Alpha and Omega: After Realization
Chapter 17: The Unknown North-West
The blue sky was now becoming less bright, from the sunny day it had once been to now a gray cloud covered one. This is what began as a transition as the train continued onward with its cargo, ever going as it crossed from the Canadian border now into what was known as the Alaskan Frontier. The landscape became more and more covered with a tall blanket of snow as the locomotive kept on with it's travel as it rapidly passed a whitened sign reading 'Now Entering Alaska, Welcome'. From the traveling car as it bounced up and down along with the rest of the train, Anna looked outside at the beautiful scenery of the winter wonderland that was before her, her eyes gazing across it with awe and wonder.
"Beautiful isn't it?"
Anna turned to see Jack walk up next to her and sit down, smiling out at the scenery and then to her.
"Yeah...it is beautiful...I never thought I could see so much snow...it must be at least two feet of it" said Anna.
"About five feet actually...and that's not even the highest it can go in this part of the world"
"Wait, what? You mean snow can build up even more than this? Is that even possible?" replied Jack.
"When it comes to nature...nothing is impossible"
"I can't say no to that...nature has so many things it can do in the blink of an eye...it's almost magical" added Anna.
"Well, not magical...but it's very close to it"
Back in Jasper, Krystal had already left her relocated pack on her way towards Eve's and Winston's den and as she was, she spotted Kate from a distance heading in the same direction as well.
"Kate!"
Kate turned to see Krystal who was calling out to her, smiling happily but also somewhat concerned as she stopped to let her catch up to her.
"Ms. Krystal, good morning...I didn't think you were an early bird kind of wolf really" said Kate.
"I wasn't always an early morning wolf...but being the female alpha of a whole pack does require you to though" responded Krystal as she smiled warmly back.
"So, what brings you to my parent's den? Something come up?" asked Kate.
"Yes...I need to talk to them about Humphrey, Jack, and Lilly...it's very important that they know now than later"
"Know what?"
Kate was now both confused and a bit more concern looking as Krystal spoke, with Krystal only taking in a small breath as she looked back at her.
"I'll explain it to you with your parents dear"
Kate remained confused as Krystal continued to walk now ahead of her to and up the slope to her parent's den. Not too much time had passed by the time they had entered the den as Eve's loud voice echoed out in a massive burst.
"WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER?!"
Winston couldn't do much to calm his mate, her anger was high and she could easily turn violent for the smallest reason. Krystal and Kate entered the den as Winston took noticed and greeted them.
"Dad, what's wrong? Why's mom so mad?" asked Kate.
Before he could utter a word, Krystal spoke.
"She's upset that Lilly isn't here, correct?"
Eve suddenly became still and silent, along with Kate and Winston, as she slowly walked towards them up to Krystal.
"How do you know that my dear daughter is missing?!" snapped Eve.
Krystal focused her eye contact with Eve, her expression showing a calmness yet more hidden beneath her eyes.
" Eve...believe me I'm going to explain everything that is going on...but know this..."
She leaned only a few inches towards Eve now.
"...if you even dare become violent towards me from what I'm going to say...I won't hesitate in pinning you down..."
Eve didn't change her serious gaze as she stepped back and sat down, with Winston and Kate both showing relief.
"You may speak then"
That was all Eve muttered as everyone then sat down, with Krystal then explaining the situation to them all as she was told. Some time went by as all three only heard Krystal out and their eyes would widen or close as they heard every word she spoke to them. By the time Krystal had finished her story, Kate had moved to the back of the cave with tears in her eyes and also anger as well. Winston looked to Eve for any reaction as she only sat there staring back at Krystal, but she was giving small and forceful growls with tears in her eyes.
"I don't choose sides and I don't like hurting others, but this had to be said so that it wouldn't cause a larger disaster later on"
"My daughters, both of them, are already hurt enough! One on the verge of death and in pain and my poor Kate with a broken heart! No one can forgive a wolf who betrayed his own mate!" exclaimed Eve, her voice echoing in booming sounds across the den.
