“You took them from the Dog-Garden? After what happened when we were trapped there? Don’t you remember how vicious those dogs were?”

Lucky took a step toward Wiggle, who looked bewildered. He nudged the pup with his nose and looked back at Daisy. “There were no adult dogs in the garden, Daisy. Only the pups. We couldn’t just leave them there.”

“Why not? Surely the Fierce Dogs wouldn’t have left their pups alone for long. They’ll start searching! Won’t they be furious? They’ll want revenge against the dogs who stole their pups!” She shuddered, her ears twitching with nerves.

“We’re right here, you know,” Lick murmured. “We can hear you!”

“Honestly, Daisy, it’s fine,” Lucky assured her, stepping alongside Grunt. “The Dog-Garden was empty. The Fierce Dogs’ scent was stale—they were not coming back. These little pups were starving and their Mother-Dog was”—he caught himself just in time—“with the Earth-Dog.”

Daisy nodded in understanding, though she still looked uncertainly at Grunt.

Lucky went on. “We couldn’t leave them there to starve. Any dog would have done the same.” He dipped his head to nuzzle Grunt between the ears. The pup didn’t respond, his body stiff as he glared at Daisy.

I hope he doesn’t do anything impulsive, Lucky thought, remembering how the pup had wanted to confront the coyotes.

Daisy took a tentative step toward them, but froze when Grunt’s lip curled back and a thin snarl escaped his throat.

“It’s okay,” murmured Lucky, lowering his snout to Grunt’s ear. “Daisy is a friend; she’s from the Pack.”

“She doesn’t seem like a friend,” Lick whined.

“A friend doesn’t say such mean things,” added Wiggle dejectedly.

Grunt fell silent, though his lips were still parted.

“Where did every dog go?” Mickey asked, casting an eye back at the rock overhang and the peaceful lake. “Why aren’t you with the others?”

“After you left, Alpha sent Beta, Fiery, and Snap out to explore. I think he was worried about food, because we hadn’t scented any prey near the camp. Spring thinks that the ground around here is too rocky for rabbits to dig their tunnels, which is why we don’t see them. So we moved to a new territory beyond the lake, by a river. It could be the same river that passes through the forest; I’m not sure. It smells clean and sweet, and the water is delicious.”