Something Special

Chapter Four

(Author's note: Heeeey! I got a very helpful review (you know who you are), and thank you for your insight! Yes, this chapter is a little longer than the rest, and it showcases a few more characters. Let's see this new chapter spring into action! (Also, sorry for taking so long to upload, life got in the way for a bit. It was like: No, you are not doing this fanfiction and I will do everything in my power to stop you from doing it. XD) WOOF!)

Hutch sighed. Perhaps I should go to my den… there isn't anything here for me to do. Might as well get one last good sleep before surely being found out. I must have done something wrong… something must have messed up. It couldn't be so… perfect. Something must have had to happen. Hutch started to pad back to his den. Around halfway there, he heard the most terrifyingly scared howl. Oh no… I might not even get to spend one more peaceful night! The howls were repeated with different voices among them. They're finding out, fast! To not act suspicious, I must get there now!

The howls were coming from the place he killed Garth.

Hutch sped so fast through the territory it felt as though he were flying. I'm the head Beta… I need to be there! And that means I won't be suspicious… that is the one silver lining to this terrible tragedy that I have brought upon the packs. Hutch raced to the site, and he did a quick head count. Lilly, Humphrey, Shakey, Salty, Mooch, Winston, Eve, Tony, I think there are the vegetarians Reba and Janice… Sweets, and I don't know the rest.

Hutch took a look at the ground. Blood stains. How could have I been so stupid?! I did everything but get rid of the blood stains! How!? Hutch padded up to Winston, hoping he looked shocked enough. "Hutch! Oh, am I glad to see you. There has been a terrible tragedy," Winston barked, his voice filled with surprise.

There were sounds of more wolves coming behind Hutch, and he turned around. Kate was with Cando, and there was Cando's new girlfriend. Hutch couldn't see who it was very well, but when she came into the light, Hutch recognized her. Candy? Really? I… well then. I didn't think she'd be the wolf to be with Cando, but… love knows no bounds. I of all wolves should know that now. Kate padded up to Hutch, sitting down in front of him. Hutch dipped his head before speaking. "Kate. Cando. Candy. I am afraid that I have to inform you that a terrible tragedy has fallen upon us. It appears as though a wolf has been murdered," he woofed, the words feeling strange on his tongue

And I did it! I murdered Garth because of my stupidity and a love that could never be! I set it up, I attacked him, I killed him, I dragged the body to the river and threw it in, I rolled in the wildflowers to cover my scent, I dragged the same wildflowers all over the place to cover up the scent trail, I did it! I did it all! It took Hutch an extreme amount of self-control to keep himself from actually saying the words. Too late did he realize that Kate had been talking that whole time. He only caught the last words.

"… just let me see if Hutch agrees. Hutch? What do you think?" Kate woofed, turning to him.

Quick, come up with something… again. "Oh, um, sure. We can do that," He woofed. I have no idea what I just agreed to. "Good. Winston? Hutch, Cando, Candy and I have a plan to at least investigate the situation and find the killer," Kate woofed, padding up to her father.

Winston turned to her. "Good. Let's begin immediately. You do what you have to and I'll investigate the battle scene here," Winston woofed.

Why couldn't she have explained the plan more thoroughly to her father? Then maybe I'd know what we're supposed to do… "Alright then! Let's go you three," Kate woofed, following the trail of blood.

I'm glad that it's only Garth's scent that is overpowering the wildflowers. I am so lucky that I didn't get a scratch. Maybe my thick fur helped with that. Soon enough they got to the river. Hutch quickly saw a piece of his own fur on a branch that he must have snagged when dragging the body to the river. Passing off the movement as running to the water's edge, Hutch quickly took the piece of fur off of the branch. I'll bury this later.

I'd better say something. "Drat. Whoever killed him must have thrown the body in the river," Hutch woofed, trying to keep the image of himself throwing the body into the river just a few minutes before out of his mind.

