Chapter 15: The Great Destroyer

“Alright, we need to go and get them before Viggo has the chance to use it,” Humphrey said.

Stinky suddenly lifted his head into the air, his nose twitching rapidly before he began growling.

“Stinky, what is it?” Runt asked.

All of a sudden, they heard gunshots as they were ambushed by a group of men that Viggo had left behind. The fight didn’t last for long and the men soon retreated north.

“They won’t stay gone for long,” Adam said, “more will come.”

“We need to go now,” Stinky said. “Adam, Oscar, Runt, and I will stay here and help fight Viggo’s men. The rest of you, go with Mordecai and find Viggo.”

“What about me?” Mick asked. “Why can’t I stay behind and fight the dirty humans?”

“Trust me,” Stinky replied, “you’ll want to be there when you find Viggo.”

“Good, I like that plan.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Steven said quickly, “Mordecai’s coming with us? That’s totally going to mess up our rhythm.”

“What rhythm?” Humphrey asked.

“Please, just call me Mort,” he said.

“They’re headed due north,” Kenya added, “that’s our best bet.”

“All right, let’s go,” Humphrey said as the group began to head north.

Viper slithered up Humphrey’s leg and onto his back, coiling her tail around his body for support.

“Hey, do you mind loosening up that death grip of yours?” Humphrey asked.

“Sorry,” she replied.

It was around midday when they set out and for a good hour or so, they found nothing. Until they came across a seemingly abandoned campsite hidden in the trees. Everyone stopped and waited in the trees for a moment.

“There he is,” Kate whispered.

“Why would he stop and leave himself so exposed?” Viper said. “That’s weird, right?”

“It is, Viper,” Humphrey replied suspiciously. “He’s up to something.”

The group rushed in and swiftly attacked the campsite, surprised to find so little humans there. They had expected to find it crawling with Viggo’s men, but it was almost completely empty, and the fight was almost over before they knew it. Once the humans were gone, the wolves searched the entire campsite for any sign of Viggo or the Destroyer but there was absolutely nothing.

“We’ve searched everywhere,” Humphrey said, disappointed. “He’s not here. He never was. The men he left behind at the pack were another misdirect.”

“If Viggo wanted us to go north, he is definitely heading south,” Mort added. “I just hope Adam and everyone else are having better luck fighting off Viggo’s men.”

Everyone then turned around and headed back south. They traveled for hours but couldn’t find a single thing. It was as if Viggo had just vanished. Night had long since fallen and everyone was tired and annoyed with having not found anything all day. Eventually, Humphrey cracked.

“Ugh! How is this guy managing to stay out of our way?” he exclaimed. “Mort, is there anything you can tell us about the Great Destroyer? Something that might help us figure out where Viggo might be?”

“I’m afraid there’s not much I can tell you,” Mort replied. “My father brought it to our pack, but I have no idea what it does. He and everyone who helped form the Protectors are long dead. No one in the pack knows anything about it. All I can do is describe what it looks like.”

“Well, that’s a start,” Humphrey said optimistically.

“It’s a decent size, with two wheels attached to a long tube,” Mort began. “The tube is long, hollow, and sits at an angle. And it’s made out of some hard, shiny material.”

“Oh no,” Kenya said, worriedly.

“What is it, Kenya?” Kate asked.

“I know what it is.”

“What?” Humphrey asked.

“It’s a cannon.”