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 …two…GO!!!”

Arrow took off, leaving Everest behind but Everest wasn’t as dumb as Arrow had counted on… or as fast. At the time he was supposed to start, Everest took off like a golden jet, swiftly gaining on the grey form in front of him. Arrow’s laughter only made Everest push himself harder. But the finish line was coming too fast! Determined as ever, Everest pushed himself alongside Arrow. With another bound he just barely pushed himself ahead of Arrow and won. Head and tail high, Everest slowed down to a jog and still panting, went back to embrace his win.

            “Arrow wins!” barked Echo.

“What?!” Everest said, taken aback. “But I won!”

                        “You dirty, filthy, no good…!” Odin started to bark, running out of insults before he could spit them out.

            “Well I’ve got three witnesses who all said I beat you!” Arrow sneered. “How about this then… we can fight it out! Didn’t you say you could beat me at that too?”

Odin began to argue with Arrow, but Everest thought it over and Chief’s wisdom rang in his head.

“No. If I lost fairly, I lost” said Everest, all the while knowing that he hadwon. “And even if I did fight you, you don’t fight fair either and I’d probably end up killed by you four”

Odin stopped mid sentence and turned to Everest, surprised. Echo, Wave and Ice all glanced at Arrow with guilty, ashamed expressions on their faces. Arrow, however, scowled.

            “You’re not my father and you’re not a part of this pack! Take a hike loser!”

I will! Everest thought in his head. And with that, Everest spun around and left, head and tail still in the air.

                        “They’re the ones who don’t belong in this pack!” Odin spat. “They should be kicked out… if only Chief knew!”

Everest didn’t hear Odin. I was faster! Everest screamed in his head. I should have won and I am a part of this pack!

Then, shifting his thoughts to how Chief said kings always take walks to sort things out, Everest stormed off down a trail that led out of his territory. Not that he cared. He was so deep in thought, he barely noticed at all. Realizing his friend needed to be alone to blow off some steam, Odin said a quick goodbye and headed back to the pack to give Arrow a piece of his mind. Without knowing, Everest walked farther and farther until he had wandered across the territory lines and out of the high altitude lands he called home. He was so deep in thought that he almost missed the other figure…

            “Freeze!” demanded the other wolf, a female. “You’re crossing into our territory!”

Everest halted, shocked at first, until he saw who was speaking. Then he smiled.

“Fly” he said, touching noses with the other wolf.

The other wolf, a lighter golden color then Everest, smiled and wagged her tail playfully. They had already known each other for a month or two, but they already knew that they were meant for each other.

            “So what’s wrong?” She said, plopping down next to him and licking his cheek.

“Just Arrow again” Everest sighed.

Fly smirked.

            “You could beat him! I’m the best fighter out of my pack and you beat me up the first time you saw me! Why don’t you just fight it out?”

“That’s not… how it’s supposed to be. Chief taught me that fighting should only be a last resort and he’s the leader”

            “He also said that we shouldn’t be together because we aren’t in the same pack”

Everest smiled.

“That’s not the same… Chief doesn’t even know you. If he did, he’d probably love you as much as I do”

He licked her nose and she wagged her tail.

“I should probably go before anyone notices I’m gone” Everest said regretfully.

Fly frowned as Everest got to his feet.

“But I’ll see you tomorrow” Everest smiled.

Everest gave her a last lick on the nose and turned around.

“How about at sunrise?”

            “I’ll be there!” Fly giggled.

Everest beamed and took off. Once he was back in his territory, the young wolf hadn’t taken two more steps before he saw Odin circling around, nose to the ground.

“Odin, what’re you doing?”

Odin looked up and beamed.

            “Successfully tracked you down!” he stated proudly. He paused and sniffed the air. “And you just saw her again didn’t you?”

Everest brushed past.

“Maybe I did…”

Odin grimaced.

            “You better be careful! If you get kicked out of the pack, I have to be all alone with… them!”

Everest grinned.

“Trust me. If I go, I’m takin’ you with me”

Chapter II

            A lone white figure treaded down the mountain, wind tossing his fur as he descended. As he climbed down the mountain to his pack, he pondered Aniu’s words.

