Chapter 1:

Often in a beast's life; they are faced with choices. From something as unimportant as whether to stand or sit to the crucial question to turn left or right. Now; many beasts consider such a question to be behind many others in importance; but direction is the most important choice in life. Had these three travellers chosen the left path; they would never have found themselves in Mossflower.

"Hurry up, slow ones!" Alizera called back to her companions. Alizera Song; more commonly known as Ali; was a pretty young red-squirrelmaid. Had different choices been made; she may have despised the terms 'pretty' and 'maid' but they haven't, so she doesn't. Ali was running ahead of her travelling companions in a half-skip. Her companions were two youngbeasts; Mytra Willowbrook the otter and Bercan the ferret. They were puffed; having run just to catch up with the energetic squirrel. Bercan wiped his brow with his hat; straightening the ragged old feather that adorned it. Cupping the hat to his mouth alongside his paw; he shouted at Ali;

"Oi! Slow down! We need to rest; you idiot!"

Somebeasts may consider Bercan's language inappropriate and hurtful; but Ali and Mytra knew it was just his manner of speaking. Ali stopped, looking back at the two, and chuckled,

"Told ya I was faster than you two," she laughed, and then bolted towards them. She slowed down next to them; her cheeks flushed from running, and ruffled both their heads. Bercan growled, "Stoppit!" Ali chuckled; and looked at Mytra.

"Should I stop?" she asked the young ottermaid. Mytra rolled her eyes, a small smile forming on her lips, "Yes please."

Ali huffed; then stopped. Tittering; she watched the two straighten their head wear.

"You two are no fun," she said, straightening her dress. Mytra and Bercan sat by the side of the dirt path; Mytra waving her pink bandana in mock agreement, "No we aren't, are we?" Ali rolled her eyes, then sat down with them. Bercan took his knapsack from his back; tipping it's contents out. Crumbs, three oatscones and a flask of water rolled out. Ali groaned,

"That's the last of the food?"

Bercan nodded; frowning, "We better find the camp soon, or I might be forced to eat yeh!" He bared his teeth in mock ferociousness. Giggling; Ali and Mytra acted along,

"Oh no, please don't eat us!", they pleaded.

Bercan smiled; baring his sharp teeth, "I may have no choice!" He looked at Mytra, smiling toothily, "You look tasty!" He said, approaching her.

With a buzz, something struck Bercan in the side of his head; dazing him. Ali jumped; looking around alarmedly. Mytra ran over to the offending object, "It's an acorn!" she said before going over to Bercan. Ali held her paw over a small knife she kept; backing towards a tree,

"W-Who's there?" she demanded shakily. Her knife was a beautiful little thing; with a small blue-stone set into the hilt. She had never used it against somebeast; though. Bercan sat up; rubbing the side of his head, "Who's the bloody son of a b- Aagh!" He yelled as a rock was sent slamming into the side of his head. This time, however, the ferret was knocked out cold from the blow. Mytra stood over Bercan; drawing a rapier that was one or two inches too big for her. The two maids scanned around them for the attacker. Mytra turned; staring into the forest, "Come out!" she challenged the unseen attacker. No reply came from the woods. A muffled squeak sounded from behind her; and Mytra span to see Ali being held from behind by somebeast. It's paw was covering Ali's mouth; and some mean looking hook was held against her arm to keep the knife away from it's owner. Mytra squeaked; and ran to help Ali.

"Wai- Ow!" shouted the foebeast; jumping away from Ali, waving his paw in pain. Ali, her teeth tipped with small spots of blood, held her knife at him, "Who are you?" she demanded. The foebeast; now identifiable as a grey squirrel, held out his paws in surrender, "We need to get out of here!"

"Why-?" Ali was starting to ask, but then she saw the squirrel's paws. His right paw was normal; albeit bleeding from where she bit him, but his left paw was non-existent. Instead; the hook was tied to the stump, which was covered in an old rag. Her voice trailed off, and she lowered her knife. The squirrel; spotting his chance, grabbed Ali by her arm and dragged her after him. Mytra was grabbed by the squirrel also, unable to shake his grip nor use her rapier. Bercan stirred; looking around him. He watched as the squirrel ran off with the two maids. Bercan growled; holding the side of his head. He ran after them; a plethora of curses trailing after him.

The squirrel dragged Ali and Mytra through the woods; narrowily avoiding roots that threatened to trip them up. He stopped at a large rock face that sat alone in the forest. He let go of the maids, jumping up the monolith. He stopped at an outcrop, from where he yelled down at them, "Quickly; get up here."

Ali and Mytra looked up at him undecidely. They backed away from the rockface; readying to run in case things turned sour. The squirrel watched them, staring in disbelief. He jumped down from the rock face, grabbing at the two. Ali and Mytra ran, but Ali was caught in the squirrel's vice-like grip. The squirrel dragged Ali with him to the rockface; and threw her upwards towards the outcrop. Ali; unable to do anything else; grabbed at the outcrop and scurried onto it. Beneath it, hidden from the front; was a deep pond. The squirrel jumped up beside her; looking down at Mytra, who was frantically chasing after him,

"Tell her to calm down!"

"Calm down?" Ali repeated, terrified. Bercan appeared behind Mytra; clasping his head. He saw Ali and the squirrel atop the outcrop, and roared at them, "Hey! Give her back, you-!" The squirrel frowned; then grabbed Ali's paw, "No time for her! Hold your breath!"

Ali had little time to follow his advice as he jumped from the outcrop; dragging her behind him. With a splash; they dove into the pond. To Ali's horror; she was being dragged down by the squirrel. Their tails were weighing both of them down; and they shot downwards into the deep pond. Ali frantically tried to escape the mad squirrel's grip; but she was subdued by her head cracking on a stone.

Above the pond; both Mytra and Bercan were looking down in shock at the pond.

"Ali!" Mytra screamed. She ran to the outcrop's edge; ready to dive in after them. Bercan chased after her; holding her back, "Mytra! It's too dang-" Mytra had been in the process of jumping as he held her; and the two toppled over the edge and into the water. Bercan found himself holding onto Mytra for dear life as the young otter started to dive after Ali. Bubbles streamed from their fur as she followed the squirrel who had taken their friend below the water.