by Erin Hunter
The others aren’t coming, Lucky realized. It would be down to the three of them to get Mickey and Daisy back.
They stalked along the lake road, proceeding more slowly. At the end of the lake road they reached a narrow path, which looped around the house. This close up it was enormous, towering over them in red and white. Mist rolled over the Endless Lake in banks, curling thickly around the trunk of the building.
Why did the longpaws build this place out in the middle of the lake? Lucky couldn’t see any other houses nearby. He peered up at the house and saw a dark clear-stone lookout at the top. It didn’t make sense.
The three dogs trod through the mist, calling out to their friends. Lucky noticed that the path around the house was surrounded by a jumble of huge rocks. Waves dashed against them, exploding in billows of froth.
Bella flinched as she took them in, her tail curling around her flank. “Mickey? Daisy? Come back; it’s dangerous here.”
“Bella?” The Farm Dog stepped out of the mist, shaking his silky fur. Daisy padded behind, looking sheepish.
“We barked,” said Mickey. “We scratched our paws on the door. . . . Why won’t the longpaws come out?”
Lucky approached his Leashed friend, giving him an affectionate lick. “Just because there’s a house here doesn’t mean there are longpaws. You remember that from your Leashed Dog days, don’t you?” He cocked his head at the large house. This close he saw it was round, without corners, like a tree trunk—but unlike a tree it was perfectly smooth. The red-and-white stripes were large, each a dog-length in width. It was a strange sort of house. “I don’t think a longpaw would live here. . . . Even before the Big Growl, they must have had some other use for this place. Longpaws like to be near one another and the house is so . . .” He struggled to find the word.
“Lonely . . .” whined Mickey, his tail slumping dejectedly. “You’re right; we were stupid to come here. We shouldn’t have run off. Alpha must be furious. . . .”
Daisy wasn’t as quick to accept this. “Were we? If even Lucky can’t explain what this house is for, how can he know for sure that there aren’t any longpaws in there with nice food? We’ve come this far; we should at least try to get inside and take a look.” Her wiry tail wagged hopefully.
“For heaven’s sake!” snapped Bella. “There aren’t any longpaws here. And even if there were, why would you think they were friendly, after everything we’ve been through? Have you forgotten about Fiery already?”
Daisy whined and her eyes fell. “The yellow longpaws are different,” she murmured.
Bella puffed out her chest, as though about to continue, but a volley of barks interrupted her.
Lucky’s ears pricked up and his head whipped around. He could hear the Wild Pack racing down the lake road, barking in alarm. Why were they coming?
Sweet was the first to appear, her slim outline cast against the misty road. Alpha sprang after her and the other dogs piled in, their eyes wild. They backed into one another, shunting one another in their eagerness to get away from the lake road and the violent waters beyond it.
“What’s going on?” barked Lucky. He caught his breath. The fear-scent wafting from his Packmates was almost enough to drive him crazy. He squinted at the road, trying to make out the bank of the Endless Lake. The mist had drawn in again. For a moment the world was buried beneath its soft white pelt. When it lifted, Lucky saw figures slinking over the lake road. They walked in rows, their dark eyes flashing. Their sleek, muscular bodies were stark against the sky.
The Fierce Dogs had arrived.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The Wild Pack whined and barked as they backed into one another, jostling to get away from the Fierce Dogs. Thickset Bruno turned abruptly, almost knocking Lucky off his paws. The fear-scent was dizzying. Blood thumped at Lucky’s temples and his instincts whined in his ears, telling him to run. But where? The only path away from the house was blocked by the Fierce Dogs. The Endless Lake encircled them, thrashing against the rocks. Lucky doubted even Martha would survive it.
“What are we going to do, Alpha?” barked Bruno. He shook his thick fur, the color of wet sand.
The half wolf didn’t answer. He stood frozen to the hardstone ground, staring at the Endless Lake, perhaps wondering, as Lucky had, if he could swim to freedom.
“The water! It’s crazy with anger!” whined Daisy. She raised her forepaw over a huge puddle that was spreading over the lake road.
