The guilt, stress, and excitement of Pom’s departure slowly made way for a mundane realization: her journey would involve a lot of walking.

She envied the dogs as they huffed and barked at each other from time to time, wishing she could join their conversation for some distraction from the monotony. She opted to hum an old song to herself with nothing better to do.

Momma and Papa remained in formation at the back and front of the group, but after an hour of travel, the puppies got restless.

Pom ducked as Puff flew overhead somehow, spinning her tail, apparently trying to tag Ruff as he dashed about.

“Puff, stop that! It’ll tire ye out, and it’s not natural.”

A bark from Papa seconded her, and the puppies fell back in line with a whine.

I know they’re just pups, but any slowdown now will mean an awful hurry later.

Everything had been planned out the previous day, though Pom wasn’t sure how much attention the puppies had been paying.

With the predators—the bad ones, at least—being incompatible with sunlight, they set out to reach the port city of Whitil before dusk fell on the forest around it.

Woad said it would be hard, but possible, and the fear of being out and exposed at night when monsters roamed about kept Pom pushing through her fatigue.

But she knew they needed to rest sometimes, and after a couple more hours of walking, a nearby stream flowing to the ocean gave a welcome respite.

“Okay lads, let's stop for a drink.”

Big Momma and Papa huffed in agreement, and the seven of them laid down, but it was over too soon as Pom checked the sun and led them back to the road.

Not sure if they see me as the leader, or they’re just humoring me.

The puppies didn’t last an hour before they slowed down and Pom called for another break. She collapsed to the ground to give her stiff legs a rest as she looked up to Big Momma and Papa.

“Okay, ah think the pups are tuckered out. Are you two still good?”

“Bark!” “Bark!”

“Good tae hear. Do ye think you could carry the pups in the bags for a bit so we don’t have tae slow down? Would that be okay?”

With some quick barks between them, Momma laid down and let the puppies climb on as Pom reorganized the side pouches to make room for them.

“Are you sure you want tae carry them all? Wouldn’t it be better tae share the weight?”

Big Momma motioned to Papa laying down.

Pom did a double take before grasping the meaning.

“I can walk on my own! Don’t want tae be a burden.”

In response, Momma picked her up by her wool and set her down on him.

“But—”

She steadied herself as they got up to walk. She couldn’t help but notice that they were going faster than they had all day.

“Are you sure I’m not too heavy?”

Papa’s huffs sounded suspiciously like a laugh.

Well, I guess there’s some perks to being a featherweight… Some champion I am.

Pom blushed and looped her legs into the straps, resigning herself to being a backpack.

At first, she looked around to at least be another set of eyes, but then she saw the futility and decided to join the puppies in a nap.

“Thank ye. Wake me up if ye save the world without me.”

“Bark!”

Pom woke up to the sound of whimpering and an annoyed huff from Papa.

She blinked and rubbed her eyes as she balanced sitting up: measuring her progress by comparing the mountains from memorized instruction.

“Halfway there, maybe?” she muttered half to herself, sliding off Papa’s back to walk beside him and check on the puppies.

“There now, what’s wrong? Do ya need a wee break?”

“Bark.” Woof shook her head.

Pom looked between them for a bit before gasping.

“Och! You’re hungry, aren’t ya?”

The puppies barked in affirmation, but whined as Papa barked to quiet them down.

Pom frowned as she did some mental calculations.

“At this rate, we might barely make it before dusk, and that’s if ye can keep gon’ on an empty stomach. Do ye think ye can?”

Papa barked with a nod, but Momma looked at him with a couple of barks before huffing at Pom and tilting her head. Pom made out that she wanted her to go on.

“Och, here’s what I’m thinking: I’ve been chewing cud, but you need to hunt to eat since we didn’t pack… nevermind.”

Pom cleared her throat and shoved those thoughts to the back of her head.

“If ye really push yourselves, we might make it, but you’re getting hungrier and hungrier. Even if we get there, you’ll be exhausted, and it’ll be night—not safe for hunting, and I dinnae think you can do that in the city.”

Papa stopped and sat down with Momma following, giving her their full attention.

“They may not even let sheepdogs in the walls; ah’ll do my best tae make sure they do, but we can’t count on it. So aside going tae sleep hungry, getting there on an empty stomach could be dangerous.”

Papa growled at that, but seconded Momma’s nod at her logic.

“So, maybe we give up getting there before night. Instead, we camp at the safest place we can find, and ye can do some hunting while we’ve still got daylight. Then, it’ll be an easy trip tomorrow!”

Momma and Papa exchanged a few huffs before turning to her and nodding.

“It’s settled, then!”

Pom took a moment to look around before pointing to a hill overlooking the ocean.

