Free A Pack Divided by Erin Hunter Page A

his neck where Blade had sunk in her teeth and stolen his life. No blood ran from the savage puncture marks, though. None would, Storm realized. Because—this was not real .
    It wasn’t real, but that didn’t stop her from giving a yelp of fear at the sight of Fang.
    She shifted her paws, trying not to sink further. Fang gazed at her, full of sadness.
    â€œIt’s your true self you see, Storm. The Earth-Blood never lies.”
    â€œNo!”
    â€œYes, Storm. You think you’re not as fierce as Blade, not as vicious. But how many dogs could be as brutal as she was?” He gave her a mournful smile, and the puncture marks in his neck gaped as he shook his head. “It doesn’t mean you don’t have savagery in you. Can’t you feel the rage inside? It’s there, and you know it.”
    â€œNo. It isn’t. I don’t!”
    â€œReally? Each time those dogs of your Pack look at you with fear, every time you feel their unease as you pass too close . . . you grow angry. Don’t you, litter-sister? There’s darkness within you, and you want to let it out. Why shouldn’t you? You want to strike out your claws at those mistrustful dogs, those dogs who have never had faith in you. You want to bite them, kill them, shut them up. You want them to wish they’d never—”
    â€œNO!” Struggling to turn, to tear her paws from the sucking Earth-Blood, Storm tried to run. Every step was a battle, a painful dragging agony, and as she laid each paw back on the surface it sank even further. One foreleg plunged deep into the Earth-Blood and would not move. Then the other. She felt the liquid creep slowly up her legs, tickle her neck. She lifted her head, fighting for air.
    It was no use. She was going under the Earth-Blood, and there was nothing she could do to save herself. . . .
    Storm woke sharply, on her four paws among starlit tree trunks, blood thudding hard in her ears.
    A long sigh escaped her and she closed her eyes. She’d almost stopped feeling surprised when this happened, she realized with a heavy heart. Of course she was far from the camp. Of course she had no memory of coming here. Her head sagged.
    Still. It’s good to feel solid ground under my paws again, even if I sleepwalked onto it.
    Storm gave her coat a thorough shake, then trod a circle,eyeing the trees to try to get her bearings. When her nostrils flared to snuff the early-morning breeze, she could easily detect the strong scents of her Packmates. They were close by, then; she hadn’t wandered too far.
    But why does it happen at all? No dog walks while they sleep; it isn’t possible!
    She was so tired of it, tired of having to creep back to her own camp and avoid the watchful eyes of her own friends. This is how a dog would approach the camp if it was attacking. This is how invaders would behave. But I’m not an intruder. This is my Pack!
    â€œAnd what are you doing sneaking around?” The abrupt bark was full of suspicion.
    Storm spun guiltily to face Dart. Licking her jaws, she stilled the trembling of her limbs. Don’t look ashamed , she told herself crossly. You have nothing to be ashamed of!
    Nothing except that you’re a Strange Dog, an Odd Dog, a Dog Who Walks in Her Sleep . . .
    But she couldn’t explain any of that to Dart. If she went on wearing this guilty expression, the small brown patrol dog really would think she was up to something.
    â€œNothing, Dart. I just . . . went for a walk.” That was true enough.
    Dart extended her forelegs and gave a luxurious stretch anda yawn. Clearly she hadn’t been awake for long. “Were you out hunting by yourself? Because that’s not allowed, remember.” Dart lashed her jaws with her tongue and yawned again. A light of something mean entered her dark eyes. “There are Pack rules. Beta might think you’re something special, but that doesn’t mean you can do as you like.”
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