The United Tribe Territory
The 3 Alphas returned to the territory and immediately was met with with every single alpha standing infront of them Kate knew why they were standing there as they were waiting for news on Link and Lyle's whereabouts.
Kate stepped forward and began to speak "I'm sure you're all know and worried about Link and Lyle and although we haven't been able to find anything in the Dark Forest but i assure you i will find them no matter how long it takes." Kate looked at the crowd and noticed they were staring at her with weird looks "Is something wrong?"she asked in confusion "we're just a little shocked that you're going out of your way to find Link and Lyle giving that you hate their guts."a random alpha said as the crowd murmured in agreement.
"Yeah looking back at all the mean stuff they did to you we figured you'd be happy they're gone."Candu said Kate knew they had a point Kate hated Link and Lyle for all the bad things they did to her in fact there were times she wanted to kick them out surely she'd be celebrating that they hit the road probably never to return.
"ok listen everyone I admit i do hate Link and Lyle but they are a part of my tribe and i made a vow to love and care for everyone in my tribe that includes those two morons so even if it takes a year i will find them,now please continue with your day." the crowd dispersed leaving Kate,Hutch and Garth alone.
"Where do you think they went to?"Garth asked Kate who sighed "i don't know they probably ran off to join another tribe somewhere." "Or maybe.." "Garth if you say the shade got them I'll kick you in the lung."Kate said firmly and Garth quickly closed his mouth.
"Excuse me i have to inform Humphrey on what happened." Kate said walking away and Hutch and Garth walking the opposite direction.
Meanwhile
Humphrey was standing in front of a group of omegas that included Runt,Amber and Flynn.
"Alright guys we can play one more game of hide and seek,Ok Sophia start counting."Humphrey said Sophia a Red colored omega pup closed her eyes as everyone went off to hide. While most other pups except for Runt who didn't feel like playing because of a personal issue, found other places to hide Amber and Flynn had a little issue they both wanted to hide in the same spot which was a bush big enough for both of them.
"Go find somewhere else to hide Amber."Flynn said trying to shove amber out but she was persistent "No you go,This is my spot."
Sophia finished counting to a hundred and went off to find the other she went towards the bush where Amber and Flynn were hiding Sofia was just about to walk past when she heard Flynn and Amber's voices.
She went to the bush and peeked through with a teasing smile "Found you."Sofia said with a smile Flynn and Amber looked at each other with annoyance that they had been found.
Runt stood beside Humphrey contemplating on the things that has be going on recently with The Shade encounters,Stinky and Claudette's fighting but Stinky and Claudette's squabble isn't what's bothering him the most it is the Shade Issue.
People told him the Shade wasn't real it was just a myth just to scare pups but what he saw in that cave didn't seem like a myth to him,and what happened to Hunter seemed to only confirmed Runt's fear that the Shade may exist.
Speaking of Hunter another thing that was Bothering Runt was the fact that he didn't speak of the Sighting he had on the class trip if he had said something before maybe hunter probably wouldn't have went to the Dark Forest alone in fact if he had said something maybe the day he along with Stinky Claudette,Amber Hunter and Flynn wouldn't have gone to the Dark Forest either.
All of this could of been avoided if Runt would've said something well he decided he was done being silent and decided to tell Humphrey what he had seen that day. Runt looked up at Humphrey who was watching The other pups.
"Dad i have to tell you something." Humphrey looked down at his youngest son curiously "What is it son?" runt was about to say something when Kate approached them grabbing Humphrey by the arm "Humphrey i need to talk to you it's extremely important." then she dragged him away just about 30 feet away so he could see the pups.
"What is it Kate?"Humphrey asked concerned "Link and Lyle are missing."Kate said causing Humphrey to look at her funny "Link and Lyle the two meatheads that constantly bully you for marrying me?"
"The very same."Kate said causing Humphrey to laugh loudly "Good riddance i hated those two." "To be honest i partly agree with you,But those two are a part of our tribe and it is our responsibility to protect the wolves in our tribe Humphrey even the ones we can't stand."Kate reminded Humphrey who sighed knowing she was right "Alright any idea where they went too?"
"Well i checked all over the Dark Forest but neither of them were there which brings up another thing i wanted to talk to you about turns out there's a tribe living on the other side of the Dark Forest,the tribe that started the Legend of the Shade." Humphrey's eyes widened in surprise.
"Woah you met the Source of the Legend did they explain how they thought of it?" "Yes apparently it's a true story Humphrey I met the Tribe leader there named Daria who had scratches on her face that caused her to be blind she said the Shade attacked her and tribe years ago,Her tribe went to the Northern tribe to get help and told them what happened apparently they didn't believe them."
Humphrey looked at kate curiously "Do you believe them?" Kate took a deep breath as she began thinking about it "To be honest Humphrey i don't know." Humphrey was about to say something else when a gray furred alpha male wolf approached Kate "Uh Kate Stinky and Claudette are fighting again."
Kate groaned in complete annoyance "For fenrir's sake...we'll continue this later."Kate said running with the male wolf and Humphrey got right back to runt "What were you about to say Runt?" Humphrey asked runt.
Runt tried to form the words but found himself unable to he suddenly lost the will to tell his father what he was going tell him,"Never mind." Runt said looking away as Humphrey looked at him funny then looked at Sofia as she found the last pup.
Nightfall
It was a peaceful quiet night in the United Tribe as everyone was sound asleep well almost everyone however as one pup was wide awake and no it's not Hunter it was Runt.
Runt was was laying next to Humphrey had his eyes open staring at the entrance of the cave Why? He won't be able to explain it in words but he had this gnawing feeling at the back of his mind telling him that he,his family and the entire tribe was being watched.
