Alright, so we have a winner on the trivia. Congratulations to Kilobravo1 for being the first to answer correctly and props to Samsonite. Wolfe for being the second runner up. The song for those of you who didn't know was Suicide Is Painless and it was featured in the movie MASH in the 70's, not the 80's. That was my bad. Anyway awesome that I got some good reviews last chapter, let's see if I could get some more now that we have arrived at the big twist...

EXPLICIT CONTENT AND VIOLENCE


The night air was crisp and it felt quite pleasant in comparison to the stuffy air in the train car; but this was something that Humphrey had little interest in. The only thing he was focused on, the only thing he ever wanted, lay curled up in a sleeping ball not but a few yards away.

A large lighted orange sign loomed in the distance and steadily grew until it rushed past his head and he let out a deep sigh before he pulled his head back inside the train car. For a moment he sat and stared at the sleeping form of Kate, gazing deeply at her amber gold fur that was being brilliantly illuminated by the soft blue rays of the moon. She had never looked more beautiful to him, and never before had the pull on his heart been so strong. Humphrey continued to stare softly at his sleeping companion and thought silently to himself.

'I know I shouldn't be feeling this way about her, it goes against everything stated in the sacred laws of the pack." the voice of reason in his head told him, "And besides, she's an alpha. There's not a snowball's chance that she would ever feel the same way that I do about her.'

Humphrey turned slowly and watched the familiar territory roll swiftly past.

'Home.'

With a sigh Humphrey broke out of his thoughts and lowered his muzzle down toward Kate, pausing briefly with still a few more inches until his nose would meet Kate's fur.

'I need to tell her how I feel, but how?'

"Kate," Humphrey whispered and rubbed his muzzle on the side of her neck, "Kate, wake up. Wake up."

Kate groaned and blinked her tired eyes open.

"Humphrey?" she asked before stretching her lean body to its max. "Where are we?" she asked when finished.

"We're, we're in Jasper," Humphrey replied sullenly.

Kate stole a look out into the night and saw the land she grew up in roll past. She straightened up and took a seat next to Humphrey in front of the opening to the car.

"Well, we're home," Kate said looking down at her paws.

"Yup, we're home," was Humphrey's slum reply.

The pair of wolves sat for a silent moment, each one deep in thought. Their minds were screaming at them to say something, but the both of them were shoulder deep in doubt. After a few more seconds in a thick silence the two quickly turned to face each other, each one wanting desperately to tell the other what their mind screamed at them to say.

"There's something I," the two began simultaneously and paused to nervously laugh.

"Please, you first," Humphrey said, his aqua blue eyes dancing into and away from Kate's amber gaze.

"Humphrey," Kate began slowly, "I just wanted to tell you, that these past couple of days have been kind of... fun, and you've been kind of... fun."

"Really," Humphrey replied brightly.

"Really," Kate answered with a small grin.

"Well... that's... that's great. I told you, we make a pretty good team," Humphrey said and began to nervously fumble with his paws.

"We do," Kate agreed with a small nod.

Humphrey took in a breath to try and build some courage.

"Okay, um... well..." he stuttered and continued to fumble with his paws.

Kate saw this and stopped him with a chuckle.

"No, no... don't tell me. You have to go to the bathroom again."

"Why? Do you see a truck stop?" Humphrey replied in a corny fashion.

'Come on, just three simple words. I. Love. You.'

"I just wanted to tell you... I... I..."

'Love you.'

Kate smiled and chuckled, beginning to turn her head to look out of the car.

"Kate I... I love you!" Humphrey blurted out quite suddenly.

Kate whipped her head around to face him, not entirely sure if she had heard him right.


Jasper Valley


On both sides of the valley two large packs of wolves were snarling and barking ferociously at the group across from them. The Western leader, Winston had just spoken and now it was the Eastern leader Tony's turn to answer.

"All I asked was for you to follow our customs, unite the packs. But no, your daughter had to up and run away."

"My..."

There was a long lonely whistle as the Canadian Express' last car rolled lazily past the warring group.


Canadian Expression


"What did you say?" Kate asked with a look of shock on her face.

'Had I heard him right? Did Humphrey say what I think he just said?'

Humphrey's aqua gaze danced in and out of her's again.

"I... I said I... I love you Kate."

Kate's eyes grew bigger around than the moon to which they had howled. Humphrey sighed and turned his head in defeat.

'He... loves me?'

"You... said that you... love me?"

Humphrey turned his head back and looked her dead in the eyes.

"Yes, I do. I love you Kate. Ever since we were pups I wanted to tell you how I felt, but I was always so afraid that you would just..."

