There was no telling what he might do. Was Blade close? Lucky raised the alarm call. “Help! Intruder!” he barked.
The Packs burst out from their camp with a volley of high barks. Sweet was in the lead. She took in the scene immediately, rushing to Lucky’s side and pressing a paw down on the dog’s throat.
“Who are you?” she snarled. “What are you doing here? Tell me at once or I’ll rip your throat out!”
“Who cares what he says?” Moon barked. “We can’t trust him. We should just kill him, or as soon as we release him he’ll run back to his Pack.”
“That’s true.” Sweet pressed harder on Arrow’s throat, and Lucky saw the Fierce Dog wince. Her claws had drawn a trail of blood, which ran down his neck and dripped onto the fresh snow.
“Please don’t kill me,” he pleaded. “I’ve left Blade for good. I want to side with you.”
“Didn’t Fang say stuff like this when he tricked you, Lucky?” growled Bella.
“You can never trust a Fierce Dog,” Bruno agreed.
“What about Storm?” Arrow yelped. “She’s in your Pack—if you let me join, I’ll prove that I can be trusted too.”
“Storm is different,” Snap insisted. “We’ve known her since she was a pup. Whereas you . . .” Her muzzle crinkled with distaste.
“Another spy sent by Blade,” Lucky hissed, thumping Arrow down harder against the bramble bush.
The Fierce Dog flinched. “I’m not a spy!”
Twitch loomed over him to snarl into one of his pointed ears. “Of course not. We’ll just let you go and you won’t harm us. You won’t go straight back to Blade and tell her exactly where we are. How foolish of us to think the worst of you.”
“Kill him now!” howled Breeze. Most of the other dogs were barking in agreement. Lucky glanced around at them as they pressed closer to Arrow, baring their fangs. Only Storm held back, her head cocked thoughtfully.
Sweet bore down on Arrow, and he yelped in a strangled voice, “I’m not a spy, I promise you! Blade already knows exactly where you are and what you’ve got planned.”
Sweet loosened her grip slightly. “What do you mean?”
Arrow spoke breathlessly, spluttering out the words. “Your Omega,” he gasped. “The strange little dog with the bulging eyes. He ran to Blade and told her you would come and deceive her. That you’d challenge her to a fight with Storm, but the rest of the Pack would be waiting to attack Blade and any Fierce Dog who comes with her. She knows everything, and she won’t come alone—you can be sure of that!”
The little black dog hadn’t been Omega since Sunshine had taken over the role, but every dog in Sweet’s Pack knew who Arrow meant.
“Whine,” spat Lucky with disgust.
Sweet dropped her hold on Arrow’s neck, and his head lolled back against the snow. “Watch him, Beta.”
Lucky dipped his head in acknowledgment, keeping his forepaws on Arrow’s chest. The Fierce Dog didn’t struggle or try to rise. He lay in the mounting snow, panting.
Sweet and Twitch backed away a short distance, whispering to each other in lowered tones. Their Packs circled Lucky and Arrow, making sure the Fierce Dog was safely hemmed in.
Bruno snapped at the young dog’s neck. “How did you know to find us here?”
“I told you, the small dog told Blade. All the Fierce Dogs heard it; the Pack was together. Every dog knows where you are. They’re planning to surprise you with an attack. I wanted to warn you.”
A tremor of fear rose through the Packs.
“The Fierce Dogs know where we are,” whimpered Dart.
Whisper’s eyes widened. “They’ll be coming for us!”
“You should move,” panted Arrow.
“Shut up, intruder!” snarled Bruno, and the young dog fell silent. No dog spoke for a while as the snow spun soundlessly down from the gray sky and fell on the leafless trees. If Blade knows we’re here, we’ll have to go, thought Lucky dejectedly. What would they do now?
Soon Sweet and Twitch returned, crunching over the fresh snow. The other dogs parted to let them through, and the Alphas sat at a short distance from Arrow.
Twitch was the first to speak. “We will hear what you have to say.”
“But our agreeing to listen doesn’t mean anything,” Sweet was quick to add. “We don’t see how we can trust you. But you’d better start talking.”
Lucky drew back, allowing Arrow to roll onto his paws. Bruno, Bella, and Woody, the large thickset dog from Twitch’s Pack, sat close to him, ready to pounce if he made a wrong move.