"Humphrey did betray but not because of being unfaithful, but because he had betrayed his own love he still had" replied Krystal.
"What love?" asked Winston.
"Humphrey did care about Kate and showed his affection for her, but long before he wanted Kate he had already showed love for Lilly. He knew that this pack had rules that didn't allow for an alpha and omega to be together, so he and Lilly grew closer than just friends when Kate was not around" said Krystal.
"And that's an excuse to turn back on me?! To just throw me off to the side to quickly without a word?!"
Both parents turned as Kate walked forward towards Krystal, her own mood now reflecting her mother's with anger and hate, tears coming down from her eyes. Krystal only stared back at the hurt alpha as she started to growl and glare at Krystal.
"So all the times we had were nothing then?! The fun?! The adventure?! Did he just think of it all as a little game?!"
Krystal peered back at Kate in her angered state, she can understand that her heart was broken and was doubting everything she had been through, but Krystal had already heard and could see beyond what she knew.
"Humphrey has always been a kind omega...that much I can tell from one's eyes and heart...he did care about you and felt close to you...but when you and him were taken, he let his loving feelings take effect. And when he accepted you as a mate and you both showed your love...he still showed love...but it only took some time to see that he had forgotten about his true love he already had..."
Kate slowly seemed to cease her growling and her anger filled mood, tears still running down her muzzle as she looked into Krystal's calm eyes, secretly amazed that a wolf like her could stay so calm compared to her.
"...and the same happened with your sister...she was still a bit young as she was and let her feelings get to her...wanting a strong looking wolf to be with her, but even she learned the same thing Kate...she realized that despite her new mate, she could never let go of the omega that had already taken her heart..."
Kate and Krystal remained staring back at each other, Kate slowly taking a step back from her and then walked away back to the rear of the den. Winston and Eve watched their daughter silently walk past them as she did, with both of them then returning their eyes to Krystal.
"So...will they all be alright though?" asked Winston calmly.
Krystal took a moment to take in the question as she again inhaled and then replied.
"They're heading into the unknown to find something that they know exists...let us hope the spirits of the wild are kind to them on their trip"
The weather seemed to transform as the train headed across the Alaskan landscape, there was no longer any sun or even a single inch of green. The wind blew and whistled across the snow as the night gave off a strong cold chill, leaving Jack no other choice but to close the box cars' sliding door. Humphrey was fast asleep close to Lilly near some piles of blocks of hay, with Anna having taken a lone corner on the other side of the box car as she too was asleep. Jack only yawned as he laid back down and closed his eyes, only to hear the soft whisper of an old friend again.
"We're getting close to our destination it seems"
"Looks like it...but we have some distance to go, so we can all use the sleep amiga" replied Jack.
"Oh I know that Jack, didn't mean to make you think I'll keep you awake"
Jack could only respond with a warm smile as he shut his eyes and drifted off to sleep. Now everyone laid asleep as the train kept on moving forward, the box car shifting every so often as it bumped or jumped slightly on the railing of the tracks. Time almost seemed to escape them as Jack then woke up to what would have felt like a few minutes or less than an hour, but he could tell something was wrong instantly.
"We've...stopped?"
Jack jumped from his spot quickly and leaped toward the sliding box door, as he tried to grab the door handle with his muzzle he was surprised to see that he could hardly make it budge.
"Oh mierda...guys wake up!"
Anna and Humphrey were jolted from their sleep as Jack yelled out to them, with both looking around until their tired eyes focused on Jack.
"Jack?...W-What's...wrong?" asked Humphrey as he let out another yawn and rubbed at his eyes.
"The door won't open and we've stopped!"
"What?!" replied Anna.
Anna jumped up and towards the door, trying to pull it open herself but to no avail just as Jack had said. Jack soon joined her and tried to press the door from the side with his paws to see if it helped any better than just one wolf alone. Humphrey only watched as Anna and Jack tried to pry the door open as his attention was still on Lilly as she was still resting quietly but knew that she would need to be healed soon still.
