Rainbow’s Lores

Jamaasian Lores told by Rainbow

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Remember those days when Rainbow used to tell tales of old, what she thought things were and how they happened? …Yeah, it’s been a while. I thought it’d help me and people if I were to compile them up into one page. Of course, a directory would be set up to help you navigate. After clicking on the story you’d like to read and finish, you can click on the arrow to go one page back to return back to the directory!

I hope you’ll enjoy!

NOTE: Some of the stories has been edited to fit my current liking or style.

Tales of Mira and Zios

The Legend of Jamaa

In a vast world, it was nothing but destruction. Very few survivors managed to crawl out from beneath each ruins. Then, suddenly, light shined down on the land. All those who survived looked up to the sky. They saw no animal, but only a mask. Behind the mask, there was nothing more than a golden-feathered bird. Its feathers were glinting in the sunlight. He looked down at the poor ruins.

By his voice, it was identified he was a male. “I shall bestow this land a gift. Eons before, I created all this- planets, stars, land of peace and even gave you life. It seems like, then, nothing has changed. Greed is in us. For once, let us re-new this life,” he said.

As he spoke, a blue heron glittered before them all. The heron flew up to the skies, just before the mask and spread it’s glittery wings. The warmth of the sun spread through the land. Once again, they felt the feeling to be alive. Underneath, though, everything was still in destruction…

Together with the mystery, masked-stranger, the blue heron spread life throughout the land beneath them. The two of them spent time together, creating rivers, mountains, lands. The more the heron spent time with the masked-stranger, the more the heron felt drawn to the stranger. “Tell me, masked-stranger, what is your name?” the heron asked one day.

“Heron, I am Zios, Sky-Father,” was the reply.

The heron asked, “Sky-Father, who am I?”

“I shall bestow you a name- Mira. You shall spread life with me. You shall be the Sky-Mother,” said the Sky-Father.

Beaming, Mira smiled and took off to the sky. With each flap of her wings, sparkles take place on the sky. Each star shall be reborn again when they fade away. Zios looked at her, his creation. He didn’t know that his creation would be so life-like and so beautiful.

Mira glanced back. She smiled as she looked at the masked stranger. She felt so drawn to him. Yet, she was nothing to him. She felt the time life was given to her, the power surging through her. Zios was almighty. Yet, despite all the people out there, he chose to spread life with here. Sighing in love, flapped her wings slightly more vigorously. This time, she sent a breeze down the land.

Zios looked at his creation. He could make a thousand more herons, but his heart told him that this heron was worth more than all the riches and herons he could make

A year or so passed. Mira and Zios were sitting atop a cliff. The two had set everything in motion. Mira craned her neck to lean her head on Zios’s mask. “Oh, Zios. All these time I’ve spent with you… I never felt like this…” Mira said. Her voice was lyrical even though she wasn’t singing.

Zios looked at Mira. He started to have romantic feelings for Mira. He wasn’t sure Mira felt that way. “M-Mira… I have something to show you,” he said.

From behind his mask, two golden-feathered wings emerged. Zios took his mask off, revealing a quite exotically handsome face. “Mira… I’m not only a Sky-Father, I am your friend,” he said. As he said so, pink shades bloomed on his cheeks. He was too embarrassed to admit he was in love.

“Oh… Zios! Your face…! So brilliantly rich in golden feathers and with those bright grey eyes…” Mira breathed. Zios was perfect. His face was delicate and so perfect. Her heart started to beat faster. She was in love with Zios before, now, seeing his beautiful, flawless face, he was impossible to hate or even to say that she wasn’t in love. Her sigh turned into mist.

Before the two love birds could go on, Zios broke the atmosphere of love. “Mira, I’m sorry,” he said. He took a deep breath. “I love you.”

“Why would you be sorry?” Mira asked.

Zios placed his mask once more. “I must go on to other lands. They need my help,” he said.

“Don’t you mean our help?” Mira asked, tearful.

Zios grumbled, “The land is far. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“I love you too, and as long as we’re together, I’m as safe as I could be,” Mira said.

Zios was ripped apart. He must save lives, but Mira, his soul companionship, needs him. “Stay with me,” Mira said. “I don’t want our friendship to end.”

“I’m a powerful being, Mira. I can’t just live this romance everyday,” Zios said. He extended his wings to Mira to hug her, but Mira shifted away.

“No. You’re powerful. You can live this romance with me. Together, we are both more powerful,” Mira cried. Tears started to glisten on her eyes.

Zios tried to reason with her, “Mira… I know we’re good together, but this is going to be a dangerous trip…”

“I know you don’t want me! Go away!” Mira cried. Her voice raised up a storm in the skies. “You never loved me. That’s why! You only wanted to make the land for others, but not for me!”

Zios chased her, “Mira! Don’t go! You don’t understand!”

Mira stopped her tears. “No, you don’t understand.” With that, she disappeared as a spirit to the skies.

Zios was aghast. “Mira…”

The thunder roared. He should get going.

Months passed. Mira felt guilty yelling to Zios. Her pride didn’t allow her to apologise. Now, she’s getting worried. She flew out to the skies. “Zios?” she yelled. “Can you hear me?”

She waited for weeks, flapping her wings against the wind. Zios would probably return to her by now, or reply. Zios was a forgiving person. He could never leave someone for more than three months! Distraught, her voice quivered as she tried to call his name. “Z-Zios?”

There wasn’t a reply. “Could he be… dead?” Mira stuttered. She tried to control her tears. She sniffed so much, but her tears were unstoppable. Her cries were magical, like the life she was given. She felt bitter. The tears she cried made her feel shallow and damp. She felt like she lost all she had. She grieved, in bitterness. She grieved in pain. All the emotions she felt towards Zios splashed onto the ground. As it did, it dampen her colours. Once magnificently blue, now starting to grow grey-blue. Again, more tears slapped the ground. Like everything in Jamaa, the magical land Zios and Mira created, the ground is also magical.

Her tears were filled with bitterness, remorse. They formed with the dark elements of hatred of the land. Suddenly, black blobs emerged from the soil. In shock, Mira backed away as these creatures started to leave.

When Zios finally returned, so did the black creatures. Mira warily hid, unaware of Zios’s arrival. Mira knew that the black creatures meant trouble and had five extraordinary animals to help stop them. The black creatures saw Zios. Knowing Zios was their “jackpot” as he is almighty, radiating power, these black creatures attacked. They obtained to learn magic of electricity. They shot Zios’s mask off, revealing a truly magnificent bird. Ashamed of his loss, he fled away.

Mira’s five chosen ones bravely fought the creatures. Mira gave them their blessing. After the battle, she swooped down to talk to the Alphas- the five brave heroes. Then, Mira saw what valued most to her. She quickly suppressed a gasp and sent all the Alphas to decorate a land. When the monkey, Graham, and koala, Cosmo, who were both assigned to decorate the place Mira and Zios often hang out at, weren’t looking, Mira grabbed what remained from Zios. It was his mask. Huge and glittering. In grief, she took it. She never saw Zios again, not even when he finally returned.

What had happened to Zios? Did he die? Some believe that he is tinkering the magic of Jamaa. The new animals, lands and life were from him. Mira may never see him again because Mira now protects, now as Earth Mother also. You might just see her spirit, wandering around Jamaa in search of her lost friend- Zios.

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The Alphas (NEW)- TBA

Liza

Somewhere near Jamaa Township before it was named, there was a village of pandas, where it was decorated with many oriental themes, bamboos sprouting out from the ground almost everywhere. It was a harmonious village, where pandas were always in constant agreement with each other. A gong was in the center of the village, where the village elders reside.

However, one of them was different. They called her Liza. Even if she ate as much, dressed alike and spoke in gentle tones, she had a big heart to help others, and many times she wondered if there were others who needed assistance. She asked the elders of the world outside, but they often avoided her questions and asked her to return to her duties.

Soon, as Liza grew up, but she was bored of the repetitive duties she had. However, everyone around her seemed to enjoy their days- Fang, Lei, Wei… Why isn’t she enjoying hers? It was then she realised she was different than the other pandas in her village.

When no one noticed, Liza had her things packed at the light of dawn, and attended her duties that bored her. When night fell, she slipped away into the darkness.

Liza wandered the lands as she looked around carefully. So far her journey was nothing but a waste of time. She was certain that there was nothing else that was interesting until she came upon a dying bush with bright flowers. Despite it was withering away, Liza could not help but be drawn towards it.

Maybe there are more around here! she excitedly mused to herself. She quickly grabbed the staff she had and began to run forwards. Soon, there were more bushes with the bright pink flowers everywhere. Liza crouched and plucked one, drawn by their beauty, and the flower was glowing now. Liza could feel its warm energy surrounding her, warming her. She then knew it was not an ordinary flower, but a magical one filled energy.

She let it drop down to the ground and she noticed that the energy in the flower had formed around it, and the flower flew, gliding across the sky. Fascinated, Liza caught it. “You don’t want to fall, do you?” she said.

She felt the power of the flower flow through her for a moment, and the flower withered as it’s brilliant colour faded.

“Oh no…” Liza cried as the flower crumbled, and the broken pieces swept away by the wind from her hand.

Amazed but sad for the flower, the looked around, this might just be the start of a new adventure.

Bzzzzz.

It was the first time in so many long years Liza has been awoken up so abruptly by something. She quickly sat up in her made-shift bed and looked around.

Her den seems normal.

Bzzzzzzzzzz.

It’s from outside! Liza quickly ran past the leaf curtains she made over her door and looked outside. The flowers were alright, but not all. More than a quarter of the bushes were devoid of flowers. “What?” Liza cried.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Bzzzzz. Zzzz.

Whatever was causing it was still here! Liza cautiously looked around. Among the dying greens and bright purples, she spotted a black figure, glowing blue momentarily sneak off in the distance.

“HEY, YOU!” Liza cried out. “What are you doing destroying these flowers?”

The black figure suddenly had white. An eye!

It swiftly dashed towards her above the flora. “W-what do you want?” Liza cried, but the figure didn’t reply.

Slowly, details became visible. An eye, four tentacles… What is this phantom of the night doing in this garden?

Pink-purple adorned it’s body.

Oh… no… Could it collecting the magic of the flower?

“I… I can’t let you do that!” Liza cried, and scooped a few flowers into her palm. Feeling the magic course within her, she felt it all collect in her outstretched arm. “Sorry, but I have to stop you.”

She let go of the flowers, and she let go of the fury she had been collecting in her extended hand, and a glowing purple-pink shard fly towards the thing. It exploded in white light as the shard and creature made contact, and white light blinded Liza momentarily, forcing her to look away. When she dare to look up once more, all that was left of the creature were the falling petals of what used to be flowers lying on the garden ground.

Things are no longer safe, it seems. Something seems amiss. Liza looked at the garden. She needed to go out there and protect those that are defenseless.

Last night, she was able to protect this garden from the evil… who knows if they’d be back. She wondered… She should probably stay here until she know for certain, and until then she should find a method to defeat the creatures with ease.

She sat up, and then realised around her was a bed of purple petals… from the flowers?

She buried her paw into the petals, feeling the power surging through her. “Do you want me to protect you?”

The flowers glowed warmly. Under her paw, she felt them move, pressing against her paw, a hot, bright light filtering through her fingers. While her paw hurt, she didn’t dare to move her paw from the enchanting light, the feeling of something magical under her paw… It was somehow welcoming.

A cool-to-touch object was suddenly there. She removed her paw, something glinting. She picked it up and inspected this. It was a purple gem of condensed power. A gift from the flowers.

Liza smiled. “I’ll protect you.”

After obtaining the beautiful gem, Liza studied it. The flowers has presented her with a gem of condensed power, probably to fulfill her wish of wanting to protect. Regardless Liza smiled.

She took out her staff. She walked a lot with the help of it. Her trusty staff. With a little help of materials around her, she managed to fuse the gem and staff into a singular object, waving her staff around to make sure it was secure.

She wondered if she could cast magic with it. Stepping out to the open, flowers ‘neath her feet, she swung her body around in a circle, hand stretched out, staff in hand. Clasping both hands together, staff before her face, she lowered herself down.

She knew the panda elders did some kind of ritual dance in preparation of many things. Perhaps it worked the same with magic too.

Dancing to the rhythm in her head, she began to spin, her arms and legs gracefully moving. Liza wasn’t sure what she was doing, but she knew that something was at least worth a try.

The panda then stood straight, lifting the staff upwards with both hands, then brought it down, peeking from her closed eyes to see if she brought the staff down correctly- pointed at the dying flowers. She didn’t quite comprehend what happened, but her staff glowed brightly in purple, the dead flowers’ petals flew upwards in a spiral around her. Falling back down, the flowers around her had sprung back up.

Liza smiled. She might not be so good at this, but she’ll try. She’ll try and protect the things that have love for another, and those who are defenseless.

Journeying through the fields Liza has not encountered, she day-dreamed about the lands she might eventually end up at. Another garden? A different land but yet as enchanting? Walking ahead, Liza found themselves at a river, where Liza stooped down and drank the sweet water, cupped in her paws. Look ahead, there was a sort of ruins.

Ruins? Did someone live there before, but chaos struck? Remembering their fond wanting to defend those who cannot, Liza looked ahead, wondering how they can cross. Perhaps they should wade to the other side? The current wasn’t too strong. Liza lowered themselves to the river, only to find a flower bloom underneath their feet, the flower floating on the river’s surface. Overjoyed but curious, Liza paced across the water. With that, Liza got to the other side with ease, thanking their staff to be the answer to that feat’s possibility.

There were ruins, but it was not as bad as Liza thought. The plants were growing happily in the sunlight, several animals were scurrying around without worry. Liza stepped towards one of them, but they retreated in fear.

Why? Was Liza scary?

Getting the same results after approaching the other hopping animals, Liza sighed and sat down, leaning against a tree.

It was so peaceful, but yet they look so defenceless. Did the place call for Liza?

— TO BE CONTINUED —

Greely

Greely had never fitted in the pack.

Unlike the other wolves, he was more logical, less powerful, but nevertheless agile and sensible. However, this made the other wolves to shun away from the different one, and made Greely and outsider. Despite being an outcast, Greely had actively supported the pack by hunting with them, finding an ideal location watching for any predators, such and such.

What everyone else in the pack knew was that Greely was fascinated with phenomenas, how the moon waxed and waned, high and low tides, celestial creations such as the stars. It all caught his attention. Sometimes a soul would accompany him at night, talking to him about these wonders, but the next day, the wolf would ridicule Greely behind his back for being a nerd on things wolves consider useless to their survival.

He had been in the pack since he was born, but often his parents didn’t pay attention to him, and his siblings kept away in fear of being labelled. Somehow, though, when he look at the stars, he knew that there’s something big out there that he’d live through.

With years, he was finally removed from the pack.

They could stand no more to his illogical ramblings about the stars and dreams. While Greely has often been very level-headed, his late behaviour spoke otherwise. He’d wake up with the oddest ideas in head, gazing at the stars at night and mutter inaudible gibberish. The pack agreed that Greely has finally lost his marbles for not being able to survive in the wild.

The wolf was high on alert as he journeyed the rocky cliffs. He wasn’t sure why, but his latest dream shook him.

He remembered it well. The moon was high in the sky, and it was silent, the rocks silver underneath the moonlight, and there was a malicious shadow creeping around, enveloping his dream in darkness, but then, it swirled, and it morphed into a creature. A being… him. It was Greely himself the shadows has formed.

The location was where he in his dream was where he stood right now. He didn’t know what the darkness it, but he knew he should be careful.

There was something unwanted, something despicable somewhere out here…

His ears perked. The sound of zap-zap reached his ears and he turned instinctively.

Sure enough, there were three odd creatures slowly floating towards him, lighting coursing through their body.

Greely only had one instinct: run.

Oh, he is running, alright, but somehow the dark creatures were faster, faster than his speed the pack were jealous of.

It’s no ordinary creature, he realised. It was way more malicious that he thought. The zap-zap sound of it scared him suddenly. Greely began to run faster.

No. If he kept running, the creatures would soon catch up to him! He turned around all a sudden and lunged at one of it.

Electricity pricked him, and there was a light feeling in his head as Greely howled. The shock wasn’t too painful, but it hurts. Whatever it was he had to get rid of it. Greely dashed ahead and ran. He had to outwit them. Something only he of all the wolf pack could do. He glanced up and wished the stars were in his favour.

Climbing up a rocky hill, he looked down and sighed in relief that the creatures were having difficulties climbing up. That in mind, he paced around, searching for things that would spark an idea. Vines, broken pieces of wood… rocks.

The location was where he in his dream was where he stood right now. He knew that. The moon was shining brightly. Quickly, he crafted a contraption of what seems like a net out of the vines, wood helping it to hold, rocks rolled inside the vines, weighing it down. Greely glanced down. They were still there.

The wolf threw the net, and it fell over the three creatures. they tried lifting it up, but for creatures small like them it was too hard. Greely climbed down with a few leaps and landed by the net. While the creatures glowed brighter, Greely seemed unfazed. He strode closer.

“What are you?” he snarled. The creatures continued to squirm inside the net.

Frustrated at how useless the creatures were in helping him solve his curiosity, he pounced on the net, snarling, claws ready to go offensive, but once he landed on the net. There was nothing he could do. The night phantoms were holding him down by the paws.

What happened next took Greely over by surprise. He turned into shadows and merged with the creatures.

Where am I?

Darkness was around him. Greely remembered that he was attacking the three weird creatures in the net, but then he somehow merged with them. The idea even sicken him out. Ugh.

He looked around. It was all darkness. What was he going to do? He tried running, but then it only felt like he was trying to cross a river with strong current.

He quickly concluded he was stuck. If he couldn’t see, maybe his ears and nose would be of use. Standing still, he tried to find any sound that might help him.

…ap! …zzzz!

Did he really be one with the creature? That was the only thought swirling in his head.

He didn’t want that! He didn’t want to be in the darkness with these creatures, and, somehow, he needed to get OUT.

He tried ripping the darkness with his claws, but it was useless, so he wondered what his next step was.

Would his dream be of any help? Didn’t he form the darkness into his shadow? Greely lied down, confused. Stars and dreams didn’t lie to him, but this was beyond puzzling.

Perhaps being a mere wolf his pack wanted him to be, he should follow his instincts through his dreams and the stars in the sky.

So what if he was different? He was different from the other wolves. While he exceeded them in speed and wits, his strength has failed him, and that was frowned upon.

So what? He met creatures his pack never did and took them down alone with wits and his sudden flash of ideas.

So what if he was different? He was himself, and no one could best that.

With that thought in mind, he suddenly felt the presence of darkness swirling around him. He struggled to stand, and he looked around. Light… it was so blinding.

Greely leapt for it, and the swirling darkness suddenly merged before him. As a wolf, as himself. As him.

He thought he could jump through it, but the darkness pierced through his fur and swelled in his heart.

When he came to, Greely was lying on the net he had made, heart throbbing. Other than that, he felt fine. The moon above him seemed to shine so bright that his eyes twitched in pain at the light.

He wondered if…

He quickly looked around. The creatures were really gone.

“What was all that…” Greely muttered. He then looked about. He probably needed to find a comfortable territory to stay at or a clan to join through marriage and get himself a steady life once more.

He had been walking for some time now, when he finally heard more similar noises to below. Though he had been rather quite in his journey, he now heard zap-zap noises once more than scared him.

He looked back. There were eyes squinting at him.

He knew what they were.

Running away, he gave the excitement to the chase for the curious dark creatures. What are they? Greely could only pray for help as he ran, ran and ran.

Ah! A burrow… He could hide there, it seems. The dark burrow seemed so welcoming.

Greely lunged into the hole, and he felt himself dissolving into nothing.

He looked about. Pitch black. He looked at his paws. Darker than his surroundings.

If he could spectaculate things right… He was a shadow!

“A shadow…” Greely hummed. How… peculiar! How? A wolf like him?

Could really this be explained by any sort of meaning? Greely knew it was a shadow on the ground, in another shadow! Greely moved around with ease in the shadows, delighted.

Hold on. There was a lighter spot. Not part of a shadow, Greely guessed, and when he tried to step into it, it burned his paw. Badly. Quickly he recoiled.

So, only shadows. Alright. Greely felt… odd. His body was there, guiding his shadow, yet, it felt like his body was in another ethereal plane.

Odd…

He ran freely with joy among the shadows. Seeing the creatures disappear as he did, the simply ran around in the shadows, full of wonder and excitement. However, soon he didn’t realise that the time was so quickly going by as he danced in the shadows, and when he realised that he was eventually trapped, he could hop from one shadow to another.

Oh, it felt so free! Though eventually he felt tired, and he panicked, wondering how to return. Return to the world of sunlight! In his desire he felt his body form, but there seemed to be a toll.

How long had he been gone? The fatigue took over Greely in a snap, and his steps were wobbly.

Help… Quick…

Where did things go wrong?

His sight unfocused and the world turned dark.

— TO BE CONTINUED —

Sir Gilbert

Raised like royalty, Sir Gilbert knew all his manners. His father was a great ruler of the streak. Even though there weren’t much of them, they lived in harmony among each other.

Even so, the forest they lived in has many other small streaks. Gilbert’s one was one of the biggest. Their land offered them much luxury, entertainment was the least of Gilbert’s worries. He often played with other tigers in the pool, and sometimes help them hunt.

He looked up to his father, a proud tiger. He gifted Sir Gilbert a cape for his coming-of-age gift.

The tiger was delighted. Years had been quick for him, and where he lived he never had a single event of misfortune.

He was sure that being his streak’s new leader would be no problem.

The drums were sounded. “What’s going on?” cried the tiger as he suddenly awoke.

His mother rushed in. “Hurry, Gilbert,” she spoke. “We need to evacuate.”

“Why?” cried Gilbert. He was curious, but at the same time he didn’t want to leave his homeland. “Why?”

“There’s no time,” said his mother, but Gilbert knew it meant, Stop asking questions. Do as I say.

Together, the two exited. He was distraught so Gilbert ran back into the storage to grab some of his items. “Hurry up!” his mother called from outside.

“Hold on!” cried Gilbert as he picked the red cape his father had given him, along side a sword and armoury. He slipped what he could on as he ran out and rejoined his mother.

Outside, the village was in a state of panic. The tigers were evacuating left and right, disappearing into the dense forest.

“Go! Just stay far from this place!” a familiar voice shouted.

Gilbert turned. “D-dad?”

A regal tiger in golden armour stood in the center of the village, a large rock. “Why’s he in an armour? Isn’t he leaving?” Gilbert questioned.

“There is no time!” his mother exclaimed and pushed him forwards. “Go, go, go!”

Gilbert, frustrated by the secrets his parents were holding, cried, “I’m going, I’m going, alright?”

In a blink, he was separated from his mother and disappeared into the forest.

I now have an armour. He had slipped on the silver helmet made for him just before heading off. In addition, he had slipped on his armour and his gauntlets, shining in the little light that reached the forest floor. After escaping, he had turned around in the forest and got closer to his village. He picked up the sword with his mouth and stuck it into the side of his armour, where he can easily remove it at a quick speed by just glancing back. The red cape… he considered removing it, but then it was something his father gave it.

No, he’s not removing that.

He looked at his father, looking around, making sure everyone was evacuated. What’s happening?

As soon as that thoughts came into his mind, a nearby tree crashed down, and his father leaped on the tree trunk. “Who goes there? Disrupting peace?”

Bzz… Bzzzap!

Gilbert jumped at the sound. What? What was that?

Then, Gilbert saw it. It was a black demon, glowing blue, lighting up.

What is that?

With a mighty roar, Gilbert’s father drew his claws out and engaged in battle.

Dad!

What was he fighting? Odd creatures… and by the look of it, Gilbert’s father was not winning. What should I do?

He was no longer a child, old enough to launch to an attack… He had his armour…

A battle cry in the air, an armoured Gilbert leapt out of the bushes, claws out.

“G-Gilbert! What are you doing here?” his father cried. “You should… have gone!”

“Go and leave you behind, father? Not a chance!” was the reply from the younger tiger.

“Careful… these creatures have nasty tricks up their sleeves…”

Gilbert gulped. He had a feeling about that. He turned instinctively and knocked one of them off their path with the help of his gauntlets. “What do you propose we do?”

“You stay here, make sure they follow me!” his father cried.

Gilbert didn’t quite trust the plan, but nodded. His father bounded off into the distance, provoking the creatures as he left. Hordes of them raced after this father, and Gilbert had to follow. Leaping through the forest, he eventually realised what his father’s plan was. “NO!”

His father seemed not to hear. Gilbert aimlessly ran forwards. A cave! His father dashed in, the creatures following. Gilbert knew what to do. The opening was rather small and easily closed. Gilbert blocked this entrance before anything else could escape.

Quickly, he dashed to the other end. Quick!

He knew the cave had a twisty path within, but has two exits, one he had blocked and one where he awaits his father to come out.

There! Quickly, as his father slipped out, Gilbert caused the loose stones to crash down, blocking the entrance. “Don’t do that again!” Gilbert cried to his father.

However, his father was weary, panting already. “You did good… son.”

“Dad?” Gilbert said, afraid what might happen next.

His father smiled. “You’re a fitting leader already… more fitting… than me…”

Before more words could be exchanged, the other tiger stopped moving. “Daaaaaaad!” Sir Gilbert cried, crying upon his father’s lifeless body.

Gilbert didn’t quite know what to do now that he was alone. Who knew where the streak had left to, and that his father had left him alone… The lifeless body laid before a large tree by the cave, where Gilbert marked the tree for his father. He looked back.

It’s not safe anymore here. Gilbert paced around, confused.

Far out from the area he kept walking, and he arrived at a sandy spot- a beach! Gilbert paced around. Who knew there was a beach so close by the forest they reside in? Lying down on the sand, basking in the sun, he asked himself what should his next action be.

He was probably the leader, that his father has gone, and the streak was gone.

Even if he was the leader, who was he leading?

No one- that’s who. No one but himself.

What should he do? He didn’t have a clue where he was, what he should do…

What should he do?

Gilbert was fairly puzzled, and the waves crashing down against the sand was relaxing. However, he was too confused to take in the scenery and relax.

However, he had no time to relax! He had to find a way to survive! He should try to get back to the forest and find shelter and food.

The old territory should do.

He turned back and entered the forest once more.

What happened? In the forest he went back to the cave and then decided to find the streak around, walking, walking, walking, but, oddly, he did not reach the forest. Where are they? That’s odd…

Instead of the lust forests they seemed to have come upon a clearing with ruins scattered about the position. “Odd…” Gilbert said. “I’ve never seen this place…”

He hopped onto some parts of the ruins, trying to scout the area about. Ohh… A river, and it seemed like structured buildings were erected in the distance. Out of curiosity, Gilbert bounded off into the distance, taking steps slowly, looking about.

Such gleeful creatures roam the area, and then Gilbert spied one that did not belong. A lone wolf was in the distance, surrounded by curious critters, and Gilbert strode over, and the creatures dispersed in fear of Gilbert’s looming shadow. “Hey, wolf,” Gilbert growled without malicious intent. “What’s wrong?”

No response. What had happened??

Gilbert then decided to look after the wolf, in curiosity and amazement to why this lone wolf was here, passed out. Gilbert wondered, and then realised the wolf was staring at him.

The wolf’s voice was rough, snarling, “What do you want?”

— TO BE CONTINUED —

Graham

The monkey’s hands twitched again. “There you go again,” sighed his father, “twitching. So is your tail, you know…”

Graham was well aware of it. “I need to do something! Banana gathering time is over! Harvesting time is over! What am I to do?”

“You’re always wanting to do more, Graham,” said his father. “Come.”

Graham shifted in his position and looked at what his father pointed at. “Branches?”

His father laughed. “Branches and vines,” said he and his hands moved about. “If you want to do something so badly, why don’t you try to build something? Twigs and vines might just be the perfect items for you to start!”

“Ooh!” Graham crooned. “I like the idea!”

Together with his father, he hopped down the branch to another and collected materials. With his nimble fingers, he fashioned a net. Weaving vines and long leaves, he then attached the corners with long vines. The long vines were then braided together and slung over a sturdy branch. Soon his little contraption was ready, and Mira knows how he was inspired. It just came.

His father looked down at the little contraption of simple pulley. “It will make gathering some certain fruits so much better,” his father said as the net soared above them.

Graham collected his items. It has been a few years since he started creating contraptions. Lying around him were various trinkets, creations he found useful. “Are you leaving so soon?” said a voice, and the monkey looked up. It was his father who just entered the room.

Graham nodded, shifting his hands from one thing to another. A slingshot, a collection of gears, nets and bases of pulleys. His tail twitched, and he felt something on it. A key. Ever since he made his first simple pulley contraption with his father, he was gifted a key to toy around with.

“Yeah,” Graham replied. It was a rather sad reply, but Graham decided to face his father and gave him a smile. “I’ll be alright! The world is going to love all this!”

“I have faith in you that they will,” said his father, smiling back. “If that’s what you really want to do, Graham, then go. I’m not one to cage you in. Your mind is always expanding, and perhaps the world will too when they see your contraptions.”

Graham nodded. He was confident that the world will like his ideas. That’s why he was going out there and share all the ideas. Peering through a hole in the wall, serving as a window, he saw monkeys hauling an elderly monkey from the forest ground to the canopy. Other than that he also made door hinges to replace the leafy curtains they once set up.

He bundled it all up. “Good-bye, dad, I’ll send you a postcard!” he said, and hugged his father, who replied, “May the skies watch you, Graham.”

In his bag filled with all his worldly goods, he swung from tree to tree, avoiding predators. He had been journeying for quite some time now, and no doubt outside of their territory. The sun was setting, the night was coming. Stopping on a tree branch to rest, he looked ahead.

Huh? That can’t be right.

Rows and rows of trees were purple and decaying, looking weak and frail, about to topple down any time. He wondered what’s happening there…

A clearing! It was by luck he happened to look down. Graham spied some water there and hopped down from the tree, and drank some of it, feeling refreshed once more, he looked at the dying trees. Curiosity took over him, driving him to march towards the trees. Hmm… odd…

Bzz… Bzzzz…

He looked around. “What was that?” he asked aloud. From the corner of his eye, he caught an image of a blue spark. Turning around swiftly, it was an odd creature, a black blob. Night was approaching quickly, and soon the two will be engulfed in darkness.

“S-stay back!” Graham said. The creature kept approaching it as it hovered lightly, two more behind the first, all three with blue lightning circling each body.

Quickly, he pulled the slingshot from his little bag. Crouching down and finding a small pebble, he aimed it at the suspicious creatures. Thowk!

The creature was driven backwards, but not removed from the area. A feeling of unease wash over him. He knew he had some pebbles in his bag, but instead of pulling them out, he had pulled out gears and bolts.

What harm could it do to waste them? He aimed it swiftly. Surprisingly, he knocked one of them out. Two left, five bullets of Graham remain. Quickly loading them, he launched his attacks, and soon he was alone in darkness.

“What was that…?” Graham muttered.

Somehow, in the darkness, he felt the trees stand straight once more. He smiled, feeling accomplished, and decided to rest on a tree branch, however, as he looked aroundhe was a koala on a hammock and the bag he found on the floor. There were many vials, which Graham could not comprehend.

“Rise and shine! It’s a new day!!” cried the monkey. He wondered if the koala would kindly share some provisions with him? It was cold in the silent woods, and so he started to swing the hammock the koala was sleeping on.

“WAKE UP!” Graham called out, shaking the hammock once more.

Groggily, the koala opened their eyes and let out a defeated moan. “Who are you anyway…”

“I’m Graham! You?” the monkey replied too energetically.

“Cosmo,” said the koala and shifted back to sleep.

The monkey tried a bit more small talk, before the koala finally offered a blanket, in which Graham gladly raided the bag. “Found it, thanks!” cried Graham, who took them to a nearby tree branch. “Hey, you know? Dang today is such a weird that! I was attacked by weird creatures and then I had to fight them off! Ka-pew! Ka-pew! I single-handedly defeated them! How awesome is that? I can’t wait to share my stories to my family back home! How about you? How’s your journey so far?”

He didn’t get a reply. All he got were the snores, so he shrugged and retired for the day.

“Whoa whoa WHOA! Buddy! You can NOT go to sleep again on such a beautiful day!” Graham demanded and with a bit more persuasion, Graham finally got the koala out of the hammock and folded the hammock. It was a new day, the silent woods were filled with Graham’s loud voices.

Graham watched him pack his items. “Oops, those are yours?”

“Don’t tell me you destroyed or messed up something…” Cosmo sighed.

“Nope.”

A new kind of weird friendship has started among them, it seems, and so they began to journey together.

“Say, what’s your goal going around and about? I wanted to find a place where my inventions can be of use,” said Graham, the monkey.

“Inventions? So you like creating items huh?” Cosmo said, not answering the monkey at all.

“Yeah! Tinkering, creating items,” Graham said, listing whatever he created and rambling upon the process and their uses. He started to pull out some of his inventions from his pouch and described them and their uses.

