Something was off.

No, everything was off. In the Bone Cousins' minds, the Valley was a cheery place, even after all the evil that had once crouched at its door. It was a place filled with lush, green trees, gentle streams, a calming breeze, and fantasies beyond Boneville's wildest dreams. It was a place that grew on you, left its mark on your heart, and as the Cousins had been away that feeling of fondness had grown, even in Phoney. In their imaginations they saw the same forest they had left, calm, gentle, and filled with peace.

But this was not the same Valley.

It couldn't be, but it was. As the Bones came over the large crest of the hill separating the desert and ravine from the Valley, they were met with a sight that nearly robbed them of breath. The pure shock of the contrast from what they remembered the Valley being, next to how it appeared now, was enough to cause the Cousins to stumble back a good three or four steps. Lathan raised a brow at their behavior, before he too caught sight of the land stretching out before them.

This Valley was shrouded in darkness. A dreary, foggy, rainy-looking haze, and yet as dry as black powder. No moisture lingered in the air, just a choking stillness. There were no chirps of crickets, nor singing of birds. Everything was as quiet as a cemetery, and the feeling that surrounded it was much like one too. It was the feeling one might get when they are home alone at night. That feeling that, if you aren't careful and alert, something might just sneak up behind you and end your existence with a single, cruel attack. The trees, gnarled and black against the grey sky, were like claws. The talons of agonized beasts stretching upward, griping at the thick air of the Valley. They appeared to be dead, their bark pealing, as though diseased, and the smell of rotting wood, even from this distance, was quite strong. Above them and looking back, the blue sky of the desert shone out brilliantly. It was as though someone had laid a colored photo alongside one of black and white and grey. The air was cold, chilling, filling one's lungs in a way that caused wheezing with each breath.

But the worst part was the feeling. That depressed, hopeless, lonely feeling that thrived in the darkness. It was strong, and hostile. Almost so palpable one might expect to see it in physical form. It was strangling. It was griping. And it was horrible, even to Lathan. But the reporter could see, just by the looks on their faces, that his companions were far more shocked then he was.

"Wha...What's happened here?" Fone Bone had stepped forward, his black eyes blinking in confusion, as though, if he blinked hard enough, it would all go away. The fear on his face was easily readable, and it was mirrored by the expressions of his cousins.

Bartleby had become very still, leaning into Smiley's offered hand as his large, bulbous eyes scanned the world below. "Something's gone wrong...I sense evil, Fone Bone..." His tone was shaky, even more so than Fone's own. After all, the Valley was even more endeared by the rat creature, it having been his birthplace and home, even if he had left it to move to Boneville. The sight seemed to claw at Bartleby's heart, and his soul crumbled under the weight of pure fear and worry that laid itself upon him.

Lathan, not quite as affected as the others, blinked. He hadn't expected to see a Valley at all. Still standing firm in his belief that the Cousins were either lying or crazy, he had assumed that only more desert would stretch before them once they made their way over the hill. But this, though it was indeed a Valley, was nothing like the Bones had described. This was not a place of happiness, and beauty. If anything, it was filled with despair and fear. As far as the eyes could see was dark, desolate gloom, encircled by a range of dark, purple mountains in the distance. "...So, what do we do now?" he spoke up carefully, hesitant to break into the stunned silence.

After a moment of silence, Phoncible clenched his hands at his side, gathering what little courage he had, and started down the crest at a determined stomp. "We head down. There's got to be someone around..." His voice turned slightly hollow. "Maybe they can tell us what happened..."

Fone Bone, Smiley, and Bartleby followed without question, fully determined to solve the mystery as well. Lathan, on the other hand, stood stock still, hesitant to move on. He wasn't sure if he liked this. In fact, he was certain he didn't. He had never had much for instincts. He was never good at reading the moods of situations either. But right now, he could feel...something. Something tangible. It was as though he were being watched. And, though it frightened him, it called him forward. After a moment of indecision, Lathan followed the others, his body curled in on itself as he tried to make himself as small a target as possible. Though from what, he didn't know.

