It was early morning, the sun just beginning to warm the plains, and only half the group was awake yet. In the horizon facing the plains, a dust cloud could be seen forming and growing as it advanced from left to right, but growing closer. As it did, the ground rumbled and shook, and the more keen-sighted might be able to see what was a stampede of tonu racing across the plains.

And at the very front, although loosing ground to the rampaging beasts, ran a lean figure of sandy colors, almost invisible against the golden grass of the plains except for a bright blue stripe across her back, and blue hair. She ran, and as the first tonus passed closer to her, she jumped and swayed to keep out of their paths.

Puarrel lifted his head blearily. He'd been sleeping, but the rumbling had woken him sufficiently and he was now blinking in the general direction of the sound. "Whazzarghhug?"

Spartoz sat quietly beside his sister as he looked around boredly, he really didn't need sleep and was already aware of everything around as he heared something near by as she stood walking over towards the sound and seeing the dust cloud and the Tonus. He then spotted the Xweetok running from them "Oh...no..." He muttered.

Tropicannaa ran in zig zag as the tonus passed her by, and then fliped in a semi-circle, sudenly jumping onto one of the tonus as they raced by her. Hanging on to it's mane, she looked up, now above the level of the grass, and spotted the group of xweetoks at the edge of the plains, in the pasage towards te swamps. Waving, she then looked around. The tonu were circling, they had no intention of going towards the swamps, so she decided this was for the best. She took her bearings and leaped from the one tonu to the next, in acrobatic leaps that led her slowly to the edge of the stampede.

Spartoz kept where he was watching amazed and hopping none of the Tonu's would come any closer to the groupready to attack any that did his eyes though, kept closly on the strange Xweetok.

Puarrel was on his paws now. He was alarmed. He'd nevefr seen so many Tonu at once, but he was familiar enough with them to know how dangerous this was. Then he saw the xweetok in their midst and barked, trying to spook the Tonu in the other direction.

Anna's aiming was clockwork as she expertly jumpe from one tonu to the next, the tonu were now veering farther from the group, as she jumped to the ground, racing away from them, towards the group of xweetoks. One tonu was charging perpendicular to her, and she noticed it, slowing, to let it pass. But instead, the tonu veered to charge towards her. She backed up, tail swishing as she faced it.

Spartoz noticed the one Tonu facing her and worryed he quickly ran towards it and Ana.

Puarrel was barking frantically now, hopping up on his back legs with alarm before dashing toward her as well. She needed help, there was no way one xweetok could take down a Tonu!

Anna's eyes flicked to Spartoz, the back at the tonu as it raced closer, she braced herself, and as the tonu came nearer, she bunched her back legs, springing off the floor, her front paws the last to leave the ground as she did a complicated cartwheel, jumping over the tonu's lowered horn, feet landing for a second on it's back as she jumped off it, landing on her feet on the other side.

She winced, but brushed off her fur, as she turned around to watch the tonus racing off. She sighed in relief, turning to the two who had run towards her, smiling slightly.

Are you ok?" Spartoz asked worryed but amazed at what she had just done his eyes looking at the Tonu as it left.

Puarrel's panted, his tongue out like a dog's. The sudden shift from sleep to activity was more than he was used to. He wagged his tail, eyes wide with awe. He'd just fallen for this stranger and her incredible acrobatics. "That was incredible!" he barked.

Anna smiled slightly, "Thanks, yes, I think I'm ok." She said, standing as she checked herself, her left hind leg made her wince as she put weight on it, "Just a sprained anckle... nnothing too bad, all things considered." Her voice was carefee and vibrant as ocean-blue eyes sparkled merrily at the two, "Name's Tropicannaa, you can just call me Anna, though, and this is BaoBao.." A painted white mask with yellow eyes looking out popped out from behind her head, where the petpet had been holding on for dear life. Bao jumped off her back, and bowed to the two.

Spartoz lookefd at her still amazed at what had just happened "My name is Spartoz, Nice to meet you." He said then looking at her ankle "You shouldn't put weight on that...

Puarrel wagged at her again, eying her ankle. He sniffed her worriedly. "You're sure? I'm Puarrel," He studied her. "Whatare you doing out here?!" He was amazed that she'd gotten away som unscathed. He would've been a greasy smear by now.

Anna laughed, "Well, I wasn't really planning on being chased by that company, but I think Bao's music woke them up, they led us on quite a chase..." She looked at her anckle, and nodded, "Yeah, I'll keep the weight off it for a while..."

Come on, you should sit down" Spartoz said glad she atleast agreed of keeping weight off of it. "Wait...your petpet plays music?!"

Puarrel was watching her, still wagging. He had nothing really to say to such an incredible declaration, but he did want to stick around.

Anna sat as he asked, nodding, "Yes, he helps me practice in the mornings with his music." Bao nodded, taking a long instrument off his back, it looked rather weird, not like any normal instrument, and showed it to the two. "It's called a berimbao, and it's music helps time myself."

Practice...time...?" Spartoz said sitting down looking at Ana then her petpet and its insterment confused "I'm lost..."

Puarrel leaned forward, sniffing the instrument. He sniffed Bao, too, for good measure.

Anna grinned slightly, "You saw my acrobatics back with the tonus, it's called capoeira. I suppose the best way to show is actually doing some..." She nodded at Bao, who began playing the instrument. She let the rhythm beat for a few seconds before sitting up and started dacing around Bao, always careful to not let her left hind leg touch the ground for more than a few seconds.

Spartoz watched her amazed but kept an eye on her ankle worryed she would make it worse.

Puarrel cocked his head, interested. This should be good. He wagged again, encouragingly. He was unconsciously bobbing to the music.

Anna watched them as she twirled around in the air, then came to a stop, as Bao let the music stop. It had not been more than two minutes, but Anna inhaled deeply, trying to hide the fatigue she felt. "Well..." She said breathlessly, "And that's pretty much what woke the tonus..."

Spartoz nodded "It makes sense, but you are very good at what you do. Please though rest now" He said worryed.