Author's Note: READ THIS BEFORE GOING ANY FURTHER WITH THE STORY!!

I am getting a lot of reviews wondering why creatures can be slain, and why dibbuns exit in the Dark Forest. To answer your questions, Slaying will remain a mystery to all the creatures in the story until the end of the book. As for the dibbuns... Well... The Dark Forest is a place that captures the very essence of a wonderful day, every day, for eternity. If there was no getting married and having children, creatures would not be happy at all(Not to mention the author of this story loves the dibbuns, so he found a way to add them!). Also, this question about the dibbuns was already answered in chapter 1! So you who asked that question, really need to pay attention to the story

Chapter 10

Hustling, shuffling, thumping (Tibble had tied Murrsel's sandles together), were all that could be heard, as the dibbuns raced down the hall. Tubble and Tibble came first, being the only ones not stumbling out of sleepiness. They clapped their paws together and jumped around.

"Yay! We beat'cha all!"

Rose silenced them, fixing Murrsel's sandals before she attempted going down the steps. Rose nodded at Martin, who slyly opened the door, beckoning the dibbuns out into the road. They dashd out, giggling madly.

"Gorra go to 'da pond!"

"Wee! Hehehe!"

Rose quieted them down with a flick of her paw, sending all the dibbuns into a straight line, saluting smartly, though one molebabe hit himself in the eye, sending him toppling backwards. Mannon lifted the mole to it's feet.

"We'd better work on that while Rose is gone..." She said to him quietly.

Rose nodded as the molebabe stood to attention again.

"We are going to the lake, along the road. A race will be held right now, but the rules are, No trampling any bushes or flower along the way. Don't run into other creatures and cause a fight. Most importantly, now that we are no longer safe, no running in the woods, or you will be disqualified. The winner will be the first person into the lake, with their sandals off. Ok, go!"

Thus began the mad dash towards the pond.

Rose watched them go, only to realie Martin had taken off with them. He was well in the lead, but intentionally tripped over a stone. Tibble and Tubble soon passed him. But he was up and running again quickly.

It soon became obvious, after Martin stopped to sniff a flower, that Tibble and Tubble were the only competetors that would possibly make it to the pond first. Tibble was a few inches in the lead, but Tubble was hard on his tail. They leapt over a large tree limb, hanging from above them, and were soon, only about fifteen yards from the pond. Tubble began to fatigue, and Tibble put on an amazing burst of speed, and was soon fifteen feet ahead of him. He was only a heads length of the pond, when he leapt into the air, and hit the surface with a splash.

Tubble drooped in shame at the waters edge. Martin came over to help, seeing that he had a lot of time, as the other dibbuns were quite far behind. He leaned dow and whispered something into the mousebabes ears. Tubble soon brightened. He stood up and yelled to Tibble.

"'Ey! Tibble! You lose!"

The mousebabe was surprised.

"No I don't. I made 't to 'da pond afore you did!"

Tubble shook his head. Leaning down, he removed his sandals, and waltzed into the lake happily. It took Tibble a few second to realize what he had done, before he burst out in tears. Tubble smiled and paddled in the pond, for a few seconds, before Rosecame up behind Martin.

"What happened?" She asked, puzzled. Martin looked up into Rose's face.

"Tubble won. Tibble made it to the water first, but forgot to take off his sandals. I whispered into Tubble's ear that he had broken the rules, so he took off his sandals and walked into the water."

Rose turned around to the other exhausted dibbuns.

"Tubble won this time. Tibble was disqualified at the end for not removing his sandals before entering the water."

The dibbuns looked at each other, puzzled. They leaned down, took of their sandals, and entered the water quietly. The fact that they had lost the race did not affect them for too long. They were soon giggling an splashing each other.

Martin stood on the top of a large mound of earth, surveying the water. He shielded his eyes from the sun, not realizing that Rose had come up behind him.

