Tasia:

Life on the plain had proved well to her. Phunis was courting Fay, though nothing had happened yet. They would spend whole afternoons away from the pack, exploring the more rural and romantic parts of neopia central. Phunis had even learnt how to manage neopoints, and had bought her a mallard (which Fay named Waddle). Fay and Phunis were just making their way back to the herd, Waddle trying to keep up between them, when a lupe approached them.

"The alpha had her pups, and you wont believe what they look like!"

Curious, they followed the lupe and witnessed the strange pups "Geez," Fay said "Twelve of 'em? That almost doubles ah numbahs!"

"I thought there were only twelve of us anyway?"

"That's right," Fay said to herself, solemnly. Shiko had left, long ago without a word. No one in the pack whether he was alive or dead. Fay was saddened- if it weren't for Shiko, she would have never of had the life she had now.

The pups were half uni! How could this be? He was pondering this, and saw an even stranger sight in the crowd- two unis. He knew that the pack had struck a pact with the herd, but it was so strange to see a uni that a couple lupes weren't attacking.

The silver uni seemed to be having a confrontation with Wuff- Phunis's shackles raised. Then the white lead him away, and address him by the name, Gradyti

"Gradyti?" Phunis spoke out loud "I used to know a lupe named Gradyti. He disappeared, and no one ever saw him again. I say, good thing for him. He missed our whole Hod's killing spree!" he said this last part so much force he quaked. He hated Hod and what the evil lupe and forced him to do.

Fay licked his ears and whispered "That's over now."

The gray mass shifted and moved beneath him. Shiko stared into the angry, yet ever forgiving sea. This was it. His body felt light, lifting from his feet. He rocked back and forth, wondering if he really wanted to do this.

He decided, he could wait. He stepped away, and back into the barren landscape he had since now called Home.

From the shadows, the blue gray lupe was being watched. The animal moved through the brush, getting prepared to make her move.

TLT:

Anita stared coldly at the Uni. When he ended his little speech, she said in a low vioce, "Why do I tell you what to do? Because you are doing nothing. That means you need something to do. I gave you something to do. Not to mention my best friend is laying on the ground dying as we have this little conversation. As to your comment on killing, Lupes do not kill without reason. We kill to eat. To survive. Its part of life. You kill plants daily when you forage. Is that not the same thing? If we could eat plants, we would, but as we can not, we take live food. No matter. You do not seem eager to help, and thus you will provide only bare essentials. It would be more helpful if you left with your herd than stayed and tried to help." With that, she turned away and began her care of Very.

She called to her petpet, Faux the beekadoodle, who had been hiding out for a while, snuggled in Anita thick fur around her neck. The little bird was eager to help. She flew off and found a large leaf and brought it to her master. Anita filled it with water, then offered to her friend. Very drank it all quickly. She repeated this several times. When the uni had had enough, Anita went to he lake and dipped her fluffy tail in the water. It was dripping wet and Anita rushed back over to Very and laid it across his forehead, letting the water drip across his head. He sighed and muttered a weak thanks. The beekadoodle was busy gathering edible weeds and brush, picking around for the ones she knew to be tasty. Very ate a little, but was too tired to eat. Anita didn't force him, and lulled him to sleep. She was still watching the Unis carefully. She knew they didn't trust her, and she didn't trust them. The beekadoodle sat on a high tree branch on the look out for lupes. She saw none yet.

Jauck had been cautious since he had seen the lupe that had been banned from the pack. He disagreed slightly with her banning, but he knew they didn't do those things for no reason. He had hated the lupe anyway, and had heard what he had said. He deserved what he got. Anita did exactly what he would've, if he was in her place. But he still was cautious. He never wanted to meet her in a bad temper. And he admitted being horrified at the time of the incident. How would you do if you had seen something as brutal as that. Though part of it could be attributed to what the little idiot had said, as well as the swiftness of his death. It was so fast it made him shuddered as he though of it. Even on a hunt he had never seen something as swift. Yet he had followed her, trying to find out what she was doing without a pack. With their old pack shattered, it was pointless to stick around. He was very curious of her relationship with the uni she followed. He had wondered why exactly she rejected the deal for getting into the pack, which was now broken even more than his.

Now she had gone toward the lake. He was curious as to what she was up to. But there were Unis, the whole herd of them on the shore near her. What had happened to her? Unis were dangerous for a lone lupe.

Tasia:

Trab looked from Lumino to Anita. Then he said "I've seen many things on these plains, and a kind lupe isn't new. I would entirely that this young lupe actually means to help our friend, Very did you call him?" he looked to his daughter for assistance, and she nodded "Very." He confirmed "However, I did see a sight which troubled me quite a bit. See, I saw this pup attacking this mare here, who I later found out to be my daughter.

"I refuse to leave this uni in your care only, lupe. Though it's obvious we do not have the resources to heal her here." he paused, and turned his head sideways as if listening to the chatter of a tick on his shoulder "I have traveled far, and I know a place where Very can get the attention he needs. But it is a very long journey, nearly a day's run, for the most fit uni."

He turned to the rest of the herd, yet kept the young lupe in his peripheral vision "Requesting permission to consult with the herd leader. Who is he?"

Hopsos had so little meat on them, but they were easy to catch. Shiko also survived on non sentient creatures- animals which migrated to this wasted place. It was without decent green, and subsequently without herd animals and, consequently, without lupes. They had adapted poorly in an environment stripped all natural predators, and they were easy catches for a single hunter. Shiko bent his mouth around, trying to get a rubbery pink ear out of his teeth.

There was a sound in the bushed. Shiko tightened his muscles. There was something here, something big! He set his tail between his legs, but was otherwise ready to pounce.

A green-black mass came running toward him. Just at the moment Shiko's muscles released, and he pounced. He was thrown back, and his ribs hit a tree. He groaned.

"Hey, you look like you tooka hard blow. Sorry about that, but I hadta keep you pouncing on me."

Shiko groaned "Who are you?"

"Hi! My name's Pehanoie! But you can call me Noe!"

Shiko lifted his head. He turned to the creature that called itself Noe. His eyes widened.

She was a uni, that was the only thing he knew that it resembled. But, no. It was not a uni. It's features, while still equine, were more dedicatedly chiseled than those of an uni. It's legs were long and it's neck arched elegantly. However, grayish mane hair fell into black wells of eyes. The creature had no wings, and tt also had a strange horn that curved like a sickle. The tail was thick and powerful- like that of a fish. Wait a minute...Shiko searched his memory.

Yes, the old tales spoke about creatures, distant relatives to the unis, that lived in the sea. But according legend, these animals were absent of back legs- and the creature who called herself Noe certainly stood on all fours. Very strange indeed. Perhaps, the tales had been wrong. What had they been called...peophin "Are you a peophin?"

Her black eyes looked very dark for a second. Then she said "Almost got it. I'm a uniphin!"

"Uni...phin?"

"Yep! The best parta two worlds!"

"Oh. Okay."

"So, what's your name?"

"Komoshiko."

"SHEEK! I love it! Now," she tilted her head "how come you're here?"

