re not a Pack Dog—not really. I won’t be angry with you if you leave again. I’ll understand this time. I’ll forgive you.”
Lucky’s ears twitched and a wrinkle of irritation ran along his back. “You’ll forgive me?” he snarled. “How thoughtful, Sweet. How generous.” He turned, meeting her bright eyes, which seemed to glow in the expanding mist.
Sweet was taken aback. “I didn’t mean to insult you. I just thought . . . you don’t want to be a Pack Dog, do you?”
“What does it matter what I want?” Lucky replied. “I wanted to help the pups, but now they’re with those savage Fierce Dogs. I didn’t want to hand them over—but I did it. And for what?”
He glared at Sweet and she blinked back, looking hurt.
Lucky barked in frustration. “For the good of the Pack, that’s what! Even when it went against all my instincts. You saw how rough Blade was with Daisy. And the pups are so small. I know Grunt acts tough, and Lick is bold and confident, but they are still just pups.” He cast a look out into the gloom, but a new bank of mist had rolled in from the lake.
“I understand how you feel about letting them go,” Sweet murmured. “But the Fierce Dog Alpha said she was their Mother-Dog—surely she wouldn’t hurt her own pups?”
Lucky fell silent, remembering the stiff body of the dead Mother-Dog beneath the porch. He thought again of the pup with the white fang mark on his neck. Whether they’re her pups or not, Blade seemed determined to look after them. He knew that had to be a good sign, yet something just felt wrong. Why had the Fierce Dogs abandoned the pups in the first place? How had the Mother-Dog died?
“I don’t know, Sweet.” It was all he could say. How could he explain the tightness in his stomach or the sourness catching the back of his throat?
“So you will be off soon?” Sweet pressed. “I don’t mind; I just . . . want you to tell me before you disappear. It would be good to get a chance to say good-bye.”
Lucky turned on her angrily. “Have I said that I’m leaving?”
Sweet’s narrow face was scarcely visible in the mist. “I just assumed . . . with the pups gone, why would you stay?”
“Isn’t that obvious? I’ll stay because I’m a Pack Dog now. Haven’t I proven myself enough for you? I’m surprised you’re even speaking to me. Isn’t it beneath a Beta to talk to the Omega? Are you taking cover behind the mist, so no dog will see you?”
Sweet’s eyes had widened with shock. “Don’t be like that, Lucky. I didn’t mean to offend you—”
He didn’t let her finish. “But you have offended me, Sweet. You make me sound like I change my mind every sunup; like I’m not committed to anything, or any dog.” His ears flicked back. The words spilled out of him, a swirl of bitterness and anger. He thought of Grunt, Lick, and Wiggle and his heart throbbed with loss. “Haven’t I shown that I can act in the interests of the Pack? Even when it meant letting the pups go? I’ve tried so hard to do what’s right by the Pack—not that you’ve noticed! Tonight I’ll sleep out in a draft, just to remind you and the other high-ranking dogs that I’m the lowest dog, less than nothing. Even though I know there’s another way to live, that dogs don’t need to be punished and controlled by rank, I’m going to live like a Pack Dog—because that’s what I am now.”
“I know it isn’t easy being Omega,” Sweet said, her voice a gentle, soothing whimper. “But rules are important—it’s what gives us security. Without rules, how would we know what we should do, or how to act in a crisis?”
Lucky couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He gave a sigh. “For all Alpha’s rules, has the Pack performed any better? Oh, things work well enough when food is plentiful and everyone does what they’re told—but look what happened when the Fierce Dogs came. The Pack fell apart! The Pack failed, despite all its rules.”
“I knew it!” Sweet barked, her voice rising, provoked to anger at last. “I knew you would turn on the Pack sooner or later!”
Lucky glared at her, their eyes locking. The world grew silent, only the breeze shrilling on the night air, lifting and spreading the mist like clouds of dust. A wave of despair ran through him, his fur rising along his back. I must prove to Sweet that I am a Pack Dog once and for all!
An idea started to form. He turned to the edge of the hill and scanned the meadow. The wind had torn holes in the mist. He could see Spring and Dart walking side by side, surveying the perimeter of the camp. No, not them . . .
He spotted Snap treading through the long grass, returning from a hunt, the limp body of a ferret hanging from her jaws.
“Snap!” he barked loudly.
The stout hunter squinted through the mist, ears pricked. “Omega, is that you?”
He took a step forward, standing over the edge of the hill. “Omega the City Dog challenges Snap the hunter!” he barked. Sweet rose to her paws, surprise crossing her narrow face.
Lucky took a deep breath. “Do you accept the challenge?”
Snap dropped the ferret, her eyes gleaming. Her body stiffened. “I accept!” she barked.
Lucky fought down a tremor of nerves. She wants revenge for the previous fight—the one where I beat her with trickery.
By the time that Lucky and Sweet had reached the bottom of the hill, half the Pack had gathered in the meadow.
Moon was nursing Nose and Squirm with Fiery standing guard, and plenty of familiar faces were emerging from the mist: Mickey, Bruno, Spring, Dart. Even Martha appeared, a dark blur in the gloom as she hung back.
