“And how can you even be brothers and sister when the four of you look so different?” A devilish smile broke over Maria’s face. “Tora, you’re a German shepherd.” A few giggles. “Harlan’s a cocker spaniel.” Chuckles now as she pointed to Argus. “And Bigfoot there, he’s your brother too? Yeah, right!” The entire room broke out in laughter.

Argus’s face was red and he looked as if he wanted to tear something, or someone, to pieces. Harlan seemed angry too, perhaps because he’d already had to deal with this sort of bullying from Jake MacKinnon. When would it ever end?

The only thing Tora could think of at the moment was how, thankfully, Noble wasn’t there to be insulted like this. And then she wondered what Noble might do in this situation. He’d keep his cool for one, and he’d keep everyone else calm, too. Then he’d say something smart to put Maria in her place.

“You can say what you want to Argus, Maria,” Tora said. “He doesn’t mind.”

Argus looked at Tora, and it was clear from his expression that he wondered where she was going with this.

But Tora ignored her brother and kept on talking. “After all, if it wasn’t for you, Maria Abruzzo, Argus wouldn’t be the second-hairiest student in school.”

The laughter doubled in volume, led mostly by Argus.

Maria wasn’t taking the joke very well, and her eyes lit up like a pair of lasers pointed straight at Tora. “You know, Tora, I bet if I went digging through your school files I’d be hard-pressed to find birth certificates for any of you.” She was smiling now. “What do you think?”

Tora was at a loss for words, and she was sure that Noble would have been just as speechless at a moment like this.

“There’s a story there,” Maria said. “Isn’t there?”

None of the pack said a word.

“I thought so.”

Principal Terashita entered the cafeteria then to supervise the lunch hour. All of the students got back to eating their lunches…everyone except for Tora, who suddenly felt sick to her stomach.

Chapter 9

The rest of the school day passed without incident, and Tora, Argus, and Harlan were eager to get home and check on Noble, then maybe go for a run to clear away the tension of the day.

“How’s he doing?” Tora asked Phyllis as they stepped into the house.

“He isn’t any better,” she said, matter-of-factly.

Each member of the pack was silent, knowing the situation was serious.

But then Phyllis’s face brightened. “But he isn’t any worse, either.”

Tora breathed a sigh of relief. At least that was something, she thought. If he wasn’t getting any worse, then maybe in a day or two he could start getting better again. It gave her and the rest of the pack some hope.

“Can we see him?” asked Argus.

Phyllis nodded. “And try to get him to drink some more.”

“Hasn’t he been drinking?” Harlan wanted to know.