AN: Hey guys, before people ask, no I haven't see the Paw Patrol movie yet. I might finally see it while I am on vacation, we'll see. Second, in case you haven't seen my messages on my other fics, due to real life issues that are beyond my control, all of my fics save for Everest Gone Missing, my favorite to write and everyone's favorite fic in general, is on hiatus until things improve for me.

To that end, here is the latest interlude chapter in which we finally get a reappearance of Everest after so long. It's not a big update but its to serve as a buffer until we get into the next act because oh boy are there going to be some dark moments.

Disclaimer: I do not own Paw Patrol

When she was in Adventure Bay, one of the first things that Everest learned about was how much humans (and pups) loved the T.V. She first thought it was a strange contraption at first, and she really didn't understand the full concept behind it, but she had grown to like it like the rest of the pups when Jake showed her his Disney movie collection. For obvious reasons, Balto was her favorite one.

The TV was also one of the ways she learned more about the world thanks to the news stations. It showed her just how big, mysterious, and interesting the world really was and how humans shaped pretty much everything on the giant planet they lived in. That being said, there were some terrible things she learned as well. Crime, wars, poverty, disease, corruption, and more. If it wasn't for the fact that she saw such goodness in humans she would think that they were all monsters by these things she learned about them and their societies. One of which was something called "Child Soldiers" in Africa. It was when various warlords or corrupt governments forced children, even as young as ten, to fight in deadly battles where most of them ended up dead at such a young age.

Everest wondered if she could be called such a thing herself considering she was not even an adult and yet was helping lead her pack, Icebane, in a war. She sighed as she watched the various pure snow white wolves under her command march forward towards the next battle that was to take place at the edge of their current territory. Much as she wanted to hate them for bringing her back to her old home, Everest could do nothing but look upon her pack with soft and warm eyes. They had all welcomed their "Princess" back as they called her since it was assumed she died, just like her mother, all those years ago. The first thing she did upon arriving back home was cry in his father's embrace.

"Dad..." Everest whispered as she let out a soft sigh. It was good to see her father again. Even if Jake had raised her like a second father, she loved her birth father just as much. Only he wasn't the proud and noble wolf that she remembered him as. Age and constant fighting had made it harder for him to move, let alone lead, which fell to each of her brothers to do so...only they were all gone now.

Taigus, who was always calm, collected, and the most responsible who could have lead the pack to greatness.

Aquilo, the hot headed stubborn brother who was perhaps one of the bravest wolves ever.

Grey Wind, the best fighter, and yet the most playful that was always up for a prank or game.

And Ghost, the most quiet and yet caring of her brothers who was always protective of her.

They were all gone, killed in the war against Bloodmoon Star. The clan that had cost her everything and everyone she loved in her old life. Even taking Everest away from her life as a Paw Patroller. If there was one satisfaction she had it was that she was able to direct her rage against them. She would never say she loved killing, but taking lives of the bastards had some satisfaction to it.

"Alpha-Heir?" Everest turned around to see a large white wolf, with black stripes by his side from black coal markings, walk over and bow to her. "Scouts just reported that the outpost the Bloodstar Moon forces were occupying is empty. It appears they retreated."

"I see. Thank you, Daiu" Everest muttered as she took a moment to think. She then turned around and gave a few howls, which immediately caused the wolves under her command to heel and stop. A few more howls, and they soon started getting to work making a resting site.

"We aren't going to press forward?" Daiu asked, tilting his head.

"No," Everest replied, shaking her head. "I'm worried about an ambush. Even if there isn't, we don't want to leave this section of our territory too undefeated. We'll stay here for a few days and, if nothing happens, I'll order half of us to return back to the main den to plan our next strategy."

So far Bloodmoon Star had tried multiple times to advance into Icebane territory, but thanks to Everest, and her most trusted advisors. they were able to stop their plans cold and push them out. Many believed that Everest had been blessed by the ancestors themselves, but in truth it was thanks to all that she learned back at Adventure Bay. Ryder's training and lessons, combined with her rescue dog experiences, had helped shape her both physically and mentally. There were tactics she learned from her time in the Paw Patrol that were very useful in defeating their enemy.

