Darkness Falls (18 page)

“Paw-covers?” Lucky had never heard of anything like that.

“Soft pelt covers,” said Sunshine, as if it were obvious. “Longpaws have furless paws, you know—they get cold!”

Lucky could not imagine such a thing. “You're really good at this,” he told her. “And I appreciate your help. But I don't think Alpha would look kindly on it. . . . I don't want him to think I'm slacking off.”

Sunshine nodded. “I understand. It's too bad, though. Will you at least let me help you take the stuff inside?”

Lucky dipped his head and the two dogs carried the bedding beneath the brambles into the cave. Then Sunshine shuffled forward on her short legs and Lucky licked her nose. “You're a good dog, Sunshine,” he told her. “I bet you made your longpaws really happy.”

“Thank you,” she murmured, burying her muzzle against his neck. Then she turned and scampered away to join some of the others in the meadow.

“Are you ready?” asked Lucky
.

“Ready!” yipped Wiggle. He dived at Lucky, who sprang back, just out of the pup's reach. “I'll get you!” joked Wiggle, charging forward on his thick little legs. This time Lucky let the pup pounce on him and they jostled and sparred. He was surprised at Wiggle's strength. It took some effort to flip him over and pin him down.

“You're a great wrestler,” Lucky panted, impressed not only with the pup's strength, but by his speed and technique.

Lick and Grunt watched, their short tails lashing. Lucky glanced up and met Sweet's eyes, narrowed in concentration as she observed the lesson.

Is she here to observe the pups . . . or me?
he wondered. Even though this was one of his agreed duties, it wasn't exactly Omega work. Lucky was sure Alpha had sent her to keep an eye on him as much as the three Fierce Dog pups.

Wiggle yipped, struggling to escape Lucky's hold, and Lucky turned his attention back on the wriggling pup. His grip was firm but gentle, careful to avoid Wiggle's throat and belly—the delicate areas.

The pup is growing up fast. Soon he'll be the one who'll have to go easy on me!

If Lucky could teach the pups to be honorable and good-natured, they would certainly be an asset. Who would dare attack a Pack with Fierce Dogs among them?

“Lunge for his neck, Wiggle!” barked Grunt. “If you can't reach, kick with your legs! Imagine you're being attacked by a monster—it's evil and cunning, but you're smarter and faster. Try to find any soft bits of his body, like the neck or the muzzle, and bite as hard as you can!”

Wiggle twisted and thrashed, planting a firm kick on Lucky's chest that winded him, though he didn't release the pup.

“That's no good!” Grunt snarled. “Come on, Wiggle! If the coyotes had caught up with you, you'd be dead by now! Use your teeth!”

Lucky shot Grunt a look, painfully aware of Sweet's eyes on all four of them. “It's not about the damage you can do to your opponent,” he said mildly. “It's about protecting yourself and the Pack while keeping your honor. In the first place, fights should always be avoided. But if you
must
fight, the focus should be on defense, not uncontrolled aggression.” He looked down at Wiggle, who was bucking and bending in frustration. “Wiggle is in a dangerous position right now, but he can protect himself, even on his back. Like this. . . .” Lucky dropped onto Wiggle and flipped him around so the pup was on top; then he wrapped his paws around Wiggle's head, forcing his snout to the ground. Wiggle snarled and Lucky spoke over him: “You see? The worst injuries you can suffer from another dog are inflicted by the teeth, and this maneuver will limit your opponent's ability to bite. By gripping Wiggle's head, I've stopped him from taking a chunk out of me!

“Now try it again, Wiggle.” Lucky released his grip and the pup struggled to his paws. Wiggle shook himself off with an angry yip.

“You're doing really well,” Lucky added, licking the pup on the head. Wiggle dropped to the ground and rolled onto his back. Lucky planted his paws on the pup's chest. “Try to wrap your paws around my neck and pull my head down.”

Wiggle reached out, his paws scrambling at Lucky's neck, but his forelegs were too short for him to get a proper grip. He strained and grunted, his paws thrashing, but Lucky twisted out of reach and shook himself free.