“Watch out!” Cosmo suddenly cried out, and Graham was pulled back. “Those mushrooms has bad fumes around it, and it’s poisonous.”

“Phew! Lucky you’re here to help me!” Graham said, smiling at Cosmo.

However, with that incident, they were silent again.

“Hey, Cosmo, why did you start to travel around? You don’t seem to be the type to travel and adventure about lands,” Graham finally said after a long silence has settled between the two.

“Me?” the koala asked, shocked.

“I know you’re a plant person,” Graham answered back, “that you knew the plants of this forest like the back of your paw, so I’m really wondering if you’re just journeying just to see plants from land to land, but I doubt it.”

Graham thought the koala chuckled. “That, you’re right, I wouldn’t go on a journey just for that. Seems like you got enough brains to read my motives enough.”

“Oh?” Graham jokingly said, jumping in front of the koala, who quickly tugged his tail.

“Be more careful around! That collection is a nest for some birds!” Cosmo complained. “We need to be careful in this forest, didn’t I say so already?”

Graham laughed. “You’re so serious with plants…”

However, it seemed like Cosmo didn’t want to answer about why he’s travelling. Why? Why not? After all, Graham made his intentions clear…

Graham sighed. He hated being in silence, despite the birds chirping in dark, damp forest. Despite of it all, as they walked ahead, together but at the same time individually, and Graham started to hum a song to keep noises about him.

He took a glance to the side. Cosmo seemed worried…

“That way?” Graham asked, glancing back to see Cosmo turn around another path.

Cosmo looked back at Graham, nodding, to say, “I believe so.”

Believe so? Where was Cosmo heading to? “Where are we going exactly?” Graham cried out, but Cosmo rushed ahead, causing Graham to turn upset. Even though it had been Graham who decided to tag Cosmo, that was rude of the koala! After all, wasn’t Graham a bit of fun to have around? “Wait!”

The koala seemed to be in a hurry. What for? Why?

Running was one thing Graham wasn’t too good at. So, he hopped up a tree and began to propel himself forwards, grabbing a branch after another, aiming for only the sturdy looking ones close to the trunk. After what seemed to be an endlessly long time, Graham finally spied Cosmo stop. That koala had the energy to run too! Graham dropped down to the ground behind Cosmo.

“Cosmo? What’s wrong?” Graham cried, seeing the koala sling his bag of provisions off his back and started to remove bottles.

What was he doing?

Cosmo looked at Graham for a short while, simply to say, “I’m a plant doctor.”

Cosmo tended the trees, so quickly it almost awed Graham, but then the koala suddenly turned to Graham. “You, help find a river, it’ll help this area.”

“How?” he chimed instead, and Cosmo let out a sigh, saying, “Did you say that you’re into machines? Then I’m sure you can find a way.”

The monkey scratched his head. He didn’t have the equipments! What can he do? In hopes for inspiration, he left the area. While doing this he should find a river as well.

He hoped everything will be alright.

— TO BE CONTINUED —

Cosmo

This koala might seem clueless, but fauna are his strengths. As he napped on a hammock, he was surrounded by the greens of the plants. He had studied them and grown so close that he knew how to converse to plants. Not by seeing their moment, but to reach into their consciousness where it thinks of what it wants to say.

In the midst of his sleep, suddenly a voice called out, “Cosmo? Are you awake?”

The koala sleepily opened one eye. “I am now,” he muttered.

“I got word from a distant cousin,” said the speaker, which sounded like the fern by the window. “That the plants there are not doing so well. Do you think you can check?”

Cosmo stretched. “Well,” he said, and yawned. “If it’s for the plants I don’t see why not.”

Turning around in his hammock, the koala yawned and faced the fern. “Okay, just ask for directions,” he said. “Once I get them, I’ll go ahead and leave Red to look after you all.”

He lifted his head and lifted to a small red bird perched on one of the wooden perch. The bird’s song was of a familiar voice of agreement.

Aside from the plants, this hut was where Cosmo had reside since he was young with the bird Red. He turned in his hammock again, thinking about what might happen as he goes out for a first visit of the outside world.

He was beyond tired.

The fern had aided him in drawing a map and they all said their prayers for the koala to have a safe journey, but they forgotten to pray he’d have the strength.

He was walking for a day and the long walking distance seemed like nothing at first, and suddenly, after walking for miles, the weariness took over him. That’s not fair.

He was used to spending his energy, but in a relaxed manner, as he would water and tend the plants. That’s not fair. Why can’t travelling be the same? However, he knew he had to help tend the plants. If anything, they had consciousness like animals too.

He leaned against a tree. He reached his mind out, asking the trees around him if he could hang his hammock and have a night’s rest. He found a pair of close-by trees that agreed. Smiling, he set his hammock up and thanked the trees.

Hmm, the trees didn’t look too good… “Hey, Red,” Cosmo started, then realised he wasn’t back home, where Red would help with some gardening. He stooped down and let the magic work. Cosmo pulled a vial out of the bad. It would help nourish the soil. He had prepared them for the plants to find, but then he had brought a lot.

Taking out a few round-objects from the vial, he used a mortar and pestle to crush them. He dug up some of the soils around the trees’ roots and placed the crushed items in them, and covered the soil back. “Vitamins,” Cosmo said out loud, and into the trees’ consciousness.

A chorus of thank yous filled Cosmo’s head. He felt great. He felt home as he climbed the hammock and hugged his back of provisions and fell asleep.

Cosmo slept pretty nicely, snuggling in his comfortable hammock, until he felt someone tugging his hammock. He tried to ignore it, telling himself it was only the wind, but then it got more forceful, and he groggily opened his eyes and rolled around to see the prankster.

Lo and behold! A monkey?

“Who are you?” Cosmo managed to mumble.

The monkey appeared not to hear. “Oh bananas, this isn’t just a random inn- it’s someone else’s. Drat, I’ll go look-“

“Hey… I’m awake you know,” Cosmo called out, a little louder now.

The monkey managed a ‘huh’.

Cosmo really didn’t want to get out of him comfortable position, but then it seems that this poor monkey needs a place to rest too. “You see my bag there? There’s a blanket. You can use it as a blanket or lay it down on the floor and sleep on it.”

The monkey’s actions were noisy enough for Cosmo to follow him. The monkey ran around trees looking for his bag, and rummaged through it for items.

“Found it!” the monkey triumphantly exclaimed.

“Alright, good…” Cosmo drowsily said and closed his eyes to fall into the world of dreams once more. However, the monkey did not seem to realise that.

“Hey, thanks!” said the monkey. “Dang today is such a weird that! I was attacked by weird creatures and then I had to fight them off! Ka-pew! Ka-pew! I single-handedly–“

Nonsensical talking. Cosmo went back to slumber once more.

However, he did not wake up as he hoped, for the monkey forcefully urged him to rise, and Cosmo eventually packed up and started his journey.

What a day. He was supposed to help the plants but now he was travelling with a monkey who would not stop of play with gears in his hands. His tail was also moving smoothly, playing with the key slipped on there. Cosmo wondered if the monkey had too much caffeine to start with.

All he needed to do was find the plants and restore them back to life. He was sure that he still had enough nutritions despite using some the other day.

The trees had bidden him good-bye and a safe journey, and the monkey decided to tag along, saying that he was looking for another land. Same goes for Cosmo, it seems, but not to stay there, but to aid them.

“Say, what’s your goal going around and about? I wanted to find a place where my inventions can be of use,” said Graham, the monkey.

“Inventions? So you like creating items huh?” Cosmo said, not answering the monkey at all.

“Yeah! Tinkering, creating items,” Graham said, listing whatever he created and rambling upon the process and their uses. Cosmo simply nodded as he trudged beside the monkey, who he was upset at for waking him up too early. The forest was rather dull and dark, sound of birds in the air.

Ferns, trees, moss…

“Watch out!” Cosmo said, pulling Graham back. “Those mushrooms has bad fumes around it, and it’s poisonous.”

“Phew! Lucky you’re here to help me!” Graham said.

However, Cosmo had to learn he didn’t learn from his mistakes and Graham kept running into more danger, like holes of who-knows what, poison ivy, walking on a pile of rotten wood that was decomposing… Cosmo had to pull him back every single time.

When he could handle the loose monkey no more, Cosmo pinned him down to one spot with his staff.

“Hey, while you might know how to invent things, nature might still be stronger that your inventions, so you better watch your step around here,” Cosmo threateningly said.

The monkey just laughed. “Oh, so you’re a plant person, alright.”

Cosmo sighed and the two continued to walk ahead.

The monkey probably won’t understand if Cosmo said the plants sent him, or that he was going to help the plants. The monkey didn’t even respect the forest, or seem to heed it. However, Cosmo was listening to all their conversations.

“Good morning.” “Hello.” “Look, a monkey and a koala!” “I wonder where they’re from.” “Or rather, where are they headed to?” “Oh yeah… good one.” “Moss family over there, though! They think they could be so rude and get it their own way?” “Haha, that’s funny!”

Cosmo may be silent towards the monkey Graham, but it was because they were conversing with the plants now and then.

Cosmo then sent his thoughts over. “Good morning, dearest plants. We’re headed off to an unknown destination where I wish to cure several plants that seemed down.”

“It can talk to us!” a voice joyously said, and instantly, thousands of questions surrounded him.

“Peaceful woods, huh? Graham commented.

It’s NOT for Cosmo! Instead, Cosmo forced to ignore those comments and finally shoot a question. “I’m heading to where the plants seem unhealthy, do you know where it might be?”

Random comments on directions started to pour. ARGH! Cosmo decided to rely on instincts and shut the thoughts out once and for all.

Thank goodness! Cosmo dashed away as he heard the pleas of complaints and it seemed like the right place. After what seemed to be endless running, this was where the cries was from.

“Help…” “Water…”

Cosmo dashed around with vials in their grasp, asking out to the plants around him, “Anyone needs help? Who’s needing help?”

The plants here looked rather poor. Trees with drooping leaves as if they didn’t have the energy, and the pale colours that struck Cosmo’s heart. Nutrients! Nutrients! Cosmo dashed around with the vials of vitamins.

“Water… It’s so dry here…” “Help us…”

Cosmo began to tend to one tree, opening a vial and pouring it by the roots. Cosmo then turned to Graham, shouting at the monkey, “You, help find a river, it’ll help this area.”

“How?” he chimed instead, and Cosmo let out a sigh, saying, “Did you say that you’re into machines? Then I’m sure you can find a way.”

The monkey scratched his head, but then proceeded to leave the area. Hopefully to find a river nearby.

With that thought in mind, Cosmo listened to the plants’ pleas, and responding to them. It felt like it was wrong, because now they were showering him with requests.

— TO BE CONTINUED —

–

The Alphas (OLD)

Alphas have a life of sadness, pain and being misjudged. Still, the sun rises after every nightfall. There’s always a hope for those Alphas, and everyone else in Jamaa.

Liza

In a family of four, Liza was the youngest. Her brother and her often play by the rivers of the land where they lived at. Their land was known to be uncharted by any other creatures. The whole area was populated by pandas. Bamboos were more than plenty. In the center of the land, there was a huge gong. No one needs to rule the land. It was in peace and there was no distrust.

One day, her brother was sick, so Liza wandered off alone for adventures, without having him to hinder her. She went to a direction she had never went to before. She was too bored to watch stones jump across the river like what she usually do or go to lands she had explored. She began to venture the bamboo forest her food was supplied from. Instead of stopping, she continued to walk past the land’s border.

Instead of arriving in the middle of the nowhere, she found an enchanted garden-like place. A bonsai tree stood at the center. Oddly, a nest was built on the tree. Three chicks were cheeping and protesting their hunger. Their mother be looking for food, Liza thought. Instead of waiting, she walked by to a tree and plucked a ripe-looking fruit. She cracked it open and took the seeds out. She climbed the bonsai and patiently, she fed the chicks. When the seeds were finished, the chicks were still hungry, it was when the mother bird arrived with seeds and fruits in her beak and talons.

Next, Liza watched as the mother bird taught the chicks to fly. The first one did perfectly, but the second one faltered mid-flight. Liza immediately sprang forwards to catch the falling chick, then climbed the tree to return the bird. The mother bird regarded Liza with those observing eyes, with a hint of kindness sprinkled on them.

Later, as the mother bird left again, a blue dog appeared from the bushes and began climbing the tree. Liza looked around and saw no traces of the mother bird. Not wanting to harm the creatures, Liza lifted the dog up and brought it down to a further part of the garden. Instead of running away, the dog changed into a blue heron.

The bird was shimmering blue with a radiant power around. “Liza, you have proven well to be kind and loving. Plant this seed and see it it blooms. It it does, come here again,” said the bird in a beautiful voice. Then, the bird flew away, but not before the heron handed Liza a seed. When Liza returned home, she planted the pink seed. She was unable to return to the garden just yet. When she tried to water it, she thought she heard the seed groan. She knew that the seed was not normal, but magical. She knew that she could get magic water from a magical stream from a land far away on foot.

She began her journey. Her way to a land she never knew. Then, she arrived at a stream. She was about to collect it when she heard a fuss. She went over to check what was happening to see animals of all sorts bickering.

A few animals stood out the most. A wolf with a grim expression was bickering with a brave-looking tiger. A koala with a staff arguing with a monkey, whose tail held a key. Liza couldn’t take all the noise. She didn’t want to shout either. So instead, she took the hard way. She zipped over to each group of fussy animals and introduced them to each other. She then slowly lowered down the volume level by decreasing the fuss slowly. Soon, nearly everyone were friends- except for the four different looking animals. She went over to them. “Hi! I’m Liza. Who are you all?” she asked politely.

The tiger replied, “I’m Sir Gilbert. I came from a far-away land.”

“I’m Cosmo. Please agree with me plants are better than machines!” the koala pleaded.

The monkey shook his head. “I’m Graham. Please agree with me that machines are the best,” he chuckled.

The wolf was especially cold and shut himself away from Liza’s question. “Wolf, who are-“

The wolf’s ears suddenly perked upwards. “Do you hear that?” he growled, surprising Liza at the sudden interruption. “I hear scuffling and dust being patted. I hear sparks of electricity. I hear sounds familiar. I hear sounds like a tiger’s sneaky walk. I hear… weird sounds. I think I know what this means. It’s a battle.”

Liza gasped, “Oh no! To destroy the serenity of this land?”

“We must fight back,” Sir Gilbert proclaimed, although his determination in his voice was broken with the stare of annoyance sent to the wolf. “We must protect this land.”

Liza shook her head. “That will mean war,” she said.

“True, but what other methods do we have?” asked Cosmo.

The wolf said, “We can fight. We can fight not here. We can fight there. By where the danger lurks.

Sir Gilbert laughed. “To trust you? Unlikely!” he cried.

Liza nodded. “The wolf’s right. We’ll bring war to those who wants war.”

The others agreed, except for the tiger, who sulked slightly for his idea not being approved.

As stealthy as shadows, the wolf slipped into shadows and appeared from another. It seems easy to him, but not for Liza. Her thoughts keep going back to the pink seed. Was it withering? Was her last chance to visit the enchanted garden fading away?

“We’re here. That phantom guard will change shifts in five minutes. Stand by, don’t make a noise,” instructed the wolf.

Liza revised the plan in her head. The wolf shall find the entrance to the Phantom king, as being suspected to cause trouble. The others should try to do whatever necessary to avoid being captured. What could Liza do?

The wolf sneaked in. The others weren’t noticed, so they stood as still as stones. When the wolf returned, a wild, angry gleam was on his eyes. “They’ve tricked us. The phantom attack occurs now. In that peaceful land…”

In a panic, and confusion, all three began to rush back to where they started. True. The land Liza calmed the bickering animals was now in complete chaos. Black figures roamed here and there, chasing animals. A big black thing with one eye cackled. “You cannot defeat me,” Liza heard it say, although it owns no mouth. “I shall always be the King!”

“We were too naïve before. Now, we shall not be moved until we defeat you!” growled the wolf. Liza was in shock to think that it would be a group work.

The tiger stepped forwards. “Although I hate to say this, I agree. We won’t let you destroy the harmony between animals!”

“To think you all were bickering before,” the king teased.

The koala stepped forwards and tapped his staff on the ground. “I’ll never forgive you for destroying all these nature!” he cried.

The monkey also stepped forwards. “Agreed! Now we have to… uhh… STOP YOU!”

Liza stepped forwards, aligned with all the others. “They are all right! You are wrong! We can defeat you!”

Suddenly, a blue aura blazed around them all. The phantoms around them took no notice and a group began to scare a group of three. Immediately, Liza felt sorry. More phantoms yet came! Were the three their only target? “We have to save them!” she cried. They charged into the wave of phantoms, in a burst of light, the phantoms were defeated! The three were saved.

Liza and her new unlikely friends turned to face the giant king. “We’re stopping you now,” she said. Cosmo used his powers to catapult them from a tree. The king had a mouth after all. He opened them, ready to swallow them, but suddenly, Liza was surrounded by a blazing pink aura, which trailed her. They entered the mouth of the king, only to explode it. The king was forever gone… she thought. Then, the bird before swooped down from the skies. “The Temple of Zios is surely in ruins,” she muttered. “Cosmo, Graham, Greely, Liza and Sir Gilbert, all your hard work have brought peace once more in the land of Jamaa. Some places are in ruins. No matter, my thanks are in your hearts, I do hope. All the animals said their thanks. I, Mira, have never seen such heroic deeds. I apologise for not having to help, for my powers grow weak as of late. I proclaim you all as Alphas, Protector of Jamaa. The ones who came from a faraway land!” She turned to Liza. “Would you do the honours of decorating the township?”

Liza eyes beamed. “Gladly!” she cried. Meanwhile, Mira turned to talk to the others as she was faraway planning ahead, no longer listening.

It barely took days for her to finalise her designs. Liza wheeled the heavy gong in. “Phew!” she said. “That was the last!”

Her strength has increased due to Mira’s aura and spirit in her. She decorated the township simply. A gong was placed on the center and on the top right of the map, she planted a small amount of bamboo with her hut located there. On the bamboo forest’s left, she placed a statue of Mira. She had two shops built like the ones back home. She made a medical center and a club with her friends. She also made a pillow room to tell tales at, or to find friends or to rest. She was about to go over to the unfinished pillow room to continue building with the other animals when a voice interrupted her. “Liza!”

She looked back. The pandas from her land came to join. A few had populated Jamaa, but with more moving in, she would never feel homesick. “We brought this,” said her brother, handing her the flower. She smiled in thanks. It was the what grew from the pink seed- she would have to further nurture it.

Later, she planted the grown flower near the river where she first wanted to collect water for her plant. At once, she heard a whisper by her ear, Her kindness and never ending love shall let the land strive. The flower bloomed to it’s maximum and the anthers that were sticking out joined together. The flower hardened and petals curved upwards to form a bowl. Water sprouted out from the now stone flower. Now a fountain, it is a symbol of Liza’s love and gentleness.

Greely

Greely did not howl. He was always part of a pack, but he hated the company. He was alone in his cave. He was studying a sample of a python skin. Then, obtaining a bit of it’s life-force, he sapped it and tried to put it to a mouse. He succeeded. Although he did, he trapped the mouse under a jar-bell with a small hole on it. When he checked the next day, it seems like his experiment worked. The mouse seemed to have shed it’s fur! Greely smiled ominously.

It was weird. He didn’t know where his powers came from, but from the very start, ever since his curiosity rose, he discovered that he had powers like no other did. To absorb parts of another creature, to merge them with another, to collect all these data and modify beings. That was where his joy lied in.

Hunting- something Greely enjoy to do alone. He had difficulty catching his prey. Even with the fact that there was a phantom nearby that boosts his spirits, which were hardly even up, to hunt. Later, he caught the phantom and the prey, but he didn’t bother to share his prey. It was a close call. He only gotten to taste a chunk of meat before the phantom came charging at him! Luckily, he was able to trap the phantoms in a cage of moose antlers. Greely thought it was rather smart, but not the chief.

“Why didn’t you tell us?” barked the wolf leader. “You could have gotten killed!”

Greely snorted, “If I howled, I would have given a moment for the phantoms to finish me ever so quickly.”

The leader’s eyes burned with hatred and fury. “Excuses! No excuses, Greely! Being part of this pack means you have to cooperate!”

“Yes, sire,” Greely said, not meaning it. He paced back to his cave, where he blocked the entrance. He unveiled an object to reveal a cage with a phantom in it. The phantom was one of their biggest threats of the animals. With the help of a small flickering flame, he set to experiment on his animal magic. He tried giving the phantom a serum of tiger paws-toe-pad movement. Phantoms were known to slip through shadows, but if his experiment worked, he might be able to hear the phantoms. Plus, they would sound like tigers to others, which means THREAT!!!

He injected the dose. At once, whenever the phantom moved around, he made a noise. Greely had a phantom’s sample. He learned that if he put a special chemical and herbs in the tiger toe-pad serum, he could erase the powers of the phantoms that allows them to slip through shadow.

Greely played a risky move. He injected himself with a phantom DNA. He hoped that if he succeeds, he was able to slip through shadows. At first, nothing happened. Then, Greely was able to melt into shadows and appear at another edge of the shadow. He kept this as a secret, though.

Greely was a wolf who knows no weariness. At the day, he went hunting with the other wolves. He managed to hunt down a moose quickly with his new abilities. “How did you catch the moose on your own, Greely?” the leader suddenly asked. His distrust towards Greely was like none to others.

“It’s how I hunt- alone,” Greely confirmed. The leader looked at Greely as though something was wrong with him.

It was then he caught his reflection. Unlike other wolves in his pack, he was actually blue. The phantom DNA must be causing it, Greely thought. “Is my fur blue?” Greely asked, pretending to be surprised. “Maybe it’s due to the shadows that cling to me from the times I stay alone.”

“Maybe,” was the reply, and Greely knew he was not buying the story.

Greely tore another piece of meat. The leader had a faraway look in his eyes Greely can’t just forget.

A sudden meeting, great. Late at night, Greely moaned. He was looking for his lost phantom everywhere. Their pack leader was standing on the rock while the other wolves of the pack either sit or stand on the grass. Greely sat by the shadows. “Greely, is Greely here?” their leader called. Greely, hesitantly, finally stepped forwards. “Come up.”

Greely began to pace forwards, but then stopped. “What is that this beside you?” he asked instead. He looked at it. It was a cloth covering a round-like object.

Their leader gave a stern smile with eyes mocking. “This, dear wolves, is Greely’s betrayal to us!” he cried. He unveiled it, revealing a noisy phantom in an antler cage. “He’s befriending a phantom!”

Gasps filled the night sky. “I’m not!” Greely said, suddenly behind the pack leader. He took the cage with him. “If you want me to leave, fine with me.”

Faster than one could imagine, Greely packed his items and disappeared into the shadows of the night, warping himself into a mysterious place. There, he started to strive on his own. During his free time, he would start to paint and carve on a part of a wall. He drew a wolf, symbolising his life of solitude. It was a symbol of strength, his strength. He then began to find resources of the wonderful, mysterious land. Sometimes, he would hear voices, but he isn’t certain if he was dreaming.

The phantom was discarded down a cliff, for Greely have no more use for it. He had notebooks full of their information. He even made more chemicals to allow phantoms to become as noisy as snores to him. With a little bit of modification, he was able to insert it into the chromosomes so it could be passed down by heredity- if possible. If not, Greely must find a new way to do it.

Greely never meant any ill-will. One day, while he was studying a spirit stone, a tattered wolf entered his land. “G-Greely! I finally found you! The… The pack! It’s being attacked by a fearsome wild cougar!” reported the brown wolf.

Greely growled. “Let’s see if they can stand against me,” he challenged, before leaping down from a cliff. It was dangerous, but he was easily used to it.

When Greely saw the cougar, he wondered, Why is it shimmering in blue glitter? Fearlessly, he strode over to it and bared his fangs, eyes glowing an eerie light. The cougar looked terrified and turned tail. Greely was not satisfied, he chased after the cougar, as silent as a shadow.

When they were far away from the pack, the cougar changed shape into a blue heron. Greely was about to pounce on it when it began to speak in a voice so magical, it was like sorcery, stopping Greely entirely. “Brave lone wolf, listen. Your abilities were not of taken seriously here. Listen to me. In a land faraway you have come from, and you shall enter a new world that is yours to save- where people shall fear and love you. Ah, but their love is not by fear, it shall be by your deed alone. You may chose two paths, to be the lone wolf to be known by the wolves or the hard, worthy path to be with others.”

Greely was about to ask, but the bird vanished as if it was out of vapour. Deciding to chose a new course, he set off to walk a path. Every now and then, his keen eyes would spot a shimmering blue bird flying above him, guiding his path. Then, he knew that the bird wasn’t any other bird. It was a bird of magic and of guidance. A bird that only one can exist. Like a mother of all.

Finally, he settled down beside a stream and began to lap some water from below. As he did, a voice said, “Pardon me, sire, I have to get through.”

Greely pretended not to hear and lapped more water to drink. Again, the voice said, “Pardon me, sire. I really have to get through. Please move aside.”

Greely looked up and saw a tiger. “I am trying to have a drink here,” he snapped.

The tiger apologised and said the wolf had already drank. Greely told the tiger, “If you want to pass, then wait.” He bent down to satisfy his unsatisfied thirst.

The tiger waited, but Greely was not easily quenched. The sun beat down on him during his journey. When he finally was done, the tiger looked at him. “Finally,” was the tiger’s sigh and passed through.

“Excuse me?” Greely growled.

Then, an argument started. It was a wonder how Greely did not realise there were many animals bickering around. Maybe he was to weary. Once he argued, his ears were sharp again, able to listen to each argument. Instantly, Greely loathed the tiger. They bickered about many things- who was the better one, who was braver, who was more worthy. It ended up being like a harsh debate, suddenly, a voice cleared the air. “Hi! I’m Liza. Who are you all?”

In that instant, Greely felt the atmosphere changed. The bickering animals were now friendly, no longer hostile towards one another. What had caused that? He glanced at the speaker- a panda.

The tiger replied, “I’m Sir Gilbert. I came from a far-away land.”

Beside Greely, there was a koala. He didn’t notice the koala there before. “I’m Cosmo. Please agree with me plants are better than machines!” the koala pleaded.

A monkey shook his head, standing beside the koala. “I’m Graham. Please agree with me that machines are the best,” he chuckled.

Greely did not reply Liza’s question. He did not trust the panda, but the panda tried again. “Wolf, who are-“

Greely heard something. His ears suddenly perked upwards. “Do you hear that?” he growled, cutting the panda short. “I hear scuffling and dust being patted. I hear sparks of electricity. I hear sounds familiar. I hear sounds like a tiger’s sneaky walk. I hear… weird sounds. I think I know what this means. It’s a battle.”

Even when the phantoms slip between the shadows, his ears were keener than they were, and he could easily hear them. The tiger glared at him, as if his words offended him. Liza gasped, “Oh no! To destroy the serenity of this land?”

“We must fight back,” Sir Gilbert proclaimed, still glaring at Greely. “We must protect this land.”

Liza shook her head. “That will mean war,” she said.

“True, but what other methods do we have?” asked Cosmo.

Greely thought for a while, then said, “We can fight. We can fight not here. We can fight there. By where the danger lurks.

Sir Gilbert laughed. “To trust you? Unlikely!” he cried.

Liza nodded. “The wolf’s right. We’ll bring war to those who wants war.”

With that, Greely, reluctantly, told the others his plan. He had a feeling that the rest were not as experienced with phantoms, seeing the anxious look of the panda, and the clueless face of the monkey. However, they managed to agree and made their way to their destination. As stealthy as shadows, Greely slipped into shadows and appeared from another, ahead of the others. This, hard? Greely thought to himself. Slipping from shadow to shadow was no challenge to him. Was he respected yet? Was he loved just yet? He had no clue.

“We’re here. That phantom guard will change shifts in five minutes. Stand by, don’t make a noise,” instructed Greely. He then slipped into the shadow of the tree to reappear inside, where a phantom was circling the place. Greely, luckily, brought the potion and gave it to the phantom. He sneaked around and poured the potion nearly everywhere. Then, when he reached what seemed to the the great throne room, there was no one. Immediately, he realised he was fooled.

Quickly, he went back to the others. His heart burned with anger. How dare they tricked him! When he returned, he was sure a wild, angry gleam was on his eyes. “They’ve tricked us. The phantom attack occurs now. In that peaceful land…”

True. Phantoms now roam, causing chaos, chasing animals. A big black thing with one eye cackled. “You cannot defeat me,” Greely heard it mock. “I shall always be the King!”

“We were too naïve before. Now, we shall not be moved until we defeat you!” growled the Greely angrily. Now he knew why the bird said hard work. He had to work together- as a team. Something Greely wasn’t good at.

The tiger stepped forwards. “Although I hate to say this, I agree. We won’t let you destroy the harmony between animals!”

“To think you all were bickering before,” the king teased. Greely growled.

The koala stepped forwards and tapped his staff on the ground. “I’ll never forgive you for destroying all these nature!” he cried.

The monkey also stepped forwards. “Agreed! Now we have to… uhh… STOP YOU!”

Liza stepped forwards, aligned with all the others. “They are all right! You are wrong! We can defeat you!”

Suddenly, a blue aura blazed around them all. The phantoms around them took no notice and a group began to scare a group of three. Greely noticed, but he knew, if the king was defeated, the rest shall retreat. “We have to save them!” Liza cried. Sighing, Greely, sighing, followed the others as they charged into the wave of phantoms, in a burst of light, the phantoms were defeated! The three were saved.

Greely and his new unlikely groupmates turned to face the giant king. “We’re stopping you now,” the panda said. Cosmo used his powers to catapult them from a tree. The king opened his mouth, ready to swallow them, but suddenly, Greely was surrounded by a blazing rose red aura, which trailed him. He wondered why he got rose red. He looked to his right to see the monkey get light blue and the koala get a darker blue aura. He swallowed his anger and jealousy about the aura and looked straight forwards, directing all his anger at the phantom king. They entered the mouth of the king, only to explode it. The king was gone… for now. Then, the bird before swooped down from the skies. “The Temple of Zios is surely in ruins,” she muttered. “Cosmo, Graham, Greely, Liza and Sir Gilbert, all your hard work have brought peace once more in the land of Jamaa. Some places are in ruins. No matter, my thanks are in your hearts, I do hope. All the animals said their thanks. I, Mira, have never seen such heroic deeds. I apologise for not having to help, for my powers grow weak as of late. I proclaim you all as Alphas, Protector of Jamaa. The ones who came from a faraway land!” She turned to Liza. “Would you do the honours of decorating the township?”

Liza eyes beamed. “Gladly!” she cried. Meanwhile, Mira turned to talk to the koala. “Would you like to team up with Graham to repair this temple?”

“Most certainly!” they chorused. To the tiger, the bird asked, “Would you like to decorate the beach?”

The tiger bowed respectfully to Mira. “Most certainly,” he said.

To Greely, she said, “I have a land of mystery. Would you do the honours of decorating it so it would be ready?”

“Yes, it would be my pleasure,” Greely said, knowing the bird was to be respected.

Mira’s eyes twinkled. “Was I right? There shall be hardships, but I know you could achieve for the best.”

“Yes, Mira,” Greely said, hesitantly.

The heron then brought him to another land, one he seemed to have recognised. A canyon, like one he had travelled through in the past. There, Greely drew the same wolf he drew before. The wolves came to stay, fearing Greely’s power. Despite that, he was truly loved due to his achievement. Then, the Coral Canyons was truly known due to the mysteries it held. Then, he often go around Jamaa, out to the uncharted lands, to learn more about the phantoms and other spirit stones. Although he was much higher than other animals, he was much better alone, even if he could command them to do anything.

He howled, not for his pack. To the crescent moon, he howled for victory. He howled for the freedom. Most of all, he howled to the blue bird, Mira, and the one she lost- Zios.

Sir Gilbert

Gilbert looked up to the sky. Out loud, he wondered, “What does it feel to be a cloud? Drifting, wandering across the brilliant blue sky? Then, when the cloud threatens to cry, rain shall pour. What does it feel like?”

Little Gilbert felt the grass brush his fur. “To be a blade of grass. To be unable to move. Sooner or later, an animal would munch it up. Would it be good to be a blade of grass?”

Suddenly, he heard a heavy pant beside him. “Gilbert! Hurry! We have to go!” cried a male’s voice beside him.

Gilbert snapped out from his day dreaming. He heard the firm seriousness in the voice. He knew it was no time to daydream or to delay. He got up and faced the tiger who spoke to him. The tigers look similar to each other. Both with orange and cream fur with blue stripes.

“Dad, what’s happening?” asked Gilbert. He was running alongside with his father. He was running at a quick speed. To outrun something he didn’t know.

The tiger replied, “Phantoms. Phantoms are coming. I’ve sent the others ahead already.”

“P-phantoms?” stammered Gilbert.

As he spoke, the bushes rustled. From the shadows of the bush, phantoms emerged. Gilbert suppressed a yelp. His father yell, “Go! Go! Go!”

