The sound had finally moved away from him. Breathing in a deep cleansing breath @Guiltyparties turned from the sunny window to look into the darkness of the bedroom. Something was off about today he thought. Warnings ran through his veins. Yet for the life of him he couldn't figure out what it was that caused the unease.

In the forest behind Guiltyparties house, the gnome zombies had started to wake. They were tired of being forgotten on Canada Day. They would wait patiently for people to drop mead and food onto the soil as stated in the treaty of 1220. Part 1.001528 of the treaty also stated each Canada Day the true story would be told generation after generation around the campfire least the stories would be forgotten.

The gnome zombies had kept their part of the treaty year after year, century after century. They hid in the designated spot each year awaiting the beginning of the ritual. Each year the old ritual was forgotten. The poor gnome zombies were hungry. Really all they wanted was some good mead to drink. What is life without mead?

Disgruntled, the Zombie Gnomes crawled up from the ground to the clear clean Canadian fresh air. Unfortunately, a few zombies lost some limbs during the climb out. At this point, it really didn't matter. Limbs or no limbs they wanted their due. It amazed the zombies how old traditions were just swept away and forgotten. It was time to show those Canadians not to mess with tradition.

The wolf would only have to wait for her to get up, dressed, and take care of the cats so they could be on their way to the party. Sometimes it didn't pay to be a wolf when a person had cats. Today was a special day and the wolf wanted to partake of the Canada Day festivities.

Unfortunately, she needed a ride so she waited while @Shadowspub went through her morning routine so they could be on the way to Guilty's house. The wolf did a little dance while waiting. Knowing Shadowspub would leave for the party in her own time, the wolf sighed and laid in front of the door.

Shadows too felt something in the air that wasn't quite right. Today she found herself hurrying through her morning routine to get on the road. Not to mention the wolf was driving her batty huffing, puffing and sighing.

Shadowspub needed to speak with Guiltyparties to see if he felt it too. Canada was their home. Something was telling her life, as she knew, it was in danger. Jumping in the car with the wolf, Shadowspub set off to Guiltyparties home in hopes together they would solve the mystery of the weird feelings she was having.

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Taking the shortest way possible to Guilty's house, Shadows slammed on her breaks just before she hit a gnome?

In the middle of the road was a gnome standing tall with a Canadian flag on his chest. He held up his hand to halt the car. The wolf began to dance. The gnome said, 'Hello Shadowspub!' while giving her a very firm handshake.

All Shadows could think of was, How did he know my name? The gnome laughed and explained that he was @Jackmiller. What was Shadows worried about? Guilty was the one in danger! They had better hurry before it was too late to help.

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Shadows gave one last look in her back seat at Jack opening a Kentucky Fried Chicken box. Not offering food to anyone in the van, Jack munched away on the steaming hot crispy chicken. The wolf sniffed the air filled with the smell of KFC. She started drooling onto the seats of the van. Shadows drove faster before all hell broke loose in her van over fried chicken.

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Shadows rounded the next curve, once again hitting the breaks to stop her van. It had crossed her mind to run over the gnome relaxing in the middle of the road sitting in a lawn chair.

@Enginewitty stood up, grabbing his lawn chair, and asked what took Shadows so long to get here? He was almost out of Monster drink, you know, eh?

Shadows teeth might have ground together a bit but no one else noticed as Enginewitty was trying to take a piece of Jack's KFC. Growls from the wolf could be heard.

Jack gave the wolf a look while handing one tiny fried chicken wing to Enginewitty just to shut the wolf up so he could eat in peace.

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Shadows, shaking her head, drove on. One last time she had to stop. Right in the middle of the road was a bright rainbow blinding all in sight.

Jack and Engine rolled their eyes while watching the gnome, @TheHive, slowly walk up to the van, tip his hat to Shadows and squeeze into the back of the van asking where his KFC chicken was. Jack and Engine both looked out the window and never answered poor Hive.

By this point in her day, all Shadows wanted to do was get these crazy people out of her van so she could go back home to peace and quiet.

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Forty minutes later and 10 fights over KFC, the van finally stopped in front of Guilty's house. The wolf jumped out of the open window in a flash. She took off running to the back yard as fast as possible. Shadows and the three gnomes all shook their heads and followed. They knew no amount of calling for the wolf would make her listen.

Making their way around the house to the back yard the group saw the wolf digging holes in Guilties lawn. Guilty was trying to figure out what in the world a wolf was doing in his back yard. Ready to tie up the wolf so it would stop digging his lawn, Guilty turned... Before him, a disgruntled Shadowpub and three tiny gnomes, all leaving chicken bones in their wake, were walking straight towards him.

Guilty ran his hands through his hair, took a deep breath while nodding at Shadows with a questioning eye. Shadows returned the nod and said, "Your guess is as good as mine".

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Jack went to open his mouth when the wolf started laughing and pointing with her paw. All eyes turned to a new gnome that had appeared out of thin air before them. KFC forgotten, the group closed ranks around the wolf that now was on it's back trying to breathe she was laughing so hard. @Jackmiller might have kicked the wolf a bit but that is a story for another day.

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Enginewitty jumped out in front or was pushed.... really we will never know. Once front and center with the naked gnome, he said, "Dude, put some clothes on! You are blinding us all".

From the depths of the earth, screams could be heard as the naked gnome explained he was 'The Gnome of Canada Day Past'. How he was dressed. He had gone out of his way to put on his red maple leaf! What more could anyone ask for?

Shadows opened her mouth to speak. She sighed and might have kicked the wolf a tiny bit too before she stated, "Explain yourself!"

Taking a healthy swig of his glass of mead, the gnome of Canada Day Past went on to explain how the gnome zombies had been forgotten over the centuries. The tales that kept the peace each year in Canada were not being remembered. Now, decades later, the zombie gnomes were tired of being ignored.

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At this moment the zombie gnomes were digging there way up through the soil. It was past time to get what is due them. A warm fire with a few grilled salmon, steaks, and the best mead money can buy, better be ready before they got to Guilties backyard.

Shadows looked at Guilty and asked the question, "Did you plant green beans around your home as every good Canadian should?"

Guilty looked up in the air and might have kicked the wolf a tiny bit before saying one word, "No."

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The wolf tired of being blamed for everything decided someone had to take charge of this mess. Nudging each gnome and person into place preparations got underway. It was time to pay back the zombie gnomes for all they had done for Canada and peace.

Enough alcohol was purchased to drown a small town or last a Canadain family for one night. Steaks, salmon, and fries were made to perfection on the BBQ. A large table was set while the gnome of Canada Day Past decided to sun himself and didn't want any tan lines.

The Bonfire was lite while the red gold of the setting sun slowly sank down to the horizon. Everyone grabbed a bottle of mead or a bowl if you were a wolf by some chance. Glasses were raised while the wolf sang a sad song of battles won and lost. Honor was paid to all who fought and died to make the country, Canada, grand.

Slowly all walked around the edge of the makeshift camp pouring mead into the soil. The wolf dropped pieces of rare meat and fish at the end of the trail. Three times around the group walked, each time noticing the ground was clean. On the fourth pass, small bits of food could still be seen and the heroes knew their job was done.

Once more the wolf raised her head and a song of sorrow turned into joy and thankfulness for the new day had started it's climb from the East. The wolf looked Shadowspub in her eyes and offered her paw with a bow. Shadows shook the wolfs hand and slowly walked to her van. She was tired and had a long drive home.

The three gnomes were snoring under the picknick table when Guilty came out of the house with a blanket to throw over them. The wolf nodded once more, turned and disappeared into the woods never to be seen again.