Alpha and Omega: After Realization

Chapter 15: Lifting Up

"Exactly how far are we talking?" asked Jack.

Anna looked from Jack to Humphrey as her eyes looked down and then took in a deep breath.

"Well...the only thing that can help cure her stage of parvovirus is a rare white flower...it has a nectar that is very smooth and cool...easy to drink down and helps get rid of the disease in a short time" explained Anna.

"And?"

Anna began to feel stressed and a bit worried, looking at Jack as he spoke again.

"The thing is that the flower doesn't grow in Jasper or any part of Canada...you would have to take a bit of trip...on the train...to Alaska"

"Alaska?!" blurted Humphrey.

"That's a bit far don't you think?" added Jack.

"Yes it is far...and it takes a long trip to get there...but there's no other way, because only that nectar is going to be able to heal Lilly back to normal, that and because the flower only grows in the coldest of weather...which happens to be Alaska"

Jack didn't really feel comfortable with what Anna was telling him, it was one thing to help Lilly get better but traveling so far from Jasper for one flower and some nectar did not sound so great to him.

"Jack it is far, but we don't have much time and no other options...you and Humphrey have to get that flower"

Jack and Humphrey looked at each other, with Jack then quickly looking back at Anna again.

"How long would it take for us to get there by train then?"

"At max, if you take the next coming train that will be passing by Jasper by tomorrow if I'm right, you'll take about four days...including two days to travel back" said Anna.

Even with Jack still considering the only option they had in keeping Lilly alive, Humphrey already decided to step in and nodded.

"When would we have to leave?" asked Humphrey, his eyes glancing deeply into Anna's.

Anna took a moment and tapped her head and chin for a moment as she tried to think about the train and time.

"Hmmmm...if I remember correctly, the next train will be coming by tomorrow morning, and I mean very early...and it'll probably make a small stop near Jasper, you'll have to be by the tracks before the sun comes up over the mountains"

Before Jack could even let out a word, Humphrey nodded to Anna.

"Done then, I'll be sure to be there at the earliest time possible" added Humphrey.

Anna smiled to her brother as she nodded back, her eyes giving off a slight gleam of shine as her eyes reflected back similar to that of his.

"Then I wish you luck Humphrey...a lot of luck, and since you'll be going I'll be more than happy to stay in the den tonight to help you get to the train tomorrow" said Anna.

She gave Humphrey a warm and loving hug, to which Humphrey gave a slight blush to before returning his sister's hug just as much. Jack couldn't help but smile as he watched them hug and reconcile together. They then separated from their hug with their eyes still focused on each other.

"I'll stay in the den tonight with Lilly and keep an eye on her for you bro...you and Jack get some rest for tomorrow...plus I'll make sure to keep an eye out for Eve if she pops in"

Anna snarled a bit as she spoke about Eve, her eyes seeming to be primal for a moment as she then shook her head and straightened her fur along her neck and sides.

"Well then...anyway, you two better get some rest, I have this covered for now, sleep tight you two and be ready...being an alpha still means I keep my word on being on time" added Anna.

She walked past both of them as she made her way to Lilly and laid down beside her gently. Jack and Humphrey walked out of the den, heading down the slope as Jack now looked back and then to him.

"Listen Humphrey, not to sound offensive or anything...but damn Humphrey, your hermana is just so hot" said Jack.

Humphrey looked over at Jack with a bit of confusion and shock, his eyes wide as his jaw dropped a bit.

"Are you serious?" said Humphrey.

"Come on bro, I'm an honest wolf and I just have to say...Anna is very amazing, well considering she shares your family genes...I'm guessing she's a natural beauty from the get go" stated Jack.

Humphrey only sighed softly and breathed in, tapping his paw to his chest gently.

"Anyway...we have a different problem though...we can't just leave Lilly while we go to Alaska, what if something bad happens to her if we leave?" added Humphrey.

Humphrey did have a good point and Jack nodded in response, they couldn't leave Lilly in her vulnerable state if they go on their trip. Jack tapped his muzzle as he thought of some way to keep Lilly safe while they leave on the train, when their friend offered a solution of her own.

"If you two don't mind, I could help out with this"

"Really? How?" asked Jack, with Humphrey also intrigued in listening to her.

"Even though Lilly is still in a weak condition, I should be able to get her standing and probably even run...so we can make it to the train bright and early"

"Wait...but how will you do that? I mean...she's in really bad shape" added Humphrey.

