Cody, Jett, Sophia, and Tarragon paddled back to the island, all with prey tightly clamped in their jaws. Tarragon had taken a fall of his own into the stream, but he had caught a fish. Sophia hadn't, but Dallas had a rule that no dog should come back empty-jawed, so she had caught a duck on the way back. And even though she hadn't been able to land a fish, she was glad that she wasn't the only Lake Pack trainee to fall into the stream.

The rest of the pack was lying around the island, eating and talking. Sophia padded over with her duck to where her older twin brothers, Bronze and Jarvis, were sitting.

Jarvis looked up and wagged his tail, smiling. "How was the hunt?" he asked, scooting over to make room for her.

"Pretty good," Sophia replied, setting her duck down. "I didn't catch a fish... and I fell into the stream."

Jarvis looked like he was about to start laughing, but Bronze shot him a look and said, "That's all right. Jarvis fell in more times than I care to count."

"Hey!" Jarvis dove at Bronze, who tried to duck behind Sophia. She laughed and jumped out of the way, watching the two tussle. They were a year older than her and had practically raised her after their parents passed away. Even though they were twins, they were quite different. Jarvis was more inclined to jokes and merriment and was very laid-back. Bronze, on the other hand, was usually quiet but could have a dangerous temper at times.

"Can't a dog even eat in peace?" snapped Donovan, a Bloodhound that was sitting nearby. "Save the wrestling for later!"

Jarvis rolled away from Bronze, smiling innocently. "Of course, anything you say!" He quickly hopped back to Sophia and sat back down, looking like he was completely well-behaved.

Rolling his eyes, Bronze sat down also. "The Hunter's Moon is tomorrow," he commented. "I wonder how the other packs have been faring."

"It's been a good summer," Jarvis said. "The birds have been very plump." With this, he glanced meaningfully at Sophia's duck. She smiled, catching his hint and pushing it towards him.

"I meant to ask Cassidy if I could go this time," Bronze said. "I don't know why she wouldn't let me before."

"Because you picked a fight with a dog, obviously," Jarvis barked around his mouthful of duck.

"He picked a fight with me," Bronze growled. "The dirty Night Pack mutt called me a soggy-furred goose-chaser. You didn't expect me to take an insult like that, did you?"

"But we're supposed to be peaceful at Hunter's Moons," Sophia objected. "We're all supposed to be one pack for that night."

"Then it's still his fault!" snapped Bronze. "He was insulting his "packmate." I bet he got off scot-free, too."

"You can't know that," Jarvis said, his mouth still full. "He probably got punished too. Just let it go, Bronze. Cassidy will probably let you go."

Sophia took a bite of the duck, feeling comforted again by her brothers' easy conversation. The nightmare was beginning to grow foggy in her mind, and she was relaxing more and more. And when she went to sleep that night, she had no dreams.

~

Dusk was falling, and the setting sun was casting its last rays over the lake waters, stained orange by the fading light. Cassidy, the Bloodhound alpha of Lake Pack, stood on the island's edge, her solid frame outlined by the sunset.

"Reed, Jarvis, Flutter, Seth, Tarragon, Sophia," she barked, her tone commanding, "and Bronze. "You're all coming tonight. Sleep well, the rest of you."

The remaining dogs called their goodbyes and Sophia trotted beside her brothers as the crowd made their way off the island. She noticed that Bronze looked relieved, probably because Cassidy had chosen him to go, rather than prolonging his punishment. It was an unspoken rule that a pack could only bring ten dogs per hunt, in order to ensure that there weren't too many dogs hunting at once.

The pack slid noiselessly into the water and paddled toward the territory of Wind Pack, who was hosting the Hunter's Moon this time. It changed each full moon; next time, Night Pack would host it, then Storm Pack, then Frost Pack. Lake Pack and Earth Pack never hosted it because the other four packs couldn't hunt in the water, and no pack but Earth Pack could fit in the tunnels. Sophia had always wished that Lake Pack could host a Hunter's Moon, but, unfortunately, it would never be.

Cassidy and Dallas led the way to Lake Pack's single treeless shore: the meadow that was home to the fleet-footed collies and herding dogs of Wind Pack. A group had already gathered near the shore, and they rose as Lake Pack came out of the water, shaking out their wet fur.

"Greetings, Cassidy, Dallas," called Gabriel, a red Australian Kelpie who led Wind Pack. "How goes things in Lake Pack?"

"Well," Cassidy replied, taking a seat next to her fellow alpha and talking more quietly with him. Lake Pack began to mingle with Wind Pack. Sophia and Tarragon went to look for other trainees.

Two Aidis, one grayish-brown and the other brindle brown and white, looked to be around their age. The brown-and-white one, a female, sat up as they came closer. "Hello!" she barked. "I think I saw you last time. Sophia and... Thyme, right?"

"Tarragon," Sophia corrected with a smile. "But close."

Tarragon looked slightly annoyed at his name getting mixed up, but he merely said, "And you were Mira and Dann, am I correct?"

