Hey everyone. I am back again. Those of you who have read my stories before will ask what the hell is going on? Three chapters in three days? Have you gone insane? No guys and girls, I just have a lot of ideas for this story and I don't want to lose them. So I keep writing until I get an author's block, or I return to school. I expect this to be my last update on any of my stories for this week, so, without anything to add except thanks to the guest reviewer, let's continue with the story. Enjoy :D
Chapter 3 – The Legend
The sun shone brightly over Jasper Park, bathing the forest in his light. Somewhere south of the Western and Eastern territory, a pack of wolves just woke up with a start. One of the scouts that were on patrol just came back reporting some kind of strange activity farther south. The leader of the southern pack, after hearing the news, put all alphas on alert, doubled the patrol teams and sent a message to the Western pack leader.
-in the den close to the feeding grounds-
Humphrey opened his eyes all of a sudden. He didn't know what woke him up. He quickly checked the interior of his den, checked on Kate to see she was still sleeping with a smile on her face, then listened for any sounds from outside. Nothing. By the time he was finished with checking the sounds outside, Kate already opened her eyes and looked at him with a concerned look.
"Humphrey, is everything alright?" Kate asked, not knowing what was wrong with Humphrey. When she saw his face form a small frown, she became concerned and waved a paw in front of his face. Humphrey answered, not looking at her, but looking at the sky.
"Kate, have you ever had that feeling that you are being watched?"
"No. Why? What's wrong?" she asked looking outside at the sky too.
"I woke up a couple of minutes ago with a start. But not just any kind of waking-up start. It was like some shocked me really hard. Now, don't think I am crazy, but I had that feeling before. Twice, to be exact. First, the morning you told me you are leaving for Alpha school, and second, while I was running to catch the train to leave Jasper Park. Both times, bad things happened" Humphrey explained sitting back down and looking at her with concerned eyes.
"Are you sure? Maybe you were too excited from yesterday and just woke with a start" Kate said nuzzling him a little and giving him a soft kiss.
"I am sure. We should go tell Winston" Humphrey said with a serious face. Kate nodded and gave him another quick lick, before she got up with him and they left for the main den. On their way, they passed the feeding grounds and the lake, but it was dead silent. No one was up yet, except the Alpha patrols. They walked slowly, Kate becoming concerned by the minute because of Humphrey's state. They walked past Garth and Lilly's den. They were sleeping still, with smiles on their faces. Kate and Humphrey quickly walked up the ramp to the main den. Kate stopped outside and whispered to Humphrey:
"I'll go inside and get dad. You wait here, we don't want to wake mom up." Humphrey nodded and sat down, waiting for Kate to return with her father. Two minutes later, Winston quickly came outside with Kate. His face was one of worry as he approached Humphrey and sat down by him. He waited for a second before saying:
"Kate said you have something important to tell me. She also said to wait for you to finish your story before I jump to conclusions, so please begin. "
"Winston, sir, to cut it short, I think something bad will happen with the pack soon. This morning I woke up with a start like someone was watching me. You will think by now that this is normal, but the sensation shook me from head to claws and the tip of my tail. And I only had this sensation twice in my life. The morning when Kate left for Alpha school and, I know you will ask me why then. Because I felt very sad when she left for three months. The other time was when I decided to take the train to leave Jasper Park. It hit me just before I jumped into the wagon. When I returned, the packs were fighting each other with intent to kill. I am worried for the pack and for your daughter" Humphrey finished seriously. Winston looked at him, not changing his serious face. After looking straight in Humphrey's eyes, he nodded and said:
"I will supervise the pack personally today. Thank you for telling me. I can see in your eyes that you strongly believe that something isn't right." With that Winston turned around and went back inside. Kate looked at her father and then went to Humphrey's side.
"I've never seen him so serious. He took you seriously Humphrey. Maybe you are right. Something is amiss today. But let's let dad worry about that now" Kate commented as she nuzzled him. Humphrey's attitude changed in an instant as he returned to his happy, worry-free self.
"Yeah, you are right. Let's see. You were saying yesterday that you want to choose the activity for today. What will we do, my love?" Humphrey said giving her cheek a lick. Kate giggled and said:
"I thought maybe you will like to learn how to hunt."
"What? But I am an Omega. Me? Hunt? Really?" Humphrey asked excited. Kate could feel his excitement coming out of his fur.
