“Now, now, little ones.” Mother-Dog licked their faces fondly. “That wasn’t a dog. That was a wolf, and he won’t come here.”

Wolf. The word sent a new tremor of fear through Yap’s body, and he felt the same nervous prickling in the skin of his brothers and sisters. It did not sound like a nice word. It sounded like a word to be afraid of. . . .

There was amusement in Mother-Dog’s soft voice as she continued. “There’s no need to worry. Wolves are not so very different from us, you know. They have four legs, and fur, and teeth. They’re fast and strong and fierce, but they’re wild and cunning and crafty too.”

“I bet I could outsmart a wolf!” announced Squeak.

“I certainly hope not!” said Mother-Dog. “That’s not how dogs should behave. Dogs are clever, but we’re not devious. We are noble and honorable. You pups must always remember that.”

“When it howled,” said Snip timidly, “it sounded a bit like a dog.”

“Wolves and dogs are connected, Snip, and that connection goes back a long, long time. But that does not mean they are to be trusted. If you ever see a wolf, keep your distance. Run away if you have to.”

“Why?” asked Yap, his head cocked in confusion.

“Because a wolf will sink his teeth into your flesh the moment your back is turned. Never get close to a wolf. Nuzzle did, and she regretted it. Don’t you remember the story? Nuzzle was always much too curious for her own good. She followed the wolves when she heard them howling, because she was brave as well as inquisitive.”

“I’m brave too!” interrupted Squeak.

“There’s brave and there’s foolish, Squeak! The Wild Wolf-Pack caught and trapped Nuzzle beneath the First Pine, and their leader, Greatfang, would have killed her for spying on them.

“But Nuzzle was Lightning’s grandpup, and even though Lightning had gone to live with the Sky-Dogs by then, he still watched over his kin. When he saw Nuzzle in danger, he leaped to earth and set fire to the First Pine and Greatfang both! The Wild Wolf-Pack fled in terror, and that’s the only reason Nuzzle grew up to be the fierce Warrior-Dog Wildfire. The rest of us cannot rely on Lightning to come and save us, so we must learn from Nuzzle’s mistakes.”

Distantly the howling echoed again, and the pups cuddled even closer together as their Mother-Dog pricked her ears to listen. Yap felt himself relax. Mother-Dog’s flank was so warm, and her heart beat a comforting thump-thump against his ear. She would protect them all.

Yap squirmed closer beneath her foreleg. “Even if the wolf came, we’d be all right, wouldn’t we?”

Squeak gave a scornful yip.

“Don’t be silly, Yap!” she said. “You heard what Mother said—the wolf can’t get us here!”

“You’re right.” Amusement rumbled in the Mother-Dog’s throat. “The wolf would never come here. You’re all safe, so it’s time you went to sleep.”