A Pack Divided (14 page)

The dogs began to slink into position, placing their paws delicately, keeping heads, ears, and tails low. With Bruno and Arrow to one side and Lucky to the other, Storm eased forward, trying
hard not to disturb so much as a blade of grass.

They were so close now, she could hear the rip and crunch of the deer's blunt teeth as it grazed. Storm tried to quiet her excited breaths.

A movement at her side made her turn her head. Bruno was starting to rise, and Arrow too was lifting his paws to pace forward.

No! They'll scare it too soon—

Then she saw a dark brown shape move swiftly between the two dogs to nudge their flanks.
Breeze,
she realized.
Thank the Sky-Dogs. She must have realized they were about to ruin it.
Bruno and Arrow sank back to their careful stalking positions.

Lucky's ears were quivering with alertness now, and the tip of his tail was flicking. He crawled forward again, one pace and then another. They were so close now, Storm's head felt full of deer-scent. Drool gathered at the corners of her jaws.

Abruptly the deer started, its head flying up. But it wasn't looking at them, Storm realized; it had smelled the approach of Snap and Whisper from upwind.

Spinning on its delicate hooves, the deer sprang to flee, but Lucky gave a sharp bark and leaped for its raised throat. Storm and his other hunters were right behind him, and the deer had
nowhere to go. Panicking, it tried to jump clear over them, but Arrow's jaws found its hind leg and dragged it down. The dogs pounced, dodging its wildly kicking limbs, and Whisper and Snap joined in, bearing the helpless deer down. In a few short moments, the hunt was over.

The dogs stood over their prey, panting with the sudden exertion, but their eyes glinted with triumph.
We're a team,
Storm realized with a flush of delight.
That worked perfectly, because we worked together.
Snap sat down to lick her haunch; Arrow stared happily at the deer's corpse. Whisper couldn't repress a
wuff
of excitement, and Bruno nodded, licking his chops.

Storm's pleasure faded a little, though, as she stared back at the deer. Its pelt wasn't golden at all, not even in the Sun-Dog's warm light. The short fur that shifted in the breeze was russet-red, flecked with tawny, and scarlet where the deer's throat was stained with blood.

Lucky nudged her questioningly. “What's wrong, Storm? That was good work from us all.”

“It's not a Golden Deer.” She sighed. “I really thought we had one this time.”

“So did I.” He licked her ear. “But it doesn't matter. I think there was something special about the first deer, the one we saw
in the trees, but this one wasn't it.”

“I know. Where did it go? I was so sure we had it.”

“Storm, we may not have caught the Golden Deer, but I think the Wind-Dogs were looking after us all the same. Didn't that deer lead us straight to this one? I'm not going to complain, that's for sure.” Lucky's tongue lolled with delight and he flicked his ears. “Every dog will have a full belly tonight, even Sunshine and Moon!”

“That's true.” Storm felt instantly cheered by the thought that Moon would be able to share in the Pack's luck, despite her ongoing punishment. “Let's get it back to the camp, then.”

Rising to her paws, she sank her jaws into the deer's foreleg, but then cocked one ear and hesitated, releasing it.

“Beta. Do you hear that?”

All the dogs were on their paws now, looking nervously at the sky where it met the line of the trees. There was a low humming, which quickly became a clatter, and then a subdued rattling roar. Faint black shapes rose above the horizon.

“Loudbirds!” yelped Whisper.

“We're in the open!” barked Lucky. “Every dog under cover, now!”

“But the deer—” began Snap.

“We can come back for it. Right now we have to hide!” Lucky sprinted for the edge of the meadow as the racket of loudbirds swelled and their shadows grew larger.

There's no time to get back to the trees
, Storm realized with a moment's panic. And they would be seen for sure if they crossed beneath the path of the loudbirds. . . .

“There!” barked Snap, and veered to the side, heading for the meadow's corner.

Storm saw at once where she was heading: a large patch of twisted scrub that grew thickly against the edge of the meadow. All the dogs turned to race after Snap, and they plunged one after another into the prickly thicket, cowering down against the earth. It wasn't the best cover, Storm realized—the tangled branches barely came as high as Arrow's ears—but it would have to do.

