AN: Well there's only one day left in the year and I'm hoping to finish this one in that day. Wish me luck. I'm sorry this chapter's so short, it's just a transition to the far more important final one. Enjoy anyway!
"In my defense, when I purposed we run, I didn't think it could keep up!" Humphrey called to his two companions.
They knew that force couldn't stop the creature so they were left with one action, run. It may have been pointless to let the creature chase them deeper into the Cave, but, even if they had managed to get past it, they would have been leaving the pups alone in the depths.
"You know, we're leading this thing straight to your pups, right?" Helen asked, panting.
"I was thinking we'd just let it have Nick and grab the pups while it's busy with him," Kate replied.
The group rounded another corner. Despite their bloodthirsty pursuer, all three almost stopped dead. At the end of the final corridor was a light. The momentary pause had let the creature creep a little closer to them and it kept closing.
Humphrey, Kate, and Helen sprinted towards the light, but the monster matched their pace, streams of saliva fell from its jaws. It neared them. It was big enough and heavy enough to take them all down if it lunged.
The light was close now, but the creature would kill them long before they reached it.
"Stop," a voice ordered from in front of them. The three wolves and the creature froze mere feet from a wolf none had noticed before.
"Be gone," She said coldly.
The wolves looked at one another for a second before turning towards the monster. It bared its fangs angrily but turned away. It walked straight into the wall and kept going, vanishing into the stone.
"Well, that was new," Humphrey commented.
"Mom, Dad!"
Humphrey and Kate turned to see their pups running past the strange new wolf.
"Are you three ok?" Kate asked.
"Fine," Stinky replied.
"Never better," Claudette added.
"A little hungry," Runt answered.
"Good, then you're all grounded!"
Humphrey leaned towards his mate, "You can switch gears as quickly as your mother, you know that?"
Kate elbowed him in the ribs.
"I'm sorry, but who are you, and how did you do that?" Helen had turned her attention to the she-wolf.
"I am the one who has been trying to keep you out, but I have apparently failed," she glanced over at Nick. "My name is Rina. I am the Prime Minister of the Lupavi."
"I'm sorry, the what now?" Humphrey asked.
"That is a long story and I have been stuck in a cave for a very long time. I think I'd rather speak with you outside, in the sunlight."
"Sounds good," Humphrey said, gesturing to the rock walls around them, "I'm pretty tired of this place."
"You have to tell us how you did all of this!" Claudette said, "I mean, how is this all possible?"
"I don't have to tell you anything," Rina replied sternly but with a playful glint in her eye.
Nick spoke for the first time in a long time.
"See, I wasn't crazy."
AN: Well, what's at the bottom of the cave has a name now! You may even learn more in the next chapter! Sorry for the wait, I got home from college and was caught up in the holidays. Then, as soon as I could write, I got sick. I plan to keep my promise to finish this story by the new year, at least in my time. I also hope to start the next story before my break is over.