Humphrey was interrupted by something he had always dreamt of. Kate's soft lips pressed firmly against his, startling him at first, but after a few seconds he regained himself and returned it with his eyes lightly closed. After a few seconds of this, Kate slowly pulled her head away, leaving Humphrey sitting with his eyes still closed.

"Humphrey," Kate began, trying to choke back her tears.

Humphrey slowly opened his eyes and saw that Kate's had tears brimming the bottoms and rolling down her cheeks.

"I've always loved you," Kate said and pressed her lips against his once again.


Jasper Valley


Winston waited until the whistle died away into the distance then swiveled his head back to the front.

"Tony, you have nothing to gain by getting yourself killed," Winston began slowly, yet intimidatingly, "I will give you one last chance to stand down and you can still leave outta here with dignity."

The wolves on Tony's side of the valley chuckled loudly, obviously amused with Winston's previous statement.

"No. We are taking back what belongs to us."

The wolves behind Tony growled threateningly and the wolves behind Winston returned them with growls that were equally as ferocious. Tony let his hate filled glare bore into Winston's then threw back his head, howling the command to move forward and attack. He and the wolves behind him leapt down from their perches and began flooding across the valley floor. Winston leapt down and his group followed right behind him as they swept across the ground, growing closer and closer to the approaching enemy.

Everything seemed to move in slow motion. Winston and Tony were the first to make contact with each other, snarling and leaping in for an effective attack. There was a metallic click as the two's teeth slammed into the other's and the first blood was scored upon their fangs from the slashing of gums. The other wolves were soon to follow, colliding with the opposing forces in a flurry of snarls, growls and cries of pain. Wolves whirled and parried attacks from all sides, some, like Eve, were stuck having to fend off two wolves at once.

She would turn on one and the other would circle around and jump on her back, only to be bucked off before anything harmful could be done. The two wolves moved to each side of her and jumped in. Eve timed her move perfectly, waiting until she could practically feel their breath before she rolled away. The two wolves had no time to react and slammed into each other. Eve seized her opportunity and flew in, grabbing one by the back leg and swinging him around into the other. The wolf that was hit cried out and flew a few feet, meeting his death by the fangs of an unattended Candu.

Eve used her 'wolf club' on a few more of her enemies before the leg finally pulled free from it's socket and ripped off on the next swing. The three legged wolf flew for a few feet and crashed down hard on the ground and lay dead. Nobody wanted very much more to do with Eve, but she and Winston would have to be eliminated if their cause were to turn out victorious.

But little did they know of the trouble that was brewing about four miles down the valley...


Canadian Expression


Kate pulled away from the kiss again with tears in her eyes.

"Humphrey," she choked.

Humphrey opened his eyes again and locked them with Kate's

"Humphrey, I've always loved you, but please try to understand..."

Humphrey looked at her with a worried look.

"Understand what?" he asked nervously.

Kate turned her head away and began to cry. Humphrey ran over to her side.

"Kate, What's wrong? Did I..."

Kate sniffled and turned to him.

"No, It's not you," she sobbed.

Humphrey was still confused.

"Kate... What's..."

Kate started to sob loudly, burying her head under her paws.

This action, however, went horribly wrong. They came to a bend just as soon as she did so and her momentum started to carry her forward. Kate, being in the position that she was in, had no time to react and ineffably slid forward and out of the car. Thinking fast, Humphrey leapt to his feet and snagged her tail into his teeth. However, his strength just wasn't enough and the two tumbled out of the car, rolling and bouncing down a shallow dirt hill and coming to a rest near the very edge of the valley. There they found themselves with Humphrey back down and Kate laying on top of him, their noses only a hair's width away from touching. Kate, as always, looked shocked in seeing him so close to her, causing Humphrey to smile. Kate's face turned hot and he quickly pulled away, stepping back a way.

Humphrey rolled slowly to his paws and came to a sitting position, Kate sitting down a few feet away with her head low in defeat. For a long moment the two sat in a prolonged silence, neither one of them making eye contact with the other. Humphrey opened up his mouth to speak, but closed it when he heard a sharp snarl of pain from his left. The two turned to face the sound, and Kate immediately knew what was going on.

"Oh no," Kate whispered, rising to her paws, Humphrey rising to his own and locking a worried gaze with her.

"What is it," Humphrey asked, unaware of the situation at hand.

"The packs are fighting," Kate quickly replied, beginning to sprint in the direction that they lived.

Humphrey quickly followed suit, following a short distance behind due to the fact that he was an omega and being so, was considerably slower.

There was another sharp cry and a few seconds came a distant rumble from the right side of the valley. Humphrey stopped and turned his head to face the rumble, Kate obviously oblivious to the sound, keeping on her quick pace. Humphrey squinted and a large black mass started to come into view from the middle of the valley, making his heart sink.

"Oh no."