They made their way down into the Valley, which became increasingly foreboding as they went. The grass beneath their feet, once so lush and green, was dry and withered, browned and crispy as they walked over it, cautiously. They came to a stream bed, which was little more than a path of cracked sand and mud. No water ran within it, and the grass on its banks were almost blackened, poisoned by the water that was no longer there. It was like something out of an old, black and white horror movie. The cheesy kind that Smiley sometimes liked to watch. The kind that used stuffed toy bats on wires to flap around and then, with a puff of smoke, become Dracula. Only, unlike those films, the fear and terror here was real. It was in the air and all around them. They felt as though they were walking through a minefield. One false step, and something might happen. Something bad.

Fone Bone was leading the way now, trying to discern where they were, as well as where they needed to go. But the forest seemed so different now. It wasn't at all like he remembered. And the arriving dusk was making it harder. He wished they had planned it so they could have entered the Valley in the morning, rather than with the coming of night. But that couldn't be helped. His senses were on overdrive, ears listening intently, like he had learned by habit the last time he had walked the world of the Valley. And he knew that Smiley, Bartleby, and Phoney would be doing so as well. Fone had entered the Valley just before winter the last time, and so had seen much of this part of the Valley under snow, which made it even harder to distinguish where they stood and where they needed to get to.

"Where are we going?" Lathan's voice called out behind him, and Fone mentally sighed. He felt bad for their extra companion, who would definitely be at a loss as to what was happening. But at least Lathan hadn't wandered in the desert and ended up here alone. To be in this place alone was bone-chilling, even to think about. Fone had an unsettling feeling that they were going to need each other to get through this. Each and every one of them.

"There should be a farmhouse around here somewhere," he called back, though it was more of a loud whisper. He didn't want to call attention to their location. Not that there was really anyone around to hear. The forest was completely devoid of life. No bugs, or mammals, or birds. No sign of Ted, or even Mrs. Possum and the kids. Fone hoped they were alright.

They continued, and, to Fone Bone's relief, passed a few landmarks that he remembered. There was the waterfall, that Fone had fallen down while being pursued by the two, stupid rat creatures. The water still ran here, though significantly more shallow. Its currents were sluggish, browned with mud and dirt. Undrinkable. That emptied into a lake, which was, again, darkened by filth and the grey sky up above.

"We're going to need to find water that isn't contaminated," Phoney spoke up worriedly. "We've only got a little left in our canteen, and it's not gonna last our stay here for more than a night."

Smiley, who was following his two cousins closely, with Bartleby beside him and Lathan behind, looked up from studying the sparse grass at his feet. "I know how to boil dirty water into clean water. If we have to, I can do that." The others gave him a strange look, surprised. Smiley shrugged. "What? I lead the Bone Scouts, remember? I've learned quite a few tricks while camping." He let his eyes rove over the terrain again, rather nervously. "This is a place I'd never take anyone camping though. Not when it's like this..."

It was pretty dark now, and not even the moon gave much light, trapped behind the clouds as it was. All that existed were the silhouettes of gnarly trees and bare boulders. The pale white of the Bones' skin was the brightest things for miles, and stuck out like a sore thumb in the darkness. Like beacons, they were easy to spot, slowly picking their way through the inky black.

"Hey, Mr. Fone Bone," came Lathan's voice again. It was strained, and edgy, as the reporter tried his best to keep up without getting snagged on anything as they made there way through the forest. "I thought you had a flashlight."

Fone cringed slightly. "I do."

"Well, how about we use it?" Lathan continued. "I mean, it's get'n pretty hard to see anything here."

"I don't want to call attention to ourselves," Fone explained, though he neglected to tell their comrade that he was, in fact, holding the flashlight in his hand at that very moment. He had fetched it from his satchel a while ago, but had not turned it on, telling himself he would only do so should the situation call for it. And only then if it was unavoidable. "We don't know what's out there, and we don't want to send out a signal that we're here." He heard Lathan grumble something under his breath, obviously not appreciating his decision. "Don't worry," he assured encouragingly. "I'm sure we're almost to the farmhouse. We can spend the night there." This statement was greeted with silence, which Fone took as consent. But then, only a few steps further into the woods, a surprised cry, followed by a splash, broke the silence and shattered it like glass.

"AH!" Splush!

"Lathan!"

Smiley's cry of worry left Fone scrambling back along the line of their procession. Going by Smiley, it was their newest member who had called out, and going by the sound, water was involved. Remembering the disgusting rivers and pools they had already passed, Fone was certain that falling into water of any sort would be a hazard to one's health. Having no other choice, Fone flicked the switch on his flashlight, throwing the entire area into a bright, blinding glow. The Bones and their rat creature companion blinked in the sudden light, it hurting their eyes until they adjusted. Then, and only then, could they see what had happened to Lathan.

