Whoo! Here we go, another massive chapter done! Once again, I'm sorry it took me so long to update. I would've updated like two or three days ago, but, hey, what can you expect from Dial-up internet connection. But, I guess I can be nothing but grateful because some people don't have anything! :) Some ideas for my other current story for Back at the Barnyard, "Carnival-Struck Barnyard", tried to collide with this one, and my final exams in high school had me preoccupied with studying, but I finished this, regardless! Plus, I got two words for you: SCHOOL'S OUT! That's right, so since it's summer vacation, now, I'll have lots more time for writing! Isn't that great?...*Ahem*! Anyway, I put in a few flashbacks, but I think there's a rather lengthy one in particular that I think took up a good part of the chapter, but it should be very entertaining to read. And, I know the chapter's title was going to be something else, but the road trip has only just begun, so that name was out!
Anyway...
And now a gift to you from me...here's chapter three! Enjoy!
(A/N: Heh, heh! Gettin' creative with the title boxes :)
Chapter 3: Back in a Box...
Back in Jasper, tension was amiss after finding out that Winston's daughter, Kate, had gone missing. She was supposed to marry the Eastern Pack Alpha, Tony's, son, Garth, but they found out that Kate had disappeared "under mysterious circumstances". The wolves of the Western half of the valley, consisting of Winston, his wife, Eve, the Alpha-female and mother of Kate (who's absent) and Lilly (who was there), Hutch and Candu, two Alphas who had accompanied Kate on her first hunt, and some others were walking to the river border of their territory to have a meeting with the Eastern wolves. They consisted of the Alpha-male Tony, his son, Garth, Claw and Scar, the two wolves who ruined Kate's first attempt at hunting because they caused and got stuck in a stampede, Kate having to save them, and some others. The clearing was surrounded by dark pine trees and the jagged mountain on the side. Water sloped down the mountain that kept the steady flow of the water in the narrow river. Winston and Tony were now face to face, on their respective sides of the water border.
"Where did she go?" the old Eastern Alpha asked, scruffly.
"Maybe I should ask you," Winston countered, sternly.
"You know that's not my style."
"My wolf, Can-do, knows your style." Winston turned to his Alpha, who was standing on a small platform that pertruded from the near by mountain.
Winston turned back to Tony and Can-do growled menacingly at the old Eastern Alpha. He had been jumped by a group of Eastern wolves and more than one cut had been left on his side. Tony bared his teeth as well, a growl forming in his throat, but he got cut short by Eve.
"I just want to say one thing," Eve started as she walked up beside her mate.
Now Eve, she is normally a very nice wolf. Kind, warm-hearted, and pretty. Kate actually got most of her looks from her mother. She and her daughter shared the same eye and fur color, except that Kate's was a tad darker. Eve always wanted what was best for her pack and no wolf could tell her otherwise. But if she got angered by something or someone, she didn't have to think twice before telling them off.
"If any of you wolves have hurt my daughter," she continued. "I will personally rip out your eyes and shove them down your throat, so you can see my claws tear your carcass open!"
Her threat echoed throughout the clearing, causing literally everyone to back up from the angry Alpha on their respective sides, except for Winston and Tony who somehow held their ground. Eve's threat scared one of the wolves on the Eastern side so bad, that he lost his balance and slipped off a large rock that was beside the mountain, whimpering as he hit the ground.
Lilly decided to take a chance and ask her mother a question, hoping she wouldn't get yelled at as well. "Um, mom?"
"Not now, dear," Eve told her, sweetly, looking at her youngest daughter. "Mommy's in a rage." Eve turned her glare back to Tony and his pack.
Lilly was an Omega. She had snowy white fur, bright lavender eyes, and a very shy personality. Even though she does like to be a little playful sometimes, since she is an Omega, she kept part of her hair covered over her left eye, possibly signaling that she wasn't the most talkative wolf around.
Her only friends were her sister, Kate, and her parents, of course, until she met Humphrey. They met after his buddies left to do something that she hadn't heard. Lilly was looking for Kate because she had mysteriously left from their game of 'tag'.
FLASHBACK: One year ago; Shortly after Kate left for Alpha School
*Humphrey couldn't help but laugh after his buddies jumped on him out of nowhere, shouting "WOLF PILE!".
He had to admit, it was both funny, yet painful at the same time. He was gonna have to get used to being flattened like that, especially since Mooch was pretty big for a teenage pup. Shakey was jumping up and down on Mooch's back like he was some sort of trampoline, which didn't make Humphrey's pain much better. Salty playfully tackled Shakey off of Mooch, who's rather large belly had Humphrey almost trapped underneath. Salty and Shaky had landed on the ground behind Humphrey and Mooch and they continued to playfully scuffle.
Laughing, Humphrey struggled from under Mooch's stomach and looked ahead again, a sad look returning to his eyes. From a distance he could see the lean form of Kate jumping over a carved boulder, making her way towards Alpha School. Mooch who was laughing along with the group had stopped, noticing Humphey's change in mood.
He turned his head to his left, looking at Humphrey's face, asking, "You okay, Humphrey?"
Humphrey gathered all the strength he could muster and made a final struggling attempt to escape his overweight buddy's unintentional hold. He finally succeeded, landing on his stomach, a few inches in front of his initial point.
