Chapter 19 The edge of reality

Kate's POV

I trudged along the dark trail following the shadow of movement just in front of me that I knew to be Humphrey. I whispered, "How much further did your dad say it was Humphrey?" He looked over his shoulder and smacked into a tree with a thud. I winced and through the side of my mouth told him, "Sorry." He chuckled and said, "I can barely see when it's this dark but I think it might be just beyond the trees." I nodded and asked him, "So why are we going this far just to meet with the group from the forest?" He sighed and said, "Dillon and Artyom told your father and Tony about the grievers but they called them crazy so it's up to us, and us alone to stop them before it's too late…." I sighed and said, "Well at least my moms on our side now and approves of us being mates, I'm glad she even offered to take care of Grace while were doing this." Humphrey nodded and told me, "Yea but not even she believed us when we told her about the grievers.

I quizzically eyed him through the dark and asked, "Isn't that a bit overdramatic, I mean I bet if we all told them all they would believe us if we did it together." Humphrey nodded and replied, "I bet they would but it would be far too late, the grievers are cunning and have predicted our every move. Even now their watching us I would bet." I shivered and peered into the darkness wincing at every shadow that moved and slithered through the trees. Humphrey gave me a small smile and said, "Let's keep moving, maybe I'm wrong but if I'm not then at least we won't be surprised."

I gritted me teeth and continued following him through the forest of Jasper. I trotted alongside him and said, "The forest is already changing, the shadows seem longer and more fearsome." He nodded and tossed a glace around before telling me, "No kidding, I would have thought it would take weeks but it's like some kind of poison is going around. Like the shadows themselves are infecting each other and recreating the nightmare we just escaped. I shuddered and we emerged into a clearing that was shrouded completely in darkness." I squinted and someone called, "You made it, we thought you had gotten lost." I heard a grunt of pain and someone hiss, "Quite, we don't know who could be watching." I heard grumbling and thought, "I recognize that flow of dialogue anywhere, Kona and Jake are here I would guess." Humphrey called, "Mom, dad, are you here to?" I saw the outline of Artyom and heard him say, "Where all here." I heard a voice that I recognized as Dillon's say, "I am as well."

Artyom sighed in relief and said, "Good, we all made it but I wish it hadn't come to this. The forest is changing as I would think some of you had noticed. But the grievers aren't here yet, that much is certain." I heard Humphrey ask, "Why would you say that?" Artyom answered, "The edge of reality hasn't been melded with the griever's home so they can't get to us yet. But they can send other things through like the darkness they use to corrupt the land. But I think we can still stop them if we move now." I cut in shaking my head and asked him, "But how?" He turned and answered, "I don't know but we have no choice, we need to stop them or repeat the history of them killing everyone. No one survived from the original nightwalker pack. The grievers wipe everyone out leaving the land for more to be trapped in and selected for survival or death."

Humphrey breathed out exasperated and asked, "But why, we know there choosing survivors but what makes them choose you and why?" I heard Dawn speak up and say, "Were not sure, the patterns are to erratic to see the reason but none the less there it a reason son." Humphrey nodded and said, "I just want to know what it is." I heard Kona say from the shadows, "We all do, but we just have to focus on making sure they can't get through to us. The portal isn't solidified yet is what I would guess, so maybe if we can close it we can stop them." I nodded and said, "Cave it in again?" I heard Jake say, "No chance, I looked around the howling rock and saw no signs of a portal but even then it's to solid to cave in." Humphrey muttered, "Right, so what other options are there?"

Jake seemed to be thinking but the gloom obscured his expression. He nodded and said, "What if we simply went inside the portal and destroyed it from the other side like before." I quickly cut in and said, "And find my sister if that's where she got lost." Humphrey nodded and said, "Yea, she's like a sister to me as well and if there's a chance we can destroy the portal and save her we need to take it. Although I wonder if Garth really is with her?" I frowned and told him, "Maybe, Paddy and Marcel said they had howled so maybe…But we can't be sure until we find her, and we will find her." Artom nodded and said, "Alright, and perhaps we can save some of the other wolves that may have been trapped." Jake nodded and muttered, "Right, right, a rescue mission and we get to save some of our friends. But what about the grievers? We took them by surprise before and this time they won't hesitate to kill us."