The Bone was sitting down at the bottom of a small embankment in a muddied pool, his white skin darkened by the black gunk. His hat was sitting beside him, floating in what little water existed, and his tie was plastered with the stuff. Lathan was looking down at himself in exasperation, taking note that the muck went right up to his chest. The mud felt grimy and slick, slippery as it mushed around and under him like three month old jelly. It oozed between his fingers, warmer than he would have expected.

Seeing that Lathan was alright, Phoney crouched down and offered his hand with a chuckle. "I've heard of getting down and dirty, but I think you've taken it just a little too far."

Lathan glared up at Phoncible, but then took the offered hand, being lifted up and helped out of the indented marsh he had landed in. He grabbed his hat on the way out, before standing on the bank. Cold, wet, dirty, and miserable. "That's why I wanted a flashlight," he growled irritably, dumping water from his hat. "I can't see where I'm falling!" He turned accusingly to Fone, but the Bone Cousin was occupied with his own discovery.

"Hey! This is the spring where I met Thorn!" He looked excitedly to his companions. "I know the way from here! We're almost to the farmhouse!" His words were greeted with relief from Bartleby, Smiley, and Phoney, though Lathan just looked confused. Fone felt rather guilty, but promised himself he'd sit down with Lathan soon and explain things to him a little better. For now, they really needed to get to shelter. And that feeling was growing in urgency with every passing moment. "I'll keep the flashlight on, if you want. Let's try and get there as quick as we can." Speed was the thing now. With all the commotion they had just made, it really didn't matter. If there was anyone around, they knew that they were there now.

There were no objections, and so, breaking into a careful run, the Bones and the rat creature hurried off down a path lined with tries, Fone Bone leading the way again.

The farm was utterly empty.

Deserted.

It looked run down and worn, as though it had weathered some great, terrible storm. As the Bones and Bartleby carefully edged into the clearing, their nervousness reached a new high. The beam from Fone Bone's flashlight slowly roamed over the outer walls of the thatched-roofed cottage, falling upon several holes that gaped, dark and ominous in its canopy. The fence was mangled, pickets either having fallen over completely, or leaning as odd angles. The barn, whose wood door was hung wide open as usual, also held a lot more hostility than usual. It was like coming home to a trashed apartment. This farm had served as a home to the Bone Cousins more than once, and to see it as it was now was slightly more heartrending than they might have expected.

"H-Hello? Thorn? Gran'ma?" Fone really didn't expect an answer. Their two friends were probably in the city of Atheia, where they spent much of the warmer part of the year. In winter they planned to visit the farm, since it meant so much to them. But Fone felt better uttering their names in this place. Their names belonged here. It was where he had first heard them.

The group edged closer, Fone's flashlight proving that they were completely alone. For some reason, knowing that made it easier to breath. With a dreadful creak, the door to the cottage gave way to Phoney's hand, swinging open listlessly. Again, emptiness was all that greeted them. At least it still held some signs of life. Pottery, cookware, and a few other items still remained in the cottage, things that would come in handy that night. The interior was exactly as the Cousins remembered it. Dirt floors, smoothed and compacted through the years, cobbled stone fireplace, chubby and rounded, and the wooden rafters in the ceiling, dark and filled with shadow. It was cold inside, and the smell of must was slightly more detectable than in times passed. But, otherwise, a far better place than the world outside.

"Well," Fone Bone sighed, either out of exhaustion or relief he couldn't tell. "This will do as a shelter for tonight. Maybe things'll look less gloomy in the morning." He turned to Smiley, who was looking distinctly uneasy. "If we gather some wood, do you think you can build us a fire, Smiley?"

Smiley's face lit up in that expression of assurance that Fone so needed right now. "Sure, Fone Bone! That'll be a cinch!"

"Alright, me and Phoney'll get the wood. Lathan, can you start getting some food out from my satchel?" Fone didn't even wait for an answer. Leaving the flashlight with Smiley, he and Phoney headed back out, the moon's light, shrouded though it was, now being sufficient to see by, at least for their purposes.

