10. A Father's Retribution

Kala followed Humphrey through the forest as the sun began to slowly set over the mountainous horizon. There was an unnerving silence between them, the only sound made coming from their paws treading on the ground. She noticed his paws had flecks of blood on them and were slightly swollen. She looked at him in concern, wondering if he was hurt when he ran into the forest looking for a wolf called 'Sam.' She had wondered what he was talking about ever since that night; there weren't any wolves in the pack with the name of Sam. Still, he had come back for one reason or another, and now he wanted to talk with Kala.

Her tail drooped when she realized that she must be in trouble. She had talked with the she-wolf, Kacey, and that earned her a strong lecture from her Aunt Lily. Now, she was probably going to be severely lectured by the Leader Wolf. He led her down to a small pond, the golden sunlight reflecting off of the water's surface. Humphrey sat down beside the water, looking at his reflection. Kala joined him and they looked at their reflections together. She was fascinated by how similar they looked, though her fur was a brighter silver than his darker grey, and his eyes were blue whereas hers were amber like her mother's. Yet…she and Humphrey looked so similar. Despite their gender and age differences, they looked almost exactly alike.

Humphrey's eyes darted away from the image and he padded to a fallen tree, looking away. Kala watched him intently; curious as to what he was doing, her mind whirred with questions to ask, but she was too scared to ask them. She knew the Leader Wolf was troubled by something, but didn't understand by what. Perhaps she reminded him of one of his pups that he'd lost? That would make sense considering that they looked so similar; perhaps he had a pup that looked like Kala. Now, it all was beginning to make sense as to why he didn't like to associate with her. She reminded him of his pup so much that he was sad every time he looked at her! Kala was sympathetic to the poor Leader Wolf, wishing that she looked different so she wouldn't cause the Leader Wolf so much pain and misery.

She waited for him to speak, not daring to open her mouth in case she would get in trouble for doing so. He didn't move, didn't make a sound. All that lingered between the two was an uncomfortable, awkward silence. She shuffled her paws nervously, drooping her head in shame, ready for a lecture if that was what she was in for. Humphrey looked back at her, his eyes filled with pain as he looked at her. Kala looked away, not wishing to displease the Leader Wolf. He padded up to her and sat down one tail length from her, looking down at her. Her tail curled to her paws in a personal embrace.

"You're just like your mother, Kala," Humphrey said softly. She looked up at him in confusion; wasn't he angry with her? This most certainly wasn't what she was expecting from him, especially after deliberately disobeying Lily's commands. Then again, no one ever told Humphrey that she had talked to the she-wolf, and he definitely didn't recognize her when he came to the clearing. Perhaps she wasn't in trouble and this was something else. Maybe he was going to help her become a better howler? "You have her eyes, part of her personality, and her beautiful howl."

"I thought you didn't like my howl," Kala said. Humphrey smiled at her, his eyes warming as he looked at her. This was quite an odd wolf; he had neglected her for moons, and now he was suddenly complimenting her? What was going on?

"No, you have an amazing howl, Kala," he said. She heard the truth in his voice as he said that. "Your mother was the best howler I'd ever had the privilege to meet, and it seems that her howl has been preserved within you."

"Thank you, sir," Kala said graciously, her heart welling with pride.

"Please," he said with a chuckle. "It's just Humphrey."

"Oh, sorry; thank you, Humphrey." He smiled at her and they sat there together for a long while before his smile faded and he looked lost for words.

"You have your mother's eyes, her howl, and part of her personality," Humphrey repeated. He took a deep breath, shaking. He looked uncomfortable, nervous…scared. Kala tilted her head, wondering what plagued her Leader Wolf. He looked at her, staring deeply into her eyes. Their gazes locked, the intensity of their stares burning within themselves. Finally, he found his voice and was able to talk to her again. "But you have your father's looks, part of his personality…and his blood flowing within you. Kala, do you remember your father? Anything about him?"

"I remember something always touching me when I felt scared," she admitted. "I think it was my dad; he was always there to comfort me until he left, then Lily and Garth would do that instead, but I never felt as safe and cared for by them as I did when my dad touched me." Humphrey nodded in understanding.

"Kala, I told you that your father was closer than you think," Humphrey said. "I meant it literally. I knew your mother, and every time I look at you, I see her. That's why it was so hard for me to talk to you; I was always reminded of her when I saw you, and I was so afraid to talk to you because of what I did to you, and I regret it every day. I can only hope that you can forgive me, Kala. I'll understand if you hate me forever, I can't expect you to forgive me easily for what I did to you. I'm so, so sorry, Kala."

