He began walking east, leaving his raft where it was, and began to wonder... <I hope everyone is still there.. Mog, Ku... well there were many of them. Ku-this and Ku-that.. almost everyone was named Ku-something. Even me.> He chuckled to himself, and stoped to get his bearings. <This map had better be right or I'm going back and killing the guy who sold it to me.>

He felt a twinge, of his magic-sense. <Geez.. the old curse acting up again. Oh well, this time it's coming from near Narshe. I'm heading there anyway> He walked on for a time, intent on reaching his destination quickly, when the sense faded, leaving him aware of his surroundings once more.

About fifty away, a group of four crawlers were eyeing him as a starving man looks at a meal. Kuralov noticed them, and tightened his grip on his spear. <Maybe they don't eat moogles,> he thought grimly, <only one way to find out.> He looked toward the crawlers and said "Kupo."

That did it. As soon as the word left his mouth, They started to rush him. Dropping his spear, he grabbed his bow fitted an arrow and fired. The arrow flew over the rapidly advancing group. Fitting another, He aimed and fired, wounding one. <Good,> he thought with satisfaction, <that one will be easier to kill. Can't let them poison me.>

Lifting up his spear and shield, he prepared to meet the coming onslaught. As the four monsters reached him, he thrust at the wounded one, piercing it's heart. Then he quickly spun around, Putting his shield between the beasts and himself. They fell on him, trying to crush him into submission. He shifted his weight in response, Jumping clear. <Too late,> he thought as a crawler tore his right wing, and he felt the pain sear through him. <Not enough to finish me,> he thought as a fresh surge of adrenalin flooded through his bloodstream. Rushing towards the three remaining crawlers, with a battle-cry of 'Kupo!' he sunk his spear into one's neck, and brought his shield down onto another's head with a satisfying 'CRACK'. The last one, obviously surprised that prey would act in such a manner, decided it wasn't hungry and had better things to do.

As the adrenalin left his system, Kuralov felt the pain return to his wing again. Upon closer inspection, he realized that it was almost torn in two, and lay drooping at his side. He let out a sorrowful "Kupo" and began to make camp. He applied some healing herbs and settled down to rest, as dusk was approaching. <At least I don't seem to be poisoned,> he thought. <Tomorrow... Narshe... Home..> And with that last thought, he drifted off.

<Oh, my poor wing,> he thought as he gingerly touched it. <This is going to take forever to heal, if it every really does. I hope there are still others back in the caves trained as healers... I've been out of it too long. since the world has been ripped apart, towns have beeen destroyed, and someone named 'Kefka' tried to take over the world and was killed. And I never even knew!>

Suddenly, he felt the draw of something 'Magic' from the direction of Narshe. <Everyone says that magic was destroyed, but I can still feel some of it. I wonder if it's just another artifact, or...?> Now the pull was getting strong, stronger than it had been since the 'magic' had disappeared. Kuralov felt compelled to head towards Narshe, which had been his plan anyway. <Off I go!>

This time he remembered to keep a close eye out for monsters, and though one did begin to approach, he scared it off with an arrow. <Good,> he thought relieved, <I'm not sure if I could have fought him with this equpment I have. I _need_ some armor.>

With that last thought, he noticed that he had made it to Narshe. <Wonder if the people are used to seeing moogles?> he wondered. <Maybe I should sneak through.> And he walked in...

Two hours later, he was still looking. <I've been away too long!> he thought sadly. <I'll never make it to the home-cave>. Raising his hands to his mouth he cried. "Kupo! Kupopopo! Kuuuuupo!".

He was answered by silence. <That sure helped me alot. Probably did more harm than good.> As if to prove his point, a creature came out of nowhere and snapped his spear in two, and then slashed his bow in half and scattered his arrows. Kuralov lept back, drawing his long hunting knife and looking for a weak spot on this unknown beast that faced him.

Lucky for Kuralov, the beast was tired and hungry, and small anyway. It leapt at him, and with a few quick slashes, It was history. "Maybe I am lucky after all," he thought aloud. But then, seemingly just to make him eat his words, the knife became stuck in the creature and broke off at the hilt, leaving him with only his fire shield as equipment. <Oh, great, now what do I do? Bite my enemies?>

Thinking for a minute, he took his broken spear - the end with the spearhead - and fastened a number of arrows in it, giving him an odd weapon, but one nonetheless. Hoisting this, he set off to seach once more.

<Should I yell?> he thought. <No, better to sneak in at let them notice me. That should surprise them. Besides, they're probably asleep.

That may well have saved his life. Peeking into the cave, he noticed that something was wrong..