Lucky’s ears flicked back. She was right: It was getting worse—rising, just as it had in the cave! His stomach lurched with horror when he thought of how quickly they’d been trapped. How high would the water come? Would it flood over the hardstone road? They couldn’t run to land—the Fierce Dogs were on the move again, slinking closer in formation. Where could they go?
The house!
Alpha was still frozen to the spot. It was up to Lucky. “We need to get in the house!” he barked. “There must be a way!”
A clear command was just what the Pack needed. They stopped shunting one another, instead turning to the striped building and scouting frantically along its base. Moon was sniffing and shuffling while little Daisy threw her paws on the wall, looking for a way in.
“There is no way out of this, Street Mutt!” rumbled Blade, rising to her full height on the lake road and glaring at Lucky and the Wild Pack.
Lucky recognized the dogs who flanked her on either side—Mace and Dagger, Blade’s deputies, their fur glossier than ever in the damp air. He thought he could make out a smaller dog near the rear of the Pack. Fang . . . At least he’s not up front with Blade, and Storm doesn’t have to face him. . . . Suddenly the Fierce Dogs sprang forward, barking furiously.
“Quickly!” cried Lucky, sprinting around the far side of the striped building. Storm ran alongside him but she shot angry looks over her shoulder.
She wants to fight. . . . He knew that fleeing was against her instincts, but there was no way she could take on so many of her former Packmates.
“Come on, Storm!” he urged.
She snorted but said nothing.
“The door’s here!” barked Mickey up ahead. “But it doesn’t open!”
Several of the dogs had formed a semicircle around the wooden door. Lucky ran at it, rearing onto his hind legs and slamming his paws against the damp wood. It creaked but held firm. Maybe if we try it at the same time . . .
Blade’s voice rose from the lake road, growing closer. “Where’s that Street Mutt and his mongrel band of rats?”
The Wild Dogs yapped and collided, frenzied with panic. Lucky was lost amid the writhing fur. His paws splashed against the water as the Endless Lake crashed over the rocks. He squeezed himself out of the tussle and looked around urgently. Where is Alpha? Why isn’t he doing anything? Lucky remembered how the dog-wolf had lost his nerve beneath the black cloud as the Pack had run for the forest. It was happening again!
Storm growled over the panicked yelps. “Lucky, get that door open. I’ll hold them!” She started shunting dogs aside with her powerful head, muscling her way to the lake road, where Blade’s Pack was marching in formation. Like Storm, they didn’t seem to care about the water that leaped over the road.
Lucky could hardly breathe. “No!” he howled, throwing back his muzzle. “Storm, you’ll be killed!”
The young Fierce Dog ignored him, squaring up to her old Pack. They were only a few dog-lengths away now, and they towered over her, their muzzles lowered and their haunches raised.
Blade’s voice was calm and silky smooth. “Living among these mongrels has ruined you. It’s time you were taught a lesson about a Fierce Dog’s true nature.”
Storm’s paws stayed rooted to the hardstone ground. “I don’t need any lessons from you,” she spat. “I know my true nature, and it is nothing like yours.” Her lips curled over her sharp white teeth, up over her shiny pink gums. “I will never be like you!” she rasped.
Lucky could hardly believe his eyes. Storm was so angry,
so self-assured. He saw no sign of fear, weakness, or doubt as she pressed back onto her hindquarters, preparing to pounce. Blade lifted her muzzle and two Fierce Dogs darted at Storm, blocking her path to their Alpha. They snapped at her head and neck, forcing her back along the lake road toward the house.
Storm wasn’t going to be stopped so easily. She swiped at the first attack-dog’s muzzle, knocking him sideways with a powerful blow and spinning around to sink her fangs into the other’s neck fur until the Fierce Dog whined in pain. The first attack-dog regained his balance but held back, suddenly less confident. He threw a glance back at Blade, who glared, lip twitching.
Lucky turned to Bella and Sweet. “We have to find a way into the house! Inside we’ll have the advantage—they won’t have so many angles of attack. Do everything you can to get that door open!” He searched for Alpha among the tussle of dogs but couldn’t make out his wolfish face. “We should go and help her! Bruno, Spring, you too!” Lucky charged forward, trying to look braver than he felt. He threw himself at the nearest Fierce Dog. He knew better than to exchange bites with an attack-dog—he wouldn’t last long that way—but if he could drive their Pack toward the edge of the lake path he might awaken their fear of the turbulent waters.
