Free The Good Dog by Avi Page A

mouthing each other excitedly. Then, tongueslolling, panting, they stood free and faced each other, tails wagging.
    Aspen barked, “I thought this was supposed to be serious.”
    McKinley leaned forward and licked her nose. “Always time for fun.”
    Aspen opened her mouth and gently bit his muzzle. Then she flopped down and rolled onto her back while whimpering softly. McKinley pushed his nose into the folds of skin around her neck and gave her an affectionate nip.
    Aspen spun over, and for a minute they gazed into each other’s eyes, tails slowly wagging.
    It was McKinley who broke away to look back up the hill. “We better get going.”
    Aspen barked her agreement.
    McKinley climbed to the spot where they last had a whiff of the wolf’s scent. “This way!” He began to follow the trail again toward Buffalo Pass. Aspen kept a step behind.
    After a while she paused. “I think Lupin’s lost a lot of blood.”
    McKinley growled. “She’s sure slowed down. She can’t be too far from here.”
    Aspen held back. “McKinley, do you really think she’d attack you?”
    â€œDon’t know. When I first met her she was really angry. But now she’s hurt, probably weak. If she were a dog . . . but she’s a wolf.”
    They pressed on, coming to an area so thick with pines, most sunlight was blocked out. The air was chilly.
    McKinley stopped. “Hold it!”
    Aspen drew even with her friend. “What is it?”
    â€œSee that huge pine tree that’s fallen over straight ahead? The one with the roots exposed?”
    â€œWhat about it?”
    â€œCan’t you sniff it? Lupin’s trail leads right there. I smell water, too. Must be a little creek nearby. If I were hurt and looking to hide, I’d want to be near water, wouldn’t you? She must be close. Come on.”
    â€œMcKinley, careful . . .”
    Nose to the ground, though occasionally looking up and around, McKinley moved forward.
    Near the fallen pine he halted. When the tree fell, its roots had ripped out of the earth.
    McKinley moved forward cautiously. “There’s some sort of hole under those roots. And a strong smell of blood. I think Lupin is hiding there.”
    Aspen lifted her nose. “Doesn’t smell like death.”
    They drew within a dog’s length of the roots, then sat.
    After a moment McKinley barked by way of greeting. “It’s me, Lupin. McKinley!”
    When there was no response he barked again. “Lupin, we’ve come to help. Can you hear me?”
    From the hole beneath the torn-up roots a low growl sounded.
    Aspen stood up, whimpered, and took a step back. McKinley barked again. “We really want to help!”
    As they watched the hole, two eyes appeared, staring out from the darkest shadow. Lupin. Her mouth was open. Her teeth glistened. “What do you want, dogs?” she snarled.
    McKinley stood.
    Both dogs lowered their heads with respect and let their tails droop.
    â€œLupin, I’ve come to help,” McKinley tried again. “Are you badly hurt?”
    â€œYour humans shot me.”
    Aspen barked, “You’ve lost a lot of blood, haven’t you?”
    Lupin glared at her. “Who are you?”
    â€œMy name is Aspen. I’m McKinley’s friend.”
    â€œMcKinley’s friend . . . I tried to help his friend, Duchess. But a slave dog led his master to where we were.”
    McKinley growled. “That was Redburn. I tried to keep him from doing it.”
    â€œYou failed, dog.”
    â€œI know that. Lupin, how badly hurt are you?”
    â€œI’ve bled some. My shoulder is in pain, and it’s hard for me to move. I’m hungry, too. There’s a creek just over there. It’s as far as I could go. This is what comes of dealing with your humans. McKinley, why do they hate wolves so? Is it because we refuse to be their