Seizing every ounce of strength he had, Humphrey turned and flew in the direction that Kate was going, his feet carrying him at breakneck speeds.


Jasper Valley


Completely oblivious to the impending danger, the two groups of wolves continued to tear mercilessly at each other. Both sides had lost a considerable amount of wolves, the bodies beaten so badly that they could hardly be recognized, littered the ground, puddles and multiple drops of blood splattered out across the ground and upon every wolf. Hutch locked his teeth onto the foreleg of one of his foes, flipping him over onto his back and pinning him down. In an instant, the pinned wolf had his throat ripped out, his blood spurting out onto the ground like some kind of fountain from hell. Hutch spit the tissue like flesh out of his mouth and was sideswiped by another of the Eastern wolves, pinned and ended, his life blood rolling out onto the ground and his eyes becoming nothing more than lifeless orbs.

Kate and Humphrey. One Mile From The Territory.

Humphrey flew, his mind set on only one thing. Up in the closing distance he saw the fleeing rear end of Kate and he dug down deep, pushing himself faster.

"KATE!" he yelled out as loud as his choppy breaths would allow.

Kate kept going, oblivious to his calls.

Humphrey closed in a little and tried again, again with no luck.

Finally on the third try, his call fell upon Kate's ears, making her slow only slightly and turn.

"Humphrey there's no time to slow down!" she yelled and turned back, returning to her original pace.

"No, Kate!" Humphrey yelled again.

"WHAT! Can't you just hold back or something?" Kate yelled agitated.

"We need to move faster and warn the packs!" Humphrey called.

"Warn them of what?" Kate demanded coldly.

"That!" Humphrey replied, jerking his head back over his shoulder.

Kate slid to a stop and turned around, looking behind the running omega.

What she saw nearly made her stomach jump out of her throat.

The stampede was only a few feet behind Humphrey and steadily gaining, the first caribou now overtaking Humphrey's position.

"Come on Humphrey, we gotta move!" Kate yelled desperately.

Humphrey pushed himself as fast a he could go, his legs finally losing all feeling as the movement turned into muscle memory.

Half a mile...


Jasper Valley


Hutch's death would not go unavenged.

Candu saw the body of his best friend, twitching upon the ground, his killer standing proudly over the body. Candu's eyes turned to a fiery green and he growled in a full blown rage. He lowered his head and sprinted toward the unsuspecting wolf, knocking any who tried to stop him aside. With a snarl he leapt in, teeth bared, blood dripping from the tips of his claws. The wolf was slammed hard on the side and rolled over three times before coming to rest on his back. Before he had time to react and recover, Candu was standing over him, his upper lip drawn back to the roots of his glistening teeth. Candu slapped him hard in the side of the face, carving three scars along his cheek. The wolf howled in pain and Candu finished him off by carving out his abdomen. Blood and organs rolled freely out of the wound, forming a massive pool of gore around him. Candu smiled, stepping off of him and finding another assailant to do battle with.

Winston and Tony were holding strongly against each other, both however receiving heavy damage from the other. Winston circled and swiped his foreleg at Tony, but Tony managed to get his head out of the way just in the nick of time. Tony then sprung forward with his head down and landed a stiff blow to the middle of Winston's chest. Winston flipped over backwards, rolling once and settling on his side. Tony wasted no time, running quickly over to his fallen foe while the opportunity was still at hand. Winston got his feet under him, but a violent kick to his side made him jerk back over to his hips. Tony then placed a paw on Winston's throat.

"I liked you Winston," he said smugly, "but this shit has gone on far too long."

Tony slowly started to lower his head to deliver the final blow that would win the territory and Winston closed his eyes in acceptance of his fate. Winston could feel the sharp pricks of teeth on the vulnerable flesh under his chin, then the steady increase of pressure that slowly began to squeeze the life out of him.

A sudden chorus of yelling from an undisclosed location caused Tony to lift his head and a lot of the battle to die off.

"GET OUT NOW!" they heard a familiar voice yell.

"Kate?" Winston asked in total shock.

"STAMPEDE! STAMPEDE!" another voice yelled.

The wolves were all so stunned that the warning they received of the impending danger didn't register until it was too late. There was a low rumble and a sharp yelp of pain, followed by another, and another still, then cries of panic and terror rung out as wolves began to flee. Every available head whipped in the direction of the sounds and they saw a wall of caribou rushing toward them. Winston picked himself up quickly and began to flee.

"EVERYONE MOVE!" he screamed at the top of his lungs.

"RUN!" Tony yelled equally as loud.

The wolves all turned and quickly made a run for either side of the valley. Eve appeared at Winston's side with a horrified Lilly in tow and the three sprinted toward the side. Lilly tripped and fell down, the wall of caribou growing steadily closer. Winston and Eve stopped, turning back to their downed daughter.

