Chapter 16 Escape

Humphrey's POV

Tiredly I slowly walked into my den and collapsed on the floor next to Grace. Kate soon joined me and she lowered herself to the ground next to me groaning softly. Sighing I gently kissed her on the cheek and asked, "So what do you want to do when we get out of the forest?" Kate opened her tired eyes and answered, "Raise our little family in peace, hopefully in Jasper." I nodded and told her, "We'll get to do exactly that." She smiled and scooted closer to me and connected our muzzles. Smiling I was amazed at how she much she loved me, for our journey had been long and treacherous. Going from a simple mud slide to meeting the monsters of the forest and then finding my parents it had been a long trip. I chuckled a little at the thought of meeting an even stranger couple then Kate and I.

Kate looked at me strangely and asked, "What are you laughing at?" Another small laugh escaped me and I answered, "Just remembering our little journey and the wolves we've met." Kate giggled and asked, "You mean Kona and Jake?" I nodded and told her, "I've never met a stranger couple." Kate shook her head and said, "Well, my parents are definitely one of the stranger couples but I don't think Kona saw that coming." I laughed and asked, "When do you think they met?" Kate shrugged and truthfully said, "I'm not sure, they seem to have been here for maybe half a month and Kona said that Jake wasted no time in meeting her." Chuckling I imagined their first meeting and Kate spoke up and said, "I think that the bruise Jake has on his front paws may be from Kona, and not another monster." I broke out laughing startling Grace who shot into the air with a yelp.

Kate quickly jumped up and caught Grace from the air and deposited her on the floor. Grace stood there for a moment with her fur sticking up before rolling over and falling asleep again. I shook my head and muttered, "I wish I could get to sleep that fast." Kate giggled and told me, "Well, maybe if you had some help." I raised an eyebrow and asked, "What do you mean?" She shook her head and pulled me in for a kiss and answered, "I thought we might cuddle a little." I smiled and pulled her into my arms and rested on the dirt floor of the den. My eyes began to close and the den slowly went out of focus and darkness clouded my vision. Suddenly I was asleep and my dreams were empty and dark; I saw flashes like lightening and heard the distant clap of thunder coming from beyond. My head pounded and slowly I clawed my way back to consciousness.

I heard yelling and I sat upright gasping for breath. I shook my head and the pounding in my head slowly receded until I could make out the dim form of four wolves standing at the entrance of our den. Artyom yelled, "Humphrey get up! The grievers are here and there going to try to kill everyone! The blurriness vanished from my vision and I shook Kate awake whispering, "It's time to go, get Grace!" Kate's eye's shot open and she shouted, "What? What's going on?" I told her, "The grievers are done waiting and we need to move, now!" Kate rolled up onto her feet and quickly grabbed Grace who yelped and said, "Careful mom." Kate looked surprised to see her speak again but quickly followed me to the small group outside our den.

Squinting I made out Kona and Jake as well as my parents just below the enormous storm that encircled the canyon. Yelling I asked, "What happened to the rest of the pack?" Artyom yelled back, "They went on ahead to find the cave, Kona gave them directions." Squinting to see through the wind I asked, "How many?" Artyom seemed to think and answered, "Maybe ten wolves!" Nodding I motioned for the group to follow me down to the log boarding area but Artyom quickly yelled, "Not that way, to many of them. We can take the trail down to the entrance!" I nodded and was hit in the face by flying dirt and I spat it out but was buffeted near the edge by the enormous winds that encircled us. Jake grabbed me and yanked me back unto the trail before I lost my balance. I nodded my thanks and Jake yelled, "We need to move faster! We won't make it like this!" Dawn called back, "He's right, we need to run!" The group ran ahead of me and I quickly sprinted in pursuit of them. I slide down the trail and accumulated scrapes and bruises on the way down and Kona yelled, "Remember the two days of training you had, land front paws first and absorb most of the shock before using your back paws. I yelled back, "Alright but we're almost there!" Kona looked ahead and I yelped as a shadow detached from the circling storm above us and flashed above us.

Kona slammed Jake forward and the group continued running along the trail until the rock began to crack and break beneath us. Artyom yelled, "RUN!" I quickly made sure Kate was still on her feet before continuing forward and every step I took created more cracks and the rock was rapidly becoming unstable. Sliding down the trail now I crashed into Kate and we rolled down the trail and hit Dawn and Artyom. Sprawled out on the trail I saw Grace sliding towards the edge and I jumped forward and grabbed her paw pulling her to safety. Grace began to cry and I hugged her fiercely whispering, "It'll be alright, were almost out of the canyon." Kate quickly ran to my side and gently place Grace on her back and we carefully helped Dawn and Artyom to their feet. Artyom groaned, "I'm too old for this." Dawn rolled her eyes and pointed out, "The path is still collapsing." Artyom muttered darkly and began running again.

