Storm of Dogs by Erin Hunter Read Free Book Online

escape. The rest of theFierce Dogs closed in behind him. As Dagger butted him closer to the rocks, Lucky spotted a shadowy opening. A cave! It cut downhill, through the cliff. Lucky felt a rough shove against his flank, and he slid down the incline, kicking up pebbles. It was dark and dank in the cave, and it smelled sharply of the attack dogs.
    This must be where they’ve made their new lair.
    Lucky had no choice but to shuffle along the tunnel. Mace snapped at his flank, drawing him deeper into the lair. As Lucky’s eyes adjusted to the darkness, he stared around desperately but could see no gaps or cracks of light along the stone walls.
    â€œHurry up, Street Mutt!” snarled Mace, slamming Lucky’s flank with his forepaw and sending him smacking into the wall.
    Lucky whined as pain shot through his shoulder, and he scrambled forward. The tunnel bent like a dog’s leg, growing darker. Lucky could hardly see where he was going, but the smell of the Fierce Dogs was all around him. The Pack must have come here when the longpaws returned to the town, he realized. They’ve probably been watching us for days.
    He cursed himself. How had he missed their odors on the icy air? “Move forward, you clumsy idiot!” snapped Mace.
    Lucky quickened his stride. Here, a few chinks in the cave ceiling let in the faint light of the Moon-Dog, who had appeared between the clouds. Lucky squinted. There was something up ahead—it looked like a dark pool. As he drew closer, he could see it was a steep drop. He froze, his heart slamming against his ribs. In the weak light, he couldn’t make out the bottom. They’re going to push me to my death! he realized with cold horror. The others will never find out what happened to me. Sweet will call for me, and I won’t be there . . . . He tried to conjure up an image of the Forest-Dog, to call him for help, but it was impossible to imagine trees down here in the musty air.
    Lucky felt breath on the back of his neck, and his fur stood on end. Mace’s muzzle was close to his ear. “I said, forward! ”
    There was a scuffle of paws, and Lucky turned to see Blade pressing alongside Mace, her eyes glinting with satisfaction. Her voice was silky. “This has been a long time coming,Street Mutt. Do you have any last words?”
    â€œDon’t do this.” Lucky was ashamed of the whine in his voice. No: She wouldn’t force him to be a coward. He swallowed down a mouthful of spit. He wouldn’t beg for mercy. “I have nothing to say to you.”
    There was a note of disappointment in Blade’s voice. “So long, Mongrel!” She lurched at him, her teeth bared. Lucky sprang back instinctively, his paws scrambling for a moment above the dark drop. He fell with a bark, his legs flailing. His head hit the ground with a jolt of pain. Then he felt nothing.
    The air smelled of ashes and bitter smoke. Lucky looked out over the broken longpaw city. Fires crackled on street corners, despite the driving rain that fell from the Sky-Dogs. Gray dust swirled in the air and caught in Lucky’s throat. It shifted in dark palls, blocking out the light of the Sun-Dog. Somehow Lucky knew he would never feel the dazzling warmth of the Sun-Dog again—that the great Spirit Dog had retreated to the edges of their world.
    Fierce Dogs marched side by side along the broken streets. Their sharp barks cut through the air and Lucky whined in fear, but they ignored him as they passed, as though he was invisible.
    Lucky trembled under the rain, searching for shelter. He passed the Food House where he used to beg for scraps. But there were no scraps—the longpaws had long since gone. The city belonged to the Fierce Dogs now.
    No dog should “own” the city, thought Lucky. Why doesn’t the Earth-Dog growl again to chase them away, or teach them a lesson? He tapped the ground with a forepaw, and his tail clung to his flank. He