"Yeah," he groaned. "I'm fine."
The sad Omega collected himself off the ground and once again on all fours, his expression unchanged. He sat down in the spot he was in, looking in the distance, where Kate used to be, ears flattened against his head. Mooch took notice of this and decided to let the guys know. He managed himself back up to his paws and turned towards the scuffling Salty and Shakey.
"Hey, guys," Mooch prodded. The two continued to laugh and scuffle around in place.
Mooch tried again. "Guys!"
Nothing.
"GUYS!"
That seemed to work. The two stopped playing and looked at Mooch, ears pointed up, meaning they had heard him. Salty and Shaky picked themselves up from the ground and walked over towards their obese friend.
"What's up, Mooch?" Salty asked, curiously.
Mooch looked over to their eldest of the bunch, Humphrey, and said, "I think there's something wrong with Humphrey."
"What?" Salty asked, confused, looking in their buddy's direction.
"Humphrey?" Shakey added, obviously concerned.
Salty slowly walked over towards Humphrey, who had his back turned towards them.
Once he made it to Humphrey's right side, Salty took a seat beside him, placed his left foreleg over his shoulders and asked, "You okay, buddy?"
The tallest, skinniest Omega's natural somewhat smooth-talker voice was full of concern.
Salty's voice brought Humphrey back from his thoughts and he looked at his buddy who was eying him, suspiciously.
"I'm fine, guys, really," Humphrey insisted changing his expression and tone, trying to hide how upset he really was.
Mooch and Shakey joined up with the two and they looked just as unconvinced as Salty was. He began to move his foreleg from Humphrey's shoulders, who then tried to lighten the mood.
"C'mon," he started, excitedly, as he stood up, coming out if Salty's grip. "Let's go find the log sled for another test run."
As soon as he began to walk away, Shakey quickly stepped in his way, waving his left fore-paw in defiance.
"Uh-uh-uh!" he said in a child-like voice. "We're not leaving until you tell us what's wrong."
Why wouldn't these guys give up? "I already told you," Humphrey insisted, getting a little annoyed. "Nothing's wrong."
"Then why did you look all sad when you saw Kate leaving?" Mooch asked.
This made Humphrey a little nervous. They noticed that?
"Oh, that," Humphrey began, nervously. "Well, I, uh..."
"Kate?" Shakey asked, curiously. "You mean the oldest daughter of our pack's leaders? That Kate?"
"Exactly," Salty answered, matter-of-factly. "It must've been time for Kate to leave for Alpha School."
Humphrey's ears pointed up in surprise. "How'd you know?"
"Winston called a meeting a few months ago to announce that all the wolf pups that looked fit enough to endure the training of Alpha School, which included Kate, would participate in a few months, so they could be able to support and provide for the pack in times of need," Salty answered. "You arrived here a day after, so that's probably why you didn't know the full story until now (A/N: I will explain Humphrey's arrival to the Western Pack of Jasper later in the story)."
"Then, it must have been time to go," Mooch said, understanding.
"So, what does that have to do with Humphrey being upset?" Shakey asked, innocently.
Salty turned his gaze to Humphrey and a sly smile formed on his muzzle. "Well, if you ask me, I think Humphrey's got a crush on the cutie."
Humphery's cheeks turned a bright pink under his fur, as he noticed Shakey and Mooch look at him accusingly. If he was going to get out of this, he was going to have to think fast.
"What...Kate?" he began, innocently. "You guys think I...that I...like her?"
"It's the only explanation why you're so sad," Salty told him.
"Guys, I don't like Kate," he insisted, even though he did grow feelings for his friend over the time that they had spent together the past few months. "We're just friends, okay?"
"Yeah, just friends," Mooch said. "That's probably all you guys will ever be."
"Huh?" Humphrey asked, confused.
"Didn't Winston tell you that Alphas and Omegas can't be a couple?" Salty asked him.
That must've been what Winston was about to say before he cut himself off. Humphrey thought.
"Alphas and Omegas can't ma-uh..." Humphrey remembered him say only moments ago. "That's our custom. The law of the pack."
He was gonna say 'mate', wasn't he? Humphrey asked himself. He must've known...
"I-" Humphrey started.
"There's nothing for you, there," Shakey said. "But-"
"We do have a recommendation," Mooch finished for him.
"Really?" Humphrey replied, still a little uninterested. "And that'd be?"
"Oh, yeah," Salty said, catching on. "Kate's little sister, Lilly."
Humphrey's left ear twitched a little, but he didn't pay it any mind. That was natural for wolves.
"Her sister?" Humphrey asked. "Guys, I-"
"Just hear us out, buddy," Mooch insisted. "She's an Omega, like us."
"She's a real cutie," Salty added.
"And she's single," Shakey finished.
"Oh, really?" Humphrey said, cockily, while sitting down. "Then why haven't any of you guys tried to ask her out?"
"We're too shy," Shakey said, simply, as him and the others sat in a semi-circle in front of Humphrey.
"Too shy?" Humphrey asked, as he let out a chuckle. "Even the smooth-talker, Salty, here?" He looked at the lightest of the three who was sitting to his right.