"EVE GO! I'LL CATCH UP!" Winston yelled to his mate.

"I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE!" Eve yelled back.

Winston knew there was no changing his mate's mind and absolutely no time to argue.

"COME ON!"

The two turned and flew to Lilly who was struggling to get to her feet. Winston and Eve got n either side of her and pushed her to her feet, dragging her along as quick as they could. But by now they were trapped with nowhere to run but forward.

Humphrey and Kate slid to a stop when they saw the dilemma unfold beneath them.

"Humphrey we have to help them!" Kate yelled frantically, racking her mind desperately for a solution as to how.

"Kate look!" Humphrey yelled at her.,

Kate whipped her head around and saw what Humphrey was talking about, a tree split perfectly down the middle, hollowed out until it was the perfect shape of a log sled, hung over a cliff.

"Kate come on!" Humphrey yelled running toward it.

Kate followed, running abreast with Humphrey.

"On three, jump onto the sled!" Humphrey ordered.

Kate simply gulped and nodded.

"ONE, TWO... THREE!" Humphrey screamed and the two flew through the air landing perfectly in the sled.

As soon as they hit, the end on the cliff gave and they began to fly forward down the mountain.

Winston, Eve and Lilly were beyond physical exhaustion, the only thing keeping them going being a massive wave of adrenaline that coursed through their bodies. They continued to flee helplessly across the valley floor, the caribou steadily gaining ground on them. They had no idea that help was on the way, each one as sure as the one fleeing beside them that this was surely the end.

Humphrey and Kate slid swiftly down the mountain dodging rocks and trees alike until the stampede and Kate's family came in to view.

"KATE! HARD LEFT!" Humphrey screamed, the two of them jerking the right side of the sled up.

The sled turned sharply, hitting a ramp and launching them into the air, sending them out in front of the moving herd to try and intercept Kate's family before harm could be done upon them.

Winston saw a shadow move before him and he turned his head up to see what it was, Eve and Lilly doing the same. They could not believe what they saw; Humphrey and Kate flying through the air on half of a log. They followed the log down with their eyes until it hit about ten feet in front of them, front side first and smashed to pieces, sending Kate and Humphrey flying unprotected and landing in the middle of the torrent of hooves. Winston, Eve and Lilly dove to cover behind a large shard of the log, gazing worriedly out at the spot where their daughter and Humphrey landed. They breathed a sigh of relief when they saw the two bellying toward them, Humphrey making a jump and landing to safety. Humphrey turned out and saw Kate attempting the same jump, but she never made it. As she rose to leap, a hoof smashed into the side of her head.

"KATE!" Humphrey screamed and rushed out to her.

Kate rolled off of her side and stood with her head down, pumping her legs. She was hit again by another hoof and tumbled over a few times, then rolled to her feet and turned a barrel roll, landing it and then rolling over and flailing her legs in the air. Humphrey expertly dodged the hooves watching as she jumped up into the air, him leaping forward. He arrived in time to catch her and she quickly became lifeless in his arms. He immediately broke down into tears, a caribou hoof making a hard contact with his shoulder, thus knocking him over. Winston and Eve leapt up onto either side of the log and lashed out at the caribou, averting their path away from the two wolves in the open. As the last caribou ran past with a displeased grunt the three rushed out to Humphrey and Kate, Humphrey picking himself up and immediately getting to Kate's side. He picked up her head into his paws and pulled her face into his chest, crying loudly. Eve rushed forward and pulled Humphrey off of her, shoving him out of the way and inspecting her daughter. She saw the lifeless body of Kate and she became overwhelmed with emotion.

"You son of a bitch!" she screamed with tears in her eyes.

She flashed over to Humphrey and slapped him hard across the face, gashing his cheek to the bone. She drew back for another hit, but was tackled by Winston before she could hit him again.

"GET OFF OF ME!" Eve screamed, fighting to get free.

"Eve, please," Winston begged, but she wasn't going to listen to reason.

"NO THIS MOTHERFUCKER KILLED MY DAUGHTER!"

"EVE!"

"NO! SHE'S DEAD! KATE'S DEAD!" she screamed and broke down into tears.

"I know, Evelyn, I know," Winston said as he laid his head down on top of hers and began to cry with her.

Humphrey sat at a distance with his head hung down and tears streaming down his muzzle.

