Chapter 7: The Great Loss

Another of hunting for the alpha team, and the inactive wolves are waiting on upside of a waterfall. The family is going to have a picnic there (wolf style…). Lunch is served. The family enjoyed the meal and the view. Also the couples are nuzzling most of the picnic time. And the younger generation also has some fun. They played tag and hide and seek. They also began understand what is love with their opposite sex. Like Kodiak and Sheena, their relation is getting stronger from their last moonlight howl. And so does Lance with River and Crest with Ricci. For the first time River and Ricci can be apart for 3 meters to have some date. The whole family are having fun until… Five wolves came out of bushes running towards them, then another 7 of them. A surprise attack. It's was an ambush from great distance. The wolves also cover their furs with mud to hide their scent. Kate is the first one who received the first shot. She is badly injured in her leg. But she bare her pain and fight on it. The family fights like an elite team, and eventually overcome the attackers. But Kate begin to feel the pain, and her fighting agility is down. She walks near the waterfall to ease her pain. Seeing this opportunity, 4 of the attackers agreed to work together and push Kate down the cliff. Humphrey did react of this, rip one of the attacker's neck and scratch on their bellies. But he was too late, the 4 wolf manage to kick Kate off the cliff and ran from Humphrey's attack. All of them survives with a permanent scar. Kate fell off yelping for help. But nothing she nor her family can do. She fell with the falling water down force to rocky and harsh river. Kate is motionless and the river flows hard and carries Kate with it away from her family. The attackers are proud enough with their accomplishment, and run with all they got back to their territory. Seeing his mate flows down hard and fast with the river, Humphrey started to cry and her heart is burning, burning in flames of vengeance. But he can do nothing. All the exhaustion makes him stop and return back home crying. His family follows him behind back to the den.

Back in the den, Humphrey's anger does not go away. He still wants revenge.

"What do we do now Humphrey?" Ask Garth with anger.

"I don't know Garth, either we should leave this place and finds Kate, or gets into the bloody fight that drunken neighbor always give us"

"It's your decision, but after all we've done to find this place, I don't want to leave this place. But you're the leader. It is your decision."

"This time I will show no mercy Garth, we're gonna attack them tonight while they are asleep. All of our family will come" Humphrey decide with sharp charm.

"As you wish, this is personal" Garth answers surely with sharp stare.

The sad family is still nuzzling and comforting each other, until Humphrey makes an announcement.

"Listen everyone, we're gonna attack those wolves tonight while they are asleep. No mercy!"

"No mercy for my mother!" Humphrey's children answers

"No mercy for my aunt!" Garth's Children aswers

"For my sister!" Lilly answers.

"For my mate. For our family! To arms!"

Chapter 8: Vendetta

2 o'clock in the morning. Humphrey is hiding behind bushes with Garth at 8 o'clock position of him. 6 meters right of him, it's his favorite son, Crest. Covered in mud and standing low, the family is readying an attack. Vienna the tactician omega climbs the big tree, right next to Crest. Kodiak and Sheena are far 2 o'clock from Crest to outflank the enemy if necessary. Ricci and River are 2 meters behind the omegas to back them up. While Lilly is 2 meters behind Humphrey and Garth, Lance and Hayden are also 2 meters behind Kodiak and Sheena. In front of them is enemy territory. Vienna makes her move in her chess board against their new neighbor. She spotted two alphas, guarding and patrolling the territory. She's signal Ricci to throw some rock up to get the guard's attention. While the two alphas check the rocks out, Kodiak and Sheena makes their move to inner side of the territory. There, they hide inside a big hole (getting cozy in the hole. Hehehe). Hayden stays behind, but close enough to look what happen to her sister and her cousin. The two alphas are so close to Crest. And with an instant he rips their throats open without a sound. He then realizes that they are the same wolves that attack him two days ago.

"I guess vengeance is crueler than action. Blood for blood, life for life, to my mother" Crest says quietly in their dead and bloody ears, and then goes back to his hiding spot.
Other two alphas that guarding near Garth and Humphrey's position, saw dead bodies of their friends. And so they travel through Humphrey and Garth line of sight. Their position is at it's closest, and so Humphrey and Garth ambush them, straight to the throats and drag them to the bushes. Vienna observes the surroundings. It looks clear, so he told Crest to pick up the mess. As soon Ricci and River joins him, they drag the dead bodies and hide them in the bushes. And then the whole family move deeper to the enemy territory. They kill stealthily any wolves on their paths and hide their dead bodies. Until they've reach den sites. They began to enter the dens and kill what's inside. But once Lilly, Garth, Humphrey, and Hayden enter a den, they got themselves a surprise and Lilly Garth and Humphrey declare to stop the attacks.

"Lance, howl a rally! Quick!" Humphrey orders Lance who was right outside the den. As Lance howls a rally, it wakes all the wolves in the territory. But luckily all the family has been rallied before enough alphas come to make further troubles. The four wolves that were asleep in the den woke up by the howl. It was Vandar, his mate, and to the surprise, the oldest ones have become older. Eve and Winston.