"Hey, wolves aren't always as they seem," Salty defended, as he wrapped his tail around his front paws and looked down a little, shamefully.
Humphrey couldn't help but laugh a little. "But, guys, Kate already asked me to keep her little sister company while she was away."
All three of his buddies perked up at what Humphrey had just said. Shakey walked over to Humphrey's left side and placed an arm around him like Salty had done before, after he had sat down, of course.
"Then, Humphrey, you've got it better than all of us!" Shakey told him, with a broad grin.
"He's right, Humphrey," Salty added. "You could totally ask her out."
"No one's asking anyone out, okay?" Humphrey settled. "Kate asked me to keep Lilly company, while she's away at Alpha School, and that's what I'm gonna do. I'm not gonna take advantage of my friend's little sister, guys!"
"But, Humphrey," Mooch chimed in. "Lilly's not that much younger than Kate."
"This isn't about age, Mooch," Humphrey was loosing his cool. "It-it's about me-"
"Liking Kate?" Salty finished for him, curiously.
Humphrey didn't need a medicine wolf to know that his blood pressure was rising.
"NO!" he yelled at Salty, causing Shakey to quickly bring his arm back, stand, and take a few steps away from Humphrey.
Salty flinched, something he rarely ever did, but he had never seen their buddy get so mad, especially if it was about girls.
Humphrey took a deep breath, trying to relax himself. Even he was surprised that he let his anger get the best of him.
"I'm sorry, Salty," he apologized. "I didn't mean to yell at you. It's just that...I've got a lot on my mind."
"What's there to have?" Shakey asked, in his innocent voice. "All we Omegas ever think about is fun and girls."
Humphrey sighed, irritably at Shakey's clueless comment. He was pretty sure his mind was more on the 'girls' part. And the 'girl' was Kate. He wanted to keep his promise to Kate so she could see what a great friend he can really be. Now to actually find Lilly.
"Well, you know what we can do to get your mind off things?" Mooch asked, in hopes of cheering Humphrey up.
"Log sledding!" Shakey said, excitedly jumping up and down in place.
"Sounds great," Humphrey said, still sounding a little distant. "You guys go find the log and we'll meet up later today at the same lift-off spot, I'd say around sunset. I'm going to meet this Lilly girl and get to know her a little better."
"Okay," Mooch and Shakey said, getting up and beginning to walk away, obeying Humphrey's order.
Though they were all friends, Humphrey was the oldest of all of them, so that made Winston appoint Humphrey as the future Omega leader. They guessed that was when they were all old enough to break up fights, and when Kate got back from Alpha school.
Salty stayed behind to have a quick word with Humphrey. He stood and walked over to the wolf's right side once again. He took a seat by him and wrapped his left arm around Humphrey's shoulders again, like he had done a few moments ago.
"Y'know, Humphrey, I may not know what's exactly on your mind," he started, "but whatever it is, you do what your heart thinks is best."
Humphrey looked into his buddy's yellow eyes. He didn't think Salty could give such helpful advice. He was quite wise to be so young.
"Thanks, Salty."
Salty gave Humphrey a final pat on the back and got up, preparing to follow Shakey and Mooch for their log-sled hunt.
"No problem, buddy." He began to walk forward in pursuit of the other two. Salty turned his head back towards Humphrey while he was walking, and said. "Don't forget to meet us at the hill at sunset!"
"I'll be there, pal," Humphrey promised with a smile, his tail wagging a little.
Salty nodded in return and turned his head back around, then broke into a jog so he could catch up with the others, to find the log sled. Humphrey couldn't help but smile a little while Salty left. Even though he had become close with all of them, Salty seemed like the only one of the three who understood him the most. He loved those guys. They were like the brothers he never had.
But his happy thoughts soon vanished as he remembered that a certain girl wolf he had become close with was gone, and wouldn't be back until one year had come and gone. He looked down and his ears flattened against his head.
I'm gonna miss Kate...Humphrey thought, sadly. I wish she didn't have to go.
No matter what he told the guys, he knew he liked Kate since the day he had met her. She was just so sweet and caring and pretty...He was beginning to hate the pack law already and he had just found out about it. Humphrey's heart raced whenever he was around her and he knew he was blushing when Kate gave him that soft hug before she left. He wanted to be more than just her friend.
Humphrey sighed, thoughtfully. Thinking about Kate wasn't making this any better.
Kate's younger sister, the young snow-colored girl pup, named Lilly, found a lone gray and black colored pup sitting by itself in an area that she had recently run past, trying to escape 'the hungry Alpha' (which was Kate) in a game Lilly had self-named 'Catch the Caribou'. Lilly noticed that the pup looked a little sad from where she was standing because its ears were flattened against its head and the pup was looking down, his eyes looking at the ground. She could tell the pup was male because the way his face was detailed. Not many female wolves had rough-looking faces.
She shyly walked up to the pup's left side and prodded his left foreleg with a paw. "Um, excuse me."
Humphrey lifted his head to the soft, innocent female voice and turned to look at who had wanted his attention. His blue eyes met a bright purple one. The pup's left eye was covered by her white hair. Not just her hair was white, but she was an all white wolf. It was more of a snow-white color though. Could this be Lilly?
"Hi," he said in a friendly voice.