“How should I know what that’s supposed to mean?” he thought out loud. “Is Everest going to lead? What’s so bad about Arrow? I raised him as any parent would raise a good pup…”

He strode downward in silence, not minding where he was going since the mountain was the heart of his own territory, and no one dared enter even though the Ublureak were a peaceful pack. At least he knew the answer to one question… he had to tell Everest now. How Aniu knew was a wonder to him, but he figured Everest deserved to know about his own history. Ironically, just as he reached the base of the huge mountain, Chief spied the wolf he was looking for.

“What are you two doing so far from the pack?” Chief asked with a smile.

Everest and Odin exchanged glances.

            “Getting a drink of water!” Odin supplied.

Chief smiled wider.

“But the river’s on the other side of the territory” he said, eyes twinkling.

Everest threw Odin a look. Chief didn’t need to ask. Ever since Fly and Everest had their first run-in, he had known that they had been meeting daily. Aniu had told him something about that too…

“Every time I go to the top of that mountain, I meet with Aniu” Chief started. “She’s a guiding spirit and all of the wolf packs in this area depend on her… and sometimes she gives us a little help. Today, she told me about you Everest”

Everest’s eyes widened with curiosity.

“I’m not sure what everything she said means… but I did understand a few things that she had said…” the old wolf said thoughtfully. “Aniu said you came from the Illiivat pack… but only one other from that pack still exists The rest of your family was wiped out… but I don’t know by who. She also said-“

            “Dad!”

Chief frowned and turned to his son.

“Arrow, can this wait?”

Arrow glared at Everest as soon as he reached his father, but focused back on the older wolf when Chief cleared his throat.

            “No” said Arrow firmly. “There’s someone back at the pack that wants to meet you. He said he travelled far to get here”

Chief paused for a second. Telling Everest could wait. It was rude to turn down a guest. The old wolf sighed and followed his son back towards the pack.

Everest watched on suspiciously. Odin was mad.

            “What is wrong with him?!” Odin said dramatically. “It’s like we’re not even the same species! Like we’re no better then… food!”

“I don’t think he was lying” Everest said slowly. “But that’s worse then if he was lying. I think we should stay away for a while”

Odin nodded and followed his friend.

“Illiivat” Everest thought out loud, trying the name out.

            “It’s definitely better then Sanerk” grumbled Odin.

Everest thought back when Chief had first discovered Odin… Everest had still been a puppy too and had only been with the pack a few months. Odin had come from the Sanerk pack, named after their dusty colored fur. Their pack was the biggest around but led by foolish alphas who didn’t take very good care of their pack. As a result, Odin’s parents had died of starvation, leaving Odin and his four sisters in the care of an aunt who already had a few pups of her own. But before he knew it, Odin was accidentally separated from his own pack and was thankfully found by Chief before any damage could be done. Most of the pack was used to Chief’s acceptance of pups from other packs, but they still hadn’t liked it. Most of the packs wanted to keep their own pack pure, ignoring any wolf that had split from their own packs, but Chief refused to follow the old traditions and was bent on changing them.

                        “This is a nice surprise!”

Odin jumped but Everest smiled. Fly smiled back. Odin, not knowing who the stranger was, bristled and jumped at Fly.

“Odin! Don’t! She’s going to beat-.”

In a second, Fly had knocked Odin flat on his back.

            “Everest!” Odin yelped.

“Odin… that’s Fly. That’s the wolf I’ve been meeting”

            “Oh…” said Odin sheepishly. “Then would you mind getting off of me?”

Fly grinned, clearly amused and let Odin get back to his feet.

            “I meant to do that anyway” he stated. “Beating up a girl isn’t nice”

Everest grinned at his friend.

“Guess we just kind of stumbled back here…again”

                        “What’s it been, like a few minutes?”

“Do you know where you came from?” Everest interrupted suddenly.

Fly raised an eyebrow but shook her head.

“I think I do. Chief told me that I came from the Illiivat pack and he said one other wolf from the Illiivat still existed. I think we kind of look alike… and we smell too different to be related…do you think…?”

Before Fly could answer, a chorus of howls rang out from the Ublureak pack.

            “We gotta go... again. They’re probably looking for us”

Everest nodded and with a quick nuzzle, sprinted after Odin.

            “Do you think we’re in trouble?” Odin worried.

“I think so, they sounded pretty urgent”

As they got closer, they slowed to a walk, panting and huffing. Everest stopped, ears twitching.

