I never thought I would smell All-Pack Guider^ No Eyes First Eyes Runt^ Rise’s den. It seems exactly like every other den. It smells of generations of dogs. As any reasonably old den, it has its own scent. Out there, on strange worlds, dogs no doubt wish they could smell it, just for a second. But here I am, with my pack, well Swift, Fierce, Scrawny and Silky. No Pompous today. This is for warriors. And Scrawny. We are seated in a circle with a subtle but palpable gap between the four of us notch-mates and Silky with his former pack-mate.

“Welcome to my den. Thank ye for getting here promptly. I don’t think I have to say, this conversation is not to be discussed outside of this den.” We shift, silently remaining attentive. “I think we can agree that only one dog would be motivated enough to break in for buzzer-paste. If she can get into one of the most secure deep-dens on World without being noticed then I am not sure when Pack will be safe from her. I want a small pack of trusted dogs to bring her back to Pack. We need buzzer-paste to activate their weapons and we need to control her as a threat to Pack. I have chosen ye as my most trusted den-pack with Silky’s help since he knows The Spit better than most.”

“We are truly honoured All-Pack Guider No Eyes First Eyes Runt Rise. We will do everything to serve Pack, bring Wilful back and return the buzzer-paste to the deep store.” I speak for the warriors but I feel Scrawny wanting to add a scent-scientist’s point of view.

“We do not know what large amounts of buzzer-paste actually does to dogs. I know Pompous and I would like a chance to smell her and find out if there is anything we can do for her. Also she might be better able to use the buzzer-tech than any-dog on World right now.”

“Thank you both, I was sure that this whole pack will do what it must to serve Pack. Ye are brave and steady dogs. Everything I would want in 5-notches.” Is she suggesting another notching?! My ear may never heal and settle! “And I think, seeing as we are in my den, ye can call me No Eyes First Eyes Runt.” I almost feel sick with the honour.

“No Eyes First Eyes Runt, may I ask you some questions about this mission?” I was not expecting Swift to be the first to use the familiar name but she’s quicker to recover than me.

“Of course, Swift Rise.” Swift gestures that Pack-Guider need not use her Pack-name. “What would you like to know?”

“Your sending Silky with us suggests you think she’s in the former compounds, I would like to understand the reasons for that?”

“Good inference. We think the only way she could have gone undetected for so long is if she was in that area where Pack hasn’t been and where senses are tricked by barriers. We also have found evidence of a backfilled tunnel that cannot be accounted for by any known Pack activity which suggested she breached the barriers there. Also, it is possible she would feel… drawn to buzzer-tech seeing as buzzer-paste seems to be part of how they work.”

“In fact, Pompous and I have been wondering if there are sort of pack-bonds between the bees, their technology and their structures.”

“Precisely so, it seems like our best intelligence suggest that is where she has gone. Does that answer your first question, Swift?” I get a tingle from All-Pack Guider greeting my bond-mate as though they were creched together.

“Yes, thank you. Do you have expectations of how long this mission will last?”

“I will let Silky answer that one. He’s the dog with the most knowledge of the topography.”

“Thank you All-Pack Guider. The short answer is, we have no idea. She has been hidden from our noses for over a cycle. It is likely she has a complex set of well-established routes. The terrain is steep in places and there are a lot of fast rivers. While all the barriers can be crossed, I think we will find it complex navigating through the compounds themselves. We may be tracking her for a half-season^ or longer.” He sighs, “But she might also have gorged herself on buzzer-paste and Walked or be in a vacant state. Or even it might be like she’s eaten Soil’s Gift which might help us.” For a heartbeat I feel pity for her being pounced upon while calm and relaxed. I have spent too much time with Scrawny!

“Who will be guiding the buzzer-pack while we are on this mission?” She’s right, it is not subtle sending a 4-notch, two 3-notches and a 2-notch away from their pack.

“We will be disbanding the warrior contingent of the buzzer-pack. The researchers will stay on but they have been too long idle and are beginning to get restless and stressed. We’re sending small packs on long-trips to check on all the settlements, Rise and Set, to decide which are viable for new packs and re-establish those that are. It is not yet essential Service but Pack could do with moving on from what happened on The Spit and prepare for the return of dogs as well as find new dens and mates.” I feel her secret hope that this will result in new mate-bonded and pups for Pack. Fierce brings her back to the situation we are currently in,

“One final question, if I may No Eyes First Eyes Runt. How will be bring her back to Pack if she is resistant?”

“I am sure resourceful dogs like ye will find a way to persuade her.” I feel a flicker of uneasiness in the pack-bond. I guess this is part of being a 4-notch. It gets harder to serve as you progress. The reason you earn the trust of a notch is because you need to be trusted to make more nuanced and confusing decisions for Pack. “I know Silky has information about the finer details of how we will conduct this mission but if ye-r questions have been answered, I am very sorry but I have to converse with Salt-Pack Guider Valiant First Eyes Set about the situation she finds herself in. It has been a complete delight to have ye in my den and I would love ye to come for a social visit before ye leave. Hopefully in the next few days. There is no point in rushing, she stole that cache at least a season ago, it may all be used up by now. The important thing is that we bring her back within Pack.”

We obviously smell of where we’ve been as we return to the buzzer-pack (soon to be disbanded). Dogs approach to smell us and want to share our presumed excitement. It’s difficult to maintain the excited energy when you have just learned that the pack will be split, that we are going away, that a risk to Pack has lived undetected for a cycle within a day^ from where we den. But I can jolly myself along. We have agreed we want to spend as much time with as many dogs as we can. Fierce’s talking about the day with Long Stride. Swift is reminiscing with Sandy First Eyes. I am just trying to not draw attention to it all being over soon as I catch up with Pompous. No-Eyes First Eyes Runt is right, these dogs need some real active Service. They are stagnating here guarding research from nothing.

More 1 and 2-notches are trying to approach without being pushy. Every notched pack-mate has cautious recommendations and ideas for the next time we visit No-Eyes First Eyes Runt. They will get chances to rise themselves if we are off on a mission for a season.

Swift has spent a large chunk of time discussing and eventually chucking with Stout First Eyes Rise. I hadn’t known them to be all that close but they seem to be enjoying each other’s company tonight.

As the Set turns to full night, the 5 of us have found ourselves ourselves drawn back towards each other.

It is time to den down,

“There is a dog I would like to smell before we leave. Are you happy with me going to visit them?”

“You don’t need to ask Silky. A dog may go where they choose. We’re in no rush according to No-Eyes First Eyes Runt Rise” it still sends a shiver through me to describe her as such, “you can spend a twentieth with them if you like.” He tilts and drifts away.

( Who is awake at this time for the smelling? ) Poses Scrawny, yawning.

( I think he has a closer bond with No-Eyes First Eyes Runt than they have let on. Maybe they have a den-bond, maybe he wants to make the most of what could be his last chances in a season to smell her. ) Fierce has been a small bit boastful this evening about the company we have kept.

( If I was in her den then I would want to make the most of any opportunity to smell her. ) Sleepy affirmations slip from us as we let deep-sleep take us.