The Endless Lake by Erin Hunter

Author:Erin Hunter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2014-02-03T16:00:00+00:00

Lucky’s foreleg was throbbing again as he pounded up the rocky incline behind Snap and Mickey. His paws slipped on the wet ground and it was an effort to keep upright. He stayed away from the cliff face, doing his best not to think about the steep descent down to the sand and the Endless Lake that crashed and churned relentlessly. He was relieved when Snap and Mickey ducked behind a large rock.

The three dogs crouched in silence, their muzzles trembling and their ears pricked. Lucky concentrated on picking out the scents of prey from the damp, salty wind. Alpha’s right: There are creatures emerging from their hiding places. Lucky detected warmth and a prickle of sweet, oily skin. It was far away, though. Too far to chase.

Snap shifted from paw to paw. “I doubt there’ll be any rabbits up here—there’s nowhere for them to burrow.”

Lucky thought this was probably true. He wondered if Alpha’s talk of a ceremony for Storm was dishonest, a way to mislead the young dog and toy with others in the Pack. I wouldn’t put it past the crafty half wolf.

Snap’s head shot up, her nose twitching with excitement. She must have picked up a scent! Lucky sniffed. An animal, not far away!

“Slowly,” urged Mickey.

Snap nodded. Lucky felt a surge of relief. The tan-and-white mongrel was usually quick to chase—he had expected her to leap out from behind the rock in pursuit of the prey. Down on the ground, if a dog missed its prey in the scramble to hunt it down, it didn’t matter—they might end up scurrying past and roll on the ground to right themselves, but it wouldn’t be dangerous. Up here they risked charging into a sheer stone wall, or worse, falling off the edge of the cliff.

The prey-scent was drawing closer. The three dogs hung by the rock so they couldn’t be seen. Lucky’s belly growled with hunger and he licked his lips.

Snap took the lead, creeping around the rock. She turned to Lucky and Mickey with a look that said, Wait for the signal. She paused, one forepaw raised, before barking, “Now!” and charging around the rock. Mickey sprang over the center of the rock and Lucky looped around the other side just in time to see Snap slam her forepaws onto a large white bird. It squawked and thrashed, one huge wing flapping while the other jerked more feebly.

The wing must be broken. That’s why it didn’t fly away. . . .

Mickey fell on the bird, holding it down with his forepaws as Snap closed her teeth around its neck. With a firm shake, the bird was dead.

Lucky sniffed it appreciatively. It was a plump creature, large enough for every dog to have at least a mouthful to eat. He licked his chops, lowering his muzzle, when a flutter of white fur caught his eye.

A rabbit!

Lucky froze. No, there was brown fur too. . . . That wouldn’t do for the Moon Pelt. It would certainly do for a meal, though.

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