Arrow took a deep breath. For the most part he looked at Sweet and Twitch, though he glanced around at the other dogs. “I had to leave Blade’s Pack,” he began. “She’s gone mad, always talking about her dreams and the death of the Earth-Dog. She said she predicted the second Growl, and she is desperate to kill Storm because she was born after the first Big Growl. She really believes that it’s some sort of prophecy, that she has to kill pups born after the first Growl or Earth-Dog will finish her off.” He appealed to Sweet. “You saw what she did to Fang. After he was so loyal to her! She thinks nothing of killing her own kind. If I’d been born just a few journeys of the Moon-Dog later, she would have killed me too.”
Storm gave a low growl. “She’s a monster.”
Sweet’s eyes were cool. “I thought you were supposed to be loyal to your Pack no matter what. Isn’t that the Fierce Dog way?”
Arrow gave a small whine. “I hate betraying the dogs I’ve grown up with, but I can’t go along with Blade. I had my doubts when she spoke about the Growl. I’d heard about what she’d done to Wiggle. But then I saw it—I saw her kill Fang with my own eyes. After that I couldn’t be in her Pack anymore.”
Lucky watched the Fierce Dog’s dark eyes grow round. I think he really means it. . . .
“How do we know you’re alone?” asked Twitch.
“I am, I promise. After what Blade did to Fang, I knew I had to go. I waited till I had my chance. Right after you came with your challenge, Blade sent me on a patrol with two other dogs, and when their backs were turned, I ran—and I haven’t stopped running, not till I got here. Blade will kill me for sure if she catches me. And she won’t be far behind, because she’s coming for Storm.”
Lucky’s fur rose along his back.
Sweet’s eyes still bored into the young Fierce Dog. “What do you know about her plans?”
“I know Blade is desperate to hunt down Storm—it’s all she ever talks about. When Whine came to the camp a few nights ago, she couldn’t believe her luck. He asked to join the Fierce Dogs in exchange for information. He told her your plan without any prompting. She knows you’ll be hiding at the place with the high rocks. She’ll be ready for you.”
Lucky remembered his exchange with Blade that sunup. “She agreed to fight Storm—perhaps too easily. She didn’t ask many questions.” In hindsight, this struck him as odd. His tail drooped, and he gnawed at a bur in his paw. How had he been so easily fooled?
“What is she planning to do?” asked Twitch.
Arrow looked at him intently. “She won’t give you the advantage. She’ll lead her Pack through the longpaw town, but instead of taking them upstream along the riverbank, she will circle back through the forest and attack from behind, cornering you here, against the rocks. She expects you to be focused on the river path, so you won’t be prepared for a rear attack. I came to warn you.”
“I still don’t understand why you would warn us,” said Sweet flatly. “What’s in it for you? If you think Blade’s mad, why not just run away? Become a Lone Dog.”
Lucky watched Arrow closely. The young Fierce Dog seemed to struggle in finding his words. “It didn’t seem . . . honorable . . . that she would attack you like that. Despite our Alpha’s orders, honor is important to a true Fierce Dog. We are not just savages.” He looked up, carefully keeping his body in a submissive position, and Lucky saw his eyes lock with Storm’s. Then he looked away again. “Anyway, I felt you sh
ould know.” He added, in a quiet voice, “And I don’t think I could manage as a Lone Dog. I’ve only ever known Pack life. I don’t want to be alone.”
Lucky felt a stab of pity for the Fierce Dog, remembering that he was only slightly older than Storm and couldn’t have had an adult name for long. The snow swirled around Arrow thickly. Set aside from the other dogs, he looked isolated and strangely vulnerable, despite his muscular body and firm jaw.
Sweet caught Lucky’s eye. “Whine left the Pack before Bella had the idea of approaching Twitch. I’m right, aren’t I?”
Lucky thought a moment. He pictured the small dog disappearing into the sleet. Bruno had said a few words—something about it being a shame that Whine had left. The old dog had questioned how the Pack could ever defeat the Fierce Dogs, and it was only then that Bella had suggested approaching Twitch’s Pack. Whine doesn’t know about Twitch—which means that Blade can’t know that we have other dogs prepared to fight alongside us. He gave a quick dip of his head—Sweet was right.