She was dead, the love of his life was dead. Something built up inside of him and he had to let it go. He threw back his head and howled a long, low, and sad howl, Lilly joining in with him. Other wolves sat down and howled their mournful song along with them, Winston and Eve finding it still too much to handle still crying in each other's embrace. Tony stood at a distance, his head hung low in shame. If he hadn't have been so stubborn this whole thing could have been avoided, the packs could have found a way to peacefully unite, and Kate would probably still be alive; none of this would have never happened. He sat down and howled along with the rest of the two packs, wishing now more than anything that his song could bring her back; but he knew that it wouldn't. The group's howl lasted for a solid three minutes, mourning the loss of not only Kate, but the loss of their fellows, their brothers, sisters, fathers, and mothers... their mates. Tony walked slowly up to the still crying parents and placed his paw on Winston's shoulder as a means of comfort. Winston looked up to Tony with tears in his eyes, locking his gaze with his former enemy's.

Tony couldn't find the words to describe how sorry he was for not seeing his own selfishness until something such as this happened. In the end he simply rubbed Winston's shoulder briefly then turned.

"Eastern wolves, back home" he muttered just loud enough for the remainder of his group to hear.

The Eastern pack turned and followed slowly behind their leader, their heads low and their tails tucked between their legs. As Tony walked, he decided then that he would swallow his pride and work out a peaceful solution that would join the two packs without forcing marriage upon two who did not love each other.


The scene fades away and we now move back to reality


Humphrey's senses started to slowly return to him, the first being feelings of motion and sound. He could feel his body was upside down, swaying back and forth and he could hear unclear murmurings from a group of six to eight wolves echoing around in his head. He groaned, his stomach churning. The next sense to return to him was his sight. He slowly peeled his eyes open and closed, seeing nothing but distorted blurs moving in sync with his body as it rocked from side to side. He shook his head and tried to speak, but all he could find the strength to muster was a soft groan.

Humphrey blinked his eyes heavily, trying to clear his vision and after a long moment spent engaged in this he could finally see enough to get an understanding as to what was going on. He saw that he was hanging upside down from a log, bound by his paws with thick vines. He looked skowly to his left, seeing that he had a group of three wolves walking at his flank, Salty among them.

"S-Salty!" Humphrey cried weakly, his voice barely audible.

But Salty ignored him, not even acknowledging that he had heard. Humphrey looked desperately to his right, finding Amina walking with a couple of wolves.

"Amina... please... help me." Humphrey begged weakly, but Amina ignored his cry as well.

Humphrey let himself hang limp, disappointed that they were now smart enough to not listen to him. Humphrey strained his neck to get a look at the wolf carrying the front of the log, finding that he wasn't really someone that he knew. However, when he looked back behind him he saw none other than Mooch with the log thrown up over one of his broad shoulders. The two locked eyes for a moment, Mooch with an apologetic look that he had to break away. Once contact was lost Humphrey relaxed, letting his body rock with the log.

"So Humphrey, looks like this is gonna be the last time we talk," Humphrey said sadly.

Salt, Amina, and Mooch were hit hard by this.

"Ya Humphrey, it would appear so," Humphrey answered.

"But hey, at least the last few days of your life have been memorable," Humphrey comforted.

"Yes they were... the best days of my life."

Humphrey closed his eyes, his memories flooding over him, playing back a great movie inside his head.

He found himself again meeting Kate after the failure on her first hunt and breaking up the fight that had occurred. He was again at the Moonlight Howl, listening as Kate was trying so hard to defend her date, that brawny faker Barth. The memory made him smile, thinking back at all of the things she said, the dart hitting her in the ass, and how he had nearly released all over himself when she came on to him like that.(haha) He remembered the first meeting with Marcel and Paddy, the way they always hounded him about Kate. He remembered the accidental dance they shared trying to stow away in the back of that camper truck and how their noses had touched the morning after Kate nearly fell off of that cliff into a raging flash flood. He remembered flying down the mountain on the log sled as they fled away from the angry bears; but the thing that he remembered most was that night on the Canadian Express, the howl they had shared together. It was the happiest moment of his life, the two of them singing their songs together, the notes blending together in perfect harmony.

Humphrey found himself smiling as the good memory played in his mind, tears of joy slowly soaking into the fur on his cheeks.

His smile faded and the joyous tears flowing down his face became that of sorrow as he remembered the night of the stampede- the hit that Kate suffered, the horrible display that followed, the burial, and not too vaguely did he remember everything that had happened after. He could feel his anger still, feel it swirling around in his head. He still felt the guilt and the shame impressing upon him, this sinking him into a deep depression as he was carried along, soft sobs now escaping him. It was extremely difficult for Mooch, having to see his friend like this; but after what Salty had told him he was sure that this would be what was best for Humphrey now. Death would be a mercy for him. At the very least Humphrey wouldn't have to suffer anymore.

By this time the carrying party had made it back to the feeding grounds, a group of angry wolves growling at Humphrey from a distance. The carriers hefted him down a path over to a flat rock that sat almost directly beneath the speech rock. Here they set him down on top of the flat rock and removed the branch from between his legs. Humphrey ran his eyes out to his left and then to his right, seeing an armada of angry wolves sitting on either side of him a particular couple of wolves that were sitting a short distance away, grieving over the body of Zach made his blood boil. The white female felt his gaze upon her and turned to him with the deepest hatred burning in her bloodshot eyes.

