by Erin Hunter
Sweet’s ears flicked back. “That isn’t our problem. Sorry if it seems uncaring, but it isn’t like they went out of their way to help us.”
Original members of the Wild Pack were quick to agree.
“The longpaws think they’re so clever,” muttered Moon, her blue eyes cool as the sky. “Well, let them work it out for themselves.”
Former Leashed Dogs looked less sure, exchanging worried glances. Mickey stepped forward. “Some of us lived with longpaws. They looked after us, they fed us, they even loved us.” He paused, looking into the distance. Lucky wondered if the Farm Dog was picturing the young longpaw he had once thought of as his closest friend. Mickey appealed to Sweet. “Don’t misunderstand me, I’m a Wild Dog now, we all are. I don’t want to join the longpaws or wear a collar ever again. But we should make sure the ones in the town know that the Growl is coming back. Otherwise they’ll be killed. Whatever you think of the longpaws, it feels very wrong to leave them to that fate.”
His words had a powerful effect on the other former Leashed Dogs. Martha padded to his side, and Bella raised her muzzle rebelliously. Sunshine looped anxious circles around them.
Sweet’s jaw stiffened. She’s going to forbid them from going anywhere near the Endless Lake, thought Lucky. He watched Bella. He knew how stubborn his litter-sister could be. They didn’t need tensions in the Pack right now, with the Growl coming and the Fierce Dogs nearby.
Lucky spoke quickly, careful to keep his eyes low and submissive. “Alpha, if you allow it, I could lead a group of dogs to the town to try to warn the longpaws. They are clever creatures, but their instincts are poor—they won’t be able to sense the Growl coming.” He lowered his head farther and spoke to the ground. “I promise we won’t waste time. We’ll be safely back up the cliff before the Growl comes.”
Lucky stood very still. He could feel Sweet’s eyes bearing down on him. She knows I can’t possibly guess when the Growl will arrive—no dog can. There’s a risk we won’t make it back. But she must understand what this means to the Leashed Dogs. And she’s not like the last dog we called “Alpha.” She will care.
He held his breath hopefully, feeling the anxiety of the Leashed Dogs.
Sweet sighed. “I think it’s foolish, but I won’t stop you.”
Lucky raised his head and blinked at her, grateful. Nothing like our old Alpha! he thought.
Sweet looked at him sternly. “Be careful, Beta. And hurry!” She turned to the other dogs. “Who’s going with him to help the longpaws?”
“I will,” said Martha in her deep, soft voice.
Bella’s golden tail gave a wag. “Me too. It will be the last thing I do for the longpaws. After that, they can go their own ways, and we will go ours.”
Mickey trotted up to her, his eyes sparkling. “We’ll help them. It’s the right thing to do. But we’ll be quick,” he assured Sweet.
Sunshine and Daisy skipped excitedly.
“We’ll save the longpaws!” Sunshine yipped.
But Bruno sidled up to Moon and sat heavily. “I’m staying here. I’m a Pack Dog now. My longpaws abandoned me, and the ones in the town are strangers.” His eyes were cold, and Lucky looked at the old dog in surprise. He’s telling the truth. He doesn’t care about his longpaws anymore.
To Lucky’s surprise, Snap ran up to the Leashed Dogs who were preparing to leave for the Endless Lake.
“I’ll come,” she yipped.
Bella turned to her. “But you were always a Wild Dog.”
“I want to be useful,” she said, flicking her ear dismissively.
“Thank you,” murmured Mickey, tenderly licking the small dog’s ear. She looked up at him with a softness in her eyes. Lucky cocked his head. Mickey and Snap are mates! How could I have missed it?
Lucky felt a tap on his leg and turned to see Beetle looking up at him with admiration. “I’ll go!” he offered.
Moon sprang forward and grabbed her pup by the scruff. “Oh no, you won’t!” she snarled. “Longpaws killed your Father-Dog. Let the Leashed Dogs get this misplaced loyalty out of their systems. We owe the longpaws nothing.”
Sweet cleared her throat, and the other dogs turned to look at her. “All the dogs who are staying behind—we need to be ready when the Growl comes. We should catch more prey, as we may struggle to find much in the aftermath of the Growl. Bruno and Moon, see what you can find around camp, but don’t stray far. Every dog should keep a lookout for the Fierce Dogs, in case they make an appearance.”
