The Broken Path

by Erin Hunter

  Blade stiffened. Raising a hind leg, she scratched meaningfully at her ear. “I don’t think I heard you right. Perhaps you’d better say it again. Differently.”

  “A pup isn’t a possession—yours or any dog’s. Lick has made her own choice, and that’s to live with our Pack.” Lucky’s mouth felt as dry as dusty rock. “You don’t have a say in it, Blade. You’re not even Lick’s Mother-Dog.”

  “I am more than her Mother-Dog. I am her true Alpha!”

  “But she’s no milk-pup anymore!” Lucky’s curiosity overcame his caution. He truly wanted to know. “Why, Blade? Why are you so determined to have them?”

  Mistake! He realized it as he heard Blade’s throaty snarl. All his bravery deserted him and he cringed low, rooted to the spot. She leaped for him, jaws wide, teeth glistening.

  I can’t fight her alone! Earth-Dog, am I coming to you now?

  Lucky flinched, waiting for the agonizing rip of teeth and claws. Instead he saw a small, blurred shape hurl itself at Blade. There was a furious yelp of pain from the huge Fierce Dog as she tumbled sideways. Stunned, Lucky gaped at young Lick, who was gripping Blade’s hind leg with her needle-sharp teeth, gnawing savagely. Blood trickled from the wound, and Blade’s face was rigid with shock.

  Startled, as if she’d just realized what she was doing, Lick released Blade.

  “Run!” barked Lucky. They both spun and fled.

  Behind them, Lucky heard Blade crashing through the undergrowth. Terror drove him faster, Lick at his tail, but he could hear from the uneven lurch of Blade’s paws that she was limping. The young Fierce Dog had wounded her enough to slow her. We might make it!

  At the border of the camp Lucky gathered himself and leaped, rolling and tumbling into the camp, panting with relief as he glimpsed Lick race in behind him. Staggering up onto his paws and turning, he could hear no crashing branches. Blade had pulled up before she reached Alpha’s territory, but Lucky made out the glint of her malevolent eyes through the shadowy trees.

  Will she attack? Even though I could raise the Pack with a single bark?

  “I’ll be back!” Her maddened growl echoed in the silence. Then Blade turned and padded away into the trees without looking back. Beyond her, in the distance, Lucky heard the baying of Blade’s Pack, echoing their leader’s menacing fury. How do they know? he wondered, fear chilling his bones. How do they always know?

  There was a muttering and whining as the Pack Dogs started to stir, their ears pricking up at the sound of the Fierce Dogs howling.

  “What? What’s going on?” came Fiery’s deep growl.

  “I smell Fierce Dogs—and blood!” Sunshine yelped.

  All at once, the whole Pack seemed to be on their feet, blinking as they bounded up to Lucky with growls and whines.

  Lick was lost among the other dogs, and he just caught sight of her, dodging their heedless paws as they milled around. She managed to wriggle back to Lucky’s side, and he heard her mumbled apology at his ear.

  “I’m so sorry, Lucky.” Then she was drowned out by the concerned voices.

  “Lucky, what is it?” barked Dart.

  “What in the name of the Earth-Dog—” yelped Snap.

  “Was that Blade?” Sunshine’s whine was high-pitched with terror.

  “Quiet! All of you!” Alpha’s deep bark silenced them all. The half wolf came stalking through the commotion, his yellow eyes blazing.

  As they all fell silent, Lucky just managed to whisper to Lick, “Stay quiet.” Then Alpha was standing over him, his muzzle curled back to show his teeth.

  “What happened?” he growled.

  Lucky dipped his head. “I heard a sound, Alpha. I thought it was probably nothing, but I went to check the perimeter just in case, and I found Blade sneaking around near the camp.”

  Alpha said nothing for long, agonizing moments. Lucky was staring at the ground—he didn’t dare catch Lick’s eye in case he gave her away—but he could feel his leader’s stare boring through his skull.

  Then Alpha gave a gruff snarl. “It’s almost dawn. Get ready, all of you. We will regroup and move on. Now go!”

  Lucky found himself trembling as Alpha stalked back the way he’d come, Sweet falling in at the half wolf’s side. The elegant swift-dog spared Lucky a single thoughtful glance before turning back to murmur to her leader.

  Lucky’s gut churned with dread. I couldn’t have told them anything about Lick, about her secret meeting with Grunt. Alpha would have thrown her out—or killed her.