Alpha walked slowly out and sat in the mouth of the cave. He said nothing, but gave Sweet a nod.
He approves the fight, Lucky thought. I bet that means he thinks I can’t win. But I’m going to show him.
Sweet stepped close to Lucky, her breath catching the fur of his ear. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
Lucky turned and met her eye. “Yes, Beta. I am.”
She addressed the Pack. “Omega has challenged Snap to a fight, and Snap has accepted. If Omega wins, he will be promoted above her. If Snap wins there will be no change in Pack rankings.” She took a step back. “May the Sky-Dogs look with blessing on your combat!” she barked. “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! On my word . . . fight!”
Snap sprang at Lucky immediately, knocking him off balance and sinking her jaws into his hind leg. He yelped and pulled away as she drew back, snarling. Hackles up, he started toward her, curling his lips over his fangs. He tried to leap at her but Snap was fast, slipping out of the way and behind him, pouncing on his back and catching his shoulder with a deep nip.
Lucky howled and shook her off roughly, throwing her to the ground. He pressed down with his forepaws, pinning her, and aiming a bite at her exposed stomach, but she scrambled out of his grip and all he managed to do was tear a shallow gash in the edge of her flank. She ducked into the mist, vanishing for a moment as Lucky blinked in confusion.
Snap’s voice came from behind him. “Nice try, City Dog!”
He made a dive at her but she leaped beneath him, catching his inner leg with her
forepaws and punishing him with another sharp nip. They locked in combat, scraping at each other with their claws, yelping, and biting.
The Pack started barking instructions at the fighting dogs.
“Go for her belly!” Mickey called.
“Fight him, Snap!” yelped Whine. “He’s only Omega; you can beat him!”
Then Snap pulled away, panting. “One more bite and you’re a dead dog!” she snarled.
“Don’t speak so soon,” Lucky barked. “You’re half my size!”
“And twice your speed!” Snap ducked into the mist again, disappearing from view. Lucky growled, squinting. He could just make out the outline of her wiry fur.
“We’ll see about that!” Lucky gathered up all his strength. I have to win this! he thought urgently. I can’t be Omega anymore; I have to show everyone how good a Pack Dog I can be!
He lunged at Snap, pretending to go for her stumpy tail. At the last minute, he swung around, throwing open his jaws and aiming for her neck. Snap darted away with a yelp, leaped in the air, and launched herself at Lucky’s back leg, burying her fangs into his flesh and squeezing.
Pain shot through him. Lucky howled as blood spurted from the wound. He felt it sticking to his fur. Snap would not let go. The other dogs barked excitedly as the hot, red scent rose on the air.
The mist swirling through the meadow seemed to drift inside Lucky’s mind, into his eyes, blurring his vision. His pulse thundered at his temples, drowning out the frenzy of barks. The pain was dizzying and Lucky stumbled, a sickness rising in his throat.
“Enough!” howled Alpha. The dog-wolf trod toward the Pack, mist swirling around him. “The fight is over. Snap has defended the challenge.”
Instantly Snap released her grip on Lucky and shrank back. A sharp jolt of pain shot up his leg—it was even worse now that she’d let go—but the wave of sickening dizziness was passing. Lucky ducked his head to lap at the wound, trying to stanch the flow of blood.
“Are you okay?” Mickey asked.
“Does it hurt?” pressed Bella, taking a tentative step toward him.
“I’ll be fine,” Lucky replied, his tail clinging to his flank. He wanted them to leave him alone. Alpha was already walking away, and he wished the other dogs would do the same.
Snap approached him, her tail wagging. “Now we’re even,” she told him with a friendly lick. All hostility was gone.
Lucky limped past the Pack, his head lowered. The shame prickling in his fur was worse than the pain of his wounds—much worse.
Sweet bounded after him. “Omega, I want to talk to you,” she called. Her tail was thrashing and her eyes were shining like tiny Moon-Dogs.
Lucky kept walking as she leveled alongside him. “Why would you want to talk to me?” he murmured. “I’m still the Omega.”
“Exactly,” she replied. “You tried to advance and you did it by the Pack rules—and even though you lost, you aren’t abandoning your position. Don’t you see? That’s far more proof than if you’d won. You are a loyal member of the Pack!” She licked his ear and he felt a tingle of warmth, a deep thrumming of happiness that rose from his chest. Then he thought of the pups out there in the darkness. He remembered Alpha’s unforgiving face. He thought of Whine’s mocking smile. The breeze shrilled over the meadow, and as the heat of the fight fell from his fur, Lucky felt the cold close in on him. It would be worse later as the chill of night took hold, once the rest of the Pack was warm inside the cave and he was alone in the drafty spot reserved for the Omega.
He limped steadily toward the cave, ignoring Sweet, who paused and fell behind. He winced at the pain in his sore leg, but he kept up the pace. The wind rustled the leaves of the nearby trees and played with Lucky’s fur. Shivering, he reached the entrance of the cave. Before he stepped inside, he paused and threw a look over his shoulder. There was now no trace of Sweet beyond the bank of white mist.