Bruno and Moon gave stiff nods and started jogging deeper into the valley, sniffing the freezing grass. Moon paused, turning to shoot Beetle a warning glance. The pup dipped his head and backed away from Lucky.
Sweet turned to the dogs who were preparing to leave for the town. “Don’t forget what I said—I need you to be quick.” She walked alongside Lucky, leading the group to the edge of the cliff. Bella and Martha led the way down, scaling the jagged rocks along the cliff face. Lucky hung back at Sweet’s side. Her muzzle was close to his ear, and her voice became a whisper. “Be careful. Come back at the first sign of trouble.” She rested her face alongside his. Lucky’s heart ached as he breathed in her sweet scent. “Hurry back to me, my Beta,” she said softly, before pulling away.
Lucky started along the cliff path, then looked back. Sweet was standing alone at the top of the cliff, a look of sorrow on her face.
Lucky tore his eyes away, hurrying after the other dogs. He promised himself he would see her again. But as he scrambled down the rocky incline, his belly was tight with tension and his whiskers prickled with sadness.
CHAPTER NINE
Lucky scurried down the rocks, hurrying to catch up with the other dogs as they picked their way around the cliff face. The air grew saltier as the wind glided over the Endless Lake, and a tingle of anxiety ran through Lucky’s limbs. A sense of dread caught him at the back of the throat, and he cast his eyes to the top of the cliff. He could no longer see the grassy valley or the trees by the pond where they’d made their camp. He could no longer smell his Alpha’s scent on the air.
His eyes trailed over the scrub farther along the cliffs, where it curved away from the lake. The Fierce Dogs’ new lair was up there, hidden in damp caves. There was no hint of them on the air, but was Blade watching him even now, concealed behind the scrub?
Lucky’s head snapped back when he heard a sharp yip beneath him. Sunshine had been struggling on the rocks, gathering herself together and leaping down clumsily. She had landed on the side of her paw and stopped to lick the sore spot.
Mickey paused just ahead of her. “Are you okay? Do you need help?”
“I’m fine,” said the little dog proudly. She picked herself up and sprang down to the next stone. Her paws skidded as she landed, sending a rain of pebbles across the narrow path and over the edge of the cliff.
Lucky watched her anxiously. He could hear the distant crash and hiss of the Endless Lake down below. For an instant, he pictured a bundle of dirty white fur hurtling over the edge of the cliff, and he winced.
“We could help,” he said gently, eager not to offend her. “We could lift you over the steeper rocks. Remember when we ran from the black cloud, and some of the climb was pretty steep? Others had help too—like Whine. There’s no shame in it.”
“I’m fine, really,” Sunshine insisted. “I don’t need help getting down.” She flashed Mickey and Lucky a grateful look, then added in a smaller voice, “But I may need it getting up.”
Mickey reached up and licked her on the nose. “Of course.” He stayed a short way in front of her, with Lucky just behind, as they made their way down the side of the cliff.
They trod the bank of the Endless Lake until the town came into view. Even from a distance, Lucky could see loudcages humming along some of the streets. Longpaws were milling about. It’s just as we thought. They have no idea of the danger they are in.
The other dogs were already resting at the edge of the town, staying out of view, when Mic
key, Sunshine, and Lucky joined them.
“Look!” yapped Bella. “The Lake-Dog is agitated. She knows something’s about to happen.”
Lucky looked at the lake with a shudder. His litter-sister was right. Its usual rhythm was broken. It bucked and twisted uncertainly.
It’s just as I imagined it. The lake must have broken its banks when the Big Growl came—and it could do it again.
“I don’t like it,” whined Snap.
Mickey padded to her side and rested his muzzle against her cheek. “We won’t stay long—will we, Beta?”
“We’ll warn the longpaws and head back as quickly as possible,” Lucky agreed. The fur rose along his back. Had something shifted in the earth beneath his paws?
It’s just my imagination, he told himself—though he didn’t quite believe that.