Shiko snorted "My name is Komoshiko, or even Shiko, not Sheek!"

"Okay Sheek. Now, tell me why you're here? I thought I was the only one who lived in this wasteland!"

Shiko growled a little, then said "You live here? For how long?"

"Oh, I dunno. All summer,"

"But, why would you live in a place like this?"

For a second, the uniphin looked absolutely cross. Then she whinnied laughter "That's what I asked you, silly!"

"Well, I came here to get away from sentient creatures, especially animals like you!"

Noe gave him a sideways glance "You like to insult people. Doesn't work if it's not true."

He looked up angrily into the uniphin's black eyes.

"First of all, you never met anyone like me, because there isn't anyone like me! I'm unique! Sure, there are other uniphins in the world- and peonis for that matter! But I bet you none of them have no wings, back legs, the peophin tail and a curved horn! Sure, there are peophin tailed, no back legged, winged, horned (not of the curved variety)- and wingless, normal horn, no peophin tail, back legs, AND then there are the type with a uni tail and no back legs- their cripples- but none like me! And even so, you won't get this fur color-"

"I HONESTLY DON'T GIVE A CARE ABOUT NO TAIL, NO HORN, CURVED BACK LEGS OR ANYTHING! I WAS JUST TRYING TO INSULT YOU SO YOU'D GO AWAY!"

"Aha! So he admits it! Well then, if you want to get away from me, why don't you just walk away?"

"Knowing you, you'll follow me."

"Oh! A smart one! Yes, I'll follow you!"

Shiko growled, pitiful and weak "What do you want?"

"Nothing."

"Then leave me alone."

"I won't do that."

Shiko flicked his tail and made his way to his favorite tree, which he liked to rest under.

Noe followed.

Morgan:

Ally and Wuff decided not to burden Kauvara with their pack that now had more than twenty Lupes in it. They set out for the plain, but not before Kauvara insisted on giving them a gift.

"Here, take this Ally. You need SOMETHING to help carry them all around, so I thought I'd give you this. Thank you for showing me that not only Restockers care that I exist, and letting me help you with your dreams." Kauvara said, looking sad that they were going to leave. She handed them a cloud. "It's made of part of the cloud by the Hidden Tower. It's strong enough to support the weight of all 12 pups and it has magic so it'll follow you. They won't fall out and they'll be safe and everything when you put them in. It'll take a large burden off of you." She gently placed the pups inside, said goodbye to everyone, and waved at them till the disappeared into the darkness. Then she turned and went back inside, completely forgetting about the Unis that had been there.

Ally and Wuff led the entire pack out into the middle of the Plains and decided to go petpet hunting. They noticed a stream nearby, however, and went to get a drink. Ally went first and screamed. Wuff saw something curl around her neck and ran over to her, the pack parting to let him through. Rewop was in the Cloud Pen and his wings shed some light on the matter. A little Blue Tanizard had curled around her neck. Ally had gotten startled. The Tanizard was so sweet that Ally couldn't let them eat it, not to mention that there was very little meat on it anyway. She named her Tammy and decided that she would keep an eye out while they slept to make herself useful. The rest of the night was uneventful, with the obvious exception of the hunt. They captured a huge hoard of petpets, and before they chose what they would eat, they noticed that some looked intelligent. Pretty soon, almost every Lupe had a petpet, and the pups were no exception. Each one got a petpet of their own.

((A/N:
Rewop: Ghost Whoot
Etsu: Black Spardel
Nani: Mirgle
Wakarimasen: Psimouse
Moya: Rainbow Noil
Lily: Halloween Angelpuss
Aloyarc: Tyrannian Bearog
Bob: Alkenore
Mike: Snomorg
It: Purple Bloopy
Drew: Vullard
Amanda: Triffin))

They were all happy that night, having eaten their fill on Buzzers and Hopsos. They stretched out to sleep under the stars that night, and no one noticed that one Uni-Lupe (laughingly referred to as Upesies (Oopsies) or Lunis (Loonies)) was awake and concentrating very hard.

There was no wind, but a twig lifted itself up and began scribbling a picture in the dirt. It was of a Starry Kau, two Lupes, and a mountain of pups. One pup in the picture was sitting in the corner, watching their mouths move and wondering what good it did. The twig, job completed, fell silently to the ground. Two pink eyes searched everywhere for an explanation. He turned to his Psimouse. He concentrated very hard, thinking What is going on? I feel like there's something wrong with me. Why do all of the adults and pups move their mouths? Why? I don't understand... ((A/N: that was translated from what he would've really thought.)) His Psimouse heard him.

Master Wakarimasen? It's your Psimouse, Wakarimashita. You may call me Mosh if I may call you Waka. I can understand what you're thinking. You must be telepathic. You are deaf and can't hear like your siblings can. You are different, which isn't bad. I myself am telepathic and psychic like you. We can both see the future, and I knew that you wouldn't eat me. Master Wakarimasen? We could be friends... I could tell you what the others are saying and respond for you.

Really? Thank you, Mosh! Yes, call me anything you like, I didn't know my name til you told me. I'm starting to get sleepy, Mosh. Why don't we go to sleep. I'll protect you from anything that'll gobble you up. Poor little pink creatures and flying little striped things... Good night, Mosh. Sleep well... They curled up and slept under the full moon that was steadily climbing into the night sky.

Uni:

Lumino snorted with amusement. That little Lupe, snapping to the lead stallion, the mighty Lumino? The most powerful, bravest and the most famous Uni of the plains? Many Unis laughed kindly at the sight. Sending another Uni as sentinel, the golden Uni walked peacefully back to the Lupe.

"All right, child. Our long-lost -" Lumino set an amused look on the black stallion "- friend, Trab, is right. Maybe I've been too harsh; we'll take care of your friend - Very, is that right? - and give him water. This young stallion had told his story to some of us, and I guess that he could join us without much problem. Be before that, let me show you a trick." Lumino winked playfully at both Trab and Anita.

The great Uni waved his horn in a long curve, and he began to glow from everywhere. As he shone brighter than the sun, his silhouette split into two, then four, and even eight! Finally, the light faded, and eight Lumino, exactly the same the one from the other, were standing.
The real Lumino chuckled at the young Lupe's shocked face, and stepped out from the other Lumino.

"These are illusions," the Uni explained. "I can make them do anything I want. Look - "

One of the 'Lumino' glowed bright again, and became smaller and smaller. When he reappeared, he had Anita's exact likeness.

"Funny, huh? Well, even though they are images, they can be touched, they have flesh and bone. So, I can make them fly over to where Trab said and bring some water back." With that, the seven remaining illusions (the fake 'Anita' changed back to a 'Lumino') all stood before Trab, waiting for the longitudes and latitudes of the area.
The real lead stallion closed his eyes firmly, and his horn glowed strongly. The same golden glow appeared around Very, and Lumino slowly lifted him off of the ground, and onto a bed of soft grass and plants.

