A/N: Excuse me, I'm very sorry that I didn't realize this sooner, but there were supposed to be lines dividing all of the various people and the scenes within. For some reason I can't quite fathom... It didn't work. u.u" I'm sorry!!

Tasia:

Mystyc hesitated. Mikasi had asked her so many times, and Mystyc had craftily changed the subject. She closed her eyes "Soon. But not yet."

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"Oh course I can watch your daughter." the pale green mare smiled kindly at Trab. She was about as old as the stallion. A widow and sterile, her mate had fallen to lupes when Gipha was still suckling.

"Oh, thank you. Thank you very much!" he found his daughter, still talking to the winged lupe "Mystyc, I'm going on away for the night. Don't worry- I will be back tomarrow! In the mean time, I'll leave you with Ashdii."

Mystyc looked up at the mare. Her father had been spending so much time with her lately- not laughing, solemn. However, since what happened to her mother, she especially didn't want to share her father with anyone. "Why do you had to leave?" Mystyc asked.

"Oh, just some business involving Mikasi there. Now, you be a good girl and go to bed when Ash tells you to. Now give me a nuzzle!"

So Mystyc and Trab exchanged something between a hug and a kiss, and the black uni left the herd.

"Do you want to be my dad's mate?" Mystyc asked quite bluntly.

"What? Oh dear, you have the wrong message. Your father and I are friends. And your mother is still alive. I couldn't be his mate."

"Good. Because I mom will recover, and if she finds out you've messing around with my father, she will be mad!"

Ashdii chuckled wryly "What an imagination."

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Trab couldn't help feeling apprihentious as he came to the packs territory, but a pretty red lupe approached him "Can I help you sir?"

"I need to see the alpha female Ally."

"She just returned. I'll bring you to her."

So the red lupe led Trab to where the cloud lupe was greated by a black male- probably her mate. There were three pups- winged lupes. "I say," Trab began, completely forgetting his manners "How did these pups get wings?"

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Morgan:

Ally was shocked by the rudeness of the Uni, but she shrugged it off. "M pups have wings because I use to be a Uni. I became a Lupe when Kauvara gave me a potion. My pups wings are there because they are half Uni... As all of my pups were... Only these remain" Her eyes clouded over as she muttered their names one by one until she came to Wakarimasen. "Waka- Wakari- I cannot say his name! Only the name Mikasi comes... But he died recently... Why are you nervous? Our pack will never eat Uni meat so long as I live. Explain yourslf now, though, I do wish to know why a Uni who did not seem to know that we are vegetarian came simply to ask abot the last of my pups. Come come!"

"Yeah! Why'dja ask Momma 'bout us?" Nagrom was curious.

"Good sir, why have you intruded on our happy moment when the entire faily, mother, father, and we the children had fnally gotten back together?" Nami was annoyed.

"Mister? Why did you ask Mommy about our shiny wings?" Moya was curious, but not accusitive.

"Listen to my mate and reply!" Wuff growled, standing in front of Ally now to protect her.

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Tasia:

Trab knew he was in hot water, yet he was interrested now and he forgot to apologize "Mikasi? But he's not dead- he's courting my daughter! But- he changed his name? How odd. You are truely Ally the uni? I'm sorry to intrude on you ma'am, I'm concerned about my daughter's safety." it was amazing, this lupe was confirming everything Mystyc had told him!

He thought, well, if Mikasi was half uni, that wasn't so bad, was it? He watched the black lupe out of the corner of his eye.

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TLT:

Jerad sighed contentedly. His pack was pretty good. It may have even been better than his first one. He rolled over and drifted asleep in the dwindling light, stars shining brightly above him.

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Very glared at Habernill. "Mares..." He muttered and began looking for a suitable branch to use as a brush for his mane. He sighed, remembering the excellent grooming supplies in Neopia Central. Shampoo, conditioner, brushes, soap, combs, ribbons, make-up, toothbrushes, every thing you could possibly need. Very stared in disgust at the branch he selected, but shrugged and brushed his coat again, carefully picking out burs. His coat was almost perfect, but he needed something to distract him from the luaghing Habernill. His face was flushed with embarresment and anger, yet he just wanted to go stand by her and talk, listening to her newest accent, a silky smooth voice with a slight southern twang. But instead, he continued brushing his spotless white coat, smoothing every hair into place.

Habernill watched him silently. She smiled, and felt her chest swell with a new emotion. Pride, she thought at first, but corrected herself. Love.

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Stamsha the lupe looked at the sleeping Jerad. Her face was contorted with disgust. She was young, but still an adult. She knew what he was up too, letting her eat before him, treating her with mush more kindness than any of the other lupes, and she hated it. She wanted to be valued as a hunter, not the pack's alpha Female. Not to mention her curse, that she carried with her, never telling a soul. She was in fact, a lupe from Neopia Central, one of those strange clones that mass produced for the humans of Neopia. And even there, she handt ben normal. Her small size was from the fact that she didn't start as a lupe. She had begun life as a jub jub, leaving her 2/3 the size of most other lupes. As if being a ball of fur wasn't enough, she had been forced to endure labbing for months. She had turned lupe, then green, then yellow, when the human who controlled her left Neopia. He never came back, leaving poor Stamsha starving in their NeoHome. She finally escaped, and came out here. She practiced for months, hunting and trapping prey, figuring out complex patterns of hunting, and more. Her owner hadn't been so bad. He ahd read her many many books, and she had been one of the tops pets for the book club, and she used her intellegence to its max.

She stared at the dark form, sleeping silently, before walking away. This was her first pack. She would ignore that obnoxcous leader, and if it came worse to worse, she would tell him the truth. She would never have pups. See what he thought of that.

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Giph wandered in the plains, invisble as always. Her anger had dissapated, and she wanted something to do. Some mischief maybe. She looked around the dark, and began heading toward where the sun had last been seen. She knew that this was where Jerad's pack lay, but she coulndt help it. She wanted to see her mother. Soon, her ghost body never tiring, Giph approached the sleeping lupe pack. A single golden female sat on guard, her thoughts obviously elsewhere, and Giph was invisble besides. Giph looked around. She spotted the periwinkle form, laying on the ground near a dark looking lupe, pitch black in the night. Giph approached carefully, tears welling in her eyes, her heart pounding her chest. She stepped closer, expecting the lupes all to jump up and attack her. But no, she was silent, her beating heart and deep breaths audibly only to her ears. She stepped closer still, and examined her poor mother.

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Morgan:

Ally was shocked. Her head was spinning! Her son... Alive?! No... Surely not! This Uni was mocking her! "Quit it. My son died, don't taunt me about it. I knew that, when he died, he died to save someone. There would be no other way he could die. He was murdered by a pup that I took in. A foster. She brutually--" She broke over, regained her composure, and went on, "Murdered my only pup from my first litter, the rest of which were struck down by disease. I miss him greatly... By the way, my son was pue white, even his wings, and he had pink eyes. He smelled like the air after a thunderstorm. Is that... The half breed pup that you met?" There was a tiny sliver o hope in her voice. Maybe... "Oh yes, he was deaf as well. Please... No matter who this pup is... Bring him here. By the way, if you're just worried for your daughter, don't. But bring him here and I'll ask him questions to see if he is truly my son. He did have the power to change shape..." The hope was held onto by a thread.

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Tasia:

The lupe kept on talking, and the more she did the more Trab was sure the Mikasi was not her son. White and deaf, there was no way. Trab considered saying Mikasi was a common name, but this mother was in so much distress. "As you wish, Madam."

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"Daddy!" Mystyc ran to her father. She wanted to tell him how terrible Ashdii had been- but it would be a lie. Ashdii wasn't terrible. She was very nice.

"Mystyc, my darling!" he spotted Mikasi a little ways away. He thought, no way he was that alpha's son. But, he had promised "Mikasi," he said "I've spoken to someone. And they want to see you."

Mystyc, confused asked "Who is it?"

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Morgan:

Mikasi looked at Trab nervously. "Who is it?" He sniffed the air. "M-mother? Did you speak with my mother? Her name is Ally... She is white and is the Alpha Female of the vegetarian Lupe pack. I need to go tell her everything that's ha--" He cut himself off, terrfied. He sniffed in deeply again. "Dear Moya, I can smell my own dead body! Mystyk! She must think I'm dead! I need to go to her, please come too! I want you to meet my mother!" He gave her a pleading look before taking off. He went slow enough for her to keep upbehind him, but he forgot to check. If Mystyk's ,mother had turned into... That from just being afraid of what had happened to her, what state would his mothe have gon intoi after seeing his mangled body?! He remembered Hod, who killed almost all of his pack after his son had died. What had happened?! He saw Wuff... With a strange cloud coloured Lupess. Mikasi's mouth went dry. Where was his mother?!

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TLT:

Giph walked closer to her mother. The pweriwinkle fur was matted with dirt, blood, and had several bare patches through out. Where there was fur, it was sparse and filthy. Giph stopped in her tracks. She hadn't realized...

The hatred welled up in her chest. With a soundless snarl, Giph spun around and leaped at the near black lupe lying on the grass. Even though giph was standing on him, he showed no sign of noticing her. Giph grimaced and swore. She couldn't hurt him physically, but there were some advantages of being a psychic ghost...

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Once Very had stopped preening and primping enough for Habernill to break through, she immediatly spoke. "

"Very..." She said, her voice trailing.

He looked at her in puzzlement. She offered no explanation, simply examining his face, rooting it deep in her memory.

When she did speak, it was a few, simple, elegant sounding words. They sounded foreign, and Very knew nothing of what they meant. He looked at her curiously, and she began grazing, avoiding his gaze.

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Tasia:

The pup near admitted Ally was his mother! But- they had been wrong. Mikasi was not white- certainly not, and Ally niether was white. Maybe they were colorblind, and didn't know it?

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Mystyc ran after Mikasi, worried about him.

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Uni:

Orior ripped the grass from the ground and chewed contently. She had never tasted grass so fresh and sweet before, but was surprised that the North-Western Unis ate strange fruits that she had never touched; grapes, peaches, apples ... while she ate Ummagines and Tchea fruits!

The weather was fresh and warm here, nothing like the heat of the Lost Desert. The mare sighed, This will be a good holiday ...

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TLT:

Jerad twisted in his sleep. He hadn't had such a vivid nightmare in such a long time...

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"Nill?" Very asked. Habernill continued grazing, but he could tell she was suppressing a smile. "Habernill..." His voiced trailed, his irritablity obvious. She looked up at him this time, and winked, before grazing a bit more. Very groaned, but by now the grass was starting to look good, and he began grazing himself, gently pulling up the tender shoots of grass.

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Labifron tried to regain his senses. He had his orientation finally, and he stood up wearily. There was that mare, and the strange Ybbat creature had fallen asleep. The green flying creature had gone away as well. Gerlert stood precariously on Labifron's back, his tail swaying from side to side to keep him balanced as the lupe stood up.

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Jerad was standing next to a lovely blue grey lupe. She smiled at him. He moved closer to her. She looked at him with wisdom, and smiled wider. She winked, and suddenly the world turned to chaos. Jerad found himself transported, as dreams are wont to do, in the middle of the scene. The shouting had stopped. Jerad saw a small blue female, very simular to the lupe he had just been with. The small lupe stood over a limp black form. He knew who it was.

The world around Jerad began to spin. He heard the shouting again, but this time it was higher pitched, and faster. Jerad could barely make out shapes in the spinning world. They movved back wards. Only the scene in front of him remained clear. He saw his son leap back into the air, and the jaws of the female come away from his neck. He saw his son stand on all fours for a second, then raise up on his hind legs, and then stand again. The two lupes were facing each other now, talking in high pitched, inaudible voices. Jerad knew what he was watching. The fast-rewind version of his son's death. His heart fell. He knew Kwanita had always been an excellent hunter, and thus, killer, but he had always envisioned the murder of his son being more extravagant, the two lupes fighting, and Kwanita winning by only a hair. He had hoped his son had put up more of a fight. But this...

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Giph smiled as she saw Jerad twist and turn in his sleep. It had been simple enough. She looked into his memorys and took the worst on that she saw. Then she glanced into Anita's mind to get the details. She made it as truthful as possible, for the truth was worse than anything Giph couldve made up on her own. So as his whines of fear grew louder, so did Giph'a laughter. The old bastard finally got what he deserved.

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The world slowed. Jerad begged it to go on. It was terrible to see the death of his son backwards, but Jerad thought he would go crazy if he had to see it in real time. The swirling came to a stop, against Jerad's pleas.

The two lupes were talking in low tones. Jerad heard nothing until the lupe he knew as Kwanita yelled out a forceful "NO!".

Then Jerad saw again, His son rise up and then land back on his feet. He was obviously angry, and it was a show of power. The black lupe said "Yes!" in defiance, and then, without a word, Kwanita lunged forward and ripped open his throat. He collapsed on the ground.

The world spun around Jerad again. He saw the scene plaid over and over again, each time the speak of the two lupes growing louder, until he finally heard what his son had said. At that, he yelled himself, and awoke to find his fur drenched in cold sweat, panting heavily.

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Giph laughed at the fool lupe. He was panting, looking to find the cause of his distress. Giph walked away giggling, even after she passed her mother and her terrible condition. It had been simple to plant the memories of the dream throughout his mind. Every space of his brain devoted to memory that wasn't already used was filled with the dream. They would be replaced, as he remembered new things, but they still consisted of more than half his memory capacity. Even when she or her brothers were there, probability assured that the random firings of nuerons that usually caused dreams would be mostly in the memory of the dream. That meant Jerad would have this dream more often than all others, and that during the day, the memory of it would be easily tripped.

Ahh the simple minds of fools, Giph thought, as she began running tirelessly through the plain, not paying attention to where she was headed.

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Tasia:

Fay noticed a distraught looking pup in the pack territory, followed closely by a black foal and the black stallion who was there earlier. She approached them "Welcome to our home! Do you need anything?"

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Mystyc noticed the red lupe, but her mind was elsewhere. She had a strange dream the previous night. The dream was of a different reality. She seemed to remember Laquinti the cybunny was still alive, but Laquinti the faerie didn't exist. The yellow pup Morgan and the lupe Zonk were there, but there wasn't the witch Laenyn. Mystyc also remembered two strange pets which walked on two legs, and a mission to find a killer.

The strangest, though, was that Mikasi never existed. And Mystyc was Kriahz, and in dire shape. She was jumpy and would switch from depressed to extasy in a few seconds. It was as if, she wasn't a uni.

Mystyc found that, as she was pondering this, she had wandered away from Mikasi and her dad. She felt a sudden chill. A ghost had run through her! How rude, she thought. Though she generally disliked ghosts, she spit out "Watch where you're running so fast!" to the brown lupe puppy(?). Then she turned to find Mikasi again. When she was with the uni lupe, she didn't see ghosts. She realized this with a jolt.

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As further weeks would prove, none of the pups were completely un-uniphin like.

Falara proved not to be a meat eater. Allia was a skilled swimmer. And Bru- after a time he grew an anchient unis horn.

This didn't stop Bru from picking on Frailik however. The pup was unmerciless. Frailik figured out that his long legs were fast, and learned to run away and, would hide for sometimes hours until food arrived.

That's what he was doing on this day. Frailik ran. He kept on running, afraid Bru would catch up with him any minute. He thought, why am I not strong?

He stopped to take a sip from a spring puddle. He gazed at his refection. The face was most definately lupe. But then he had a long arched neck and, those legs. Why did he have to be so different?

He brought himself to the top of a great hill. It was a long climb, but taking big steps with his long legs, Frailik made it short. He got to the top. He felt a rumbling in his belly. Any other hooved creature would be content with grass, he thought, but not me. He ignored his hunger and looked down.

Below he saw the territory of the pack and, not far from it, the lake where the unis resided. 'I can't go there,' he thought 'I'm not really a uni.'

He turned and was taken back. There was another grouping of pets on her right shoulder. They were smaller than either the herd but larger than the pack, and were closer to Lumino's herd than Ally's pack. Curious, Frailik began down to investigate.

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TLT:

Habernill suddenly stopped her grazing and sidled closer to VeryVain. She put her snout near his ear, and whispered. "I'm pregnant." She hurried away sideways while Very sat with a look of complete incomprehension on his face. She let out a shrill whinny as a look of delight came over Very. He smiled broadly as he rushed toward her, while she ran away with a grin on her face as well. They frolicked merrily in the sun.

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Fwanta sat in the cold metal chair. A ray gunned aimed carefully at his chest, and fired. A flash of bright light temperarily blinded him, but he felt the changes immediatly. He felt his tail disapear almost completely, until it was a ball of fluff. His feathers twisted and itched, thinning out to hair. The fur around his neck continued growing, until it was thick and heavy. His short stoat legs bagan to thicken until they were broad and powerful. His wings shrank slightly and turned into furred, cylindrical legs. His previously almost nonexistant ears grew until they reached to his back.

Fwanta crawled out of the chair and stared at himself. He was a cybunny. A dang cybunny. And a green one at that. He sighed, and hopped out of the laboratory, wishing intensly for his wings again.

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Giph wandered aroudnt he plain. She looked up suddenly and sniffed the air again. Did she smell pups? Puppies? She felt herself become giddy, but forced herself to calm down. What fun would pups be anyway? They would just make her wish for her butchered childhood again.

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Tasia:

Annoyed, Mystyc began back to locate Mikasi.

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Frailik was in the trees, sucking the marrow out of a bone. In the clearing ahead of him was a lupe pack. They were nothing like his parents and Ally and Wuff. These lupes were strong. Frailik had been watching them for several days- feeding on scrap pieces from their kills. They hunted unis and kaus. Frailik watched the black alpha especially. He wanted to be him.

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No one was more devistated by Frailik's disappearance than Bru. While Shiko and Noe took turns searching for him, Bru was sujected to keep his secret. He wasn't hungry. Concerned, Falara offered him a graze. Bru tried it. He didn't like it, but he said he did to be kind. Then he seperated himself from his sister. This was when Allia cornered him.

"What's going on? You've been ignoring us for days."

"Nothing!" Bru snapped, then he said "I just miss Frailik.

Allia nodded "It's been stressful." then she said "I thought you hated Frailik?"

Bru shrugged, not saying no but not saying yes.

"Bru, please, you're scaring me! I don't want to lose two brothers!"

"Just leave me be," but Allia wouldn't. She followed Bru until he finaly admitted what he had done to Frailik.

"I told him he'd never be strong. Go away- you're a shame to this pack. You're not a lupe, your-" but Allia had attacked him.

"How can you do that? He's your brother!"

Bru got himself up, started. He sprinted away and behind his mother's weeping frame. Noe called "What's going on, Allia?"

Bru thought the pale blue pup was going to tell, but she smiled nicely "Bru and I are just playing a game."

Pehanoie nodded.

Bru made for the den "I'm tired," he said, and Allia's drilled into him "I'm taking a nap."

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TLT:

Giph sniffed the air again. Puppies. She snorted in her silent manner, and started running toward them. What could it hurt? There were sure to be adults around them, and she hadn't met a "grown up" yet that knew what she was doing. Pups were fun, clueless adults were better.