Groaning I limped along the trail glad that the ground was getting closer with each step. Jake came along side me and asked, "Do you need any help?" Grimacing I answered, "No, I'll be fine." Jake nodded and muttered, "Just be careful, you'll need your strength for the rest of the trip." Kona called, "Jake, not now." Jake smiled and quickly slowed down until he was trotting alongside Kona. He gave her a grin and she rolled her eyes and muttered, "Some pups were dropped on their heads, you were clearly thrown against a wall." Jake rolled his eyes and shot back, "Only the best for you my love." Kona nipped his ear and I yelled, "Were almost to the end of the trail. Artyom pointed and said, "Look there's the exit to the canyon!" Panting I gasped, "We can make it!" Tiredly I hit the end of the trail and stopped to make sure the rest of the group was running ahead of me.

I looked up and gasped at the enormous storm and yelled, "It's getting worse!" Artyom looked back and said, "It is, and we need to be gone before the grievers get impatient!" I groaned a little and we ran into the small cave that led to the entrance and exit to the canyon. Artyom and Jake ran and pushed their shoulders against the boulder slowly moving it to reveal the forest beyond. Jake grunted, "At least its early morning." Artyom cut in, "It doesn't matter, the grievers don't care anymore." Jake nodded in acceptance and we all dashed out and into the trees. Dawn ran next to Kona and through pants asked her, "How far until the cave?" Kona shrugged and answered, "Maybe about a five minute run but it's well hidden in the trees." Artyom asked quizzically, "You're sure anyone else would be able to find it?" Kona nodded and replied, "I would bet so."

I shook my head and was momentarily blinded by a branch that had swung out if front of me. Coughing I spat out the needles and continued running being careful as to not get to close to the trees. Kate ran alongside me tiredly and whispered, "Were going to make it, we can go home." I smiled and nodded remembering the trees and hills of Jasper and asked, "I wonder what's going on at home?" Kate stiffened a little and muttered, "I don't know." Confused I told her, "We'll know soon enough." Kate nodded and whispered, "I just hope were not too late, I'm not marrying Garth but I can't let the packs go to war." I sputtered, "They were going to go to war if you didn't marry him!?" Kate nodded and answered, "Yea but that was supposed to happen two weeks ago. Anything could have happened now." I shook my head and said, "I sure hope you're wrong." Kate muttered, "So do I." I discarded my thoughts and yelled to Artyom, "How much further?" Artyom looked questioningly at Kona and she yelled, "It should be just beyond those trees." Tiredly I ducked under a branch and crashed through the shrubbery and stared at the enormous cave in front of me.

The rest of the group pulled alongside me and Grace whimpered a little and said, "Are we going in there?" Jake shook his head and said, "Not for a few minutes, Jasher should be here. I need him to help me cave it in." I asked, "How exactly do you plan on doing that?" Jake grinned and answered, "Easy, Jasher and I are going to push those two boulders down and create a rockslide that will seal the entrance and if it has enough power it could cave in the entire thing." Kona stared at the two boulders and hissed, "You'll never make it down in time to escape!" Jake shook his head and put on a fake smile and told her, "Sure I will, I wouldn't let you name our pups without me." Kona tackled him and yelled, "YOU AREN'T LEAVING ME!" Jake pushed her off him and said, "I have to, if someone doesn't do it then the grievers will simply follow you and kill everyone." Jake smiled and kissed her on the forehead before scrambling up the rocks towards the two boulders. Kona began to cry and Dawn put an arm over her shoulder and whispered, "He'll be fine." Artyom motioned us forward and I peered into the darkness hoping to see anything in the gloom. Tenitively I stepped forward and was surprised that the cave didn't react like it had in my dream. More confidently I ducked under the enormous rock like fangs that hovered over me and was lost in the darkness. I heard Artyom yell, "Humphrey, are you ok?" I called back, "I'm fine and it seems like any other cave to me." Artyom groaned and struggled through the opening and whispered, "He's right, I don't see anything." I shook my head and told him, "It might be like how we got into the forest, there was no visual portal. But it still transported us here so maybe there's an exit somewhere that leads to safety.

Artyom nodded and muttered, "I sure hope so but this is our only chance. If the grievers sealed in then were dead." I nodded and said, "Yea, but the other wolves seemed to be gone so maybe they found the exit." Artyom whispered, "I sure hope so." Dawn coughed and crawled her way through the opening and quickly turned and helped Kona through. I ran to the entrance and helped Kate slide through careful as to not hurt Grace. I told the group, "I'm going to help Jake, you guys find the exit." Kate fearfully muttered, "No, you can't." I nodded and said, "I'll be fine, we won't cave it in until you find the exit." Kona shot up and said, "I'm coming to!" I shook my head and Dawn told her, "NO, your not…." Kona nodded and tried to run for the exit but Dawn firmly put a paw on her shoulder and said, "Jake knows what he's doing." Kona teared up and cried into Dawns shoulder before saying, "I know…" I smiled at Kate and told her, "I'll be back." Kate gave a small smile and said, "Be careful." I nodded and rolled under the rocks and emerged into chaos.