Humhprey groaned and said, "He's right, they won't hold back like before." I sighed and said, "We still need to find the portal first." Kona spoke up and said, "I think I can find it, I did before." Jake cut in and told her, "Whoa whoa whoa, not so fast. The grievers showed you on purpose and this time they'll be trying to stop you and not help you." Kona shrugged and said, "I won't be asking for their help and besides it seems like the only thing in our reality so far is the darkness that's corrupting the valley. But maybe I can poke around the howling rock and get lucky." Jake sighed and told her, "You need to take it easy, you're pregnant after all." Kona growled and said, "I can take care of myself." Jake chuckled and said, "Believe me, I know that. But you need to take a rest every now and then." Kona sighed softly and kissed him on the forehead before saying, "Fine, I'll find the portal and sit the rest out but if you don't come back I'll make sure to kill you again…" Jake gave a small smile and said, "I would laugh but I'm not sure if you're joking." Kona smiled evilly and said, "Oh I'm not." Artyom coughed and said, "We'd better get moving, morning is approaching."

I cracked my neck and looked up at the tree line and saw the first rays of sunshine break through. I breathed a heavy sigh of relief as I saw my friends and family come into focus. Artyom stood up and stretched before beginning to walk towards the howling rock. He called over his shoulder, "Well are you coming?" Dawn smiled a little before telling me, "We definitely have some strange problems and a stranger family." I giggled and followed the group through the forest. I sighed in bliss as the sun warmed my fur and I purred a little as Humphrey gave me kiss on the cheek. He grinned and whispered, "When we find the portal I want you to stay with Kona." I pulled away and said, "What, no. I can't let you go alone!" Humphrey smiled and said, "Don't worry, Jake and Artyom will be there, you Dawn and Kona can keep things in one piece here while were taking care of the grievers. Please Kate, the less of us there are the less chance of getting caught there is."

I sighed and said, "Let me think about it." He kissed me on the lips for a moment and then went and started having a hushed conversation with Artyom. I sighed again and Dawn slowed to walk beside me. She smiled and asked, "Did they boot you off the mission as well Kate?" I ground my teeth and answered, "Yup, they did…." Dawn laughed and asked, "Are you surprised?" I nodded and replied, "A little, Humphrey and I are supposed to be a team." Dawn nodded and told me, "You are, but sometimes our mates just feel like there are some things they need to tackle on their own." I muttered, "I sure hope they'll be alright though." Dawn looked up at the conversing group and Kona dropped back to join us and whispered, "I hate this, I get why I have to stay but why won't they let you come?" I shrugged and told her, "Beats me." Dawn giggled and said, "Well, at least we have the valley to ourselves while there saving it." I gave a small laugh and said, "That's true, but I'd rather go." Dawn chuckled and told me, "As would I but I have a feeling that maybe we won't have to stay for too long."

Kona raised an eyebrow and asked, "You mean follow them?" Dawn nodded and answered, "That's the plan, I'm sure they'll need our help in the first few minutes of arriving." Kona chuckled and told us, "That's for sure, they can't survive without us." I grinned and said, "That's a good idea, but are you sure you can do this Kona?" She nodded and replied, "I'll be careful, while Jake can be stupid most of the time I'm going to make sure that him and our unborn pups make it out." Dawn quizzically asks, "Maybe you can stay near the exit and help destroy it while we go and find any other wolves that may have been trapped? It should be more helpful and safer." Kona sighed and said, "Alright, that should be fine but don't get yourself killed you two." I snorted and told her, "Believe me, that's the last thing I want." Dawn nodded and said, "Then its settled, we go in after them."

