CFB: New villains, new heroes, and a new setting.....ah....it feels good to have a fresh slate again!
I am extremely sorry for the long wait. I've been far busier than I anticipated. But things have died down – I'm not being scheduled as much at work because of the holidays being over, and all my college apps are done. I still have other responsibilities, but writing will always be a priority. So I haven't vanished! If you think I'd give up on a story, you obviously have no faith in me! ;)
Since my last story had a weather theme….this story will have a theme as well! This time, it's a music theme. So at the beginning of each chapter, I'll post a title of a song that helped me write that specific chapter. It may be related to the story….or random, depending on my musical mood as I write. Anyway, by the end there should be a pretty lengthy playlist! This chapter was inspired by the song Somewhere by Within Temptation. I wouldn't have churned out the last six pages of this without it.
Disclaimer: I do not own Hamtaro, or any of its characters. I own most characters and ideas not related to the original Hamtaro franchise save for those that were created by Theta Jones.
Enjoy!
Chapter 1:
"Siren....are you sure you're going to be okay?"
"Positive, Panda. Stop getting yourself in a fussfuss!"
Panda stared at his surrogate little sister with cloudy eyes, a frown set firmly on his face. The sky above the pair was bright blue and sunny, but the air was frigid in Oak Tree Park, a soft blanket of pure-white snow, natural for the month of January, laying across the ground and covering all signs of hopeful green. Every now and then, a gust of icy wind would shoot through the trees and chilled the hamsters down to their bones, but they stood their ground, wearing comforting, home-made scarves (a Christmas present from Pashmina) to keep themselves warm in the glacial cold of winter weather.
Siren, not liking the worried look on Panda's face as they stood together in the shallow snow, placed a warm paw on his hunched shoulder to comfort him, giving her best 'It'll-all-be-okay!' smile. "Look, I'm only going to be gone for a week, Panda! I'll be back and playing hide-the-seed with everyone before you know it!" Siren chirped, grinning hugely, excitement shining in her azure eyes.
Panda glowered at a tree stump to his left, his eyes narrowed. "Well, I'd be a lot less worried if you were going on a vacation by yourself, instead of with Sprint...he was always a shady one, if I recall...I swear he tried to steal some acorns from the store room when he came to visit two months ago..."
Siren swatted him playfully on the shoulder, a look of mock-hurt on her face. The snow-engorged winter clouds covered up the resilient golden sun, dousing the two hamsters in chilling shadow. "Panda!" She chastised, glaring at him sharply as he turned to look at her with dark, hooded eyes. "You know Sprint is a good ham! Without him, we would have never beat Steel all those months ago!"
Panda shrugged - even though he had (and hated) to admit her words were true. "Still, I don't like the idea of you and he going off alone somewhere. You sure you don't want me to chaperone? I've always wanted to visit the Hamarin Islands...they're supposed to be really exotic, and I could use a break from this freezing cold weather..." He eyed her hopefully, shivering to emphasize his point, though his smile was teasing as he elbowed her gently in the ribs.
Siren looked horrified, waving her paws out in front of her in protest. "No, no...that's okay, Panda! We'll be fine by ourselves! I swear!"
Panda chuckled, Siren giggling with him, the tension in his shoulders lessening. This departure would mark the first time since they met in the summer that he would be separated from his surrogate little sister, as her long-distance 'boyham' (Panda used that term lightly) Sprint had sent her a letter inviting her to go on a visit to the tropical Hamarin Islands with him for a week-long vacation in the fun and sun, as he had been generously granted time off from his strenuous job just for the occasion. And Panda greatly resented the fact that the red-eyed Dreamland knight had pointedly added to his invitation that 'this is a vacation for just the two of us, and no Panda-spotted hamsters who act like overprotective brothers are allowed to come. So nyah!' which he had accentuated with a smiley face-ham sticking its tongue out.
"I know...it's just hard to see my kind-of little sister growing up so fast!" Panda sighed, but grabbed Siren in a fierce hug nonetheless, which she returned with enthusiasm. "But I guess I can let you go, since you've been looking forward to it all week and kept scribbling Sprint's name and floaty little hearts on your paper while you were drawing with Penelope yesterday..."
"I did not!" Siren protested indignantly, squirming out of the hug, her cheeks fire-engine red. If there was one thing that could make Siren's cheeks practically combust, it was to tease her about her relationship with Sprint - just mentioning the dashing knight made her flustered, and when he was actually around it was even worse. Panda exploited this often...he felt it was his duty to do so.
Panda laughed, but then remarked with disapproval in his voice as he turned his eyes to the now clouded sky, which had spread to cover every inch of blue, "Well, a true gentleham would have shown up to give his lady transport. I can't believe he asked you to fly to Dreamland by yourself! I mean, what if you run into a nasty gang of crows, huh?"
It was still relatively early in the morning, with perfect flying conditions despite the briskness of the winter air. The other ham-hams had already said their goodbyes to Siren down in the Clubhouse, and had entrusted her best hammo, Panda, to make sure she took to the skies safely after morphing into her Guardian form - another thing he felt obligated to do, though Siren had claimed she would be fine taking off alone. Siren was the third youngest of the hams, after Cappy and Penelope, and despite the fact she had lived alone for a large portion of her life before meeting the ham-hams, Panda was still uneasy about her being all by herself.
"Panda, chill. Why would he take a dove all the way up here to get me, only to go back in the same direction, drop the dove off, and then fly on the Guardian down to our resort?" Siren giggled, amused by Panda's brotherly tendencies, even if it irked her sometimes. "In what world would that make any sense?"
"It's called chivalry, Siren. And clearly, Sprint has none."
"Oh, give it up, Panda. He's a knight - chivalry is his job!"
After they had another good chortle, a small silence followed, as another sharp breath of wind ruffled their identical grey scarves and chilled them, despite their warm coats of fur. Panda sighed, realizing that it was now time for goodbye - and even if it were only for a week, it felt like an eon already - since when did having a sister become such a full-time job? With a heavy heart, Panda turned to Siren and said with a grievous sigh, "I'll miss you, Siren, but I sincerely hope you have fun on your trip! Bring me back a sea-shell and make sure Sprint keeps his paws to himself!"
"I will!" Siren promised half-heartedly, but added with more feeling as she looked to Panda with sincere blue eyes, "And I'll miss you, and everyone else too! But I'll be back soon - don't you worry! And I'll tell everyone up in Dreamland that everybody says hello!"
"Promise to be careful?"
