[1 year before the Brevon Incident]

In the heart of Rage Ravine sits a modest part-wood part-stone two-storey house built partly into the cliff-face, hidden behind a bank of pink-leaved trees. On the balcony, a red-headed vixen in a dark blue bathrobe leans on the rail, watching the birds in the trees. A keen ear would pick up a gentle snoring from the bedroom behind. After a couple of minutes, the snoring stops abruptly.

"Hanna?" a voice calls from the bedroom.

"Morning Rob," Hanna replies.

"You on the balcony?" Rob asks.

"No, I'm in the garage," Hanna replies with friendly sarcasm.

"Good, you can check our ATVs' tyre pressures," Rob replies in kind.

"I'll get right on it babe," Hanna smiles.

A few moments later, the silver hare joins his girlfriend on the balcony, wrapping the maroon bathrobe he's wearing around the vixen in a loving embrace. "Why are you up so early?" Rob inquires. "You normally like to sleep in when we have time off."

"I woke up earlier than expected, and was too alert to go back to sleep," Hanna explains.

"Try again," Rob requests cheekily.

"I needed the loo and didn't feel like going back to bed after?" Hanna tries.

"Strike two," Rob teases.

"OK… I'm having second thoughts about entering this month's tournament," Hanna finally admits.

"Because Sash has entered, no doubt," Rob guesses.

"Her? Nah," Hanna retorts dismissively. "Yeah," she sighs a few moments later. "I've never beaten her, and if I'm honest, I doubt I ever will. I know I'm better than her, but I just can't prove it."

"You're entering that tournament, whether you like it or not!" Rob commands firmly yet kindly.

"I do still have four days to prepare," Hanna observes. "It's just finding a way to defend against that infernal 'Dragon Boost'… Three years and I've yet to find a way…"

"Why don't you ask Leader Jai?" Rob suggests.

"I did, remember?" Hanna reminds. "He all but confirmed you can't defend against- Is that the phone? Who's ringing this early?"

"No idea," Rob replies. "I'll go see what they want."

Rob returns to the bedroom, then heads downstairs and answers the phone, rejoining Hanna on the balcony a few minutes later. "I have good news and bad news," he reports.

"Let me guess," Hanna sighs. "The draw's been leaked, and I'm up against Sash in the first round."

"Actually no," Rob replies. "As it turns out, Sash is no longer entering the tournament."

Hanna spins around and looks Rob straight in the eye. "You serious?"

"It gets better, for you anyway," Rob continues.

"Better for me? How?"

"Sash Lilac is no longer a Red Scarf."

"What?" Hanna exclaims in disbelief. "No way she quit!"

"Yes way," Rob confirms. "And Carol quit with her."

"Hah!" Hanna chuckles. "I knew they didn't have the guts to be Scarves!"

"Our lifestyle isn't for everyone," Rob observes.

"It's hard to believe," Hanna continues. "After all this time… three years of failure… I'll be champion again!"

"Assuming you win," Rob reminds.

"Oh, I'll win, I guarantee it," Hanna winks. "It's just a shame I won't be able to smash Sash's face in on the way. So, what's the bad news?"

"Maria's been forced to withdraw," Rob replies.

"Is she OK?" Hanna asks, concerned.

"Yeah, she's fine," Rob answers. "Aside from the broken arm."

"Pulling stunts on her trike again?"

"Yep. It's only a partial fracture, so she'll be back in action in a few weeks. She's resting at home for now."

Hanna curses mildly as she shakes her head in bemusement. "We'll stop by later today," she decides. "But first," she continues seductively, wrapping her bathrobe around Rob and encouraging him into the bedroom, "I feel like celebrating my upcoming championship win…"