Chapter 11 The nightwalker pack

Kate's POV

I watched Grace playfully dart throughout the trees jumping on moths and butterflies. I smiled and Humphrey called, "Not too far Grace." Grace stopped and momentarily stopped swatting at the violet butterfly that had attached itself to her nose. She playfully rolled onto her back and sneezed causing the butterfly to dart into the bushes. Grace looked disappointed but ran over to Humphrey and asked, "When will we be out of the forest?" Humphrey looked at me for help and I answered, "We think sometime in the next two hours." Grace groaned and said, "We've been walking for five hours mom!" I looked at the sun and was somewhat startled when I saw the sun was already starting to slip out of view. I looked to Humphrey and said, "At least you're plan will make sure we make it out if the sun sets." Humphrey looked worried but nodded and Grace asked him, "What plan?"

Humphrey startled by her sudden outburst simply said, "With luck it won't be necessary" Grace shrugged satisfied with his answer went back to chasing the butterfly in-between the trees. I slowed down allowing Humphrey to catch up with me and I told him, "It'll be fine Humphrey." Humphrey didn't look convinced and I saw him take a breath to say something but I kissed him firmly and said, "Stop worrying." He looked embarrassed but spoke his thoughts anyway, "Kate, it took only twenty minutes to get to that cave the first time. We haven't been able to get out of the forest in five hours." I shrugged and replied, "We still have plenty of time to get out. It can't possibly be much bigger." Humphrey looked unconvinced and I began to worry as the sun dropped lower and lower in the sky.
Humphrey started to sweat and said, "Kate we need to go faster." I nodded and I felt icy fear settle in my stomach every minute the sun dropped another inch. I called, "Grace, I can carry you if you're getting tired."

Grace yawned and said, "Thanks mom." I picked her up by the scruff of her neck and gently deposited her on my back. Humphrey started to walk faster and broke out into a run. I made sure Grace was comfortably secure and I ran after him. I pulled up alongside him and said, "This is why you had the plan." He nodded and between ragged breaths said, "I was hoping it wouldn't be necessary." I nodded in agreement and fear surged through me as the shadows lengthened and taunted us. I whispered, "The forest is changing." Humphrey nodded and pumped his legs faster to keep up with me. I slowed a bit until he had caught up and he gasped, "I don't think we're going to be clear of the forest in time." My blood turned to ice and I snapped back, "Were going to make it." I stifled a sob and finished, "We have to." Humphrey shook his head, "We need to find shelter."

I looked around and saw we had but a minute until the sun would set. Defeated I slowed to a stop and tears threatened to take me. Humphrey plucked Grace of my back and put her in the grass beside me and said, "You'll be fine." I shook my head and said, "I'm not worried about me." Humphrey nodded and stroked Grace's head and whispered, "You'll be ok." I saw the last bit of sun disappear behind the trees and darkness encompassed us. I heard rustling in the bushes and heard the strange noises that marked the terrifying creatures that had emerged to hunt. Slowly Humphrey got up of his haunches and circled the tree we were backed up against and said, "Kate, take Grace and hide. They only take one victim a night. He smiled and said, "This was the real plan." I stood horrified that he had lied about his survival and yelled, "You can't do this! I need you." I pulled Grace Close and hugged her tightly and finished, "We need you."

Humphrey smiled sadly and walked towards the darkest part of the woods and I plucked Grace from the ground and placed her on my back running to stop Humphrey from this madness. I yelled, "STOP!" Humphrey paused and I stood horrified staring at the creature that had emerged from the forest. It was ghostly white and stooped low to the ground as it dragged itself along the ground through the shadows. It seemed to moan as it approached Humphrey. I stood petrified as I tried to move towards him to save him from the hideous creature but my legs did not obey. The creature stood but a few feet from Humphrey and I saw it reach out to take him but then something shifted. The forest seemed to retreat in fear and I saw a midnight colored shape launch at the creature and bite into its flesh. The wolf that had saved Humphrey yelled, "GET CLEAR!" Humphrey stood petrified but I was galvanized into action and I dragged him away from the two battling animals. The wolf circled the monster and he jumped back as it snapped at him nearly taking his head off. I placed Humphrey gently on the ground and went to help our rescuer but he yelled, "NO, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE UP AGAINST!"