"There. He can stay here while the other 'Lumino' get the water ... "

Orora & Gradyti

"Are you ... WUFF?!" The silver Uni's ears jerked up. "Oh my Fyora ... I'd thought that I had lost you forever!" The Uni stepped up and hugged the Lupe.

"Aren't you ... the pack's new Alpha?! Wow! And so these pups are yours, right? So ... you've found a mate?" The Uni looked behind Wuff, and saw a pretty white Lupe coming. She had cried something about hurting her mate, but she was now pretty quiet.

"Hey ... " Orora voiced, her eyes narrowing in a dawning comprehension, "what's her name, Wuff? I thought ... that she smelled ... quite Uni-like ... oh, her name is Ally? That reminds me ... in my herd ... there was a Uni called Ally. She wanted to be a Lupe sometime ... and her mother disowned her." The Uni shook her head in disgust, her silver mane flying. "I hated her decision. And quite some weeks after Ally left, the pack attacked the mother and her remaining child - Lily, that was the name, I think - and they perished under the Lupes' teeth." Orora sighed. "Oh well."

Gradyti had listened carefully to his mate's speech, and he walked back, licking the Uni's soft cheek.

Tasia:

Trab was glad Lumino welcomed him back. In the gold uni's place, Trab thought he would have never forgiven himself. "It's across the plain, in this direction-" he began thundering across the plain, as fast as his muscular legs could carry him, Very needed attention as fast as possible.

"Uni and lupe, how is it possible?"

"Methinks either Ally or Wuff isn't entiahly honest about theyah past."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh Phunie, it's obvious one of them was a uni!"

"Not Wuff. He was considered strange before, but he has always been a lupe."

"Then Ally."

Phunis shook his head "Lupe and uni, uni and lupe, who'd ever of thought it was possible?"

Fay nodded "That's why all neopets are boahn without the ability to reproduce."

Phunis jumped up "What did you say?"

"So that we wont get hybrids like that. Not that theyah bad, just sometimes there are genetical diseases and stuff. Though I think they messed up as soon as the zafah'a came along..."

"But, but, how are baby pets born?"

"Ya need a baby paint brush fah that."

"But...how did you come to be?"

"Oh, I was created."

"I'm lost."

"Well, you know, it's genetics." Phunis stared at him blankly. She sighed "I was cloned from an adult red lupe. I grew quickly. Then some usah came along, wanted to adopt a red lupe, smacked lame name on me I could never shake myself of, and whamo! Garuwomon, the red lupe!"

Phunis listened to her, his mind reeling "All red lupes look the same?"

"Well, yeah. And blue lupes and green lupes and yellow!"

"But, what about," he looked to the pup Etsu "What about pink?"

"The pink lupe hasn't been released, but I could be painted shadow, like Nani there."

"Painted?"

"Yeah," but she could see he needed an extra push "With a paintbrush. It changes a neopet's DNA slightly, like the gene fah fur colah. And some paint brushes change it more than slightly, like Darigan or mutant. Man, what I would give to be Darigan,"

"Who's Darigan?"

She shrugged "Some emperor dude."

"You don't sound very interested for a lupe who wants to be him."

"I don't want to be Darigan! I want to be Darigan!"

"..."

"It's a colah!"

"Darigan's a color?"

Fay groaned "Oh Phunis, go to sleep." she laid down.

Phunis, however, couldn't make his mind stop churning. Fay, unable to have pups! Didn't she know how scarred she was? And, they would never be able to have pups together! The thought filled him with a terrible pain. Why didn't she see how terrible this was!

Morgan:

Waka (Waka is Wakarimasen's nickname) and Mosh were sitting together by the stream. No one else was awake yet. They were enjoying the breeze. Mosh wanted to help improve Waka's psychic abilities, so he came up with a plan. Waka? Why don't you try to lift me with your psychic abilities? Just concentrate...

But Mosh, I could drop you and you'd get hurt!

Mosh smiled Don't worry, I'll be fine.

Waka decided to trust Mosh, so he concentrated really hard. Mosh floated up and up and up til he was just a tiny speck. Waka lost concentration when he got startled by what he was doing. MOSH!! he called loudly, scared of what was happening. Mosh was plummeting down through the clouds, until he opened a little umbrella... He floated slowly down and landed on Waka's head. M-mosh? You're okay! But how?

Mosh pointed to his umbrella, and they both continued practicing happily til the sun fully rose.

Tasia:

"Dad! Wait for me! I want to come with!" but the black uni was gone.

"Stupid stallion. I just hate him!"

Gipha turned in shock "Mother! But I thought you loved him!"

Thereda sighed contently "I do."

Morgan:

The pack was starting to wake up as the sun rose. Ally asked Tammy the Tanizard if anything had happened while they slept, and she motioned to her son, Waka. Ally called out for him, but he did nothing.

Waka was thinking. I'm feeling hungry now... I think that I'll go ask Mama for some food. He turned around and saw Ally bounding over to him, mouth flapping up and down. Mama? He decided to ask her for breakfast, so he sent her images of food.

Ally was scared. Waka was just standing there, though she called him frantically. She had almost reached him when she felt hungry. She saw food in her thoughts. 'What's going on?!' she thought desperately, and Mosh decided to step in.

"Ally? Your son, Wakarimasen, is deaf but psychic. He is sending you and the rest of the pack images of food because he is hungry." Waka? Your mother doesn't understand. Stop the image flow.

Ok, Mosh. I thought that everyone could do this...?

No, Waka, only you and me... Just the two of us.

"What does 'deaf' mean? And what is sai-kick? Why would he want to kick something if he's hungry?" Ally asked, tilting her head to one side.

Mosh explained it to her, and she was shocked.

"My... My baby can't hear anything? He can do magic?! ((Mosh had had to change the terms so she'd understand)) He can't speak?!?!"

"He can speak to me, and to me alone. I will tell you what he says, but be warned. He is extremely powerful, though he doesn't know it. I have seen what his power can do at a mere one day old, barely a pup, and it is stronger than anything I have ever encountered. He must not know this until at LEAST his first birthday! He can do many, many things. Anything he sets his mind to is possible. He can even change colour, which is why he has no pigment in his fur right now, he hasn't thought about it yet. The only thing that he can't change is being deaf. But, his most dangerous ability is to control people's minds. If he tells someone to do something, they will. That alone has enormous possibilities. Do not tell the pack anything but his deafness. Keep the rest as a secret between your family and not him. You have been warned."

Ally couldn't speak. Her baby could tell someone to kill someone else and they'd have to do it. He could change so no one recognized him. He was more powerful than anyone or thing on the plains. He was one day old. Why? was the only thought in her head, and it spiraled around and around as she stood dumbstruck. She turned around, got Waka some food, and went to the pack to tell them the news. Meanwhile, on top of a nearby tree, an invisible creature stood cursing.

I never meant to give ALL of my powers to the pup... Just telepathy to make up for him being deaf on my account! CURSES! Wakarimasen, you may keep your gift, but I'll return... Someday soon...

