"Run away!" cried out Mia and Maya, as they scampered down one of the many hallways of the Moonlight Castle. They were soon joined by a laughing Nox, and a frowning Anasi as the friends ran away from a Bright Elf female in a vibrant green and red robe. Of whom was tasked with taking care of the children whilst Sarah was out shopping with the Elven chefs.

At that time, they were told they would be given a bath, which caused a game of Cat and Mouse, with the children as the latter. For although the twins and Arachne did not mind being bathed by others, the hybrid still disliked such a thing, and held the desire to scamper away from the Elf. Of whom was currently sitting down and panting heavily from running all over the castle.

"They said it would be difficult," muttered the Elf as she wiped her oblong face with a pink kerchief as she watched their tails disappear around the corner, "but I didn't think it would be this bad." Soon enough, she did push herself up, and peaked around the corner just in time to see nine, dark tails disappear into a room guarded by two of the many old styled Living Armours.

Of which caused her to slink forwards with some curiosity, as she noted the odd scent of humidity and grass wafted into her nose. "What's this?" she wondered aloud, coming across an open door which led into a jungle-like world within the Midnight Castle. However, there was no such thing upon this plane, only a few trees within the gardens. Some of which everyone was not allowed unless they had some sort of protection around them. For that garden in particular was the Ageless's own sanctuary, and contained nearly all known poisonous plants within.

At first, she did sigh with some relief, as the thought of the children becoming trapped with no real way out eased her somewhat, but the room which contained this great jungle caused her eyes to widen greatly. For it seemed to stretch endlessly onwards as the Elven woman continued to stare at the world before her. However, she did snap out of her fascination with it all, as her eyes did note a scene of three children frantically chewing on a dew coated vine which tangled one of the twins, of whom was whining constantly. For such a thing had wrapped itself around one of her hind legs.

"Wait! I can help," she called out, moving to intercept the friends. Of whom each whipped their head in the Elf's general direction with widened eyes, and turned back to freeing the girl-child who was trapped with more urgency.

However, upon reaching not two metres from the children, did they free the little kitsune and bounded forth, deeper into the jungle. "Wait," cried out the female, who then leaned up against a nearby tree with a few tears beading her eyes. "Why are they running away from me?" This inquiry was silent, and was kept to herself as sweat fell in streams down her face and back.

*****

"Did we lose her?" panted Maya as the four friends huddled within a hollowed out log Anasi had found.

"I think so," whispered the Arachne as he peeked outside , "I don't see her, in any case."

"Yay!" crowed the twin, as she slumped forward onto the back of Nox as her sister clung to his front.

"Are you okay, Mia?" asked the hybrid with great concern, whilst he pet her head slowly.

"That was so sceh-wee," she muttered into his chest fur, of which was being nuzzled by her person. In her eyes were tears, as she had never before experienced such an ordeal like that.

"Pat, pat, pat," came his reply as he did his best to comfort her whilst patting her back, "It's okay, and you're okay, right?"

"Muu."

"So? Why are we here, Nox?" wondered aloud Anasi, who crossed his arms over his dark coloured, bare chest, "Both of them," his left hand waved at the twins, "said to run, and now we're here, but why?"

"It's bath time," chimed in Mia, whose ears perked up as she spoke aloud. Which led to the young Arachne to only see those appendages standing tall whilst they moved as her muzzle rubbed against the chest of their male friend with some affection, "Nox doesn't like bath time, so we ran away from the scary lady."

"'Scary Lady'?" his expression was inquisitive as he turned towards the hybrid, "What 'Scary Lady'?"

"The Elf that was chasing us, didn't you see?" mewed Maya as she pushed her body off of the back of their friend to turn around and exaggerate the size of the female that was chasing their persons.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

At this point, Anasi sighed heavily as his right hand lightly palmed his own face, then shook his head slowly as though he could not fathom the stupidity of it all. To which the others simply turned to stare at him with large eyes, perked ears, and heads tilted towards their left shoulder. This led to his hand being slowly dragged off his face, as he sighed once more, "So? What are your plans this time? Are we going to wait, escape, or fight back?"

However, the moment he voiced the third option, did he notice the mistake. For just as he said the two words, "fight back", Nox's eyes lit up with a bright flash of ocean blue colours, as his mind whirled into motion. Of which was the creation of a few childish weapons that would be used against the Elf that was to have sent them to the bathhouse.

*

"Why Do I get myself talked into these sorts of messes?" grumbled Anasi as he sat in his own part of a tree, whereas Nox and Maya sat upon another branch a little farther ahead of his person. In the pair's paws were small orbs made of mud and sludge from a nearby riverbank. Upon either side of them, however, were sturdy webs holding two piles of said mud orbs which were to be used as ammo for their plan in ambushing the Elf.

Of whom was to be lured into position by way of Mia, who was happily hopping around on the jungle's floor below. Where she tried to catch a few of the random butterflies which flapped around her head. Yes. It was quite comical, and Nox and Maya would have joined her, if they weren't so engrossed in their plans of pelting the Elf with mud.

As to the Arachne's part? Well, we was given the task of spreading out his web over the head of the poor female as this all occurred. Of which he could not help, but feel pity for.

"Shh," hushed the hybrid as his ears perked up, and swiveled towards some rustling to their immediate right, far below. The tails of the pair did swish with barely contained excitement, as they watched the supposed caretaker walk out into the opening where Mia was too engrossed in trying to catch the butterflies that fluttered about her.

"Now!" he cried out, as both himself and Maya pelted the poor woman with a barrage of mud orbs down upon her person. Of whom covered her head with her arms whilst yelping at the sudden onslaught of mud and sludge from high above.

Yes. This caught the attention of Mia, who then scampered away with a giggle, in order to focus more on the pretty insects which led her away from the ambush. Of course, once she was away, did Anasi release his own webbing upon the poor female before them. However, he noted, too late, that it was not the Elven female that they ran away from, but a Wolfwoman in a dress that changed into every colour imaginable. What is more, her own fur and hair were a bright red, as opposed to their normal, ever changing selves. Which meant she was very, very displeased by this turn of events.

"Nox," her voice came out so sweetly, that the hybrid and Kitsune paused in their joyous ambush, which quickly turned their demeanor into one of a more sickening despair, "I love you dearly, son, but right now I am very displeased with you." To which he did his best to hide among the soft, green leaves of the jungle tree just as a bright, red eye glared up at their persons.

Whereupon they did whine and mew greatly as they slowly made their way down. Of course, the Arachne joined them with a pained expression, whilst Mia slowly crawled out from underneath a bush from somewhere with her ears flat against her head, and her tails tucked up against her belly. Yes. The hybrid and Maya had the same bodily expression as she did, whilst the other rubbed his left arm slowly as his eyes stared at the ground to his immediate left.

"Anasi," the Goddess's voice was sickly sweet at this point, as though she was barely holding back her temper, "I am deeply disappointed in you. You're supposed to be smarter than this, and are the voice of reason for them."

"Yes, ma'am. Sorry ma'am," came his soft reply.

"As for the rest of you," her attention turned towards the trio who mewed pitifully up at her, whilst the twins nuzzled themselves under Nox's body, "you three are supposed to take a bath at this time, but because of your antics, I get that honour. Understand?"

"Yes, Mama," replied a deflated hybrid who knew he went a little too far with his antics.