A/N: Hello guys! I just want to address that Humphrey DID NOT die. You probably think he did due to the multiple fatal injuries he sustained from the battle with the beast. Don't worry he is very much alive which would be explained a bit in this chapter. Enjoy!.
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Humphrey's POV
I feel a sudden rush of pain filling my head and I instantly open my eyes. Bad mistake. My eyes instantly showered by the sun beam and I am forced to close my eyes groaning in annoyance. I always hate it when it happens.
"Hey you're finally awake" A soothing female voice startles me as I jump to a sitting position. I feel a sharp stinging pain on my stomach and she quickly rush towards me. "Lay back down" She said helping me lay down on my back. "Well… this is awkward" I said which earned a giggle. "No need to feel like that. I've had a lot of things like this so I just act normal" She said.
Then my view becomes clear. She is… well, strange is a rude word. Normal wolves don't have fur like her. She has a blue fur with a white underbelly and a bright pink eyes. "You-you are-" "Not your everyday wolf yes?" She quickly asked. I nodded with embarrassment. She laughed again and shook her head. "It's okay it's normal for wolves who doesn't see blue wolves everyday".
"Uhh… who are you?" I asked. "My name is Clara. I am a shaman. Well, technically a shaman leader as I take charges on other shamans too" She explained. "My name's Humphrey… and uhh… nice to meet you Clara" I said. "You're welcome. By the way, a lot of wolves would probably lose their minds if they saw you now".
That sentence got me scared. "Uhh Why?". "They think that you'll be dead by the time they rushed you here. I have to admit you're either a very lucky wolf or just extremely tough" She replied. I tilted my head in confusion. "You lost literally all of your blood and your heart is just… I don't know how to describe it. Destroyed I guess?. And your lower abdomen is pretty much gone. It took literally a dozen of shamans including me desperately trying to save you. Most wolves said to give up on you. But I didn't. And after what feels like hours we managed to heal you albeit still in critical condition" She explained for quite some time.
"How long I was out?" I asked again. "About a week. I banned everyone to enter my den excluding for some wolves who held higher authorities" She answered. My eyes rolled back and almost faint. "Whoa whoa whoa easy now" She caught me.
"Sorry. It's just that… I can't believe that I am still alive after that ordeal" My eyes start to get misty. Clara apparently saw this and instantly pull me to a hug. "Do not worry, you are safe" She cooed to my ear. "Tristitia dissipati peribunt" She said in the same language the beast did. But instead fear I feel safe and loved.
All those pain just washed away and I just hug her even more tightly. "Well… now this is awkward" She said. I blushed and release her while looking down. "You're quite bold aren't you? Hugging a stranger like that?" She teased which further reddens my face. She laughed and pat my shoulder. "Don't worry I do not have a mate so it's okay" She said.
"Wait you don't? How?" I asked her. "Well… having a mate is the last thing I wanted to do now. Plus my duty as a shaman leader always gets in the way so I think marriage is not going to come very soon". "Well that's unfortunate since well… you're…" I trailed off after I realized what I am going to say. "I'm a beautiful and attractive female?" She finished up what I was going to say. I nodded and again, she laughs. "Are you asking out on a date?" She asked still laughing. "Well no it's just, how can anybody miss such a beautiful and attractive wolf like you?" Now I feel like I'm flirting with her.
I can see she's blushing a bit. "Such a sweet guy. I bet a lot of girls want you as a mate". My smile disappears and she begins to get concerned. "Oh no Humphrey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-" "It's okay Clara, you didn't hurt me at all" I said giving her a smile to reassure her. "Well if I may ask, do you have anyone that you like?" She asked. "I did. I loved her. But she didn't love me" I said. Memories of Kate declaring her marriage with Garth haunts me again. I shake my head to remove those images and say "I am sorry but I can't talk much about it for now. It still hurts" to Clara.
She nods and say "Don't worry I will not pry to your love life. Speaking of which now that you're strong enough, why don't you go outside and walk around to get know to other wolves?". That's actually a good idea. "If you allow it of course". She laughed for literally the hundredth times. "Of course I allow you silly! I am the one suggesting it!" She wiped a tear out of her right eye.
Smiling at me she removes the thick foliage covering the den entrance. Sun rays immediately lighting up the den brighter. "Then go and have fun!" She exclaimed. I thanked her and go outside. The sunlight blinds me momentarily. But when my eyes readjusted, I can't help but to feel amazed at what I am seeing.
I am standing on a cliff, that gives me an uninterrupted overview of the environment around me. It seems that we live in some sort of valley nearly identical to the western pack but this is wider and much more vast than the western pack. There are hills here and there and a rather huge waterfall on the west side of the valley that also has river dividing it in two. Although the river is huge but it seems that it's not deep at all and the current is calm as I can see pups swimming there although their parents still watching over them.
Many wolves are seen doing their daily activity. I can identify some of them which is border patrols, hunter and huntress, or just relaxing not giving a damn about the world.
"Clara! Did our guest just awaken this morning?" A deep and gruff voice startles me. Looking to my left I saw a black and white furred wolf with charcoal eyes. Scars can be seen around his body indicating that he has fought countless fights and the most prominent one is the scar on his left eye. He walks like a pack leader and held his tail high. He is bigger than Winston and Tony which is impressive.
"Ah yes sir, our guest are just awaken and now trying to familiarize himself around our pack" Clara said. He turn his gaze towards me. A strong and scary gaze if I may say. I turn my head away and tuck my tail around my legs. "Careful sir, he's a shy one" Clara said. He growls at me and I whimpered. Then the most unexpected thing happens.