TLT:

Very felt a strange sensation. He was... FLOATING?! He raised his head and looked around. Lumino was doing something, though he couldn't tell what. Anita was watching him anxiously. He smiled weakly at her. She turned and growled softly at Lumino, not loudly enough for him to hear, and Very heard it only faintly. Very felt land underneath him again. A soft bed of ferns and grasses. Anita ran up to him immediately, checking to see if he was okay. He was fine, though he had no idea of what had just happened.

After checking over Very, Anita turned to Lumino. She stared coldly at him. "That was a nice little magic trick. However, I believe I mentioned earlier that it would be better if you left Very to me. This is nothing. You don't take kindly to orders. As you do not know this uni," She gestured to Very. "I do not feel you should be the primary caretaker. It would make more sense for me, or even Gipha to take care of him. True you could easily kill me, but what would that be? You would kill for no reason, other than I choose to disagree with you. What a great leader that would prove you were. I am sure everyone will love to hear the story of the great leader Lumino who killed an innocent lupe pup who was trying to save her best friend, for no reason other than they disagreed. That would be a remarkable tale. You wonder why Unis and Lupes do not usually mix..."

She gave Lumino a cold glance before beginning to converse with the great black stallion. "I thank you for giving me a chance. I would like to apologize for attacking your daughter. She startled me, shoving me away while I tried to take care of my friend here. Had she said something before, rather than immediately pushing me away with no warning, it would have been different. I did not mean to attack your daughter so viscously. See, I have a horrible temper and when people cross certain lines," She glanced at Lumino. "I have a tendency to forget myself and attack. Its gotten me into trouble more than once. And seeing your daughter in her weakened state, and me being hungry, I went into hunting mode... And well, I will just say that I am truly sorry, but you should be thankful I taunted her before actually moving in to kill." She turned to Gipha "I hope you understand. You are a good friend of Very's, and I would never hurt you intentionally. Just a horrible accident of sorts. I really didn't mean for it to happen."

Anita was about to say more when she heard a screeching and her petpet came flying to her. It twittered worriedly then pantomimed a lupe, rather humorously by using her feathers as fangs by her beak. Anita knew immediately what she meant. She asked what direction it was coming from. The little bird chirped and pointed toward the plains. Anita barked a simple "Lupe!" warning then ran off in the direction the Beekadoodle had pointed.

Jauck wondered what to do. If he went toward the lake, he would be seen, and easily killed by the Unis. Yet his curiosity was killing him over what Anita was doing. She wondered if she was even going by that name. She was usually just "Kwanita" in the pack, but she had told him to call her Anita. Anyway, he still wanted to know what she was up to now. The death of the alpha's son had destroyed the pack. Rumors flew about why Anita had attack, ranging from Faux had attacked first, to she had contracted Neopian rabies. None of them were true of course, yet the because no one knew, the rumors ran ramped and the pack fell apart. The alpha female being killed in a hunt didn't help matters either.

So now, here he was, in the middle of a plain, trying to track and elusive female who was a known killer. Had everything made him go crazy as well? He heard a warning call of some sort, by some petpet. He ignored it. Nothing serious, right? He heard a faint bark near the lake. It was far enough away that he couldn't tell what it meant. After he thought about it, he wondered if he had heard anything at all. If it wasn't just his imagination after all. Being alone for a week did strange things to your mind. His mother had told him long ago, that that was why lupes were in packs. They went crazy if they were alone for too long. He shook his head to clear his mind. Nothing was wrong, everything was fine... Other than the fact his life was shattered...

Anita smelled a faint scent of lupe. It was familiar. Jauck? The beta? What was he doing out here? She remembered him being out in the woods alone. What was going on? Had the pack fallen apart, like Hod's? She followed the scent until she had spotted the lone lupe, sitting quietly, looking confused. She barked to him. He looked up, startled, then wagged his tail and ran up to her. They sniffed each other, and then told each other their stories. Anita was shocked at what had happened. Jauck was shocked she had become friends with a Uni.

The two friends chatted as they walked toward the lake. Jauck wasn't happy about walking alone with Anita, but there wasn't an alternative. They paused on the edge of the shore. Anita wondered how Very would react to having another lupe come over to him. that would be rather traumatic. Yet could she just leave Jauck alone?

Uni:

Lumino laughed openly, his rich voice echoing around.

"Ah, you must be a smart child. I wonder what you are doing alone ... " then, seeing the pup's cold face, he chuckled warmly again. "I," Lumino continued, "was just assuring your friend's comfort. I do doubt that Unis like resting on bare soil and rock. My - er - doubles will bring back the water needed. You won't leave him to my care? Fine ... I need to protect my herd anyway. You can stay with us and care for him. I guess our young and energetic Gipha can help too. And for the killing subject," the lead stallion glanced quickly at the foals, "provoking Lupes will mean the possible destruction of our younger generation - Gipha, these foals, but also your friend. Why should we, Unis, provoke, cause havoc and kill? We don't eat flesh, like you do, as you said. We nibble grass and drink pure water. You must understand that, if I did threaten you, it is because I insure security and peace. Besides, I don't fear Lupes; I had had enough encounters with them to know their thoughts and acts."

His speech finished, Lumino smiled warmly at Anita and added:

"I cannot force you to like us. But, if you are staying some time, will you please give us your name, so we can know how to call you? Ah - so we call you 'Anita', right? Good. Welcome Anita," Lumino raised his voice, so that every Uni could hear, "to our herd!"

"I think," Fratylia's soft voice whispered, "that we should welcome VeryVain and Trab too."

"Yes, yes ... " Lumino frowned. "Very well. Of course, we must know if they want to join ... but Thereda will be happy."

Just then, Anita ran off, barking a word ("I think it was 'Lupe'," Fratylia assured Lumino). The lead stallion immediately told the mothers to fly up, while Silver Star protected the foals.

Lumino had caught the scent now. A beta. It was a beta ...

The golden Uni ran to Very's side, lowered his horn, stretched his wings, and prepared himself to defend the Uni ...

But Anita came back, and she wasn't alone. She had the beta at her side, and they looked as if they had been friends. Lumino cautiously raised his golden head, and, seeing that the beta meant no harm, folded neatly his enormous wings and shook his mane in welcome ...

Orora & Grad

As the pack left, Gradyti looked, shocked, as Wuff didn't even address him a farewell. No one talked to them, it was as if they didn't exist! Even Kauvara came into the room and looked at them in surprise. Gradyti snorted and left, followed closely by Orora.

"Gradyti," the white Uni called to her mate, "we must ask them for peace and friendship towards Unis. They are now the biggest Lupe pack, only they can help us!"

"Right," Gradyti grumbled.

The two set off in a full gallop behind the pack, and they soon saw the Lupes stop to sleep. So Orora and Gradyti slept too, hidden behind the trees, waiting for the morning to come.

next day

Orora groomed herself, so that her magnificent white coat shone with the sun, her mane and tail were beautifully neat and of the purest of silvers, her horn and hooves were so clean that she could see her reflection in them, the soft feathers of her wings were elegantly spread, and her sapphire eyes were so lovely that even Gradyti was shocked as he saw her when he got up.