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Very paced nervously in the meadow he and Habernill had been staying in. He tried drinking a few sips of water, then a bite or two of grass, but he had no appetite for it. Habernill had told him to stay put an hour or so ago, and he obliged with a heavy heart. She had wandered off, and now Very was worried about her. Hadnt he smelled lupes recently? A whole pack of them?

He heard something and looked up. Habernill walked out of the brush, a great white wing covering a small form. She smiled at Very and brought up her wing.

The tiny form wobbled on long, stick like legs. His hair was very dark in colour, a deep violet. It was speckled with silver, and looked very much like a purple night sky. His horn glistened a bright silver, and it radiated soft light. His mane and tail were flowing silver as well, gleaming in the sun that filtered through the trees.

Habernill smiled at the astonished Very, and said simply "Kahven." Very smiled at his son, and walked slowly over to him.

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Giph ran until she came to a clearing over looking the water. She saw a red lupe, and several puppies, as well as several others. She peered from the edge of the forest, then walked down among them. She grinned wondering what she would do to these poor souls.

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Morgan:

Mikasi stared transfixedly at the Cloud Lupe. He could smell his mother, but was it just lingering there because she had been there so long? Had she... No! He couldn't think like that... But maybe Mystyk could see-- Wait! He spun around to where Mystyk had been. She was gone. Why hadn't he been watching her?! She was a Uni in Lupe territory! He inhaled deeply and caught her scent. "I'll find you, Mystyk! I promise!" he said under his breath, and off he went. He traced Mystyk's scent, but he couldn't find her. He had to lie down in the shade of a tree to rest, but with the new sounds in his ears, the gentle rustle of the wind, the calm buzzing of the Buzzers, and the slow trickle of the nearby stream, he quickly fell asleep. He had no dreams, only restful sleep.

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Ally's nose perked up. She could've sworn she smelled Wakari--Wakarima... Mikasi, said an inkling in the back of her head. Her dead son, alive?! She froze for a time, the breathed in deeply. The scent was fading fast. She slumped. It had been only her imagination... Tears prickled in her eyes. She had been so sure... She looked around at her worried family. "It's nothing, nothing! I just thought... I thought that... Never mind, it was nothing. Forget it. I'll get us something to eat." She raced off to hunt some petpets. She returned with just enough for a snack for everyone after an hour or two, and passed the food around. She laid down and fell asleep, tired after such an eventful day. She quickly fell asleep, and so did Wuff and the pups. They were just lazy that day, probably because of the recent heat. They would wake in an hour or two after their nap, just enough to recover.

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Tasia:

Trab looked around "Mystyc's gone? MYSTYC'S GONE!?" he looked around franticly. The black foal was no where insights. There were only lupes. Lupes! He gazed around- no.

The cloud lupe and her family were licking blood off their muzzles. But they were supposed to be veggitarians! He targeted the alpha female- she was obviously the matriarch of the family. Oh, the traitor! He got his face right next to hers- feeling her hot breath on his nose hairs "What have you done to my daughter WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HER!? Did you eat her? DID YOU? WHERE IS SHE!?"

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Mikasi wasn't where she had left him. Nor was her father. Mystyc's heart beat quickly, and she remembered that other Mystyc in her dream. Then, she must gone through all the terrible things that could happen to a lone pup "Mikasi? MEEE-KA-SEEE!"

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Falara was bored. Bru was preoccupied, her parents were too sad, and now even Allia was too mad to play with her. She said she wasn't mad at her, she just didn't want to play right now. Falara asked her parents if she could see Nagrom, Nami and Moya, but they said no- it was too late. She physicly sagged.

Falara looked up. There was a new pup. Falara had never seen it before, but she was a pup. He straitened her back legs and put her forelegs stretched in front of her, then wagged her tail over her head. She then darted away, came back, and barked. Come on!

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TLT:

Giph stared. This puppy was actually responding to her. Could it see her? Thats impossible, she thought. I am a ghost, invisible, unknown to all but those I want to know me. How could this pup see her? It spanked the ground, the darted forward and back, beckoning Giph to come with her. Giph was stunned for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. For the most part at east. She cocked her head at the pup.

"Who are you?" Giph asked nervously, not sure if she wanted to know. But her curiosity was intese and she asked it just the same.

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Morgan:

I'll do anything, anything at all! Just make sure Morgan's ok! What do I need to do? Zonk said to Laenyn firmly, meaning every word to its fullest extent.

I need your body to heal her... Nothing else will do... Give it up and go, leave the body. That is the only way to save Morgan. GO NOW AND NEVER COME BACK!

Zonk could see no other choice. She floated out of the body, shuddering at the cold. She tried to linger near Morgan, but Morgan was beginning to cry she was so afraid. Morgan went into a fetal position. Zonk was so sad... She ran. She burst free, racing over the hills, back to her foster-mother. She saw only a cloud lupe. Ally must've died. Zonk began to feel panicked. She kept going, gliding quickly over the grass, not disturbing a single blade. She fell to the ground, crying misty tears. "What have I done?! Morgan is afraid of me!" she cried out, her voice misty as her tears, swirling with the wind. Her voice wasn't solid, if a voice could ever be called that. She was dead, with no body of her own. She would wander forever, a lost spirit. But that didn't matter. Morgan was safe now. That was all that mattered, and nothing more.

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Morgan was sobbing. Zonk was gone forever! Laenyn must've killed her! That witch in Zonk's body came up to her, pretending to act concerned. "Get away from me, hag! You evil, vile thing! GET AWAY FROM ME! LEAVE ME ALONE! STAY AWAY!" Still she came, her grin turning dark, her prescence stronger. "PLEASE! GET AWAY FROM ME!" Kauvara just stared, only seeing her kind old friend going innocently up to a crazed pup.

"Forgive her, Laenyn, she is still in her dream. She must think you are Zonk!"

"NO! This witch could never be Zonk! Can't you see?! Are you blind?!" Morgan cried out to Kauvara, who gave ehr a look that said, quite clearly, "Oh-you-poor-sweet-stupid-thing" "I'm not deranged! Laenyn is not who you think! Zonk is good! LAENYN KI-KI-KILLED ZONK! Forget me! Leave me be! I can't stay here!" With that, Morgan lunged for the door.

"Anonwa Zentoh" breathed Laenyn, and Morgan crumpled, asleep. Kauvara had not heard Laenyn. "Oh dear, the poor thing seems so sick! Kauvara, let me take care of her. You need to rest! You've spent so much time away from your job..."

"I suppose you're right. Be careful, though. Morgan might keep thinking you're evil!" Kauvara laughed aloud at this insane notion. "Oh dear, I'll be off, then!" As she turned and retreated, she never saw Laenyn's face turn evil.

"Don't worry... I'll be just fine... Not sure if Morgan can say the same, though... Heheheh..."

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Ally woke up groggily. A Uni was yelling at her. "Your daughter? Never met her... Where is my son? The one you say is my son, anyhow. I've just finished a snack and was napping. That was very rude of you! Come now! Tell me what you're talking about!"

Nami began to growl at Trab angrily. He was accusing her mother of murder! How dare he! "Mother's no murderer! Murder, why, I'll give you murder!" She lunged for Trab, but soon was face down in the dirt. Nagrom had tackled her.

'I just knew Nami would lose her temper!' thought Nagrom, suddenly serious. She too was angry, but even she knew better than to do that! "Down, Nami. Volence will only destroy us!" she whispered to Nami, then turned to Trab. "I'm sorry, but you really shouldn't get Nami riled up. She's stronger than many, though small. Get lost. You're no longer welcome here. I said GIT!"

Moya was staring in a shocked way at Trab. "You. Don't. Mean. That." she whispered haltingly. "Mommy. Only. Eats. She. Doesn't. She. Wouldn't. NO!" With a cry, Moya began to transform. Nagrom and Nami ran, knowing what was going to happen. It had happened once, and they had stayed silent. Moya was about to... NO! They had to stop her!

"MOYA! NOOOO!" Nagrom cried and leapt at her. She struck Moya across the muzzle and got smacked in return. Moya's paw was bigger. Nagrom landed with a thud.

"No." whispered Moya as she shrank again. She hadn't... Not again! She fainted from exhaustion.

&&&

Tasia:

Falara rolled her eyes "My name is Falara. My parents are Komoshiko and Pehanoie. Now come on, let's play!"

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Trab barely noticed the actions of the other pups. "You liar! Where is she? What have you done to her?" he found tears in his eyes.

"Dad?"

Trab looked up- it couldn't be- it was "Mystyc!" he was joyous at first but his tone darkened "Where have you been young lady?"

"I got lost. I'm sorry! Where's Mikasi?"

"Never mind. We're going home right now!"

"But dad! What about Mikasi?"

"I don't want you to talk to that winged lupe again. You NEVER go near ANY lupes, understand?!"

Her father was scaring her "O-okay."

That could have been it, but Trab rounded on Ally "And you, you are not welcome near the unis! NOT AT ALL! If I see you near my family, I'll," the possiblitities choked him. He turned on a heal and began back.

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She was standing on a boulder "Gipha?" she called. She heard snickering. Thereda turned.

Rafer giggled with his friends. The Old Dam was at it again, searching for her long lost daughters. It was almost as sweet as it was hilarious. He stepped foreward and in a high voice said "Here I am mummy! Came saaaave me!"

Her ears stood on end "Are the boys picking on you? I'm coming honey." She jumped of the rock, however-

The rock was loosely placed. It rolled downward, and Thereda lost her balance. She carreened, falling upside down and front ways a again. Then she landed- the mud caught her. Thereda yelled.

The colts exchanged glances than began foreward. Three of her legs were buried in the mud, the last was splaid out behing her, the knee bending oddly. Thereda screamed again.

The colts reared, knowing they were in trouble. They ran back to the herd.

&&&

TLT:

Giph looked at the pup again. It was asking her to play. She stared increduously. It was simply amazing. Giph smiled. She hadn't relized how hard it was to have no one see her. An enourmous wieght lift off her shoulder as she bent down and spanked the gound. "I'm Giph." She said simply, and chased after the little lupe.

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"Kahven..." Very said slowly. The tiny uni stood before him, his fur sparkling int he dim light. He suddenly reared and galloped away, nieghing an invitation to play. Very looked at him, and knew something was wrong. There was something different about him. He glanced at Habernill and knew instantly what it was. His son had no wings. A uni without wings... The little purple colt stopped and stared at his forlorn looking father. Very faked a smile, he wouldn't let his son think that was a handicap. Very whinnied and shook his head, before charging playfully at Kahven.

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Fwanta smiled, slightly more cheerful than before. At least now she was a girl. Cybunnies aren't exactly masculine and she was grateful for the gender change. She hopped through the forest at an alarming rate. At the edge of the wood, she paused. The scent of lupe was in the air. A lupe pack was in front of her, she counted 14, possibly fifteen with a large black object toward the center that may or may not be a lupe. She sniffed the air curiously. She stopped, stunned. One of the lupes she had first seen was there. She was sleeping now, her light purple form lying motionless in the grass. But it was definatly her.

Fwanta paused, before dashing through the forest. She had no intentions of running though even a sleeping lupe pack, at least not in this unforboding form. Once, away from the pack, she darted across the plains and came to a lake. She looked at herself again and smiled. She sure could run and leap with these legs.

&&&

Tasia:

Allia came out of the den to see her sister running around and jumping joyously. She giggled "Lara, what are you doing?"

"Playing with my friend!"

"Your- friend?"

"Giph!" she nodded to a place- an empty patch of air.

"Uh, huh," Falara was strange but- she looked like she was having so much fun! "Can I play with you?"

"I don't know. Is it okay with you Giph?" she said, turning to her invisible friend. Allia bit her lip.

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Frailik's stomach rumbled miserably. He hadn't eaten a good meal since he left his family. He wonderer if they missed him. Of course not, he was weak.

The smell of a small animal floated in the air, and Frailik's stomach ached. He supposed, he could leave the pack for a meal. He had been studying their hunting tactics from afar- that purple blue lupe could take down a kau on her own- however she was low in rank, so Frailik disguised his admiration from himself.

As he trotted through the forest, he made a plan. He must some way to become one of that pack, for joining it would make him strong. And when he was strong, he could finaly-

Kill Bru.

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The herd seemed in a panic. Ashdii met Trab and Mystyc as they came to the lake "Trab, come quick! It's your mate!"

"Th-Thereda?" he followed her to the other side of the lake, were there was a group of distraught unis.

Ashdii yelled "Get out of the way! Mate coming through!" as they pushed themselves through the crowd.

The mare was up to her chest in mud, the red coat that Trab had once fell in love with was hidden beneath a coat of mud. Mud heavied her fine mane and stained her eyes. She was terrifyingly still. Before, she had fought and screamed about her broken leg, but she was all out of energy now. Thereda breadthed heavily, her eyes clouded.

Trab brought his head close to his one and only love. He couldn't find anything to say, just "Rede,"

The head moved a little. Then a small voice said "Trab? Is that you?"

"Rede, everything's going to be okay, okay?"

"There'd only one thing I resent, Trab."

Trab perked his ears "What's that, Rede?"

"That...Gipha and I ended it so...badly."

Gipha, Trab repeated the name in his mind. Suddenly he understood. He had to find Gipha!

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"We've carried this relationship long enough, Gi, don't you think it's time to become mates?"

The mare rocked her head back and forth, as if deciding.

"Well?" said the bright green uni.

"This is just moving so fast..."

"If you don't mind, Lady Gipha, life on the plain is much more dangerous than the pampered herd life you're used to. You need a mate to protect yourself and your colt."

Gipha laughed "If you don't mind, sir Jauge, but I have been living on the plains for over a year now, I think I know how to take care of myself."

Jauge looked dismayed. Gipha said "Let me think about it, okay?"

Jauge nodded.

"Well? Go away."

Jauge looked hurt, but he walked away.

A leggy creature stepped out from under Gipha "So Fazilar, what do you think?"

The colt made a face as if chewing on a rotten berry. Gipha laughed "I was thinking the same thing! Alright, Jauge will not be your new father." she looked sideways "I suppose we should tell him,"

&&&

Uni:

Shagya was immensely beautiful as she raced in the air, tracing large circles along with Orior. She laughed a clear laugh that echoed everywhere.

"Come on, Orior, catch me!"

The Spotted mare smiled, and turned her horn to the sky. A gust of soft wind hit Shagya and sent her flying backwards, where Orior touched her with a hoof.

"Done!" Orior said, laughing.

&&&

Tasia:

He needed to get Gipha. No! He couldn't leave his mate and child. But, he had to find Gipha! He couldn't be in two places at once- but who new someone who could. "Stay here," he ordered Mystyc, and wove throughout the unis to find Lumino.

&&&

TLT:

Giph watched as a new lupe came out form a den and started talking to Falara.

Falara turned toward Giph. "Is it okay with you Giph?" Giph smiled.

"Sure," She said. This would be fun...

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Kahven pranced around the meadow. He jumped in the middle of the pond, splashing water everywhere, splatting mud on his fine velvety coat. He whinnied a laugh, and danced around more. He spun around then stood in place trying to get his orinatation, smiling gleefully.

Habernill watched him with a heavy heart. She shook her wings self-conciously, and sighed. He looked so happy. Maybe he wouldn't mind not having full, gorgeos wings like hers. Perhaps he would even grow them in later in life! Anything could happen. She turned around and lay down next to Very.

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Jauck sniffed the air. A delectable scent wavered toward him. Cybunny. He sniffed again, taking in the aroma. Cybunny meat was sweet, tender, and otherwise delectable. But hte little neopets were very rare, and hard to catch. Along with being small, most lupe packs didn't bother with them. But as a lone lupe and an excellent hunter, he had the advantage. He got up slowly, ignoring the pets around him, and sauntered off toward his prey.

&&&

Tasia:

He caught a few greebles in a pond. They were easy catches, and didn't fill Frailik up. Furthermore, they were the stupid unsentient creatures his parents called petpets. Frailik knew he'd have to capture the larger animals, the neopets, to grow strong.

In the mud by the pond, he found a footprint. It was large and long. Frailik took a sniff. It was the same smell he had caught in the forest. Judging by the print, Frailik near immidietly understood that it was a small animal, and also very fast. He thought, this was a worthy catch, and began the hunt.

&&&

TLT:

Fwanta looked around. She saw movement toward her left, out of the corner of her eye. She sniffed, but whatever it was, it was downwind. She turned, to looked closer at the creature, just in time to see it rushing at her. Fwanta quickly darted to the side, and landed a large firm kick on the side of the black lupe's head. It fell on the ground, and rolled over, then stood up wearily. It glared at Fwanta and licked its chops. The cybunny just smiled.

"You've lost your touch Jauck."

The black lupe stared at her. "How do you know my name?" Jauck asked in astonishment.

"Tsk tsk buddy boy. You don't remember your old pal Fwanta?"

"That annoying pteri?"

Fwanta glared at him for a second, before smiling. "Yours truely."

Jauck looked the green cybunny up and down. "What happened to you?"

Fwanta sighed. "Lab ray. LT forces me to do it everyday. Just one of the side affects. I get mostly stats, but sometimes I change. Guess those two strength points I got today were my lucky break, and your down fall."

Jauck rubbed his cheek. "I think I liked you better as that annoying bird."

Fwanta glared at him longer this time. "Well, cut the chit chat. Have you seen your mate?"

"Anita? No..." Jauck looked at the ground, unwilling to let this tiny creature see him cry.

"Well guess what? She's joined a lupe pack. 14 or 15 lupes, didn't get an exact count. But shes there. The leader was a really dark almost black lupe. You know him?"

Jauck looked up sharply, his still moist eyes now stern. "Jerad..." He breathed. He offered Fwanta no explanation, but instead called to his son. "Lab! Labifron! Labifron Kwanita Surgerari Manitone Yamisan Orido Jaminra Labifron Heguard Gerard Dermisone Watchika Ino Kapy Neurasyme Yakato! Get over here!"

The young lupe trotted toward them. His pet pet followed behind, snapping at random leaves and branches.

"Sheesh dad..." Labifron said playfully, but he was inturrupted almsot instantly.

"Lab, your mother has been taken captive by the same lupe who killed your siblings, and damn well near killed you." Fwanta tried to inturrupt that that may not be the exact case, but she was shushed by Jauck. "Ma'am, which way is the pack we seek?"

Fwanta shook her head, her huge ears flopping from side to side. "Buddy, you are going about this all wrong. You and your son may be good hunters, but you are no match for those 14-odd lupes over there. You need reinforcements. I reccemend your uni friends, who are over there, and that pack of lupes over there. Your sons and daughter may be of help as well." She winked.

"My sons and daughters...?" Jauck stared. Fwanta did tell him anymore.

"Now, I will kindly go alert your buddy Very and his mate and son, while you go talk to that lupe pack."

"Very's mate and son...?" Again, Jauck was at a loss for words. Fwanta just bounded off in the direction she had pointed out ealier, chuckling to herself.

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Verin lay in the grass watching his name sake and his son play in the grass. Invisible and silent to everyone else, he talked like a sports commenter about the two unis. "And now we have Kahven going for the gold, he fients, he dashes and he strikes! Two points for Kahven! And now Very is going for his revenge. Look at him go, like a coiled reptillor waiting to strike. Watch out Kahven! And too late, nice stab there VeryVain..." He continued to amuse himself in this way until a picture of him walking away into the plain to meet a gold lupe appeared suddenly in his mind. Knowing instantly it was his brother Lumrino, he got up and trotted swiftly onto the plain.