"What do you mean?" Kala asked fearfully.

"Kala…I know your mother because..." He struggled for words, his heartbeat quickening. "I know her because she was my mate…I gave you to Lily and Garth because they were the only wolves I knew that could take care of you…because I had to lead the pack and protect them, and I hate myself for what I did. I regret every single thing I did, and I wish I told you this moons ago, but I was afraid. I wanted to keep you safe; I was going mad, I was hardly the wolf I used to be…but I'm not afraid anymore, Kala. I'm not afraid. Kala…I'm your father."

Her eyes widened when she heard him say that. No, no it couldn't be true…he had to be lying! No, no this was true…she saw the truth in his eyes; she heard it in his voice. She looked so much like him…he knew her mother…It was true, he was her father. She was stunned, aghast, and unable to speak at all. Humphrey looked down in shame, his ears drooping, his eyes swimming in a lake of tears. Her mind was spinning with millions of thoughts swarming her conscience at once.

It made sense now; it all made so much sense. He was her father, Kate was her mother. That was why no one would ever tell her who her father was: he had told them not to tell Kala because he wanted to protect her from himself. She could see the pain that he tried so hard to bury deep within himself, the hurt that he felt every time he looked at her. It was the truth, ever last word of it. This wasn't some twisted lie to her, this was the truth. She padded slowly up to him, looking into his eyes. She looked at his grey fur, his blue eyes, and the jagged scars under his right eye. She knew he was telling the truth now; this was not a lie, this was her father.

A part of her hated him with all of her being. She wanted to bite him, to hit him, to scream at him to never come back and leave her alone. She wanted to run far away and never come back; this was what he had done to her. These were the repercussions of his actions. She hated him so much, she wanted him to die!

Yet, those feelings made less than a single percentage of what she truly felt. Her heart beat with a deep intensity that she had never felt before, her mind swimming with questions and possible answers, but only one thought rose to the surface, one thought that consumed all the rest. It was simple yet bore so much meaning for her. She looked deep into his eyes, tears beginning to fall down her face. Then, she voiced her thought to him.

"DAD!" She screamed, her voice coming out as a choking sob, and she slammed into him, crying into his chest fur. Humphrey held her tightly to him, crying with her. Despite her newfound hatred for the Leader Wolf, her heart beat with an intensity of love for her father as they embraced one another, their tears soaking into their fur pelts. Humphrey gritted his teeth as he cried, Kala sobbing in hysterics into his chest.

Then, she let her anger run lose and she struck his chest with her paw feebly. He hugged her tighter as she did so, accepting the blows wholeheartedly. She screamed at him and hit him harder, Humphrey not caring that she was hitting him. He had deserved these blows, and he had deserved all of the hatred she felt towards him.

"Don't leave me again, Dad!" She sobbed. "Please, don't leave again!"

"I won't, Kala," he said, nuzzling her flank affectionately. "I'll never leave you again, pup. I'm here, Kala, I'm here."

**Kacey**

Kacey tapped her claws in a steady rhythm against the stone ground, her eyes looking away in boredom. Lily and Garth talked quietly, a tear falling down her face. Firetail grumbled to himself sullenly several meters away, looking at the ground. Salty and Sweets watched Kacey from afar, the other two wolves looking out over the mountains. The old wolf, Winston, watched the forest apprehensively. She didn't understand what the Leader Wolf wanted with the pup, but it seemed as though everyone else knew full well what was going on. She was annoyed that she didn't know anything…

The Leader Wolf and the pup, Kala, walked out of the forest side by side. All of the wolves looked at them and he nodded to them. Large grins appeared on the wolves' faces, a small smile appearing on Kala's. Kacey didn't understand what was going on, but decided that it wasn't important yet, nor were the wolves likely to share the information with her. The Leader Wolf nuzzled Kala and she realized what was going on: she was the Leader Wolf's daughter. She must have not known for one reason or another; that would make far more sense, after all. Then, he walked towards her. Kacey sat up straight, hoping that she was presentable to one of such high authority.

He looked her up and down, Kacey doing the same for him. He was a quite handsome wolf, her jealousy towards his mate peaking as she saw him. He looked so caring for Kala, like such a great father…she wondered if he was as great of a mate, too. She brushed the thought aside as the wolves began to watch the two.

