AN: Here it is, the final chapter. I hope you've all enjoyed the story!
"Who was that?" Humphrey asked.
"She's the wolf from my dream," Runt said quietly, "The one that helped me."
Kate and Humphrey were about to ask their son what he had meant but Nick started talking before they could.
"I don't buy it!" he exclaimed.
"Buy what?" Helen asked.
"She tried to deter us from going any further…" Nick began.
"Or else we'll 'face the consequences'," Humphrey quoted.
"Yes,' Nick agreed, annoyed that he had been cut off, "But we could have been amply deterred before this point! These caves are supposed to be littered with traps! We've only run into two!"
"Three," Runt coughed.
Again, his parents were about to ask him to clarify only to be cut off by Nick once more.
"Why would there only be a couple of traps? If what's down here is so important, why wouldn't they fortify it more?" Humphrey asked, taking the words from Nick's mouth.
"Maybe they saved the heavier stuff for later on," Kate suggested.
"No," Helen shook her head, "If you want to keep wolves out of somewhere, you don't kill them-"
"-You scare them," Runt finished.
"If they're dead," Claudette added, "They can't warn other wolves to stay away."
"And more wolves would come in looking for them," Stinky said.
"So, do you think she's bluffing?" Humphrey asked.
"No," Nick replied, "I'm sure there are things down there that will kill. But we should have run into more of the less lethal traps on our way here. Something's off."
"Less lethal?" Stinky exclaimed, "One of those traps almost killed Runt! His dreams almost killed him!"
This time, Kate and Humphrey weren't interrupted. Most likely because Nick and Helen both joined them.
"What?"
Runt swallowed but knew it had become relevant. The Cave wasn't behind him yet, and to continue forward, they needed to know. He sighed and explained the events following their first foray into the Cave.
"That's really why I came back," he said, "I was looking for a cure. When I got here, I fell back asleep and that wolf was in my dream. She told me where to find the cure, or, I guess she just kinda put the place in my head so I could find it."
"Why didn't you tell us?" Kate exclaimed, "We're your parents, we're supposed to help with this kind of thing!"
"I really didn't want to keep thinking about it," Runt said, looking down.
"Am I the only one who's still wondering what is actually down here?" Claudette yelled, snapping everyone's attention back.
Nick smiled. "Let's go see."
With a well delivered blow from Kate to the back of his head, Nick crumpled. He lay on the Cave floor in a heap, one of his rear paws was twitching.
"I don't think so," she growled.
It took a good deal of effort, but they were able to drag Nick's unconscious body back up to the ravine where all three adults had to work together to gather enough energy to send Nick to the other side. After him went the pups, once again thrown. Kate, Humphrey, and Helen came across last.
A little while later, all seven wolves were back in open air. Every so often, Nick would make a noise. Other than that, no one spoke. They all needed a break from the Cave and whatever was inside of it.
Runt was sure he was going to be grounded for not telling his parents about what had happened to him. He had only wanted to forget about everything that had happened. Now, he knew that wasn't possible. Between his parents, grandmother, and Nick, the Cave would be a topic of discussion for a long time to come.
Claudette was also troubled. She hadn't wanted to add to the drama and thus kept from telling anyone about the wolf that had approached her the other day. She couldn't help but wonder if he was a part of all of this as well. She just wanted to go back to before Nick had come, back to when life was simple and normal.
Stinky was still trying to wrap his head around everything that had happened. It didn't make any sense. It didn't follow any logic, it was almost as if the Cave just spat out random events to tease the wolves trying to make a pattern out of them.
Kate and Humphrey were equally disturbed by the recent events. They couldn't talk in front of the pups but knew they would have to discuss what was going on down there. Humphrey turned to Kate and mouthed one word to convey a topic to discuss.
"Shadow."
She nodded. With a quick glance around her and a shrug to reposition the unconscious wolf between them, she reached over to nuzzle him. They both needed a break too.
Nick was deposited in an empty cave and Kate posted a guard outside. He was awake but didn't protest. He neither seemed disappointed or ecstatic. There was an almost calming air about him.
Helen, Humphrey, and Kate left, ordering the pups to come with them. They stayed behind for a second though.
"You're going to escape, aren't you?" Runt asked quietly so the guard wouldn't hear them.
"Yes, tomorrow," Nick replied.
"And you're going back to the Cave?" Stinky asked.
"I can't stop now."
The pups all looked at each other and knew they were in agreement.
"We're with you," they said in unison.
Nick nodded. "You can't stop until you've seen it to the end?"
They nodded and left. They needed answers and, no matter how much they hated the idea, knew that only the Cave had them.
"You still haven't told us why you came here," Humphrey observed.
"Tomorrow," Helen replied, "It's late."
"I'm ok with that," Kate said.
The pups caught up and they all entered the den as the sun set over the park.
AN: Well, there you go. Did answer any questions? Probably not. If you want answers, you'll have to wait until I return with new stories! I don't know when that'll be but I'm hoping it'll be sooner rather than later. I want to thank everyone who has read, reviewed, favorited, and followed my stories so far! You're all great!