A/N: This chapter took a little longer than usual, because I wrote it, but then I decided to move a couple scenes into Chapter 6 and bring another character back, whom I meant to bring back in either the last chapter or the chapter before that.
Sorry for the late update, enjoy!
Chapter 5 - More Secrets
Winston, Eve, and Kate, were still out searching for Lilly. Kate was in front, following Lilly's scent from Winston and Eve's den, while Winston and Eve followed behind, hanging their heads in guilt. They followed Lilly's scent all over the territory, even going into the eastern side a couple times, until they came across the creek that separated the former packs. "Lilly stopped here", Kate said, as she approached the water's edge, "then Garth approached her from the west".
Eve's ears perked up, "Garth?", she asked, "what was he doing here?".
"They both stayed beside each other for a few minutes, so I assume they were having a conversation, then…", Kate said, then she sat down, "…they both headed west together".
"Do you think Lilly came back?", Eve asked, hopefully.
"I can't say for certain, but they did take the trail that leads back to the Alpha den", Kate answered, "and I know what you're thinking, Mom, and I don't think Lilly wants to talk to the two of you right now".
Eve lowered her ears against her head, "oh, okay", she muttered, dejectedly.
"I'd give it until morning", Kate said, "but I'd wait until she comes to you when she's ready, not before".
Eve raised her head, "alright", she replied, "it's getting dark, we should get back".
"Yeah, I bet Humphrey is getting worried about me", Kate said. Skye suddenly burst out of the bushes, "there you are, Mom!", she exclaimed, then ran towards her.
"Skye, what are you doing here?", Kate asked, "and…how did you find us?".
"I followed your scent throughout the territory, until I caught up to you", Skye explained.
Kate opened her mouth to reply, but something clicked in her brain, "what did you just call me?", she asked.
Skye widened her eyes from realisation of what she said moments earlier, "I, uhh, called you…'Mom', Kate", she said, then laid her ears on her head, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be calling you that".
Kate smiled, "it's alright, Skye", she replied, then turned to Winston and Eve, "did you happen to find anything to locate her parents?".
Winston and Eve looked up and shook their heads, "nothing?", Kate asked.
"Hutch and Candu examined the area where they found Skye", Eve explained, "there were no scents, or anything to indicate where Skye's parents might be, not even Skye's scent was there".
Skye stared at them in shock, "nothing?", she asked.
Winston and Eve widened their eyes, "oh, damn, I forgot she was here", Eve muttered.
Skye walked over to Kate and snuggled up against her, "it's alright", she said, "I had a feeling that I would never see my real parents again".
"Is that why you called me 'Mom'?", Kate asked.
Skye shrugged, "I think so", she said, "but I'm not sure, it just came out".
Kate chuckled, "well, since we can't find your real parents, how about you stay with Humphrey and I?", she suggested.
Skye's face lit up and she wagged her tail, "seriously?!", she asked.
Humphrey burst out of the bushes, gasping for breath, "there…you are…Skye", he panted.
"Oh, sorry about that…Dad", Skye said.
Humphrey looked up at Kate and chuckled, "you…will not…believe…how fast…Skye can run", he said, smiling, then he collapsed on the ground and took a deep breath, "I think she'll even rival you, Kate, once she's fully grown…she's fast".
Kate chuckled, "are you going to be able to make it back to the den?", she asked, "or will I have to carry you?".
"I'm not going to let you carry me, Kate", Humphrey said, "no matter how tired I am, I'll crawl if I have to".
"By the way…", Humphrey said, as he looked towards Skye, "what did you call me?".
Skye was about to answer, but Kate beat her to it, "she called you 'Dad', Humphrey", Kate said, as she approached him, "and, yes, you're a father now".
Humphrey had his mouth wide open as he stared at Kate. Kate looked at him curiously, "are you okay, Humphrey?", she asked.
"Uhh…", Humphrey muttered, then he fainted.
"Huh, I guess he was too overcome with shock to say anything", Kate said, then she noticed Skye had fallen asleep, "I'll take Skye, can either of you take Humphrey?".
Winston walked over to Humphrey and placed him on his back, "I got him, Kate", he said, "lead the way".
Kate gently picked up Skye and led the way back to her and Humphrey's den. After a while, Humphrey started to stir, "what happened?", he asked.
"You fainted", Kate answered.
"Oh", Humphrey said, "why?".
"I think it was because you found out you were now a father", Kate said, then quickly glared at him, "don't faint again".
Humphrey chuckled, "don't worry, Kate, I won't", he replied, then he saw Kate carrying a sleeping Skye and he smiled, "I guess your wish came true, Kate".
"What do you mean?", Kate asked.
"Wasn't your wish to have a family?", Humphrey asked, "we now have one".
Kate smiled, "yeah", she said.
"Hey, Son?", Winston said.
"Who are you talking to?", Humphrey asked, "you don't have a son".
Winston chuckled, "I meant you, Humphrey, you're my son-in-law", he explained.
"Oh, okay", Humphrey replied, "what is it?".
"If you can walk, can you get off this old wolf's back?", Winston asked.
Humphrey realised he was being carried by Winston, "oh, yeah, sure", he said, then climbed off of Winston's back, "there you go, Winston".
"Thank you", Winston said, "and please, call me 'Dad', Humphrey".
"Umm, sure…Dad, it's just been a while since I've called anyone that", Humphrey replied, "I actually don't even remember calling anyone that".
Winston paled, while Eve tried to remain calm, but was quickly failing. Kate passed Skye over to Humphrey, "Mom, Dad?", Kate asked, "are you okay?".
"Uhh, yeah", Eve lied, "we're fine".
"Mom…", Kate said, "is there something else that you're hiding?".
Winston sighed, "it's best not to lie to them any longer, Eve", he said, then turned towards Kate and Humphrey, "we'll tell you in the morning".