Getting the idea, the stallion began to groom himself too, marveling at the ease he could make himself handsome. His tongue brushed powerfully his silver coat, making it brilliant in minutes. His mane and tail were soon gracefully combed, and the two set off for the pack.

ten minutes later

"Alphas Ally and Wuff," Orora smiled beautifully at both of them, "we, Orora, daughter of the herd leader Lumino - " ("What?!" Gradyti whispered) " - and Gradyti, former member of Hod's pack, are here to discuss an important subject that has taunted us.

"As you know certainly very well, Lupes and Unis had been enemies for a long time - maybe stretching back to the creation of Neopia - and so, Lupes being carnivorous, a legend said that a great Lupe decided one day to put Unis as their most important prey. Of course, that may not be true; but from the beginning of time, Lupes have killed Unis.
But Lupes live on flesh, whilst Kaus and Unis are the only prey available in the Endless Plains, and, seeing that Kaus are fade of taste, it is most natural for you to hunt us.
The question is: are Lupes forced to create havoc on our peaceful lives too? Why should the predator hurt us, torture us, so that we become so alarmed that it had become difficult for you to hunt?

"We have absolutely nothing against you hunting us to eat, but, please, we Uni beg you to not kill for the fun of it. It is pitiful to see that every Lupe is considered as a murder, a fool, or an enemy, when they can very easily be friends.

"So, we beg you: please, please restore peace between Lupes and Unis."

Morgan:

Wuff looked at Orora, he was shocked, then laughed. "Quite a big speech, Orora. We have no intention of killing Unis except to defend ourselves, Ally was a Uni before Kauvara gave her that potion. We are living off of petpets, you have no need to fear me." He eyed Phunis worriedly and continued "It's best that you leave now though. Since we've just woken up, we are hungry. You seem to be tempting my pack. I think it'd be wise for you to leave." Ally bounded over and explained about Waka. "WHAT?! Deaf?! Oh no..."

Tasia:

Trab nodded, listening to the lupe "Wait," he said "I think I heard of you, in a far off pack, a young pup with a temper killed another lupe..." he stopped himself, but it was to late to take back his words.

Gipha listened to Lumino's speech and her face scrunched up. She walked away from the uni and grazed, muttering to the grass "Oh sure. Criticize me like a freakin' filly!"

Meanwhile, Thereda watched her throw her head, and a great smile decorated her face "She's back."

"What do you mean?" Trab asked.

"She's such a little rebel, like she swallowed a splyke or something, but when she came back to me, she was more scared than I am!"

Trab laughed coarsely "Then she must have been pretty scared!"

Thereda stepped on his foot "Ouch!" he groaned.

Phunis hadn't slept all night. He was pacing around, and thinking about poor Fay's condition. As the sun rose, the scent of uni tickled his nostrils. He was near immediately reenergized. A good, invigorating hunt was just what he could use. He waited in the grass. The unis came into the pack's territory, they were free game now! He began at a run.

Wait. No. The pack had sworn never again to harm unis.

He thought, just one kill! The alphas would never know!

"Theah you ah! I was lookin' fah you." he turned. Fay, newly awoken, yawned and padded toward him.

"Fay, there are unis in the pack territory."

"Really?" Fay's sense of smell was a little weak.

"Yes."

"Perhaps makin a treaty with Ally and Wuff."

Phunis ground his teeth together. Fay looked at him sideways "Whatsa mattah with you? Ya look like UR4lunch when he sees streaky bacon."

"What?"

She looked into his eyes. Phunis just melted when she looked into his eyes "You wanna hunt the unis, don't you?"

Phunis nodded.

"Phunie, you know Ally and Wuff disallow that. You have to forget about that part of ya life."

"If I eat one more petpet I'm going to go crazy!"

"Hmmm,"

Uni:

Lumino looked as Gipha walked away, and laughed yet again, so that he was crying of laughter.

"Ah, youngsters! So dynamic and ... sensible!" Lumino shook off a tear from his eye. "Anyway ... what about you, Trab? do you want to join your daughter and Thereda? Or ... stay a wild roamer?" Lumino's face was serious now. "You know, Trab, a Uni isn't born to stay alone, especially if there are close and dangerous predators. You really should stay and take care of your filly ... "

Orora & Trab

"Thank you, thank you ... you Alphas are worthy of respect. I will report this to my father. His gratitude towards you will be endless ... I present you the herd's respect." Orora smiled, but frowned almost instantly afterwards. "I will go to save my skin, Alpha Wuff, but ... it is such a great gift that you are according us. I wonder ... I wonder if this will be of any utility to your son?"

Orora took a bag and opened it. Inside glistened a fiery red gem, whose glow seemed to warm the air around it ...

"It's a Gem of Gratitude. It can grant you any kind of item, but can only be used once. Please take it as a symbol of our happiness."

With that, both Unis bowed and ran off, back to the herd ...

Morgan:

Wuff was relieved that the Unis had gone. Phunis had looked like he was going insane just trying to hold back. But Wuff was worried about Waka. He couldn't hear anything. He looked over at his son, then glanced at the gem the Unis had given them. He gently picked it up and took it to his son. He couldn't tell him what it was, but he told Mosh and returned to the pack. Waka watched his father intently.

Mosh? What's that gem? Should we go back to the pack? Mosh explained and they returned to the pack. The pack was silent as Waka approached, but Waka didn't notice. He realized that he could fly, but didn't want to. He was afraid his wings would tear because they were so new, so he instead used his powers to let all of the pups out. They ran over to him, Etsu and Nani leading the way. They made friends with him immediately, and Mosh translated for the two pups so Waka would know what they were saying. Waka sent them images to talk, instead of words, since he couldn't explain anything to them. They thought that Waka was stupid, and Nani had been about to make a comment, but Etsu shut her up. They were inseparable, Etsu and Nani. Waka searched for why and realized that they needed each other so they could understand things, but in his search he found something that made him angry. He found out that they thought he was stupid. That made him burn with rage. He was not stupid, THEY were! He decided to run away from the pack who feared him and thought he was stupid and worthless. He took only the gem his father had given him and ran away, Mosh perched on his shoulder. They reached the middle of nowhere by nightfall. They weren't afraid, because they both now knew what Waka was capable of. Mosh had had to tell him, against his own judgment, because they saw a strange, unknown creature in the trees. It stood on two feet, its paws had split apart, it had no fur except some that was extremely long on its head, and it had light blue cloth draped over it. Its wings were shiny and blue. Its hair was silver, its eyes were blue, and its face was worried. It was Moya, the Water Faerie.

TLT:

Jauck shifted nervously. The herd of unis was staring at him. A small bird flew to Anita's shoulder, and she gave it a welcoming nuzzle. Jauck was worried. He pictured the hoof the slammed into the alpha females skull, killing her instantly. He tried to think positive thoughts, but it didn't help. He looked at Anita. She broke the ice.

"Uh, this is Jauck everyone. He was from my pa-" She glanced at Very who was watching her intently. "I mean, I knew him a long time ago." A few weeks ago... She thought. "Anyway, the p- I mean his pack is no longer, and he caught my scent and followed me... And well, here he is." She felt the burning stares of the herd. "I couldn't very well leave him out there alone."

