(Chapter 25)
A few hours had past, and It was getting late. Winston would be home soon and Eve was getting dinner ready. Starla had taken Humphreys splints off, now that his legs should be healed. She also replaced his bandages and checked his cuts. " well good news" Starla said walking back to the front of the den. " his legs look to be healed, and his ribs are as good as new" Starla said with a slight smile. " that's wonderful" eve said in a cheerful voice. Kate and Lilly sitting next to Humphrey talking to each other. Winston walked in and was greeted by Eve. He stopped and studied Kate and Lilly in the back. " how is he" Winston asked sitting down next to Eve. " Starla said that his legs are healed, so are his ribs." Eve said looking away from Humphrey back to Winston. "Has he said anything" he asked noticing Starla over in the corner, organizing supplies. "No" Eve said lowering her head a little. Eve looked over and noticed Winston starring at Starla. "She tried to start another fight with Kate today". Eve said plainly getting up and walking to the caribou. Once again she sectioned it out into equal parts, giving two to Kate. Lilly and Kate took the pieces and walked back over to Humphrey sitting down. Kate set Humphreys down in front of him again and then laid down to eat hers.
Kate and Lilly where talking when Lilly paused mid-sentence. "what's wrong" Kate asked looking at Lilly. "I..I just saw him move" Lilly said in a slightly excited tone. Everyone stopped eating and walked over to Humphrey, watching for any sign of movement. They all sat there not moving a muscle, hoping to see Humphrey try to move. Then out of the corner of her eye, Kate saw his back leg move just a little. She bent down to his ear. " Humphrey if you can hear me, please come back to me, I love you, I'm so sorry" she whispered in his ear, tears falling from her eyes on to his face. Humphrey slowly opened his eyes, letting out a small whimper. Kate couldn't help but let a smile creep onto her face. Humphrey was going to try to sit up but was stopped by Winston's paw on his neck. " Humphrey stay down, if you move you will just hurt yourself" Winston said, trying to clear his throat. Humphrey just laid there with his eyes closed, listening.
Starla got up and walked over to her stuff and came back with a small log that was sealed at one end. " what's that for" Eve asked. "This" she said placing it next to Humphreys mouth. " Humphrey, this is going to hurt, but we have to do it" Starla said in a light tone, moving the log closer to Humphrey. " I need you to open your eyes" Starla said looking down at him. He did as he was told and opened his eye. Starla hurried and placed the log over his mouth, and seconds later he threw up. He did this three times, his body jerking more each time. He let out a small whimper and was done. Starla got up and walked outside to empty the log. She walked back in and set the log down, grabbing some green berries. She walked over and sat down in front of him, crushing the berries. She opened his mouth and rubbed the mixture around in his mouth. " what is that for" Lilly asked watching as she place some more towards the back of his mouth. " it will help heal his throat and get rid of his bad breath" she said with a small chuckle. Starla backed up and let him close his mouth, "there all better" she said turning to go wash her paws. Everyone wanted to say something to Humphrey, but knew he needed to rest.
" ok , give him some time to rest" Starla said walking to her spot in the den and laying down. Kate and Lilly laid down a few feet away from Humphrey, still facing him. Winston and Eve drug the caribou body out of the den and tossed it off the cliff. They came back in and laid down, ready to get a decent nights rest for the first time all week. The den grew quiet, as everyone started to fall asleep. Kate was still awake, and even though Lilly's eyes where closed, the smile on her face let Kate know she was still up. As time went by the moon rose up in the sky, and the temperature dropped slowly. Kate watched as Humphrey whimpered and shivered in the cold. Kate wanted to go lay with him to keep him warm, but knew if she touched him she would hurt him. She thought for a second, then looked over at Lilly.
She slid her tail over and tapped Lilly. Her eyes opened immediately as if she had been waiting for Kate to do that. "We have to keep him warm" Kate said pointing at Humphrey. Lilly looked over and saw him shivering. Lilly looked back at Kate and Nodded. They quietly got up and walked over to Humphrey. Careful not to wake him or anyone else, they slowly walked over and laid around him, making a barrier against the night chill. After a while he stopped shivering. Kate watched him as his eyes shifted behind his eyelids. His breaths where rapid. Like a wolf running from a caribou. She took her tail and placed it over his face. He calmed down a little and his breaths steadied.