The pup growled in frustration as he sank to the ground. “It's impossible!”

“No, you'll get it,” started Lucky, but Grunt brushed past him.

“Don't give up!” he told Wiggle. “You need to be determined, whatever the enemy holds over you. Next time, you will beat him!”

Wiggle lifted his head and allowed Grunt to lick his nose. Lucky watched, admiring Grunt's loyalty to his litter-brother.
The pup is a natural leader. With a little patience and compassion, he could be a great asset to the Pack. I just hope Sweet can see what I see
.

“Let's try again,” said Lucky.

Wiggle spun around and charged at him, catching him off guard. The pup pummeled Lucky's muzzle with his paws and when Lucky ducked, he clung on to his back and buried his teeth in Lucky's flesh. A blast of pain shot through Lucky's neck and he shook Wiggle off with a yelp. Sweet growled low in her throat and tensed, but didn't move. Across the clearing, Bella looked up from grooming herself and narrowed her eyes.

Wiggle fell back, shocked by Lucky's cry. “I'm sorry,” he whined, dipping his head, his tail drooping. “I shouldn't have been so rough.”

Lucky had been nipped in play-fights, but never like this. The pain still surged at his neck but he tried not to show it.

Wiggle didn't mean to hurt me—he just doesn't know his own strength. And it felt like his fangs are starting to come through
. . . .

“I'm fine,” Lucky murmured, giving Wiggle's ears an affectionate lick. He beckoned the pup's littermates to come nearer. They sat in front of him. Lucky spoke softly, but he was sure to make his voice loud enough for Sweet to hear. “As you get older, you will develop fangs. They're going to be very important for you; they will help you catch prey, and to defend yourself against an attack. But they can also cause great damage if you're careless. Can I trust you to be careful when you play with one another or other dogs? Remember not to bite too hard.”

Lick and Wiggle yipped their agreement and, after a moment, Grunt gave a nod.

“Good,” said Lucky. “Once all your fangs have come through, it'll be time for you to choose your proper dog names.”

“Really?” yipped Wiggle.

“Yes. Every Wild Dog I've ever met has chosen their name when they grew up. Leashed Dogs are named by their longpaws.” Lucky shook himself. It wasn't an entirely good memory for him—the longpaws he had lived with as a pup had never cared for him the way the Leashed Dogs' longpaws did.

“Anyway, you'll be all grown up soon enough,” said Lucky, surprised to feel a bite of sadness in his belly.

Martha appeared from the edge of the camp, padding languidly on her webbed paws. The pups pounced and yipped in excitement, bounding toward her and nuzzling her legs. She greeted them by licking their ears and turned to Lucky.

“I thought I might take these youngsters off your paws for a while. I'm going on patrol with Moon and her pups; maybe Lick, Grunt, and Wiggle would like to help? Only the cleverest dogs with the finest senses are invited to go on patrol.”

The pups started running in excited circles.

“Yes, please!” yapped Lick.

“We'll be the best at patrolling!” added Grunt. “No dog has senses as good as ours!”

Lucky was touched by their enthusiasm. “What a good idea,” he said. He sat down to wash his paws as Martha went to join Moon, the pups bouncing and scampering at her side. His neck still stung where Wiggle had bitten it, but he did not think it was bleeding.

He looked up at Sweet, but as he did she turned and padded away, her face unreadable. Lucky felt a pang of sadness as he watched her go. Couldn't she even bear to speak to him now? Perhaps Beta shouldn't be seen discussing Pack business with Omega. He hoped she wouldn't make too much of Wiggle's mistake when she reported to Alpha.

On the other side of the camp, Bella stood up and padded toward him, throwing a look at the big water-dog as she and the puppies rounded behind the pine trees and disappeared from view.

“I saw what that pup did. It looked painful,” she said. She leaned over to inspect the bite, but he pulled away from her. The swift movement sent a shot of pain through Lucky's neck and he struggled not to wince or yelp.