"I promise!"
And with that final goodbye, there was a flash of brilliant white light and where Siren had once stood paw-deep in the snow, the Guardian of all hamster-kind, regal and imposing, now stood flaring its raven wings, sniffing eagerly at the air. It cast a friendly, reassuring glance over its shoulder at Panda, cozy grey scarf still secured around its neck like a warm reminder of home, and with a wolfish grin it flapped its powerful wings and was airborne, kicking up a spray of snow and causing Panda to shield his eyes. There was the sound of a grunt, and more fluttering of sleek wings, but when Panda finally opened his eyes, after the gust had died down, the Guardian was gone, the cloudy sky vacant, and Panda couldn't help but start worrying all over again as he began his solitary trek back to the cozy warmth of the Clubhouse.
"Sprint better keep his paws to himself...." He growled lowly under his breath with narrowed eyes as he stepped out of the snow and into the entrance tunnel that would lead him to the Clubhouse.
"Well....she's gone!"
Panda let out a deep sigh as he flopped down on his stool at the bright yellow table. Shoulders drooping, he leaned forward on his paws, frowning discontentedly. Cappy, his green-hatted hamigo, slapped a paw on his shoulder, as if trying to alleviate his downheartedness. "Cheer up, Panda! It's not like she's gone forever! We'll only miss her for a short while, and then she'll be back! Maybe she'll even bring us souvenirs! I'd really like a hat made out of a seashell!"
"Or a sea star! I saw some of them in the brochure that Siren had!" Hamtaro, the ever-cheerful leader of the ham-hams, chided brightly, his brown eyes glowing. Beside him, the pig-tailed female Bijou smiled at his enthusiasm and daintily sipped her tea. "We could hang it up on the wall! It would look great in the Clubhouse!" Hamtaro continued, excited with his idea.
The ham-hams had, as per their usual morning routine, settled themselves around their sunny oak table in the Clubhouse, sipping tea and discussing everything from the chilling weather outside, to their owners' breaks for the holidays, to whatever games they wanted to play that afternoon. The only stool vacant was Siren's, but every other ham-ham has shown up for what would hopefully be a fun-filled day with their very best hammos. Boss sat at the head of the table, followed by Oxnard, Hamtaro, Bijou, Pashmina, Penelope, Sandy, Maxwell, Stan, Howdy, Dexter, Cappy, Panda, and Siren's empty stool - a warm circle of congenial conversation and amiable smiles. It had been calm and peaceful in the Clubhouse since their triumphant return from Dreamland - four months of quiet, with zero adventures, other than the occasional trip to Acorn Mountain or the Ham-Ham Funpark. But, then again, what could compare to their escapades in the unimaginable?
"I am just 'appy zat Siren 'as a chance to spend some time wiz Sprint! Eet has been a while since zey saw each ozzer, non? Zis romantic getaway might be just what zey need!" Bijou remarked, blue eyes shining at the prospect of romance. Penelope, in agreement with the French hamgirl, tittered a bright, "Ookwee!"
"Maybe she'll bring us back some treats...I heard they have food down there that would make any ham-ham's mouth water!" Oxnard exclaimed, a dreamy look drifting into his eyes as he thought of his second true love - food.
"The Hamarin Islands are one of the most beautiful tropical areas in the hamster world!" Maxwell, who had read many a book in his lifetime, stated matter-of-factly, eyes agleam with excitement. "They maintain a pleasantly warm temperature year-round and have specially-designed shallow-water beaches so visiting ham-hams won't drown if they can't swim well. Why, it's probably a nice seventy-five degrees down there right now, with a bright sun, and clear skies and waters, when it's practically freezing here."
"Cheerful, Maxy. Thanks for that, hamdude..." Stan, eyed dull, let out a disgruntled sigh, face propped up with his paws, elbows on the table. Sarcastically, he drawled, "Like I wanted to be reminded that we're stuck in winter wonderland, while Siren and Sprint get to have totally radical fun in the sun..."
"Quit whining, Stan. Like, you're just upset that you won't be able to hit on the hula hamgirls!" Sandy, eying her twin brother with sharp green eyes, chastised, raising her nose to the air with disapproval.
"For your information, Sands, I'm jealous because they get to try out surfing, and surfing is a totally gnarly sport!" Stan snapped back, but, there was hesitance in his voice as he admitted after a moment of indecision, shrugging his shoulders lightly, "...Though the hula hamgirls would be a sweet bonus..."
Sandy rolled her eyes. "Like, typical."
"Instead of being jealous, we should all be happy that Sprint and Siren get to have some time together!" Pashmina ever-the-optimist, and always the first to try and prevent a fight from happening, remarked with a brilliant smile as she fidgeted absently with her magenta scarf. "Since Sprint lives in Dreamland and Siren lives here in town, they only get to see each other every couple of months, and letters take a while to go back and forth. Now they have a whole week to spend with one another! I'm so happy for them!"
"Ookwee! Ookwee!" In support of her surrogate sister, Penelope cheered.
"Don't remind me..." Panda grumbled darkly, still upset at the idea of the ham-ham he thought of as a sister spending a week alone with a hamboy he didn't completely trust - despite the fact that Sprint had already proven himself to be reliable, on various occasions in the past.
"I agree with Pashmina!" Dexter chimed in, even raising his paw as he smiled hopefully at the scarf-wearing female. "I think we should be happy that Siren and Sprint get to enjoy their little week-long getaway. I think we all understand the importance of romance!" Here, he raised his brows and eyed the object of his affection, but she had looked away to help Penelope adjust her yellow blanket, not noticing the bespectacled ham.
"And what would you know about romance, four eyes?" Howdy sneered, letting out a haughty guffaw as he raised his nose in the air, to which Dexter rolled his eyes. "Why, I don't need glasses to see that yer a moron when it comes to this love stuff! You couldn't see romance if it was jumpin' up and down in fronta yer face!"
"Right - I'm the moron Howdy, even though your collection of knowledge consists mostly of mediocre jokes and proper sweeping techniques!" Dexter spat back.
"You smart-pawed girly-ham - !"
"Ignorant hillbilly - !"
"Break it up, hams! I've got something to say, and this isn't time for your stupid arguments!" Boss cut in sternly, raising his paws to signify peace, and, after a sharp glare from the older ham, Howdy and Dexter immediately, and reluctantly, piped down. Clearing his throat to gain everyone's attention, Boss, a warm spark in his dark brown eyes, had a smile on his face that indicated he had a very important announcement to make.