Suddenly Artyom stopped and called, "Why are you following us?" I raised an eyebrow and looked around but saw no one. Kona's ears twitched and she hissed, "We were followed, I can smell other wolves." Suddenly I saw a group of ten wolves emerge from the forest and I recognized the leader to be Tony. Tony growled and said, "You can't leave yet, not with Kate at least." Humphrey growled defensively and pushed me behind him. Tony raised an eyebrow and slowly walked towards us. Artyom shouted, "That's close enough, you have no business with her." Tony laughed and shot back, "My son is supposed to marry her; I have every right to hold her until the marriage." I growled and yelled at him, "I'm not marrying him; you don't even know where he is!" Tony nodded and said, "Your right, but he'll be back, and if he brings that omega then I'll make sure to rip out her throat like I will to your mates. Tony suddenly pounced for Humphrey but Artyom jumped and knocked him to the ground. They wrestled for a moment and Artyom bit down on Tony's leg and yelled, "Run for the howling rock!"

I was frozen in shock but Humphrey pushed me forwards and I began to run. I saw Kona run behind me and Jake run back to help Artyom. I saw Jake help Artyom to his feet as they were both encircled by the group of wolves and I heard Tony yell, "KILL THEM ALL BUT CAPTURE KATE!" I closed my eyes and saw the wolves begin to attack Artyom and Jake. Suddenly we were off the dirt trail and running through the trees and underbrush. Kona was sobbing uncontrollably and Dawn comforted her saying, "They'll be alright, a few wolves can't kill them that easily." Kona nodded miserably and said, "The howling rocks up ahead, they would have bought us enough time to find the portal. Dawn nodded and said, "They'll catch up Kona, I promise." Humphrey nodded and said, "I only just met my dad and Jake a few weeks ago but surviving in the forest makes them more than a match for a few alphas."

Kona blinked away her tears and said, "Thank you; I sure hope your right." Dillon panted and said, "I could go back and help." Kona shook her head and replied, "No, I was wrong to think they couldn't handle themselves." Dillon nodded and continued running. I was starting to feel strain in my legs and I called, "The howling rock can't be much further." Dawn nodded and replied, "I can see the top of it just above the tree line." Dillon asked, "So where do we look first?" Kona seemed to think for a moment and said, "Near the top there would be tons of little crevices to hide something like that in, we can start there." Suddenly we broke into open ground and started climbing the rocky trail that lead to the summit of the howling rock. Humphrey continued running up ahead and called back, "I'll check up ahead and see if I can find anything." I saw him disappear in the rocks and I quickly looked into the forest and screamed as I saw some wolves run out of it. I was about to cry when I saw the battered forms of Jake and Artyom running several meters ahead of the rest of the group and picking up speed.

I yelled, "There alive!" Kona yelled in joy and called, "HURRY JAKE!" Dawn quickly looked down the trail as they came running up it with Tony and his group quickly getting closer. I quickly ran into the rocks and yelled, "Humphrey, have you found anything yet?" I heard him call back, "No not yettt!" I heard some stones slipping and then heard silence. I was frozen in shock and suddenly Kona and Jake followed by Artyom Dawn and Dillon rushed in behind me. I stared into the darkness and Jake whispered, "They didn't see us come in here but they'll find us soon enough." I heard the scraping of stones above us and hushed voices conversing. I thought to myself, "There right above us..." I crept through the darkness and suddenly was staring into deep crevice. It was strange, it seemed to go on forever and looked like syrup that shifted and changed to fill the void. Dillon came besides me and whispered, "This is it, the griever's home portal. They must have built it right after you escaped."

