A/N
Based on feedback from Humphrey Loves Kate a great author in my opinion my stories have too much narration.
I whole heartedly agreed with what he has said and have hence forth decided to do away with the slightly third person view and instead write from their unique perspective.
I also realised something which I had been lacking the whole time I was trying to entertain and amuse you the reader. I had been forgetting the reader!
I realised that apart from what my meagre writing talent that I can provide you what you the reader the most important people from this writer's point of view was an actual person fleshed out with his own problems.
An actual person that you could feel for not some random desk bound kid who regurgitates a chapter from time to time.
Well no more, let me tell you a little interesting story. To start with I'm your average university goer hoping the depressed job market doesn't leave me stranded.
It's that stage of life where in the Singaporean culture one has to re-evaluate your life and get things started before the uniquely Singaporean rite of passage begins.
Every Singaporean male has to serve their country at about the age of 18 and I'm only a few years from that myself so I would like to make a great hurrah on this site before they well throw me into a jungle.
Hence, any support provided would be greatly appreciated from you authors at fanfiction and guests in terms of reviews.
The inspiration for the first part of this chapter came when I started looking back at my long and adventurous childhood.
While I sat here typing I reminisced about old care-free days, how I missed those times. I hope that you readers will keep me going through that new phase of life.
Thank you
one-cruncher
Kate's POV: four house ago
I am sick, sick to the bone over what had happened.
I find myself a private place to cry, it was an old den buried deep into the undergrowth where only Lilly, Humphrey and I knew about.
It was a secret place where we once held our tee parties where she and I would take turns to role-play.
How wonderful was it to be constrained only by your imagination to weave a tale that would be worthy to be passed down through word of mouth from elders.
Oh how innocent were those times, I recalled how she would always be the little damsel in distress I would play the evil warlord and Humphrey would be that knight in shining armour.
Lilly would be so lively then free of the shyness that would become associated with. Lilly was always shunned for her albino skin condition and others had ostracised her for it. Beyond the walls of our secret play area she was depressed, hiding from others.
But in her role as the damsel she seemed like a different person altogether, full of prose and life she always looked forward to the time when our parents would let us out to play.
Of course, Humphrey and I would play-fight and I would let him 'win' at least until we reversed roles and I 'punished' him for his 'evil'. He would always let me win or at least that was what he said.
Eventually, we would all give up with the role playing and end up tussling with each other enjoying each other's company. There we would lay about staring at the fading sun, only enjoying each other's company.
The memory warmed my heart I looked at the old den once more, how long has it been since we were there?
It seemed those six months had been a life time ago it looked different as it had perhaps more run down than usual.
However, I did not care about its condition. I pushed passed a thick layer of vines and dove in sobbing at the guilt I felt for what my father had done. The den was smaller than what I remembered it to be, but it suited me just find.
I rubbed myself against the rough walls and curled up into a ball feeling angry, betrayed by someone whom I cared about someone whom I respected. How could he have turned down those helpless people!
My father had always been a role model to me, at that time he expected me to be the future leader of the pack and took personal interest I grooming me to be the next leader. I was only a young pup then perhaps only five months old and only just beginning to grasp what lay ahead of me.
He placed me on his knee and described to me about how wonderful I was, how boisterous I could be and how I was every bit the son he never had.
We were close, as close as father and daughter were and as much as I realised how much I loathed my father, I had to take in the good with the bad.
I had to confront him.
I pulled myself out from my self-pity and returned to the river to wash upmy tears, hiding any weakness from my tear-filled eyes.
I had to be strong, I couldn't be the child I was when I made the foolish decision to put-off my decision on whether or not to marry Garth.
It was a mistake that could have cost the fragile alliance to shatter, a decision that would have cost many lives.
Of course all the heat was blown away because I got injured and the euphoria of the marriage masked the rage that everyone then must have felt.
No, I was going to be strong I am not going to hide behind my birth right I'm going to stand up for myself for once.
I marched off, in the direction of our border to the North. However, I could not help but turn back looking at the den of my carefree childhood and a solitary tear rolled down for a childhood now gone…
Kate's POV: Some time latter
The ground was hard and stony, it was another last dying grasp of winter to throw another heap of snow and frost on this cursed border with the North.