He didn’t know much about the Lake-Dog. He wasn’t sure she even existed. But he said a few words to her, just in case.
Fearsome Lake-Dog who controls these great waters, please protect us and lead us to safety.
Blade’s jibes cut through his thoughts. “Get the Street Mutt and his stinking pet rats!”
Lucky closed his eyes a moment and silently added, Lake-Dog, we are your friends—please keep us safe. Take a bad dog instead.
His tail gave a guilty twitch. Was it right to wish destruction on your enemies? Maybe he should have stopped at protecting his friends. Lucky didn’t have time to dwell on this thought—the Fierce Dogs were marching toward him. He made as though to spring at Mace. The Fierce Dog reared up, flashing his fangs. As he pounced, Lucky rolled out of reach and slid through a pool of salt water, kicking it into the Fierce Dog’s eyes. Mace stumbled back, forcing the front line of his Pack to the far side of the lake road, toward the crashing waves.
“Be careful!” snarled one of the attack-dogs, shoving another Fierce Dog who had fallen against her.
“How dare you talk to me like that!” he snarled.
The mist swirled around them, confusing Lucky’s senses. He felt a surge of hope when he spotted Spring and Bruno. They bolted along the near side of the road, slamming their forepaws against the salt pools so they sprayed over the Fierce Dogs. Lucky bounded after them, yapping and twisting, helping to drive the Pack toward the water. Chaos broke out on the lake road as Fierce Dogs leaped back, smacked into one another, and snarled through the mist.
“Stop this immediately!” thundered Blade. “Fierce Dogs, hold your positions! We will not be cowed by these mongrels!”
“But, Alpha, we’re going to fall into the water!” whined one of the attack-dogs through the mist.
“I don’t care if you all drown as long as you’re fighting when you go! I will personally slay anyone who runs!” Blade’s voice quivered with rage.
The Fierce Dogs stiffened at their Alpha’s threats, snapping back to attention. Some made for Lucky, Bruno, and Spring, their teeth gnashing, as others broke toward the rest of the Wild Pack.
Lucky spun around, searching for Storm. He spotted her a few dog-lengths from Blade. The young Fierce Dog stood motionless, staring at her.
A piercing howl cut through the mist. “Savage!”
Lucky could just see Alpha at the far edge of the lake road. His forepaws hung over the hardstone, his hind legs sinking from view beneath a burst of white foam. Lucky’s fur stood on end. He must have backed away from the Fierce Dogs without seeing how close he was to the lake!
Alpha needed help. Most of the Pack was hidden from view behind the house. Lucky could just hear yelps and whines as they worked to force open the door. He looked about him. Bruno and Spring were busy dodging the attack-dogs. Lucky tried to make a break for it, but Dagger blocked his path. He shot a look over the Fierce Dog’s shoulder. Storm was close enough to reach the dog-wolf, but the young dog stayed planted to the ground, ignoring his howls.
“Savage! Savage, help me!” he called, using the name he had chosen for her. The dog-wolf’s claws raked the hardstone as he struggled to maintain his grip. He threw a wild look over his shoulder. A great wave was charging over the lake, tumbling toward him. Pressed down on the road, the great dog looked broken—a pathetic tangle of gray fur and pleading eyes. “Savage, please!”
Storm’s cool gaze rested on Alpha only for a moment. Then she turned back to Blade, her haunches rising.
“Get the Alpha!” snarled Blade.
Mace bounded toward the dog-wolf, baring his teeth.
“Alpha, I’m coming!” barked Lucky, dodging Dagger and making for the far edge of the road.
The half wolf didn’t seem to hear him. His huge yellow eyes flitted from Blade to Mace. He cringed away from the Fierce Dog deputy, slipping farther off the lake road as the giant wave arrived. It smashed down over the hardstone in a blast of foam.
“Help!” howled Alpha.
The air was a blur and Lucky rubbed his eyes with his forepaws, unable to see beyond his nose. The water drew back with a sigh, gliding toward the heart of the Endless Lake. Lucky trod as quickly as he dared to the edge of the lake road, low on his sodden paws.
Alpha’s dark head reared over the froth-streaked ripples.
