Over the next couple of days, Bert told Cedric about his latest letter from his pen pal. They were out on Evergreen Lake, passing around a hockey puck.

"We'll have the time of our lives, Cedric!" he shouted. "You, me, and Reggie . . . . we'll be like the Three Musketeers!"

"I can't wait," Cedric said. "And you said he studied at UCLA? What did he study?"

"I think he took a couple of courses in medicine, but he didn't really care much for that. I have to check my letters. He doesn't talk about UCLA much, or his parents much. He says he can't wait to see the forest again."

"Well, I know I missed this place when I was away at college. I can imagine your friend misses it more, since he's been away from it almost his whole life."

Bert agreed, and he and Cedric continued passing the puck back and forth. As they were playing, Bert was suddenly knocked off his feet by something moving so fast, neither he, nor Cedric, could see what it was. Once Bert was down, it came back, and Cedric was knocked off his feet as well.

"What was that?!" Bert shouted.

Suddenly, whatever had hit the boys stopped. Standing before them were six people (or maybe I should use the word animals): a fox, a badger, a weasel, a beaver, a porcupine, and a skunk (just for the record, the weasel, and the porcupine were girls).

"Look what we got here," the fox said. "A couple of punks on our lake!"

The other five animals laughed. Bert got up and glared at the fox.

"What do you mean your lake?!" he shouted. "This lake doesn't belong to anybody!"

"It's on our turf, bozo!" the weasel said, putting her hands on her hips. "And we don't like strangers on our turf!"

"You wants I should turn 'em inside out, Slick?" the badger said. Bert and Cedric looked at each other and gulped.

"Nah, that won't be necessary," the fox said. "We can let 'em go with a warning. This time. But next time we catch you guys on our lake, ol' Brucie will have to rough yas up."

"Hey, who do you think you are, anyway?" Cedric asked.

"We're the Gang of Six," the fox said.

"Gee, I betcha it took a long time to come up with that name," Bert said, sarcastically.

"Eh, shaddup, Bandit Face!" the beaver shouted.

"Allow me to introduce ourselves," the fox said. "I'm Slick Slystone. And these are, from left to right, Brucie Badger, Winks Weasel, Buzz Bucktooth, Prickles Pine, and Punk Skunk."

"Punk Skunk," Bert repeated. "Cute. Very catchy. I like it."

"Now that we're through with the formalities," Prickles said. "Get off our lake!"

"It's not your lake!" Bert protested. "It's a public lake!"

"Not anymore it ain't!" Winks shouted.

"We'll give you and Hose Nose to the count of ten to get off the lake, Bandit Face," Slick said. "If you're not off by then, then Brucie will have to muss yas up. One, two, three, four . . . ."

"Come on, Bert, let's get out of here," Cedric said.

"You're not afraid of them, are you, Cedric?" Bert asked.

"Well . . . not exactly . . . . I just . . . . . have to get home now."

"Oh all right. But I'm not gonna let you jokers get away with this! You haven't seen the last of Bert Raccoon!"

Bert was about to leave, when he ended up tripping over his own feet, and smashing right into the ice. WHAM! The Gang of Six just laughed like crazy. Cedric helped Bert to his feet and they were off.

"This is undemocratic!" Bert shouted. "They can't claim the lake! Besides, it's big enough to go around!"

"I know, Bert," Cedric said. "But I don't want to take my chances with them. After all, I've got a wife and two kids to support."

Bert rolled his eyes. He and Cedric went to the Raccoondominium and told Ralph and Melissa what was going on. They were as surprised as Bert and Cedric were.

"This Gang of Six must be new around here," Ralph said. "I've never heard of any of them."

"But they just can't kick you off the lake," Melissa said.

"That's what Bert told them," Cedric said. "But . . . . well . . . ."

"Though we probably could've taken them," Bert said. "I'm sure of it!"

"Two against six," Ralph said. "The odds would be in the gang's favor."

"Don't worry about it, Bert," Melissa said. "They can't kick everyone off the lake. Besides, you have more important things to do than play hockey, anyway."

"Like what?" Bert asked, sulking.

"Like cleaning your room," Ralph said. "Reggie comes tomorrow at noon, remember?"

"Oh yeah!" Bert shouted, suddenly perking up. "Hey, I'd better get started!"

"I'd better be going, too," Cedric said, getting up. "I promised Sophia I'd take over watching the kids this afternoon. See you guys later."

"Bye, Cedric," Melissa said, as Cedric left. Then she turned to Ralph.

"You don't really think they could take over the lake, do you?" she asked.

"I don't know," Ralph said, shrugging. "But Evergreen Lake is a big lake. There's plenty of room to go around. I'm sure the Gang of Six will see that soon."

Melissa nodded, but she really wasn't so sure about that.