The ham-hams, seeing the sly grin their elder wore, perked up, wondering what he could possibly have to tell them. Things in the Clubhouse had settled down at last after their back-to-back adventures in Hamwall and Dreamland, so exciting news had been scarce since then. And while the ham-hams had enjoyed their time off from daring escapades into the unknown, every now and then they would recall those adventures, full of Guardians, heroes, nightmares, were-hams, and powerful friendship, and they would feel a pang of desire for a perilous journey to a legendary land, an unbelievable creature straight from a dream, or the discovery of some ancient myth...after all, it was hard to go back to normal once such extraordinary things had happened to them. They had desperately wanted a break from adventure, but extinguishing the burning desire for another one was a difficult task.
"I've got some great news, ham-hams!" Boss, smile broad, spread his arms out wide as he spoke. "I checked Drizzle's weather report in the ham-ham newspaper, and it looks like we're getting another couple inches of snow tonight! There's an 85% chance of Oak Tree Park and the whole town being covered by the stuff, and I like those odds!"
As the news settled, there were numerous groans from the congregated hamsters - not the effect Boss had been hoping for, as he suddenly appeared perplexed by their reactions. Cappy looked worried, no doubt concerned about having the right kind of snow hat for the situation, whereas Panda let his head fall with a defeated thunk onto the table, and even Howdy and Dexter seemed in agreement that Boss's news was not quite what they had been wanting to hear. "Are you kidding me?" Stan asked in disbelief, ears drooping. "We just got snowed on! We don't need any more!"
Pashmina was openly dismayed. "It was hard enough getting to the Clubhouse without a shovel this morning! I don't think I could make it here from June's house if we get any more snow - I'd be buried up to my scarf!"
"Ookwee, ookwee!" Penelope tittered in agreement, her liquid brown eyes sad.
"I sure don't want to get snowed in!" Hamtaro worried, scratching idly behind his ear as a concerned gleam began to resonate in his warm brown eyes. "Laura's school was already closed twice this week because of snow! And we might not be able to get to the Clubhouse for a week if it snows a lot!"
"What if I lose my lucky seed in the snow?" Oxnard fretted.
A clamor of frantic, worried voices began to rise around the table, irking Boss, who had expected his news to be welcomed with open, appreciative ears. His ears began to twitch, temper bubbling to the surface as he listened to their complaints about the pending weather. Couldn't they see that the inclement storm had provided them with a wonderful opportunity?
"QUIET!!!!!!"
Boss's yell instantly silenced the ham-hams, and they all turned to look at him again, wondering why he appeared so angry. Boss slammed a fist down on the table, brown eyes scorching. In a commanding voice, the elder hamster barked,
"Don't you ham-hams see? Tonight is the night!"
"What night?" Hamtaro asked confusedly, tilting his head to the side. "I didn't think anything special was happening tonight…"
"We're gonna make something special happen!" Boss replied, as a vibrant, playful gleam entered his eye. With much bravado, he announced proudly, "Because tonight is the night that we have the first annual Ham-Ham Snowball Fight Extravaganza!"
A silence fell.
"Extrava-whata?" Howdy asked.
"Extravaganza!" Boss retorted sharply. "It will be legendary! The best part of winter is the snowball fights…two teams, on opposite ends of the park, trying to strike each other with ice-cold weapons of mass chillifying power! It's the ultimate winter showdown! The moles and I used to team up and take on the rabbits, but this year I think the ham-hams need to have their own snow battle!"
Another murmur rippled through the ham-hams – this time, one of hesitant agreement, as they evaluated the validity of Boss's idea. All the boyhams seemed in favor; and only Maxwell, the least coordinated of the bunch, looked somewhat nervous. "A snow battle? That sounds dangerous!" Pashmina remarked worriedly, her forehead creased – she wasn't quite sold on the idea. "What if someone gets hurt?" Bijou and Penelope looked apprehensive on that basis as well.
Boss smiled. "Snowballs don't hurt that much. Besides, we'll be having so much fun no one will notice!"
"Don't worry, Pashy-baby!" Stan winked, sidling up to the scarf-wearing female with a confident grin on his face. "I'll protect you from anyone who dares throw a snowball at your pretty face – hurg!"
Stan was immediately dragged backwards – this time, grabbed by the arms by a fuming Dexter and furious Howdy. Sandy glared at her brother angrily. "Can't you, like, stop flirting for five minutes, Stan?!" Sandy berated him, as Howdy and Dexter deposited him unceremoniously by her side. Stan sat their listlessly and sulked, his flirtatious pursuits abandoned for the time being.
"I think a snowball fight sounds like a great idea!" Hamtaro declared, pumping a fist in the air and grinning like a Cheshire Cat. "We could use a new, fun game to play in the snow! If we're all having fun in the snow, we won't even mind how cold it is!"
"I could go for a good snowball fight!" Cappy seconded, eyes bright.
"Me too!"
"It sounds like a lot of fun!"
"Like, totally radical!"
Boss smirked. He knew that, once they had all the facts, they would readily agree to his plan! He listened smugly as they all began to chatter and murmur again, now in favor of his idea and looking forward to the event in question. Now, there was just one minor tidbit of information left to release…
"There's just one thing, ham-hams!"
All eyes returned to Boss. A mischievous gleam in his eye, the gruff field ham continued, "…The only way to have a real, true-blue snowball fight is to have it…at night."
"Night?!" The ham-hams questioned, exchanging looks of surprise.
"You mean…while all of our owners are asleep, so they don't miss us?" Panda asked, his brow furrowed with a hint of confusion. Why would the perfect snowball fight only be able to happen at night? At night, there were horrible things lurking in Oak Tree Park, like owls, or stray cats…it could be very dangerous for them to be out late, and making a ruckus that could attract all sorts of danger. These thoughts seemed to be shared by some of the other ham-hams, who appeared to be reconsidering their excitement.
"Because!" Boss retorted hotly, adamant that his idea was fool-proof and disliking any and all opposition to it. "At night, a snowball fight becomes a game of stealth, surprise, and instinct! And that's the only way to have a real snowball fight…under the moonlight, as snow trickles down all around us! Two teams, on the sparkling snow, ready to take each other down with a few well-aimed strikes! It's the perfect plan, ham-hams! Now….who's in?"
"I'm in!" Hamtaro, ever optimistic, was the first to raise his paw. His adventurous side had been dormant for a few months now…and it was time for it to emerge, even if it was only for a snowball fight, and not for some epic battle. It would satisfy his craving for heroism, at least for the time being.