“How about there? They’d only be able tae approach from one side, and whoever’s on watch would have a great view.”

Momma and Papa both barked in agreement and followed Pom to it. With the new plan to rest, they all had more spring in their step.

On arriving, Papa unloaded the puppies one by one as Pom unbuckled their harnesses.

Momma touched a paw to Pom’s chest, then the ground with a huff.

“I’ll wait for ye.” Pom nodded, doubting she’d be any help to them hunting and not wanting to be around for it anyway.

She smiled as she saw the family run off barking, but fought back a frown thinking about what they were doing.

They need tae hunt to survive, and they’re not hurting anyone.

…but then, why can’t the predators live like that, too? Do they choose to be murderers?

Pom shuddered at the thought and took to grazing to shake it off, wandering off for some tastier flowers before returning to the hill and laying down facing the ocean.

Her thoughts wandered again as she listened to the waves and watched clouds slowly approach.

Maybe we should pack—no! Ew! They can hunt when they need tae, and what would others say if they saw us carrying… Yeah, that would be a disaster.

She sighed and rested her head on her legs.

Woad’s right, it’s best that stay a secret. Especially with everyone scared of the real predators.

She tried to get some rest to be ready for watch duty, but before she could get to sleep again, she heard the happy barks of puppies returning.

Her smile wavered as she turned to greet them, seeing red stains on their muzzles.

Woof noticed her reaction before the rest and barked at them. They spun around to look at Pom before following Woof to the shore.

They must be washing up for me; they’re good pups.

Shortly after, they swarmed around her, barking.

“Good tae have you back! Are ye full?”

Woof whined and nuzzled Pom as she pet them.

“Och, dinnae worry about me with the hunting. But ye need to keep your faces clean around other folks. Are Momma and Papa still hunting?”

Woof nodded as the others cuddled by Pom for a nap.

“I ken, they must need more tae be full. They’ll be back before dark.”

Pom played a game of tug with Woof, the pup growling adorably as they both bit on a rope, before he tired out and joined the others napping.

She was confident that Big Papa and Momma would get back well before dusk, but still felt responsible for keeping watch until they returned.

So she stood and patrolled around, periodically glancing back at the sea and the puppies. As she watched for the big dogs’ return, she felt rain start to sprinkle on her face and turned to the sea with a scowl.

Looks like we might have tae take shelter. We’ll work out a spot when they return.

Unfortunately, she failed to notice the other effect of the clouds; it was getting dark sooner than they’d expected.

The puppies started digging out a cave in the hillside, led by Tuft’s enthusiasm at an excuse to tunnel, as Pom took watch on the hilltop.

She was starting to worry about the time when she finally saw movement in the distant trees. She almost called out, but stopped herself at the last second.

Wait, something’s not right.

The figure looked like a dog, but it was pacing and sniffing the ground. Why would Momma and Papa—

Pom gasped as she went prone and froze, hoping she hadn’t been spotted yet.

Tha - that’s a wolf!

Should I call Papa and Momma? No, then we’ll be spotted for sure—and I don’t even know where they are!

Her eyes flicked back to the hillside, now painfully aware of the noise Tuft was making with his happy, oblivious barks.

If I call back I’ll only make more noise, and if I move he might spot me!

She looked back at the wolf, but leapt up and screamed as she saw another approaching her, close enough that she could see it licking its lips.

It walked without hurry and stopped several paces from her, looking over her in a way that felt wrong to the core.

It spoke in a rough, strange voice that defied identification.

Greetings, grass-eater. I had hoped my first return meal would be more hearty, but you will do.

“Wh-why?!”

Pom stepped back as it stepped forward.

“There’s other things ye can eat. Why hurt ungulates?”

It responded with a sadistic laugh.

Because we can! Because your meat makes us strong, and because you are delicious…

It licked its lips again as it stepped forward, savoring the sheep’s terror before halting at an interruption.

Woof had put herself between Pom and the monster, growling as fiercely as a puppy could.

Traitors will share the same fate as the prey. But if you join now, I might leave you a bone to gnaw on.

Woof snarled back, hackles raised and tensed to fight.

So be it.

Woof’s courage snapped Pom out of her fear, with her desire to protect her puppy focusing her thoughts as her mind cleared.

It’s too late to hide; we need tae call Papa!

As the wolf coiled to pounce, Pom Barked as loud as she could.

The wolf backpedaled in surprise as it echoed off the hills, not expecting to meet any resistance from the sheep.

At that moment, Woof pounced for its throat.

RAH!

It snarled and raised a paw to swipe her off, but Pom pulled Woof to safety by her tail, unintentionally making the attack more painful.

Insolent WHELP! I will make you watch as I - RAAH!

Puff tackled it from above; she’d used the distraction to fly overhead.