She strained her eyes upward along with the other dogs, and they watched with their breath in their throats as the loudbirds roared over the meadow. The first great monster turned, swept low, and hovered, its wings a blur. It was so close, Storm could make out the longpaws crouched in its belly.

“Will the loudbirds roost here?” Whisper's hoarse voice trembled.

“Quiet!” snapped Lucky in a growl.

Shamed into silence, Whisper pressed himself closer to Storm. She could feel his muscles trembling against her flank, and she wanted to flinch away, but she had no choice but to lie still. All she could do was clench her jaws and bear it.

“I feel much safer with you here,” he whispered.

Bruno, behind Storm, grunted dismissively. “You'll be safe if you don't draw her fangs in your direction.”

Her irritation at Whisper's clinginess faded abruptly in the face of Bruno's snide disdain.
I should be furious at that remark
, thought Storm miserably,
but all I am is sad
.
Does Bruno really think I killed that fox-pup?

Perhaps they
all
think that, deep down . . . perhaps some dogs will never trust me at all.
She wanted to whimper her misery.

“You'll never hurt me,” murmured Whisper, as if he'd overheard her unhappy thoughts. “You don't put the Pack in danger—you protect us!”

“That's nice of you to say, Whisper,” Storm muttered, “but—”

“It's
true
,” he insisted. “You killed Terror, and freed us from the tyranny of the Fear-Dog! I don't think I'll ever be able to repay you for what you did.”

Does he have to go on about it?
Storm turned her face away from his adoring eyes. Breeze, on her other side, twitched one ear, but said nothing.

They've all noticed,
Storm realized grumpily.
He's getting embarrassing.

The relief, when the loudbirds rose away from the meadow and their clattering noise faded at last, was overwhelming, and Storm found herself sighing out a huge breath. At last she could squirm away from Whisper and emerge into the clear air, stretching her muscles.

Beside her, Lucky pulled a jagged twig out of his tail fur with his teeth. He shook his fur out vigorously, then turned to them all.

“That was a close one,” he said with feeling. “Now let's take turns dragging that deer back to camp. That way no dog will get overtired.”

Panting with relief, the dogs of the hunting party followed their leader. Storm felt anticipation rise in her again, along with a more cheerful mood. It would be good to get the enormous prey back to the Pack, and to hear their barks of respect and appreciation.

She bounded to Lucky's side as he came to an abrupt halt. He was staring at the ground, and for a moment Storm couldn't
understand the shock in his eyes. Then her heart plummeted.

Snap trotted up beside them. “What happened to the deer?” she whined in confusion.

“I don't understand.” Bruno stood behind them, bewildered. All the dogs fell silent as they gathered around Lucky, and they all gazed in disbelief.

Where the carcass had lain, there was now only a patch of flattened grass, and a drying stain of blood.

A breeze rustled through the meadow,
stirring the grass where the deer had lain, teasing the dogs with its lingering scent. Lucky shook his head slowly.

“What happened to it?” he growled in confusion.

Whisper crept timidly to Storm's side. “Maybe it wasn't really dead?”

“Is that it?” Bruno frowned. “Maybe it got up and ran away while we were hiding.”

“No,” said Lucky with certainty. “Prey can be clever, but not
that
crafty. A deer couldn't lie there playing dead. It would have panicked long before we abandoned it.”

“Some other creature took it, then,” said Snap grimly.

“Could it have been the longpaws?” Storm was hesitant even to suggest it, but she could think of nothing else. “Maybe the
loudbirds landed and we didn't notice.”

“Or they just picked it up in their talons?” Arrow cocked his head, bemused.

“Maybe that's it.” Lucky couldn't tear his eyes away from the empty patch where their prize had lain. Storm could almost smell his crushing disappointment.

“I know,” suggested Whisper. “The deer must have got up again, like the Golden Deer does every New Leaf. Isn't that what Alpha said they do?”

“I think you might have a point,” growled Bruno, and Breeze gave a nod of agreement.