She had turned her head away slightly, after getting the wolf's attention, out of shyness. But the friendly tone of his voice gave her the courage to continue.
Lilly looked back into Humphrey's crystal blue eyes and continued, her voice curious. "Hi. Um, have you seen my older sister, Kate, around here? We were playing tag...sort of, and she just up and disappeared."
Humphrey became a little uneasy at her question. Kate had told him before she left that Lilly was extremely sensitive, so if someone told her something that might upset her, she would become really crestfallen. He didn't want to hurt her feelings, but he couldn't lie to Kate's little sister, either.
He took a deep breath and answered, still not sure if she would like it. "Oh, I, uh, hate to be the one to tell you this, but...Kate had to leave for Alpha School, today."
Lilly's eyes reflected the sadness that seemed to come into her voice all of a sudden. "W-what?"
This is exactly what Humphrey was afraid of. He never made a girl upset before and he wasn't going to start now.
"S-she left without saying good-bye?" Lilly asked innocently, her pupils beginning to wobble, threatening to form tears in her eyes.
Humphrey couldn't stand it when anyone cried and he definitely didn't want to see Kate's little sister cry. He got up and moved towards Lilly's right side, sitting down in the process.
Humphrey wrapped his left foreleg around her shoulders, as she sat down, too.
"Well, she asked me to tell you good-bye for her and that she hated to have to leave so unexpectedly." he said, trying to comfort Lilly.
She didn't say anything, so Humphrey continued.
"And besides, Kate asked me to keep you company, while she's away, so if you want someone to play with, you've got me."
He gave Lilly a comforting smile and in return, she smiled as well. Humphrey had to admit, Lilly was actually pretty cute...and friendly. He didn't get himself into too much trouble, this time, after all.
"Okay," Lilly said, starting to cheer up. This guy was really nice...and he seemed familiar, too.
Then it dawned on her. "Hey, I know you! You're that wolf that came here from the South (A/N: Again, I will explain, later) and made friends with Kate and the guys, Salty, Shahey, and Mooch."
"Yep, that's me," Humphrey said. "Name's Humphrey, by the way."
"Lilly," she introduced, cutely batting her eyelashes.
"So, Lilly, don't ya have any friends?" Humphrey asked, curiously.
"Well, if you don't count my sister or my parents, then no," she replied, sadly.
"Really?" Humphrey asked, slightly surprised. "Why not?"
"I know a lot of wolves, but I just don't really talk with them that much, not like this," she answered, putting emphasis on the the word 'this'.
"Well, if you want, I can be your friend," Humphrey offered, with a smile, pulling Lilly a little closer to him.
"Really?" Lilly asked, looking back up at Humphrey, her tail starting to wag, involuntarily.
"Sure," he replied. "I like you. You're really sweet."
Lilly began to feel warm all over from Humphrey's compliment. She knew she was blushing and with her white muzzle, it was probably close to being visible. Lilly wanted to thank Humphrey, but not with just words.
She gathered up all of her courage and affectionately licked Humphrey's cheek. "Thank you, Humphrey. You're really nice, too."
It was Humphrey's turn to be embarrassed, now, as he blushed a little. Her tongue was really soft and wet, against his muzzle. He smiled in return, his tail starting to wag a little as well. A warm feeling started to stir around in his heart. It wasn't that he was falling for Lilly, it was just that he was feeling a deep friendship from someone who cares that he never felt before. Like having a sister.
But, unknown to Humphrey, she had other thoughts.
Lilly leaned her head slightly against Humphrey's, starting to feel a warm feeling in her heart that she never felt before. "Say, Humphrey, you wanna know what else I think about you?"
This interested him. "What?"
"I think...you're it!" Lilly said, playfully, as she prodded him with a paw and started to run away.
Humphrey chuckled to himself before he stood up on all fours, and began to run after her. "Not for long!"
Thus began their beautiful friendship.
END OF FLASHBACK
Over the year, Humphrey and Lilly learned to trust each other more and more and became fast friends. Best friends, even. But what he didn't know was that Lilly had developed feelings for him over that time and wanted to tell him how she felt. A few days before Kate returned, the two harbored a secret that almost ruined their friendship for good, but Humphrey helped her through it.*
He had given her the best advice anyone had ever given her: that somewhere down the line, she would meet the wolf of her dreams, and sure enough, there he was. Cowering behind his dad in fear of her anger-troubled mother.
"W-well, since Kate stood up Garth," Lilly started nervously. "I could show him around until she gets back." she offered, giving a hopeful look.
"Hmph," Garth grunted to himself. "I wouldn't say 'stood up'."
"Garth!" Eve scolded.
"Uh, sounds good to me," Garth said, cheekily smiling. If anyone was more scared of Eve's evil threats, it was Garth...well, next to Humphrey.
"Well, come on Garth," Lilly prompted, starting to turn around and slowly head back into her territory.
Garth obeyed. He jumped over the small river border, landing close to Eve, who snarled at him. The Alpha whimpered in fear and followed after his, unknown to him, Omega admirer.
"Aww, isn't that sweet?" Eve asked, moving her short blonde hair back with a paw. "She gets it from me."