"I know I know Humphrey, but trust me, I'll get it done"

Humphrey still thought about it all though, he had trusted his friend for a long time but even he couldn't think of how it would be possible for Lilly to get up, and even as he was about to question the plan again his friend Jack only padded his back softly.

"Well I say it's a great idea, and also because asking too many questions won't get us anywhere, so I say it's time we get some sleep for our long trip tomorrow amigos"

"Okay then...I'll go with it...plus I feel sleepy anyway, time to pack it in then"

With that Humphrey and Jack turned around again, making their way back up to the den and just as they reached the entrance, Humphrey put a paw gently to Jack's chest softly.

"But you're not sleeping next to Anna tonight though" whispered Humphrey.

Humphrey's friend could only express himself with a generous smirk, shrugging towards him as well.

"Almost had it though amigo" replied Jack in a hushed voice.

Jack entered the den as Humphrey rolled his eyes a bit, but could only smile a bit as he also followed behind him to get some rest for the night. As they got tucked in for the night, not far from them over to the other side of the valley, Krystal was asleep silently in a den along with her two daughters on her right, with Eve and Winston more towards the back of the den resting together as well. A small breeze suddenly made it's way into the den and caught Krystal's attention as it blew it's hair slightly, causing her to open her eyes slowly and look up as she noticed a figure in front of her.

"It's a bit late don't you think?" said Krystal as she yawned.

"I couldn't tell...it's been a while since I could tell what time of day it is"

Krystal smiled warmly as she lifted her head up and looked at the figure as everything around them seemed to be covered in a light mist.

"So then, what did you come to tell me dear?" asked Krystal.

"I came by to say that my friends Humphrey and Jack will be leaving Jasper early tomorrow morning...they're taking a train to Alaska, they found out about a cure for Lilly"

"Really? How?"

"Humphrey went to go find his sister in the south...she took a look at Lilly and was able to find out what she had...and that the cure for it only comes from nectar of a specific flower that grows in Alaska"

"Well...that's good news, now we'll be able to heal her, but how long will it take for them to get it?"

"Four days...two to get there and two to get back...it's going to be a long trip"

Krystal paused a bit to process what she had been told, she was relieved to know that there was something to help Lilly but she was also concerned as to how that something had to be found all the way in Alaska. She sighed quietly as she padded her forehead with her paw gently, thinking of something to say and before she could, the figure spoke to her again.

"Humphrey and Jack will also take Lilly with them...they don't want to risk leaving her here and I agree with them...don't worry though, I'll help them out with that part...I just wanted to tell you this so that when we're gone and anyone asks, you know what to tell them"

Krystal simply nodded back with her eyes closing a bit and breathing slowly.

"I understand...I'll make sure to let them know...just promise me one thing though" asked Krystal.

"Yes?"

"Just...just make sure they come back here...I'm getting a feeling they'll be needed...because I'm feeling like something wrong is going to happen...please?" said Krystal.

The figure nodded towards her then.

"Don't worry, we'll make it back as soon as we can...because I have a bad feeling too...goodbye for now, don't forget to tell them where we are and that we'll be back"

"I will, take care dear and hope you all come back soon" said Krystal.

With that the figure before her vanished, along with the light mist that had also come along as well. With that the night went on as everything fell silent, with only one wolf being awake in the distance as she stood guard on her duties along with her friend.

"You doing okay?"

Kate turned around to see Garth as he came along behind her as they both knew they were on duty for the night.

"Yeah I'm fine...I'm just not feeling well...something keeps telling my mind that something's just...I don't know...something's wrong" stated Kate.

"What do you mean?" asked Garth.

Kate looked out towards the valley and the utter darkness that was all around them, even she noticed that the stars weren't out tonight in the sky.

"It's just...like something is just...going to pop and we'll all be dragged into something...I don't know what but something...dangerous"

"Don't worry about it too much Kate" added Garth.

"Nothing's going to happen and everything will turn out okay...and then maybe we can spend more time with those who we care most about"

Kate smiled a bit as she looked over at Garth as he took a seat beside her as they took a breather from their work, with Garth padding her back gently.

"And how's my sis doing Garth?" asked Kate.