Chapter 9: Drunken Old Family

"Garth! Humphrey! Lilly! Kate! You're alright!" Winston exclaims and hugs Lilly and Hayden

Lilly accept the hug from her father, but Hayden is silence in confusion.

"Ow, my children! Im never thought I would see you again!" Eve cries and joins the hug with Winston. Garth and Humphrey still stands in confusion. They don't know if they should joins the hug, or tell Eve and Winston the truth that, Kate is dead. But before Humphrey and Garth can do anything, Vandar ask them in confusion.

"Eve, Winston, who are these people? That wolf has hurt our wolves!" Vandar points at Humphrey and ask in rage. "And kill them, im sorry" Humphrey admits and lower his heads.

"You what?" Eve, and Winston release their hug and ask Humphrey explanation.

"Winston, Eve, that wolf you were hugging isn't Kate. She's my daughter who inherits the fur color from her mother"

"Then where is Kate? What have you done to her? And what are you talking about this killing our wolves?" Eve old rage never failed to scare Humphrey.

"Eve, Eve, calm down, I know there is the good explanation here." Winston tried to calm Eve.

"Kate is dead, (Eve, Winston, and Vandar gasps while Humphrey still talks) she fell of a cliff when we were ambushed by band of wolves"

"Lie! I never killed your mate! Watch your…" "Who said it was you Vandar?" Humphrey exclaim before Vandar can finish his sentence. "Unless, you have her blood in your paws, after all we're the only two packs that live in Yellow Stone"

"Is this true, Vandar?" Vandar sighed, give up and say: "Yes, I order a band of our alphas to ambush them while they are having fun. And I guess, it was your daughter that I killed Eve and Winston"

"So me and my whole family kills dozens of your pack. Just for revenge" Humphrey regrets and lower his head.

"Dad, we have lots of company here, everything's alright?"

Winston walks outside the den and announces a meeting with Humphrey's pack and asks the whole pack to let go their family with their deaths. He also ask the pack to accept whatever the meeting result. The pack has no choice but to be patience and accept whatever it is that will come over them.

Humphrey, Lilly, Garth, Winston, Eve, and Vandar are having the meeting inside Winston's Den. While their children guard outside tend to each other.

"Right, first of all I wanna know how could you, the wolf I never met before leads my old pack?"

"He was a lone wolf that safes my life. There was a band of human hunters that threatens our survival in Jasper, that's why we moved here few days ago. The humans got me on surprise when me and Tony were walking near a railway. We were both hit, but Vandar came and attack the humans to buy us some times, so we tried to run across the railway. Just when I get across the railway, a train suddenly came. That's how I lose the humans, Vandar here manage to jump across the train but Tony…"

"What? What happen to my dad?" Garth interrupts.

"He died, he ran over by the train, because of his back problem"

"Dad…" Garth regrets his father's death and lower his head.

"For that matters, Vandar suggest for a migration, that's the only choice we have so I give him in charge"

"I guess I owe you so many apologize for killing so many of your family, while you saved mine"

Humphrey apologize

"Yeah you do! Now pay up!" Vandar's rage is acting up.

"We should unite the pack" Lilly suggest

"There no way I will ever be one pack with this bloody killer! And not with that old custom of yours Winston! Marriage is every living things right to choose"

"So I agree Vandar, but how you say we make this things a bit different? A new custom, gladiator"

Humphrey suggest while raising his one eyebrow.

"Gladiator… sounds interesting. Im listening"

"Well to settle our personal issues and this who is in charge issues, let's say we battle to the death or if someone give up. The winner gets to rule the whole packs" The whole den gasps

"Humphrey! Loses Kate is enough, I don't want to lose you to brother. I can't handle your children while I handle mine as well. It will be a pressure for me"

"Don't worry brother, they've grew up, they can take care of themselves. And if I have to die anyway, I will join Kate then."

"So this is it? You left us, your children, and your life, just to join Kate? What kind of father are you!" Lilly's first anger shown up.

"Listen! This is the only way I pay my debt. The only way to settle the issues, because I kill so many lives in my paws and jaws just for a revenge of one life, and whoever says Im gonna die anyway?"

"Ow yes you will Humphrey, because I accept the terms"

"Okay, be prepare for tomorrow evening" Humphrey walks out the den and his family follows him behind. At the den, it was so quiet and uncomfortable. So they all decided to get some rest for the big time.

Chapter 10: Wolf's Fiery Heart

The time has come for the battle. Family supports are the only thing that can help Humphrey and Vandar as the time for preparation is over. The two families began to make a circle for a boundary of the battlefield. Winston walk to the center of the circle to announce the battle rules.

"Ladies and Gentle-wolves, today we're gathering here for an honorable fight to unite the pack. From our pack I present to you Vandar, our hero who has saved most of us. And from their pack, it's Humphrey, my son in-law. Mate of my daughter who died fell off a cliff, Kate. Whoever wins the fight will be our new ruler. Or for further confusion, the leader shall be chosen democratically. I hope all of you can accept this. And for Humphrey and Vandar, have a good fight."

