Survivors The Path Of The Pack: Thunder's Journey

Chapter 17

Thunder ignored the burning feeling in her gash as she sprinted toward the sound of Breeze's usually calming voice. But the yell had been frantic. The words she'd heard Scramble ask her replayed in her mind as she ignored the pain in her stomach.

"I want to go explore!"

Thunder gasped at the thought.
Explore... Oh no, Scramble, where have you gone?

The big dog's adrenaline made her move even faster as she left Mickey behind. When Breeze came into view, she slowed to a stop.

"Where is he?" she gasped between loud breaths.

Breeze whimpered and raised her paw as she dug at the ground. Thunder, confused for a moment, tilted her head at the small brown dog. The German Shepherd let her head drop onto the ground to where her ear was planted right on the dirt. A small whine could faintly be heard.

"Help! Mama! Help... Me!" came Scramble's weak, muffled voice.

Bella turned in a hazy circle as she dug at the ground. The Sky Dogs' loud growling made Thunder jump out of her fur. Breeze came up to her and let out a strained whine.

"I can smell rain coming on," she said quietly, "Scramble seems to be underground. If the rain starts piling up then..."

"Then it'll flood, and he'll drown," Thunder whispered as the first heavy raindrop hit a tan spot on her tail. She turned quickly to her rescue team. They all watched her nervously, waiting for a command.

"We have to move fast," she said lowly so Scramble wouldn't be frightened by her barking, "it won't be much longer now until it fills the ground and... We just need to be fast!"

Thunder approached where she thought she'd heard Scramble as her three packmates tried to find ways to go underground.

"Scramble," Thunder said calmly, trying to keep her voice steady so she wouldn't scare Bella's hidden pup, "do you think you can go out the way you came in? Do you remember where it was?"

Thunder slammed her ear to the ground, awaiting his answer. After a moment, his pitiful voice replied.

"Sort of. I can still go back, but there's a part that's too high to climb."

"Try your best and I'll see if I can grab you," Thunder barked hurriedly. She looked up to see that the Sky Dogs were becoming impatient with Lightning. It wouldn't be long before they would start to chase him.

And that's definitely not a good thing for us, Thunder thought with hurt forming in her chest. She called over the rest of her rescue team.

"I think he came through this hole," Thunder muttered, ignoring the urge to shake away the itchy rain from her fur. She focused on a narrow hole that was no bigger than her head. "I'll only be able to pop in for a moment. Everyone should get ready to run," she warned. Thunder turned her head as Bella came up beside her.

"I'm not leaving without seeing my pup," she growled firmly.

Thunder nodded. Breeze and Mickey stepped forward in sync. "We're not leaving either," Breeze said softly. Her tail slightly wagged, "We were all picked by you for the rescue team, so we'll all help rescue Scramble."

Thunder smiled and glanced back at the hole. "Start digging at it but back up when you hear me grab Scramble."

Thunder's packmates nodded and started to rake their stubbed claws at the ground, slowly making the hole a little wider. Thunder jumped again when Lightning threatened to hit the Sky Dogs, but he only danced past them.

We've got to hurry!

Thunder let out a shallow breath and leaned her head into the hole, lowering her pointy ears so she'd fit. "Scramble?" she called out.

Silence followed.

"...Thunder?" Scramble squeaked.

Thunder's eyes widened with hope as she saw the silhouette of the little pup.

He might hit himself while jumping over that branch, Thunder thought anxiously, staring at a thick branch that was growing inside the hole, but if he jumps high enough, I'll be able to catch him.

A trickle of water seeped onto the Thunder's paws. She looked down to see that the rain was starting to slide into the hole.

"Thunder, it's getting really wet in here," Scramble sniffled.

"I know, Scramble," Thunder said quickly, trying to hide the nervous aching in her voice. "Listen to me. You need to jump as high as you can so I can grab you since you can't climb upward. It's too wet."

Scramble's whimper echoed in the hole, "But what if I slip?"

"You won't," Thunder barked gruffly. The rain was coming to her chin. "But you have to do it now! You can't swim yet, and if you sit here you'll... Just, please hurry!"

Scramble's voice didn't reply to her.

Is he going to–

Thunder felt her heart jolt as a figure started to leap at her.

Three, two, one!

Thunder opened her mouth as the soaking wet puppy came straight into her teeth. She wagged her tail wildly, trying to signal to the others that she'd caught Scramble. Thunder backed out of the hole slowly as the rain hit her body hard.

"I've got him!" she growled through Scramble's scruff.

She almost dropped him so Bella could care for him, but Lightning hit the Sky Dogs again, still taunting them about how he was fast and they weren't.

"No time for a break!" Mickey barked over the pounding rain, "Let's get Scramble out of this storm!"

×××

AN:

Is Bella thankful for Thunder's help, or will she never trust her friend with her pup again?

Is Scramble all right?