The Broken Path

Alpha’s muzzle curled in disbelief, but he went on watching Fiery intently. “Mad? In what way?” “Insane,” Fiery told him. “Like a dog with the water-madness”—at this several Packmembers gasped and growled nervously—“but not that. His jaws foamed and he had fits, but he was in control. Very much in control. He rules his Pack with fear.

Fear-Dog told me . . . we must return to our camp,” he growled, his voice throaty with drool. “Now?” whimpered the little brown dog. “Now. Immediately.” Terror swiped a trembling paw at her face, though this time he missed. “He says . . . we are to kill any strange dogs. Kill them all. Kill them on sight. Now go!

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.

Sighing, Lucky shut his eyes. The memory of Terror’s spasms haunted him, and he couldn’t suppress a shudder. What did the crazed dog see when he went into those convulsions?

Perhaps the Sky-Dogs are telling us that life’s too fragile these days to hold a grudge.

CHAPTER TWO The way back led them through a shallow valley lined with thorn-scrub and thistles, the shadows of even the smallest trees thrown far across the ground by the Red Leaf rays of the Sun-Dog. The camp was not far ahead, but Lucky had no intention of letting his guard down. The air was still, with a hint of frost, so Lucky was immediately alert when something rustled close by. He paused to see a golden shape push through the leafless twigs of the bushes. “Bella,” he greeted his litter-sister warily. Bella glanced awkwardly toward Fiery and Lick. She shook herself, but held her ground. “Hello, Lucky.” Lucky laid his rabbits on the ground and barked to Fiery. “I’ll catch up with you.” Fiery looked back over his shoulder, nodded, then summoned Lick on. Lucky shifted his attention to Bella, who was pacing back and forth, not meeting his eye. My litter-sister, he reminded himself; and yet she seemed more of a stranger than Fiery. Not

Mickey does what he thinks is right. He can stay loyal to the longpaws as well as to the Pack — don’t you see, Lucky? That’s just who he is. He wouldn’t be Mickey if he forgot the longpaws.