The trees were being ripped to shreds by the winds and rocks were already beginning to tumble from the cliff face. I spotted Jake and another wolf that I recognized to be Jasher. I yelled, "Let me help!" Jake shook his head and yelled back, "No chance, you need to take care of Kona for me." Jake quickly went back to helping Jasher position the boulder and I started to climb up. Jake quickly kicked some rocks down and I slide down to the bottom and he yelled, "Go back inside!" I shook my head and tried again and Jake growled, "Last chance!" I slide down to the bottom again and yelled, "Just let me help!" Jake sadly shook his head and said, "I can't, you need to take care of Kona. Please, just do this last favor for me.." I sadly saw that he had won and nodded and yelled, "Ok, but try to survive." Jake rolled his eyes and called, "Believe me, I want to see my mate and pups more than anything else in the world." Jake quickly ran back to the boulder and continued helping Jasher push them into position. Sighing to myself I rolled back under the rocks and into the cave. Stumbling I let my eyes adjust as I ran through the cave.

I yelled, "Hello! Kate, Artyom? Can you hear me?" I got no reply and continued running through the darkness. My paw hit on a rock and I slide through the cave and I quickly yelled, "HELP!" I slide down a rocky slide and grunted as something stuck itself in my paw. I tumbled down the ramp and suddenly crashed onto the grass. I shook my head and looked around, I saw trees. Not the fake evil trees of the forest but real ones, that welcomed me and swayed in the wind. My eyes became less blurred and I made out Kate standing over me with Grace staring over her shoulder. I laughed in relief and kissed Kate on the cheek and said, "You made it!" Kate nodded and asked, "Is Jake coming?" I looked back and saw in surprise that there was only the grass field. I ran to where I had first emerged and saw a rock that seemed to bend the sun strangely. I kicked it with my paw and saw that it had a small hold, big enough for me to fit through but it seemed to go up in a ramp and I yelled, "I don't think we can get back." Kona started crying again and suddenly the ground shook and seemed to bend itself over. Artyom yelled, "Hit the dirt, there collapsing the cave!" I dove for the floor and the rocks and dirt seemed to slam into my chest and I coughed spitting out the debris that had gone into my mouth.

The rock that had spat me out quickly became clouded in debris and dust. Kona stared dumbfounded at it and whispered, "He can't be gone, it's not possible." Kate sadly hugged her and whispered, "I'm sorry, but he had no choice." Kona stared at the ground still in shock and suddenly a voice called, "Why so sad?" Kona looked over in shock and saw Jake covered in scrapes and bruises but otherwise he seemed fine. Kona ran and tackled him kissing him fiercely. Jake pusher her off and groaned, "Ow, I did just survive a cave in. A little room to breathe would be nice." Kona quickly ignored his pleas and hugged him fiercely crying. Jake embraced her and whispered, "I'm ok now, it's over." Artyom padded over and asked, "How did you survive?" Jake's eyes turned distant and he whispered, "Jasher, he pushed me down the cliff face and told me to run. He pushed the rocks down and the only way out was the cave." Artyom sighed and said, "That sounds just like him, Jasher what the hell….." Dawn came to Artyoms side and said, "The grievers are gone now, the reflection was shattered. But we still have a long way to go."

I nodded and hugged Kate and Grace whispering again, "We made it." Artyom sighed again and croaked, "The other wolves didn't make it though. The grievers got to them first." Dawn hugged him and said, "It can't happen again, and it won't thanks to Jasher." I nodded in agreement and silently thanked him for saving us and sparing Kona the pain of losing her mate. I looked up and was shocked to see two figures flying down on us and I was about to yell griever but then I squinted and gasped, "Marcel, paddy?" They both landed lightly and Marcel yelled, "WHERE HAVE YOU TWO BEEN?" It's been two weeks!" I nodded and said, "Sorry guys, we ran into some trouble." Marcel shook his head and muttered, "Trouble, and who are these wolves?" I smiled and told them, "My family." Jake shrugged and said, "I guess that's a fair statement, we've been through more than most wolves ever have." Paddy quickly jumped in and said, "Well, I'm glad to hear you're happy but we checked in Jasper and things seem to be stable but I saw your sister and some other red wolf howling together before they were attacked. Kate gasped and asked, "Is Lilly ok?" Marcel quickly told her, "She's fine, the packs almost went to war but then a lone wolf came and stopped them. Although it didn't seem like he had good news to share." I quizzically asked, "What do you think he told them?"

Marcel and Paddy shared a look and said, "Well, that's best saved for when we get you home. It's a short hike from here and we can have you home within the hour." Kate smiled and kissed me on the cheek and said, "We can go home, and it seems like everything will be alright." I nodded and told her, "I can't wait to raise our little family in Jasper.

(Looks like they escaped! But they still need to return to Jasper and for that I can either continue the story with these characters and a new idea or end it in the next chapter. Leave your thoughts in a review or PM me and I'll see what I can do. Thanks guys and enjoy the next chapter.)

HEADS UP THE NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE LATER THEN USUAL, GOING OUT OF TOWN UNTIL SUNDAY