Darkness Falls (25 page)

Sweet trod lightly and crouched beside him. “I guess you'll be off again soon.”

It was more of a statement than a question, and Lucky did not reply. The mist was slowly swirling down from the branches of the pines in white loops. Sweet spoke again. “After all, you're a Lone Dog. You've said it time and again, ever since we met in the city. You just seem to end up in the Pack out of, I don't know, some sense of duty to other dogs. Last time it was for Bella and the Leashed Dogs. This time it was for the pups. Now that they've gone . . .” Her voice sounded wistful. “I know you're not a Pack Dog—not really. I won't be angry with you if you leave again. I'll understand this time. I'll forgive you.”

Lucky's ears twitched and a wrinkle of irritation ran along his back. “You'll
forgive me
?” he snarled. “How thoughtful, Sweet. How generous.” He turned, meeting her bright eyes, which seemed to glow in the expanding mist.

Sweet was taken aback. “I didn't mean to insult you. I just thought . . . you don't
want
to be a Pack Dog, do you?”

“What does it matter what I want?” Lucky replied. “I
wanted
to help the pups, but now they're with those savage Fierce Dogs. I didn't want to hand them over—but I did it. And for what?”

He glared at Sweet and she blinked back, looking hurt.

Lucky barked in frustration. “For the good of the Pack, that's what! Even when it went against all my instincts. You saw how rough Blade was with Daisy. And the pups are so small. I know Grunt acts tough, and Lick is bold and confident, but they are still just
pups
.” He cast a look out into the gloom, but a new bank of mist had rolled in from the lake.

“I understand how you feel about letting them go,” Sweet murmured. “But the Fierce Dog Alpha said she was their Mother-Dog—surely she wouldn't hurt her own pups?”

Lucky fell silent, remembering the stiff body of the dead Mother-Dog beneath the porch. He thought again of the pup with the white fang mark on his neck.
Whether they're her pups or not, Blade seemed determined to look after them
. He knew that had to be a good sign, yet something just felt
wrong
. Why had the Fierce Dogs abandoned the pups in the first place? How had the Mother-Dog died?

“I don't know, Sweet.” It was all he could say. How could he explain the tightness in his stomach or the sourness catching the back of his throat?

“So you
will
be off soon?” Sweet pressed. “I don't mind; I just . . . want you to tell me before you disappear. It would be good to get a chance to say good-bye.”

Lucky turned on her angrily. “Have I said that I'm leaving?”

Sweet's narrow face was scarcely visible in the mist. “I just assumed . . . with the pups gone, why would you stay?”

“Isn't that obvious? I'll stay because I'm a Pack Dog now. Haven't I proven myself enough for you? I'm surprised you're even speaking to me. Isn't it beneath a Beta to talk to the Omega? Are you taking cover behind the mist, so no dog will see you?”

Sweet's eyes had widened with shock. “Don't be like that, Lucky. I didn't mean to offend you—”

He didn't let her finish. “But you
have
offended me, Sweet. You make me sound like I change my mind every sunup; like I'm not committed to anything, or any dog.” His ears flicked back. The words spilled out of him, a swirl of bitterness and anger. He thought of Grunt, Lick, and Wiggle and his heart throbbed with loss. “Haven't I shown that I can act in the interests of the Pack? Even when it meant letting the pups go? I've tried so hard to do what's right by the Pack—not that
you've
noticed! Tonight I'll sleep out in a draft, just to remind you and the other high-ranking dogs that I'm the lowest dog, less than nothing. Even though I know there's another way to live, that dogs don't need to be punished and controlled by rank, I'm going to live like a Pack Dog—because that's what I am now.”

“I know it isn't easy being Omega,” Sweet said, her voice a gentle, soothing whimper. “But rules are important—it's what gives us security. Without rules, how would we know what we should do, or how to act in a crisis?”

