“You three rest here for a while. I’ll come back for you soon. I just need to explain to the others that you’re here.”

Wiggle stared at him. “You aren’t going to leave us, are you, Lucky?”

“They won’t want us,” said Lick.

“They’ll be scared,” added Grunt, casting an accusing eye after Daisy as she bounded off through the trees.

“They won’t be scared, and they will want you,” Lucky assured them all. “Just wait here, and I’ll come and get you.” He gave them each a quick lick of the head before turning to follow Daisy and Mickey through the trees.

I hope I’m right, he thought.

“So the wanderers return.”

Alpha’s yellow gaze was icy, sending prickles of anxiety along Lucky’s back.

Lucky turned away slightly as he looked at the circle of dogs. Bella hung her head as she stood beside Dart and Spring. Large, patient Martha’s tongue lolled between her great jowls. Sweet was very still, her long face blank and her soft ears low. Bruno stood next to her, his tail hanging between his legs.

“What’s going on?” Nose yipped, but Moon silenced him with a nuzzle of her snout. Her ears fell and she exchanged a look with Fiery.

They feel bad about how they treated me, Lucky realized. Well, let them! They allowed Alpha to drive me away. It’s right that they feel shame.

The only dogs who looked pleased to see him were Snap, her wiry tail lashing the air, and little Whine, whose eyes glinted happily.

Lucky had only been away for a few journeys of the Sun-Dog, but it seemed like much longer. He felt every bit an outsider as he realized that the Leashed and Wild Dogs stood in a mixed group. When had they become so comfortable with one another?

He turned to look at Mickey, who was standing low to the ground, waiting for someone to speak. The Farm Dog’s coat was shiny against the soft grass beneath his paws. The meadow was bursting with life. Birds twittered overhead and Lucky could smell warm rabbit droppings. Here, Lucky knew he would be able to keep the promises he had made to the Fierce Dog pups about how well they would eat.

He was impressed by the new camp. The Pack had found a good spot at the foot of a sloping hill, guarded from the wind by surrounding pines and with access to clean river-water. A small meadow rolled down to some distant rocks, the rich smell of wild flowers rising on the breeze. Beyond the rocks, the forest began once more, a blur of green leaves. It was a fragrant, peaceful place. And they had settled here without him. A pang of sorrow tightened in Lucky’s throat but vanished when he returned Alpha’s gaze.