A Pack Divided

A Pack Divided by Erin Hunter Page B

Book: A Pack Divided by Erin Hunter Read Free Book Online
Authors: Erin Hunter
Ads: Link
mockery in Rake’s voice. But she looked unperturbed, and her calm expression didn’t change.
    â€œOh, the Wind-Dogs take the capture of the Golden Deer very seriously. When they’re not hunting it, they are racing oneanother in preparation. They need to practice until they are faster than she is. And so the winds blow even fiercer when Long Light is over.”
    Mickey nodded. “That makes sense to me.”
    â€œNot to me,” grumbled Rake, but very quietly.
    â€œImagine if we could catch a Golden Deer on the ground,” whined Daisy dreamily.
    â€œWell,” laughed Snap, “that would certainly make the Wind-Dogs pleased with us.”
    â€œIt could bring us great good fortune,” agreed Bruno thoughtfully.
    Sunshine was whirling in a circle, bumping into other dogs in her excitement. Mickey dodged back as her fluffy tail whipped across his muzzle. “I can’t imagine it, Daisy! That’s what makes it so exciting! Oh, let’s catch a Golden Deer!”
    Rake’s irritated bark cut through the excited yelps. “What’s wrong with all of you? You’re so keen to believe in these Wind-Dogs, but not one of you takes the Fear-Dog seriously. And you should! He’s the one who rules the Sky-Dogs, after all. Terror told us so!”
    One or two dogs opened their jaws angrily to argue, but it was Arrow who stepped into the center of the group. Storm was struckagain by his calm, diffident demeanor.
    â€œMaybe the Spirit Dogs aren’t separate beings at all,” he suggested. “Have you thought of that? It could be that different Packs come up with different names for the same Spirit Dogs. When I lived in the Dog-Garden under the Masters, the older members of my pack spoke of a Watch-Dog. He sounds a bit like your Fear-Dog, Rake. I was told then that all the Sky-Dogs respect and serve the Watch-Dog.”
    Arrow tilted his head at the Pack, but his words were met with silence. Some dogs gaped at him, some exchanged skeptical looks, but none spoke. After a moment his ears drooped, and he licked his jaws sheepishly and shifted from side to side.
    â€œSorry,” he muttered as he shuffled backward into the circle of dogs. “It was just an idea. You know. That maybe we all believe in the same dogs.”
    Storm felt her heart turn over for Arrow. What had taken the other dogs aback—his theory of the Spirit Dogs, or the fact he’d had the nerve to speak at all? Certainly Breeze was letting out a low growl as she glared at him.
    Twitch coughed a bark. “Why all this talk of invisible dogs? Maybe we should forget about them for a while. Concentrate on important things, like hunting .”
    Snap looked at him in astonishment. “But Twitch, we have to respect the Spirit Dogs!”
    â€œWhy?” He hunched his shoulders. “What have the Spirit Dogs ever done for us? They never actually show up in a crisis, do they?”
    Around him there were whines of horrified protest.
    â€œThe Forest-Dog brings us prey!” exclaimed Mickey, with a respectful glance at Lucky.
    â€œAnd Martha had a very special relationship with the River-Dog,” put in Storm, with a pang of memory.
    â€œThe Sun-Dog warms our days,” said Moon firmly, “and the Moon-Dog gives us light in the darkness.”
    â€œAnd we can see the Sky-Dogs when they battle!” yelped Daisy, as if that settled the matter. “We can see Lightning himself as he jumps to Earth!”
    The moment of unity warmed Storm’s heart; it was good to see the Pack put aside petty differences to agree on the benevolence of the Spirit Dogs.
    â€œOf course the Spirit Dogs are real.” Lucky spoke up with firmness. “How else do you explain my dreams about the Storm of Dogs? They came true.”
    â€œDon’t forget that the Earth-Dog takes all dogs when theydie,” added Chase, with a severe look at his former leader.
    â€œWait a moment.” The

Similar Books

Deep Trouble II

R. L. Stine

Franklin

Davidson Butler

Losing Control

Crissy Smith

Deeper Illusions

Annie Jocoby