Gilbert was reluctant to leave his father, but if he actually disobeyed him, he would be disobeying the tiger chief. He ran ahead as his father roared in defiance. Gilbert’s heart pounded. His sweat rolled down his cheeks. Without warning, a phantom appeared before him. Gilbert whimpered and backed away.

“Gilbert! Watch out!” cried a familiar voice. A tiger leaped out, pushing Gilbert aside. His father came out of the bushes. The phantom charged, so did Gilbert’s father. Then, Gilbert saw the phantom disappear into black dust. His father was sprawled on the ground.

“Father!” called Gilbert. “Dad!” He shook the cold body. Gilbert held his paw over to his father’s chest. It was still. The body was nothing more that lifeless.

All he know, he was alone.

Sir Gilbert- that was what he was called many years later. He aced every battle against phantoms. Despite he was all grown and all powerful, he could not stop to wonder what it feels like to be another animal or another thing. He knew rabbits hopped, but he wondered what it feels like to run in a zig-zag pattern when an eagle tries to capture them. Or what does it feel like, when you’re a wolf and the rain wet your fur? Does it feel the same like a tiger’s fur would when it gets wet?

‘Sir Curiosity’ was Sir Gilbert’s nickname given to him by his allies. His allies were five tigers. They all got separated after the phantom attack and found each other. The five grew up together and avenged the dead tigers by defeating phantoms.

One day, Sir Gilbert saw a bunny strode by. Immediately, he pounced on the bunny, it’s fur as white as snow, as silky as the finest silk. “Tell me, bunny. What does it feel like when your fur is wet?” he asked, his eyes full of curiosity.

The bunny’s eyes weren’t directed to the eyes, which were begging for answers. The bunny’s eyes were staring to Sir Gilbert’s sharp claws, his menacing look. “L-let m-me go,” stuttered the bunny.

Sir Gilbert was dismayed, but let the bunny go. For years, that was the only answer he got from bunnies.

One of his allies came over to Sir Gilbert. “Is curiosity so important to you?” she asked. “Then come. Follow me.”

The tiger sounded different, even her skin sparkled blue, but Sir Gilbert’s curious nature couldn’t resist the temptation to know more. The two walked miles and miles. Suddenly, his ally disappeared in a vapour of blue. Before him, Sir Gilbert now see some sort of temple. The ground was rough and some pebbles were onto it. He wanted to get through, hoping that Precious might be at the other side. Instead, a wolf was on his way. Oddly, Sir Gilbert did not pounce. Maybe it was because of those cold eyes… with a hint of being betrayed. Although those cold eyes were not directed to him, Sir Gilbert felt it bore right to his skin.

The wolf was drinking water from a nearby stream. Afraid the wolf might take a long time, he said, “Pardon me, sire, I have to get through.”

The wolf just lapped more water to drink. It seems like he didn’t hear. Once again, Sir Gilbert said, “Pardon me, sire. I really have to get through. Please move aside.”

The wolf looked up and looked at him eye-to-eye. Even as a warrior, he felt like trembling at the cold stare he was given. “I am trying to have a drink here,” snapped the wolf.

Sir Gilbert realised he had been harsh on the wolf who was harsh on him. “I-I’m sorry,” stuttered Sir Gilbert, apologising. “Still, have you not drank enough?”

The wolf retorted, “If you want to pass, then wait.” He bent down to drink again.

Sir Gilbert waited patiently. His father had told him it was best to be polite and be a tiger with manners. After some moments, the wolf was done. Sir Gilbert could not hold back a comment, “Finally.”

“Excuse me?” growled the wolf.

Then, an argument started. Sir Gilbert quickly chose to despise the wolf, who was arrogant when he was polite. The wolf boasted about himself. Unable to hold back, Sir Gilbert boasted back about his noble deeds to see who was better. They bickered about many things- who was the better one, who was braver, who was more worthy. It ended up being like a harsh debate, but not long a panda came to interrupt them, breaking up the argument with a simple, “Hi! I’m Liza. Who are you all?”

He paused from his argument to reply, “I’m Sir Gilbert. I came from a far-away land.”

There was a koala. He held a staff and said something he couldn’t quite catch, and a monkey argued in return, shaking his head.

The wolf before him did not reply the panda’s question. This itself annoyed Sir Gilbert, for the panda had to ask again, “Wolf, who are-“

Sir Gilbert was about to persuade the wolf to tell his name so that it would be polite to the panda, but the wolf’s ears suddenly growled. “Do you hear that? I hear scuffling and dust being patted. I hear sparks of electricity. I hear sounds familiar. I hear sounds like a tiger’s sneaky walk. I hear… weird sounds. I think I know what this means. It’s a battle.”

Sir Gilbert was truly offended by his words, for not only did he not answer the panda, but he also seem to try to initiate a war. He tried to send back a stare as cold as the one the wolf had given. Liza gasped, “Oh no! To destroy the serenity of this land?”

“We must fight back,” Sir Gilbert proclaimed, still glaring. If the panda does believe so, then maybe it was right. “We must protect this land.”

Liza shook her head. “That will mean war,” she said.

“True, but what other methods do we have?” asked the koala.

The wolf thought for a while, then said, “We can fight. We can fight not here. We can fight there. By where the danger lurks.

Sir Gilbert laughed. “To trust you? Unlikely!” he cried. Of course not! He was bickering with the wolf, thus creating a bond of hatred and dislike between each other.

To Sir Gilbert’s disappointment, Liza nodded. “The wolf’s right. We’ll bring war to those who wants war.”

Sir Gilbert thought that his jaw would drop. That was one of the worst decision he had ever heard. Ever in the whole battle plan. Plus, who was the battle expert? Him. However, the wolf took the reins, and formulated a plan, in which after that the wolf slipped into shadows, Sir Gilbert wondered how the others ever even trusted him. It was impossible, like a skill to be mastered after a thousand millennia.

The four now stood before a clearing, after walking far. The wolf had instructed, “That phantom guard will change shifts in five minutes. Stand by, don’t make a noise.”

Sir Gilbert snorted. The plan was ridiculous- the wolf shall find the entrance to the Phantom king, as being suspected to cause trouble. The others should try to do whatever necessary to avoid being captured. Sir Gilbert rolled his eyes thinking about the plan everyone agreed. It was basically the wolf taking all the glory.

Of course, none of the phantoms noticed, since they were practically doing nothing. When the wolf finally returned after what seems like forever, a wild, angry gleam was on his eyes. “They’ve tricked us. The phantom attack occurs now. In that peaceful land…”

True. The land where he and the wolf was bickering was now in complete chaos. Black figures roamed here and there, chasing animals. A big black thing with one eye cackled. “You cannot defeat me,” hummed a malicious voice. “I shall always be the King!”

“We were too naïve before. Now, we shall not be moved until we defeat you!” growled the wolf. We? Sir Gilbert asked himself. What happened to him?

Sir Gilbert stepped forwards. “Although I hate to say this, I agree. We won’t let you destroy the harmony between animals!”

“To think you all were bickering before,” the king teased.

The koala stepped forwards and tapped his staff on the ground. “I’ll never forgive you for destroying all these nature!” he cried.

The monkey also stepped forwards. “Agreed! Now we have to… uhh… STOP YOU!”

Liza stepped forwards, aligned with all the others. “They are all right! You are wrong! We can defeat you!”

Suddenly, a blue aura blazed around them all. The phantoms around them took no notice and a group began to scare a group of three. Immediately, Sir Gilbert took notice, so did the panda. “We have to save them!” cried Liza.

They charged into the wave of phantoms, in a burst of light, the phantoms were defeated! The three were saved.

Sir Gilbert and her new unlikely allies turned to face the giant king. “We’re stopping you now,” she said. Cosmo used his powers to catapult them from a tree. He opened them, ready to swallow them, but suddenly, Sir Gilbert was surrounded by a blazing mint green aura, which trailed him. They entered the mouth of the king, only to explode it. The king was gone.

Then, a bird blue swooped down from the skies. “The Temple of Zios is surely in ruins,” she muttered. “Cosmo, Graham, Greely, Liza and Sir Gilbert, all your hard work have brought peace once more in the land of Jamaa. Some places are in ruins. No matter, my thanks are in your hearts, I do hope. All the animals said their thanks. I, Mira, have never seen such heroic deeds. I apologise for not having to help, for my powers grow weak as of late. I proclaim you all as Alphas, Protector of Jamaa. The ones who came from a faraway land!”

She turned to Liza. “Would you do the honours of decorating the township?”

Liza eyes beamed. “Gladly!” she cried. Meanwhile, Mira turned to talk to the koala. “Would you like to team up with Graham to repair this temple?”

“Most certainly!” they chorused. To the tiger, the bird asked, “Would you like to decorate the beach?”

Sir Gilbert bowed respectfully to Mira. “Most certainly,” he said. Even though he knew it was rude to not listen to others, he started to daydream about his land…

The sands were crystal-like, white and pure. A stream ran between the land that went into the sea. Sir Gilbert began to wonder how fresh water turn salty when it enters the sea. There was a hut he placed at the left side of the beach. He built in in honour of his father- Captain Melville, even if his name was unlike others of the streak. He invited all the five tigers to the land to live.

“Sir Gilbert! Are you okay?” one of his allies asked. “We were worried.”

Sir Gilbert wasn’t sure we applied. The other four didn’t look interested in Sir Gilbert at all. “Y-yeah, I’m fine. Thank you,” said the polite tiger.

So they lived-

No, scratch that. They all strived in the peaceful land and went on short trips no one noticed to find other tigers.

Probably, the tigers are the best warriors in the land due to the fact the six fought phantoms before. At least those six. Sir Gilbert had never guided an adventure before, but he sure will some day.

Graham

The monkeys were known for their mischief. All together, they enjoy playing pranks. That goes the same to the monkey named Graham. He enjoy playing tricks and jokes on others. Despite that, he could get serious when he invents items.

It was a rainy day in the forest when a young Graham had the spirit to play some pranks on his friends. As they say, rain inspires others a lot. It was true to Graham. He thought, I’d like to go to another place without getting wet. Maybe I’ll invent such of an item!

He tinkered with some stones and made it into a circle. He then scooped out the center in the shape of a circle and the center became nearly a hole, except for a flat base. He drew a few triangles by the border and drew squiggly lines. Then, he pretended it was a portal and played with it. Never did he felt so successful in inventing before.

Graham was just lazing around. He was done inventing steampunk goggles for himself. Older now, with a spark of creativity for inventions, he learned more and more each day. With these goggles, he could see well. He could enlarge his sight. He grabbed a ruby and inspected it with his goggles. He muttered, “Interesting…”

Graham’s best friend, Phil, entered. “By George, Graham! What did you just invent?” he cried.

“N-nothing, Phil,” said Graham. “I got something for you…”

Graham handed Phil a box. It was a simple gift-wrap box. Phil accepted it with a smile. “Thank you, Hammy!” he teased. Monkeys have the habit to joke lightly with others. He opened the box and cried out in shock, “G-GECKO!!!”

A fake gecko was dangling from a spring. The spring was attached to the box. Graham chuckled as Phil was in shock. “Y-you got me again, Graham!” he cried, shutting the box. “Naughty!”

“Where’s my gift?” joked Graham.

Phil tossed Graham the banana he once held. “Here!” he cried. Graham caught it and it exploded, water spraying everywhere. This time, Phil was laughing. “You fell for my water balloon trick!”

“We monkeys,” tsk-ed Graham, smiling. Phil was still giggling as he left. Suddenly, there was a blue burst of light. Graham followed the glow to discover that his old portal was the source of it. The cobwebs slowly disintegrate by the glow of the light. “My invention… working?” Graham breathed. He stepped onto the the portal and he felt the whole world vanishing before his eyes…

When Graham open his eyes, he was in another world. Some animals were around, but they were all arguing. Graham looked around, but all he saw was nature, the greens rolling. Where was the gears and trinkets? “Huh,” he complained. “No machines?”

“Then that’s perfect! Nature is fantastic!” a voice exclaimed. Graham turned back to see a koala with a staff.

Graham looked at the koala. “Just who are you?”

“I’m Cosmo, I’m a koala. I’m going to fend plants against horrible machines of yours!” the koala cried.

Graham gritted his teeth. “I’m Graham, and I’m never going to let a weed take over my life!”

“Where you get your air now are from these beauties of nature!” the koala started. “Where else do you get such delish fruits and juices?”

Graham started, “Machines helps everything to become easier! Like collecting fruits!”

The debate of machines and plants seemed like to go on forever, but a panda destroyed ‘forever’. The panda said, “Hi! I’m Liza. Who are you all?”

A tiger Graham never noticed and saw replied, “I’m Sir Gilbert. I came from a far-away land.”

“I’m Cosmo. Please agree with me plants are better than machines!” the koala pleaded.

Graham shook his head, standing beside the koala. No way! He was going to win this with machinery! “I’m Graham. Please agree with me that machines are the best,” he chuckled.

The wolf did not reply the panda’s question. She started to ask again, “Wolf, who are-“

“Do you hear that?” the wolf growled suddenly. “I hear scuffling and dust being patted. I hear sparks of electricity. I hear sounds familiar. I hear sounds like a tiger’s sneaky walk. I hear… weird sounds. I think I know what this means. It’s a battle.”

Liza gasped, “Oh no! To destroy the serenity of this land?”

“We must fight back,” Sir Gilbert proclaimed. “We must protect this land.”

Liza shook her head. “That will mean war,” she said.

“True, but what other methods do we have?” asked Cosmo.

War? Graham was alert. Do they need some cool machines? Load some machine with nuts and turn the crank. Nuts will fly to their enemy! Do they need cool contraptions? Maybe a slingshot or a catapult!

The wolf’s voice interrupted his thoughts, “We can fight. We can fight not here. We can fight there. By where the danger lurks.

Sir Gilbert laughed. “To trust you? Unlikely!” he cried.

Liza nodded. “The wolf’s right. We’ll bring war to those who wants war.”

The wolf set out plans and instructed each of them to their own tasks, disappointing Graham greatly when he wasn’t going to invent anything. The wolf then instructed, “We’re here. That phantom guard will change shifts in five minutes. Stand by, don’t make a noise.”

The wolf vanished into the shadows. The others should try to do whatever necessary to avoid being captured. Meanwhile, Graham talked to the koala. Graham joked, “Why are rats famous?”

Cosmo asked, “Is it since they are everywhere?”

“Nope!” Graham cried.

“I give up.”

Graham chuckled softly. “It’s because rats flipped makes star! Get it? A famous star like your chief, since he’s famous among your tribe!”

“Now that’s funny!”

Slowly, the two became friends. It was curious that none of the phantoms noticed, for Graham got quite loud. When the wolf finally returned after what seems like forever, after a dozen jokes, a wild, angry gleam was on his eyes. “They’ve tricked us. The phantom attack occurs now. In that peaceful land…”

True. The land where he was teleported to was now in complete chaos. Black figures roamed here and there, chasing animals. A big black thing with one eye cackled. “You cannot defeat me,” hummed a malicious voice. “I shall always be the king!”

“We were too naïve before. Now, we shall not be moved until we defeat you!” growled the wolf.

Sir Gilbert stepped forwards. “Although I hate to say this, I agree. We won’t let you destroy the harmony between animals!”

“To think you all were bickering before,” the king teased.

The koala stepped forwards and tapped his staff on the ground. “I’ll never forgive you for destroying all these nature!” he cried.

The monkey also stepped forwards. He wanted to make some joke to humiliate the king. Then, he gave up and instead said, “Agreed! Now we have to… uhh… STOP YOU!”

Then, the joke came to him. Why are the animals cooler than Phantoms? It’s because Phantoms are black in colour and the colour black absorbs heat!

The almost burst out laughing at his joke. He didn’t mean racism. He was glad he learned the theories of reflection. The colour white reflects all colour and the colour black absorbs all colours. Somehow, these colours are forms of energy and they-

The panda’s voice broke his thoughts. “They are all right! You are wrong! We can defeat you!”

Suddenly, a blue aura blazed around them all. The phantoms around them took no notice and a group began to scare a group of three. “We have to save them!” cried Liza.

They charged into the wave of phantoms, in a burst of light, the phantoms were defeated! The three were saved.

Graham and his new unlikely friends turned to face the giant king. “We’re stopping you now,” she said. Cosmo used his powers to catapult them from a tree. He opened them, ready to swallow them, but suddenly, Graham was surrounded by a blazing sky blue aura, which trailed him. They entered the mouth of the king, only to explode it. The king was gone.

Then, a bird blue before swooped down from the skies. “The Temple of Zios is surely in ruins,” she muttered. “Cosmo, Graham, Greely, Liza and Sir Gilbert, all your hard work have brought peace once more in the land of Jamaa. Some places are in ruins. No matter, my thanks are in your hearts, I do hope. All the animals said their thanks. I, Mira, have never seen such heroic deeds. I apologise for not having to help, for my powers grow weak as of late. I proclaim you all as Alphas, Protector of Jamaa. The ones who came from a faraway land!”

She turned to Liza. “Would you do the honours of decorating the township?”

Liza eyes beamed. “Gladly!” she cried. Meanwhile, Mira turned to talk to the koala. “Would you like to team up with Graham to repair this temple?”

“Most certainly!” they chorused. They looked at each other. The least unlikely pair of friends turned out to be okay.

Before the two decorated the place, the two read history books of Jamaa. They learned Mira was the blue bird who lost her companion, Zios. To please Cosmo, Graham allowed him to let plants crawl over the place. Graham placed a statue of a monkey as a temporary joke.

Graham and Zios let Mira invite a human to teach others in a lab. The two animals- now Alphas- made a chamber. There was a secret trapdoor where the two work together. For days, they worked on making the mask of Zios. They learned that Zios’s mask dropped as he fought the Phantoms, causing Mira to think he’s dead. In grief, she collected the mask for her memories.

Soon, there was a quiz place and the two Alphas made a pit. With Graham’s power of technology, he made a projector that allowed Phantoms to be projected when animals sleep around the pit. They placed the mask in the pit. The mask was connected to the projector and the mask had sensors that-

Cosmo interrupted his thoughts. “They’re here,” he said.

His monkey fellows came. Koalas came alongside too. Together, they all lived in Jamaa. If you’re lucky, you might see the two good friends emerging from the trap door in the Chamber of Knowledge, where one can learn more than enough.

About the portal? Graham finally invented it and introduced it to Jamaa. He was truly proud of his invention. The one he created when he was young, even if it didn’t work just yet. Now, it’s all over the place.

Cosmo

Cosmo loved plants. He was sipping liquids from an eucalyptus leaf. Then, he strained his ears to hear. “Water us! Water us, koala!” said a whispering voice. Cosmo watered the plants. “Thank you, sir! Thank you! Water us a bit more!” said the whispering voices. Cosmo sprinkled more water. “Thank you! Now, please move aside. We need sunlight,” said the voices. Cosmo moved, letting the sun shine upon the plants.

Ever since he was attracted to nature, he was more aware. He could hear the plants. The plants around his tree house knows that he understands them, so they often ask him for some requests. Cosmo plucked another eucalyptus leaf. It did pain him, but he’s hungry.

“I want to travel the world, plants,” he spoke to the plants. “I want to know more about Nature’s beauty.”

A blade of grass told him, “Who will take care of us?”

“Nature will. The rain shall fall, the sun shall shine. Don’t worry.”

“Then, we shall send the word,” said the grass. “Good-bye, koala.”

An echo of voices cried, “Good-bye, Cosmo! We wish you safety!”

Cosmo took a stick from his tree house. There was a candle on top of the stick. He took a box of matches and a leaf-bag filled with eucalyptus leaves. He set off as the sun began to set.

Plants parted, guiding Cosmo through and invisible path. After a week, he found himself in a land. “All these plants!” he exclaimed. “I was right to go!”

His journey has been overall pleasant, meeting friendly plants and helping them fulfill their needs, learning new plants along the way as well.

Then, he heard someone saying: “No machines?”

Cosmo decided to teach the ungrateful brute a lesson, he turned around to see a monkey. The monkey was turning his back to Cosmo. Then, Cosmo looked around. There were many animals, but it seems like the only one who could have said it was the monkey himself.

“Then that’s perfect! Nature is fantastic!” Cosmo exclaimed. He can’t believe that the monkey was so ungrateful! The monkey turned back to see Cosmo.

“Just who are you?” demanded the monkey.

Cosmo snorted, “I’m Cosmo, I’m a koala. I’m going to fend plants against horrible machines of yours!”

“I’m Graham, and I’m never going to let a weed take over my life!” spat the monkey.

“Where you get your air now are from these beauties of nature!” the koala started. He started to think about eucalyptus leaves and delicious fruits. “Where else do you get such delish fruits and juices?”

Graham started, “Machines helps everything to become easier! Like collecting fruits!”

Cosmo started to get angry. They started fighting with words. It was about machines and plants. Cosmo kept thinking of the plants back home. The argument seemed to drag on, that Cosmo really felt that he should have won a long time ago. However, before a winner could be decided, a voice cried, “Hi! I’m Liza. Who are you all?”

Cosmo looked at the speaker. A panda was there, and around were animals replying to the question.

“I’m Sir Gilbert. I came from a far-away land,” said a tiger, standing near a wolf.

Seeing no harm in replying, Cosmo said, “I’m Cosmo. Please agree with me plants are better than machines!”

Cosmo really hoped that the panda agreed with him. The monkey shook his head, “I’m Graham. Please agree with me that machines are the best.”

The wolf did not reply the panda’s question. She started to ask again, “Wolf, who are-“

However, the wolf surprised Cosmo by his sudden low tone of observation. “Do you hear that? I hear scuffling and dust being patted. I hear sparks of electricity. I hear sounds familiar. I hear sounds like a tiger’s sneaky walk. I hear… weird sounds. I think I know what this means. It’s a battle.”

Liza gasped, “Oh no! To destroy the serenity of this land?”

“We must fight back,” Sir Gilbert proclaimed. “We must protect this land.”

Liza shook her head. “That will mean war,” she said.

“True, but what other methods do we have?” asked Cosmo. The only method he knew was to use plants.

The wolf’s voice interrupted his thoughts, “We can fight. We can fight not here. We can fight there. By where the danger lurks.

Sir Gilbert laughed. “To trust you? Unlikely!” he cried.

Liza nodded. “The wolf’s right. We’ll bring war to those who wants war.”

Cosmo was more than confused. How did he get dragged into all this? He thought about the fact he only wanted to explore for new plants out there and now here he was in a meeting to formulate a battle plan. All was said and done as Cosmo day-dreamed through it and they all travelled.

Cosmo wasn’t really into it, and he was nudged. The monkey smiled and joked, “Why are rats famous?”

Cosmo wasn’t really fond of jokes. Despite his dislike for the monkey, he asked, “Is it since they are everywhere?”

“Nope!” Graham cried.

“I give up.”

Graham chuckled softly. “It’s because rats flipped makes star! Get it? A famous star like your chief, since he’s famous among your tribe!”

“Now that’s funny!” Cosmo giggled.

Slowly, the two became friends as they exchanged jokes and anecdotes. When the wolf returned, surprising Cosmo since he never saw the wolf leave, a wild, angry gleam was on his eyes. “They’ve tricked us. The phantom attack occurs now. In that peaceful land…”

Quickly, they rushed back. The land where he travelled to was now in complete chaos. Plenty of round black things were swarming all around. A big black thing with one eye cackled. “You cannot defeat me,” hummed a malicious voice. “I shall always be the king!”

“We were too naïve before. Now, we shall not be moved until we defeat you!” growled the wolf.

“Although I hate to say this, I agree. We won’t let you destroy the harmony between animals!” cried the tiger.

“To think you all were bickering before,” the king teased.

Cosmo stepped forwards and tapped his staff angrily on the ground. “I’ll never forgive you for destroying all these nature!” he cried. He was sad to see once lovely flowers bloomed, now withered. Trees were charred. Leaves scattered on the ground, some catching on fire.

The monkey also stepped forwards. “Agreed! Now we have to… uhh… STOP YOU!”

“They are all right! You are wrong! We can defeat you!” encouraged Liza. Her voice firm, not quivering.

Suddenly, a blue aura blazed around them all, circling them like protection, although Cosmo would like green. The phantoms around them took no notice and a group began to scare a group of three. “We have to save them!” cried Liza.

They charged into the wave of phantoms, in a burst of light, the phantoms were defeated! The three were saved. Cosmo hoped that they could have done that to the plants, saving them.

Cosmo and his new unlikely friends turned to face the giant king. “We’re stopping you now,” said Liza said. Cosmo used his powers to catapult them from a tree, bending it slowly not to snap it.

The phantom king opened his mouth, ready to swallow them, but suddenly, Cosmo was surrounded by a blazing cobalt blue aura, which trailed him. They entered the mouth of the king, only to explode it. The king was gone.

Then, a majestic bird blue swooped down from the skies. “The Temple of Zios is surely in ruins,” she muttered. “Cosmo, Graham, Greely, Liza and Sir Gilbert, all your hard work have brought peace once more in the land of Jamaa. Some places are in ruins. No matter, my thanks are in your hearts, I do hope. All the animals said their thanks. I, Mira, have never seen such heroic deeds. I apologise for not having to help, for my powers grow weak as of late. I proclaim you all as Alphas, Protector of Jamaa. The ones who came from a faraway land!”

Cosmo’s heart fluttered. All his life, he was just a normal koala. Now, this bird thanked him. The bird turned to Liza. “Would you do the honours of decorating the township?”

Liza eyes beamed. “Gladly!” she cried. Meanwhile, Mira turned to talk to the koala. “Would you like to team up with Graham to repair this temple?”

“Most certainly!” they chorused. They looked at each other. The least unlikely pair of friends turned out to be okay. Then, Cosmo’s mind drifted away, thinking about what plants he might place there…

Before the two decorated the place, the two read history books of Jamaa. They learned Mira was the blue bird who lost her companion, Zios. Graham, once against plants, now allowed Cosmo to invade the place with plants. With delight, he planted hibiscus, swirly magic plants and some others. Then, he, as quickly as possible, brought all his plants there. He placed them around the place, planting them into the soil. He moved his eucalyptus leaves somewhere else, somewhere he could easily reach for his snacks.

Soon, there was a quiz place and the two Alphas made a pit. With Graham’s power of technology, he made a projector that allowed Phantoms to be projected when animals sleep around the pit. They placed the mask in the pit. It does seem advanced. In fact, it was so advanced that Cosmo didn’t understand.

As the two finish, Cosmo saw a group of animals. Immediately, he knew who they were. “They’re here,” he said to Graham.

Monkeys and koalas approached them. Together, they live in Jamaa, joking to each other. Cosmo and Graham were great friends with the other Alphas, but they often hang out together. If you’re lucky, you might see the two good friends emerging from the trap door in the Chamber of Knowledge, where one can learn more than enough.

Cosmo? He may be satisfied with his knowledge for plants, now he’s into animals. Sometimes, you could just see a yellow bird landing on his staff. He hope that he could understand all mysteries of animals.

Peck

Peck nibbled on a carrot. She deserved it. She had been digging a part of the burrow. She had her own room. Hers was themed quite… messily.

She had a pink striped sofa on one side, a basket ball laid beside it. The room’s floor was out of wooden boards, which was perfect to just destroy anytime and dig a secret room underneath. Plushies were messily arranged around her place. Peck finished the carrot and picked up a crystal carrot. “I hope I can just eat this…”

Peck pulled on two Worn Blankets she sewed together onto her ears. Her ears were half-covered. On the right worn blanket, a bell was attached to look cute. She already wore her pink-purple-striped arm-warmer. She grabbed a paintbrush and strode to an art easel.

She quickly drew a life-like flower on the canvas without difficulty. Then, she heard a shriek: “Phantoms!”

Peck knew less than what to do. She grabbed her pink pirate sword and hid inside a treasure chest. She stayed inside, when suddenly the chest lid creaked. Light started to filter through the silts of the opening. Who would like to open a chest? Peck’s heartbeat echoed through the chest… and then light shined at Peck, showing that a Phantom was there! Peck immediately jumped out, yelling, “Yaaaahhhh!” She threw the knife at the phantom. The phantom’s eyes grew big and it dissolved into darkness. Peck picked up her sword, covered in phantom goop. “Cool! Phantom collectibles!”

“You’re not keeping that… Especially when I’M here,” said a stern voice. Peck almost thought she heard laughing.

Peck turned around. “Okay, mom. Then why can Clover keep some?”

“She have a different mother. Your mother cares for you not to be attacked by Phantoms!” said Peck’s mom.

Peck sighed. “Mom, can I go exploring with Clover tomorrow?”

“Sure. Just don’t go to the uncharted Bunny Lands.”

Peck sighed. The uncharted Bunny Lands are lands unknown to bunnies. The only land known to the bunnies is a small land. That’s all! Bunnies just don’t do exploring.

“Alright, mom,” Peck said. Behind her back, she had her paw fingers crossed.

When tomorrow comes, the two bunnies excited travelled. Clover hopped ahead of Peck. “Mom just made me this new skirt for me. What do you think?” asked Clover.

“A bit too girly,” said Peck, hopping.

“Dad carved my little brother a rocking horse,” said Clover.

“I’d like a rocking tiger. Or a rocking rhinoceros. A rocking rhinoceros would be cool! I mean, the cool pointy horn!” Peck’s voice was loud, and she knew she was being a little mean. She was still upset about the phantom goop issue.

Clover picked a wildflower. “That’d be great. I’d love it too. I like the shade of grey,” stated Clover. She tucked the flower above her ear.

The forest was silent. “Whoooo…”

“Did you say that, Peck?”

“No,” said Peck.

Fog rose.

“P-Peck…?”

“Yes, Clover?”

“I-is it m-me or t-this f-forest knows we’re here?” stuttered a terrified Clover.

“I don’t know! I’d love to find out!” exclaimed Peck.

“P-Peck. You think it’s s-safe?”

Peck laughed. “It’s nothing, Clover. Do you want to be as cowardly as your cousin, Pumpkin?”

“No.” Clover sounds determined.

Suddenly, a phantom buzzed from the bushes. Peck and Clover gave a little yelp, but managed to cage the phantom underneath a tangle of branches. “This cage is dull,” muttered Peck. She pulled out the brush and a few colours she brought everywhere. She started applying ultramarine paint onto the cage. She then painted lightning-like effects on the cage. Peck captured a thunderstorm perfectly.

Clover look a few leaves and, with Peck, coloured them grey. Clover entwined vines and sticks through the holes of the cage and the leaves. “Perfect!” Clover exclaimed.

Peck and Clover stood backwards. The leaves were like the clouds. The blue sky. The lightning

Clover bounded happily past the bunny fence with Peck. “Don’t tell my mom that I went to the uncharted Bunny Lands, okay?” Clover said.

“Only if you don’t tell on me,” said Peck.

“Deal?”

“Deal.”

However, Clover’s mom saw them. “Where did you guys go?” she asked.

“We dug a hole and covered it again,” lied Clover.

Clover’s mom raised an eyebrow, asking for an explanation. “We were looking for buried gems. I’d love to decorate my burrow with a few gems, like string some amethyst, ruby, diamonds and emeralds and hand them across the room!” said Peck.

The rabbit laughed. “There aren’t any gems ‘ere.”

To tease her mom, Clover brought out a diamond. “Yes, mommmm?”

Cookie blushed. “I… must prepare dinner…” she stuttered and hopped into her burrow.

Peck laughed. “Good one!”

Peck high-pawed with Clover. “Let’s do some more art!” suggested Clover.

Peck’s eyes gleamed. “Love the idea!”

Together, the two of them created a patched artwork. Clover quilted a blanket, and Peck patched them up together. Then, they grabbed their canvases and drew. Clover drew of what Peck mentioned- amethysts, diamonds, emeralds… all hung in her room.

Peck glanced at Clover’s art then at her’s. Clover glanced at Peck’s work. She was so enchanted by the art that she marvelled, “Wow…”

Peck’s painting was breathtaking. Peck drew Mira, her blue feathers seemed to shimmer with the glistening sea and the sparkling sun rise. Mira was given a soft aura of yellow of radiance. Each feather was shaped and detailed perfectly.

“It looks so real,” breathed Clover.

Peck painted the last detail on the blue feather. “It seems like she’s here,” said Peck, painting her signature.

“Maybe it’s because I am here,” said a voice, making Peck and Clover jump.

“M-Mira…!” Peck cried, as she turned around to find the blue heron there. The two bunnies bowed. Mira just said, “Rise.”

The two bunnies rose. Mira laughed. “I’m impressed by your skills, truly,” said the bird.

“Really?” beamed Peck.

Clover gasped at the luck of Peck. Mira said, “I’m impressed not only by your art. I’m also impressed with those adventurous skills, the curiosity… All what you have, I am impressed. For your friend, Clover, who loves to explore, I have a gift for all…”

Bunnies roamed Jamaa. Clover ventured each land as Peck decorated them. Together with the Alphas, Peck was recognised as one when Mira chose her, they all venture lands around Jamaa for the safety of Jamaa. For once, Peck could just see a hint of jealousy in Clover’s eyes, and Peck would wonder…

–

Tavie

“Such a pity…” said Graham.