"And is it better here?" Anita looked at the source of the voice. It was Very. He was fully awake and aware.

"Well.... Lupes aren't meant to be alone. And I couldn't leave you..." She knew her argument wasn't sound, but there wasn't anything she could do about it now.

Jauck shifted uncomfortably. "Maybe I should just go... I'm sure there is a pack some where that wouldn't mind a new member."

Very stared at him again. "There are only a few packs around here." He had noticed Anita's stumbling and everything clicked. "One, that hunted mostly in the forest, and was probably yours, fell apart recently." He stared pointedly at Anita. "A prominent member was killed by another lupe. The alpha female died in a hunt." He ignored the look of disbelief on Jauck's face. "Another pack also collapsed, with the death of an alpha's son in a hunt. The leader went berserk and slaughtered all but his best hunters. Then he foolishly attacked us and all the lupes who weren't killed joined another pack. That pack is very new, and vows not to hurt Unis, though I don't know how they will solve that. It is inexperienced, and the lupes do not trust each other. Then there is the pack that lives in the other end of the wood. There are mountains in their range, and that is where they stay most of the time." He said all this with sadness in his eyes, looking at Anita who was staring at the ground shuffling her feet.

A question burned in Jauck's throat. He blurted it out without thought. "How do you know this?" He instantly wish he had waited.

The uni looked at him and the lupe shrank back, but the uni talked anyway.. "Long ago I lived in a mountain valley. The lupes there were our friends. They took only the weak and sick, keeping the herd strong. I would stay up late as a colt, listening to their howls as they talked to each other. I met a few of the lupe pups and they would tell me what thing meant. Pretty soon I knew all of their howl vocabulary. I still listen to all the howls I can, to learn what I can about my enemy." He cleared his throat and quoted a proverb. " 'Know your friends well, know your enemies better.' "

Jauck could tell Very didn't like talking of his past, and started to mumble an apology but was interrupted by the uni who had begun to speak again.

"Anita..." She ran up to him immediately and buried her head into his mane. He wanted to say something more, but the little lupes soft cries stopped him. She knew her secret had been discovered, and there was nothing she could do about it. She began mumbling.

"I... I was afraid... Being alone for the first time... I didn't want you to... to leave me... I am hated by my own kind so I took solace with others. I didn't want you to hate me as well..." The great uni comforted her, telling her it was okay and it was going to be alright. When she stopped, she got up and muttered different thoughts unintelligibly. She ignored everyone, walking over to the lake and drinking, but before she had more than two laps she would get up and walk over to Very, then halfway there she paused and turned away to gather a few more plants for Very to eat, even though he had a pile of uneaten leaves already. Jauck watched her pace nervously, but stayed out of the way. He decided it was best if he just sat near the lake, out of the way of the Unis. He watched, looking lazy, but attuned to every motion of every creature. His own petpet, a cobrall, was wrapped around his neck. Jauck muttered to it incoherently. There was nothing he could do, so he simply waited until whatever happened, happened.

Tasia:

Trab nodded, "Now I see what I have missed," he looked to Gipha "I plan not to miss anymore.

"However, I must make one more journey before I settle down with your herd. My daughter needs healing, I know the only one who can give her the gift of flight again."

Thereda moaned "Both you and Gipha? I won't bear!"

"Then come with us, Rede!"

The mare nodded.

Trab walked to Very "I suppose you will settle down also? As Lumino put it, a uni isn't born to stay alone."

TLT:

Very looked toward Trab. "I suppose yes, I would like to settle down. These plains make me nervous though, and while I would love to return to my home valley, I would be the only one... This herd is large though. Larger than I would like. I suppose I will stay here for a while. Possibly forever. At least until I can get up my strength. This place you want to take Gipha, would it be possible for me to come as well? For obvious reasons... My muscles hurt, my lungs burn with every breath, and I feel completely horrible. Its not just trauma I am sure..." To prove his point, Very attempted to stand. He was able to stay up right for a few short seconds before his legs began to wobble and then collapsed underneath him. Anita saw this and ran over, but half way there she remembered their "argument" as she saw it, and paused, but went over to check on him anyway. He was fine and she returned to her pacing, but now the worry of his recovery was haunting her, as well as what would happen when he was stronger, or what he thought of her lie. She was a hopeless wreck.

Tasia:

Trab nodded, eyes grave "Yes, let's leave as soon as possible," in his mind, he had doubts. How were two aged unis supposed to help two feeble young? He threw his head and snorted. At least, as far as he knew, there was no danger out there...

Uni:

"Wait a second, old friend," Lumino darted as quick as lightning and stopped before the black stallion. "I know you enough to understand that 'one more journey', in your language, mean 'I'll wander as much as my daughter needs it, and I'll return when everything that needs to be done will be done'. So you must know that I am not going to let you go so quickly. You need to make friends with your family, and I absolutely cannot force you not to go. But why don't you send one of my illusions to go and take the thing that'll cure Gipha? If you want to go, go then, proud Trab, but Gipha and Rede are under my responsibility, especially your filly. You'll understand that I know that you know Lupes well enough to avoid any danger, but your filly is young, and Rede is a mother. Leave your daughter and mate here, Trab, I'll take care of them." Lumino glanced at Thereda and Gipha.
"Please."

"Mother!" A distant cry echoed from behind the herd. Recognizing Orora's voice, Lumino leaped out, Fratylia galloping behind.

"My little child!" Fratylia hugged her filly tightly in her wings, the white Uni's silvery mane stroking her mother's cheek.

"Who's that?" Lumino asked, eyeing the silver stallion and raising an eyebrow.

"It's Gradyti," Orora answered, smiling at the former Lupe.

"Gradyti!?" Fratylia eyed the Uni suspiciously. "Why - yes, yes ... I remember, Lumino, Gradyti had the same silvery coat."

"Herd leader Lumino; leader mare Fratylia; I really am Gradyti, and I wish to ask to be your daughter's mate, and I promise to cherish and protect her forever and ever ... "

"Wha - !?" Lumino frowned, then smiled warmly. "My daughter's mate? Orora is too young, Gradyti."

"Lumino!" Fratylia scolded. "Orora is old enough, but, does she love you?"

"Yes, I do, mother." Orora gave a pleading look to her father's kind dark eyes. "Please ... "

"Very well ... " Lumino's voice was full of emotion. "Very well ... you may, Gradyti."

Tasia:

Trab didn't like the way Lumino meant to keep tabs on him, but his argument was rock solid. He tossed his head a little, thinking. They would have to make a quick journey, and either Gipha or Very would slow them down. But it would have been nice to show his heir the plains that had been his home before he finally settled down.

He was about to answer, but Thereda intervened "I'm not letting my mate go onto the plain all alone, as much as I trust your illusions, Lumino," she turned to Trab "but Gipha must stay here."

"Orora!" the heard behind them, as the red mare went to meet her friend. She wasn't listening.

"Are you sure you are able to leave your daughter?"

