A few hours later, Celestia's sun started descending down while Luna's moon soon started raising up shortly afterwards, thus showing that now it's sunset and that means that it's going to turn evening (and then, of course - nighttime), and so Russell knew that he must find himself and the twins a shelter where they can all sleep together tonight without having to worry about the dangers lurking outside (like predators (not including Russell himself, of course), the cold weather outside, and even enemies who can potentially mean harm to all three of them).

However, it didn't took for Russell, Andy and Zoey longer than an hour before they finally found a shelter which they can easily fit right in and sleep in for the night - a large cave (which may be dark inside, but the large cave may also be warm and dry inside as well), and so Russell and the twins went together towards the cave and and as soon as they all reached and got close enough, the three friends soon entered the cave all together and started searching for some good sleeping spots where they can all sleep for tonight, and after a few minutes of searching for some good sleeping spots inside the cave, they finally found the best sleeping spots they all need - Andy and Zoey went to sleep together near a large rock which stood inside the cave, while Russell climbed up and then went to sleep just above their heads, on top of the rock itself.

However, despite they managed to find a place where they're all able to sleep in for the night, Russell, Andy and Zoey aren't the only ones who are inside the large cave, and just then, a group of Zebrataurs suddenly came of the shadowed, darker and deeper parts of the cave and they slowly approached towards the three sleeping friends, who are completely unaware that the Zebrataurs are approaching them, and just then, one of them, a mature adolescent male, stepped forward and revealed himself, and he was actually none other than the leader Brandon himself, and as soon as he revealed himself, three more Zebrataurs also stepped forward and revealed themselves, one turned out to be none other than the muscular second-in-command Biff, another who turned out to be a male as well and he appeared to be around Brandon and Biff's age and his height was almost the same as Brandon's, but he was slightly shorter and thinner than him, and the third and last Zebrataur who appeared next to both Biff and the second male turned out to be the same Zebratauress whom Andy and Zoey accidentally bumped into during their escape from Canterlot.

Then, Brandon whispered evilly when he got closed enough to Russell and to the twins "Look at what we all have here.", and just then, a few Zebrataurs approached him and gave him some ropes so he can tie up the red leopard and the toddler centaur twins while they're all still sleeping, and just then, Brandon gave some of the ropes to Biff, to the thinner and shorter male Zebrataur and also to the Zebratauress so they can all help him tie up Russell and the twins before they wake up, and a few minutes later, the four Zebrataurs finished tying up Russell and the twins by their wrists, both sets of horse legs and both sets of leopard legs to make sure that they won't be able to escape the moment they wake up in the morning.

The next morning, Russell, Andy and Zoey finally woke up, only to find themselves outside the cave and are all tied up by their limbs so they can't move or continue on their journey in search for a new home, and when they looked everywhere, they saw that they're surrounded by Zebrataurs, and just then, Brandon, Biff, the third male and the Zebratauress whom Andy and Zoey accidentally bumped into the day before stepped forward and looked down at the three of them, and Brandon, Biff and the third male Zebrataur all smiled at them evilly, thus scaring the twins and angering Russell, before Brandon said "Are you lost, little kids? And what's the bit with that dark, weird and scary-looking leopard? I've seen black panthers, but I've never seen a leopard that looks like him before.".

However, when Russell heard what Brandon just said about him, the red leopard turned his head and looked up at him before he asked while he's still tied up in the ropes "Excuse me, Mister, but who are you?", and then he added "Don't you even know what kind of leopard I am?", and then Brandon introduced himself and said "Well, Mr. Weird Scary Leopard, I'm Brandon, the leader of my herd, and these are my best friends and good followers - Biff, Stanley and Scarlet." He motioned to each of the three Zebrataurs (respectively) with one his arms and hands, but when Andy and Zoey looked up and saw Scarlet's face, they soon recognized her and then Zoey cried "Hey, it's you! You're the Zebratauress whom we accidentally bumped into the day before when we ran away from Canterlot!", and when Russell heard what the toddler centauress just said, he turned to look at her and gasped in shock as now he just got to know and realized the fact that the twins actually know Scarlet because they accidentally bumped into her the day before (and before they even met and befriended Russell himself).

