Chapter 5: Captured
”Give me a good reason why I shouldn’t kill te right now.”
Hammond, the leader of the Crimson Pack was furious at one of the Lupi for letting Oscar and the group from the Western Pack get away. As a new recruit, the lupo was dato the simple task of keeping watch on Oscar and he got away.
“L-let me make it up,” the lupo stammered. “I’ll get him back.”
“You have five seconds,” Hammond said. “Go.”
“What if we set a trap for them?” the lupo suggested. “Send a large group to attack the pack. They’ll take Oscar away from the danger where another group will be waiting to ambush them and in the chaos, we take Oscar. From what I’ve heard, it’s a tactic they’ve used before, so why shouldn’t it work for us?”
“Hmm,” Hammond thought. The lupo held his breath. Then Hammond began laughing. “I like it,” he said. “You’re in luck. I’m not gonna kill te right now.”
Hammond then walked away to prepare the pack and left the lupo standing alone with another.
“I hate it when he says that,” the first lupo said.
“Trust me,” the other lupo replied. “It’s better than when he doesn’t say it.”
da the time the group returned to the Western Pack, night had already fallen and most of the pack was sleeping. The group brought Oscar up to the tana, den where Winston, Eve, and Tony were living.
“It may be a bit cramped,” Stinky said. “But it’s probably the safest place for te right now.”
Stinky turned and began walking back down to the valley.
“The group will be sleeping right below te in case te need anything,” he said.
“Thank you,” Oscar said. “I’m not sure I’d be alive right now if it wasn’t for you.”
“Just get some sleep,” Stinky replied before heading back to unisciti the others below the den.
They all awoke with a start when they suddenly heard the howling of dozens of Lupi nearby. The Crimson Pack rushed in and the Western Pack scrambled to their feet to engage.
“Steven!” Adam shouted. “The Crimson Pack is attacking us!”
“Oh, really, Adam? I haven’t noticed!” Steven replied, sarcastically.
“Go get Oscar!” Stinky shouted. “We gotta get him out of here!”
Adam and Steven rushed up to the tana, den to get Oscar. Stinky and the rest of the group watched as the Crimson and Western Packs fought. Adam and Steven returned with Oscar.
“Okay, come on,” Stinky said, heading north up to the collina toward the omega dens. “Let’s go.”
“Where?” Lisa replied.
“I don’t know,” Stinky replied. “We just have to get him away from the Crimson Pack.” He then called out. “Jax, Martin!”
The two brothers turned from the battle and looked at him.
“You’re with us,” he said. “We need to protect Oscar. The bigger the group, the better chance we’ll have. Where’s Jonas?”
“I don’t know,” Martin replied. “He was out wandering when the attack began, and he hasn’t come back.”
“We’ll have to make do without him,” Stinky said. “Don’t worry. I’m sure he’s fine.”
The group followed Stinky up the collina and into the forest. They didn’t stop running until the sounds of battle had faded. They were now fairly deep in the Northern Region and stopped to catch their breath.
“We’ve got to find a safer place for you, Oscar,” Stinky said. “I have a feeling these Lupi won’t give up until they have you.”
“Why are they so hell bent on capturing you, anyway?” Runt asked.
“I’m not sure,” he replied. “Probably because I’m the last of my kind and I pose a threat to them. Us red Lupi were some of the toughest Lupi in the forest.”
“Wait,” Steven said. “Do te hear that?”
Everyone strained their ears but couldn’t pick up on anything. The forest was completely silent.
“Hear what?” Martin asked.
“Listen,” Steven replied.
“I don’t hear anything,” Lisa said.
“Exactly,” Steven replied. “It’s too quiet.”
He was right. There was absolutely no sound at all. No wind, no skittering critters, no birds, nothing. Everything was silent and it was a bit unsettling. Something was wrong
“Hmm,” Steven said.
“What is it, Steven?” Adam asked.
“I’m having Asia fontana Dew,” he replied. “Something feels strangely familiar.”
There was a short pause as Adam contemplated what Steven had just said.
“Steven, are te trying to say “déjà vu”?” he asked.
“Yeah, that’s what I said,” he replied, quickly. He stood in thought for a few più moments before something hit him.
“Of course,” he said. “It’s just like when Lisa and Runt first met,” he said. “When Lisa got wolfnapped a few years back, we sent a group to attack the pack that took her and then Runt snuck in and grabbed her while they were distracted.”
“Ah!” Kenya said, realizing what had happened. “They attacked us, knowing we’d take Oscar away to a place where we’d be più exposed.”
“We played right into their hands,” Stinky exclaimed.
“Technically, Lupi don’t have hands,” Jax detto frantically. “So that expression doesn’t-maybe, we played right into their paws?”
“The point is,” Stinky said. “We’re about to be…”
Suddenly, dozens of Lupi emerged from the bushes around the group of ten.
“Surrounded.”