He led the way to the edge of the town where the dogs paused, watching the orange-furred longpaws go about their business. A couple were dragging sticks with bushy heads along the street, collecting piles of sand, broken clear-stone, and mess that had tumbled from spoil-boxes. They barked cheerfully to one another. A loudcage rumbled down the street, and another orange longpaw popped his head out and waved at them.
Lucky edged a little closer, gesturing with his tail for the other dogs to follow him. They clung close to the wall, keeping out of sight.
“What are those ones doing?” whispered Mickey.
Lucky looked beyond the longpaws with sticks to some others who were pushing long pieces of wood into the ground in a circle. “I don’t know,” Lucky murmured.
“They don’t get it, do they?” said Snap. “Look at them. They haven’t sensed a thing.”
“They’re not like us,” Bella explained. “They don’t have the Spirit Dogs to help them.”
“So what do we do?” asked Snap. “How are we supposed to warn them?”
Lucky licked his lips, unsure.
Little Sunshine spoke up. “My longpaws always knew something was wrong when I ran around in circles and yapped. Maybe we could try that?”
“We could lean against their legs and push them away from the Endless Lake,” Martha suggested. “Maybe they’ll get the idea.”
Bella’s ears pricked up. “My longpaws would have been alert to danger if I’d howled.”
“All good ideas,” agreed Lucky. He looked out over the bank of the Endless Lake. The water spun in strange circles, sending up flecks of white foam. Fear prickled his bones. “We have to act quickly. Do everything you can to let the longpaws know they’re in danger—but don’t let them capture you! Be prepared to flee on my word. We may need to run back to camp at a moment’s notice.”
“Yes, Beta,” murmured the dogs.
“Good. Let’s go to it!” Lucky bounded along the street. He heard the other dogs running after him. He looked back to see Sunshine skipping in erratic loops, yipping urgently. Snap and Daisy were imitating the Omega, prancing and spinning. Lucky slowed down, wondering how the longpaws would react.
At first they looked amused. The two carrying sticks stopped their sweeping and pointed. But when Bella and Lucky started howling, the longpaws tensed. Martha and Mickey ran to the two longpaws, but they backed away, forelegs raised defensively. They joined another longpaw to skirt around the long pieces of wood that had been pushed into the ground.
“Not that way!” barked Mickey in exasperation. “Run away from the Endless Lake!”
“You’re scaring them!” Lucky called. “They don’t understand.” He looked beyond the pieces of wood and shuddered. There was a deep bite in the ground; it reminded Lucky of the cave bowl in the Fierce Dog’s new lair.
“What’s that noise?” barked Martha, her head swiveling around toward the lake.
Mickey slammed to a halt, his ears pricking up. “The Endless Lake is pulling away from its bank. Something terrible is about to happen!”
Fear gripped Lucky’s belly, and his hackles rose instinctively. “We must get back to camp!” he barked.
“But the longpaws!” whined Mickey. “Maybe it’s good that they’re frightened of us! It could be enough.” He dropped his head, growling, and advanced on the longpaws. Snap hurried to his side with a snarl in her throat.
Two of the longpaws dodged away, but the other backed toward the great hole in the ground. He wrenched free one of the long pieces of wood and waved it in the air. Snap hesitated, her forepaw raised, but Mickey started barking and stepped even closer to the longpaw, almost close enough to touch. “Leave! Go away!”
The longpaw howled in fear and slammed the wooden stick against Mickey’s side. Mickey yelped in pain but didn’t retreat. Lucky’s ears flicked back and he stepped forward, prepared to drag the Farm Dog away to safety. As the longpaw raised the stick again, another longpaw shrieked. Everyone turned to see this longpaw pointing at the Endless Lake.
They’ve noticed that something is happening! thought Lucky. The water had pulled far back into the Endless Lake, as if massing itself into a huge wave. The longpaw picked up a small black box with a thin tail and barked into it in a panicked voice. Other longpaws began to run along the street, thrashing their arms wildly.
The air was filled with the sound of howling longpaws and growling loudcages.
Lucky raised his voice over the noise. “Dogs, the longpaws have seen the lake! They know they are in danger! We have to get out of here, now. Our Alpha is waiting. We must hurry back to camp!”
“I’m coming, Lucky!” Mickey barked back, spinning around.