A young Tavie was placed in a crib placed with water reaching half of the crib. “My poor daughter,” wept Tavie’s mother. “Born without a tail…”

Tavie’s tail was not in place. She didn’t have one. She looked lifeless, the purple-and-pink dolphin. “Poor child. I will help you,” said Graham he worked on a tail piece and presented it to the dolphin. “One day, little girl,” he muttered as he placed the tail piece, “you will be someone. I can feel it.”

Yearly, Tavie would return to the place where Graham first made her tail. Tavie slapped her replacement tail against the water. “That place… I will remember forever,” she whispered to herself, almost like singing. She looked fondly at the Alpha Hut as the played her sea-guitar. Graham was inside, laughing with the other Alphas and shamans but Greely. Tavie couldn’t see Greely from the window.

“Well, hello.”

Tavie looked back to see a wolf sitting on a stone near the bay. “Greely,” she said.

“Why aren’t you with the other dolphins?” asked Greely.

“It’s like asking why aren’t you with the other Alphas!” cried Tavie.

Greely snorted. Then, in a burst of light, a monkey appeared. “Greely, really,” laughed Graham. “You shouldn’t be scaring the girl.”

Greely faced Graham with a face of irritation. That sent Graham to the water. Tavie laughed, but silenced at the glare of Greely. “Dolphin,” hissed Greely. “Come closer to me.”

Tavie, hesitating, moved towards Greely. Greely rested his paw on her chest. “I can feel it. There’s a power inside you. This power… It’s strong. It’s forcing to come out,” said Greely, his eyes closed for concentration. He removed his paw from her chest.

“Wait. Where’s Graham?” asked Tavie abruptly. She dipped her face underwater. Graham was being pulled by the strong force of gravity, going downwards.

She splashed into the water, chasing the monkey. “Graham can’t live much longer underwater!” she cried.

Graham got further from her sight. Tavie forced her fake-fin-tail to swish faster. Then, she seemed to burst forwards in her determination of saving Graham. She burst past, releasing a large amount of energy, and grabbed Graham. She quickly surfaced. She placed Graham on a nearby rock. “Oh no… Graham… Is he-“

The monkey choked. “Graham!” cried the dolphin. She tried her best to stop Graham from choking. “Oh, this is all Greely’s fault!”

“That unlocked your powers, though,” said Greely, appearing beside Graham. “This silly monkey must know the boundaries of joking around. They would eventually harm him.”

Greely took Tavie’s fin in his paw. “Come. You have more to learn about these powers,” he said. “With these, you can save. You can be known as Alpha.”

He placed a mech-helmet on her head. Then, the three disappeared, engulfed in Greely’s teleportation powers. The next day, Tavie was already an Alpha who was not too well known, a humble Alpha of love and kindness, but she still have a lot to learn and to explore before she know what sacrifices Alphas make.

That, is when she get captured by phantoms. The sacrifice is risk.

–

Amelia

Once, in a burrow of five, a new kit was born. Eyes of brilliant emeralds and peach fur so silky. “Amelia,” said a blue heron, and she was named. The family respectfully bowed towards the bird and the baby. Even though Amelia was newly born, she was already proud, for the blue heron was an omen. A sign. It tells that Amelia shall be someone special.

Then, the blue bird disappeared in a swirl of blue feathers. “Amelia… shall be a leader,” sniffed their mom happily and snuggled her daughter close. Her three siblings, a sister and two brothers, frowned.

“It’s just not fair, mom,” said the sister who was the eldest of the three, complained. “She’s the youngest.”

Their put Amelia down and snuggled her three cubs. “Cubs, don’t be jealous. Everything is how it should be,” she said.

The siblings looked at each other. With their eyes, the agreed, that no matter what, Amelia shall not be better than them. Ever.

Seasons came and go, and the kit grew. Amelia stuck her head out from the burrow’s opening. “It’s so good to feel the sun’s warmth again!” cried Amelia, hopping out. Her sleepy siblings seemed to be upset.

“You’re too excited for every single thing,” her sister protested, watching Amelia skipping around with such enthusiasm, kits joining her in the orchard.

One of Amelia’s brother pulled the two others together. “Amelia is curious,” they started to whisper among themselves. “Don’t you think that she might want to risk herself, to get lost, to discover something new?”

“That’s a fabulous plan! It’s perfect!” her sister finally declared.

“No one could could blame us, and mom would think Amelia is gone to follow her future to become a great ruler!” Amelia’s other brother cried.

They nodded. It seemed too good to be true. Quickly, they made arrangements and waited for Amelia to return and told her of the news. With that, Amelia excitedly waited for the next day and bounded off.

It must be somewhere nearby… Amelia thought. Her sister told her that somewhere out there was a mystical stone by the hills, so she travelled far without herself noticing. Her steps were light, but her heart got heavier and heavier as the search gone long.

Maybe I should go further… she thought, shaking her fur, covered in dirt. She then wandered off, farther yet again…

Amelia stopped in her digging perhaps due to awe. She still did not find the spirit stone, and wanted to continue finding it, but stopped in her tracks. Not because she was tired, but because of the landscape set before her.

She was digging a tunnel, but she emerged somewhere. It was a land. She looked around, alert for danger. Before her was a hut and beside her were some short, bluntly-jagged rocks. Beyond the rocks was a tree.

There was a wolf. Wolves were a threat to foxes. She squirmed and plunged back into the hole. Perhaps this wolf is the guard of the spirit stone. I shall defeat the wolf and get the stone! Amelia thought.

The wolf was blue, talking to a blue bird. There was a bird! The wolf must be friendly, right? Since it’s talking to a blue bird, distracted, Amelia sneaked behind the wolf. She walked slowly and as cautiously as she could. Perhaps it was not quiet enough…

…FOR THE WOLF WAS STARING AT HER! His cold eyes bore into hers. “I d-don’t mean any harm, Mr. Wolf,” stammered Amelia.

The bird laughed. “We mean no harm either,” said the bird. “Welcome to Jamaa, Amelia. We have been waiting for your arrival. You are the destined Alpha of the foxes for finding their sanctuary. You have and always will be.”

–

Harper

“Ugh!” moaned Harper as a body slammed into hers.

Duke Glamstar laughed. “Sorry, Miss Harpy!”

“I’m no harpy!” roared Harper.

Duke stuck a tongue out. Harper crashed onto him, sending him backwards. “Just because I’m much stronger than you, wimp, doesn’t mean I’m a monster!” cried the female seal. “Say sorry!”

Duke stuttered quickly, “S-sorry!”

“That’s better!” said Harper. Then, her voice became gentle, “I forgive you.”

“Huh? What gives?” asked Duke, but swam away.

Harper picked up her fallen coral texts and swam home. “That Harper is a weird girl,” she heard someone whisper.

Harper thinks she’s rather normal. Her fur is snowy-white, but rather creamy. Her eyes are brilliant green. She knows what’s different- only her name. Some special ones are bestowed with such name. She swam past a trapped grey seal. “Help!” the seal cried. Harper saved the seal. She didn’t care what was the reward, she was happy to help.

“Thank you,” the seal said. “Here’s a reward.”

Harper took a swish backwards. “I need no prize. Thank you.”

“I insist,” said the seal.

Not wanting to hurt the seal’s feelings, she accepted the seal’s gift. It was a box. “Thank-“

The seal disappeared in a swirl of bubbles. Harper stared and finished her sentence, saying it to the empty sea. “-you…”

Harper swam home. “Mom, I’m home!” she called. Instead of her mom opening the door, a phantom opened it instead!

Harper shrieked. Then, brought her coral texts onto the phantom’s head. “Get away!” she cried.

The phantom seemed dizzy for a second. Harper pushed the phantom away with the text and entered her house. “Mom! Dad!” Harper called.

“To save your beloved ones… You must sacrifice something,” hissed a malicious voice.

“Get away! This isn’t your property!” cried Harper.

The voice cackled. “It isn’t yours either.”

Then, the creature revealed itself. A huge phantom king. “Hand me the box,” he hummed. No mouths moved.

“What box?” Harper asked.

“The one you possess.”

“Which? I have a few.”

“Don’t be clueless! You know which box!” roared the Phantom King.

Harper shook her head. “No. I do not,” she said, but fear was marked in her eyes. “What’s in the box that you want, anyway? I know all the box in the house.” Harper then thought, Except the one I hold.

“I am looking for eternal strength,” the phantom foolishly answered. Then, an idea sparked in Harper’s head.

“Eternal strength, huh?” she asked. “I know someone who could grant you such desire.”

Asking the phantom to close his eyes, she hurriedly prayed to Zios, the ancient spirit. She asked Zios to protect her from the danger and to cease the phantom from her house.

In a burst of miraculous blue light, the phantom disappeared in a wave of black. “Z-Zios?” stammered a shocked Harper.

“My sweet child,” said a voice, too feminine to be a male’s. “Please do not repeat that name. I am Mira, and I heard your plea of cry in this dark sea. I will lift all the seals from their underwater depths of danger and bring them to the glorious light. In the light you will all shine and have joy. Especially you, Harper.”

As the voice spoke, the once wrecked house began to fix itself. From two bubble traps, her parents swam gratefully to the seal. “Oh, dearie! If it wasn’t for you…!” said her mom, hugging Harper in her tight squeeze. Her dad gave Harper a quick kiss.

From that day on, Harper would wonder about where Zios is, what is Mira’s relationship to him and why did Mira come instead of Zios. Maybe someone could tell her the tale? Something unrelated to her being an Alpha.

–

Ruby

Ruby ducked as an electricity bolt flew past her head. “Hey! Make the difficulty less hard, sir!” cried Ruby. “I can’t do all this! You gotta lower the difficulty!”

Another rhino near her laughed. “Oh, Ruby. As precious as nothing, and weights the whole world,” scoffed one of her classmates.

“Be quiet!” yelled Ruby. “I may be a girl, but I’m gonna get you one day!”

The bully laughed, but then got zapped by a virtual phantom electricity. “You, out!” said their teacher. Ruby snickered as she dodged to aside.

“Ruby’s right!” a voice cried. The rhino jumped and squashed a holographic phantom. “It’s hard.”

“You’re saying that just because she’s your friend. She’s your only friend,” sneered the bully from outside the training field.

Ruby charged a holographic phantom, tossing it aside to the virtual phantom electricity. The remaining phantoms and threats flickered away. “That’s all for today’s training, class. We’re having a field trip tomorrow,” said their teacher

The class cheered. “Y’know, us rhinos are really into nature and tech, huh?” Ruby asked her best friend.

“Oh? Yeah,” was the reply.

The next day, they all left for the trip. Ruby happily strolled the lush forest. “Be careful, children,” said their substitute teacher. Their homeroom teacher was absent. “Come on, Ruby,” said Ruby’s best friend. The two happily walked the road. Apparently, many other rhinos were behind and ahead of them.

“Look at these plants!” squealed some of the rhinos. while another cried, “Look at those fruits on the trees!”

Even though rhinos mostly eat shrubs and fallen fruits, every rhino was eager to taste the red-yellow fruit. In eagerness, Ruby’s bully shook the tree, but instead, something else appeared.

“Phantom!” shrieked he.

Even though Ruby wanted to laugh, she was determined to put the safety of others’ before her. She called out, “Move out! Move out!”

The rhinos stampeded their way out. Ruby caught her friend’s eye, wariness stained in them. I can take care of this. I can, thought Ruby confidently as she watched the last rhino leave.

She was about to leave as well, but then a shot struck the tree beside her. In shock, she turned. The phantom was enraged.

“Remember the training,” she said to herself. She began charging towards the rhino, but then, the phantom ward her off with a shock. Ruby then started stomping the ground, trying to scare the phantom away. The phantom came closer to her, then Ruby, determined, tossed it aside before it could hurt her.

She kicked a log towards the phantom. As cruel as her acts are, the phantoms were evil. She then stomped on the log, which was on the phantom.

“How’s that?” Ruby said, smirking.

Then, a shadow loomed over her. She turned to see a phantom. “Duck!” a voice cried just as she turned. She ducked and the phantom flew overhead. Her friend appeared, tossing parts of the rotten fruit on his horn.

“I am really grateful for that,” sighed Ruby happily.

He had a huge grin on his face. “Come. Look where you’ve brought us,” he said.

“Wow,” said Ruby. The rhinos chattered happily. When they saw Ruby, they stopped talking and parted. When they part, Ruby said a magnificent blue-grey heron. “Who are you?” asked Ruby.

The bird smiled. “Welcome to Jamaa. You’ve brought all rhinos to their paradise, from the dangers of the phantom. Come, I’ll show you around.”

Ruby smiled at the serenity of the voice. “Yes,” said Ruby.

“I am Mira. You are now more precious than a ruby,” said the bird. “You’re the rhino Alpha, the one to lead the other rhinos.”

“Me?” Ruby gasped.

Confirming the news, she invited the whole rhino tribe to come live in Jamaa. If you’re lucky, you might see her disguised as a normal animal. Ruby will always be in every rhino’s hearts.

–

Marco

Marco was never really the best at hunting and swimming. “Come on! If you want lunch, go get it yourself!” said the urging tone of his father.

Marco took a deep breath and exhaled repeatedly before he dived into the sea. His brother and two sisters raced before him, chasing shimmering fishes all around. Marco raced after one. The scales of the silver fish glittering in the water.

Marco snapped at a fish. The fish wriggled in his jaws. He gobbled it up and resurfaced where his parents were waiting. “First fish of the day?” asked his mom sweetly.

“First fish of the day,” bragged Marco.

“I ate two already, mommy,” said the youngest of the penguin sister.

Marco’s mother stroked the little penguin’s wet feathers. “Good for you,” beamed the mother.

“Where are the others?” asked the father suddenly.

Suddenly, a penguin with purple fur and blue dotted fur surfaced. “Mom… brother Mark… he…” the penguin stuttered.

“What happened to our first-born?” demanded the father.

“Dad, Mark… chased a fat fish and…”

Their mother gasped. “Don’t tell me! A…!”

“Predators and prey,” said their other daughter, sniffling.

“What are we to do…” muttered Marco’s mother. Marco and his two siblings hung their heads, mourning for the death of the soon-to-be Alpha. Then, it would be only one then. No more Alpha… or my brother… thought Marco.

It was the first disaster for the family.

Years passed, and they had to let go of the pain the past. Soon, Marco enrolled into school, but things were not always easy for him.

“So stay away!” yelled Marco. The bullies who bullied him swam as far as they could. They teased him for losing a brother. Why? Why would they bully him for something he had no control of?

“Those stinky phantom poop,” said Marco under his breath. A group of two penguins huddled towards Marco.

“Oh, Marc. Just ignore them,” soothed a yellow-feathered penguin.

The black-feathered penguin piped up, “They’re jealous for your talents of humour, your ability to charm every new penguin, your strength and persistence.”

“Thank you,” Marco sniffed. He didn’t feel any better, though. “Are you sure that it’s going to be okay?”

The black penguin laughed. “When was she ever wrong?”

The black-feathered penguin blushed. “Oh, Junior.”

“Anyway,” the yellow one continued. “Miss is going to show us how to defend ourselves if we take up martial arts today.”

“Fin-tastic!” cried Marco.

His friend grinned. “Fur-fect for all of us,” she said. “Both of are taking it up too.”

“That’s great!” beamed Marco. “We’re all there, then?”

The yellow one nodded. “You?”

“Yes,” replied Marco.

A voice blared out from the highest ice tower in school, “Please proceed to your next chosen class! Art Room for Arts, Music Room 1 for choir, Music Room 2 for band and the Ice Field for martial arts!”

“Come on!” cried Marco’s friends. “First day of school, fifth period, this is going to be fun.”

Indeed, it was fun. “That was fun!” cried Marco. Each of them carried their bamboo sticks for martial arts. “Even if it was hard too.”

“It’s fancy how we just twirl this stick around,” commented his friend.

“We learned some good basics, didn’t we?” asked Marco.

“Yeah,” said Marco’s two friends in unison

The black-feathered penguin softly spoke, “Marco, are you still upset about the loss?”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Marco whispered.

His other friend patted Marco. “I understand.”

A voice spoke up again. “Sixth period! Please proceed to your next chosen class! Auditorium for English, Science Lab for Science, the Library for reading and writing Skills and the Ice Field for basketball.”

The three friends looked at each other. “See you later,” they said then left for their respective chosen classes. Marco looked at his empty time table. He taken English for first period, Maths for second, Arts as third, then it was snack time for the fourth period. He marked ‘Martial Arts’ for his period. Then, he wrote: Science for his sixth.

Years passed. He was a fine teenage-penguin. He missed his friends and his family. He left to sail across the seas looking for new places for the penguins. Ice slowly thinned, endangering the penguins. He shouted for his two allies.

Two penguins of matching colours with grey fur and black fire patterns appeared before him. “Yes, Mr. Marco?” they asked.

“How’s our condition?” asked Marco.

One of them said, “It seems fine, but really foggy.”

Then, a shot was heard. “I stand corrected, sir,” said the previous speaker.

Something purple dotted landed on the deck. It exploded and dark creatures started to swarm the ship. A black ship was seen, in fading gold, Marco could read the ship’s name: Dark Ghost.

A flag waved from the Dark Ghost, a dark purple with a round object with six tentacles and an eye at the center of the circle. Before he knew it, Marco was attacked and thrown onto a mast.

“Speak,” said a voice. “Where are your treasures?”

Marco replied, “I… have no treasure.”

“You do realise this ship is a treasure, do you?” asked the voice.

“NO! IT’S MY SHIP! GET OFF!”

The voice hissed, “It’s been blessed by an aura. Give it to us, then we will set you free.”

Marco cringed. It was a ship he borrowed. He glanced at his allies, the two have their eyes bulging out in fear.

“Fine,” Marco said finally. He couldn’t let the other two die or suffer. The creatures took over and sent Marco and the other two in a small vessel boat.

Days passed. The three take turns catching fish to eat. Then, Marco yelled on one fateful day, “Land, ho!”

Marco, with his keen eyes, spotted the land and cheered. A panda standing on two, welding a staff greeted them. “Welcome to Jamaa. Sky Mother was waiting for your arrival,” spoke the panda, her tone perfectly calm.

A blue-grey spirit bird appeared. “Welcome, penguins. You all are most welcome in Jamaa. Your ship was blessed and destined to find this land because of you, Marco. The ship was blessed because of this one penguin.“

Marco was stunned. “Me?”

The bird nodded. In a cloud of mist, penguins appeared all around the Sky Mother. “Here, you all shall roam free. Welcome.”

–

Sigurd

“Morning!” A young Sigurd called out to welcome the morning day.

His friend Snow leaped along with him. “Morning, Sigurd,” her beautiful voice filled Sigurd’s head.

“Morning, Snow,” sighed Sigurd happily.

Snow stopped before a clear river alongside Sigurd. “As being the young first born of Chief Odin, what do you want to do?” she questioned before dipping her head to drink.

“I want to ensure the safety of the land,” replied Sigurd, his voice still high and squeaky. “I then wish to have my land to have the best days ever.”

Snow sighed, “You’ll make a good leader.”

Sigurd, in shock, lifted his head up quickly from the surface of the river. “Y-you think so, Snow?” he stuttered.

“I believe you can succeed, Sig,” said Snow. She gazed into the water. “I hope… only for one thing.”

Sigurd slowly approached his best friend. “What is it, Snow?” he questioned.

Sigurd followed her stare, and he though he saw the water churn in a dark colour. “I want your heart to be forever pure, never to get polluted like the water, land and skies.”

Sigurd looked at himself by the river, his tears dripped, rippling his reflection. “Snow…”

The wind howled. Ripples began to appear everywhere on the surface of the river. Despite the rain, Sigurd still stayed there. His brown pelt was wet, plastered to his skin. Snow’s words echoed in his head, I want your heart to be forever pure, never to get polluted like the water, land and skies.

Sigurd stood there, motionless, swaying like a tree. His graceful movements were nothing to him. “I’m sorry I couldn’t help you…”

He gave out a sigh. He didn’t know why he often came here on rainy days, and think about Snow. Precious Snow…

“It’s too late anyway,” said a voice.

Sigurd turned to see his father, Odin. “You will have the tribe soon. You must stand strong,” said Odin.

Never to get polluted… the voice echoed in Sigurd’s head once more.

“I’m sorry, my son, there’s more to life,” said Odin, shaking his head. His antlers were magnificent, but a part have been scraped off at a fight recently this year.

Sigurd shook his head, his antlers almost as big as his father’s. “Dad, I don’t want to be chief,” said Sigurd. He wondered if he was crying or the rain acted as his tears.

I want to ensure the safety of the land. I then wish to have my land to have the best days ever, his own words echoed in his mind, reminding his “promise” to Snow.

“You’re the first born, son,” said Odin.

Sigurd faced Odin. “Let Siegfried be the chief, then!” yelled Sigurd.

“That would mean we both break the rules,” said Odin.

Sigurd yelled, “I don’t care. All my young ages I had Snow. My teen ages. Now, when it’s time, she’s gone! All gone, father!”

Odin turned, but something made him paralyse. “Smoke…”

Then, Odin snapped to realisation. “Fire! Son! Fire in the forest!”

In shock, Sigurd turned from the river and stared at the black smoke and gasped.

“Fire!” yelled a passing deer. He leaped out of the forest and passed the river. The female deer leapt after him.

An injured crawled out, Sigurd recognised the young fawn as one of Snow’s relatives. “Help… Please rescue the others,” she croaked.

Odin went ahead as Sigurd helped the fawn cross the river. “You’ll be safe here,” he assured, called a deer to nurse the fawn.

Odin came out, along with a few deer tagging along him. “Sigurd, I don’t think…” Odin whispered, helping the twelfth group of deer out. “Sigurd, please, be the next.”

“Dad!” he cried in shock. He helped his dad cross and demanded him to be taken care of. With that, Sigurd rushed into the thick smoked forest. Fire tried to lick him, but Sigurd nimbly rush out of it’s way. He knew who to save- the last deer family- the Temples.

Sigurd leapt over a fallen tree. The four members of the Temples were hiding in a small cave. “Hurry, leap along with me,” urged Sigurd.

Trembling, they followed Sigurd’s lead. As the Temples leapt past the river, Sigurd counted, “One, two, three… Where’s little Temple?”

“Little? Oh no!” cried the mother.

Sigurd went back into the forest, ignoring the danger. The young fawn was sprawled on the floor, fire getting nearer to her. “I broke… my leg…” stuttered the fawn in fear. Sigurd lifted the fawn onto his back. With his burden, he made his way out. They made it safely, Sigurd with a few scratches and burn marks.

Healer female deer rushed over to him and healed his burn marks.

“How’s… father?” he panted.

One of the healers shook her head. “I’m sorry, prince of deer, he is no longer with us.”

Everyone lowered their head as rain began to fall. Sigurd lead a song in his father’s honour then prayed to the skies for the safety of the deer and the best of his father to be remembered.

Suddenly, the rain turned blue! In a light of brilliant blue, a blue-grey heron appeared in a blob of rain. “I’ve heard you prayers,” said The heron. “I am Sky Mother Mira and I do hope the safety lies within Jamaa.”

Joining Mira, the deer lived in Jamaa ever since that harsh December. Now, male deer left Jamaa in order to protect other animals outside Jamaa, that’s why deer in Jamaa possess no horn. Sometimes, females would wear horns to honour their bravery- and Odin.

–

LaSalle

LaSalle yawned. “Classes are boring,” he whispered to himself. He took a sheet of papyrus and folded himself a paper boat. The teacher in front of him was explaining about Jamaasian runes. “I want to be an explorer, not a historian,” he muttered, setting the folded paper boat before him. “If I do, I want to be a great one.”

Then, his papyrus boat flew up to the sky. “LaSalle, listen to me in class,” said his teacher. She placed the boat on the window sill and filled it with bird feed. “Thank you for making a contribution to the nature.”

Then, more runes were being explained. LaSalle wanted to just be free from his studies. His heart belongs to the great seas. That’s what he believed.

To believe is to do, and with persuasion, his wish was granted. LaSalle could not believe his luck. “Thanks, Ma! Thanks, Pa!” he cried. He hugged his parents. The two got him a boat for his birthday, and he was thrilled.

“Oh, dearie,” sniffed his mom proudly. “May he be blessed to find what he seek.”

His father smiled, “Yes.” He gave his son a tight hug. “My only son, I allow you to sail.”

Then, in unison, they said, “Remember… remember your manners.”

With that, the good-byes and hugs and kisses, LaSalle finally set foot on the ship, with his good friend Infinity. Days and days of sailing, it became months and years, and soon they began to be experienced. With breaks in between, they set sail yet again.

“Infinity, don’t you think the sea is rather rough today?” asked the raccoon, steering the ship, looking out at the seas..

“Oh, yes, goodness!” cried Infinity, shaking his head. His silver chains rattled.

LaSalle looked at the map set before him, right on the steering wheel. “Well, Infinity, I guess it’s going to be a tough day. I’m going to sail across this unknown sea!”

LaSalle didn’t know that the sea was named. It was called Bahari Bay, below it is Deep Blue, where the waters are deep, where mysteries lurk. The two raccoons had unsettling feelings, but curiosity was greater than fear.

“The water is really dark,” observed Infinity.

“Goodness!” LaSalle cried. “It’s a deep sea, then. So deep that you can’t see the bottom of the sea.”

Then, the ship rocked. “Woah!” cried LaSalle.

“Argh!” cried Infinity.

Something soared and crashed onto their deck.

“I know that we can’t play cards because someone is always sitting or standing on the deck, but this is ridiculous,” said LaSalle.

“Shut that punny mouth up,” Infinity said.

It was an elephant seal. “Poor thing,” said Infinity.

“An enormous trouble,” said LaSalle.

Infinity shot LaSalle a look. “N-not a pun!” lied LaSalle. “We need bandages. Some herbs.”

Infinity dashed to get some. LaSalle anchored the ship and then wrote some runes on the stones. “Okay, that’s the formula,” said LaSalle.

Infinity returned with the items. With the recipe of the runes, LaSalle created a medicine that will heal the elephant seal’s wounded tail. Then, he bandaged it. “This will help you, big one,” said LaSalle.

Once again, the boat jerked

“We’re sinking, Sal!” cried Infinity.

LaSalle wanted to punch himself. “The anchor! Dang! It must have continued to go into a trench. The anchor’s really heavy, so I don’t know!”

The wooden boat rocketed down slowly. “The elephant seal can’t even swim!” Infinity panicked. “All because of a stone anchor!”

“Calm down! Calm down!” LaSalle instructed, then he began hacking wooden boards off the ship.

“You can’t be a lumberjack now!” Infinity scolded.

LaSalle drowned Infinity’s complaints by singing a song. “La, la, la, la, la, la, sing a happy song,” sang LaSalle.

“LaSalle! The boat is sinking!” cried Infinity.

Then, LaSalle turned with a huge platform. “Quick, climb aboard, bring that seal with us!” he cried.

Once they were aboard, they paddled as fast as they can in rhythm to be as far from the shipwreck. They reached the sandy beach, and the boat was completely out of sight.

“If we panicked, Infinity, we might have never made it. The ship pulled everything nearby down. We could have drowned,” said LaSalle softly.

“You and your miraculous leadership!” cried Infinity. They laughed.

“What a jolly laughter!” a cheery voice commented.

A monkey and tiger made their way towards them. “Mother Sky is expecting for new animals- raccoons. LaSalle?” asked the tiger.

“Y-yes,” stuttered LaSalle.

The tiger smiled. “Welcome to Jamaa, the raccoon’s new home. We will bring all the other raccoons here as soon as we could.”

When all the raccoons arrived, they all nominated LaSalle as their Alpha, their leader.

–

Edmund

“Eddie!” cried a voice as Edmund ran across the savannah. He wanted to get away. As fast as he could. He wanted to avoid her, the possessive giraffe.

“Why are you running away?” asked the voice, almost tearfully.

Edmund didn’t want to see her, he’d rather go to war. War against phantoms doesn’t sound so bad. It sounds rather good to fight phantoms. Kicking them, throwing them some rocks… A trade secret went on to them about slingshots from the lions.

Suddenly, Edmund was tackled. “Oof!” he cried as a crazy face looked at him, beaming so wide.

“Eddie, honey! We’ll be married and united forever! Yaiii!” she screamed.

Edmund gulped. “Never in you life, lady,” muttered Edmund, looking at the red giraffe, spotted with pink all over.

“What did you say?” the red giraffe snapped, but it sounded cheery.

“I don’t want to marry you,” said Edmund.

The other giraffe looked at Edmund. “Grr…! How dare you!” she roared.

“Yes, Phantom War for me,” Edmund said, almost showing his smile off.

He almost regretted it. Rejecting love, her father enrolled him into the army. It wasn’t that he liked to, but he couldn’t fight back someone with such a high position, while he was a no-body.

Edmund gritted his teeth. Training was hard. They have to learn how to snoop past Phantoms, all hidden in tall grass. It wasn’t easy for giraffes. It was lunch, and Edmund finished his salad. He was never free being taken care by his adoptive parents- the ones who sent him to the army.

However, he was happy here. He found new friends rather than just one possessive sister that wasn’t even related to him by blood. Edmund picked himself up and did the moon-walk, the giraffes in the bleak room cheering, brighting the place.

“Yeah, Ed!” cried one of them. He was dancing with Edmund as he pretended to be a DJ-Set.

Edmund stopped dancing when he suddenly realised his sergeant was watching. “Edmund! What do you think this is? Disco?” he roared.

“Sorry,” Edmund said.

His once-dancing friend stalked off, using his training skills. “If you’re sorry, you’re up for duty today! Watch the ground!” the sergeant barked.

“Err… YES SIR!” Edmund said, his heart heavy.

What a life.

Night fell. Edmund and his friend Lucy were watching the Northern Training Grounds. Two giraffes were on every post. “I’m sleepy,” Edmund muttered.

“Consider yourself lucky, sire!” said Lucky. “The Northern Grounds never actually really get any danger.”

“Really?” asked Edmund.

Lucky grinned, “We don’t get too much deaths here.”

“Err… I don’t feel so lucky anymore,” Edmund said. Edmund decided to sleep, Lucky promising to wake Edmund up. If any trouble, or any general or chief, approaches.

Edmund slept, dreaming about his half-sister, engaged to another giraffe, both happy as Edmund danced on the floor. They clapped for him, but then, the ground began to tremble. Edmund began to tremble.

“Edmund!” the crowd cried. “Edmund!”

Then one word struck him odd, “Wake up!”

Edmund abruptly woke. “Oh giraffes,” said Edmund. A swarm of Phantoms were making their way all around the Grounds.

“This is a new tactic,” noted Lucky.

“Err… Anything,” said Edmund. he grabbed a pouch of fruits and began hurling them towards the wave of Phantoms. Some dissolved into the air, fruits as their weapon. Lucky seemed to be more experienced than Edmund, even though he was younger than Edmund. His attacks never fail to destroy Phantoms.

Lucky’s armour glinted in the moonlight. “Come on, if this is a battle, you haven’t seen it,” said Lucky. With that, the battle horn was sounded and the giraffes burst into battle

A commander was in the lead, slashing his sword this way and that. Phantoms disappeared, but more kept appearing. Edmund himself started to use the cross-bow, knocking down phantoms.

Phantoms zapped. Some were just so stinging that skin began to tear, revealing flesh, and sometimes blood. Edmund did not want to die. No, he doesn’t want to die. “Quick, onto the boats!” cried their commander, when he saw that all hope to protect this area of the land was lost.

The giraffes hopped onto the boats out of wood, the phantoms setting their camp aflame. Phantoms began to chase them, and their commander said, “It’s been a pleasure working with you all.”

With that, he jumped off the boat, sword swirling in a whirlwind, tackled down a few phantoms before disappearing.

The giraffes rowed as hard as they could, yet they were still being chased. Their chief finally decided to unleash their last batch of fruits. Giraffes, half rowing, half throwing, were busy. Suddenly, Edmund realised that no one was in charge of the ship! Some giraffes began to fall into their watery graves, and Edmund yelled, “Stop rowing! Full charge!”

“What-” their chief started, but a Phantom dragged him away.

Everyone panicked, then Lucky’s voice rang, “Edmund’s right! Come on! We have to attack!”

The giraffes fought bravely, with weapons of all sorts. Then, Edmund saw a larger black blob. Their commander, thought Edmund. He twirled a sword expertly on air and clutched it between his teeth. He launched the sword to the Phantom. It looked hurt. “Who did that?” it hissed.

“I did,” said Edmund through gritted teeth, facing the phantom. He grabbed another sword by it’s hilt, and launched it at the phantom commander. The other giraffes were battling off the other phantoms, some weakening.

The phantom commander zapped Edmund, causing him to fall on the ground. “Pathetic,” it said before hurling another bolt. Edmund rolled away and threw one of his swords at the phantom commander. The arrow took effect as the phantom commander disappeared from sight.