            “What’s wrong?” Odin puffed. “I don’t hear anything”

“That’s what worries me” Everest replied quietly.

They proceeded slowly until a few forms were visible: Echo, Ice and Wave.

“What’s going on?!” Everest called unsurely.

All three whipped around, shouted something and broke into a dead run, right towards Everest and Odin. Everest spun and took off.

            “Why I oughta-!”

“Odin now’s not the time!” Everest growled, grabbing his friend by the tail and forcing him to run.

They galloped away from their familiar territory and away from Fly’s territory, but Everest and Odin’s pursuers stayed right on their tail. Everest glanced over his shoulder. They couldn’t keep running like this forever! But new territory meant new hiding places.

“Let’s split up” Everest barked.

            “What?! Are you crazy?!”

“They might not be after both of us”

Odin nodded worriedly and broke off to the left. Everest hoped he was right and broke off in the opposite direction. Echo and Wave took off after Everest, and Ice flew after Odin. Odin glanced over his shoulder and whimpered. Adrenaline kept him running, and he knew that if he stopped, Ice wouldn’t waste a second in hurting him. The sandy wolf slid down a hillside in front of a few fallen trees. But before he could continue running, something grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and dragged him under the trees. A paw slammed over his mouth and prevented him from yelping.

“Shhhh. It’s just me Odin” Everest whispered.

Ice jumped over the fallen trees and followed Echo and Wave’s footprints. Everest took his paw off of Odin’s mouth.

            “You scared me half to death!” Odin whispered loudly.

“Sorry” Everest apologized sheepishly.

Suddenly, Arrow jumped down from where Ice had but a strict voice called him back. Someone’s paws clicked on the trunks that Everest and Odin were hiding under.

            “Let them go” the voice said.

The voice sent chills racing up Everest’s spine and Odin shrank into the snow.

                        “They’re going to get away Hiatus!” Arrow pleaded. “The pack’s gonna think-.”

            “Don’t worry about the pack” Hiatus replied calmly. “I’ll take care of them”

Arrow sighed and leapt back over the trees, following whoever Hiatus was. A few moments later, Ice, Echo and Wave followed Arrow, leaving Everest and Odin in silence. The two waited to make sure that they were gone, then Everest cautiously stepped out.

“Wonder what that was all about…”

Odin followed Everest out, fuming.

            “I don’t know but I’ve got half a mind to follow them back and show them a thing or two!”

“I don’t think we should go back”

            “What?!”

“Chief’ll understand. I don’t know what’s going on, but I have a feeling that we shouldn’t go back”

            “What about… Fly?!”

“She’ll understand too” Everest replied quietly.

Odin paused and thought it over. But with renewed confidence, he followed Everest.

            “Okay. How hard can it be anyway?” Odin chuckled.

            Cold winds tossed the thick, falling snow in Everest and Odin’s faces, blinding them.

“How hard can it be!” Everest yelled dramatically.

            “How was I supposed to know!” Odin yelled above the howling wind.

“Never mind…” Everest grumbled.

            “WHAT?! I can’t hear you!” Odin yelled.

Turning back and trying to see the outline of his friend in the white out, Everest yelled, “I SAID, NEVER-!”

Suddenly, Everest’s feet slipped and sent him rocketing down the unseen hillside. Odin desperately tried to catch his friend, but Odin’s feet slipped as well, and both tumbled down the snowy slope. Finally, they somersaulted to a stop, almost completely buried in snow. They paused for a second, groaning until both realized they weren’t hurt.

“Very graceful…” Everest mumbled, picking himself up.

            “Well at least we found shelter” Odin offered, nodding to the small cave they had plummeted to. Without another thought, the pair hurried into the dark opening, finally getting out of the storm. Then they looked at each other and burst out laughing. The snow had crusted all over both of them, making them look like completely different wolves. Everest shook off his layer off snow and plopped on the ground.

            “It’s a lot harder then it looked” Odin yawned warily, slipping to the floor.

Within seconds, both were sound asleep.

            Everest and Odin’s next day wasn’t much better. Neither had ever hunted without the pack before, so the only thing they could think of catching was fish.

            “Have you ever caught one before?” Odin moaned, hopelessly looking at the flashing silver figures.

