Chapter 20 Outlast

Humphrey's POV

"SPLIT UP?" I yelled. Artyom waved his paw and hissed, "Yes, keep it down the grievers could be anywhere!" I shook my head and whispered, "But we can't split up, it's too dangerous..." Dawn put a comforting paw on my shoulder and said, "It's for the best, your group can find survivors and look for an exit portal while ours finds a way to permanently shatter this dimension. I closed my eyes and told her, "I can't let you do it alone." Dawn kissed me on the cheek and said, "Don't worry, I'll be fine." Artyom nodded and said, "I'll go with her, she is my mate after all." Dillon whispered in my ear, "I'll go with them as well, just try and find my father if he's still alive." I gave him a small smile and croaked, "Thank you, I just don't want to lose my parents again." Dillon confidently nodded and replied, "Of course, I promise to protect them with my life."

I sighed in relief and asked, "So who wants to go with me?" Jake raised his paw and Kona said, "We'll be glad to help." Kate licked my cheek and told me, "I'll come with you to; I know you can never keep out of trouble without me." I chuckled and told them, "Thanks guys." Jake smiled and replied, "No problem." Dawn and Artyom both moved over to Dillon and told me, "It's best we get moving, hopefully your group will be larger when we meet up again." Kate nuzzled my ear and whispered, "Please let's try to find my sister." I nodded and pulled her into a hug and told her, "I promise we won't leave without making sure she's here." Kate gratefully nodded and walked to where Kona and Jake sat waiting. Kona cleared her throat and asked, "Where to first Humphrey?" I turned and looked around the black and barren landscape and idly thought, "It looks like a flattened out volcano." I saw the bleak cragged rocks and shuddered at the thought of slipping and falling on one. Jake tapped my shoulder and asked, "Humphrey, we need to get moving." I nodded and told them, "We can start over by the dark forest." Jake slapped his forehead and muttered, "Always the forests."

I shrugged and said, "Well, it seems like a logical place to keep prisoners or…. well let's not think about that." Kate nodded and told me, "Let's try and keep calm and optimistic." Kona squinted and observed the forest before remarking, "It looks completely evil, see the trees? The bark looks dead and the branches look like claws." I gulped and slowly took a step towards the forest. Jake confidently strode in front of me and called back, "Come on, it's probably not too bad. Besides it's a few minutes' walk from here." I sighed and trotted after him and Kona followed behind me. Kate quietly padded alongside me and I thought, "She must be really worried about Lilly." I shook away my thoughts and saw the forest seemed to grow larger with each step I took and the trees swayed in the nonexistent wind. I wiped my forehead with my paw and said, "It definitely is nothing like the forest of tears." Kona came alongside me and asked, "So this girl, your mates sister. Who exactly is she?" I smiled and said, "She's an omega like me, she has white fur and lavender eyes. She's always been nice to everyone and is one of the few wolves that knew I had a crush on Kate when we were pups." Kona nodded and told me, "She sounds like a good wolf."

I closed my eyes and whispered, "She was, but she could never survive here. Omegas, just aren't made for this." Kona frowned and asked, "But you're an omega aren't you?" I shrugged and replied, "I was and still am at heart but what we've been through changed us. The forest… Something no one should have to go through." Jake chuckled and told me, "And here we are going back into the jaws of death, it's becoming a bit of a habit." Kona groaned and before Jake could move punched him in the arm. Jake rubbed his new bruise and Kona asked, "Are you collecting those now?" Jake nodded and answered pleasantly, "Apparently, but you missed a spot." Kona stomped his back paw and asked sweetly, "Better?" Jake nodded and moaned, "Much."

