A Pack Divided (18 page)

“We should find more!” Despite the lateness, Storm felt fired up for more hunting, her blood buzzing with the excitement of the kill.

“No.” Lucky nodded toward the Sun-Dog, who was curling up in a glow of radiance close to the horizon. “He'll be going to his rest soon, and we should get the prey back to camp before no-sun.”

“It's strange that Sun-Dog wants to sleep in the Endless Lake,” murmured Snap, gazing wistfully at the Spirit Dog's gorgeous colors. His tail lay in a golden path across the waves.

Bella gave a small huff of laughter. “There's no accounting for the whims of the Spirit Dogs,” she said brusquely. “Beta's right, we should get the prey home.”

The hunters turned back to pick up the weasels, but as Lucky ducked to lift one, he hesitated. Then, abruptly, he snapped his head up.

“What's that?” His nostrils snuffed the air, and his ears were pricked high as they could go, straining to hear something.

“The scent of the lake,” offered Storm, sniffing it appreciatively. “You know that.”

“No, Storm. There's something else.”

All of the dogs stood very still, casting around for a hint of
what Lucky had detected. Storm gasped as she caught the scent.
Yes.
Beneath the salty tang of the Lake, there was a sweet, spicy fragrance. A deer-scent, but with something more.

“You're right,” she exclaimed, stretching her muzzle to find a further trace of that elusive, tempting scent.

“Look! There!” Lucky sprang a pace toward the cliff, and stared upward.

The others followed his gaze, and Storm took a shocked breath. As the Sun-Dog settled even lower, his light was shining on the rockface, turning it to an almost liquid gold. And there, at the very crest of the cliff, stood a deer.

Its head was raised, and it seemed to be looking straight at the dogs, but it was unafraid. For long heartbeats it stood unmoving, silhouetted in the amber glow; then quite casually, it turned and cantered elegantly away from the cliff top.

“The Golden Deer,” barked Lucky hoarsely. “This time I'm sure of it!”

“But Beta,” objected Bella. “It's almost no-sun time!”

“We have to go after it,” he insisted, staring longingly at the top of the rockface. “What if it's the real Golden Deer and I don't take the chance? What would the Wind-Dogs think of me?”

“Or of any of us,” agreed Snap, ignoring Bella's skeptical stare.
“I'm with you, Beta. No-sun or not, we have to follow it.”

For once, Storm's sympathies lay with Bella, despite the tempting beauty of the deer. “We can't abandon this prey,” she said, nudging the weasels with her nose, “just to go chasing after a shadow.”

“No, of course not.” Lucky's eyes were alight with energy and enthusiasm; he looked as if he could take a flying leap straight to the top of the cliff. For an instant, Storm was afraid he'd actually try it. “Storm, you and Bella and Whisper should take the prey back to camp. Snap and I will go after the deer. Tell Alpha and Twitch not to hold back prey-sharing for us.” He exchanged a hopeful glance with Snap. “We're going to follow the trail of the Golden Deer—till we lose it forever, or catch it for the Pack!”

Storm found herself lost for words. She could understand Lucky's overwhelming urge to pursue the deer. She'd have liked to do it herself—but she had sworn that on this hunt, there would be no wild plans, no letting the Pack down for the sake of excitement. So even if that meant missing an adventure led by Lucky himself, she would obey him.

At last, with reluctance, Storm dipped her head. “All right, Beta. We'll tell Alpha what's happened.”

“You're crazy, both of you,” Bella told Lucky and Snap crisply.
“But good luck—I hope you catch your ghost deer soon!”

Lucky and Snap dipped their heads in acknowledgment, then bounded toward the far end of the bay where the cliff sloped closest to the sand. A little heavy of heart, Storm turned away to help Bella and Whisper pick up the weasels.

The three of them had just set off back the way they'd come, in the direction of the camp, when Storm heard Lucky's wild baying howl.

“Speed up, Snap! Let's run. The Golden Deer has bolted!”