As they went sprawling, Ruff ran to deliver his own bite.

Panicked at the chaos and terrified that a puppy might get hurt, Pom jumped into the fray, flailing her legs without any plan or technique.

But her desperation gave her strength, and the Predator vanished under the flurry of kicks.

Pom panted as she scanned for other threats.

“I… I won?!”

She heard barks approaching, but gasped as she saw another wolf chasing Tuft. He had led it away to buy time, and it recoiled at a faceful of dust as another lunge failed.

It was the last thing it would ever do in Foenum as Momma slammed into it like a tidal wave, bashing it against the hillside to disperse it.

Pom followed Woof’s gaze to a third wolf, but its tail dipped between its legs as a booming, furious bark rang out.

Spittle flew from Big Papa’s mouth as he charged it, snarling. He looked and sounded feral, and, for a moment, Pom feared him despite having hoped he would have arrived sooner.

But she couldn’t look away as the wolf fled and Papa ran him down. There was no fight, only yelps of pain and a broken shadow.

Pom almost felt sorry for the wolf before remembering what they chose to be.

She looked around for other threats well after the pups’ breathing had steadied, until she finally collapsed to the ground from stress and fear, burying her head in her hooves.

Momma nuzzled her with a sympathetic whine, laying down next to her.

“I - I’m sorry I couldn’t keep them safe! They were in danger, and we could have - could have—”

Momma pulled her closer with a paw, and Pom let herself sob into her coat as the puppies surrounded her.

“I’m sorry, I was so scared! I know you trusted me tae—”

Momma cut her off with a lick as she nuzzled her.

Papa kept watch as the puppies also did their best to comfort her. Eventually, her heart rate steadied and she turned away.

“Thank you all so much! I just wish I wasn’t such a helpless lamb...”

“Bark!” Woof protested, mimicking her kicks from earlier on a slightly annoyed Tuft.

“I guess I helped some.”

Momma let out a soft bark before glancing at Papa who barked in affirmation back at her.

“Okay, I can bark louder than a puppy.” Pom laid her back against Momma. “But tonight showed that I can’t always lean on others. I need tae get stronger.”

Papa seemed ashamed at that as he lowered his head and huffed.

“I dinnae mean it like that!” Pom scrambled up. “You were great, and I should have called ye as soon as the storm blew in.”

Papa licked in response, eliciting a giggle from her as she hugged him.

“We’ll get this whole champion thing down, together.”

The rain had let up, but the dogs still dug out a shelter in the hill just in case as Pom set up a tarp.

When they were done, Papa turned to leave with a series of barks.

“I ken, you’re first watch. Just wake me when it’s my turn.”

With that, Pom cuddled up to Momma with the puppies, craving the warmth and safety she felt from being surrounded by them.

They’ve been like family tae me. I need tae be there for them, too.

Author's Note

A shorter chapter this time, but it feels like a natural transition point.

Having Pom interact with characters who she can't hold a real conversation with feels challenging, and as always I'd appreciate feedback.

Here's the rough write-up on what the dogs were saying again:

(Pom scolds the puppies)

Papa: “Listen to her.”

Puff and Ruff: “Aww…”

(Pom calls for a break)

Momma: “May as well.”

Papa: “I'll keep it short.”

(Pom calls for another break)

Papa: “I’m fine.”

Momma: “Are you tired?”

(Pom asks if they can ride in the bags)

Puppies: “Please?” “I’m tired.”

Momma: “Climb on.”
(Pom resting on the walk)

Papa: “Sleep well!”

(Pom talking about resting)

Woof: “No!”

Puppies: “Yes, I’m hungry!”

Papa: “We can’t stop.”
…

Papa: “I can keep going.”

Momma: “It will be hard for both of us to keep this pace. What did you have in mind?”
…

Papa: “She has a point, it would be dangerous either way.”

Momma: “We should be able to keep watch, and we knew we’d be fighting at some point anyway.

….

Papa: “Sure.”

Momma: “That works.”

(They stop at the hill)

Momma: “You stay.”

(The puppies return)

Woof: “We need to wash up, you’re scaring Pom.”
…

Tuft: “All full!”

Ruff: “Don’t worry, I’ll keep you safe!”

Puff: “Mom and dad said to bark if we see trouble, not fight.”
…

Woof: “I hope we didn’t scare you.”

(The wolf approaches)

Woof: “Never, Monster!”

(Comforting Pom)

Momma: “You were brave, and it was my fault that you were in danger.”
…

Woof: “But you helped!”
…

Papa: “Indeed.”
….

Papa: “We failed you.”
…

Papa: “I’ll watch first. Woof and Tuft, next, then Puff and Ruff, then Momma.”