Chapter 12 The Stalkers

Humphreys POV

I opened my eyes to the brilliant sun shining through the den entrance and the previous night came rushing back to me. I groaned a little as I tried to stand and my head throbbed painfully as I looked down and saw Grace was sleeping soundly on my chest. I gently moved her over to Kate and she snuggled against her chest for warmth. I smiled at the scene and yawned a little as I approached the cave entrance. I peaked outside and saw the Nightwalker pack had been awake for some time. The wolves busied themselves taking care of the pups and scouting around the steep canyon walls that surrounded us. My eyes widened as I saw how small the canyon actually was. I realized Artyom wasn't kidding when he said that it was hard to survive here but he didn't mention the space issue. I spotted several more caves along the cliff walls like and I noted with some surprise that the rock outcroppings that dotted the canyon floor had been dug out to make room for more wolves. I thought grimly, "Not many good places to sleep."

I ducked back inside the cave and padded over to where Kate lay sleeping and I roused her gently saying, "Kate, wake up. We need to see Artyom." Kate opened an eye and groaned, "Five more minutes." I shook my head laughing and said, "Come on Kate, I'm the omega here." Kate smiled and nuzzled my neck and whispered, "And I'm glad for that." I smiled and shook Grace awake as well whispering, "Grace, its morning." She yawned wide exposing her teeth and Kate remarked, "She looks like she didn't sleep at all last night." I noticed the dark circles under Grace's eye and asked, "Are you alright sweety?" Grace shook her head and swayed a bit as she tried to stand. Kate helped her keep her balance and asked, "Did you get any sleep last night?" Grace shook her head no and I told Kate, "I'm not surprised, that thing was enough to give me nightmares." Kate shuddered at the memory and stroked Graces head whispering, "There gone now." Grace just nodded and I thought, "She must be really tired to not even be able to speak."

Suddenly a voice called, "May I come I?" I turned to see Artyom standing patiently in the doorway and I replied, "Of course, make yourself at home." Artyom nodded and walked over to us and sat down heavily. Artyom began, "I was wondering how you all slept last night?" I saw dark circles under Artyoms eyes as well and Kate continued stroking Grace and answered, "Humphrey and I slept fine but Grace had a rough night." Artyom sighed but looked unsurprised, "The pups always do." I nodded sullenly as I saw he was right in his statement. I changed the subject and asked, "So what does your pack do out here?" Artyom looked troubled but answered, "We survive, we hunt and find resources." Kate cut in, "Surly you have some wolves looking for a way out of this hellish place?"

Artyom looked like he had explained this to many others but continued, "No, we have wolves that hunt but they rarely go exploring." We call them Stalkers." Artyom finished. I nodded and repeated, "Stalkers." Suddenly a wolf burst through the cave entrance yelling, "SIR, A STALKER FOUND SOMETHING!" Artyoms ears shot up and he spun around asking, "What did he find?" The wolf breathed heavily and answered, "I don't know but he said to come see for yourself." Artyom nodded and replied, "Thank you, get some rest and I'll go see him immediately." The wolf nodded in return and walked off towards the pack. Artyom motions for us to join him saying, "This is a good chance for you to see how life works here." I simply nodded and Kate picked up Grace and we followed Artyom out of the cave into the sun.

Grace shielded her eyes and whimpered softly at the brightness of the sun but for me it was the most welcome sight in weeks. Artyom noticed and said, "The sun is our greatest ally here." I turned asked, "I'm not surprised, so how many wolves exactly live here?" Artyom sighed and I saw this was a touchy subject but he continued, "We have had hundreds here in recent years but most last only a few months. Now we have only thirty or so and the wolves that can run and fight are sent to find food and water while the rest care for the pups and protect the pack. I looked at Artyom surprised and asked, "I thought they only came at night, why would you need protection here?" Artyom shook his head gravely and said, "No, they are more dangerous at night but it's still very hazardous to go out in the day. They can climb the walls as well so patrols are a must." I felt like things couldn't get worse so I asked, "So how exactly do you become a Stalker?" Artyom gruffly replied, "Your selected or drafted, no one volunteers because most don't last more then a week."

