From high upon an elm tree branch, by the light of twilight clear, he spied the playful world of the forest below, bathed as it was in the foetal moonbeams. Leaves fell in spiralling circles, carving their way through air and breeze. Hunting and scavanging small mammals sniffed their ways along familiar paths to find those berries they had hid long ago. Crackles and splinters of the dead leaves rolled a single word off the tongue - 'autumn' - and with that word came a fresh chill wind, a creeping darkness and something of the mad to the edge of the chaos within ... there.

There was the blood red and stark white of the Red Forest, an expanse of woodland so wild and unpredictable that nature had no real claim to such adjectives. The scittering creatures that survived at the edge of the ugly world within were holding on by the skin of their canines and the tips of their claws. Amongst the dangers that threatened them were not just other hunters, but also carniverous plants and spells so old that Drys herself feared them. Drys of course, for the uneducated being, the tree goddess who had made both faun and earth spirit, two fine examples of creature that were epitome of beauty and style.

Veridian opened his mouth and emitted something between a yawn and an uncompromising hiss. Leaning back up to his paws and no longer in his lying position he twisted around, before bounding back down to the ground. He used the thickening branches like stepping stones, hopping and climbing down one at a time, though it was in such an expert way that it took him little time at all. He noticed that here, at least, the elm tree looked like am elm, with its proud broad leaves and bushy crown. There was a tinge of the red to many leaves, but this could definitely be down to the time of year and not just the whims of the maddened forest.

Gathering his wits for the last, and largest, bound, he landed in a pile of dying foliage, and rolled until he came to the hooves and paws of his waiting companions. There were more now, five in total of claw and roar, dark of eye and light of fur. Amongst them was his white-coated 'sister' and his faunish beloved, with a definite degree of separation between them. They stood at opposite ends of the odd group, caught between love for him and loyalty to themselves; all awaiting the fox's decision.

The golden eyes darted from impatient rabbit, to temperate hind, to great bear, to panting wild dog and frustrated faun. A grin spread across his face as he looked at the company he had chosen, that he had gathered, that he had persuaded to come here, to this place, at this time.

He paused, before speaking.