It was noon in Jasper Park, the sun was at its highest point in the sky, illuminating a beautiful, bright blue sky. It was spring's peak now. Birds were zipping through the air and filling the air with sweet chirps.
Humphrey was sitting by the creak enjoying the beauty of summer, and having a refreshing drink of water, waiting for his friends when Garth walked up to him cheerfully.
"Hey," he called to his friend, "What's up?"
"Nothing but the sky!" Humphrey smirked calmly.
"Ha! Never get tired of that one!" Garth chuckled as he came over beside Humphrey and dipped his muzzle into the water.
"So where are the guys?"
"Oh, they're coming, I'm sure. Just need to give them a second. Kate out on her Alpha duties?"
"Yep. She said she's been trying to hunt some extra caribou for our reception. She says she's gotten about four so far."
"Oh, Cool. I love caribou."
"Yeah, me too. Beautiful weather, don't you think?"
"Yep. Perfect for a wedding, huh?"
"Yep." Now that the brief awkward phase was over, Humphrey decided to start a more meaningful conversation. "So, you ready to have some fun tonight?"
"I sure am!" Garth exclaimed, "Especially since I didn't get to have a bachelor party before I got married to Lilly."
"WHAT! Why not?" cried Humphrey, surprised.
"Well, for one thing, we were all in a rush to marry me to Lilly and unite the packs before things got out of hand."
"Oh, right."
"And the other thing is my dad hated Omegas and their fun-loving ways. He told me I was never aloud to do anything suited for an Omega, that included a lot of the fun things they do." Garth's voice started to trail off into a sad, depressed state as he remembered his boring life as an Alpha. "He always kept me busy, either hunting weaker animals, fighting, ordering around lower classes, or exercising. I admit the hunting and exercising stuff was fun, but I guess it would have been nice to hang out more with my buddy, Milo. Of course, whenever Milo came near me without permission, my Dad always threatened him."
Humphrey, feeling Garth's depression, tries to cheer him up more. "Well, don't think about any of that stuff now." He says happily. "Its all in the past. You're allowed to hang out with Milo now, now that Alphas, Betas, Gammas and Omegas are all equals. So we are going to go out tonight, and have some real fun!"
Garth smiled at his brother in law, seeing the optimism in his calm, blue eyes. "Thanks Humphrey. Just remember, this is your bachelor party, not mine. Tonight is about you!"
"That's right!" Shouted the high, scratchy voice that could only be Salty's. He and Shakey jumped out from behind a rock. "Tonight is all about the top dog!"
"Hey guys." Said Humphrey, happy to see his life-long friends. Suddenly, he looked around and noticed what was wrong. "Hey, where's Mooch?"
"Oh, he's with Janice and Reba for a second. He'll catch right up." Replied Shakey.
"How long will he be?" asked Garth
"Oh, I don't know. Probably not that long."
"Not long at all guys!" called Mooch's deep voice from behind the bushes.
"Hey Mooch, buddy, what took you so long?" asked Humphrey, turning around to face him. Upon doing so, he noticed that Mooch as carrying with him a few squirrels on his back. Those squirrels each held a small, hollowed-out tree trunk, each with a black liquid spilling from them.
"You guys have to see this: Look at what Janice and Reba brewed up!" Mooch exclaimed as he came to a stop next to the creak. "Well, go on, take one!"
As they were told, each wolf reached over and took one trunk (let's call them cups, it will make things easier) from the squirrels. Humphrey first looked down at the strange, black, reflective liquid in his paw, usurer of what it would taste like. Finally, he licked his lips, and took a small sip. Salty, Shakey, and Garth did so too.
Instantly, Humphrey's mouth was filled with a sweet, tangy, though also somewhat bitter flavor, followed by some fizz that tickled his tongue and gums. "They say to let it sit for a second before swallowing." Said Mooch. So Humphrey let it sit another second, then gulped it down. Right then, he began to feel a very faint buzzing in the back of his head.
Salty put his cup down, and stuck out his tongue, followed by a silent "ahh" to so he was refreshed. Shakey did so too, though without sticking out his tongue. Garth, who was more mannered than the two, simply smiled with a satisfied "Mmmm."
"Mooch, this stuff is good! What is it?" he asked.
Mooch struggled to remember all the ingredients the girls used. "I think Reba said something about some of those black berries nobody likes, a few small drops of a caribou's blood, a dash of something called 'pekoe', a couple of leaves from other herbs I don't remember the names of, and… umm…"
"Good day gentlemen!" Mooch's monologue was interrupted by a certain Canadian-French goose, and his British-accented duck sidekick.