"He saved my old family, and in return he only takes Kate. I don't know if I can do this, I may have just suicide in the fight and join Kate" Humphrey whisper to himself

"No dad, think about us, we're your family too. We love you too just as much as mom loves you. Don't just think about mom, we need you too." Crest encourages his father, since he heard what Humphrey said. After all good lucks and prayers from his family, Humphrey steps forward into the circle. Vandar also steps forward to the battlefield to honor Humphrey's call. Humphrey lowers his front body and step aside slowly as he always use the tactic winners attacks second. Vandar ragingly jumps to Humphrey. But Humphrey step aside and grabs his right paw from the side and throw him back. Lightly wounded, Vandar continues to strike and manage to scratch Humphrey's side neck. Vandar once again jumps to Humphrey, and Humphrey step forward and bite his ribs from bellow then slam Vandar's whole body to the ground and spin him then throw him as far as he can. "This is for Kate!" He then jumps to Vandar and scratch him with his both front claws in the face. But then Vandar charge him to front bringing him to the grounds. Vandar then jump again and punch Humphrey's stomach from above. Sophisticated Humphrey can only wait for his stomach to cure it's own pain. Both of them are tired and injured, so they just stand in ready position waiting for something to happen. Humphrey then realizes he's standing on red sands. He comes with an idea for a finishing blow. He's going in for the kill. He slaps some of the sand to Vandar's eyes and then he dash right and jumps him. From above he grabs Vandar's neck and gets his claws to scratch Vandar's front legs. He then twists his body to the ground and slams Vandar's body to the ground three times, then throw him again. Vandar just lay on the ground breathing, coughing and gagging from his injury. Humphrey walks slowly to him and raise his claws. But memories of Kate filled his head. He then looks at a female wolf that screams. He then figures that she's his mate. "This isn't right" he said and lower his paw. "I won't kill you" Vandar shocked hearing that and stand up. "Im sorry, I give up! Violence only leads to more violence, even if I am winning, there will be betrayal in our united pack if I rule by killing him! I withdraw!" Humphrey then walks slowly to his family.

"HUMPHREY! We're not done here!" Vandar readies to attack again"

"Enough Vandar! It's enough, you will get killed!" Vandar's mate stops him.

"Vandar has no choice, he loves his mate so much he cannot disobey her" And so the battle stops

"You did great that, you did the right thing" Crest hug his dad. And the other audience makes a crowd and talk about Humphrey's wise decision. That is the kind of leadership they all need. They then turns into Humphrey and congratulate him even though he is not winning. Seeing this, Winston asks one more time. Which they choose as a leader? Most of the families choose Humphrey, but some choose Vandar. Winston then declares that the pack is united under Humphrey's command. As first command, Humphrey ordered his pack to hunt for foods for the feast at night before moonlight howl. At the feast, everything was beautiful. Kodiak and Sheena meets some teenager wolf couple same as their age, and started to hang out with them until the moonlight howl. Crest and Ricci also found omega and alpha couple surprisingly the alpha male was Hutch's son and the omega female was Mooch's daughter. Vienna starts to hang out with her new omega friends and soon becomes popular among them. Hayden with her cheerfulness catch the whole pack's attention and many male teenagers started to like her. Humphrey, Lilly, and Garth reunite with their old friends. Sadly Candu, and Sweets died killed by the hunter along with Tony. In the moonlight howl, the couple howls with their mates as usual. But since our most beloved couple has fell apart, Humphrey spent the night in sorrow inside beside a river. Hayden and Vienna howls with their new partner that lucky enough to get their attention. Once again something makes Humphrey raise his head from that sorrow reflection of the water. It was Salty, Shakey and Mooch cheering him up. After the moonlight howl, Humphrey makes a war cry that burns his pack's heart with fiery liquid of love to their family. And he promised he will lead the pack to happiness and peace. For this burning heart the whole pack howls at the same time filling the night with loudness and beautifulness. They will live their life long (Viva la Vida).

Epilogue: Love of Life and Death

It was a week since Humphrey first ruled and he is still lost without Kate's shadows leading him. The pack is really flourished under Humphrey's command, but he still feels empty. One day, he walks down a river for a drink. He then sees his reflection with Kate's imagination besides him, and loving him. It was the very same river where Kate dies, but on the top side of the waterfall. Something tells Humphrey to walk the whole river, until he finally reach the place where Kate dies. Tears stream down his face and he hears a very familiar and disturbing sound. It was a train. Lost in sadness and sorrow, Humphrey ran to the train track right in front of the train. He was about to get ran over, he was like 5 centimeters from the railway and 10 centimeters from the train itself. But something changes his mind strongly. Instead he change his way of running perpendicular to the railway and to the back of the train. And he ran faster than any cheetah can do with tears in his eyes and smile in his face. What's that something? It was the voice that always be his music. It was the color that always be his rainbow. It was a shadow that always be part of him. It was the heart that always loves him. It was someone who his heart belongs to.