Darkness Falls (2 page)

He had been through so much with the Leashed Dogs. But the Wild Pack had accepted him as one of their own. He had shared the Great Howl with them, where Spirit Dogs ran before his eyes. He had felt the power of their bond, even as he balked at Alpha's strict hierarchy.

Then there was Sweet. . . . He stole a glance in her direction and she met his eye. He saw pain and confusion there, but also hope.

She raised her muzzle. “Lucky fought bravely to defend the pups from the foxes. Whatever he may have done before . . . he's no
Leashed
Dog. He's one of our Pack now.” Her velvety ears twitched and she looked away. Her voice was uncertain, despite her words.

It's as though she wants to believe it
, thought Lucky.
She
wants
to believe that I'm who she thought I was
. . . .

Lucky barked gratefully, even though he wasn't sure
where
he belonged.

He looked at his litter-sister. Bella stared hard at him, head slightly cocked.

She knows it's true. A part of me has grown loyal to the Wild Pack
.

For a moment he felt guilty. Then he reminded himself that it was because of Bella that he had joined the Wild Dogs in the first place! And it was she who had brought the foxes into their home! She must have been crazy to trust those wily creatures. They'd betrayed her as soon as she'd led them to the camp, attacking Moon and threatening to eat her pups. He remembered how dogs from both Packs had broken off their battle to defend the pups when the foxes attacked them—first Daisy and Mulch, then the others. They had come together, repelling the vicious foxes. They had worked as a single, powerful Pack. . . .

Lucky noticed Moon and Fiery standing a few paces behind the others, their pups Squirm and Nose—the ones who had survived—nuzzled between them. Lucky's chest tightened with sorrow when he remembered the terror and turmoil, the frenzied barking, and the dogs who hadn't made it: little, helpless Fuzz, and poor Mulch.

Alpha growled low in his throat. “Lucky may have served our Pack for a time, but that does not excuse his treachery. What do you have to say for yourself,
City
Dog?”

Lucky licked his leg where a fox had mauled it, playing for time. His quick thinking rarely let him down, but this time he couldn't find anything to say in his own defense.

It was so much easier when I was a Lone Dog. A Lone Dog answers to nobody. But what if I'm not meant to be a Lone Dog at all?

Lucky swallowed, his throat dry. “It is true that I have been helping both Packs,” he began. A growl rose from the lean brown-and-white hunt-dog, Dart, and was quickly echoed by the long-eared littermates, Twitch and Spring. They had been his Packmates, but now they were glaring at him fiercely, their hackles raised. Lucky struggled not to turn and run into the forest. If he did that he could never, ever come back. He had to keep his courage.

“I have gotten to know you all,” he said. “And I've been thinking . . . what if my original mission to join the Wild Pack was
meant to be
? The Earth-Dog growled; the River-Dog revealed the path of fresh water; the Forest-Dog protected me on the way to this camp. At each turn I met friends . . . Sweet in the Trap House. My litter-sister Bella . . . even the Sky and Moon Dogs seem to have led me to this point.”

Dart still growled, but the others grew quiet. Lucky could tell that he had their attention.

“See how the Packs joined to fight the foxes?” he went on. “Everyone had a role—not just big dogs like Fiery and Martha, but smaller fighters like Snap and Daisy. Dogs from different backgrounds, wild and leashed . . .” He paused, his eyes trailing over the assembled dogs. “You don't even know one another, yet you all fought fearlessly for a single purpose. Maybe the Spirit Dogs brought me here so that both Packs could unite?”

Alpha's face contorted in a menacing snarl but Snap, the Wild Pack's white-and-tan hunter, had a thoughtful look on her face. A few paces away, Moon and Fiery were still standing by their remaining pups. They exchanged glances and Moon stepped forward.

“Without the Leashed Dogs' help, we would have lost all three of our pups, not just little Fuzz.”

Alpha watched her a moment and turned back to Lucky. The dog-wolf's yellow eyes bore into him. “That does not change the fact that he deceived us,” he snarled. “Lucky brought danger and death into our camp.” He turned his fierce gaze on the Leashed Dogs. “My Pack had to save this band of weaklings many times during the battle with the foxes. We cannot be expected to protect grown dogs who are feeble as pups.”

Daisy bristled at this insult and Mickey scratched the grass next to his longpaw's glove with a forepaw.

