Grumpy and Grams parked their vehicles and got out. All five of the team got their bracelets set and saw the trackers were active.
“Seems Thief really did update it. Now if we’re in trouble we can find one another.” Funshine smiled as he got his bow ready. Grams made sure the knives were still firmly attached in their holder. Grumpy led the way, Bright and Lotsa on the outer edges with Funshine bringing up the rear, Grams in the middle.
“Ok team, you’ll have to split up. I’d suggest two groups at least. Also, if Void appears either smoke bomb and escape or use your stare and skirt around him while he's stuck in place. DO NOT ENGAGE.”
“No worries, Tenderheart. We won’t engage, and that’s the truth.” Lotsa let out a toot from her trunk as she and Bright headed one way, Grumpy, Grams, and Funshine heading the other way before splitting up to explore the first floor more. Lotsa and Bright explored the second floor before finding the first Badge, Treat Heart’s. They both rushed in, as darkness gathered as a lion like void creature appeared.
“Well, this wasn’t very Bright…It’s charging!” Bright Heart dived out of the way as Lotsa used her bracelet and strength to slam into the lion and grab Treat’s badge before stumbling and falling out the window. Bright luckily caught her and together they got her pulled in. Bright sighed as he saw Treat’s badge and picked it up.
“Bright reporting, Treat’s badge has been retrieved. I’m heading back to the vehicles.”
“Lotsa, Grams is heading up there. Funshine and I are in a bit of a jam.” Grumpy dodge rolled the stabbing tail of a Void Snake. Funshine meanwhile was firing arrows and dodging venom blasts. This snake had Cheer’s badge in it, but the bracelets couldn’t penetrate the scales guarding it. As the Snake reared back and aimed at Grumpy, he saw he couldn’t move. He took a deep breath and let the snake swallow.
“GRUMPY!”
“This Void Creature is dumb.” The snake screeched as it exploded into dust. Grumpy was holding Cheer’s badge.
“Grumpy, thank the stars…how?”
“When it swallowed me, the badge was easy to steal back. I’m heading back, you got this?”
“Of course I do.” Funshine and Grumpy high fived as Funshine rushed off. Meanwhile, Lotsa sighed using her bracelet, but saw it was active.
“Huh, why’s it still active?” Lotsa tilted her head, causing Grams to chuckle.
“Deary, look at the tracker…Where does it show you?”
“The…Did Bright…?”
“He did, he switched your bracelets after you used yours. Ah, look there’s Funshine.”
“Grams, Lotsa! Grumpy did a crazy move but it worked out. We got Cheer’s badge now. Heh, Grumpy saving Cheer, that’s a funny coincidence.” Grams laughed with Funshine as they entered another room, inside Hugs and Tugs orbs were sitting on a podium, sometimes fusing before splitting back into two. Grams grabbed the knives as two shadows formed, making two sword wielding creatures. They fused into one creature wielding both before roaring.
“Well, that’s…Concerning.” Funshine grabbed an arrow and aimed, as he released the creature split back into two and rushed at the group. Grams threw the knives at their hands making them reel back as their swords dropped.
“Funshine, keep firing. Lotsa, slam into them with your pure strength. Let’s do this, kiddos.”
“Right Grams!” Lotsa rushed forward as Funshine fired. Grams rushed forward and dodged the creatures until she could get behind one. She aimed her bracelet grabbing Hugs’ badge. The creature fused with the other creating the fused form once more. Grams heard her bracelet beep and show only half usage.
“Funshine, Lotsa, it seems Hugs’ and Tugs’ badges only use half. I’m taking the cubs back together.” Grams eyes flared alive as Funshine saw some rope.
“Grams, I got an idea!” Funshine rushed to the rope. As Grams threw down a smoke bomb to cover them. Funshine tied the rope to his arrow and aimed, firing the rope so it tripped the creature. As it fell Grams held her hand up grabbing Tugs’ badge, making the creature crumble around her as she held both and slowly put them together, forming them into a full-sized badge with both symbols spinning around like twins playing. She jumped out the window opening her glider and flying off. As she was gliding along, she saw Void Heart rushing.
