or anyone else again.  Even though they had never hoped it would come to this they would lock the building down after they left so none of the wolves would escape.  And then they would detonate the building.

The explosives had been placed all around and inside the building early in construction just in case they were ever found out or something like this happened.  They had always been a danger but it was necessary in case they ever needed to destroy all the evidence of what they had done. 

Regretfully the humans got up from the room and after pressing a few keys on the main control panel and set the timer on the explosives; they left the room so they could leave before they got caught in the explosion.  They moved quickly for the detonation would happen in only three minutes.  As they prepared to leave they made sure the doors would close and they wolves would not escape.  When the emergency lights started to flash and sirens rang throughout the building it was the humans signal to evacuate.

In one of the main hallways

When everybody was finally back together they all agreed to split up and look for the exits.  They made four groups of five and began searching for exits.  But for some reason all they encountered were shut doors and no way out.  They began to feel suspicious and their worst fears were confirmed when most of the lights went out and sirens could be heard everywhere.  While the wolves had no idea what exactly was going to happen but they knew it wouldn't be good.

But the humans had slipped up just enough to mean not all the wolves would have to die.  Star's group were about to turn around and regroup  with the other groups when they came across a small service door that had been forgotten about and was still open.  Thinking quickly Star howled out to the rest of the groups telling them they found a way out.  However time was almost up.

Thirty four's group was one of the last to hear Star so they rushed toward the exits as fast as they could, their hearts pounding with fear and excitement.  After turning a final corner they some of them saw for the first time in years real sunlight.  It had a tremendous effect on all the wolves and for a few precious seconds they stood mesmerized by the sun's glow. 

When reality set back in they left the entrance and did a headcount about two hundred feet from the building.  Something was wrong; one of the groups was missing and everybody was about to consider going back for them when the building finally exploded in a massive fireball.

Right before the explosion: in the building

The last group was led by number one hundred.  Unfortunately for them they were the farthest away from the exit and it took some time for them to hear Star, and by then it was too late.  They had put in their best effort to get out in time and were very close to the exit when the building exploded.  As they were in the hallway they failed to notice many of the explosives were right next to them and when they detonated one hundred's group was instantly engulfed in a huge fireball and died instantly.

Chapter fourteen: Star's death

All the wolves were just frozen in awe of the explosion and what it mean to them.  The building that had imprisoned them behind their walls was gone for good but it had taken even more of their friends with it.  It was obvious even to Star that there was no way one hundred's group was still alive but the wolves knew from the moment they hatched their plan that not all of them would escape.

For a while they mourned in silent not knowing what to say or do until thirty four broke the stillness when he walked up to Star and motioned for them to walk away.  Star had been waiting for any opportunity to talk things out with thirty four so he agreed to go.

The rest of the wolves understood that Star and thirty four had some things to discuss so they chose to stay with each other and wait for Star and thirty four to return.

Thirty four led Star a long ways into the woods and far away from the ruined building and the rest of the escapees.  To Star thirty four seemed tense like he was looking for something in particular.  He also hadn't said a word to Star since they left which made Star even more concerned about him.

At last thirty four stopped atop a large hill and called for Star to follow him up.  When Star got to the top he couldn't believe what he saw.  They were standing on the edge of a large gorge where there was a deep river flowing beneath them.  From where they were they could see for miles of undisturbed wilderness and it was an incredible thing for Star to see.  Thirty four on the other hand seemed even more tense and Star still had no idea why he had chosen this place to talk. 

Then suddenly thirty four spoke to Star for the first time in what felt like ages.  "I wanted to apologize for the way I've been lately.  It's just that things have been so crazy and I didn't know how to deal with it all."

"Why didn't you just say something then?  I'm sure we all would have helped you" said Star.

"You know I'm not like that.  I didn't want them to think I was breaking under the pressure because then they might too.  Anyway I'm really thankful for all the help you've given me" said thirty four.

"No problem" said Star.

"And because you've helped me so much..." said thirty four

"Yeah?" asked Star

"I'll let you die quickly!!" said thirty four and in one fell swoop he rammed into Star causing him to lose his balance on the gorge's edge.  Star tried to regain his balance but it didn't work. 

As he was falling down Star took one last look back at thirty four who was smirking with joy at getting rid of Star for good.  Words escaped Star and all he could do was just look back at thirty four with a "why did it have to be this way?" expression on his face. 

Thirty four kept his eyes on the falling Star until he saw him hit the river sending a large splash into the air.  Knowing that Star was out of his way for good thirty four turned his back on the gorge and started on his way back to the other wolves.

The other wolves were suspicious when they saw thirty four limping as he approached them with Star nowhere in sight.  Number six was the first one to question thirty four.  "Where's Star?" asked number six.

"He's dead." replied thirty four whose tone was not even the least bit remorseful.  All the other wolves were taken aback at this and now had one more fellow wolf to mourn.

"How?  Did something happen between the two of you?" asked number six who eyed thirty four's supposedly hurt leg.

"He tried to kill me but before he could he fell off this hill we were on and fell to his death."

"Why would he do something like that?" asked number thirty three who joined in the questioning.

"I don't know.  One minute he was as friendly as possible and the next he tried to kill me.  I'm just so sick of all this.  Come on, let's leave this place for good.  I know a place where we can stay for a while where we can think about what we'll do next." said thirty four who moved out towards the woods.  Slowly the rest of the wolves started to follow him for they needed somebody to guide them to whatever fate had in store for them.

Chapter fifteen: Return

They were the first three to escape.  Before their capture they had never know each other but they had to trust each other and work together to regain their freedom.  They had encountered each other by pure chance,  and the humans who decided to take them just happened to be in the area where they met.

Back then the humans had just started capturing the wolves and were still having trouble taking them alive.  They awoke halfway on the ride to the building where they would be destined to fight only to find themselves in the dark compartment of a large truck.

None of them knew what their lives would have become if they didn't escape but they knew nothing good would have been in their future.  So they spent the remainder of their trip plotting how they would make their break.  When the humans opened the compartment they got rushed by the wolves who quickly killed every human within eyesight.

They had no idea where they were so they were forced to adapt to this strange new area.  For a while they avoided the humans as well as any fellow wolf who just happened to get near where they were hiding out.

But soon things deteriorated with the trio.  The first two wolves wanted to rejoin their fellow wolves and get on with their lives and try to forget everything that happened.  The third wolf was the only one who deviated from that path.  He became obsessed with getting revenge on the humans who had wronged him at any cost. 

For a while Star lied on the ground just staring up at the sky.  It took him some time for him to realize that he was somehow alive.  The last thing he remembered was being thrown from the cliff by thirty four and hitting the water.  Then everything went blank for Star.

The first wolf was all alone.  A year after the third wolf left the second wolf had gotten ill.  She tried desperately to fight her illness but one day it became too much for her body to handle and she died a peaceful death.

The first wolf had no idea who the half-dead wolf was that floated by the river bank he was on but he knew it looked like the body of someone who had escaped from the humans.  The first wolf's choice was clear.  He dragged the body out of the river and when the wolf started to regain consciousness the first wolf left the wolf he saved to