Dasher watched as more dogs joined in, until his head was ringing with howls. More dogs appeared at the howling. How many dogs are there? All at once, the howling ceased. "Dogs," the Alpha barked loudly. Dasher just noticed that he was surrounded by the other dogs in his pack. "We have encountered a lone dog, named Dasher. He says that he will help figure out who murdered Trickster. In exchange, we will provide him shelter. If you think we should agree to this, stand to my left. If you think he should be removed immediately, stand to my right." Lucy stepped up first, walking over to stand by Flash's left. More dogs did the same, but there was still quite a number on his right. Dasher felt rabbits hopping around in his stomach. Please please please let me stay!

Finally, only Trip remained. "He is the Beta as well as Flash's closet friend. His vote will count for double. Oh, Beta is second-in-command," Lucy whispered, when she saw his confused look. "If he looks at you, hold his gaze. If you break it you'll show weakness." Dasher gulped, but when Trip's gaze swept all the way around to him, he held the husky's gaze. Finally, Trip trotted to Flash's left, and Dasher let out a big sigh of relief. Lucy smacked him with her tail. "We're not done yet." Dasher nodded and kept quiet.

"The sides are both close to even, but there was more dogs on my left. The decision has been made: Dasher will stay. But only if he works on this case." In all honestly, I have no idea how I'm going to solve this. But right now finding Trickster's murderer seems a whole lot better then facing Sword's pack. "Okay!" Flash called. "Time to sort out second shift. Frost will lead the hunting party. Oz, Popper, Boots, and Jessica will go with her. When she returns I want Trip to lead the territory patrol, with Sam, Cookie, and Sunny. When that patrol returns Pumpkin, Peanut Butter, Sadie, Streak, and Mikee will take up guard positions," the Alpha announced. He then dismissed his dogs and trotted over to Dasher and Lucy. "Lucy, since you seem to be getting along with Dasher, I want you to train him in fighting. Who knows when Sword will attack again."

"What?" Dasher yelped. "I have to fight? What about the deal?" he whined. Flash cocked his head.

"My dear Dasher, shelter is not the same as protection. You may sleep and eat with us, but we will not guard you during a fight. You will have to participate." Dasher forced down a whimper. He didn't want Flash to see him as weak.

"Yes, I understand," he croaked.

"Good," the Alpha nodded, and trotted away. The tricolored collie Oz passed by him.

"Good luck," he whispered to Dasher, before hurrying away.

"Come," Lucy barked, and lead him to a not-crowded part of camp. "I will teach you how to fight. All dogs have instincts that would snap into play at an attack threat, but I'll be teaching you some tricks. I believe in your history, your type were used as guard dogs. Retrievers with soft mouthes like me are defenders during a fight. Got that?" Dasher stared at her blankly. This wasn't making any sense to him. Lucy sighed. "Our pack fights to protect each other. The biggest dogs with the sharpest fangs are our offense. They do the attacking. Dogs that are smaller or soft-mouthed are defense. They look out for the offense dogs," she barked. Dasher nodded.

"Okay, say I understand this. But what about those really tiny dogs? I saw two Pomeranians," Dasher barked.

"Yes- Sadie and Mikee. Because they are so small, you'd think they wouldn't fight, but we need every dog we can get. Their job during fights are to target distracted enemy dogs already clashing with an offense dog. They dart in and bite at the dogs paws, then dart away again," Lucy barked.

"Okay, I understand this. But why? How vicious can fights really be?" Lucy suddenly got very cold.

"Dasher," she growled. "You don't know what we're dealing with. Dogs have died, Dasher! Dixie was killed last week!"

Dasher dropped his head. "Yes, I'm sorry." A new fear of Sword's pack bloomed inside of him. He lifted his head again. "Please teach me how to fight." Lucy nodded, paused, then sighed.

"There's one dog to look out for- well, they're all dangerous, especially Sword- but one in particular. Dodger. He's a golden retriever," Lucy barked. Dasher thought she was messing with him.

"A golden retriever?" Dasher scoffed. "I thought they were nice."

"They're supposed to be. But Dodger- he's crazy. Mental. He was abused as a puppy.... and never recovered." Dashed shivered at the thought. "In a way, I feel bad for him. No dog should have gone through what he did, but he's still dangerous. Enough talk- let's teach you to fight," Lucy barked. To Dasher, it was hard to see Lucy as a fighter. She was always happy, with her head tipped to the side and tongue lolling out. "I'm going to attack you- I want to see how you react." Lucy lunged at him with a snarl. Dasher yelped, dropping to the ground and rolling over onto his back.

Lucy stopped next to him, cocking her head. "Dasher, in a fight, that won't work. The enemy will just happily rip your stomach right open." Dasher scrambled to his paws with a whimper. Lucy pricked her ears and let her tongue hang out. "Hey, it's okay! Next time, listen to that wild side of you! I know it's in there," she barked. Dasher nodded, and squared up to Lucy again. Lucy growled, crouching as she circled him. Dasher watched her, letting her threatening stance overwhelm him. But this time, instead of giving into fear, Dasher felt a surge of aggression.

Lucy leaped at him with a howl, and Dasher dived to meet her, head-butting her in the chest. They both fell back with a thump. "Not bad," Lucy barked happily. "We'll work on your tactics later." She stood up, shaking bits of grass from her pelt. Dasher did the same, though his fur wasn't as thick as Lucy's. "This time, attack me," she instructed. Dasher crouched, glaring at her as they circled. "Good start- but make yourself look more threatening and larger then you are," Lucy advised. Dasher did, peeling his lips back in a snarl, exposing all of his glittering white fangs. He let his hackles raise, and let out a deep growl.

Dasher charged Lucy, aiming for her shoulder. She easily side-stepped and swung out a paw, clotting him in the muzzle. Dasher jumped back and sneezed. He wrinkled his nose. Lucy hadn't hit him that hard, but it still stung. "That was a good place to aim, but your eyes betray everything," Lucy barked, then glanced at the sun. "We should head back soon." At that moment, Pumpkin trotted by them.

"How's the pet doing?" she snapped rudely.

"Just fine, Pumpkin," Lucy replied with a bit of edge to her voice. Pumpkin snorted, tossing her head and trotting away. Dasher frowned, hurt at her name-calling. "Ignore her," Lucy whined, giving him a lick on his face. "She's not what she seems. Pumpkin... had a hard life." Dasher tipped his head.

"What do you mean?" he barked. Lucy sighed.

"I shouldn't be telling you this- Pumpkin wouldn't want me to- but a group of dogs once killed her only litter of pups. She was a lone dog, like you. She hasn't truly trusted a dog since. So don't judge her too harshly, she's just never gotten over that moment." Dasher nodded, and gave Lucy a lick to show her he understood. Poor Pumpkin. That must have been awful. Suddenly, there was a flurry of barks and yelps, and one long howl that chilled Dasher to the bones.

"We're being attacked!" Lucy barked. "Hurry, Dasher! We need to help!"