Alpha and Omega: Missing Parents
by: PurpleDragon02
Special Thanks to:

Chidori1334 for support.

jhilton0907 for the idea that Humphrey was relocated as a pup.

ben15delas for support.

Chapter 1: Humphrey's Flashbacks

It was a calm day in Jasper Park. It was Father's Day and Kate had everyone over to help her with her father's gift. Winston, Eve, and Tony would soon be arriving, and she needed all the help she could get. Her sister, Lilly had come, along with her husband, Garth. Kate's husband, Humphrey, was also helping by watching their pups to make sure they stayed out of trouble.

"Humphrey," Kate called out. "Could you and Lilly come and help me finish up Dad's gift? I want it to be perfect."

"But Kate," Humphrey said. "What about the pups?"

"That is why we are here."

Everyone turned around to see their friends, Marcel and Paddy arriving at the entrance of to the den.

"Marcel. Paddy," Kate said, greeting them both.

"Guys, we're glad you could make it," Humphrey said. Marcel and Paddy looked around the den.

"Well, Paddy said. "It looks like everyone's here."

"And just in time, too," Lilly said. "They'll be here any minute."

"Which is why we need to get this done," Kate said. "Would you mind watching the pups while Humphrey helps me finish this?" Kate asked them.

"Of course," Marcel said.

It wasn't too long before Winston and the others arrived at the den, mere moments after Kate and Humphrey finished up their gift and moved it out of view.

"Dad," Kate said as they came inside. "Happy Father's Day. We made something for you."

Kate and Humphrey took the gift out from its hiding place and gave it to Winston.

"Kate," he said. "It's beautiful. Thank you."

As Kate and Winston talked, Garth walked over and sat down next to his father.

"I really wish Mom was here," he said sadly, looking down at the ground.

"So do I, Garth," Tony said, recalling the terrible accident that took his wife's life. It was a hunting trip that they had gone on many years ago when Garth was just a young pup. The caribou had gotten spooked and bolted. When the dust cleared, Tony found her, lying in the dirt, motionless.

"She would be so proud of the wolf you've become."

While everyone was talking, the youngest of Kate and Humphrey's pups, Runt, wanted to ask Humphrey something.

"Dad?" he said.

"Yes Runt?" Humphrey replied, turning to face his son.

"Are you going to visit grandpa today?"

"Runt," Humphrey said. "What do you mean? He's right here."

"No, not him," Runt said, motioning towards Winston. "I mean my other grandpa. You know, your dad."

Upon hearing this, Humphrey suddenly froze.

"Yeah, Dad," his eldest son, Stinky, said. "You never talk about your parents. How come?"

"I don't think he's even told me anything about his parents or his puphood, for that matter," Kate said, turning away from her conversation with her father.

Humphrey remained frozen, not moving, not speaking and soon it became very apparent that something was wrong.

"Humphrey?" Kate said, approaching her dazed husband. "Are you okay?"

Humphrey said nothing, did nothing, except stand there, staring at the ground with a very troubled expression on his face and a frightened look in his eyes.

"Humphrey, what's wrong?" Kate asked, but Humphrey just stood there, his mouth barely open with a look on his face like a young pup watching something terrible happen right before his eyes.

What Kate and the others didn't know, is that Humphrey was having flashbacks of his parents and the terrible thing that happened the he saw them for the last time. In his head, he heard himself crying out for help.

"Dad!" he heard himself say. "Don't let them take me."

Then, almost as suddenly as it began, his mind was jerked back into the real world and he saw that everyone in the cave was now looking at him.

"Dad," the middle pup, Claudette, said. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Humphrey lied. "I'm fine. Just, had a little something."

Kate looked around the den. "I think Humphrey needs some air," she said. "Come on."

Without another word, Kate led Humphrey out onto the rock that jutted out from the den. Once they got out earshot out the others, Kate sat down to talk to him.

"What was that about?" she asked, rather sternly.

"Kate," Humphrey said, a slight quiver evident in his voice, a sign that something was clearly still bothering him. "I saw them."

"Wait," Kate said, trying to understand. "You saw them? Humphrey, who did you see?"

Humphrey didn't answer right away. Then, very quietly, barely above a whisper, Humphrey said, "My parents. Kate, I saw my parents."