Runt slowly sat up and looked pass the exit of the den to see the outside world, his eyes slowly moved left,Right,Up and Down hoping to catch anything moving out there the only thing that was moving were the grass and the leaves of the trees due to the gentle wind that was blowing.
Runt looked over to his family all sleeping soundly Kate laid between Stinky and Claudette just in case they started another midnight rumble again. Runt wanted to wake his mom and dad up and tell them what was going on but decided against it because they'll think he's imagining things and that's not what he needed.
After taking one last look outside and still seeing nothing Runt decided to try and go to sleep, he laid back on his side still facing the cave entrance Runt closed his eyes and slowly began to drift off into dreamland when...
(Distant Rustling Sounds)
Runt's eyes snapped open and he sat up and looked outside in alarm as he heard faint rustling sounds. Runt sat still and listen for the sound just to make sure he wasn't hearing things when he heard bushes rustling and that was when he knew he wasn't hearing things.
Runt turned to his father and shook him awake "Wha runt what is it?" "There's someone outside."Runt said in a panicked hushed tone waking Kate,Stinky and Claudette.
"Humphrey what's going on?"Kate asked groggily sitting up along with Stinky and Claudette "Mom there's someone outside."Runt said pointing out the entrance Everyone looked outside and saw nothing then looked at runt "You're imagining things Runt."Humphrey said with a light chuckle making Runt frown "Am not,i heard bushes rustling."Runt argued.
"It's probably the wind honey."Kate said
It's not the wind I'm telling you guys there's someone out there."Runt argued looking outside in a panicked way.
(Distant Rustling Sounds)
"See there's the sound again!"runt panicked as this time the rest did hear it Humphrey and Kate looked outside from their spots curiously "Did you hear that?"Humphrey asked Kate who responded with "Yeah i did."
This caused Runt to hide behind Humphrey while Claudette went close to Kate Stinky however wasn't going to let a few scary sounds sent him cowering behind Kate or Humphrey. Stinky quickly stood up and marched towards the entrance "Hey whoever is out there knock it off!"Stinky shouted in anger.
"Stinky what are you doing?!"Humphrey exclaimed in shock "Being a total idiot,Stinky get back in here."Claudette commanded but Stinky ignored her."
Stinky looked all around outside as he heard the muffling sounds again "I'm not playing I'll destroy you!" "with what Stinky with what exactly?!"Humphrey exclaimed Kate face palmed herself at the ridiculousness of the situation just then as Stinky continued to look into the darkness he saw a black mass darting past some trees.
"There you are!"Stinky said as he grabbed Kate's tomahawk and charged outside yelling like a maniac "What the?!"Humphrey exclaimed in disbelief that Stinky ran out of the den towards potential danger and carrying Kate's tomahawk.
"Stinky get your butt back here now!"Kate shouted as she stood up and looked at Humphrey,Claudette and Runt "Stay here." then Kate ran outside after Stinky. "Stinky i swear to Fenrir..."Kate mumbled in frustration as she ran to catch up to Stinky who was running through the darkness.
He then stopped and began looking around at the trees that surrounded him "You want a piece of me?!,come on out and face the Wrath of Stinky!"Stinky said in a tough serious tone as he looked around in the darkness ready for a fight.
Just then Kate came up behind stinky and snatched the tomahawk away from him "Give me that You don't have no wraith,now come back to the den or you'll face mine."Kate growled as she grabbed Stinky's ear and dragged him away "Ow mom!"Stinky whined.
However unknown to them The Shade was watching them leave from the darkness his eyes glowing a deep silver as they narrowed and then disappeared as he vanished.
Kate dragged stinky back to the den and sat him down next to Humphrey,Runt and Claudette who all looked at him "Are you out of your mind stinky running out there in the dark you could've been kidnapped or something!"
"Mom i was trying..."Stinky began but kate interrupted him "Hush Stinky just hush."Kate barked then suddenly Hutch Garth and nearly all the alpha's came to Kate's den because they heard Stinky's yelling.
"Kate is everything ok we heard yelling?!"Hutch asked in concern "yes everything is fine that was Stinky you can all go back to sleep."Kate said Calmly the alphas looked at her strangely then decided to do what she said and head back to sleep until...
(Distant Rustling Sounds Followed By Muffled Yelling)
Everyone froze after they heard that and Kate walked out of her den hearing the strange sound too "What was that?" she asked the alphas looked around and listened for the sound again after about a second of silence the sound was heard again Hutch noticed some bushes shaking about 100 yards away and the wind wasn't blowing "Over there he said in a slight hushed tone.
Kate came out of the den and got in front of the group deciding to have first crack at the potential intruder she was about to manhandle whoever they are without a weapon.
when she got close enough to the bush she looked over her shoulder to see the alphas got into fighting stances ready for anything the Kate pounced into the bushes ready to tear apart the intruder but was met with a surprising sight.
It was link and Lyle their arms,legs and Muzzles tied up with vines and their fur was dirty and messy. They looked up to Kate's with complete fear as Kate looked back at them with wide eyes.
"Link..lyle?!"she exclaimed in surprise soon the other alphas came over after hearing those familiar names "Link lyle we've been looking for you two,Where the heck have you two been?"Garth asked pulling out a dagger and began untying them.
After Garth cut off the vines that was on their snouts they immediately went over to Kate still on their knees hugging her legs and looked up at Kate with the most frightened expression anyone can give "Hunter...Hunter was right Kate."Link said shaking Kate looked at him in confusion "Right about what?" what was said next made Kate's blood freeze.
"The Shade Kate the shade is real..its Real."Lyle said with tears running down his eyes Kate looked down at them with the most bewildered expression ever.