"Zat goes for me too!" Bijou, surprisingly, was the second to volunteer. Hamtaro grinned at her, pleased that she was as eager for the event as he was. "We could use ze excitement, no?" She reasoned, blue eyes sparkling.
"Count me in!" Stan, having recovered from his slump, pumped a fist. "Like, I'm ready to show you all who the ham-ham snowball master really is!"
"Hold yer horses, pretty-boy! That title is going to go to me!" Howdy interjected, volunteering himself for the game. "And I'll impress Pashmina with my skills!" He thought to himself with a sly chuckle, though Dexter, glowering at his rival with dark eyes, seemed to sense what the country-ham was thinking instantly.
"In your dreams, Howdy!" Dexter rebuked. "I may not be the most athletic hamster, but I'll give it my best!"
"Me too!" Sandy cheered. "Anything, for like, some competition!"
Maxwell, not wanting to look like a wimp in the eyes of his athletic girlham, Sandy, tentatively raised his paw, though he would much prefer trading a snowball for a good book any day of the week. If Sandy was willing to play, he would give it his very best shot. "I…I guess I'll try anything once…I could always improve my aim…"
"That's the spirit, Maxy!" Sandy complimented him, beaming. Her smile of encouragement made him feel a bit more confident, and he raised his paw with a surge of sudden pride.
"I'm in too!" Cappy exclaimed.
"I'll play, but go easy on me!" Pashmina giggled.
"Ookwee! Ookwee!"
"I just hope that I don't drop my lucky seed in the snow!" Oxnard remarked, with a hint of worry, as he clutched his lucky seed tightly between his paws.
"And last, but not least, I'll join in!" Panda, willing to do anything to get his mind off of Siren and Sprint, vacationing alone on an exotic island, proudly stepped forward. Eyes agleam, he added, in a jokingly boastful manner, "But you ham-hams better be ready! I have a wicked arm!"
"Then it's settled, ham-hams!" Boss, thrilled by their support of his plan, pounded his fist on the table once again. Competitive fire burning in his eyes, Boss went on, "Tonight, the Ham-Ham Snowball Fight Extravaganza will take place! Everyone, meet here after your owners are asleep! This will be a battle that we'll never, ever forget! Who's ready for the best snow-ball fight in the history of Oak Tree Park?"
"Hip-hip-HAMHA!!!"
Ravyn, her hazel eyes clouded with thought, watched the two bulky guard members carry the stretcher into the Hamstala village. Nothing could be seen of the poor hamster that lay beneath the leafy sheet, other than a limp, dirt-covered paw that hung over the edge like a puppet's lifeless hand. Silently and slowly, so not to jostle the injured hamster, the guard members carried the victim through the main gates and toward the herbalist's tent, where Heru, the resident herbalist and medic, would tend to his wounds.
Ravyn's hazel eyes followed them until they were almost out of sight, transfixed, a frown set primly on her face. Things had gotten bad much faster than she had anticipated - she hadn't seen this attack coming, almost as if it had crept up on the homey village like a sinister shadow. Like whatever lurked out in the jungle was watching, preying on them like a predatory cat…
"Third one in three days..."
Ravyn's gaze flickered as Alvar sidled up to her, a deep sigh escaping his lips. His expression seemed equally as troubled as hers, as he fidgeted absently with his headdress, the spear with the lone crimson feather still held firmly in his paw. Bright green eyes swirling with various emotions, he leaned against the log wall with the dark-furred hamgirl, taking a break from ordering the guard members to stick to their posts at each entrance to the village. The two remained leaning for a moment, neither commenting on the tragedy that had just occurred, as the soft morning light filtered in through the dark canopies above.
"Do you think this one will make it, Alvar?" Ravyn finally asked, her tone low. She stared hard at the ground by her hind-paws, as if trying to occupy her eyes on one immovable object.
Alvar sighed again and gave a light shrug of his shoulders. "Heru will do her best...this one is the worst of the three. She has her paws full with the other two, but they seem to be improving. One, some kid named Gil, woke up today, but says he doesn't remember what happened...however, he did say one word, and only one word, about what might have attacked him..." Alvar paused, as if uncertain as to whether or not he should go on.
Ravyn arched a brow, but still did not look at him. "And that word is?"
Alvar sighed for a third time before he stonily replied,
"...Monster."
A chill flitted up Ravyn's spine, but she tried not to show that she had been affected by Alvar's words. A dark cloud loomed over the pair's heads, an ominous threat of something menacing on the horizon. Within the walls, the worry over the three injured hamsters had not yet spread to the entire village - only a select few knew the suspected nature of the attacks, while all other Hamstala innocently believed that the victims now resting in Heru's tent merely got in a bad fight with a squirrel or a lizard, which sometimes happened when one ventured too far away from the gates without protection. The few who did know that something more supernatural was afoot were keeping mum - and hoped they'd be able to stay silent, lest the village grow restless...but the idea that something - something a little more than mortal - was attacking them troubled Ravyn deeply, and her mind was filled with swirling questions. What could they do to stop this terror, when they were just normal hams?
To break the thick tension that had settled, Alvar went on, stretching his weary limbs as he continued to stand against the high, protective walls of the village, "I have a hunch that when the other two wake up, they'll say the same thing. They all have the same wounds, and were found in the same fashion...something's out to get us, I know that much."
Ravyn chuckled dryly. "I thought we were past the days of myths and sorcery..." She remarked, eyes still fixated on the cold dirt ground.
Alvar shot her a sidelong glance. He had known Ravyn for a long time, and was fully aware that she knew what she was talking about when it came to matters of the spiritual - but that didn't stop him from hoping for some new reality about the situation to be revealed. "Are you absolutely certain that your sense from three nights ago was correct?" He asked hopefully.
Ravyn offered him a stiff nod. "I'm positive, Alvar. Whatever has been attacking our village is not a hamster...it's something much greater, and I don't mean physically. I can't tell exactly what they are yet, but I can sense two large spiritual presences somewhere deep in the forest...and both have an evil aura about them…and one sinister aura that I cannot describe," Her paws closed into fists, as if she were angered, and her hazel eyed narrowed dangerously. "...This isn't the work of innocent paws. Someone with a motive has brought this curse upon our village, and it must be stopped."