The wolf snapped at the monster and feinted an attack drawing the beast closer. The wolf launched himself up and onto the creatures back madly clawing and biting at its flesh causing it to fall to the ground. The unknown wolf bite deep into the monsters throat and blood dripped onto the ground forming a pool of the substance. The beast became still and the wolf approached us and asked angrily, "What are you three doing out here at night, do you have any idea how dangerous it is?" I nodded and stuttered, "W-We were ttrying to escape." The wolfs expression changed and he sadly shook his head, "There is no escape from the forest." I was glad for him saving us but I couldn't believe he was giving up, "No escape, there must be a way!" The wolf shrugged and answered, "Maybe but I don't know, no one has succeeded at escaping and my pack has been stuck here for almost one hundred years." My jaw dropped and I asked tenitevely, "What pack are you from?" The wolf calmly answered, "I'm from the nightwalker pack."

Quickly the wolf changed the subject and said, "Get your pup and mate quickly so we can get out of here. More will be coming soon." I stared at the corpse of the monster and quickly grabbed Grace and dragged Humphrey to his feet and whispered, "You didn't have to do that." Humphrey shook his head weakly and croaked, "No…..choice." He swallowed with difficulty and told the unknown wolf, "Thank you for saving us." The wolf simply nodded and replied, "It was my pleasure, now let's get back to my pack before they try again." Humphrey nodded and limped after the wolf and I followed them. I got up the courage to speak and asked the wolf, "What's your name?" The wolf briefly looked over his shoulder and said, "My names Artom." That name struck a chord in my memory but I couldn't place it. I shrugged off my thoughts and Humphrey repeated, "Thank you for saving us Artyom." Artyom smiled grimly and replied, "Your welcome but no one lasts here for long."

My blood turned to ice and I asked, "Why?" Artyom shrugged and replied, "The night comes fast and many wolves are trapped outside the pack during the night and few come back the following morning." Artyom finished sadly, "At least alive that is." Humphrey looked at me worried and asked, "How do you survive the nights?" Artyom pointed up ahead to a small rock outcropping rapidly growing larger above the tree line every minute. He told us, "We have a small canyon where we can block the entrances so the creatures cannot enter. It has no food or water so we must search the forest during the day for game and water to drink." Humphrey asked, "How did you find us?" Artyom looked pained and answered, "The creatures hadn't tried to attack my pack so I went looking for a friend of mine that hadn't returned. But I found you instead." I started to say something but Artyom cut me off, "Wolves go missing all the time here so don't apologize."

We emerged into a clearing and I saw Artyom approach the rock face and move some branches to reveal a cave opening blocked by a boulder. Artyom called, "Open up, I've brought guests." The boulder was moved aside slowly and with great difficulty. I peered into the darkness and saw the faint outline of two wolves at the entrance. One of the wolves asked, "Did you find your mate?" Artyom shook his head sadly, "She's gone." The wolf sighed and said, "I'm sorry to hear that sir." Artyom simply nodded and ushered us inside saying, "The creatures dare not attack us here where there are so many capable wolves guarding the pack." I decided not to ask about his lost mate and nodded as Artyom led us out of the cave.

I was astonished to see there were only thirty or so wolves here. I saw mostly female wolves with their pups and the few males I saw were scarred and looked worn and beaten.
Artyom looked sadly around and said, "We barely survive here, there aren't many to take care of but more are trapped and lost to forest each day." I nodded and Artyom led us towards the cliff face opposite where we had entered and pointed to a small cave saying, "You can spend the night there, I'll come see you in the morning to help you settle in." Humphrey, Grace and I entered the den and I said, "Its better then the last cave we were stuck in." Humphrey nodded weakly and I kissed him saying, "We will escape." Humphrey looked at me sadly and asked, "How?" I hugged him and our daughter and I whispered, "We will find a way."

(Sorry it took so long to get this one out but I hope the extra length and plot twist made up for that. But how will Humphrey and his family survive in this beaten and defeated pack? Next chapter will be out soon.)

To guest reviewers in the request for a happy ending I promise I know how you guys feel and can't stand it when a story doesn't end well so have no fear and read on. But unexpected twists lay down the road and I promise you won't be disappointed :D

Special thanks to the alpha99 once again for helping me decide on a few things here!

Request for me to recommend a story A good friend of mine asked me to suggest his story to you guys and I'll do just that. Dogdrawler had written a story called the journey of stormfast and I enjoyed it so I hope that if you guys check it out you will enjoy it as well!