A Pack Divided by Erin Hunter Page B

Thorn stepped nearer to their mother, their expressions protective. No dog spoke.
    â€œAnd if the longpaws in their bellies have loudsticks?” Moon demanded. “What would we do then? There would be no escape!”
    â€œThat’s enough.” Lucky bounded forward to Alpha’s side, meeting Moon’s angry blue eyes. “The danger has passed, for now at least. The best thing we can do is get back to our normal routine.” He cast his gaze around them all. “ Right now. ”
    Slowly, still giving themselves occasional shakes and growling softly, the dogs of the Pack began to disperse around the clearing. Rake barked to his patrol to summon them for duty. Woody nudged Sunshine to her paws, then turned to trot over to Snap, who was gathering her hunters.
    â€œWe need prey,” growled Snap. “Let’s get hunting. Whisper! Bella! Mickey!”
    Storm stepped eagerly forward, but the hunt-dog shook her head, averting her eyes coldly. “Not you, Storm. I have enough hunters for this patrol.”
    Storm’s tail drooped as she watched Bella, Snap and the rest of the hunters bolt away into the trees. I was only trying to keep the Pack safe. I tried to make things better for us all.
    But in doing that, had she only made things worse for herself?

CHAPTER NINE
    It had been a long day, Storm realized as she slunk through the long grass late that afternoon. She’d barely slept at all, even before that nerve-jangling encounter with the loudbirds. Her body ached with tiredness and she couldn’t suppress an occasional yawn, but she was proud to be part of the special patrol Lucky had organized, and she wasn’t going to let him down. After all, Bella must be tired too, she thought with a glance at Lucky’s litter-sister; she’d already been out with the hunting party earlier in the day.
    The meadow grass was long enough to tickle Storm’s nostrils, but she wasn’t worried about that. She was much more concerned with the outline ahead of her, the broken shapes of longpaw buildings that marked the edge of their deserted settlement. The very sight of the town made Storm’s hackles spring erect, but she made herself pad on.
    I won’t let Lucky down.
    â€œThis is roughly where the loudbirds were hovering,” said Lucky, raising his growl just enough for each patrol member to hear. “They did spend time over our camp, but I watched them. Mostly they seemed to be hunting for prey over the longpaw town. I think it was something particular they were hunting for—and I want to know what it was.”
    He’s making excuses , Storm thought miserably. He says he was watching the loudbirds while they hovered, trying to find out what they were up to. He’s trying to tell us he was afraid but he didn’t completely lose his senses.
    But I’m not sure I believe that. I think this time, Lucky let the Pack down.
    Storm heaved a silent, unhappy sigh. Her pawsteps slowed as the patrol drew closer to the town, and around her Bella, Arrow, and Bruno walked more carefully, too. Lucky padded rapidly on, though, until Bella gave a sigh of exasperation and bounded ahead to block his way with her body.
    â€œBeta,” she growled. “Be more careful! What if there are longpaws there? The ones from the loudbirds’ bellies?”
    Lucky hesitated, one paw lifted. He cocked an ear at his litter-sister, and sighed. “You’re right. I suppose I’m being reckless.”
    â€œAnd I know why.” Bella gave him a sympathetic lick. “That’s why we’re here, isn’t it?”
    â€œWhat?” He looked startled.
    â€œYou feel bad because you froze when the loudbirds came. Don’t look at me like that, Beta; you know it’s true.” She tilted her head to study his face.
    Storm froze where she stood. How would Lucky react to what, in Storm’s opinion, was the simple, feather-free truth? She looked from the