Chapter 5:
The next piece of the puzzle
After a long enjoyable dinner the small pack was getting ready to leave, when they heard the strangest noise. A couple of screams and a loud scraping noise. They turned around and saw 3 wolves in a log headed straight for them. Garth jumped out of the way, but Humphrey took the log straight to the face and got hit in a head on collision. Humphrey opened his eyes and saw his 3 friends mooch salty and shaky in a log, guys how have you been? I haven't seen you in forever." "Hey Humphrey we are doing great" Salty asked as he walk over to Humphrey. " What are you doing here Humphrey I thought you were back in Idaho with Kate, by the way where is Kate?" Humphrey look sadden so Garth answered for him "Kate was taken by a pack of wolves that live north of here so we are going there to rescue Kate and Lilly." "What Lilly got taken too" "I'm afraid so" "By the way guys what are you doing here?" Humphrey asked as he recovered from the painful flashback. "Oh we are on an adventure and we were going to visit you and Kate but I can see that is not going to happen." Salty said "and who are those little guys and the fox behind you" "Oh I forgot those little guys are my pups and the fox is a friend I made in Absaroka-bear tooth wilderness" "WHAT you and Kate had pups?! No wonder they look like you I thought I was seeing things" Salty said as his mouth was hanging open. "Kids get over here meet my friends" "Hi daddy's friends" they said in unison. "Hey kids what are your names" "Lance, Ghost, Nova, River and Shadow" they each said. "Great names and who is the fox behind you Humphrey" "That is Linus, hey Linus come here and meet my friends" Humphrey said smiling. "Hi and sorry to spoil the moment but we really need to get a move on," Linus said. "Sorry guys but he is right, can we meet later back in Idaho and I tell you so many adventures I had after I had left Jasper." "Sure now go and rescue Kate and Lilly before it is too late." Salty said as they left Humphrey.
Meanwhile Kate is comforting Lilly and is thinking a way to get Lilly out of here. A wolf carrying a caribou leg walk into the den. "Thank you," Kate said as she dragged the leg towards Lilly. The wolf started to walk out of the den then stopped. "Don't mention it" he said and walked out the den then Kate started crying. "Why are you crying Kate," Lilly asked as she hug her. "the wolf that just enter reminds me of Nova, he looks like he is the same age as Nova," Kate said as she kept on crying.
Back to Humphrey and the rescue pack
Humphrey and Garth start looking for a temporary den to sleep for the night. They had found one at the top of a waterfall. " Ok this is where we will stay for tonight, Linus stay with the pups make sure that they don't go near the water it looks dangerous." Humphrey said seriously "Me and Garth will be back in a while, we are going to hunt for dinner." "Ok I take good care of them don't worry" "When you say don't worry I worry" Humphrey chuckled. Humphrey and Garth left the den and start looking for food. "We still need to teach your pups how to attack and defend themselves" Garth said "So when should we start and how are we going to teach them in a short amount of time" "Hopefully they learn fast or this rescue won't be a rescue at all." By the time they returned to the den with dinner it was night. After dinner Humphrey and Garth told the pups that they need to do some training while heading towards the Northern pack territory. They all headed into the den. Later that night Humphrey walk outside to look at the full moon. He walked to thie edge of the hillside he looked down and noticed there was a river leading to a waterfall beneath him he backed up slightly and started howling hoping that Kate would hear it, then he started crying, as he howled. Suddenly he swore he heard Kate join in his howl. Humphrey turned around to see that Nova was up. "Nova!" Humphrey said as he was forcing himself to stop crying. "Go back into den and sleep, we got another travelling tomorrow and we are also going to start training" "What's wrong dad?" "It's nothing." "Dad..." "You sound just like your mother..." "Mom's voice is amazing mine is ridiculous." "I think you are amazing." "Oh, dad." Nova cuddled her dad. The two stared at the moon together when suddenly the ground beneath the 2 wolves fell into the river the 2wolves grabbed onto the side of the hill. Nova's scream woke up Garth and Linus. Garth and Linus ran out of the den. "What was that?" Garth asked. "Uncle Garth! Over here!" "Nova! Are you alright?" "Dad help me!" shouted Nova as she was sliding down the hill and loosing her grip. Garth ran as fast as he could when he got to the edge he put out his paw so Nova could grab it. Linus reached his out for Humphrey. Humphrey was pulled over the edge and was back on land. Nova jumped for her uncle's paw but missed and fell into the water. "NOOOOVVVVAAAAAA!" Humphrey shouted as he watched his daughter fall into the harsh river below. Her body lay there motionless as the water currents carried her down the river, and over the falls. Humphrey was awestruck and heartbroken and unsure if what he just saw really did just happen. "No, no ,no, this can't be happening." "I'm so sorry Humphrey" "WELL SORRY ISN'T GOING TO BRING MY DAUGHTER BACK IS IT" Humphrey screamed. Garth backed off a bit. "I was only trying to help, Humphrey," said Garth as he can't even imagine how Humphrey is feeling right now. "I know, I'm sorry Garth I just need to be alone right now" Humphrey said as he stay there staring at the water . Garth and Linus returned back to the den and were wondering if Humphrey is coming back. "Only if I jumped in after her, this would never happen, only if I told her to go back." Humphrey cried and watched his tears fall into the water he saw Kate and Nova reflections by his side and then they disappeared in the current. "Why is my family being torn apart piece by piece?" asked Humphrey as he was still crying. "I can't lose anyone else, I'm not letting anyone else out of my sight." he thought aloud as he rushed to the den and made sure everyone else was ok.
