VOICES:

-Everest: Ben Affleck

-Hiatus: Alan Rickman

-Quick: Jeff Berg

-Odin: Sam Troughton

-Will: Ralph Macchio

-Tempest: Ann Hathaway

-Fly: Jennifer Aniston

-Comet: Avril Lavigne

-Altea: pending...

-Mataki: pending…

-Maliky: Cascada

-Phantom: David Archuleta

Chapter I

            The mid-winter cold chilled the air around a group of murmuring wolves as they huddled on the snow covered ground. The clearing they stood in was a length away from the forest of pines and icy hills but even if they had tried to make it to the safety of the woods, the wolves yawning and relaxing around them could easily catch them. So the group of wolves waited apprehensively as the white and grey wolf, Hiatus, stood at the top of the rocky hill. Arrow, cruel smile on his face, wasn’t a step behind. Hiatus briefly glanced over the group below him that he had assembled through force. There must have been two or three from each of the closest and most powerful packs. No, he wouldn’t kill them… at least not yet. Not until the one he hunted was permanently out of the way. He was the only one who could spoil his plans now! After a few moments of dead silence, Hiatus finally spoke.

“I have gathered you all here for a very important meeting” Hiatus began in a calm voice. “To get rid of a wolf who is extremely dangerous and capable of killing whole packs. He must be caught and destroyed immediately. This is for you and your pack’s safety”

Hiatus paused for a dramatic effect but no one made a sound.

“This wolf, known to some of you as Everest, must be caught. Anyone who catches him for me will be given a reward. I would rather like him to be brought to me alive but since he has been known to be deadly, I will understand if he is brought to me dead. If anyone dares to help him, we will put an end to you quickly as well. For those of you who have not seen him, he is a golden color with white and pale gold fur on his legs, face and stomach. He also has brown markings as well… be on the lookout for him and spread the word.”

With that Hiatus turned and walked out of sight. The wolves keeping the group together walked away as well, letting the group rush to get away and return to the safety of their packs. One wolf, a dusty black, brown and white wolf with crystal blue eyes walked away just as calm as Hiatus had. When he approached the stand of pine trees that expanded into the forest, he flashed a smile.

“See!? I’m fine!” he exclaimed. “Did you guys really need to follow along?”

            “If we weren’t here, you’d be caught again for sure!” Odin replied.

Will nodded but Quick shrugged.

                        “Eeh, would’ve given us a reason to fight him anyway”

The dusty wolf shook off the ash covering him and the black dust came off in clouds, revealing the golden coat of Everest.

“That’s the last thing we want to do and you know it” Everest corrected sharply.

Quick rolled his eyes and grumbled. Everest frowned at Quick but turned to Tempest.

“You’re a genius Tempest! The ash worked like a charm! And no one needed to charge in and save me, did they?”

Odin opened his mouth again, but seeing that it was a lost cause, shut his mouth. Everest shook his head and began to lead the way back to their territory. They veered off the snowy Ublureak trail for a few moments to walk through the small creek then hurried out of the freezing water to step onto a trail they had made. Everest paused for a second once they reached the trail, looking up at the ice covered slopes.

“And your posts?”

            “We had an intruder, but I took care of it” Quick said smoothly.

                        “Took care of it! He’s lucky he got away without any broken bones!” Odin yowled, then in a smaller voice, added, “And I helped too…”

            “Food’s getting scarce” Will reported. “This winter was kinda tough… it probably wiped out their kind of food or something”

Everest thought that over.

“Well what did Hiatus want?” Will asked curiously.

“Oh the usual” Everest replied airily. “Just to let everyone know I was some dangerous villain who’s out to destroy everyone”

The group laughed at that.

“I think he’s trying to hide something though… if he wanted to catch anyone that badly, he’d send a whole pack to catch us. He’s planning something else. I just don’t know what yet” Everest added thoughtfully.

            “How do you know it’s going to work?” Arrow asked curiously, following Hiatus.

“It doesn’t need to” Hiatus explained with unusual patience. “I could care less whether or not he gets caught”

            “Really?”

“There’ll be time to make him pay later. Until then, just guard around his territory and make sure he doesn’t leave. And stay hidden. We’ve got other matters more important then hopeless rebellions to deal with”

As Hiatus and Arrow spoke, Fly cautiously eavesdropped behind a tree. Hiatus had good hearing but as long as she didn’t make a sound…

“Would you like to add something Fly?” Hiatus asked dryly.

Fly blinked from behind her tree, hesitating, but stepped boldly out, chin up.

            “I just have something to report” she stated fearlessly. “We’re running out of food”

Hiatus frowned.

“I always took you for such a smart girl” Hiatus tsked. “But even a blind wolf could have told me that. I don’t care about that anyway.”

Fly started to stutter but quickly recovered.

            “Then I am just as stupid as you think” she sighed. “Guess you should never trust me”

                        “That’s not true!” Arrow piped up, much to the surprise of Hiatus and Fly.

“Arrow, you can’t trust an Illiivat. Ever” Hiatus droned flatly. “And I assume you’re not dumb enough to find your way back to the pack? Before we have to escort you?” Hiatus shot at Fly.

            “I can manage” Fly shot back, jutting her chin out defiantly.

“You better watch it” Hiatus uttered, glaring at the golden wolf. “You could get you killed out here.”

Fly ignored him and wandered back towards the pack. Hiatus shook his head and continued on his way. Arrow, however, glanced after Fly dreamily.

“Don’t get your hopes up” Hiatus said smoothly. “She’ll turn on you… or she just might not be alive before she gets a chance to”

As she walked out of hearing and seeing distance, Fly glanced over her shoulder once more and picked up her pace. She needed to tell Everest! And there was more then one thing he needed to know…

Everest paused for a second to nod approvingly to Will, who was being quizzed by Odin on different packs then turned back to Tempest whom he was teaching how to fight. Quick however, sat in the shade and watched. Everest noticed and frowned.

“You should practice too” Everest advised.

            “I’m observing” Quick grinned devilishly, laying his head on his paws and watching Tempest.

Tempest threw Quick a dirty look and Will got up to his feet.

            “Maybe I’ll fight Will” Quick grinned, noticing the Aklark stand up and playfully tackled Will.

 “Practice that” Everest suggested faintly, suddenly noticing Fly emerge from the bushes. “Hey stranger!”

Fly gave Everest a stressed smile and rushed over.

            “You were right!” she exclaimed. “To go check out Hiatus’s little speech!”

Before he had a chance to open his mouth, Fly cut him off.

            “I’m not that stupid. Or blind. I can recognize you even if you decide to roll in ash and that you’d only be there if you had a good reason to be”

Everest grinned sheepishly.

“So what’s he planning?”

            “I’m not sure exactly. But he’s got scouts hiding all over the outside of your territory. He said he’s not interested in catching you guys either… I think he’s looking for someone or something else”

“Good work Fly” Everest replied, motioning for his pack to follow.

            “Wait!”

All five wolves skit to a halt.