Ice and snow blew past my side, it stung and was unimaginably chilly something which I am sure wasn't good for my recently healed side.
I regretted shedding my winter coat which had kept me cosy throughout alpha school as all wolves must when we start to shed. Bits of snow stuck to my fur, stinging my side it made me madder as I gave off a less than friendly look.
I gave a final shake-off as I entered the meeting area between the two packs. The meeting ground chosen was clearly chosen by the new Northern government.
It was on one of those scraggy little hills where a strong wind blowing down the mountain would keep it perpetually cold. Nothing grew there, not even the hardy little tundra grass that would grow anywhere else, nothing.
They probably revelled in their new found power, standing rather comfortably in their permanent winter coats the smug b******* were very much at home as this was considered warm whereras it was freezing up there.
I walked up the scraggy little hill ground frozen so hard that nothing that it hurt my paws. There were was hundreds there at least twenty united pack's alphas and about a hundred and thirty Northern omegas.
Other alphas whom were there nodded at me, they were the sort that I would say hi to as we walked past, and most I didn't recognise probably coming from the neighbouring settlements around howling rock.
They were possibly a little surprised to see me for I was not expected in this very important discussion with Napoleon. As I came to the top of the accursed hill I saw the new Northern leader for the first time.
He reminded me a lot of the way a duck walked; he was a plump thing and he waddled his way in a rather pompous manner. He was a middle age grey wolf although one had great difficulty telling as gout had made his movements slow like an arthritic elder.
I hadn't expected the meeting to go on as long as it had I sat down waiting for a chance to speak to my father, my argument with him could wait. The alphas on station made no attempt to stop me and made room for me in the front most row for they could tell that I wasn't here to make a scene.
An alpha there that I did recognise was Tricia from my old unit, the she-wolf looked as she did usually grumpy and grouchy. When she saw me however it was a different story all together.
She ran forwards, ruffling her grey fur from the cold and the ice. "Kate! Great to see that you are okay and out there you were quite something" she exclaimed. She looked different from when I last met her stretching offering a paw in friendship.
I was in no mood to accept her offer, I turned away staring at the floor. I muttered under my breathe "Go away, I'm not interested in you" Tricia turned away very hurt and retiring a few rows back in embarrassment and fear for I had an angry scowl pasted across my face .
I stared over at the three leaders, Napoleon Winston and Tony trying to ignore the smell of rotting flesh where the refugees had been slaughtered in droves. I clutched my queasy stomach in loneliness and revulsion, I really needed a hug from Humphrey or anyone else.
I ruffled my fur a few times, trying to get warm from the mass of huddled wolves. I tried to stay calm and composed, organising my thoughts as the knife-like coldness of the Northern winds ran through my fur.
Finally, after an hour of long debate it was clear that the North was unwilling to work with as they put it 'old world aristocrats' and their terms involved us supporting their attack by launching a supporting attack against the Yoho pack whose territory we were only allowed to keep a thin strip.
Napoleon arrogant and haughty in my opinion would not budge from his demands and we were not in a position to make them move either. The Northern omegas were tensed up, they were hardened, determined from years of struggle and they were very fearsome.
Winston and Tony were among the Northern wolves and perhaps this intimidating sight would lessen their resole. It did, but to their credit they held out for fifteen minutes, trying to bargain for more land more rewards.
However, the North was adamant that we would get no more than the lands the Yoho pack had recaptured from us and pressured they gave in. I knew that we needed Northern support to win but to trade away helpless innocents that tiny strip of land. I was fuming…
I waited till they had concluded and were leaving, the Northerners taking their time to move slowly to protect their gout riddled leader. I was angry beyond description, if not for the fact that it could have started a war with the North I would have ran forth shaking my father by the scruff and breaking a dozen pack laws.
My father, Winston walked away in a hurry towards the waiting united pack army. I stepped forward in front of him just shy of baring fangs at my father. He seemed far too lost in thought to notice and bumped into me and looked up his eyes betraying his weariness.
His eyes softened my anger somewhat but I was still tensed up and replied haltingly in an attempt to calm myself "I would have words with you…Dad". The last word was forced as though I was struggling to bring myself to say it, that this…this monster could still be my father.
He lifted his tired head, from this distance I could see that his brow was now creased with worry as though he had aged a year in the last couple of days. "Daughter, I'm in no mood to discuss this… perhaps latter" he said his husky voice sounding courser as though he had swallowed sandpaper.