“Retreat!” it yelled as it started to fade away. “Retreat!”

As the Phantoms fled, Edmund looked at the boat, and he noticed the great decrease of numbers, and it was all due to an honourable act- saving them all. FOr hours they drifted, until finally hitting shore, and there was a panda. Looking at them, the panda said, “Hello. Welcome to Jamaa.”

The giraffes were remembered by gravestones released on Halloween, and Edmund… he still owns a traumatic scene playing in his mind.

Lucky’s dead body plunging into the ocean.

–

Sophia

A young mare grazed, a colt trotting towards her side. “Darling, you’re going to have surprise,” he said.

The mare looked up, dazzling this colt with her bright blue eyes. “Show me, Sir,” was what she said.

Sir showed Darling over to the barn. “Our adopted daughter,” said Sir.

“Where did she come from?” asked Darling, looking at the yellow-creamed coated horse, eyes tightly shut, it’s mane brown.

“A grey heron gave it to me in a basket of flowers and feathers.”

“Show me.”

Sir brought out a basket, woven from vines and grass, flowers and feathers tucked each woven part.

“What’s this? Sophia?” asked Darling, looking at a piece of paper.

Sir looked at it. “Darling, I think this just says we should name this beauty Sophia.”

Darling nuzzled Sir. “It sound like a perfect name for her,” said the mare, looking at Sophia’s chestnut mane. “Just lovely.”

Sophia grew up to be a well-mannered mare as the years passed. However, she had a fire within her, desire for adventure, to be wild out there. She often let flowers settle on her mane, and run out under the golden sunlight. Her cream fur was smooth. Her eyes are sparkling dark brown.

“Oh,” Sophia would say to the stream, “what a lovely colour you have.”

To the trees, she would say, “You have such firm branches and a trunk.”

She would see beauty in every thing.

One day, she settled down by an apple tree. She kicked the tree, and two apples rolled down. She reached over to the red one. “You have such a lovely hue,” said Sophia. The juice made her feel warm. The apple was sweet. “Such a sweet taste…”

Sophia finished it and proceeded to munched on the other larger apple, and it was sour. “You have a large, round shape,” Sophia said, admiring it’s size even though it was bitten.

“Sophia! Sophie!” a voice cried. Sophia knew only one horse would call her Sophie. She turned around to see a snowy-white horse with grey mane. It was Pioneer. “Pioneer, what’s wrong?” asked Sophia.

“Wild horses… They’re moving in to Sunshine Meadows!” panicked Pioneer.

“What? Why?”

Pioneer looked uneasy. “I don’t know! Just… Look, Sophie. You’re one of the strongest horses and I think, well, we all think you can help handle this,” he said.

“Alright,” said Sophia, not meeting his blue eyes. “Let’s go.”

The two galloped, Pioneer filling Sophia with the details. “They are beginning to mow every single bit of grass, hay and taking our items!” cried the stallion.

“I’ll show them that no one messes around with the Sunshine Meadowers!” cried Sophia. Sophia spotted the wary looking shop-keeper Pilgrim.

“Sophia, please help me!” he cried. “Wild horses are robbing all of my supplies!”

Sophia stormed in, barely letting Pilgrim hear her say, “Alright.”

Dark brown horses were running around like crazy. “Stop stealing!” Sophia cried. The wild horses were in shock. Leaving everything messy, they bolted out.

She ran after them. She passed Chief, the sheriff of Sunshine Meadows. “I’ll get them for you, sire!” cried Sophia. The Chief looked happy. After all, he isn’t the strongest horse anymore as years passed.

A few other horses help. A few were rounded up, but Sophia wasn’t interested in them.

She was interested in the leader, A muscular-built horse with the fur of wood brown and the mane of black. Every gallop the leader made, the farther from Sophia. Peering into the horse’s built structure again, she could see the leader was a male, with sandy-brown eyes. Sophia dared herself to race faster. “Hey, you! Stop trying to invade Sunshine Meadows!”

“I am merely trying to get food,” said the horse’s deep hollow voice. “Out here, there was a fire. The grass was burnt down.”

“Stop running!” cried Sophia.

The horse stopped. “What do you want?” he asked.

“If you want food, don’t steal. Ask for them,” Sophia lectured.

“We wild horses do not have money,” said the horse.

Sophia stomped her hoof. “Who said anything about money?” she retorted. “All you need is to trade, or you could just have taken them nicely after asking!”

“Very well,” the horse said. “May I have your trust?”

Sophia heard confidence in his voice and liked it. “Why not?”

“Follow me,” said the horse.

Together, they galloped. The horse brought her to a barren land. “This was where the wild horses roam. It’s dry…”

“I think it’s beautiful to start a new land,” said Sophia, seeing a spark of life.

“We could make a well, then start growing plants,” said Sophia.

“We?” asked the horse.

“It… slipped out of my mouth,” stuttered Sophia. Hearing a found, Sophia turned. There was a small trickling stream. “Or follow that!”

Together, the two galloped, following the river. When it got so big, they stared. Before them, separated by water, were fine white columns. Sophia peered through them, seeing a statue of a grey-blue bird. A voice whispered in her head, You found a land. You can strive here. You can be free. You will have no fires.

“Did you hear someone say something?” asked the wild horse.

“Whispering,” muttered Sophia.

The horse smiled. “At least we found a land.”

With that, the horses and the wild horses made peace, and, together, moved to Jamaa.

Still. Whoever was the leader of the wild horses was, disappeared, and Sophia didn’t know who he was. Now, she is the horses’ leader.

–

Cornelius

The warm sun shone on him. The brown crocodile turned, shocking the green one. “Explorer, stop shoving,” said the green one.

“Sorry, bro. You just gotta prevent yourself from getting a sunburn,” said Explorer.

The green one yawned. “A tan sounds good.”

“You said it,” yawned Explorer.

“What a lazy Saturday.”

“You said it, bro.”

A fish flew. “Lunch.”

“Yum,” said Explorer half-heartedly.

“Ya sick?” asked Cornelius.

Explorer belched. “A-a little,” muttered the sandy crocodile.

“Come on, bro. Hospital?” asked Cornelius.

“Sure,” burped Explorer. Cornelius helped his brother swim to the other side of the swamp. The attendant looked at them. “Hello, boys. How may I help you both?” she asked.

“My bro Explorer needs to see a doc,” said Cornelius. “The regular one.”

“Okay, boys. Doctor Belle is on the left room, in area D,” said Miss.

Cornelius said a word of thanks and lead the sick crocodile to Doctor Belle’s, a grey-green crocodile. She had sharp yellow eyes and she had a stethoscope around her neck. “Hello, is Explorer okay? He looks sick.”

“He’s not OK!” cried Cornelius.

“I’ll fix him up. You go and play, Cornie.”

Cornelius thanked the Doctor and left. He looked out, and thought he saw a bulky crocodile in the distance.

“Grr,” growled a voice. “Corn that crocodile! Mash him into crocodile-corn soup!”

Cornelius advanced a step backwards. Two crocodiles leapt at him. He recognised them both- Bouncing and Fierce. If the two are here, where’s…

A much larger crocodile leapt behind him. It was the two crocodile’s leader, Major Majormajor. “Hello, Cornie,” croaked Major.

“Ugh! If you could be any worse than a bully!” grumbled Cornelius.

Major grinned, revealing a row of crooked teeth. “You’re a shame to the crocodile tribe, Cornelius. What are you, a baby? This is where survival of the fittest applies, we don’t have time to baby others, or have others baby you!”

“Leave me alone,” huffed Cornelius.

“Oh, scared of a fight?” taunted Major. He pounced on Cornelius.

Cornelius took a deep breath. He didn’t want to do it but the three didn’t give him much of a choice. He stopped Major’s blow. “Y’knaw,” said Cornelius with ease, “let’s say…”
He sent Major on the ground. “That no one messes with me.”

With that, Bouncing and Fierce ran away, dragging Major with them, but as Cornelius turned, he saw something else- weird black creatures. A mass of them. “Wow,” Cornelius thought and followed. The black creatures led him to a beautiful savannah, with a tempting mud-wallow. A panda with a staff, a wolf with shining yellow eyes and a tiger with a red cape fought the black creatures. The three animals had amazing powers. The tiger had great strength, the wolf controlled shadows and the panda had vast wisdom. Cornelius decided to help, and shortly, the creatures cleared away.

“Thank you for helping us,” said the panda.

“Ah! It’s nothing!” said Cornelius.

“This land wouldn’t say it’s nothing,” said the tiger in a deep voice. “It’s inhabited by various creatures.”

“Cool!” cried Cornelius.

“You helped us save it,” smiled the panda. “I’m Liza.”

The tiger stood tall. “I’m Sir Gilbert.”

The wolf was gone. “The wolf, he’s Greely,” said Liza, almost frowning.

“I’m Cornelius,” said the crocodile.

“You’re part of Jamaa, family, so let’s get you there,” said Liza.

“Jamaa!” echoed Cornelius excitedly.

Sir Gilbert chuckled, saying, “The world out there isn’t as safe anymore. Would you like your people and yourself to live here?”

“They’re not exactly my people… but sure that’d be a yes from us all!” cried Cornelius, his eyes shining with excitement.

–

You will use your life for the better of the crocodiles. That’s why you’re unique, you’re not like others. Your actions certainly are… expressive. Cornelius, your name is for your pride, not your shame.

It’s been years since he was the crodocile Alpha, yet, Cornelius can hear the mysterious melodic voice whispering in his head once more.

–

Otto

The young elephant tore though the woods. Enough! protested the young cub in his mind. I don’t want to be under them anymore. No way, no how!

When the voices fade away, he stopped. He didn’t want to live with the anymore. His parents made him their “slave”. They asked him to do everything. Gathering food, collecting wood, was a child such a thing to be made as a tool?

If he did another work for them, he might as well rebel. Running, it was now or never. He almost shed a bitter tear. He stood up tall. No, I shan’t be weak. I must be strong!

Otto took some fresh air in. He has to find a food source, water supply and shelter. He had experience, being the one who did all these in the past. He began walk. He snapped twigs with leaves hanging from them and eat them as we walked. He then stopped. There was a green stream. He frowned. “How did it get so polluted?” he muttered.

He followed it, hoping to find it’s source. He did not like the stench.

It stink like faeces. He tried not to smell it, but walked as he darted his eyes on the path, then on the stream. Floating on the murky water were cloth, plastic and weird goo. The goo seem to have eyes, staring back at his. Otto look ahead. The water gradually turned dark-black-blue. Walking even further, the water became twilight purple. The stench got worse.

“Err,” Otto groaned. “If it could destroy my ecosystem any worse.”

Otto, looked at it’s source- a small open lab, black blobs operating machines, generating blobs. Afraid, Otto hid away, and lived near the place, finding a clear water hole nearby. He just wanted to grow up, so her could be big and strong to defeat the blobs.

That day finally came when we woke up to a series of shouting.

“How dare you!” “We’ll end this!” “Be gone, phantoms!”

Otto looked out. He was slightly older now, and built a hut on his own. In the distance, a panda was standing before the blobs. Beside the panda, a tiger, a wolf, a bunny, a monkey and a koala was standing too, eyes glowing. “How dare you destroy such ecosystem!”

“The forest is important, even if you do not realise it,” said the tiger in a deep voice.

“It’s nature’s beautiful art!” shouted the bunny.

The monkey said, “It’s nature’s source of inspiring Science.”

“Life these plants provides are more than precious,” spoke the koala.

“We won’t let you destroy it!” cried the panda. The panda’s staff was glowing, and then began to take down the blobs with her twirling staff, the other animals helping around.

If the animals were so concerned for the ecosystem, would they notice, a blob sneaking away with a jar full of green and purple blob?

Once frozen in awe, Otto rushed out, chasing the being, crying, “Hold it!”

Otto reached his trunk over to a tree. With a snap!, he was able to grab a twig and hurl it towards the phantom.

This attracted the wolf’s attention. Disappearing before Otto’s eyes and astonishment, the phantom sneaked away into the dense forests. Otto gave a shocked cry as he looked back, but, to his amazement, the wolf emerged from the trees’ shadows. “Boo,” said the wolf darkly without humour.

With that, the wolf brought his paw and the phantom was vanquished. He caught the toppling jar. Otto looked at the jar. Dark, gooey…

“Diseases,” muttered the wolf, holding the jar with a paw, eyes glowing yellow and red. It stopped abruptly.

A shout came by, “What do you have there, Greely?”

The wolf slipped the jar into his bag. “Nothing,” he answered icily without any tone.

Otto started, “You had-“

“Nothing to share,” hissed the wolf, who was called Greely.

A tiger burst out from behind Otto. “Oh-hoh, elephants! Tell me, boy! What does it feel like to have a trunk?” he asked. He pretended to be an elephant. Paws from his nose, he wriggled the paws. “Honk. Honk.”

“Elephants don’t go honk, Sir Gilbert,” said a respectful voice, now a bunny emerging from the foliages. “They go more like a trumpet.”

“I was having a joke, Peck,” said the tiger.

A cheery voice bloomed in the sky. “Why are you animals bickering?”

A panda emerged. “Cosmo and Graham are fixing the nature and destroying the machines by-“

Her eyes fixed on Otto. “Who’s this little animal?” she asked, smiling.

“I… I’m Otto,” Otto stuttered.

Sir Gilbert whooped. “An elephant, Liza! An elephant! What does it feel like to have big ears?”

“Uh.”

“Wow, I can just paint more tattoos here than on my body!” cried Peck the bunny.

“Everyone seems excited to see a new animal,” cried Liza. She warmly smiled. “It’s not safe here anymore, Otto, why don’t we head back to Jamaa?”

“Jamaa?” asked Otto.

“It’s a place of safety from all these mean phantoms!” cried Peck.

“We’d like to ensure all the elephants’ safety,” Sir Gilbert said.

Otto smiled, rushing into the forest, crying out, “I’ll get them!”

It took him some time to find them all, and brought them all to Jamaa.

Now, he’s someone new, a leader, a caring leader, the one who brought the elephants and Jamaa’s meeting to happen.

–

Avalon

The bird was looking at the magic circle. “Is it ready?” a feeble voice called.

She looked back. Mira, a majestic blue heron bird, landed. “Avalon, is this the ring you told me about?”

“Yes,” said Avalon, tugging her cloak. “I think it would work.”

For months, Avalon had been working with Mira to find Zios, her lost soul mate. Spells, magic items and runes, drawing endless conclusions for every failed experiment. Mira made it clear to Avalon.

Zios was everything to her.

“Ready?” Mira inquired.

Avalon nodded. “Yes, ma’am!”

Avalon flew and grabbed a parchment. “Here you go, Sky Mother!” she cried, unrolling it with a swift kick, holding it with her talons so Mira could read it.

“Ring that seeks of love so true
Light the flames of love anew
Let them return once more to me
Let them before me so I can see

Come to me, oh, come, my dear!
Zios, my love, tell me he’s near-
Magic circle of love and fate
Tell me today’s the date!”

The spell sounded like poetry, and the magical ring seemed to shimmer. “I-is it working!” Mira cried, shocked.

“I hope so!” Avalon cried. The ring’s golden shimmer, however, faltered and died altogether. The two of them were greatly disappointed.

“I guess… not,” Avalon sighed, afraid to see the tears in Mira’s eyes.

After the disappointment, Avalon had started to work much more with spells, usually venturing Jamaa to study more from what else she could handle, from Mira’s own knowledge, and sometimes even she talked to the owl she often saw lingering around.

Again, she came up with a contraption that allowed them to see others. Mira was curious, but her eyes has shown she has not recovered yet from the previous failure.

“A-are you sure about this?” inquired Avalon.

Mira nodded. What Avalon feared was another great disappointment.

This time, Avalon chanted, “Golden mirror! Show us the glorious Zios!”

Then, a distorted image of a golden mask came into the golden disk’s surface. “Z-Zios!” Mira cried.

However, it was not Zios as the image became cleared. It was the wisp, forming, looming, unclear. Two green eyes shone. The voice was deep and mysterious, and began to speak:

“The Sky Father has fallen down,
Lost from Jamaa at the second dawn
He will not return, he will not return,
Beasts from afar, into Jamaa they shall turn

Seeking the Sky Father is an empty fate
Nothing should mark his date-
As for those who try to follow his steps
Shall forget and regret for near deaths“

Then, the picture blurred away and Avalon frowned. “Whatever could that mean?”

Mira shook her head and faced Avalon. “Avalon, hear and heed me well,” she said. “We must give up from this quest, I’m afraid. He is not to be pursued.”

“You can’t just give up on your love of your life!” protested Avalon.

Mira looked at the owl kindly. “Avalon, it’s not that I want to, it’s that I must.”

“Why? I wouldn’t give up-!”

Mira interrupted her. “You wouldn’t Avalon,” she said softly, but her voice was shaking, “because you don’t have a role everyone depend on. Yes, I do depend on you to do various kinds of spells to contact Zios for me, it’s because I don’t have that much knowledge, and second… I am the Sky Mother.”

Avalon swallowed. She didn’t know what Mira meant in the past.

“He will never return, Ava,” Mira said, looking outside of the clear window, the blue sky turning darker. “I cannot seek him, for then I will abandon my position as the Sky Mother. With I gone, who is left to protect Jamaa and you all?”

Avalon knew well that Mira would never abandon them, but still, Mira couldn’t just forget finding about her love!

Nodding, she silently thought, I’ll look for Zios myself, then, and you can’t stop me, Sky Mother.

Avalon began to work in secret. In daylight, she was still Mira’s good friend, but she tried everything she could to make spells stronger, enhancing them so they work better.

Hoot, hoot hoot. “You know, she won’t appreciate your tries.”

“I know,” Avalon said, scribbling on a scroll, “she won’t appreciate it…”

Hoot hoot… hoo-oot? “Then why… won’t you give up?”

“It’s true love!” cried Avalon.

The owl that lived in the Sarepia Forest shrugged. Hoot hoot… hoot? Hoot h-ooot. “Ugh, true love… what for? By the way you spelled that word wrong.”

“Oops!” Avalon cried and fixed the spelling mistake. “How come you know so many magic?”

The owl sighed but kept quiet. “Hey, what’s you name anyway?” asked Avalon.

“You can call me Hoot,” the owl said.

Avalon frowned. “Hoot?”

“Yeah,” said the owl, hooting.

“Why do you speak Owlish only, anyway?” inquired Avalon. “What happened to your Jamaa words?”

“I’ve never spoken them,” Hoot replied.

Avalon frowned. She only understood because she was an owl, and Owlish came naturally to her.

“Anyway,” Hoot continued, “you should continue with your spell.”

“Didn’t you say Mira wouldn’t appreciate it?” Avalon laughed.

“Well, do what you like,” Hoot replied and stayed silent.

What she would like to do- that would be to reunite Zios and Mira together. Despite the warning, she was sure Mira would be glad if Zios came back.

Avalon had no other task anyway.

It would be her pleasure to do so, the only thought that she became obsessed with as she work for days and days to find out more about it.

“Hello,” said a kind voice.

Avalon jumped and quickly glanced back. “M-Mira!” she cried.

“Why are you so nervous?” Mira questioned.

Avalon looked down at the many things she was studying on. Scrolls of mystical lakes with magical water and deserts of time-travelling sands were before her. “I was so immersed in my reading I didn’t hear you coming,” Avalon said, calming herself down.

“Reading… about these ancient mysteries?” Mira asked.

“Yeah!” Avalon said, gaining confidence in her speech. “After all that trying to connect with Zios, and that now you want me to stop, I thought maybe a bit of sight-seeing might give me something to do.”

“Reasonable,” Mira said, reading about the magical waters of Blurre.

Avalon looked around. There was nothing in sight that would expose her plan of still seeking for the Sky Father.

“If you need any help in transport,” Mira said, “let me know, Ava.”

“Will do!” Avalon cried as Mira turned to exit the room.

Avalon looked at the scrolls, then opened a drawer to reveal a necklace, with a beautiful pendant of fire opal.

She knew where to go next. She had obtained the golden chains from the River Rushe, the opal from the Mines of Depp, imbued with the magic water from Blurre Lake.

She only needed to make a potion to polish the gem and chains out of the magical Magma of Harme.

Avalon had been days away. She was on her journey to the unknown dormant volcano, in the far north-west of Jamaa Township. She had been offered by Mira a portal, but she refused, wanting to go sight-seeing.

The land, from the plains of dry grass, a little cactus here and there, and crossing a bit of Mount Shiveer, and then the land became barren. The temperature rose, and Avalon felt the heat intensely wrapping around her.

She was in the lands of Harme. Harme was a land Mira haven’t exactly went to oversee due to lack of interest, for no creatures lived in the area. Avalon looked around. Dead trees were everywhere, twisted, drying up…

The dormant volcano was far ahead. She needed the magma. As absurd as it might sound, it was the thing she needed.

Magma.

She had read enough to know that around the volcano, there were cracked surfaces on the ground, where one could pull it off and obtain magma. It was, however, easier said than done.

Avalon tried to remove the crack without any effort. Then, she remembered a spell.

“Rise, up, stone tile, rise!
What’s below- let me analyse!”

The rock shakily began to rise, and steam rushed out. Avalon moved the rock away. Down below, far down, magma was rushing. Avalon was quite disappointed. How could she get the magma now?

The owl had taken a break the previous day. Today she was on her way to find some rocks. Apparently, she remembered a spell that she could use to lift up flames and fiery objects. The spell require rocks.

Avalon found a bunch of rocks and carried it with her back to the little crack which showed magma. Slowly, her collection of rocks grew. She arranged them in a circle around the crack and then another one around it. Stepping back, she chanted,

“Fire, a blazing spirit,
Destructive, beautiful, every bit,
but rise by beauty, rise to me,
So your beauty you display, I can see.“

Slowly, a rumbling sound echoed from below Avalon. She stepped back again. Suddenly, a glowing ball of fiery hot magma rose. It was high enough for Avalon to bathe the pendant in it. Soon, it was hot and glowing, so she set it down to cool. Avalon removed one of the stones and the magma merged together again. Avalon patched the area with the stone she removed.

The pendant was starting to cool down, judging by the colours it.

Finally. It was time to present the gift to Mira. On her trip home she quickly flew, excitement washing through her.

“Sky Mother!” cried Avalon, surprised to see her in the courtyard. It was not often to see Mira there. A few pandas were trimming the garden.

Mira was overseeing the pandas, and she glanced towards Avalon’s direction. “Why, Avalon, hello, welcome back.”

Mira’s voice was so sweet and soft, Avalon felt bad to go against her words. “Hello!” Avalon cried a little too cheerfully.

“Where have you been?” asked Mira. “Gone for ten days…”

“T-ten days?” cried Avalon. She didn’t realise she has been gone for so long to Harme. Mira nodded.

Avalon didn’t want to spill the beans, so she took out the necklace instead. “Sky Mother, from my trip I have found a beautiful gem and stayed long making this necklace for you there as a gift from the barren land.”

It wasn’t exactly a lie nor the truth either.

Mira looked at the gem, sparkling under the sunlight. Even all the pandas stopped to see the wonder. “It’s lovely, Avalon,” Mira said, a hint of amazement in her voice. “Are you sure you want to part from it?”

It was the only reason why I created it. “Yes,” she said.

Handing it over to Mira, the Sky Mother slipped it over her head and it fell down to the base of her slender neck.

Whispering under her breath, Avalon said,

“Show me him,
Him to her,
Bring him forth,
Her forth to him.”

Suddenly, there was a cry from Mira, and tears suddenly poured down her face. The Sky Mother took slow step backwards, her eyes unfocused, large, as tears kept flowing out.

She knew it at once. The Sky Mother was in pain. Quickly, Avalon lashed out, “Release!”

Winds swirled around Mira. Avalon took steps backwards as the pandas rushed to assist Mira, who suddenly stumbled.

She had to go. Now.

As she took flight, the prophesy of the unknown creature rang in her head.

“Those who try to follow his steps,
Shall forget and regret for near deaths.”

She understood it now.

The words wrapped around her head so tightly she didn’t hear another call from below, calling her name.

All she could do now was regret.

–

After her return, the owls reunited in Jamaa, Mira invited Avalon to feast with her at the head of the table. Avalon was their honoured guest, but she did not feel like one.

“I’m really sorry, Mira,” Avalon said as the two walked down the hallway, just as they did so years ago.

“What ever are you sorry for?” Mira hummed.

Avalon was flabbergasted. “Have you not remembered what I did to you years ago?”

Mira shook her head. “You have nothing to be sorry about.”

“Tell me, Sky Mother…” Avalon slowly said. “Have you forgiven me?”

Mira smiled. “I always have,” she said.

A sudden glimmer caught Avalon’s eye. She gasped, for around Mira’s neck was an enchanting necklace. A fire opal rested on her chest.

Avalon felt sick all of a sudden. “Are you trying to mock me?” she screamed, but she didn’t attack Mira, all she did was glare at the Sky Mother with her large eyes.

Mira shook her head once more. “It’s beautiful, is it not? Why should I let it lie down in waste?”

“It’s because it has harmed you before!” screamed Avalon. “It caused you grief!”

Both were rooted on the spot.

“It may have done so in the past,” Mira said, “but not anymore. I have forgotten details of that event, that you’ve tried to pursue against the prophecy, but all’s well now, even without my beloved Zios, it seems like fate has made sure this was to happen.”

“Fate has broken your heart,” Avalon icily said, eyeing the necklace.

“Fate has brought you back,” Mira softly said, and Avalon looked away, hoping not to blush. “Then again, why should I part with a gift someone so important gave me?”

Avalon looked stunned. “You made it with all your heart, Ava, and that what makes it special to me, not because it’s to mock you, or that it reminds me of Zios,” Mira said, looking at Avalon, and the owl returned her gaze. “I treasure it, the well-being of your wishes, and that you’re back here again. You’re an Alpha now, and that now, perhaps… You’ll know how I feel of such… issues.”

Avalon still remembered their conversation back then. Years ago.

“Come, let’s not waste any more time,” Mira’s gentle voice said. She began to pace forwards, followed by Avalon, pondering, wondering, Where is Zios now?

Animal Tales

How Hyenas Came to Jamaa

Once, a lush savannah was populated with most wild, extremely magnificent creatures. There used to be giraffes, elephants, rhinos, lions, but many left due to the threats of phantoms or to a koala explorer. Only the hyenas remain loyal to their home. “The savannah is my home, and here I shall be,” swore their old hyena leader, Chief Majorclaw.

Their leader was Chief Majorclaw. He would keep the togetherness of the hyenas so they would remain as one. Sadly, phantoms, one day, distorted the peace, and had a Phantom king himself slay their leader. Frightened, the hyenas separated into smaller groups and fled their savannah…

“Little Magicrose, don’t stray to far!” cried a responsible Lady Vonspirit. She had been hunting all day in the Sarepia forest, and still trying to adapt. She and the other hyenas were eating. Every hyena but Little Magicrose. “Come here, be a good girl and eat. It may not what we usually eat, but it should be enough to satisfy our hunger.”

Little Magicrose ate a few chunks of meat. She always felt uneasy. She felt as though they were being stalked, followed. “Mom, have you ever feel like we’re being followed?” she asked.

Silence. Laughter then a yelp. “Mom! Didn’t you hear that?” demanded Magicrose. It was impossible to miss. The laughter was most recognisable. Like their laugh- a hyena’s laugh.

Then, a girl’s voice said, “I think I spot a new animal!”

“Hide!” cried Vonspirit. The group of five rushed to hide, hopping to hide in the bushes, between the tangling stems and leaves.

Another voice said, “I don’t see anyone, Peck. I think your imaginations were playing tricks on you.”

“I’ll show you!” cried a girl’s voice. Magicrose peered out from the bush. A rabbit in pink and purple drew out a piece of chalk and began to draw on the forest walking-board. “They look like this.”

Magicrose held her breath. If they found out, would their freedom come to an end. She took a peek, at what the rabbit was drawing, and couldn’t help but admire the work. It was beautiful! Elaborated swirls and spots. A work of an artist. Instead, the tiger didn’t look impressed. “Let’s return to Mira, then. Soon, we must go to Jamaa Township.”

Jamaa? thought Magicrose. She looked back, the hyenas started to walk to a new place. Magicrose followed the two creatures instead, intrigued. She wanted to see Jamaa. It sounds… magical. She looked back, a bit hesitant, but didn’t change her mind.

She slid down a slide to follow the two. She thought they would lead her to Jamaa immediately. Instead, the two started to dance around a fire pit while chanting, “Behold Mira! Behold! Behold!”

Suddenly, in a burst of blue flames, Mira appeared and soared into the skies. She did not dance for pleasure with them. “My dear chosen ones. What do you seek for?” asked the blue bird, voice as melodious as a twinkling chimes. Her eyes shined and twinkled like those of a night’s star.

“Mira, please tell me if there are any animals as such like the one I drew!” exclaimed Peck, the rabbit. “I want to show Sir Gilbert I’m right!”

Smoke billowed around and took form. Magicrose looked closer, beaming. They turned into the shape of hyenas! “These animals once roamed the land, now from Sarepia Forest to Crystal Sands. These poor creatures once united as one, shall finally rest beneath the sun,” said the blue bird. “That is all I could say.”

In a burst of blue flames engulfing her, she disappeared. Peck danced around the tiger, chanting, “I told you so! Told you so!”

“Fine, fine!” said the tiger. “Now, do you want to help me find them or not?”

“I’d like to help,” said Magicrose shyly, emerging from the bushes.

Suddenly, a lily blossomed before Magicrose. At the lily’s right, a swirl of leaves danced along. On the lily’s left, there was a burst of yellow light. From left to right, there was a monkey wearing steampunk goggles, a panda with a staff and a koala with a staff.

“Mira called us here,” said the panda. “What’s wrong?”

However, it all became clear later they all saw the lone hyena. “What a creature! What are they called? Hananas?” asked the koala.

“It’s a hyena, silly,” said a cold voice from behind. So cold that even the atmosphere seemed to have froze. So cold that even the light seemed to be scared. The fire melted away, replaced by shadows.

Magicrose was so shocked she stumbled backwards… to bump into a wolf! The wolf’s cold stare made her blood run cold. “H-how do you know?” Magicrose managed to whimper.

The wolf just flicked his tail. “The phantoms are planning on another attack. They’re planning to attack animals who are away from Jamaa. The phantoms shall roam those area distant or unknown to Jamaa. We must gather them up,” declared the wolf. “First, we must not share the discovery of the hyenas yet.”

The panda cried, “True! So we can gather them up!”

“I’ll get my family right away!” cried Magicrose. She quickly sped away.

The bunny, though, disobeyed Greely’s order. He gave her an extremely furious look of irritation and hatred at her. “I told you already…”

The excited Peck had drawn the hyenas onto pages and distributed them all around Jamaa, and when Greely’s anger was about to destroy Peck entirely, Mira fluttered down to touch the ground. “Greely, do not be angry. I had used my magic so that they could not see the picture. I scrambled them up.”

“It does not help that the others could guess,” Greely remarked.

“Let them guess,” said Mira. “It’ll be fun.”

Meanwhile, Magicrose followed a sign. She arrived at a sunny, yet deserted, place. There were slides and sand. Laughter came from a hut.

Magicrose entered. There were three hyenas drinking juice. One looked so worried. “Mom!” Magicrose cried.

The wary hyena’s ears perked up. “My Little Magicrose!” she exclaimed.

“She’s alive!” cried one. “Hip-hip-hooray!”

More cheering erupted. Lady Vonspirit handed Magicrose a cup of banana juice. Magicrose saw they were having so much fun. Would she have to spill the beans? Maybe, she could just have fun and forget even meeting the other animals. That seemed so tempting, Magicrose would agree so soon.

Magicrose breathed in. She had to, or the entire clan shall be annihilated. By phantoms! Quickly, she cried, “WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE!”

“What?” asked another cub “We’re having a fun party! We’re having fun!”

Little Magicrose interrupted, “Do you want to be killed? By phantoms?”

The three adults gasped at the name. “Do not ever mention that cursed word!” hissed one of the adults, and the others nodded in agreement.

Trying as hard as she could, she told them the story about her meeting the weird tiger, rabbit, bird, panda, monkey, koala and wolf. Slowly, the adults began to believe her. “The Alphas,” said Lady Vonspirit. “They are called the Alphas. They had saved Grasse Savannah before, but not from it being destroyed.”

“Then we must get to Jamaa!” one of them cried cried.

“Mind if we join you all?” a cackling voice asked. From the door, eight hyenas appeared.

“Biff! Good to see you!” cried Lady Vonspirit. “We thought you’ve perished as well.”

The hyena laughed. “You forgot that we hyenas are as sneaky. I’m the leader of this pack, so we shall gather everyone and head off together!”

More hyenas entered. “We too have been hiding away!” chorused the hyenas.

Little Magicrose found that impossible. The phantoms were coming in real soon. Only if there was a better solution. Suddenly, they heard a loud BANG! from outside the door.