"Come on now, just trying like that isn't going to open the door guys. Here, let me do it"
Suddenly the door slid open, causing Jack to fall back onto the floor and Anna to go falling backwards onto the box car wall. With the door now open, there was now a cold and windy chill that entered the box car, puzzling everyone instantly. Before them now was the sight of a snow covered forest, the large pine trees towering so high than what they normally would. Anna and Jack decided to step out of the car to only be surprised that their box car was no longer attached to a train or for that matter a set of train tracks, it was now laying in the snow slightly tilted to the right side. Humphrey came up to join them as they stood outside the box car and was equally shocked to see how it was not just laying in the snow, no tracks or train in sight.
"What in the howling hell is going on?" burst out Anna.
"It's part of the journey you guys, you're no longer in the Material World"
"What?!"
Everyone shared Humphrey's response as they turned their attention to the forest in front of them as snow fell softly and silently to the ground.
"What exactly do you mean by 'no longer in the Material World' dear?" asked Jack.
"This part of the world is known as the Bridging Forest, a place where both your world and the Spirit World almost seem to meld but not completely, it's used as a way to travel between both"
Everyone fell silent as they were told about where they were, confused and amazed at the same time.
"But I thought what we came here for was that white flower to help Lilly heal? It grows in Alaska from what I know and said" asked Anna.
"And we have...the thing is that while we were traveling I took a little look into the matter, and it turns out that the flower you're talking about no longer grows in Alaska...but since we were heading in this direction we'd eventually find one of the many openings into the Bridging Forest"
"But how does this place help in finding what we need if you say it doesn't grow anymore?" added Anna.
"It's a common thing that when anything living in this world passes away it doesn't completely vanish, part of it lives on. And it so happens that the Bridging Forest is a place where nature can carry on while serving as a connecting road between the two realms too"
Though everyone was still puzzled at the situation, Humphrey still stepped forward and staring into the ever vast forest before them as snow continuously fell.
"Then what are we waiting for? Lilly needs that flower...whether we get it in the real world or in this Spirit World" said Humphrey.
Anna and Jack only expressed smiles as their way of agreeing, and as they did so, Lilly suddenly got up and stood again. Their friend had taken temporary control of Lilly once again, helping to keep her in a sleeping state while also able to move along with them. Without a word muttered, the group venture forward into the Bridging Forest, not knowing what they may find but also knowing someone among them did. As they traveled forward the snow began to fall even more as it's weight slowly accumulated on their backs and fur. Every so often they would shake themselves to brush the snow off of them, including Lilly as her body too shook itself to make the snow fall from her fur.
Krystal stood outside of the den as she overlooked the territory, the snow having only slightly disappeared as small pockets of greenery were visible. She had done what needed to be done but she felt guilt and sadness as she knew what had to come next, sensing the strangeness of doing a wrongful action for the greater good. Just then, destiny made its move as Kate stepped out of the den along with her parents on each side of her, with Krystal turning to face them now as well.
"Krystal...I can't speak for both Eve and my daughter...but I'm still finding all that's been said and happening hard to accept...so I don't know how to reply..." spoke Winston.
"You don't have to worry Mr. Winston...things will turn out okay...but I'm sad to say this is where any further discussion of all this has to end for now" replied Krystal.
"What do you mean?"
"...forgive me..."
Without another word from her or Winston, everything suddenly went white. Everything was pure white, like a blanket of snow covering the entire world or even like the brightest light ever to shine on it too. The white environment was pierced as paws hit the surface and made dents in the snow, the wolf pup jumping around on the snow covered landscape. The pup jumped up and down and all around as he then started to dig small holes around the snow to continue with his playful exploring of it.
"Honey, where are you my little wolf?"
A female voice called out as a wolf came into a view, she had white, striped fur on the sides and top of her face and head along with a darker gray patch of fur to go along with her lighter gray body fur. She looked around as she squinted her eyes to allow her vision not just to see through the snowy mist but to focus it as she searched.