"She's...she's doing okay for now, she's resting in your parents den last I heard, your mom and Krystal will do everything possible to help her out as soon as possible"

"I hope so...it wouldn't be the same without her"

In a short time Kate and Garth gave each other a friendly hug and went about their patrolling, leaving the night to roll forward as Humphrey, Jack, and Anna slept quietly in the den with Lilly. The star filled skies kept watch over all of Jasper until finally the dawn was beginning to approach, with Humphrey still sleeping quietly until he was interrupted by a small nuzzle on his head and a quiet whisper.

"Humphrey, come on bro wake up, it's time to get moving"

Humphrey slowly opened his eyes and blinked a few times as he finally was able to see his sister as she nuzzled his head.

"Is it morning already?" asked Humphrey.

"It's early morning silly, there's no sun up yet but it's morning" said Anna.

Humphrey let out a loud yawn as he stretched out his back legs and front legs, shaking himself a bit afterwards as he looked around and noticed Jack getting up from his sleep as well. Anna was already up and ready as she stood near the den entrance as she waited for the two of them, with Humphrey then turning around and looking towards the back of the den, only to then see that Lilly wasn't where she was when they had all fallen asleep.

"Where's Lilly?!"

Before anyone could respond to Humphrey, they all redirected their eyes towards the side of the den with surprised expressions. Humphrey turned his attention back as well and once he finally had his eyes in the same direction, his expression also changed to one of surprise and happiness. There before them all was Lilly as she was now standing on her own and showing no sign of weakness or pain, even after seeing that she was unable to stand before.

"You doing okay sis?" asked Jack.

They all waited for Lilly to speak but she only stood still as she stood and with her head hanging down a little to them, and before they could speak to her they got word from their friend.

"Don't worry, she's doing okay but she's not with us at the moment...I was able to make her get up but it she's just not...conscious right now"

"Not conscious?" asked Humphrey.

"Yes, I can help her get up and move along with us on the trip...but I can't wake her up, it would cause her pain if she were...so think of this as a pain killer way of letting her get around for now"

"Well I can't argue with that since it's true friends, then let's not waste time" stated Jack.

In no time they were all making their way south east towards the train tracks, Anna and Jack at walking ahead of Humphrey as he walked along side his loving and at the moment unconscious state. As they reached the end of where the trees stop, the train tracks could now be seen and on them was the train itself, stationed still just as Anna hold told them it would be there in the morning.

"There it is guys...and it's right on time, don't waste time and get going now" said Anna.

"Wait, you're not coming with us?" asked Humphrey.

Anna saw Humphrey as his expression saddened as she sighed softly, then breathing in.

"You both know what to go and find...I don't think I would be needed now...plus it'll be a long trip and it'd be boring for all of us"

Humphrey approached his sister as he started to show off his most greatest feature: his eyes. Anna could only stare back with a small smile and then a smirk on her lips.

"Is my little bro trying to bribe me with puppy eyes again like old times?" asked Anna jokingly.

Humphrey only blinked his wide and innocent looking eyes at her, with Anna now giggling and softly nudges him on his shoulder.

"Alright alright, I'll come with you all...but only because my bro wins with his handsome looking eyes" exclaimed Anna.

Humphrey and Jack both smiled at her as they were happy to know that she would accompany them on their long trip.

"Then come on then amigos and amigas, we have a train to take...onward to Alaska!"

Nothing else had to be said as they all sprinted toward the train and made their way onto one of the large train cars, resting softly as they all laid down and smiled to one another. Humphrey rested beside Lilly, even as she remained unconscious, while Jack and Anna had both rested beside each other. And while Jack was close to Anna, he always glanced back at Humphrey who gave him a serious like gaze, making sure he knows not to do anything funny with his sister.

"Don't worry amigo...she's not my type anyway" whispered Jack to him with a wink.

"Smooth Jack...very smooth"

As they all settled in and let themselves relax, the train blew it's whistle loudly and started to move, as it's heavy wheels and mechanisms came to life. The train blew it's whistle once more as it now started to chug as it made it's way north west, towards the land of Alaska, hoping that they would be able to cure Lilly and still come back before anyone got too worried.

I do hope you all enjoyed this chapter and I'm also glad that it didn't take so many months to let you all get this chapter too. I'm hoping I can get the others to you all soon, and while I've noticed that no one has noticed the last chapter and probably this one, I can't really be mad. I'm the one who's at fault, I'm the one who took too long and the one who let a lot of you down. But I do hope I can make it up to you all by finishing this story and once done, it's straight onto the next story in this saga I want to make come true. So hope to see you all when Chapter 16 comes your way. Until, this is EmperorSushi, out for now.