smile.

“Just got a little lost... darling...” she managed through her teeth.

“Well let’s go back, Hiatus ordered for everyone to be gathered up!”

“Oh joy... that’ll be fun” Fly said under her breath, letting Arrow lead her away. 

“So that was only a minor setback” Hiatus said coolly to his younger brother. “I’ve already got something planned for him but until then, we’ve got bigger things to deal with”

Hawk nodded, “Seemed rather... annoying. But I do have a surprise that might help you solve this little Everest problem faster”

“Oh?”

Hawk grinned and motioned for one of the wolves following the brothers to step forward. Hiatus grimaced when his yellow eyes scanned over the scruffy, dirty grey-brown colored wolf, but what was even more disgusting was the dripping meat hanging out of his mouth. If it didn’t smell so bad, Hiatus wouldn’t have known it was meat at all! 

“This is Mange” Hawk started. “He found this back where he came from... care to explain Mange?”

“It’s poison” Mange breathed, dropping his prize but standing over it protectfully. “It was used by strange creatures to kill my pack. I knew what it did but they didn’t believe me! They ate it and then they died”

The huge white wolf squinted and scowled in disgust. “And just how does it work?” he asked skeptically.

“All you have to do is rub this-” Mange tapped his pile of meat, “- and if you eat what it drips on, you get sick... and then you die”

Hiatus tilted his head but an evil leer was spreading across his face.

“And there’s no cure”

“Mange has offered to lend us some for Everest as long as he can test it out on a wider scale first” Hawk finished.

Hiatus nodded. “And I know just who to test it out on”

* * *

“Knock it off!”

“You’re stepping on my paw Quick!”

“You’re lucky I’m not stepping on your mouth Odin, now shut up or you’re gonna scare the deer away!”

“You shut up, you’re the one talking!”

“Ugh! Both of you shut up!” Tempest growled quietly. “Pay attention!”

Glaring at each other, Odin and Quick regretfully focused back on their target: a lone deer. A few trees ahead, Everest, Will and Altea crept closer. They were treading dangerously close to Ublureak territory and any loud noises would surely make Hiatus’s scouts come investigate. But in a flash, all three had knocked the deer right off it’s own feet without a sound.

“Only have enough to fill you up” Everest instructed, as the pack moved in to eat. “This one’s going to Will’s pack”

“Dad’s not going to want it...” Will said. “But last time we went, everyone looked horrible. They probably haven’t been able to catch anything either”

Everest agreed sadly. Food was hard to find now and a pack as big as Will’s was hard to feed. Everest himself wasn’t hungry, he had too much to worry about anyway, so he took a few bites then sat off to the side, waiting for the other six to finish. It was only a few more moments until each was full enough, then with a group effort, all started to move the deer towards the Aklark pack’s territory. After going around the flatter edge of their territory, Will’s old territory was visible and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. 

“Just a little bit more” Everest huffed, grinning at his weary group. But just as the words came out of his mouth, Everest could already see the Aklark coming with Cedar and Willow, Will’s parents, leading the way. Will jogged forward happily to greet his family but it was soon easy to see that the pack was on edge.

“What’s going on?” Will asked anxiously. “Is everyone alright?”

Cedar nodded but didn’t say anything, leaving his mate Willow to answer for him.

“Hiatus is on the way” the creamy-brown wolf replied, then with a faint smile as she noticed the deer added, “Thanks for that”

“...Oh Cedar...!”

Hiatus’s voice was like ice. Just as cold and unwanted. Cedar frowned, furrowing his brow.

“You need to hide” Willow ordered sternly to Everest’s pack.

Everest nodded and the group slipped back into the dense woods that marked the territory line between the Aklark’s territory and unoccupied land. Will stayed behind and stood between his older brother and younger sister. Hiatus and Hawk’s forms were soon visible along with a group of Hawk’s wolves and with every step they took, Will could feel the anxiety building up. Cedar puffed out his chest and attempted to thunder a reply.