He was all alone.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The next sunup, Lucky stepped out onto a changed meadow. The mist had cleared and the sharp breeze had faded away. The Sun-Dog shone bright in a cloudless sky. The air was clean and peaty. Insects buzzed in the long grass, hovering over small pink flowers that sprang up in bursts.
Lucky carefully stretched his back leg. It still throbbed where Snap had sunk in her teeth, and gathering water-soaked moss for Alpha and Sweet early this morning hadn’t done it any good at all. But even so, the worst of the pain had faded overnight, just like the mist. He padded toward the river, where he drank thirstily. Then he sat in the shade of a tree at the edge of the forest as sunlight danced across the surface of the water. He watched from the shade as first Sweet, then Spring and Dart, stepped out of the cave and began to cross the meadow.
Heavy pawsteps approached from the forest, the crack of breaking twigs and crumbling leaves. Rising to his paws, Lucky turned to see Bruno.
“How are you feeling today?” asked the thickset old dog.
“I’m fine,” said Lucky, pushing away thoughts of the pups. They were gone now—he had to accept that.
“Alpha has called a meeting,” said Bruno. “Are you coming?”
Lucky heard the chirping of birds in the branches of a tree and turned to gaze in that direction. He had a powerful impulse to wander into the forest, to follow the path of the river to wherever it led him.
That was my old life, he reminded himself. My life as a Lone Dog, my life of freedom . . .
He shook himself and went to join Bruno. The two of them made their way back to the meadow. Most of the dogs were already there, forming a circle around Alpha and Sweet, who stood by his side. She acknowledged Lucky with a dip of her sleek head as he and Bruno joined the gathered Pack.
Alpha had already started talking. “We will have to be better organized,” he was saying. “Our standoff with the Fierce Dogs was a disgrace. Not one dog acted with sufficient discipline or bravery, except Beta”—he glanced at Sweet—“and Bella, who gave sensible commands when needed.”
Bella’s ears pricked up at the rare compliment from their Pack leader.
Lucky watched. This was close to an acknowledgment from Alpha that he had failed to act appropriately in the face of the Fierce Dogs. Lucky’s eyes trailed to the scar on the curve of the half wolf’s forepaw.
Alpha continued: “Beta ordered the Pack to take position, but instead there was panic and chaos.”
Bruno dropped his head guiltily. Dart shuffled on her paws with a small whine.
Alpha’s ears twitched. “I don’t want to go over that now except to say that in the future, we must be much better organized, and more responsive to threats. I would like to see fighters move to the front, defenders move to the back. There will be no desertion or failure of duty!”
“The Pack is much larger than it used to be,” Sweet pointed out. “Most of the dogs could probably use some training.”
Alpha gave a nod. “Good idea. We should have a better system of alert and Pack formation. I will put you in charge of that.”
Sweet returned the nod.
“That leaves me with another matter,” said the half wolf, rising to his paws. “The Fierce Dogs came here. They know how to find us. This time they were only interested in claiming their pups. Next time we might not be so fortunate.”
“What are you saying, Alpha?” asked Moon.
“I’m saying that it is time for us to leave.”
“Leave?” Spring yapped. “But we just arrived!”
“This camp is perfect,” added Bella. “Look how well the Pack has settled here. The hunting is good, and the cave provides us cover from the wind and rain.”
“Where would we go?” asked Sunshine in a small voice.
“Back to our old camp,” said Alpha. “The black cloud has passed. It should be safe.”
The Pack erupted into barks, yelps, and whines.
“But that’s so far away!” whimpered Sunshine. “It was such a tough journey to get here.”
“We can’t
walk forever,” agreed Whine. “We need a permanent territory.”
“The old camp is closer to the Dog-Garden,” Mickey pointed out. “How do we know it’s safer there?”
“It’s easier for us to protect,” said Alpha. “Here in the meadow we’re a sitting target. Anyone can spy on us from the hill—they can sneak up on us and take us by surprise. . . .”
“Not if we place a watch-dog by the pine trees,” said Bella.
Daisy shuddered. “But any dog up there would be all alone, with the others down in the valley. It would be dangerous.” Her eyes shot up to the pine trees. “If the dog raises the alarm, they will just be the first dog to be killed!”
Whine and Sunshine whimpered, and Dart yelped in agreement.
“Settle down!” snarled Alpha, thumping his paw impatiently. The dogs fell silent. He spoke again in a low growl. “It is dangerous here—we have all seen that. Our old camp was more defendable, even if it was closer to the wrath of the Sky Dogs and the Fierce Dogs. But there is another possibility.” He paused, making sure all the dogs were listening. “We could travel in the other direction, over the white ridge.”
Lucky saw several of the dogs visibly tense at this. Even Sweet seemed shocked, turning to watch Alpha closely.
“But what about the giantfur?” Bruno yelped.
“In the end, he was no threat,” said Alpha. “He only attacked because that pup provoked him.”
“There could be others out there,” said Moon. “Lots of them! Packs, even!”
“Giantfurs are not Pack creatures—not from what I can tell. They act alone.” Alpha glanced pointedly at Lucky when he said this.
Lucky knew what the half wolf was implying. Whatever he thinks, I am a Pack Dog now.