I rolled my eyes and told them, "Let's try not to kill each other before the grievers do." Jake grinned and Kona pointed ahead and said, "Humphrey, you may want to..." She didn't get to finish her sentence and I turned and smashed headfirst into a tree. Jake muffled a laugh and I glared at him causing him to sheepishly shrug. Kona growled and said, "We should get moving, god knows how much unwanted attention we've drawn to this area." Kate rolled her eyes and asked, "Why can't you guys keep focused for more than a minute?" Jake smoothly replied, "Well, as long as I have Kona's attention I'm happy." Kona gave him the evil eye and he went silent. I sighed to myself and padded into the dark clutches of the dead forest. Kona and Jake fell in line behind me and I found myself turning in the direction of every snapped twig and crunch of leaves that could mean death for us. I shuddered and tentatively whispered, "You guys doing alright?" Jake and Kona remained silent but both nodded. Kate whispered, "Where are the grievers? It's like their waiting or something." I looked over my shoulder and replied, "I'm not sure, but I hope we don't have to find out." Kate nodded her agreement and I crouched and pushed through the dead branches wincing at the sharp thorns that protruded from them just an inch away from my paw.

Suddenly the forest darkened and I hissed, "Guys, get in the bushes and freeze!" They scrambled into the bushes and Jake yelped as a thorn stuck itself in his paw. He bit it and spat it out and whispered, "I'm ok, just a little prick." I nodded and poked my head through the brambles looking for the disturbance. I blinked away the tiredness in my eyes and froze as I stared at the bleak shadow of a griever. The trees bent towards it and the dark aura swirled and corroded the air around us. I whimpered and its head suddenly snapped in my direction. I covered my snout with my paw staring right into its empty sockets wanting more than anything to look away. The monster slowly turned its head away and extended a bony hand to the tree to its left and whispered something. I leaned in to hear what it was saying but what I heard coming from it was an eerie whisper constantly changing pitch. I covered my ears and suddenly the griever vanished and I breathed a sigh of relief. Jake muttered, "Well, that was a close ca..." He covered his mouth and pointed to just above us. I slowly turned my head and saw shadows flashing above the trees and Kona whispered, "Something's got them excited."

I nodded and grimly muttered, "They know were here, and they haven't seen us yet so the other group must have been spotted." Kate shook her head and remarked, "No, that can't be, look at how erratic their movement is." I frowned and observed the sky and said, "Maybe you're right, they seem like they've lost all sense of direction." Kona growled and asked, "Why though? None of this makes any sense, selecting who lives and dies and now this horrible place! I just want to know why…" Jake pulled her into a hug and whispered, "We may never know, but maybe it won't matter. We can escape and trap them here permanently." Kona sighed and told him, "Maybe you're right, I'm so tired of being in the dark about this. I just want some answers." Kate put a comforting paw on her shoulder and said, "We all do but we need to keep moving." Jake sighed and whispered, "I was afraid of that, but how can we stay undetected when their right above us like that?" I shrugged and answered, "Let's just stay in the bushes, the grievers may prefer darkness but I don't think they can see, or at least not very well." Jake shrugged and suggested, "Maybe they move through hearing or some other sense." Kate nodded and said, "Most likely but we can avoid them if were careful. But this time if they catch us they have no reason to keep us alive."

Kona shuddered and said, "She's right, they won't be playing nice this time." I peeked out of the bushes and said, "They're not going to give us a chance if they find us so should we wait them out?" Jake shook his head and told me, "There's no time, if there are any survivors they won't last long when the grievers are in this frenzy." Kate nodded and said, "We have to get moving, if we wait any longer then we may not find anyone left alive." I sighed heavily and told them, "Fine, but let me go first." Before anyone could protest I wiggled out of the bushes and silently padded through the shadows and prayed that the grievers wouldn't see me. I heard Kate sigh and after that her paw steps quietly following behind me. I slowly turned my head as I crawled along the ground and every beat of my heart was deafening in my ears and my breathing seemed to be as loud as the wind. I caught my breathe and pushed forward the hard rocky ground of the deathly forest scratching and cutting into my fur causing me to whimper as I crawled along. Kate crawled through the shadows alongside me and whispered, "How are you holding up?" I shrugged and whispered back, "Ok, but this is insane." Kate giggled and told me, "But it's not the first time we've done something insane."