“No,” snarled Storm, and every dog turned to look at her in surprise. “That's nonsense, if you ask me. That wasn't a Golden Deer, it was a normal one! Whatever happened here, there's a much more ordinary explanation.” She turned to glare at them all, lashing her tail in frustration. “But it doesn't matter, does it? All that matters is that we don't have any prey for the Pack!”

A nagging hunger nipped at Storm's belly, and she turned over where she lay, stretching out her legs and glowering at the walls of her den. Was everyone else having this much trouble sleeping? No dog had eaten well, after all: a few mice, two voles, and a skinny
squirrel had made up the entire prey pile this evening.

Her inner question was answered quite unexpectedly when a commotion rose suddenly outside her den. Storm pricked an ear and raised herself up on her forepaws. She could hear angry barks and snarls, and bitter voices of accusation.

Oh, Sky-Dogs help us
, she thought irritably.
What is it now?

Scrambling to her paws, Storm ducked out of her den and stalked toward the knot of quarreling dogs in the center of the clearing. At least, she'd assumed it was a quarrel, but as she drew closer, she could see it was a very one-sided one; Breeze, Bruno, and Dart stood around Arrow, snarling, their hackles bristling. Arrow could only turn warily, eyeing each dog in turn and keeping his jaws shut.

Alpha squirmed from her den as more dogs appeared. The swift-dog's belly looked heavier and rounder than ever, as if her flanks could barely contain the growing pups, and there was exhaustion in her dark eyes. Lucky hurried to her side, then turned to bark to Twitch, who was hobbling closer.

“We've got to do something about this, Twitch. Right now!” Anxious, Lucky nosed Alpha's shoulder, then snarled loudly. “Another trivial problem for Beta and Third Dog to solve, but let's leave Alpha out of it.”

Alpha didn't look as if she even had the energy to argue; her expression was all weariness at yet another squabble in the Pack. Without a word she turned and limped back to her den.

Storm felt a pang of pity for her, but she couldn't wait for Lucky and Twitch to try to sort this out with yet more talking; bolting forward to stand in front of Arrow, she turned to face down Breeze, blocking the two dogs from each other with her body.

She curled her muzzle warningly.
I'm defending Arrow
, she thought,
but I hope Breeze realizes it's her I'm protecting. If she gets into a real fight with a Fierce Dog, she won't stand a chance.

Lucky and Twitch at last managed to nose their way through the crush of dogs. Lucky nipped and snapped at several inquisitive muzzles, then turned ferociously on the instigators of the trouble.

“The Pack's just eaten, and you're fighting? I'm disappointed in you all!” His dark eyes flashed. “This is the time for resting. You'll have to hunt a lot more effectively tomorrow, after tonight's sorry prey pile!”

“But Beta,” began Dart, “Arrow's been sneaking around. He's up to something!”

“Quiet!” Lucky's bark was so savage, Dart clamped her jaws together abruptly. “Arrow is part of this Pack, or had you forgotten? He's the one who saved us from Blade's ambush. I wish some
of you would remember that, and appreciate him a little more!”

Dart hung her head and ducked her tail, but her expression was resentful. Storm was surprised to find herself sympathizing.
This isn't really about Arrow, not this time. Every dog is on edge, what with loudbirds and longpaws, and waiting for the foxes to attack again at any moment.

“Every dog, gather round.” Lucky stood with his head high, his expression cold and determined.

“I'll fetch Alpha . . .” Storm began, turning, but Lucky gave a short, sharp bark to stop her.

“No, Storm. Alpha needs her rest. I'll report to her later.” He padded around the Pack members, some of whom had the grace to look ashamed of themselves. “I've got a suggestion that might help with the tensions around here.”

They watched him expectantly. Mickey and Dart glanced with nervous expectation at each other; Daisy lay down, her head tilted up toward Lucky and her dark eyes full of hope. Clearly, thought Storm, she wasn't the only one who'd like to see an end to the damaging squabbles.

Twitch nodded. “Go ahead, Beta. I think the whole Pack is open to ideas.”

“I think there needs to be a new role in this Pack. Something
between hunt dog and patrol dog; a new rank. I suggest we create a new position: we'll call it
scout dog
.”

There was a long silent pause, until Mickey tilted his head. “That sounds . . . interesting.”

“What would a scout dog do?” asked Bella curiously.

