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It was early morning as Dusty Rose rolled out of bed to glance outside her parent's home to find it drizzling. With a groan she rolled back over looking to go back to bed before the shrilled voice of her mother called to her from another part of the large den she shared with them for the few days she was visiting.

'Rose, Time to get up. You don't want to be late.' her mother called from the larger meeting den.

Dusty as she wished her parents would call her, she didn't take to the 'rose' bit of her name these days. She was Dusty the ever enthusiastic. Dusty the take no prisoners in hide and tag games with her friends. NO, she was just Rose to her parents. Their flower that had yet to blossom into a full grown Doe, while she had ages ago. Their little rosebud. Groaning she called out to her mother.

"Mom! Call me Dusty! Dus-ty! I don't go by Rose anymore"

'You are Rose in this Den. Now rise and shine, you and your friends are supposed to be going to the Grandfather Tree. If you don't get up now you will be left behind.' Came her mother's voice as it seemed she was fussing around with something. 'Also ain't it little Dove's birthday?'

Dusty's eyes snapped open as it dawned on her that she had forgotten. CRAP! She had forgotten that it was Dove's birthday, well it was more her and Turtle's birthdays. They were twins, but Turtle was a keep to himself buck while Dove was one for company. Shaking the sleep from her head the rose colored doe raced from where she had been and towards the edge of the den, she only stopped to give her mom a peck on the cheek.

"Thanks for the reminder mom. I'll be back when we're all back!" Dusty called leaving her mother to chuckle as she raced off.

Crap, crap, crap. Dusty raced head long through Homewood towards the meeting spot. Along the way she stopped to grab some flowers that had been Dove's favorite when they were growing up. She hoped that they still were. When she reached the spot, three other Nouls stood waiting for her. Two Does and a Buck. Seemed Dove had dragged Turtle along though he looked ready to just vanish into the trees and not be seen again.

"Sorry, sorry. I over slept." Dusty panted as she looked at the other whom giggles, Turtle just rolled his eyes. "Shall we go then?"

The three gave nods before they all took off through the barrens, reaching the tree as a group took little time as they thought of it as a race, though Turtle lagged behind like always. Dusty surged a head as they crested the banks and stood panting, sweat dropping down her coat.

"I win!" she proclaimed as Dove and the other Doe laughed and Turtle snorted approaching the tree.

Forming a line, Dusty lead the way to greet the large tree, her heart still racing. Excitement kept her from running away, they all had dreamed of this and now... It was time!

WC: 527

The tree faded away as well as her friends, she had wished them all luck. She could only hope that Turtle didn't become a fusspot and bolt the minute the rest started their quests. "You'd better still be there Turtle, or I swear I'm going to beat you with one of your books until you concede." Dusty said as she took a look around to where the tree had sent her.

The Blackbriar Bog, Really? The stench of the place made her gag as she had never smelt anything so foul. Using her tail to cover her muzzle, the hairs making her sneeze and breath in more of whatever the bog was. The stench even made her eyes water, holding her breath wasn't an option as she stood there and glance around.

"Why here of all places? This place stinks!" she muttered adding mentally, 'in more ways then one.'

Leaving the small spot she had spawned on, the water sloshing and the mud near instantly sucking her hooves down into his maw. Yanking a hoof back she retreated back to the moss spot she had been standing on.

"The sooner I get through this be better, I can only hope the rest have better luck then me." Shaking her head, Dusty caught sight of something in the distance, the large looming thing made her jump backwards.

Tail raising up over her back as her rump slapped against the water at the edge off her mossy perch. What the hell was that? She hadn't heard of anything HUGE in the bog, not that Turtle had read, before. Great, now she was thinking back to the cowardly buck whom always had a nose in a book or scroll like his father. Bookworms the both of them. Grimacing as she pulled her now muddy rump off the moss, she leaped to another mossy perch.

"Might as well get a closer look at this thing.." Dusty huffed as she leaped closer, stopping on another perch she was somewhat closer.

The fog of the bog was ever thicker here and obscured her vision even more, or it could have been the poisonous air that was effecting her. She really was starting to regret her choice in quick breakfasts. Stomach rolling she held it in as she peered upward. What seemed like claws reached out towards her, but didn't move from where they were. Glancing around at the ground around her she found small pebble. Nosing it over to be in front of her. With a hoof she kicked the pebble and leaped backwards.

Water and mud splashed up her sides as she tried to track the small stone. She lost sight of it, but she did hear it clink of something. Frowning as whatever it was didn't move, she pressed forwards, dragging her hooves from the muck, around her previous perch and closer to the hulking object. When she drew closer she noted the sickly green color of what could only have been bones. The thing was strung out along the limbs of a skeletal tree. Bones of some ancient creature caught up in growth that wouldn't let it go. amidst the middle of the tree was the skull, jaws agape as if in a silent cry, though was it truly quiet?

Somewhere in the back of her mind, or was it her ears? It was hard to tell as Dusty stood stock still as some monstrous roar or guttural cry of pain rang through her bones, tail hairs standing on end, Dusty Rose could just stand and stare.

What the hell!?!

That is until the tree would release her to the waking world, only that sound still reverberated around her own bones...

WC: 618