Losse

Losse ambled in slowly. She was really tired from the long journey so she laid down and started to eat berries, waiting for her friend Cappy the Monkey.

Cappy

All of a sudden... Losse heard a starnge noise in the trees. Losse began to get alarmed and was redy to get in attck mode but all of a sudden Cappy jumps dowm from the tree and lands on Losse's furry wide back and says "IM HERE!!!"

Losse

Losse looked all around her. In the trees, on the ground. She didn't see anything. And then..."Cappy! You made it!" The large female bear looked bak at the monkey on her back, and extended a paw in 'hello'. How are you?"

Cappy

Cappy was jsut as thrilled to see Losse. Cappy extend her small arm and shaked Losses hand back and Cappy said "Pretty swell. Its been a quite a trip but the landscape was great so I complain, but I did see Brora on the way. She didnt look too happy."

Losse

Losse listened intently to her monkey friend and nodded. The young bear had traveled quite a distance to meet her new friend Cappy in this new land called Sparkling Creek valley. The land was fresh and green, and the food was plentiful.
The mention of Brora caught losse's attention. Her ears twitched nervously. "Brora? Last I heard of her, she was with the stallion, PAN, training for war. I would assume she wasn't looking too great. But then, when is she EVER happy?"

Cappy

Cappy agreed,a nd everyone felt a sense of fear when they would speak of her. "Alot of the other animals get nervous when Ii just say her name." Cappy sensed the tension she quickly changes the subject. "So how long have you been waiting?"

Losse

Losse nodded solemnly. Poor Brora had lived such a hard life and had only just grown up a few summers ago. Now she was a ruthless warrior, part of the Lost Valley Allegiance.
Sitting up, the bear looked at Cappy, wondering if they were in trouble. She disregarded the monkey's attempt at changing the subject. "There's a war coming, Cappy. I heard from an eagle a couple days back about how the animals here are about to enter war. i don't think it's safe."

Cappy

Cappy all of a sudden was brought back to the crule reality they lived in,and nodded as she also relaized her attempt to change the subject was a failure. "Yes I know. I've heard about that too I just dont want to think about it. I mean we should all live in peace and harmony but I guess that is not possible. We should do something to get prepared."

Nuka

From up in a tree, a pair of yellow eyes watched the pair talk. His tail twitched gently before he hopped down to the ground, hoping not to startle the others. "Hello there. Are you two new to teh Valley?"

Losse

Just as Losse was about to reply to Cappy, something jumped down from a tree. Losse stood and growled, baring her sharp fangs and standing in front of Cappy to protect her. "We are new. Who are you?"

Nuka

The red fox stood silently as the bear growled at him. he was not afraid. he had encountered larger animals, but he was friend, not foe. He dipped his head in a bow. "I am Nuka. I was just wondering if I could sit with you."

Losse

Losse let her gaurd down. The fox had startled her when he had jumped down from the tree, but now that she looked at him, she wasn't scared. He was a very small fraction of her size, so of course she wasn't threatened. She still kept in front of Cappy, though, just in case he wanted to eat monkey.

His words were kind enough, so Losse sat back down with a thud. Her deep eyes looked over the fox with curiosity. She looked back at Cappy. "Do you mind if he sits with us? Maybe he can tell us about the war here in the Valley."

Cappy

Cappy examined the freindly creature, she looked up at Losse and looked back at the freindly with a big smile. "Of course I dont mind! Nice to meet you Nuka Im Cappy! Please join us."

Nuka

Nuka let his bushy tail wag just a bit to show his appreciation. He was new to the valley as well, only just arrived a few months back, and he was all alone. He had lost his brother to a wolverine. Now, he wandered looking for a home or new friends.

Nuka smiled at Cappy's enthusiasm. Nice to meet you, Cappy. Who is your bear friend?, he asked, looking up at Losse.

Losse

The kodiak bear looked warily at the fox. They were usually very sneaky creatures. Losse couldn't help but be careful.

