away, clearly amused with the second attempt to rescue Tempest, Maliky and Phantom.

“Well, well, well. You came back!” Hiatus called out, then added with obvious displeasure, “And good to see you again Quick”

“Like wise” Quick mumbled. “We just want Tempest and the pups back Hiatus”

            “Well I have them here with me…” Hiatus replied, glancing at the securely held threesome.

“And we have Arrow” Quick shot back, nodding for Will to shove the disoriented Arrow forward.

            “Hmmm… “ Hiatus mumbled, frowning. “Have Everest bring him and I’ll meet him in the middle”

“He’s not here” Quick snapped.

Hiatus tsked his tongue. “Another no show for Everest? I think I’m starting to miss him”

“You don’t need to miss me” Everest snarled, suddenly trotting out of the bushes.

            “Ahhh, Everest. I was beginning to worry about you” Hiatus crooned.

“Everest-!”

“Shut up Quick”

Quick shut his mouth.   

                        “HE”S COMING! GUYS EVEREST”S AWAKE AND HE”S… here…”

Everyone stared at Odin, who had charged out of the trees to warn the pack.

                        “I think Everest is here guys” Odin supplied weakly.

 Will could barely stand it anymore.

            “Everest, you’re not helping anyone anymore! Just get out of our way!”

Everyone froze. No one in the pack had ever talked to him like that.

            “Everest…” Hiatus taunted. “If you bring Arrow, I’ll bring your precious girlfriend”

Everest tore his eyes away from Will to snarl something at Hiatus but something else caught his eye. Tempest was watching everything, silently hoping while the two pups shivered, fearfully staying close to her. Would you really forget all about them just to get revenge? You’re pathetic!

“Give me Arrow now” Everest growled.

            “No! I’m not going to let-!”

“Give him to me before I take him” Everest growled at Will. “Before I decide to take Arrow back to the den instead”

Finally understanding, Will stepped aside with a grateful look on his face.

            “But you’re still shaky” Odin commented. “If he starts a fight-.”

“Then let’s hope he doesn’t start a fight” Everest replied, struggling to shove Arrow forward. “Your legs aren’t dead Arrow. Walk”

Hiatus grabbed Tempest and shoved her forward as well. Everest and Hiatus walked forward until they were equally far apart from each other’s packs, then stopped, glaring at each other.

            “What took you so long?” Hiatus sneered. “I bet you’re injured aren’t you?”

“Could’ve been a couple of things…” Everest replied casually. “You might be right. I could’ve just fought Arrow until I was so tired I only have enough strength left to walk out here… but that would be stupid wouldn’t it?”

Hiatus raised an eyebrow and frowned.

“Or, a more logical explanation could be that I’m still trying to figure out what you’re doing and pretending to be missing is part of the plan…”

            “Is it?” Hiatus drawled, uninterested.

“Tell me your plan and I’ll tell you mine”

            “Take your dirty blooded pets and get out of here” Hiatus snarled, shoving Tempest towards Everest. “Unless you want to fight it out…”

Everest knocked Arrow forward and shook his head.

“You don’t have back-up. That wouldn’t be a very fair fight” Everest grinned.

Everest started to back away, never taking his eyes off of Hiatus until he was closer to his pack. Then, exhausted, Everest tripped clumsily on his own feet and almost fell over. Hiatus’s eyes widened. It was too late to try to go after Everest now…

            “You idiot!” Hiatus snarled, striking Arrow across the back of the head. “You could’ve told me!”

                        “Ow! What happened?! Did we win?!”

            “You’re as useless as those empty headed animals you call friends!” Hiatus sneered, glaring after Everest.

Everest caught Hiatus’s eye, gave him a cunning grin and a nod, then jogged clumsily away.

            Later on that day, after the sun had set and once the pack had reached their own territory, they relaxed. No one talked or said anything, understanding how hard it was to give up Arrow. But ever since they had gotten back, Everest had his head rested disgracefully on crossed paws, trying to find words good enough to make it up to his pack.

“I’m sorry” Everest finally sighed, breaking the silence. “I was… I lost control… I shouldn’t even be…”

            “Hey, no one’s perfect” Quick smirked.

“You, more then anyone else, should be angry with me” Everest stated miserably. “I threatened you for losing control and I lost it more then you did. I’m a hypocrite… just like Hiatus”

                        “You’re not like Hiatus” Will piped up. “You didn’t actually kill anyone”

“I was going to…”

                        “But you didn’t”

“Only because you took him away before I could” Everest argued ruefully.

                        “I think I know what to do!” Odin began happily. “You just need to be cheered up!”

Everest gave Odin a sidelong amused glance.

“Oh yeah?”

                        “I’ll go hunting and catch everyone something to eat!” Odin grinned.

            “Yeah? And what are you going to catch?” Quick smirked.

                        “An elk!”

            “You can’t even catch a sick rabbit”

                        “I can too!”

            “He’s right!” Comet giggled. “When we were coming back from Hiatus’s the first time, you tried to attack a raccoon and it chased you up a fallen tree!”

                        “That raccoon is evil!” Odin declared, “He’s out to get me!”

Everyone laughed.

                        “He is!”

            “I think it’s time for me to head off to sleep” Mataki smiled, nudging the sleepy Maliky and Phantom toward the den.

                        “If I wasn’t too tired to hunt I would’ve!” Odin declared, following Mataki.

            “Yup, I think I’m turning in as well” added Quick.

Everest watched the rest of the pack head back to the den, and then sat up, looking up at the sky. Tempest, who hesitated for a second, came back and sat down next to Everest.

            “I just wanted to say thanks again…” Tempest said, looking up at the stars as well. “I know it had to be hard to give someone you hated. I mean I know why I bothers you so much”

“That