Survivors The Path Of The Pack: Thunder's Journey

Chapter 13

Thunder jerked back as a rain droplet splashed directly onto her nose. She looked up to see that the Sky Dogs were beginning to get angry.

Probably because of our bickering, Thunder thought in disappointment as Lightning, another Spirit Dog who lived in the sky, began to tease them. Like they always did, the Sky Dogs would try to catch him.

I wish they would give up! They've never caught him before, and they won't catch him now, Thunder thought grumpily as she followed Ruff's hindquarters.

Their new patrol leader hadn't uttered a word since their argument. Thunder watched nervously as Ruff looked up at the sky. The little dog sighed and turned around.

"We're going back to camp. I don't want a word out of any of you."
 

* * *

Anxiety crept into Thunder's soaking fur as she arrived back to camp behind Ruff. The black dog turned to them all, narrowing her dark eyes.

"I am very disappointed in all of you," she said quietly. She turned to Beetle and Thorn, "Your mother will be hearing about this." The siblings dipped their heads in sync, sadness coming across their muzzles. Ruff turned back to address them all, "I don't know what your punishment is yet, but if I have any part of it, it won't be good."

Ruff turned and trotted away, off to tell on her patrol. Thunder glanced at her other two packmates. "Well?" she growled weakly.

Thorn only snarled a little and turned tail. Beetle stared at Thunder for a while. Thunder stared straight back, baring her teeth. Beetle slightly lowered his black and white head, "I wish we hadn't fought."

He followed where his sister had gone, not glancing back to see if Thunder had commented on his statement.

Does he feel bad? Thunder pondered, sniffing in the direction that the siblings had gone to. Maybe there is another reason they dislike me...

Thunder shook her head to clear her mind as Lightning started to kick at the Sky Dogs, resulting in the clouds having a crack of blue light appear in them.

I best get inside somewhere warm. As if she'd had a cue, Bella stuck her golden head out of her den and shook her paw to motion Thunder over. Thunder smiled at her friendliness and trotted over, welcoming herself inside Bella's den. The golden and white-furred Retriever dog was curled into a laying position. Thunder plopped down next to her. The den was very wide, big enough to fit a family of six dogs.

"Hey, Bella, why doesn't anyone else live in this den?" Thunder asked, looking around.

Bella panted happily, "Because this is a nursery. Only mother dogs and their pups usually stay here."

"That's nice," Thunder said, and she quickly added, "I'm also sorry about what happened when I was telling that story about Storm. When I offended you?"

Bella cocked her head, "Oh, you didn't offend me. The others did. I know you meant nothing about your confusion about him being a–"

"Fierce Dog," came a low voice out of a dark corner.

Thunder almost flew back out of the den and into the rain as a tall, black and tan Doberman Pinscher Dog crept to settle beside Bella. His pointed ears and stubbed tail twitched at the sight of Thunder.

"Arrow, this is Thunder, my patrol dog friend. Thunder, this is my mate, Arrow, and yes, he's a Fierce Dog," Bella introduced him calmly.

Thunder trembled a little without her noticing, "I-I thought this was a nursery for mother dogs and pups?"