"Not at all," she smiled ironically "but my astounding pain from leaving her will drive me back home, after we have seen this person of which you speak, and my power will drown your free roaming spirit away."

Trab's ears became red, and the two lovers made a pact. Then they padded over to meet Orora and her new mate.

"I have to talk to you."

Fay's bones felt light. Phunis had told her about the binding ceremony of lupes beneath the moon, and Fay thought it was wonderful. She was waiting for the day he would ask her to bind to him.

"Yes?"

"I want to bind you,"

Fay cocked her head. It seemed rather a blunt of a proposal-

"But if we are bound, how will we have pups?"

Fay snorted. How did this matter "We'ah not."

"That's it? That's all you have to say?"

"Maybe we could adopt,"

"Adopt a full grown lupe from that wretched place you came from?"

Fay quieted.

"Fay, don't you ever get jealous of Ally?"

"No. Actually, yes. But, I can't. That's all. Nothin I can do about it."

"WHY!"

"Don't yell at me!"

"Why? Why did the humans do this to you?"

"So I wouldn't cross breed-"

"No, because they're cruel, terrible creatures!"

"Not all."

"Each of your owners, they abandoned you did they?"

"Yeah but, Nina did it because she needed moah money."

"For what?"

Fay's eyes became dark "A krawk..."

Phunis's feet came down, each with power "I hate them."

"Phunie, please! That's ovah now!" she looked around "I have a new life, and I'm thankful for it. Can't we leave it at that?"

"You buffoon! Do you realize what you just scared away?!"

Noe observed him. Were all lupes this size? He was so small compared to her! "Why do you hurt animals anyway? You should eat grass like me!"

"Maybe I should eat you."

"Why don't you?" She asked.

The lupe gave her a cold lupe with his yellow eyes. Noe didn't like it. She surveyed the land. Something moved...

"Oh look! A huggy!" Noe leapt up to the animal "I shall name it Huggy and it shall be mine, and it shall be my huggy!" The animal grabbed her nose. Noe felt an aching in her lungs as no air was let in r out That's very rude she thought.

"Don't worry, I'll get it!" Shiko grabbed the creature's ruff in his teeth and pulled it away from Noe "Hey! what are you doing with my huggy?"

Shiko struggled the creature away from his neck and held down it's fine with both of his paws. Noe laughed. Shiko was so funny! The lupe turned to her "You shouldn't mess with these things. They're dangerous."

"Now how can Huggy be dangerous?"

"Just be glad that we caught it." he grinned "Thank you, Noe."

She gave him a goofy smiled "Your welcome, Sheek!" she added "what am I welcome for?"

"You helped me catch my supper."

"Oh great! What's on the menu?" she looked at Huggy, and the way Shiko's eyes glistened when her stared at it "Your going to eat Huggy?!"

"Noe, these things are not pets. They're stupid."

"No! It's my huggy! Not your breakfast!"

"Supper," Shiko reminded her.

"You can't eat him!"

"What are you going to do? Save all the animals?"

"Maybe I will!"

"And what will I eat, may I ask?"

"Grass!"

He brushed his claws through his ears "Lupes don't have ten stomachs."

"Hey! I'm not that fat! I only have six!"

"Come on, Noe. Stop being stupid."

"I'm not stupid," her eyes felt they were bulging out of her skull "And, and, your, um, ugly!"

Shiko looked like he had deflated "Okay, Noe. You can keep the huggy."

"Huggy! Huggy my huggy! Hug hug hug, gee gee gee!"

Shiko let the creature hop to Noe but asked "What if it tries to suffocate you?"

"It won't! Not my Hug-" the creature began hugging her nose. Oh Huggy, she thought.

TLT:

Anita stared off into the sunset. Her mind was racing, thinking about this and that, planning outrages schemes, and forgetting them the second a new idea came. She was going with Very to where ever Trab wanted to go. There was no contesting that. But moving a huge uni across the plains? Trab had said a healthy Uni could run it in a day. It would take a lot longer to get Very there. Gipha could run a little, while Very could barely stand. Anita thought over this problem again and again, but could find no solution.

Her mind began to wander and she gave up thinking of the problem. She thought instead about what had happened. Very had nearly drowned, that was sure, but she had seen others who were nearly dead from drowning who were up and alive later that day. She thought about when she had first seen him in the water. His face had been frozen with fear as he rose, then crashed into the lake and sunk beneath the water. What had frightened him so? He could swim easily, and he was quite strong, but something made him stop swimming. What had happened to him? She remembered the terrified look when she had first met him, and the way he had bolted when she simply jumped at him. Most unis she met, the very few, had never run away, they stood tall, proud, and never turned their back to her. Very was different, which was what she had liked about him. She smiled at the memory of that day. It had been perfect and unspoiled. Other than that awful storm that is...

She was still thinking, remembering, wondering, when Jauck sat down beside her. Neither of them said a word. They just stared across the lake into the sunset. The air grew cold. Anita's beekadoodle flew to her shoulder and buried itself in her thick ruff fur, while Jauck's cobrall uncurled itself from around his neck and crawled on to the ground. The two lupes watched it spiral and twist and turn. A cool breeze blew across the lake. Jauck started to move closer to her, but Anita got up and went toward Very, and he ended up falling on the ground with nothing to lean against. He got up and brushed himself off, then followed her as if nothing happened. The cobrall followed him slowly.

Very shivered. The sun had gone down completely and there was only an almost full moon, and millions of glittering stars. He stared absent mindedly at them. He could make out several constellations. A breeze blew past him and he shivered again. He felt leaves on his back. He looked up and saw Anita putting down thick branches on his back and sides. He warmed up almost immediately.

"Hey,"

Anita looked up startled. "Hi."

"Thanks. I was getting cold."

She muttered a weak "You're welcome"

"About earlier... I can see why you lied. I haven't exactly been truthful about my past."

Anita looked at him. He had never said anything about what happened in his past. She told him so.

"Exactly." She looked puzzled so he explained. "I never told you anything. Is that better than saying a lie?"

She shook her head. "But, you know, I never actually lied. My parent's and brother left me, after they found out what had happened. They never took my side of the story. They abandoned me as a daughter instantly. So, I didn't lie, I just didn't tell the whole truth." She looked at him slyly.

Very chuckled. It was true. "Well, now that I know about you, would you like to learn more about me? You know nothing about me. Its rather chilly tonight. Come lay next to me and let ol' VeryVain tell you a story." She obeyed and listened to his story wide eyed. She learned of his horrible childhood, and what had happened that day. She was lulled by his voice, and fell asleep next to him. He stopped soon afterward, pulled a branch over her to keep her warm, and went to sleep himself. Jauck remained in the shadows, watching over his friends. He whispered to his cobrall. It nodded, and then went slithering into the night...

Uni:

"Gipha!" Orora leapt up, and nuzzled her friend. "I missed you! Oh, hello, Thereda! Hey - who's this?" The Uni frowned. "Your ... father?!"

As the two fillies were chatting eagerly, Lumino turned to Trab.

