Wow. People actually like my story. I'm honored, guys, I really am. But . . . I think I may have misled you a little. Unintentionally. You see, I didn't quite mean that this was the first story I've written, only that it's the first story I've ever posted. My stories usually don't turn out very well, so I'm generally too cowardly to show anyone. But I kind of like this one, so I decided to post it.

      Anyway, I'm really sorry for that little confusion.

      Also, I do know that the chapters are short (and I have to warn you that there are some extremely short chapters coming up) but I don't think I can change them. I mean, I could, of course, it is my story, after all, but the way I have them now is just sort of the way they fall naturally. If I combined them, I think it might take away a little of the drama of the story, so I'm afraid I'll have to leave them short. Sorry again.

      Thank you, Erriel, for telling me about Microsoft Word. Unfortunately, * rubs back of head and laughs nervously * I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm really not a computer person, and besides that, I'm kind of dense. I suppose I'll just have to ask someone who can show me how. Anyway, I apologize for the inconvenience.

     And thank you, thank you, thank you to all those that gave me a review. You have no idea how happy they made me.

     Enough of my blabbering. Here's chapter three. (These {} {} mean a jump in time.)

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     For nearly a week afterward, I had wandered aimlessly, going where my feet led me, and eating only when it was absolutely necessary. At last, a tribe of Eevees found me and took me in, and their constant cheerfulness and blithe confidence began to heal my heart.

     But the curse of visions was never far from me.

     ~ I had been jumpy and uneasy all day, even before the waking dream came. It was even earlier than my parents' vision this time. It seemed that the worse the tragedy was, the sooner the illusion came. And this one was awful. Before sunset tomorrow, four of my Eevee friends would die, and six more would be wounded.

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     The next day dawned clear, but gray. I paced the length of the shelter of brush where we stayed, trying to work out what I should do.

     Would the tribe believe my warning? No one ever had so far, but I had to try at least. My mind made up, I hurried to where the leader of the Eevee tribe relaxed with his family.

     "We should stay away from the high meadow today," I told him. His daughter, Beri, came to lay between my front paws, examining my claws in curiosity. I smiled down at her as the lead Eevee thought my words over.

     "And why is it that we should abandon our chief play area?" he asked finally, looking up at me.

     "There is danger there," I said. "Fearow. Two of them."

      The leader thought this over for a few moments more, but apparently found no reason to disbelieve me. "Very well," he said, nodding. "I will tell my people to stay in the forest and the lower meadows today."

     I smiled, hugely relieved, and with a final pat to Beri's small head, I trotted off to my bed of leaves. I had not gotten much sleep last night, worrying as I had over the dream. But it was all right now; everything would be taken care of. The vision, this time, would be averted.

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      I awoke from my nap into a bewildering silence. It was never quiet here, unless it was the dead of night. I raised my head and peered around. I was utterly alone. Where had everyone gone?

     I got up, feeling uneasy, and went to find the tribe. I looked in each of the forest clearings they were fond of, but when I found no one, I went on to the lower meadows. The Eevees were nowhere to be seen.

     With each place I checked without success, I became more frantic . . . and more certain that something had gone wrong.

     I glanced up at the sun. It was nearly sunset. I had to find them soon.

     At last, I caught a faint sound from the direction of the high meadow. 'He wouldn't,' I thought, horrified.

     I hurried toward the noises, and it was soon evident that the tribe – the entire tribe – was in the high meadow.

     'But I told him,' I thought furiously. 'He promised me that he would keep them away!'

     I hastened my steps even more, until I was dashing toward the high meadow at full speed. It was almost sunset. I had to get there!

     'The fool,' I raged as the hill of the meadow came into view. 'That witless fool!' Every Eevee was indeed on the high meadow, all of them performing some sort of chaotic dance. Either the leader had never told them of my warning, or they had forgotten. They were silly beasts, and had difficulty retaining an idea for any length of time. To this day, I do not know whether all Eevees are this way, or if it is only that one tribe.

     Despite my desperate speed, I heard the hunting screeches of two Fearow just as I reached the foot of the slope. I saw the silhouettes of the two birds begin to stoop as I raced up the hill. And then came the most horrible sound I had ever heard: the scream of a dying Eevee.

      The entire tribe began to shriek and scatter, and I had to force my way up through the panicked crowds. By the time I made it to the top of the hill, the two Fearow were already taking off, a dead Eevee clutched in each claw.

     I leaped at the Fearow, snarling and snapping, but they were too high to reach. They soared off into the darkening sky with their prey, and Beri – dear, sweet, curious little Beri – was gone forever. ~

     I left the next morning. The leader asked me to go.

     "This is the most terrible tragedy that has ever befallen us," he told me through his pain and grief. He shifted to ease the pressure on the deep cut in his flank. He had been one of those wounded while trying to protect the four that were taken. "I have lost my daughter, the hope of our tribe." He shifted again and looked away. "If other such misfortunes are to fall upon us," he said, "I, and the others, prefer not to know about it beforehand."

     I was tempted to say that I had warned him, but I did not. He was in mourning, even as I was. I had loved little Beri dearly, as if she were my own flesh and blood, and the loss of her reopened the tear in my heart, which the Eevees had begun to mend.

     So I only nodded, and quietly departed from their territory.