"You! You BASTARD!" she yelled, sprinting toward him.

A group of wolves stepped into her way, but she blew past them and landed a brutal hit to the side of Humphrey's head. Three wolves intervened and she was dragged forcefully away from him, the female fighting against them as she was being forced back.

"You fucking son of a bitch!" she snarled as she was dragged away, "You're nothing but a heartless monster!"

Humphrey was in no mood for this and he immediately shot back an angry growl.

"I'm a heartless monster?" he yelled in rebuff, "What about my parents huh? You call me a monster after what you and your mate did to my mom and dad? It's because of you they're dead you fucking worthless bitch!"

The tan male standing by Zach's body lifted his had and made an advance, but was stopped before he could get very far.

You lying bastard!" he spat, fighting against his blockade, "You're so fucked in the head right now y..."

"You have the nerve to call me a liar Sam?" Humphrey screamed back at him, tears in his eyes, "saw you do it! I saw you tie them up and throw them over the falls! It was all you you fuck face!"

Sam fought against the wolves holding him back, snarling and growling as he tried to break through. Humphrey knew far too much, and if he continued to talk Sam and his mate could find themselves in deep trouble.

"'You were too young to know what you saw!' 'You took a traumatic event and turned it into something you could understand!' No! I know what I saw! I know EVERYTHING!"

"YOU DON'T KNOW THE H..."

"ENOUGH!"a deep and powerful voice boomed over the quarrel.

Sam and his mate Lundy stopped thrashing about and all eyes moved up to the top of the high rock overlooking the feeding grounds where Winston stood, the evening sun blocked out by his body,

Eve perched up on a rock a few feet below.

"Sam, Lundy, you two keep out of this," Winston demanded, turning out to the group below him with a morbid expression fixed upon his aged face.

Lundy had by now broken down into tears, burying her face into Sam's chest. Sam comforted her by rubbing the back of her neck with his paw, leaning his chin down on the top of her head.

Humphrey watched the pain he had caused the two and smiled secretly. He was glad to see them suffer . After all they deserved to suffer after what they did to him. He wished he could have done more to be completely honest; hurt them, rip them to shreds and let them bleed slowly, but that was just a dream now.

"Humphrey," Winston began, his voice pained.

Humphrey snapped out of his sick thoughts and turned up to the old alpha.

"While you were under sedation we discussed the proper course of action that should be taken in response to your crimes."

Humphrey laid on the rock, listening intently to what Winston was saying.

"If you would like I can list your charges off for you so you better understand our decision and have a fair chance of defending your case."

Humphrey simply nodded and Winston began.

"Humphrey, you are being charged with assault and battery, the use of terrorism against fellow pack mates, and premeditated homicide. (murder in the first degree) By law, if you are found guilty of any of these charges you will be sentenced to death. How do you plead to the charges listed?"

Humphrey smiled proudly.

"I will plead guilty to all accounts and given the chance I'd do each one again without hesitation."

This remark caused a ton of tension amongst the group, many of the wolves flexing their claws into the dirt in anger. Winston opened his mouth to speak, but Humphrey cut him off.

"Hold on there Winston, there's one last thing I'd like to say before you... you know."

Winston closed his mouth and sat, allowing Humphrey to speak since he figured that he was going to make his final wishes known. Winston was completely wrong.

Humphrey chuckled then turned to Sam and Lundy, a cruel smile forming upon his lips. He waited for their attention to be focused upon him and once he had it, took in a long breath.

"No Humphrey! Wait! Don't kill me! Please! I DON'T WANNA DIE! OH GOD I DON'T WANNA DIE!"

Sam and Lundy screamed with rage and began to charge Humphrey, ten wolves immediately jumping out to intercept them. They screamed in protest, fighting with all they had to get to Humphrey.

Humphrey laughed darkly, pleased that his false impersonation had worked so well.

"Do you know something?" Humphrey asked innocently, Sam and Lundy quieting down so they could hear, "I think that Zach's blood was just about the best damn thing I ever tasted."

Humphrey finished by licking at some of the blood that had dried around his muzzle.

Lundy completely lost it.

"GET OUT OF MY FUCKING WAY RIGHT NOW!" she screamed, the wolves now struggling to keep her under control.

Humphrey laughed hysterically at her, causing her to become even ore enraged.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH! I'M GONNA FUCKING KILL YOU!" she spat through the mass of bodies before her.

"LUNDY!" Winston yelled, but she had no intention on settling down.

