of space, and the nursery grew to much larger size. And then, here you have it! The perfect forest!”

Midnight darted after a large Jackrabbit that sped past, leaping into a bush after it. She came out with it dangling from her jaws.

“How’s this for a first-timer?”

Rocco laughed. “Very good!”

The two returned to the Base, and King and Feather greeted them at the entrance.

“Midnight,” King called.

“Hm?” Midnight said, raising her head.

“May I have a word with you?”

Midnight nodded and followed him off to a spot where no one was around.

“Has Rocco introduced you to some of the pack members?”

Midnight nodded with a smile. “I truly think I will be happy here! They seem very friendly!”

King smiled softly. “Good, good. I’m glad.” His face became serious. “Are you ready?”

Midnight’s smile was wiped from her face in a split second. She knew she hadn’t much of a choice in her decision… “I…I think so…”

King smiled. “You’ll be fine! Trust me!”

Midnight smiled slightly and stood up. “So…when is the ceremony going to be held?”

King looked at the sky. “Right after the sun sets.” He told her, and walked off.

Midnight sat down where she was, just thinking. She knew that she would have to take on the role of the leader one day, and she knew that she would have to teach herself most of what she would know by then. Her heart pounded as the thought of battle came to mind. She knew she would be the one to give over one hundred dogs commands, and they would all expect her to give them directions that would lead them to victory.

 

 

“Everyone quiet!”

The crowd of wild dogs was quickly silenced.

Midnight watched, her whole body shaking. This was the moment. She would be the co-leader now! She wasn’t as nervous now, she was looking forward to it, actually. She would be able to fight and hunt by her father’s side.

“We gather here today in honor of our new pack member,” King turned and winked at Midnight. “Midnight.”

The pack members whispered amongst themselves.

“She is going to be the new co-leader.”

Feather walked up to Midnight’s side. Midnight smiled at her and took a deep breathe as King called her to his side.

Midnight strode up to the top of the large rock that King stood on. It hovered a good three feet above any of the other rocks in the base, and Midnight had a good view of the whole thing.

King finished the ceremony up and it was official. Midnight was the co-leader now, second in command, the deputy, the top dog apart from King. Midnight sat at the base of the large rock for a while, thinking about everything that she had learned in the few days she’d been with the pack. She had found her father, most importantly, and she had found out who Feather’s sister was, she met her uncle, but there was one person she wanted to meet that she wasn’t sure existed. One of her siblings. She had witnessed all of their deaths, but she had also been told her father was dead, and if he’s alive, who knows? One of her siblings could be alive, waiting for Midnight.

Midnight lay down and groomed herself, and settled down for a nap. She slept for a good hour or two, and then woke to the sound of Feather’s voice in her ear. Midnight slowly opened her eyes and stood up.

“Well, Sleeping Beauty decided to come out of her dream land?”

Midnight lay back down. “It’s late, Feather. I’m tired!”

Feather snorted and lashed her tail around in Midnight’s face. “Well, you have a few chores to get done!”

Midnight sneezed and stood up. “Okay! Okay! What is it?”

“King needs you to go with Rocco and Socko to hunt. We’re running a little low on food for Kimmey, and she’s got pups.”

Midnight nodded and walked off towards the exit. She looked over her shoulder. “Hey, Feather, who is Socko?”

Feather nosed towards a blue-gray Jackal with a missing leg, and walked away.

Midnight strolled over to the two dogs, and dipped her head in greeting. “Hello Rocco, and Socko.”

Rocco licked her snout in greeting and stood up. “Shall we?”

Midnight nodded and they walked out the exit. The three dogs ran towards the border of the territory, about eight miles out.

“So, Socko, are you new as well?” Midnight asked, jokily.

“Yes, I was abandon.”

Midnight cocked her head. “Abandon? By what? Humans?”

Socko nodded. “I don’t know who my parents are. I was taken away by Humans when I was very young. They used me as a guard dog for a long time, until they were robed. The thieves took a lot of their money and goods, and they whipped me and one of them shot me…” She glanced at her leg. “That’s how I lost my leg…”

Midnight smiled. “Well, I hope you’re happy here. We will never treat you in such cruel manner.”

Socko smiled. “Thank you, leader.”

