Survivors The Path Of The Pack: Thunder's Journey

Chapter 5

The Sun Dog peeked across the horizon, giving the forests their first taste of morning light. A cold nose prodded Thunder who slept soundlessly next to Daisy.

"Hello?" she said groggily.

"Good morning, Thunder. Can you come here, please?" Lucky's raspy voice said.

When she realized it was her Beta who'd spoken to her, Thunder got to her paws as quickly as she could, following Lucky's golden tail out of the Patrol Den.

Lucky continued to walk, never leaving the camp but going in circles around it. "Thunder," he started, "since you're part of the pack now, you'll need a job to fulfill to earn your keep. It would be the smartest to put you as a Hunter." Thunder perked up at the idea, blinking away the last of her tiredness. "But a few dogs aren't pleased about the way you've suddenly joined our pack, and they'll think it's unfair if you started at such a high rank, so for your safety, and some dog's happiness, we'll put you with the patrol dogs."

Thunder's head drooped at the missed opportunity of an important part to play, but she brightened again when she realized that she could make friends with more dogs.

Plus, Daisy's a patrol dog! Thunder thought joyfully.

"Okay, Lucky!" she barked triumphantly, "I've accepted my job to patrol!"

Lucky hummed, "Good. Your rank is between Chase and Breeze. I'll point them out for you when they wake up. They're in the middle of the hierarchy for patrol dogs, so you aren't starting at the bottom. But watch out for Moon's pups. They won't be pleased that you're above them."

"Whose Moon's pups?"

Lucky nearly smiled, "Have you talked to any other dogs?"

"Daisy and Sunshine," Thunder said proudly.

"Of course you have, they're the sweetest. Daisy will be able to tell you. Just ask her." Lucky yawned, stopping at his den, "I have to check on my pups, Thunder, but Moon has already been notified that you're to come with the morning patrol, so she can teach you a few things."

"Alright," Thunder murmured, not bothering to ask Lucky who Moon was. She turned tail as the Beta disappeared into his den. I didn't know he had pups... Thunder thought, imagining what the young dogs looked like. Maybe I can ask when I get back from my first morning patrol...whatever that is...

Thunder stretched as the birds tweeted above, notifying the dogs in the camp that morning had arrived. The big German Shepherd watched curiously as dogs started to exit their dens. She perked up once Daisy caught her eye.

"Daisy!" she yipped, hopping over a lone branch and sniffing her new friend.

"'Morning, Thunder," Daisy yawned, stretching out each paw individually.

Thunder's tail beat the ground in wild excitement, "I get to go on my first morning patrol!"

Daisy dropped onto her belly and stretched wide, making sure her limbs were working fine. "That's great, Thunder," she yapped, "I wish I were the one to show you how to do it. But it'll probably be Moon today."

Thunder waited for Daisy to come to her paws before talking once more. "Whose Moon? I was meaning to ask anyway."

Daisy turned a circle and started to trot towards Sunshine's small den, one that perfectly fit the little Omega. "She's that big dog over there." Daisy pricked her ears toward the white Border Collie dog. The Farm Dog sat down, scratching her pointed ears with her forepaw. Only her ears and the left side of her face were black. The dog was sitting by two slightly smaller dogs who looked very similar to her.

"And I'm guessing those are her pups," Thunder said, staring at the two dogs who sat like guards by Moon.

"Yes, the male is Beetle, and the female is Thorn," Daisy answered, peeking her head inside Sunshine's den.

Thunder looked back at Thorn and Beetle. They were both built like Moon. Thorn was all black, except for her white muzzle. She was shaggy-furred and had soft brown eyes, unlike her mother's blue ones. Beetle had the same shaggy fur except it was black and white, and his eyes were the same as his sister's. They all sat close together, talking quietly.

"Hey, Thunder! How are you liking your time here?" Sunshine yipped excitedly.

Thunder turned and bent down a little so she'd be level with Sunshine, "Hey, Sunshine! And I'm loving it!"

Sunshine giggled and came to Daisy and Thunder's sides, "You're going to love it even more when you're friends with everyone!"

Thunder's smile disappeared at the thought of that. How will I be friends with everyone when Lucky warned me about Moon's pups, and then there's...

Thunder looked up to find the dog she was worried about. As she followed Daisy and Sunshine, she made eye contact with her. When their eyes met, Thunder cowered. The way Storm glared at her when she trotted was full of anger and something else... Something between annoyed and yearning.

Thunder shook herself to clear her mind as she accidentally ran into Daisy's behind. "Oops," she murmured as a familiar scent entered her nostrils. Her head swiveled to look at Lucky who approached the now large group of dogs.

"Hello, patrol dogs," Lucky barked the greeting, sitting himself by Moon. "You have a new dog joining your rank today. It's our newest addition to the pack, Thunder." A few heads turned to look at Thunder. Her gaze shied away from the attention that she was receiving. "Her rank will be placed between Breeze" –he nodded at a small Dog– "and Chase" –another small dog– "I hope this doesn't upset any of you."

The two named dogs shrugged, not really caring that the new dog was going to be keeping them apart. Thunder tried to subtly, but quickly, catch the reactions of the Border Collie mix's, Beetle and Thorn.

Beetle's jaw was slacked from his face. He stood still, ears pressed against his head. Thorn's shaggy black fur trembled in rage, her eyes sharp and burning with anger. It was obvious they weren't happy about Thunder being above their ranks.

Thunder turned to Lucky as he cast a few glances at his den. "I'll leave you to it, Moon," he growled, "you must teach Thunder everything she needs to know about being a patrol dog." Lucky swiftly turned on his paws and walked away.

Moon slowly fell to her haunches, sniffing at Thunder. She made a 'hmph' sound and cleared her throat. "I'll be the patrol leader. I'll take... Dart, Breeze, Chase, and... Thunder."

Thunder tried to stop her energetic tail from waving. Her ear twitched at the growling of two dogs. It was Moon's pups.

"Why should she get to go on the patrol?" Thorn snarled, "You promised Beetle and I that we could come!"

"Yes!" Beetle agreed hastily, "I was up all night–"

"Now, Beetle and Thorn!" came the sharp bark of a dog. Storm padded right up to Thorn's curled white muzzle and Beetle's pinned black ears. "That's no way to talk to your Mother-dog or Thunder! You should keep your opinions to yourself. Let me talk some sense into you. Both of you."

Thunder eyed Storm suspiciously as she nudged Beetle and Thorn toward her.

"Thank you, Storm," Moon said gratefully, jumping to her white paws. Thunder sucked back her growl as the rest of the dogs slinked away. She still watched Beetle, Thorn, and Storm.

Sunshine nudged Thunder encouragingly, "You've got this."

Thunder licked Sunshine's neck and turned to Moon who pointed her set muzzle at the forest. "Alright, let's head out."

×××

A

N:

Did I make Moon's pups accurate, or are they acting too mean?

And remember, if a thing that isn't canon happens and you don't like it, you don't have to keep reading (or you can push through, the choice is yours🙇🏾‍♀️)