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Counter Earth Chronicles

Chapter 78: What Followed Them (Finals Week Part Eight)

Day 249 (afternoon)

So Toby and Devious had a disagreement over Mysterious Falls causing the little were-bear to walkout on his (boy)friend and protector eh? Was he nuts? You know I had to keep reading to find out what happened next.

_Toby walked about a half mile south of Devious' hideout along the beach when he heard a slight rumbling in the sand in front of him. _

What the heck? Toby thought. Was the sea dragon back or was it the giant squid hunting again?

Toby scanned the shoreline and the ocean. It was clear, but he heard the rumbling again. It was coming right in front of him! __What could it be?

He took a few steps backward. Just in time to see something emerge from the sand in front of him!

The being seemed to be a dark outline with two arms and two legs, a head but no tail. Despite the light from the two moons shining on it, Toby couldn't make out any other features from this creature, this living shadow.

As the being freed itself from the sand, there was another rumbling behind as four others pulled themselves from the sand as well! All of them staring at the little were-bear who looked on in horror.

Toby turned around and ran as fast as he could possibly go.

Devious was quite surprised when Toby ran to his side hugging him tightly.

“I am never ever leaving you again!" The little bear screamed.

“We did have an agreement after all Runt. I learned that it is very important to honor your agreements otherwise bad things will happen to you." Devious said to his little bear.

“I know, I know like right now!"

“Actually I was referring to being poisoned and imprisoned by a dangerous unpredictable snake." The adolescent were-creature commented.

“Devious! WALKING SHADOWS!!!" Toby squeaked.

The were-bear stuck his head out around the corner of their hideout to stare at the direction Toby had run from. Devious quietly pulled his head back in and sat down next to his little bear.

“Shadow People." He said to Toby calmly.

“SHADOW PEOPLE?!"

“Yeah Runt. Like ghouls, no one knows where they come from. Just that they like to hide in the ground and hunt in groups."

“What happens if they catch you?" Toby asked quaking.

“They will bury you alive."

(ulp!)

“Although they are quite rare and seeing one is even more rare."

“Well I saw five of them!" Toby admitted.

“Did they 'see' you?" Devious asked Toby.

The little were nodded. “All of them did."

“In that case our time on the beach is done." Devious said as he grabbed Toby by the paw and the two left their hideout, the safety of the escarpment and fled to the north.

As they were running Toby looked behind, the creatures were after them!

The beings looked completely out of place in the moonlight- walking shadows that belonged in the shadows and not the moonlight!

“Devious they are still behind us!"

“Then we better hide in the forest!" The adolescent were-creature said as they ran to the east into the Forest of Terror.

The two found a tall tree and climbed it. They rested on a limb where it met the trunk of the tree.

“Be really quiet!" Devious said as he held his little bear. They both looked downward to the forest floor.

The two stayed very quiet for a good fifteen minutes. Had the shadow people stopped following them?

They heard rustling branches, snapping twigs and muffled screams of victims as the five beings converged on their area.

Devious pointed out a crawler who had stumbled across the horde. The plant tried to grasp several of the walking shadows with its vines- but there was nothing to grab on to!

Four of the beings surrounded the walking plant then attacked it turning it dark black before pulling it into the ground. The crawler screamed all the way.

“That actually might be good for it!" Toby whispered.

“But not good for us!" Devious whispered back.

Toby looked at Devious and then at the remaining being who so casually glanced upward toward their direction.

“They are relentless!" Toby said scared.

“I think they are set on hunting us." Devious calmly said.

_“What are we going to do?" _

“We can't lead them back to the tribe no telling how many would be killed and there is no way we can fight them." Devious said as the being continued to stare at them.

“We can't fight, we can't hide from them- that leaves running." The little were concluded.

“What do you have in mind Runt?"

“Mysterious Falls." Toby said to the adolescent were-creature.

Devious looked at his little bear as if he were mad.

“Devious Pleasssseeeee?" The little bear begged. “Think about it the only way we are going to get out of this is if they stop hunting us or something starts hunting them. You said there are powerful awesome forces there right?"

The were-creature nodded.

“Hopefully something there will take them out before they get us."

Devious couldn't argue with that logic.

“Fine! But your are to follow my directions obediently and without question. Our survival will depend on it."

