Author's Notes: I was supposed to start this fanfic a long time ago and I did have some parts done but then I went and lost them. I now found them again and decided to work from that. Here is what I've got so far.

By the way, this story contains slash, the Gruffi x Gusto pairing. Nothing to worry about though, this fic is kiddie friendly, if you allow me to use the term.

Forest Magic

Chapter 1

Prologue

A bright brown bear cub glanced up at his father.

"Where are we going?" he asked quietly. His father, Ralli was his name, was a deep brown bear and was currently wearing a green tunic. He was short but muscular, the physical strenght obtained from all the hard labour he did in their home village. Ralli was a practical bear in nature and was equipped with a great deal of common sense.

"We're going to go check the spells around the Night Valley gate", Ralli answered his son's question. "Your mother wants to find out why the spells break every one hundred years and possibly stop it from happening."

"Exactly", Elli replied. She was Ralli's wife and his complete opposite in physique. She was tall and slim and covered her body with a dark purple robe, a sign of her powerful magic. Her fur was a shade darker than her husbands and she had long, black hair that was braided behind her back.

The mage straightened her robes before she explained to situation to her son: "I want to see if I can strenghten the spell seals. If I can make them last forever, our village will be safe from the Creatures that live on the other side."

"But I thought that the Great Gummies knew everything", the cub argued fiercely. "How can you do something better than them?"

"Gini said that too", Ralli pointed out. His next words were directed at his wife. "Why do you insist on going through all this trouble?"

Elli growled dangerously while sending her husband a ferocious glare. It managed to shut Ralli's mouth instantly. With that the darker bear turned around to leave.

"Dad?" the child bear asked from his father who was still standing next to him. "How come you always lose to mom?"

Ralli scratched the tip of his nose, his cheeks gaining a red shade that turned his cheeks a darker brown as he replied: "Because she's the fiercest Gummi I've ever met." His voice gained a dreamy undertone. "That's why I married her."

Elli turned around at the words and smiled lovingly at Ralli. Ralli returned the gesture. The cub only scratched the back of his head and muttered: "Weird..." Then he frowned. "By the way, what is the Night Valley exactly? All Gullai told me was that it's a place of great evil."

"It is the realm of eternal darkness", Elli explained in her teacher-voice. "That's where the Creatures come from."

"What's so scary about the Creatures?" the child pressed on.

"I think that isn't really necessary for you to know, Gruffi", Elli said firmly. "Let's just say that they're a hundred times worse than ogres."

"Don't be like that, dear", Ralli cut in. "Gruffi is going to be a man, come next summer. Surely he's old enough."

"Not until he's an official man", Elli argued. "Before that he's a child to me."

Suddenly the forest seemed to turn dark around them, like night had suddenly decided to fall. Gruffi jumped at the sudden change in lighting.

"We're near", Elli spoke quietly. "The signs are here."

Gruffi saw Ralli's body go stiff beside him. Immediately the youngling felt dread creep up his spine. His father was one of the bravest Gummies and he did not care much about magic. These magical beings, Creatures, made even his father scared.

Elli pulled something out from her shoulder bag. It was a wooden mask full of magical runes. Gruffi recognized the runes from all the charms his mother had placed around their house back in the village.

The mask had a hideous face carved on it, the mouth full of sharp teeth making Gruffi shiver. He had never seen such a frightening face before. And to his further horror his mother handed the mask to him.

"Take this and escape", the sorceress ordered. Gruffi tried to back away from the mask but Elli grabbed his hand and shoved the mask into it. "This is a cloaking mask. Put it on and leave."

"But what about you two?" Gruffi whined.

"We'll lead the Creature away", Rali answered. "Elli's magic in that mask will protect you from any eyes. You should be safe if you head South. We'll come get you later."

"How do you know the Creature won't still come after me?" Gruffi asked. "I'm smaller and slower, an easy catch."

Gruffi was shoved towards the woods as his mother's voice came from behind him: "It's hungry and greedy after being locked away for so long. It will want the bigger prey."

Reluctantly Gruffi put the wooden mask on, feeling a strange tingling all over his body.

"Now run!" Ralli's voice commanded firmly and Gruffi's feet started to move. For some reason he felt incredible sadness, like if he was never going to see his parents again. Tears poured down his cheeks as he ran into the darkness.

To be continued...