However, when Scarlet recognized them (the twins) as well, she said in a elegant tone which was also mixed with an evil one "Well, what do you know? These cute little darlings know me already!", and then Brandon chuckled evilly and added "Yeah! These little centaurs' brains aren't really as dumb as it seems!", but then Russell snapped out of his shocked state and then he asked angrily "Anyway, what are we doing here outside the cave? And why are we tied up in ropes like this?", and when Brandon and his friends all heard what he said, they all laughed at him and at the twins before Brandon answered and explained "Well, I must say that you three didn't know that this cave was ours! You invaded our cave and fell asleep in it! In other words - You trespassed and now you're in our home!".

When Russell heard what he said, he gasped in shock before he said to Brandon "I beg your pardon, Sir! I would never trespass into someone else's home on purpose! We're just looking for a new place to call home, that's all!", but when Brandon heard what Russell just said, he suddenly looked at himthe and then at the twins with a puzzled look on his face before he turned to Russell again and asked "Did you just said that you and these little kids are looking for a new home?", and when Russell heard what Brandon said to him, he said back "Well, yes, of course! I ran away from my old home, and so did my new little friends, Andy and Zoey! Now we're traveling together on a long journey in search for a new home!".

When Brandon heard what Russell said about his and the twins' long journey in search for a new home, the evil Zebrataur leader said "Hmmm, that's very interesting, Mr. Weird Scary Leopard. I suppose you're on your own with only these little kids by your side then, right?", but then Russell said to him "My name is Russell, and for a leopard, I'm indeed very rare, and even more rarer than a black panther! In fact, I'm a red leopard, and I'm the only one from my kind here in Equestria who was born like that!", and when Brandon heard what he said, the evil Zebrataur leader said to him and to the twins "Very well then! If you say that you're a real red leopard and that you're looking for a new home, then you're going to stay here in our home! We'll take care of you and also tale care of your little friends! You'll have nothing to worry about! We'll promise to treat you like a lion king!".

However, when Biff heard what his best friend and beloved leader said about having Russell and the twins living with the Zebrataurs herd, the muscular Zebrataur went up to him and then he asked him "Brandon, are you sure is that a good idea to let that leopard and these little toddler centaurs stay here in our home and live with us and with our whole herd?", but then Brandon turned to him and said to him in a reassuring tone "It's okay, Biff. Trust me. I know exactly what I'm doing. Because I've got a plan." he said to Biff a little evilly to reassure him that Russell and the twins aren't really going to stay and live with the Zebrataurs herd for very long, and then he said and demanded "Stanley, Scarlet, untie the leopard and the little centaurs, right now!", and when they both heard what their leader said to them, Stanley briefly bowed his head to him and said "Yes.", and then Scarlet added as she nodded in agreement "Of course.", and then the two Zebrataurs went up to Russell, Andy and Zoey and then they started untying them from their bindings and removing the ropes from their limbs so they can move again, thus freeing Russell and the twins and allowing them to join the Zebrataurs herd and become three honorary members of the herd.

Then, after Russell and the twins are freed from their ropes and bindings, the three finally stood back up on their hooves and feet and then Russell said to Brandon as he looked up at him in the eyes "Thank you so much, Brandon. I have to say that you're indeed a good friend and that you can be trusted by anyone who meets you.", and when Brandon heard what he just said, he said back to the red leopard "Well, thank you, Russell. Your body and fur looks pretty and gorgeous. I really like your looks, you know, for a wild animal.", and when Russell heard what he said, he said back to him "Well, for a good leader, you do have good manners when you talk to others. I have to admit, you're terrific.", and then Brandon said to him "You're more than welcome to stay and live with me and with my whole herd in our home, you and your little friends are now honorary members of my herd.", and then he asked Russell "What do you think about that? How would you like to be the first non-centaur animal to be part of our herd?", and when Russell heard what he said, he said back to the Zebrataur leader "I would like that, but on one condition.", and when he heard what Russell just said, Brandon asked "And what's that?", and then Russell said "Promise me that you'll take good and proper care of me and of Andy and Zoey.", and when Brandon heard what the red leopard just said, he smiled back at him and then he said "I will, Russell. I'm a good leader, so you and your little friends can all trust me and the rest of my herd.", and when Russell heard what he said, the red leopard said back with a tear in his eye "Thank you, Brandon. I'm so happy that we met you and your herd. You're so nice and friendly and you're willing to help and care for others. Thank you so much.".