He laughed.
He pat me on the back, well more like slapping my back which I swear I can hear my bones cracking every time his paw landed. "Oh hahaha! I was just messing around with you! You should've seen your face!" He let out a gruff laugh. I got nervous and let a laugh escape me. "Don't worry, Ethan is always been such a goof around guests" She pinch his cheek and he let out a playful howl. "Goddamn it Clara! Really?!" He said holding his cheek. "Stop being a wimp brother!" She said smiling playfully. "I sometimes hate you sis" He said booping her nose. "And I hate it when you do that to me".
I got so confused between their silly banters that I think they didn't notice me still there. "Now, we still have a guest remember?" Clara motioned her right paw to me. I wave my hand nervously. "Ah yes you! Come with me!" He thundered. I whimpered again. Again he laughed and Clara just rolled her eyes. "Come on Ethan, no wonder our guests never stay too long. You're maybe a leader but this is just ridiculous" Clara pushing both of us and soon we found ourselves walking together.
Awkwardness starts to envelope us and before I can speak up he beats me to it. "So, who are you and where you come from?". "I am Humphrey and I am from Jasper Park Canada" I answered. "Ah Jasper, I haven't been there for a long time". "Sir, if I may, whe-" "Ah do not call me sir, I always hated it. Makes me feel like superior from others. Just call me Ethan" He said with a warm smile. "Okay… Ethan" It feels so weird. "So what are you going to ask?". "Where am i?" I asked. "You are in Alaska. Far from home" He answered.
"And who are you?" I asked. "I thought I made it clear that my name is Ethan" He said laughing at me. "No no no, I mean who are you in this pack?". "I am the pack leader, well, not a pack leader, but a leader of an ancient organization called the VolkJäger". That caught my interest. "What's a VolkJäger?" I asked. "It is an organization to preserve the balance of the world" He replied. "Now let's not talk about it shall we? You've just woken up and these things could probably send you back to Clara's den. Now let us enjoy the day okay?" He smiled at me. I smile back and we continue to walk.
We arrive to a rather large group of wolves. "Let me introduce you to the group that's responsible for hunting food. The leader, James" Ethan said. "I am Humphrey and nice to meet you" I said offering my paw. James, a rather bulky wolf with auburn and white fur and a grassy green eyes, reminds me of Garth. He takes my paw and literally crushing it. I whimpered a bit. "I don't know how you survive such wounds but damn, you're stronger than any of us and yet your appearance is thinner than most of wolves here" He said with admiration in his voice.
"I-I'm just lucky that's all" I said. He laughed. "No you're not. You are going to be a strong candidate to be initiated to the organization" James said. "Now now James let's not make our guest goes back to Clara's den" Ethan reminding James. "I am just praising him. Anyway, is Clara's still available?" He asked with hope in his voice. "Yes but you'll never get Clara with that attitude. Your obnoxious way to woo the women". "Hey come on, I am trying my best" He defend himself. "Yeah and clearly your best is the worst". James's friends laughing behind us.
"If I somehow manage to get her heart, you will allow us as mates. Deal?" James asked for a bet. Ethan laughs and shook the outstretched paw. "But know this, if you somehow hurt my sister, I will make sure the last thing you see is your headless body while I feast on it. Got that?" He threatened James with a cold voice, not that warm and friendly one before. Clearly he loves his sister so much.
James gulped. "I… I think I want to cancel the deal". "No you can't. I want to see you try. Good luck James" Ethan said with an evil smile. James grumbled and we left the scene.
"That was… quite unfortunate of him" I spoke up. "No worries, he always dive head first so now he got a massive headache. He'll find a way out". We arrive at a group of females. "Allow me to introduce you to Clara's second in command, Samantha" Ethan said. The said wolf, Samantha, who has velvet fur and a very intriguing dark velvet colored eyes. "Oh you're awake! We were so worried that you won't make it!" Samantha literally hugging me so tight that I almost die of choking. "Samantha, please, don't kill him with your death hug" Ethan rolled his eyes with amusement.
"Apologies, I am always a big hugger to anyone, especially guests" She said. "A very handsome and good looking guest" She trailed eyeing me with a hint of lust. "Uhh Ethan…" I trailed a bit uncomfortable but also a bit excited on the inside. "Samantha, unless you want to get exiled, don't fuck anyone, especially a guest" He reprimanded her. "Oh don't act you didn't know me!" She huffed. "I am a very very horny wolf. And I will make sure I can have sex everyday and with a body and voice like me, no male can resist me" She said with those flirty tone. I have to admit, her voice starts to make me feel funny down there.
"I do allow you to fuck but you have to be in a relationship! At least as a boyfriend and girlfriend thing! What happened to Aiden? You broke up?" He asked. "Aiden gave up, he cannot match my sexual advance and our last mating almost cost him his life!" She exclaimed laughing all along. Ethan just shakes his head and we bid farewell to her (after literally eye fucking me).
We both toured around the pack meeting many wolves. I have to say this pack or organization is very comfortable and friendly. Reminds me of the Western Pack minus my best friends Salty, Shakey and Mooch.
We finished right when the sun just disappear behind the mountain. Ethan showed me my new den and told me tomorrow we'll have a talk in his den. I am a bit nervous about it but Ethan reassured me to relax and think nothing of it but just a small talk. He then left me alone in my new den.
I start to ponder how's life back in Western Pack. Did Kate married Garth?. Did they try to search for me?. All those thoughts makes me eyes droopy and before I know it, I was knocked out cold by sleep.