"Honey, come on now, come back"
Suddenly she was surprised as she felt something bump into her front, right leg, only to look down as she saw the small pup shake it's head and look up at her as it's tongue hung out from panting.
"There you are sweetie" said the female wolf.
She leaned down and nuzzled her pup as the pup returned her nuzzle with his own and a series of small licks. The female wolf only giggled softly as she looked at her pup's affection and smiling back at him.
"You always make momma worry so much, but I can't stay mad at you my adorable little pup"
The female wolf nuzzled and then licked the top of her pup's head gently as the pup barked back at her playfully, with her unable to not have a smile from seeing her happy pup.
"Come on now, let's get back to the den, we can't leave your sister alone without someone to play with"
The pup could only give another playful bark as his mother picked him up in her mouth from his neck and carried him off with her as she took him back home as she walked through the snow. The wind blew across the land as the snowy landscape vanished and from it emerged a gorgeous view of the greenery of the land and forest, flowers blooming with the brightest of colors. A butterfly slowly flapped it's wings as it trekked over a grassy field with flowers spread out across it. The beautiful insect then ascended a bit higher as a wolf pup jumped up and tried to bite at it, the pup having grown a bit more but still young and learning.
"I almost gotcha!"
The pup kept jumping up trying to bite at the butterfly but to no avail, but for his next jump he decided to crotch as he focused on his target and took in a breath. He then leaped up and this time he managed to get his paws over the insect and as he reached out to grab it in his paw, the butterfly still managed to flap it's wings and move forward out of reach from him. The pup's eyes widened in surprise as he then came down and hit the grass below him as he gave out a whimper from the slight pain of falling. The pup got up slowly as he shook his head and as he did he could hear a voice from behind him.
"You're getting better sweetie"
The pup turned his head as he saw his mom walk up to him with a warm smile.
"But I still couldn't catch it mom" said the pup.
"Just because you didn't catch it after all your practicing doesn't mean you're never going to, all you have to do is now keep at it and just time it" replied the mother wolf.
She leaned down slightly at her grown pup and nuzzled his forehead, giving a soft lick as well.
"Moooom?!"
She giggled back at her pups embarrassment from being nuzzled, with her leaning back up and looking at him.
"You're growing up to be a handsome wolf, but you'll always be my sweet pup dear"
The pup looked away with a slight blush for a moment, before looking back at her and her smile, as he then moved forward and hugged her as he stood on his back legs.
"I know mom" whispered the pup.
As the mother wolf hugged her pup and the nature around them was calm, suddenly everything was consumed by flames as the once beautiful forest was transformed into a hellish place with trees lit on fire and branches falling down, spreading the violent flames even more onto the land. Among the flames came the female wolf's voice calling out almost screaming.
"Sweetie! My sweet pup where are you?!"
The flames seemed alive as they burned on and even grew in size as it consumed everything in sight, with the fire now growing to the size of the same trees it had burned to ashes.
"HUMPHREY!"
"Humphrey"
Humphrey slowly opened his eyes as he came to realize something strange, he was laying on the ground and lifted his head up slowly as he looked around. He then looked in front of him only to see a silhouette of a figure who was shining brightly, the light not enough to cause any sight problems but yet it felt and looked divine. He couldn't make much of the figure out but he could tell that it was a wolf, a female wolf, before him. Suddenly everything hit him and he quickly jumped up and looked around, noticing that Lilly and his friends were no longer around or anywhere to be seen.
"Do not worry about your friends my child, they are in no danger"
Humphrey turned his attention back to the bright figure of the female wolf as he heard her mention his friends as he slowly stood up right now.
"W-What happened to them? Where are they?...and what about Lilly?!" said Humphrey.
"They are out of harm's way my child, they are safe, as well as your beloved Lilly"
"Where am I?...and who are you?"
"You are still within the Bridging Forest that you were in and me, I am known as many things dear omega, but I am more known as Great Mother Wolf"
The Great Mother slowly moved toward Humphrey and lifted one of her shining paws as she held his chin up softly and looked at him as her now white eyes could be seen up close even though her body was still shining in a bright, white light.