Lucky couldn't believe what he was hearing. He gave a sigh. “For all Alpha's rules, has the Pack performed any better? Oh, things work well enough when food is plentiful and everyone does what they're told—but look what happened when the Fierce Dogs came. The Pack fell apart! The Pack
failed
, despite all its rules.”

“I knew it!” Sweet barked, her voice rising, provoked to anger at last. “I knew you would turn on the Pack sooner or later!”

Lucky glared at her, their eyes locking. The world grew silent, only the breeze shrilling on the night air, lifting and spreading the mist like clouds of dust. A wave of despair ran through him, his fur rising along his back.
I must prove to Sweet that I
am
a Pack Dog once and for all!

An idea started to form. He turned to the edge of the hill and scanned the meadow. The wind had torn holes in the mist. He could see Spring and Dart walking side by side, surveying the perimeter of the camp.
No, not them
. . .

He spotted Snap treading through the long grass, returning from a hunt, the limp body of a ferret hanging from her jaws.

“Snap!” he barked loudly.

The stout hunter squinted through the mist, ears pricked. “Omega, is that you?”

He took a step forward, standing over the edge of the hill. “Omega the City Dog challenges Snap the hunter!” he barked. Sweet rose to her paws, surprise crossing her narrow face.

Lucky took a deep breath. “Do you accept the challenge?”

Snap dropped the ferret, her eyes gleaming. Her body stiffened. “I accept!” she barked.

Lucky fought down a tremor of nerves.
She wants revenge for the previous fight—the one where I beat her with trickery
.

By the time that Lucky and Sweet had reached the bottom of the hill, half the Pack had gathered in the meadow.

Moon was nursing Nose and Squirm with Fiery standing guard, and plenty of familiar faces were emerging from the mist: Mickey, Bruno, Spring, Dart. Even Martha appeared, a dark blur in the gloom as she hung back.

Alpha walked slowly out and sat in the mouth of the cave. He said nothing, but gave Sweet a nod.

He approves the fight
, Lucky thought.
I bet that means he thinks I can't win. But I'm going to show him
.

Sweet stepped close to Lucky, her breath catching the fur of his ear. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

Lucky turned and met her eye. “Yes,
Beta
. I am.”

She addressed the Pack. “Omega has challenged Snap to a fight, and Snap has accepted. If Omega wins, he will be promoted above her. If Snap wins there will be no change in Pack rankings.” She took a step back. “May the Sky-Dogs look with blessing on your combat!” she barked. “May your fight be fair, and may the outcome be favored by the Spirit Dogs. When the battle is done, we all remain Packmates. And we all shall protect the Pack! On my word . . .
fight
!”

Snap sprang at Lucky immediately, knocking him off balance and sinking her jaws into his hind leg. He yelped and pulled away as she drew back, snarling. Hackles up, he started toward her, curling his lips over his fangs. He tried to leap at her but Snap was fast, slipping out of the way and behind him, pouncing on his back and catching his shoulder with a deep nip.

Lucky howled and shook her off roughly, throwing her to the ground. He pressed down with his forepaws, pinning her, and aiming a bite at her exposed stomach, but she scrambled out of his grip and all he managed to do was tear a shallow gash in the edge of her flank. She ducked into the mist, vanishing for a moment as Lucky blinked in confusion.

Snap's voice came from behind him. “Nice try, City Dog!”

He made a dive at her but she leaped beneath him, catching his inner leg with her forepaws and punishing him with another sharp nip. They locked in combat, scraping at each other with their claws, yelping, and biting.

The Pack started barking instructions at the fighting dogs.

“Go for her belly!” Mickey called.

“Fight him, Snap!” yelped Whine. “He's only Omega; you can beat him!”

Then Snap pulled away, panting. “One more bite and you're a dead dog!” she snarled.

“Don't speak so soon,” Lucky barked. “You're half my size!”

“And twice your speed!” Snap ducked into the mist again, disappearing from view. Lucky growled, squinting. He could just make out the outline of her wiry fur.

