Chapter 5 – The white wolf

Humphrey was slowly backing up, afraid of this new wolf who had entered the cave, his legs were shaking and his tail was tucked between his legs, he eventually backed up against the cave wall with nowhere left to go. The old white wolf kept moving forward towards Humphrey, with his teeth bearing not showing any fear or remorse towards Humphrey.

"oh my god, who is this guy, and what does he want, I hope he doesn't kill me, please don't kill me" Humphrey thought to himself, "what if he does kill me, I'm too young, there's still so much I still need to do. What about Kate, I'll never see her again… wait what, I wasn't going to see her again anyway, you left the pack remember"

"Answer the question runt!" shouted the white wolf, cutting Humphrey off mid thought, "who are you and what are you doing here?" the wolf finally stopped and was stood looking down at Humphrey who was now falling back against the cave wall, hoping to travel further back to escape this wolf.

"I… er… well… I was just… I" Humphrey nervously stuttered, panicking not knowing what this wolf was going to do to him.

"Having trouble finding your tongue omega!" shouted the white wolf, "you either find it and speak or I'll personally make sure that you'll never speak again"

Humphrey took a deep breath and calmly exhaled trying to relax so he could explain his situation; he took three deep breaths before he began to talk.

"My name is Humphrey, I'm a lone wolf and I'm only here because I was trying to escape the wind and snow outside, trust me I have no intentions towards you or your wellbeing… sir"

The white wolf kept staring at Humphrey dead in the eye, deciphering what Humphrey just said. After some time he finally blinked and turned around walking to another side of the cave. "Ok" was all the white wolf could say.

Humphrey stood there shocked and unsure of what to do, not knowing whether this wolf could be hostile or not. "Ok… is that all he could say, no explanation, nothing. What do I do now" thought Humphrey.

"Sooooo is that it?" asked Humphrey, "you're not going to hurt me are you?"

The white wolf looked over to Humphrey, "no"

"Wow not really the most talkative guy is he" thought Humphrey. Curious to know more about this wolf Humphrey cautiously walked closer to him. As he was about a metre away Humphrey slowly sat down next to the white wolf.

"Can I ask, what was with the whole intimidating, death stare, shouting type deal you was pulling over there" curiously asked Humphrey. "And how did you know I was telling the truth"

"I've been around for a while now slim" replied the white wolf, "I can tell when someone is lying and when someone is telling the truth. I knew you were telling the truth"

"What reason would I have to lie?" asked Humphrey

"Wolves lie in order to stay alive boy, they'll say anything if they think they'll get away with it" replied the white wolf. "What are you doing out here anyway omega?"

"Well that's a long storey to be honest" replied Humphrey, "not sure if you would want to hear it"

"I've listened to many a wolf's storey of their travels whilst out here, and unless you just wanna sit here in silence then I suggest you get talking" said the white wolf.

"Ok I guess" said Humphrey.

Humphrey told this strange wolf about his life's storey. He told him about his crush on Kate as they were pups, to being relocated to Idaho, to him confessing his love to her, up until meeting him in this cave they were now staying in.

"And that's about it, that's the storey of me I guess" said Humphrey, "it isn't the greatest one going but I guess you can add it to your collection of stories"

The white wolf smirked at Humphreys comment. "So you left because you couldn't be with this she wolf who's now with some other guy she doesn't know" asked the wolf.

"Pretty much ye" replied Humphrey, "everything back home just seemed to remind me of her, it was all too much to bear. I couldn't watch her live her life with someone else, so I thought the best idea would be to just leave, try and get over her"

"Well we all have our own demons I guess" said the wolf, "if you feel like you had to leave then I guess that's what you had to do"

"Ye I guess so" replied Humphrey, "hey what do I call you anyway"

The white wolf sighed, "Call me Logan"

"And what took you so long to ask me my name anyway, that's usually the first thing you ask someone you've just met" said Logan

"Well" Humphrey chuckled, "I guess I was still a little frightened of you, I was just trying to get to know you a little, speaking of which, what's your storey? Why are you alone?"

Logan looked towards Humphrey and shifted his stance so that he was sat facing Humphrey.

"It's not really that complicated" said Logan, "I lived in a pack, far north from here, I had a mate and… I lost her".

"I'm sorry" replied Humphrey, "may I ask what happened"

Logan inhaled trying to hold back a tear and hide his emotions from Humphrey; he wiped his eyes with his paw, wiping away a few tears. "She was taken from me, by rogue wolves" said Logan, "it was middle of the day, I was out with the hunting party gathering our next kill, when we heard a howl for help. We instantly knew it was the alpha calling for help, so we rushed back as fast as we could, and when we had gotten back it was too late. The rogue wolves had raided the pack, they took whatever food we had left and killed anyone who tried to stop them"

A tear dropped down both Humphreys and logans face, finally showing some emotion. "I'm so sorry" said Humphrey, "did your mate try to stop them"

"Ye she did" replied Logan, "she was an alpha, and she was doing her duty to the pack to protect the others. But I was so young when it happened, I tried to move on, but I couldn't, it hurt too much to stay there, so I left, and here I am now"

There was a silence between the two wolves for quite some time, both in deep thoughts about the info juts been revealed and the events of the past couple of days.