A hyena peered out of the door. Then, quickly entered. “A phantom!” it warned.

Another hyena laughed. “Only a phantom? There are like a hundred of us! Come! Let us defeat this phantom!”

The other hyenas looked wary. Then, the hyena that once peered out from the door reported, “It’s destroying trees.”

“Then, let’s charge!”

Unfortunately, the hyenas were skittish, inexperienced, so injury was inevitable. The phantom zapped them with bolts of electricity. Soon, in the chaos, a clear voice rang out- Biff’s- to coordinate some of the hyenas to weave a net of vines and leaves and trick it into getting caught. With the phantom trapped, they managed to throw it to the sea, where a sudden whirlpool appeared, which brought the phantom down. This was how the hyenas gained experience over phantoms.

“Now, hyenas,” cried Biff, “let’s find the others!”

The hyenas walked together. For five days, they searched everywhere. At the mornings, they call the other undiscovered hyenas with their laughter. At the afternoons, they would hunt together. At the evening, they would play games. At night, they would tell each other stories of their own clans, how they survived, about other threats.They lift others’ spirits up. Life was good, then. Now, it was better.

Finally, they seemed to found all the other hyenas, having walking all the land. A lily blossomed before them. It was the panda.

“Come, let us show you all the world now! Remember to stay safe!” Liza cried.

It was posted in the news. No one fretted. It was only fair the hyenas are safe first. When Little Magicrose entered Jamaa Township, everyone looked at them in surprise. Little wondered if this was the life she could chose. The right path of life.

The animals burst into cheering. “Hyenas! Hyenas! Hyenas!” they cheered.

The hyenas smiled. It was good to have a home. The animals treated the hyenas with such respect that they felt right at home. Soon, hyenas began to roam the land very quickly. Hyenas easily became the topic of conversations. Luckily, they were good news, not bad rumours, being spread.

The hyenas laughed, danced and play amongst the others. They also help defeat the phantoms.

Who knows… that there are still more mysteries from the Grasse Savannah? More than hyenas, elephants, rhinos or giraffes.

–

Arrival of the Diamond Animals

“Alright! Gather around!” their Shamans would cry out. The whole animal tribe would assemble around their shamans, listening to what they have to say.

“Now!” the sharp voice of their shaman cry out! “We are off for a hunt!”

The word hunt immediately made the animals happy, excited. “Yipee!” the younger ones would cry out. The elder ones would get their plans ready, checking their claws or fangs.

“Alright, all!” cried the shamans.

To their own tribes, they called out their destinations.

“Further in the grasslands!” cried the hyena, cheetah and lion shaman.

“Plunge into the rivers!” commanded the otter shaman.

“Enter the arctic plains!” instructed the snow leopard and Arctic wolf.

“Soar the skies, eagles!” yelled the eagle shaman.

“Hop across the Australian lands!” the kangaroo shaman called, and they’re off

The lions roared. They found a new land. They found a bunny to devour. Before they could pounce, the bunny turned and welcomed them to Jamaa. In shock, the lions agree to live together in peace as their leader go find the females, as they were searching in another area.

The arctic wolves stopped. The cold mountains were fantastic, but a tiger invited them to explore more lands than they ever before. They became one with Jamaa, and their leader decided to find the lost spirit of Zios.

Hopping across the land, a koala in green came by. “Excuse me,” said their leader, “have you seen any berries?”

The koala shook it’s head, then asked, “Are you new comers?”

“Yes,” said the kangaroo shaman.

The koala smiled. “I am Cosmo, you can be part of Jamaa where you will never strive or die.”

The kangaroos accepted the offer, but their Shaman went off mysteriously the next day, leaving a note that their leader will soon be back with the other kangaroos…

While scouring the Grasslands, the hyenas decided that they should go elsewhere than the Grasslands. “We get too little food here,” complained one.

The shaman thought about it. “Alright,” was the reply.

The tribe raced out of the grasslands, only to be engulfed by mist. When the mist faded, they were is a place with a blue heron statue. The heron seemed to talk, “Hello. Welcome.”

Overhead, eagles flew, they were now one in Jamaa. The eagle leader talked to the Hyena leader and decided to help find new lands.

Snow leopards and cheetahs were already exploring the place, although they didn’t realise their leaders backing away into the shadows…

The otters chattered as their leader introduced them to Jamaa, they land recently found. A cry was heard, a bunny was sinking. The otter Shaman dove and rescued the bunny, but the otters didn’t know if their shaman still lives for they were too excited to care…

These shamans, remembered by the Alphas are now… known throughout the land, to be remembered by everyone. Wherever they are.

–

Flight: The Arrival of Owls

I see animals, astray, hiding, scared. They’ve seen phantoms, the Phantom Kings themselves. They need to find sanctuary. Today.

Liza woke up to another new day, the sun shone beautifully, and Liza looked out of the Alpha Manor, from the hut she saw a statue of Mira’s glory outside in the courtyard, and her own sculpture of Zios hung on her wall, glittering in the light’s glow, emerald eyes staring at her, shining as well.

She spotted Peck placing a flower bouquet at the feet of Mira’s statue, it’s statue was golden, showing her in her full-span wings, her eyes shut, and golden dust glittered around Mira’s statue, her head dipped, one feet lifted, like the statue in Jamaa Township, only much larger, and has a more powerful touch to it.

Liza looked up, and she thought she saw the Sky Palace, where Mira dwell and secure safety in Jamaa, the castle walls a shade of sky blue and a few tuft of titanium white, as of the sky, it was impossible to distinguish the palace apart from the sky with mortal eyes.

Three sharp knocks on her door made her look around, her ebony door with a pair of brass knockers in the shape of a ring, lilies and vines carved onto them, the knockers painting gold.

“Who is it?” Liza asked, walking towards the door.

“Liza, you know better to wake up this late,” said a voice she recognised.

Liza smiled as she strode towards the door, sighing before she opened it, saying, “I know…”

Sir Gilbert grinned. “No matter, today we’re going to the true Temple of Zios.”

Liza remembered a little too late.

Sir Gilbert produced an open box of sweet dried peaches, covered over at the top with a plastic wrap. “What do you have?”

Liza remembered the dried bananas covered with powdered cocoa she made yesterday.

She fetched the offering and went over to Sir Gilbert, proclaiming she was ready, and when the left, she shut the door behind her, closing with a soft clunk.

The garden was beautiful, flowers of all sorts bloomed, even the ones Liza never saw or didn’t recognise, some huge, some small, most of them were purple flowers with stripes of evergreen shades on the petals, but Sir Gilbert was more towards the topiaries, most of them cut to be shaped like Mira or Zios himself.

Liza walked past one carefully elaborated topiary of Zios, the green bush withering, catching a hint of yellow on gold, tinting the topiary with unpleasant, sudden colour changes.

Liza and Gilbert walked on pebbles lined to make a pathway leading to the center of the garden- a beautiful circular field, a low bush of roses surrounding it, but, of course, with an opening. Within the rose walls, another circular rose bush wall was planted, the opening the opposite side as of the first. When Liza got to the center, she tried to not gasp- it has become a habit when she visit. Even if she comes here once a month, it’s splendour and glory never seem to cease her.

A beautiful golden statue of Zios’s mask floated at the center, hovering from the ground ever so slightly, Liza dipped her head as Sir Gilbert did. It has become a habit to the Alphas to come to the garden once a month and honour Zios.

Then, the two made their way towards a shimmering portals after a five-minutes walk from the Zios statue and the rose bushes. The portal’s colours flickered grey and blue, it’s round borders polished, making grey like silver. Liza and Sir Gilbert placed their offering on the portal, and it’s sides shimmered gold. The portal leads to Mira, where she usually uses the food to help grow the fruitless plants or to feed animals of the uncharted lands, or sometimes even snack on them herself. Mira had never asked for any of this, Liza thinks it would be right to offer something in return of Mira’s hardships.

Suddenly, from the portal, there was a hiss: Fly!

The day’s event still had Liza shocked even if days had passed.

The word ‘fly’ repeated itself in her head. Fly? Mira? Zios? Eagles? Bats?

Liza’s a panda, and she doesn’t fly.

Nor does Sir Gilbert.

Nor does peaches or bananas.

“Fly,” said Liza, pacing ’round and ’round her room in circles, confused. Fly… Fly…?

It was near to Spring. Butterflies?

Liza looked out at Mira’s statue, thinking, Another clue would be generous and wise, Sky Mother.

A dark burst of shadows swirled in the room and Greely appeared. “Liza, I was wondering if you had a message from Mira.”

Liza was always puzzled with Greely, as Mira does not send messages to him, but Zios’s conscience does, telling him of Zios’s past, Mira and such. Liza, on the other hand, received general information and puzzles from Mira.

“I had one saying ‘fly’ when Sir Gilbert and I were gifting Mira with fruits,” said Liza.

“I see,” Greely said, nodding.

“Did you receive a message?” asked Liza hopefully.

“I saw a feather, coloured darkly of maroon, falling into the shadows,” Greely said.

“A feather? Eagles?” asked Liza.

A gong was sounded. Mira had decided on a meeting.

When the meeting started, Mira stood at the head of the table, a beautiful chandelier fixed on the ceiling. Liza had touched her spirit stone and she appeared in the meeting hall of the Sky Palace.

“Good morning,” Liza said, “Mira.”

Mira nodded and smiled. “Morning.”

Cosmo appeared, followed by Graham. Sir Gilbert and Peck attended quickly, but Greely was nowhere to be seen.

“We can start without him,” Sir Gilbert said quickly. “This is urgent, right, Mira?”

Mira sighed. “Lately, I’ve been receiving messages of that these ‘Jammers’ received maroon feathers,” she started.

“Mira, Greely received a vision of a maroon feather falling into darkness,” said Liza.

Ah, uncharted lands,” said Mira.

“Wait, so it’s raining feathers in the uncharted lands?” asked Graham.

Sir Gilbert shot Graham a look. “It means that there are feathers falling off something in the uncharted lands.”

“Through the Valley Portal, go north-east,” said a new voice. A surge of darkness erupted on the floor and Greely appeared.

“Rude,” scoffed Sir Gilbert under his breath, and he received a snarl from Greely.

Peck piped up, “Sky Mother, if there are brown feathers, they can easily belong to eagles, ducks, maybe even some of the creatures roaming in Jamaa, but birds.”

“Or maybe,” said Graham, using an incredibly weird accent beyond his taste, “a very unique penguin for me to catch!”

“It’s not a joke,” hissed Greely, “Zi- I received a message from a close someone that there are living creatures in the North-East of the Valley Portal, and many knows that the Valley is one of the most phantom-populated areas.”

“Feathers falling into the shadows… These creatures are attached to the darkening shadows,” said Cosmo artistically.

Liza paused. Darkening… Shadows…

“I think I know what this shadow is…” she said, very quietly.

All eyes were on her, and she gulped, choking out the word, “Phantoms.”

“Okay, okay,” Graham said, waving his hands, “let me get this straight- some flying creatures drop their feathers on phantoms.”

Greely did a face-paw. “You are, no doubt, the most hopeless Alpha I’ve ever encountered.”

“Thank you! Thank you!” cried Graham, expecting Greely to at least crack a twisted grin.

“You’re welcome,” Greely flatly said, without even a tone of sarcasm.

“Sky Mother,” Liza said, “so if these flying creatures, the fall into the phantom’s grasp…”

Cosmo ended her sentence when she trailed off, “We don’t know what Phantoms might to do them. Maybe they’ll blackmail us in making them phantoms if we don’t give in!”

“Don’t give them any ideas,” said Sir Gilbert.

Peck raised her paw. “Mother Mira! I have an idea!” cried the bunny.

“What is it, little one?” Mira said.

Peck giggled. “Remember those little owls that fly around Jamaa? They’re night creatures, shadows!”

Liza gasped. “Peck! You’re right!”

“If that’s the case, you’re saying pet owls escaped Jamaa at night and tried to kill phantoms with feathers?” asked Graham.

“NO!” cried the Alphas, including Greely, in unison, and Mira sighed.

“Graham, you see, in the uncharted lands, there are phantoms, and, there, something, with feathers, are threatened by phantoms,” said Mira. “Either that or the owls have been secretly patrolling Jamaa for us at night.”

Graham nodded, understanding.

“North-East of the Valley Portal,” said Sir Gilbert, “would be…”

“The Secret Forest,” said Peck, gulping, living there once. Phantoms once roamed there, and to hear it has one of the most massive phantom population scared her.

Mira scanned the Alphas. “Those brave and noble, of it’s of necessary, investigate. All this, I shall see,” she said.

With that, she spread her wings, and the Alphas shimmered, returning to where they were before, the Alpha Manor.

Above, Mira looked ahead, fear in her eyes, and she whispered, Owls.

Liza stayed back after finishing dinner. The only ones left was her and Greely. When Greely rose to leave, she called, “Wait!”

Greely looked at her. “Is there a problem?”

Liza nodded. “Do you think, these feathers… are from owls?” she question.

Greely shrugged. “If I have a sample, I could have analysed it,” he said.

“There’s a Great Horned Owl in Sarepia Forest,” Liza said.

Greely raised an eyebrow. “Would you like to ask him?”

Liza’s eyes sparkled. “Good idea, Greely!”

“I’m not going, I have… things to do,” Greely said, disappointing Liza.

With that she traced a circle around her in the air and a flower sprouted upwards, engulfing Liza, and when it bloomed, Liza was standing on the platform of Sarepia Forest. She found Cosmo there, already conversing with the owl. “Hmm… Okay, yes, tell me, why didn’t Zios guide them here as you are here?” asked Cosmo.

…Hoot…

Cosmo shook his head. “I’m sorry…”

He turned and spotted Liza. “Eavesdropping, huh?” he asked.
“I just came here,” said Liza. “Plus, I don’t understand Owl-ish.”

Cosmo frowned. “We don’t know why Zios or Mira left them alone or even take notice, but there’s one possible explanation- owls are not so wanted… right?”

“The past, of course, is why,” Liza pointed out. “The owl was used for a spy…”

Cosmo sighed. “Please, Liza, drop that, the owl doesn’t remember any more magic spells, only his general knowledge, you can’t blame him,” he objected.

“We need to venture the Secret Forest,” said Liza. “After all, who knows what the phantoms might do?”

Cosmo sighed. “You’re right… Let’s get a warrior, hmm?”

“Let’s see… Greely or Sir Gilbert?” wondered Liza. “Which warrior should we take?”

It didn’t take them long before they made their decision. The Alphas began their journey, walking ahead, keeping a watch of their surroundings.

“Hee-hee, the best solution!” cried Cosmo. Liza eyed the two. The two were growling, nice and loud. “Stop it you two, we’re entering the Secret Forest!” she hissed.

The squabbling stopped short, but it quickly escalated again.

“No, owls could not have been under the clutches of Phantoms, but fighting them,” said the deeper voice.

“I know what I see, and owls are captivated,” hissed a dark tone.

“Greely, Sir Gilbert, mind being quiet?” Cosmo screamed. The two stared at him. “Better, agree on something, will ‘ya?”

“Still, Cosmo, owls are wise, do you think they are not witty, and due to that, fall into the clutches of their enemies?” asked Sir Gilbert.

Cosmo opened his mouth to reply, “Well, considering-“

Greely ignored his opinion and spoke his, “Well, their habits, serves them as nocturnal animals. They sleep at day, does not fly in groups, so they have their own disagreement as well. Even so, owls are being captivated, we don’t know where, when, how.”

Liza stopped and raised her staff. “Shine, gem, show me the path; to save the owls from phantom’s wrath,” chanted Liza, and the gem on her staff shone.

I shall guide you, a voice whispered and Greely shuffled his paws around. It was Wonder’s voice, as he had imbued Liza’s staff with magic.

Liza watched at a glow of blue illuminated between trees, softly, gently. “Come on that’s our path!” Liza cried and ran ahead. To make sure the others were with her, she looked back.

Sir Gilbert, without hesitation bounded after her. Greely sighed and walked. Cosmo attempted to run, but he was too tired.

“Stay there and keep guard if you want, Cosmo!” she called.

The koala nodded gratefully. Liza looked ahead. The tree trunks and barks were brown, lightly smudged with blue. She pushed through the bushes. The blue light stopped it’s glow.

Be careful, Lady Liza, a voice whispered. You’re near to danger.

Liza nodded. Thank you, Wonders.

Then, the essence of his magic faded away.

Greely stared ahead. “Do you see what I see?”

The two Alphas turned, and saw a gigantic enclosure, hidden well among the forest trees.

“That’s our target?” Sir Gilbert moaned.

Liza nodded. “Seems like it.”

Greely licked his lips. “That’s our target.”

As Liza stared at the enclosure, Sir Gilbert began discussing a war plan. “So, Greely can distract them, you know, with your powers. Liza and I will sneak in, and-“

“Watch what you’re saying! It’s your plan, do it yourself!” Greely hissed.

Sir Gilbert opened his mouth to say an insult, but Liza said, “Look, the phantoms are leaving!”

Sure enough, the phantoms dispersed into the forest. “Huh, odd,” Sir Gilbert commented.

“No doubt trying to get more owls…” whispered Liza.

Greely nodded. “We know the owl in Sarepia was once taken and forced for information, my guess is that the phantoms hope for the owls to have as much knowledge and would give them up for the phantom’s cause.”

Sir Gilbert growled. “While they’re at it, let’s hurry and go!” he cried, and sprang into action.

Greely sighed and crept after him. Liza ran behind them.
The three ran into the enclosure. There was a machine by the door, which spoke to them softly: Please insert the phantom code.

“Uh…” Sir Gilbert looked stunned.

Greely grimaced slightly. Then, he stepped towards the machine and entered the code: Owl-Own-Plan.

“What a pun,” scoffed Sir Gilbert.

The door clicked open. “Go,” Greely said. “I’ll be here watching for any phantoms.”

“Why, Greely, that is sincere of you!” Sir Gilbert said.

Liza saw why. Whatever Greely did to get the phantom code had harmed him. She let the matter slide and entered with Sir Gilbert.

Inside, there was a bead curtain. Lisa pushed it aside and trees and plants came to view. A few owls were trying to make their escape.

“Look!” one suddenly cried.

An owl was pointing at Liza and Sir Gilbert.

“Hello!” Liza cried. “We’re here to rescue you!”

A cheer spread.

“How do wee know we can trust you?” asked a voice. There was a larger great-horned owl, his feathers dark.

“Count Frozenspirit… We’re desperate…” a voice called.

“If you’re desperate, it doesn’t mean we can fall for traps,” Count said.

Liza gulped. “We know what the phantoms will do to you! They’ll try to torture you for knowledge!”

“We don’t have much, ha-ha,” Count said, faking a laugh. “Get out.”

“Phantoms!” Liza heard Greely howl.

“That’s our cue,” Sir Gilbert said, rushing with Liza away.

The owls stared at them. Greely’s voice loomed over them all like a spirit, “Hide…”

Behind the bushes, the two watched as phantoms flitted into sight. Liza tensed as Sir Gilbert let a soft growl play on his lips.

Greely, I hope you’re OK! Liza thought.

Sir Gilbert eyed them with hatred, his bright eyes filled with anger, and one of the phantoms came upon an owl with maroon fur.

“Tell me your best Science knowledge!” growled the phantom. It has no lips, but words flowed out of it perfectly.

The owl shuddered. “Uh. Uh. Uh! Uh! Oh! Owls are birds, and we can fly!”

Unfortunately for the owls, the phantom knew that, and it sent a spark of blue lightning into it’s chest, paralysing the poor bird.

Liza tensed up. She wanted to help the creature, and she felt Sir Gilbert’s paw on her back. “Shh, calm down,” the tiger whispered.

“Teach us magic!” the other phantom cried. Out of the two, this one looks larger.

“We… We don’t know any!” protested a violet owl. Seeing blue sparks, the owl quickly flew off.

Suddenly, behind them, the door slammed close. “What?” the phantoms growl.

“This is a disaster!” cried the smaller one. “The next phantoms will come in three hours!”

“There’s a meeting in one hour!” the larger one cried.

Seeing them panic made Liza want to laugh, but she had to stay silent, so she smiled instead.

A low rumble of chuckling filled Liza’s ears, making her fur prick, and her smile to disappear. Looking back, there was Greely.

“D-don’t… Don’t you scare me again like that!” she demanded. It wasn’t the first. He did something similar, but worse, in the past, and she almost sounded the alarm that time.

“Wait for them to calm down first,” said Greely. “If they panic, they’re too unpredictable, for now, we need to study the area. Stay hidden, keep low, be silent.”

Before they head off, Liza whispered, “May Mira guide us.”

Liza wandered off the the left, thick bushes and tall thin trees covering her. She tried to make minimum noise, but her clumsy built made it very tiresome for her to do so. So, she gave up and crouched, observing the flowers instead. I need to see these plants, she thought suddenly. She observed them, then there was a repeating pattern of knocking from the area.

She glanced up and saw Cosmo knocking the glass! The phantoms instantly got distracted. “An Alpha!” the small one cried.

“The Koala Alpha!” the bigger one thundered. “The better! The laziest alpha, just because of species.”

Cosmo couldn’t hear anything, nor could he hear the insults. “We must capture him! Come! Let’s find the secret exit that we were once told of!” the larger one cried.

“One leaves, one keeps guard,” the bigger one stated.

“I leave,” the both said in unison, and the two started to bicker. Finally, the bigger phantom ended it with his victory by implying going outside would mean chasing the alpha with dangers expected.

The two phantoms decided to search with the following riddle in mind:

Doors hidden, buried within,
Huge, muscular, not often seen
The core, the legs, the one that stands
Crawling through the massive lands

“Crawling? Huge? Core?”

Liza wanted to laugh when the phantoms didn’t realise what the riddle was about.

The plants in the enclosure realised the danger Cosmo was in and two blades of grass waved in the air, and acted out a conversation.

In less than a minute, Cosmo was aware, and he grinned. From where Liza was it looked like a sly one. Smirking, Cosmo’s lips moved, almost if saying, Bring it on, phantoms.

Liza watched as the phantoms searched for the item that held the door. “Who made this riddle anyway?” growled the bigger one.

“Since things can be buried in it, it must be huge,” said the smaller one.

“I know that,” the larger one snapped.

Liza wanted to giggle. It was obvious. The funniest thing was, the other phantoms weren’t aware of the emergency door. That was ridiculous!

Liza looked around. Bushes enveloped her. Phantoms wouldn’t be able to see her. Greely appeared beside her. “Hmph, that riddle,” he snorted.

“You don’t actually know the answer either, right?” Liza sighed.

“If I tell you the answer, the phantoms might hear it,” Greely protested.

Liza whispered, “They can’t hear us.”

“Bah, all the same,” said Greely and left. Liza then knew he didn’t know the answer. For sure. A hundred percent.

Sir Gilbert was no where in sight. Liza decided to take a peek at the phantoms and see whether they were tired or so.

They were swooping around, scaring the owls with their weird behaviour.

Suddenly, to her left, she heard knocking patterns once more. Glancing sidewards, she saw Cosmo wink. The Phantoms heard it too, and glared at Cosmo. “That Alpha is trying to mock us, isn’t he?” the larger one growled.

“Hush!” said the smaller one. “We must find the exit.”

With that, it swooped off. The larger one glared at Cosmo. I’ll get you, Alpha, I will…

Cosmo, what are you doing? Liza almost cried.

It was dense enough for him to try gain the phantom’s attention. That was one thing Liza was against. Liza touched a fern, and her gem on her staff glowed. She covered the glow by shoving it underneath some bushes. She thought to the fern, Cosmo, you’re being dense. Are you fully prepared?

Cosmo looked around as a plant tapped him on his shoulder. It waved and wiggled, and, suddenly, Cosmo’s candle glowed ablaze as the fern in front of Liza waved around, Cosmo’s voice inside Liza’s mind, More than just prepared! I made three traps on-

They’re consecutive, right? Liza sighed, cutting the thought.

Cosmo was silent. You mean?

I’m pretty sure that the traps are aligned, said Liza.

Cosmo sighed. You’re good, if so, prepare for battle, I’m going to do something!

No! Not now! We need to consult the two, Liza insisted.

Those who? Bah, warriors but immature!

Liza won the argument, and with her mind, she reached for their items.

Unbeknown to many, the Alphas has items to reach each other. Liza and Cosmo has their staff, and Sir Gilbert has the clasp of his cloak and Greely’s a ring. Sir Gilbert, Greely, come here.

I’m beside Greely now, grunted Sir Gilbert, and Liza was pleased her magic worked. It normally didn’t for her.

Greely knows where I am, come over, said Liza into their minds.

Greely replied, On the way.

With that, Liza withdrew her thoughts and waited for the two.

Somehow, Cosmo has a plan.

We’re here.

Greely and Sir Gilbert appeared from the shadows of the bushes. Liza was relieved. “So, Liza, any ideas?” asked Sir Gilbert. Apparently, Sir Gilbert was clueless of the answer as well.

Cosmo’s thoughts filled into their mind, You know the answer, tell them, they’ll chase me out, I have traps. If they fail, then, well, I guess you can find me a month later.

Liza frowned. It was unlike of Cosmo to say that.

We have an army of owls, we don’t need you to be a sacrifice, Sir Gilbert cried.

Cosmo stiffened beyond the glass dome. He looked at them and smiled. Don’t worry, my if is very small, there’s little chance of that happening… After all, I’m the best Alpha to be stuck in the forest, so don’t worry.

Suddenly, the large Phantom blasted the glass with it’s dark energy. Simple! it growled as the glass shattered. The large Phantom made it’s way for Cosmo, lunging ahead as the Koala Alpha dodge it and ran off, the phantom behind him. The smaller phantom scared the owls when they tried to escape. Finding this the perfect opportunity, Sir Gilbert lunged, and Liza emerged from her hiding spot. Greely vanished into the shadows to reappear above the phantom, and pinned it down against the ground.

Sir Gilbert growled, lashing out, pouncing on the Phantom. Liza grew a Phantom-eating plant with the help of her staff.

Snap! The threat was gone.

The owls were happy to be free. They were flying around in random motions until Sir Gilbert released a growl. “Listen up!” he announced when the owls looked at him and turned silent. “You’re free only for a temporary measure of time! Those phantoms can return! They can come back with more of their kind! If you want to be truly free- listen well!”

Liza spoke up, “We need to get out of here, but because there’s many of you, it wouldn’t be easy. So, I’d like to see the secret passage door the phantoms spoke about.”

She turned towards the huge center tree, where many owls perched and lived on.

Doors hidden, buried within,
Huge, muscular, not often seen
The core, the legs, the one that stands
Crawling through the massive lands

She then walked towards the roots of the tree. They were massive, crawling through both above and underground. This was the answer to the riddle. Roots. She descended downwards and found a small wooden door covered with dirt. She brushed the dirt away and struck something cold.

It was a handle. She lifted it up and there was a massive flight of stairs. She peeked at the other animals. Cosmo had returned.

Liza gulped and descended down the stairs, hurrying. She was only curious, but doesn’t now what laid beyond her.

It wasn’t very deep, not was it bright. Liza let the crystal on her staff light up, the room glowed faintly in purple as she walked towards a writing table. There was a piece of paper. She dared not to touch it and reach the surprisingly legible and bold contents:

What lays before you
Is the way outside
Better done with two
And watch your stride

Liza frowned. More riddles! She revised the key words. Better done with two, watch your stride.

She gasped and ran upstairs. “Guys! I figured out how to get out of here!”

She was being ridiculous. That note was written for an Alpha. Or for any powered beings. She should have known. She should have known how to escape earlier. She exited the little room and shut the door tight behind her.

She dropped down on her knees once she reached the others. She pulled out a piece of chalk and drew hasty, quick lines on the ground. It was a circle, with three circles intertwined inside, with a few dots and triangles. When Sir Gilbert saw it, he gasped. “It’s the teleportation spell,” he said.

The large dark-feathered owl stepped forwards. “It seems like someone finally remembered,” he said with a tsk.

Liza stopped for a moment. It was Count Frozenspirit. “You knew magic?”

Count smiled. “This is several of the few.”

“You wrote the riddle?” asked Liza, and the owl nodded his head. Only that he didn’t have the power to use it, and only those worthy should reach this information. It was a brilliant riddle.

What lays before you- it was the ground, the soil and earth. Without it, it could not work for the teleportation spell depended on the earth.

Is the way outside- as it speaks for itself, it allows the user to shift away, to magically transport one self to a different place.

The next was was tricky. Liza extended her paw towards the owl. “Count Frozenspirit, would you do the honour?” she inquired, eyes twinkling.

The owl grinned, “I’d be honoured.”

Better done with two and watch your stride.

Liza mentioned the Alpha hut’s garden to Count, and he got the image pretty well.

Holding the image in mind, Liza twirled Count around, then vice-versa. They then slowly danced in a circle, in a clockwise turn, and then Count’s wing took Liza’s paw and the staff Liza held lit ablaze with blue aura.

Greely’s ring also lit up with a faint glow, and so did Sir Gilbert’s bracelets. Cosmo’s candle wildly flickered in the wind. Liza spun, stepping on a triangle facing south-west, and the owl placed his talons on the center circle.

“Quick! Everyone in!” he commanded and Alphas and owls alike quickly moved into the large ring.

Liza’s staff was blinding by now, emitting the brightest rays of blue, and Cosmo’s candle was now burning white fire. The expense they were using for this spell was enormous.

Sir Gilbert’s silver bracelets rattled as Greely’s ring had an aura to it. Suddenly, all the lights died out.

Liza was puzzled and confused. She had never used the teleportation spell before. “Oh no, did we-?”

Suddenly, they were in the lawn of their beloved Alpha Hut. Joy was written on everyones’ faces. With the excitement and noise, the Alphas heard them, and Mira requested for a meeting in the Sky Palace.

The members of the court had been listening to the tales of the four Alphas and an owl about the enclosure in the Secret Forest.

“So, the owl gave the riddle to the Phantom? That’s dense!” Graham commented, once everyone told their tales.

Count cleared his throat. “They torture us if we don’t give them something interesting, so I made a riddle up, but it was also in case we got stuck. Unfortunately, our magician was paralysed when he refused to share his magic, and his strength is failing,” Count said.

“Bring him over if you find him,” Mira’s soothing voice said, “I’ll try my best to heal your friend.”

Count nodded, saying, “Thank you.”

Mira’s extended talons met Count’s. A spirit stone appeared between them.

“Then again, your name has never been Count Frozenspirit,” Mira added suddenly, expression shocked, a little icy.

Everyone was stunned. “You’re Avalon, am I right?”

Count, or Avalon, nodded, and, like magic, their appearance shifted, to a smaller owl. “Aye, Sky Mother, you got me figured out,” she said.

“Despite using your powers and skills on that project, ignoring on the prophecies we saw… I will still welcome you for the rest of your life and forever more, and your tribe as well, you’re not an outsider, Avalon, you’re welcome in this land, we hope you to be safe,” Mira said.

“W-what project?” Liza cried out.

Avalon and Mira gave her a blank stare and refused to reply, but Liza knew something was up.

“Avalon, I proclaim you as the official owl Alpha,” said Mira joyfully, “and I shall gift you with my power. Use it wisely, Avalon, and welcome back to Jamaa.”

Something is up, I know it, Liza said, biting her lower lip, wondering if this thought reached her fellow Alpha friends in the room as her staff glowed.

The Land of Jamaa

Sarepia Forest

Cosmo looked around. Quiet and tranquil, Greely-free. “Good,” he said to himself. As he spoke, the wind blew, and the plants reached out to life.

“Hello, Cosmo,” said a voice, soft and loving.

Cosmo whipped his head around and saw a purple lavender. “Hello, Lavender. How are you today?” Cosmo asked back in a bizarre language.

The lavender’s petals drooped. “Cactus no. 3 isn’t feeling so well,” said Lavender. “Gossip from the Tomato family who got it from Mr. Palm, who received it from Monkey-Piary, who got it from Seal-Piary…”

“Who was it exactly from?” asked Cosmo, interrupting the flower.

Lavender thought for a moment. “Cactus no. 2, sir,” she said.

“Thanks for the info,” said Cosmo and made his way to the yard. Outside, he saw the plants waving at him. He waved at them and watered some of them.

Meeting the cactus, he studied the bristles. “Hmm… Cactus No. 3, what’s wrong?” asked Cosmo.

“I received word from my cousin, Cauctus. He said that there was a forest out there and it’s in danger!” cried Cactus no. 3.

Cosmo immediately perked up. “FOREST?”

“They call it the Sarepia Forest, but Cauctus said that there were phantoms,” said Cactus.

“PHANTOMS?” cried Cosmo.

Cactus no. 3 seemed to laugh. “Cosmo, you’re jumpy today,” said the cactus.

“Hush!” hissed Cactus no. 1. “Sorry, dear. Tri can really be frustrating, right?”

“Tell me where it is!” cried Cosmo.