“Funshine, Lotsa! Run! Void Heart!” Funshine and Lotsa rushed as Void Heart came down glaring at them.
“You all continue to ruin my plans…Stealing from me…You ANGER me! Ah…but what do I hold here? The Patriarch?” Void Heart held up Noble Heart’s badge. Lotsa’s body quivered, Funshine was about to tell her not to be afraid, until he saw it wasn’t fear, but anger! Funshine thought before he heard Mend in his ear.
“Funshine, you have two options. Either grab Lotsa Heart and retreat for now…Or, while stupid, Tenderheart and I both agree it may help. Fire the arrow at his eyes. It won’t blind him for good, but maybe he’ll drop the badge?” Mend didn’t sound confident that it’d work, but Funshine knew it was a gamble. He patted Lotsa’s arm. Lotsa looked at him.
“Distract him…I’m going to aim at his eye…Keep his attention.” Lotsa nodded and began to taunt Void Heart, Void chuckled keeping his eyes fixed on Lotsa. Funshine smirked as he fired his first arrow.
“AGGGH!” Mend’s theory worked, Void’s hands moved dropping Noble’s Badge. Lotsa jumped and grabbed it, activating the bracelet to nab it and speed dodge her way, rushing out the front door as Funshine delved deeper, coming upon Swift’s badge. He took no time and fired an arrow into the Void Creature above making it screech as he nabbed Swift’s badge and jumped out, just as Void Heart recovered. He was panting hard as he glided to the others. He landed and stumbled before Grumpy caught him.
“Ok, mission complete…although Void Heart’s furious with us…We go, now!” Everyone got into their vehicles and drove off. Void Heart left deep claw marks on the wall.
“Next time…I will bury those creatures under my castle…”
While this was all going on, not even 10 minutes after they had split off, Thief and Champ entered the play room, seeing Wonderheart and the Cubs playing with a ball.
“Hey there you three! We came to babysit!” Thief smiled before smelling something.
“…Who…”
“Oh, Tugs had an accident earlier, but we didn’t want to bother anyone.” Thief sighed as Wonderheart said it, and Champ looked a bit green.
“Alright, Champ grab me the powder, wipes, and a clean diaper. Hugs, you ok?”
“Mmhmm, Noble changed me before we came in here. He’s currently on the outside balcony.” Hugs pointed to where Noble was sitting in a rocking chair. When Champ handed Thief the items, Thief had Champ go get Noble, and three decks of playing cards. He had a bit of an idea. After Noble joined the group and Thief washed his paws after a very professional change, he shuffled all three decks, setting them between the groups. Thief and Tugs, Hugs and Champ, and Wonderheart and Noble.
“So, this card game is called War. We each play with half the deck, and flip the top card over. Highest number wins both cards, if they are the same number we put the next three face down,” Thief demonstrated that part. “And flip the fourth card up. Highest wins all the cards. Ace cards are the highest, and two is the lowest. Whoever get all cards of their decks win.”
“So, what does the winner get?” Hugs put a finger to the side of her head, a bit curious.
“Mmm…Nothing really, it’s just to pass time. I’ve played with Mend before, we spent three hours just playing before they won. We didn’t even notice three hours passed by.”
“So, just playing for fun?” Noble tilted his head a bit.
“Seems like it, Dad. Besides, it’s better than nothing right?” Champ seemed to get into it. After they all agreed, they began to play. The cubs surprisingly picked up on the game quickly after only a few rounds, After about two hours, they heard the announcement made to gather. By this point, Tugs had won four rounds and Champ had won three rounds, Hugs and Wonderheart with two but having more cards at the end, with Thief saying they win their rounds. Thief had only won twice, Noble ended up with three wins as well. Thief sighed being the overall loser, but Noble seemed a bit more chipper. They all headed to the tower after Hugs and Tugs got a change.
