Twitch growled. “Careful what you say. Respect is very important in this Pack.”

If that were true, Lucky thought, you’d show more of it.

An early mist had lifted from the lake’s shoreline, revealing its brilliant glitter. Pine trees were outlined in silhouette on the distant shore; there was certainly plenty of forest, and that meant plenty of prey. Once again Lucky thought how unfair it was that this Wild Pack would not share food even when they had more than they could eat. If they would, he wouldn’t be in this position of having to deceive other dogs.

As they ventured into a dense copse of pines, Lucky took care to notice not just possible dangers or likely prey, but any cover that Bella and her Pack might use, to stay unseen. He wondered if his two companions thought there was something odd about the way their new recruit was sniffing the surroundings, but they said nothing more. Neither Twitch nor the brown-and-white female Dart were as alert as they should have been.

That’s just my good luck.

So far, Lucky hadn’t seen anything that suggested Bella would have an easy time getting what she wanted from this Pack, but then this was only his first patrol. There was plenty of time for him to snoop around some more, although he hoped he would finish this mission quickly. He did not want to be a spy dog for long.

In his head Lucky dismissed the rocky outcrop as too obvious a hiding place, but he sniffed it over carefully for possible dangers to the Wild Pack. Lucky cast an eye back to Twitch and Dart, swallowing down an arrogant rumble.

Twitch really should be noticing how nosy I am, but he seems completely clueless. Even though they’re sloppy, I shouldn’t take too many chances.

“That’s good, Lucky. Well done,” Twitch yapped.

Lucky was dragged out of his thoughts, his ears pricking up. Twitch and Dart were both watching him with a sort of superior approval. Though his fur bristled at their smugness, he found himself relieved at the same time. Twitch’s hostility was obviously melting away and, though Lucky wasn’t sure why this was so, he had to admit it would make his task a lot easier.

The trees opened up and suddenly there was the lake again, shining brilliant silver in the light of the Sun-Dog. Lucky gazed, mesmerized by its glitter.

“The poison hasn’t spread here,” he observed.

“The river-poison?” Dart yapped. “No. Anyway, it would take a lot to make this amount of water undrinkable.” There was arrogant pride in her voice, and Lucky cocked his head.

“No wonder the Leashed Dogs were desperate,” he murmured.

“True.” Dart laughed. “Still, that isn’t our problem. You shouldn’t feel sorry for them.”

“They should have stayed at home doing tricks for their longpaws,” agreed Twitch contemptuously. “You may be a City Dog, Lucky, but at least you know about true dog-life, life in the wild, living by your wits and surviving. Those dogs do not deserve to survive.”