I was not satisfied with the reply, I reached for his scruff trying to stop him and trying to reconcile with himmy anger largely disappearing. He seemed so haggard, the decision must have affected him.
He turned away shoving aside my paw from his scruff and stooping lower as though in defeat. I turned around. I thought I had seen my father squeeze his eyes tight and from his right eye a solitary tear drop from his eye hitting the frozen ground below. He spoke slowly "Enough…I'm really in no mood" before quickening his pace.
I decided to leave our discussion for latter there was too much emotions flying from the two of us to speak clearly. My discussion would have to wait.
I looked at the ground where that tear had hit but it was hard to tell for the ground was already frozen. I thought I saw a slight difference in the contrast of that spot but when I had blinked it was gone. I stared at the spot in a bit of a daze, deep in thought.
I looked back and saw the united pack moving away, leaving me alone. I could not stay to ponder as I would soon be abandoned, I looked at the spot one last time still unable to judge whether my eyes were playing tricks or not before leaving.
I quickly re-joined the united pack's forces taking care to stay well away from Tricia as we marched towards the assembly area which we were thrown back to some days ago. I still wondered whether or not my father was human enough to feel guilt.
Humphrey's POV
I lazed about in the communal den now shared by four other hopeful betas trying to catch a wink of sleep.
These past couple of days had been most exhausting and mundane activities, a 15 mile hikes through dense undergrowth teeming with angry biting insects and mud always lots of mud.
There was always this particular season of intense rain that would fall for just two short months sometime in mid-spring called El Nino. However, this year's storm came in much heavier than usual and turned the grounds into a sea of mud.
It was not just any mud but thick glutinous mud that clung to your paws and threatened to suck you in alive. Of course, the alpha instructors did not care what the conditions were and sent me forward regardless.
Oh the horror of that ice cold mud that caked every last exposed bit, it was such a joy when I finally would arrive at one of the many streams that would pass through the area.
Although, pity the poor souls downstream whom were greeted by the mud washed of a few dozen mud-caked souls.
Today was different however Scar had promised a change of scenery breakfast in bed he had promised. However, I had learnt to expect the unexpected when it came to Scar.
As if one cue one of the drill alphas yelled "Haul your fat a**** and back to training" jolting the other omegas from the den.
Finally, the unexpected happened the alphas called us instead of the usual mess area we were instructed by one of the half dozen instructors to head to the training area. What was it this time?
Was it another scenic track to the forest? Could it be another several dozen log pushes?
As it turns out another sight awaited Scar had a little rabbit with an injured hind leg thrashing in his jaws was thrown into a small pen where there were exactly sixteen were.
However, they were clearly not lunch as they were still very much alive.
"Well your first kill a little wounded rabbit practically breakfast in bed as promised" Scar announced rather proudly.
Somehow, I felt myself being pushed forward again I was the first as usual. Scar took the first helpless creature by his jaws and placed it in front of me.
"Do I have to do it?" I asked meekly.
The rabbit looked helpless having been maimed by Scar and was trying to hobble away from me fearing for its life having been injured by Scar. Lilly and the rest of the omegas stood away, Lilly taking great care to stay in the back.
"Now Humphrey the rabbit is sub-sentient it can't have emotions and it doesn't have independent thought beyond what it's instincts tell it to do" Scar explained fast losing patience in having to step on its tail and drag it back in front of me.
"I'm confused" I say quickly, trying to stall from performing this gruesome action.
"Fine, let me put you in ways that you would understand, now you love rabbit right neatly gutted and presented before you right" Scar says trying to sound friendly.
I wasn't reassured Scar was a vicious looking tan-furred wolf but what earned him his name was his body covered with wound marks from some fight over a mate. It crisscrossed his face, chest and even a particularly long one that had blinded him.
Furthermore, he had been the victor of that fight. I hate to think what had happened to the loser.
I heard rumours that he was so grievously wounded that he was completely disfigured and unrecognisable others say that he was so disfigured that he abandoned his pack being a killer of lone wolves. It was a scary thought.
"…then to properly gut the rabbit you must take your paws stuff it up its back and start err how should I put it… ah yes de-gutting" he finished proud of himself for he had a great difficulty in eloquent speech.