But it was Bella who stepped forward.

Lucky's heart tightened in his chest. If his litter-sister challenged Alpha, she'd only make matters worse. He might destroy Lucky and throw out the Leashed Dogs just to teach her a lesson. But Bella dipped her head, addressing Alpha respectfully without looking up.

“I am sorry that I brought the foxes to your camp. It was unwise, and it was
stupid
of me.” Her tail fell limp behind her. “I was duped into believing that foxes would act honorably. It was a mistake I will never make again. Truthfully, we wanted only to
share
in what you have here. We didn't intend to harm your Pack.”

Alpha growled at this, his ears erect and his upper lip peeling back to reveal his fangs.

Lucky watched in astonishment as Bella lowered herself onto the ground submissively. With a whine she rolled to expose her belly. “I make you a solemn promise, Alpha, on behalf of my Pack. If you let us stay, the Leashed Dogs will serve you faithfully. We will obey your commands and fight alongside you, making your Pack even more formidable. We are better hunters than we look and we are keen to help with the tasks of the Pack. All we ask is to share in your food and water, and that you spare Lucky. He meant you no harm. He didn't know our plans; I swear it. And he did his very best to defend the pups when the foxes attacked; the Mother-Dog said so.” Bella looked briefly at Moon, then lowered her muzzle.

Moon whined her agreement. Guarding the two remaining pups, Fiery licked their heads as they leaned against his forelegs.

Lucky's heart swelled in his ribs, his anger draining away. He knew what it had cost Bella to surrender to Alpha in front of both Packs. He was sure that the last thing she wanted was to serve the ruthless half wolf. She was doing it to provide for her Pack—and to save Lucky's skin.

She hasn't deserted me
.

He remembered her as a puppy, when she was still known as Squeak, bright, bossy, curious, and loyal—she had always been loyal.

Alpha shook his shaggy gray fur and scratched a large, pointed ear with a ragged claw. He was looking around at his Pack, gauging their reaction to Bella's submissive speech. Dart's hackles were still raised, but Twitch and Spring seemed more relaxed, and Snap's tongue was lolling from her jaws in a grin. Whine turned away while Moon and Fiery stood tall and gazed back at their leader.

Lucky held his breath, waiting for Alpha's verdict.

“I am willing to let you join us,” the dog-wolf said at last, “but you will take low positions. You will be trained as Patrol Dogs and given the most tiring routines. If you believe you are capable of joining the more prestigious hunting group, you will have to
earn
that right through hard work and honorable combat. Those are the rules of my Pack.”

Martha, Bruno, and Daisy turned instinctively to Lucky, used to following his advice. Lucky licked his chops. What choice did they have? Without Alpha's permission, they would not have access to food or clean water, which was in the Wild Pack's territory.

Before he could say anything, Alpha spoke again. “Foolish Leashed Dogs, looking to him. Don't you know that he's the lowest-ranking member of your new Pack? The
Omega
.”

Alpha glared at the Leashed Dogs, challenging them to respond, but none of them dared. Lucky saw Whine smirk, his ugly face a crisscross of wrinkles. Lucky lowered his head, biting back a snarl. He remembered all too well the humiliations that Whine had faced as the lowliest Pack member.

But Alpha wasn't finished yet. “And the new Omega will be given a permanent reminder of his treachery: a scar on his flank so that none can forget what he has done.”

Lucky yelped. He thought of Mulch, who'd been blamed for eating out of turn . . . framed by Lucky and Whine, to get him demoted to Omega. Alpha had sprung at Mulch, scraping and gouging. Sweet had backed him up, adding savage bites to Mulch's wounds.

“Oh, Alpha,” whined Martha, the huge Leashed Dog with webbed paws. “Be merciful!”

By her side, little Daisy yipped: “Please. Lucky will do everything you say; we promise. You don't have to do this.”

Lucky whined softly with gratitude as Twitch and Spring joined the chorus of protests. “We agree,” barked Twitch. “Becoming Omega is enough punishment.”

Fiery cocked his head questioningly and even Sweet seemed unsure, though she stayed silent.

Alpha howled to be heard, his wolfish cry cutting through the whines and yaps. “The Pack will need stricter rules if it's to survive with all these extra dogs! That will be the price of Lucky's treachery and deceit.”