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Fwanta raced across the plains. She jumped periodically for the sheer joy of launching several feet in the air, and coming down 10 feet later. God she loved these legs. It was almost as good as flying. She was almost half way toward her destination when a picture of a bright red cybunny sticking its tounge out and waving "peace" with her hands suddenly jumping into her mind. She stopped almost instantly, and a gold lupe stepped out of the grass.

"Dont worry, I'm not here to hurt you." The lupe said in a soothingly calm voice. "I am Lumrino, or at least a ghost of him. I can't stay in this form for long, so I have to make it quick.
"I have been following you. I know of the predicament my mother is in. Please help me get her out. I will warn Very and Habernill, you go and convince the lupe pack and uni herd to help."

"Kinda vague on details, aren't you?" Fwanta said irritably, but the lupe vanished, leaving her alone on the vast endless plain.

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"Lumrino."

"Verin."

The two lupes looked at each other in the plain, waiting for one to speak first.

&&&

Morgan:

"What over Kreludor are you talking about?! Are you trying to get us to eat Unis or something?! YOUR DAUGHTER IS FINE! You are an IDIOT! How... How can you... I am the Alpha female!" She screamed at the fleeing Uni. She looked around. Moya and Nagrom were getting up, a little dazed, but just fine. Ally turned to her pack. "That Uni has openly been disrespectful to me, though I did nothing and am doing my best to protect the Unis. This is just too much. We need to speak with Lumino about this." A few heads turned and whispered in the pack.

((A/N: These are random Lupes in the pack that no one controls.))

"This might mean another war!"

"We might be able to eat Unis again!"

"The Lumino?!"

"How could that arrogant muttermutter say something like that to an Alpha Lupe?!"

"The nerve of that--- Urg!"

Wuff stared in shock at what was happening. No, not now, not again! But Ally had a point, so he led them off in the direction of Lumino's herd. They reached it without a problem, and left the rest of the Lupes at the edge. Ally and Wuff strode over to Lumino. When they reached him, they bowed in unison.

Ally said "Lumino, one of your Unis has gravely insulted me. He accused me of killing his daughter when she was alive and well, and also said I wasn't welcome among my old herd. It is me, I am Ally, the Blue Uni turned White Lupe, but a strange flying creature changed me so I am cloudy now. Please Lumino, could you tell me what should be done? I have so far been kind to all Unis and restrained my pack of Lupes... Not an easy task, might I add, and I have done absolutely nothing to warrant this attack on myself. I am no carnivore that seeks sentient flesh. We eat only petpets."

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A voice. Zonk perked up.

Get away from me, hag! You evil, vile thing! GET AWAY FROM ME! LEAVE ME ALONE! STAY AWAY!

A pause

PLEASE! GET AWAY FROM ME!

The words twisted and twirled around Zonk, taunting her. It was Morgan. Great Moya, what had she done?! Laenyn... Had she... Lied? A knot formed inside of her. Morgan was alone with Laenyn. Now there was only silence. "No." Zonk whispered, her voice like the wind and nothing more. It blew off, far far away. Her head spun. What had she done?

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Ybbat woke up and yawned. What a nice nap that had been! But where were her new friends? They must've gone to get some chow, she decided, and set off toward something very shiny she could just barely see. It was Lumino, but she didn't know that. She sang as she went, her voice surprisingly beautiful, not chirpy like usual.

"Oh what a beautiful morning! Oh what a beautiful day!..." She also sang a few songs she made up and Zippity-doo-dah. She was bubbling over, glad for everything there was.

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Laenyn crept over to Morgan slowly, wary of her tricks. She grinned more evilly with each step, the room darkening. 'The pup has power in her... Very useful... I can't wait to take her power for myself... I'll be unstoppable, what with Mikasi being useless and all... Only Moya could've stopped me, but after this...' she thought to herself, then prepared for the task at hand. A task that she was looking forward to very much.

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Mikasi awoke, and realized his foolishness. Off in the distance, he could hear Trab screaming... At Mystyk?! He took off as though running for his life, Trab's words pounding in his head.

"I don't want you to talk to that winged lupe again. You NEVER go near ANY lupes, understand?!"

He had to hurry. He reached her after Trab had gone. What was Trab thinking, leaving a Uni out on her own on the Plains?! He approached her slowly, crouching low. "Mys... Mystyk?" He called out in a whisper hesitantly. What was going on?!

&&&

Tasia:

The track met another. Frailik took it in. A lupe- a strong one. However, as he followed the trail he noticed no blood. Eventually the lupe's track split from his prey. Frailik considered following it- it was a lupe after all. But it was not one of his pack. That's was Frailik had come to calling it- his pack. Also, it smelled disgustingly of unis! "A fool," Frailik decided, not a hunter at all. Just a fool, wasting his strength away.

He continued following the trail of it's prey. It seemed to have no idea it was being tracked- how perfect! There was a place were it seemed to rest 'Stupid creature' he continued on, and his hooves thundered underneath him. Nearly!

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Noe looked around confused. Then she turned to her daughters, playing gayly "Get into the den." she ordered.

Allia looked at her mother confused. "Now!" Noe insisted. Falara gave a sad look into the air, then crawled into the den.

The pups were in the den and Noe looked out onto the plain, her heart beating furiously. Where was Sheek?

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He heard the war howls and dropped his prey. No, not again. For the first in many monthes, he was brought back to that terrible afternoon. So many weak lupes were killed around him...why did he alone escape? His lungs spasmed, his eyes dialated, he began to twitch involuntarily on the forest floor.

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He spotted the gold uni in the crowd- he was talking to the lupes! What could they want? Certainly it was not more important than his business "Lumino please! My dying mate needs her daughter. Please, send one of your illusions. Bring Gipha home!"

&&&

TLT:

Giph was beginning to play with the two pups, but almost as soon as they started, an adult lupe came out. She yelled at the two pups to go inside, and they did reluctantly. Giph stood confused. What happened? She had a glimpse of a normal puppyhood, and it was taken away as soon as it came.

Giph sat in the clearing and howled, but stopped and focused her energy on her voice actually being heard by more than that strange pup. It was a confused and sorrowful howl. She stopped straining her voice, and once again became silent to all but herself.

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"Listen Verin. I've been following this creature called "Fwanta". She changes often, and because of that she can go almost anywhere and no one recognizes her. She found out about Mom and told Dad. She also hinted that we exist. This may actually work! We aren't alone anymore! Now, go a-"

"Calm down Lume. This pteri told him about us?"

"She's not a pteri anymore. Now she is a creature I think thats called a cybunny. Tasty meat. But how did you know?"

"I saw her in our first group meeting after the Great Failure. Now what exactly did she say about us? If she told them all about us and what we can do..."

"Dont worry. She just said something about his sons and daughters helping him. He was pretty confused and over whelmed so I doubt he paid much attention to it."

"Ah. Now what did you want me to do?"

"Lets see... Oh, right. Go tell Habernill, Very, and their son-"

"Kahvin."

"Right. Kahven, about the predicament."

"Now how exactly am I supposed to do that?"

"I don't know. Youre the genius now that Giph's gone."

"Hmph."

"Speaking of the devil, I have to go find her and talk to her. We need her."

"Bye then."

"Good luck."

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Fwanta swiveled her huge ears around. What was that? Had she heard something? Her ears rotated around, trying to catch the sound. She heard nothing but the soft rustle of the grass in the wind.

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Kahven swirled around. He stumbled over soemthing, He looked, but there was something there. He squinted and saw a faint shimmer of light. He heard a faint squeak. He lowered himself to the ground and peered closely at the area the noise came from. Something barked, and whimpered, obviously in happyness. Kahven squinted again but saw nothing. He waved his horn around in frustration. A small flash of light came from it, and suddenly a small dog stood before him. Kahven neighed happily, and nuzzled the white and brown creature. It barked again, and wagged its tail in happyness.

((OOC: Kahven found an escaped invisble doglefox. He has a generic magic ability, which is why he can see it.))

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Very and Habernill watched thier son play in the tall grass. He had begun talking to something, but they weren't sure what. They saw nothing of intrest near him. But htye watched just the same, letting thier son have fun with his imaginary friend.

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Fwanta heard another faint noise, but as soon as she tried to locate it, everything was silent. So much for these big ears, she thought as she hopped slowly across the plains.

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"Very!"

Habernill', Very's, and Kahven's head turned to look at where the voice came from. A bright green lupe bounded out of the brush, then slowed and trotted across the plains.

"V-Verin?" Very asked hesitantly. Verin couldn't be here, he was dead, wasn't he?

"Very," The lupe panted. "Anita is in trouble." He purposly ignored Very's questioning remark.

"Anita?" Habernill asked, thoroughly confused. Verin explained everything as well as he could without letting on the secret of the murdered pups.

"Anita..." Very muttered, remembering the hyper lupe he had encountered in what seemed like so long ago.

Kahven ignored the grave tale and approached the lupe. "Why is your fur green?" He asked curiously. Verin started to answer in simple terms, but the uni continued. "Where is you horn? Why don't you have wings? Daddy says all unis have wings except me because I am special. How do you get your fur that colour? Daddy has hair almost like that but not really. I want my fur to be blue but its silver and purple. I like purple. Are you really a ghost? Why don't you come play with us more often? How come you are never around here? Where did you come from? I haven't been away from here. I like playing in the pond. Where do you like to play? I think this is the funnest place. I have a petpet. Its name is Goof, do you have a petpet? I like my petpet. He is hard to see though..." Kahven went on and on with all the pointless questions without giving any time to answer. Verin had grown nervous on the ghost question, he didn't know how this uni knew, but when Kahven went on his fears waned.

"Kahven darling, why don't you go play over there?" Habernill said in a soothing tone. Kahven immediatly did what she suggested, and began spinning in circles. His mouth kept moving, and Verin was certain he was still asking questions, but he didn't hear any.

"Who are you again?" Very asked uncertainly.

Verin shrugged. It was hard to keep visible. He sighed and vanished in the middle of the field. Let them think what they want, he was too tired to keep going.

"What do we do now honey?"

"I suppose we take his word for it, and go find the others. We have to trust him Habernill."

"Do we?" Habernill sounded dissapointed. She was perfectly happy here.

"I refuse to let my friend be controlled by a monster. Kahven, come on son, lets go."

&&&

Tasia:

Where was he? WHERE WAS HE?

Gray blue ears crested the hills. Shiko's eyes looked like he had been in a battle. "Oh, Sheek," she lead him into the den and ordered the pups off their bed. Shiko flopped on the bed- too for even him, intended for 4 small bodies.

Shiko couldn't look at her. Here he was, breaking down, and he was the male. He was supposed to protect the family "I'm sorry," he began.

"Shhh," she licked his ears.

The cames came and sniffed Shiko "Why did you steal our bed?" Falara asked.

Allia, who was more intuitive than her sister asked Noe "Is daddy sick?"

Noe was about to answer, but she heard a howl. Her ears were made for hearing such sounds, but she couldn't yet decifer them "Is it a war howl?"

"No. It's sad. Lonely." he cocked his head "A pup,"

"A pup?" It seemed a jolt went through the former uniphin "Frailik?"

"I don't know. It seems, weak. Not even like a howl. He must be very far away."

"I have to find him!" she rushed out of the den. Once on the plain, she looked around "Frailik!?" she called, and sent a beacon howl out to her lost son. She hoped it would carry to wherever he was- lost and afraid. She waited for a reply.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was onto him!

Frailik could see it- so plump and delicious! His father had described these creatures before- they were cybunnies. A great treat, sweet of taste. Yet, if he made any wrong move it would sprint away forever!

He heard a howl, much louder than it needed to be Frailik, don't be scared. We'll find you, I promise!

His mother! Why was she looking for him? Was this a trick? His heart bubbled a little as he though about his mother worried about him. But then he remembered Bru and his harsh comments. He growled, and in his anger attacked, imagining that little creature to be his brother.

&&&

TLT:

Fwanta stopped again. She definatly heard something this time. She turned to look in the direction of the sound in time to see a blur of movement. She instinctivly jumped out of the way. Repeating her succesful performance against Jauck, she landed a large, powerful foot in the cheek of her persuer. She looked at the form, who seemed to be flying in slow motion. It was a grey lupe, only it had the legs of a uni? Fwanta shook her head, knowing what she had seen must be wrong.

&&&

Morgan:

Zonk took off. She had to stop that fiend! How had she let her deceive her like that?! Now Morgan could... She could be... NO! She thundered silently across the Plains, running staight through trees in her mad rush. NO! This couldn't be happening! "Wake up Zonk! WAKE UP!" Her voice was still made of mist. This was real. Zonk was terrified. Kauvara's shop was just barely on the horizon! How much time did she have left?!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Moya was feeling strangely. She felt... Like there was something different. Like Wa-- Mikasi? What over Kreludor? When she had left him... He had been Waka, but now... She couldn't even think that name! That could only mean that... "MOSH! MIKASI'S ALIVE!" she screamed, suddenly understanding. Ignoring the stares from all around her, she grabbed Mosh and ran! Unfortunately, being on Faerie Land meant that they were 10,000 feet up. She ran straight off the edge. After free falling 9,500 feet, she remembered something very important. She had wings! She started to fly just a split second before hitting a nearby landmass and turned toward the Plains. She took off for Kauvara's. Surely she would know what was going on! But, as they got closer to Kauvara's, Moya felt a familiar presence. Laenyn! Moya was a little scared now. All of the faeries knew that Laenyn had been drawn out from her body when she became too powerful. They had enlisted Balthasar, but even he refused. All of the faeries had banded their magic together in a powerful seal so that Laenyn couldn't not escape her new Lupe body. Her evil had been repressed as well to prevent any other unforseen danger... Like her being able to do magic in a Lupe's body! She had killed Mikasi! Laenyn had! It was her! Vengeance boiled up inside of her. Laenyn would pay.

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Laenyn was now crouched over Morgan. She leaned over her and began to draw out her very life itself. Morgan was dying, withering away in her sleep. It was silent. This was what Mikasi-- No, Akaw, had done to Mikasi's friends. Morgan would soon be dead. Laenyn would've cackled at hom ironic it was, but this was hard work, even for her. Mikasi no longer had power to stop her with. Moya had fled at the loss of Mikasi. Morgan was laying at her feet, a puppet in the making. Zonk had fled when she believed Morgan would be safer that way. All according to plan. The world would be her plaything! Fyora would be her maid! So perfect... So very very perfect...

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Tasia:

She had never watched anyone die before, and she was captivated. She saw someone no one else did: Thereda's spirit lifting from her body. It was beautiful. For one second, she was trapped on the ground and crumpled, the next floating angelicly. But she wasn't dead yet. It was as if she were waiting for something. Mystyc was so drawn in by the specticle, she didn't hear her own name said.

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It kicked him! This wasn't right. A animal smaller than himself would not beat him! He turned and growled. It didn't flee. How stupid of it. Frailik made some quick decitions. If he could break it's neck, it would be quick. He nodded, and moved once more.

&&&

TLT:

Fwanta glared at the creature. It was definatly trying to kill her, but Fwanta still gave him the "evil eye" like she did to almost everyother neopet that disrepected her. It growled. Fwanta growled back. Her ears were pulled back against her head and neck in anger. She lunged at the lupe hybrid baring her long, sharp teeth.

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Giph howled again, making sure the other could hear her mournful sob. She had thought she had grown out of such things as playing games, but it had been much mroe fun than she expected. She longed to romp again with her brothers, or even these lupes. She was angry at that lupe who had taken her playmates away. But she wanted to go see what happened. They had howled not too long ago, calling another pup. Giph sat and growled in whimpered alternativly, torn as to what she should do.

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Jerad got up and stretched his legs. It was a beautiful day. The sun shone brightly and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Stamsha and a few other lupes got up and stretched as well. They got ready to go on a scouting trip to find a source of food. Jerad watched them run away into the plains. He started to run after them and join them, but he suddenly remembered his terribly dream. He stopped in mid stride and whimpered. A few lupes looked at him, confused. Jerad got up and ran faster, embaressed to show weaknes sin front of his pack. He howled a short note and the hunting party in front of him slowed to wait. Once he joined, they began running at full speed. The wind blew the enticing scent of two adult unis and a very small colt. It also blew the scent of a strange creature, part lupe, and something else. Jerad felt the duty to either hunt the creature, invite it into the pack, or chase it off his lands. He would wait until he saw the creature to decide what action he would take.

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Tasia:

Frailik ducked, his long legs bent under him. He made a sound of protest- a groan in his throat. He struggled to unbend his legs. That hurt! He looked around. Where was that cybunny?

He sniffed. He caught- his lupe pack! What were they doing here. Coming to hunt the cybunny, no doubt. Frailik felt cheated, the cybunny was his! What could he do now, but watch them enjoy it from hiding?

No! He would have his meal, and no lupe would take it away from him!

Then he thought, what about Jerad?

He was the alpha, the deciding force. He could bring Frailik into the pack- make him one of them.

But how would Frailik convince Jerad to allow him into the pack?

A peace offering.

He found the cybunny with his eye, his orange eyes gleaming. He didn't really have to kill it, just maim it. With a decided movement, he brought one hard hoof down.

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Noe's ears perked again. It was softer this time. Her heart felt it was in her throat, she could barely breath. If she was fast, she could find him. No, the pups.

She returned to the den "Frailik's in trouble! I'm going to get him." she said nothing more to her bewildered mate and the pups. She thundered out of the den, but which way to go? It didn't seem to come from any place, but she knew it was so far away. She called Tell me where you are.

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TLT:

After her attack, Fwanta stepped out of the path and into the deep grass. She pulled a gun from that magical place where weapons are stored. She selected a few wet snowballs along with the ultra bubblebeam and a wood sheild and then apparoched the strange creature. She aimed carefully and shot the creature with her gun, then threw all three snowballs at him in quick succesion. She brought the shield in front of her to guard against whatever attack this creature was sure to watch.

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Giph smiled. After she howled, the lupe came out and howled back, apparen'tly to someone else. Giph hadn't heard anything, so had the lupe thought she was someone else? Maybe she could play her tricks after all!

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Tasia:

He was hit in the chest. It didn't hurt, just a rough slap. Then there was coldness- on his stomach, on his shoulder, and over his head! Frailik sprinted back. What kind of sorcery did this creature have?

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TLT:

The strange creature merely jumped back at her assualt. Fwanta picked up her gun and banged it against her other paw. Why didn't the blasted thing work? She pressed the trigger lightly and a single bubbled came out. Fwanta crouched behind her sheild, brought her gun in front of it and took aim. She pressed the trigger hard, pushing it down and spraying bubbles all over the strange creature.

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Tasia:

The bubbles were sorrounding him! He made a yell, and tried to dart. They were everywhere! No where to run! Frailik felt tears in his eyes. Was this the way to go- defeated by a cybunny with bubble power?

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TLT:

She had him now! He was completely covered in bubbles. Fwanta threw down her weapons and dahsed toward the creature. She turned away form him, aimed carefully and kicked out with her powerful legs three times, each kick connecting easily. Then she sprinted away, running toward where she knew the unis had to be. She practically flew over the plains.