"The natural order of the forest is being disrupted," Alvar agreed sternly, his green eyes serious as his paw tightened involuntarily around his spear. "And we'll find out what's messing with it - don't you worry, Rayv. But in the meantime, I've issued an order to the entire village to stay within the walls until whatever is terrorizing us is vanquished. Tonight I'll lead a search into the forests to try and find this monster and bring an end to its terror."
"Will your guard members be able to defeat an enemy that's not of this world?" Ravyn asked lightly, almost taunting, as she at last allowed her murky hazel eyes to flit over to her companion. "Spiritual matters cannot be rushed into..." She added, a note of warning in her voice.
Alvar rolled his eyes. "Well, then what do you suppose we do, Princess of Darkness? We can't let whatever's out there keep attacking the Hamstala!" He rebuked, keeping his voice low enough so that any uninvolved villagers in the vicinity would not overhear. "Our way of life is being threatened by something that has infiltrated our world. We can't just let it get away with this!"
"I agree."
"Then what's the problem?"
"Did you see the wounds on those three hamsters?" Ravyn asked, keeping a surprisingly even, calm tone. Alvar nodded in affirmation, so she continued, "I can sense the power behind what left those wounds. And whatever left them had the power to tear those hamsters to pieces - but it didn't. That shows that whoever summoned this 'monster' from the spirit realm is sending us a warning."
Alvar fell silent, his expression steely as he absorbed that thought. "So…they just wanted to show us that they mean business?"
"That's my guess."
"And a wonderful guess it is, my dear. I, for one, believe you are absolutely right."
The two hamsters immediately looked up to see who had spoken. Emerging from the main section of the village was Florian, his violet eyes clear and pure white fur sleek, and he joined Alvar and Ravyn by the main gates. Speaking simply, as if he were noting something as trivial as the weather, the soulful hamster continued as he stood complacently beside Ravyn, the contrast between their fur striking, "Whoever or whatever injured our villagers is just showing us what it can do. And if we just ignore it, it will think we were unaffected by the warning and it may strike to kill the next time."
"And pick us off one by one until we get the message." Ravyn added, voice cool and hazel eyes narrow.
"That's a happy thought..." Alvar mumbled sarcastically, crossing his arms over his chest. As Captain of the Guard, t was his duty to protect the inhabitants of the village...and now that three Hamstala had been hurt by some unknown paw - or claw, judging by the wounds he had seen on the three victims - he felt like it was his job to hunt down whatever had caused that pain. However, he also had to admit that Florian and Ravyn had a compelling argument...if they were right, then they might have more reason to fear than he first thought. This was more than just fighting an ordinary warrior from a neighboring tribe...this was messing with the supernatural.
"One must wonder..." Florian mused, his violet eyes lost in the cerulean depths of the sky. "If you believe in the concept of 'what goes around comes around,' what we did to bring this kind of curse upon us?"
"We didn't do anything, Flower Boy. This is all cruel, cruel fate."
The trio now turned to see another hamster walking toward them – another familiar face. Hawke's expression was dark, his normally cheerful green eyes shadowed with fatigue and worry. Even the jaunty hawk feather tucked inside his verdant headband seemed to be drooping with the weight of troubles and concerns lingering across his expression. Alvar felt the fur on the back of his neck bristle.
"Fate?" Florian asked lightly, almost amusedly, as Hawke stepped to stand between the white hamster and Ravyn, who did not look pleased to see him arrive. "You're saying our fate is to be destroyed by some kind of spirit monster?"
Hawke shot the snow-white hamboy an indignant look. Explaining himself in a brisk tone, sharp green eyes clashing with Florian's brilliant violet, "Well, it didn't just happen by chance. Fate isn't always synonymous with fortune you know…I'm convinced that those attacks are a direct result of fate. As bad as they were, they were meant to happen…which means that someham is destined to stop it from happening…"
Ravyn slapped a paw to her forehead. "Not the hero drivel again, Hawke…"
Hawke stuck his nose defiantly in the air, as if to completely refute Ravyn's words. Next to him, Florian let out a small, bemused chuckle, which he pointedly ignored, and Alvar couldn't help but smile faintly at his hamigo. Hawke rebuked, "For your information, sister, you aren't the only one with heightened senses...you may be able to sense stuff from the spirit realm, but I can sense my destiny. And I just know that I've finally found it! Saving the Hamstala from this spirit beast is what I'm supposed to do to fulfill my destiny!"
As he spoke, Hawke's voice grew deeply impassioned, and a determined gleam began to shine resiliently in his rich-colored eyes. However, none of the others seemed affected by his words – Alvar, having been on a late patrol the night before, yawned, Ravyn inspected her nails, and Florian began to fiddle with his flower-chain. Hawke took notice and scowled, turning on his friends and tapping his foot on the ground, waiting for a response.
There was none. Hawke's eyes narrowed.
"ARE YOU THREE EVEN LISTENING TO ME?!"
Alvar casually turned to peer up through the dark canopies of the trees. Florian sighed and closed his eyes. Ravyn merely pointedly ignored her surrogate brother, twirling the raven feather tucked in her headband with one lazy paw.
With an indignant huff, Hawke began to storm angrily away. "Fine! I see how it is…" he groused, cheeks burning crimson with anger.
Letting out a good-natured chuckle, Alvar caught his disgruntled friend by the arm and stopped his path. "Relax, Hawke! We're just messing with you…we get that this destiny idea is important to you!"
Ravyn snorted. "More like, we understand that this destiny idea is complete and utter nonsense.." She grumbled under her breath, Florian placing a gentle paw on her arm and casting her a gentle look, as if to remind her to be civil with her hot-tempered adoptive sibling.
The anger began to melt from Hawke's vivid green eyes, and he released the tension in his shoulders. He rejoined the group, and, forgetting his momentary anger, remarked with a dark cloud looming across his features, "This is serious business, guys. I just went to see Heru, and she thinks all the patients will pull through…but each attack is worse than the last. And I don't want to see what the next attack will be like…"
Florian frowned. "Well, I think we all know that we have to do something…" With worry in his haunting eyes, Florian surveyed the tranquility and sylvan beauty of the Hamstala Village, and the towering trees of the Hamalonian forest all around them. "But….what?"
The words had scarcely left his mouth when Ravyn let out a gasp, hazel eyes widening in shock, her knees buckling beneath her and sending her tumbling to the ground."Ravyn!" Florian shouted in alarm, kneeling beside her fallen form and grasping wildly for her paw, Alvar and Hawke following suit, each of their faces painted with terror. Ravyn lay still on the ground, her eyes wide, almost as if she were terrified. She was still breathing, to the relief of the three hamsters hovering over her, but she appeared to be lost in some kind of trance; adrift from reality. A minute passed in stressful silence.