"Whoever did it must be pretty strong. Not everyone could drag Garth. I mean, just from what I heard of him. I never… met him or anything," Kate woofed, adding on the last part quickly.

Well, crud. That's true. That certainly narrows it down. Now I'll be more suspicious than before and… oh what am I doing right now!? I need to concentrate on making it seem like I'm surprised and all that. I can think about this tonight. "Cando, Candy, you two go downstream and find Garth's body. When you do, get it out and bark three short times. Then Hutch will get him and carry him back to camp. Sound good Hutch?" Kate asked, looking at Hutch.

Normally, Hutch felt intimidated and… other odd emotions under her gaze. But the stress was so severe that it didn't affect him at the moment. "Yes. Let's do that," He quickly agreed.

Cando and Candy instantly bolted off, the bloodstained, fragrant grass waving in their wake. Hutch was about to delve back into his thoughts, when he noticed Kate's composure breaking down. She was crying. "Kate? Are you okay?" Hutch asked, knowing full well that she wasn't.

"No... I just… I thought that this would finally end the war between our packs," Kate responded.

I need to act surprised. Either that and tell her that Winston told me… oh no. Winston told me and me alone about this. Whether he realizes it tonight or not, he will realize that I was the only one who he told, and then I'll be prime suspect! I'd be dead instantly if it weren't for me being the lead Beta… but that won't hold much of an argument against him.

Hutch realized that he had to respond. "I… how would it end the war between the packs?" Hutch asked.

Kate mustn't know either, then she'd be suspecting me. And I can't have that. I need to play dumb. And… how did she know of the plan? No matter. I'm not even supposed to know of the plan until now. I need to keep those questions to myself. Kate looked at him. "I… my father told me that I'd have to marry Garth and unite the packs! I was going to do it, but I had never met him before or anything!" Kate barked, tears continuously coming down her face.

Hutch was about to say something, when Kate gasped. "What if Winston thinks that I killed Garth?! He only told me… well he didn't tell me, I eavesdropped and found out… but all the same, what if he thinks that I did it!?" Kate barked, sobbing now.

I need to say something nice. Not only would that comfort her but paint a better picture of me in her mind. "Kate. Listen to me. I know that you didn't kill Garth. You of all wolves wouldn't do it. Honestly, it was probably someone from Tony's pack. Someone who wanted Garth for themselves and got jealous and got carried away! Listen, Winston will not think you did it. I will make sure of it, okay?" Hutch woofed, giving her a reassuring lick on the ear.

Kate buried her head in Hutch's neck fur, which was certainly of note. OH MY GOD. This is the closest I've gotten to Kate in forever! Don't mess it up now… "Th- thank you Hutch. It's nice to know that you're there for me," Kate woofed, looking up at him.

"Don't mention it. We will find this killer, whoever it is. And whoever it is will pay a very high price for what they did," Hutch growled, looking around.

Now you're in for it. You just promised Kate that you'd find the killer and then kill them. So basically you promised her that you'd find yourself and then kill… let's not think about that. "Thank you again Hutch. Maybe"- Kate was interrupted by three short barks.

"Sounds like Cando. I'd better get over there," Hutch woofed, padding away.

He heard Kate's voice behind him. "I'll be waiting for you with the rest of the pack!" She barked.

Hutch sped towards the river. He didn't want to see Garth's body for a second time but he had to. He saw Cando and Candy, sitting next to a dripping wet bundle of fur. Flashbacks suddenly went through Hutch's brain. Keep them down. He padded up to them. "Thank you. You should get back to the others- Kate's waiting there," Hutch woofed, giving them each a nod.

"Will do. Let's go Candy," Cando woofed, padding away, Candy in tow.

Hutch waited for them to leave, before sighing. He looked at Garth's face. A single tear fell from his eye and onto Garth's fur. Hutch put his nose to Garth's flank.

Oh Garth. I'm so sorry.