“But that . . . that is so strange,” said Sunshine, awed. “Do you have to fight all the time in that Pack?”

Lucky squirmed inwardly. “Not all the time, Sunshine. Just . . . when we want to rise in the Pack.” Said like that, to these friendly dogs with their easygoing solidarity, it sounded silly and aggressive.

But Daisy cheered him. “Oh, Lucky! You’re so brave!” She gave a happy yelp. “And so clever!”

Sunshine panted up at him, adoring, her misgivings instantly forgotten. “Now you will be able to find out even more about our enemies!”

“Yes . . .” Lucky found he didn’t like that phrase. The Wild Pack did not feel like his enemies—most of them, anyway. And he did not want enemies any more than he wanted a Pack.

The two went together, he supposed.

“We will let Bella know,” yapped Daisy. “She will be so proud of you!”

Lucky ignored this, and asked, “How is Bruno? And Martha?”

Sunshine’s dark eyes veered away, as if the edge of the clearing was suddenly the most interesting thing in the world. Daisy sat back and scratched her belly.

“They are getting better, but they need more time. Martha’s leg wound was really very, very bad.”

“And Bruno was so unwell,” put in Sunshine. “Thank the Sky-Dogs that you were there to save him, Lucky, or he might have choked!”

Lucky whined in confusion. “They should be getting better by now. Especially Martha . . .”

“Oh, there was some poison in her leg. Maybe from swimming! She is getting better, but it’s taking longer than we thought it would.”

Sunshine still avoided meeting his eye, and Lucky felt a tremor of sick anxiety in his belly. Poison in a wound? That might get better if Martha licked it well, but what if the poison got too deeply into her leg? And Bruno . . .

“They are going to be fine, Lucky. Don’t worry.”

Sunshine, usually so full of drama whether it was good or bad, sounded quite flat. Lucky could not shake the feeling that she was lying to him—but why? Could the news be worse than they were letting on? It seemed the only explanation: that they were trying to protect him from some kind of horrible truth.

Martha, Bruno. You came so far with me. Please be all right.

Did he have time to go back to Bella’s Pack and see for himself? The Moon-Dog was padding languidly across the sky, the time of no-sun coming to an end. But perhaps . . .

“Lead me to the camp,” he told them. “I really should talk to Bella. And maybe I can help Martha and Bruno.”

“She’s not finished with her mission,” Daisy yipped, her tongue lolling. “And the Sun-Dog will be up and running soon.”

Lucky whined his agreement. He did have to get back to the hunters’ den.

I’ll just have to trust Sunshine and Daisy.

“Then I guess I should get back,” he said, “before anyone wakes up and realizes I’m gone.” He licked Daisy’s ears affectionately. “When I do come back, I’ll have some great hunting tricks to show everybody. We will never be hungry again.”