"Who are you?" He asked her.

"I'm Kacey," she replied. "I'm from the Pack of the Fast Rivers."

"I've never heard of it," He said.

"That's because it was destroyed seven moons ago," she explained. "Humans tore my territory apart. I was the only survivor."

"Sounds like a familiar story I've heard before," he observed. "You must miss your pack."

"No, I never really had any friends in my pack," she admitted sadly, her ears drooping. "I was a lone wolf within my own pack, so I was able to cope well enough. I came north looking for the Pack of the Winter Mountains." The wolves looked at each other, the Leader Wolf studying her carefully.

"We are as well," he said. "Our territory was destroyed two moons ago; we lost a lot of friends and family that day. We hoped that we could seek refuge in the Winter Mountains. Now, why are you here?"

"I saw the Jasper War moons ago and I've been waiting here, hoping that someone might have survived. It's not really a great idea to walk around these mountains alone."

"So, I've heard," he said. "I'm Humphrey, the Leader Wolf of the former New Pack."

"So what pack are you now?"

"We're the survivors," he replied. "We don't really go by the name of New Pack anymore."

"I understand," she said, looking at the wolves wearily. "I was coming to talk to you about perhaps joining you in your quest." The wolves glared at her, Humphrey glowering at her as well. Kala seemed to be happy with the prospect, but the others did not share her enthusiasm.

"That's quite a question for a wolf we don't know," Humphrey growled. "We can't exactly trust many wolves these days."

"I understand your reluctance, but I don't know anyone in these mountains and I can't travel alone," she told him, beginning to plead with him. "Please, I'll do anything! I just need a pack to stay with!"

"Dad," Kala whispered. Humphrey looked down at his pup and she whispered something in his ear. He nodded and looked back at Kacey.

"My daughter seems to trust you," Humphrey said. "I trust my daughter's judgment. I'll allow you to stay with us, but you are to be kept under watch at all times. You will not eat with us, you will eat whatever is left of our prey or hunt for yourself, and you will sleep apart from everyone at all times. Do you understand?"

"Yes, yes I do!" Kacey replied excitedly, her tail wagging furiously. "Thank you so much, you won't regret this!"

"Prove it to me," Humphrey growled. The wolves began to disperse, Humphrey and Kala walking over to Lily and Garth. Lily smiled weakly at the two and they began to talk. When they were finished, Garth nuzzled the pup and Lily did the same, licking her, tears falling from her eyes. They, Kacey realized, must have been the wolves that had cared for Kala. Now, she was beginning to move on with her father. Kala gave a sad smile as well, walking off with her father to the old wolf. He smiled broadly at them, talking to them.

Suddenly, Scourge and the two other wolves that were accompanying him walked out of the forest carrying the body of a caribou with them. They let it rest on the ground and the wolves walked forward to eat from it. Kacey began to do the same, but received a threatening growl from Scourge. She backed of shyly, remembering what Humphrey told her. The wolves all began to eat, Humphrey and Kala lying side by side as they ate from the caribou. When Kala had trouble tearing meat, Humphrey would help her and give her meat of which she gratefully accepted.

She watched painfully as the wolves ate away at the caribou until it was little more than a skeleton lying on the ground. The wolves began to lie around the clearing, Kacey looking miserably at the skeletal form of the caribou. Kala walked up to her and dropped a piece of meat next to her, nosing it forward towards her. Kacey smiled thankfully to Kala as she walked away. Humphrey nodded to Kacey as they walked several meters away. Humphrey lied on the ground, Kala curling up beside her father.

"Goodnight, Kala," Humphrey whispered sweetly to her.

"Goodnight, Dad," she replied with a smile. He nuzzled her and licked between her ears. She giggled, obviously ticklish there. Kacey was touched by their affection for one another, smiling at the two. Her eyes were drawn to Humphrey in interest, and one question went through her mind: where was the mother?

**A/N: Well, there you have it! I had a snow day today, so I was able to write this really early! Humphrey finally admitted his identity to Kala and we now know that Kacey is attracted to Humphrey. What will this mean for Humphrey, Kala, and the rest of the pack? I guess we'll find out soon! Thanks to Dawn Walker Wolf, imjustlikehumphrey, Alexander, the dark shadow, and the silver wolf for reviewing my last chapter! Until next time!**

**-The Dishonored Wolf**