I smiled and said, "True but usually we don't have death literally hanging over our heads." I tossed a glace upwards through the gloom and shuddered as another shadow passed over us. Kate smiled and said, "True but at least the rewards are worth it." I chuckled and said, "Yea, we get to remove the grievers threat and save anyone else that was trapped here." Kate sighed and whispered, "I just wonder if Lilly and Garth were actually trapped here. It seems possible but what if they just ran away?" I shook my head and asked, "To where? Most likely when they were caught howling they ran and hid in that cave and where both trapped here." Kate nodded and said, "But when? If it was really two weeks ago then they…May not still be alive." I shook my head and quickly said, "No chance, your sister is really smart and I bet that Garth would protect her. It sounds like he would, I mean he did howl with her and from Marcel and Paddy's reaction it sounded like they really sounded good together."

Kate nodded and Jake hissed, "Humphrey, the grievers are slowing down." I quickly looked up and withheld a scream as I saw the grievers had stopped and had slowly started to surround us. Ten of them were quickly darting around the trees towards us. Kona groaned and said, "How did they spot us?" Kate closed her eyes and answered, "They knew we were here all along, their just toying with us now." Jake nodded and yelled, "Run, we can't stay here any longer." I wrenched my paws out of the dirt and ran after Jake and Kona with Kate in pursuit. I threw a look over my shoulder and yelled in surprise as I saw the grievers were getting closer with their bony claws outstretched towards us. I closed my eyes and ran blind through the forest not wanting to see the terrifying pursuers wishing I were back in my den with Kate and Grace. Jake yelled to me, "Humphrey, there's a cave to the right. We can make it!" I opened my eyes and saw through the gloom and fog a cave that closely resembled the saw toothed cave and thought to myself, "Is that an exit portal?" Kate quickly changed direction and I pumped my legs harder as I ran after her.

The cave was getting closer and suddenly I saw Kate trip on a rock and sprawl to the ground. I skidded to a stop and yelled, "KATE! HOLD ON!" I raced back towards her and quickly grabbed her paw and began dragging her towards the cave. I groaned and didn't dare look back afraid to see the grievers approaching us. Blinking my vision swam as I saw Kona and Jake petrified at the cave entrance yelling for us to move faster. I quickly dug my paws in and dragged us closer and closer and threw a glance over my shoulder. My heart sank and I saw the grievers would be on us in seconds. I stopped and nipped Kate's ear and said, "I love you, never forget that." I closed my eyes and waited for death to take us in its steely grip. I felt the darkness getting closer and I shivered and waited for what seemed like an eternity.

Nothing touched us and as I opened my eyes and my vision ever so slowly came back into focus and groaning to myself I shakily pulled myself to my feet. I turned and croaked, "Kate, are you alright?" I heard her softly reply, "I'm fine, thank you for coming back for me." My vision cleared and I told her, "I would never leave you." She laughed and said, "Thank you but what was that?" I turned and squinted searching of the grievers but saw nothing in the gloom. I sighed and froze as thought I saw three wolves silhouetted on the cliffs far above us. I shook my head and suddenly the three wolves were lost to the gloom. I sighed and said, "I don't know, I may have seen some wolves up on top of the cliffs but I couldn't make out any details." Kate perked up and said, "Maybe it was my sister, I bet she could have organized a trick like that, whatever she did." I shrugged and didn't want to get her hopes up and said, "Maybe but maybe it was the other group." Kate shook her head and said, "No, it had to be my sister." I nodded and said, "Maybe but what exactly was that?" Kate thought for a moment and answered, "I don't know, the grievers just vanished and I can't think of a reason they would spare us..."

I shrugged and said, "It beats me but at least the grievers are gone, for now." Kate went to say something but suddenly Kona and Jake dashed into view and Kona yelled, "Are you alright?" I turned and replied, "Were fine, a little shaken up but something got rid of the grievers." Jake peered into the darkness and said, "Who was that?" Kate confidently answered, "It must have been my sister." Jake shrugged and Kona spoke up and said, "I hope so, but why did the grievers leave like that?" I sighed and said, "I'm not sure. " Jake smiled and said, "They spared you again apparently." Kate nodded and asked, "But why, there doesn't seem to be a reason to anything they do!"

