AN: Here's chapter three. Will we finally learn what's in the Cave?

The adults had spent a good deal of time explaining the recent goings on in Jasper Park that they didn't want to tell the pups. Such as the creature that had been killing wolves and taking their shape.

Finally, the topic of why Humphrey's mother had come could not be avoided any longer.

"So, why did you come, Helen?" Kate asked.

"Well, I heard something that concerned you all and knew I should tell you…"

"Excuse me?"

The three wolves turned to see Feet poking his head into the entrance to their den.

"Do you guys know where Claudette is?" he asked.

"Um, no Fleet," Kate replied, "All three of them left an hour ago."

"Oh, they were just supposed to meet me and Magril in the valley half an hour ago."

Kate and Humphrey looked at each other as the same thought passed through their heads. The pups, especially not Claudette, would stand up Fleet and his sister. Something was wrong.

"So, they were walking this way," Kate said, her nose low to the ground as she tried to sniff out the pups. Normally, she and Humphrey would not be so worried. It was possible that the pups had merely lost track of time. However, after recent events, neither wanted to take any chances. "And, they met someone else."

"Who?" Helen asked.

"What?" Humphrey found it was the automatic response now.

"It's familiar," Kate told them, eyes closed in concentration. It was possible that the memory was one of only a few that were still to return to her. Her eyes widened when it hit her. "Nick!"

Humphrey gasped and, to their surprise, so did his mother.

"But he fell off that cliff in the Cave!" Humphrey said.

"He must have survived," Kate replied, "And if he took the pups, then there's only one place they'd be!"

"The Cave," Helen said knowingly.

"How do you know about the cave?" Humphrey asked her.

"Let's just say it's well known in certain circles, and so is Nick."

"He won't hurt the pups," Kate said, "I think his bark's worse than his bite."

"Besides, who's going to be his minesweepers if he did," Humphrey added.

In silent agreement, the three went off in the direction of the cave, glad that they had sent Fleet home, saying that Kate's parents might have roped them in to doing something. And even gladder that he believed it.

"Are you crazy? We can't jump that," Stinky yelled.

"I think we already covered that he's crazy," Claudette whispered to him.

"You're not going to jump," Nick replied, "I'm going to throw you."

"You're going to throw us off the cliff?" Runt exclaimed.

"No, I'm going to throw you over to the other side! I still need you! Now, who's first?"

"I'm oldest," Stinky said bravely, "I'm first."

"So?" Claudette growled, "I'm perfectly capable of going first!"

Runt buried his face in his paws. Were they really fighting about who was going to be thrown across a giant fissure by a crazy wolf first?

Am I really related to them? He asked himself silently.

"Ok, fine," Nick sighed, "The small one goes first."

"I am not that small!" Runt exclaimed.

Instead of answering, Nick bent down and caught his scruff in his teeth. Runt found himself dangling in the air. Nick swung his head back the way they came and then, with great force, back towards the abyss, letting go of Runt as he did so.

The grey pup was sent flying across the dark pit, landing with a thud on the other side. He lifted himself to his paws and glared back across at Nick.

"Who's next?" he asked.

Stinky and Claudette were both staring out across the fissure at Runt in shock. Neither felt like volunteering now.

"Ok then, Itchy was it? You're next."

Stinky then found himself soaring across the darkness before crashing into the other side with a little less space between him and the gap than his lighter brother. He had barely gotten to his paws when Claudette landed on top of him.

Nick took several steps back before running forward and launching himself over the crevasse. He landed with ease on the other side. Smiling he looked at each one.

"Good," he said, "Looks like you're all fit to continue. We best be moving. Who knows what kind of traps are on this side."

Humphrey, Kate, and Helen had raced across the park to the Cave. Without hesitation, they passed through the ominous air that sat in the entrance and proceeded into the Cave, guided by its strange, glowing walls.

They barreled through the darkness with no regard for the booby traps Nick claimed were there. Either he had seriously misjudged how many there were or the group was just extremely lucky but no traps were sprung.

It was not long before they arrived at the crevasse where they had believed Nick had perished. Following the scent of their pups, Humphrey and Kate threw themselves to the other side of the gaping hole. Helen was not far behind.

"What?"

The pups stared up at the wall they had come across with mixed confusion and disappointment. After all they had been through, they had been expecting something a little more impressive.

"What?"

They had been traveling at a good pace and hadn't run into any more booby traps. Suddenly, the Cave had ended.

"What?"

"I guess you were wrong," Stinky said triumphantly to Nick, who had been having trouble processing the situation.

"What?"

"There's nothing here," Claudette said slowly, "you were wrong."

"What?" Now Nick sounded on the brink of tears.

"Sorry," Runt said, "I guess you came all this way for nothing."

"No," Nick whispered. He couldn't believe it. Not only was he wrong, but it wasn't here. What he had spent so long looking for wasn't where it should be. "But, it's where I belong."

Even the pups could help but feel sorry for him when they heard how pitiful his voice had become.

"Hey, you!"

The pups all turned to see their parents and grandmother walking up to the group. None of them looked happy.

"Well, if everyone would look straight ahead," Humphrey began, "you'll see the marvelous, beautiful… Wall! That's right folks, here it is. Wasn't it worth the trip?"

Humphrey's mocking didn't seem to reach Nick's ears. He just sat there, slouching continually lower. He seemed small for the first time.

"I was wrong."

AN: Well, there you have it. A strange cave with glowing walls and weird traps has absolutely nothing at the end. Could it be that easy? We'll see. Thanks for reading and reviewing. Chapter four will be up in the next couple of days.