I whispered, "Humphrey fell in." Dillon nodded and said, "Well, I'd better follow him then." I stared in horror as he jumped and fell into the darkness without a trace. Artyom and Dawn quickly followed and I saw them disappear within seconds. Kona and Jake stepped to the edge and shared a kiss before jumping and being lost to the void. I was frozen on the edge but I heard paw steps rapidly approaching and I turned and stared at Tony who was a mere ten feet away. He growled, "Don't kill yourself Kate; it's not worth following your idiot friends to their graves." He stepped closer and I stepped towards the edge. He quickly pounced for me and I jumped towards the void but suddenly I was wrenched away from it and I realized that Tony had grabbed my tail. I howled in pain and quickly kicked him in the nose causing him to drop me and I fell into the darkness.

I fell and fell and shivers continuously went down my spine and I started to lose consciousness. My heart was in my throat and I saw only darkness. Suddenly I hit the ground and I felt my body collapse beneath me. I groaned and my body refused to move, all the energy had been sucked from me and my bones felt shattered and destroyed. I opened an eye and stared into the gloom. Horror surged through me as I saw the bodies of my friends and family lying unmoving on the ground. My vision went in and out of focus and the environment was bleak and unwelcoming. Dead trees and rocks dotted the landscape and I closed my eyes and thought, "I'm trapped in the griever's home. The portal is only accessible if you can get to it. Slowly I turned my head and stared into the empty sky above me and saw a tiny dot of light far above. I groaned and thought, "I'll have to find another way out once I make sure my friends are alive." I turned my head and yelled in joy as I saw Humphrey rise to his feet. He staggered and quickly supported himself on a rock. He croaked, "Kate, are you ok?" I whispered, "I think so, just bruised maybe a few broken bones but hopefully not." Humphrey nodded and I saw him help Artyom to his feet. Artyom groaned and whispered, "I'm getting to old for this." I heard Dawn laugh as she pulled herself to her feet.

I groaned and sat upright as pain racked my body. I cracked my neck and checked myself for broken bones. I sighed in relief as I saw that I was simply bruised very badly. Humphrey limped over to where Kona and Jake lay unmoving. I limped after him and saw that Kona had landed on Jake and that they were both scratched up and beaten. Humphrey slowly bent over and whispered, "Kona, Jake, are you alright." He received no reply and I quickly picked up my pace groaning as my body sent a fresh wave of pain through me. Suddenly Kona sat upright howling in pain. Humphrey jumped back and Kona shakily got off Jake. She teared up and whispered, "Jake…" Jake groaned and Kona rushed over and hugged him tightly. Jake moaned and said, "I always knew your weight would kill me….." She slapped him and whispered, "If you ever say that again I will make sure to finish you off." Jake grinned and slowly sat up and said, "Well, that was worth the extra bruises."

Humphrey smiled and rolled his eyes and whispered, "Their ok." I nodded and we left them cuddling on the ground. I looked for Dillon and spotted him lying on the rocks a few meters from where I had landed. I saw him slowly clawing the ground and I trotted over wincing as the pain increased in my body. I quickly asked him, "Are you alright Dillon." He nodded and whispered, "Yup, just bleeding out over here…" I rolled my eyes and suddenly saw he wasn't kidding. I rolled him over and saw the sharp rock that impaled him in the leg and gritted his teeth in pain, "And when where you planning to ask for help?" He smiled and said, "When the jobs done." I shook my head and Dawn quickly approached us and pressed her paws into the wound staunching the blood flow.

Dillon gritted his teeth but remained silent. Slowly the group came together and Artyom asked, "Is everyone recovering?" Dillon coughed and said, "I'll be alright sir." Humphrey spoke up and told him, "The rest of us are just battered and bruised." Artyom nodded and grimly said, "Good, we have work to do. The grievers can't see us or where dead, we need to find a way to shatter this reality and find anyone else that was trapped." Dawn nodded and said, "Let's get started."

(Trapped in the belly of the beast, how can they shatter the grievers home? I hope this was a good story chapter and what did you guys think about it? Thanks for reading and enjoy the new chapter!)

I was requested by a friend to recommend his new story and its really good so far and is about when Kate defeated Nars in the great wolf games. Its called the legend of Kate by Dogdrawler. I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I did!