Bella’s eyes glittered. “That’s true. Whine wasn’t around when we spoke about Twitch’s Pack.”
“Well, that at least is good news,” said Sweet. “This is going to come to a fight, one way or another. At least if we get moving now we’ll keep some sort of advantage. I don’t think it’s an option to stick to the original plan—we can’t just wait here for the Fierce Dogs to attack us.”
Arrow sighed with relief. “You trust me?”
“I don’t know,” said Sweet. “But I believe that Blade knows our original plan to attack from the rocks. So we’ll have to think of something else.”
Lucky saw Whisper say something to Rake, who sidled up to Splash and murmured in his ear.
Splash padded toward Twitch respectfully, lowering his head. “Alpha, may I speak with you? Whisper has had an idea that I think might work.”
Twitch and the rest of the dogs turned to look at the wiry black Beta. “Go ahead.”
“If the Fierce Dogs are really going to cut through the forest, near our Pack’s camp, there may be something we can do that would break up Blade’s Pack and put them on the back paw. But it won’t be easy.” Splash shifted uneasily, looking about for a moment through the swirling snow. “Whichever dog takes on the mission, they will need to be fast. Very fast.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Lucky, Sweet, and Whisper padded through the snow. Already it was deep enough to cover Lucky’s paws, concealing them beneath its cool white pelt. Flakes drifted through the sky, settling on the rocks, the trees, and the arching valley as the dogs wound a path inland, away from the riverbank. Lucky had seen snow in the city, but there the loudcages had smashed it beneath their spinning paws, and longpaws had trampled it underfoot.
Here, in a world without longpaws, there was no one to disturb the snow. It clung thickly to the land, and its icy touch reminded Lucky of Alfie. Lucky was haunted by the dead dog’s words.
The Pack may still survive, as long as every dog does their duty when the Storm comes. Yours will be the most important of all.
Lucky frowned, stepping carefully through the snow. But what is my duty?
Sweet broke the silence. “Everything looks different in the snow.” She glanced around, sniffing. “The river is behind us, but I don’t remember the valley being so wide.”
Lucky squinted through the swirling flakes. “The snow makes everything seem larger somehow.”
“It’s okay, I’ve lived near here all my life. I know exactly where we are,” Whisper assured them in his soft voice. “Though we can’t see it through the snow, the forest is right ahead of us and the longpaw town just a bit farther downstream.” He peered over his right shoulder.
Lucky hoped the gray dog was right. The snow masked shapes, colors, and smells. “The snow changes everything.”
Sweet’s ears were pricked. “It’s so quiet.”
“Too cold for prey.” Whisper started moving again. “A Pack of Fierce Dogs would stand out against the snow. If what Arrow said is true, they will have reached the town by now. They might have even started tracking the river or crossing through the forest.”
Lucky shuddered. “You’re right—we need to hurry.”
They picked up their pace, slipping and crunching over the fresh snow until Lucky could just make out the outline of longpaw buildings and realized they had reached the outskirts of the town. A sharp scent caught his nose, and he stopped dead.
“Fierce Dogs!” he whined in a low voice. “They’re close.”
Whisper sniffed urgently, and Sweet pointed with her long, elegant muzzle. “There are paw tracks just up ahead.” She approached cautiously, her tail straight out behind her. “All different sizes. It must be the whole Pack.”
The hairs rose along Lucky’s back. “Arrow was telling the truth. They’re planning to take us by surprise. Whine must have told Blade our plan.” Anger prickled his whiskers at the small dog’s betrayal.
Sweet set her jaw. “That disloyal mutt thinks he’s so clever, but he doesn’t know everything.”
Whisper blinked in acknowledgment. “You won’t fight them alone.”
“If we’re lucky, we won’t fight them at all.” She gave the paw prints another sniff. “They must have left the town quite recently. These tracks won’t last long in the snow.”
Sweet was right. Already flakes were falling over the imprints of the Fierce Dogs’ paws, masking them in white.
“This way,” murmured Whisper, leading them away from the tracks and deeper into the valley. The brown trunks of trees emerged from the snow, the tops of their branches already white. The forest had been there all along!
Despite the cold, warmth unfurled in Lucky’s chest, and he remembered his dream in which his pups had scampered beneath the Sun-Dog. Silently he thought of the Forest-Dog.