“Nope” Everest sighed.

They stared at the fish a little longer before Everest sighed again.

“But the only way is to try”

Everest stared at the fish for a second, crouched, and then plunged into the water, breaking the thin film of ice. He splashed around for a little, but came up with nothing. Dripping and cold, he returned to the bank.

“There’s one way not to catch them” Everest grinned, shivering. “You try”

Odin glanced hesitantly at the water and took a step back.

            “I don’t know…”

“They don’t bite” Everest offered, hiding a smile. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of those tiny little things!”

            “I’m not!” he glanced at the water again. “It’s just-.”

Everest raised his eyebrows. Odin shut his mouth and puffed out his chest.

            “Watch and learn my friend!” he drawled, tail twitching.

Everest sat down, trying not to laugh. Odin lowered himself to the ground and snuck over to the water’s edge.

            “They have super sensitive hearing” Odin whispered. “But if they can’t see or hear me…”

Odin flew through the air and into the water.

“You’ll still catch nothing” Everest supplied when a disappointed Odin came shivering out of the water.

They attempted trying to catch a fish for most of the morning until Odin managed to catch a small one… only to have it be stolen by a bear cub a few moments later.

            “THAT’SMY FISH YOU STUPID, SMELLY..!” Odin roared.

“Odin, you might not want to-.”

Odin skit to a halt when the cub galloped behind its mother.

            “You have a very…” Odin gulped. “…cute cub! Don’t let me use up you’re quality time together, heh heh, EVEREST!”

The bear roared, but Odin was long gone.

“You just had to yell at the bear cub didn’t you?!” Everest panted as they sprinted away.

Odin glanced over his shoulder and stopped.

            “I think we lost em!”

“I think we found someone else…”

Everest and Odin were surrounded by a pack of wolves. There was no way out…

Chapter III

            Everest and Odin silently followed their captors back, unsure of what was going to happen to them. Noticing the similar colors, Everest could bet that this was an actual pack. Not some little bachelor group trying to hold out some territory. All the wolves that surrounded them all were the same shades of brown with white stomachs, but not two had the same markings. A few yearlings, younger then Everest and Odin played among the pine trees until they spotted the procession. Then they tagged along, curious about the visitors. Finally, the small group reached a larger one, making it a huge pack, maybe as big as the Ublureak. There they stopped, until the largest wolf stepped forward. He was the darkest, had grey hairs woven into his muzzle and carried the same respect that reminded Everest of Chief. The leader’s eyes passed over Odin but rested on Everest. Everest returned the stare, curiously noticing a flicker in the leader’s eye.

Do I know him? Everest thought.

                        “Welcome to the Aklark Pack” the leader greeted warmly. “I am Cedar, the leader of this pack and you may stay here as long as you’d like”

Odin let a sigh of relief rush out of him, making the Aklark wolves closest to him laugh.

            “I thought you were gonna eat us or something!”

But Everest concentrated on the leader, wracking his brain for any memories that had slipped away.

                        “I’m sure you’re hungry?” Cedar asked.

            “You have no idea!” Odin said dramatically, “We’ve been trying to catch fish all day until a stupid bear stole it when we finally caught one”

A few wolves brought Odin to some leftover food, but Everest hung back.

“Do I know you?” Everest asked unsurely.

Cedar shook his head.

                        “But you’re almost the spitting image of your father”

The chocolate colored wolf turned and left, leaving Everest in a state of shock. No one had ever talked about his father!

            “Everest! Aren’t you going to eat!?”

Everest snapped out of his thoughts and glanced at Odin.

            “Hurry up before I eat it all! And guess what! You don’t have to dive into frozen water and worry about not catching it” the sandy wolf laughed.

Everest glanced after Cedar, but his stomach pulled him over to the leftover food, leaving his mind spinning. The yearlings that were following, curious as ever, came forward, tails wagging.

                        “Where’d you guys come from?” the boldest asked curiously.

“The Ublureak” Everest said, swallowing a mouthful before he spoke. Then thinking thoughtfully added, “But I’m not sure what happened before we left”

                        “What happened?!” the lightest pup, a female squeaked.

“They came after us, like we did something really wrong. And some wolf named Hiatus was in charge” Everest explained thoughtfully.

