This is it guys, I`m back this time with a massive milestone for me which is chapter 10 the big 10 the next being chapter 20 this is massive to me and thank you to everyone who has shown your support if it through comments and or follows your all amazing and I love all of it as it`s truly an amazing thing getting such great and positive feedback from you all and again thank you so much, Anyways without carrying this off into the distance lets continue shall we...
Enjoy...
They both sat there swerving their view around the surrounding trees scanning between them into the dark for Lilly hoping that they had somehow missed her standing in plain sight, The wind ran towards them their fur strafing back behind their heads for a moment the wind passing as fast as it had come, Kate looked side to side quickly looking to Humphrey after "she was right behind me, I swear" as she again looked to where she had entered the clearing from now becoming desperate.
Humphrey had managed to recover quickly from his experience a mere few minutes ago and had now focused in on the possibly horrific one at paw "..." he mouthed words of an unknown language unable to get his words out as he too scanned around taking a step towards the woods which loomed ahead, The forest now seemed darker and dingier then when he remembered running through it earlier.
Kate watched him as he walked slowly over to the side of a towering pine tree him looking past it sniffing the air, there was nothing but shimmering rays of sunlight breaking the leaves atop the darkness.
"Humphrey I`m getting a feeling we shouldn`t be here she spoke loudly from behind him.
He stared into the blur of dark misty shadows, and for a second he swore he watched a glint of fur in the distance dart across from a tree.
Not risking it being a mind game he turned quickly looking to Kate taking a quick jogging run to her side ready to move in the opposite direction "We need to go" Kate looked to the tree line Humphrey had just been her mouth attempting to make a noise "now" Humphrey said calmly.
They turned and fleed the opening into the forest " what was it, why are we leaving Lilly? She could be out there" Kate attempted to sway Humphreys decision to leave.
"When I smelt the air do you know What I sensed? We cannot go back, we never should have gone to that place, we never should have taken this path, She`ll find us if she made it out" he started quickening his pace as he turned tree after tree Kate darting between them to keep up as he spoke.
"Humphrey, what was it?" she asked in between pants as she ran behind him leaves circling in the wind as they kicked their legs.
"A Wolf" He called to behind him Kate slowing her pace soon coming to a Stop, Humphrey noticed turning to her from a few meters away "It could have been Lilly" she looked somewhat disappointed in Humphreys decision to run tilting her head slightly while craning her neck towards him in question.
Humphrey looked around anxiously eager to keep moving "we really shouldn't be here Kate" Kate looked behind her still somewhat aware that he could be telling the truth gritting her teeth as she looked then back to Humphrey who looked rather panicked while they stood there in the shadow.
" I smelt more then one" Humphrey said quickly to try and move her along to which Kates ears pricked up and she looked behind her as she took a step towards Humphrey now not so sure it may have been Lilly if he was telling the truth.
She could still see the lighted area to which they once sat from where they stood looking between hundreds of trees to the far location.
Her heart dropping to the floor and fur spiking to the tree canopy above when she watched a dark shiny black wolf sweep along the lighted area and back into the shadows.
"Run, run run run" Kate looked back to Humphrey passing him before turning to a sprint off followed by a taken aback Humphrey who didn`t expect her to move so quickly.
Kates heart was jumping out of her body as she ran almost losing feeling in her legs as they swept the ground as a blur Humphrey flying close behind her trail leaning side to side as they both bulleted their selves through the forest faster they ever knew they could run, no sound but the loud echoing thuds of their paws and the rustling of disturbed leaves sounded in their surroundings only making them want to escape even more.
They ran and ran until... They hit light speeding out into a Massive green field which shadowed the horizons beyond.
Kate looked extremely out of breath panting hard and a look of intense distress upon her face as if she were almost on the verge of tears {pant}"Kate are you ok?" he Humphrey asked looking to her as he attempted to steady his breathing.
"That was the most terrifying thing I`ve ever seen, she felt another rush of her fur spiking on end as she shook her body lengthways to attempt to get the feeling out of her system she closed her eyes after her body clearly in a state of shock to which Humphrey noticed walking to her side licking the side of her muzzle to reassure her that she wasn`t alone, she opened her eyes at the gesture raising her head and posture her breathing slowing back to normal.