"You have nothing to fear my child, I've come to know you since the day you were born into this world"
"Y-You know me? And ever since I was a pup?" asked Humphrey.
"For every wolf born into this world, I am there to see their birth, to watch over them in their life as they grow. And I have watched you grow and mature since those days of old, and you have a special destiny ahead of you my wonderful omega"
"Special d-destiny?"
"Each wolf has a destiny from the day they are born and I, the Great Mother, knows each wolf's destiny even before they are born. And you Humphrey, along with those around you, have a destiny that will help all wolves to see beyond the old ways of their nature and reach a higher knowing of nature itself"
"I...I...I don't understand...what destiny is that? How will I do anything special that any other wolf could probably do?"
Humphrey was shaking his head in both disbelief but also wonder the more he thought about what he was being told, yet strangely feeling calm and comforted with the Great Mother before him and as she then moved her paw and placed it on his shoulder.
"All will come in time my child, your destiny will come when the time arrives"
As Humphrey looked up at the Great Mother, not only could he see her face and eyes but was able to see what appeared to be a smile. He couldn't help but smile himself as he felt this strange comfort and then out of nowhere, as if by some natural impulse, he leaned forward and gave a hug to the Great Mother as his paws wrapped around her. There were no words as he then could feel the two paws of the Great Mother return his hug, the comfort and safety he felt causing him to tear up in joy. The hug seemed to last for an eternity as everything around him and the Great Mother remained calm and un-moving, until finally the Great Mother's paws moved and released Humphrey, to which he did the same and looked back at her.
"Remember my child, whenever you need guidance, I am never so far from you. Just reach out to nature and I will be there, as I always am and have been"
The Great Mother then turned as she walked off and away from Humphrey as she began to vanish among the brightness around them. As Humphrey watched her take her leave he could hear what sounded like a soft whisper from the Great Mother.
"Below the Beeteenoo Hohoot, you will find what you seek my child"
"The what?...Beeteenoo Hohoot?" said Humphrey.
The bright light engulfing the Great Mother was diminishing but before it vanished he could still hear the whisper from the Great Mother still.
"She is still waiting for your return my child and you shall meet her again"
The divine light had seemed to vanish before his eyes and as the darkness consumed everything around him, he was suddenly pulled back to his senses as he heard a voice calling out his name and something seeming to press at him.
"Humphrey, amigo, wake up"
Humphrey opened his eyes anew and blinked as he tried to clear his vision, he slowly looked up as his eyes adjusted and the figure of Jack now standing before him. Jack sighed in relief as he patted his chest and fur.
"Phew, glad to see you are still with us bro, we were getting worried for a moment" said Jack.
"J-Jack?"
Humphrey shook his head and growled a bit as he stood up as he stretched out his body and legs a little, having noticed he had been lying on the ground before he then looked again and saw not only Jack but then Anna coming up to him and hugging him closely.
"Humphrey! Oh bro we were so worried, don't scare us like that you silly omega" said Anna as she nuzzled his mane softly, while Humphrey returned her hug and smiled.
"You know me, I'm known making others worried" replied Humphrey.
Anna hugged him tightly as she then slowly let go and stood back to allow her brother space, while he looked at her and Jack, then finally it hit him.
"Wait, so what happened you guys?"
"Can't say for sure what happened Humphrey chico, we were walking along and all of a sudden this blizzard of snow just hit us and everything went white, we woke up sometime after and found you passed out" stated Jack.
"So, where are we?" asked Humphrey.
"Just take a look bro" said Anna.
Jack and Anna turned to face away from Humphrey and look at what they were telling him, with Humphrey looking in front of them and his eyes growing wide fast as he saw the sight before him. There in front of him, surrounded by what looked like a never ending landscape of lush and green trees, bushes, and grass was a very large and tall tree. It's branches extended outwards even above the other trees around it and giving off a bright aura as small, bright particles created a light mist around it and all the way down to it's trunk and the ground under it too. The massive tree was unlike anything any of them had ever seen, such a large piece of nature being untouched and undisturbed in this place. Humphrey's eyes couldn't pull away from the sight of the tree as he then heard something echo in his mind and started to walk forward towards the tree.