“We'll see about that!” Lucky gathered up all his strength.
I have to win this!
he thought urgently.
I can't be Omega anymore; I have to show everyone how good a Pack Dog I can be!

He lunged at Snap, pretending to go for her stumpy tail. At the last minute, he swung around, throwing open his jaws and aiming for her neck. Snap darted away with a yelp, leaped in the air, and launched herself at Lucky's back leg, burying her fangs into his flesh and squeezing.

Pain shot through him. Lucky howled as blood spurted from the wound. He felt it sticking to his fur. Snap would not let go. The other dogs barked excitedly as the hot, red scent rose on the air.

The mist swirling through the meadow seemed to drift inside Lucky's mind, into his eyes, blurring his vision. His pulse thundered at his temples, drowning out the frenzy of barks. The pain was dizzying and Lucky stumbled, a sickness rising in his throat.

“Enough!” howled Alpha. The dog-wolf trod toward the Pack, mist swirling around him. “The fight is over. Snap has defended the challenge.”

Instantly Snap released her grip on Lucky and shrank back. A sharp jolt of pain shot up his leg—it was even worse now that she'd let go—but the wave of sickening dizziness was passing. Lucky ducked his head to lap at the wound, trying to stanch the flow of blood.

“Are you okay?” Mickey asked.

“Does it hurt?” pressed Bella, taking a tentative step toward him.

“I'll be fine,” Lucky replied, his tail clinging to his flank. He wanted them to leave him alone. Alpha was already walking away, and he wished the other dogs would do the same.

Snap approached him, her tail wagging. “Now we're even,” she told him with a friendly lick. All hostility was gone.

Lucky limped past the Pack, his head lowered. The shame prickling in his fur was worse than the pain of his wounds—much worse.

Sweet bounded after him. “Omega, I want to talk to you,” she called. Her tail was thrashing and her eyes were shining like tiny Moon-Dogs.

Lucky kept walking as she leveled alongside him. “Why would you want to talk to me?” he murmured. “I'm still the Omega.”

“Exactly,” she replied. “You tried to advance and you did it by the Pack rules—and even though you lost, you aren't abandoning your position. Don't you see? That's far more proof than if you'd won. You
are
a loyal member of the Pack!” She licked his ear and he felt a tingle of warmth, a deep thrumming of happiness that rose from his chest. Then he thought of the pups out there in the darkness. He remembered Alpha's unforgiving face. He thought of Whine's mocking smile. The breeze shrilled over the meadow, and as the heat of the fight fell from his fur, Lucky felt the cold close in on him. It would be worse later as the chill of night took hold, once the rest of the Pack was warm inside the cave and he was alone in the drafty spot reserved for the Omega.

He limped steadily toward the cave, ignoring Sweet, who paused and fell behind. He winced at the pain in his sore leg, but he kept up the pace. The wind rustled the leaves of the nearby trees and played with Lucky's fur. Shivering, he reached the entrance of the cave. Before he stepped inside, he paused and threw a look over his shoulder. There was now no trace of Sweet beyond the bank of white mist.

He was all alone.

The next sunup, Lucky stepped out
onto a changed meadow. The mist had cleared and the sharp breeze had faded away. The Sun-Dog shone bright in a cloudless sky. The air was clean and peaty. Insects buzzed in the long grass, hovering over small pink flowers that sprang up in bursts.

Lucky carefully stretched his back leg. It still throbbed where Snap had sunk in her teeth, and gathering water-soaked moss for Alpha and Sweet early this morning hadn't done it any good at all. But even so, the worst of the pain had faded overnight, just like the mist. He padded toward the river, where he drank thirstily. Then he sat in the shade of a tree at the edge of the forest as sunlight danced across the surface of the water. He watched from the shade as first Sweet, then Spring and Dart, stepped out of the cave and began to cross the meadow.

Heavy pawsteps approached from the forest, the crack of breaking twigs and crumbling leaves. Rising to his paws, Lucky turned to see Bruno.