The middle-aged Alpha-female turned and started to head back into their part of the park as well, leaving Winston to warmly smile at her, as she left. That smile turned back into a cold stare as it fixed on the Eastern Pack's Alpha-male.
"I'll give her till the full moon," Tony said, referring to Kate.
Winston squinched his eyes into angry slits as he glared at his old friend. The two had once been good friends, but for unknown reasons, Winston broke up their packs' union of one to become two seperate packs in Jasper Park.
His, the Western, and Tony's, the Eastern.
The brown-furred wolf had held a grudge on Winston for breaking the packs and that's how their bitter arguement began. Somehow, though, Tony had managed to convince Winston to let their packs become one again when their eldest children got old enough to marry and unite the packs.
Now, there was Garth, but no Kate.
The wolves of both packs turned and started to head back into their own sides of the valley. Winston walked back with a heavy mind. Only one line was going through his head.
'Kate, wherever you are, please come home in one piece.'
It is beautiful out there, A radio buzzed from a nearby van that was parked in front of a wooden log cabin.
Marcel and Paddy urged Humphrey and Kate to follow them quietly and stealthily. This came naturally to Alphas; they were well-trained hunters, which in turn, made them incredibly stealthy.
Almost makes you want to hit the potato patch, the radio continued, as the group of four edged towards the back of the R.V.
If you haven't already hit the outdoors, get on out your door!
Paddy passed Marcel his trusty golfing stick and he used it to pull the handle on the top back door. There were two. The one on top had a small window, while the bottom door was just...the bottom half of the doors.
The top door slowly moved open, until it reached the limit on its hinge.
The weather today is...
"Your ride home," Marcel announced to the wolves, waving his free wing towards the opening in the back of the vehicle.
"Quick, get in!" Paddy urged, pointing up to the doors with his thumb.
Humphrey stood on his hind legs and placed his arms on top of the bottom door, looking inside the small space.
"Huh?"
It consisted of a window on the left side, with opened curtains, a long seat that was attatched to the back of the wall that seperated the front half of the truck from the back, with a lone suitcase laying on it, along with various scattered items, including socks. There were also a few large crates stacked on top of another in the right corer of the space.
"What?" Humphrey asked with a shocked and slightly annoyed tone.
He loosened his grip on the door and landed back on the ground on all fours, rejoining the group of Kate and the waterfowl.
"Boxed up twice in one day," he complained. "What are the odds?"
Suddenly, the animals heard the creak of a door opening. A muscular, bald man with a scraggy beard, whom was holding a black suitcase in his hand and a pink one under his arm, stood at the cabin's entrance, awaiting a small-sized lady to come out from the inside.
The birds gasped in unision, shooing Humphrey and Kate to the left side of the van, to avoid being spotted. "Hide!"
The wolves peered around the van curiously, while Marcel began to explain.
"That right there is Garn and Debbie Theocarcus," the goose began, as the human couple walked down the steps of the log cabin, and begin to slowly approach the R.V. "Luckily for you, they travel every year to Jasper, right after Sawtooth."
"The day's looking pretty," Garn stated, as he and his wife came up behind their vehicle. He tossed the suitcases in simultaneously, as he finished, pointing at the small lady, named Debbie, "and so is my woman."
She cooed at her husband's compliment, as he shut the top back door.
Humphrey and Kate exchanged short looks with each other. Humphrey gave a look of almost pure confusion, while Kate looked more creeped out than confused. The two looked back at the couple.
'And I thought my mom and dad were mushy,' Kate thought creepily.
Then a song that must have been familiar to Debbie began to play, and she started to move her shoulders along with the melody. "This is the song we met to."
"C'mere, you!" Garn said ecstatically, grabbing her hand and twirling her towards him. "Let's dance!"
The dancing pair manuevered their way over towards the left side of the van, alarming the spying group of wolves and birds.
'Oh, boy,' Humphrey thought, trying to think fast.
Marcel and Paddy retreated under the bottom of the van, followed by Kate, who was right behind them.
"Down here," Marcel prompted. "Hurry!"
Humphrey caught on and clumsily followed them, his feet slipping on the ground, but he caught his balance and made his way under the van, just in time to avoid being spotted. He took a laying position beside Kate and looked at the two waterfowl standing in front of him. Marcel was ducking down because his long neck gave him more height than his clucky caddie, who was basically fully standing.
"Now, he was in a motorcycle gang, and she was a librarian," the goose began, as Humphrey crawled to the edge of their covering to see what was going on outside, as Marcel explained.
"And opposites attract if you will," Paddy chimed in.
"Exactly," Marcel agreed, looking at the wolves.
The Omega had retaken his place beside Kate, but he wasn't necessarily listening to the Theocarcus' backstory. He was paying more attention to the music that was playing above them. The beat was actually kind of catchy.
"In this case, it was a bookstore that also sold beer, so they met," Marcel finished.
Kate honestly wasn't too interested in the topic herself, but she had at least payed attention to them. She turned her head to look at Humphrey and wasn't surprised at what she found. He had his eyes closed with a big smile on his face, as he patted his front left paw on the ground in sync with the playing music and was moving his head in rhytm with the beat. Kate narrowed her eyes a little at the clueless wolf. Of course he would be dancing to the music at times like this.