Toby nodded. “I won't leave your side ever again. Especially after tonight."

“Good." Devious said as he kissed Toby.

“Devious?"

“We didn't smooch at all last night so you will have to make up for that too- now." The adolescent were-creature said.

“But Devious why do we have to do that? It's weird!" Toby interjected. The little were realized what he had just asked and went silent.

“As I have said before Runt. It is for YOUR survival. With any luck you won't ever have to find out why, but given our perilous situation you just might." Devious said as he made Toby kiss him as the shadows converged on the tree.

“Devious they are climbing the tree!"

“Relax Runt. You trust me right?"

_“I do." _

“Good."

_Devious kissed Toby. The two continued their exchange as the shadow beings continued to climb their tree. _

“How close our they?" Devious said nuzzling his little bear.

“Uh they're here." Toby said gasping.

Two were on the branch limb next to Toby. Two were on the trunk of the tree next to Devious and the last was making its way up the tree to their location!

_“That should be enough. I want you to hold onto me tightly no matter what." Devious said as he finished nuzzling Toby. _

Devious picked up his little bear, throwing Toby on his back and jumped from branch to branch, limb to limb right by the surprised beings and back to the forest floor.

The two were-bears ran southward.

“Devious how far is this place?" Toby asked his 'protector.'

“Half a nights journey." The were-creature said as they continued running.

So the two started their trek to the south in hope of eluding those that were hunting them and to search for a possible exit from the dark world back into the mortal realm. Toby after what he had just experienced, heeded Deceit's advice and stayed very close to Devious. He did not want to be snagged or attacked by anything out of Devious' view.

They traveled for hours. Many, many times Toby looked behind to see where the shadow people were. Although the little bear did not see anything, he had a feeling they were being followed.

“Say Devious can I ask you something?" Toby whispered trying to lighten the mood.

_“Yeah Runt?" _

“You said that your kind is long lived."

“That's right."

“How long lived?" The little bear asked the were-creature.

“Well we can live to be about 500 of your years if we are not eaten or killed before that."

“Wow." Toby said. “How old are you?"

“Forty seven years. By your mortal standards, I am an adolescent."

“Where I come from that is middle-aged."

“Yes, yes you mortals only live to be about 80 years or so." Devious said condescendingly.

“You seem to know a lot about US mortals." The little were said to the larger were. “Why is that?"

Devious turned to his little bear in the light of the two moons. “Do you think you are the only mortal I have interacted with?"

“Probably not. You probably have spoken to many as they lay dying in the forest."

Devious nodded as they walked on.

The two walked for several hours more whispering as they were on the lookout for danger. This was the first real opportunity for Toby to travel within the dark world.

_He got a good look at this place that would be his new home if he failed to escape. Mountains, valleys, jungles, plains all dark and without sunlight. He wondered how anyone could survive in a place where it was perpetually night all of the time. How he missed daylight. A sunrise, a sunset, a cloudy day even a solar eclipse. _

_Still there was something about this place as well. It was pure, without falseness, preconceptions, contrivities and structure. It was also primal, savage and fierce. Toby thought to himself as Devious started to walk away from him. There were very few laws here save for two no mortals and survival of the fittest- no assistance programs to help the weak, under privileged or ill those who fell into that category just perished. _

There was also minimal clothing as well due to the climate. It was all ways warm. So there was no reason to wear clothing at all in his adoptive tribe's case. Toby was still trying to get used to every being, every creature in the realm seeing him as he truly looked physically. It was unnerving. But then some of the other were-creatures he had encountered looked great naked- Deception, Deceit and Even Devious, especially Devious.

“Runt! Don't fall behind. If something grabs you, I won't notice until it is too late."

“Coming." Toby said.

The two continued to walk and talk for several more hours until they two entered a large thicket of brush.

“Quiet Runt!" Devious said pushing Toby to the ground and then lying on top of him.

“What the hell?!" The little bear said before catching himself.

“Something is not quite right." The were-creature said whispering into Toby's ear. “Keep very still and be very quiet."

_The two stayed still for a moment in the tall grasses. Then several moments then five, ten and then fifth teen minutes. Toby was left to wonder what was going on and just what was Devious sensing. Did the shadow people find them? _

Just then several beasts overran their position. Four white wolves who appeared to be adolescents themselves. Two passing by just to their right, one to the left and then one directly over them. From what Toby and Devious could tell they were males, dressed in little but loin-coths and carrying spears, knives and clubs. They were also running from something.

