Chapter 5: Rescue and Regroup

King's threatening words echoed throughout the valley as King grabbed Humphrey by the back of his neck and dragged him back inside the den. Outside, Kate and the others began debating what to do and how to come up with a plan to rescue Humphrey in so little time.

"What do we do?" Kate said. "I mean we can't just hand Runt over to them."

"No, of course not," Winston said.

"So what's the plan?" Garth asked.

"I don't know," Kate said.

She was so worried about her husband. She knew King would keep his word, which was a surprise in and of itself that he even had enough honor to do so, but it was still something she didn't want.

"I'll figure it out, I just need more time."

But she knew that time was short and any plan they came up with would be rushed and not very good. But they had no choice. The clock was ticking and Humphrey's life along with it. Many long and arduous minutes passed and finally, a plan had slowly been formed. But their hour was almost up.

"Okay, so we have a plan to rescue Humphrey, the trick is to pull it off before King loses patience," Kate said. "We have to stall him, somehow."

They thought and thought and as crucial time ticked by, nothing came to mind. Then, when all hope seemed lost, an idea came to mind.

"I've got it!" Garth said. And as he told everyone about his plan, the tension continued to build.

Meanwhile, King approached Humphrey, who was still laying down, in his own den.

"Time's up," he said.

Humphrey looked up at him with a dirty look.

"Oh, don't worry," King said. "Think of it this way: soon you'll be back in your own pack and your son will be mine. Or you'll be at the bottom of the cliff. It's really up to Kate."

Humphrey continued looking at King.

"Gosh, can't feel too good about that."

King's smirk disappeared. "Let's go."

With that, he grabbed Humphrey by the back of his neck again, and dragged him out of the den and to the edge of the cliff. King called down into the valley where Kate and Garth were waiting with Runt.

"Time's up!"

He placed a paw on Humphrey, slightly pushing him towards the edge of the cliff.

"What's your choice?"

Kate and Garth looked at each other, unsure of whether they should really go through with this.

"Give me your answer," King said. "My patience is wearing thin."

Kate and Garth to look at each other. Kate, with a solemn look in her eyes, slowly nodded. She looked up at King, and then at Humphrey.

"We'll do it," she said, yielding to King's demands.

"Good," King said. "Send him up."

"Wait!" Garth said. "How do we know you won't give up Humphrey once you have Runt?"

"Would you rather have the alternative?" King said, pushing Humphrey closer towards the edge of the cliff. Humphrey was now only a few inches from falling to his death.

"How about a simultaneous exchange?" Kate suggested.

"No compromises," King shouted. "I'm done with this."

Kate and Garth looked up at him in confusion.

"Do I look stupid to you?" he shouted down to them. "I know you're stalling. It's obviously a trap."

"Well," Humphrey said, playing along. "If it's obviously a trap, it's not a very good one."

"Hey!" Kate shouted up to him. "You're not even in on the super secret plan."

"Quiet!" King shouted. "I've run out of patience."

"Now!" Kate shouted.

While Kate and Garth were stalling King and keeping him occupied, the rest of the pack was sneaking around to the back of the den and were waiting for Kate's signal to attack.

As she yelled out the order to attack, they rushed down, taking King and the Rouges by surprise. As King turned and saw the attacking group, his face became furrowed in frustration. His paw was still on Humphrey's side, and as he saw the attacking wolves, he turned his head back to Humphrey and smiled as he pushed him over the edge.

"NO!!" Kate shouted.

Kyle saw King push Humphrey over and rushed over to the cliffside just in time to grab Humphrey's tail and save him from the terrible fall into the valley below. Kyle pulled Humphrey back up onto the cliff.

"Well," Humphrey said. "Nice to know you care."

"Don't ruin this," Kyle replied.

Kyle helped Humphrey to escape into the trees on the outer edges while the rest of the pack covered them. This was a terrible blow to King and they all knew he would come back harder than ever. And they had to be prepared for it.