"CARLOS!!! GET OUT OF THE PANTRY! STOP EATING THE COOKIE DOUGH, JESSE!" Ziro yelled. He was trying to do something nice, for once, and bake some cookies for his cousins, but things weren't going that well. He sighed and said in a quieter voice "I won't be able to make any cookies like this, meaning you won't get any." They rushed to his feet and started whining about not getting cookies. "NOOOO!" screamed Carlos. Jesse just looked at him and said "Please, Ziro? Pretty please?" "Go sit on the couch and read or something, but be quiet. Then, you might get some cookies." He commanded. He was just putting them in the oven, when the doorbell rang throughout the house. Who could that be? He thought to himself.

Catanaru had been walking for days. He was trying to get away from his parents, but that was pretty hard for him. He had run out of energy and was going to go into a bloodthirsty rage if couldn't find any animals soon. He stumbled into a tree, almost passing out, when he smelled it. A squirrel. He sniffed the air, trying to locate the creature, when he heard the crunch of a dead leaf behind him. He spun around, just to see a bushy tail disappear into the treetops. He felt himself transforming into the beast that he was as he leaped up onto the branch that the squirrel was just on, watching it go into a hollow. He ripped a small piece of wood off, making the hole just big enough for his arm. He felt the warm, trembling fur of it underneath his hand. He pulled out the animal, and looked at it. "Don't worry, little one. You won't feel a thing." he purred. Then he cut the animals throat with his claws, and and started drinking the blood. When he was done, he skinned the animal, and flew to the top of the tree. I need to find a stream to wash up, then humans to sell this to. He thought to himself. Once he had found a small creek, he jumped down in one leap, and landed running to get there faster. When he got there, he almost fully looked like a human again, but he still had small fangs that were always there. He washed himself the best that he could until he saw the smoke. Smoke means fire, and fire means either humans, or forest fire.  He thought.  After cleaning the squirrel skin, he started running again. Soon, he was at a cute little cabin, which was in the middle of the woods. He rang the doorbell, expecting an adult, but what he got was a young redhead, about 14 years of age.

A man who look about 19 or 20 was at the door, dressed in a long, billowing cloak with a little red at the bottom was looking at him, surprised. "Can I help you?" asked Ziro, since the man was not speaking. "Ah- Yes I have been traveling for many days, and I have nowhere to stay for the night. Do you know how far it is to the nearest town?" He asked in a honey sweet voice. "Yes, nearly 125 miles." He answered. "You won't be able to make it by nightfall, but you can stay here for the night." WHAT AM I DOING!? This guy could be dangerous! Ziro mentaly scolded himself. Well, it's to late now."Thank you..." "Ziro" "Thank you, Ziro, for letting me stay here. You seem to have your hands full with those two, don't you?" "Huh?" He turned around and saw that Carlos and Jesse were wrestling on the floor, right behind him. "Shoot!" He rushed over to pull them apart, and once he finally did, Jesse ran over to the man and said "Ziro, who's this weird man? He looks funny." The man bent down to look at him and said "I am Catanaru. You would look like me to if you came from my home, too." Ziro walked over, scooped up Jesse saying "Sorry. Jesse and Carlos are a hand full. If they are too loud tonight, just tell me, okay?" "Don't worry," Catanaru said, standing up. "I don't think they'll be a problem." Why would he say that? Ziro thought. Who is this man?

                                                                                                                 end chapter 1