Of course, Cappy was as excited as could be to meet someone new. Losse rolled her eyes at her monkey friend. She extended her large forepaws in front of her and laid down with a huff, now eye-to-eye with the fox. She bared her fangs a little to show that she wasn't to be messed with. "I am Losse, from the North of this place. Nice to meet you, Nuka. Now, can you tell us about this war about to take place?" Losse didn't want to take part in a war, but she at least wanted to know who the bad and good guys were.

Cappy

Cappy didnt want to hear about this upcoming war but she had to face reality. "Yes please. Do tell us about this war, so we could know who to trust."

Losse

She laid her head down on her paws. She was still very exhausted from the journey here to meet Cappy. It would be winter soon and she couldn't afford to waste too much energy in case she had to hibernate.

Looking keenly at Nuka, she awaited his response. What would become of the valley?

Nuka

Nuka sighed at their questions. War was such a tiring subject. As they spoke, the winds were getting cooler, and the sun didn't stay up as long as autumn crept up on them. Before long, the valley would be covered in snow. A dangerous time for the weak.

Nuka thoughts over his words carefully before he spoke. The Shadow Haunters plan on taking over the valley under the reign of Risen, their queen. They are hundreds strong. The Shadow Lurkers are quite the opposite, although they do want the valley under their rule. It's very complicated. Every animal is either on one side or the other, or neutral, like me.

Cappy

Cappy began to feel uneasy again. She started to look around at and look up at the trees beginning to be showered with darkness. She had heard about The Shadow Haunters before but she never imagined that they would become such a threat to the whole valley. "Well what happens if we all decide to outmuber The Shadow Haunters? They dont really have alot of members...right?"

Losse

Losse sensed Cappy's tension and dragged herself closer to comfort the monkey.

The bear had heard about the Haunters. They were a deadly group trying to 'cleanse' the valley. And Risen, their leader... Losse shivered. It was said that Risen was just as terrible as Brora. Losse's ears twitched as she thought about that. If the war did begin while they were still here in the valley, what would they do?

Losse didn't want to fight.

"Nuka, is there a neutral group somewhere in the valley? Animals that don't wish to be a part of the war?"

Nuka

The young fox knew his information wasn't very soothing to the two other animals. It unsettled him as well. The Haunters had been around for a long time, and their numbers grew each day. They had a complex structure, and Risen lead them well. Ruthlessly. Every warrior, every animal in the Haunters, was loyal to her, would die for her, which made them even more deadly.

Warriors with nothing to lose are the worst. They fought the hardest.

Nuka's large ears drooped as he thought about his lost brother. They had come to Sparkling Creek Valley to start their own life after they had become adults. Their mother was reluctant to see them go, but it was the way of the wild.

Losse's interest in a neutral herd wasn't surprising. The moment Nuka lost his brother, he had looked far and wide in the valley for animals that were against either movement. He had found a couple here and there.

There are a few territories ruled by neutral leaders, while the rest are allied with either the Haunters or the Lurkers. Tell me, are either of you interested in fighting on either the Haunter or Lurker's side?

It was important that he knew so that he didn't keep company with them for very long. Nuka had no interest whatsoever in joining the war.

Cappy

That question sent shivers down Cappy's spine. She had never thought about joining a war. She wanted peace among the animals but she now realized that in order to have peace they must go have a war. "Well...I never really thought about being involved in this war. Tell us, where are these neutral lands you speak of?"

Nuka

Nuka hated the idea of leaving these two newcomers on their own. He figured if they wanted to go to war, he'd at least take them the way of the Lurkers. However, Cappy's question soothed his nerves because it seemed they were interested in staying neutral. Glad that he wouldn't lose two new friends to the war, he stood and wagged his tail, eyes bright.

Montagne Meadow is a neutral land. Go to the Territory paths, and head for the meadow. It is lead by a white wolf with green eyes; his name is Oemor. He will welcome you. He is a friend of mine.

Nuka hoped that they would go there. He knew Oemor very well and knew that the king would take them in.

He looked at Losse to see if she would approve.

Losse

Losse's interest heightened; Oemor. She knew him. Or, had at least heard of him. Losse knew they'd be safe in his land, if he welcomed them. he refused to fight on either side of the war. A wolf prone to the old ways of his kind, which Losse respected.

Standing, she growled to Cappy. "We'll go there. I plan on staying out of this war if we can, Cap."