Sweet's Journey by Erin Hunter Read Free Book Online Page A

twitching, her muzzle twisted in pain. Other dogs were milling around her, looking worried, but scared to go closer.
    Sweet pushed through their bodies. “Somebody has to get Fiery!” she barked.
    â€œHe’s out on patrol,” growled Spring nervously. “Hold on, Moon! It’ll be over soon.”
    â€œHe’ll want to be here, especially when Moon’s in pain,” said Sweet urgently.
    â€œWell, you’re the fastest,” Twitch pointed out. He had a lame leg himself—it had been like that since he was a pup—and he nudged it now with his muzzle, as if to point out the hopelessness of sending him.
    â€œBut I’m on guard!” Sweet looked desperately at the other dogs as Moon gave a series of yips, full of pain.
    To her surprise, Beta trotted to her side. “I’ll cover your area,”she growled. “Twitch is right, you’ll get to Fiery quickest. Go on, I’ll take your place.”
    Sweet had no time to express her shock—or her gratitude. Beta’s words made all her worries crumble away like a sandbank in a drought. If the red dog could put aside their differences for the good of all dogs, it seemed this was a true Pack after all. Sweet gave Beta a brief relieved nod, turned, and bolted out of the clearing.
    Fiery’s scent was not hard to pick up; when Sweet followed the usual patrol trail, she caught his odor in her nostrils straightaway. He’d been here only minutes before, she realized, leaping a fallen log and darting on. Through the next line of trees lay a broad meadow, and in the full light of the morning sun she could make out the shapes of the patrol on the low horizon. Sweet raced to catch up.
    â€œFiery!” she barked, her tongue lolling as she panted. “Fiery!”
    The lead patrol dog turned. He must have realized it was important, because he turned and trotted rapidly back toward Sweet, and she slithered to a stop on the meadow grass, gasping.
    â€œMoon’s pup-time has come. She needs you!”
    He barely hesitated. “Thank you,” he growled, then bounded off toward the forest, astonishingly fleet for such a huge dog. Sweetfollowed at his heels while the rest of the patrol stared after them.
    Sweet caught up with Fiery as they reached the edge of the trees, though it struck her that few other dogs would have been able to match his desperate speed. She let him lead the way through the undergrowth, his bulk smashing twigs and leafy branches aside, and it seemed only moments until they reached the camp’s border.
    Sweet trotted to a halt, stiff-legged and shocked. Fiery stalked forward more slowly now, snarling.
    Snap stood there, her back to the camp and her muzzle peeled back, facing down a pair of hungry coyotes.
    â€œWhat . . . ? How in the name of the Earth-Dog did they get in?” barked Fiery, as the coyotes twisted to face the new threat.
    Sweet’s heart lurched. This was the section of the camp border she’d been guarding!
    Fiery clearly had no time for fighting coyotes. He gave a deep, baying howl of anger, and the scrawny creatures, seeing instantly that they were outnumbered, panicked. Slipping and slithering, they almost fell over themselves as they fled the camp.
    Fiery didn’t give chase, but plunged straight on toward his and Moon’s den, where the yaps and howls of pain were still high and frantic. Snap rounded on Sweet.
    â€œWhere were you?” she barked.
    Sweet licked her chops, confused and afraid. “I—I had to fetch Fiery! I thought Beta was patrolling this area! She said—she told me she’d cover for me.” Her ears drooped as her breathing calmed at last. “Something must have happened. She must have been called away, Snap. I—”
    â€œOh, don’t worry,” grunted Snap through clenched jaws. She was still getting her own breath back after the panic. “No harm done, in the end. Just as well I was here,