With that, Cactus no. 3 made Cosmo draw a map. Cosmo held the paper and drew as the cactus spoke, Cosmo’s eyes shining bright, of adventure and excitement. He quickly rushed into the room he kept his spirit stone and touched it, and he was teleported to Mira’s Sky Palace.

“Guys!!!” Cosmo cried, skipping into the Sacred House. Cosmo didn’t care when both Greely and Sir Gilbert stared at him. They were conversing with Mira, and he interrupted.

Light poured in from the stained glass on the dome roof. Only when Mira calls, the Alphas can arrive safely in this meeting hall. All other areas are restricted to them.

He was summoned, but he wasn’t where we was to be. So, when he received the message he was summoned, he just had to touch the spirit stone of his kind and he was whisked up with the rest.

“Cosmo, you’re late!” cried Liza.

Peck giggled at the silly excited-flustered-oh-no-it’s-Liza-angry face Cosmo made.

Mira smiled, her smile warming his body.”Cosmo, I believe you have something to share?” she asked.

“Yeah!” he cried, showing the map. “There’s a forest there, and phantoms are invading it!”

Graham forced a wail, “Oh no! Help me! Me, I’m a leaf. Dy-dy-dy-dy-dy-dy-ing.”

Cosmo crossed his arms. It wasn’t funny making fun of nature. “What about the wildlife? New animals? New inspiration?”

“Okay! Calm down, Cosmo! It is certainly… an interesting place, and I think it’s worth going too,” Liza cried. She turned to Mira and asked, “Mira, Protector of Jamaa, do you grant us permission?”

Mira knighted them with a blue spirit sword. “Yes, go. I do have the trust in you all to be back in the best of conditions and not to bring phantoms to havoc this land once more,” she said.

“Yes, Mother Mira,” said Sir Gilbert politely. Then, all six left, following the map Cosmo pulled out for everyone. They began to advance quickly, but soon their progressed slowed down as they ended up in a foreign land, unsure of the path, but they trusted Cosmo’s map.

“There!” Liza cried. She had caught sight of a phantom.

Greely spoke, “I’ll check the site.”

Before Sir Gilbert could retort, Greely vanished into the shadows. Cosmo looked around, “Cool! Tall trees, lush bushes… Oh! Fungi!”

“Shhh,” hissed Graham, but he was tinkering himself a weird machine.

A few cacti. “Weird!” Cosmo thought out loud. “It’s a forest, why are there cacti?”

Liza tapped the tip of her staff to the chin. “You’re right. That’s weird.”

Greely appeared. “An animal was taken hostage,” he said. “Phantoms are questioning it, but all it can reply is with some hoots.”

“Hostage?” asked Peck.

Greely let a swirl of darkness create a ring beneath is paws. “This is the magic rate forest,” he breathed. “Very high.”

Sir Gilbert immediately understood. “Some animal must have enhanced the plants to be able to survive the forest’s condition!”

“Makes sense,” said Graham.

“In conclusion, someone is tending the forest in adaption for each plant. Changing them, tweaking them… A person with high knowledge of magic,” said the tiger once more.

Liza thought. “The only ones with high magic skills I know are Mira, Zios and probably Greely.”

“Thank you,” Greely muttered without emotion.

“What must we do?” asked Graham, looking rather serious this time.

Sir Gilbert smiled. “What if we break in?”

They all agreed, mostly due to not having a choice and camped until night, talking about their strategies and plans.

“It’s time,” said Liza. They’ve attempted to hide while waiting for the night to fall. She picked up her staff and raised it towards the sky. The other Alphas got her signal. Peck emerged from a fallen log. Greely appeared from the shadows. Cosmo rolled from under a gigantic non-poisonous mushroom after a nap, Sir Gilbert hopped down from a tree. Graham emerged from a hole in a tree trunk.

“Before we go, let us make a sacrifice of thanks to Mira,” said Liza. With that, Graham quickly obtained fire wood while Cosmo obtained stones. With a spark from Sir Gilbert, orange flames burst. Liza circled the pit. “Thank you, O Mother Mira, for granting us your protection,” she said.

“Thank you, Sky Mother, for allowing us to go on this mission,” said Cosmo, following Liza around the circle.

Peck danced gleefully. “Let us save this forest!” she cried, but was quickly hushed down by the other five Alphas. Suddenly, as Graham joined in to say thanks, the fire sparked up with more energy. As Cosmo closed in and sent a message of love and thanks to Mira and his plants, the fire turned blue, blue fire. Mira appeared, dancing, her beautiful blue wings out of fire blessing them, enhancing them with skills, not burning them.

“May this blessing help you, may this spell help too, may the forest be saved, let the spirit be revived,” said the spirit of Mira. With that, the Alphas bowed in respect, and the spirit vanished.

“Come on, Alphas, let’s do this,” said Liza.

“You’re on,” said Peck, her balled paws towards the place where the phantoms hid. “You’re on.”

In the cover of the night, the Alphas began to make their way to where Greely led them. When they spied lone phantoms, they took cover, and proceeded again.

Cosmo was worried. He hoped the plants had enough water. Oh, how he wished he asked someone to take care of his plants!

The five sneaked into the area, Greely scouting ahead with his powers. Cosmo was nervous. The biggest threat he had been against was with the phantom king, but it was far back at the Phantom War. Liza was in front of him, and Peck was bouncing silently behind him. “Cosmo, I think this is going to be fun,” she giggled, almost as a whisper.

Cosmo felt his voice quiver. “Y-you t-th-think?”

Peck just giggled and bounded past him.

Sir Gilbert put his paw on Cosmo’s shoulder as the walked. “Hey, Cosmo,” he said, his gruff voice filled with care. “Don’t worry, we’ll all be safe, you’ll be safe, you’ll see your plants again, you and the team with safe this forest.”

“R-really?” asked Cosmo.

Sir Gilbert nodded. Cosmo smiled. He always liked Sir Gilbert, for the tiger respects all the groupmates. The mood could have lasted if it wasn’t for Liza’s soft shriek.

A chuckle.

Sir Gilbert looked upset as he stared ahead. All but who cause this trouble. Graham didn’t seem to appreciate what happened, and Peck didn’t even seem happy.

There, ahead of them all was Greely.

“Greely!” Liza hissed. “Don’t scare me like that!”

Greely just chuckled again in his dark manner. “We’re close to the hostage room, Cosmo, turn the candle off.”

“O-okay,” Cosmo stammered. He wondered if things could be alright when Greely is in charge. He blew the candle on his staff off. It was pitch dark. “Follow me,” said Greely, purposely making soft noises as he walked, pinpointing his position to the Alphas. “We’re close.”

Light was ahead of them, and the Alphas walked towards it, ending up in a dimly lighted room. Cosmo noted the first thing he thought of about the room: cosy.

The room was actually flooding with golden light, fireflies, Cosmo realised. Fire crackled in a fireplace in one corner, and a chair was before the dancing flames. Something, or someone, was on the chair. Cosmo strained his eyes to see the chair again. There were ropes. On the foot of the chair, a few stones and sticks of wood were scattered. There was a table, blueprints covered it’s top. Then, there was a perch on a side, glistening golden-brown with the flames. There were stairs leading upstairs, and Cosmo saw them. Phantoms!

“Shh… I see the phantoms,” Liza whispered.

Greely stepped forwards. “I’ll handle those pesky phantoms,” he volunteered. He melted into the shadows to reappear behind the phantoms, expertly destroying them into shadows.

Quickly, Liza walked towards the chair. “Hello…?”

However, a gasp of surprised erased the hesitation in her. Sir Gilbert quickly sprinted ahead, followed by Peck, Cosmo then Graham. It was an owl, a great horned owl. It’s left wing was grazed and it’s wings was tied up, then tied to the chair. With Liza’s instructions, the Alphas gently unwind the tangling rope. If Peck did not suggest scissors, they might stay up all night long to release the bird.

Hoot.

“Are you hurt?” asked Cosmo.

Hoot hoot.

Cosmo touched it’s left wing. Hoot, a voice protested.

“Sorry,” said the koala, almost unaware the others are staring at him.

“You speak Owlish?” asked Graham.

Cosmo shrugged. “I guess it’s a talent that comes along that I can converse to plants,” he replied. He looked around and found bandages and a few herbs. Cosmo squeezed out the juice from the herbs onto the bandages. He returned to the owl and wrapped it’s injured wing. “There, there…”

Hoot.

“A mistake…!” cried Cosmo in a puzzling tone.

Liza was alert. “What?”

“I’ll translate it over:

“Before Zios and Mira separated, they created many things. The owl is one of their creation. Zios created this owl and sent it to protect, and maybe spy, on Mira to ensure her safety. Mira, being a magical creature, often cast spells on or for creation, of life, adaptation, and many more. Zios and Mira are both almost as magical, almost as knowledgeable, and the mistake started.

“The owl isn’t supposed to be smart. The owl, like our friend here, is supposed to be loyal. Especially to Zios. After looking at Mira too much, listening to her words, recording her actions, that made the owl wise. Our owl here can now change forms, do adaptation spells, summon the winds of four directions.

“This place is where this owl dwells, forgetting about the true personality of loyalty. The owl wanted to learn more secrets than can ever be learned. Even after the Phantom War, our owl forgotten Zios. Being smart, but cold, our owl wanted to find a land. Of luxury, secrets, and of leisure.

“Phantoms, though, somehow, caught hold of the owl’s intelligence. They wanted more, and much more. They took the owl into hostage, and tried to make a machine that can take over Jamaa by destroying Mira.”

“What about the grazed wing?” asked Peck.

Hoot.

“The phantoms tortured the owl with electricity into giving up his secrets.”

“All that information in a single hoot,” said Sir Gilbert. “Interesting…”

“It might be a mistake, but we still can fix it,” said Liza.

Hoot. “Let’s.”

It took time, but it was what they needed. “The owl is now almost completely wiped of all magic,” said Mira, walking beside Cosmo down the Sky Hall of Mira’s palace.

Cosmo looked at the deep ultramarine carpets that lined the hallway. “Thank you, Mira.”

Mira looked into Cosmo’s eyes. “No, thank you,” said Mira, eyes full of warmth. “At least Zios had something for me.”

Cosmo opened the double doors that leads him back to the Sarepia Forest. “I believe the owl is now back in Sarepia,” said Mira. “Like Zios wish it would.”

Zios wishes it to “protect” you, thought Cosmo.

“Zios wants us to be free,” said Mira. Mira embraced Cosmo in a hug of warmth. “Thank you for bringing another land into Jamaa’s safety.”

“You’re welcome,” said Cosmo, but his tone said, thank you.

Mira smiled at him. Cosmo looked away and stepped out of the sky hall. Cosmo was back at Sarepia, where Liza was tending the wild flowers. Sir Gilbert brought in fireflies, and Peck was helping Graham and Greely fix the owl warehouse.

An owl fluttered over to Cosmo, and Cosmo patted it, it’s wing now healed. “You, my dear owl, helped us win this forest,” said Cosmo.

If there was no owl to save, Cosmo was sure the Alphas wouldn’t be as excited to save Sarepia Forest.

Epic Wonders

“Magicstones!” cried Liza. “It’s been a while since I found my journal!”

She pulled the book. It has a story of an adventure. Now a famous shop, who knew what it’s history was?

I remember walking down to Coral Canyons with Sir Gilbert and Greely. It was near to midnight, and yet, we still patrol the area. We wanted to make sure it was safe for the other animals. Sir Gilbert was pestering Greely to answer his “how does it feel” questions, and I was tapping my staff on the floor as I walked.

“Hush!” Greely suddenly spoke.

I turned towards him. “What is it, Greely?”

“I feel a presence,” said Greely. “Something that’s not an animal.”

The wind howled. The pots hanging from the trees clattered against each other. It was still a mystery to us why pots were there.

A feeling. Wind rushed through me. “Did you feel that?” I asked, panicked. “I felt as if something passed through me!”

“I feel it too,” said Sir Gilbert.

Greely was silent. “A spirit.”

A whine. A snort. “A horse spirit,” proclaimed Greely, eyes glowing yellow. “I can see it. It’s blue, whisked off the four winds- north, south, east, west. It’s mane is long, blue as well. It’s eyes… it does not have eyes for they are empty.”

The air seemed to get colder. A ghastly sound filled the air, “A spirit I may be… but, remember… I am not harmless…”

“What?” I asked.

Still, the sound added, “Come, let me show you around. You are pure, cleansed.”

“Who, me?” I asked, whipping my head around to try and see the spirit.

“Yes, you, Panda. You.. and this tiger,” said the mysterious voice. “The wolf is not trustworthy…”

Greely didn’t even look embarrassed at the harsh comment that even Sir Gilbert seem to take offense for. “As untrustworthy I may be, take them,” hissed Greely before he disappeared in a wave of shadows.

“Phantom magic, I see,” howled the spirit. “Follow me.”

For a sudden second, I could finally see it’s flickering outline. Just like what Greely said- blue. Each step the horse made gusts blow my way. Then, I looked at my staff to see it was glowing blue, so were Sir Gilbert’s bracelets. “Enhanced with magic, you can now see me,” said the horse.

“Yes,” I said, following the horse. Suddenly, the horse disappeared before a wall. I looked at Sir Gilbert, and shrugged. Following him, we arrived at a chamber. I gasped.

Gems, contraptions and sculptured piled upon one another, truly an work of art to gasp at in awe. “Sweet!” Sir Gilbert cried.

Dazed by it’s colours, I asked. “What do you want to show us, spirit?”

“These,” said the horse. “After a few months, I will leave. Horses will come to Jamaa. Remember this chamber, reveal it later. Reveal it when you wish to. Make a room, sell my wonders.”

“Will do,” said Sir Gilbert.

The horse looked into my eyes. “I want you to follow me,” said the horse, indicating me.

“Okay,” I said, taking a deep breath and followed the horse.

I found myself in a cave, sparkling jewels and a lake of glittering water. Blueprints scattered around. “Panda, Lady Liza,” said the horse. “I am called Wonders. I shall lead the wild horses, and no one else knows my identity.”

“Then why are you telling me? How did you know my name?” I asked.

The horse seemed to smile. “No one but Mira and Zios. You should know too.”

“Now, Lady Liza, let me present you a gift,” said Wonders. His eyes shone blue. “Don’t forget- remember me and this cave. All access is yours. Happy birthday.”

“How did you-” I started, but Wonders was gone. Before me laid a cylinder wrapped in sparkling paper. I unwrapped it and gasped. It was a glittering golden key. “Oh my Zios,” I muttered.

It’s mine. The treasures and all of Wonders’ wonders. I will have to share it. I promised.

With that, we made preparations. The Alphas went to join in making the place one Jammers could easily access.

“So, Graham… How’s it going?” I asked. Graham was creating the contraptions based on the blueprint that Wonders left. One of them was called a “Cuckoo Clock”.

Graham gave a thumbs up. I moved over to Peck. “Peck! How are those Dragonfly Wings coming along?” I asked.

“Colourful!” giggled Peck, painting the details. Sir Gilbert rushed in with some fireflies, and Greely was actually helping making Iron Cages to trap Phantoms in. Cosmo was in the corner. I sauntered over to him. Plants- we both can do botany. “Cosmo! Let me help you!” I cried. Then, we began to create a blooming tree, named ‘Epic Seasonal Tree’.

I looked at the workers around us. We were working in the cave. A few tigers were adding the last coat of blue paint. When they were done, I called out, “Wait!”

I ran over, grabbed a brush and mixed up a darker blue. On the wall, I drew Wonders. From memory.

—

“Wonders!” I cried.

The horse grinned. “I’m back. The horses are here. How is the cave?” asked Wonders.

“More than ready!” I cried. “Everyone loves them!”

Wonders smiled. “I have more blueprints.”

“Only one problem…”

Wonders looked at me. “What is it?”

“I hope it’s alright that I named the cave ‘Epic Wonders’. It’s only because you invented such items, it can exist.”

Wonders’ smile grew wider. “Of course, Lady Liza. I am certainly… flattered…”

Together, we built our own plant.

Friendship.

–

Diamonds

The Treasure

“Strike!” cried Graham.

Cosmo fumed. Graham never take things seriously. “Graham, I want you to help me dig holes for my plants, and you’re playing baseball?” he asked.

“No, I hit something,” cried Graham.

“The soil,” fumed Cosmo. Sure, he can be a prankster, but not now!

Graham hit the button cheetah mode on his mechanical shovel, and the shovel’s blade began to dig very quickly. The blade moved up, down, up, down repeating again and again, and very quickly that Cosmo thought he was seeing doubles- no, quadruples.
Graham jogged around the small hole he dug. “N-no! You’re ruining the soil!” Cosmo cried.

Too late, Graham was done. Graham’s eyes twinkled, and Cosmo actually looked interested.

There, laid a chest, a wooden chest, the palest brown Cosmo had ever seen. There were a few swirls, in bright, brilliant blue. There was a blue padlock, and it shimmered and glittered. Graham’s key that hung from his tail seem to glitter. “I think I should fit this key in,” he muttered.

Graham gingerly fitted in into the keyhole and turned the key.

Click.

Cosmo held his breath as the padlock fell onto the dusty soil, and Graham slowly opened the chest. The two gasped. “Holy moley,” muttered Cosmo. “Am I dreaming, Graham?”

“No, you’re not,” said Graham. He picked up one of the contents, that shone like a small star. It was pale blue, and they were rough, cut beautifully.

“A diamond,” whispered Cosmo in awe. “From my garden.”

“What seed did you plant?” asked Graham.

“Magic?” asked Cosmo, still in awe.

Cosmo peered into the chest. “More diamonds,” he muttered, and picked up a few.

“I can use these to cut really hard elements! Thanks for the gift!” Graham said.

“W-wait. I never said it’s mine,” Cosmo stuttered.

Graham laughed. “Really?”

“No, really. I’m dead serious,” said the koala.

Cosmo dug through the diamonds as Graham counted the diamonds and Cosmo found a rolled parchment on the underside of the lid. He removed it and then unrolled it.

“Hey, Graham, I found a parchment,” said Cosmo.

Graham stopped counting diamonds, looking interested. “Read it,” he prompted.

“Diamonds- these diamonds are from the rare plant Diamondsai Trees. Note: these diamonds are worth twice normal diamonds,” read Cosmo.

“Awesome! We can be rich!” cried Graham.

Cosmo frowned. “Who are these diamonds for, anyway?”

At the end of the paper, there was a stamp in grey, with a huge cursive letter N. “N…?” asked Graham.

“Oh,” said Cosmo. He turned the paper by ninety degrees. It became a Z.

“Oh,” echoed Graham.

“Let’s just tell Liza,” Cosmo sighed.

Graham inquired, “No diamonds for me?”

“We’ll see,” said Cosmo, eyeing his garden. Graham owe him double time-work on the garden. The two then whisked themselves to the Sky Palace, where Mira awaits.

“Diamonds, from Zios?” asked Mira. “I wonder why…”

Oh, you wonder, thought Cosmo grumpily. His garden needed him, and he need his nap soon. Mira summoned for the rest of the Alphas, but and soon all six of them were assembled.

“Diamondsai Trees, I have a few in the Divine Valley,” Mira informed.

“We have a lot of diamonds then, Mira?” asked Graham, eyeing the diamonds with the look: I just need one, please!

Mira nodded. “I am willing to share them to you, and those in Jamaa,” informed Mira.

She turned to the once silent Liza. “I have casted magic, and these diamonds will have shape, all the same shape and size. Introduce them to Jamaa.”

“Well, Sky Mother,” Liza started. “I was wondering if they have diamonds, what are they to do with it?”

“Glad you asked,” smiled Mira, “because Wonders is back with a whole lot of ideas.”

A horse whinnied, and Cosmo saw Liza smile.

The Diamond Shop

“Wonders!” Liza cried as her staff glowed blue.

“Who?” asked Peck.

Mira smiled, “The horse spirit. I’m not sure what you will sell there, but Wonders will help you with the architectural structure of the shop,” said Mira.

“Architecture, uh-huh,” said Sir Gilbert. “Wonders can discuss that with Cosmo, Graham, Greely, Liza and Peck, but I have a territory to patrol.”

Mira allowed Sir Gilbert to patrol his territory, and Cosmo piped up, “My garden needs tending, since Graham destroyed my garden.”

“Alright, then, Cosmo?” said Graham, “I expect you to make me-“

Cosmo cut Graham’s sentence short, “Graham is coming with me.”

Mira just nodded, and Cosmo and Graham disappeared.

“Why were we even here?” groaned Peck.

Liza smiled. “You’ll get to decorate a whole hut, Peck!” she cried.

“Amazing!” squealed Peck.

Greely just sighed. Wonders let everyone hold a light blue glow of light, which enables them to see him. “Come, I have blueprints. Wolf, do not make me regret this,” Wonders said.

Greely just scoffed something Liza couldn’t hear and tagged along with the group. Wonders brought them to a room in the Sky Palace, and pointed to one of the maps.

“This is the place where I want to put this building,” said Wonders, placing a blue X on the map.

“Jamaa Township! Beside the club,” said Liza.

Wonders unrolled a blueprints. “I had measured the land and here is my concept.”

Peck eyed the design. “It’s good, but that building would be too tall for Jamaa Township’s likes,” she said. She grabbed a pencil and crossed out the second floor that looks like a circular small room with a dome.

“The door would be better if there’s just one, having two for one in and one out would be complicated,” Liza noted and crossed out one of the doors.

Wonders frowned, but Greely said, “Look at this! Disgraceful!”

“What?” asked Wonders, annoyed.

“Taking all the glory for yourself!” Greely spat, and crossed all the swirly spirit horses designs on the exterior walls.

Everyone in the room shot Wonders a look. Even Liza. “So, maybe we can add a few diamond decorations here,” Liza said after a silence.

“Here is the interior design,” said Wonders, taking out another scroll.

Peck scribbled the stairs out that was once placed on the center. She them drew a marble statue. “That looks very nice, Peck,” commented Liza.

“Thank you!” Peck cried.

Liza tapped the bare floor design. “Maybe mosaic designs would do,” she said.

As she scribbled, Peck drew pillars to make it look elegant. “Needs nothing more!” the bunny cried. “Let’s build it!”

With the help of construction workers, soon the building was near completion in no time.

“Peck! You over-did it!” cried Liza as she finally arrived to see how it all went. The building was almost done, but concealed to others underneath a concealing cloth. The building was bright, polished and out of marble. Inside, the mosaic floor was elaborated, and Peck made the pillars looked cracked for effect.

“Nah,” said Peck.

The other Alphas began to place their creations. By the Arctic Wolf statue, Liza placed some spirit stones so they can be used by others too. Sir Gilbert had forged an armour and put it on display. Some gems in trade for diamonds and a few necklaces Peck made.

Mira looked at it. “Wonderful job, it’s time to open the shop,” she proclaimed, beaming as Wonders slip once more to invisibility.

Scan

The Legends of the Sea

The Creation of Poseidon and Venus

“Well, Tavie,” said Harper, “I guess it wouldn’t harm if we grow some corals here.”

“I guess so,” replied Tavie.

Harper patched up a coral bed. “I want to protect the seas, but not make a fuss,” she said.

Tavie nodded. The sea Alphas were humble, and they would like to be unknown and be in peace rather than bombarded with fans.

“The creatures know that we exist, but some do not. These clan of animals are called Jammers,” said Harper.

Tavie swished her mechanical tall Graham, the monkey Alpha, made for her. “We can disguise ourselves as another being,” said the dolphin.

Harper beamed. “Excellent idea!” she cried.

Tavie thought for a moment. “I always liked Roman myths,” started Tavie.

“They’re beautiful,” agreed Harper.

Tavie gasped. “Beauty! That’s it! I’ll take the goddess of beauty, Venus, to pretend to be the dolphin Alpha!”

Harper thought for a moment. “I like Greek myths,” said Harper. “I think I’ll reverse the gender of myself for my replacement so less will suspect. I will choose Poseidon, the god of the seas himself.”

“Awesome, Poseidon!” teased Tavie.

“Venus is the equivalent to Aphrodite in Greek myths, and Aphrodite was born of sea foam,” informed Harper.

“Some sea-parts in the girl!” Tavie cried.

“Goddess,” corrected Harper. “She’s formed of sea foam, after the sky-father was murdered.”

“Ouch. Wrong goddess,” Tavie muttered.

“Too late!” cried Harper, remembering the Greek myth. The Greek sky-father, Ouranus, was annihilated, and his lifeless body was sliced into pieces, and those pieces fell into the sea, forming Aphrodite. “After all, you’re picking Venus, not Aphrodite!”

Tavie smiled, reassured. “Meet me in my den tomorrow, Tav,” said Harper.

“Sure,” said Tavie. The two of them fixed coral beds again in silence before leaving.

When Tavie came to visit Harper the next day, she was surprised by several items already there. “Rocks?” asked Tavie.

Harper laughed. “I think we can start by making our representatives,” said Harper. “I have been sketching, and this is how Poseidon should look like.”

Harper showed Tavie a picture etched on a piece of hard clay. “I drew this with a piece of sharp wood on a piece of soft clay, then let it try overnight,” said Harper. The seal Alpha had drawn a seal wearing a necklace, holding a trident, and a loincloth around it’s hips.

“No fair! You had a head start!” Tavie cried, but she saw how well-drawn the design was.

Harper grinned. “Let’s head up,” said the seal, which she had two floors of her house. She moved house, so she can live nearer to the Alpha hut, and, like Tavie, Harper is a mammal. So, Harper swam towards the stairs, and the second floor was almost dry. With some magic Mira provided, a thin layer of ice covered a side of the room.
The other side was covered wet grass. Tavie was relieved that about an area of six meters square around the stair’s landing was a hole, letting sea water fill the hole. Perfect for Tavie.

“Here,” Harper said. She handed Tavie a piece of wet clay and a piece of wood.

Tavie thought for a moment before drawing the dolphin itself. Then, she drew a tiara, representing her head helmet and a necklace.

“She’s pretty,” said Harper.

“Hello, she’s the goddess of beauty!” said Tavie.

“Love too,” reminded Harper.

Tavie grinned. “Now what?”

It was busy a few days later with three Alphas under the same roof. “Peck, can you help me?” asked Harper.

Peck was invited to Harper’s place to help them with their carving. Harper put the mallet and nail down, and Peck bounced over. “Glad you asked!” the bunny cried and began carving out the nose and small details on the eyes.

Harper looked at her creation, it was nearly done. Peck then chipped off extra pieces around the loincloth and gave some effect so it can be identified as cloth. “It’s done!” the bunny proclaimed.

“Oh, wow! Thanks, Peck!” cried Harper, jumping on the grass then hugged Peck.

“Peck, can you help me too?” asked Tavie’s soft voice.

Peck smiled. “Absolutely! After Harper let go,” she replied.

Harper released the hug, and Peck skipped over to Tavie’s side. Peck helped with the tiara and necklace, then worked on Venus’s stony smile. Slowly, the smile became warm.

“Aww! Thanks, Peck!” cried Tavie.

“No problemo!” cried Peck.

“Oh, I need to go, Harper. I need to meet up with the Jolly Oysters,” said Tavie. “Bye!”

“Bye!” cried Peck and Harper in unison. Peck also bid Harper goodbye. When everyone was gone, Harper looked up at the creations she, Tavie and Peck made. They were glinting in the sun. This will do, thought Harper. This will do.

The Sea Guardian

Have you ever wondered about the sea? Why is it safe from phantoms? Who takes care of the sea? There is a minor Alpha called Poseidon. Why is he an Alpha? Unravel the tale and savour each word as we discover… the history of the tragic fated Alpha.

Poseidon flicked his tail, urging himself to go faster upwards. Beside him, a grey seal blew a raspberry at his direction. Angry, he rocketed out of the water into Crystal Sands. “I told you I could beat you, Sergeant! I’m the faster swimmer in Jamaa!” bragged Poseidon. He shook his wet fur and waded towards Captain Melville’s Hut. He served himself a grape juice as Sergeant took a glass of orange juice.

“How come your name isn’t other the other animals? Your name is a word, my name is three words,” Sergeant asked.

Poseidon remembered something distant, but he really didn’t want to answer. “Uh… It’s maybe…”

“You don’t even know. How pathetic,” Sergeant teased, sipping the last bit of orange juice. He scooted over to play The Claw. He won a blue seal with a complexion alike to Poseidon’s. Waving the plushie around, Sergeant mimicked Poseidon’s voice, “Oh no! I don’t know why my name is so weird! I just wanna cry! Boo-hoo.”

Poseidon rolled his eyes. He blinked back tears. “Enough, Sergeant. I’m leaving,” he firmly said. He dashed as quickly as he could to dive back into the water. He knew a short cut to go to his den. He took a secret short cut, a really hidden short cut no one knew. He arrived at his den and crashed onto his striped couch. Without needing to allow the tears to flow out, they burst out as if Poseidon never cried before.

The memory, so distant… Yet so disturbing. Even until that day, Poseidon couldn’t understand the words.

He remembered his mother’s sunny smile. He remembered the exact shade of his mother’s fur- soft pink with pink swirls. Her eyes… so kind and held all the love he could ever ask for. Yet, when she needed him, he was ignorant. He cared for himself first. He wouldn’t help his own mom.

“Poseidon! Help!” his mother had cried. Her tail was tangled in the weeds and a whirlpool was swirling nearby. “The weeds can’t hold me much longer!”

Poseidon looked back. She’s too far to reach, he had thought. I have to save myself first. He began to surface.

“Poseidon! Mira told me that you would be someone important one day! With a good, kind heart. Is this the seal you would want to be? Ignorant and self-centred?” his mom cried.

Poseidon tried not to choke. “Mira made you name me Poseidon? So that I could be different?” he demanded. He was teased at Jamaa for being different. No matter what he did, they teased him.

“Poseidon!” his mom cried as the whirlpool caught the weed. “POSEIDON!”

Her last words were spent on calling his name. It was like a curse to him, to remember how selfish he was. He had to regret for all of eternity. He could never forget. The memory hugged him every moment.

Poseidon reached for a book to read. History of Jamaa, he read. He opened the book and the Mira’s picture was printed there. The beautiful picture of the blue bird, standing tall and radiating power that even Poseidon can feel. Instead, he threw the book down onto the floor. He yelled at the book, “Why? Why should you make my life miserable? First, my dad disappeared on a journey to learn the path of Zios! Then, you make my mom name me Poseidon! Next, you had to make a whirlpool to take my mom away! What else do you want? You took my family away!”

The reply made Poseidon go in shock. It made him tremble. It made even the warm fireplace dim. Everything seemed to be frozen but Poseidon. “You.”

As if on cue, a trident came shooting down from the sky. It almost pierced Poseidon, but he bounced away. “What’s your point? You are the protector of Jamaa! Why everything of me away?” Poseidon yelled to the brilliant blue sky. Poseidon glanced at the coral trident. It was about the same shade as he was. Once he laid his eyes on it, it was impossible to resist. He took it and held it upwards. Suddenly, a geyser appeared beneath him and took him to the sky.

When it brought him down, he crashed into the ocean. His den was particularly built above the ocean- a small den that was almost destroyed. If Mira would send anything else, it would collapse. True to his thought, a wave crashed down onto his den. “Now what, Mira? You took my parents. You tried to take my life. Now my house!” Poseidon yelled.

A lyrical voice hummed, “Look around. Is it me that you see?”

Poseidon looked around. Phantoms were swarming above the water, throwing unused accessories and den items. They threw toxics and their phantom goop along. The sea no longer have the fresh feeling, or the salty scent. Now, it smells so stinky Poseidon almost passed out.

“Mira told me you would be someone important someday,” he remembered his mom saying. Could this be… the day Mira awaited for him to be a someone? With a trident?

Then I’ll have to try. For my mom, thought Poseidon. He cried, “Phantoms, be gone! No longer shall you threaten Jamaa’s oceans!”

He raised his trident and he was riding on a wave. It crashed down on the phantoms. He created a whirlpool and it brought the phantoms into the sea. Beneath the sea, the seals saw what was happening and moved about quickly, bringing materials to wrap the phantoms in kelp and weed. Finally, Poseidon swam downwards and blasted the soil. He created a dark void and pushed the phantoms in. The phantoms crowded the area. Many Jammers believe that the magic of the phantoms are so strong in Halloween that they are able to create dark voids throughout Jamaa, but haven’t succeed escaping.

Poseidon felt proud of himself. Even though the sea was still polluted, he was proud. Suddenly, light shined on him a like a spotlight. You have done well, Poseidon, said a heavenly voice. The voice was so calm that it almost lulled Poseidon to sleep. Then, a majestic blue bird swooped down. Poseidon thought he cringed. He wasn’t ready to accept his past- or the fact that Mira was actually an ally, not a foe.

“Poseidon,” said Mira. “I have watched you ever since the beginning. You have proven yourself even more worthy than you were in the past. Consider yourself a someone. An Alpha.”

Images of the other Alphas shimmered around Mira. She touched down to dip her feet into the water and it became pure again. “I do not know when else the phantoms shall strike- but now they’re gone thanks to you.”