<There's no moggles!> he thought in astonishment. <Where'd they all go?> and then he noticed it. It was huge. One of the biggest monsters he had seen since the Veldt. <NO!> he thought in rage. <It didn't...!> "Kill my friends will you, Kupo!" It shouted, rushing the beast. "You'll pay for this, Kupopo!"

The creature had size and strength on Kuralov, but he had surprise and an incredible rage. He could actually feel the adrenilin rushing theough him as he rushed into the beast, jamming his makeshift spear into it's eye, and slamming his shield into it's nose. "Die, Kupo!"

This kept up for a minute, until the creature managed to swat Kuralov and send him flying. He crashed into a wall, and landed on his wing. His right wing. Pain flared through him, driving him to near madness. As the beast moved in for the kill, Kuralov shoved his spear into the creature's neck, where it broke off and hung. The monster managed to rake Kuralov's chest with his claws before they both fell, and knew no more.

He grabbed his shield and struggled to his feet, leaning on the wall to support himself. To his surprise, he flipped a switch and fell right through the wall! <What? What happened? How did I? Wait! This must be the entrance to Elf Grove!> Kuralov thought back to last time he had beeen here, so long ago.

***

He had been climbing the Dragoon-Dragoon peaks, without climbing gear, and he had been caught by a moogle patrol, and brought before the elder, who wasn't too happy.

"Why in the world were you doing this?" the elder demanded of Kuralov. "You KNOW that you're not allowed to be climbing without gear!"

"I just felt like it." Kuralov replied, "And there's nothing you can do about it. I'm full-grown now, and you can't stop me from doing this if I want to."

This really made the elder mad. Furious would be the word. "Yeah, but I can banish you from Elf Grove."

"So do it!" Kuralov snapped back. "I don't want to be anywhere where you have any influence any way!"

"Fine! Be that way! Just leave! You're banished!"

"Ha! See if I ever come back anyway!" With this last statement, Kuralov stormed out, gathered his belongings, and left to wander the world...

***

<Oh boy,> He thought. <Do I really want to go there.. If there is anyone left?> Thinking for a minute, Kuralov made his decision and began walking down the tunnel towards Elf Grove.

He made it through the tunnel and to the exit without any trouble, and walked up to the moogles on gaurd. <Moogles! they're still alive!> "Kupo! Hello, friends" he called out.

"Kupo! Who's there?" yelled a guard.

"It's me, Kuralov!"

"I remember you! You're the one who defied the elder one time too many and was banished!" Yelled the second gaurd.

"Yeah, that was me." Kuralov admitted.

"We can't let you in," said the first. "The elder uses you as a bad example in front of all the little moogles. We'd lose our jobs!"

"But..."

"No, sorry. You have to leave. Now."

"But..."

"Go!" yelled the first gestuing with his sword. "or else."

"Or else what?" Kuralov said, and with in five seconds, the guard was on his back with his sword at his throat, the handle in Kuralov's hand. "Don't threaten me. Got that?"

The guard nodded his head, and Kuralov threw his sword aside, and stomped back through the tunnel and back out to the town of Narshe.

"Kupo! You're back, Kudor! The Elder wants to talk to you!" cried out the messenger when he noticed Kudor. "You'd better get over there right away!"

Kudor nodded to the messenger, said a breif "Thanks.", grabbed his sword and went out to meet the Elder, wondering why he had been called for. His passage to the Elders house was uneventful, and he was shown in by a guard at the door. Walking inside, he saw the Elder talking to two moogles, cave guards from the look of them.

The Elder noticed Kudor and said, "Welcome Kudor, we have something important to discuss. I'd like you to listen to what these two guards have to say."

Kudor sat down and the first guard began to speak. "It's your brother, sir. Kuralov. He showed up and attacked us for no reason, Kupo. He almost killed us!"

The second guard nodded. "Kupo! He was mad. Just attacked for no reason, we barely got away!"

<Kuralov?> Thought Kudor, <My brother, back? We all thought he was dead! And a madmoogle? I can't believe it. Can't... and yet... I can...> The guards continued to ramble for a while, and then the Elder began to speak.

"Kudor, We're going to organize a group of moogles to hunt down Kuralov, and bring him here. We want you to lead the force. When it's organized, we'll call you. Until then, continue your normal duties."

<Me against Kuralov? Can I bring myself to.. kill him if I have to?> "Certainly, Elder." Kudor said, and walked out into Elf Grove.

"What's so funny, kupo?" called a voice from behind Kudor. "You finally decide that I was better at these games?"

Kudor turned around to see Kumata walking toward him. "No, just thinking about what it would be like to be young again. Besides, I was a lot better than you were."