Stars were starting to wink and
sparkle in a dark blue sky above the treetops as Storm and Bella approached the camp, Whisper trailing behind them. However hard Storm might listen in the clear cool air, there was no sound of other pawsteps behind them, no crunch of twigs.

“Don't worry, Storm.” Bella nudged her. “Beta and Snap will be fine. They're a stubborn pair. They'll probably still be chasing after that so-called Golden Deer until it's long gone, and they're both exhausted.”

“I know,” said Storm through her jawful of weasel. “But this is going to be a hard one to explain to Alpha. . . .”

Just as they padded over the border, Alpha appeared from her den and walked toward them, her sleek pale coat gleaming in the
starlight. Her silhouette was very distended now.
It can't be long till the pups come, surely
, thought Storm.

“Where's Beta?” Alpha lifted her ears and looked from Bella to Storm, to Whisper behind them. “What's happened?” Her voice was stern, but there was genuine concern in her eyes.

Storm laid down her prey. “He spotted the Golden Deer, Alpha.”

“Or he thought he did.” Bella hunched her shoulders as she dropped her own weasels. “Anyway, he and Snap didn't want to miss the chance. He said they'll chase it till they lose the scent, or catch the deer.”

Alpha's eyes brightened in her slender face. “Oh! That . . . that makes me very happy. Beta's taking the Wind-Dogs and their favor seriously, if he hopes to catch the Golden Deer.” She sighed, and gave Bella a rather pointed glance. “I'm not sure every other dog does.”

“He'll do his best to find it, Alpha, I know that.” Storm was determined to steer the talk away from Bella's skepticism. “But he asked that we go ahead with prey-sharing. He and Snap don't know when they'll return.”

“Then we'll do that.” Sweet held her head high with pleasure as she turned to summon the Pack. “All dogs, to me! It's time to
share the good fortune the Forest-Dog and the Wind-Dogs have provided.”

As the Pack gathered, Storm licked and nibbled at her paws, loosening the sand that had stuck between the pads. One by one, as always, the dogs stepped up under Alpha's benevolent gaze to choose their prey; it wasn't the biggest feast they'd ever been able to share, but thanks to the extra hunting patrol there was enough to fill their bellies. At least, Storm mused, there were no arguments tonight about the rankings, or the order in which dogs ate—but something nagged at her, something that felt quite wrong. At last she realized: Of course it felt odd to share prey without Lucky's presence.

When it was over, and all the dogs had eaten their fill, she laid her head on her paws and sighed, glancing up at the stars.
Sky-Dogs, look after Lucky and Snap. Don't let them go running off the edge of any cliffs. Because I wouldn't be surprised if they keep too much of an eye on the Golden Deer, and not nearly enough on where they're going. . . .

The Pack was settling in to sleep, one after another, padding off to their dens or simply curling up on patches of softer ground in the balmy New-Leaf night. Twisting her head, Storm caught sight of Whisper. He lay not half a rabbit-chase away, his eyes riveted on her.

Oh no
. Her gut sank.
How long is this going to go on?

With a sigh, Storm got to her paws. She didn't want to sleep out here, but nor did she want to go to her den. Whisper would be bound to track her either way—and if she was going to walk in her sleep again, she didn't want the annoying dog to be a witness to her weakness.

I'll do exactly what I've been telling dogs I do, all along. I'll go for a walk.

It didn't seem like a bad option at all. The dark sky was beautiful, the breeze gentle, and the scents of the forest were all around her; there was no sense of danger in the night. And, Storm realized, if she walked long enough to tire herself out, when she got back she might actually stay put in her sleep for once.

Hesitating just outside camp, Storm looked toward the forest, and then up to the cliff top. Moon was still on High Watch there, serving out her punishment for something she hadn't done. Irritation nibbled at Storm's gut again, but she didn't want to spoil such a lovely night with thoughts of betrayal within the Pack. The least she could do, anyway, was climb up to the ridge and visit with Moon. The Farm Dog would probably appreciate the company.