Artyom picked up the pace and was met by a young battle scarred wolf that resembled me. The two sat down near a rock outcropping and they begin to converse and I overheard him say, "We found her in a pool of blood this morning outside the canyon." I saw tears spring to Artyoms eyes and I remembered the conversation about his missing mate and I wondered if it was her they had found. Confused my family and I approached Artyom and I saw him tense and shake his tears away before facing us. Artyom sighed heavily and whispered, "They don't know if she'll make it." The Stalker wolf nodded sadly and walked off whispering, "They never do." Kate tenitevly asked, "Who is she, and could I see her? My mother Eve helped injured wolves in my old pack." I saw hope spring into Artyoms eyes and he whispered, "She's my mate and We've never had a real healer here before." Kate blushed a little and replied, "I'm not a healer but I may be able to help her." Artyom nodded vigorously, "Of course, of course. Follow me." Artyom sprang to his feet and quickly weaved around the surrounding wolves and rocks approaching a cave near the entrance to the canyon.

Kate grabbed Grace and put her on my back and ran quickly after him. I made sure Grace was comfortable and followed her. Suddenly I saw Kate slip into the cave and I followed her pausing at the entrance to let my eyes adjust. I saw a snow white wolf lying on the cave floor. I took a deep breath and for a moment thought it was Lilly but then I realized it she was much older and looked bloody and beaten. I saw Kate run to here side and start applying leaves to the massive wound in the wolfs side and back legs. I whispered, "Is she going to be ok?" Kate paused for a moment and replied, "She's dying but if I can stop the blood flow then she may pull through." Kate quickly continued bandaging and staunching the blood. I saw Artyom sitting in the corner and he asked, "How can I help?" Kate dropped the leaves in her mouth and said, "Quickly, I'll need more leaves!" Artyom nodded and ran from the den.

I quickly padded over to Kate and asked, "How did she get hurt and whats her name?" Kate was tying a bandage around her wounded leg but spat out the leaves to reply, "Artyom said her name was Dawn, I think she was slashed multiple times by one of those monsters" I was relieved that Artyom would still have someone to keep him happy in this horrific place but felt bad that she had been injured so badly. I asked Kate, "Can I help to?" She nodded and said, "Keep those bandages on her chest from falling off." I pressed the bandages back on and held them there as my paws became bloodied. I quickly turned my head and saw Grace was asleep on my back safely not witnessing the bloodshed. Artyom ran in with a mouthful of leaves and helped Kate apply them to her legs and chest. Artyom looked worried but Kate crooned, "She'll be fine, the blood flow has stopped for now."

Artyom nodded and relief and went over to Dawn and propped her head up and whispered, "You're going to be ok." Dawn opened and eye and whispered back, "You found me." Artyom teared up and kissed her saying, "A Stalker found you and brought you back." Dawn nodded and I saw that she was slipping into unconsciousness. She whispered, "Take care of the pack, I'll be fine….In…a few days." She winced and lapsed into unconsciousness. Artyom gently stroked her whispering, "I love you." Saddened Kate and left the den and I asked, "When will she wake up?" Kate choked up, "I don't know, if she lapsed into a coma then maybe never. But she may wake up in just a few days if were lucky." I kissed Kate on the cheek and whispered, "You did fine, your mother would be proud."

Kate looked at me gratefully and replied, "Thank you." I nodded and kissed her again thinking, "Your mother would definitely be proud." Artyom emerged from the den looking defeated and whispered, "I'll check on her tomorrow, for now I want you to meet the Stalkers." Artyom continued, "You may be joining them soon so it would be a good idea. I asked confused, "Me, why? I'm just an omega." Artyom looked pained like he had had this conversation many times but answered, "We need anyone we can get, and since your mates the new healer she can't. Everyone must do something to help the pack survive. Fear turned my blood to ice as I contemplated leaving the pack to find resources. Being at the mercy of the monsters beyond the walls made me want to cry and I whispered, "But I can't hunt." Artyom nodded and replied, "Then you can keep watch while some of our Stalkers are hunting. I shook my head and croaked, "But what about my daughter?" Artyom simply replied, "She will be taken care of, you'll want to go meet the Stalkers. They will want to get you equipped for survival."

(Humphreys been drafted into becoming a stalker, what will this mean for his new family and what will this mean for the pack as a whole? This is also the middle of the story and I am glad to have made it this far, in honor of this I want to thank you all for the continued support and I was wondering what you guys think so far? But enjoy the next chapter guys and I'm glad you stuck with me through this crazy adventure. PS, the apocalypse reference was for you fun loving!)