Padfoot was sitting in the snow far away from home. He was lost in the vast tundra. He curled up in the snow and laid his head on his paws. Tired out from walking for so long in the cold, he started to drift off into sleep. He was awoken by a shadow passing over him. A magnificent white stork landed in the snow next to him. She was wearing a cozy looking scarf and goggles.
"Who are you?" Padfoot asked fearfully, looking up at the big bird with her huge wings and long legs.
"My name is Bella, and I am a friend of your mama's," she assured him. "I am here to help you get to safety."
"But I'm lost," Padfoot told her. "Star Cloak said I knew the land better than anyone else, but everything is so white and snowy, and I don't know where I am."
Bella smiled and, seeing how cold Puppy Padfoot was, tucked him underneath her soft, warm, wing. "I can help you find your way," she told him. "From far up in the sky, I can see everything for miles around, so I know where we need to go." She pulled off the scarf from her long neck and wrapped it gently around Padfoot. "Let's go."
After walking for a long time, they came to a big crevasse in the snow. "How are we going to get to the other side?" Puppy Padfoot asked, looking up at Bella.
"I am going to fly you over it."
Padfoot beamed excitedly. He had always wanted to fly, just like his mama! He scrambled onto Bella's back and held onto the feathers tightly while they soared over the crevasse. "Is this what Mama feels like when she flies?" he asked eagerly.
"She feels just like this," Bella answered.
Thinking of Mama Molly flying, Padfoot began to worry again. "Will Mama be okay?" he asked. "The Mod captured her!"
Bella waited until they landed, and then put her wings on either side of Puppy Padfoot's shoulders. "It is true that the Mod is a very evil man, but your mama is stronger than he will ever be because she has love on her side. Do not lose hope. A very wise man once said that happiness can be found in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light."
Padfoot nodded, his mind at peace, and turned to keep on walking when he caught sight of something flickering in the distance. "I think I see a light!" he shouted. "Let's go that way and see what it is!"
The two travelers were making their way through the snow when they came upon the light Padfoot had seen. It was a timber wolf curled about her glowing fire. This timber wolf's name was Merry Minerva. Merry welcomed them to sit by her fire and defrost a little. She could tell they had been traveling for a long time through the frozen wasteland and had a feeling they came from the land ruled by the Mod. Merry could see the little arctic fox was frightened, so she asked if he wanted to hear a story. Padfoot nodded vigorously. The timber wolf began her thrilling story of the Panda-Whale Super Duo.
"Once there were two friends who had always wanted to do good. The ruler of their land forbade them from doing anything but collect payments from people," the timber wolf began. "These two friends weren't just any normal pairing. One was a giant red panda named Buckbeak and the other was a biiiiiiig whale named Ariana." Merry spread her arms wide at describing Ariana. "One day they decided that they didn't want their ruler telling them to do something they didn't like. Buckbeak got her bamboo nunchucks and staff while Ariana washed her belly, tail, and teeth. They marched up to the castle where their ruler lived and Ariana knocked the huge doors down with one swing of her tail! Buckbeak went in next and strode right into the throne room. Ariana bounced in behind her leaving a trail of terrified bodyguards behind her." Puppy Padfoot was mesmerized by the story of such bravery and determination. "They told their ruler that enough was enough. He couldn't go around bullying his subjects anymore. The two fierce friends gave him two choices, to leave this kingdom or to be made to leave."
"What did he do? Did he throw them in the dungeon?" Puppy Padfoot said anxiously.
Merry chuckled and smiled at him, "He refused to leave. Other subjects had gathered outside the castle and were cheering on Buckbeak and Ariana. Everyone was tired of his attitude and rules. Buckbeak bent her bamboo staff around the ruler, so he couldn't run away. Ariana scooped him up with her tail and launched him out of the giant castle window. He flew far, far away, until no one could see him at all. His soldiers ran from the castle and went to search for him. Buckbeak is now known as Your Royal Fluffiness and Ariana is called Your Royal Whaleness."
"Can you take us to them? Please? They could help send the Mod away," Puppy Padfoot asked pleadingly. He had the sweetest look in his eyes that Merry could not refuse. They decided to rest for the night and set off in the morning. Padfoot was out as soon as his head touched his pillow.
It seemed like the sun rose too quickly the next day. The odd trio of fox, stork, and wolf set off to the coastal land where the Panda-Whale Super Duo lived. Puppy Padfoot was running playfully ahead and pouncing on only things he could see in the snow. Bella and Merry were a little farther back forming a theory about the Mod. They had come to the conclusion that the Mod was the evil ruler of the land in Merry's story. They hoped Buckbeak and Ariana would come to their aid since they had dealt with the issue before.
The snowy ground gradually started to give way to grass and dirt. Puppy Padfoot was fascinated because he hardly ever saw grass. He ran up a hill and sat down at the crest. Bella and Merry could see his white fluffy tail wagging in happiness. Bella flew up next to Padfoot. They stared in awe at the coastal kingdom. They saw houses built on the water connected to each other by bridges. A very fancy house on the mainland they assumed to be the new castle. People were laughing and joking and having fun. Merry walked up next to the two gaping animal changers. "Come on, you two. Don't you want to meet the rulers?" she asked them. It snapped Bella out of her staring, but she had to hold onto the scarf she gave Padfoot so he wouldn't get lost.
Merry led Bella and Padfoot down the main street of the town. They received many stares. The only animal changers they could see were themselves. They reached the fancy house in no time. Merry told them it was rude to greet the rulers while in animal form, so they all changed to their normal figures. They weren't sure what to expect until Merry rang the doorbell.
"Heeeeeellooooooo!" came a musical voice from the water. Puppy Padfoot turned to face a gigantic whale. "How are you little boy? My name is Ariana. Some people call me Your Royal Whaleness, but I'd prefer to be called Ariana." Padfoot just gaped in awe at the talking whale. He was so frightened that he turned into his little arctic fox form and hid behind Bella.
"My apologies, Your Royal Whaleness. He is just young and has never met an animal changer larger than a polar bear," Bella explained eloquently. She gave Ariana the best bow she could manage with a little fox clinging to her legs. "We've come to ask you and Your Royal Fluffiness for assistance in a matter of our country."
"Did someone say 'fluffy'?" A huge red and white blur jumped down from a tree in the corner of the yard. "I am a giant red panda! Fear me villains! Haha, just kidding. You are all welcome here." A giant panda with red markings strolled over to the group. The panda didn't look very scary or ferocious. Padfoot wondered how this giant ball of fur could possibly help them.
Ariana and Buckbeak turned into their human forms and led the group inside. It was a very elegant but cozy house. Everything was decorated with fishing equipment or made with bamboo. They sat down at a nice big table and Bella explained why they were there. Padfoot chipped in with some information every now and then. The two rulers listened to them and remained thoughtful until after they were finished. They looked at each other and a conversation seemed to pass with that single glance.
"We will help your land. It is the least we could do seeing as how your cruel ruler is probably the same person as ours was. We will leave tomorrow morning after you have all rested," said the gracious panda. She looked troubled. "I'm sorry we put this on your people. We had no idea he would try and do this with another country." Puppy Padfoot walked over to the panda and gave her the best arctic fox hug he possibly could. Ariana showed the group their rooms for the night and told them to get some good rest.
A/N: Forgot to put this in the last one... This is written by Nettie Moore and Giant Red Panda, aka MidnightWitch110 (Bella) and WolfSnitch70 (Buckbeak).