_The four wolves paused to talk amongst themselves before they continued running. _

“Here it comes!" One of them said. “That way!" The other said.

_No sooner than they had moved on, a larger anthropomorphic rhino ran past Devious and Toby's position in hot pursuit of the the wolves. Not missing a beat. _

“Since when does a rhino hunt wolves?" Toby asked his protector.

“I think that means we are here." Devious said standing up. “Let's follow them. But at a distance."

_Toby nodded. _

_The rhino continued to pursue the four before it turned into a beam of light and split into four rhinos who set themselves on a specific wolf. _

By that time the pursued had run out of grassland and started entering a dead forest. A forest littered with bodies and remains of those foolish enough to try to enter this place.

_Devious and Toby carefully followed stopping only on the outer edges next to six tall nude trees that stood atop pile of dirt, corpses and bones. _

Toby decided to climb atop one to see if he could spot the wolves and the rhinos. When he reached the top, he did see them off in the distance.

“Runt!"

Toby looked toward the were-creature who ordered him down off the tree.

“What?" Toby said sliding down its base looking at the remains of the fallen some still clothed and others whose rotting flesh was exposing their bones.

“That is not a tree." Devious said pointing to where his little bear had been moments before.

Toby looked carefully. Where he thought he been was a large face- eyes, nose and mouth!

_Toby looked at the other five leafless trees, they weren't trees at all but some type of creatures rooted on a base of bones, flesh and dirt. _

Just then and arm appeared out of the mound grabbed its own head and launched it at the direction the wolves had run. The five other creatures did the same thing.

In the distance Devious and Toby heard screaming as apparently one of the launched heads had hit its target,

“I don't think we should go that way." Devious said.

Devious grabbed the little bear's paw and together they walked around the 'forest of the dead' very very carefully.

“It is a shame we couldn't go through." Toby said to Devious.

“If we did, that would have been death. I have a feeling that those 'things' are some type of guardian for this place." Devious said as they approached a large lone plant in the grassland they had been walking in. This plant was very bizarre in that it looked like a huge watermelon with a moving eyeball that stared at them curiously.

“Weird!" The little were-bear said staring at it.

Toby also noticed the remains of a fallen lion warrior at the base of the plant. The warrior was enveloped in an eyeball! Only his head and legs were sticking out of it.

Devious took a closer look at the dead warrior. It appeared to be a member from the lion clan they had met earlier, but not anyone they knew.

“His face... it is frozen in a scream..." Toby said.

Was the warrior dead because he tried to fight all that challenged him?

Devious quickly calculated the peril they were in.

“RUN!" Devious screamed grabbing Toby's paw.

The two ran back to the south. Toby starred over his shoulder as they were running. The large watermellon had split open into quarters all lined with eyes that started floating after them!

Another guardian? Toby thought.

As the two were-creatures ran for their lives they heard the sound of running water in the distance.

“We have to be close Devious."

The two nearly ran into a pond above it was a small cliff with water flowing out of a cave that glowed an erie white in the darkness.

_“That has to be it." The adolescent were-creature said. “and not a moment too soon we need to hide now!" _

“Why not wade through?"

“No Runt! We don't know what is in the water. It could be the last thing we ever do."

_“We go around then." Toby said grabbing Devious' paw. _

The two made their way around the pond and into a cave at the base of the falls where they hid from the floating eye balls that were 'looking' for them.

_“It is going to be quite difficult getting out of here in one piece." Devious observed. _

“I want to see where that glow is coming from the mouth of the falls." Toby added.

The two slowly walked around the maze of tunnels at the base of the waterfall. As they did they realized that they weren't the only thing in the cave.

“What is that?" Toby said staring at a large rock."

_“What is what?" Devious said joining him. _

_“I thought I saw a head on this thing." _

“It looks like a rock turtle. They inhabit the caves around these parts..." Toby's protector stopped talking mid sentence. “Hide!"

The two ducked behind the large rock turtle as a horde of insects came running by.