“Hang on!” barked Lucky.
It was no good. The dog-wolf had already drifted from the edge of the road into open water, out of anyone’s reach. Lucky watched in horror as Alpha threw back his head and tried to howl. His voice came out as a strangled gurgle as he sank in a crest of froth.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Lucky’s jaw slackened with shock. He gazed into the swirling lake, waiting for the half dog to break through the waves and scramble ashore. For a moment he forgot the Fierce Dogs behind him, and the salt water that slapped over the edge of the lake road, drenching his coat. Reeling, he remembered his words for the Lake-Dog: We are your friends—please keep us safe. Take a bad dog instead. . . . His thoughts slipped away from him and his head felt light. I didn’t mean Alpha!
Frenzied barking brought Lucky back to the present. His head snapped around to the center of the misty lake road, where the Fierce Dogs were charging at Bruno and Spring. Spring, true to her name, was doing a great job dodging their lunges. Bruno looked like he was struggling. The gruff old dog growled and gnashed his teeth, but he couldn’t move as quickly as Spring, and the Fierce Dogs were closing in on him. Storm was stalking toward Blade, perfectly calm, ignoring the chaos that surrounded her.
“Storm!” barked Lucky. “Bruno! Spring! We need to return to the longpaw house!” If the Pack has got the door open . . .
Bruno and Spring didn’t need to be told twice. They spun on their heels, making for the striped house.
Storm paused, seeming unwilling to retreat.
“Now!” snapped Lucky, still bewildered by the memory of Alpha sinking into the Endless Lake. He couldn’t shake it from his mind. Stop it! he told himself. If the Fierce Dogs catch up with us we’ll all end up in the water! He barked as loudly as he could, his voice cracking. “Storm! Now!”
Storm turned with a reluctant growl and ran to Lucky’s side. He kept pace with her along the lake road, unwilling to let her drop behind. When she started to turn back to Blade, he nudged her on with his head. “Come on!” he whined.
They slipped over the slick stone. The Fierce Dogs thundered after them, barking. Lucky’s forepaw throbbed where he’d hurt it in the cave and his mouth was so dry he felt as though he could hardly breathe. The salty air seemed to suck the moisture from him, despite the water that heaved all around.
The four Wild Dogs scampered along the back of the longpaw house just in time to see Bella and Sweet
burst through the wooden door. Lucky shot a look over his shoulder. The Fierce Dogs were still some dog-lengths away, farther up the lake road. His heart swelled with hope. They might survive this yet!
A huge wave broke against the rocks, crashing over the lake road.
“Fierce Dogs, fall back! Off the lake road!” barked Blade, her voice scarcely audible above the surging water. “This isn’t over, City Rat!”
Lucky couldn’t worry about the Fierce Dogs right now. With a shudder, he pushed away an image of them lining up on the sand, waiting for the lake water to grow calmer. Alpha had drowned—and the rest of the Pack didn’t know it yet. Some dog had to lead them to safety. He had to be brave.
The side of the longpaw house nearest the rocks took the worst of the blow as the huge wave flooded the hardstone. Lucky braced himself as water crashed over him. At first he thought he’d be okay, but the water burst over again and threw him onto his side, sending his legs flying. He opened his mouth to howl but it filled with salt water. He choked with terror. I can’t breathe! He scrambled to his paws, coughing and spluttering as the water surged back over the rocks.
He heard a panicked whine and saw Sunshine spinning in a pool of water, veering toward the rocks. Martha seized the white dog in her jaws and tugged her to safety. Sweet and Bella lost their footing and slid dangerously near the edge of the path, fighting their way back toward the longpaw house.
Lucky spat out the last of the salt water, shooting an anxious look at the rocks. His stomach clenched. The mist shifted and Lucky saw a giant wave tumble over the Endless Lake, even larger than the last. It was still far in the distance but moving fast, sucking other waves into its path, channeling straight for the longpaw house. They’d all be washed away!
“Sunshine, get inside!” he barked, his voice hoarse.
Sunshine had struggled to her paws. She shot through the open door to the house. Martha, Sweet, and Bella were just behind her.
Lucky paused at the entrance of the striped house. “All of you, get inside—hurry!”