The group formed a defensive cerchio around Oscar, keeping him in the middle of it. The crimson Lupi drew closer when a bigger one walked through the crowd. It was Hammond. He turned to the same lupo who proposed the plan to him.
“I gotta give credit where credit’s due,” he said. “You’re plan actually worked. Although I must admit, they were pretty foolish to fall for their own tactic so easily.”
He then turned back to the group protecting Oscar.
“Now, hand over the red wolf, and no one gets hurt…much,” he said.
“No,” Stinky said, boldly.
“I wasn’t asking,” Hammond replied. “I will not hesitate to tear every one of your throats out if I have to.”
“We’re not afraid of you,” Runt told him.
“Of course you’re not,” Hammond said, calmly. “Why would te be? You’ve dealt with packs like our plenty of times. No, te should be afraid of the man that we serve.”
“Who, Robert?” one of the Crimson Lupi asked.
“Oh, god no,” Hammond detto with a hint of disgust in his voice. “That man’s a pathetic weakling compared to our true master. We only listen to him because he’s the recitazione leader. No, I’m talking about the Wolfslayer.”
Hammond then turned back to the group.
“He’s the one that gave us these scars on our faces. Every member of the Crimson Pack gets one, as a reminder that they can never leave, o he’ll find them and kill them. He also understands our language and has taught me a great many things. Let me mostra you.”
Hammond barked and another lupo appeared, holding Steven’s son in his jaws.
“Luke!” Steven exclaimed.
“He taught me that leverage is the most powerful tool of persuasion,” Hammond said. “Now, I think a trade will be in order. Give me Oscar, o I kill your son.”
The group stood speechless, wondering what they should do.
“Don’t think I’m bluffing,” Hammond said, impatiently. “Killing’s become quite easy for me. te have until the count of three.”
“What do we do?” Adam asked.
“One!” Hammond began.
“We can’t just give up Oscar,” Claudette said. “They’ll kill him.”
“Two!”
“But we can’t let them kill Luke either,” Lisa replied.
“Thr-“
“Okay!” Oscar shouted, stepping forward. “We’ll do it. Just let Steven’s son go, first.”
“Wise choice,” Hammond said. He then motioned for the lupo holding Luke to let him go.
“What are te doing, Oscar?” Claudette asked.
“Don’t worry,” he replied, walking toward the Crimson wolves. “I have faith in te guys. te saved me once. te can do it again.”
The Crimson Lupi walked away, having captured Oscar and left the group standing in the middle of the forest, wondering how they were going to get Oscar back before it was too late.
”Give me a good reason why I shouldn’t kill te right now.”
Hammond, the leader of the Crimson Pack was furious at one of the Lupi for letting Oscar and the group from the Western Pack get away. As a new recruit, the lupo was dato the simple task of keeping watch on Oscar and he got away.
“L-let me make it up,” the lupo stammered. “I’ll get him back.”
“You have five seconds,” Hammond said. “Go.”
“What if we set a trap for them?” the lupo suggested. “Send a large group to attack the pack. They’ll take Oscar away from the danger where another group will be waiting to ambush them and in the chaos, we take Oscar. From what I’ve heard, it’s a tactic they’ve used before, so why shouldn’t it work for us?”
“Hmm,” Hammond thought. The lupo held his breath. Then Hammond began laughing. “I like it,” he said. “You’re in luck. I’m not gonna kill te right now.”
Hammond then walked away to prepare the pack and left the lupo standing alone with another.
“I hate it when he says that,” the first lupo said.
“Trust me,” the other lupo replied. “It’s better than when he doesn’t say it.”
da the time the group returned to the Western Pack, night had already fallen and most of the pack was sleeping. The group brought Oscar up to the tana, den where Winston, Eve, and Tony were living.
“It may be a bit cramped,” Stinky said. “But it’s probably the safest place for te right now.”
Stinky turned and began walking back down to the valley.
“The group will be sleeping right below te in case te need anything,” he said.
“Thank you,” Oscar said. “I’m not sure I’d be alive right now if it wasn’t for you.”
“Just get some sleep,” Stinky replied before heading back to unisciti the others below the den.
They all awoke with a start when they suddenly heard the howling of dozens of Lupi nearby. The Crimson Pack rushed in and the Western Pack scrambled to their feet to engage.
“Steven!” Adam shouted. “The Crimson Pack is attacking us!”
“Oh, really, Adam? I haven’t noticed!” Steven replied, sarcastically.
“Go get Oscar!” Stinky shouted. “We gotta get him out of here!”
Adam and Steven rushed up to the tana, den to get Oscar. Stinky and the rest of the group watched as the Crimson and Western Packs fought. Adam and Steven returned with Oscar.
“Okay, come on,” Stinky said, heading north up to the collina toward the omega dens. “Let’s go.”
“Where?” Lisa replied.
“I don’t know,” Stinky replied. “We just have to get him away from the Crimson Pack.” He then called out. “Jax, Martin!”
The two brothers turned from the battle and looked at him.
