It's finally here guys. Sorry it took so long.
Humphrey was too sick to sleep that night, for his emotions were conflicted deeply, mixing and swirling about in his head like a turbid sea. He hated everything that was his to despise at this point, for everything he had ever wanted was now well beyond his reach, or, more appropriately, was always beyond his reach, but he never wanted to accept the truth.
And now that he had to face the fact that his entire life had been nothing but fantastical dreams, he felt as though his entire being had been sucked from his body, leaving him empty and soulless, a mere shell of the man that he once was.
Light crept slowly into the den, crawling across his body until all of the night's shadows were forced away from him, but rather than greet it with smiles and joy as he usually would, he met the morning with a soft sigh of distain.
How he wished that it didn't have to be this way, but leaving was the only option he could see. After all, who knows what would happen if he were to stay? God only knows that he would probably punch Garth right in the nose if he ever saw him again, and Kate, if he had to see her with him, he would lose his mind. How could he watch while they lived the life that should have been his to live?
Again he sighed.
Maybe in being angry he was being childish, and maybe in being wrathful he was being selfish. After all, if he understood it right, their marriage would unite the East with the West and avert a war, one which could ultimately wind up hurting Kate, so maybe this was for the best. Maybe this was the only way to truly achieve peace, and who would he be to stand in the way of something for which he had always fought?
As such fleeting thoughts faded from his mind, he blinked and rubbed his eyes, coming to life now even though he had never slept the previous night, then lifted his head slowly from his paws.
This was it.
The time of imminence was rapidly approaching and would be upon him before he knew it, so he'd better be ready, but he didn't know how to prepare for what lied ahead or what he would do with the remainder of what little time he had left here. Should he try to take food? No, there were only bones to eat, and besides that would only be extra weight for him to carry, anyway. Maybe he should go say his farewells to Salty Shakey and Mooch, his best and only friends, as they deserved to know the truth... but then again, he did not know if he would be able to face them. Maybe he should just take a walk through what will soon be his former home, just to say goodbye to it, and maybe by the time he is done, it will be time for him to go. That seemed like a good idea just so long as he avoided his friends. Deciding to commit to his decision, he pressed himself starkly to his feet, stumbling slightly as his fatigued body struggled to support his weight, but once he was steadily righted once more upon his paws, he began to take his leave.
Out into the waking world he walked only to find that the park had come to life without him. Everything buzzed with energy and the inhabitants were sharing cheeriness and smiles the likes of which he had not seen on them since he was a pup. And why shouldn't they be happy? They had no idea about anything that had happened on their way back to Jasper. They were completely incognizant to the fact that he had fallen in love with the bride to be and that in spite of all that he was and all he could do, his love had always been, and would forever after be, in vain. They knew not of the pain he felt, nor did they understand the agony of his regret as it slowly tore his heart apart. All they knew was that today, in probably less than three hours, the East and West would be united under the marriage of Kate and Garth and the war would be averted; so what reason did they have to fret? He could not deny that it made him sick, having to watch everybody prance and gallivant about so happily while he felt so miserable he could die, but in reality, he knew that he had brought it all upon himself. He should have known better. He should have known that he could never get her to change her mind, and he should have foreseen where his pursuits would lead him, but to the truth he had blinded himself, pretending that he could someday win her heart and sweep her off of her paws, and now that he thought about it he realized just how much of a fool he had been.
As he sunk further and further into his woe, he could feel his spirit begin to grow dim, and through his darkening eyes the park seemed to be ablaze in light so bright that every object in his sight seemed to be surrounded by a brilliant halo, but he knew all of this to be fantastical, even though knowing this didn't make him feel any better. In fact, it seemed to make him feel worse. Had she really left him so cold and empty inside that all light had now faded from his eyes?
He sighed and turned his attention down to his paws for a moment before lifting his eyes yet again to gaze out at the park only to find that his vision was now compromised by a blurry veil of tears.
He didn't want to go, but he had to; he never wanted to say goodbye, but he had to. There was nothing left for him here, so on he wandered, awake but unconscious through the park. As to where he would end up when he did finally wake, he did not know.
A&Ω
All night Kate had struggled to find sleep. She tossed and turned, sighed and groaned, wanting to sleep as she knew that she had a big day ahead of her, but her tormented thoughts and pitted stomach refused to allow her any repose.
All night her thoughts revolved around the wedding, around her husband to be, and around all of the good that their marriage would bring, and she had tried to take solace in this fact, but she couldn't, and she did not know why. Was there something that she had missed, or overlooked? She couldn't think of anything, unless... that strange fluttering sensation she had felt on the train that night... What could it have been? Was her greatest fear true? Had she really fallen in love with him?
Of course it wasn't true, it was impossible. She was an alpha and he was an omega; falling in love was out of the question.
But then... why was it that when she stood before Garth she felt as though she was fulfilling an obligation, when in the presence of Humphrey she felt almost sick from the fluttering in her heart?
No. There had to be a better explanation, she just had to keep searching until she found one.
Now let's see...
"Kate," her father called groggily as he slowly roused, "Kate wake up."
"Yeah come on, sweetie, Lilly, you too," Eve said excitedly, "you've gotta get ready."
"Ready for what?" Kate asked, then was slapped by reality as she returned once again from the recessions of her mind, "oh... right... yeah. I'm up."
"Good," Eve replied, "now come on, hurry. We've got a lot to do and not a lot of time to do it, let's go."
Kate sighed and pressed herself starkly to her paws, stretching as she normally would, doing her best to norm herself to disguise her true turmoil from her parents, then took to her side.
Eve smiled proudly at her, as did Winston.
"I can't believe how fast my little girl grew up," Winston said to her, beaming brightly as Lilly seemed to sit unnoticed at Kate's side, "it seems like just yesterday when you said your first word, and now you've grown into this beautiful young woman, proud and strong. I can't even begin to convey to you just how proud I am to have you for a daughter."
"Oh dad," Kate said, pretending to choke up, then stepped forward to embrace him.
Winston returned the embrace then they separated.
"Now come on," Eve said to her, turning to take her leave, "we've gotta get you all dolled up for Garth."
Kate nodded and began to follow, smiling on the outside, but inside, her stomach was wound so tight that she felt as though she would be sick. She just hoped that this would go away before the wedding.
A&Ω
Humphrey did not know what made him do it, but he now stood down at the base of the ramp which he knew would lead up to Kate's den. For a moment he hesitated, too afraid to face her, but whatever it was that had driven him here in the first place then began to drive him up, one paw at a time.
As he drew nearer to the top he heard voices grow louder and louder, which caused him to pause temporarily so that he may listen.
"When it comes to hugs, we are all French, eh, Paddy?" he heard the old goose say warmly.
"Uh... well I'm English, so we don't HUG!" Paddy cried in a groan.
"I'm so happy to see you two."
That was the voice he was looking for, and based off of what he just heard, he knew that he could now erase all doubts. She was happy, and if she was happy, he could not stand in her way.
"Um... yeah, I'm getting married," Kate replied, furrowing her brows, "who told you?"
"I did," Humphrey announced, rounding the corner.