The young mouse sat in the shadows, in silence. He scanned the moonlit area, watching. Waiting. The soft sparkles of starlight glimmered on the grassy floor, too bright for the mouse's liking. Suddenly a scrawny gray mouse scrambled forward, stirring leaves and spraying dirt as he went. Ridiculous,the mouse thought with a smirk. "Be quiet, William!" he called, making William jump in fright. William's eyes flitted nervously around the clearing, searching for him. "Right here, William," the mouse said dryly, emerging carefully from the shadows. William was trembling and he hastily bowed his head. "Sorry I was late, Master. I... I ran into some of those rogues." The Master ignored him and snapped, "Do you have the cheese?" William shrank back, eyes round in fear. "Y-yes, Master. I-i-it's right here." William quickly untied a pale brown satchel that was slung over his shoulder and delicately took out a huge block of cheese. The Master padded forward, almost drooling. His mouth watered as he scanned the cheese's surface. It was a beautiful, pale, glistening yellow, shining a silvery sheen in the moonlight. "Perfect," the Master purred, "just Perfect."

Red's POV:
Red swam across the water, carefully skimming the surface with her light, dainty paws. She gritted her teeth and swam just a little further so she was under the cheese. Red's mouth watered. She could just taste it, the wonderful cheese, in her mouth as she would slowly take a bite.... "Snap out of it and get to work!" Dan hissed as he balanced precariously on the wooden plank. Red narrowed her eyes and leaped out of the water, her paws grasping the cheese and twisting so that she fell onto the plank. Good, she thought. Red carried the cheese back to their mouse hole and Dan followed closely. Inside, Buttercup and Grayson were waiting hungrily

Red dropped her cheese in front of them and said sweetly to Grayson, "Here you are, Your Majesty. I'm sorry to keep you waiting here in comfort while I risked my life for you." Grayson laughed and shook his head at Red. "You should't risk your life, then, for me," he snorted. Red rolled her eyes and retorted, "I've got to, unless you want to starve. That would be a good idea, though. For you to starve." Buttercup broke in, "Guys, stop arguing like annoying siblings and lets eat. I'm starved." Her unusual blue eyes sparkled in amusement and her golden fur was fluffed up. "We are siblings, Buttercup. And you're right- Grayson is annoying," Red muttered. Dan started to divide the cheese for the four of them, patiently, though his ears twitched at the sound of Red and Grayson making jokes about each other. "Guys, let's eat!" Dan announced when he finished. Red took her share of the cheese and wolfed it down. She savored the slightly salty, filling cheese, fresh from the outside. Buttercup bit into her piece delicately, whiskers flicking. Suddenly she looked up. "Someone's here," she hissed, "right outside our mouse hole." Dan bristled his dark brown fur and snarled, "Who could it be? Some thieves?" A strange looking mouse came in, eyes dark and vivid. He looked young, and really handsome. "Hello," he said politely, "may I join your meal?" Red glared at him hotly. "Get out of here, stranger! You're not welcome," she spat. The stranger looked at her directly in the eyes and said smoothly, "I welcomed myself here. Now let me in if you want more cheese... without risking your lives everyday. I know that regular mice eat plants and nuts and berries... but you guys are special. And special mice are just the kind I need." "You said free cheese? Where?" Dan asked incredulously. Grayson added, "You're probably making things up." His eyes showed hostility, and for the first time, Red agreed with her brother. The stranger grinned, showing sharp white teeth. "Oh, I'm not making things up. Surprise- you are."