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golden-and-white fur. In fact, she reminded Lucky of his own reflection, before the city’s clear-stone shattered. And her scent …
    But there was no time to wonder anymore. The newcomers were facing up to the foxes, which formed a ragged line and snarled back in insolent defiance.
    â€œA gang—very scary!” The smallest fox sneered at the lineup.
    The Alpha laughed, a cackling yelp of derision. “Scary? You think ?”
    Lucky felt his shoulders start to droop. He’d been glad to see more dogs approaching, but now that he’d had a closer look … maybe the foxes were right to laugh. At least they had some sort of battle formation. The new arrivals looked more like puppies let loose without a Mother-Dog. The little crossbreed seemed brave for her size, but she appeared incapable of doing anything other than run in excited circles. The long-haired pretty one was yapping hysterically. The bushy Fight Dog was working hard to attack the foxes, but the big black giant was getting hopelessly in the way.
    It was the dog who looked like Lucky, the handsome-faced golden dog, who kept her nerve, charging straight for the foxes. Behind her raced the Fight Dog, dodging the black giant at last, and the Farm-Work Dog, who at least had dropped his piece of padded leather.
    The skirmish was brief and vicious. Teeth snapped and claws raked; from his position Lucky saw the Fight Dog grab for a fox’s leg and almost instantly lose it—but not before he’d drawn blood, and the fox had yipped in shock and pain. The leader-fox sprang at the black-and-white Farm-Work Dog, jaws slavering, but the golden dog spun with surprising agility and raked its scabby gray flank with her teeth, knocking it off balance. Even the pretty little longhair was standing her ground, barking furiously, though she flinched at an attack; the big black dog pounced to protect her flank, sending a fox tumbling across the slick floor. A paw lashed out, drawing blood from a fox’s muzzle, and its head snapped sideways, trailing a sliver of drool.
    The foxes had a wiry ferocity, and they were willing to fight, but they were too smart to stand up for long to a Pack of dogs, however chaotic. When it became clear they were outnumbered and outsized, the leader-fox gave a high and vicious bark.
    â€œGo, boys! No point!”
    With a final vicious snap and snarl, the last fox turned tail and bolted after its escaping companions.
    â€œBrave in a Pack!” it sniggered, making a mocking face at Lucky as it scampered away. “Coward dogs!”
    As they vanished into the chaos of the mall, Lucky breathed easily for the first time since he’d left Old Hunter. Thrashing his tail in wild gratitude, he gave the newcomers a brief, friendly bark.
    â€œThanks. You saved my hide!”
    Panting, they all turned to look up at him in renewed anxiety, as if they’d only just remembered he was there. The Fight Dog took a couple of paces toward him and sniffed. Although his body was big and burly, his stance was nervous.
    â€œYou’re welcome,” he rumbled gruffly. “Foxes indeed. Ha!”
    â€œI thought I was done for.” The flood of relief made Lucky almost weak with gratitude to this motley Pack.
    â€œHappy to help!” yipped the crossbreed, almost falling over her own feet as she spun.
    The dog that looked like Lucky said nothing at first. She leaped up onto the counter, and though Lucky moved instinctively to protect his food, she ignored the meat altogether. Instead, she sniffed hesitantly at him. Their eyes met, and Lucky’s heart leaped inside his chest.
    Something in his gut tugged at him, stirring sense-memories, sparking images in his head. He knew this dog....
    She blinked her dark, friendly eyes, and nuzzled his face.
    â€œIt’s really you!” she barked softly. “Dear Yap, it’s you ! Hello, my brother!”

CHAPTER EIGHT
    Yap …!
    A pang of memory twisted inside