Chapter 3:

-Before the race started-

An masked mouse darts by the stadium, where the next day, the sled race would be held. He sneaks past the gate and into the stadium. 14 sleds are lined up neatly by a giant gate leading into the wilderness.

The mouse looked around to confirm that no-one else was there, then darted towards sled 14, where the words Team Mystery were painted on the side. He smiled as he reached the sled. He looked down at the sled and started to tinker with it. 5 minutes later he stepped back, confident in his work. He then tinkered with the other sleds ever so slightly, causing them to be less sturdy and more prone to accidents.

He smiled to himself confident of his work, and turned to leave. As he neared the exit, he heard footsteps behind him. Immediately, he whipped around, worried about who might be approaching him.

“You better undo what you did to my sled,” said a voice from the shadows, “Or else I might have to turn you in.”

The masked mouse narrowed his eyes, though that did little, considering he was wearing a mask. “Sozimo” he hissed, eyes trained on the shadows as a mouse with dark fur stepped out.
Sozimo, smiled, one of those smiles that sends a chill up your spine. He slowly walks over to sled 13 and puts a hand on the side of the sled, and says, “I saw you tinkering with my sled earlier, weakening it.” He cast a quick glance over to the other mouse, then proceeds to say, “You wouldn’t want to show up tomorrow and have guards waiting for you, Basgetti.”

Basgetti is shocked that he knew who he was, he stumbles forward trying to speak but only ends up saying, “You… my name… how?”

Sozimo grins evilly and says, “You don’t need to know how I know, just fix my sled.”

And that's exactly what Basgetti did. But he left unsatisfied, knowing that Sozimo had a secret that could ruin his chances at the race. He just hoped Sozimo didn’t know what he planned for the next day.

Chapter 4:

It had been about four hours since Akari had head the horn that signaled the start of the race. She had known it was going to happen and decided it would be better for her to stay inside.

She lived in the middle of the uprising woods, or, at least that’s what it’s residents called it. When the official towns and cities were established, some mice had refused to join, because they were used to, and wanted to respect, living in the wilderness. The town mice called it the unforgivable territory, but to its residents, it wasn’t as ominous.

She knew that the Great Sled Race the town mice held each year was set to go through the Uprising Woods, and she knew it would be dangerous and didn’t want to get caught in the fray.

But she was very curious.

She poked her head out of her cottage door, and seeing nothing coming towards the clearing, she stepped out and walked to the middle of the clearing. Still seeing nothing, she decided it would be a good idea to climb a tree for a better view.
She was halfway up the tree when the first sled racing out into the clearing, it sported a mouse with dark fur and it had the words ‘Team Blue’ on the side. Akari was thrilled at seeing even one of the sleds race, but just as soon it had came, it was gone, shooting back into the trees on the other side of the clearing.

He heart fell, she was hoping to at least meet one of the teams, and it was unlikely for another sled to come across her clearing. But then again, the reason the sled had come across her clearing wasn’t a coincidence, but of course she didn’t know that.

As soon as she started to climb down, another sled burst into the clearing, this one labeled ‘The Chairs’. There were four mice on the sled, and they appeared to be hanging on for dear life. Akari watched with wide eyes as the sled crashed into her cottage and collapsed.

Her eyes widened, she raced back down the tree and over to the sled. “Are you ok?” she asked.

An owl mouse hopped out of the ruins, and said “I’m ok, but i’m not sure if the rest of my team is!”

Another mouse dragged herself out of the sled and said, “I’m also fine, but I think Holly might have injured a leg.”

The owl mouse spun around and said to Akari, “Oh! I forgot to introduce myself! I’m birch, this is Rebecca, and Alex and Holly are somewhere in the destroyed sled.”

“I’m right here!” said another mouse coming out from the ruins, “I’m Alex by the way.”

Akari looked at the odd group, and sighed. “I guess you’ll need some help repairing that sled, come inside and rest, i’m sure you’re tired!”

Birch smiled and responded, “Thank you! We’re in a bit of a hurry though!”

“Of course,” said Akari, “I have a friend who can repair that sled super fast!”
“Ummm, did you forget about me!” said a voice from the ruins, “I can’t get out of here myself!”

Rebecca sighed, “Oh Holly” and went to help her out.

Name: Lummi
Personality: Possessive, slightly evil/mad, and angry all the time
Appearance:
Gender: Male
Age: 48
Is side character along with Akari(Cookie_kitten) but doesn't take up a slot

Chapter 5:

“Thanks for the food!” Rebecca says cheerfully.

Akari smiles at her and nods, “Your welcome! I don’t get very many visitors, Lummi forbids it.” Rebecca wondered who Lummi was and why he didn’t let her have any visitors. But before she could ask Birch and Holly barged into the room from different doors at the same time.

“Beat ya!” They both yelled at the same time, pointing at each other.

“Geez, can you keep it down!” Alex says, materializing behind Holly, “Not everythings a race.”

Rebecca raised her eyebrows, “You do realize your in a race currently? Right now, everything’s a race for us.” And then she stood up and crossed the room to the fire and sat down in front of it. Warmed by the flames, she let out a sigh and looked at Akari, “You said you knew someone who could fix the sled?” she asked.

Akari sighed and replied, “Yes, Lummi can, he’s a great mechanic. Currently he’s out, but I sent a bird to retrieve him.”

Birch cocked her head and asked, “Who’s Lummi?”

Akari sat down and said smiling, “Lummi is my caretaker, i’m currently too young to live in the forest alone, and my parents were killed in a fire 3 years ago. Lummi’s taken care of me ever since. He’s very strict, but a nice guy!”

At that moment, a raccoon mouse burst into the room half-shouting, “Akari!?! Are you okay? I got your message, then when I came back, the side of the cottage was ruined! And I thought you might be…” He trails off when he sees all the other mice.

Akari smiles and says, “I’m just fine Lummi! And these are some mice that crashed into our cottage. They’re in the Great Sled Race this year and they were wondering if you could help fix their sled!”

Lummi glared at the others and yelled “I told you not to talk to strangers, much less, let them in!”

Akari, looked flustered and seemed to choose her words carefully, “They were hurt, and now they can’t finish their race. I thought since you were a good mechanic you could fix their sled… please!” she begged.

Lummi glared at her for a few seconds then said rather forcefully, “Fine… as long as they leave as soon as it is done, and you mustn’t tell them anything about me, you, or this forest.”

At that he stalked out of the room, but just as he passed Rebecca, she heard him whisper, “I knew the magic wards weren’t strong enough…” Rebecca was bewildered, she considered what he said in her head and thought about asking Akari, but she had been told not to tell them anything so she dismissed it.

As it turns out, she didn’t have to ask, Akari was already telling them about it. “Don’t listen to him, it’s not like it ever matters anyways… so what do you want to know!” She looked at all of them and sat down smiling.

Rebecca thought it was kind of weird the way she was smiling, like it was forced. But she just looked at her as Birch said, “Everything. Tell us everything about this place.”