He was with Cady-Sister and her strange dark packmate who was touched by the Good Thing, fighting the Bad Things that wanted to hurt the young two-legs in the strange den. The Bad Things smelled terrible and tasted worse when he bit them, but that was less important than making them go away and protecting Cady-Sister while they hunted for Twilight. Spike had wanted to stay with Sunset-Protector-Fire, but hadn't been allowed, and so he was doing his best to pull them in the direction he knew Twilight was.

If only there were fewer Bad Things, or if two legs weren't so slow!

Spike was tearing out the throat of a pointy eared Bad Thing, snarling and telling it exactly what he thought of it while Cady-Sister shot things at its bigger friend that smelled like bad water and long dead things, when he Felt it.

Every hair on him stood up, and he froze, trying to understand. It was a feeling inside him, one he had not felt since the Choosing, and it whispered in a way greater than even the knowing his kind were born with.

He had to get to Sunset-Protector-Fire, and he had to do it now. He didn’t know why, or for what exactly, but he had to.

Without waiting for the fight to end or for Cady-Sister to see him, Spike leapt off the dying Bad Thing, and bolted down the hall as fast as he could in the direction the feeling was calling to him.

This…this was why he was here. Why he had been born and lived when the Smallest usually did not. This was why he was Chosen. Why he had been trained, and what the strange feelings and smells and knowings had been driving him towards for many turnings of the moon’s face. This day, this time. He was here because Twilight needed him…because Sunset-Protector-Fire could not save her without his help.

They had to save Twilight together, or their favorite two-leg would die.

Toenails skittered on old tile, as Spike zigged and zagged to dodge shadows and other two-legs and the Bad Things. He ignored the distant yelling of Cady-Sister calling his name, twisted away from any attempts to grab his collar. They were obstacles, interference that wanted to keep him from Twilight.

No.

Spike was a Good Boy and his Twilight needed him now.

Sunset-Protector-Fire was close—he could feel it, the way the Bad Things cringed away from her like the lowest away from an angry Mother. She was Fire and Burning and Protection and Anger, guiding him right to her.

His paws hurt and his jaws were sore and his nose full of bad smells and sickly not-blood made his tummy feel bad…but he pushed himself, and started barking, letting Sunset-Protector-Fire know he was there. That he was here to help save her mate, his Twilight.

Spike was a Good Boy, and this was why he was Chosen.

To help Twilight’s mate save her from The Bad Thing. To bring her Home, even if they got lost.

The whispering inside him was stronger, flooding him with a knowing that spoke of the Choosing, of the places he could go to find Twilight, the walls and fences and leashes that could never truly hold him back.

Not when Twilight needed him.

Needed Sunset-Protector-Fire.

Spike would show the Bad Things why you didn’t go after a two-leg who had been Chosen.

Because Spike was a Good Boy.

Author's Note

And that’s a wrap for this one.

You’ll see why with the main story’s upcoming chapters.

Spike is a Good Boy…most people just never realized how Good.

Thanks for reading!