Kumata sat down beside Kudor, looking troubled. "Just keep on thinking that, Kudor. You know I was better."

"What is it, kupo? What's wrong?" asked Kudor. "Did something happen?"

"You know what it is, Kudor. The Elder told me you would be leaving, and said he wanted me to lead Squad Gamma while you were gone."

"Who better could he pick then? You're already a member of Squad Gamma, and almost as good as I am."

"Better, and you know it," Kumata joked, "but I told him that I was coming with you. He said I could come if you'd take me with you."

Kudor turned towards his childhood friend, surprised. "Would you actually want to come with me? Don't you know that we'll be hunting my mad brother, and might not come back for years, if at all? Do you really want to travel the world over looking for a single moogle?"

"Of course. I know you'd never be able to do anything without me. I'm all that even holds your troops together under your command, you clueless has-been!"

Kudor was shocked. He turned towards his friend, and saw that she was smiling. "I thought you were serious, kupo!"

She laughed. "Kupo! You should know me better than that. Are you going to let me come or do I have to kill you?"

Kudor shoke his head. "If you really want to, I guess. I could use a freind along. Besides, after me, you're one of the best fighters in Gamma."

"Great!" Kumata shouted. "I'm gonna go get my stuff. Oh yeah. those two guards are going with us.. You know, Kupiku and Kunoro. Also... well, you aren't going to like this, but.. the Elder is also sending Kulado. Bye!" With that, she stood up and headed off.

<Oh great! Kulado. The self-proclaimed 'Greatest Moogle Alive'. I can understand why the Elder wants to get rid of him, but why with us? And those two guards? I don't even know who they are. And then there's Kumata. A great friend, a fantastic fighter, but always too cheerful. She can't take anything seriously. She even found something to laugh about when the world was ending.> Kudor stood up and started to walk home. Somehow the little moogles' laughter wasn't cheering him up anymore.

Kulado walked up to one of Kudor's freinds and started pushing him around. Kudor stood up, and yelled at Kulado to leave the poor guy alone. Kulado turned towards Kudor. "You got a problem, you little punk?"

"You're the punk!" Kudor shouted in defiance, and was then kicked in the stomach. He fell gasping to the ground, and was picked up and thrown into the lake. As Kudor's friends helped him out, Kulado walked away laughing...

----------

Kudor sighed to himself once more, just hoping that he would come out of it all intact...

----------

The next day, Kulado and a few of his friends came back to bother Kudor again. This time things started off nasty, with Kudor and a few of his friends getting hurt. They tried to fight back, but it didn't do any good. The four larger moogles quickly overpowered Kudor and his three friends. They were all pinned down when a voice spoke out.

"Just what do you think you're doing?" Everyone's head whirled to see Kuralov standing in fron tof them. "If you don't let go of my brother and his friends, you'll regret it."

Kulado slowly stood up, and looked down at Kuralov. "What do you think you're going to do, shorty?"

Kuralov satred him straight in the eye and said: "It's probably better for your health if you don't find out. Now let them go!"

"Well, well. Look guys, it's a moogle with a death wish. What do you say we help him with his little goal?" As Kulado said this, the other three moogles stood up and began to advance on him.

"Do you really think that's fair?" shouted Kudor. "It takes all of you to take out my brother? Cowards!"

"You're going to go down with him, punk." Kulado snarled, and turned to face Kudor, when another voice spoke up.

"Leave him alone, will you?" Kudor recognized the voice. It belonged to a girl named Kurune. He hardly knew her, and was greatly embarassed to be seen like this.

"Why don't you just keep your mouth shut, girl?" Kulado threatened. "If you know what's good for you."

Kuralov took this occasion to speak up. "Just you and me, Kulado. If I win, you leave my brother alone. If I lose... well, it's not going to happen."

Kudor looked at his brother in disbelief as Kulado laughed. "Quite an arrogant little guy we've got here. Between him, the punk and the girl, this could be a lot of fun. Let's take him, guys!"

Kulado took a swing at Kuralov, and connected solidly in the midsection, knocking him to the ground. As the others began to move in, Kurune tripped one into Lake Wolf, and Kudor and his friends jumped the other two. Kulado advanced further, and viciously kicked Kuralov in the ribs. Hearing the splash from behind him, Kulado whirled, and watched as anothe one of his friends fell in the drink.

Kuralov struggled to his feet, then brought his fist down into Kulado's back. Kulado whirled around, and Kuralov kicked him solidly in the stomach, knocking him backwards. Kurune stuck out her foot once more, and Kulado joined his friends in Lake Wolf, just as all the younger moogles finally pushed the fourth one in.