She finally caught up to the unis. She panted as she approached, and offered no explanation, merely dashing under the large white stallion. The bubbles would have worn off by now.

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Jerad ran in front, relishing the cool air. He sprinted faster and took a flying leap in the air. The picture of Anita stared at him in his mind. He crashed to the ground with a yelp. He rolled several times, and shook his head, trying to free himself from the piercing stare of the image. Slowly, the picture fell away, and Jerad stood in front of his hunting party, panting, scared out of his wits.

Stamsha watched him. The smell of his fear was overwhelming, and drifting downwind. She felt nausiated herself from the overpowering stench of fear. She took a step backwards. This was not a good place to be. Jerad was a powerful lupe, and it took something terrible to scare even the weakest lupes this bad.

"Wait." Stamsha called to the lupes. She walked toward Jerad and nuzzled him. He stood as still as a stone. She pushed him back toward the rest of the pack. "We can wait another day for food. These unis are too powerful for us; we need the rest of the pack."

The lupes were dissapointed, and they turned back slowly, but soon they were once again flying across the plains for the sheer joy of it.

&&&

Tasia:

He was crumpled on the ground, and he buried his muzzle in his hooves. How horrible a defeat it had been. It took him a few moments to realize he was alive.

Frailik got himself up, and began in the direction he was facing. It didn't really matter. After a time he caught the smell of Jerad and his pack. He groaned, thinking about the possibity of living the rest of his days on the fringtails of a pack, but certainly they wouldn't accept a freak defeated by a cybunny and bubbles. He though about home and his mother's soft white belly...but he convinced himself he didn't want to be there. Where then?

The thought came to him, of the uni herd. Maybe he would teach himself to hunt with the hardest prey. He grinned at himself. How wonderful it would be, a mere like him, killing a uni! Certainly then, he could join Jerad's pack. They would be begging him! Of course,

&&&

Morgan:

Laenyn was finished. Morgan was now just an empty, soul-less shell. It would take care of its instincts, but nothing more. A very useful slave. Laenyn snickered. The power inside her was growing, bursting, crackling like a living being of its own. Laenyn stood up and floated a few feet without a bit of effort and without so much as twitching her wings. The door flew open. It was Zonk.

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"No!" Zonk screamed. This was... Morgan was... She had... Her head was spinning! She couldn't think! She had... She had failed! She was too late! But at very least... She could warn the other creatures! Zonk turned and ran. She ran with the wind and it blew her straight toward her destination. The pup could see her. The pup could see ghosts. No wait... Not the pup... He had lost all of his powers. It was his Uni bride she had to find. This was already an uphill battle. They would've had a chance with the pup, but without him... They would need the faeries! "MOYA! I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME! HELP!" She still ran. She had to find someone, anyone, who could help! She was wild with fear and regret. She had chosen wrong, and her mistake had cost her her only friend. She needed revenge! She reached Mystyk after running for hours straight. She walked directly in front of her and began talking wildly, though only Mystyk could've heard her or seen how wild she looked. "Something terrible has happened! Laenyn, the monster, has stolen Morgan's soul from her and is heading this way! Please, warn everyone! The Lupe Pack that Ally has is over there, please! You have... To tell her... No! This is so wrong, it can't be real! Laenyn stole my body and Morgan's soul! I can't do anything to help! She is coming! HURRY!!! I'll do anything!! PLEASE!!!"

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Laenyn chuckled softly. That fool was going to try and prepare the world for her. There was no hope in it. She could destroy anything they set against her. "Slave?" Morgan's body got up and blinked. "Good. Go bring me Kauvara." The body left the room and soon returned, dragging Kauvara. "Why, hello Kauvara. Yes, it's Laenyn again. Silly old bat, didn't you know? I was the evil one all along. Now, since you were ever so kind and helped me so much, I won't kill you. Yet. Do as I say and live. Fail me and fall. It's up to you, Kauvara, dear."

Kauvara was shocked. Her old friend? Surely no-- but what if... What if she was the fabled Laenyn who tried to take over Faerie Land and--- Great Fyora, what had she done?! She gulped. "I will not help you."

Laenyn was slightly perterbed. This wasn't the way she was supposed to react. Ah well. She was just an old, discrepit Kau anyway. "Fine. Slave?" Lupes, under natural circumstances, eat Kaus. 'Nuff said. Laenyn flew over the mess, heading for the pack of Lupes and herd of Unis that were "friends". Friends? Feh. Who cared? In the end, you were only a friend to yourself. She knew that. Very well.

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Nami, Moya, and Nagrom turned to Fay and said that they were going to go play. Without waiting for a response, they took off. They didn't really realize how serious Ally was about this. They didn't know that war was even an option. They just wanted to play and see their friends. They raced over to Uncle Shiko and Aunt Noe's den. They wanted to play with the pups. They just couldn't wait!

&&&

TLT:

Very started out at a trot with Habernill and Kahven following behind him. They sampled grass, but Very kept them moving. He had been startled by the cybunny, who ran off very soon after she came, and he wanted to get away from whatever she had been hiding from. He gathered up his family and started them away to the main herd.

They had been traveling at a swift pace for several minutes when Very caught a strange smell. He continued on, carefully, until it was overpowering. It smelled almost like a lupe, but it smelled like a uni as well, and a peophin. Strange. Very told Habernill and Kahven to be careful, and walked slowly on.

The creature appeared suddenly, running quickly. Very stamped his hoof and snorted. He glared at the creature. He glanced at his tiny son.

"Who goes there?" He stated the cliche firmly and waited for the creatures reply.

&&&

Morgan:

Moya felt a tide of power erupt from the shop. She was right above it, almost in, but this made her blood run cold and her heart stop. She was frozen. She had been so close but... She was too late. After a split-second, the tide was gone. She seemingly melted. Laenyn... Had she...? Moya sent out a wave of telepathy, but something very powerful kept her at bay. She had. Laenyn had taken the soul of another being and used it to give herself a magical boost. A very strong boost at that. But who...? That other winged pup, the innocent one? How could that vile fiend do that?! That pup couldn't have been more than a month old! And she... Moya herself... Had failed to help her. Moya looked in through a window. She saw Kauvara get murdered. She saw Morgan become a slave. She saw that there was a foggy shape like a winged Lupe in the door, but it quickly vanished. Moya heard her name softly and muffled, like it was being whispered through cloth. She focused all of her attention on it.

"MOYA! I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME! HELP!"

Moya recognized the voice now, it was Laenyn! Like Moya would ever help her! "The nerve of that muttermutter !! I'm not going to help her! Baka!" She was annoyed now. She took off flying, Mosh on her shoulder, towards Ally. She should know what happened to her daughter. Now Ally had lost two puppies to Laenyn. Both were the smallest, most-picked-on pups, and both had had the greatest potential of that litter. What would this news do to Ally?

&&&

Tasia:

Mystyc was still watching her mother float between life and death when a black lupe pup stepped out in front of her. Mystyc recognized it almost instantly as Laenyn: the lupe who had both killed and then revived Mikasi. Mystyc had still not forgiven for killing him, even if she had brought him back. However, before she could snap something, she heard the pup speak.

"Something terrible has happened! Laenyn, the monster, has stolen Morgan's soul from her and is heading this way! Please, warn everyone! The Lupe Pack that Ally has is over there, please! You have... To tell her... No! This is so wrong, it can't be real! Laenyn stole my body and Morgan's soul! I can't do anything to help! She is coming! HURRY!!! I'll do anything!! PLEASE"

Mystyc was confused. Why was Laenyn talking about herself in the third person? Stole her this be a different lupe? But Laenyn had used this disguise with Mystyc.

Only did Mystyc notice this lupe was dead. She made a sound of surprise, but no one noticed. She thought that she didn't want to be tagged as crazy in case. She stepped out from the circle of unis and into the woods. She motioned the ghost over, and studied her. It wouldn't be the first time a ghost had tried to trick her "How can I trust you?"

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Noe met Ally's pups coming to her den "I'm sorry, I'm going out to hunt and Shiko and the pups are sleeping. You'll have to come back another time."

She was disurbed hadn't answered her. Maybe he was unable to howl? She wished that sound had come from one direction or another, unstead of seeming just so far away. She moved on her toes and whimpered.

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Frailik stopped. Without realizing it, he had stepped into a clearing with a small family of unis. He considered. Why weren't these unis in a herd? Wait, what was the term had father had used? Free roamers. They chose to shun herd life, and were more fierce at lupe fighting than herd unis. Frailik laid back his ears submissively- but he didn't know how to show in uni language that he wasn't a threat. Though he did eye the young silver spotted colt with hunger, he said "Just walking by. Didn't mean to intrude upon your family, sir."

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TLT:

The grey creature plulled his ears back mildly. "Just walking by. Didnt meant to intrude upon your family, sir."

Very snorted to show his disbelief. "Move along then." He stamped a glistening hoof and tossed his head. Habernill Pranced nervously nehind him, while Kahven merely looked on intrested.

"Why is your fur grey? Where is you horn? Why don't you have wings? Daddy says all unis have wings except me because I am special. How do you get your fur that colour? I want my fur to be blue but its silver and purple. I like purple. Why don't you come play with us more often? How come you are never around here? Where did you come from? I haven't been away from here. I like playing in the pond. Where do you like to play? I think this is the funnest place. I have a petpet. Its name is Goof, do you have a petpet? I like my petpet. He is hard to see though... Are you related to that other lupe that came here?" Kahven assualted the creature with questions, not giving him time to answer.

"Kahven, come along now. Let the poor fellow go on." Habernill smiled apolagetically at Frailik.

"Alright mom. Look what Goof can do! Wheee!" Kahven began spinning in circles again, giggling.

&&&

Tasia:

Frailik was appalled. Such a stupid animal, it seemed to reconize him as a uni and then a lupe. Frailik frowned. Then he heard the mare's comment.

"Kahven, come along now. Let the poor fellow go on."

Oh yes, of course, he was disabled because he was a hybrid! Oh, how he would like to hurt that mare where it stung the most- her child. Yes, that rambling creature would so sweet, the spotted uni weeping over her lost son, her mate making threats to the sky but unable to change the past. And of course, Frailik would be gone by then, in his dream, they somehow never noticed. Somehow,

He smirked "Very nice ta meet ya," he continued on his way.

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Shiko was on the plain, running. Everything was the same. Every blade of grass was exactly identical, the sky was a perfect blue not touched by clouds, there were not trees as far as he could see. He seemed to going as fast as a cybunny could run- it was very exhilerating. He wasn't sure how long he ran- all hours swirled into a single moment. He heard his name.

"...Komoshiko..."

He stopped. There was no one on the plain.

"Komoshiko."

In front of him was the strangest faerie Shiko had ever seen. It made Shiko think of the earth, and of truth. The faerie was fair in complexion, with thick chestnut hair with streaks of red running through it. Shiko noticed she was a little on the short side- for a faerie. In her round face, ice blue eyes grabbed him. Shiko felt they were icy waters, and they had taken him in their grasp. Shiko shook himself from this uncomfortable feeling. The faerie was dressed in black, and her wings were silky and feathery, but also black.

"Komoshiko,"

"Where am I?"

"A dream."

Shiko swayed for a moment, feeling an odd lightness "But Kauvara took away my dreams."

"Kauvara is dead, Komoshiko."

"You can call me Shiko." he shrugged "Kauvara is dead?" it wasn't as if wasn't shocked, but the plains had a ethereal quality and it seemed everything moved slow.

The faerie nodded "But don't worry about it. It's my business." she said this darkly. "Ko- I mean, Shiko, I need to apologize to you."

Shiko blinked. He looked into the faerie's ice blue eyes. They were so light, and yet there was something familiar about them. "You're the dark faerie who's wings I tore off."

The faerie looked at him mockingly "Interresting observation, Shiko."

"What do you mean?"

"That you found Magik. I thought she was long gone."

Something about the way she said that gave Shiko chills.

"It's not your place to know," the faerie continued on. Then her voice became low, almost a growl. Startled, Shiko looked into her eyes. They seemed to develop walls of fire in front of them.

"I was born in the haunted woods. Those born in the haunted woods are both gifted and cursed. You met young Mystyc."

Shiko knew she was talking about Thereda and Trab's foal.

The look in the faerie's granite eyes told him she knew his thought process "Her curse was terrible. I will not tell you about it; that is not for you to know. What I'm telling now is, I saw the future. And I tried to change it. What I didn't know then was, if I tried to change the future, then fate would only end up being worse."

"You're going to have to be more specific."

The faerie nodded "This happened long before you were born...well, I should show you"

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Shiko was in a place he had never seen before. There was a clearing in a dark forest- not as unnaturally dark as the haunted wood. The trees were dark and naked in the dead of winter. In the distance, a group moved foreward. Out of the darkness a family of lupes emerged, pups in tow. Shiko thought it was strange that there were pups in the winter. They couldn't survive one this cold! And sure enough, the pups struggled to keep up. Shiko's eyes grew wider. They were infants! The parents trudged on, not helping to carry their struggling pups. Shiko wanted to run ahead and safe them, yet something stopped him.

The parents stopped, and a piece of the snow moved. Shiko blinked as a snow white lupe walked in front of the parents.

She bent down and took a deep gasp of one of the pup's scent. She smiled "Datharu."

A yellow pup moved in front of her. The white lupe smelled "Danigark."

The white did the same with another pup. This time, however, her nose wrinkled and the lupe growled "A name! This pup is not fit to live!"

"Not fit to live?!?" the mother was astonished.

"This pup is evil! He must be killed immediately."

The mother lowered herself "As you say, Rashema."

The white lupe lowered her muzzle, and gave the pup a fatal bite to the neck.

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"NO!" Shiko gasped.

"I'm sorry Shiko." the faerie said kindly.

"I don't want to see this. This is terrible."

"Well, I'm sorry." she said "That is not what happened." Shiko looked at her "That is what would have happened."

"I don't understand."

"I'll show you what really did happen."

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Shiko watched the hole process of the white lupe naming Datharu and Danigark again, but this time she looked confused at the mother "I thought you had a litter of four."

The mother sighed "I did, but one disappeared this morning. There was the smell of," she twisted her face "Cybunny and darkness."

The white lupe looked at her confused. The mother shrugged a little. The white lupe said "Probably your imagination. Or maybe a stray wocky with cybunny blood on their paws. I'm sorry for your loss."

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"I don't understand." they were on the plain again.

"I foresaw this, and took the pup." The faerie smirked "I could foresee so many things, yet I could not foresee the consiquences of my actions until it was too late.

"I set that into the bed of a sterile female. She was mate to a kind beta male, who hated the actions of his father. The female knew the pup was not hers, but her mate was so desperate for a pup, so she said it was. The beta cherished him more than anything, for it was the only pup he would ever sire." she tilted her head a little, and Shiko imagined large ears flopping on top of her head "Do you know who I'm talking about?"

Shiko didn't know how he knew "The pup is Zhairk. The beta is Hod."

The faerie nodded. "I'm sorry."

"I still don't understand."

"If I hadn't saved Zhairk, he would never have been Hod's son. He would never have died, and Hod would never killed those weaklings that afternoon."

There was a pause that seemed to last for hours "I want to go back home."

The Faerie nodded "I understand. Shiko, I just want to apologize. I wish- I wish I could change the past."

Shiko didn't want to look at her. What if she was telling the truth "Let me wake up." he moaned.

Shiko was in his den.

&&&

TLT:

Very watched the strange creature carefully. "Nice ta meet ya." It said. If Very had been a lupe, he would've growled. Instead, he shifted his weight nervously and brandished his horn in the air to make sure the creature saw it.

"Go on then. We need to be going." Very glared sternly at the lupe.

He watched until the creature until it was out of sight and hopefully hearing range. He whispered to his son.

"Kahven, come over here. I don't want you left alone with that lupe."

"Honey, just because he is a lupe doesn't mean he is automatically evil." Habernill looked at Very with a look of dissapointment on her face.

Very merely shook his head, and lead the little purple and silver colt in front of him.

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Jerad raced along with his hunting party but soon stopped. The rest of them stopped with him. Stamsha came over.

"Why don't you guys go along? You would've anyway even if I hadn't come along. So you go hunt without me."

Stamsha looked at him, slightly concerned.

Jerad smiled weakly. "Now go get some kaus for me. I don't want to miss all the fun with you hunting those unis without me." He joked.

The golden female smiled at his weak attempt at humor.

"I'll go search out that strange creature I smelled earlier. He smelled like a lupe, almost. It couldn't hurt to have another lupe in the pack." He smiled and began trotting away.

Stamsha frowned at his idea, they had a perfect number of pack members. But he seemed to have such gusto about the idea she kept her ideas to herself.

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Jauck ran toward where he had last seen the lupe pack. They weren't anywhere to be seen. Where had they gone? He sniffed the ground for a trace of their scent.

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Morgan:

Mikasi saw Mystyk go off into the woods and heard her say "How can I trust you?". There must be a ghost there! He wasn't sure what to do. Mystyk had trusted Zhairk and... He shuddered. He followed Mystyk to the woods and came out from the bushes.

"Mystyk, who are you talking to? I know there's a ghost there, but... Who?" Mikasi was worried.

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Zonk gladly followed her to the woods, rushing a bit more than necessary as she walked through yet another tree, and replied to Mystyk strangely. "You can trust me because I am not Laenyn. I am Zonk. If you don't hurry and tell Lumino about Laenyn, everyone will DIE! Laenyn has stolen my sister's soul and turned her into a mindless puppet. I want to avenge my sister! My sister is Morgan. You've met us, but don't you remember how I was split in two? Half of me was good and half was bad? I am Zonk, and I am good. Laenyn is the evil witch! I can't do a thing to stop her right now. And another thing, if I wasn't trustworthy, I would already have stolen your body for myself. That should be proof enough! PLEASE!" Suddenly Mikasi stepped out of the bushes. Zonk heard his words.

"Mystyk, who are you talking to? I know there's a ghost there, but... Who?"

"Oh my gosh... It's Mikasi!" Something suddenly dawned on her. "I'm his sister, he named me at birth. He named me Zonk! Laenyn posessed me later on! I know I was adopted, but that was my name! Just ask him, please! I can't let the entire world be destroyed just because a Faerie trapped in my body has a vendetta against everything!"

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Nami, Moya, and Nagrom were very dissapointed that their friends couldn't come out to play with them. They turned and trudged back through the woods until they came upon Mikasi. Nami recognized his scent immediately. "It's Wa-- Mikasi! He's alive! He's here! I can't believe it! We need to go find Mo--" Nami was cut off as Mikasi spoke. Ghosts?! Where?! Had he gone insane? Nami and the others came out of the bush, fully intending to drag Mikasi back, but Nami froze halfway there. There was a cold spot between Mikasi and the black foal. Nami saw flashes of jumbled images until she backed away. When she was out of the cold spot, the images stopped. That must mean... A real ghost?! "You there, foal. What is the meaning of this? Why is our brother with you?!" Nami asked, still scared from her encounter.

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Zonk yelled at Nami, trying to get her to stay away from her, but she failed and Nami walked straight through her. Fractured images of her life burst out in a randomly. When Nami backed away, Zonk was exhausted. She did remember her sister. "These three are also my sisters. You can ask them too... If you'd like." With that, she sank to her knees.