  I just hope I made the right decision.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  The Sun-Dog was shrouded in gray clouds as the sky lightened, and tendrils of Red Leaf mist lay in the hollows. Occasional glimpses of sunlight sparkled on dewdrops, but they faded quickly, leaving only wet coldness on the grass. The Pack was subdued as they assembled under Sweet’s watchful eyes.

  Alpha came padding from his den, resolutely silent. He walked on, nodding briefly to Sweet, then turned at the edge of the camp to face them all.

  “Dogs are to walk behind me and Beta in pairs. Fiery and Lucky first. Patrol Dogs, stay to the right and left of the group and keep an eye on the youngest dogs. Snap and Spring, stay at the back and look out for any dog following us. Leave no obvious traces, and bury your waste if you make any. Dart, make sure that order is followed. Omega, you stay toward the rear, just in front of the rest of the hunters. Whine, you stay with her, and do not move forward. Full Pack discipline—do I make myself clear?”

  “Yes, Alpha.” The growl rose from every one of the Pack, and Lucky found himself joining in without a thought. What a long way it was from his own leadership of the Leashed Pack when they’d escaped the city, stumbling along in chaos. Reluctant respect for Alpha stirred inside him. Alpha wasn’t always calm under pressure, and maybe his behavior was too controlling, but control was what was best for the Pack right now.

  The mood was tense, as if the air buzzed with invisible longpaw power. The Fierce Dogs were close—and now that violent, hostile Pack bore an even worse grudge. The story of Lucky’s encounter with Blade had raced around Alpha’s Pack like a fever-sickness, exaggerated with every telling. Some dogs even gave him resentful glances, as if he’d deliberately provoked Blade.

  Lucky shuddered. The sooner we’re gone from here, the better I’ll feel.

  As they made their way from the camp, paws light and nervous on the forest floor, Lucky kept in his allotted place. Every dog did, obeying their Alpha and bristling with alertness as they eyed the undergrowth for movement. But when the forest was a few rabbit-chases behind them, and they were making their way through a gully fringed with thick bushes, Lucky trotted up alongside Alpha.

  “What’s the plan?” he asked in a low voice. “Where are we going?”

  “The river,” said Alpha brusquely. “If we follow its flow, we should be heading toward . . .”

  The half wolf hesitated, his eyes narrowing, and his tongue came out to lick his chops. Lucky waited for him to go on.

  He doesn’t have a plan, realized Lucky with a sickening jolt. He sounds arrogant, but he doesn’t know where he’s taking us.

  But it was no time to point that out, and humiliate Alpha. Brightly Lucky yelped in agreement. “Of course! I know where we must go—the place where all running water leads.”

  “The place where the water never ends,” growled Alpha, “and it moves all the time but goes nowhere.”

  “It’s a good move, Alpha,” said Lucky. “It will be far from the Fierce Dogs.”

  Lucky noticed his leader’s head lift in pride, and suddenly the half wolf’s shoulders were straighter. “Of course. I don’t need you to tell me that. Or to approve my plans.”

  What plans? thought Lucky in irritation. Has there ever been a more arrogant dog? He’s Pack leader, of course—but is that what leadership is? Sneering at every opinion?

  He kept his thoughts to himself, and not only from fear of Alpha’s reaction. The Pack was nervous enough—they didn’t need
a quarrel between Lucky and their leader to unsettle them any more.

  Martha was walking behind Lucky, and he noticed that Lick had sped up and was now trotting alongside the huge water-dog. The two had been close since Lick was tiny, when Martha had looked after the Fierce Dog pups, but they’d always made an odd pair, and it was no different now that Lick was older. Lucky watched with amusement as Martha explained her webbed toes to the young Fierce Dog.

  “No, Lick, all my littermates were born like this,” Martha was telling her patiently. “We’re a very special breed. My longpaws always said—”

  “You! Lick!” Alpha twisted around to snarl at her. “Get back in line where you belong.”

  Lick gave a hurt yelp. “But Alpha, I—”

  “That’s enough! For that disobedience, you can walk with Whine and Omega.”

  Dejected, Lick fell back, her tail tucked between her legs. With an annoyed glance at Alpha, Lucky turned and loped over to keep her company. He doubted Alpha would complain—but if he did, Lucky would let him know exactly what he thought.