It only reinforced the belief that Everest was more than ready to lead clan Icebane, but she felt it was not time yet. Her father still lived, and while his body might have been damaged, his mind was not. Half of their victories were due to the two of them working together, and she respected her father too much to take control of the pack so quickly.

Not that I can delay it forever, Everest thought with a sigh. One day, I'll have to be Alpha Leader.

"Is there any other news, Daiu?" Everest asked as she watched the wolves under her command begin to relax.

"...There have been rumors," Daiu whispered, with great hesitation. What he said next made Everest's heart stop. "Rumors that two humans and six dogs, pups, that have entered Wintergreen in a large moving vehicle."

No. No it can't be... Everest felt her face slowly morph into horror. I covered my tracks! I made sure of it?! How did they...

It couldn't be Jake and the Paw Patrol. It could be some other group, but Everest knew that was wishful thinking. What other group had six pups in a large moving vehicle with two humans beside them? It had to be the Paw Patroller. It had to be Ryder and Jake. It had to be Chase, Skye, Rocky, Zuma, Rubble, and...and...

Marshall...

Everest closed her eyes. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Daiu whispered. "It appears they are looking for you."

"...Idiots," Everest muttered, fighting the tears in her eyes. "They're all idiots."

Everest didn't want them to get involved. They could get killed and she'd never forgive herself for letting it happen because of her. She knew that they would have been more than happy to help, but that was the problem. This wasn't some mission where they had to save Cali from a tree or stop Alex from doing something stupid. This was war and in war there were casualties. Everest had lost most of her family because of it, she didn't want to lose her second family as well.

"Where are they?" Everest asked.

"From what we've heard, they last had contact with the Riverborn Wolves, but they seemed to have become friends with them before parting ways," Daiu answered with a chuckle. "If this is true, maybe we can get the Riverborn to side with us in the war. They've always been neutral, but if your friends are coming..."

"No!" Everest shouted as she turned around to face Daiu. "None of my friends are to get further involved in this war...Tell..." She closed her eyes. "Tell one of our messenger patrols to find them and tell them to go home. Tell them I am not coming back..."

"But Everest-"

"Now, Daiu!" Everest shouted which made him nod and walk away.

Everest sighed and shook her head. Why? Why did they come?

She knew why. They cared about her. She was one of them. And Paw Patrol always looked after their own.

Yet this time Everest hoped they never came. While a part of her wanted to see them again, she knew it was for the best.

This was her fight...nobody else's.

Daiu had known Everest ever since her mother gave birth to her. Like many wolves at the time, he had been skeptical of the Alpha Leader taking a dog as his second mate, but it had been the dog who had healed their leader's heart from the loss of his first mate and their love was true. Everest had become a princess to the pack, to the point that all four of her brothers loved her equally. While he had been happy to see her alive and well again after all these years, he knew she wished she was anywhere else but here.

Daiu wished the ancestors had not taken her brothers, especially Daiu's good friend Ghost. He had been there at his final battle, watching his friend fall into the ice pit and disappear into the darkness of the caverns below. None could have survived such a fall, and the pack mourned the last of their male heirs. It had been with great hesitation to go get Everest and bring her back to Icebane once more. They had long figured out where she was, but her father and brothers deemed it necessary to avoid contact with her until the war was over to keep her safe from the Bloodmoon Star wolves. Thankfully, they got there before their assassins could kill her.

Everest had never wanted to leave her home, or the humans and pups that she had come to call her friends. Even now, despite her focus on the war, Daiu could see how much she longed to be with them. It hurt him to see her in such pain, divided over her duty and desire, and Daiu wanted to help his princess.

Not to mention if half of what Everet's tales about them are true, combined with the rumors of them holding off against Bloodmoon Star, they would be useful allies in the war, he thought while also thinking of another reason. He knew Everest missed them very much and desperately wanted to see them even if she feared doing so. I won't let her be miserable.

He would get the scout party best suited for this task, but he would be making some changes to the orders...