"Ravyn…?" Hawke asked nervously, nudging the paw that Florian wasn't holding.
Alvar guessed, shooting a knowing look from Hawke to Florian, "Do you…do you guys think that Ravyn may be having a visi - "
Before he could finish his thought, Ravyn opened her eyes, and all attention immediately returned to her. She sighed, but appeared unharmed as she blinked her eyes twice, a sign that she was okay. The distressed crinkle of Florian's forehead relaxed, but his violet eyes remained concerned as he helped Ravyn sit up, her adoptive brother and Alvar still apprehensive as well. "Are you okay, Rayv?" Hawke asked tentatively, lightly touching her other paw.
Ravyn let out a groan, shutting her eyes tight, as if in pain. Florian and Hawke's shoulders tensed. In reply, she uttered through gritted teeth, "That was….the most intense vision I've had in a long time. I'm alright but…that was very strong…"
"What did you see?" Alvar asked quietly, curiosity burning.
Ravyn, relaxed against Florian's arms, raised her clouded eyes to the sky, shimmering meekly through the dark canopies above. Her brow furrowed, as if she were pondering, and she began to recount, in a thoughtful voice, "I saw….hamsters. A pretty big group of them. And they were dressed so strangely…one was wearing some kind of pink sash around her neck, and another had some yellow sheet over her head…and their fur was very polished and neat…one even had orange fur…and they were all sitting around some kind of table, in a room full of these odd contraptions…nothing like you'd find in the Hamalonian Forest…"
Alvar and Hawke arched their brows. What could that possibly mean? Ravyn's visions often corresponded with situations pertaining to their village, or themselves…but how did this relate?
"And then…" Ravyn noted, sitting up a bit straighter as she began to regain her strength. "Then I saw a great beast, like a wolf, only smaller, with black wings and fierce, sharp fangs…and I sensed a great amount of spiritual power coming from this creature…and by the creature's side I saw another hamster – with three long scars across his stomach, and a sword in his paw…they looked ready to fight a war…and then, I saw the other hamsters again, the ones that had been sitting around the table….and they all had these determined looks on their faces…"
Ravyn closed her eyes. "Their presence was strong – just seeing them made me feel as if I were around great warriors. And then, everything went black and I heard a voice say to me…'These are the ones you seek.'"
A silence fell, as the three males absorbed her words, contemplating what such a vision could possibly mean. "The end." Ravyn finished dryly, due to their lack of response. "Now if you don't mind, Florian, if you could please help me stand up…"
The elegant hamboy did so, though he kept an arm around her for support, and she was glad to lean on him – the aftereffect of her vision had left her very tired. "What do you think it could mean, Rayv?" Alvar asked, twirling his spear absentmindedly, a habit he lapsed into whenever he was nervous.
"I don't know…" Ravyn answered, her face grim. "But…I can sense an overwhelming power from these hamsters, whoever they are…and I can still sense them….they're very far away, but I can feel their power pulling on my spirit…like the pull of a stream…"
Florian frowned. "Cryptic…" He muttered, obviously not able to make any sense of it either. "I don't know what we can do with that."
"Well, isn't it obvious!?"
Hawke's sudden outburst drew all eyes back to him. Green eyes brimming with a hopeful excitement, Hawke pumped a fist and declared, determination alight on his features, "Ravyn, a voice told you that these hamsters you saw are 'the ones that we seek!' Right before you had the vision, we were wondering about what we could do to stop whatever or whoever's attacking our village! And that vision must have been the answer! We have to go and find those hamsters! They are the key that will help us stop this curse that's been laid upon our village!"
The other three stared at Hawke in disbelief – though Ravyn's look deviated more toward disgust. "Isn't that kind of a…broad guess?" Alvar noted, though he didn't want to invoke his best friend's anger.
"That has to be it!" Hawke pressed, waving his paws for emphasis. "I just know it is!" He turned his vivid green eyes to Ravyn, who was now standing on her own, and staring at him with listless brown eyes. "C'mon, sis! I know you can feel it too…you know just as well as I do that these hamsters are special, and they can help us! You wouldn't have had a vision about them if they weren't important – and you can sense their power, so if you follow your instincts we will be led right to them!"
Ravyn's expression was unchanging. Hawke, paws together, as if in prayer, leaned forward, so that the adoptive siblings were nearly nose to nose. His green eyes were earnest, and his voice low, with a hint of pleading.
"…Please, sis. For the village….we need to at least look into it."
Florian looked at Ravyn. Alvar looked at Ravyn. Hawke looked at Ravyn. Her expression didn't change, though she was obviously analyzing Hawke's plea. The tension in the silent air was so thick, Alvar almost felt the urge to cough, in order to clear up the dense mood that had settled.
Ravyn sighed, "…Fine."
She was immediately swallowed into an immense hug from Hawke, as he let out a barbarian cry of triumph. "Wahoo!!!" He yelled, calling all attention to himself as a few passerby stopped to stare. "You won't regret this, Rayv! We'll have a great adventure, off into the world…just you, me, Grimm, and Quil! We'll call it, 'Hawke and Ravyn's Quest for Destiny!'"
"No we won't." Ravyn drawled dryly. Her sour expression failed to dampen Hawke's mood, as he began to do a victory dance, complete with humming a victory tune to go with it.
"We can't let the attacks continue…" Alvar mused, considering it. "And our warriors are strong, but we don't know what we're up against. Some reinforcements would be wise if we're facing the spiritual."
"Well, I can't say that I'm exactly wild about the idea…" Florian remarked, glancing at Ravyn, who looked mildly repulsed at the idea of an 'adventure' with her brother, though there was a contemplative look in her hazel eyes that seemed to indicate that she saw some merit to the prospect. "But your visions have never led us astray, my dear. I think it is worth a shot looking into…I would go with you, but the honeyblossoms are in bloom and I must tend to them…"
"As if a wimp like you would be invited, pretty boy…" Hawke groused, though his dark tone was brief. Eyes glittering with excitement, he threw his arms in the air and cheered, "This adventure will bring me one step closer to my destiny! Ravyn, I know that these hamsters will be a great asset in protecting this village! Why, I bet they are the brave warriors of some faraway village…"
"Don't count your ducks before they hatch, Hawke!" Alvar interjected, smiling brightly as he slapped his friend on the shoulder, nearly sending a cheerful Hawke pitching forward. "Before you and Doom n' Gloom over there," at the insult, Ravyn shot him an indignant look, which he ignored, "go anywhere, you gotta check with Chief Mael first. He is the authority in the village, after all…even if he is a bit scatterbrained…"
Hawke was not put off in the least by such an obstacle. "Very well!" He cried, as he began to march defiantly off toward the center of the Hamstala village. "I shall go and see the Chief now! Come along, Ravyn! There's much to do before we embark on Hawke and Ravyn's Adventure into the Unknown!"