"Yeah. I can teach you. It will be fun" she said letting her body touch his as they walked towards the feeding grounds. They walked until they reached a place with tall grass, just close to where the caribou were grazing. Kate sat down, and Humphrey sat in front of her with an excited grin on his face.
"It is quite easy to hunt. I mean, it is more difficult to log-sledge a mountain then to hunt" Kate said jokingly. Humphrey laughed too and commented:
"Well, that went perfect. And in the first try too. I can't see something going wrong with a hunt."
"Okay. First things first. You must not let the caribou see you. In order to do that, you must hunt from downwind and be concealed by tall grass. The first part is easy, since today there is no wind, so we won't have to worry about that. The second part however, is not as easy. You have to keep your body low, close to the ground. Try now" Kate said as she walked around him to see how well his body was concealed. Humphrey's pouncing state was almost perfect, except he kept his butt to high. Kate giggled and playfully slapped him saying:
"The caribou can't see your tail. Hold your butt closer to the ground. And stop wagging your tail."
Humphrey blushed a little, but did what he was told.
"Now, try to walk around for a couple of minutes. I'll go to the rock there and see if you are visible. You shouldn't be too visible. When you think the time is right, pounce on me and we will see if you make the kill" Kate said with a grin as she moved up the rock and lied down. Humphrey grinned, a plan in his mind. He walked around a little, just to make Kate loose his sight. Then, he walked behind the rock, surveying Kate for a couple of seconds, before he flexed his legs and jumped high. He landed on her and locked her in a deep kiss. She moaned in his mouth and he quickly pushed his tongue in her mouth. A couple of seconds later, he broke the kiss and said:
"So…was that good hunting technique?"
Kate giggled and commented:
"Good form, great pounce and awesome plan. But remember to bite the caribou's neck hard, not to kiss them hard. Now, let's see you in action."
Humphrey blushed and they walked closer to the grazing caribous. Kate made a last remark before letting him go hunt:
"Choose your target carefully. If you hunt alone, choose a caribou that is separated from the others, or sick, or old. And, don't do the same mistake I did. Choose one you are sure will be able to take down, not one three times that size" Kate said blushing a little. Humphrey giggled and nodded. He pressed his body on the ground and carefully approached the unsuspecting caribou he chose. He was only a couple of meters away from the caribou, when the caribou started looking around. Humphrey instantly remained stoned to his place, holding his breath. Kate saw this and swiftly approached Humphrey. She stopped by his side as the caribou was about to run. She whispered two words to him, before Humphrey pounced on the caribou: "Team hunt."
Humphrey landed on the back of the caribou, going straight for his neck. Kate jumped too and caught the neck of the caribou just beside Humphrey's bite. The caribou fell on the ground from the weight of the two wolves and quickly died.
"We did it! My first hunt was successful!" Humphrey said excited jumping around. Kate giggled and said:
"Good job, Humphrey. Really good for your first hunt."
"I have a great teacher and even a more awesome mate to help me" Humphrey said coming close to her and nuzzling her. Kate blushed and giggled girlishly. Then she said:
"Let's dig in. I am hungry." Humphrey nodded and they dug in with great appetite. When they finished eating and took care of the blood of their muzzles, they heard someone coming. They looked around and saw Lilly and Garth making their way to them.
"Morning" Humphrey called and the two responded in happy voices. When they got closer, Garth asked:
"So early hunting, Kate? Planning on eating the entire caribou population today?"
"No. In fact this is Humphrey's kill" Kate said proud.
"Oh…Humphrey's kill" Garth nodded before his brain could process. "Wait…Humphrey can hunt?" he asked astonished.
"Well, I thought him today the basics and he made a kill, so I suppose yeah. He can hunt" Kate said proudly. Garth looked at Humphrey and said:
"Congrats. I never thought you had a predatory instinct under all your jokes, to be fair."
"Me neither. But Kate helped and she is an awesome teacher" Humphrey said nuzzling her.
