mockery in Rakeâs voice. But she looked unperturbed, and her calm expression didnât change.
âOh, the Wind-Dogs take the capture of the Golden Deer very seriously. When theyâre 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.â
Mickey nodded. âThat makes sense to me.â
âNot to me,â grumbled Rake, but very quietly.
âImagine if we could catch a Golden Deer on the ground,â whined Daisy dreamily.
âWell,â laughed Snap, âthat would certainly make the Wind-Dogs pleased with us.â
âIt could bring us great good fortune,â 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. âI canât imagine it, Daisy! Thatâs what makes it so exciting! Oh, letâs catch a Golden Deer!â
Rakeâs irritated bark cut through the excited yelps. âWhatâs wrong with all of you? Youâre so keen to believe in these Wind-Dogs, but not one of you takes the Fear-Dog seriously. And you should! Heâs the one who rules the Sky-Dogs, after all. Terror told us so!â
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.
âMaybe the Spirit Dogs arenât separate beings at all,â he suggested. âHave 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.â
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.
âSorry,â he muttered as he shuffled backward into the circle of dogs. âIt was just an idea. You know. That maybe we all believe in the same dogs.â
Storm felt her heart turn over for Arrow. What had taken the other dogs abackâhis theory of the Spirit Dogs, or the fact heâd had the nerve to speak at all? Certainly Breeze was letting out a low growl as she glared at him.
Twitch coughed a bark. âWhy all this talk of invisible dogs? Maybe we should forget about them for a while. Concentrate on important things, like hunting .â
Snap looked at him in astonishment. âBut Twitch, we have to respect the Spirit Dogs!â
âWhy?â He hunched his shoulders. âWhat have the Spirit Dogs ever done for us? They never actually show up in a crisis, do they?â
Around him there were whines of horrified protest.
âThe Forest-Dog brings us prey!â exclaimed Mickey, with a respectful glance at Lucky.
âAnd Martha had a very special relationship with the River-Dog,â put in Storm, with a pang of memory.
âThe Sun-Dog warms our days,â said Moon firmly, âand the Moon-Dog gives us light in the darkness.â
âAnd we can see the Sky-Dogs when they battle!â yelped Daisy, as if that settled the matter. âWe can see Lightning himself as he jumps to Earth!â
The moment of unity warmed Stormâs heart; it was good to see the Pack put aside petty differences to agree on the benevolence of the Spirit Dogs.
âOf course the Spirit Dogs are real.â Lucky spoke up with firmness. âHow else do you explain my dreams about the Storm of Dogs? They came true.â
âDonât forget that the Earth-Dog takes all dogs when theydie,â added Chase, with a severe look at his former leader.
âWait a moment.â The
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