“Follow me! Hurry!” Lucky headed toward the hill beyond the camp, away from the newly torn earth and the black breath that burst out of it. Sweet was right behind him, Spring and Snap by her side. Moon carried Squirm, while Fiery scooped up Nose. The Leashed Dogs were on the move too, Bella leading the way. Lucky glanced back to see if Alpha would stay put, and whined in relief to see the half wolf following the Pack, though he hung a few paces behind the others.

Lucky wove through a row of tall trees onto a rocky outcrop, small pebbles slipping beneath his paws as he skated across them. To the left, the land rolled steeply to a deep ravine. With a shudder, Lucky could just make out a jagged rock at the bottom, and a single, twisted tree stump. He could hear Sweet’s light paws as she pranced behind him.

“Keep going,” he called to the others. “Over the hill—don’t look down!”

He raced up the slope as it bent sharply to the right, the ground growing softer beneath his paws. Burrs dangled from low branches, and Lucky ducked under them to avoid their hooked pods becoming buried in his fur. This far up it was easier to run, his claws finding purchase in the grass and mossy soil.

Eventually the hill reached a plateau. Beyond it Lucky could see a new part of the forest, and smell the fragrant scent of thick green leaves. He turned with an excited yap. Sweet and Bella were on his tail but some of the other dogs had fallen far behind. Taking a few paces back and around the sharp bend, Lucky saw that Sunshine was skidding on the rocky outcrop. Some of the Wild Pack dogs were also struggling—smaller ones like snub-nosed Whine, and injured dogs, like Twitch with his bad leg. Lucky scrambled down the hill, passing Alpha, who strode silently forward, his glance set ahead and his ears pressed back.

As Lucky reached Sunshine, he saw her skid backward, her small paws scraping against the pebbles, unable to find a grip. A large stone became dislodged near her forepaw and rolled off the edge of the hill, plummeting into the ravine below. Sunshine yelped, scrambling away from the edge. She puffed herself up and tried again, pluckily attempting to mount the hill. Lucky closed his jaws gently around Sunshine’s scruff and tugged her over the worst of the rocks. As he released her, she shook her fur proudly.

“Thank you, Lucky,” she murmured. “I could have done it myself, I suppose, but . . . it’s kind of you to help me.”

“Of course,” Lucky replied. She touched his nose before dashing after the others. Lucky watched her go. She’s really grown up since the Big Growl, he thought.