"Well, Wild Roamer, you may set the day where you're going to go. It is fairly impossible for VeryVain to come; and it is logical that I'm never going to let a foal who lost her wings to come, either. If Rede wishes to come - " Lumino set an amused look on the mare, " - I will let her go (or else she will promptly smack me with anything she finds under her hoof). But I will set a time of return, and I will be the first to yell on you if you don't return on the exact day." The stallion winked.

The night was dark, and only the silvery moon (Kreludor?!) pierced the obscurity of the sky. Lumino's swift eyes darted from star to star, and finally up to Kreludor.

"LUMINO!" A cry echoed in his ears. It was Fratylia, his mate's voice.

The Uni jumped down the hill, running to the source of the cry. He saw the mare's lit horn, and followed its light.
He slowed down, and saw that Fratylia was standing by her child, looking worried. Orora was laying on her side, and she wore a faint, triumphant smile. But two small things were curled up beside her, searching for warmth.

"Lumino - " Fratylia's beautiful face was marked with a warm smile, "Orora had just had foals."

Lumino was so surprised that he didn't say a word. He watched as the dawning sun erupted in the horizon, instantly flooding the Unis in light. The lead stallion could see the foals better now; one was of a bright, pure white, the other was of the deepest black.
The white one had glittering silver Faerie wings and pale sky-blue horn and hooves. It had a shiny silver mane and tail like its mother, and its big, adorable blue eyes ((OOC: Lumino'll know it later, but just to tell you the colour)) were firmly shut as it dozed.
The black baby had its ebony wings tipped with a touch of brilliant white, and it had an immaculate blaze on its forehead. Its mane and tail were silky and of a dark purple, and so were its hooves and horn; its amber eyes were, like the white one's, shut as it slept.

"They're both females," Orora whispered. "The white filly is Shagya, and I decided that the black one's name would be Delta."

"Very pretty names, Sweetie," a loving voice said behind Lumino. Gradyti was sitting there, his silver coat reflecting the faint morning light. Lumino instinctively retreated, letting his daughter's mate come and nuzzle her.

"They are so beautiful," Fratylia murmured in admiration as Shagya and Delta opened wide their pretty eyes to look upon the source of the noises.

Orora licked her foals, making their coats clean. The fillies yawned boringly, and ignoring Lumino and Fratylia, made friends with their father whom they immediately recognized. Orora laughed faintly, being too tired to lift herself up.
Shagya and Delta were already on their hooves, and they were hopping between each other, whinnying carelessly.

"Oh, Orora ... you're a mare now ..." Fratylia nuzzled her daughter.

"I think," Lumino said at last, smiling with emotion, "that Orora had always been deem to be a mare."

Tasia:

"They're beautiful, Orora!" she said. She bent her long neck to get level with the foals "Why hello there, I'm your auntie Gipha!" she giggled.

Times had been hard ever since her parent's left. They had promised Lumino to be back the day after, but that evening an indian summer storm had hit the plain. Gipha's ankles no longer pained her, her wound healed with minimal scars, but her ribs still pained her when she ran, and her wings had healed wrongly. She would never fly again.

What shocked her the most was the pain she felt to the loss of her parent's. Her mother devolved into nothing but a memory, and her father was just a dream. The worst was probably that Lumino, persistent that Thereda and Trab were still alive, forbade her to leave the herd. She felt the ache inside her to find a mate and the Free Roamer blood inside her in was boiling.

((Guess I'm sort of adding another character))

"Wakey wakey! The sun is shining and birds are- wait never mind. JUST GET UP!"

The two unis lifted themselves up "What is it today, Master?" the red mare asked.

"Oh, lovely! Today we are gathering mushrooms. Now doesn't that sound exciting?"

"Can we eat first, Master?" the black stallion asked.

"Let think about that, NO!" the upright walking gelert laughed at his own joke. "Now, get out of my face you stinking unis."

Something made a sound in the sunless forest. It was a hoot. She ran to catch up with her partner. He was wrestling a mushroom out of the ground with his teeth, yet careful not to bite it open and let the liquid fall into his mouth.

"Sir?" they had no names for each other.

He raised his head and looked and her "Yes?"

"Sir, have ever thought that there was something else?"

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know...how long have we been working for Raeter?"

The stallion was taken back that she was using the gelert's name "Madam," he reminded

"I don't care." she snapped "How long?"

"Well, you know..."

"How long!"

The scratched his hoof on a tree, as if trying to work out a complicated math problem in his head "You know, I don't know,"

"Do you remember being a colt?" the mare persisted "or even a teenager?"

His head snapped up "Well yeah, of course I can."

"Then what was it like?"

"Well, you know. It was like, well, I was, well, um...I don't know. But, I had to be a colt!"

"I know! But Sir, I don't remember ever being a filly!"

"But why don't you?"

"I don't know! Do you?"

The stallion snorted "This is ridiculous. We had to be foals!" he said "I don't want to think about this. It's getting late. let's get back. Our Master will furious with us if you don't get back soon," he picked up his basket and began toward the Wheel of Misfortune, but the red mare stood, looking unhappy.

He turned "What is wrong?"

"Do you remember the sun?"

"The sun!" the stallion snorted in surprise "The sun doesn't exist. Our Master told us so."

"If it doesn't exist, why do we know about it?"

The black stallion was quiet for a moment. Then he said, very quietly "Do you?"

The red mare shook her head sadly "But I do remember being warm."

There were a few more minutes of silence between them.

"I'm serious this time, Madame. We're late, and our Master is a monster when we're late."

((Okay, it was probably obvious but Thereda and Trab got swept up by the storm and dropped in the haunted woods and the guy who runs the WomF took their memories and made them his slaves))

Some, creature walked, it's stubby legs aching to keep up with the boy, always three feet ahead of him. What was that thing? Phunis wondered.

"Where...are..we..going...Clarence?" the creature panted.

"I told you, call me Steve!"

"But...your name is-"

"We're going to the pound." Clarence roared.

The creature stopped. "Oh," he said "Your getting me a brother or a sister!"

"Sure, that's it. I'm getting you a brother or a sister." Clarence said, not turning around.

"Oh boy!" the creature clapped it's square paws together "Maybe it will be a grundo, or a pteri, or a chia, just like me! Oh Clarence, what are you going to get me for a brother or sister? What will it be? Huh Clarence?"

Clarence squeezed his fists together "I told you DON'T CALL ME CLARENCE!" He turned and gasped.

A dark green lupe was sitting there, holding a limp red chia in his jaws. It was a coloring other than THE green lupe, "Oh cool!" he cried, "A wild lupe!"

Phunis bared his teeth "You hurt Fay!"

"What? Who's Fay? I didn't hurt her, I don't even know her-ahhhhhhh!" Clarence swung the lupe from his arm "Ahh! Rabies!"

The wild lupe gave him a cold look "Let this be a warning to you. Tell the other humans that your evil ways will not go unpunished!" and disappeared into off the path. Two thoughts were going through the boy's mind: Jeez, that lupe really was crazy! and Great! Now I don't have to pay 250 neopoints!