Lucky couldn't imagine any stricter rules—Alpha's Pack was already so organized, the hunting and eating rights clearly regimented. A dog's rank even dictated where he slept!

Lucky had risked his life to battle the foxes, and yet the Wild Pack's leader was determined to hurt and humiliate him. His leg throbbed and his head felt thick and heavy, a grim reminder of that furious tussle.

The dogs were growling, barking, arguing with one another—divided over Lucky's fate.

“Wait!” snapped Mickey, the Farm Dog. He stood over his longpaw's glove, his ears flat but his head held high. “We're wasting time fighting with one another. We should be devoting our energies to surviving in this strange world, not arguing about who is higher in the Pack.” Mickey tapped the glove absently with his paw. “Bella and Daisy are good hunters. The Pack would benefit from their skills. Why
wait
to use them?”

“Because we must have order,” said Snap, the white-and-tan mongrel from the Wild Pack. “It's not about whether you
like
it—a Pack can't work without order. That's how it's always been.” She spoke reasonably, without anger or malice.

Mickey's ears pricked up. “The Big Growl changed all the rules. Leashed Dogs are joining Packs, and Pack Dogs need to change too. Hierarchy doesn't seem necessary—not anymore. It just makes things complicated.”

Lucky had rarely heard Mickey say so much.

Snap watched the Farm Dog, as though considering his words. But before she could speak again, Alpha sprang toward Mickey. Standing over the cowering black-and-white dog, he snarled: “The Big Growl is an even greater reason to
stick
to order and tradition. The world is more dangerous than ever. What we need is discipline, not some lazy group of ill-trained house-pets.” He lifted his muzzle, his yellow eyes cold.

Most of the dogs lowered their heads, careful not to challenge the half wolf. None of them spoke.

Alpha looked from each dog to the next, then glared at Lucky. “It's time for the marking ceremony. Hold him down.”

Panic surged through Lucky's body, his legs trembling and his paw pads growing damp with sweat. His eyes shot across the dogs, wondering who would launch the attack. Several of the Leashed Dogs whimpered, but they didn't dare speak up for him anymore. Even Bella, who had risen to her paws, said nothing.

Sweet broke forward. Lucky yelped in dismay as she pounced at his back, hugging his shoulders with her paws and bringing him down. His shoulder smacked the earth and a twinge shot through his injured leg. His body crackled with fear and panic. Sweet was stronger than she had been when they had escaped the Trap House. Snap leaped forward to assist Sweet, slamming into Lucky and helping to keep him pinned down. Lucky whimpered as Sweet's teeth sank into his neck.

“Relax,” she whined as he kicked and twisted beneath her. “It will be easier for you if you don't struggle.”

Lucky's heart thumped faster in his chest but for a moment he froze, seized by panic and confusion. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the Leashed Dogs cringe. Sunshine started barking in her shrill yap. Martha looked away with an unhappy whine.

Bella found her voice again. “Please let him go; this isn't fair! What is the point of injuring him so badly that he can't hunt or shield us from attack? What good will that do any dog?”

Alpha growled impatiently. “None of an Omega's duties are so honorable. I won't cause him any serious injury.” His lip curled as he approached Lucky, who started to thrash again, fighting against Sweet and Snap. “Just a good bite. Something he will never forget.”

The surrounding dogs were barking wildly, scared and excited, as Alpha stepped forward. He loomed over Lucky.

Alpha snarled. “Be brave, traitor. It's time to take what's coming to you.” His yellow eyes glittered and he licked his chops.

No! I won't let you do it!
thought Lucky with a surge of anger.
You will not touch me!

He shook and scrambled against Sweet until she loosened her hold on his neck; then he growled as he threw his forepaws against her. Sweet fell back, stunned, and Lucky spun his whole body around, forcing Snap off his back. He scrambled to his paws and pushed through the circle of dogs.

He threw a breathless look over his shoulder. The dog-wolf wasn't prepared for this. Alpha barked in fury as Lucky passed Bella and Daisy, who made no move to stop him. Sweet looked surprised, even upset.

I'm sorry, Sweet. I just can't stay here!

Lucky hesitated long enough for Snap to launch a second attack. He was about to throw her off when a great weight fell on top of him. Thick brown fur with black patches obscured his vision for a moment, and then he looked up into the pointed face of Bruno. His heavy, powerful body pressed Lucky to the ground and Lucky yelped, more from shock than pain.