The instant he woke up, Spike could feel it. The air was charged and vibrating, and not just from the storm he could smell on the wind when he went outside. The Bad Thing was on the hunt. Today was the day it would attack, like it had the other two big times. All the other animals knew too—the flying things and the skittering things and the things in holes were all hiding today, quiet and afraid, and he heard the barking that was sending waves of warnings to his kind across the city. He even joined in when he was out in the yard, howling to the wind that The Bad Thing was after his two-leg, and hearing the cries of the pack-born echoing in reply, support as they fought their collars and leads so they could defend their humans.

Twilight was agitated, angry and restless. She had not slept much in the days before, staying late in the Making-Den and muttering about Sunset. She left early, avoiding the family, and he tried to follow her, determined not to leave her to be hunted, but she caught him and put him back inside.

After she was gone, he paced by the door, trying to figure out how to get to her…or Sunset. Sunset-Protector-Fire would fight The Bad Thing if it came, even while Broken and hurt, and he knew, deep down…she would need him today. Maybe if he could get let out to go potty, he could hunt her that way…but he did not know where she was.

When Mother-Velvet-Soft came down he whined and barked and cried and tried to make her see she needed to get Sunset or Twilight or both of them…but she did not understand, trying to soothe him with tummy rubs and cuddles and treats.

How he wished he could speak like a two-leg, to tell her in her own kind’s way of sharing, what was wrong.

But he couldn’t. And so he paced and whined and trued again and again to show her that her pup was in trouble, bringing her things of Twilight’s, trying to show her the Making-Den, even bringing her her shoes and his vest.

Nothing worked.

Spike whined, desolate, and felt as though he was going to fail Twilight again, fail at protecting her from the greatest danger she could face. Did pack-born who Failed their Chosen two-leg still go to the Good Green Place of Pack Who Came Before? Or were they forgotten in the shadow of the moon, a place she never turned her face?

Despair like he had never felt before gripped him, and he lay, defeated, under the table in the kitchen, head aching from the depth of his morose thoughts.

Until…hope came, in the form of Cady-Sister. She arrived, chattering and determined, and on her, he smelled The Good Thing that often clung to Sunset-Protector, and the scent of Cady-Sister and Shiny-Brother’s other packmate, whose scent had come to be intertwined with The Good Thing since Sunset-Protector-Fire had appeared.

His head came up and he listened as she spoke with Mother-Velvet-Soft, and while he did not understand all of it, he understood enough to know she was going to where Sunset and Twilight were to protect Twilight.

Spike bolted out from under the table and stood before her, barking once, putting as much of himself into it as he could, just as he had the day he had been Chosen.

Cady-Sister stopped and stared down at him. “Spike?”

“I think he is worried about Twily, sweetie. He has been beside himself all morning. I think he knows something is wrong.”

She knelt down in front of him, searching his face. “Do you, Spike? Do you know that something is wrong?”

This was his chance. He could not speak as they did…but he knew one gesture that Twilight had understood always.

Spike sat, very slowly and deliberately, still holding Cady-Sister’s stare, and nodded his head once.

There! Understanding was in her eyes and scent, and she touched his head. “Alright. Go get your vest, little man.” She looked up. “Mom…I think maybe I should take him with me. She might need him…and if she is there, he’ll know faster than me. He is certified.”

Mother-Velvet-Soft smiled, but she smelled of worry and sad. “Take the extra copy of his paperwork,” she said. Then her eyes turned to Spike, and he felt his heart swell as he felt Seen. “Spike…you take care of my babies. You're a good dog, and I know you won’t let anything happen to them.”

Spike stood taller than he ever had and barked once, before running to where his vest was, grabbing it and his leash in his teeth and taking it back to them. Cady-Sister squatted to put his vest on him and attach his leash to it. “If Cinch tries anything, Mom, we’ll make sure Twilight is safe before we have the bitch arrested, and Lu said she’s happy to testify on our behalf if it comes to it.”

“Just be careful, sweetheart. It might just be me being overly cautious, but Sunset made some very scary yet astute observations about the things Abacus might do.”

Hugs were given all around, and then Spike practically dragged Cady-Sister to the car. Time was running out!

Author's Note

Just an epilogue to go. But that wont be for a few weeks yet.