_Toby looked at Devious and Devious looked at Toby. _

“Those were wasps! Large wasps and they weren't flying! They were walking!" Devious exclaimed.

“Weird!" Toby said.

“We better find the passage to the mouth of the waterfall. I have a feeling if we stick around here, we will be stung and that won't be a pleasant thing."

_“The two continued to wander around the tunnels in the cave until they found a passage that lead to its mouth. _

_“A small white crystal?!" _

“Apparently that is what is illuminating the entrance here." Devious said disgusted. “Hardly worth the effort."

_“I don't know. We have a good view otherwise." Toby said pointing. “Look I can just make out the wolves." _

_Toby and Devious starred from the mouth of the falls- they could see the wolves that were running from the rhino creatures earlier. There were just two now. _

As a the two watched, the wolves kneeled at the side of the pond. One started to drink from its waters. The crystal in the cave they were standing in reacted badly to that- it sent out a beam of light which hit the wolf who screamed, balloon-swelled and shattered into pieces. His companion saw what had happened and took off running as the beam of light raced along the ground following him anxious to kill the remaining invader.

_Toby and Devious watched in amazement. _

_“I think I figured out the what is going on here." Toby said to Devious. _

_“What's that Runt?" _

“This place is not named for the waterfall."

“But it is called Mysterious Falls." Devious shot back.

“I think that it is named for what happens to the luckless who come here- they are attacked and killed; they fall to the ground dead never to be heard from again- hence the name Mysterious Falls. How literal. It was a lead that didn't lead anywhere."

Devious nodded. “So they did track us!"

_“Who?" _

“Look several paces behind the wolf."

The little bear did. Three dark beings walked toward the pond. The shadow people had followed Toby and Devious to the Mysterious Falls area!

“What happened to the other two?!" Toby asked his 'protector.'

“I think they joined the fallen?" Devious said as the beam of light, stopped chasing the wolf and fixated on three of the beings- hitting two who screamed and shattered into many dark fragments.

The third attacked the wolf. It started pulling him into the ground as rain converged on the area. As the drops hit both of them, the wolf started howling madly. The shadow creature screamed and melted into the ground.

Toby and Devious stared at each other in amazmement. Was it the rain that did that?

“Devious, the rain!"

_“The rain killed the shadow being?!" The adolescent were-creature exclaimed. _

“The rain it's red!" Toby said staring at the white wolf who was running around howling.

“We better wait until that stops. I don't want to get hit by what ever it is that eliminated our shadow problem."

“I also recommend we don't leave the way we came." Toby said to his 'friend'. “Which means we are going to encounter more of this area's creatures."

The were-creature nodded.

The two waited and waited for the red rain to end. It rained and rained some more. Eventually they decided they had better rest and recover their strength while they waited out the rain. Additionally the adolescent were-bear and the smaller were-bear had no idea what they would encounter when they tried to leave this dangerous place. Devious decided that they needed to be awake and alert just to be prepared.

The two managed to find a small tunnel off of the main chamber the crystal was located in. Its entrance was just large enough for them to enter. We will wait in here Devious said to Toby.

Wait the two did, well actually they fell asleep in their carefully selected hiding place. Hours passed.

_“Well look at what I found!" A voice behind Devious said as he and Toby stirred. “This trip was worthwhile after all!" _

It was one of the wolves Toby and Devious had been observing earlier. He appeared to crazed. Maybe from the rain or was it the many wasp stingers sticking out from his legs?

“You two appear to be very close." The wolf said noticing that Devious was sleeping on Toby. “You must have worked together to make it this far. Good job!" The wolf said laughing.

“We saw what befell your comrades." Toby said to the white wolf whose body looked like it had a bunch of fresh scars from his experiences. “I am sorry."

“As am I but I am not coming away from our trials without something to show for it. Malice, Malicious and Insidious would have wanted it that way." The white wolf said pushing Devious back down on to Toby as he tried to get up at spear point. “Petrify him." The creature ordered Devious.

“You know about that?" The adolescent were-creature said to his attacker.

“My kind are aware that your kind possess that ability. I have never seen it in person but have heard that it is legendary and that cub would make a nice trophy! Now Petrify him!"

_“Or?" The adolescent were-creature asked his attacker. _

“I will kill you both. Either way I am taking him!" The creature said pushing Devious' face right into Toby's.

