Welcome to Gaia! ::

Chapter 1: Shelter

The barren, unforgiving landscape seemed like heaven to the weary travelers who surveyed it. Their eyes took in the surroundings hungrily, though it was little more than snow-covered earth and dead trees. They kept up a speedy pace, their eyes darting to and fro, alert for danger. They were certainly a pitiful sight. Disheveled, bloodied and frozen, they traveled doggedly on. The large badger warrior was limping lightly.
The warrior glanced at his companion. If he was exhausted, it was nothing compared to what the little squirrel warrior had been through. She didn't exactly look like a warrior. Her small frame did little to intimidate those who fought her, but it didn't really matter. She was ferocious; “a perilous beast”, as the Long Patrol would say. It was thanks to her that they'd escaped.

“Autumn, let's cut through that grove,” he said.

It was if she could read his mind. She smiled and shook her head.

“'Tis no use, Gabe. They're 'll be no food there; if the winter hasn't cleared it out, the natives' have.”

She inched closer to him and dropped her voice.

“Speaking of which, it seems as though we're being watched.”

Gabe thought for a moment. Despite being a badger, he couldn't hope to take on too many enemies at once. Especially not in the condition he was in now. Hunger gnawed at his stomach, and his limbs seemed heavy. He looked at the crimson-furred squirrel, and shrugged.

“s'pose we'll have to take our chances, miss. We can't keep going like this.”

Autumn frowned. He was right, though she hated to admit it. They couldn't keep running forever. They needed shelter.

“'Oy, you there!” she shouted, “Be you friend or foe? Reveal yourself!”

As though by magic, heads began to appear out of the snow. Hedgehogs, if they weren't mistaken. How the creatures had managed to hide in this wasteland was anyone's guess. One of them stepped forward. His face bore the scars of many battles, and a friendly, welcoming smile.

“Hello, travelers. I promise ye, we are friends. Please, ye must come with us. All goodbeasts are welcome in the domain of Maccon the Just!”
Autumn glanced at her companion, throwing him a wry smile. They were soon surrounded by hedgehogs of all ages, leading them through the snow. One curious little hedgehog maid began to question them, but was told off by Maccon. Gabe glanced at him questioningly. Maccon gave them a knowing look.

“Listen, Posey,” he said to the little one, “These two have been through a lot. They must rest and recover from their journey. Then, if we are lucky, they may see fit to tell us summat about themselves. But 'tis not our place to pry.”

He then turned to the travelers.

“Posey hasn't been very far from our home, nor has she seen much of suffering. I know, however. Ye've been runnin' from summat terrible, haven't ye? Ye don't have te answer, I know taint none 'o my buisness. Please, warm yourselves by our fire; we'll have ye some fine eatin' right shortly.”

They looked around, but saw no shelter. Snow in all directions was the only thing that met their gaze.

“They can't asees it, fafer...”

The voice came from almost beneath their feet. Glancing down, they spotted a very young hedgehog looking up at them slyly.

“Sees, it's hiddeded, that ways no vernamin can't gets in her'.”

Autumn stared, dumbfounded. She still could only see the camouflaged opening because of the dibbun that stood at the entrance. It was certainly well hidden. No vermin in the world would be able to discover it. Maccon scooped up the little one and gestured for them to follow him. Amazed, the two travelers did so, trying hopelessly to keep ahead of the hogs behind them. They were rewarded for their attempts with a few small quill pricks, most of which ended up in Gabe's backside. Traveling ahead of hedgehogs was not the safest move, Autumn decided.