Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the show Hamtaro. Blah, blah, blah...

The Noise

Candace's POV

We sat there, by Little Wolf Creek, in a big circle around the campfire. The crackling of it kept me awake while its light gray smoke filled my nostrils. It was almost magic, getting to see the stars. I don't ever get to see stars at home, unless they're like, J-Lo or David Schwimmer, or somebody like that. That, and New York City is way too bright. This was absolute heaven to me. I felt as though I could die at this exact moment and be happy that is, until Stan broke the spellbound trance I was in.

"Hey, Candy. Hand me a marshmallow, would ya?" he said.

"What do you say?" she asked.

Stan chuckled. "Please?"

"Sure." Candace reached her hand into the bag and retrieved a marshmallow. Beginning to hand it to him, she pulled away and popped it into her own mouth. "Ha ha!"

Stan grabbed the bag and shook it upside-down, frowning.

"Candace," he whined, "that was the last one!"

"Here. Ya want this one?" She started to spit out the one in her mouth.

"Eww! No way, Brace Face! Get that thing away from me! Yuck!" Stan fell off of the log bench from his squeamish flailing. The others, who hadn't been paying attention, began to laugh as he crashed into the ground with a soft 'thud'.

Stan looked around the circle and ended up on Candace. The reflection of the full limestone moon on her brackets nearly blinded him as her laughter filled the air. Even Mecca had a smile on her face and looked almost ready to laugh herself. He smiled and laughed with them.

Unknown to the Hams though, someone or something watched them from nearby in the woods. It became noticeable not when a gleam came from its direction, but when it made itself noticed by stepping in the wrong place.

SNAP!

Their laughter immediately stopped. They listened for a moment in silence. Nothing. The being in the woods stayed still until someone by the fire spoke. It then felt safe to move.

"D-d-did a-anyone else h-h-hear t-that?" Oxnard said, trying not to panic.

"Oui," Bijou replied, afraid as well. She shivered up against Hamtaro. Her friends were too worried to giggle.

"Should somebody check it out?" Panda asked, a scared look on his face.

"Nah. I'm sure it's gone," Boss said coolly, attempting to show his courage. Some sighed in relief.

SNAP!

"Or not!" Sandy yelped.

"Everyone, get over here," Maxwell hissed while waving his hands.

They all crowded together as closely as possible in a tight cluster and stayed quiet, merely whispering to one another.

"What are we gonna do?" Pashmina asked Anna, who just shrugged fearfully.

"I have an idea," Boss announced in a hushed tone. The group tightened, if that was even possible. "All in favor of Mecca going to check out the noise with Howdy..."

"Aye!"

"All against..."

"Aye!" came two hushed shouts from Howdy and Mecca.

"Howdy and Mecca it is," Boss announced.

"Why does HE have to come?" Mecca asked in disgust.

"To make sure no one'll hunt ya. Get it? We're in the woods! Ya know yer little morphin' thing? Aw shucks, no one understands!"

All the gang sighed and Mecca looked more annoyed, obviously as a cover of some sort.

"I think I can manage..." she said sternly before sweat dropping.

"Hey, if all else fails, we can always use Howdy as bait," Dexter cheerfully said, adjusting his glasses.

"That's not even funny!" some of the girls scolded.

"Well, he had it coming to him," Candace defended. Anna, as always, stayed quiet in the back.

Rustling in the nearby brush stopped their whispered bickering. All was quiet again.

SNAP!

"All in favor of running away...!" Hamtaro yowled.

"Aye!" most of the Hams cried and began to run.

"You guys are a bunch of chickens!" Stan called after them.

"Yeah!" Boss agreed. Mecca just silently glared on.

SNAP!

"Wait for us!" the boys hollered as Mecca took refuge in the trees.

Soon, Cappy crept out with his camcorder, Penelope right behind him.

"Did you see the looks on their faces?" he boisterously laughed.

"Ookyoo! Priceless!" She high-fived Cappy and began to cackle as he howled into the night.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Came up with this one in study hall. Oh yeah! Whooooo! Again, thanks for reading, review if you want. No pressure. Oh! Yeah, lupyne- your question...hmmmmmm. I think I will have them in stories, but it depends whether or not I come up with a good plot. I most likely will use them as main characters in a fic sooner or later. But, for now, I need to focus on school and my other fics, which I am desperately trying to finish/continue. So, everyone, keep on your toes. There may be more Sues to come! XD

(Hey yo, E24 here... yeah... I took a while to actually beta this... sorry to you readers... ' nervous laugh I lurf you Cheese It...?...)