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Mikasi's jaw dropped. His sisters had come out of nowhere! Only Morgan and Zonk were missing, and they were probably at Kauvara's. "Hello sisters." he turned to Mystyk. "This reminds me, we should probably see what's going on with Zonk and Morgan at Kauvara's."

&&&

Tasia:

He cocked his head and watched the scence below. A golden uni talked to some lupes and a black stallion. The gold uni must have been Lumino. Some unis were gathered at one end of the pond, looking at somethng in the mud. What was it? He smelled, and caught blood and mud mixed together. Closer to him, a uni and three hybrids like himself. He growled as he recognized the scents of Nami, Nagrom and Moya. He couldn't stay here. He began back toward his pack.

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Mystyc listened to what the animal said. She sounded sincere enough- but she remembered Zhairk, the way he called her milady and made her feel like she was so special. She had been heart broken. She turned to Mikasi- he was the wisest person she knew "I am talking to a ghost. She say's she's Zonk and..." she didn't continue, not wanting to alarm Mikasi "Can you assure that Zonk is your sister and that you named her?"

She turned to the pup at her words "This is your brother?" he face lit up "Mikasi told me about you! Um, well, I love him." she said it simply as if it explained everything.

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Frailik gave a howl of elation.

The cut wasn't clean, but he had made it- his first kill. His first neopet kill. He looked at the cybunny, picking it up.

&&&

Morgan:

((A/N: I can RP Ally's mom in the herd, but what would I RP about? I can just try, I guess. Here I go. I never named Ally's mom, but from now on she'll be... Tam, I guess. It's all I can think of. shrug I also can't remember her color, so how about... Brown with black hooves?))

Tam looked up from grazing and narrowed her eyes. Those Lupes were back. The black one seemed to have a new mate. The white one who had called herself Tam's daughter was nowhere to be seen. She snorted. Who cared about some stupid Lupe, anyway? They should all just leave and never come back. It was no secret that Tam loathed Lupes. She had ever since she had lost her mate and her only foals to an attack a few years back. She could still remember that day clearly, and those memories still haunted her. She stamped her hooves nervously. Why were the Lupes talking with Lumino? Those half-breed pups awhile back had been bad enough, but the Alphas of a prominent pack? Sure, they had sworn not to kill anymore, but then why was there dried blood on their claws and fangs? They were trouble, she was sure of it. She decided she didn't care anymore, let whatever may happen happen, and she went back to grazing. What did she have left to lose to the Lupes?

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Nami gawked at Mystyk. "L-l-l-love him?! Mikasi, is this true? I... Mother... MOTHER ALMOST KILLED US BECAUSE A UNI BROUGHT YOUR BODY BACK TO HER AND SHE THOUGHT THAT WE WERE RESPONSIBLE! WE ALMOST DIED BECAUSE OF YOU! YOU OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T DIE BECAUSE YOU'RE STANDING RIGHT THERE! HOW COULD YOU?! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MAD MOTHER GOT AFTER SHE SMELLED MORGAN AND ZONK ON YOUR CORPSE?! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU!" Nagrom and Moya had to restrain her to keep her from lunging at Mikasi.

"We're sorry, Mikasi and uh... Well, I don't know your name," Moya said apologetically, "but we've had a very hard time lately. Mommy is about to tell the Unis that there's going to be a war because this crazy Uni insulted her. Mommy would never kill a sentient creature! Anyway, I guess... I guess we'll go now... I do miss Zonk and Morgan, though, even though they supposedly 'killed' you. I don't think Zonk could ever have killed you... Unless she was protecting Morgan, she never would've attacked anything! And I doubt that you'd attack them, right? Anyway... I'm glad you've found someone, Oniisan. It's nice to know that we won't always be freaks that are laughed at and left alone... Have a nice day, both of you." Moya dragged the others toward the edge of the clearing.

((OOC: Oniisanbig brother in Japanese))

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Mikasi stared at Mystyk, happily shocked. Mystyk had said she loved him! What had she said before that? His mind was spinning, but he picked out the shards of her previous statements. "Yes, Zonk was my sister, but I think she was the one who killed me--- no, wait. The one who killed me looked like Zonk, but she said she was... In her mind, she was Laenyn. That's what she believed, anyway. I saw that shortly before..." He paused, searching for the words. "Before the darkness came. I was spiralling and then... It was so dark. There was a tiny spark of light, but something about it scared me. I was looking for something, so I wandered around and then... Poof, I was back. I saw my body and... You know the rest of the story." He thought some more, going further back into his memories. "Yes, when my mother had her second litter of pups, I named them. One of them died though, and a foster pup took her place. I believe... Yes! It was Zonk who was the foster child. You're talking to her?! What is she saying?!" Mikasi was worried. Zonk was strong, what could've possibly killed her?! In his haste to respond, he had almost forgotten what Moya and Nami were saying. "What? Mother almost... I can't believe it! No... Tell her where I am and that I'm ok, ok? By the way... Thanks."

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Zonk stared in disbelief at Nami. She thought that she was responsible why that little... Wait. Mystyk was asking Mikasi and he was confirming... It seemed that way to her, anyway. "Please, Mystyk, is it? You need to tell Lumino! She is coming this way and is going to kill everyone in her path to reach her goal... She wants to rule the world and have everyone bow down to her! I want my body back, and I want Mor--" She cut herself off. It was better to quit while she was ahead. Any further and the waterworks would be a-coming. But she dwelled on the memories of Morgan... Who knew if she would see her again?

&&&

Tasia:

Gipha was in the air, but she wasn't flying. She didn't feel her wings. She was floating.

Below, she saw a red uni running into the west. It was her mother. No, it was herself- Gipha.

To the east she heard a commotion. There was a dark shadow coming near Thereda, growing darker and larger. Thereda cried.

"Go Gipha! Go back!" she called, but the uni below didn't hear her.

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She woke up in a cold sweat. Her foal Shil was staring up at her with a worried glance "What's wrong mommy? You were yelling."

"We have to go home."

"But we have no home. We're Free Roamers!"

"No, we're not. I thought I was, but I'm not." she pointed her nose toward the east "Now, we will run as fast as we can, for as long as we can, and we can make it back by sunrise."

Shil didn't look in the least alarmed. The little foal loved an adventure.

As their hooves pounded soil, Shil said "You know what mommy? I had a dream."

"Oh really? What about?"

"There was a pretty lady, and she told me to find a, loo?"

"You mean a lupe?"

"Yeah! A yoop! With a horn!"

"With a horn?" she giggled. Shil looked at her, confused.

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Mystyc listened, then nodded. She approached Lumino, but he was sorrounded by a lot of lupes. What was going on?

&&&

Morgan:

Zonk breathed a sigh of relief. Surely Lumino could get the Unis to help, but wait a moment... Ally declaring war on the Unis? Was that what Moya had said?! NO! This was the worst possible time for something like that! They all had to attack Laenyn, or everyone would die! This... At least this would help. But Zonk wasn't about to lay down and rest now. Oh no, she was going to fight Laenyn by any means possible. Maybe she could find some other ghosts! Maybe they could help her!

&&&

Uni:

"Gravely insulted? My my ... who was that, Shagya?"

"Erm ... it was ... Sir Trab, the ex-Wild Roamer." Shagya responded.

"My dear. Oh dear ... Well, I am afraid, Leader Alpha Ally, to say that I am sure that Sir Trab did not do this on his will, I am sure that it must have been a hard day ... I know very well that you do not eat Uni flesh, of course, but some herds consider you as - er - vegetariens. Anyway ... I beg you, please pardon Sir Trab for his sudden fit of isults ... I'm sincerely sorry."

&&&

Morgan:

Ally stared Lumino right in the eye. She wanted Trab to have justice, notjust drop the subject! And vegetarians were what she had forced the once carnivorous Lupes to become. Her blood boiled for war, but she calmed herself. "Lumino, I ask you for justice. I would like to see that Trab at least knows that something he has done is wrong! Not just simply walk away from the matter. Lumino-sama ha totemo sugoi desu, demo Trab-kun ha totemo baka to aku desu yo!" Ally had resorted to Japanese in her anger. "Lord Lumino, you are very great, but Trab is very evil and idiotic. Do not mess with Lupes, my blood burns. Be warned, I can only contain my anger for so long." What Ally didn't know was that containing your feelings made them worse in the long run. They just boiled over and exploded. Too bad she didn't know. She turned and took the pack back to the area it had once inhabited, and Nami, Moya, and Nagrom caught up and followed. They were somber. Things looked bad. Nami turned to Lumino before they left.

"Sir Lumino, my mother is exceedingly angry right now. She wants war, something that would only destroy things more. Tread lightly, sir, or you may be caught in the crossfire. Good day to you, sir."

&&&

Tasia:

Trab was astounded by Ally's words so much that his words were caught in his throat. He forgot what he had asked Lumino for.

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Mystyc saw the encounter between the cloud lupe, Lumino and her father. Her ears grew red. She ran in the pack's way "How dare you call my father that!"

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"Shil, do you want to meet your grandmother, and your grandfather, and your aunt?" The maroon dappled colt nodded vigorously, then mother and child raced down the hill.

&&&

Uni:

Lumino looked sternly over the hills, his rich mane and tail being caught in the wind. The Cloud Lupe did not seem to be satisfied with his answer, but he will never let war darken the skies of the Plains again ...

"Hyaerdean," Lumino whispered, "I need help ... call the Harmony ... ans warn the North-Western herds ... "

A strong gust of wind answered to his call, making his mane fly. An invisible creature shot out of an incredibly long hibernation, spreading its wings to the sky.
Magic beyond anything ever seen before was dropped in massive amounts on the fresh green grass, making magical, semi-transparen't beings of light shoot to the clouds ...

&&&

Tasia:

"Daddy!" Gipha was surprised by her words. She hadn't used them in such a long time.

The black stallion looked surprised "Gipha," he breathed "It is really you,"

"Shil, this is your grandfather." he gazed beyond the red mare. A maroon dappled foal stepped out into the light.

"My, my,"

The foal hid behind his mother.

"Got my charm," Trab said darkly.

"Where's mom?" Gipha asked.

Trab's look grew even darker "Gipha, I can't save her."

Her heart pounded in her chest "Wha- what's going on?"

"Come on," Trab turned, and began to lead her to her dying mother. As he walked, he told her how the mare had gotten delusional in Gipha's absence. Gipha to this in a ridged sorrow.

By now, the unis were gone, leaving Thereda to her death. At first she didn't see her mother. She just saw a uni- very sick looking, her fine scarlet hair painted brown, in the mud.

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Mystyc felt very perturbed all of a sudden. She rushed to the other side of the lake where her mother was. Her heart leaped. The red uni was out of the mud! How had this happened?

Mystyc blinked. No, that wasn't Thereda. That was...someone who should have been important to her...she knew the name...

Her heart felt like it had fallen of Terror Mountain and she recognized her true mother in the mud. However, something was different. Thereda no longer wavered between life and death, she seemed to be holding on to life!

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"Gipha," the uni spoke "is that you?"

Gipha nodded, a lump caught in her throat.

"I'm sorry honey," the muddy mare lay her head down in the mud.

"NO!" Gipha yelled. She nudged the muddy head. "Stay with me mom!"

"She's dead!" Mystyc screamed "She's finaly dead! Oh, my mommy!"

"No!" Gipha screamed "You don't know that!" but when she opened her eyes the black mare was gone.

"M-mommy?"

Gipha looked down at her son.

&&&

TLT:

Keredith looked up into the sky. It was a bright, bold blue, dotted by a few fluffly white clouds. She let the wind whip through her bright green mane, and closed her eyes in estacy as it surged around her. She stood there, her head thrust forward, her legs as straight and stiff as a promenading stallion's, long after the breeze died. Her glossy black coat shone in the bright sunlight of midday. Her life had been horrible, but now everything was okay. She had a herd, a place to call home, food and shelter, friends. Everything would be okay.

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Nervous, Quetzal started sullenly at the ground. She picked at a stem of grass. The startlingly beautiful uni wasn't used to living in herds. She hated being with other creatures. She looked up and stared wistfully at the plains across the lake. Her green mane was picked up in the wind. It seemed to glow on its own, a shining emerald beacon in the prarie. The rest of her bright green self shivered in the gust. Her wings flicked irritably.

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Xandrean watched as a gold uni conversed with lupes. He looked on with intrest, but hid himself behind several mares, peeking up behind their manes. He liked lupes, and had been raised along side them. He couldn't help but wonder about these lupes were here for. He didn't dare let himself get close enough to hear what they were saying.

Something shifted near his feet. A colbalt colt looked up at him with huge blooming eyes. "Chandwen." The child pouted, not able to get the rolling 'ch' and 'r' in Xandrean's name. Xan lowered his head to hear the colt's soft voice. The previously mild eyes lit up and the colt shout "Boo!" into his protectors ears. He scrambled up and ran underneath the mares next to them.

"Iman!" Xandrean looked over the mares backs, and watched in horror as the tiny blue uni ran toward the great golden stallion. Xan lowered his head to avoid seeing the horrible scene that was about to come.

"Eks-sqwueze me Miter Loomynoze. Twats youre name?" Imanhaptuchet stared up eagerly into the stallions face.

Xan shook his head and began forcing his way though the other unis. At one point, a gossiping mare ignored him and refused to let him pass, and he was forced to crawl on his belly under her. Only now did the mare notice him, and looking agahst at what he was doing, promptly kicked him in the face and walked away in horror. Xan shook his head and got up, and could feel heat rising from his jawbone already from the kick. He knew it would be swollen soon, and trotted toward the herd leader as fast as he could before that happened to avoid embarressing himself further. He had worked so hard to stay anonymous in the herd, known but not seen, and now he had to go face to face with the uni he had tried to avoid the most and explain about the little orphan he had adopted.

He looked up at last and smiled sheepishly. He was immensly relieved that the lupes had gone by now. He felt the throbbing of his jaw, and wanted to go before it becane and obvious lump. He blushed and was certain it would show from behind his silvery grey fur. "Sir... I can explain..."

&&&

Tasia:

She was running, freer than she ever was before! The feeling was wonderful. It was as if she weighed nothing.

Suddenly the breeze shifted. A patch of the sky seemed to disappear, replaced by the sweetest meadow. There was lush green grass, flowers, a spring that grew into a waterfall. All around, there were unis. They looked fit and, most important, happy, They plaid in the feild, sipped the water, plaid in the waterfall, plaid tag with each other.

A group of mares turned to her "It's our new arrival. Come on darling, don't be scared."

"You want, me?"

"Come on honey- the grass is always green!"

The mare grinned, and began to fly up. However, something bothered her- like a fly.

"What is my name?"

"Your name, honey?"

"What is my name?"

"We don't need names here. We all know each other." a silver filly stepped out behind the blue uni's legs.

A filly.

Two faces flashed in her mind.

Gipha and Mystyc.

"My name is Thereda!"

The mares looked at her sadly.

"I'm sorry," Thereda said "I don't belong here. I belong with my daughters."

"Oh, we knew that when your said your name, hon. Y'see, we don't use names here."

Thereda felt regretful to these unis, but nodded, and suddenly she fell to the ground.

She was aware that her senses were stronger, that she was faster, lighter. She caught Mystyc's smell. Mystyc? It wasn't the name she had given her daughter, but it seemed correct. She ran toward it.

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"Mom," Mystyc gasped when she saw the red mare coming toward her "I forgot you'd still be here."

The ghost looked confused "What do you mean, Mystyc?"

But the uni didn't answer "This is so akward. For most people, when someone dies, that's it."

"When someone, d-dies?" The uni looked pale.

Mystyc looked up at her "You didn't know?" she looked at her regretfully "Your dead."

"But, I can't be dead!"

"You have no body."

"I see my body!"

She sighed "It's not really there," how could she explain?

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Thereda heard a loud, plaintive moan "Gipha?" she ran, quick as a zafara, to the red mare "What is it honey?"

"Oh mom, I need you!"

"I'm right here honey. What do you need?"

"Why did you leave me?"

"Leave you?" she recalled her memories. When she and Trab had gotten lost in the haunted woods- she shivered "I'm sorry," Thereda said quietly "I didn'y mean for it to happen like that."

"I'm so sorry I- left."

"Forgiven," Thereda said, though she barely remembered the time.

"NOW YOUR GONE! Oh mom!"

"Honey, please-" it was then that her sight turned to a body in the mud. It was Gipha! No, no, the uni was older-...

"It's me!"

&&&

TLT:

Kahven trotted out in front of the two other unis. He giggled and whispered to his invisble petpet. He constantly stopped to look around, but his father rushed him on, obviously agitated. So Kahven took in all the scenery at a brisk trot.

The mini parade of unis traveled a couple of miles before the young colt tired. He was hefted upon his mothers back, where he fell asleep instantly, while flying high above the plains.

Habernill spotted the lake first. "Very," she whispered. "There it is. The lake."

"Where?" The nervous stallion peered over the prarie.

"There," Habernill waved a hoof toward the horizon.

After squinting, Very finally glimpsed a sparkle that represented the lake.

While the two adults talked, Kahven woke up. He was groggy at first, but the moment his eyes opened and he saw where he was, he was awake and alert, gaping in awe at where he was. He stared eagerly at the passing scenery below. He spotted a group of moving dark objects below. They seem to grow closer to him, as his horn glowed a light purple. As they came toward him, he saw they looked like the strange green creature who had come to the meadow that had been his world for the first weeks of his life, only they were all different colors.

"Kahven." His head snapped up and the lupes were again far below him. "Kahven dear, I'm sorry." He looked quizically at his mother but said nothing. "I wish you had wings like mine. You could do this everyday, not just with us carrying you." The spotted mare began to cry softly, her tears blown out of her eyes by the wind and splattering on the purple and silver coat of her son. Kahven had no idea what she was crying about, but he soon began to weep as well while Very stared sternly ahead, to nervous and edgy to let his emotions show.

The three unis landed near the lake, but away from the main congregation of neopets. Habernill, her cheeks still wet from tears, built up a bed for them out of grasses. She lay down with her son next to her. Very lay down near them, but tried to stay awake and keep watch. The encounter with the strange hybrid had put him on his guard. BUt soon even his vigilance flagged, and the great white stallion was in a fitful sleep.

He dreamed. He was in his home valley, reliving the fitful scene that ruined his life. But instead of seeing himself as a colt, he saw a purple colt with silver mane and tail speckled silver as well, with no wings. Instead of his parents, he saw a white stallion with red and green mane and tail, and a cream and tan spotted mare with huge ivory wings. The lupe he had always seen attack before was now grey with the legs of a uni, running faster than ever. Very watched the stallion killed in the dream, along with the spotted mare. Instead of a mostly white colt running away, the wingless purple and silver colt was galloping away from a grinning lupe/uni hybrid. Miraculously, the colt floated up in the air, away from the snapping jaws of the strange hybrid. Instead of the brown old mare that usually rescued the runaway colt, a youngish crimson mare with black mane and tail was the savior of the purple silver child. Very woke up in cold sweat as the two unis flew frantically away from the dreadful scene, but not before his third person vision panned down to watch another colt, this time a speckled grey climb his way out of the valley.