"You look very noble when you stand there like that, you know." She said, laughing. Martin grinned, shoving her playfully away.

"Stop it!" He said roughly. She smiled.

"What are you doing up here anyways?" She asked him. He shook his head and hung it low.

"There's something not right today. It's too quiet around the water. Don't you usually see birds flying over the water out here? I see none."

Rose nodded.

"That is very peculiar..."

Martin gasped and pointed.

"Look there! In the water!" He pointed. Rose gazed into the water.

"I don't see anything..." She replied.

Martin shook his head despairingly and took her paw. He pointed it out into the water, right at the dark shape that was in the water, moving slowly. Rose gasped, squeezing Martin's paw in horror. Mannon pointed and laughed at Martin.

"What are you doing to that mouse, Martin?"

Martin let go of Rose's paw and yelled to Mannon.

"Mannon! Get the dibbuns out of the water, NOW!" He roared, jumping from his perch. Mannon was shocked, but obeyed. She called out to the dibbuns.

"Well, you heard Martin! Get out of the water!" Some dibbuns groaned and got out of the water, and some quickly, who took the order to be urgent.

Martin gazed out into the pond. The shape moved closer to the shore. One dibbun remained in the water, who had not heard Mannon's call. It was Tibble. He had strayed from the shore in anguish of being the only dibbun disqualified. Martin saw that there was no other choice. He ripped off his sandals and jumped into the water, paws outstretched. He swam out with great speed towards the Tibble, grabbed him and paused, watching the great shape move towards them. It happened very quickly.

At that exact moment, a large pike emerged from the water,jumping into the air, mouth open. Martin inhaled deeply, and dove under the water. Water rushed through his ears as he pushed the dibbun above the water. He reached to his belt and removed the dagger with a different paw. Martin emergeed from the water, and took notice of where the pike was.

Only a few feet away.

He saw Rose run to the water's edge and open her paws, ready for the catch. Martin lifted the screaming, soaked Tibbble into the air and hurled him through the air, and was caught by Rose. He then turned again, but the pike was gone. Everything was silent, except for the water, which strayed slightly offshore in the breeze.

Martin sighed and began swimming back towards shore. He was not surprised when Rose gasped, pointing behind him. Martin took quick action. He turned and raised the dagger, and saw the large body of the pike emerge from the water again. Taking no chances, Martin plunged the dagger into the heart of the pike. He jumped back in disgust, jerking the dagger from it's place in the pike, and dashed towards shore.

The pike shrieked and began swimming limply away. The dibbuns, Rose, and Mannon were all shocked. They still could not grasp what had just happened. They were even more shocked when the lake seemed to explode in light, and the water began to rise somewhere in the distance, creating a large ripple. But by the time the large ripple had reached shore, it was nothing more than a small ripple, as if it had been created by a small pebble.

Martin and Rose shuddered, turning, and pushing them back towards the dibbuns special house. Everyone was silent, except for Tibble, who gave a deep sob every once and a while. Rose comforted the little babe by picking him up and hugging him. Rose could not help but stick close to Martin. She felt somewhat safe when he was around. She turned to him, addressing him.

"Martin... How did that pike get in the lake? There are no currents from there from which it could have come."

Martin shook his head.

"I don't know either, Rose. But one thing I'm sure, is that we have to be careful... everywhere we go. Rose, let's run down to the city hall after the dibbuns are settled in. Speak to your father about what happened. I feel I can't address him in person anymore, because of what happened last time."

Rose nodded.

Author's Note:

Wow. I began this chapter with no clue on what was going to happen at the lake, and I completely improvised from the start of the race. My heart was beating quickly during the 'suspenseful' part in the pond. This chapter was, once again, short, but I needed to keep my momentum going.

I should let you know that I am going to take like, three weeks off in january, or march. I go to florida during that time of year ). I'll let you know before I go, so you don't have to worry.

Also, look out for another story by me. A humor one. Coming soon!