"Stop naming it!" Ravy hollered, her temper finally flaring, as she stomped after her parading brother.
Alvar and Florian watched them go with looks of amusement on their faces. Once the pair had disappeared, their bickering just a faint echo, Alvar shook his head and commented, "You know, Flor, even with the danger our village is facing, those two never fail to bring a smile to my face. What a pair! You'd think that they were actually related by birth."
Florian sighed. "I just hope they refrain from killing each other on this 'adventure,' as that Neanderthal insists on calling it."
"…Ten seeds says that Ravyn kills him before they even get out of the forest."
"Oh, you're on."
"I think you need to train your pet a little better, Sage."
Mezra eyed the translucent High Priest coolly as they stood inside the abandoned temple. The warm, temperate breeze fluttered in through the entranceway, rustling the hood around Mezra's head, but it did nothing to sway the ghostly, somewhat see-through figure of Sage, as he drifted idly in the center of the temple, staring off into space with intense green eyes. As her words wafted to him, his sharp eyes narrowed and he let out a discontented grunt.
"It's doing its job, mortal. Exactly what I asked it to do…scare the Hamstala enough so they know better than to stand in my way. The wounds those three pathetic hamsters endured have delivered that message well…" Sage remarked coolly in retaliation.
Mezra rolled her eyes beneath her hood, unbeknownst to Sage, and let a shallow sigh escape her lips. The undead priest was beginning to edge on her nerves, though she hid her agitation quite well. She had a grudging respect for his abilities, which he had demonstrated over the past three days of their partnership, but she found his voice constantly grating on her patience and found it difficult to ignore his blatant displays of faux authority…he frequently looked down on her with his icy green eyes, as if he somehow possessed superior prowess. Such a thought made Mezra have to quell a chuckle…Sage would realize his place soon enough. She, despite the partnership she pretended to encourage, was in charge…and Sage had far less power than he liked to believe.
"Regardless, your precious little monster made a major folly," Mezra commented icily, as she flipped through the prized book in her paws, drawing Sage's attention to her immediately. Mezra couldn't help the small smirk that claimed her features. He was so easily fooled…
"Folly?" Sage asked, keeping an even tone, though Mezra could detect the faint poisonous edge to his voice.
Mezra matched his crisp green gaze with her own brilliant blue eyes. In a pointed, matter-of-fact voice she explained, "You may have delivered the message, but that savage spirit-beast of yours tore up the forest in the process. If the Hamstala were to organize a search party to find what it was that hurt those hamsters, all they would need to do is follow the path of shredded leaves and decimated trees. Your creature may as well have left a trail of breadcrumbs for them to follow."
Sage's translucent fur bristled for a moment, as if realizing the weight of her words, but once it had passed he shrugged, expression twisted into a sinister snarl. "It is of no consequence. Let them come! They'll only be meeting their demise quicker than planned. I see no fault in that."
Mezra rolled her eyes once more. Being dead for eight hundred years had obviously taken a toll on Sage's brain…
"We need time, Sage. This is a delicate operation. If one single piece is out of place, the entire structure falls to shreds. And I won't allow that," Her voice punctured his chilly exterior, and, though translucent, he was seen shuddering slightly. Mezra scoffed lightly in triumph. So long as he understood the magnitude of her words, all would be well.
Sage glanced at her harshly with his shocking eyes. Deviating from the topic, he remarked, tone glacial, "…You never did tell me what your motivations are."
"I beg your pardon?" Mezra asked with mock politeness.
Sage chuckled dryly. "Well, mortal, you have already expressed to share in my ideals, but you have not told me why. Opening a door from this world to the spirit realm is not a common dream – why, many would consider it a danger. You desire my abilities, and claim to want the same things…but why?" A faint note of genuine curiosity was detectable in his deep voice.
Mezra paused. "How about you?" She deflected airily. "Remind me why you desire this."
Sage barked out a laugh. "Why? The Hamalonian Forest has been tainted by foolish paws and foolish hamsters! When I lived amongst these trees, their voices could be heard clear as song, and hamsters were in perfect symbiosis with the natural world – every hamster was in touch with their spiritual side back when the forest was truly alive! The wondrous world that Fortuna gave to us has been marred by those who are spurning the ways of tradition. And by awakening the spirit world, and connecting it once more to the forest, the Hamalonian Forest can once again, become what it once was!"
His voice echoed powerfully in the temple. Mezra yawned.
"And you?" Sage inquired scathingly, his vibrant eyes boring into the side of Mezra's head.
Mezra waved a dismissive paw at him, masking a smirk as she turned her head away. "Same as you."
Sage's eyes narrowed and it took a great amount of effort to hold back the furious, violent yell that he wanted very much to let out. The hamgirl was frustrating him to no end. She refused to elaborate on the reasons she summoned him, was constantly fiddling with the golden locket around her neck, and remained tight-lipped about herself. If she wasn't holding his book hostage, he would have most certainly unleashed his wrath upon her by now…though he had to admit, he grudgingly respected her determination to remain mysterious. Even though it was very, very annoying.
"Danzar! Maka! Kiri!"
Sage was jolted away from anger as Mezra called out the door of the temple to her followers, waiting patiently at their makeshift headquarters at the bottom of the temple's steps. Within a few seconds, three hamsters appeared in the doorway to the temple; the first, mud-colored and meek Maka, his eyes flitting nervously about the room and refusing to look at Sage; the undead priest still frightened the twitchy ham.
The next hamster to emerge was a tall, lean hamster with dark grey fur, scruffy patches of lighter grey appearing sporadically across his body, which was also marred with various scars. A long scar ran across one eye, visible only under the midnight blue band he wore across his face to conceal the wound. As the result of another injury, the left side of his face had been twisted irreversibly, so one side of his face always resembled a vicious, feral snarl, though his visible, clear sky-blue eye showed no sign of emotion. He was silent as he stepped inside the temple, the most foreboding presence in the room save Mezra and Sage.