  The former Omega, Whine, gave Lick a nasty glance but said nothing to her; Sunshine was trotting behind them both, dutifully clutching a big wedge of moss in her jaws. She’s already thinking about our bedding for the next camp, realized Lucky affectionately. He was glad now he’d fallen back in the line; Sunshine was preoccupied, and he didn’t want to leave Lick to the company of the bitter and twisted Whine. As if reading his thoughts, Whine snorted and picked up speed.

  “I’ll leave you and Lucky to enjoy each other’s company,” he sneered at Lick, and hurried to catch up with Beetle.

  I’m not sorry to see the rump-end of you, Whine, thought Lucky. Ignoring the snub-nosed dog, he licked his jaws and glanced at the Fierce Dog pup. There was so much he wanted to say, but he kept his muzzle shut. Lick must feel humiliated, and no doubt she’d confide in him when she felt like it.

  Sure enough, she gave a long and heavy sigh, and shook her head. “Why does every dog hate me, Lucky?”

  Lucky blinked in surprise. Does she really feel that bad? “No dog hates you, Lick!”

  Even as he said it, though, the words felt awkward and untrue. I’m lying to her, he realized with a jolt. He snapped idly at a fly as he tried to think of some reassuring words. Up ahead, Fiery was urging on the slower dogs: nudging Daisy gently to go faster, encouraging Beetle to watch the undergrowth for danger. Sweet had fallen back a little to discuss something with Moon, and both dogs scanned the trees as they talked. All the Pack members seemed so at ease with one another, yet it struck Lucky that no dog but himself had shown any sympathy for Lick after Alpha’s snarling.

  “You see?” whined Lick sadly into the silence. “You know it’s true. And Alpha can’t stand the sight of me.”

  “Oh, Lick. He’s not used to having a Fierce Dog in his Pack; it’s true, but why are you thinking about this now?”

  “It’s Grunt,” she muttered guiltily. “Seeing him again. Not Grunt, I mean—Fang. He seems so happy in his Pack. He’s so . . . well, he’s wanted. He has his true dog-name, and he’s been initiated, and . . .” Her voice trailed off, and she took a deep breath. “Lucky? Fang invited me to go with him.”

  Lucky’s heart thudded, and he felt his fur bristle. I fought hard to keep you in this Pack, Lick! he thought with a stab of anger. Your precious litter-brother can keep his invitations to himself!

  But he couldn’t say that to Lick. “What do you think would be better about it? Being in Blade’s Pack, I mean?”

  “Well, Fang’s happy. He knows where he stands. They all do.”

  “They know their places, you mean,” snapped Lucky. “Below Blade. And what’s this ‘initiation’ you talk about? All I can see is that his ears have been mutilated—painfully, and for no reason!”

  A stubborn light sparked in Lick’s eyes. “At least Blade’s Pack isn’t always on the run. And the pups get good training.”

  “They’re trained to be killers,” said Lucky, “and not just of prey.”

  Lick shook her head in bewilderment, sighing as she raised her gaze to the treetops. “I understand what you’re saying, Lucky; I do! But can it all be so bad? Fang’s happy—and Blade loves him! She fought so hard to get him back!”

  Careful, Lucky told himself grimly. She’s so unhappy right now. Don’t say anything that might push her away.

  He took a deep breath. “Lick, are you sure ‘love’ is the right word? It means so many things, and a dog can twist it. Especially a dog like Blade.”

  “Can it? Are you sure it isn’t straightforward, Lucky?” Lick turned her dark eyes directly on his. “What do you think love is, then?”

  Lucky hesitated, confused. A vague memory prowled at the back of his mind, a memory made up of smells and sounds . . . the sweet, comforting scent of Mother-Dog, the softness of her voice as she told her stories of the Spirit Dogs, the warm, squirming bodies of his littermates. Suddenly he thought of Bella—and as if she had been called up by the memories, his litter-sister came bounding over to him.

  “Come on, Lucky—bring Lick! Some of the hunters went foraging, and they’ve brought back food!”

  The very mention of food made Lucky’s belly rumble—loudly. For an instant he was embarrassed, and then all three dogs were barking with laughter.

  “Let’s go,” he yelped. “Even my stomach’s telling us to eat!”

  As they trotted to join the other dogs, he felt a wave of relief. He hadn’t wanted to continue that conversation with Lick. Not one bit.