"The Beeteenoo Hohoot" said Humphrey.
Both Jack and Anna came up side by side to Humphrey and looked at him as he spoke those words, something they had never heard before in all their life.
"The what Humphrey?" asked Anna.
Humphrey stepped forward a bit more as he heard his sister ask him the question, only to give his reply as if he had known about this for so long.
"The Sacred Tree" said Humphrey.
Humphrey's eyes dropped down to look at the trunk of the tree and that's when he snapped out of his mini trance like state as he spotted Lilly lying on the grass at the base of the tree.
"Lilly!"
Humphrey ran over to his beloved omega mate as she was still unconscious and breathing slowly and weakly, her condition unchanged at all. He nuzzled her head and fur softly and lovingly, still wanting to find the flower that would cure her sickness, knowing that more waiting and time gone by would result in death. As Jack and Anna frowned from the sight of Humphrey over at Lilly's side, Anna's eyes wandered at the tree and something seemed to shine brightly at the corner of her eye. She looked over noticed a few white flowers growing at the base of the tree as they shined brightly, showing some sort of golden coloring in the center of the petals, and it was then that Anna realized it was what they had come to get.
"The flower!"
Anna ran over to the flower as Humphrey and Jack turned their attention to Anna as they saw her grab the flower at the base of its stem and pulled it up in her mouth, then stepping over to Humphrey and Lilly as she set the flower down gently.
"Come on Humphrey, help me open her mouth so we can get this nectar into her system, one flower should do" said Anna.
Humphrey moved closer to Lilly and softly used one paw to open her mouth as he lifted the top of her muzzle upward, now exposing Lilly's tongue and teeth. While Humphrey kept her mouth open Anna, picked up the flower again and turned it upside down, both her and Humphrey watching as the golden like nectar flowing from the center of the flower and onto Lilly's mouth and tongue, with Anna letting the nectar drip into her maw until the flow stopped. She then put the drained flower to the side while Humphrey let her mouth close up, with Anna stepping back in and lifting her head up to keep it that way for a moment.
"We have to let the nectar go down her throat and let it seep into her system, then it's all up to the nectar to do its work" stated Anna.
Humphrey and Anna now waited patiently and hopeful as she let Lilly's head rest down again, they only hoped that the flower's nectar would work its healing ways in her body. As they kept close to her and watched for any sign of reaction, Jack kept a warm smile and also hoped his sister would pull through. He looked back to the tree as it was still as divine as when they had laid eyes on it but his attention was pulled away as he heard a voice echoing in his mind, only to look down at the base of the tree once and see that among the white flower they had come for and many other variant of colors, he spotted something he never thought he'd come across again ever since his time in the North. He walked closer to the trunk of the tree, drawn over to the sight of a sphere like looking flower, the petals resembling that of a web as its reddish color gave off a bit of shine. And at the top of the spherical flower he could make out the familiar lines of what were in fact yellow colored spikes about the size of a wolf's claw but smaller.
"It can't be...I never thought something so beautiful yet so deadly can still end up here...of all divine places" spoke Jack to himself.
"It's..."
"The Blood Lock Weed"
SWEET CHEESE AND CRACKERS! LIKE JUST HOLY &*^%! 3, COUNT THEM, 3 ****ING LONG YEARS! It's been too long since this story has been on pause, especially since there's been like 7 Alpha and Omega sequels made. With a 8th, and maybe final, sequel coming soon this year. Honestly life just gets in the way and things just have to be put aside to deal with said things and issues. That's all I have to say, I don't want to be too in detail of what's happened these last almost 3 years. I do promise I'll try to get back into this story and finish it, cause if the real Alpha and Omega can come to an end with a final movie in it's franchise, then I can finish mine and complete this story. Hang in there fellow friends, wolves, and more. That Chapter 18 will hopefully won't take as long. I have returned. See you all, hopefully, soon.