                        “Hiatus?” the quietest, a young male with brown eye patches, legs and tail asked suddenly.

Everest nodded.

                        “You might want to come with me then, if you’ve eaten enough”

Everest nodded and Odin shoved down a final mouthful then followed Everest happily.

                        “I’m Will by the way” the young wolf added.

“Everest. And that’s Odin”

                        “Hiatus isn’t good” Will explained. “I think you need to talk to my dad… when Hiatus came here the last time, he was trying to get us to help in this insane plan of his”

            As soon as the dark chocolate leader came into site, Will broke into a jog.

                        “Dad! Everest has some bad news!”

Cedar looked at Everest with a troubled face.

“Do you know anything about a wolf named Hiatus?”

Cedar’s face grew dark.

            “Why?” Cedar growled gravely.

“Odin and I heard him talking and he seemed like he was in charge” Everest shrugged.

            “Don’t go back there” Cedar ordered. “Hiatus thinks that he can change the packs around here for the better. If he gets the power he wants, he’ll destroy everything that your father worked for”

“What should I do then?!”

            “Stay here. If Hiatus really is back at your pack, your leader is dead. Chief would have known better then to let some youngster like Hiatus try to lead”

“No…” Everest said, a horrible feeling growing in his stomach. “Chief isn’t dead! I probably… just heard the name wrong”

With that Everest whipped around and hurried off, refusing to believe that anything would have happened to his adopted father.

            Over the next few weeks, Everest and Odin spent their time as part of the Aklark pack. Will especially became good friends with the two, and Everest taught him a few things that he had learned from Chief. However, just when Everest and Odin had become accustomed to Aklark life, scouts rushed back to the pack, announcing that there were intruders in the territory. Cedar called the pack together and like the day that Everest and Odin had arrived, the whole pack waited in front of the den. Everest, Odin and Will stayed at the front, curious about who was coming. Gentle snow only made the newcomers silhouettes as they approached but as they got closer, Everest could make out a large white wolf with half closed yellow eyes and grey ears, paws and tipped tail. Everest didn’t recognize him, but Cedar stiffened and Will shuddered. As the group came closer, Everest could make out Arrow, Wave, Echo and Ice. Chief wasn’t with them.

            “Hiatus” Cedar started agitated. “We have already spoken about this. Having a pack doesn’t change a thing”

            Hiatus and the Ublureak came to a halt and although Hiatus talked to Cedar, his yellow eyes only stayed on Everest.

                        “What on earth would make you think that I came here to talk to you?” Hiatus replied in a calm, civilized voice. His eyes shifted to Everest again and a few heads turned in the direction of the golden wolf. Everest kept his eyes on Hiatus and didn’t blink. Cedar glanced over his shoulder at Everest but turned back to Hiatus with a scowl.

            “I won’t have you infecting him or anyone in this pack!”

                        “I don’t infect anyone…” Hiatus said with false insult. “And you’re the young Illiivat I’ve heard so much about, right?” he asked shifting his attention to Everest.

Everest lifted his chin and nodded. Cedar began to argue with Hiatus and Everest’s eyes passed over the rest of the pack for the first time. Odin must have noticed too.

            “They look dead!” Odin whispered. “What happened?!”

“I don’t know…  Will, you’re right… Hiatus isn’t up to any good”

The Ublureak wolves all looked the same. They seemed well fed, but it wasn’t hard to tell that they were all exhausted. Their eyes seemed dull and all their spirits seemed crushed except for the younger wolves that had normally tormented Everest and Odin. Everest had to force himself to look away from old his pack to focus on Hiatus again.

            “I don’t want anything to do with you or your pack” Hiatus barked clearly. “I came to talk to the Illiivat”

With a jolt in his stomach, Everest hid his emotions and rose to his feet. As he walked to stand next to Cedar, he could feel everyone’s eyes burning into him. But he kept his eyes on the grey and white wolf.

            “I want you to join my pack” Hiatus declared. “Your father and I were good friends”

                        “Don’t listen to a word he says!” Cedar thundered.

Everest didn’t say a word and narrowed his eyes. A few ideas swirled around in his head, but only one stuck.

“Let me just… think it over”

Everest went back to the pack and over to Odin.

            “What does he want?!” Odin whispered excitedly.

