Deception
Kate was furious as she paced back and forth inside her den. Garth who was lazing around by the entrance watched her closely.
"Stop that you're making me nervous," He complained.
"I don't need them," Kate muttered to herself. "If I can't have him no one will."
"Kate," Garth persisted. "Are you listening to me?"
"Shut up!" Kate snapped. "I'm trying to think,"
"About what?" Garth beseeched. "You can't expect me to just know."
"I know exactly what we are going to do," Kate said sinisterly.
"What do you mean we? I didn't agree to anything," Garth claimed suspiciously.
"We're going to join the Reapers and when we take over the pack, Humphrey will have no choice but to love me." Kate smiled to herself.
Garth looked dumbfounded. "I fail to see your logic,"
"The fact that I was powerful drew him to me in the first place, and I will do it again," Kate boasted.
"Lilly is right, you have changed," Garth said shaking his head. "Such a shame,"
"You jerk!" Kate roared as she pounced on him and pinned him against the ground. "You're coming with me wether you like it or not,"
"Yeah?" Garth snarled. "Why should I?"
"Either you come with me, or Lilly is going to pay the price," Kate growled.
Garth's blood froze "Y-you wouldn't," he sputtered.
Kate's eyes narrowed as she drew in close to his ear and whispered. "Try me,"
Garth attempted to think of something to say but his mind was blank, he was faced with an impossible choice, betray his pack or risk the death of the wolf he loved.
"Okay," Garth spat. "Get off of me."
"There you go!" Kate smiled. "Now we're getting somewhere."
####
"Hold still I'm almost done," Astrid commanded as she put the last few drops of bitter berry juice on Humphrey's cut.
"Is it supposed to hurt this much?" Humphrey winced.
"Stop being such a baby!" Lilly laughed as she supported his neck. "You're supposed to be the chosen one!"
"Doesn't make this hurt any less," He grumbled back at her.
"There, done." Astrid stepped back to admire her handiwork, "That should keep it closed up nice and tight,"
Humphrey craned his next to survey his side and saw that the wound was completely stuck together. He lightly poked at it with one of his claws.
"Don't do that!" Astrid scolded. "The juice will only hold it for so long, you're going to have to come back tomorrow and get it reapplied,"
"Alright," Humphrey sighed.
"Good," Astrid smiled. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a lunch date with Hutch,"
"Oh that's so cute," Cooed Lilly.
"You two have fun," Humphrey winked.
"We will," Astrid chuckled. "Do you mind sticking around and watching the patient Lilly?"
"Well seeing as I don't have anything better to do today, sure!" Lilly accepted happily. "You want to help to Klayre?"
"I'm down," Klayre agreed. "But remember we're meeting with Sage and the others at sundown."
"Right, Winston's mission," Humphrey remembered.
"Well it is only about midday, that gives us lots of time," Lilly said.
"Yeah, how about we find some lunch?" Klayre suggested.
####
Humphrey soon found himself at the hunting grounds sitting beside Lilly underneath a snow laden pine tree waiting for Klayre to bring back their meal.
"Have you and Garth talked yet?" Humphrey's voice echoed through the forest.
"Yeah, we have," Lilly sighed.
"Did he say why they came back?" Humphrey asked as he gazed at the crystallized ice on the pine needles.
"Well Garth said why he came back, but nothing about Kate." Lilly answered quietly.
Humphrey's eyes fell on Lilly. "Why did he come back?" he asked intrigued.
"To say sorry," Lilly said. "For leaving me,"
Humphrey burst out laughing. "Well isn't that romantic!"
Lilly didn't find it so funny. "Well at least he felt bad," she quipped. "He's not as horrible as you think,"
"Are we even talking about the same wolf?" Humphrey demanded. "Hello! He left you on you wedding day for your sister!"
"It was a mistake," Lilly snapped.
"Mistake!" Humphrey exclaimed. "Explain to me how it is,"
"Because he told me it was,"
Humphrey raised his eyebrow "And you believe him?"
Lilly turned to face Humphrey "He has a good heart he's just a little bit-"
"Selfish," Humphrey snorted.
"Misguided," Lilly finished.
"Why are you defending him?" Humphrey asked.
"Because he's changed," Lilly answered firmly.
Humphrey gazed at Lilly. "He has? Or you have?"
Lilly's content mood was instantly replaced by a fiery rage that Humphrey could see ignite in her lavender eyes.
"Have you ever thought that maybe it was Kate who chose to betray you?" Lilly lashed out. "Maybe she seduced Garth, did that idea ever cross your little mind,"
Humphrey was taken aback by her sudden hostility. "Lilly why are you trying justify what he did?"
"Because deep down he knows what he did was wrong, hence why he came back," Lilly stated.
"Wow, It's like you still have feelings for him," Humphrey scoffed.
"What if I do?" Lilly questioned.
Humphrey tried to hide his surprise. "Well then I-I'd call you a fool,"
Lilly turned up her nose at him and stood to leave. "Then that's what I am I guess, a fool,"
And with that Lilly stomped out of the clearing and dissolved into the forest without a backwards glance.
"Wait Lilly come back!" Humphrey shouted after her as he began to give chase. But before he reached the trees where she had disappeared Humphrey had stopped himself, deciding that this was something she needed some alone time with.
"What was that all about?" Klayre's voice asked.
Humphrey turned to see her standing there with blood covering most of her body and muzzle with a caribou at her feet.
"Nothing worth your time," Humphrey sighed.
"I think we've got lots of that," Klayre smiled. "Grab some caribou,"
Humphrey accepted it gratefully and settled down across from Klayre who had already begun to knaw on its leg. As he began to dig in Klayre watched him intently.
"So why don't you just start from the beginning?" she suggested.
Humphrey thought a moment before starting. "Well, it all started a few months ago. . ."