"there was a wolf, Black" she looked into his eyes when she spoke the word "Black" all the other time watching the dirt beneath her shadow.
Humphrey paused for a moment "wait?" he asked almost in a questioning manner turning his head to the side slightly feeling a sudden and out of nowhere pain strick his scruff once again. "we should continue, I doubt just because the wolf is black it sticks to only the dark" he took a few steps back away from the forests dark tree line to Kates side looking to her for a agreeing look which she supplied just happy to be out of that god awful place.
They had gotten to a Large mound which crested over, they stood atop it looking back to the forest they had come from the mountains looming many many miles behind them, it was strange thinking back to it, how far they had come yet how short of a distance it actually was and how many horrific and disturbing things had happened, Neither of them wanted to think back an hour to the idea of them leaving behind a possible two wolves one being Kates sister, Kate however couldn`t not think about it questioning herself on how she could just leave her, how she had just run without even recognizing her as family and even know how she could think back to it and not have the urge to go back...
It was beginning to seem that it was just them, only them, but for how long was the question each of them kept asked themselves looking at their partner every time they did afraid of losing one and other, it was safe to say emotions for the rest of that day were at a all time low of the journey, thirsty, Hungary and soon to be wet with a approaching storm which rang out flashes in the near distance neither of them felt like this journey could be achieved and now felt that the only end to it would be an end which none of them wanted to imagine...
The storm soon hit them as they walked their way through the ever soaking dirt below them which soon sank their paws as if they stood in sand, their coats dropping to the floor as if gravity itself had changed, the rain had become so heavy it felt like they were being lashed with a whip with every passing second and still they pressed themselves on through the field hoping beyond everything that they would find an oasis of shelter but no such thing appeared
And just like that Kate broke down as she walked alongside Humphrey her body falling to the floor as tears almost indistinguishable from the water which swirled around in the screaming wind, Kate sat there her body sinking slightly in the mud as Humphrey turned to see her breathing erratically and her eyes clearly in pain as she clamped them shut.
Humphrey didn`t bother to ask what it was and stood afront her, blocking the wind like a brick wall he sat down close to her leaning down knowing there was no reason to continue in this weather and with no sign of shelter he thought that he may as well be the shelter for someone.
He moved close to kate as she pressed her face and muzzle into his chest soon standing slightly under his figure pushing herself into and up his chest to attempt to hide from the raging storm, her breathing still erratic Humphrey lent his head down as the only other comfort he could supply and rested his chin upon her head as she half lay curled up in his fur like a newborn cub.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::After the Storm 1 hour 45minutes::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
They still sat there, Kate curled up in Humphreys fur, the wind had slowed to a shallow whistle across the plains of grass, Kate had almost fallen asleep with Humphrey holding his eyes shut wishing he had passed during the storm, so drenched they both felt as if they had been dropped into the ocean, slowly Kate looked to Humphrey a large amount of emotion running around her brain as she watched him his eyes still shut soon opening to look to the damp ground to his side then slowly up at Kate who now stood below him soon raising herself to his head height, her eyes full of a mix of what must of been care and love, shed seemed to have calmed since the storm passed, now Humphrey seemed the upset one as he sat solemnly in place shivering at every slight gust of wind which impacted his back.
"Humphrey I sh, I`m sorry we should have continued," Kate said slowly feeling bad about getting him to sit out here exposed to the harsh wind and striking rain.
Humphrey slowly lifted paw taking a slow low walk to Kate again pressing himself against her resting his head this time on her shoulder, Kate was half taken aback but accepted the gesture returning it resting her chin on his shoulder them both closing their eyes, soon Humphrey raised his head sighing, "We um, should probably get moving?" he asked Kate who nodded half smiling as she did so Humphrey attempting to return it failing to do so making a hesitating turn to the lands which lay further on, Kates smile dropping as she walked to his side looking out to the fields the wind a damp flow over their fur.
"where now?" Kate said lowly as she changed view across all the potential directions they could follow.
"...Straight ahead" was Humphreys simple reply watching the wind sweep across the grass.
They continued their dragging journey onwards and soon they reached a point where they could no longer see the misty peaks of the mountains they long left behind.
