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and with Moon supporting his flank,lurched unsteadily to the den entrance.
    The Pack’s eyes, Moon noticed, were bright with fear and uncertainty as they gazed desperately at their Alpha. My Father-Dog is right, she realized. They need to be led, now more than ever.
    â€œPackmates, hear me.” Alpha’s voice was weak, but in the silence it rang out clearly enough. “For now, I am not able to lead you as I should. My daughter Moon will take my place while we fight this invisible enemy. I ask you all to follow and obey her as you would me. And to give her your wisest counsel, too.”
    For long moments there was a tense silence. Then, one by one, dogs began to yip their support.
    â€œWhatever you ask, Alpha,” growled Pebble.
    â€œMoon is our Alpha until you recover,” added Mulch.
    â€œWe follow Moon,” barked Snap. “She represents you.”
    Moon watched them all, relieved and pleased at their support. She stepped forward, fighting down her nervousness.
    â€œPackmates, I want us all to howl together,” she told them. “We’ll howl for those we have lost.” My Mother-Dog, she thought sadly, and Star. I should howl for them. But that’s not the most important thing. . . . “And we will ask the Spirit Dogs to guide us, and heal our Packmates. We’ll offer them a Great Howl, to ask for strength and health for our Pack.”
    The dogs formed a circle, and Moon helped her Father-Dog to limp out of his den. She sat close to him, supporting his weak body as the dogs tilted their heads and began to sing out their howls. As the sound rose around her, filling the air, she felt strength and courage seeping back into her.
    We’ve survived many things, she thought, as hope stirred again in her heart. Surely our Pack can survive this too—if we stay together. She redoubled her own howls, crying out to her own spirit, the Moon-Dog, even though she was not visible in the morning sky. She’ll hear me, I know she will. She always has.
    As the Howl faded, and dogs shook themselves and turned slowly away to go about their business, her Father-Dog turned to her, and gave Moon a weak lick.
    â€œI knew I was right,” he murmured. “Your first act as leader was to bring the Pack together. Well done, Moon.”
    Her fears began to dissolve in a warm glow of pride. “Thank you, Alpha. I’ll do everything I can to lead this Pack back to strength.”
    But I can’t do it alone, she realized, and I shouldn’t! That’s what Pack is, after all.
    With the glow of the Great Howl still in her bones, she trotted toward the hunters’ den. For the first time, she understood thewisdom of her parent-dogs in choosing Hunter as her intended mate. I need him now . Hunter loves to lead. He can handle the organization of hunting and patrolling while I tend to the sick dogs.
    Now, at last, we’ll learn to be a team!
    Hunter was sitting with Rush and Meadow, just outside the hunters’ den, and as he glanced toward her, Moon realized again, with a flush of pride and admiration, how strong he was. She wagged her tail as she approached, and opened her jaws to make her suggestion.
    Before she could speak, Hunter had gotten to his paws. His expression, as he stared at her, was less than welcoming, and for a moment Moon faltered.
    â€œMoon,” he said. “You should be the first to know. Rush, Meadow, and I are leaving the Pack.”
    Her carefully prepared words caught in her throat. Moon could only gape at him. “What?”
    â€œIt’s the smart choice,” Hunter’s voice was cool and unapologetic. “Don’t you see? It would be stupid to stick around here and get sick ourselves. We’re going to make a new Pack, a strong one, with healthy Packmates. We want you with us, Moon. We’ll be Alpha and Beta, you and I: just as we were meant to be. We’ll lead a strong and vigorous Pack without