"Tell us now", Kate said.
"We'll explain everything tomorrow morning", Eve said, "it has to do with both you and Lilly, Humphrey".
Humphrey widened his eyes, "what?", he asked, his voice muffled, because he was holding Skye in his mouth, "me?".
Eve nodded, "we'll explain everything to the four of you in the morning", she said, "right now, let's get some sleep because it's a long story".
Kate sighed, "alright", she replied, "but you better explain everything".
"You have our word, Kate", Winston said, then him and Eve left for their den.
Kate was staring at where Winston and Eve had just left with an unhappy expression. Humphrey placed Skye on the ground, "are you okay, honey?", he asked.
"I can't believe that my parents would keep so many secrets from us", Kate said.
"Honestly, Kate…", Humphrey said, "I may not have known my parents and have only been one for like five minutes, but I know that they must've kept whatever it is that they know a secret, because it would be too much for us to handle".
Kate turned towards him and sighed, "maybe you're right, Humphrey", she said, "Lilly ran off after she found out that she was adopted".
"Yeah…", Humphrey muttered, then widened his eyes, "wait, what?".
"I'll, umm, explain later", Kate said, "let's just go to sleep".
"Good idea", Humphrey replied, "too much has already happened today, finding Skye, Lilly and Garth's inauguration, finding out Winston and Eve are keeping secrets, adopting Skye, finding out Winston and Eve are keeping even more secrets, it's a little much".
Kate chuckled, "yeah, when you summarise it like that, it does seem like a lot", she said, then she picked up Skye and the two of them headed back to their den.
Lilly and Garth had returned to their den and were now laying beside each other, "thank you, Garth", Lilly said to her mate.
"For what?", Garth asked.
"For coming to find me", Lilly answered, "…and for talking some sense into me".
Garth smiled, "you know I'm here for you, Lilly", he replied, "just remember I'll always love you, no matter what".
Lilly smiled and leaned against Garth's russet coloured fur, "I know", she said, "and I'll always remember that".
"I know it's late, but…did you want to go talk with Winston and Eve now?", Garth asked, "I mean, you should at least let them know that you're okay".
"I know", Lilly said, "but Kate's the best Alpha I know, they'll find out that you found me and everything will be fine, so I'll talk to them in the morning".
"The best Alpha you know?", Garth asked, "what about me?".
Lilly chuckled, "is someone jealous?", she asked, playfully.
Garth frowned, "no, it's just-", he started, but was cut off when Lilly kissed him. After she pulled away, she smiled, "Kate's may be the best Alpha, but you…", she said, as she traced circles in his fur with one of her claws, "…are my favourite Alpha".
Garth chuckled, "that's works for me", he said, "would you like me to be with you tomorrow?".
"I think that'll be for the best", Lilly answered, "I may want someone to be there with me, if I learn something horrible about my real parents".
"How about we get some sleep now and worry about this in the morning?", Garth suggested, "sound good?".
Lilly smiled, "sounds good", she said, then snuggled up against Garth's belly and quickly fell asleep.
'She's so cute when she sleeps', Garth thought to himself, then looked out the den entrance, 'I know you would be very proud if you could see me now, Mom'.
Garth laid his head down and fell asleep, then a gust of wind blew through the den and a smile grew on Garth's face.
Logan has been searching throughout the whole territory for a specific she-wolf, ever since Skye breathed into his face and he started acting strangely. He was wandering through the forest, when he finally found her lying on the top of a cliff, watching the sunset. "It's beautiful, isn't it?", the she-wolf asked.
Logan widened his eyes, then calmed down, "very beautiful", he answered, "how did you know I was here?".
The she-wolf chuckled, "I could hear you coming, Logan", she said, "you're not exactly stealthy".
Logan chuckled, "right", he muttered.
"Well?", the she-wolf asked, "are you just going to stand there and look silly or are you going to join me?".
Logan hesitantly approached the she-wolf and laid down beside her. "Umm, Ashley?", Logan asked, "there's something I'd like to ask you".
"I know what you're going to ask me, Logan", Ashley said, "and the answer's yes".
"How did you know what I was going to ask?", Logan asked.
Ashley chuckled, "I've seen how you've been looking at me", she said, "I've just been waiting for you to muster up the courage to ask me".
"Y-You were?", Logan asked.
Ashley nodded, "I love watching the sunsets", she said, "romantic, isn't it?".
Logan smiled, "yes, it is", he replied. Ashley leaned against Logan, snuggling into his fur, "what made you find the courage to ask me?", she asked, as she placed her head under his chin.
"Let's just say it was the right time", Logan said. "Hmm", Ashley moaned, "you know, since I've met you, I've always had feelings for you, Logan".
"You did?", Logan asked, surprised, "I did as well…for you, I mean".
Ashley chuckled, "I kind of figured that", she said. They laid there together, enjoying each other's company, until the sun went down. "Now, I don't want to leave", Ashley said, "I'm too comfortable".
Logan chuckled, "well, we better go, because it's getting cold", he said.
Ashley sighed, "yeah, you're right", she replied, as they stood up and headed in separate directions. Logan stopped and turned towards Ashley, "why don't you stay with me?", he suggested, "it's going to be cold tonight, you might want some extra body heat".
Ashley turned around, then looked at him and smiled, "aren't you moving a little fast?", she asked, as she approached.
"I was being serious", Logan said, "it's going to be cold tonig-", Logan was cut off when Ashley kissed him. After she pulled away, Logan smiled, "now look who's moving too fast", he said.
Ashley chuckled, "I'm with you", she said, then they headed towards Logan's den with their tails intertwined.
A/N: That's Chapter 5. I don't really have anything to say, so please Review and let me know what you think so far.
Till next time,
-Demonwolf102