“Hiatus, I-”

“Cedar, Cedar, Cedar... I thought you’d be happy to see me! After all, your pack is one of the few that-”

“Get out of here!” Cedar spat angrily.

Hiatus’s calm smile melted into a frown. 

“I was hoping it wouldn’t come to this” Hiatus said in a fiercely cold voice. “One last chance to join me. And if you don’t... your pack will suffer”

Cedar shook with rage but only clenched his jaw. Hiatus smirked but suddenly, he finally noticed the deer... and his eyes scanned the pack until they rested on Will. The young wolf stiffened up. He had hoped Hiatus wouldn’t recognize him. Hiatus mumbled something to Hawk and Hawk motioned to the others who had followed them. 

“Where’s Everest?” Hiatus snickered to Will, stepping closer. Will took a hesitant step back but kept his mouth shut. 

“It’s unlike any of you to be far from him...”

“Get out of here now Will” Willow growled to her son. “We’ll be fine”

Will took off, sending up a spray of snow, leaving his pack to deal with Hiatus.

Hiatus didn’t move a muscle and watched lazily. He could care less.

“Last chance Cedar...” he droned.

“I didn’t want anything to do with whatever “brilliant” ideas you’ve thought up! Now get out of here now!”

Hiatus shook his head. “It’ll be a shame to get rid of you. You could’ve been a great ally”

And with fake sadness, the two brothers and their group left the Aklark pack, leaving an uneasy silence behind them.

Chapter II

Everest’s crystal blue eyes watched Hiatus’s group leave, wracking his brain as he tried to think about what they were planning and a way to fix it before any damage was done. 

“We have to do something” Will said desperately. “He’s going to do something to them!”

“I know” Everest replied simply, eyes fixed straight ahead. 

“Well are we going to stay here tonight?”

Everest grimaced. There was only so much they could do... and although their pack was strong for it’s size, anything Hiatus and Hawk would be bringing back would surely be stronger. Will watched Everest impatiently, shifting his weight uneasily. 

“Don’t worry, we’ll think of something”

“How about a few of us stay here” Quick suggested. “And we’ll keep an eye open here while you go after them”

“I didn’t say I was going to go after-”

“You always do” Quick yawned.

“Alright, then Quick, Will, Tempest and Altea stay here, Odin and Comet come along with me”

The four that were told to stay nodded, and watched Everest and Comet leave at a steady trot, Odin bounding carelessly after them. But as soon as they were out of sight, Will began to pace back and forth again, clearly distressed. 

“Calm down” Quick said impatiently, laying down. “He hasn’t been able to take your pack yet when he could’ve surprised them, he’s not going to do it when they’re alert and ready”

Will paused for a second then nervously peered over his shoulder to where Hiatus had left.

“It’s alright Will, Everest wouldn’t let it happen” Tempest said gently, nuzzling Will. Will stopped again, taken aback and Quick shifted uncomfortably. 

“Well, uh... I think we should be watching the pack or something” Quick said, clearing his throat. “Or practicing stuff... like Everest usually says”

Tempest stepped back from Will awkwardly and agreed, dropping her eyes to the soggy ground. Altea watched curiously, eyes darting from one pack mate to the other. Tempest noticed Altea and suddenly perked up.

“How about I show you some plants and stuff, since this is new territory for you?”

Altea nodded silently and followed Tempest, leaving Quick and Will to sit awkwardly by themselves.

“Well... uh, nothing personal... but I think Everest might need some extra help” Quick mumbled, rising up and trotting hastily in the direction Everest, Comet and Quick had gone.

Like Will’s group, Everest and Comet were also unsettled, but with Odin’s fake fierceness, they were dealing with it much better. 

“They won’t even see what’s coming! I say we just attack them right there!”

Everest snorted and Comet shook her head.

“Well I could take ‘em!” Odin gloated. “They just haven’t given me a good chance”

“We’re just going to see what