Storm of Dogs (24 page)

Lucky dropped back. A memory of Alfie's killing flashed through his mind. The Pack's former Alpha had brought the small dog down without a second thought. Now the half wolf lay broken and bleeding on the ice.
Is that what Alfie meant in my dream, that his death put us on this course . . . ?
Alfie's death had set Lucky against the half wolf. Ever since that moment, the two of them had been destined to fight—and now their fight was over.

Lucky limped slowly back over the ice. Exhaustion shuddered through him, and he'd hardly reached the bank before he slid onto a heap of snow, panting breathlessly as he watched the sparring Fierce Dogs. He longed to help Storm, but even if he could have, he knew they had to fight it out. He felt someone licking the gouge in his flank, and he winced.

Bella blinked down at him, her face tight with concern. “You're going to be okay, Yap.” She returned to the wound, licking it carefully.

“Thanks, Squeak,” he murmured, using her pup name, just as she had used his. He felt light-headed, rabbit paws scrambling between his ears. He dared not take his eyes off Blade and Storm. He had to focus. . . .

“Earth-Dog must have blood!” Blade barked.

Storm raised her head proudly, red staining her teeth. “You're wrong! This has nothing to do with Earth-Dog! You claim to be in touch with the Spirit Dogs, to speak for them. You're not a prophet—you're just a mad bully.” She reared back onto her hind legs like a giantfur, her eyes wild. “I am the true daughter of Earth-Dog and River-Dog. Earth-Dog has seen plenty of blood already. She has had enough—we have
all
had enough!” With that, Storm slammed down her forepaws.

The sound of cracking ice silenced the baying dogs along the edges of the riverbank.
The ice broke, shattering like clear-stone, and both Fierce Dogs plummeted into the river with a mighty splash.

Lucky shuffled to the edge of the ice, followed by Bella, as dogs yelped around him. Below, Lucky could see dark shapes fighting in the freezing water. He held his breath, his head thumping with pain. One dark body was sinking, sending up plumes of blood. The other dog was rising to the surface—but who was it? Was it Blade's larger form, her wild eyes, coming back? Lucky's chest was tight with fear.

Storm broke through the gap in the ice, spluttering for breath. Lucky felt dizzy with relief as she laid a paw on a shaft of ice, steadying herself. He was about to rush to her when a howl rose from the riverbank. He turned sharply to see Dagger looking as fearful as a pup, backing away from the bank and slamming into the other Fierce Dogs who had gathered around him to watch the fight.

“Blade has fallen!” Dagger gasped. “Our great leader is dead!”

Astonished barks echoed along the bank. “Blade has fallen! Blade is dead!”

Dagger shook his fur and seemed to calm down. “Come, Fierce Dogs! There is nothing for us here anymore.” He spun away from the bank and started to march. The other Fierce Dogs fell into line, following the muscular dog into the forest. Only Mace stayed behind. The huge Fierce Dog, a bloody wound on the side of his neck, swayed on his paws a moment before rolling onto his side, his eyes gazing blankly into the sky as his breathing stilled.

Lucky threw a quick glance back at the river. Storm was starting to climb onto the ice that ran along the bank. He sighed with relief and turned to watch the Fierce Dogs retreat.

“Wait for me!” yelped a familiar voice.

An acid taste rose in Lucky's mouth as he spotted Whine creeping out from behind a tree.
He must have been hiding there all along,
Lucky thought with disgust.

The stout little dog scampered after the retreating Fierce Dogs. “Dagger! Let me come too, I can help you!”

Through the tumbling snow, Lucky could just see Dagger pause. Blade's former deputy didn't even bother to turn around. “You are
nothing
, runt-dog,” he snarled. “Take one step
closer and I'll show you how little your help means to us.” The Fierce Dog started moving again, leading his Pack into a red horizon.

Whine froze, glancing about uncertainly.

Sweet stepped toward him, her muzzle rising over her fangs. “Get away!” she barked. “You're not welcome here,
traitor
.”

Sunshine ran out from behind the rocks. She rushed to Sweet's side, yipping angrily. Still Whine hesitated.