“He wants me to join the pack”

                        “You can’t do that!” Will whispered as loud as he could.

“I have to”

Odin and Will tilted their heads, confused.

“If I go, I might be able to change whatever he’s doing to the pack…and I might be able to stop whatever he’s planning”

Will nodded, understanding. Everest nodded too and headed back to Cedar and Hiatus.

“I’ll go”

Cedar’s eyes widened.

                        “After everything I’ve told you-!”

“Talk to Will” Everest said sharply.

Without looking back, Everest followed Hiatus, ignoring Arrow and his friends’ snickers. Odin said a quick goodbye and ran after Everest.

            “Didn’t think I’d leave you alone with those guys would ya?” Odin grinned once he caught up.

Everest grinned back, but in his head, he second guessed his choice. What would happen to them now?

            Hiatus, on the other hand, was second guessing his ideas as well. He had planned to try to capture and kill the young wolf, but he agreed so easily… having him lead might be better then having him dead. With the Illiivat in his pack, his plans might go on without a hitch!

                        “I think it’s about time you knew what my ideas were” Hiatus offered to Everest.

Everest nodded. Arrow glared. What made Everest so special anyway?!

                        “I’m creating the ultimate pack!” Hiatus started excitedly. “Only certain packs of course… obviously the Ublureak because they seem to be the strongest. I’ve already tried to get those stubborn Aklark to join, but they’ll just have to learn the hard way then. The next step is to find other packs that are as strong and get them to join in”

What’s so bad about that? Everest thought. How could Cedar think that this idea was bad? One big pack didn’t seem so bad…

“What about the packs that can’t join?” Everest asked thoughtfully.

                        “We’ll get rid of them”

“What?! What do you mean get rid of them?” Everest said, barely able to keep his voice under control.

                        “Get rid of them… if they’re not tough enough to survive, we’ll just make it easier for them to go” Hiatus said simply.

Everest felt his temper rise and it took all of his control to seem like he wasn’t really interested.

            “That’s barbaric!” Odin snapped.

Everest shoved Odin to keep him quiet but Hiatus already heard.

                        “I’d keep my mouth shut if I were you” Hiatus said coolly. “Or your pack might be the first to go”

            The rest of the way back to the familiar territory, Everest and Odin kept quiet. Hiatus went on and on about his brilliant plan, making it almost impossible for Everest not to snap. The only way that Everest was able to stay under control was the thought that he’d be able to soil Hiatus’s plans from the inside. When the group reached the den, another pack was waiting. At least that’s what Everest thought… but once Everest really looked around, he noticed Ublureak mixed in with another neighboring pack of grayish wolves with white markings: the Kesuk. That was Fly’s pack!

            “Isn’t this Fly’s-?” Odin started, catching on.

Everest nodded.

                        “Everest!”

Fly bounded out of nowhere and nuzzled Everest.

                        “I thought they killed you!” Fly exclaimed.

“Are you alright? Everyone looks… sick”

                        “So far, he hasn’t done anything to us except eat most of the food that we caught. Everest! You have to stop him! I’ll help you escape-!”

            “Everest came with us voluntarily” Hiatus said with a cruel smile.

Fly glared at him.

                        “Well does he know what you’re going to do?!” she said coldly.

            “Of course he does” Hiatus replied in an airy voice. “It’s not like we had to capture him or something…”

Fly turned to Everest with a disgusted look on her face.

“Fly, I don’t-.”

                        “Don’t what?!” Fly said hotly. “You don’t think that killing other wolves is that bad?!”

“Fly! Please! Just list-!”

                        “Save it for someone who cares! Or in your case, someone who doesn’t!”

Fly stormed off, leaving Everest confused and stuttering. Grinning, Arrow came up to Everest.

            “Has quite a mouth doesn’t she? Hiatus says she’ll be my mate… even if he has to force her to”

Everest glared at Arrow. The older grey wolf grinned and hurried after Fly.

            “Good riddance to both of them!” Odin spat, puffing up his chest.

“Come on, let’s just go” Everest said miserably.