Turning to Fone Bone's discarded bag, Lathan crouched, opening the flap, and started sifting through the various items within it. He pulled out several apples, a couple potatoes, and what appeared to be a baggy of precooked chicken. Lathan made a face, but knew that he couldn't be picky in this situation. He decided to put the apples back in the satchel, figuring that they would need something for breakfast. Besides, apples didn't really go with potatoes and chicken. He finished putting them back and had risen to his feet, hands full of their supposed meal, just as Phoncible and Fone Bone returned, their arms laden with twigs and sticks.

"There's a lot of dry brush around," Fone commented, setting his bundle in the fireplace, Phoney following his example. "Going by how brittle everything is, as well as everything else we've seen, I'd say it hasn't rained here in weeks...maybe a month." Which was disconcerting. If he remembered right, this time of year was often scattered with heavy showers for the Valley. He turned to Lathan, taking in their meager meal-to-be. "Not much, huh? When Phoney and I packed we were only worrying about the trip through the desert. We had figured that once we made it here there would be plenty to find to eat." He sighed. "What has happened here? It's like...everything's dead..." The word caught in his throat, and the feeling of uneasiness within him grew. But right now, survival was their main objective. He took the items from Lathan. "We can make a stew. It'll make more, and it'll last longer. Phoney? Give me a hand?"

Together the Bones managed to get a warm fire going, which filled the cottage with cheery, orange light. For the first time since their arrival, something seemed normal, and just as it should be. The firelight filled the cottage with a home-like ease, and the gloom outside was momentarily forgotten. Fone and Phoney made quite a nice stew, having fetched water from the farm well. Thankfully, that water was still clean, proving that the underground flow was not affected like the water above ground. Tired from their trip across the desert, and finding a few blankets in storage that were at least dry and not too smelly, they all settled down for the night. They had barricaded the door with the cottage table, ensuring that, should anything try to get in, they would hear it long before it could get through. This ensured that they could all get some sleep, though each Cousin kept a hefty stick by their side, just in case.

Before long, they were all asleep.

Lathan awoke with a start.

What had jolted him out of such a deep sleep, he didn't have a clue, but he was certainly awake now. Feeling slightly disoriented, it took him a full three seconds to finally realize where he was. He was not at home in his comfy little apartment. He was out in a creepy forest, sleeping in an old, dingy, abandoned cottage. Great. Just his idea of a getaway. He vaguely wondered if it was really all worth it.

Sitting up carefully, he let his eyes rove over his sleeping companions. The Cousins slept side by side, close, as though they were afraid of being separated. The rat creature, Bartleby, was practically glued to Smiley's side, and Smiley had turned to face the purple fur, obviously comforted by its warmth. Lathan had purposefully detached himself from their little clump. He didn't feel comfortable intruding on their tight-knit friendships, and had moved off to the side, closer to the fire. The brush had burned down now to red, glowing embers, and Lathan found he was shivering. He didn't like feeling cold, and now was no exception. Rising slowly, he made it to his feet, setting his little, black hat on his head out of habit.

"If I have to stay here," he grumbled softly to himself. "I at least insist on being warm." He crept to the door, realizing that he would not be able to get through without moving the table. Annoyed, he managed to shift it silently enough, just as much as he needed to slip out through the door. It took a while, but he succeeded, finding himself now standing in the farm yard clearing. Some of the grey clouds above had dissipated, allowing just enough moonlight down to bath the scene in an eerie, faded glow. It was cold out here too, more than was normal for summer. He though he could even see his breath.

He was still in a sort of shock over the fact that the Valley actually existed. His mind tried to reconcile that to all the rumors he had heard about the Bone Cousins. He had been told that they were liars, lunatics. And yet, here was the Valley, big as life, though not anything like the Cousins had described it. But it was there, and Lathan couldn't help wondering why the helicopters the government had sent had not been able to find it. It wasn't all that far from Boneville. It all left Lathan's head in a spin. But the same question kept popping up in his mind. What was the truth behind this place? What had the Cousins really done here? It couldn't be as they had claimed. There couldn't be dragons and demons and princesses. That was all stuff of fantasy. It couldn't be true...could it?