The longpaw holding the stick flinched away from him, one orange hind paw slipping over the edge of the hole. He yipped in panic, dropping the piece of wood. His forepaws flailed, and he reached forward, but there was nothing to grab onto. With a terrified shriek, the longpaw fell backward into the pit.
CHAPTER TEN
Lucky and the other dogs ran to Mickey’s side to peer over the edge of the pit. The longpaw had fallen several dog-lengths down to the bottom—too deep for him to climb out. Orange forepaws flailed against the earth. He cried out, but his shrill voice was lost in the din and screech of loudcages and barking longpaws.
The Farm Dog pawed at the edge of the pit. “We have to help him!”
“No, Mickey!” Lucky growled, determined to drag his Packmate away from danger. “He isn’t our responsibility. Let the longpaws help their own!”
“Lucky’s right,” agreed Snap. “That longpaw struck you. He isn’t your friend.”
Mickey was more forgiving. “He was scared! He thought I was going to hurt him.”
Bella touched her nose against the Farm Dog’s shoulder. “Let his own Pack save him. We should be getting back to camp.”
“But they don’t know he’s in danger! Didn’t you see the Endless Lake? It’s rising over its banks. It will come here. It will drown him.” Mickey’s eyes were wild with fear. “No one will save him. He’ll die alone!” he whined sorrowfully.
Lucky looked out at the chaos on the street. Longpaws were running toward loudcages, scrambling inside before the beasts pulled away. He couldn’t get a clear view of the lake from here, but he feared Mickey was right. Earth-Dog’s tremors would whip it up, driving Lake-Dog over the bank.
Lucky’s ears flicked back. Overhead, there was a distant murmur—a sound he had heard before, though it took him a moment to place it. It was the hum of the giant birds, with clear-stone bodies as large as loudcages and whirring wings the length of longpaw houses. Already the ground was shivering, from the birds or the Growl, Lucky couldn’t be sure. It sent cascades of soil tumbling from the walls of the pit onto the longpaw’s orange head. The longpaw slipped down onto all fours, shaking away the soil.
Lucky looked back across the street. Mickey was right. The longpaws were barking anxiously, leaving in loudcages or running toward the loudbirds, which were swooping over the street, probably searching for somewhere to land. No one would notice that the fallen longpaw was missing.
Lucky turned back to the pit. The longpaw outstre
tched his orange forelegs and whimpered.
Tightness gathered in Lucky’s chest. He won’t be drowned. He’ll be buried alive. . . .
With a sickening lurch, Lucky remembered being trapped in the rock bowl, deep within the Fierce Dog’s lair. His fur rose along his back as he pictured the high walls. He recalled the airlessness and the knowledge that he couldn’t get out. Fear clutched at his chest. I promised Sweet we’d run at the first sign of trouble. Why was he hesitating?
“Please,” Mickey whimpered. “We can’t abandon him.”
Pity weighed heavily on Lucky and he hesitated, throwing fretful looks over his shoulder, casting about for an object, something that could help. He shook his head. Against his better judgment, he found himself saying, “Get one of those wooden sticks. We’ll try to get him out.”
Mickey’s tail wagged with relief as he grabbed a stick and dragged it to the edge of the pit. Bella threw Lucky a reproachful look but bent to help to lift the piece of wood with her mouth. Together, the three dogs lowered it down to the longpaw.
Sunshine was hopping anxiously. “The air feels strange! It’s strange!” she yipped.
Lucky’s ears swiveled back. She was right, something was happening. “Hurry, everyone,” he muttered, his voice muffled by the piece of wood that he clutched in his jaws.
Mickey steered the stick down into the pit, pushing at it with his paws. At first the longpaw hesitated. Then he reached out his forepaws and tried to grip the end of the stick.
The ground bucked violently, and the sound of tearing hardstone filled the air.
“The Growl!” cried Bella.
The wooden stick slipped from the dogs’ grip and fell into the pit, narrowly avoiding the cowering longpaw. Lucky’s ears flicked down, and he gasped as he looked back at the street. The gray hardstone was splitting in two and wet earth was bursting up between it, twisting and bubbling. The smell of the Endless Lake rose on the air. It was everywhere—around them, above them, even beneath them. The ground trembled and a nearby spoil-box tumbled onto its side, bouncing along the street.