The day was approaching its end, the sun throwing lines of ever-shrinking orange and yellow across the skies shadowy clouds, small patches of trees which they made large stretching paths around the grass parting as they walked.
Soon farther distant mountain ranges and peaks watched over them from far in front, the sun visibly illuminating less and less of their peaks now shrinking behind their horizons again plunging their journey back into the dark, yet they continued on their way as mere black dots traversing the dark background.
Humphrey soon walked upon a large formation of boulders and rocks, he looked back to the dark outline of Kate behind him "sleep?" he asked unsure if she wanted to call it a day or not feeling is eyes droop as he said the word.
he watched as Kate walked past him towards a shallow outline of what seemed an overhanging shelf above the rocks, he watched from a distance as kate snuggled up against the rocks without saying a word the only sound escaping being that of her shuffling interrupted by the now calming wind which hissed between the swaying grass at their paws.
He took his slow pace over to Kate who now lay her eyes shut below the stars which circled above, he lent down to her shuffling his way behind her to sit and watch over the darkened fields which seemed to swirl in his mind and before he knew it was different from real life he lay his head aside Kate his mind falling beneath him into the world so low yet so high...
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Humphreys dreamscape:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
He landed somewhere where the grass swished in the breeze which made no impact on him, where the sun shined over a surrounding mountain range half his view, he took a cautious step forward which soon turned into a walk across the grass plains, he explored the fields which seemed to never end.
He heard distant laughter, a cub, youngsters laugh, he searched for the origin for which there was none, nor was there a direction of sound it was as if it were in the air, a while the world played to mess with him.
Soon he didn`t care for the laughter could only mean one thing, they were having fun, happy, somewhere they enjoyed and so a content smile started forming as he searched.
his fur stood on end as if he could tell something were not right {Howl} it echoed across and over the grass plains until the two sounds of laughter and howl met turning the sun a gold icy white glow, a laugh turned to a scream, a scream turned to silence which fueled the spinning clouds which encircled the mountains, the mountains which seemed to grow into a box, a box which seemed to fill each corner , the corners he ran too, the corners which flipped as if he was a hamster ball, the box which span like a ball no way of outrunning it, no way of fighting back and all the time it felt like he was not the only one in the box, like something dark and dingy was following something not even the corner of his eye could catch.
He ran in circles the circle getting smaller and smaller until he was spinning on the spot in search for the thing that sat behind him perhaps beside him maybe even in front of him he span faster and faster until he jolted to a spinning stop.
in front of him a good twenty meters away at a set of growling wolves which seemed to follow his central vision, they were everywhere he looked, he stood backing away increasing the separation of them to him, they growled and snarled at him soon making loud aggressive barks the glisten of drool dripping from their canines.
He didn`t want to fight, he didn`t feel like he could stand a chance and so all he could do was back away from them as they made slow advances towards him some of the wolves breaking off flanking his sides making nips at the air with their teeth, He backed up further and further until he hit something solid behind him, he turned to see a gigantic pine tree hanging high above him stretching further into the sky them ore he looked.
he looked around the tree to where he watched a forest grow in moments, it stretched far into an unknown place the growling continued from behind him, he looked back knowing that exactly what this world he found himself in wanted him to do
He ran, sprinted through the shadows of the trees engulfing him and those who ran close behind, dead brown leaves falling in his view as if someone in front was running kicking them up at him, and that was when she formed in front of his running path, kate, he tried to call but no words formed, he could hear the barks from behind, the intense thudding of large paws following.
He looked to his side where he watched the strangest sight he had ever seen, for many yards to the side of where he and Kate ran, sprinted himself, he felt his paws rapid flow halt as he came to a stop, he watched Kate and himself? run through the forest and then the galloping of paws passing close behind which seemed to ignore him, he closed his eyes as the paws passed opening them to watch the wolves he once thought chased him pursue the visions which he had only recently noticed.
and then just as suddenly as it had come he watched the forest die around him and give chase to the running wolves.
A sudden voice spoke from beyond voice, "You must run Humphrey, for if you stop they will catch you, And if they catch you, they will surely kill you, But first they must catch you..." the Voice spoke loudly and direct almost in an ordering tone, a tone which did not speak threatening words but sounded of a threatening one.
