Fiery was right. As Lucky had suspected, it was a particularly good evening for hunting: warm enough to draw out small animals into the open, but with a light breeze that kept the dogs’ scent from their prey. They caught two rabbits and a sleepy gopher before Fiery was content, and even as they returned to Spring and the deer, Snap caught sight of a weasel that froze and bared its teeth before losing its nerve. When it scurried into a rabbit burrow Lucky thought they’d lost their prey, but Snap wormed her way after it and reemerged with an earth-spattered head and a limp stoat in her jaws.

She’s surprisingly nimble, thought Lucky in admiration. I don’t know many dogs who could have followed a weasel down that hole. Or many dogs who would have dared. . . .

Spring, still dutifully guarding the dead deer, barked a greeting as they trotted back to her with their haul. “No trouble. A fox liked the look of this deer, but I made him change his mind!”

“Good,” said Fiery. “I knew I could count on you, Spring. Now let’s get back to the Pack. The pups are growing fast now, and Moon will be hungry.”

There was a note of fierce pride in the huge dog’s voice, and Lucky felt a new affection for Fiery—and his pups—steal into his heart. Besides, he’d seen how Spring’s rib cage swelled with pleasure at Fiery’s compliment. The big brown dog was a fine leader in all kinds of ways.

Alpha and Sweet and Fiery each have their own methods, he mused. Their ways are different. But all of them manage their parts of the Pack unchallenged. Lucky stored the knowledge away. I’m not going to be in a Pack forever, but still—there are lessons here worth learning.

It was hard work dragging the deer back to camp together with the rest of their prey, but Fiery was big enough to do most of the heavy work, helped by Lucky. He took hold of a hoof in his jaws and pulled it along, the hardness of the hoof clattering against his teeth. The other dogs gripped the smaller prey. Saliva pooled in Lucky’s mouth at the taste of deer flank, but he knew better than to risk a bite—and he was surprised to find himself unwilling to take any share before he was with his Pack. Strange, he thought, but it does feel right to wait. . . .

The feeling intensified inside him when they reached the camp, where the other dogs bounded out to greet them with delight. They barked and whined in excitement, praising the hunters’ skills and yelping with appreciation.

“Well done!” Twitch said, looking at Lucky.

“That will feed all of us—with leftovers!” Dart agreed.

“Moon will be pleased,” Fiery said smugly, letting the deer fall. “Our pups are getting big and hungry.”

Lucky’s proudest moment, though, was when Sweet padded up to him and licked his ear. “Fiery told me how much you contributed to this catch,” she murmured. “I’m glad you rose to be a hunter, Lucky.”