'Omegas,' she thought, slightly irritated.
Kate gently elbowed Humphrey's paw, breaking him out of his little trance, causing him to divert his attention to her.
"Come on," Kate told him. "We have to get in."
The Alpha led the way from under the van, now standing on the vehicle's right side, opposite the Theocarcus couple, and on the same side as the log cabin. She peered around the corner, checking for Debbie and Garn and saw that they had a golden opportunity. Kate quickly walked over to the back of the truck and stood on her hind legs, placing her right forepaw on the van for balance. She extended her foreleg to reach for the bottom door's knob with her left paw, until she heard giggling and footsteps coming towards her. The she-wolf turned her head to see the dancing humans coming from around the corner of the van and in her direction. Fortunately Garn's back was towards her and Debbie was in front of him, so she couldn't see over him.
Kate jumped back in alarm, loosing her grip on the back of the van and landed on the grround beside Humphrey, who looked at her, then back at the couple, just as alarmed as she was, if not more. Marcel gasped in alarm, while Paddy covered his face with one wing in utter annoyance and disbelief.
"All right, here we go," the man said, as he and the woman continued to dance to the playing soundtrack.
They now had one arm across each other's shoulders and were taking steps backwards, towards the wolves, causing Kate and Humphrey to take steps back by instict. Humphrey looked at Kate with a bright smile on his face silenting telling her they were going to have to dance. Kate returned his gaze, with an unsure look in her eyes, but if dancing was their only way out of this, then so be it. Garn and Debbie were now taking steps back, as well as shaking their phanies in circular motions in front of the wolves.
'You've gotta be kidding me,' Kate thought.
The two wolves mimicked the humans, shaking their rear ends as well, tails slightly swishing behind them, as they stepped back some.
"You're just a dream," Garn told his wife, as he criss-crossed his legs, then took a bigger step back, causing the wolves to shake their phanies one last time and jump back, trying to keep as much distance between them and the humans as possible. Garn and Debbie had taken their arms from around one another, and were now holding hands. Garn's right to Debbie's left.
Marcel saw this opportunity to come from under the van and open the top door again by its handle with his golf stick. It slowly came open and they turned towards the wolves. Kate looked in the birds' direction and saw them waving their wings up and down, as if signaling them. Humphrey stopped moving his head along with the rhytm and looked over to the waterfowl as well, just in time to see them pointing up at the open door in unision. Humphrey and Kate sidestepped past the occupied humans that had turned again, so their backs were still facing the wolves, and towards the back of the van again. The Omega did a clumsy, but swift, rolling manuever in front of Kate, so he was now on her left side.
Kate squinted her eyes at her target and tried jumping up into the van's entrance, but she realized she hadn't jumped high enough and began to slip. Kate's forepaws tried to grip onto the rim of the bottom door for support, but her slipping hind paws said otherwise. Before having time to react, Kate lost her balance and slipped off of the van, but was surprised to feel a pair fuzzy paws grab her and wrap around her waist before she hit the ground. Without thinking and struggling a little from Kate's weight, Humphrey spun Kate around and tried to hold her steady, so she could get her footing on the ground, which she managed to do, but he ended up dipping her, his left foreleg wrapped firmly around her back to keep her from falling. Kate herself was leaned back, balancing herself on her left hind leg; her right hind leg pointing straight ahead. Out of insticnt, she wrapped her right foreleg around Humphrey's back for balance and closed her eyes tightly, thinking she would be dropped.
Kate reopened her hazel eyes to see a pair of aqua-blue eyes staring fondly at her.
'Well, at least he didn't drop me,' Kate thought, gratefully.
She couldn't help but return Humphrey's stare. Now that Kate really looked at him, she couldn't help but notice that Humphrey looked just as surprised as she was, but there was another expression on his face as well. What was it? Was it desire? Curiousity? It had to be curiousity because he looked pretty confused, rather than surprised, which she was. Before Kate had a chance to further ponder this awkward moment, she heard the afore-playing music come to an end, followed by the sound of Garn's scruff voice.
"I love you, Deb," he said, as the wolves turned their heads, surprised to find that Garn and Debbie were in the same exact pose that they were in, except for the fact that they had more experience in dancing and the like. The humans didn't achieve their pose by accident.
"Oh, I love you, too," Debbie replied, sweetly.
Humphrey and Kate turned their heads back to each other, only to find that their noses were close to touching. She looked back at Humphrey, to find that he was smiling a little. He got her to dance a little, but there was no way she was going through with this.
Humphrey softened his eyes a little at the female wolf he was holding. He couldn't help but feel how soft her fur was and he chuckled, sheepishly. He blushed a little, thanking the stars that he had fur to hide it. Humphrey started to get a warm, fuzzy feeling all over him, mainly around his heart. He was getting butterflies in his stomach as he admired Kate's pretty face.
'Wow, this is a new feeling,' he thought, dreamily.
Then acting on his playful instincts rather than his mind, he closed his eyes and started to lean in. Deep down, though, he actually wanted to kiss Kate. She saw Humphrey's childish attempt and playfully pushed him off her with her right forepaw, smiling in the process.
"Uh-uh!" she said, playfully.