“You heard our Alpha! Get away from here!” Sunshine rushed at the goggle-eyed dog, baring her own small fangs. Whine gave a yelp and ran upstream as quickly as he could on his stumpy legs. Sunshine's tail wagged in satisfaction.

Lucky ran his tongue over his muzzle. He could not feel sorry for the little dog.
He betrayed the Pack. . . . He asked for this.

A loud crack sounded from the river, and Lucky turned back to Storm with a whine. She was almost at the bank, but the ice was splitting beneath her.
I thought she was out!
he thought, horror-stricken.
Why didn't I go to help her?

As he watched helplessly, the ice collapsed under Storm's weight. Struggling and splashing, she sank beneath the surface of the river again. Panic surged through Lucky's limbs.
This can't happen!

He shuffled forward, keeping low on his belly. He reached out, stretching his neck, catching Storm's scruff between his teeth as she paddled desperately, but he was too weak to pull her out. She slipped out of his reach and disappeared under the water.

“She mustn't die,” Lucky whimpered. His paws were tingling. The thumping of rabbits' feet in his head was so strong that he could no longer hear the dogs barking all around him. Through a haze, he saw Sweet, Rake, Whisper, and Moon run to the edge of the water. Bella left his side to join them, and Arrow hurried to help, his dark head disappearing beneath the water.

Lucky stared at them, pleading with his eyes. Leashed Dogs, Wild Dogs . . . Twitch's Pack . . . even a Fierce Dog. Coming together to save young Storm.
They won't let her
drown. They can't
. . . .

He was confident of this, he realized. Storm would be saved.

The tingling from his paws crept over his body. As his eyes shut, he pictured the snowscape as he'd seen it for an instant, with a dazzling glow lighting up the trees.

Lucky limped up the hill toward
the cliffs. Behind him the Endless Lake whooshed and sighed, beating its waves against the sand. The snow had finally stopped falling, but it had left behind its thick white pelt. Snow covered the deep banks of the lake, the tops of the longpaw buildings in the distant town, and the jagged contours of the cliffs. The air was clear and biting cold.

Sweet fell back, waiting for Lucky. She nuzzled his ear. “Are you okay, my Beta?”

He licked her muzzle, his tail wagging gently. “I'll be fine once I've had some sleep.”

Sweet's Pack trooped slowly over the icy rocks, edging their way back to their camp. Twitch's Pack walked alongside them, exhausted but triumphant. Lucky's eyes trailed to Storm. She strode forward with her head raised high, despite her injuries.

He glanced up at the sky. The Moon-Dog was hidden behind a bank of cloud, but her gentle light glowed through, turning the air silvery.
We did it! We won the Storm of Dogs.
The half wolf was dead, and the River-Dog had taken Blade. The Fierce Dogs had fled, fearful as pups.
Blade was wrong about Storm—wrong about the third Growl.

He climbed the last rock so he was standing at the top of the slope, at the borders of their camp, and pressed his paw against the snowy ground. Beneath its icy touch he felt the firm, solid presence of Earth-Dog. The Spirit Dog was sleeping peacefully. When Ice Wind passed, and Tree Flower arrived, new shoots would spring from the ground. Buds and blossom would unfurl in the trees, and birds would fill the air with song. Lucky could sense the promise of the future as a warmth in his chest, just as he had in his dream.

The dogs gathered beneath a huddle of low trees, deep in the Wild Dogs' camp, pressing together for warmth. Sweet addressed Twitch, her muzzle low as a mark of respect. “I know all in my Pack join me in sharing our deepest gratitude for your help.” Lucky and the other dogs murmured their agreement, and Sweet continued, “Your Pack is honorable and loyal. I am very sorry about Splash.” She turned to Chase from Twitch's Pack. One of the small dog's eyes was swollen shut, and Lucky wondered if she would be able to use it again.

Sweet sighed. “Some of your injuries are grave. You have made a great sacrifice for us, and for the freedom of Wild Dogs everywhere.”

Twitch dipped his head in acknowledgment. “We were honored to fight alongside you. You are a strong leader, Sweet. I know my Pack was inspired by your courage. We shall grieve for our lost Beta, and also for Martha, who fought so bravely to the last.”

