Chapter 10: "This is Just the Beginning"

As the Mbwa mwitu loups returned to the valley, Kyle and the rest of the Northerners began to return to their pack.

“Thank wewe for helping us in our fight,” Stinky said, thanking Kyle.

“Of course,” Kyle replied. “Anything for Humphrey’s pups.”

“I don’t think this is over,” Runt said. “When Martin and I were taking Oscar to Sawtooth Cave, he told us about a man who destroyed his entire pack single-handedly. We think he might be the Wolfslayer, the same one Hammond mentioned when he first attacked us. If the Wolfslayer really is the true leader of the Crimson Pack, the worst may be yet to come. I’m afraid this is just the beginning.”

“Well, for now, let’s enjoy this victory,” Stinky said.

“Speaking of Oscar, shouldn’t we go and get him now that the threat has passed for the time being?” Martin suggested.

“Yeah,” Runt replied. “I’ll go get him. There’s just one zaidi thing I gotta do first.”

He walked over to Lisa who was standing toward the edge of the crowd.

“Hey, Runt,” she said.

“Hey, Lisa,” he replied. “How are wewe feeling?”

“Better. Thank you.”

“Listen,” he said. “There’s something I have to tell you, but I’m not sure how to say it.”

“Well, just take a deep breath and say it,” she suggested.

Runt took her advice and took a deep breath before continuing.

“Okay,” he said. “Lisa. wewe are an amazing, brilliant, caring wolf. You’re there to comfort me when I’m feeling down and you’re there to lift me up when things are at their worst. wewe are the upendo of my life and wewe make it better every day. Which is why I’m asking wewe this question.”

“Runt,” Lisa stammered. “W-what are wewe doing?”

At this point, the group had begun to gather around the two.

“We’ve been together for a long while now,” Runt said. “And I think it’s time we made it official.”

He looked at Stinky and smiled before turning back to Lisa.

“Lisa,” he said. “Will wewe marry me?”

Lisa gasped in shock and her mouth hung open in surprise. Everyone tensely waited for her answer. Then she smiled, a tear in her eye.

“Yes.”

“Yes?” Runt asked, excitedly.

Lisa nodded and the two happily hugged each other as the group that was gathered around them cheered and howled.

Meanwhile, deep in the forest, Hammond and the Crimson Pack approached a fairly large human campsite. Several tents were set up with campfires near them, along with some tables as well as ropes strung across the trees with wet clothes on them. A hammock au two had also been set up between a few trees that grew close together.

Following their defeat at the paws of Stinky and the Western Pack, and failing to get Oscar back, the pack had no choice but to return here to ripoti to their master.

“Wait here,” Hammond alisema as he approached a larger tent that had light glowing from inside.

As he entered, he saw a man standing over a desk, looking at some papers. The man heard him enter and looked up.

“Well?” the General inquired.

Hammond slowly lowered his head in shame. While the General didn’t understand mbwa mwitu speech, he could still understand their body language. And this particular onyesha of body language wasn’t good.

He growled to himself in frustration and hit his fist on the table. Then, without saying a word, he walked past Hammond toward the entrance of the tent, but just before he left, he turned around and pointed at him.

“Stay here,” he ordered. “I’m going to get backup. Someone who can actually do your job.”

With that, he exited the tent and walked away from the campsite into the forest. Hammond exited the tent soon after and one of the Mbwa mwitu loups walked up to him.

“Who do wewe think he’s going to get?” the mbwa mwitu asked.

“There’s only one man he would go to for help,” Hammond replied. “And wewe better hope He shows us just as much mercy.”