She snarled and bit and clawed and kicked trying to break through. Something had to be done in order to calm her down.

"YOU BASTARD! YOU HAVE NO SOUL! DEATH IS TOO EASY FOR..."

She felt a quick pain on the back of her head, then fell into a deep blackness. Sam saw this done to his mate and became extremely pissed off.

"WHAT THE FUCK WAS..." but he never got to finish, the same thing happening to him.

"Candu, Flint, you two get them out of here until we are done," Winston instructed.

Hutch and the brindle white Flint moved steadily over ti the two, each picking one up on their shoulders and carrying them back toward their den. Once they were gone Winston began to make his way slowly down off of his rock, the old alpha arriving at Humphrey's rock in a matter of a few seconds.

"Come to do the honors I see," Humphrey mocked, tilting back his head and exposing the soft flesh under his chin, "Alright, let's get this over with. I have a date to keep with Zach."

Winston choked back tears, approaching him slowly and dipping his head down toward Humphrey's throat.

"Wait wait wait," Humphrey said stalling.

Winston drew back his head. Looking down at Humphrey curiously. Humphrey sneezed then turned back to Winston.

"Sorry about that," Humphrey said sniffing, "now where were we?"

Winston couldn't help but chuckle a bit, but that brief happiness was quickly kicked out and he lowered his head down right next to Humphrey's ear.

"I'm so sorry," he sobbed.

"Ya, me too," Humphrey relied sincerely.

Humphrey closed his eyes, tilting his head back. He felt Winston's teeth fit around his throat, feeling a large amount of sharp pricks. He could then feel the pressure on his throat growing by the second.

"Wait don't!"

Humphrey heard someone scream and opened up his eyes, looking down an accidental lane formed by the wolves. And there he saw her, staring back at him with tears streaming down her unmistakeable face.

"KATE!" Humphrey screamed in disbelief, every wolf turning to where he was looking.

They saw nothing and turned back to Humphrey with a venomous glare. Humphrey had really sunk so low that he would use Kate as a means of escape? It made them sick. Winston raised his head in disbelief, following Humphrey's gaze, but also saw nothing.

Kate turned and ran hurriedly away, loud sobs escaping her muzzle.

"NO KATE, COME BACK!" Humphrey screamed, but she ignored him and kept running.

Humphrey made a move, but Winston pinned him before he could do anything. Acting fast, Humphrey kicked out, landing a good strike to the elderly alpha's abdomen. Winston was sent flying back a few feet, slamming his head against the side of the speech rock. His limp neck jerked with the blow and he hit the ground hard, twitching as his nerves slowly started to fail. The wolves were all in a state of shock, Lilly with tears streaming down her face. Once the initial shock had subsided, rage filled the wolves and they began to rush upon Humphrey in an instant, Eve dropping down from her perch and flying toward him.

AS fast as the wolves rushed him, Humphrey reacted with twice the speed. In a flash he had the vines around his paws severed cleanly and rolled to his feet. He wasted no time, jumping off of his rock and flying over the heads of the wave of wolves that approached. As soon as he landed he took off in a dead sprint. Adrenaline had by now kicked in and blocked out any pain that his broken leg was demonstrating, but the log was still proving difficult to run with. However, Humphrey's determination pushed him onward with the same speed as he could reach without anything on his leg to slow him down.

"KATE COME BACK!" Humphrey called desperately after her.

The wolves followed, Eve stopping and moving back over to mate's now lifeless body. There she stood for a moment, tears beginning to roll down her cheeks. She lowered her head down to his , her tears staining the fur on his cheeks. Anger had now begun to flood into her mind and she drew her face away from his.

"Don't you worry about one thing honey. When I catch Humphrey I'm gonna skin him alive and use his pelt as a throw rug."

With that she turned and dashed away, the intent to kill welded into her mind.


"Humphrey Get back here!" Humphrey heard Eve scream as he continued to run, his eyes fixed upon Kate.

He ignored the angry calls, pushing himself faster and faster.

"Kate stop!" Humphrey yelled, but she continued to run.

She made a sharp left turn and accelerated faster away, Humphrey pulling the same maneuver, slipping only slightly.

"Humphrey! Give up! You can't get away!" the renegade continued to call to him.

Humphrey dug deep and picked up the pace a little, putting more distance between him and his pursuers, and less distance between him and his quarry. Kate made another sharp turn and sprinted off toward the east. Humphrey followed that turn in time to see her make another, this time in a northerly track.

The renegade of wolves pursuing Humphrey saw him make the first turn and followed, but were baffled when they made it. Humphrey seemed to have just disappeared into thin air.

"Scent him out," Eve ordered, "We can't afford to lose him."

The wolves all put their noses to the ground, ravenously seeking out Humphrey's scent. After a a minute or so, they found it and took off yet again.