Toby was horrified. The crazed wolf-creature was pitting him and Devious against each other.

Devious gently nuzzled his little bear on the nose reassuring him that it was alright.

“PETRIFY HIM NOW!" The wolf creature ordered.

Devious did as ordered- he took a deep breath filling his lungs completely and exhaled hard onto Toby.

The little bear gasped as a loud thumping noise accompanied Devious' attack. Toby remembered what Surly had told him about the were-bear's final attack as he wondered what turning into stone would feel like. It felt weird like a million small pinpricks touching his eyes, nose, mouth- his face the sensation then spread out from there moving down his neck to his stomach, groin, legs and back.

_“Move!" The wolf said swatting Devious off of Toby. “I want to see this!" _

_The adolescent were-bear was knocked back into the main chamber of the cave as the creature hunched over Toby who was writhing from the million pin pricks sensation that had enveloped his body. _

Toby then stopped as the pain subsided and looked up at the wolf.

“Nothing happened!" Toby and the Wolf exclaimed in unison.

_Devious had to act now before the wolf could attack his 'friend'. He charged knocking the stronger beast off of his little bear and into the back of the cave. _

_Toby watched the two struggle. It appeared that the wolf had the upper paw because he was larger and stronger than Devious. Uh Oh! That also meant that if that creature won he and Devious were as good as dead. _

Toby looked around for something, anything he could use. He picked up the wolf's spear as he and Devious continued to wrestle on the floor of the cave. Ultimately the stronger of the two- the wolf pinned Devious.

Toby saw his opening! He jabbed the point of the spear right into the wolf's backside.

_“AUGH!!" _

_“That hurt!" The creature exclaimed. _

“Then don't attack us! Leave us be!" Toby said growling.

That was the distraction Devious needed. He bit his attacker on the fore arm hard. In response the creature headbutted the adolescent were-bear while Toby attacked from the rear stabbing him again and again.

Stricken the white wolf at last rolled off of Devious and started writhing in pain from the wounds he received to his side, backside and left forearm as he stumbled into the main cave.

“Devious!" Toby said running to his protector. “Are you alright?"

_“I have felt better." He said as the little bear helped him up. _

The two walked into the main cave by the crystal and the waterfall where their attacker was doubled over in pain.

“We need to leave before he recovers!" Toby said grabbing Devious' paw.

“No we don't."

Devious pulled Toby over to their writhing attacker and sat down. He motioned his little bear to do the same.

Toby looked at Devious as if he had suddenly turned insane.

“It hurts!! It hurts!! AHHH!!" The white wolf screamed over and over.

“That's because you are experiencing the first change." Devious said. “I bit you- hard. Now you will become one of us! Oh if I were you I would FIGHT the pain otherwise it will kill you."

Wait a minute that didn't quite sound right Toby thought remembering what Devious said to him during his own transformation. But before he could object, he felt Devious' paw on his shoulder directing him to watch tonight's main event.

In the light of the white crystal, the white wolf continued to moan and scream on the floor of the cave as he fought hard against his transformation. It didn't help. His fur turned brown, his paws thickened growing wider and larger, his face rounded at the same time his snout shortened and his tail started retreating into his body. It was at that time the wolf felt the most pain he had ever experienced in his life! He stopped writhing and struggling and remained still- dying mid transformation.

Devious arose to his paws to inspect the remains of his and Toby's assailant. The beast that laid on the floor of the cave before them was not quite wolf and not quite bear. But was most definitely dead.

“Don't hold any animosity toward him." The adolescent were-creature said.

“Why? He attacked us!" The little bear responded.

“Yes, he did. It was most likely some type of initiation ceremony he and the others were performing for his tribe. I think that was why they were here. Survive the Mysterious Falls and gain their warrior status."

_“How barbaric and ghastly!" Toby remarked. _

“I think it was the red rain or maybe the wasps stings that turned him mad."

“And he wanted something to justify his failure." Toby added.

“Unfortunately he and his comrades all perished." Devious said looking over the remains. _“I noticed that you held your own for your first fight."_

“Devious why didn't I succumb to your attack?" Toby asked as he inspected the adolescent were-creature for wounds.

“You haven't figured that out yet Runt?"

Toby thought for a minute. Before it hit him.