Chapter VI

            Everest couldn’t think of a time he’d been unhappier. Ironically, any other wolf would have been perfectly fine. Not only were Everest and Odin considered leaders of the pack, but they also got to sleep in the warm den. Whenever there was a hunt, they never had to work for it and always ate first. But Fly still held a grudge against Everest and would never give Everest a chance to talk. None of that really bothered Everest though. It was just being the leader that did. Every time that Everest ate, he hated to look at the others who barely got anything after the leaders had eaten. But that wasn’t even close to the worst part. Hiatus wanted to make sure that Everest was definitely on his side, so he kept putting Everest through tests… most were simple like deciding where to hunt or what territories should be taken over first or which packs should be accepted or killed off once they started to attack. But the worst was when Everest had to punish anyone who disobeyed Hiatus. So far, no one had tried to do anything really bad, so the worst that Everest had to do was keep a wolf from eating for one day. But it was still bad to Everest and his patience was growing thin.

“Odin, I don’t know how much more I can take!” Everest said frantically, pacing back and forth.

Odin shrugged, helpless.

“I don’t even know how to stop him! We need to get out of here!”

            “You can’t! If you weren’t here, they’d be off even worse then they already are!”

Everest sighed and shook his head.

“I don’t know…” Everest said weakly.

                        “Everest?”

Everest and Odin looked up to see Hiatus, with Arrow, Echo, Ice and Wave not a step behind, walking calmly up.

                        “We’ve decided on a final test. Once you’ve proved yourself one last time, there will be no more tests”

Odin and Everest exchanged glances and without a word, both got up and followed Hiatus. What wolf am I going to have to torture now!? Everest thought angrily.

            “Everest!”

“Will?! What are you doing here?!”

                        “He was brought here for punishment”

Everest cocked his head.

“What has he done?”

                        “Attacked a wolf from our pack”

Everest narrowed his eyes at Hiatus and turned to Will.

“Is that true?”

Will nodded and furrowed his brow.

            “They tried to take Chestnut!” he said, motioning to the lighter of his two friends. “All she did was try to catch a rabbit and they said that she stole it! They tried to drag her away… and they were hurting her, so I bit one of them. You know me Everest! I wouldn’t do anything unless I had a good reason to!”

Everest nodded understandingly.

“Can we just punish Chestnut and let the other two go?!”

Hiatus shook his head and tsked.

                        “That wouldn’t be fair” Hiatus said with false pity. “He attacked and should be punished”

“Sorry Will” Everest shrugged. “So should I just put him in the den without food for a few days?”

                        “No”

Everest raised a brow. Maybe Hiatus was in a good mood today…

                        “Just overnight”

Everest smiled and Will gave a small smile.

                        “In the morning, they’ll be killed”

“What?!”

                        “And you’ll do it”

“WHAT?!”

Will and his siblings exchanged terrified glances before Arrow and his friends forced them to the den.

            “Everest! Everest, help!” Will cried.

Everest kept his eyes on the ground, forcing himself to stay where he was. He didn’t need to look up to feel the confused, angry glares he was getting from Will, Chestnut and their brother. Odin’s ears were folded back as he watched his friend hauled away.

            “What are we going to do Everest?” Odin asked faintly.

                        “Yeah Everest, what are we going to do?” Fly, who had been watching from a distance, sneered.

Everest grimaced and closed his eyes.

“Let’s go” he said softly.

As he walked away, Fly scoffed. This wasn’t going the way he wanted to at all.

            Later on that night, Everest sat curled in a ball, searching his mind for something he could do to save his friend. Arrow and his friends were guarding the cave and even if Everest and Odin could fight them off, they’d still tell Hiatus. There was simply no way out. He had to stay undercover to undo whatever Hiatus was planning… but Will was his friend! And Everest couldn’t kill! He hated killing: there wasn’t a single worse thing that anyone could do and he would have to do it! It was either Will and his siblings or entire wolf packs…

Everest didn’t get a wink of sleep. It seemed like no time at all before Hiatus waltzed into the den and smiled.

                        “Time to prove yourself Everest”

Everest sighed and got to his feet. Odin, who hadn’t gotten any more sleep then Everest had, rose to his feet and followed Hiatus out of the cave as well.

Will, his brother and sister were all waiting, shivering. Everest’s insides twisted. He couldn’t do this! But he had to…

Hiatus stopped a few feet away and Arrow snickered.

                        “Go ahead”

Everest glanced at the three Aklark. His legs felt like lead.

            “Everest, please!” Will whispered desperately.

