A/N: Greetings once again. Here is the newest chap. And is a little but more peaceful. I'll be introducing a new OC in this one, Kenny and the OC was given to me to use with permission from Humphrey Loves Kate. Enjoy.

Chapter 6: A new friend

I woke us with the sun steaming into my eyes through the entrance of my den in the western pack. I got up and stretched and yawned in the same movement.

I had been in the western pack now for a few weeks and had met some wolves here and there. One of them was this one wolf named Humphrey, an Omega, and he and his friends, Salty, Shaky, and Mooch, showed me this game they had invented called log sledding a few days ago now. That particular game had almost killed me.

"So how does this work?" I asked as the five of us got into a hollowed out piece of bark.

"It's simple," Humphrey answered, "We sit in this log and go down the hill, is all we have to do is dodge any rock and trees that get in our way." He explained to me, excited about this ride.

I looked at him dubiously "And your telling me this is completely safe?" I asked him.

"Yea, you just got to be careful is all." He reassured me.

That reassured me that he was insane. I looked down at the hill we were resting on. If there was anything I could say that I was scared of it was heights. It was different for me if I didn't have a choice about it, like with the ridge where I HAD to fight Grage because there was no way he was coming down. For a good reason it had proved, I thought grimly. But I wasn't about to show these guys that I was scared.

"Ok everyone ready?" he yelled out. We all replied with a "Yes!" though I said under my breath "Were going to die." And griped the sides tighter, "Ok then on three, One…Two…Three!" he yelled.

We went down the hill in a blind rush; all the while we were dodging rocks and tree.

The guys were going wild hooting and hollering out like, and were, having the best time of their lives. Meanwhile I had a smiled forced on my face from the rushing wind when suddenly Humphrey yells out "Look out!" and we get catapulted from our log and we get tossed through the air and landed in the lake. All the while that had been happening I was using ever curse word I knew to keep myself calm because I was scared as all hell.

When I landed it felt like all of the air in me was punched out of me so I quickly swam for the surface. I broke to the surface, gasping for air, as I caught my breath I could hear laughter and looked over at the guys and glared at them. They stopped laughing and smiled nervously at me. At which point I couldn't keep the smile that I was trying to keep hidden from showing, and started to laugh and they began laughing again as well.

We got out of the water and shook the water off ourselves.

I was still chuckling as I said "Well that was fun, but I don't think I'll ever do that again. I'll see you guys around but I'm going to go back to my den." I said as I walked off.

"Alright see you later Robert, it was nice meeting you." I heard yelled from behind me.

I still won't look at a log the same way again but at least it had helped me to get rid of my fear of heights. Though now I had a fear of flying but I knew I wouldn't have to worry about that one at least. I thought chuckling.

I had just gotten done with a jog around the territory to get my blood up and headed to the stream by my den for a drink of water.

When I got there I noticed another wolf I didn't know drinking. His back was turned to me so he didn't notice me approach.

He was slightly larger than me, and has a dark brown coat. And from what I could he had black ears. Along with that he had a rugged coat and tail and seemed well built, similar to me if you will. But either way I was glad that he hadn't noticed me because as much as the western wolves were welcoming to me I still preferred to have the advantage of surprise.

"Hello," I said to get his attention.

He started and turned around to see who had addressed him and smiled at me when he saw me.

He had a friendly expression and had light brown eyes and an average shaped muzzle. Though something in his eyes looked like there was sadness as well but I didn't have time to contemplate on it as the wolf was talking.

"Hi, my names Kenny what's yours?" he asked.

"The names Robert, I'm new around here." I replied to him. "Oh and sorry about startling you there." I said.

"Ah no problem I wasn't paying attention that's all." He said with a smile.

"So, Robert how long have you been in the pack?" he asked me obviously wanting to start a conversation.

"Oh, just a few weeks, not to long so I haven't met every wolf yet." I replied.

"Nice, so, as long as I'm not being intrusive on this, I had heard you're not from Canada, I had heard from some Omegas. True?" he asked.

I shrugged I guess some wolves know a little bit about me. I thought to myself then answered his question.

"Yea I came from Alaska, ever heard of it?" I asked.

He nodded, "Yea, well at least I know that it's a little more north." He said with a shrug.

I couldn't figure out why I was so comfortable talking to this wolf but I was. I decided it maybe was the fact he was relaxed as well and didn't seem like he had a double agenda.

Though what he asked me next did make me tense up a bit. "So what was your old pack like?" he asked me.

I replied sadly "The best pack a wolf could ask for. All of my friends were the best anyone could ask for as well. Until that day." I said with just the hint of anger in my voice.

"Wow, then… what happened if you don't mind me asking. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." He quickly added.

I looked at Kenny closely in the eyes and what I saw made me want to tell him. But I want to know more about him first.

"I'll tell you my story if you'll tell me yours." I responded.

He looked surprised that I wanted to know his story and said "You want to know my story?" he asked surprised.

"Yea, if you don't mind." I said giving the chance to back off as well.

He looked me in the eyes and seemed to come to a decision.

"Alright I'll tell you mine if you'll tell me yours. Deal?" he asked.

I looked back at him and said "Deal."

He nodded and took a breath and began his narrative.

"I have always lived in the western pack my whole life with my parents. I have always wanted to be an Alpha so I took the test to see if I'd be accepted into Alpha school. I had passed but…" he faltered for a second and then kept going after taking a breath, "but my father while out hunting a stamped of caribou coming right at him and his friend who went out hunting as well. There wasn't any time for either of them to get out of the way in time, so my dad jumped on his friend and kept them off him. But the last caribou had stomped on his skull killing him instantly."

He then let out a breath and said "Ok, I told you my story, your turn." He said staring at me attentively.

I tried to feel sympathy for him, and I did it's not easy to lose a parent and me of all people should know that, but it wasn't like my story and I didn't hide that fact.

"I'm sorry for what happened to you Kenny, I really am but at least you have your mother and pack. Now here's my story…" and I told him everything. From the murder of my mother, to the death of Dragoon, to even telling him about me and Eva, and finally of the death of everyone I had ever known and how I had ended up here. And as I was saying this I could feel the tears running down my face but I didn't feel shame. If I didn't cry from all my memories I would know that it was my time to die because I'd have become that which I hate. A coldhearted killer, and with that thought after telling my story I closed my eyes for a second to remember my pack and then opened them knowing the sorrow was clear in them.

Kenny looked shocked, to say the least. He sighed and said.

"Wow. Just wow. I can't believe you went through all that and stayed the way you are now." He shook his head in admiration and looked down then looked up and said with a grim smile.

"I guess my mother is dead right then."

That made me have to ask, and I also wanted to stop talking about my past, and asked "And what would that be about?" I asked him also matching his grim smile.

"That life is full of unexpected sadness and that one must cherish whatever he or she is given while they have it." He said with a sad smile.

I smiled as well and said "Wise mother, and believe me I cherished everything I gained. Especially my friends and love." I said softly.

"Yea well compared to mine your story is more painful. I'm really sorry that all happened to you man." Kenny said to me with sympathy in his voice.

I waved my paw dismissively and asked "Thanks, anyway you said that you were going into Alpha school. Do you mean the one tomorrow?"

"Yep, why?" he asked with an eyebrow raised.

I couldn't help to smile at that. "That's the alpha school I'll be in!" I told him.

He smiled as well, "Then guess I'll be seeing you around pal!" he said as he walked off.

"You to pal!" I yelled after him.

That wolf has quite a story as well, even if he thinks that mines worse. I thought as I padded into my den to get some rest because tomorrow was alpha school and I'll need my strength, but now at least I can say that I have a friend in the pack.