“Our smooching! That is why you made me kiss you every night?! You were desensitizing me! If you were ever forced to use your attack on me- you wanted to make sure it would be ineffective." Toby said as Devious continued to stare at their attacker's remains.

“Very good Runt." Devious said. “Now come here."

Toby did as ordered. Devious turned his little were-bear toward their now dead attacker.

Toby was perplexed by Devious's actions. He was even more so when the were-creature walked behind him, knelt down and started massaging his legs, thighs and butt before embracing him from behind.

“Devious! What are you doing?!"

“You are going to mark our kill." The were-bear responded as he started playing with Toby's scrotum.

“Why?" Toby asked moaning.

“It is a tradition within our clan." Devious said as he coaxed his little bear's penis from its protective sheath and started masturbating him.

“Tradition?" Toby chuffed during Devious' administrations.

“In life or death combat we mark our kills. Well when it isn't for food."

“But why?"

“If any of his kind come searching for him and manage to find the remains, I want them to know who he fought and lost to."

“OOOOHHHH!!!!" Toby moaned as he started to splatter his warm bear jizz.

_“Good Runt." Devious said as he aimed Toby's swollen member as the little bear continued to ejaculate. _

Devious coated the dead wolf's face, chest, and arms with Toby's goo. He then let the little were recover while walked over to the other end of their dead attacker.

Carefully aiming at the corpse, the adolescent were-creature brought himself to full erection and then ejaculated on the wolf's stomach, groin, legs and paws.

“It looks like the rain has stopped also. Now lets leave- carefully." Devious said.

“That is still gross. What does the clan do if there are more than three attackers?"

“We still mark our prey but it doesn't have to be in the way we just did."

“Why did you mark him in that way then?" Toby asked the adolescent were-bear.

“It just felt like it."

_Carefully the pair back tracked through the complex of tunnels surrounding the waterfall dodging the hordes of walking wasps and rock turtles that lived there ultimately reaching the exit. _

“Finally." Toby said feeling his tummy rumble. “Which way now?"

“We should not go the way we came. I have no desire to see the creatures we ran from. Let's continue south a little ways until we clear this area then walk around its boundaries. We should at least be able to avoid the numerous dangers on our way back."

_“But we will run into more danger won't we? It may be worse than what we had faced previously." Toby protested. _

Devious said nothing as he placed his paw on his 'friend's' shoulder directing him were to walk.

_The area immediately surrounding the waterfall was a tall grassland like they had seen before. Carefully the two made their way through it. Toby quietly moved aside tall cattails and other plants trying not to make any sound. _

Devious followed the little were trying to keep Toby in his sight at all times. Toby suddenly stopped in his tracks and gasped.

Devious ran over to him to see what he was looking at. There in front of them was the head from one of the mound creatures they had seen north of the waterfall attacking the wolves. The head was the size of of a 10' x 10' room easily. Inside its mouth was one of the wolf warriors the pair had seen being attacked by the mound creatures earlier. The upper torso had been clamped down by the creature's jaws. the rest of the wolf's body was in the creatures mouth save for its legs and paws.

Devious studied the remains perversely another of the wolf clan had lost their life in this dangerous, hostile place.

“Devious!" Toby called out to his protector.

The adolescent were-creature turned has gaze from the dead wolf back to Toby and then to the mound creature who had opened its eyes and was staring at them curiously.

“We're leaving!" Devious said grabbing Toby's paw as they started running.

“That thing... it was still alive!" Toby said horrified.

The two continued traveling south but unfortunately the grassland turned into a large swamp ahead of them. As they approached the edge a large serpentine creature rose from the swamp ahead of them. It had to be at least 50' tall, hooded with very large fangs.

“I think we should travel west... eh Devious?"

“Agreed."

The two slowly backed away from the swamp snake and proceeded west through the remnants of the grasslands.

The forces the two encountered leaving Mysterious Falls were quite awesome indeed. The two had to dodge huge snakes, two headed dogs, gargoyles and large land dwelling mollusks as they traveled west. Many times the two were almost discovered.

After what seemed to be hours the two cleared the grassland and re-entered the prairie. From there they turned north and started the long trip home.

“Devious are you sure we cleared the Mysterious Falls area?"

“I am sure." The adolescent were-creature said.

