Free The Empty City by Erin Hunter Page B

terrible war in the clouds, where Sky-Dogs fought to the death over and over again, and Lightning the swift dog hero teased Earth-Dog by tearing through the sky leaving fire in his wake. There was very little that frightened Lucky, but he hated to be outside when the sky burst its clouds....
    He’d hesitated too long, and he could feel Bella’s warmth, her flanks close against his. She didn’t look at him, but watched the warring black skies, too.
    â€œStay with us, Lucky,” she said at last. “Just for a while?”
    For a long moment he couldn’t answer. He thought about the loneliness he’d felt when he woke this sunup, and the empty realization that Sweet was no longer there. He remembered the warmth and tumble of the Pup Pack, the smell of Squeak cuddling up beside him as they slept. And now Squeak was Bella, and she was beside him again, different but the same....
    â€œOkay,” he said at last, slowly. “Just for a little while, though.”
    She gave a loud bark of delight, and suddenly she was down on her forepaws, then leaping up, tumbling into him. Unexpected joy fizzed through Lucky’s body and he rolled with her, jumping up and spinning in a circle, then letting her chase him back toward the little Pack.
    The others looked thrilled. Daisy darted forward, yapping and colliding with Bella, and solid old Bruno knocked the little dog playfully sideways so that she and Sunshine fell in a heap. Then they were all chasing and barking and play-fighting, as if they didn’t have a care in the world.
    An empty longpaw mall was the best place in the world for a game, Lucky decided as he dodged Martha’s lumbering pounce. Mickey dropped his precious leather item to grab a fallen longpaw fur, shaking it like a rat, and then Bruno had seized it, too, and the two dogs were rolling around in a chaotic tug-of-war.
    Lucky watched happily until he felt Bella cannon into him and the littermates wrestled in a squirming heap.
    â€œAre you all right?” panted Bella breathlessly.
    â€œOf course! Come on!” Lucky sprang for her again.
    Even Sunshine joined in, yelping wildly and spinning, trying hopelessly to jump on Martha and knock her over. Chasing Mickey in circles, Lucky spotted piles of the metal pots the Food House longpaw cooked with. He’d always liked the noise of those! Lucky plunged into the middle of the stacks, and the pots went flying with a most satisfying, deafening racket.
    At last, exhausted, the dogs lay down panting one by one. Sunshine had found a pile of silk cushions; Mickey lay contentedly beside her. Lucky stretched out on the cold, hard floor, watching them all. As Daisy flopped beside him, he gave her ear an affectionate lick.
    â€œLucky, come up here!” Bella’s head hung over the edge of a longpaw seat, her ears pricked.
    Uncertainly he rose and put first one paw, then the other, against its soft cowhide body. He sprang onto it and curled up beside Bella, who gave a happy little whine and licked his nose.
    Lucky closed his eyes, tilting his head up to wish for a good sleep. Moon-Dog, watch over us....
    â€œWhat are you doing?” Bella’s surprised voice broke into his reverie.
    â€œWhat am I—?” Lucky paused, dumbfounded. “I’m getting ready to sleep....”
    â€œYou are ready to sleep.” She stared at him as he turned three times.
    Lucky stopped turning and cocked his head at her curiously. Didn’t Bella prepare for rest properly? He lowered his head, sniffing dubiously at the longpaw seat, then met her eyes.
    â€œStop fidgeting, Lucky,” she said softly.
    â€œI can’t help it.” He shifted position, trying to settle.“This is just too comfy....”
    â€œNo such thing.” She yawned. “You’ll get used to it quickly, believe me!”
    Lucky thought about that for a few moments. “You must have been happy with your longpaws,” he said