Then, Russell turned away from Brandon and started walking away with the twins to hang around with the rest of the Zebrataurs herd, which became bigger in size as there are more individuals with which Russell and the twins can interact and befriend, but as Brandon watched them having hanging around and having fun with all the other Zebrataurs in the herd, Brandon suddenly had an evil smile forming on face as he said to himself in his mind "That red leopard and his little friends are fools! They don't really know who I really am! I don't really care for him or for any of them at all! All I do really care about is that I really want to have that leopard's beautiful and gorgeous skin and fur for myself so I can make from it a beautiful fur coat to attract and impress all the ladies in my herd! Scarlet would like to see me wearing that red leopard's skin on my upper body and she would like to choose me for a future mate! As for the little twins, I got a plan in mind to get rid of them as well! When the right time comes, I will take them along with me to the Great Animal Graveyard and then I will feed them to the Hyenataurs so I won't have to care for or even worry about these useless babies at all! When the time comes, everything I always wanted will be all mine!".

A few hours have passed, and now it's already the middle of the night, and everyone in Brandon's Zebrataurs herd are already sleeping, all except for four Zebrataurs who are planning and willing to have Russell's skin and fur as a new attractive cloth and destroy Andy and Zoey by feeding them to the Hyenataurs in the Great Animal Graveyard - Biff, Stanley, Scarlet, and of course Brandon, and the four are having a talk about their plan to get exactly what they want, but then they also talked while they're all a bit far away from the rest of the herd so Russell and the twins won't be able to hear their malevolent plans they got for all three of them.

Brandon said to his three best friends "I'm telling you guys, that red leopard's skin and fur are even worthier than the one of a black panther! I really want to have that leopard's skin as a new cloth so all the ladies in the herd will be attracted and impressed!", and when Biff heard what he said, he said back "That sounds like an excellent idea! Having the beautiful skin and fur of such thing known as a red leopard is far more ambitious than having the skin and fur of a black panther! I can't wait to see how you'd look like when you'll be wearing that red leopard's skin on your upper body!", and then Stanley added "I think I should wear that leopard's skin though! It will fir right in just for my upper body's size!", but then Scarlet said "No! I want Brandon to wear that red leopard's skin and fur! He would look even more handsome when he'll wear that leopard's beautiful skin and fur on his upper body! I can't wait to see how he would look like when that leopard's skin and fur will be ours!", and then she added "As for these useless toddler twins, let me take them to the Great Animal Graveyard! I would like to watch these mad and crazy Hyenataurs eating them and wiping them out of the face of Equestria so you guys and I won't have to help caring for or even worrying about them at all!", and then Brandon said "Then it's settled! the next day, Biff and Stanley will be skinning a red leopard for us, while Scarlet and I we're going to put an end to the short lives of two helpless toddler centaurs! I can't wait to see how things will turn out to be! This is going to be so much fun!", and then all four Zebrataurs laughed evilly together.

However, what the four of them didn't know is that even though Russell, the twins, and also all the other Zebrataurs in the herd didn't heard anything from what Brandon, Biff, Stanley and Scarlet all said (and didn't heard them laughing evilly either), as they were all sleeping deeply and not even knowing what their leader and his three best friends are planning for Russell and for the twins behind their backs, one Zebratauress, a toddler who is just around the same age as Andy and Zoey, actually heard what they said and she carefully listened to what they said and she watched them from behind their backs so they won't notice her around, and when she realized what kind of malevolent plans they have for Russell and for the twins, she quietly gasped in shock and also in fright as she knew she must do something in order to prevent Brandon, Biff, Stanley and Scarlet from succeeding in their cruel and heartless plans, and so she quietly trotted back to the rest of herd without getting the four Zebrataurs' attentions, and once she successfully got back to the rest of the herd, she thought of a plan of her own in order to foil Brandon, Biff, Stanley and Scarlet's evil plans and save Russell, Andy and Zoey from meeting their own ends.