Storm whimpered and nuzzled against Lucky, who licked her ears. A great sadness burned in his chest as he thought of the water-dog.
She's safe now with River-Dog,
he
reminded himself. He remembered Martha's quiet determination to belong, in the early days after the Big Growl, when he and the Leashed Dogs left the city. At first she had seemed so serious and restrained, but all that had changed when she'd first set eyes on the river. She had bounded in with so much excitement, just like a pup, paddling her webbed paws. She had always felt at home in the water—close to the River-Dog.

Twitch lowered himself onto his belly. “I've been thinking. Our Packs work so well together—we are natural allies. More than that, we are friends.”

There was a murmur of agreement from the gathered dogs.

Twitch's whiskers flexed as he spoke. “I don't think my Pack should go back to the forest.” He met Sweet's gaze with his soft brown eyes. “Would you accept us into your Pack? We promise to be loyal to you, to obey your leadership and command in all things.”

Lucky yipped happily, and Sweet rose to her paws. “Of course you can join us,” she said, tail wagging.

Twitch rolled onto his back, exposing his belly in a gesture of submission. Sweet stepped forward, brushing his chest with a forepaw. Then she backed up a few paces and allowed Twitch to rise.

He raised his muzzle, standing nobly on three legs. “Thank you, Alpha.” His Packmates broke into a volley of cheerful barks, and the Wild Dogs joined in.

When they quieted down, Sweet turned to Arrow. “You too are welcome to stay,” she told the young Fierce Dog. “You acted heroically in the face of Blade's madness. I hope you will be happy in my Pack.”

Arrow shuffled down onto his belly, his head on the ground. He spoke in a grave voice. “Thank you, Alpha. I will do as I am told and make every effort to prove my loyalty to you. You too, Beta.”

Lucky cocked his head at him.
Thank the Sky-Dogs, our faith in Arrow was not misplaced.

Bella reached out a golden forepaw and batted the young dog playfully around the ears. “There's no need to be so fretful and serious. Sweet isn't a tyrant like Blade, and Lucky is
nothing
like Mace or Dagger!” Her tail started thrashing. “Sweet's a wonderful Alpha, and Lucky is the best kind of dog, believe me.”

Lucky's chest swelled with pride as he watched his mate and his litter-sister exchanging respectful glances. His tail was wagging too.

Mickey sprang to his paws with a bark. “Prey! I can smell it!” He started digging wildly, just where he stood. The dogs sniffed around him eagerly.

“He's right!” barked Bruno, joining to kick back dirt.

Snap leaped at the widening hole, wiggling her small body through the gap. A moment later, her head appeared. “Rabbits!” she gasped.

The rich, earthy scent of rabbit fur filled Lucky's nostrils, and he licked his chops. He stepped out of the way, too exhausted to help. He watched as the hunters sprang into action.

Moon, Rake, and Bella darted out from between the trees, sniffing for an exit to the warren as Snap dug furiously, her agile body burrowing deep into the soil. She howled in triumph as three plump rabbits burst out of the hole between the trees. Finding themselves surrounded by dogs, the rabbits zigzagged chaotically. Mickey and Bruno seized a couple, snapping their necks with quick, firm jerks. Four more rabbits exploded from an exit to the warren in the snow where Bella, Rake, and Moon were waiting. One struggled free of Moon's grasp as she snorted in frustration, and another burst out over the snow and hopped to freedom. But Bella and Rake caught two of the rabbits and added their warm bodies to the pile.

“It's a sign from Earth-Dog,” Sweet announced. “She is pleased with us and wants us to stay and make our home here, high above the Endless Lake.”

The dogs yapped in agreement, wagging their tails.

Lucky's belly groaned in anticipation. Four large rabbits was a feast this deep into Ice Wind. The dogs turned to Sweet, waiting for her to eat her fill first, as was her right.

Sweet shoved a couple of rabbits toward Twitch, Bruno, and Daisy, who were sitting nearby. “Every dog fought hard today. I will not stand on ceremony—not now. Tonight, we
eat together.”