Midnight looked away and took up the lead. She lead the group far from the base, to a place where there were no bushes or water sources.

“Where are you taking us, Midnight?” Rocco questioned, noticing the sudden change in environment.

“To the lizards.” Midnight told him, screeching to a halt in the dry sand. Her ears perked up at she heard a whisper from the sand. She smiled. “We are here.”

Rocco sniffed the air. “She’s right. There is food near by. Good work, Midnight!”

Midnight smiled as her uncle praised her. “They may be small, but one can give you enough energy to travel for over twenty miles. Me and Feather learned that one on our journey!”

They all laughed, and then split up and began the search for food.

Midnight sniffed the sand and sneezed. She followed the scent of a large reptile towards a hole in the ground. “Rattle Snake…” She muttered. “Gonna have to be cautious…” She told herself. The venomous snake could easily kill her will on small bite. The venom was enough to kill a human, but Midnight was very experienced with hunting dangerous reptiles.

Midnight skillfully reached her paw into the hole. The snake would be sleeping at this time of day, and she was quick to snatch it by the tail and fling it into the open, blocking its entrance to the hole. She quickly grabbed it right in the back of the head and beat it on the ground. She finally flung it into the air. The snake hit the ground, motionless.

Midnight smirked in satisfaction and picked up the snake and sniffed around for more food. She picked up the scent of a small lizard. Midnight was quick to track it down, and killed it easily. She picked it up, along with the snake, and trotted towards where Rocco was hunting. She sniffed the air in search of Rocco, and picked up the scent of a mouse. She darted stealthily towards it and killed it with ease. With the three kills in her jaws, she decided she’d done her share of hunting and she strolled over to Rocco, who was busy with a strange lizard.

Rocco glanced at Midnight. “Ah, Midnight, I see you were successful.”

Midnight laughed. “Yes…and, um, what is that?”

Rocco laughed. “I’m not sure…but whatever it is its prey.” He yelped in surprise as a shoot of blood wet his snout.

Midnight dropped her kills and walked over to him.

Rocco pawed at his snout. “It shot blood from its eye!” He whimpered and backed away from the reptile.

Midnight laughed. “Come on. We better leave that…thing to its business.”

Rocco nodded quickly and walked away to find Socko.

Socko trotted up to meet Midnight and Rocco with a scrawny rabbit and two snakes in her jaws.

Midnight smiled. “I see you were successful!”

Socko dipped her head. “The rabbit’s a bit scrawny, but its still something!”

The group headed back to Base. It took them a pretty long time to get back, but they made it at sunrise. Midnight lead the group to where Feather and Rose were having a conversation with the mothers. Midnight tapped Feather on the shoulder with her paw.

“Ah! Midnight! You’re back! Took you quite a while…all night! Anyway, what’s the kill?”

Midnight signaled for Socko to drop her catch off. Midnight set her catch in front of Feather’s paws.

Feather nodded. “Very good…quite a surprise to see a Rattle Snake though!”

Midnight’s eyes shone with pride. “Well, I’ll go see if I can meet a few more pack members.” Midnight stood up and trotted over to Rocco.

Rocco stood up as Midnight reached him and the two walked over to a bunch of elderly dogs. Midnight didn’t recognize their breed, but she knew she was about to find out.

“Midnight,” Rocco barked as they reached the two. “This is Shep.”

Midnight dipped her head.

Shep smiled in greeting. She appeared to be a younger creature in the group, probably looking after the elderly. “Hello, Midnight. I hear you are the co-leader now?”

Midnight smiled and nodded. “Yes, that’s right.”

Shep wagged her tail. “It’s a pleasure to be acquainted to you!”

Rocco looked down at Midnight. “Shep is a German Sheppard and Border Collie mix.”

Shep smiled and turned back to an elderly Akita Inu.

“That’s JoJo.” Rocco said signaling to the Akita.

Midnight nodded.

Rocco introduced her too three other elders, Sheila, a female Wolf Hound, Lily, a female Chihuahua, and Duke, a male Rat Terrier.

 

Midnight yawned as she headed back to a small nest she’d built in her spare time, with Shep’s help. She lay down in it, looking at Shep’s nest next to her own. She lay her head on her paws and waited for her to come, in need of a good conversation.

 

 

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