Author's note:

To reviewers:

- C&MFan: Thank you!

- Red: Me too! xD

- MarshalB: ;)

- PBJ: It's coming soon! Secrets will come out! Mwu-ah-ha-haaa!

- Wolf: Yes! Comments on my OC villain! Yes! My villain does have nerve...

Song of the chapter: Red: Darkest Part

Enjoy this quick chapter! :) We're really close to discovering Everest's story after all these hints now! :}

~ Ashla

"You sure about this, Everest?"

Ryder and Everest were looking in the phone screen to Jake.

Everest nodded firmly, "Of course! I really don't have as much use as a snow pup when it's not winter. I- uh, also do want to help Marshall."

Jake chuckled lightly, "I can tell."

Everest's blush grew bigger, knowing what Jake presently saw through her.

Ryder chuckled, "Marshall will be the pup training her. I'll be putting her on duty in a week or so, but it'll take her a while to learn EVERYTHING. Marshall took a year."

Jake nodded, "Take any time you need, dudes."

Everest perked up, "Any updates on your aunt, Jake?"

For a moment, some type of crest fallen expression passed through his face. Jake offered a sad smile, "We haven't been able to get anywhere. Jane ran into another issue with her inner family at home, we've been set back on time. A lot. I'm stuck here a while, dudes."

An attempt at a laugh was made. Everest could tell, she could just tell, that there was more to this story than he said. Jake was leaving some type of very important detail out. Jake looked to Everest through the screen, "You gonna be good a while longer, Everest?"

Everest didn't respond. She didn't seem happy go lucky like the other calls. She stared into a distance, lost in sad thought. Her eyes darted to Jake, then away again.

This time, Jake's voice sounded more firm. The firmness was in a need to know though. A need to understand his precious pup was still fine. "Everest, are you okay?"

They looked each other in the eyes, expressions saying the same thing. Whatever either of them were hiding from each other, they knew details and stories were being hidden out of site from the other. All those nights crying herself to sleep, feeling miserable; her separation anxiety, which came from memories long before they met.

She could tell Jake somehow saw it.

Everest refused to crack. She refused to admit weakness. She never wanted to make him feel guilty for all of this. Everest gulped before giving him a shy smile, "I can hang around a while longer."

Jake gave her an appreciative, but heartbroken smile, "That's my girl. You rock, Everest. Love you!"

Everest felt tears coming up. She closed her eyes, holding them back. Her tail wagged, her usual hyper smile taking over as she opened happy eyes. It was so, so machine like... Like a device switched to different options. A machine, covered in rough wires. A circuitry growing worse each day, about to snap.

"I rock! You rock! Good luck, Jake!" Everest giggled.

It was an act played oh so well. No person would be able to see past such marvelous acting. Yet, somehow, by the emotions this conversation pulled, they could tell. Ryder knew it was a fake, Jake knew it was a fake, Everest knew it was a fake. They knew, yet never addressed it at Jake signed out, "Good luck, Everest! Stay cool, Ryder."

Ryder saluted as Jake hung up. Everest finally let out a sigh, filled with all the anguish she ever felt. Ears fell, tail dropped.

"I miss him... I'm sorry, I just do."

She was met with slow ear scratches from Ryder. "How long have you played this game, Everest?"

Everest looked up at his sorrowful face. She made a deep confession within that moment. "As long as you've known me."

Everest and Ryder reentered the meeting room from downstairs. Like stone, all the pups were still in their respective spots; clueless of Everest's admittance to Ryder. Ryder stood in front of them all as Everest resumed her place next to Marshall. Everest knew she would have to tell him... very soon... but first thing was first.

"Everest, step forward."

Everest did so.

Ryder smiled at her, "A pup who knows pain should know how to heal it." he whispered down to her before speaking aloud, "Everest, I hereby make you EMT in training! You have agreed to learn both at home and on the field, and I trust you will fulfill this well."

Behind her, all the pups cheered. "Yay!" "Go Everest!"

Everest's tail wagged at a tornado's speed, tongue out as she grinned ear to ear. She felt honestly happy for the first time in several days. Everest would take this responsibility seriously. She forced herself to stop wagging as she resumed her professional position, "I will, Ryder, sir. You can count on me."