The Broken Path by Erin Hunter

Author:Erin Hunter
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2013-04-07T16:00:00+00:00

As Spring had predicted, Alpha was in a far better mood by the time Lucky and Lick returned to the Food House. He sat up and barked a gruff welcome as the last two members of the hunting party carried their rats into the room and laid them on the prey pile. Stepping back to view the rats stacked there in the center of the room, Lucky’s mood lifted as he realized just how well they had done.

“A successful hunt,” barked Alpha. “Though it was unwise to split up at the end. Stay together from now on.”

He can’t resist a criticism, thought Lucky, but for once Alpha’s complaints didn’t seem important.

With so much prey to go around, the sharing of food was calm and disciplined. Dogs chatted amiably as each waited for their turn, and Lucky noticed Martha murmuring to Mickey. The conversation seemed to cheer the Farm Dog up, and his eyes lost their faraway expression as his tail tapped the floor.

When it was Lucky’s turn to select a rat, he suppressed a shiver. He could ignore the greasiness of its fur and the clinging smell of rotten longpaw-spoils; after all, he was ravenous. Closing his eyes, he chewed into its flesh. Not quite as bad as he’d expected . . .

“You must be hungry, Omega,” Moon told Sunshine, her voice kind. “But there will be plenty left; don’t worry.”

“I know,” yapped Sunshine, sitting pertly with her furry ears pricked. “I don’t mind waiting.”

“Just as well,” grunted Whine, but without his usual sneery hostility.

“Where did you go this afternoon, Mickey?” asked Bella.

Beetle put in, “For a walk. To stretch his muscles. Didn’t you, Mickey? He met us on the way back from the hunt.”

“That’s true.” Mickey gave him a grateful look, then stepped forward to take his share of the rats.

“Hmph,” growled Alpha. “Dogs wandering off alone, splitting up on a hunt—discipline is slack in this longpaw-place. Don’t imagine that will be tolerated forever.”

“Alpha’s right,” said Sweet. “You all need to take more care. The Fierce Dog Pack is still out there, and now there’s the threat of Terror as well. We can’t let our guard down and start acting like Leashed Dogs.” Martha and Daisy were in her eye line, and she shot them a meaningful glance.

“Of course not, Beta,” said Martha meekly.

“Is Omega finished eating? Good.” Sweet stood up. “We should howl now. And then get a good night’s rest.”

Alpha stretched, raking scratches in the hard floor with his claws. “Outside. There can be no proper Great Howl in this . . . longpaw cage.” He glanced at their surroundings, his muzzle curling with disdain.

It’s shelter, not a cage, thought Lucky, and we should thank the Sky-Dogs for it. But he rose and padded out into the street with the rest of the Pack.

The sky was still cloudless and clear, frosted with stars, and the Moon-Dog cast distinct shadows from the walls of the longpaw settlement. Alpha padded out to where the silver light shone full on the hardstone, then waited for his Pack to gather around him.

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