"Hey, Marcel, Paddy, glad you guys could make it!" said Humphrey smiling at the two birds who have helped him and Kate get home.
"Of course, we wouldn't miss your special night or day for the world, Humphrey." Cheered Paddy.
"Well, I wouldn't, I'm not so sure about him." Chuckled Marcel.
"Well, looks like we're all here!" chimed in Garth. "Are we ready to get this party started?"
"Almost." Humphrey replied. He turned back to Paddy. "Paddy, you have the list?"
"What list?"
"The list… the one with all the things I wanted us to do. Humphrey was now starting to sound frantic.
The one we wanted you to write because you can write and we can't!" said Shakey, also sounding frantic.
"Oh, you mean… this one!" exclaimed Paddy, pulling out a piece of bark and a stick of charcoal from behind his back. Everyone burst into laughter. Paddy really had them fooled. Mooch then insisted that Marcel and Paddy try some of Janice and Reba's punch, so they both took a cup.
"Okay then. Now before we get going, I just want to say something to you guys quick." Humphrey grabbed his cup, and jumped up onto a rock so that he was standing above everyone and they could see him.
"Okay, so umm…" he started awkwardly, trying to put his words together, then thought it out and moved on with his speech, still nervously. "First off, I want to acknowledge each of you. First, you three crazy omega dopes. Salty, Shakey, Mooch. I've known you guys since we were pups, and ever since we were pups, you've always been there for me. You've helped me get through most of my problems, always played with me when I was alone, but most of all, you've shown me how to have fun!"
"That was me!" shouted Shakey.
"If it hadn't been for you guys, I wouldn't be the guy I am today, probably. You guys will always be in a special place in my heart." Humphrey turned to Marcel and Paddy next.
"You guys here, have come to me in one of my darkest hours. Back when me and Kate were hunted, and lost in Idaho, you guys took a lot of time out of your weeks to get us home. You're like that star in the night sky that ships follow to return to their harbors."
"Beautiful metaphor, Humphrey." Sniffled Paddy, nearly on the verge of tears.
"Ingenious metaphor, Humphrey!" exclaimed Marcel, again ignoring his caddy.
"Thank you. But really, I know I can always count on you guys to get me out of a fix when I need it. So in return, just know that I'll try- no I will- be there for you guys when you need me. I will be your star!"
This brought the two birds to tears, and they cried on each other's shoulders and hugged. Finally, Humphrey turned to Garth.
"And last, but absolutely not least, there's you Garth. I admit, you and I did sort of get off on the wrong paw, but look at us now! We're like brothers!"
"Well, technically, we are brothers…" Garth stated. "brothers in law… because our mates are sisters."
"Yeah, that's true, but it's not the point I'm trying to make. "Ever since you and Lilly have become mates, we have been hanging out more and more. We've really gotten to know each other I'd say. And we've helped each other with our problems. So I just hope that eventually, we can retain this friendship, and stand by each other, as we stand by our mates!
"And now," Humphrey continued, this time looking out at the whole group, much more strong and confident than when he began. "As you all know, in just three days from today, I will marry the girl of my dreams. What that will have in store for me, I can only guess at, but hopefully, only good things. Now this is a beautiful thing, and I know you are all happy for me, right?"
Everyone nodded and shouted things like "yeah" and "oh yeah" and "Kate Rocks!" "and absolutely".
"I thought so. The only thing is now that I am about to have a family, some pups, grow old with someone, that all means more responsibilities for me and less time for all the fun and games we all love." His voice was starting to trial off, become sad and quieter. He took a brief pause to gaze at the faces of his friends. Now those faces were also starting to turn from smiling ones to frowning, depressed ones.
Humphrey shook his head, driving out all negative thoughts, then continued his speech with strength and confidence. "And that is why we are here tonight! This night is going to be dedicated to all those fun things we like to do. We are going to have one final Hoorah! before I settle down with Kate. Just remember, even after I marry Kate, and we may not have as much time together anymore, just remember that all of you will always, and I mean always, be my friends!"
Humphrey raised his cup up and reached over to his friends. "To us, to friendship! Friends for Life!"
Salty, Shakey and Mooch raised their cups up aswell. "Friends for Life!" they all shouted in unison. "Friends for Life!" Marcel and Paddy raised their cups into the crowd aswell. Garth raised his cup last. "Friends for Life!" He shouted, and they all clacked their cups together, and chugged down all the punch that was in them.
Humphrey finished his cup, then through it down on the floor. It did not break, as it was a wooden, hollowed out tree trunk. And then he jumped down from his rock. "Alright then, let's get this party started!"