“The job will need a small, quick dog,” Lucky explained. “The task would be to accompany the hunting patrols, specifically to keep an eye out for danger. The scout will keep watch for loudbirds, longpaws, and foxes so that the hunting patrol can concentrate on finding food. And he or she will also stop prey from being stolen from under the hunters' noses,” he finished pointedly. “The Pack will have more food, and we'll all feel safer. And then maybe this foolish fighting will stop.”

Storm nodded, remembering their crushing disappointment at the loss of the deer. “It does make sense.”

“Sounds good to me,” growled Bruno.

“And me,” added Snap, “but you'll have to choose these scouts, Beta.”

“Yes. And I suggest Whisper, and Dart, to begin with.” Lucky nodded at them. “You two are fast, and you've got good eyes and noses.”

Whisper and Dart exchanged a pleased glance, and their tails thumped the ground.

“And any other dog can volunteer, if you think you're suited for this work,” Lucky went on, pricking his ears at the assembled dogs.

Breeze took an immediate pace forward. “I'm fast too, Beta. And I'm a hunter already. I think I'd be helpful in a scouting role.”

“Me too.” The high excited bark came from Daisy. “I think I'd be good at this, Beta!”

Lucky nodded, and bent down to lick her shaggy white ear. “I think you would, too. All right, it's settled. Our new scout dogs will be Whisper, Dart, Breeze, and Daisy.”

Storm sat on her haunches, warmed by a sense of optimism. With new and important roles, some of the more discontented dogs might find themselves much happier, and more fulfilled. Didn't every dog just want to feel valued by the Pack, and important to it? Now that some hunters and patrollers were scouts, it would also give the others more chance to shine in their own positions.

And the busier dogs are, the less time and energy they have to whine and fight
, Storm thought to herself.
Lucky's really a smart leader. . . .

Lucky turned as Alpha padded out of her den again and approached the Pack. The swift-dog nuzzled him. “What's happened, Beta?”

“With your permission, Alpha, we're going to establish a new rank of scout dog. Whisper, Dart, Breeze, and Daisy have agreed to do the work. It's necessary, I think, and it'll benefit the Pack in other ways.”

Alpha gazed around the dogs, nodding approvingly. “Good idea, Beta. And what does the rest of the Pack think?”

“I like the idea,” barked Mickey.

“It seems positive all around,” agreed Bruno gruffly.

“It'll help the Pack a great deal, I think.” Woody's tail thumped.

All the dogs were barking their agreement now, and there seemed to be a surge of enthusiasm among the Pack. Storm's heart felt lighter by far than it had earlier in the evening.
This Pack can be fixed—we really can form a team!

Although the dead fox-pup still hasn't been explained. . . .
The thought struck her, kindling her unease once more.
And the foxes are bound to return sometime. . . .

If the foxes launched a sneak attack, no scout dog would be of
help. And yes, from now on scouts could protect the prey the dogs gathered when they hunted—but what
had
happened to today's missing deer? At least if a scout had been watching, they would
know
if the longpaws had taken it, or if something else had.

How could it just vanish like that?
Storm shook her head violently, trying to clear the fog of confusion inside it.
Could there be something out there, something malevolent? Something that's actually targeting this Pack?

If there was something so sinister going on, it could only have one purpose: to weaken the Pack by sowing division and stealing prey.
Is it even possible that this enemy's trying to provoke a war between our Pack and the foxes?

Storm licked her chops in anxiety. But who would do such a thing? Who would even want to?

Entirely against her will, an image formed in her mind: a snarling muzzle, rigid upright ears, small savage black eyes, long deadly teeth.
A Fierce Dog.
Once again, Storm tried to shake the thought away; the trouble was, it wouldn't go.

It wasn't Arrow, she knew that. She was more sure of him than she was of herself!

But there were other Fierce Dogs out there, somewhere. Just because they'd seen Ripper's dead body, it didn't mean all of Blade's Pack was gone forever. Another dog from that sinister,
awful Dog-Garden might be stalking nearby, coming closer, making its devious plans for some end that Storm couldn't guess.

And if she couldn't fathom what they were planning, and why, how could she possibly stop it?