"Will you teach me to hunt too?" Lilly asked, looking at Garth. He thought for a second and said:
"Only if you want to. We can try tomorrow morning, if you want." Lilly jumped happily and cheered. All of them laughed at the sudden burst of excitement, but their happiness was interrupted by a wolf approaching at great speed. You could see he was in a hurry and was going straight to them. He stopped in front of the group and said:
"Winston wants all of you in his den right now. He said it is an emergency." Then he ran off to his duties. Kate looked at Humphrey worried and Humphrey looked at Kate worried. All four of them began running to reach the main den as soon as possible. When they were close to it, they saw a strange wolf, not from their pack, leave the den, accompanied by two Alphas and running at great speed south. Winston was outside too, waiting for them. When he saw them, his face became serious as he looked at Humphrey. He waited for them to sit down, before he spoke:
"Humphrey, I am afraid you were right. Something really bad happened to our allies in the south. The wolf you just saw leave was a messenger. He told me that strange wolves visited their territory last night. Black wolves. Big wolves." Garth spoke loud:
"What? What are you talking about? How did Humphrey know this? Why does it imply us?" Winston put his paw up to silence him. After he was silent, Winston spoke in the same serious tone:
"This morning, Humphrey woke up with a start, feeling he was being watched. He reported to me this occurrence, along with similar situations in which it happened. All the situations it happened into, were from neutral to bad, and getting worse. He told me he felt something off this morning and that something bad would soon happen to the pack. I took his story for serious, but didn't think it was this serious." Winston stopped to think a bit. Then he continued:
"You won't understand what I am talking about, unless I start from the very beginning. Humphrey, do you remember when you were a pup? Anything from that time?"
Humphrey was taken by surprise and thought. Then he said:
"The first memory I have is when I was playing with Kate by the lake. I don't remember my parents or anything earlier than that."
"The truth is, Humphrey, you are not originally from this pack" Winston said with a heavy hearth.
"What?" Humphrey asked confused.
"Dad? Are you serious about this?" Kate asked.
"Yes, Kate. I am. I found Humphrey outside our most western border one night when I was on patrol. He was there with another wolf. That wolf was my friend and your father, Humphrey. He was injured. When I asked him what happened, he told me your pack had been attacked by black big wolves and that you two are the only survivors. The same wolves that are now on the territory south of our allies. While we were talking, they ambushed us. Your father fought them and told me to run and take care of you. And don't look back. While I was running with you, one of the black wolves cut my way. Then, out of nowhere, a silver furred wolf with black stripes helped me. The black wolf managed to injure you in your head. The silver wolf put her paw on your head and muttered something. She said you will be asleep for some days, and when you will wake up, you will remember nothing of this. She said that at some point, you will start to remember and when that time comes, to send you find her. But, I have to tell you one more thing. Do you know what the name of your pack was? The name was The Sentinels. And you were the son of Arthy, the leader of the Sentinels, his only son and child. Your mom's name was Senna…"Winston said, a tear in his eye.
The four wolves in front of him were shocked. Garth was the first to speak:
"But, the Sentinels and the Wretches are only myths. They didn't really exist, did they?"
"They did Garth. And the black wolves that attack the south now are the Wretches. And Humphrey here is the last Sentinel alive" Winston said looking at Humphrey with a serious look. Humphrey was speechless for a second, before he broke in a fit of crying. Kate quickly grabbed him and hugged him. She turned at looked at her father:
"Are you telling me Humphrey is a Sentinel? And a war with the Wretches is about to break in the south? And all so that the Wretches can get to Humphrey? And Humphrey has to go and find that strange muttering wolf? You have got to be kidding dad."
"Kate, I am afraid I am not kidding in the slightest. This is the truth and Humphrey has to face his destiny. I am sorry your week together and your time together was cut so short by this news. But I knew the moment Humphrey said he felt something wrong, that the powers in him, in his mind, have finally awakened. I am not happy with the decisions I must take, but they are necessary. He will be leaving tomorrow to the western border and beyond that to find the strange muttering wolf. I will put all Alphas on alert" Winston said as he turned around.
"Sir…" Humphrey called weakly, recovering from the tears he had been crying for the last part of the time.
"Yes Humphrey?" Winston said turning at him.
"I will go. But only on one condition. Kate comes with me" he added with a teary face, but a serious mask under his tears. Winston was about to say no, but looked at his daughter. She was going to go with him, no matter what he said. There was no point in arguing about that. He sighed and said:
"I will allow it. Take as much time as you two need with that strange wolf. If my suppositions are correct, she will train you Humphrey. She told me to tell you that the Sentinels had a saying : the cycle continues. Tell her that when you meet her. She will remember you for sure. Oh, and it will be the hardest training ever. Even harder than Alpha School. We will try to hold the front and don't let the Wretches attack out territory. Garth, go and wake up the Alphas. Set double patrol teams. Send a group of ten Alphas led by Hutch to the south. I promised we will help them. And we will. That is all" Winston said as he turned around and went back inside his den.