"Nope." The Aidi grinned. "Mhera. But this is Dann; his real name is Dannflor, but we only call him that when he's in trouble." Her eyes sparkled with mischief.

Dannflor, the grayish-brown dog, rolled his eyes. "Pleased to meet you," he said to Sophia and Tarragon, dipping his head politely.

"You too," Sophia smiled, but their conversation was interrupted as Night Pack came pounding into view. In the lead was Gannon, the powerful Doberman alpha and his beta, Finn, a stocky Bull Terrier.

The big, burly dogs of Night Pack began to mix in with the other dogs. Sophia always wondered how they could keep warm with their short, sleek coats; she was sure she would freeze without her own thick, water-resistant fur.

She scanned over the passing dogs, idly wondering which dog it was that Bronze had fought. She hadn't been at the Hunter's Moon at the time of this incident, and so didn't know what the dog looked like.

Night Pack had not been there long when Storm Pack appeared on the rise. Aaron, a fawn-and-black German Shepherd, was alpha of this pack. Sophia knew he was young and new to this position; Storm Pack's old leader, Kestrel, had died not long ago.

At almost the exact same time, Earth Pack's group of stout terriers arrived, led by Cordan, a Norwich Terrier. The moon was rising in the sky and nearly all the packs were there.

"This is boring!" Mhera complained. "When is Frost Pack getting here?"

"They do live on the other side of the lake," Dannflor pointed out.

"They'd save time if they just swam across the lake," remarked Tarragon. "Cassidy wouldn't care."

"I'm pretty sure she would, actually," Sophia said quietly. Cassidy was a reasonable dog, but Sophia doubted that she would like a bunch of Frost Pack dogs scaring away all the fish.

Mhera wrinkled her nose. "Why would a dog swim if you didn't have to? I hate when my fur gets wet."

Tarragon and Sophia exchanged a glance but said nothing. It wasn't long before the final pack arrived, led by Martin, a Northern Inuit Dog. The alphas congregated, spoke for a few moments, then faced the packs. They would share news, the preceptors would say a prayer, and then the hunt would begin.

"All is well in Wind Pack," Gabriel barked. By tradition, the hosting pack always spoke first. "Our prey is plentiful, but some dogs have scented wolves around the borders."

"Wolves?" Martin frowned. "There haven't been wolves in this territory since before any of our fathers' fathers were born."

"We scented them too," Gannon added. "Do you think it means anything?"

"It could be a small pack, passing through," Aaron said dismissively. "We haven't scented them. There haven't been any extraordinary events in Storm Pack. The food is plentiful, as it is for all of us, I'm sure."

"Yes, it is," piped up Cordan, who had been silent. "Earth Pack fares well this summer."

"As does Frost Pack," Martin said. "But we are sorry to report that my beta, Nanuk, has chosen to step down from her position. She will now be cared for by the pack to reward her for her many years of service."

A cheer rose from the Frost Pack dogs, and Sophia peered through the crowd, wondering if Nanuk had come. She had seen the beta before and had noticed the gray that had begun to fleck her muzzle. Knowing how respected the old she-dog was, she joined in the cheering.

Martin waited until the clamor had died down and then spoke again. "For my new beta, I have chosen Streak." He dipped his head towards a black-and-white husky standing near him. "He is young but well worthy of his new position."

A few more cheers arose. Cassidy stood up as they died down and began to speak. "The past month has been uneventful for Lake Pack, as it seems to be for all of you," she barked. "However, Lake Pack has new life to welcome: Celeste has given birth to Seneca's pups."

This time, Lake Pack cheered, but they were interrupted by Gannon, who looked slightly annoyed that his pack was reporting last. "Aside from the wolves, not much has happened in Night Pack," he barked. "We are prospering, as all of you, and we are pleased to announce that we have four new trainees!"

While Night Pack cheered, Sophia twisted around, trying to see the new trainees. She caught a glimpse of a group of Great Danes, presumably siblings, who looked young. That must be them, she thought.

"Stella and Rocky have chosen to be defenders, and Dakan and Summer have chosen to be hunters," Gannon continued. "Our ranks remain even. Should trouble come, Night Pack will not worry."

A rather awkward silence followed this, as though the dogs didn't know what to make of this statement. Was Gannon talking about the wolf scent? Or about their long-standing feud with Wind Pack? Sophia shivered as she remembered her dream, but quickly pushed it away. It was just a nightmare, she reminded herself.

The voice of Remiel, the preceptor of Wind Pack, broke the silence. "The moon reaches its zenith," he woofed softly. "If there is no more news to report..."

The alphas shook their heads.

"Then allow me to lead the blessing," he said. The preceptors from all the other packs assembled around him while the gathered dogs bowed their heads.

"Great and powerful Hunter Dog," he said reverentially, "we know you see and guide your children each day of our lives. Give us now your blessing upon this hunt, that we may honor you with our skill. Until the final hunt."

"Until the final hunt," the other preceptors echoed.

Remiel raised his head, a gleam in his eye. "Now let the hunt begin."