O wise Spirit Dog, you have always protected me. I need you now more than ever.
The dogs wove a path through the trees, stopping when they reached the entrance to a rock cave. Lucky and Sweet exchanged glances.
“What if the Fierce Dogs hear us?” Lucky asked.
A look of determination crossed Sweet’s face. “We’ve come too far now to turn back.” She threw back her head and started to howl. Lucky and Whisper joined in, barking as loud as they could by the mouth of the cave.
At first nothing happened. Lucky watched the cave, but as he barked he pictured the Fierce Dogs charging over the snow in formation, converging on the Wild Pack. He barked louder, straining his throat, risking a step closer to the cave.
A deep, furious roar emerged from the cave, and Lucky’s heart skipped a beat. The dogs were shocked into silence, their eyes trained on the mouth of the cave.
Sweet seemed to come to her senses. “Keep barking!” she ordered.
All three dogs barked even more ferociously.
Lucky could feel the heavy thump of paws vibrating from the ground. Powdery snow slid off the top of the cave.
“She’s coming,” hissed Whisper, quaking with fear but continuing to bark.
“You can go now,” Sweet told him.
“If you’re sure . . . ?”
“Return to your Alpha. Run!” she ordered.
Whisper gave a brief nod and spun on his heels, bolting over the snow.
Lucky gave a long, powerful howl that drew all the breath from his lungs. He felt another thump from deep within the cave. The ground shook, and the giantfur burst out, her head twisting in a furious roar.
Sweet and Lucky backed away but kept barking.
The giantfur’s red eyes darted from the dogs to the white forest, and she blinked in confusion at the snow. Then anger flashed across her face, and her lips peeled back. Drool slid off her jagged teeth. She lurched forward, rolled onto her back legs, and swiped at Lucky with a giant paw.
Lucky sprang back but kept barking. Fighting to control the terror that clutched at his belly, he did his best to provoke the beast. The giantfur roared again. Against the silent forest, t
he sound was like the thunder of the Sky-Dogs or the tearing growl of the Earth-Dog. Lucky’s blood pulsed in his neck, and he gasped breathlessly, drawing back alongside Sweet.
“Ready?” she whispered.
Lucky flicked his ears in acknowledgment.
The giantfur rolled back onto her hind paws until she was standing like the trunk of a hefty tree. Both her forepaws flailed, cutting shapes in the air with their long, pointed claws.
“Now!” howled Sweet. She spun around and bolted, back toward the outskirts of the town. Lucky sprang after her. Risking a quick glance over his shoulder, he saw the giantfur hesitate, her brow furrowed in confusion. Then she charged, pounding over the snow with terrifying speed.
Lucky fought to keep up with the swift-dog, who seemed to be flying over the snow. It wasn’t as easy for him. With his shorter legs and thicker frame, Lucky kept losing his footing, skidding, and colliding with twigs and debris concealed beneath the cool white mantle. He hadn’t expected a beast the size of a giantfur to be able to run so fast.
By the time the dogs reached the Fierce Dogs’ tracks, Lucky was fighting to keep up. The giantfur was still loping after them across the valley, kicking up clouds of snow.
“Can you see where they lead?” he panted.
“This way!” Sweet barked.
“I can’t!” Lucky wheezed, sick with shame and terror as the giantfur charged toward them. “I won’t make it!”
“There’s a fence just up ahead. Jump behind it and hide—leave the giantfur to me!”
“I can’t leave you!” he barked in panic. She was going to run straight into the Fierce Dog Pack!
“I’ll be okay. I won’t fight—with the Wind Dogs at my back, I can outrun any dog!”
A roar behind them made Lucky’s heart leap to his throat. “But, Sweet—”
“The fence!” she snarled. “That’s an order, Beta!”
With that, she sprang forward, sprinting across the snow and barking for the giantfur to follow. Lucky obeyed, his mind suddenly blank but his paws scrambling beneath him. He leaped the fence and collapsed in the snow, holding his breath so the giantfur wouldn’t hear him. She paused beside the fence, panting and snorting. Sweet barked sharply, and Lucky heard the beast start to move again, her paws thumping heavily in the direction of Sweet’s voice, thundering over the valley.