“He was only playing,” said Lucky defensively. “He didn't mean anything by it.”

Bella whined uncertainly. “He can already cause damage and he's only a play-fighting
pup
. What will happen when he and the others have deadly weapons in their mouths? Don't you remember the Dog-Garden?” She shuddered, her ears twitching.

“They're still young, Bella. We can raise them in the right way. We can
teach
them to be careful. Just because they're Fierce Dogs, that doesn't mean—”

A howl cut through his words, immediately followed by a volley of distressed barks. Lucky's heart lurched. He bolted toward the river with Bella at his side, in the direction of the sounds. Other dogs had also heard and were tearing across the camp. Lucky saw the flash of Mickey's black-and-white pelt and the patchwork of Dart's mottled coat. By the time he and Bella reached the riverbank, half of the Pack was already there, although Alpha was not among them.

Lucky could hardly believe his eyes—gentle Martha was facing off against Moon, spit frothing at her jowly lips. The Fierce Dog pups were lined up behind her, Lick and Wiggle looking tense and fearful, while Grunt snarled and gnashed his teeth. Lucky saw that he had short white fangs, just like Wiggle's.

Hostile scents tingled Lucky's nose. He had never seen Martha like this and it disturbed him. And where were Moon's pups? He could smell them; they had to be close.

Bella, Mickey, and the other dogs were still as they watched the standoff.

“They're little savages!” Moon growled. “Look what that one did to her!” She glared accusingly at Grunt.

Lucky crept around Martha and Moon. He spotted Squirm crouching by a tawny bush. She whimpered pathetically as her litter-brother, Nose, nuzzled her, his eyes leaping fretfully to the Fierce Dog pups.

Lucky's stomach churned with nerves. “What happened?”

Moon turned her eyes on him. “That vicious little Grunt attacked my Squirm for no reason at all!”

“They were play-fighting,” snapped Martha. “It just got out of hand—it happens sometimes. Grunt didn't mean any harm.” Then she gave a shake of her shaggy head and sighed deeply. Her face softened and she lowered her body so she no longer towered over the Mother-Dog. “Let's not allow this to become a reason to fight, Moon. Little Grunt has learned his lesson.”

Moon looked at Martha uncertainly a moment. Then she slowly lowered her hackles. Lucky was relieved when the two dogs nosed each other and Moon turned back to Squirm, who was not badly injured. It was a good thing that Fiery was out somewhere, presumably with Alpha and Sweet. Lucky didn't want to think about what the great brown dog might have done to Grunt.

Lick and Wiggle pawed at Martha, who lowered her head to comfort them. Only Grunt remained alone, a scowl darkening his face as he watched Moon beckon her puppies away.

Lucky stood by, barely feeling the bite throbbing at his neck now. He cared about the pups; he was also well aware that he had brought them into the camp. He would be blamed if anything went wrong.

Another clash like that and they'd all be out of the Pack for good.

The pups are going to need a lot more teaching
, he thought.
Grunt most of all
.

Lucky sighed and plodded through the forest toward the river. The bedding in the hunters' den needed to be changed. It seemed as though one of the worst parts of being Omega was going to be the boredom—repeating the same tasks over and over again, never getting to take part in the thrill of a hunt or even the responsibility of patrolling the camp border.

The riverbank was the best spot for digging up nice, soft moss. Lucky sidled up to the bank and started sniffing his way through tangles of grass, where tall trees closed in again, marking the edge of the forest. He ducked under them, spotting some decent leaves—only half-dry, as Sunshine had recommended—and was scooping them up when he heard a twig snap beneath a paw. Turning, he saw Bruno making his way under a huge oak. The old dog had risen to the position of hunter while Lucky and Mickey were away. Lucky guessed he was sniffing around for prey. The other hunters must be in the forest too, but he couldn't scent any of them nearby.

Lucky dropped the mouthful of leaves and pressed deeper into the forest, but Bruno called after him.