Storm could feel the wind strengthening even through the dense tree thickets as she bounded up the steep slope. There was definitely more of an edge to the breeze up here, despite it being
New Leaf, and once again she felt sorry for Moon, banished to this lonely spot. As the ground leveled out Storm picked up her pace, and she broke into a loose-limbed run as she reached the top of the cliff.
It's good to stretch my legs properly, now that we have that overcautious new hunting strategy. . . .

She skidded to a surprised halt as she caught sight of Moon's pale shape. There was another dog with her, and both were sitting gazing out over the gleaming blackness of the Endless Lake. Storm trotted up to them, seeing with surprise that Breeze was the second dog. Storm's ears pricked up at the sight: surely it was a good sign that a dog from Twitch's Pack was so friendly with Moon.

“Hello, Moon. Hello, Breeze! Can't you sleep either?”

“Not really,” barked Breeze softly as Moon licked Storm in greeting. “I'm worried about Snap and Beta. Dogs shouldn't wander off on night hunts, you know. Especially with only two of them. It's a bit rash, don't you think?”

“Now, Breeze.” Moon nuzzled her companion's shoulder, then turned to Storm. “I've already told her, Storm, there's nothing to worry about. Beta and Snap will be just fine. They have each other, and they're both smart dogs. They're a little overexcited about the Golden Deer, that's all.”

“I'm sure you're right.” Breeze sighed, then turned to look down at the shoreline once more. Far below them the Endless Lake was calm, its white-edged waves small and gentle as they rushed and whispered ceaselessly against the sand. “I suppose I should go to my den and get some sleep.”

“That's a good idea,” Moon told her. “By the time you wake at sunup, I'm sure Snap will be curled up beside you. Don't worry.”

“All right.” Breeze yawned luxuriously, stretched her forelegs, then padded back toward the slope that led to the camp. “Don't you take too long either, Storm,” she called over her shoulder. “There'll be more hard hunting tomorrow, and you must be tired.”

Storm and Moon watched the brown dog make her way down the rough path till she was out of sight. Moon sighed. “Don't let Breeze's worries get to you, Storm. Snap and Lucky will both be fine.”

“I know.” Storm gave her an affectionate lick.

It surprised her, Storm realized, how fond she'd grown of Moon. At first the Farm Dog hadn't liked Storm at all, and had made her feel unwelcome in the Pack, especially when Storm and her brothers clashed with Moon's own pups; but that was when Lucky and Mickey had first brought home the three Fierce Dog pups. They'd been the first Fierce Dogs the Pack had ever met
without being attacked, and it hadn't been easy for any dog to adjust to their presence. Even later, when Storm was growing up awkward and unaware of her own strength, Moon had often been riled.

Storm had been wary of Moon, too, but now she couldn't think why she ever had been. Moon could be snappy and ferocious, but that was usually in defense of Thorn and Beetle. And ever since Storm had helped save Moon's mate Fiery from the bad longpaws—even though Fiery hadn't made it in the end—Moon had been far warmer toward her. Acceptance, and maybe even friendship, from the sharp-tongued dog meant more to Storm than she could put into words.

“By the way, Storm,” growled Moon into the companionable silence, “I want you to know something. I don't think for an instant that you had anything to do with that fox-pup.”

Storm felt a rush of warm gratitude. “Thanks for saying so, Moon. For what it's worth, I know you didn't either.”

“No,” said Moon slowly. “I couldn't have done such a thing. I hate foxes, you know that. But to kill a little one, in cold blood? I'd be doing what they did to me, and how would that make me any better than them?”

“I know,” said Storm, butting Moon's neck gently.

Moon gave another sigh and lay down with her head on her paws. “I hope Alpha and Beta's pups will be safe and happy. I'd hate it if anything were to happen to them. It's something no Mother- or Father-Dog should ever have to go through.”

