laughter.

                        “It figures!” Odin yowled ferociously, turning to lead the way back to the den. “I saved his life! And I was just as big a part!”

            This new wolf, Quick, didn’t seem to know anything that was going on. He’d heard of Hiatus… and Everest, Will and nowOdin. But nothing beyond that. He thought Hiatus was liberating other packs… not killing them. But obviously, he was on Everest’s side, as he repeated over and over, but Everest was still suspicious. What was it that made him so nervous? All Everest knew was that this strange wolf was hiding something… and Everest could tell it was dark.

            About a week later, Quick fit into the pack just fine. Odin seemed particularly annoyed since Quick seemed to get a thrill out of scaring him half to death, but otherwise, Everest and Will had warmed up to him. However, there was still something about him… but Everest was on the verge of finding out. Later on that week, Everest had been keeping a close eye on Quick… who was hunting. What’s so strange about that? Everest asked himself, eyes following Quick. Suddenly, Quick spied something and made a quick, sharp dive. He had a rabbit dead in his teeth faster then Everest could blink... Then it hit him. Everest knew what Quick was!

“Hungry?” Everest called over to Quick, smiling pleasantly.

Quick gave an uneasy smile and nodded.

“It’s probably time to hunt down a deer or something”

Odin and Will got to their feet.

“Let’s try something different this time” Everest suggested. “Quick and I will start at the west side and you guys can work your way over from the east. We’ll meet at the usual hunting grounds. Okay?”

Odin tilted his head, confused and insulted that Everest was teaming up with someone else. He opened his mouth to say something but Will cut him off.

            “Better get there before the deer all run away!” Will said, understanding that Everest was trying to do something.

Odin followed Will reluctantly and Everest turned to Quick. Getting to the hunting grounds from the west was faster then the east, so talking to Quick wouldn’t be a problem. They traveled briskly, and Everest never let Quick fall behind. He had a good reason not to trust anymore. By the time they reached the hunting grounds, Everest knew exactly what he needed to do.

            “So these are the hunting grounds…” Quick started airily.

“Stop it. I know who you are and I know what you came to do” Everest replied sharply.

Quick froze.

            “And what would that be?” he said casually.

“You’re Hiatus’s little assassin, aren’t you. He couldn’t get me in front of everyone, so he sent you to go ahead and fetch me for him”

Quick turned around, cruel smile spreading across his face.

            “That’s not exactly what he said” Quick replied darkly. “That would be too easy”

Everest shook his head, tsking his tongue and sat down.

“Hiatus really is losing his touch”

Quick frowned.

            “I think you’re underestimating me”

Then, in a blink of an eye, Quick darted for Everest with teeth bared, moves exact and deadly.

Chapter III

            “There was something definitely wrong with him” Will pondered thoughtfully. “But what? Everest obviously thought there was something wrong or else he wouldn’t have split us up”

“What if he tries to pull off something like last time?” Odin suggested worriedly. “What if Quick drags him back to Hiatus?!”

            “Even Hiatus isn’t dumb enough to send a single wolf to bring down Everest”

“Maybe he’s going to melt Everest down with those creepy blue eyes” Odin chuckled nervously.

Will stopped, knowing exactly what Everest had noticed.

            “What’d you say?”

“I was saying his creepy blue-.”

            “Blue eyes” Will interrupted, stunned. “Not gold like Adlartok or brown like Ublureak”

Odin raised an eyebrow.

“So what? He has blue eyes”

            “There was only one pack that were grey and had blue eyes”

“So?”

            “They were assassins. Not ordinary ones. Killers”

Everest didn’t know how long he could keep it up. He had thought he was quick… until now. Each time Quick lunged for a fatal bite, Everest got out of the way but only just barely. Already, Quick had nicked Everest a few times, but it wasn’t the few scratches that made the gold wolf so weak. Quick’s movements were accurate and from what Everest could see, didn’t require much effort. Everest on the other hand, hadn’t learned that type of fighting. All he had to rely on were the dodging moves that Cedar and Will had taught him.

“Getting tired” Quick sneered.

“A little” Everest admitted. “You?”

Quick lunged yet again and Everest swerved out of the way. Quick’s teeth skimmed across Everest’s nose.

“I’ll take that as a no” Everest panted. “Can you at least tell me why you want to kill me?”

            “Hiatus said so”

“If Hiatus told you to jump off a cliff… would you?”

Quick didn’t answer. His face was emotionless as he crouched for another attack.

“I see” Everest replied weakly.

Quick sprang yet again, this time trying to dive under Everest. The golden wolf jumped off to the side, barely missing Quick’s sharp teeth.

“Can you just stop for a second?! Let me just ask you something”

Quick paused for just a second, and Everest spoke quickly.

“Do you really think getting rid of me will justify anything? Do think it’ll get rid of your problems?”

Quick thought about. Then a cruel smile slipped across his face- the same one Everest had seen on Hiatus’s face.

            “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t” Quick replied coldly.

In the distance, Everest could hear Odin and Will sprinting toward them. He glanced over his shoulder for a second, then turned back to Quick.

“If I’ve really caused you that much pain and trouble, go ahead. Kill me”

Quick rushed forward with blinding speed just as Odin and Will arrived.

                        “Everest!”

“Stay where you are” Everest ordered sharply.

Quick latched around Everest’s neck, but Everest didn’t flinch.

“Just one more question” Everest said calmly. “Do you know what pack you came from?”

Quick raised an eyebrow in surprise.

“I’m not joking. You can let go, I’m not going anywhere”

                        “Are you crazy?!” Odin yelped.

“I would be if I didn’t know what I was doing”

Quick let go, but didn’t move any farther away.

            “What do you think?” Quick growled. “I’m Hiatus’s son”

Odin and Will exchanged confused looks. Quick lunged again, but Everest interrupted again.

“Strange though… I didn’t know Hiatus had blue eyes… I thought he had yellow”

Quick stepped away, but this time, his face was unreadable.

“You’re not from the Issumatar Pack like Hiatus” Everest said. “Will, you should know. What is he?”

                        “Ipiktok” Will provided.

“Do you know what happened to them?” Everest asked Quick sharply.

Quick opened his mouth, but for the first time since they had meant, he seemed at a loss for words.

“They were wiped out. Do you know by whom?”

Quick remained silent.

“The same one who’s trying to do it again. And you’re helping him. If you still think you should kill me though, go right on ahead”

No one moved. Odin and Will, tense and ready to defend Everest kept their eyes on Quick. Everest’s blue eyes seemed to bore holes right through Quick, who couldn’t move. He had never heard that side of the story before…

“You’ve got two choices. Go ahead and kill me… I’m not fighting back. Or you can help reverse what you’ve