The seals cheered. Poseidon didn’t want to accept this. He didn’t want to do anything with Mira. However, he knew what she wanted. Him, for him to be part of the Alphas. Still, an urge of justice and righteousness filled his heart. He wanted to do more good. “Yes, I am honoured to be an Alpha,” the words blurted out of his lips. In the water’s reflection, he could see his emerald green eyes sparkling with happiness.

–

Siren of the Sea

You may dismiss the idea of sirens in Jamaa. Sirens does not only have to be ugly with a melodious voice that lures other animals to their doom. No, not this type of siren. Described to have voice as angelic as a siren, yet heart as pure as gold. A heart of an Alpha.

Venus swam alongside Miss Prettystar. “Please? Come on, Star. I’m your best friend, right?” she pleaded. She flashed a dazzling smile towards Star. Typically, Star was jealous. That day, she’s jealous of Venus’s new candy cane tiara. Surprise, surprise! Instead of pink and white, it’s striped with light purple and white. Venus’s rose pink and light purple body looked well for it.

“You always get better things,” snorted Miss Prettystar. “Even you get all the attention.”

Venus was about to open her mouth and say it’s flase when a blue dolphin waved it’s fin over to Venus. Seals began to crowd the two. Venus blushed. She’s always the center of attention. “I… guess you’re right, then,” said Venus sheepishly.

Miss Prettystar flicked her tail. “I told you so. Come on now, give me that tiara and I’ll allow you to!” she demanded.

“I really want to go to the party, Star. Still, I can’t give away this tiara. My mom specially crafted it,” said Venus. Her mother bought candy canes home and even melted some to craft the tiara. Plus, her mom made the results into a purple-white tiara!

Miss Prettystar turned away. “Fine, then. Good-bye,” said the dolphin before it swam away. Venus frowned, she felt hurt. Why did her friend deny her as such just because of her popularity? It wasn’t right. She swam towards home, the crowd around her dispersing.

“Venus?” called Poseidon, who suddenly was swimming beside the dolphin. The two were friends when Venus first came to stay. “What’s wrong? You look glum.”

Venus caught her reflection on a piece of mirror. “Uh, yeah?” Venus said. Even though she was frowning, she still look glamorous. She was wearing a necklace with a shell-charm around her neck. The tiara was still displayed on her head.

“Yeah, I do look glum. Miss Prettystar and I declare as not-friends,” informed Venus.

Poseidon looked grim too. “Okay, Venus. I have news. Do you want to hear it? It may change your life,” he warned.

Venus swallowed hard. “O-okay. I’ll hear it,” she said.

“Brave indeed,” remarked Poseidon. He brought out a seaweed scroll and began to read from it: “Venus, your calm voice calms the raging waves. In the end, souls you may save. Voice that enchants, the spell you must chant.”

Suddenly, Venus remember the scroll she found when she was ever so young. Was it Mira’s message? She could remember that fatal day. The day where her sister died. The day she found the scroll.

“Magical Snowydolphin!” cried a young Venus. No one knows that Magical is actually Seafoam at heart, but due to a risk that she was not told, her parents gave her elder sister a different name. Venus searched frantically for her sister.

She feared what could have happened to her sister, for Venus had eavesdropped Mira talking to her mom days before.

“Seafoam shall be the new Alpha along with Poseidon,” said Mira, her voice as if she was singing. “Only if she could escape the phantom’s plans. They plan to seize her and never let her be a Alpha.”

Her mom cringed. “That would take so much risk,” she complained.

“The risk an Alpha would pay,” Mira said. It sounded almost like mocking to Venus. It sounds like Mira wanted her sister. It was the day before she and her sister were swimming and playing hide-and-seek, which resulted to Seafoam’s disappearance.

At the end, she only found a scroll. “Your sister is dead. I cannot guarantee what happened yet, but memorise this spell be heart, and you may save lives: ‘Vanquish the darkness and let the light shine. Two forces of animals must combine. Let the joy ring through Jamaa. Let their praises be sung to Mira’.”

Venus always wondered what kind of spell it is. A weird one indeed. Now Poseidon’s here, he might as well listen to her tale. She told him about the past when she was looking for Seafoam. Poseidon shook her head. “I can’t believe Mira toyed with our families. What happened to your parents?” asked the seal.

“They often leave for work. They never came back so far,” Venus mourned. Poseidon told his story in exchange.

“My mom died due to that whirlpool,” Poseidon ended.

“I’m sorry,” Venus said, “to what happened.”

Anger bubbled in her. She can’t believe Mira would do such things! Now, the sweet dolphin is gone. She wants revenge. Venus needs… revenge.

However, before she could voice her new anger, Poseidon suddenly stirred the waves, fearing Venus. Around them, phantoms protected in an icy blue aura swam slowly towards them. Poseidon commanded, “Back off, Venus!” He began to allow strong currents take the phantoms away. All around, chaos erupted.

“I’m sorry for such a destruction,” Poseidon apologised. “The phantoms must be after me. I trapped some before, now, I’m planning to do so again.”

Venus wanted to swoon and sigh over his bravery. Still, it was no time. She wanted to help. She made nets out of weeds and helped Poseidon casting them into a dark pit. Suddenly, a phantom pushed Poseidon in too. “Venus!” he cried as he tried to fight the sucking force. It was strong and powerful, and the sea Alpha fell in. His trident floated along. Venus caught it before a phantom could. At least she could keep it safe. Phantoms swarmed around. Could Venus really save the sea by a spell? She almost burst out laughing with the silly thought, but she remembered what Seafoam had said, “It’s always worth a try.”

Venus closed her eyes and concentrated on the spell. She chanted, “Vanquish the darkness and let the light shine. Two forces of animals must combine. Let the joy ring through Jamaa. Let their praises be sung to Mira.”

Venus concentrated even more. “Let the darkness… be gone!” she cried. The shell necklace, a gift from Seafoam, she wore around her neck began to glow. Her necklace given from Seafoam radiated glowing power and it began to seep through the water. Slowly, phantoms gradually dissolved into the light. It’s weird, but it may be Mira’s spell. Still, when she looked up, phantoms were swarming around the beach.

A sudden swirl of bubbled appeared beside her. Poseidon floated there. “What took you so long?” Venus teased, handing him the trident.

“The phantoms were advancing me back there,” Poseidon said. “Stay here, let me take care of the phantoms.” He swam upwards at an unbeatable speed.

Venus began to string a necklace of corals. Then, she surfaced, as she was a dolphin, she needed to surface too, since she breathes in with lungs, not gills. Suddenly, in a burst of blue feathers and light, Mira appeared before her. Venus wanted to strangle her. If she didn’t know further of Mira’s cruelty or faults, she might have dipped her head and welcomed her. Mira was not welcome to her eyes.

“Venus, little dolphin. You cannot believe everything your ears hear,” chuckled Mira. “Everything happened for a reason. Poseidon’s mother died to a whirlpool I did create- but to suck in phantoms into a vortex, like what Poseidon did. Your sister was never murdered by me. The phantoms did it. The phantoms knew she was about to be an Alpha soon, so they dragged her down into the twilight zone, where they held her. Of course, being a dolphin, she had to surface. The phantoms held her tight until her doom. Your parents… ah… They were lost in the uncharted seas of Jamaa. Only if Zios allows, then they shall return.”

“Why? Why does Alphas have tragic beginnings?” asked Venus.

Mira smiled. “You may not like it, little one, but it is the path written for you. Written by whom, it is by you. I think, though, by seeing and experiencing these things, you learn how to feel. To feel self-sacrifice, to feel love, to feel righteousness and justice. To feel anger, remorse, to feel wisdom. It depends on what you and you alone will feel,” Mira said.

“I-I think I understand,” Venus said. She looked around and saw the phantoms were cleared off the beach.

Mira smile turned wider. “For your understanding and wisdom, I think you deserve to be an Alpha.”

Venus looked shocked. Her- an Alpha. That might be a sight to see.

–

Liza’s Dream: Betrayal

I can’t move my arms, I looked down, my eyes just adjusting to the darkness. W-what? Ropes? Why are there ropes restraining me?

“Hello?” I asked.

“L-Liza?” said the unmistakable voice of Sir Gilbert. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, where are you?” I asked.

“I’m above you, suspended mid-air in a cage, tied as well,” was the reply.

I looked up. “You’re okay?” I asked, eyeing the cage, a silhouette of Sir Gilbert inside.

I looked around as the tiger grunted a yes. There was Cosmo, sleeping but tied up, a tied up Peck, with an additional gag. There was Graham, tied up, with all his accessories stripped off. H-hey… where’s Greely? Locked up in another more secure place so he can’t escape?

“I see you have come to your consciousness,” said a deep growl. A door swung open, and even though a shadow clashed the blinding light, the evil chuckle of the evil one was unmistakable. I growled one word:

“Greely.”

The chuckles became a roar of evil laughter. “Why, Greely? Why?” I asked, shouting the question.

Greely just chuckled again. “My dear Liza, what would you say if the world despise you? Laugh at you, or pretend to marvel at you only to use you as an advantage?”

“I’d… Why would anyone do that?”

Greely stepped forwards. “Why would they use me as an advantage?” asked the wolf, snarling, his tone dark.

“What do you mean ‘advantage’, Mr. I-really-don’t-like-your-attitude?” asked Sir Gilbert from above.

Greely was suddenly standing in Sir Gilbert’s cage. “Ah, but my good tiger, don’t you think the people of Jamaa takes us as some sort of candy? Eat us, and throw the wrapper. What they take are our abilities, our responsibility to make it all seem like their ideas. They then dispose us.”

“What about you, my good lady?” Greely continued. “When did I get credit. I always seem to be the bad guy of the story, hmm?”

I couldn’t believe what I’m listening to. “What do you mean?” I cried.

“You Alphas, all, you all seem to be the pure, noble ones. Oh yeah, power of love, courage, blah this, blah that,” scoffed Greely, returning back to where he stood before, before me, meters away. “What about me? Darkness, shadow effects, then I get trapped, and I look helpless. What’s that compared to your suffering?”

“I thought you were voted as the coolest Alpha last year by the Jammer,” Sir Gilbert said.

“Do you think that matters? Why do they like me? WHY?” growled Greely.

“Umm,” I thought for a moment.

Greely stomped his paw down, the echoes bouncing from wall to wall. “It’s not because of who I am, it’s because of my powers. If it was not for my phantom experiment, I will not be loved, and you think I don’t look lame around you all? With your pure powers, and ugh?”

“Greely! Being an Alpha is not of popularity!” I cried.

Greely’s menacing whisper was harsh. “No one loves me for who I am, only because I saved Jamaa, have cool powers. What do they know of me?”

“You’re a cold-hearted wolf who-“

Sir Gilbert’s sentence was cut short by the thundering voice of Greely. “NOTHING!”

Greely made a spark of fire burn on an iron stand, once concealed in darkness. “Mira, accept my offering,” he growled, taking the staff an stepping towards where I was.

An altar.

My eyes were wide. “Greely! D-don’t do this!” I cried. I will not beg, but I do not want to die yet. Especially not by the paws of my ally.

Greely seemed not to hear. “I will deal with the tiger myself,” he growled, “later.”

Sir Gilbert growled back.

I let a squeak of terror escape my mouth. If I could un-tie these ropes…

I could hear my heartbeat echoing in the room. He’s just about twenty pawsteps ahead of me. Nineteen. No, eighteen. The countdown begins, and I shut my eyes, no longer wanting to count the seconds my doom approaches. I heard a hiss: “Liza.”

“Liza,” the voice said again. I opened my eyes slowly, scared, and my eyesight blurred, and when they focused, it was bright. I looked up, and almost gave out a shriek. It was Greely, with those dark glowing eyes that seems so dark, so full with fury and hatred.

“G-Greely!” I cried, relieved what I experienced was just a nightmare.

Greely just turned and said, “The meeting will be starting in five minutes. Mira expects you to be there,” he said, his dark tone unwavering.

“Okay,” I said. When I was sure he was out of earshot, I have a sigh of relief, but I wonder, with all that emotions in his very own windows to his soul, how long can we keep him from being the wolf I had dreamed of?

–

Liza’s Dream: Sky Father

I closed my eyes. I wondered. I imagined. All the spirit stones in Jamaa’s safety. In the wings of Sky Mother Mira. She wasn’t the Sky Guardian, actually. Yet, she earned a rank so high.
Where, though. Where did the spirit stones come from? How did they appear randomly anywhere? What if… they’re a gift from the Sky Father?
Gifts.
From the one we thought of dead.
I tried to connect the dots. One by one.

Zios. He oh-so-brilliantly hid from Jamaa, but we don’t know why. Maybe he was to scared to meet Mira. We all are cowards at heart. No one sensed his presence anymore. Mira grieved and still thought of him. Does Zios still think of Mira? That, I do not know.

Zios, the masked wonder, now travelled as a glow of golden light. Where he go everyday, I do not know either. He stopped and so did the ball of light. There was a herd of creatures below him. This might be how he spend his day. Or not. I do not know. This is just a mere theory.

These animals, they were not safe. Danger of threatening their lives were all around them. Zios, he couldn’t stand their everyday lives, struggling so hard to survive. He wanted them all to be saved, never to worry about survival.

So, he had the action started.

Zios, he created a distraction. He changed his form into the animal’s predator or prey, luring them to run. To chase, or to flee. I think, his animal transformations will still have his strong glowing aura, that power.

He’d do anything to bring them to Jamaa, into his beloved’s care.

Why not his own? I do not know.

Zios, oh, his acts as a prey or predator, so realistic, that his prey will be interested. They’d chase him, follow him, and into Jamaa. He’d last the chase for days, even if they’re tired, Zios shall grant them his blessing, so they can reach Jamaa in the fastest possible time.

How long? I do not know.

He might have found new lands, but he does not care just yet. He had animals under his temporary care, and he had to deliver them to Jamaa.

Lands. After Zios delivered the herd of animals to Jamaa, he’d disappear into smoke, forming as a looming cloud above Jamaa, to see how the ones of Jamaa will treat the new comers. Often, with much concern and care. Zios leaves, and sometimes return to the land those animals were from. Kimbara Outback, those seas…

He’d send dreams, visions, ideas to Alphas, to explore, investigate, check those new found lands. With the happy endings we shall bring the lands united. With all the animals at peace.

“What are you doing here?”

I snapped up. Mira stood there, eyes fixed on me. Her eyes were hazy, and her wings were folded.

“S-sorry,” I stammered. “Do we have a meeting today?”

“Yes, just you, me, and Graham,” said Mira, nodding to Graham beside her.

“Yes, Mother Mira,” I said, and we discussed of a new land.

The one Graham spotted through his telescope.

–

Greely’s Visions: The River By Mira

I looked ahead.

Nothing but waters.

The river rushing, my paws carrying me away.

The darkness urged me to slip into the shadows.

I do not want to meet him.

––Too late.

There I sat, viewing a call. A dream, a vision from Zios. I do not believe he is dead, nor is he alive. Why does he keep calling me? Why not turn over to Mira herself?

A scene played before me:

“Zios!”
Mira was waiting for her beloved. Zios was away.
I spat in disgust. Romance always result in tragedy.
Mira wept, tears flowing down. I saw the phantoms, emerging into blobs. What other thing I see was a river formed by those tears…

The river.

I gasped.

The source of life. If the Phantoms knew…

I looked ahead. These… each droplet… is Mira’s precious tears. What can they do? Dry out to become a new land?

Water crashed. I took a sip, refreshingly cold. I felt alive again. Cold, tempting me to finish it off.

I felt a dark power in me, urging me to disappear. A pop on my tongue. Another vision:

Phantoms.
When they invade Jamaa, their electric bolts crashed on everything. Destructive, I spotted one sinking into the river. At once, the once teal water turned blue. All was different before the Phantom War.

Did I just drink some blessings or did I just drink a curse?

Oh Zios.

It was Mira. She thought he’s dead. I saw her body’s spirit, dipping her foot into the teal-grey water.

Maybe it is not cursed, maybe it is not blessed. The visions are nothing but lies. All thanks to the darkness that messes the light.

Oh, but it is not useless, cackled a voice. Phantom magic can do admirable things.

The thought flashed through him. All these visions, my powers. Admirable?

Again, the voice whispered, Ask. She should know, unless you’re afraid of who you are inside.

Scowling, I approached Mira and asked about the river. What she said was almost the same thing those dark whispering had told me.

Tears, forming into two. Mira had two births- a river and phantoms. The purified water mixed with phantom darkness. Equality. Justice.

–

The Search For Greely: Reflection

I, Greely, peered out through the slimy wall of semi-transparent phantom goop. The phantom’s hive is as expected, but their security measures? Overkill.

I looked down, a phantom passed by my floating cage. I realised that not only Alphas were bestowed with magic by Mira, but phantoms too, for they were of her magical tears, but their power is bitter… like mine.

What if the others are right? I am nothing more than sinister. I wanted to relax, pace around, but I was imprisoned in a place way too small to me. I have compressed myself as small as I could to find a bit of space left around me. Beyond the cage, phantoms were busy making plans, hiding secrets, setting up traps. I was their bait. I was the trap. If the phantoms set things right, they’ll win. Liza, Peck, Cosmo, Graham and that good-for-nothing Sir Greely will be captured. The end for Jamaa if Mira and Zios is unable to help.

I know, in my heart, it is phantom dark, full of creeping shadows, but if I can help it, then light shall breakthrough those tentacles of darkness and show them all.
I am not evil.

Disadvantages. As much as phantom magic sounds good, there’s always a disadvantage or more. For one, I am stuck here because of phantom magic. Phantoms know their own magic, strengths and weakness. I have out-balanced Mira’s pure power in place of this chaotic phantom power. I should try to tip the scales, let both powers be equal, but there is always only one winner. There cannot be two winners. Only one can win the chaotic battle in me- Mira or Phantoms.

A phantom’s voice echoed in my head, Phantom powers… you chose them, not us.

Another disadvantage, instant replies to thoughts. I didn’t reply and tried to calm myself down, as hard it is. I just wanted to lash out, break this trap.

I can’t. Phantoms are darker than I am.

Like… a black hole itself.

I don’t need to be rescued.

I’m not a maiden imprisoned, helpless. I can just stay here, keep watch, and maybe send messages via Mira Powers.

Pawsteps. An animal- coming to save me.

Good job, I worked hard to not be discovered, and, look what we have here.

I forced the words out of my mouth- “Thank you, I am truly grateful”. I am not. At all.

Troublesome.

Tries to play hero.

True villains.

After all, it seems like after the reflection I had, being stuck, alone, cramped in a spot, it was much better to know myself better.

Decisions has yet to be made.

–

Greely’s Visions: Dreams

I plunged into the void. The black darkness enveloping me. A burst of colours appeared before me, blinding me momentarily.

Zios, do you always have to send me such weird visions?

Colour after colour flashed by my eyes. Suddenly, it all stopped. I was in the darkest abyss. The darkness swirled around me slowly, as if it was trying to wake. I cautiously stepped forwards. It was more like a lucid dream than a vision from Zios.

Each step I took, the darkness swirled. It was pitch black, and even I, Greely, couldn’t see my paws. I gazed ahead. Light!

It surprised me that I was desperate for light. However, the victorious feeling didn’t last long.

I plunged down as the ground gave way.

Opening my eyes, I felt no pain. A soft green glow caught my eye. I turned my head and faced a green glowing orb. I looked around. The cave walls were blue, illuminated by the green light. Was I in Epic Wonders?

I stepped towards the orb. It was warm and welcoming, and from a distance I could feel it’s inviting aura. However, dread seem to clench my heart with every step I took.

It’s just an orb. Why do I feel so terrified?

I placed a paw on the orb. Without warning, it flashed and showed me images. Liza laughing and chatting with the other Alphas. Sir Gilbert made a remark and Graham laughed. Cosmo and Peck caught each others’ eye and laughed. There was an empty spot that was filled by absence.

I wasn’t there.

They welcome the atmosphere that was devoid of my aura.

Reluctantly, I removed my paw from the orb. I wasn’t going to cry, no. Should I plot revenge? Why did they welcome my absence and do not look for me?

I turned. The cave had no exits.

Then how did I enter?

It took me a while before I remembered I was still walking in my fantasy. The fantasy my own mind crafted.

They say that we know ourselves best, then why did my mind pin-point all this to my loneliness? That people found the place better off without me?

The dream was so real I almost forgot I was walking in my dreams.

My unwanted dream.

Slowly, I spun around the orb, sighing. When will I wake up? How do I wake myself up?

What if I would be stuck here forever?

The entire cave was bathed in light, my Phantom powers could not bring me away.

Unless…

Rapidly, I lunged towards the orb, and it shattered, the light it radiated died as well. As the shadows settled in, I concentrated as I stood on a shade.

I felt myself melting away.

Where am I now?

When I felt myself materialise, I could feel a faint breeze messing my fur, and a soft song hummed in the air.

I opened my eyes and gazed ahead. An endless stretch of green grass was the home to many wild flowers, colourful butterflies fluttering about.

The soft song I heard was from the wind and the reeds from a distant river I spy.

Judging by the position of the sun, it was setting soon.

As dusk settled, the once azure sky gave way to the magnificent marmalade orange, red higher up in the skies. A few clouds were to be spotted as yet another butterfly crossed my vision.

They might be pesky, but I feel so tranquil right now, I don’t want to move a bit and just watch the sky.

The sun set. As stars started to become visible in the glorious sky, the purple hues of the sky turned into shades of dark blue. The half-moon was spotted as the sky turned much darker, almost black.

Thousands of stars were scattered in the beautiful sky.

I smiled.

In such beautiful darkness, there has been so many beautiful colours before in the sky.

From light blue to orange and yellow with hints of red. Then to purple and dark blue, and it was a light shade of yellow in the morning as the sun woke me up the next day.

Yawning, awake from my lucid dream, I strode outside where I saw Peck setting up an easel.

An idea struck me.

“Peck, may I borrow your easel and paint?”

–

Mira’s Ship

Liza looked at Mira’s figurehead. It was carved of wood and elaborately angled to form a beautiful look of grace.
“Peck recently gave it as a gift,” Mira said, suddenly flying into the room.”
Liza nodded and the looked at the beautiful turquoise colour, Mira’s dipped head.
“I don’t have use for it,” Mira said bluntly.
Liza gazed at her. “I, as Sky Mother, I do not have much time other than to protect,” reminded Mira, sighing. “Even with my powers, phantoms sometimes pass the border. It is dutiful, yet it seems useless. No one notice.”
“I notice,” Liza whispered, and Mira smiled.
“I have a job for you, Alpha,” said Mira. “Find use for this figurehead.”

Peck hopped over. “Why is Mira’s figurehead with you?” she asked.
Liza looked up from her scroll and looked at Peck. “Mira wants me to find use of the figurehead, and I wonder… I want to make a clock tower with chiming bells, and Mira’s figurehead as the centrepiece, like Zios’s ‘grave’ in the Temple of Zios.”
She winced as she said ‘grave’.
Sir Gilbert sauntered into the room. “Liza,” he said, “I fear that the tide is worse this coming month.”
Liza was silent. “Will it be strong?” inquired Peck.
Sir Gilbert nodded. “No one can pass it until the tide goes down, which would be months due to Jamaa’s magic…”
Peck muttered, “Dear Mira, no…”
“Many helpless animals would be stranded, unable to cross to the Township, and who knows,” shivered Liza, “the chances of getting captured by phantoms…”
Liza shook her head, but her eye caught the figurehead. She remembered Sir Gilbert telling tales from his father where grand ships had a figurehead, and even found one broken in Kani Cove. Then, she got a an idea. For safety. “I have an idea, but only if you help,” Liza said, grinning

Graham saw-dusted the last bit of splinters off the rails. “It’s done, Captain,” he said, stepping back. Peck then stepped forwards along with a throng of bunnies and started to paint the boat. The main colour was blue. A week later, Sir Gilbert screwed a counter and a steering wheel into place, and Greely helped bring the figurehead over.
Liza touched the figurehead, and Cosmo waved his staff. The grass beneath Liza grew, and lifted her up along with the figurehead. When the grass pillar stopped rising, she placed the figurehead into place.
Then, Sir Gilbert secured it. Then, the Alphas pushed it to the river, and it floated, and Liza could almost see that the boat was protected.
“Let’s get the animals from the other side,” said Liza.

—

Cosmo brought over a small collection of items from Jam-Mart Clothing to sell on-board. Sir Gilbert secretly made a compartment for him below deck so he can steer the ship.
Liza saw a wolf, waiting for his journey into Jamaa. Liza invited him on board and began to teach him the wonders of Jamaa.
Of Mira.

–

Tunnel Town

“Ouch.”

Peck looked backwards, and saw a little crystal glittering in the soil. “Pretty!” squealed Peck and pulled it. Suddenly, a shadow loomed over her. A phantom. Peck quickly collected herself and lunged at the phantom with a kicking pose, but suddenly, everything became a blur of blue and white.

“Welcome,” said a voice.

Peck looked around. She saw blades of grass everywhere, she in a wide lawn. Before her was a snow-white bunny with pale green eyes. She tucked a rose behind her ear, but it withered away already. “Who are you?” asked Peck.

“I’m Arctishya,” said the white bunny, her name pronounced slowly.

“Arc-ti-she-a,” echoed Peck, trying to keep the ‘c’ silent.

“Yes, I believe you have found a portal to my world, you must be the destined one.”

“Destined one?”

Pale eyes glittering, Arctishya said, “By finding the clouded crystal, you opened a portal here.”

“I was attacking a phantom,” protested Peck.

“I assure you, it’s one of the oldest trick in the book,” smiled the white bunny.

“Can you tell me why I’m the destined one?”

Arctishya said, “Follow me.”

She turned, and slowly walked into the shack, labelled “McFluffy”. For all Peck feels, she’s curious.

Peck slowly hopped down the stairs, following Arctishya. Arctishya walked over to a box where a huge book laid. With help from Peck, Arctishya lifted it up and let it drop onto the dusty floor. Arctishya lifted the pages, and stopped at a glittering page despite the dust.

“Destined one, it is prophesied that you will be here to replace me,” said the white bunny, pointing at a picture of a cream bunny, a crown rested on the bunny’s head, “as I had replaced Creamella.”

“Just call me Peck,” said Peck.

“This land has been here for centuries, and is known as Bunbits Kingdom, after the first King and Queen, King Caesar and Queen Bonnie,” said Arctishya.

“Weird name… Bunbits,” said Peck. “Sounds like food.”

Arctishya gave a small laugh. “We never call it as Bunbits anymore. We say the kingdom lost it’s name.”

“The Lost Kingdom sounds good,” said Peck.

Arctishya continued, “For years, one destined one will continue as the head of this land, and you have arrived. It is your land.”

“I still have Jamaa!” protested Peck.

Arctishya nodded, “I like your loyalty, but then, the land must be given.”

“What happens to you?”

Arctishya smiled. “I only rule the part of the kingdom where I had started bunny families of my rule, the empty lands are yours to fill with much more bunnies.”

Peck smiled. “Cool!” she cried. “Where do I start?”

Just like that, using the “Phantom Portal” trick, Peck managed to get a few bunnies to live in her land, and even though she doesn’t appear much more to give tips or daily gifts, Peck is always hopping in Jamaa, spreading word of her new land. Bunnies loved her land.

Peck decided to explore too. She discovered gems underneath the soil, but Bunbits may be in danger. Hot magma are below their kingdom, but Peck tried not to think about it.

Arctishya finally revealed her species to Peck, an albino angora. Soon, bunnies began breeding as seasons changed, and Peck discovered the wide variety of bunnies of the land.

–

The Hidden Falls

“Graham!” called a cheery voice. Graham looked up from his work and glanced at the doorway. A brown-furred monkey was there, waving a scroll in the air. “A message for you!”

The monkey threw it, and the monkey Alpha caught it. “Thanks!” said Graham cheerfully. I’ll check it later. However, as he turned back to his work, he spied the purple seal, he frowned and broke it instead. The parchment rolled away, revealing words.

“Graham,
The Phantoms are on the move. They’re going to build a new hive in the far lands and sending phantom-spies on Halloween.
I am counting to you to find Sir Gilbert and delivering these items you need to craft.
1. Enhanced Gauntlets for Sir Gilbert
2. Telescope-Monocle for Greely
Lastly, fix that enchanted map, Graham!! It’s been stuck for weeks!
-Liza“

Sighing, Graham set the parchment aside. So… the Phantoms do have plans for Halloween too.

Graham already finished with Greely’s monocle. Greely wasn’t Graham’s favourite, but he made it extra nice for him today. Any equipment broken in such a short amount of time would not be good for his reputation!

He began to polish the smooth plates of metals for the gauntlets. Humming a song, a monkey suddenly called from outside and tossed a scroll. Graham immediately opened it.

“There is no time, get the word Phantoms are quickly spreading to Sir Gilbert! I know he’s near you, and my messages couldn’t get to him, they keep getting intercepted.
-Liza“

Graham gulped. He glanced at the equipment. If they were going to battle Phantoms, Sir Gilbert would need the gauntlets as soon as possible, and Graham would need to invent new traps and fix up more armour. If he left, the monkeys in the camp would be rocking a party without a care in the world. However, sending a monkey in his place might not be a very good idea…

Graham needed strong animals who can fend themselves from whatever has been intercepting Liza’s messages.

He took a parchment and started writing.

Wolves and tigers came towards him. A little while before, Graham sent a note to Jamaa Township that he needed warriors, wolves and tigers, to help send the message to Sir Gilbert. Graham had written a rather serious official report about the phantoms and that something near where either Liza or Sir Gilbert live, something has been intercepting their letters.

“Thanks for the help!” Graham called as the animals swiftly went on their journey, carrying the scroll. Graham looked out at the falls. He recently moved in due to the fresh air and that it reminded him of forests. Somewhere where the waterfall reflects on clarity.

He moved here to be inspired.

However, something other than inspiration dwelled here. Graham feared it was the Phantoms. Laughing to himself, he walked back to tent to finish up the gauntletsGraham didn’t know many things. He was just at the higher lands. He also moved to the falls to interact with Sir Gilbert more, but due to how busy he was nowadays, Graham never found the time to visit him again.

What Graham doesn’t know is that Phantoms had heard two Alphas are currently in the place. They’re waiting for the moment to lunge. Multiplying, breeding, creating a smashing-phantom that would paralyse one so badly they couldn’t move for hours.

What Graham does know is that there are dangers, but he did not expect Sir Gilbert to have known. The gates and enchanted crystals, they were the work of Sir Gilbert. He feared the Phantoms would enter his camp and terrorise the training tigers. Only those with wits could pass his test. The place where Phantoms would try to find him.

For when the warriors Graham send reach him, Sir Gilbert will know whether they’re worthy or not.

However, they do not know that Greely had sent scouts to aid these warriors.

When the warriors reached Sir Gilbert’s camp, he’d thank them. Taking the scroll, his expression changed for a second into worry, but as he looked at the warriors, he smiled. “Thank you for your efforts,” Sir Gilbert said. “Your courage is admirable. Please, help yourself to one of my items as a thank-you.”

He brought forth the useless gifts Graham made for him and some of Sir Gilbert’s own unused items. The letter was for him to worry about, he’ll deal with it later.

Back at the monkey’s place, Graham polished the gauntlets once more. He knew that the scroll had reached Sir Gilbert. He placed the finished gauntlets aside. Perhaps, someday, the warriors would visit him again, and he’d ask for their help to deliver the items.

–

2 comments on “Rainbow’s Lores”

their website says:

4 December, 2020 at 6:59 PM

Thanks – Enjoyed this post, can I set it up so I get an email every time you publish a fresh update?

- rainbow000pegasus says:
  
  18 December, 2020 at 11:14 PM
  
  Not for pages, I don’t think so. I might be wrong since I’m not well versed with my own blog though.

M	T	W	T	F	S	S
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30	31

Jamaasian Lores told by Rainbow

▁ ▂ ▃ ▅ ▆ ▇ ▆ ▅ ▃ ▂ ▁

DIRECTORY

Tales of Mira and Zios

The Legend of Jamaa

The Alphas (NEW)- TBA

Liza

Greely

Sir Gilbert

Graham

Cosmo

The Alphas (OLD)

Liza

Greely

Sir Gilbert

Graham

Cosmo

Peck

Tavie

Amelia

Harper

Ruby

Marco

Sigurd

LaSalle

Edmund

Sophia

Cornelius

Otto

Avalon

Animal Tales

How Hyenas Came to Jamaa

Arrival of the Diamond Animals

Flight: The Arrival of Owls

Sarepia Forest

Epic Wonders

Diamonds

The Treasure

The Diamond Shop

The Legends of the Sea

The Creation of Poseidon and Venus

The Sea Guardian

Siren of the Sea

Liza’s Dream: Betrayal

Liza’s Dream: Sky Father

Greely’s Visions: The River By Mira

The Search For Greely: Reflection

Greely’s Visions: Dreams

Mira’s Ship

Tunnel Town

The Hidden Falls

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