Chapter one

A cool mist flowed through a forest east from Happy Tree town. The sun had just broken through the morning clouds and sunlight shined through the forest, making the dew glitter brilliantly like small gems. The only clearing in the forest was a path way, narrow but wide enough for at least ten people can easily walk together on.

The silence of the forest was broken by quick foots steps that rushed down the path leading to Happy Tree Town. They belonged to a blue-grey bat, who was a bit bruised up and wings where tattered. She held a burlap sack on her shoulder that only contained a piece of bread, a photo and some money. She seemed to be running away from something, not physical but mentally. She didn't stop walking for a second, even when sounds of wild animal surrounded her.

"Town shouldn't be too far from here..." Vampy thought to herself. "not too far now..."

Her fast pace walking finally paided off as she entered to gates of Happy Tree town. There where a few residents wandering about, and cars drove up and down the streets and disappeared into town. Vampy walked past stores of all kinds, gazing at the merchandise that was advertised in the front windows. Realizing what she came for, she reached into the sack the she had carried with her and pulled out the money from it. It was exactly 50$.

"ok good.." Vampy thought. "enough to rent a room somewhere... at least for a day. I'll I need now is a place to stay...."

Hidden from view, two figures watched to bat count her money.

"Heh heh heh heh.... Lifty, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Shifty nudged his twin brother with his elbow.

"Heh heh heh. Right, lets go." Lifty replied eagerly to his brother.

Vampy stuffed the money back into the bag and swung it over her shoulder a continued her search for a place to stay. The raccoon brothers quickly sprang into action. Lifty stuck his leg out, and Vampy tripped over instantly, and lost grip of her bag which went flying. Shifty caught it in a flash, and ran as fast as his legs could carry him with Lifty scrambling after him. Vampy was too dazed and confused to react quick enough, so she sat there on the side walk and watched the two raccoons get farther away from her. The passing citizens only stared at the scene, nobody seemed to help or care, except for a red squirrel that ran after the two thieves.

"What the hell?" Vampy was still trying to make sense of what just happened.

Twitchy watched the whole thing happen all at once, and could only think to help the dumbstruck bat. He ran after Shifty and Lifty with all his energy, even with that he wasn't very fast.

"Come on, go faster!!!" He shouted at himself. His tail twitched and twisted with excitement.

At the spur of the moment, Twitchy was able to get close enough to Lifty. He couldn't think of anything much else to do, so he jumped onto Lifty's back to slow him down.

"WHAT THE HELL?!!? GET OFF OF ME!" Lifty tried to shake off Twitchy, and ended up falling over.

Twitchy wasn't much of a fighter, but he did the only thing he could think of and punched Lifty again and again. Shifty was still running, not noticing his missing brother. Twitchy kept punching Lifty, till he finally was knocked out. Twitchy carefully picked up the burlap sack, tempted to look inside. He stood up and looked down at unconscious Lifty.

"Serves you right Lifty." Twitchy moved Lifty to the side with his foot. "I hope that person is still there...."

Vampy got to her feet and brushed off the dirt in her fur.

"Just great," Vampy talked to herself. "How am I going to get around without that money? That's all you had to survive on and it gets stolen. I knew I should of went south."

Her self pity talk was interrupted by the sound of panting and a tap on her shoulder. She twisted around, to find that red squirrel that ran after Shifty and Lifty. Twitchy looked worn out and tired from running.

"Hi, uh, I got you bag back for you." Twitchy handed to the bag back to Vampy.

"Wow, thank you so much!!! How could I ever repay you?" Vampy couldn't be any gratifier that anybody would be so kind to kind to her. "Um, well, I'm new to Happy Tree Town. My name is Vampy."

Twitchy smiled wide and his tail began to twitch again. "My is Twitchy, nice to meet you." He shook her had, and though a little intimidated by Twitchy's friendliness, Vampy shook his hand nervously.

"So your new here? Do you have a place to stay yet?" Twitchy was full of questions for Vampy.

"No, I haven't been able to find a place to stay yet," Vampy fidgeted a little. "I was out hunting for an apartment right now..."

"I live in a apartment." Twitchy couldn't help his sudden twitches and jerks as he talked to her. " The room below me is empty, maybe you can rent a room there?"

"Ok," Vampy agreed. "Thanks for you help, you're really nice." Vampy smiled reassuringly, and put her bag over her shoulder.

"No problem." Twitchy smiled back, and led the way to his home.