The Dogs

Chapter Four

"We could use this place as camp." Oak suggested, nodding at the big clearing surrounded by trees. "Yeah, it's well protected and there's a pool of water over there." I point my tail to the pool of water in the shadow of a pine tree. Silver seemed in thought. "This would be a good camp. But once we have some more dogs, it would be too small for the whole group to stay. We shall stay here until we have enough dogs. Then we will go search for a new camp." Silver barked.

"Okay." I woof.

"If we get that many dogs." Oak narrowed his eyes. "We might not get that many members." Oak ruffed, twitching his ears. "True," Silver nodded in acknowledgement. "so that's why we should try our best to get some dogs." Oak glanced at the silver dog in suspicion.

"I'll go hunt with Oak." I barked quickly, trying to break the tension between his two friends. They just need time to get used to each other. I thought, leaving the camp with Oak. As they got out of earshot, Oak sighed. "I'm sorry, Gold, I wasn't trying to challenge Silver like that. I was only trying to say that not many dogs might join."

"It's okay, Oak. I understand." I ruff.

"I'll try my best not to argue with Silver, I promise." Oak swept his tail side to side.

"Thank you, Oak. You're the best." I touch my muzzle to Oak's ear. Oak smiles. "I'm just doing what I always do." Oak barks. I grin back. "Let's start hunting for our pack Alpha; Silver." I joke, Oak laughing.

We returned to our camp where Silver was making some soft leaf nests with some prey. I set down my plump rabbit in the middle of the camp, Oak doing the same with his prey. Silver looked up from his work.

"Great job hunting, you two!" he barked, wagging his silver tail.

"We could eat a lot today." I commented, Silver nodding. Just then, the ferns surrounding the clearing rustled and some whispers sounded.

"I smell multiple dogs!" One whispered. "Maybe they're those Wild Dogs King told us about!" Another replied.

They're probably pups, lost in the woods. I mused.

"King said that the Wild Dogs kill animals and eat them!" The first one barked softly. Two puppies pounced out of the ferns, one brown and the other white. The two sprang back in surprise. "They are Wild Dogs! They're going to kill us and give us to the birds!" The white pup yipped. "Uh-big dogs-can we go back to our house?" The brown pup trembled a bit, but I could sense that she was brave.

"What's your name?" Silver asked.

"I'm Cocoa, and this is my brother Puff." The brown puppy puffed out her chest with pride.

"Hey, we've just made a pack. Would you like to join?" Silver twitched his ears.

"W-What's a pack? Is it something bad?" Puff asked, his eyes wide.

"No, a pack is a group of Wild Dogs living together and helping each other." I told the pup, wagging my tail.

"Oh. Well, our owners would miss us...-" Puff's words were cut off by Cocoa. "Hey, if it weren't for our owners, we could've still been with mother! We could be free if we live in this pack!" The brown pup's tail twitched with excitement.

"Okay, if you say so." Puffed woofed, scooting closer to his littermate.

"I shall be called Branch from now on." Cocoa barked bravely. "Cocoa sounds too unwild." "Then I shall be called Cloud from now on. The name Puff makes me sound like I'm a puppy!" Puff, now Cloud puffed out his chest.

They're both very brave. Deciding what they want for themselves. Even though they're still pups, whatever they try to say. I thought, feeling proud that the two courageous pups would become a part of Silver's Pack.

Oak nodded. "They sound fierce." He complimented the younger dogs.

Silver sat down on a nearby patch of grass. "We must make it official." The silver dog announced. He cleared his throat. "Branch and Cloud have decided to join our pack, the High Trees Pack. They have shown exceptional bravery by coming to our camp. From now on. They shall become true dogs of the High Trees Pack!" Silver howled to the sky, all the others doing the same. I nuzzled the two new members of the High Trees Pack.

"Welcome to the High Trees Pack, young ones. Branch and Cloud, may we have good times." I whisper to the pups.