Chapter 3: At the Edges of the Territory

    It was early morning the successivo day, and everyone was up and getting ready to go on their journey.
    "You don't have to do this, te know," Kate detto to Humphrey as they were about to leave.
    "Yes, I do, Kate. I have to do this," Humphrey said. "I have to know the truth."
    "Okay," she said. "I'm with te either way."
    It was around this time that Garth and Lilly arrived at the den.
    "We're ready," Garth said.
    "As are we," Marcel detto as he and Paddy arrived.
    "Good," Humphrey said. "Now all we need is Daria."
    "I'm here," Daria detto as she came in.
    "Okay. Let's go," Humphrey detto as everyone walked out of the tana, den where Winston was talking with Cando and Hutch. As the group approaches, Winston turned around to address them.
    "Are te ready?" he asked.
    "We're ready," Humphrey said.
    "Good. Cando and Hutch will only be able to take te to the edge of the territory where they found you. We need them here, in case the Rouge Lupi decide to attack again," Winston explained. "Good luck."
    The group began to head off, but before they started heading down into the valley, Winston called after Humphrey.
    "Humphrey."
    Humphrey turned around and looked back at Winston.
    "I hope te find what you're looking for."
    After thinking about this for a little bit, Humphrey turned and went to catch up to the group. They continued to walk slowly though the territory, and as they were about to reach the edge, Kate turned to Humphrey.
    "So, your parents," she detto cautiously, knowing how touchy a subject this was for him. "Do te really think they're alive?"
    "Kate," Humphrey said. "I have to believe that they are. If I don't then," he paused for a secondo before continuing. "I have nothing."
    Kate looked over at him. "You have me," she said.
    "Thanks," he replied.
    By that time, the group had arrived at a particularly woody part of the forest. It was also very foggy and a bit chilly, too. This was where Humphrey was brought into the pack nearly twenty years ago. Humphrey looked around as he began to remember that day.
    "Well," Hutch said. "Here we are."
    "This is all the farther we can go," Cando said.
    "Good luck Humphrey," Hutch detto before they turned and started heading back into the territory.
    After Cando and Hutch had disappeared out of sight, Kate walked over to Humphrey who was still standing and looking around.
    "Humphrey?" she asked. "Are te okay?"
    "I remember this place now," he detto after a while. "Vividly, but I remember it."
    Everyone turned to look at Humphrey who was now pacing the forest floor and looking up at the trees as he spoke.
    "I remember it was cold and I was really hungry because I hadn't eaten in a while. It was foggy, and I couldn't see much. Then I saw two figures through the fog and I ran to them. I was just so happy to finally see another lupo again."
    Humphrey stopped pacing and looking up at the trees. Now, his gaze was fixed directly in front of him.
    "They took me to Winston," he said, then turned his head to look at Kate. "And then I met you."
    "Come on," she said. "Let's go."
    And as the morning wore on, the group departed on their journey to find Humphrey's parents.