AN: And here is story three. As I said before, the stories will usually alternate between pup-centered and parent-centered with some that focus on the whole family. This is one of the Humphrey and Kate centered ones. It's a little darker. Still, enjoy!

Carry wasn't afraid of the dark. She found the notion pathetic and childish. Only little pups feared the dark. She was an Alpha, one the bravest and toughest wolves in the pack, she wasn't afraid of the dark.

But she was tonight.

As she walked back to the pack dens after a hunting party, she felt uneasy. The moon was hidden behind the clouds that night, allowing a menacing darkness to envelop the forest. No matter how hard she tried to dismiss it, she felt as though something was watching her from the dark.

Normally, she wouldn't be concerned. She could take whatever was in there. However, this time, she knew she couldn't. There was just something off. Carry tried to convince herself that it was just her nerves. She couldn't.

Oh God! She thought as she walked, there is something out there.

Suddenly, it merged from the trees. The creature whipped toward with lightning fast speed.

Carry nearly jumped out of her skin as this happened. She was about to run when she actually saw what it was.

The squirrel veered around her and scurried up a nearby tree. It vanished amongst the branches.

Carry let out a sigh and shook her head. "Just my nerves," she said out loud. She turned back toward the dens and stopped dead. She didn't even have the chance to scream.

Humphrey let out a groan as he heard movement in the den, drawing him out of his half-asleep state and entirely into the real world. He flattened his ears, trying to block out the noise. It didn't work very well. Finally, he gave in and opened his eyes.

The morning light spilled in to the front part of the cave. The world outside was bright and happy. Alphas who had been awake for hours were returning for breakfast while Omegas were only beginning to stir.

"Hey dad," Claudette called behind him.

"Good morning," he yawned, "how are you three?"

"We're good," Stinky replied, speaking for all three as usual.

"Yeah," Runt agreed, his fur a ragged mess and his eyes still half closed. He had been sleeping hard ever since he had returned from the mysterious cave nearby to confront his fears.

In truth, Runt had returned to the cave to find a cure for a peculiar disorder he had been afflicted with. His nightmares had begun to cause him physical injury. The only other wolf who knew the whole story was Stinky, but Runt had neglected to tell him about the strange wolf who tried to kill him along the way or the one that appeared in his dream. He was still chewing on what they had said.

There was something down there. And someone would do anything to keep it down there. The only trouble was, Runt couldn't tell if that was good thing, or a sinister plot.

He had finally decided to just drop it. Nothing had happened in the last few days to remind him of it and he doubted that there was much he could do anyway. He would just try to forget it. However, in the back of his head, he couldn't forget what the dream wolf had said to him when he asked what the cave really was: The cave is not important, it is what it leads to that is, followed by the ominous, You might find that out very soon.

Humphrey gave his son a worried look. Every now and then, he would seem to zone out, as though he was contemplating something very serious. He was doing so now.

"So, what you guys got planned for today?" he asked, trying to distract himself.

"Nothing much. Me and Fleet are racing through the valley after Alpha school today," Claudette replied happily, wagging her tail.

"And me and Runt are taking bets!" Stinky added wrapping an arm around his brother, snapping him out of his trance.

"Wha… uh, yeah. And it's 'Runt and I'," Runt stammered.

"Sound like fun," Humphrey said, trying to figure out what they were betting.

Their conversation was interrupted as Kate walked in, carrying a slab of caribou for breakfast. She dropped it on the floor and smiled at her family. She looked at Humphrey and her eyes told him they wouldn't be partaking in the meal.

"Pups, I need to talk with your dad for minute," she said, trying hard to cover up how uneasy she was.

"Is everything alright?" Claudette asked.

"Yeah, I just need to talk to him. Married couple stuff," she added.

The pups went back to eating, uninterested in the boring aspects of their parents' lives.

"So, how long is this 'talk' going to be?" Humphrey asked when the two were leaving the dens.

Kate gave him a look. "I couldn't say it was pack business," she replied, "there is no way we could have kept them home if I did."

"So it is pack business," Humphrey groaned, "I was really looking forward to that caribou."

"Trust me," Kate replied solemnly, "You won't be hungry after this."

AN: Well, this should be an interesting one to write. The next update is coming soon! Reviews are always welcome.