Lathan shook his head, clearing his mind and bringing it back to the task at hand. "I'll just grab some sticks and then go right back in," he told himself. The Cousins would never know. Anyway, it wasn't like they had actually told him he couldn't leave the house. Not in words. Though, common sense told Lathan, just by their actions, that it might not be such a good idea to go out alone in the dark. But, however strong these thoughts might have been, he dismissed them. "They'll never know," he repeated. "This will only take a few minutes." It was better than shivering all night.

It ended up taking far longer than he thought. He couldn't see how Fone could have found so much brush in the clearing, and if he had, then he had taken it all. There was not a twig in sight. Other than a few scrawny things. And so, having no other choice in his mind, Lathan began to wander, scanning the ground as he searched for kindle. Before he even realized it, he was skirting the fringe of the dark, ominous forest. And even then, he was finding that the sticks were far more scarce than Fone Bone had claimed. But Lathan was determined. He went in further. And further. And further. Until he had lost sight of the farmhouse altogether.

"I'll find some tinder if it's the last thing I do, or my name isn't Lathan Baldwin Bone!"

"...Bone?..."

The grating, hissing voice froze Lathan in his tracks. His heart gave a shudder, before it sped up to double the rate it had been only a few moments before. He fervently hoped that it was just his imagination, and that the darkness was just getting to him. But, when another hissing voice answered the first, he knew that that was far from the truth.

"He is a Bone."

"Not one of the Three. The Master said nothing of this one."

"Should we capture it?"

There was a pause, in which Lathan was sure his heart had stopped.

"...Yes. Just to be safe. Perhaps the Master can use him to find the others."

"Yes, yes, comrade. Good thinking..."

There was a rustle of dry brush in front of Lathan, before four, bright, bulbous eyes caught the little bit of moonlight that existed. That was swiftly followed by round, furry heads, and mountainous bodies. Lathan gasped at the sight, what little kindle he had found falling from his shaking hands to land at his feet. He backed away a few stumbling steps, eyes wide and mouth open in fear.

These were rat creatures, he was certain. The large eyes, purple fur, and shape were just like Bartleby. Only these were far larger. And something in their gaze frightened Lathan. With Bartleby there was nothing but care and kindness in those big, round eyes, but in these...he couldn't quite place it. Hatred? Hunger? Cruelty? He wasn't certain, but he knew he didn't like it.

The creature on the left tilted its head to the side, studying the terrified Bone before it. Its eyes bore into Lathan, that hunger growing. "You will come with us, small mammal...The Master has plans for which he may find a use for you..."

Lathan didn't like the sound of that at all, and his brain finally kicked back into gear. His mind sent a very strong message to the rest of his body, practically screaming it through his veins. Don't just stand there! Run! RUN!

The rat creatures pounced, just as Lathan sprang to the side, resulting in the two getting tangled and falling to the ground with a resounding Whump! By the time they were back on their four, clawed feet, Lathan was racing through the underbrush, running back to the safety of the cottage as fast as he could go. But his legs were short, like most Bones, and it wasn't long before he could hear the crash of heavy, monstrous bodies behind him. And they were gaining fast. Putting all his energy into running, Lathan jumped over stumps and logs, surely breaking some kind of sprinting record in Boneville. Twigs and branches clawed at him, and he even felt some cut into his legs, but he didn't care. He was being hunted, and that fueled him with a desperation he had never known.

Suddenly, he was in the clearing. He could see the silhouette of the farmhouse, its windows gently lit by the glow of dying embers. His heart leaped at the sight, the smallest spark of hope returning.

"HELP! FONE BONE! SMILEY!" he screeched, stumbling slightly before finding his footing again. At this rate he'd even be happy for Phoncible's assistance. "ANYONE HELP! HELP!"

He had no idea if they heard him or not, but he was almost there. Halfway across the clearing, and the door was now easily visible. He was going to make it. He was going to m-

The sharp claws wrapped around his ankle, pulling him back with a jolt. He cried out in horror, hitting the ground with a hard slam, knocked dizzy by the impact...

Fear not, I have not given up on this story! Sorry for the delay, my grandfather has been in the hospital for the last few weeks, and life has been crazy here. But it looks like everything is fine now, so everything will hopefully be returning to normal. Thank you so much for your patience! ;)

I'm so excited that the Bones are finally back in the Valley! Everything before this was kind of the set up, so now the real adventure begins!

I'm finding that I'm starting to grow fond of Lathan. I don't usually like writing OCs, but he's growing on me a little. :)