"he left for the same reason I did, because he lost the one he loves and couldn't stand to be around where there are too many memories" thought Humphrey, "is this what I'm going to end up like, a lone wolf with no family, no friends, no fun"

Logan spoke up interrupting Humphrey mid thought, "it's getting late, and that storm doesn't look like it's going to settle tonight, we better get some sleep"

"Ye we should" replied Humphrey, "got some things I need to think about, and thank you Logan, for letting me stay here"

Both Humphrey and Logan went to separate corners of the cave and curled up into a ball, trying to get comfy and conserve heat, but as Humphrey had found a nice sleeping position, he was startled by Logan

"Humphrey" shouted Logan

"Ye, what's the matter"

"If you're serious about this, becoming a lone wolf, fending for yourself, then let me give you some advice"

"Go on"

"No matter what happens out there, or what has happened, make sure you stay who you are, if you let the events of the past traumatise you, you'll just end up like me, full of anger, hate and you'll feel no remorse… for anyone. You seem like a good kid Humphrey, don't let this lifestyle change you into something you're not"

With those words fresh in Humphreys mind, both wolves drifted off to sleep whilst the snow kept falling down outside, creating a fresh layer of snow.

-Kate-

Kate continued to walk through the dense green forest, jumping over logs and avoiding crevices, still following Humphreys scent. She had managed to make significant ground since getting off the train; however she began to get more tired and sleepy as night began to fall.

"I'm so tired" yawned Kate, "I should probably stop for a bit and recover my strength, I won't be able to catch Humphrey if I'm half asleep, ill probably end up walking right past him and not even notice."

Kate had made it to the edge of the forest and was at the bottom of the mountain; she looked around and caught a strong scent of Humphreys coming from a small hole in the ground. Kate trotted over to where Humphrey had previously slept, and inhaled a strong whiff of Humphreys scent.

"Bingo" said Kate, "I guess this is where you recently slept Humphrey"

Kate inhaled another whiff of the scent trying to determine how old the smell was, so she could figure out when Humphrey was last here.

"Yes" joyfully said Kate, "it's recent, maybe half a day, to a days old. Ill soon catch up Humphrey, and I can bring you home where you belong"

The sun was about to set over the mountain creating a shadow over the forest. As this happened Kates stomach once again began to rumble, indicating she was hungry.

"I should probably get some food before I rest, which will help recover my strength" thought Kate.

Kate began to sniff around, trying to get scent of anything she could eat. After walking around the area searching for food, she came across a snow white rabbit, munching on some grass right next to its burrow. Kate saw the rabbit and crouched as low as she could, so her belly was touching the floor. She slowly and silently crawled closer to the unsuspecting rabbit, getting within metres of the rabbit without it noticing. Once she had enough distance she pounced in the air, using her strong alpha legs to hurl her way towards the rabbit.

The rabbit took notice of Kate and tried to retreat back into its burrow as fast as it could, however Kate was faster and managed to grab its back legs as it began to run. She immediately pulled it back and bit its head, and breaking its neck, instantly killing it.

"Jackpot" said Kate, "now I can eat this, get some rest and be fully recovered by tomorrow"

Kate picked up the rabbit in her maw and began to walk back to the edge of the forest where she was planning to sleep. When she reached the small hole in the ground she jumped in and began to eat her kill.

"Yum… that's good" Kate said in between mouthfuls of her food.

Once she had finished her meal she curled up inside her little den, and dozed off to sleep.

-Humphrey-

As morning broke the sun rose up above the mountains, letting light into logans cave, awakening the two sleeping wolves, both Humphrey and Logan awoke, stretching their limbs as they stood up from their slumber. They both walked to the cave entrance to see that the storm had settled and a fresh layer of snow lay upon the ground.

"Well storms over now"

"I wouldn't be so sure" said Logan nodding over to more thunder clouds, "this is just a break in the storm, it'll last half a day, tops."

"Really" replied Humphrey

"Yeah, if you want to keep traveling I suggest you leave now" said Logan, "who knows how long that storm will last"

"Ok I guess I should, don't want to get caught in that storm again" Humphrey chuckled

"No you don't" replied Logan, "Cause I ain't coming to save you if you do"

Humphrey and Logan both looked at each other being completely still and silent for a couple of seconds, before both cracking a smile at one another.

"So…" said Humphrey, "any suggestions on where to go?"

Logan walked over to the edge of the cliff, where Humphrey can make his descent down the mountain.

"There's a pack about half a day's walk that way" Logan said pointing further north, "I've had run inns with them and they seem friendly enough, they'll probably take you in"

"And if they don't?" Humphrey questioned

"Then run" Logan commented cracking a smile

Humphrey walked over to the edge of the cliff about to start his descent down the mountain, before turning to face Logan.

"Thank you Logan, for everything… and also not killing me"

"Don't mention it kid"

With that said Humphrey and Logan shook each other's paw, and turned away from one another, Logan going back inside of his cave, and Humphrey starting the dangerous descent down the mountain.