  By the time they’d eaten and walked on again, the Sun-Dog was bounding down toward the edge of the sky. Lucky’s paw pads were aching. Sunshine looked bedraggled and exhausted, and though she hadn’t let go of her mouthful of moss, it trailed on the ground below her drooping head. The young dogs Beetle, Thorn, and Lick were almost asleep on their paws, and even the stoic Mickey was staggering with tiredness. Lucky noticed that Sweet, with her slender, long legs made for sprinting over short distances, was limping.

  Yet Alpha plowed on, leading them uphill along a dry streambed. He seemed intent, as if he hadn’t noticed the state of most of his Pack. That’s not leadership, thought Lucky. That’s rock-headedness. At least they’d had a meal—without it Lucky thought they might actually have lost dogs by now; Fiery was almost having to drag on Daisy’s scruff to keep her going. Still, hunger was growing in Lucky again, and he was sure the younger dogs must be starving.

  A chill wind blustered down the hollow of the streambed, and the sky above them had remained cold and dark gray throughout the whole journey of the Sun-Dog. In fact, glancing up, Lucky thought it had grown darker than ever—almost black . . .

  A blinding flash made him almost leap out of his skin. Lightning! The Spirit Dog’s thunderous bark resounded across the valley. Heavy spots of cold rain splashed onto Lucky’s fur.

  “The rain,” he yelped. “It could be bad rain again. Quick—we need to find shelter!”

  No dog questioned him. They all sprang for cover, racing and bounding toward a shallow cave in the steep walls of the dry stream. It was little more than a rocky overhang and a water-dug hollow, but it would have to be enough. Snap and Spring were last in, and they had barely whipped their tails beneath the rock shelf when the rainstorm exploded in earnest, drumming hard on the earth outside.

  The dogs huddled together, staring out at the torrent. The black flakes were clearly visible, whirling among the raindrops and hissing where they struck the ground. Frothing puddles were forming quickly, fringed with yellowish foam.

  I was right, thought Lucky. The poisoned rain can still reach us. Will it ever stop? Because it looks as if we’ll never outrun it.

  He started at the sound of shrill and frantic squeaks, and scuttled backward to avoid two rats. They darted into the cave, heedless of the Pack of dogs crowding it. The creatures scurried dementedly around the rock, desperate to escape, and as one paused on its hind legs to glare at him, Lucky saw that its tiny eyes were red and r
aw, its fur greasy from the rain. It’s in pain, he realized, shocked. It’s not afraid of us—the rain is worse!

  Daisy watched the rats listlessly, and even Sweet did no more than click her teeth together with an exhausted growl. Fiery’s wary gaze lingered on the creatures, but he made no move toward them. Not one of the Pack lunged at the rats, despite their hunger. Every dog must have realized, as Lucky had, that these rats were not good prey. As he eyed them, nervous, he felt Alpha at his side.

  Both dogs turned back to look out into the rain once more. “We’re no safer,” muttered the dog-wolf. “Whatever has poisoned the land, it’s getting worse.”

  Lucky shook his head. “There seems to be no escaping it.”

  “Even Lightning doesn’t protect us,” growled Alpha. “He brings the bad rain. When this storm passes, we must press on. This whole land is a place no dog can live.”

  Some of the Pack had heard him, and now they were muttering among themselves, and whimpering in distress. Daisy pressed her small body low to the ground, trying to hide beneath Martha’s furry coat.

  “It reminds me of the day the Big Growl hit,” she whined.

  “Oh, Daisy, don’t say that,” whimpered Sunshine.

  “But she’s right,” said Mickey mournfully. “It’s just like the day my longpaws left. The ground shaking, and that terrible scent in the air.”

  “I was hunting near the loudcage path and a power snake broke above my head,” barked Snap. “When it fell, the invisible power set the ground on fire. I could have been burned alive.”

  “I remember that,” agreed Dart. “And Whine almost fell into the earth when it opened.”

  “I was nearly hit by a falling tree,” offered Moon. “It almost killed me, and my pups—their eyes weren’t even fully open.”

  “Lucky and I were caught in a Trap House when it struck, in locked wire cages,” said Sweet, sounding almost proud to be telling the awful story. “There was nothing we could do but hope we’d survive. Plenty of other dogs didn’t.”

  Lick sidled up to Lucky, her gaze darting left and right as she muttered from the side of her mouth, “What was the Big Growl, Lucky?” She sounded embarrassed not to know.