"Is it just me," Pepper yawned, "or does it seem like Serena always picks us for the morning patrol?"

Tollum simply shrugged as the two of them shuffled through the underground tunnels that made up Earth Pack's territory. "It's probably just you."

Pepper snorted. "Oh, well. It can be nice to feel the wind every once in a while."

"It is, but it's so... open out there," Tollum said. "I still remember when I went out for the first time. I was terrified!"

"Everyone is," Pepper agreed. "It's been a while since I was a trainee, but I still remember."

The conversation ceased for a few moments as they continued walking. Tollum shivered, feeling a draft as they drew closer to one of the many exits that led above ground. "Didn't Saxtus say it started snowing last night?"

Pepper nodded. "First fall of the year, right on time. The digging is going to get harder. It probably blocked off the tunnel entrance."

Sure enough, as the two terriers arrived at the end of the tunnel, a mound of white greeted them. They quickly cleared it out of the way with their strong paws and emerged out onto the edges of the meadow where Wind Pack lived.

Snow covered everything in all directions, glittering as the light of the rising sun slowly crept across the meadow. For a moment, Pepper and Tollum simply stood there, letting their eyes adjust to the light, two black specks in a field of white. Then Pepper shook herself, probably from the chill, and began to sniff around.

Tollum quickly joined her, heading in the opposite direction for anything suspicious or of particular interest. At first he only caught all the usual scents: the latest Wind Pack patrol, some rabbits, a badger who'd passed by a few days ago. He was just about to head back towards the tunnel when he suddenly caught an unfamiliar scent. Warm and sweet, with a trace of... milk.

Is that a... puppy?

"Pepper!" he called. "Come over here and scent this."

The Cairn Terrier quickly came over, pattering lightly across the crust of frost beneath them. "What is it?" she asked. "Did you find something?"

"Sniff right around here," Tollum said. "Doesn't that smell like a puppy?"

Pepper sniffed for a few moments before slowly nodding. "What in the Hunter Dog's name is a puppy doing out here?" she wondered.

Tollum didn't try to answer, immediately following the scent to see where it led. It was still fresh, and he hoped that the pup hadn't been out in the cold for too long.

"Do you hear that?" Pepper asked, coming to a stop beside him.

Tollum pricked his ears and soon caught the faint sound of a cry, coming from a southerly direction. Picking up speed, he followed the sound and soon found the source: a tiny, pale brown puppy, whimpering as it crawled through the snow. She couldn't have been more than a few weeks old. "Pepper, I found it!" he called.

"Is it okay?" Pepper asked, running up beside him. Tollum quickly crouched down next to the pup, who he had realized was a female, and began to lick and nuzzle her to warm her up. "Yes, I think she'll be all right if we get her warm," he answered.

Pepper now looked ahead, her eyes narrowed. Tollum followed her gaze to see a trail of pawprints leading away from where the puppy had been lying. "What kind of sick monster abandons a puppy in this weather?" Pepper growled.

Tollum gasped. "You don't think...?" His heart ached with pity for the little pup between his paws. "Maybe... maybe they didn't abandon her. Maybe they mean to come back."

Pepper gave him a skeptical look. "Those tracks stretch on for a long time, and there's more than one set. There's no reason a dog couldn't have stayed with the poor thing. She's probably been out here for hours already. I don't think they're coming back. And regardless, we need to get her inside."

Tollum nodded, carefully scooping up the pup and following Pepper back into the tunnels. They swiftly arrived in Earth Pack's main living area, a cave that had been hollowed out many years ago. Most of the dogs were still asleep, except for those that had been sent on the early morning patrols.

"Cordan!" Pepper called. "Lycian, come quick!"

One of the pack's healers, the Yorkie Lycian, poked her head out of the little cave where she and Mortimer, the other healer, kept their supplies. "Pepper? Tollum? What is it?" she asked, padding up to the two of them. Her eyes widened when she saw the puppy, which Tollum had gently set down on the ground.

Pepper simply nodded grimly. "Where's Cordan?"

"He's right here." The three dogs turned and dipped their heads in respect as Cordan, Earth Pack's alpha entered from one of the many tunnels that led off of the main cave. "What's the trouble?"

Tollum gestured to the ball of fur between his paws. "We found this puppy while I was patrolling; abandoned, it looks like," he added sadly. "Her eyes aren't even open yet."

Cordan gasped. "Merciful Siglitun," he whispered. "Will she be all right, Lycian?"

The healer sat up, having finished examining the pup. "I think so. It's a good thing the two of you found her when you did."

Tollum let out a sigh of relief and Pepper smiled. Her face grew thoughtful a few moments later and she asked, "So... what are we going to do with her?"

"We keep her, of course," Cordan replied immediately.

Lycian blinked. "Keep her?"

"Yes." Cordan stared at them. "You didn't think we'd put her back out in the snow, did you?"

"Well, no, of course not," Pepper said. "I hadn't thought that far ahead until now, actually."

"We don't know for sure that she was abandoned," Tollum insisted. He still hated the idea of any parent just leaving their pup to die like that. "Her parents could come back for her."

"I'm sorry, Tollum," Pepper said with a shake of her head. "I really don't think they will."

"Then I won't hear another word," Cordan declared. "She stays with us. After all, she looks like a terrier, doesn't she? Maybe even one just like me. At any rate, she's far too small to belong in any of the other packs. I'll raise her as my own."

Lycian simply nodded. "River still has milk. She can feed her."

Cordan beamed. "Perfect. Tell her I said thank you."

"Well, she needs a name," Tollum put in. "What will you call her?"

"Hmm." Cordan came closer and gave the pup a sniff. "She smells sweet, like flowers. I'll call her... Laurel."

Lycian smiled. "That's a lovely name."

Cordan gave the newly-christened puppy a gentle nuzzle, a warm tenderness shining in his dark eyes. "Welcome to Earth Pack, Laurel."

WOOP WOOP! We've made it to the last one, guys, and that's nuts. I had a lot of fun writing this one so I hope you enjoy it as well. It's pretty short, so kick back and enjoy this trip with the littlest pack.