Murder in the Flames

Chapter Seven- Who are They?

Dasher rolled to his paws, shaking leaves, grass, and dirt from his pelt. He panted heavily, and his fur felt sticky and hot. Lucy had trained him hard, and he was tired. "Good job, Dasher," she barked, tongue lolling and tail wagging happily.

For once, Dasher felt like he belonged in the pack. I'm actually improving! I can fight now! The feeling was only short-lived. Pumpkin came trotting up, her nose and tail high. She sniffed. "Come on, newbie! Flash wants you on a patrol." Dasher felt himself stoop lower, his head down at her words.

"Lay off, Pumpkin," Lucy snapped. Pumpkin rolled her eyes.

"Chill out, Lucy. I'm just teasing the squirrel," she scoffed. Lucy sighed but didn't say anything else. Dasher trotted after the two labs, letting them take the lead. Like usual. It had been a week now since Dasher first joined. Flash had organized a raid on Sword's Camp, intending to mess everything up and steal all their prey. When they returned empty-pawed and covered in bites, nobody has even mentioned another attack. Besides increasing their scent markers and border patrols, Sword's Pack hasn't retaliated.

That was concerning.

Dasher, Pumpkin, and Lucy reached the territory patrol dogs. They were standing in a group, sniffing each other, ripping up grass, mock fighting, or just growling in excitement. Dasher looked at the dogs he was patrolling with. It was Peanut Butter the corgi, Streak the greyhound, Popper the Aussie doodle, and Cookie the border collie.

"Finally, we can get going. We need to make sure those dung-smelling dogs of Sword's Pack aren't on our territory," Peanut Butter barked, his little stumpy tail wagging. "I want to give one a good bite."

"Bite them you can do," Popper snipped. "But you wouldn't be able to follow them far with those little stumpy legs of yours."

"Woah! Stop hating on the little dogs," Peanut Butter retorted.

"Be quiet, everyone," Pumpkin snapped. "Who did Flash say was leading this patrol today?"

"Actually, he said it was you," Cookie barked.

"Well, of course!" Pumpkin barked, hiding her embarrassment. "That's what I was saying. Now, let's stop wasting time and get a move on."

Lucy trotted up to talk to Cookie, leaving Dasher to walk by himself. "Hey," he turned to see Streak the greyhound standing next to him. She looked timid suddenly, but continued to speak. "I.... haven't talked to you yet. You're the new dog, I see. I've heard that you're going to find out who killed Trickster," she barked. Dasher flicked an ear as a fly landed on it.

"I am. I've finally listened to everyone's stories," Dasher told her. Streak cocked her head.

"And.... have you gotten anything out of them?" Dasher's heart hammered. Did I? He blinked. Yes, I have. Just have to remember what Lucy and Pumpkin told me....

"Trickster was killed recently before we found his body, or else the flames would have devoured him completely and we wouldn't have known it was him. According to the memory of every dog's, the bite marks were from a dog a bit bigger than I. The flames had burned away any scent of the murderer. Lucy plans to take me to the place of his death once Sword's patrols die down a bit," Dasher barked. Streak's tail wagged, satisfied by his answer. "I heard you're our best runners," he barked, wanting to change the subject anyway. Streak ducked her head.

"I'm okay, I guess," she mumbled. "I'm nothing special, it's just the breed of dog I am." She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, then looked away again. "Sorry. I'm a bit shy, that's why I might seem weird."