&&&

Uni:

The Harmony gathered round the herd. All having the likeness of the Uni they had been before death, some threw their heads in disgust, or kicked the ground with their incredibly solid hooves.

"Geldaefy, will you have the pleasure to search for Sir Trab and his two daughters? The Council will soon begin."

At Lumino's call, an ancient Harmony spread its wings and flew off.

"Camarada, please call the Wild Roamers. And you, Delta," Lumino's voice trembled a little as he mentionned his granddaughter's name, and Orora sobbed delicately, "do call for Lady Orior, Enchantress of the Lost Desert."

The beautiful Uni made of light and magic kicked off the ground in a burst of silver.

&&&

Tasia:

"Mommy?" he backed up a couple spaces. His back end hit something.

"I didn't do nothing!" he heard. Shil turned. There was a brown colt- a little older than him.

Shil thought for a moment "Okay." he said.

The uni moved away. His eyes looked dark.

"Watcher name?" Shil asked.

"What?"

Shil sighs "Whats, yur, name?"

"I don't need to share my name with pestering brats like you."

Shil didn't know what a brat was. He followed the brown uni anyway "I think your cool."

The uni moved his ears around a bit "You do, do you?"

"Yeah! My name is Shil. What's yours? You don't need to share it, but you can if you want to!"

"I'm Rafer."

"Hi Rafer. What are you going to do now?"

Rafer was taken back "Well, you know, cool uni stuff."

"Like what? Oh! Can you teach me!?"

"Well," Rafer began "I don't know. Only the coolest unis can do this stuff."

"Teach me! Teach me to but a cool uni! Please?"

"Well," he studied the maroon foal out of the corner of his eye. He enjoyed watching him- all nerves, hoping.

"Please?"

"Okay. But you have to do everything I say."

"I will! I will! I promise!"

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"Hello Thereda."

She looked around.

"In front of you."

There was a beautiful faerie. She had red brown hair and ice blue eyes. Her wings were black, tipped with orange and red.

"What do you want?"

Thereda dug her hoof in the dirt. It didn't pick up anything- her hoof wasn't there. "Tp be with my daughter, I mean, daughters?"

The faerie shook her head slowly "You were right the first time. Daughter." she continued "I am one."

"Excuse me?"

"I used to be two- two incomplete forms. Now I am one." she turned to Thereda "Your life has come to an end. You can no longer speak to, sing to, touch your daughter." Thereda began to cry. The faerie continued "You can be closer to her than you ever were- and you can be together forever. You and your daughter can become one."

She gasped "Can I?"

"She won't know your there, but she will have your strength, your wisdom."

Thereda shook her head "She is already more stronger than me."

"Oh, that's not true," but it seemed the faerie couldn't explain.

"Okay." Thereda said "I'll do this. For Gipha."

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She felt a warmth all of a sudden, and a feeling of security. She looked down to her hooves. What was she doing here, moping? There was work to be done! Gipha called Shil to her. The maroon colt came running "Guess what? I met a friend!"

Despite the situation, Gipha felt her lips stretch into a grin "Great! Who is he?"

"Rafer," Shil turned, but the brown uni was gone "huh," he said.

"Well," Gipha said "We'll worry about that later. Now you stay here, I'll get your grandfather and your aunt. It's time to give your grandmother a proper burial."

&&&

TLT:

Keredith stodd with the rest of the unis, in front of the magnifican't lead stallion. He was talking to something called a "Harmony", apparen'tly called Geldaefy. Keredith had never heard of this before, so she watched with great interest at the happenings. Something bumped into her. She turned and saw a young grey stallion.

"Sorry," he said nervously. He glanced around, and shifted nervously.

Keredith giggled. "It's all right. I'm Keredith, but you can call me Keri." She smiled at him.

Xandrean was taken aback at this sudden friendlyness, but he caught himself. "Nice to meet you Keri. I'm Xandrean." He smiled back, but still glanced around, as if he was looking for something.

"Xan then." Keri smiled broadly. This new uni was rather cute. Her life would turn around, she told herself. This young stallion could help her.

"Xan, all right. Works for me." Xandrean began to relax. This mare had no reason to tattle on him to the lead stallion, so his secret should be safe.

"So, what do you know about this "Harmony" thing?"

"Not much really. In fact, none at all!" Xan laughed.

"Huh." Keri grinned and turned back to watch the great gold uni and his companions. After something that Lumino said, one of the strange unis would take off and go somewhere. Keri watched in fascination. This herd had strange customs, totally different to her old one, far away.

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Very paced nervously around the clearing, watching his mate and son sleeping on a bed of grass. It was near the middle of the night, but his golden horn glowed softly, illuminating the sleeping unis. He thought over his dream. He was disturbed from watching himself and his lovely Nill die in the same manner that he had witnessed his own parents die when he was a colt. Then watching his son fly, even without wings, and being rescued by a uni that could only be Gipha was rather traumatic. And then he saw that strangly familar colt climbing his way out of the valley. VeryVain shook his head. His dream had no basis in reality. It was just a figment of his imagination, brought by the stressful events of the day. Thats all. Nothing more.

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Lumrino and Verin were racing across the plains. Neither could see or hear the other, and they were constantly bumping into each other, unbeknowst to either party. They both ran toward the same place, a small noll and clump of trees, where they had heard a familar howling.

&&&

Tasia:

The four unis held a night service for Thereda, which Gipha said the words. Trab, though devistated by the final loss of his mate, watched his daughter with pride. Mystyc looked around for Thereda's spirit but gave up, thinking it was probably for the best anyway. Shil really didn't know what was going on, and wanted to play with Rafer.

&&&

Morgan:

Ally ignored Mystyk and continued to lead her family away from the herd. Her heart was pounding in her ears. What was she thinking? But that Trab... URG! He had made her blow up. He needed to be punished. But would it be her that punished him? Much of the same thoughts raced through Nami's mind as well. They both hoped it wouldn't come to that.'

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Mikasi chased after Mystyk. What had Zonk said? Mystyk headed for Lumino, but then he heard a very familiar voice.

"Lumino, I ask you for justice. I would like to see that Trab at least knows that something he has done is wrong! Not just simply walk away from the matter. Lumino-sama ha totemo sugoi desu, demo Trab-kun ha totemo baka to aku desu yo! Lord Lumino, you are very great, but Trab is very evil and idiotic. Do not mess with Lupes, my blood burns. Be warned, I can only contain my anger for so long."

It was that Cloud Lupe, but... It couldn't be! He sniffed in deeply and his breath caught in his throat. That was Ally, his mother! She looked different, but that was her! She was insulting Trab! That wasn't to say that Mikasi didn't agree with her... After all, it seemed to Mikasi that Trab hated him. He was confused though, but he knew to follow Mystyk so he did. Then he saw Mystyk's mother laying in the mud, dead. Mystyk cried out, but then she was gone. WHERE WAS SHE?! He turned around quickly and saw her, seemingly talking to herself, but Mikasi knew better. He walked over to Mystyk slowly, trying not to disturb her. From the bits of Mystyk's speech, he was able to tell that she must be talking to Thereda, her mother.

"Mystyk? Are you... Ok?" Mikasi knew it was lame, but he couldn't think of what else to say. He lowered his head. "I'm sorry about my mother... I can't believe she'd act like that, especially to your father..." He was suddenly curious and he looked up straight at her. "What was it that Zonk wanted you to do? It seemed pretty important..."

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Zonk raced off in search of more ghosts. Eventually, she came upon a few pups. "HELP! I need to know how to help the living world! A terrible creature called Laenyn is coming to take over the entire world! Everyone is in danger! I'm sorry to just start talking to you, but what can I do?! I... I'm Zonk, and the monster Laenyn stole my body! Is there nothing I can do?" She was pleading with them, desperate. What was she going to do?

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Tam looked up again to see the Lupes leave. She snorted in the grass angrily. About time and good riddance! Suddenly a foal jumped in their path! The idiot! They would kill her for sure! Tam raced over, but stopped halfway there. The Lupes were leaving the filly alone. This shook the foundation of Tam's mind. Lupes were murderers, but then why weren't they killing the herd? She sank to her knees. The world had gone mad.

&&&

Tasia:

Mystyc turned to Mikasi, surprised "Oh," she said. She struggled to remember "Laenyn," she said the word so thickly "stole Zonk's body. I need to tell Lumino. Lumino!" she broke away from the service.

"Wait a minute young lady." she was startled to hear her mother's voice. Mystyc turned, but only Gipha was there "Where are you going."

Mystyc swallowed "I have to, to, well, I'm tired, I'm going to get some rest."

Gipha looked at her gently "Poor girl, it's been a rough day for you, hasn't it? Okay, go get some rest, I'm going to stay awake a little while longer."

"Can I go play with Rafer?" Shil asked.

"Sure, but don't stay out too long."

Trab came and stood next to Gipha "You did that beautifully, honey."

"I know," Gipha felt a sadness "I just wish, could have seen it."

"She would be very proud of you."

Despite the incredible loss she felt, Gipha, for the first time in her life, had an overwealming feeling that everything was going to be alright.

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"Lumino!" Mystyc ran in "Lumino!" she stopped. How could she explain about the threat of Laenyn? She said slowly "Does the name 'Laenyn' ring a bell?"

&&&

Uni:

Lumino looked round, aghast by this sudden interruption.

"Oh ... Mystyk, it's you. Laenyn? Erm ... yes. Oh my ... does it mean ... ? Delta ... are you back? Yes ... Lady Orior ... accompagny young Mystyk here, she will need your help. We cannot interrupt the council. Is Sir Trab here?" ((OOC: After your post, I don't understand if he really is here or not lol n.n' I'll just say that he is, I'll edit the post if necessary.)) "Sir Trab ... well, I guess that a war isn't unprobable, but we have all the chances on our side. The Harmony have surveyed the Lupes for millions of years. If a war should become real, we will know their tactics."
"I know that most of you do not know what a Harmony is. This do not matter. They are spirits of light, and they have protected the Unis since the beginning of time. That is all you need to know to have trust in them. We need faith."

&&&

Tasia:

Mystyc backed away. Maybe, Laenyn was no threat at all,

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shil searched the air for Rafer's scent. Unis are not animals for tracking, but Shil's mother had taught him how to take in a breath of air and hold it in his nostrils- studying it.

Shil looked around sadly. He saw a great white stallion with a green mane. He gasped. It was MerryMane! His mother had told him the story about the hero who tamed a wild lupe and saved the maiden Jifa before falling victum to the evil Saberkill's spell and disapearing into the unknown. Shil was so excited, he raced up to speak to him.

However, a closer look revealed that this uni was MerryMane. His mane was streaked with red, and his fur was tipped with gold. Shil gulped and said "Hi," shyly before trotting off.

The colt hung his head, thinking about how silly he had made himself look. He caught a smell in his nostrils and lifted his head. Rafer was standing there. Shil trotted over to say hi to him.

"Hi Rafer!"

"Kid!" the uni seemed genuinely happy "Kid, look at this-"

"What?" Rafer was looking at the white uni Shil had thought was MerryMane. Sleeping where a spotted mare with great wings and a blue colt with silver speckles.

"Is that stallion that colt's daddy?"

"Huh, er, yeah, but, look at the foal!"

Shil looked. The colt was larger than him, a very dark color, like the night sky.

"Yeah?"

"NO WINGS!" Rafer laughed with a grunting noise.

Shil forced a laugh. He didn't see what was funny about it- Shil had seen lupes without wings, and kaus without wings, and ixis without wings. However, he felt he shouldn't bring this to Rafer's attention.

&&&

TLT:

The dawn broke over the small stand of trees where thre little uni family lay. Very sat wide eyed, still watching over his son and mate. He got up after a while, and began grazing in the lush green grass. Habernill woke up soon after, and grazed along side him. She could tell he was agitated, so she said nothing.

Very was deep in thought when he smelled something new. A uni. He was too tired from lack of sleep to investigate, besides, it was just a little colt. It came toward him, and said a shy "Hi," Then immediatly trotted away. Very watched him as he left. Who was that? he thought. He watched the colt meet with another colt out of the corner of his eyes. The conversation was too far away for Very to hear, until the brown colt pointed toward Kahven and yelled out "NO WINGS!" and began to laugh. Very glanced at his sleeping son, fire burning in his eyes. He snorted and pawed the ground. He tried to control his anger, but the more he thought about it, the madder he got. He forced himself to take a few deep breaths, before he started a quick trot toward the offending colts. His eyes blazed with renewed anger, seeing jealously that they each had what his son did not, and what they were mocking him for, wings.

"Very!" Habernill saw what he was doing. He simply ignored her. He didn't know what he would do to those stupid colts, but he would make sure they would think twice before ever making fun of anyone again.

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Quetzal watched the strange proceedings with mild interest at first, but soon her eyes were glazed over, and she was merely looking in the direction of where the lead stallion stood, but not paying any attention to what was happening. She was bumped out of her stupor when a blue colt ran underneath her. It stood behind her, and looked cautiosly out, as if it was hiding from something. She glared at it. Stupid kids running around as if they owned the place, stupid parents not watching them like they should, stupid stupid people. She stepped to the side so the colt wasn't behind her anymore. It glared at her with a strange intensity.

"Nooo! I'm sapost to hide behind yooze!"

"Go find someone else to hide behind."

"Chan said you."

Quetzal tilted her head at the strange colt. Chan?

"Chan said I was sapost to hide behind yooze, then he would come and get me and applogize. Yooze doing it all wong!" The colt continued. It stamped its foot in frustration.

Quetzal studied it. "Why?"

The blue uni looked at her. "Chan said that you would see him and fall in lurve with him, and youzed get marwied and get me a brudder. I wants a brudder. Or a zister." Quetzal, understanding at last, laughed. "Whats yooze laughing at. Chan sayz lurve is no laughing matter." The colt nodded wisely.

Quetzal continued laughing as she trotted away, leaving the herd and the colt. "I weally do wants a brudder you know!" The colt shouted at her before stalking off back into the mass of unis.

&&&

Uni:

The beautiful spotted Uni walked over to Mystyk.

"Hello," she smiled, "I am Orior, Uni Enchantress of the Lost Desert. It is nice to meet you. Aren't you Mystyk, Sir Trab's second daughter?"

The concersation was cut by a loud murmer of surprise coming from the Harmony. A large mare Harmony snorted distinctively:

"Absents! Absents! How can we ever get all the Unis grouped? War is upon us ... and VeryVain, his mate Habernill and their son are absent!"

"Enough is said, Camarada," Lumino said firmly. "Delta, please fetch Sir VeryVain, Lady Habernill and Colt Kahven, please."

Once again, the herd leader's granddaughter took off.

"Sir, it is inadmissible!"

"Again!"

"We cannot stand it!"

"These who betray the Leader's desire - "

"Enough, Geldaefy! Camarada, you were supposed to round up the Wild Roamers. Have you not seen them in your trip?" Lumino's eyes blazed with concern.

"No, Sir ... "

"Are they Wild Roamers, at the very least?" the gold Uni swished his tail in an impatient manner.

"I so not know, but I think so, Sir."

"Well ... Arfely, Awven: round up Lady Gipha, her colt, and all the remaining Unis."

Two Harmony kicked off the ground.

Orior turned her look back on Mystyk.

"Can you show me ... the Laenyn of yours?" She whispered.

&&&

Tasia:

"Uh oh," Shil said "MerryMane looks mad." he turned, but Rafer was gone "Rafer?" he looked back at the white uni. He looked really mad. Shil cowered.

"There you are!" he heard. His mother came behind "It's time for bed hon-" her eyes met the stony gaze of the white uni. When she next spoke, there was fear "Is some-something wrong, sir."

Shil knew that tone. She used when she tried to make one of her suitors believe she didn't know them, but why was she so scared? Shil absorbed her fear, and began to shake.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Can you show me ... the Laenyn of yours?" She whispered.

Mystyc smiled. Finaly, someone to listen to her! "I can't show you," she said "I have only met her once," she looked into Oriors eyes for a sign that she could trust her. With a look to Mikasi and then to Zonk, she said "Well, you probably know that my name used to be Kriahz, because you know a lot." she felt a terrible pain, but went on "Well, it was because Zhairk wispered his name backwards into my mother's ear." then there was the raw pain of losing her mother, but Mystyc pushed it aside

"He was a ghost," she said "I can see ghosts. And...he made me, no, told me to steal a scroll from Kauvara. Well, this is where Laenyn comes in. She got mad that I stole the scroll...but maybe she was supposed to be," her confinidence began to slip "I mean, Zhairk was using it to steal my body, and, he was evil. Well, Laenyn came...no, Mikasi came first, right Mikasi? Yeah, Mikasi came first, and stopped Zhairk, BUT LAENYN CAME AND KILLED HIM!"

She started breathing heavily. She knew she had to continue her story "Well, then Magik, no, Laquinti, well of them got be, but Mikasi was dead, so, well, I was like Zhairk. I tried to kill Laenyn," she shivered "Then I threatened Morgan," her eyes grew wide "I think that's when Laenyn and Zonk seperated!" she looked up at Orior "Well, to make a long story short, Laenyn brought Mikasi back," she felt doubt again.

"Is that all?"

"Wait," Mystyc said "I have Zonk with me. She's dead. Well, sort of. Laenyn stole her body, then she stole Morgan's soul." she said "Laenyn is evil!"

&&&

TLT:

Very began trotting faster toward the two colts. The brown one ran away, while the maroon colt stood in fear. Very heard a familar voice.

"There you are!"

Very stopped, and glared at whoever would stop his punishment.

"Its time for bed hon-" The red and black mare saw Very. "Is some-something wrong, sir?"

Very stared at her, his anger vanishing like smoke.

"G-Gipha? I-Is that y-you?" He stuttered in his amazement. "I thought you... you left... you... you..." He was at lost for words.

Habernill had been chasing after Very, hoping to stop him from letting his anger get the better of him. But now she stopped, a ways behind him. The red mare with a black mane and tail, she was familar. Giff? Giphia? Gipha. Habernill smiled and waved at her from behind Very, but she would let them sort this out. She had a hunch Gihpa didn't like her that much.

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"Giph!" Lumrino shouted at where the forlorn howl had come from.

With a shimmer, a brown pup looked at him.

The bright green Verin appeared beside Lumrino.

"Why did ya run off like that sis?

"You guys were boring." Giph tilted her head and yawned. "I went off to do my own things."

"You could of at least told us where you were going." Lumrino looked sternly at her, a comical expression for a pup.

"Why should I have to tell you were I'm going? You're not Mom."

Verin could tell from the look on her face that she didn't even know where she was going. "I bet you didn't know yourself. You just ran off to see what was happening."

Giph glared at him. "No. I went to check on our mother. While you two are chatting about gibberish, our dear mom is in a living death, and taken care of by a foul monster." Giph's eyes were fierce with the unfairness of it all. "After I confirmed that her flesh was rotting while she was still alive, I discovered this little lupe family hiding out, and decided to see what they were doing." She didn't mention the wonderful glimpse of a happy child hood that she had seen, and had so abruptly taken away from her.

Verin and Lumrino still glared at her silently, though they had a saddened look on their face, and Giph knew her point had struck home.

