A Pack Divided by Erin Hunter Page A

me, and they are important in my life. They are as real to me”—she glanced lovingly at her Beta—“as Beta’s Forest-Dog is to him. I won’t force you to believe in them, or try to prove to you that the Wind-Dogs are real. All that matters is that I believe, and I know they are with me.”
    Storm heard low murmurs of approval go through at least some of the Pack, and Daisy bounced onto her four paws. “I hope they are real!” she exclaimed, her tail wagging hard. “We could use more Spirit Dogs on our side. We have lots of mouths to feed, don’t we? The more Spirit Dogs there are to help us, the better!”
    Woody gave a shake of his head at that, frowning slightly. “Too many mouths? I hope that’s not a dig at us.” He nodded at Twitch and the other former members of his Pack. “You dogs of the old Pack can’t go on blaming everything on us. After all, we chose to fight with you against the Fierce Dogs. And we chose to accept your invitation to stay.”
    Alpha stood up to give a commanding bark, and scraped the earth with a paw. “No more quarreling!”
    Woody fell silent, and so did the other muttering dogs. Daisy, though, grumbled under her breath.
    â€œI wasn’t pointing paws at any dog. Just stating a fact.” Sulkily she flopped onto her belly.
    Alpha eased herself carefully onto her side, making room for her plump stomach. “I mean what I say. I won’t force stories of the Wind-Dogs on you. But I want to know that the Pack respects my beliefs.”
    Again the ripple of agreement went through the Pack. Stormpricked her ears and watched her Packmates in wonder. Life’s so different with Sweet as Alpha. Under their previous Alpha, the savage half wolf, the dogs would have been made to believe. Or at least, they’d have been barked at until they said they believed. And if they hadn’t, they’d have found themselves without a share of the prey pile until they changed their minds.
    That’s not how Sweet does things, thought Storm happily . I like the change.
    A small, white fluffy shape got to her paws at the edge of the circle. Sunshine wagged her dirty plume of a tail, and cleared her throat shyly.
    â€œI’d still like to hear a story of the Wind-Dogs right now,” she told the circle in a small, respectful voice. “I’m really interested! Could you tell us one, Alpha?”
    For long moments the Pack was silent, surprised, but then the yips of agreement began to rise.
    â€œA story would be fun!” barked Daisy.
    Woody nodded his matted brown-and-cream head. “I don’t mind hearing a story. I can make my own mind up as to whether I believe it.”
    â€œYes, I think we’d all like to hear,” agreed Mickey.
    â€œGo ahead, Alpha!” growled Dart.
    But Woody, Storm noticed, was the only member of Twitch’s Pack to speak up. The rest of them kept a firm, though respectful, silence, as the former Leashed Dogs and Sweet’s old Pack whined their enthusiasm. Bella, too, did not speak.
    Daisy was still bouncing with excitement. “What if a Wind-Dog stumbles, Alpha? That’s what I want to know. They run so fast after the Golden Deer, surely they must slip and fall sometimes!” Her eyes were full of bright curiosity.
    Alpha gave a contented, gruff laugh. “It’s certainly happened, Daisy. Sometimes a Wind-Dog does miss her pawsteps. When that happens, and she stumbles, the gust of her fall is powerful enough to knock dogs to the ground. You can hear her yelp and whine, angry at herself. Or you might hear her howl to her Packmates, telling them she’ll catch up with them soon.”
    Rake gave a skeptical yip, curling his scarred muzzle. “So why does the wind grow more fierce after Long Light, when the Wind-Dogs have already caught the Golden Deer? Hm?”
    Storm glanced nervously at their Alpha, wondering how she’d react to the