Everest couldn’t force himself to look at Will. He looked back at Odin, who had his eyes closed and Fly, who was glaring, angry expression on her face. Hiatus snorted.

                        “I knew you didn’t have it in you” Hiatus growled. “I’ll show you how it’s done!”

Hiatus shoved past Everest and stormed right for Will…

Everest’s heart raced. His breathing picked up. This was wrong!

Hiatus dove for Will. As fast as Hiatus lunged, Everest was faster. He dove under Hiatus and kicked his stomach, flipping him over. Then slashing him across the eye, he shoved the larger wolf down the hill.

                        “Kill him you idiots!”

Arrow dove for Everest but the Illiivat was ready. Arrow wasn’t balanced and Everest tripped him easily and didn’t have to touch him: he rolled right down the hill and crashed into Hiatus.

“Will, remember how I taught you to fight?!”

Will nodded.

“You’re going to need to fight like that now if you want to get out of here alive!”

Odin dashed over to Everest’s side.

            “What’s the plan!?” Odin barked.

Everest glanced around and his eyes found the trail that went through Fly’s old territory.

“There!”

Everest lunged forward and led the group of five through the chaos. Most of Hiatus’s once organized pack was running around in every direction, making it easy for them to slip away. Ice dived for Everest and Will lunged into his side, plowing him over. Over the noise, Everest could hear Hiatus screaming out orders. A smile spread across his face. He’d never heard Hiatus yell before and as scary as it was, it made Everest happy that he had messed something that bad for Hiatus. Now it was time to rub it in!

Everest skit to a stop. Odin and Will hesitated for a second.

“I’ll be right there! I just need to do one more thing!”

Odin and Will nodded happily and dashed off again.

Everest spun around and headed for the top of the hill where Chief used to give announcements from. Hiatus and Arrow were struggling back up the icy slope they had fallen from when Everest spoke.

“If you don’t stop what you’re doing now, you’re going to be sorry Hiatus!” he yelled.

Hiatus’s yellow eyes burned into Everest.

“If you ever try anything that you’ve told me about, I’ll be there! You lay a paw on any other pack, and you’ll wish you’d never been born! And just a quick thanks too, for helping me out these past few weeks! Would have never known about any of this if you hadn’t told me!”

Hiatus’s face worked up into a snarl. Everest just grinned.

“I guess I’ll be seeing you around!” Everest laughed.

His eyes found Fly, who was beaming. With a quick wink, he whirled around and took off. As he ran, he heard Hiatus’s scream of anger. Nothing could make Everest happier!

            After their escape, Everest and Odin brought Will and his siblings back to the Aklark. This time, no scouts brought them to the main pack: Cedar was waiting at the edge f his territory and raced forward once he saw his three pups arriving.

                        “Thank you Everest!” Cedar exclaimed, tears in his eyes.

“No problem” Everest beamed. “All in a day’s work I guess. We should probably get out of here though… other wise, Hiatus will never leave you guys alone”

Cedar nodded. “If you guys ever need anything, you know where to find us. Good luck!”

Everest smiled and nodded respectfully.

“Come on Odin!”

With that, the pair turned around and trotted off.

            “Everest! Odin! Wait up!”

Will sprinted after his two friends and skit to a halt.

“What’s wrong?”

            “Nothing” Will shrugged sheepishly. “I just thought you guys would probably need a little extra help… you know, if you’re going to take down Hiatus and stuff”

Everest grinned.

“What about your father?”

            “He understands”

“We could use an extra paw!”

Will smiled.

                        “I guess three makes a pack!” Odin chirped happily. “You know what we should do?!”

Everest and Will glanced at Odin.

                        “Give ourselves a name! How about the Dynamo Pack!”

Everest shook his head.

                        “Or, or, or Pack AWESOME!”

Everest chuckled.

                        “What about the Super pack!?” Odin barked enthusiastically.

“Give it up Odin!” Everest chuckled.

As Odin talked on, Everest thought about it.

Three does make a pack! And a pack can make a difference… things are going to be different from now on! Just let Hiatus try!

Everest, Fly, Cheif, Odin, Cedar, Odin, Will, Arrow, Wave, Echo, Ice, Hiatus, Bark and Chestnut (c) me

Aniu (c) Universal