Sweet's Journey by Erin Hunter Read Free Book Online

narrow and I cut through the air. No one can catch me!’
    â€œThen the Alpha Wind-Dog said, ‘Sky-Dogs! You’ve seen for yourselves how the Hare taunts me! Give me legs that are longer than the Hare’s. Give me and all my children the longest legs, and make us thin and narrow so that we cut through the air even faster than that trickster!’
    â€œThe Sky-Dogs knew that as long as the Hare had the longest legs, he would never give them the proper respect. So they agreed to the Alpha Wind-Dog’s request. They made her legs longer thanthe Hare’s, and they made her body even thinner and narrower than his. And the next time the Hare challenged the Wind-Dog, she ran him down! She pounced, and held him in her jaws and said, ‘Now you must run from me and from all my children, because we will never stop till we catch you.’
    â€œAnd the Fastest Hare realized he was beaten. He begged the Alpha Wind-Dog’s mercy and was humbled. From that day on, all of his children had to run from the family of the Wind-Dogs.”
    Sweet sat back happily, her tongue lolling, and basked in the admiring stares of the other Pack members.
    â€œWow,” said Spring. “I haven’t heard that story before.”
    â€œYou haven’t heard it,” sneered a familiar voice, “because Sweetie made it up. There’re no such Spirit Dogs as the Wind-Dogs! I’ve never heard such nonsense.”
    Sweet stared coolly at Beta as the red dog slunk into the circle. For once, her belly didn’t twist with anger. You can’t provoke me now, Beta , she thought, any more than the Fastest Hare can taunt the Alpha Wind-Dog. I’m part of this Pack, and these dogs know it .
    Contented, she glanced around at the others, waiting for one of them to speak up, to confirm the truth of her story.
    But all her Packmates did was exchange nervous glances, or stare at the forest floor. Sweet’s eyes widened as the silencestretched. She shot a look at Fiery, but even he was avoiding her eyes. He licked a paw, and made a rumbling sound in his throat, and scratched his ear.
    Sweet felt as if there was a stone in her belly. It’s this Pack , she realized. This Pack, and its rigid rules. They’ll complain about how mean Beta is, but only in private. They’ll never contradict her, or tell her she’s wrong. . . .
    With a heavy heart, Sweet lay down and stretched out her forepaws, pretending nonchalance, but her mind was in turmoil.
    Did I make the wrong decision, joining this Pack? Was all the effort worth it?
    But what was the alternative?
    To be all alone in a changed, broken, empty world . . .

CHAPTER SEVEN
    Sweet had too much time the next morning to gnaw at her worries, turning them over and over in her skull. She’d been detailed to the sunup corner of the camp and told to keep watch for a group of strange dogs, strays that had been scented but never fully seen. Alpha was so concerned, he’d told the hunters to join the patrol dogs for now, making sure the camp was fully guarded.
    â€œWe have to be particularly vigilant,” Alpha had told her. “I’m relying on you, Sweet.”
    And she had kept a close watch on every shadow and every movement in the forest, but that didn’t provide enough distraction from her worries about her place in the Pack. Will I ever really fit in here? It’s so different from my swift-dog Pack. What was that sound—a snapping twig? I wonder if Beta will ever soften her opinion of me. . . .
    A high, agonized howl shattered Sweet’s thoughts, sending her leaping to her paws. Despite the awfulness of the sound, sherecognized the voice.
    Moon!
    Fiery’s mate must be about to give birth to her pups, Sweet realized as she raced back to the camp. But something must be wrong for her to cry out like that—
    Sure enough, when Sweet broke out of the trees, she saw Moon lying on her flank, legs stiff and