Author's Note (Please Read): This is my story for Xearak's application. It starts with The Heart of the Flame clan, a clan of draiks. They are running through haunted woods when they pick up something.

A bit about the clan: I was given inspiration for this after I wasn't chosen as a finalist for another draik. There are six draiks which will all be introduced as the story progresses. They are a made up clan because I haven't had a chance to own a draik and it's fun pretending. I may finish this one day, even if I am not chosen for Xearak.

A thick mist filled the haunted woods that could blind even the sharpest eye.To top it off, the forecast showed no signs of lightening up. The wood was silent, as if the rain was all that was ever heard. It echoed off the trees and the rolling landscape, carrying far into the region.

Dark splotches of green and brown were the only color the mind could register that day. It was then heavy paws padded the ground repeatedly, kicking up the loose mud and slipping through the wood as unnoticed as they could remain. They could remind one of a herd of leaping Ogrin, crashing through the brush, or the rumble of distant thunder.

The lead draik leapt over a gap in the earth about twenty meters wide as if it was nothing. A dark red mane was tangled and mud stained from the run. Five draiks came to a halt at the top of the cliff as he skidded to a halt.

"Why'd you stop?" demanded Vesren, barring his fangs. The darigan draik breathed deeply.

Xaevorn twisted his neck around and eyed his opponent with an intense furious air. He looked like he was about to utter a phrase when he heard it again.

"Listen," prompted Kohl, a checkered draik and Versen's closest friend.

With sensitive ears the clan could even hear the softest footsteps over the downpour of rain. Xaevorn shifted his weight and twisted his neck around sharply, indicating that they go check it out. A few full strides away, line of indentations zigzagged down the face of the cliff. Those with wings took advantage of the air and glided to the wet stony ground.

The crevice in the earth was a basin ready to be filled. With the canyon walls now magnifying the sound, it made it exceptionally easy for Xaevorn to track the noise. When they came upon the source, the whole clan was surprised. At the mouth of a cave, a Darigan Lupe lied on his stomach and sunk his teeth into a plushie draik's foreleg.

The wolf neopet's sensitive ears twitched foreword and he looked up, letting his new found toy fall to the ground. "What brings you to my territory draiks?" he slurred the last part maliciously.

"It was curiosity on his part," commented Kohl.

Xaevorn shot him a death glare and returned his gaze to the lupe. "It's none of your concern. Drop the act and return what isn't yours."

"I don't think so," he slowly walked foreword and stopped. The air tensed up between the clan and every draik felt this. Even though they had been aware of his next move, they weren't expecting it as quickly. The lupe lunged at Xaevorn and caught him around the neck. Vesren joined the brawl while Zyst, an island draik landed next to Xearak.

The small plushie pet lifted his head despite his severed plush limb. "Thank you," he whispered before falling into the black abyss of unconsciousness.

Zyst delicately lifted the draik with her jaws, careful not to tear his material and flung him onto her back. To the side, the lupe and Xaevorn were still locked in battle. Snarling and flashes of white canines were all that could be distinguished between the two. The battle seemed to go on forever until a howl split the eerie silence for those outside the scuffle.

The darigan lupe fell uncharacteristically limp to the ground. He laughed quietly and mumbled something about his pack coming.

Xaevorn looked up; small red splatters dotted his hide. "Move."

Zyst flew ahead making sure the coast was clear and searching for a way out of the canyon. A half a mile later the canyon steadily curved up in one spot. It was a path that the clan used to their advantage. Even after they escaped the deep crevice, they ran until they found enough shelter under the overhang of a rock plate on the beaches of Haunted Woods.

Morning came and Xearak woke, feeling sore all over. His severed limb lay on the ground next to him but he was no longer in the lupe's territory. Looking up with a black button eye he found that there were five other draiks lounging about under an overhang. The one he remembered, the island draik slept next to him, probably to make sure he was alright.

Xearak could move with no problem and probably fly but why did these draiks save him? He needed to know. He tried prodding Zyst with a plush fill arm and only succeeded in making her turn onto her back and sigh. Sighing, Xearak stood and flapped his wings to make it over the others without waking them.

"So you're awake," stated Xaevorn.

Xearak quickly turned to find supposedly the leader. His white hide had the slightest trace blood. A mosaic-like chest told Xearak that his color was camouflage. His dark red mane was still matted with dry mud.

"Yeah, who are you?"

"I go by Xaevorn, learn it so I don't have to repeat myself again."

The plushie draik perked up, "That's easy to remember."

He waved a plush filled paw, spraying some water.

"It's just like my name!"

Xaevorn's eyes showed some interest. "Hi, I'm Xearak. I usually look more presentable than this. But thanks to circumstances out of my control-"

He chortled and Xaevorn grimaced. "You could have been killed kid."

It was a mental blow on Xearak's feeble mind. His expression saddened. "I was going to say that I've been through worse."

Several claws scratched the stone behind him and Kohlador stood. "Don't be so harsh Xae," he looked up at the plushie draik.

Xaevorn rolled his eyes and jumped down, spraying a sheet of sand in Kohlador's direction. Kohlador shed back as Xaevorn strode towards the open water.

"You all have five minutes," with that he was gone.

Kohlador shook lazily until his mane was sand free.

"What's wrong with him?" Xearak inquired.

"Don't worry; he's like that to everyone."

What do all of you anonymus readers think:o Was it interesting?

Your fellow author,

ILJ