&&&

Tasia:

She didn't make eye contact. She gulped several times before answering "Hi Very." she winced. She said that a little more coldly than desired. This time, she at least tried for luke warm "Hi, Very, hi, such a surprise to see you," that was certainly true.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shil nudged his mother. What was wrong with her?

&&&

TLT:

"Hi, Gipha." Very gulped. "What a surprise to see you too. Wha-wha-what a pleasure." He smiled weakly. Could that be her...son? Naw, thought Very. He dismissed the absurd idea.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kahven woke up. He peered over the tall (to him) grass and relized both his parents were gone. He stood up and stretched. He looked around, and finally saw his mom and dad in a field far away, talking to another mare. Kahven felt no compelling reason to join them, so he tried to eat a few mouthfuls of grass, then began jumping around the field, like the hyper little colt he was. He sniffed the fresh air, and was surprised to smell a very odd sent. If was slightly familar, and he remembered the strange little creature he had seen a while before when he was much younger. He followed the scent into the nearby stand of trees.

He was sniffing around a bush when something jumped out at him. He stared at the thing, then recoiled and stumbled back in fear. He fell on the ground then scrambled up and ran toward his parents.

"Thats no way to treat an old friend! I've known you since you were born you fool!" The mutant cybunny laughed at the frightened colt, then slowly hopped after him, his huge black ears flopping and his thick tail dragging on the ground.

&&&

Uni:

Orior thought hard. She must know an enchantment ... yes ... the Song of Revival ... but it must be sang by a Faerie Peophin by a night of full moon ... and in the purest of waters ...

"Look, Mystyk ... I - I know how to revive Zonk ... but it will take time ... and she will only be 'alive' for 3 days. If it is that that you want, Mystyk, I can do it. But ... if - if that works, maybe ... I can search for an enchantment to transform her into a ghost, if you want. I've seen it many times before. How does that sound?"

Orior tried to smile, but managed only a weak grin.

&&&

TLT:

"DAAAADDIEEEE!" Kahven ran across the plains screaming as he went. "MOOOMMIEEEE!"

Habernill and Very turned in unison, still several yards apart to watch the squealing purple and silver colt run toward them. He ran to Habernill and cowered behind her. Very galloped over to her as well, and together they tried to soothe their son.

"Oi vey! You two need to teach that rascle some manners. I didn't even get to say hello before he starts running and screaming like a banshee." The large mutated looking cybunny hopped slowly but surely toward them. Habernill stared at it curiously, while Very stared nervously. "That no way to treat an old friend!" It shouted at them, using his favorite phrase. He laughed malicously as it neared the huddled unis, ignoring the colt and red mare that also was on the plain.

"Fwanta!" An eeriely strange voice floated across the plains.

The great grey cybunny looked toward the voice. "Uh oh... LT's mad at me. She says its not right to scare people just because I'm different." He sighed.

"Fwanta? The pesky little cybunny?" Very stared curiously at the beast.

"I'm still a cybunny this time. Coulda fooled you though." Fwanta plucked at his skull and cross bones patterned ruff. "doesn't the color suit me?"

"No." Habernill laughed. Fwanta glared at her.

"Goof says you look like a monster. He was scared, but not me!" The high pitched, childish voice came from behind Herbnill, where Kahven was still shaking slightly, but peering at Fwanta.

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"Come on Giph."

"I like it here." She whined. "I made a two new friends. I was playing with them, but they left." The brown lupe looked sadly at the hole that her two friends had dissapeered into.

"Dont tell us lies." Verin scoffed. "No one can see you unless you want them too."

"They could! They saw me and plaid with me! At least, one of them did."

"Codswallop. Now come on. Lumino has called all the Unis together, and we should go and see what they are doing." Lumrino said. "Come on."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

Yes."

"Cant I say good bye first?"

"No."

"Yes."

Lumrino and Verin glared at each other. Verin nodded slightly, but sternly, and Lumrino sighed. "Make it quick."

Giph howled in glee and ran toward the den.

&&&

Tasia:

Gipha looked over her shoulder. She saw her sister Mystyc talking with a lovely spotted uni with wings as large as Habernill's. Gipha had a funny pang of jealousy- wierd, hadn't she gotten over that? The gold stallion Lumino was there too, and he didn't seem to be shooing Mystyc away. What was going on? The ways of the royal family were strange to Gipha, and frightened her. She thought momentarily about her lost friendship with Orora.

There was a loud sound and an indigo colt ran out of the woods, pursued by a terrible black and gray monster. Gipha instictively put her body in front of her own son. She watched for several moments there was an exchange between Very and Habernill and the monster. A cybunny, it had called itself. Gipha had seen cybunnies before, but they hadn't looked like this! At oone point, a voice called out of her vision, and Gipha raised her ears and locked her legs, ready for attack.

Shil called out loud "Can I play with him mommy?"

Gipha blinked "What?"

"Can I play with him? Can I play with the colt?"

She thought of the "cybunny", but decided that if Very and Habernill trusted it, it couldn't be that bad. "Yes. But don't go out of my sight."

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Shil approached the blue colt. He was showing signs of fear, which made Shil more confident. He stepped right up to him "Hi! I'm Shil. What's your name?"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When Noe returned to her den, Shiko was awake. She lay down. She looked defeated. Shiko watched her for a long time. After a while, Noe said "You know, the word Frailik has two meanings."

Shiko waited.

"Frailic, spelled with an I and a C means 'weakling' in the language of the ancient unis.

"However, Frailyk, with a Y and a K means 'to fly.'"

"Well, which does Frailik mean?"

Noe shrugged.

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Bru had been sleeping for days. Allia and Noe could only wake him for a few minutes to eat and to relieve himself. After the rest of the family seemed to have gotten over the loss of Frailik, Bru seemed to be wasting away. Allia remembered how she had threatened Bru, and she thought of this and she fell to sleep.

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Bru was batting a masked advisory with his paws in a mock war. Behind them was a giant shadow cast by tall trees. Bru was battling the enemy towards it. At one point, Bru reached his jaws and ripped off the mask.

The face was Frailik's.

"Frailik!" Bru called his brother's name. There was a pounding of paws, and Allia and Falara were beside him. However, the long legged lupe just cowered away from his siblings.

"Frailik!" Allia called "Stay away from the shadow!"

It was too late. Tendrils came up from the shadow, and grabbed Frailik's legs. It pulled Frailik into the darkness.

"FRAIL-IK!" Bru screamed, and jumped after, a two legged creature jumped in his way.

He looked up. There was a faerie, with feathery black wings tipped with red "The darkness is not for you."

Bru was speechless. It was Allia who saved him "Who are you?"

"That is not important." the Faerie said. "You have seen what has become of your brother-"

"Is he dead?" Allia blurted.

The faerie turned her icy blue gaze on the blue pup "You ask a lot of questions. That is a sign of an inquiring mind. However, you must learn that there are times to speak and other times to listen."

Allia hung her head.

"Dark times are upon us. Falara, you must find the black mare and go hence to the haunted woods."

"The haunted woods?! My parentsn told me about that place! They say it's always in shadow!" she paused "Is Frailik in the haunted woods?"

"No," the faerie said "I cannot tell you what is there. I am not given the future like I once was- just glimpses of it. You must go. Do not disobey me, Falara."

The little gray green pup looked paler.

"Allia and Bru," as she spoke, the shadows disappeared. The three pups gasped. Between Bru and Allia was solid ground on which Falara stood. On the other side of Allia was a raging ocean. On the other side of Bru was a forest on fire.

"Allia," the faerie said crypticly "Your power is sorrow."

The blue pup nodded, though she didn't understand.

"And Bru, your power comes from rage."

Bru nodded.

"Now," the faerie said "wake!"

&&&

TLT:

Kahven was still peering from behind his mothers legs, when he heard something approach him. "Hi! I'm Shil. What's your name?"

Kahven jumped slightly, and turned to see a maroon(?) colt. He sulled his ears back and glared at the intruder. But it didn't seem viscous so he smiled.

"I'm Kahven! Wanna play?"

Habernill was still talking with Fwanta, taking only a breif intrest in her son's new friend.

"So you live in an enclosed space with poor vetilation and fuzzy artificial grass?"

"Err... Well, thats not quite it..."

"It does have ventilation honey. There are windows, openings in the walls." Very popped in.

"Oh. I still like living out here. I wouldn't want to go into the city." Habernill looked up, to gaze a the brilliant blue sky. But something was wrong. There was a dark spot, steadily growing larger until it because the obvious form of a uni. "Very, look." she whispered.

The form landed with a soft thump, and smiled at them. "Come. My grandfather and the Harmonies request you presence. Follow me please. Lady Gipha, you are requested as well." The mystical uni paused to look at Fwanta. "Sir Fwanta, you may follow if you wish." The mutant cybunny growled slightly, but the Harmony was un-abashed.

Very and Habernill looked at each other.

"Kahven dear, I know you've just begun playing with your friend, but we're going now."

"Awww... Mom..."

"Come on sweetie."

"The Harmonies are not all as patient as I am. Please hurry. Sir Kahven, your friend should come as well." Kahven smiled at that.

"Come on Shil! We get to go on a 'venture!"

&&&

Uni:

Lumino watched as the bright dot of light landed near the herd. Delta bowed, and stepped aside, next to the other Harmony.

&&&

Tasia:

Shil blinked at the stranger. Gipha came foreward and nodded to her son "Show our friends how good you fly," she said, but regretted when she for once looked at the indigo foal. He was handicapped- wingless. Shil began to take to the air, but Gipha said "Actually Shil, show how fast you run!" Gipha began a sprint. The little foal, baffled, began after his mother.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mystyc thought about it. Then she turned to Zonk "Do you want to be alive again? It would probably help with comunicating,"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The three pups woke at once. One look at each other's eyes told them that they had all had the same dream, and that it was no dream at all. Falara began to shake. Allia came and stood next to her "I'll go with you, if you want."

Falara could have embraced her sister. How she wished that this fate wasn't hers...but Falara said "No, I have to go alone."

"But you don't have to go yet!" Bru's waking self spoke for the first time "At least say goodbye to mom and dad!"

"I can't! After losing Frailik, mom and dad are way too protective. And what do you think they'll say when I tell them a faerie told me to find a black mare and go to the haunted woods?" she sighed.

"Well," Allia sounded as clear minded as ever "Why don't you stay one day, and say goodbye to mom and dad- just without saying 'goodbye'? Then in the morning, before they wake up, you'll leave.

Falara couldn't find any fault in the plan. She smiled warmly at Allia "Thanks."

&&&

TLT:

Kahven watched with intrest as Shil took off, but then landed back on the ground. With a determined look in his eyes, he began running as well, concentrating on flying high like he had been with his mother. He closed his eyes, and suddenly the ground disapeered from underneath his feet. He continued thrashing his hooves in the air, eyes shut tightly, imagining soaring high up in the air. He heard a short scream below him, and opened his eyes to see the rest of the unis below him. The ground was far beneath him. His horn glowed softly on his forehead. Habernill pumped her great wings and began ascending quickly and soon she was paralell with her son.

"Kahven dear!"

He stopped pedeling his hooves in midair, and they seemed to rest on a solid plane and he stood, floating in sky. He grinned foolishly at his mother. He peered down at the ground again and felt a faint sense of vertigo.

"You can fly!"

He looked at his mom strangly. "Silly Mommy. Did you think I needed wings to fly?" Kahven laughed merrily.

The Harmony smiled at this change of events, and floated skyward as well. "Now that we are together, come. Not all Harmonies are as patient as I." She repeated and began flying over the lake slowly.

Kahven ran across his floating invisible floor after her, and Habernill raced after him smiling. Very flew up as well, and beckoned to Gipha and her son.

"I think I'll just go around the lake. Dont wait up for me!" The mutant cybunny called up, then began running swiftly around the bend of the lake.

&&&

Morgan:

Zonk looked over at Laenyn. Alive? She didn't really care about herself at the moment, Morgan was weighing heavier on her mind. "I would like to be alive, but I would most likely be killed by Laenyn again. I don't care what happens to me right now, we need to prepare for Laenyn and we need to save Morgan... Is there anything that can be done for her? Her soul is... That foul creature... In my body, no less! I need to do SOMETHING!!" Zonk paced restlessly back and forth. This was maddening! Laenyn would be here in an hour or less if Zonk knew her half as well as she thought. Yet she herself could do nothing to stop Laenyn, and that made her feel more helpless than she had felt in a decade at least. She couldn't just float around here waiting for Laenyn! She howled a long sad note, full of regret and anger and helplessness. She could do nothing.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mikasi followed Mystyk still, and tried to stay out of the way. He had almost no idea what was going on. He was confused, mainly because he kept feeling a terrible forboding feeling off from the direction of Neopia Central. He shivered suddenly, a tremor going his spine. Something was coming, and it was worse than he had thought. What could he do though, now that he had lost his powers? He, now more than ever, felt weak, like he could do nothing to help. A chill wind blew around him, feeling for all the world like it was trying to say something. He could almost make out words, but it was gone suddenly, and a heavy silence seemed to fall around him. He was worried. He wanted to protect Mystyk from this evil, but what could he do? He was drawing a blank on that, and decided to figure that out when the time came. A dark shadow was growing on the horizon, all light on the border vanishing. It was unnatural.

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Laenyn was grinning to herself. She was taking her time, savoring each kill she made. Here a pack of petpets, there a lone Lupe far from home, all fell before her but rose again. They followed her, an army that reeked of death, sorrow, and fear. Laenyn cackled. All was according to plan.

((OOC: Out of ideas. Sorry. Have a nice day, bye!))

&&&

Uni:

Lumino saw the Unis approaching. A red mare with black mane and tail - Gipha, Orora noted mentally - , two colts, a spotted mare, and a white stallion with read, green, and gold mane and tail - VeryVain! Orora thought cheerfully.

The Harmony threw their heads in lassitude or in fright that the time lost in the reunion might urge the Lupes to attack. But the Harmony had two leaders: Lumino, and Hyaerdean, the Beast of Light, and also the true leader of the Harmony.

((OOC: Remember, Hyaerdean called on all the Harmony when Lumino asked for help on page 27 ))

Hyaerdean was Lumino's father, and fought as bravely as a hundred Kougras during the two-hundred-year war that a generation of particularily ferocious Lupes lead on the Unis ((OOC: Let's say that Unis live for a reeeaally long time, ok? )). Finally, in a vicious battle that opposed Hyaerdean and the mighty Traflyhed, the legendray Uni hit the Lupe strait in the heart with his solid hoof, and killed the Alpha before falling to the ground, exausted.
Then, his spirit re-materialised in a form of light and magic, and so he became the first and most powerful Harmony of all.

((OOC: There you go. That's all for the description I hope it's detailed enough ))

Orior scanned Zonk's thoughts.

"Mystyc," Orior whispered, "tell Lady Zonk that I can rematerialise her as a ghost. No force can kill a ghost, not even the purest of evil. However, a ghost can vanquish the most terrible foe, by entering into their body, and if the ghost is strong enough, it can take possession of their minds. Tell her, please, since you are the only one who can see the dead."

Orior smiled warmly.

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Tasia:

Gipha's mouth was hanging open as she watched the foal in the air "Why I never," then she turned to Shil "Okay Shilly, now fly!"

Shil raised into the air, followed by Gipha, but the colt said "Maa! Don't call me Shilly!"

"And why not?"

"Because it rymes with filly! Yuck!"

Gipha just laughed. She noticed Very beckoning them, but Gipha chose to ignor the invitation. It was nice to see her friend after a long time, but Gipha was still uncomfortable with the feelings she felt for Very, and every time she saw the stallion gazing lovingly at Habernill and Kahven- obviously their son- Gipha felt a little sting.

Gipha landed, next to her father and gave him a loving nuzzle. Not far away, she saw her sister Mystyc was still speaking to the spotted mare. Gipha hadn't looked at her sister when she arrived, but she now saw how grown up and beautiful the mare looked. Soon, she would be finding herself a mate. It was then that Gipha noticed a green lupe with electric blue wings standing protectively near her sister, giving her a look of incredible care and unshakable love. Love, Gipha wondered? Was it possible?

The black mare was saying "I'm sorry, but Zonk has left. You will have to ask her another time. But, Orior," she stopped herself "I mean, Lady Orior, what can we do about Laenyn?"

Gipha frowned. Poor Mystyc was trying to tell the unis something, but it seemed she couldn't the correct words.

Gipha looked upon the rest of the group. She reckonized the herd leader Lumino, his daughter Orora, and her daughter Shagya. Gipha had been at the herd during the time of Orora's fillies' birth, now Shagya was a beautiful mare. Gipha looked at the harmony who had recieved herself, Shil and Very's family, and recognized Orora's oother daughter Delta's face. Gipha made a little whinny of surprise. Gipha knew only little about the harmonies. She knew that they protected the herd, but nothing more than that. There were other harmonies gathered, all beautiful in heavenly light.

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The next morning, Falara woke early. She laid there for several minutes without the will to move. After a time, Allia woke and padded to her to wake her up. When she saw that her eyes were open, she didn't seem surprised. "You might as well go now," Allia said "while mom and dad are still asleep."

Falara picked herself up. She licked her sister's ears "I'll miss you."

"Should we wake Bru?" Allia wispered.

Falara shook her head "He's a rock when he sleeps." She padded around and said a silent goodbye to both her parents and Bru. Then she poked her nose out of the den. Falara saw no sun, but the eastern horizon was a blaze of gold. Framed by the gold was a brown pup.

"Giph!" Falara called in surprise "What are you doing here?"

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TLT:

"Hey Falara!" Giph said. "My brothers are making me leave." The brown pup motioned toward two other puppies, who looked far wiser than their puppyish faces too. Very gave a short yip that clearly meant for her to hurry up. "I.. I just wanted to say it was nice to meet some real puppies for once. Ghosts aren't always that fun." She cocked her head and looked at Falara longingly. She had such a good life, a family, siblings, a good home, and of course, an actual life, not just the life of a ghost, ignored unless they made a real effort to venture into the real world. "I'll.. I'll miss you..." Giph felt silly. She had only known this strange puppy for a couple minutes, and yet she felt torn to leave the comforting home they had. She wiped a tear from her eye, and turned away. "Lets go! To the lake, to the herd!" She barked.

She ran past Verin and Lumrino, who quickly caught up and gave a short howl, mixed with the joy of travel, and the misery of their mission. With a shimmer of the morning light, they disapeered to be silent and invisible once more.

((So uh, Morgan, they should be traveling from somewhere around the south west corner of the map to the eastern part of the big lake, that is unless, Falara stops them.))
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Very landed with a soft thump, and the majestic Habernill landed next to him. Kahven was trying to figure out how to land, when the invisible plane he had been standing on, and he tumbled straight toward the ground, his descent only slowing in the last few feet near the ground, and only slowing enough so that he didn't break any bones. He smiled foolishly at his parents, then scrambled up and ran toward where Shil had landed.

Keredith watched the arrival of the new unis with intrest. She ran up to where Xandrean stood, gazing longingly at the vashing Quetzal, but she ignored that.

"Come on Xan! Lets go meet some of these new unis!"