Kate exploded into a thick hedge grow, disappearing from sight instantaneously. Humphrey called out to her again and followed, getting slapped in the face every foot or so by the branches.


The hunt posse corrected their mistake and were now back on track, running at a faster pace to make up for lost time. They knew that Humphrey couldn't have gotten very far in that short amount of time they had wasted trying to pick up his trail again, but the longer they took to find him the easier it would be for him to find a place to hide.


The bushes Humphrey was running through seemed to stretch on forever, but he could finally see a light a few feet ahead that signaled that he was nearing the other side. He moved faster through the last few feet of the bushes, twisting and turning to avoid the stinging lash of the branches that whipped into his face.


Eve and the posse came around a bend and stopped, confusion dominant upon their faces. Humphrey's scent was strong here, but he was nowhere to be seen.

"He's around here somewhere, "Eve informed venomously, "keep searching."

With that the wolves fanned out with their noses to the ground, following Humphrey's scent until it came to a set of shrubs. They looked it over and upon closer inspection they could see where the natural growth had been disturbed. They called fro Eve and she padded quickly over, taking a look at the bush.

"Got ya," Eve sneered with an evil smirk, ducking down and bellying her way in.


Humphrey broke free of the shrubs and slid to a stop, seeing Kate dangerously close to the edge of a cliff. Twenty feet below said cliff, a rush of white rapids ran, large rocks scattered throughout like giant teeth ready to rip apart anything that dared come their way. Humphrey took a step forward and Kate took a step back.

"No, you keep away from me!" she screamed.

Humphrey was hurt by this.

"Kate its me," Humphrey pleaded, "What's wrong with you?"

"I saw the trial! I know what you are!"

"No Kate, please," Humphrey begged, stepping forward.

"Stay back or I'll jump!" Kate screamed.


Eve and her posse were finding it difficult to find their way through the shrubs, Humphrey's scent being distorted and scattered in every which way. Just when they were about ti turn around and call it quits for the day they heard Humphrey speaking from somewhere to their left.

"Kate please, you have no idea how happy I am that you're alive," Humphrey reasoned.

Kate however, wouldn't buy it.

"How can I believe anything that you say? How do I know you won't kill me?"

"Kate, why on earth would I do that?" Humphrey asked shocked, "You're the love of my life, I couldn't stand the thought of losing you again."

Kate calmed slightly, her rigid form relaxing.

"Kate the day I thought you died was the day I lost my mind. I couldn't live without you."

Tears were now welling up inside of Humphrey's eyes. Kate could see his sincerity and finally complied, lowering her guard down completely. Humphrey heard some rustling in the bushes behind him and he whipped his head around, seeing the tops of them shaking around. Humphrey quickly turned back to Kate and ran up to her side.

"Kate, if they catch me they'll kill me," Humphrey pleaded urgently.

"HUMPHREY!" Eve yelled from the bush.

"No, if you stay here and defend your case..."

"Kate they won't listen to me anymore. We have to run."

"HUMPHREY!"

"Kate. We have to jump," Humphrey blurted, looking down at the rushing water beneath them.

"WHAT! ARE YOU CRAZY!" Kate screamed in protest.

"HUMPHREY!"

"Do you trust me Kate?" Humphrey nearly yelled so great was his terror.

Kate turned to the rushing water and stared at it for a while, then turned back to Humphrey with fear evident in her eyes.

"I hope you know what you're doing," she said nervously.

Eve and the others exploded out of the bush and began to charge them.

"So do I," Humphrey replied frightened.

"HUMPHREY!"

"Kate! Jump NOW!"


Wow that was definitely the longest chapter I've EVER written. 7,000 words is HUGE.

Anyway, the twist has finally arrived. What do you guys think of it? Also, as for questions. I'm hoping that what I implied was recognized, but I'm not entirely sure if y'all were able to fully understand what was happening. Let me know what you thought went down in a review so I know whether or not I need to explain anything next chapter.

Sorry about the cliffhanger, but I figured I'd give you guys a good long chapter and a hanger to make up for the time it took me to update.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

I have joined forces with Samsonite. Wolfe, another fellow A&O author. We are co-writing a story titled Allied Front which is about Humphrey joining the Marine Corps. If y'all are interested swing on by and check it out.

I am deciding to have a soundtrack for this story.

I already have Poison by George Straight, Inside the Fire by Disturbed, My Own Hell by Five Finger Death Punch, Asylum by Disturbed, Suicide Is Painless(MASH THEME) and Renegade by Styx. If any of y'all have any suggestions as to any other songs that would fit this story don't be afraid to send them my way.

Asylum and Inside the Flames were recommended by () . Awesome name bud, but it's kinda hard to thank you if I don't know what to call ya. XD