LIAR, liar! If we're keeping score..

After a relaxing afternoon dozing under a shady willow tree by a slow-moving stream, you're quite ready to go home. But it seems you've stayed out too long: mist is starting to roll in, and you can hardly see twenty feet ahead of you. Above you the skies have turned murky, and the only thing that you can see through the fog is the glimmering outline of the moon. A movement to your left distracts you from staring at it, however, and you glance that way.

There, under another tree, a creature nudges a young girl. You can just make out the shapes: the creature is about a third of the height of the girl, who struggles to her feet, gripping the creature's back as she rises. A pebble falling into the stream startles you, and you leap - the fog makes everything seem far more sinister - turning half a circle in the air. As you land, you misplace a foot and skid a little way down the bank. Immediately, the creature looks your way: you can see a glimmer of an eye, and, what's even stranger, you can see a blue glow from under its right eye.

Carefully, so as not to disturb them further, you rise to your feet once more; but it's too late: the girl has seen you as well. Now you can see them moving towards you; hear the soft rustle of the grass underfoot as they walk. The eerie glow from under the creature's - now you can see it's a Lupe's - eye makes you uneasy, and you shift nervously, but don't fall over again. You watch them warily, until you can make them out as more than just shapes, lit up by the blue triangle under the Lupe's - shockingly pink - eyes.

Finally they are upon you, but all thoughts of conversation have been dashed. You can't think of a single thing to say. The girl watches you intently, waiting for your reaction to their appearance, but the only thing that's happening - at least, that which you can feel happening - is the colour draining from your face. In an attempt to ease the atmosphere, you smile weakly, your foot playing at the ground.

Surprisingly, the Lupe speaks first.Hello, he whispers, and his tail waves slightly. As if to further prove his offer of friendship he raises a paw, and a grin plays across his face. His paw, it seems, has a trail of dust flying after it. Thinking it'd be the polite thing to do, you take the proffered paw, and shake it. That's no dust: it feels warm to touch, and filters through your fingers before evaporating into nothingness. It fills you with a warm feeling, and your smile becomes fuller.

He's quite harmless, the girl smiles, and you remember that she's there. You tear your eyes from the extraordinary Lupe, and look at the girl, the grin plastered across making you feel suddenly silly, even though she wears one that mirrors your own.We've been watching you, him and I. You took our favourite tree.

Dumbfounded, you start to apologise, but the girl waves a hand.It's nothing, she assures you.Just try not to do it again, otherwise Lunuhr might have to attack next time. As she mentions his name, Lunuhr flicks an ear and looks up at you. You half-expect him to say something, but he stays quiet. Nothing comes from his mouth. Most Lupes would have had something to say by now, but not this one. You register that this isn't the first odd thing about him, but you notice the fog clearing around you, ever-so-slightly.

As your smile falters, you take a step backwards, then another - but you step into something furry. Confused you turn, and, lo and behold, Lunuhr stands behind you, gazing up at you with those pink eyes. The girl steps forwards, mimicking your actions, and holds her hand out.You're here now, stranger, she murmurs, her smile still fixed in place, but now it's cold. You shrink away from her hand, clasping your hands to your chest, and whimper slightly. But she reaches out and takes a hand, and an unfamiliar tug behind your belly button shocks you. You're being moved...

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The tugging slowly comes to a stop, but you keep your eyes tightly shut until the girl releases your hand. Even so, you're reluctant to open your eyes. Where might you be? How did you get here? The pressure from behind your legs, where Lunuhr was standing, suddenly disappears, and you fall backwards, landing hard on soft ground. Once more you press your eyes shut, but move your hands around, feeling the ground. It's gentle against your hands, and slightly damp, as if it's dewy grass - from early morning, perhaps, or after.. mist...

You jerk your eyes open, looking around furtively, shifting to see behind you. To your left is a willow tree; to your right is a stream. In front of you stands the girl with her Lupe; she with her arms folded, he with his head down. You look between the two, wondering what game they're playing.H-how -- you start to ask how, what, why; but once again, the girl interrupts you.

It was Lunuhr. Her simple explanation offers no consolation, so, with a sigh, she elaborates.