Xandrean gawked, but he regained his composure and called the blue colt he looked after toward him. "Okay, I guess." He glanced at the empty plain where he had seen the green uni run, but then ran to catch up with the green and black uni who was giggling ahead of him.

"Hey!" Keri called to the spotted mare. "I'm Keredith. Are you new here?"

Habernill laughed. "Am I that obvious? I'm Habernill, and this is my husband VeryVain, and my son Kahven." Very glared at her full use of his name. She pointed at the purple and silver colt, who was running eagerly toward the maroon colt he had met the day before. "Nice to meet you Keredith."

"Keri." Keridith smiled. "This is my boyfriend Xandrean." Xan looked at her oddly, hadn't he only met this uni a day ago?

"Call me Xan please." He grinned at the uni couple who were obviously deep in love.

"Nice meeting you!" Keri smiled again, and pulled Xan toward where the red and black mare had landed.

Xan decided to speak first. "Haloo! I'm Xandrean, and this is my friend Keredith." Keredith looked at him, slightly hurt.

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Tasia:

Mystyc spotted a dark faerie. She gasped "Magik?"

"Why don't you just go to sleep, child?" the dark faerie joked "Luckily, you can see one of my dead selves, otherwise I'd never reach you."

"Dead, selves?" Mystyc repeated.

"Magik and Laquinti died, but from those deathes the dream faerie was born. The dream faerie is coming, Mystyc." there was a pause "You know the danger of Laenyn. Before the dream faerie arrives, you must go to the haunted woods. Your accomplice is coming."

"Can Mikasi go too?" Mystyc blurted.

"No. He must not. Say whatever you have to say to him, but he must not come!"

Mystyc felt disappointed.

"Ah, here she is,"

Mystyc turned. A gray green pup came into the herd's territory. Mystyc couldn't leave a meeting with Lumino, so she met the pup's eye. The pup blinked in surprise and reckonition, and came toward her.

"Sorry to interrupt you, ma'am, but two nights ago I had a dream and-"

"I know." Mystyc said "We must go to the haunter woods."

The pup nodded. She looked a little pale, so Mystyc said "Not yet though." At this the pup seemed to brighten.

&&&

Uni:

Orior turned from Mystyk to gaze at the new arrivals. She whispered a "I'll see you later," to the black mare, and walked away from her, swishing her tail politely and holding her wings like a swan.

Orora galloped towards Gipha, her spirits lighter than ever before.

"Oh, Gipha! I thought - I thought that I would never see you again! Here - let me show you ... Shagya! Shagya, honey ... "

The magnificent white Uni turned her head gracefully, and trotted towards them, her big pastel-coloured butterfly wings glittering in the sun.

"Here," Orora said, smiling at Gipha. "Gipha, here is my daughter, Shagya. She has changed, hasn't she?"

Shagya bowed to Gipha, and said hello.

"Delta, Delta dear, do come, Gipha has come back!"

The Harmony raised her ears, and floated towards them. Delta flicked her tail, and bowed too.

"Well, you do remember Delta, don't you, Gipha?" Orora smiled. "The poor thing got killed by a Lupe, but see what she has become! Shagya took care of the Lupe, too, didn't you, honey?"

Shagya smiled, embarrassed.

"And this," Orora said, looking at Orior, "is Orior, Enchantress of the Lost Desert."

"I am enchanted to meet you, Lady Gipha," Orior nodded.

&&&

Tasia:

It looked to Mystyc like the little pup was washed away in icy water. She nudged the body up with her horn, then moved her neck so the pup fell neatly on her shoulders. She nodded goodbye to the other- most of them older than her and involved in some other business. Besides, she was nearly an adult now.

Mystyc looked down at Mikasi "I'm sorry," she said "Magik said you are not allowed to come at all," she reached down and gave him an affectionate nuzzle "I'll come back," she promised.

"Got a good grip?" she asked the pup, and realized she didn't know her name.

There seemed to be a moment of silence, then she felt strong claws dig into her shoulders. "Ready," the pup squeeked.'

Mystyc kicked the dirt with an out of place whinny of joy, and began toward the south.

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Through the whole ceremony, Gipha smiled and nodded politely. She was excited to see Orora, and when she said her words Gipha thought 'I didn't honestly think I'd see you again either.' It was strange, she had left the safety of the herd to feel more grown up, yet she felt now that was the most childish thing! Gipha herself may have been suited for a life out on the plain, but right now the best thing for Shil was to interract with other unis. After learning what happened to her mother, Gipha felt a little guilty, and thought she needed to take care of Trab a little. The stallion was aging faster than he should, Gipha thought. As for her conflicts with Very and Orora...well, she would have to work those out, for Shil's sake.

The introductions finished and Gipha realized she had not been paying attention. She only had a vague understanding of each of the unis' names and place in life. She recalled Delta- killed? She gave a little cough of shock, and wondered momentarily if she could believe this, but she knew that Orora did not lie to her. She thought, 'Perhaps I sould give this friendship another chance. It was so beautiful before, what happened?'

When her friend paused, Gipha said "Well, I have only one person to introduce, but he's very important to me, and I love him," she called Shil over "My son, Shil."

She gazed at the family with defiance. Someone may ask her the father was, and if they did, Gipha would tell the truth: He was a strong, charismatic stallion, and had lived and died protecting free roamers from lupes.

In truth, he didn't protect anyone, just plaid games with the creatures until one day he had teased too much, but niether Shil nor anyone else needed to know all that.

&&&

Morgan:

Mikasi looked distraught that Mystyk had to go somewhere and he couldn't come. Him leaving her alone... It was almost unbearable! But Mystyk said he couldn't come, and her word was law to him, so he stayed. He had felt like floating when Mystyk had nuzzled him, but the joy was half-gone, whisked away after her. The world seemed to darken around him, but he thought he should go speak to some of the Unis, at very least. He didn't want them to hate him, they might pressure Mystyk into leaving him. He noticed Gipha and a small foal nearby and slowly walked over. He heard her say he was her son, but there was no father. Mikasi realized with a pang that a Lupe had probably killed him. Would she hate him as well? He looked up at her slowly. "Hello, Gipha, do you... Remember me?" It seemed like an eternity ago, but he could faintly remember seeing her before his first death, though he couldn't quite remember where. He shrugged internally and continued. "I am Mikasi, but I went by Waka a long way back. You are Mystyk's sister... Right?" He looked suspiciously at her. He had been manipulated, killed, and betrayed before. He felt he had the right to be a tad bit suspicious.

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Zonk wandered around for a time before noticing a small group of ghost pups just a bit away from her. She called out to them. "Help! I'm Zonk, please, you need to come here and help me! She's stolen my body and taken my little sister's soul! PLEASE! I'm getting desperate, I can't help with anything! Laenyn is coming, and she plans on killing everything in her path! PLEASE!" She howled out again, drawn-out and sorrowful. She was miserable, and she could do nothing on her own. Only wait, and she had never had to do that before if she could ever help it. She needed help if she wanted Morgan back, and she did. She would do anything to help her. Anything.

&&&

Tasia:

Shil yawned "Can I play with Kahven again?"

"But Shil, you haven't met Orora. She was my best friend growing up- did you know that?"

"Mommy, I won't have any friends if you keep on sheltering me!"

Gipha was surprised by his bluntness, but agreed "Go play you silly stallion, but stay where I can see you!"

Shil rolled his eyes as he left.

Gipha turned back to the company, to see the green lupe coming toward her. The lupe looked a little sad, and Gipha didn't see her sister anywhere. The lupe began to speak. He knew Gipha's name, and claimed to knowing her before. She pressed her eyes together "Now that I think of it, when my parents and my new sister returned from the haunted woods, there was a winged lupe with my sister." she wondered again if the strange friendship Mystyc and this pup had was any more than that, but she didn't want to ask and sound rude "Nice to meet you again, Mikasi."

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Mystyc and Falara were rested just outside the treeline. Mystyc could smell the fraguent rot beyond the trees, and her bones wished for nothing more than to dive between the black trunks and be there. The pup, however, was shaking with every muscle of her body. Despite an urge to leave Falara behind and run throughout the place she was born, Mystyc said "Maybe we can rest before we go in."

"Well I am kind of tired," the pup said, then she shook her head "We'll rest in the wood."

Mystyc nodded "Do you want to ride on my back?"

"No. I'll walk this time."

Mystyc was impressed by her courage. Side by side, they stepped in.

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TLT:

"Come on you wimps! Faster, faster! They can and will start without us. Its not like we are the guests of honor."

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Fwanta grumbled as he circled the lake. "Deathy gets all the attention... Deathy gets everything he wants. Deathy wants to be zapped, so what does he turn into? A koi. Brilliant, Mr. Fate. Now who's going to get in trouble? Me. Thats who. I said he could be zapped today cause I like this form, and he wanted to be and now look what happens.... Arrogant pig. Turn him into a male faerie kacheek please..."

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Something watched the herd from the lake. It was silent, laying in wait. Its keen ears listened to every word that was said. When it was satisfied with what it heard, it swam away to its master.

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Uni:

Orora woke up early that morning, and walked towards Gipha.

"Gipha," Orora whispered to her friend, "shouldn't you stay here for a bit? You have a colt now ... it'll be better if he grows up with other youngters." The Uni hesitated, and continued, "And maybe we should try and give our friendship another go."

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Tasia:

Gipha made a little whinny in good humor "You read my thoughts Orora." she nodded "Shil deserves to grow up in a place where he can anticipate who he meets everyday and," Gipha cast a look to Very for a second, but pulled herself away "Well," she said this a little more quietly "I do believe he needs a male that he can look up to- not the silly bacholers of the plain!" she gave a laugh. Gipha said "I would love to try this friendship again, Orora," she smiled.

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Mystyc woke with a quiet sense of horror. She choked it down, and opened her eyes.

In front was a pure black lupe puppy with membrany wings, sleeping comfortably. She gave a little cough of shock. How had this pup slept near her and Mystyc never noticed? She squinted. Something was different. The pup's face, it was Falara's! "Falara?!" Mystyc called.

The pup stretched and yawned. She looked to Mystyc and jumped back a little "Mys-tyc?"

In unison, they said "You look different!"

"Different?" Mystyc questioned "How so?"

"Well, for one, you have wings."

"My wings were ripped off by-" she turned. Sure enough, wings. Mystyc had giant dark brown wings. She stood and flapped them uselessly "What do you know,"

"Ah!" she heard Falara yell "Wings!"

Mystyc had forgot about Falara's transformation. The pup flapped her odd membranous wings. "What do you think it is?"

Mystyc shook her head "I can't see Magik here," she stopped herself "Or maybe I can,"

"What are you talking about?"

Mystyc ignored her. She consentrated...urgh, what was wrong? It seemed something was missing. Mystyc shook her head. She tried again- maybe a head cold cming on. She called "Magik? Magik!?"

"What are you doing?" Falara asked.

"I'm trying to reach Magik, but it's so much easier outside of the haunted woods." she gave a little sheepish grin and flapped her wings "I don't suppose you know how to fly? I was supposed to learn but I lost my wings."

"You mean, you didn't always not have wings?"

"No! I was born with wings but- you know what Falara? It will be a long walk home, I'll tell you a story."

"Great, I love stories."

"You'll like this one."

&&&

TLT:

"Hey."

"My mistress, I have watched. The Harmonies are at the lake. The lupes are heading there as we speak. "

"Ah. Well. Ghosts aren't ones to wait are they? Interesting, seeing how they have much more time than we do."

The zomutt pulled its ears back in irritation. "Mistress..."

There was a flickering, and a deep burgandy lupe appeared. "Ah, you are no fun, Comador. Am I not allowed to joke about what I am?"

"Yes, Mistress, but..."

"I understand. Comador, please go tell me what the lupes are doing. I don't need them to interfere with my plans. And while your at it, look for those two strange ones. What were their names again?"

"Falara, and Kriahz, my Mistress." The zomutt was annoyed at being sent on another task.

"My dear Comador, what would I be without you? I may turn you back yet if you continue to be good."

The zomutt didn't let himself smile. She had said that many times before, and yet, nothing happened.

"Comador, you are too stiff of company. Be gone and let me be in peace." The burgandy lupe rolled onto its back. "Ta ta."

Once the zomutt turned around, she dropped the playful act. "Step one." She mouthed. The zomutt dissapeered and she rushed away.

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Shil came running toward Kahven. The wingless colt smiled.

"Hiya! Whaddya think about all these people?" Kahven looked at the unis suspicously. It was mindboggling to see all these unis after living on the plains with only his mother and father, and a stray visitor once or twice. "I never knew there were so many unis, ever!" The optimistic colt didn't notice that he was the only one lacking wings. He still felt secure in his place, and not at all like a misfit.

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Jerad ran on, searching for the strange faint scent he had smelled before. He stopped a few times, his muscles tiring quickly after such a long run. He stopped again. The scent seemed stronger, but only slightly. The pond he stopped at was sweet, but it reeked of unis. Jerad felt tired. It overcame him like a wave, going from a faint tiredness of his muscles, to a desperate need to sleep in seconds. He walked out of the pond where he had been standing ankle deep in the water, and collapsed apon the bank.

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Stamsha led the pack into a hunt, a weak kau that was easily overtaken. Not even the idiotic twins managed to mess the hunt up. She sighed as she pecked through her leg of the kau. Jerad and his ego would get them all killed. She didn't like the scent of the strange creature. It was lupe, but something else as well. Stamsha's instincts screamed danger to her. Probably some strange mechanism to prevent us cloned pets from getting a hybrid into our "families". Stamsha thought. Her voice would have been dripping with hatred had she spoken aloud. She howled a short ambiguous note of frustration and continued picking at her meat.

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"Rad. I have a mission for you."

Jerad opened his eyes. The world seemed fuzzy, as if it was a dream, which, no doubt, it was. A beautiful lupe stood before him, her fur a lovely dark red.

"Rad. I have a mission for you." She repeated in a smooth voice.

Rad? No one had called him rad since... Jerad sat bolt upright, looking at the female, his eyes a mixture of fear and love.

"Pam?"

The lupe laughed. "Rad, I've missed you so much." She winked at him. "I am indeed Pampheliton."

"Are... Are you... Alive?" Jerad said slowly, disbelieving what his eyes were telling him.

"Rad..." Her voice softened. "M-my dear Rad." The words cracked as she spoke them. "I am a ghost."

Jerad shook his head. "My Pam..."

"I can read your mind. Only Giph is better than me at that. You know, the little brown pup you killed?" Her voice was no longer smooth and sexy. It had turned harsh and cold.

Jerad looked up meekly, a flash of horror crossing his face. The he shook his head vogorously. "You are a dream. You are just a dream."

"I know Jerad. You killed them for no reason. You avenged your son, who was nothing but scum. Kwanita did nothing she did not need to. Your son was scum." The voice was a low hiss now. "Your son was scum." The words became a chant in Jerad's head.

"NO!" He screamed. They stopped.

"I know." The lupe was smiling again, her voice soft, silky, and she walked around Jerad, tempting him. "I know. Ever since I came back as this, I've known." Her soft brown eyes were looking into his. "Yes, that. I know. I know, I know." She stoped her circling, and laid down next to Jerad intimatly. "And I have yet to take revenge for it." She smiled. Jerad cringed.

He didn't know what was happening. Every nerve in his body seemed to be on fire. Jerad leapt to his feet and howled with pain. It grew worse, unimaginably so. The lupe was standing again, laughing malicously at his pain. Jerad dropped to the ground and whimpered. He rolled in the dirt, trying to stifle the extreme pain, but it did nothing. He cried out and lay still. Unconscousness had come, rescueing him from his torment.

The lupe smiled. Her lupine body shimmered, and disapeered.

&&&

Tasia:

The two had talked themselves out of the haunted wood. They wre surprised to find they had some kinship- Falara was the daughter Shiko and Noe, a lupe and a uniphin Mystyc had known when she was younger. At that time, Mystyc had called them uncle and auntie "I guess that would make us cousins," Mystyc mused, and the two shared a laugh.

Noe had gone to kauvara and changed herself into a lupe so that she and Shiko could be together. Falara explained that they weren't full lupes- Falara herself was a veggitarian, her sister Allia swam like a peophin, and her brother Bru had a horn. Most strange was her lost brother Frailik, he had the legs of a uni and had disappeared. Falara was sure he was dead, even though her mother appeared to hold on to hope.

They stopped by a still spot in a stream to drink, and gazed at their new reflections. Mystyc was now chestnut, with dark brown wings, mane and tail. She did look like the child of both her parents now, but she worried "I hope Mikasi can reconize me,"

Falara groaned "Mikasi, Mikasi, Mikasi, all the time! You never shut up about that luni!" Mystyc bent back her ears at the term, but Falara continued "You seen to be more in love than my parents."

Mystyc didn't respond. Falara gasped in amazement.

"What is it?"

"I think- I think it's a herd of ancient unis!"

"Your kidding. Ancient unis are extist from these parts," she looked in the direction the pup was gazing.

"Do you see them?" Falara wispered.

"No." Mystyc said annoyed. "I don't even see any ghosts. What am I, blind?"

And that's when it snapped.

"Oh no!" Mystyc gasped "You have my powers!"

"Oh course!" Said Falara "I'm just as black as you were!"

"This can't be good," the uni moaned.

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Shil nodded excitedly "I knew, because my mommy told me but- I didn't really believe her, and I had no idea what a bunch of unis together would like," Shil felt just as boggled as Kahven "I hope I don't have to leave. I'm having a good time with all these unis. I'm a free roamer," Gipha would have said that with pride, but the fact saddened Shil.

"Hey, kid!" Shil jumped up when a brown foal appeared behind him "Hi Rafer."

The brown uni circled arround Kahven, almost ignoring Shil's greeting "And what's wrong with you? Lupe got them?" he laughed with that snorting sound "Careful, someone might confuse you for a lupe!" he laughed again, and looked at Shil expectingly.

After a few seconds, Shil said "I don't get it."

Rafer made a face. "Like you honestly want to spend your time with a wingless uni!"

Shil didn't like the way Rafer said the word, like he was talking about dung. He felt uneasy. The colt was looking at him- he wanted him to do something. "No, I don't," Shil said halfly.

Rafer grinned a huge smile "I knew you were a true uni! Come on, lets meet the guys."

"Guys?" Rafer walked off, and Shil followed. He cast a look to Kahven, hoping the purple uni could come, but he got the feeling Rafer wouldn't allow it. He felt like he was covered in dung as he trotted to keep up with the older uni.

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"Did you see that?" Gipha hissed in Orora's ear "I should give that colt a kick to the jaw!"

"And what would that teach Shil?" Trab came hobbling toward them.

"Dad!" Gipha called "Dad, did you see that?"

"Yes. What you just saw was Shil making a choice. He made the wrong choice- but Gipha, you can't choose for him!"

"He's not old enough to make choices!" Gipha hissed.

"Of course he is! He can chose to graze or be hungry, can't he? So he can chose his friends!"

"That colt is not his friend!"

"You're probably right, but if he doesn't learn that on his own what value will it be?"

Trab did have a point, though Gipha didn't like the idea. "You better be right, Trab."

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Frailik waited there and twitched an ear. Where was his pack? They were coming steadily toward him, but he hoped they wouldn't turn around. He would become part of this pack, he decided. He would.