Life as a Show Dog

Chapter 11

"I can't stand up!" Lucky frantically barked from the new elders den.

"I'll help you." I yapped as I ran over. I let Lucky use me as something to lean on as Scout ran over and used his head to push him up. After a few heart beats we got Lucky up, but he immediately lost balance and started to tip over. "I'll help him walk." Scout barked to me and I let all of Lucky's weight lean on Scout. Lucky blinked thank you to me and I simply nodded my head in reply.

I trotted over to Shaylee to just check up on her, the pups were arguing as usual.

"No I want to be Alpha!" Sam howled.

"I want to be Alpha!" Sawyer yapped.

"I'll be Beta if you guys will shut up!" Shep barked.

"Language, Shepherd, don't say shut up, it's rude." Shaylee said in a gentle tone.

"Fine." Was Shepard's reply.

Sam and Sawyer just continued on arguing till a play fight broke out and Shep joined in. I walked over to the fresh kill pile and took a juicy looking rabbit. A cool breeze sent a chill down my spine, making me shiver. 

"Autumn is coming." I mumbled to myself. 

"How are we going to live through it." Scout suddenly barked next to me, making me jump.

 "I don't know, it seems as everything is becoming a mystery right now.

"I bet the pups' arguing will get even worse." 

"You think?" We both barked in laughter at my response. Lucky staggered over to us and missed a squirrel that he attempted to pick up. Lucky grunted as Scout nudged the squirrel next to him and Lucky sat down to eat it. Missing it every few bites. I glanced at Scout, concern shone in his dark, brown eyes. Suddenly Sam ran up to me and barked frantically than ran back to his siblings, who where rolling on the grown laughing. 

"Looks like a peaceful day to me." Cocoa barked as he walked up to me. 

"Yep." I nodded. The day went on and sunset soon came. I heard a bunch of painful groaning coming from some where in the camp around midnight. I stood up and yawned then headed towards the elder den. Lucky's breath was fast, shallow and he was moaning in pain. I prodded him away with a paw. His blue eyes where full of pain.

 "I'm done." He rasped. 

"Lucky, stay with us a little longer please." I panted. 

"You where a great Alpha, Jake, thank you for taking care of me, but it's time for my soul to leave this earth."

"Lucky..."

"No, Jake, I don't care, I don't want to stay here and live every day in pain. I'm ready to go."

"We'll miss you, Lucky, I'll always remember you."

"Thank you. Take care of the pack and good luck on your journey home." Lucky choked out his final words.

"Goodbye." I whined and laid my head on Lucky's side. I stayed with him for some time before dragging my feet away to tell Scout the sad news. Scout heard my coming and stood up as he saw all the sadness in my eyes. 

"He's gone." I whispered. 

"Let us wake the camp and mourn for him." Together we woke up the camp and spread the news of Lucky's death. Brutis pulled him out into the middle of the camp and everyone sat with Lucky till sunrise. When morning came Cocoa and Harvey carried Lucky's body away to bury him next to the other two deceased dogs.

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"We are a month old now. Could we please go on the journey to your home now? I don't want to wait three more months." Sam whined two days after we lost Lucky. 

"We will go when I think your ready, they key word is I."

Sam trotted back to Shaylee and started complaining.

"Three months of autumn, three months of complaining, three months of danger, three long months." I thought to myself. "Maybe we should only wait two? I don't want to travel through winter."