“You’re with us,” he said. “We need to protect Oscar. The bigger the group, the better chance we’ll have. Where’s Jonas?”
“I don’t know,” Martin replied. “He was out wandering when the attack began, and he hasn’t come back.”
“We’ll have to make do without him,” Stinky said. “Don’t worry. I’m sure he’s fine.”
The group followed Stinky up the collina and into the forest. They didn’t stop running until the sounds of battle had faded. They were now fairly deep in the Northern Region and stopped to catch their breath.
“We’ve got to find a safer place for you, Oscar,” Stinky said. “I have a feeling these Lupi won’t give up until they have you.”
“Why are they so hell bent on capturing you, anyway?” Runt asked.
“I’m not sure,” he replied. “Probably because I’m the last of my kind and I pose a threat to them. Us red Lupi were some of the toughest Lupi in the forest.”
“Wait,” Steven said. “Do te hear that?”
Everyone strained their ears but couldn’t pick up on anything. The forest was completely silent.
“Hear what?” Martin asked.
“Listen,” Steven replied.
“I don’t hear anything,” Lisa said.
“Exactly,” Steven replied. “It’s too quiet.”
He was right. There was absolutely no sound at all. No wind, no skittering critters, no birds, nothing. Everything was silent and it was a bit unsettling. Something was wrong
“Hmm,” Steven said.
“What is it, Steven?” Adam asked.
“I’m having Asia fontana Dew,” he replied. “Something feels strangely familiar.”
There was a short pause as Adam contemplated what Steven had just said.
“Steven, are te trying to say “déjà vu”?” he asked.
“Yeah, that’s what I said,” he replied, quickly. He stood in thought for a few più moments before something hit him.
“Of course,” he said. “It’s just like when Lisa and Runt first met,” he said. “When Lisa got wolfnapped a few years back, we sent a group to attack the pack that took her and then Runt snuck in and grabbed her while they were distracted.”
“Ah!” Kenya said, realizing what had happened. “They attacked us, knowing we’d take Oscar away to a place where we’d be più exposed.”
“We played right into their hands,” Stinky exclaimed.
“Technically, Lupi don’t have hands,” Jax detto frantically. “So that expression doesn’t-maybe, we played right into their paws?”
“The point is,” Stinky said. “We’re about to be…”
Suddenly, dozens of Lupi emerged from the bushes around the group of ten.
“Surrounded.”
The group formed a defensive cerchio around Oscar, keeping him in the middle of it. The crimson Lupi drew closer when a bigger one walked through the crowd. It was Hammond. He turned to the same lupo who proposed the plan to him.
“I gotta give credit where credit’s due,” he said. “You’re plan actually worked. Although I must admit, they were pretty foolish to fall for their own tactic so easily.”
He then turned back to the group protecting Oscar.
“Now, hand over the red wolf, and no one gets hurt…much,” he said.
“No,” Stinky said, boldly.
“I wasn’t asking,” Hammond replied. “I will not hesitate to tear every one of your throats out if I have to.”
“We’re not afraid of you,” Runt told him.
“Of course you’re not,” Hammond said, calmly. “Why would te be? You’ve dealt with packs like our plenty of times. No, te should be afraid of the man that we serve.”
“Who, Robert?” one of the Crimson Lupi asked.
“Oh, god no,” Hammond detto with a hint of disgust in his voice. “That man’s a pathetic weakling compared to our true master. We only listen to him because he’s the recitazione leader. No, I’m talking about the Wolfslayer.”
Hammond then turned back to the group.
“He’s the one that gave us these scars on our faces. Every member of the Crimson Pack gets one, as a reminder that they can never leave, o he’ll find them and kill them. He also understands our language and has taught me a great many things. Let me mostra you.”
Hammond barked and another lupo appeared, holding Steven’s son in his jaws.
“Luke!” Steven exclaimed.
“He taught me that leverage is the most powerful tool of persuasion,” Hammond said. “Now, I think a trade will be in order. Give me Oscar, o I kill your son.”
The group stood speechless, wondering what they should do.
“Don’t think I’m bluffing,” Hammond said, impatiently. “Killing’s become quite easy for me. te have until the count of three.”
“What do we do?” Adam asked.
“One!” Hammond began.
“We can’t just give up Oscar,” Claudette said. “They’ll kill him.”
“Two!”
“But we can’t let them kill Luke either,” Lisa replied.
“Thr-“
“Okay!” Oscar shouted, stepping forward. “We’ll do it. Just let Steven’s son go, first.”
“Wise choice,” Hammond said. He then motioned for the lupo holding Luke to let him go.
“What are te doing, Oscar?” Claudette asked.
“Don’t worry,” he replied, walking toward the Crimson wolves. “I have faith in te guys. te saved me once. te can do it again.”
The Crimson Lupi walked away, having captured Oscar and left the group standing in the middle of the forest, wondering how they were going to get Oscar back before it was too late.