The following hamster was a female; short, with an expression of permanent disgust on her face. Her fur was cream colored, though her ears and a triangular shaped patch on her back were colored a faint greenish-grey. Her eyes were sharp, and a deep blue – capable of great expressiveness and extremely hateful stares. She had a dark green band tied around her head to keep the fur out of her eyes. "You called, mistress?" The female hamster was the spokesham, as she inclined her head toward Mezra.
Sage watched their interaction with calculating green eyes.
"Yes, Kiri. I have a mission for you three."
The female, Kiri, looked immediately pleased and her ears perked forward. Maka looked shocked; he was hardly ever called on to do important missions, as he was prone to faint at any given moment from fear. The third hamster, Danzar, didn't move nor make a sound. He just continued to stare listlessly forward, no trace of emotion on his marred face – neither in favor nor against the idea. "What is it, mistress? We'll do anything to help you!" Kiri exclaimed enthusiastically.
Mezra smirked. She had taught them well.
"We are running low on test subjects, and time as well. The Hamoux tribe is not very far from here – tonight, I want the three of you to infiltrate their village and bring me the best hamsters you can find. Make sure you are in and out quickly. They are on their guard more now, since the last time. They do not suspect us, thankfully, but we needn't give them a reason to. Is that clear?" Mezra's voice was cool, and she glared at them powerfully, as if daring any one of them to refuse her wishes.
"Yes, mistress! We are under your paw, and will do whatever it takes to reach our aims!" Kiri bowed her head again in respect, while Maka, suppressing a groan, bowed shakily himself, muttering, "Yes, mistress…" Danzar tilted his head slightly, but didn't make a sound.
"Good. You leave five hours after sunset. Get some rest now; you will need your strength – Kiri, you will be in charge of this mission. You three are now free to go."
"Yes, mistress!" Kiri, glad to have a mission and, thus, an opportunity to please her mistress, left the temple, as per her mistress's wishes, her deep blue eyes glimmering malevolently at the idea of the upcoming night. Danzar turned stoically and walked on silent pawsteps out of the temple, completely unaffected by what had just happened. Maka scampered after them, whimpering fretfully, "H-hey! Wait for me guys! D-don't you think we should have a strategy! Waaait!"
Mezra watched them leave with a satisfied smirk. They were like pawns…so easy to manipulate.
Sage, having watched Mezra's interactions with her followers closely, stared hard at the back of her head. She truly was an enigma...wrapped in unsolvable questions. Based on his observations, he was moved to ask, "I can't help but wonder…do those brainless thugs of yours know your true motives? Or are they following you blindly?"
Mezra did not turn to face him. He sensed no emotions from her, nor could he see her face to gauge any kind of reaction. After a moment of chilling silence, he received his response.
"…Just keep that insolent little dog of yours on a short leash, Sage."
And with that, Mezra left the temple, not even sparing him a backwards glance.
Sage followed her with narrowed eyes until she was gone from sight. His paws formed tightly clenched fists at his sides. She thought that by dancing around his questions and avoiding confrontation, she could keep him chained under her command like some common slave…how ignorant could one mortal be?! Closing his eyes, in an attempt to calm himself down, Sage let out a deep breath, venting his frustration.
"When glory is mine again, she will regret treating me like dirt!"
Mezra, aware but uncaring of his anger, retired to the trees that surrounded the forgotten temple. The portion of the forest where the temple was located was very shady, and she sat under a tree with the book, alone, her hood drawn. Even under the cover of the tree's shadow, the golden locket around her neck seemed to glow as bright as starlight. Absently, eyes hidden by shadows, Mezra gently touched the locket with her paw, treating it as if it were the most valuable treasure in the world. A brisk wind picked up as she touched the smooth surface.
"…Soon."
"Mission accomplished!"
Hawke raised his arms defiantly overhead as he and a stoic Ravyn emerged from Chief Mael's lavish hut, stepping down the woven steps until they were back on the ground, walking back toward the outskirts together. It was now around noon; the sun was directly overhead and shining down through the trees in sporadic patches across the mildly bustling Hamstala village. Green eyes excited, Hawke continued, "I knew that Chief Mael would have as much faith in your visions as I do!"
"Don't get your hopes up, Hawke. I don't want you to get worked up, especially if it turns out to be a misinterpretation of my vision," Ravyn warned testily, arms crossed tightly over her chest.
Hawke's grin was too wide to be dampened by Ravyn's stark realism. "This is so exciting, sis! We've never left the forest before…and now we're going to get to see the world beyond the trees! All in pursuit of some powerful hamsters, destined to help us defeat whatever is attacking our village…" Hawke's green eyes were glazed over as he lost himself to his daydreams.
"If you keep talking about fate and destiny, I'm going to take Florian on this mission instead of you," Ravyn remarked icily, not in the mood for Hawke's exuberance at the moment.
Hawke frowned briefly. "C'mon, sis. Aren't you excited about this?"
Ravyn's hazel eyes flashed as the surrogate siblings walked side by side, but she said nothing. Hawke could tell that there was something plaguing her mind – he had known her long enough to be able to tell when something was amiss with her normally calm demeanor. However, he also knew better by now than the probe Ravyn's thoughts – she was a very insightful ham, but only spoke her mind when she felt it absolutely necessary. Ravyn could see things that ordinary hamsters could not, and that was a power that she used with great caution. Currently, the look on Ravyn's face – somewhere between deep thought and a tense worry – was enough to send chills up Hawke's spine. He decided it was better not to expect an answer from her.
They walked in silence for a while, until Ravyn, after deciding that arguing with Hawke wasn't worth it, finally broke her silence, letting out a feathery sigh and commenting dryly, as she smirked playfully at her brother, "Well, we might have gotten Chief Mael's permission, Hawke, but there's someone else we need to ask before we get ready to leave…"
"Uh, who?"
"Mother."
"….Oh, I hope she's in a good mood…"
CFB: HAHAHA! I just realized that Ravyn has visions just like Raven from That's So Raven on Disney! Hahahaha….sorry, I thought it was funny…I should name a chapter , "That's Totally Ravyn!" or something…
Also, anyone who can guess the Highlander reference in here gets a shoutout.
Sorry that the ham-hams had limited time in this chapter....they would have had more, but it would have been WAY too long. They'll be in the next chapter a lot more.
NEXT TIME: "AHHHHH!!! ABOMINABLE SNOW HAM-HAMS!!!!!"
Thank you all for your patience and support. Until next time! Which hopefully won't take three months…*nervous chuckle*