Humphrey walked backwards a little on his hind legs, before stopping, still wearing a sly smile on his face. Kate had regained her balance and was now standing on all fours again. Her smile faded away and her facial expression changed to thoughtful once more. Kate's thoughts from a little while ago were returning to her mind. The way Humphrey was staring at her, while they were in that dancing pose. Could that have been more than curiousity? Maybe the first thought that came into her head, when they were still in the position, was right. Desire? If that was right, then that meant that Humphrey most likely does like her a little more than a friend. That would also explain why Humphrey was acting so strange back at the Moonlight Howl last night and why he didn't refuse the idea of having a chance to repopulate with her, earlier. Not to mention that he just had a go at kissing her. But, he was just playing around, wasn't he...?
Before Kate could further ponder her thoughts, her ears perked up as she heard a door close on the passenger's side of the van. She looked around the corner to see Garn start to walk around the front of the vehicle to get in his respective side. It was now or never.
She glanced quickly at Humphrey, seeing that he was on all fours by now, and then looked at the birds.
"Get inside now," Marcel urged the wolves, as Kate turned to face the back of the van, "get inside. Quick."
As Marcel finished his hushed plea, Kate had gathered enough strength and leapt into the van. She turned around, stood on her hind legs, and placed her front paws on the rim of the bottom door. She looked at Humphrey, waiting for him to jump in, too.
Being that the van was already cranked up and running, it began to slowly pull off.
"Oh, well," Humphrey sighed, "back in a...box."
He began to jog behind the slow moving R.V., leaving the birds to stare after him.
Since him and Kate weren't too long ago boxed up inside cages for a while, he wasn't exactly thrilled at the fact of riding in the back of another vehicle. But desperate times called for desperate measures.
As Humphrey continued his jog, the engine of the vehicle fired up, and the tailpipes released temporary, short flames. The van was pulling off!
"AH!" he cried, jumping into the back of the R.V., joining Kate. There was no way he was getting left behind.
Once he was inside, the top back door swung shut and the van continued its now steady rate on the dirt road, creating a distance between them and the clucky waterfowl.
Paddy began to fly in the air in pursuit of the van, with Marcel following him a few feet behind.
"Good luck, you two!" Paddy shouted, at the wolves.
"We will be watching out for you, from above!" Marcel added.
"Well, I'll be watching out for you," Paddy said, still in a slight loud tone. "He will be breathing heavily."
The van was now on the traditional gray highway as the duo's trip back to Jasper was only beginning. Music played from the radio, the track being audible from the back of the van, as well. In the back, Kate was laying down on the seat that was attatched to the wall that seperated the front of the van from the back. Her paws rested on top of a black suitcase that was on the far left of the seat, right underneath a window. She observed as Humphrey was up to his Omega antics, again. As usual, he was sticking his nose in other people's business, letting his natural curiousity get the best of him. He sat down and picked up a gray suitcase, examining it closely. Humphrey pulled the case open, sending various objects, such as a pair of sunglasses, and other things to scatter all over the place.
Kate decided to pay Humphrey no mind and turned her head, resting her chin on top of her paws, as she stared out the window that was conveniently provided for them. Trees and rocks seemed to speed past as the vehicle rode on. But she wasn't looking at the wonders of nature outside. Her mind was filled with the events of what was to come back in Jasper if she didn't get back in time. The Eastern wolves would fight Kate's pack if they didn't get what they wanted. And what they wanted was for Kate to marry the Eastern Alpha's son, named Garth, a handsome red wolf, with everything a girl could want, except for one extreme flaw. His inability to howl. Kate's mind played back to the event that happened a day earlier, the whole reason how she had found out her duty in the first place, as she slowly closed her eyes.
FLASHBACK: One day ago; the afternoon of the Moonlight Howl (Kate's POV)
I looked through the trees curiously, wondering where my dad had gone off to. He had howled from a tall cliff, supposedly signaling another wolf from the East. I assumed it was the Eastern pack's Alpha, but I couldn't be sure. I continued to walk through the woods, stepping on a few leaves here and there, following my dad's fresh scent. I know evasdropping is wrong, but I couldn't help myself. I had finished all of my Alpha duties for today so my shift was done, therefore I was bored and had nothing else to do. This confused me, though. Was I usually this curious? If not, then that's what I get for becoming friends with Humphrey; he had curiousity on the brain. Then again, Lilly was a pretty curious wolf, too...and Humphrey's buddies. Technically, all the Omegas she knew had curious traits. I must have developed them from Lilly or Humphrey. Anyway, back to dad.
"Yeah, Tony, you are one crazy wolf," she heard Winston's scruff voice from a nearby clearing.
"Yeah?" the other wolf asked.
"Yeah," her dad replied.
I was looking around to see exactly where their voices were coming from. That's when I spotted two figures through a large, nearby bush. Bingo. As I walked over to it, I continued to listen to my dad as he spoke.
"Like that little game of tag, during our hunt. Let's leave the playing to the Omegas."
Little game of tag during a hunt? I wondered. Could he be talking about the hunt I was leading, earilier today? I finally came up to the bush that I heard the voices from and peered into the clearing. There was my dad, Winston, and another wolf, who I assumed was the Eastern Alpha, Tony, circling each other, while in conversation, by the river, that seperated our territories. I stood there in the shadows, not wanting to give away my cover, listening intently.