“I'm sure Beta and Alpha will take care of them,” Storm reassured her. “Protect them with their lives, in fact.” She huffed a laugh. “Beta's already so overprotective, and they haven't even been born yet!”

Moon chuckled. “Fiery was just the same. I was hardly allowed to set paw outside the den, in case I tripped over a twig.” Her expression grew wistful. “I'm so happy for Alpha and Beta, but I can't help feeling sad when I remember Fuzz and Fiery. Fuzz was so very tiny when he was killed.”

“And you still miss Fiery, of course.” Storm stared out at the Endless Lake, feeling a little awkward. She'd been fond of Fiery, and she'd admired him, but Moon's obvious emotion was unsettling. Perhaps she could steer the conversation onto happier times for the pair. . . . “How did you two meet?”

“Oh! You won't be surprised to hear that he came to my rescue.” Moon laughed softly.

“Some dog attacked you?”

“Something did, but not a dog. It wasn't an enemy any of us
could fight. My Pack was attacked by a sickness. Who knows how these things begin?” Moon shook her head. “Some dogs died—the older ones, and the youngest. Even some of the strongest.” Moon's voice caught, and she swallowed. “My sister, Star, died. And my parent-dogs—our Pack's Alpha and Beta.”

“Oh, Moon.” Storm's heart turned over in her chest. She knew how it felt to lose family. . . . “How terrible.”

“It was.” Shaking her head, Moon licked her jaws. “I grew sick eventually myself. But Fiery and his Pack, the beginnings of this Pack, were living in the next territory, with the half wolf as their leader. Fiery defied his own Alpha, the half wolf, to help us. He brought plants that helped bring down fever, and he tended to dogs who were too sick even to drink water. He protected us when we were too weak to defend our own territory. He was kind. And brave.”

Storm pricked her ear curiously. “And Fiery never got sick? The thing didn't attack him?”

“No. Fiery thought that perhaps he was impervious to it. He remembered that when he was a very small pup, the Pack he was in was attacked by a similar enemy, the same kind of sickness. And he survived when many dogs didn't. So he thought that perhaps that enemy could never hurt him.”

“He was always a strong dog.” Storm gave Moon's jaw a comforting nuzzle.

“Yes. But you know, he told me later that he used to worry about it. About surviving when so many of his Pack died. When he was young, he was afraid he'd somehow betrayed his Pack, and that the invisible thing had left him alone because of that.”

“That couldn't be true!” Storm blinked in surprise.

“No, of course not. Fiery understood that, once he was a grown dog, but pups worry about things like that, don't they?” Moon gave her a glance that was slightly knowing. “Some pups worry that there's something bad inside them, something they can't help.”

Storm licked her jaws.
That sounds all too familiar. . . .

“Anyway,” Moon went on, “by the time the sickness passed, I barely had a Pack to lead. I'd become Alpha when my Father-Dog died, but I'd lost all my love for leadership by then. Fiery pleaded with the half wolf to let those of us who were left join his Pack. Without Fiery, the half wolf would never have taken us in. He'd already kept his distance till the invisible enemy had gone. The half wolf didn't want sickness in his own Pack, and that was understandable.”

“And it sounds very like him,” muttered Storm, remembering
their ruthless former Alpha.

“Yes, but it did make sense. He made the right decision for his own Pack, but Fiery had sympathy for mine. He saved many dogs, Storm, including me. Fiery hunted prey for us when no other dog could do it. He found water for us. He even did Omega jobs, like clearing out bedding that smelled bad. If it hadn't been for Fiery, I think we would
all
have died.” Moon sighed sadly. “That's when I fell in love with him. He was so very brave, and he cared so much.”

“Brave dogs are good dogs,” said Storm, to buy time as her mind picked over the implications of the story. “And caring dogs too.”
But why in the name of the Earth-Dog do brave and caring dogs have to take mates? Can't they just look after every dog in a Pack? A permanent mate takes up so much of a dog's time and attention!
She shook her head, mystified
. And as for pups . . .