Miles was sitting in the boughs of a tree, watching for travelers he could bother. This was one of his favorite things to do, because he enjoyed meeting and talking with new people. Oh, and he's not a squirrel, he's a badger. A young badger, actually, about 17 seasons. You may be asking, "What is a normal badger like him doing in a tree? Aren't badgers usually dignified, and wise, and all that?" Well, Miles isn't really a normal badger. He's friendly, to be sure, but he's not at all dignified. In fact, he can sometimes be quite childish. Oh yeah, and his eyes are blank. Just white. It's not certain what caused them to be that way, but Miles knew that it was at least some accident many seasons back. Unfortunately, he could not remember what kind of accident. He just assumed he was dropped on his head, or something. But he didn't worry about it anymore, because it no longer mattered. Granted, his vision is a little bit blurry, but he only needs spectacles to read. He was clad in a plaid kilt, even though he wasn't from the Northlands. He just like how they looked. He even had those doohickeys that hang in the front.

Miles heaved a sigh of boredom and plucked an apple from the branch above him. As he began munching, he noticed a telltale dot in the distance. Miles grinned that dot, he knew, was a traveller. As he waited for it to get closer, he got a good look at it. It was a female, but he couldn't tell what kind of beast she was. She was large, and looked a little bit like a badger, but she was black, with only a broad white stripe down her back. She had a determined look on her face, and Miles noticed the dagger in its small hilt on her hip. Miles was about to jump down to meet her, but hesitated. That beast was carrying a weapon, and obviously was intending to kill someone. Besides, how would he know whether she would be hostile to him? Miles decided to stay in the tree as he waited for her to walk closer.

As the strange beast walked in front of Miles, he flung his apple core at her. The core bounced off her head, and she instinctively looked up in alarm and wrath at the source of the projectile fruit. Miles was looking to his left as though he hadn't done it, then looked as though he just noticed her. "Hullo there. How are you this fine day?" Miles then turned his gaze to the discarded apple, and wrinkled his brow in mock concern. "Oy, did somethin' throw that at ya? I'm sorry, 'twas the apple-squirrels wot did it. They're always into mischief, you see, and they enjoy in particular to-"

"Shut up, Stripedog! I'm not in the mood for you stupid pranks and lies. Pfft! 'Apple-squirrels!' If you're gonna lie, at least do it well!"

Mile jutted his lower lip and turned his nose up. "Hmph! Call me a Stripedog, will ye? Well you're just stupid."

But the strange beast was already on her way. She had more important things to do than talk to a deranged badger. Miles noticed that she was leaving and dropped out of the tree. He rushed up to meet her, and promptly began to ask her questions.

"So, where are you going?"

For a few moments she didn't answer, and then, "Going to settle an old score."

Miles looked her up and down. "Pardon my askin', missie, but what exactly are you?"

She shot Miles a bitter look. "Don't call me 'Missie'. Ever. My name is Lupus. And if you must know what I am, I'm a Honey Badger. Honey Badgers aren't from Mossflower. We're from a different continent altogether."

Miles frowned. "Continent?"

Lupus sighed. "A continent is a huge mass of land. Farther across than the eye can see. Lupus paused, then looked back toward Miles, "Look, why are you bugging me? Why don't you just go back to your stupid tree? You'd do more good up there."

Miles feigned a look of intense sorrow. "Well… okay… if that's what you really think of me…"Miles trudged off into Mossflower Woods, the picture of dejectedness.

"And good riddance." Lupus once more set her thoughts to getting even with the one who did her wrong.