VOICES:

-Everest: Ben Affleck

-Odin: Sam Troughton

-Cheif: Richard Harris

-Fly: Jennifer Aniston

-Aniu: Glenn Close

-Arrow: Jeff Berg

-Hiatus: Alan Rickman

-Will: Ralph Macchio

-Ceder: Steve Martin

Chapter I

Eyes locked on each other, two wolves stood in an empty field, tense and ready for any move the other might make. The larger one, clearly older, circled the younger golden one, never letting his dark blue eyes leave the icy blue eyes of the gold. The younger wolf started to circle too, gaze unwavering and eyes searching for an opening. In a flash, the bigger wolf dived for the smaller one, but the golden wolf was ready. With the same speed, the younger wolf dodged and bumped the old white while both were still moving. The old wolf was thrown off balance and landed in the powdery snow. The young wolf had his opening. In a split second, he had his elder pinned. The old one smiled.

            “You’ve done well Everest” he said.

Everest beamed and wagged his tail, letting go of his hostage.

            “However, you forgot one thing” the white wolf said.

Everest’s face twisted in confusion and he wracked his brain trying to remember.

            “Don’t let your attacker go until he surrenders” the old wolf said quietly.

The old wolf knocked Everest’s legs out from under him and sent him tumbling through the powder. As fast as he had gone down, Everest was back up but the old wolf chuckled. Something flapped its wings above their heads and the old one paused and looked up as the black raven cawed and circled in the sky. Everest crouched, ready to pounce, taking back the old one’s attention.

            “Alright, alright you win! My old bones can’t take much more of this”

“Is that another trick?” Everest asked cautiously.

            “No. we’re done and you’re done training!” the old wolf said, ruffling the top of Everest’s head affectionately.

Everest’s heart thumped in his chest. It had taken him a whole year to finish this training. A whole year since the old wolf, Chief had adopted him. And he was done.

“Well are we going to celebrate?” he finally asked, darting after Chief.

The old wolf chuckled.

            “We just finished training; wouldn’t a little rest be like a celebration to you?”

   No! Everest thought, but he knew better then to say something like that to Chief. Chief had always been a father- figure to Everest. No one knew where he had come from or who his parents were, but Chief had welcomed him into the pack with open paws. Chief was the alpha of his pack. In the region of Northern Alaska that they occupied, Chief was well known, especially since his pack was one of the strongest in the area.

            The pair travelled the trail leading to their familiar valley surrounded by white- tipped mountains and a few wolves scouting greeted them warmly on the way. Everest puffed his chest out and carried himself proudly, hoping that someone would ask why he was so happy but his efforts were interrupted.

            “Dad!” another wolf a year older then Everest and grey in color raced up to greet Chief. Then his dark blue eyes came to rest on Everest. Everest had never disliked anyone in the pack, but Arrow was by far his least favorite.

            “What are you back so early for?” Arrow sneered.

                        “Arrow, knock it off” Chief snapped, “He’s done with his training, just like you finished last year”

Arrow threw the golden wolf a dirty look but hurried after his father.

The rest of the Ublureak pack, wolves in all shades of grey, were dozing in the snow. But as their leader passed, they opened their eyes and woke up. Many smiled at Everest as if they knew what he had accomplished. It made the young wolf feel a little better, but his triumph had been soiled by Arrow. Among the shaggy wolves, another jumped and weaved through, trying to get to Everest.

“Hey Odin” Everest greeted, still a little disappointed.

            “Why are you back so early?” the sandy wolf with the brown spot inquired. “Not that I don’t mind”

“Finished training…” Everest said simply.

Odin beamed, but Everest went after the older leader, knowing his best friend wouldn’t be far behind. The old wolf travelled past the pack gracefully with Everest not a step behind but turned at the edge of the woods.

            “I must go on by myself for a little, okay son?”

Everest nodded but couldn’t help but to let a smile spread across his face: Chief had called him his son!

“Why?” Odin blurted.

            “To take a walk. Any good leader needs to take a walk by himself to think over things… and if we kings are really lucky, we receive guidance”

“Okay” Everest sighed, returning to the pack.

            “Everest”

The golden wolf peered back over his shoulder.

            “I’m proud of you”

Everest grinned from ear to ear and returned back to the back with a bounce in his step. The old wolf smiled to himself and headed deep into the woods. Travelling the worn trail that had carried his forefathers before him, the old wolf majestically made his way up the incline knowing exactly where it would lead. Chief knew it well even though he had only travelled it a few times himself. Those few times had been one, when his father had brought him up here; two, when he had been chosen as the future leader; and a third time just before he had found Everest. And each time he had viewed the same mirage… the same ghost-like wolf that had instructed him and the other alphas when they were in need of guidance. This time, as he climbed to the top of the tallest mountain in those territories, he pondered what had called him to see Aniu this time. As soon as he reached the top, the mist swirling around seemed to make the white figure in front of him glow.

            “Aniu” Chief greeted, respectfully lowering his head. “What have I been called for?”

After Chief’s compliment, Everest felt on top of the world again. Excitedly, he told Odin all about his training and how he had finished and how Chief had suddenly become interested in some stupid bird. The two wolves continued down the mountain until four others chasing each other caught their eyes.

Arrow and his three friends Ice, Echo and Wave stopped playing when they noticed the other two approaching. Arrow stood tall and stepped forward.

“What do you want?”

“Just to play…” Everest replied hesitantly.

“You’re not even part of this pack!” Arrow spat.

“I’m just as much a part of this pack as you are!” Everest said, Odin nodding furiously with him.

            “Are you joking?” Arrow jeered, making the other three laugh.

Everest clenched his jaw.

“If I was joking, I would have said you could beat me in a fight, a race… you name it”

The laughter stopped. Odin’s face split into a huge grin and he silently gloated. It was so quiet, a snowflake falling would have sounded like thunder. Arrow was taken so off guard, he didn’t know how to reply.

            “Fine!” Arrow finally stuttered. “Let’s settle this right here, right now”

                        “Yeah, lets!” Odin barked. “He can beat you at anything anyway!”

Everest’s heart started to race, but he kept his face emotionless.

            “A race! From over by the pack to back here”

Everest nodded and followed Arrow, determined to prove himself. Odin hung back at the finish line. As the pair walked away, Arrow’s friends started to snicker, but Everest ignored them, keeping his eyes on his rival. Upon reaching the pack, Arrow turned to the slightly smaller wolf.

            “Here’s how we’re going to race… we’ll each count to three and race to Ice, Echo and Wave. First one to make it to them wins”

Everest nodded and hunched down, ready to spring.

            “One… two… three-”

            “One