wide. He was taken aback by a sudden scornful disdain. No, his sister really wasnât an Alpha dog.
But the others were no better. Mickey had sprung to his feet, staring. Daisy was yapping wildly in sympathy, and suddenly the others joined in.
âWeâll go back to the longpaw houses!â
âNo, we can find a vet! Find a vet!â
âWhere? Where will we find a vet? Theyâre ALL GONE!â
âThe longpaws are all gone! What will we do ?â
Snapping out of his disbelief, Lucky jumped to his feet and gave a single angry bark.
âCalm down !â
Falling silent, they stared at him. He thought back to the longpaw heâd seen with the vivid yellow coat. Should he tell the dogs about his encounter? But that longpaw had been so ⦠strange. No, it would only confuse mattersâmake them think there was a longpaw around to help.
He stood straighter. âI donât know what a vet is, but Iâm sure Sunshine doesnât need one. Let me see.â
Tentatively, her flanks quivering, Sunshine crept forward and shyly offered him her paw. Lucky sniffed at it. There was a smear of blood, sure enough, but it was no more than a tiny tear in the skin. He touched it delicately with his tongue.
âHere, itâs just a scratch. Thatâs all. Iâll show you.â Lying down, Lucky stretched out his own wounded paw, turning the pad up for their examination, and there was a collective gasp of horror.
âThatâs terrible!â squeaked Sunshine. âYou need a vet more than I do!â
âNo I donât,â said Lucky in exasperation. âItâs only bad because I havenât stopped long enough to tend to it. Look.â He licked carefully at the wound. Sure enough, it felt better already. Maybe if I had given it more attention before, I would have had an easier time getting away from those foxes , he thought. He licked at it again. âCome on, Sunshine. Try it.â
Obediently Sunshine bent her head and licked rather dubiously at the scratch on her own paw. When nothing terrible happened, she tried again, and was soon washing it quite painstakingly.
âYouâre right,â she whispered in awe. âIt doesnât sting as badly. It does feel better.â She stopped licking to gaze admiringly at Lucky. âHeâs right, everybody!â
âYou see?â he barked. âYou donât need a silly longpaw vet!â
They were all staring at him in respectful silence. He met their eyes, feeling a ripple of unease in his fur.
âThatâs wonderful,â murmured Martha, lowering her big black head and tilting it to study Sunshineâs paw.
âFine job. Fine job!â growled Bruno. âSplendid!â
âYouâre so clever !â exclaimed little Daisy. âI canât believe you knew that!â
Mickey said nothing, but he looked profoundly impressed. Even Bella was gazing from him to Sunshine and back again, with delight. Six tails wagged and thumped.
Oh no you donât! thought Lucky. Iâm not your Alpha!
Hastily he rose again, and backed off a step. âListen, IâIâm really grateful you helped me out there. You were the best!â He retreated another couple of paces, his hackles rising. âBut Iâve got to go. Thank you, again. And good luck!â
Before any of them could react, he had turned and was trotting as fast as he could out of the mall. He could feel their stunned gazes, could almost sense those drooping tails and ears, but he wouldnât look back. Would not look backâ
Lucky came to a halt. Outside, the sky had turned a dark charcoal gray, heavy with water. Even as he hesitantly lifted a paw to leave the mall, brilliant light lit the street for a fraction of an instant, and then a colossal bang shook the world.
Lucky froze.
Lightning!
In a second there would be battering water, falling in torrents from the sky. The shattering crash of a