"Come on, honey. I will help you" Lilly said in a quiet voice as she and Garth walked away. Humphrey was still sniffling and Kate was trying to help him calm, by petting his back. When his tears dried, she said in a whisper in his ear:
"Let's go up there. We can talk there if you feel like it." Humphrey nodded, and they walked together to the secret area over the waterfall.
-ten minutes and a short walk later-
Kate sat down on the grass, among the flowers. Humphrey sat on her left and looked at the sun and the blue sky. Without any warning he spoke:
"Kate…do you remember what I said about my nightmares yesterday? The nightmares I had when I was little were about the scene Winston described. Only I saw the scene from up and didn't recognize the wolves. Now I see that that it is not a nightmare, but a memory. A painful memory." He sniffled a little and Kate put a paw around him, bringing him close.
"When I was little, as far as I can remember, I heard stories about the Sentinels. How they are more powerful than any wolf, any Alpha in existence. And how each of them is born with a gift. I always dreamed that one day, maybe I will become a Sentinel and protect all the wolves I love. I never imagined, however, how will I feel if I ever became one. Now, that I found out I am the last Sentinel, that my family is dead, that I am not from this pack, that my original pack is dead…I want all of this to be a nightmare and to wake up. It's…I don't know what or how it is…but it's not good. It feels really bad." Humphrey took a little break to calm himself, before he talked again:
"I am scared Kate…scared of the future. I am scared of the war I have to stop. I am scared of killing the Wretches. I am scared of losing you. And I am confused as to what I have to do. What will I do Kate? How will I go past all this?" Humphrey said looking at her, tears on the point of bursting in his eyes again. Kate looked at him with sad but compassionate eyes and said in a calm and soothing voice:
"I don't know, Humphrey. But, no matter your decisions, I will stand by your decisions and I will love you and offer my help how I can, no matter what. To tell you the truth, I am also scared, but I also heard the stories about the Sentinels. They were always the best wolves out there, so selfless, so kind, so ready to help everyone. To be blunt, Humphrey, I saw in you the soul of a Sentinel in the trip we had from Idaho back to Jasper Park."
"You did?" Humphrey asked with a surprised expression.
"Yes. And I know that no matter your decision, it will be a good one. Besides, the war hasn't started yet. Our pack is big, the southern pack is big, we don't know how many Wretches there are. Things are not as grim as they sound. You lost your parents, true, but they lost their lives protecting you. You lost your old pack, true, but if you didn't you would have never met me, and I would have never became the mate of the kindest wolf there is. Somehow, the only thing that comes to my mind, is the saying of the Sentinels. They are right. The cycle continues. Time passes. Life moves on. You might have not started it too good, but look where you are now. You have this pack, you have your friends, you have me. I love you Humphrey" Kate said giving him a big hug and licking the back of his head. She heard Humphrey sniffle one more time before he spoke:
"Thanks Kate. You really are the best." And he hugged her back tightly. They broke the hug a long time later. Kate stood in front of him and kissed him with all the passion she had, pushing him on his back and resting her body on his. She intertwined their tails and broke the kiss to look at the sky, which was getting dark. Night was coming. Humphrey turned her face back to him and kissed her again, letting his tongue slip in her mouth, both of them moaning in the kiss. They broke the kiss some time later and Kate rested her head on his chest, listening to his soothing hearth-beat. Humphrey hugged her body and rested his head on her head, bringing her closer. The night was already on them and the starry sky watched over them. They looked at the sky for a time before they fell asleep like that. The last thoughts on Humphrey's mind was Kate. And the strong desire to keep her safe in all this mess that was a second away from starting.
Aaaaaand…scene. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It was a bit longer, but I guess it answered some questions and suppositions you guys had. If I have time, I'll write another one this weekend, but I am not sure. I really love this story I am writing and really enjoy writing it, but I have other school stuff to do. Tell me in a review what you think, what are your ideas, what are your suppositions. II enjoy reading them :D
Until next time, LionPrankster, over and out.