"You know there's no caribou left in the east," Tony said, menacingly, continuing their circle.
"You got a problem," Winston replied, cooly.
"Unite the packs, Winston," Tony urged, as they stopped circling each other, and now stood face to face. "It was you who gave the big speech that your daughter, Kate, and my son, Garth, would marry and unite the packs."
I gasped, quietly. I was being arranged to marry that guy's son? What the heck is going on? Even though I was confused, I still listened, since that would most likely clear my confusion.
"Garth knows his responsibility," Tony continued. "Does Kate?" he demanded.
My dad took a second or two before he replied. "Don't worry. She knows."
"Good."
I looked down for a second, wondering when they even made this deal. Well, if this was for the good of the packs, I'll agree to it. I just hope Tony's son isn't a jerk like him.
"Then, she can meet Garth tonight at the Moonlight Howl," Tony said, getting in my dad's face.
He turned around, starting to head back into his own territory before turning his head back to look at my dad, while saying, "I won't let my pack starve, Winston. If we have to-"
Tony stepped on a lone flower, crushing it under his paw.
"We'll fight for the valley."
Upon saying his last words, he gathered his strength and jumped over the small and narrow river border. As Tony began his departure, I slipped out from the cover of the bushes to confront my dad about this. His back was turned to me and he seemed to be deep in thought since he didn't sense my presence behind him.
He turned halfway, saying to no one in particular with a heavy sigh, "That would be a huge mistake."
Even though my dad was the head Alpha male, he was more patient than my mom. He tried to keep peace, rather than destroy it. If my mom were here instead of my dad, more than just Tony's back would be hurting right now.
Dad fully turned around and took a step foward, about to head back home, until he looked up and saw me standing there.
"Kate," he said, his eyes almost widening in surpise. "Uh, it's uh..."
"It's okay, dad," I assured him. I was willing to go through with this, if it was for the pack. "I understand. Its...It's my responsibilty."
I smiled at him, letting him know I was truly okay with this situation.
END OF FLASHBACK
Tony's final words echoed like a ghostly wind in Kate's mind as her flashback turned into a nightmare. She was in the valley and wolves were all around her.
"If we have to, we'll fight for the valley."
Western and Eastern. They were all fighting each other by clawing and biting at one another menacingly. She was in the middle of all the chaos, standing on a long, flat rock that pertruded from the ground and she was looking around, wildly, almost paralyzed by fear. How did this happen? Then, out of nowhere, an Eastern Alpha leaped at her, teeth bared into a snarl. She cringed, expecting the worse.
Kate's eyes shot open and instead of a piercing pain, she was met with Humphrey's happy face. He was wearing some sort of nose ring and had a biker's helmet on his head. He stepped back from Kate's face and started to dance to the music.
"Humphrey?" she asked.
He didn't seem to hear her as he started to hop on one leg, moving his right forepaw in a strumming motion and making a weird noise with his mouth like he was playing some sort of instrument.
Kate sighed in annoyance and shook her head at her occupied traveling partner. It was no surprise to her that Humphrey had already found some way to goof off. Then she realized something. Her tail was invouluntarily tapping the seat, in beat with the music! She quickly put her left forepaw on top of it to make it stop. Kate sighed and rested her head back on the suitcase, turning her head slightly away from the air-guitaring Humphrey. Garn turned the knob on the radio to make the song louder and he and his wife began to rock along with the loud beat.
Humphrey stopped dancing and opened the top back door again, letting the wind blow through his thick fur, enjoying the breeze. He leaned out, slightly, on his back, and let the wind get a better grip on his head fur and hair. All of a sudden, the van got another boost, spooking Humphrey almost half to death, causing him to slip back into the van and shut the door. He sat down and looked at Kate, chuckling, slightly embarrased.
If she weren't so bummed out, she would've chuckled herself, but she just looked at him with half-closed eyes and slightly shook her head, with a small smile. This was going to be a long road trip.
*sigh* There you go, guys! Another long and entertaining chapter of my fanfic! Well, chapter 3's done, now on to chapter 4! If you ask me, I was very pleased of the way this came out! I especially liked the flashback, when they were still pups. I think it was kinda cute, but that's for your opinions. Aren't I just mean? What, oh what, could Humphrey and Lilly's little secret be? You'll have to stay tuned to find out! Looks like Humphrey's feelings for Kate are starting to get the best of him, and she's not completely oblivious to it, either. Kate's suspecting he has a crush on her, but she's still not entirely sure. But on to bigger matters. Next time on Alpha and Omega: A Different Perspective: "Omegas Will Be Omegas". Can Kate and Humphrey make it back home in time to stop possible war? And will Lilly be able to win her new crush's heart? Tension and romance is rising, next time on Alpha and Omega: A Different Perspective! Remember the 3 R's: rate, review, and remeber the story.
A/N: Thanks to everyone out there who read and review this story. Let me know if you guys think I'm keeping everyone in the story in character. And in their thoughts, as well! All of your thoughts will be appreciated...unless they're negative! Again, sorry for the wait! I should be able to update quicker, now, this story and my other one as well, so look foward to that!
RhettMaster29471, out!
-Until next time!