I nodded and muttered, "There truly doesn't seem to be." Jake shrugged and said, "Maybe but at least were all still alive" I let out my breathe and nipped Kate's ear and said, "So true, I'm so glad that we're mates." Kate giggled and said, "I love you to Humphrey." Kona and Jake laughed and said, "Alright that's enough of that lovebirds." I raised an eyebrow and said, "You guys aren't any different." Jake snorted and said, "Your mate doesn't make you collect bruises." Kona rolled her eyes and shot back, "Believe me, you collect those on your own." Jake went to reply but suddenly stopped and whispered, "Who's that?" I whirled around and yelped in surprise as I saw three wolves exit the trees. I stared in shock and whispered, "Lilly, Garth, is that you?" Two of the wolves tensed and I heard the one I presumed to be Garth call, "Who are you, why are you here?" I stepped forward and answered, "It's me, Humphrey." Garth stepped forward into the light and I winced at the new scars he had accumulated. He shook his head and said, "I don't know you." I groaned in disgust and said, "It's me, Humphrey…The coyote." Garth chuckled and asked, "What are you doing here, Is Kate with you?" I nodded and Kate stood beside me and said, "Hello Garth."

Garth smiled but it was more of a scowl. He shook his head and said, "I'm not marrying you, not anymore." Kate nodded and said, "I know, I already have a mate." Garth looked at me perplexed and I said, "She's my mate." Garth shrugged and said, "Well that makes things much easier then." Lilly walked into the dim light and I smiled and waved at her. She gave me a small smile and whispered, "Hello Humphrey, I wish we could have met again under better circumstances." I nodded and said, "Like wise." I turned my attention to the third wolf as he stepped forward and said, "Jasher, is that you?" Jasher nodded and said, "I'm still alive, and the grievers aren't at all what they seem to be. When I caved in the saw toothed cave they came and completely swarmed me. They were clawing me to death and then I lost consciousness. I woke up with headache here in this forest and that cave over there isn't an exit portal. Its the grievers resting grounds."

Kona and Jake whimpered and Jake whispered, "Thank god we didn't run inside." I nodded my agreement and Jasher continued his story, "I explored this area and the grievers almost killed my twice but I know why they select wolves like they do. They feed on hope, love and any positive emotion and Jasper is a gold mine. They think they've hit the motherlode and any wolf that survives them is either deeply in love or so full of hope that the grievers keep them trapped to feed on." I shivered and Kona muttered, "It all makes sense now, the entire plan with the forest of tears and now Jasper is their new target." I nodded and told Kate, "When the griever came into our den it didn't kill me because I was in love with you, and they did it again this time." Kate nodded and said, "But for how much longer will they spare us?" I sighed and said, "I'm not sure, but maybe, just maybe we won't have to find out. Garth nodded and said, "It was the same with Lilly and I, we came here and they left us alive but I feel weaker now then when we got here." Jasher raised his paw and said, "We all do but the grievers won't stop, they will drain you until you have no hope, no love or emotions. We need to get out of here, and we need to do it soon."

(Hey guys, sorry for the wait with this chapter but I'm completely and totally out of ideas for the story. I would greatly appreciate it if you had any to share to leave them in a review or PM me. Thanks guys and here's to another chapter)

Notes about the grievers The grievers were inspired by a creature that I once saw in everquest II, the design is incredibly intricate and brings fear to anyone that sees it. The idea to feed on emotions was my own and came to me just as I finished the chapter so I had to rewrite much of it as well. They mainly hunt at night and prefer stealth and scare tactics to trap and feed off of prey. The darkness is their greatest ally.

THANKS Special, special thanks to Thealpha99 for keeping my story afloat and inspiring me to continue writing through my mistakes and writers block. Thanks little bro and I owe you one ;)