_“How sure?" _

“Pretty sure."

“So we can let our guard down?"

“Well not that sure."

“Then we either keep going or risk it and ask someone." Toby said.

“Ask someone what?" A voice in front of the two wear-bears said. They had been discovered!

“Who's there?" Devious asked brushing Toby behind him.

“I." Said the voice as a figure rose up from the ground to stand in front of Devious and Toby.

It a appeared to be a naked grey two legged goat slightly taller than Toby but about couple feet shorter than Devious. But what was even weirder was that it's eyes were glowing.

“Please sir could you tell us where we are right now?" Toby said peeking out from behind Devious trying very hard not to stare at his protector's magnificent ass in the light of the moons.

The goat creature walked forward as it responded. “Mysterious Falls."

“Geez how much longer before we leave this place?!" Devious asked exasperated.

“It is easy to get in, but quite difficult to leave." The goat creature with the glowing eyes responded.

“Uh why is that?" Toby asked stepping in front of Devious.

“Because there are awesome forces here that like to devour and feed on the unfortunate, the luckless and simple minded stupid enough to come here."

“You mean like you?" Devious said.

“You found me out." The creature said.

“Toby prepare to run." Devious hissed.

The little bear decided to question the mysterious naked being further.

“Please sir my 'friend' and I are two of whom you speak, dumb enough to come here looking for an exit from this realm. Now we just wish to leave." Toby pleaded trying to reason with the being.

“ There is no exit in this place and no exit from this place." The being said as he continued to approach the two. “ Only death."

Toby continued to engage the goat creature while motioning with his right paw to Devious.

“Please 'I'. Please let us leave this place." Toby pleaded.

“No. I have not had my fill of blood tonight. My brethren got to feed on the wolves and the shadows while I missed out." The goat said staring at the two were-bears.

_Toby was intrigued. _

“Wow, you mean the dangerous creatures that inhabit this area. You are all related?"

“Yes." The goat creature said.

“I suppose you could tell stories." The little were said. “How many of you are there?"

“Many."

“Where did you come from and how did you manage to end up here?"

It was at this point the grey two legged goat with the glowing eyes stopped answering their questions as it continued to walk toward them. Toby realized their time was up.

“Now!" Toby said to Devious.

The adolescent were-bear ran toward the goat creature and executed his petrification attack exhaling hard on it. There was a large thumping noise as the creature shrieked and was turned to stone.

“Let's go now Runt!" Devious said grabbing his little bear's paw.

_The two ran as far as they could as fast as they could. _

_Toby looked behind him as he and Devious continued northward. The stone goat creature dissipated into three balls of red, white and green lights that started moving toward them. _

“Devious it is still alive!" The little were said as they ran for their lives.

“Just shut up and run!"

The two ran for another mile or so as the three balls of light suddenly which seemed to be gaining on them started to slow down and then finally stop!

“I think it reached the edge of its territory!" Toby said. “Thank the stars!"

The two continued to stare as two of the balls of light turned around and started to travel south again. The third used its last remaining energy to move right next to Toby materializing into the goat creature again.

“ACK!!!" Toby screamed.

_The creature gently touched the little bear on his left leg. _

“Kill you next time!" It said as it faded away.

“What did it mean by that?" Devious asked kneeling next to Toby.

“We should never ever not ever come back here." The little bear said to his 'protector.'

“You got that right." The adolescent were-creature responded.

“I think it knew it was past its limits, its boundary and used it last remaining strength to attack us." Toby said.

“That was a weak attack. We are still alive." The adolescent were-bear said.

“It couldn't attack us with its full power." Toby said as he started convulsing. “Instead it just focused on me."

Devious stared at his little bear's wound in disbelief as he continued convulsing.

“Devious!" Toby said as he stretched his paw toward his 'friend' as he collapsed on the ground.

Story Seven Ended

(Well damn! A lot of big reveals in that one.) It was obvious there is no way in hell Toby could have survived Mysterious Falls without Devious. No doubt that experience has drawn those two even closer together now. I wondered what was going to happen next?

I checked the time, it was now late afternoon, I would have just enough time to read the next chapter before my lady bear arrived back at the lair, if I hurried. It was at that point, I started admiring the author of these stories whoever they were.

To Be Continued....