snorted.

            “I’m just getting warmed up! Maybe you are a little tougher then my dad… we finished him faster”

Everest snarled and flew at Arrow, letting his rage take all skill away, and missed. Arrow smirked and took off running, climbing higher up the opposite side of the dried riverbank. Gritting his teeth, Everest took off after him. The snow became an almost white out, making Arrow’s tired form the only thing Everest could see. After a few moments, Arrow was too exhausted to run and Everest could barely force himself to follow. The pair glared at each other, then a smirk stretched across Arrow’s face.

            “And I know all about you and Fly!” the Ublureak wolf sneered.

“What about it?” Everest growled.

            “You liked each other didn’t you? Whenever you came back from your ‘walks’ you smelled like her. And for a while, she came back smelling like you! But now she’s forgotten all about that”

Now it was Everest’s turn to smirk.

“You think she’d ever fall for someone like you?”

Arrow made a desperate jump at Everest but missed.

            “She already has!” Arrow spat. “She’s going to have pups!”

Everest froze for a second.

“Liar”

            “And they’re mine!”

With his last burst of energy, Everest tackled Arrow and both tumbled down the hill they had struggled to climb, finally flying off the side of the bank and crashing in front of the den. For a while, neither moved. Finally, shaking his head, Everest sat up. At first, it took him a few seconds to remember what had just happened. Then the cold look returned to his eyes and he looked over his shoulder to find Arrow’s shape in the snow. Arrow was out cold but still breathing. If you were strong, you’d end this, Everest thought. But it’s not right! What about what you taught your pack?! What about Chief? Don’t you care about Chief and Fly?

Everest furrowed his brow and using the last of his strength, pulled himself to his feet and started toward Arrow’s dark form.

Hiatus couldn’t contain himself.

“So where is he?” Hiatus almost laughed.

Will, Comet, Altea, Odin and Mataki didn’t utter a word.

“Is he even here?” the white wolf asked, looking from face to face. “No? Is he afraid of snowstorms? Or did he finally give up?”

Will glanced at the sky. They could easily get away in the heavy snow. When he glanced at Odin, the sandy colored wolf seemed to be reading his thoughts. Hiatus tsked his tongue.

“And it seems Quick is a no show either? Pity…” Hiatus nodded toward the group motioning for the Ublureak wolves to go after them.

The group didn’t need any encouragement. All five took off together into the storm, quickly losing their pursuers in the thick snow. Just before they reached the river dividing the two territories, two more forms became visible through the snow.

            “Quick?”

“Will?”

            “Fly?”

                        “Odin!”

The group paused to glare at Odin. Odin shrugged.

                        “Thought it’d be funny…to lighten the mood…” Odin trailed off.

“Everest got out. The last time I saw him, he was fighting with Arrow”

            “We gotta get back”

“That’s what I was doing…”

The group took off, running faster then they’d ever run before, sprinting up the open trail and diving around trees. When they finally came to the dried riverbank, the pack froze. The heavy snow had begun to let up, showing the aftermath of the fight.

“Wow… must have been a really good fight” Quick uttered in a low voice.

            “Or a really bad one” Comet added solemnly.

Ignoring the others, Fly hurried past them, eyes searching for the other Illiivat wolf. Warily, the pack followed, a heavy silence settling in.

            “Everest!”

The golden wolf looked up as Fly hurried toward the den.

            “What happened?” Fly snapped angrily. “What was going through your mind?! Huh?!”

Everest didn’t answer. A dark expression stayed on his face.

            “Where’s Arrow?” Fly pressed.

Everest’s eyes flitted to the opposite cave. Everyone reluctantly turned the same way. In the opposite cave, there was a still form.

“I’m weak” Everest growled, bringing everyone’s attention back to him.

Grimacing, Quick entered the cave. Arrow didn’t move. Quick sighed.

            “I think he’s-.”

                        “What’s going on…?” Arrow moaned, sitting up suddenly.

Quick jumped, hitting his head on the top of the den.

            “-alive?”

Everest gritted his teeth and looked the other way. Arrow sat up for a few seconds, then with a groan, dropped back down again.

            “He’s out again” Quick said simply.

            “Saving a life isn’t weak” Fly said gently.

“If I had guts at all, he wouldn’t be a problem anymore” Everest growled. “And I know all about your little secret too”

Fly cocked her head and smiled.

            “You do?” she asked shyly. “Are you… happy?”

Everest snorted.

“You think I’m happy about it?”

Fly’s smile faded.

            “I thought-.”

“You thought that him being your- your-your… would make me happy?!”

Fly furrowed her brow and clenched her jaw.

            “You’re my mate” Fly snapped. “So whose puppies do you think they are?!”

“Mine?” Everest mouthed, eyes widening. “Oh…”

Fly smirked and lay down next to him.

“Whoa” Everest breathed, blinking in astonishment.

Fly smiled and licked his cheek.

            “Now that we’ve got that established… why don’t you take nap or something? You look horrible”

Everest smirked but nodded in agreement. As soon as Everest had turned his back to head to the back of the den, Fly made eye contact with Quick and nodded to Arrow. Quick returned the nod and motioned silently for the others to get Arrow. By the time Everest was sound asleep, Will and Quick had Arrow firmly in their teeth.

“Odin, you need to stay here okay? Just in case he wakes up…”

Odin nodded, sitting himself proudly in front of the den.

“Let’s go” Fly whispered. “Before he decides he’s not so weak anymore”

Odin watched the pack leave, and then settled down.

            “What to do, what to do…” Odin moaned, looking around.

A few lazy flakes floated down, but nothing moved. It was like everything was holding its breath. Odin sighed and rested his head on his paws. His eyes started to droop…

“Odin?” came Everest’s voice.

Odin shot to his feet.

            “Hey Everest! Finally awake?”

Everest came out of the den, blinking at the light.

“Yeah… everything hurts…”

            “I bet!” Odin replied confidently. “Especially after that fight-.”

Odin slapped a paw over his own mouth.

“The fight…” Everest growled, suddenly wide awake. “Where’s everyone else?!”

            “They… uh… went for a walk…” Odin squeaked.

Everest growled louder and took off, stumbling as he ran.

            “Wait! Everest, stop!”

Odin paused for a second. I could get there faster if I found a shortcut! Snickering to himself, Odin took off following a different trail.

            Quick and the pack had made it to the Ublureak territory, but refused to go much farther then the shelter of the woods. Hiatus and the rest of his pack stood a