And then it ended with sickening darkness of almost instantaneous effect and the rest of his sleep was pondered by darkness which served as no memory...
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Next morning:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The next morning came in an unknown amount of time, Humphrey waking much before Kate would, he raised himself from behind her almost instantly upon opening his eyes taking a second to visualize his surroundings, the sky was still a dark grey one as if drawn and smugged with watercolors, clouds still looming in the near distance still heavy with the ocean's rain.
What did the dream mean? he asked himself deep in thought, Was it an insight to the future, one of many possible outcomes or was it actually just a dream, it could have just been what he feard, perhaps the dream was fueled by the idea of losing something he loved, He looked down to Kate who he once played beside, her form curled into a ball her eyes held gently shut as her chest fell only to rise again, but for how long he questioned his mind, The dream pondered his mind for quite some time and all the time he wished it had just been a dream, but it seemed to obscure that it may have not been, it was strange to him thinking that having an out of body experience where he flew and changed the world around him could seem even remotely real...but it did.
Soon enough his attention did turn to other matters however, his scruff had started to itch he knew that if he were to scratch it would surely lead to the wounds opening and the possibility of infection would only increase, he tried to think of other subjects but they all seemed to end with him getting irritated at his scruff.
Soon it became almost unbearable to not even just gently rub around it, he lent his head to the ground raising his front paw over the top of his head attempting to swipe his paw up and down the back of his head barely reaching the itch, "Ah" he darted his paw away feeling a flash of pain shoot through his body to his head, he removed his paw slowly lifting it to his eyes.
Blood, dark and red it stained the underside of his pads, he lowered his paw to the ground slowly out of view hoping to achieve the out of sight out of mind trick which his dad used to tell him back when...well, a long time ago, that image of the blood on his paw stuck with him while he watched the sky begin to brighten and the clouds roll off and it only made him ask the question which none could ever and would ever answer...
Why were they here?...
(Slow black fade out whilst the stars from the sky to his paw once more)
Song by Coldplay- Viva La Vida
~I used to rule the world~
~Seas would rise when I gave the word~
~Now in the morning, I sleep alone~
~Sweep the streets I used to own~
~I used to roll the dice~
~Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes~
~Listen as the crowd would sing~
~Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!~
~One minute I held the key~
~Next the walls were closed on me~
~And I discovered that my castles stand~
~Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand~
~I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing~
~Roman Cavalry choirs are singing~
~Be my mirror, my sword and shield~
~My missionaries in a foreign field~
~For some reason I can't explain~
~Once you go there was never, never a honest word~
~And that was when I ruled the world~
~It was a wicked and wild wind~
~Blew down the doors to let me in~
~Shattered windows and the sound of drums~
~People couldn't believe what I'd become~
~Revolutionaries wait~
~For my head on a silver plate~
~Just a puppet on a lonely string~
~Oh, who would ever want to be king?~
~I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing~
~Roman Calvary choirs are singing~
~Be my mirror, my sword and shield~
~My missionaries in a foreign field~
~For some reason I can't explain~
~I know Saint Peter won't call my name~
~Never an honest word~
~But that was when I ruled the world~
~Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh~
~I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing~
~Roman Calvary choirs are singing~
~Be my mirror, my sword and shield~
~My missionaries in a foreign field~
~For some reason I can't explain~
~I know Saint Peter won't call my name~
~Never an honest word~
~But that was when I ruled the world~
There we go, a massive milestone for Me reaching chapter 10 as well as reaching 30k words which was perfectly calculated I think it will be a good idea to try to stick to roughly 3k words a chapter and try and stick with 30k words every ten chapters tell me what you guys think of, and not only that but I just hit 400 views on this story and again thank you so much to everyone who is still supporting me all the way from chapter 1 to now and I hope you keep enjoying because it`s only going to get better from here on in.
anyways back to the normal finishing chat, if you enjoyed leave a comment on what you thought of this chapter and where you hope to see or think their trail may leave them and on top of that if you feel like it follow and favorite to help support but above everything comments mean more to me, anyway it`s that time again...
cya in chapter 11!...