I was left stunned and confused I had been dreaming through his explanation! "Err could you repeat that?" I asked meekly hoping that he would forgive me not paying attention.
Unfortunately, my lucky streak did not come up on top and I received a stern look from Scar before he jumped back and dragged the wounded rabbit back to me for the umpteenth time. As Scar dragged the rabbit its broken lower right leg dragged against the ground and it made a pitiful squeak of pain.
I looked at the poor little thing and approached, it had stopped struggling and looked at me pleadingly as though it was begging me not to kill it. I hesitated at the sight of the poor animal wondering if maybe it could understand.
"What are you waiting for Humphrey like I said go for the throat!" I leaned forward and I tried to align my teeth properly but the little one was feisty and clawed at my eyes when I got too close.
"Aaaargh" I cried as I recoiled back from the little thing my eyes watered as it had aimed well. I shut my eyes tight turning away and whimpering in pain. All sympathy for the rabbit ended there, I brought my foot up and stomped on it till it had stopped moving.
"Congratulations, your first kill… not a very clean one by any definition of the word but still a kill nonetheless in fact you're advanced that was the technique for cracking open a tortoise but well close enough" Claw exclaimed.
I was still angry and I continued hitting taking out my frustration on the rabbit till judging by the looks of it was definitely dead. I blinked my eyes a couple of times trying to blink away the tears.
Claw leaned forward to stop me and told me to go wash up.
This was not what I had signed up for I thought as I headed towards the near-by river to wash my bleeding face. I could actually see after I had washed the blood off I was thankful that it had only been a graze I was lucky that it was only a rabbit and not a hostile Yoho wolf.
However, my eyes still stung whenever I tried to force them open.
If this was a fire fight I would be easy meat if a maimed rabbit could draw blood from me an enemy Yoho wolf would carve me in two.
I plunged my head into the freezing water once more now finally being able see with just a tolerable amount of pain.
I felt like vomiting, throwing up on the spot. I felt nauseous in the thought that I had just killed an innocent creature. That was when reality hit home that this was no longer an adventure camp, it was a serious deadly business.
I returned over watched Scar demonstrate how to de-gut a rabbit. I then watched the other recruits go through the same motions I did. Reluctant, each and every one of them, some even opting out as becoming a Beta while initially mandatory for any fit omegas now became a volunteer affair.
I believe that Hutch whom started the programme finally realised that most simply didn't have the stomach for the grim business of war. I didn't but I had to do it, had to win acceptance in the eyes of my in-laws.
I had to prove that I was no more than a pet husband to Kate and that I deserved the new privileges that I was entitled to by the rights of marriage. I repeated those words once again in my head 'got to do it, got to do it' I thought to myself to psych myself to keep on going.
I observed the next couple of wolves that went through, they were immensely reluctant and my performance did little to their self-confidence. They had gone through the worst of what Scar could throw at us, gruelling marches through difficult terrain, starvation rations and constant physical exertion.
This for many of the sixteen Betas to be that remained this obstacle was too much. When Scar brought over another maimed rabbit most were sickened at the sight and simply dropped out. Only five others had managed to swallow in their fears and complete this gut-wrenching activity nine had dropped out.
Lilly was last in the line she had opted to be last and as she was the pack leader's daughter had received the privilege without question. I envied her, rank still had its privileges in this hell-hole that was to be our existence for three long months. She had seen six rabbits slain in cold-blood in front of her eyes.
When the time came I held my breath, even those whom had opted out and were to leave stayed to watch the affair. I too was curious, could Lilly whom I knew her entire life as a sweet petite girl have the heart to draw blood?
She approached slowly shy as ever but her eyes showed a fighting spirit, it was small but it was nevertheless still there. She had been through much, she had spared and won before, she had braved night treks for she could not do the day ones because of her condition.
She was infinitely stronger lady than she was a week ago but would she do it. She approached the little creature, shook her head and joined those whom were leaving.
I supposed now that it was the right choice in hind-sight for her. I could never imagine her harming an innocent creature and I guessed it had turned out for the best now that she had refused to harm the little creature. She always did care for the little creatures.
She had her head hung low, clearly ashamed of herself for failing in her self-imposed mission of finishing the course. I greeted her as she was preparing to leave head hung low in defeat.