Kuralov nodded to Kurune. "Thank you." With that he turned and began to walk away, holding his stomach.

Kudor and his friends all laughed at the moogles in the lake, but thought better of it and ran off. Kurune also decided that it would be a good time to leave.

----------

Kudor chuckled at the memory of Kulado and his friends all trying to get back up onto shore. <It's just too bad that Kuralov couldn't walk straight for a week after that. Kulado didn't know, but he hurt him pretty bad. It's hard to believe that this is the same Kuralov I have to hunt down, after all the times he stood up for me.> With that thought in his head, he stood up and headed off to get ready for his journey.

<This is so stupid.> Kudor thought to himself, <Why in the world couldn't we have just LEFT? Maybe the Elder wants to keep Kulado happy. No, that's not it. Maybe he wants to be in the spotlight. Or maybe this is all some sort of sick joke he's playing on me.>

The Elder had done that sort of thing before. What he banished Kuralov for was idiotic. Then he would also send moogles on meaningless errands that would take them far away from Elf Grove and didn't accomplish anything. <I certainly hope that that isn't what's happening.>

The Elder was finally done speaking. The 'chosen five' began their walk out into the world, and left to the cheers of the gathered moogles.

---------

The first thing they did was to search the caves, just in case Kuralov had stuck around. After that they were going to check Narshe and the surrounding terrain. There wasn't much danger of a monster attack in the mines, as the monsters had long since learned that armed moogles didn't make a very good meal. However, the five kept alert, since occasionally you would run into a very vicous, hungry, or stupid group of predators.

As was expected, a number of monsters noticed them, but passed them by. Kudor spent about half of his time watching his back, ever since Kulado had 'accidentally' knocked him into the wall. Kumata had almost tried to kill him for that, and it wouldn't look good if he let the moogles under his command fight. So, he reasoned, the best way to do that was to eliminate the source of the conflict, and he wasn't going to kill Kulado if he didn't have to.

Kunoro heard it first. Voices, coming from down a tunnel. One was a human, another a moogle. <Probably Kuralov. It'll be rather ironic to bring him back in one day after the Elder gave that big speech about us being gone for a long time, doing our duty to moogle-kind. It shouldn't be too hard to bring him back with us, even if he is a nutcase.>

They rounded the corner, and Kudor called out. "Kuralov, is that you?"

Kuralov's voice came back. "Kudor?"

Nothing could have prepared Kudor or Kumata for what happened next. Kulado shouted "Charge!" and he, Kupiku and Kunoro rushed at Kuralov, weapons drawn.

Stepping out from the shadows, Kuralov exclaimed "Kupo! Kupoppo, Kuralov!" The human whirled around, startled, maybe by Kuralov's presence, maybe his voice, certainly by his appearence. <Oh, shoot! forgot. Humans don't understand mooglese. What the..? He looks like he's never seen a moogle before!"> Trying again, Kuralov said "Hello, my name is Kuralov"

That got a response from the already-confused human. "What.. what are you?"

He hadn't seen a moogle before. That would explain a lot. "I'm a moogle, Kupo!"

"A moogle?" Wow. He really didn't know.

"Kupo! A moogle! We live in these caves!" Kuralov replied.

"Do you um.. moogles want me to leave?" The human asked, still a little confused.

"No, Kupo! What's your name?"

"Kain. My name is Kain."

<Kain? never heard that one before. Oh, well.> "Hi Kain."

"Hello" Kain replied, still somewhat confused.

<He must think I'm nuts.> thought Kuralov. <Oh well.> "Yeah. I'm in a little bit of trouble now, though. So I'm hardly bringing a message from the rest of the moogles."

Suddenly a voice called out: "Kuralov, is that you?"

Kuralov replied: "Kudor?"

Then another voice rang out: "Charge!" and three armed moogles rushed from the shadows

Kuralov stared at them in disbelief, but Kain figured out what was going on immediately, and started to shove Kuralov down the tunnel. "Move!"

As they rushed away, with the moogles close behind, Kain shoved Kuralov down a number of tunnels, finally picking him up, and quickly losing the short-legged moogles that chasing them. When they had finally lost them, Kain set Kuralov back down.

"Thank you." Kuralov said, slightly dazed by what had happened.

"No problem. You do know where we are, right?"

Kuralov looked around. "No."

Kumata seemed as cheerful as ever, telling everyone: "He couldn't have gotten far! All we have to do is catch him by surprise when the human isn't around!"

Kulado was acting self-important, as usual. Things were improving, though. Kudor and Kumata had only had to remind him about who was in charge of the hunt five times in the last hour.

Kunoro and Kupiku were kind of down after seeing Kuralov escape, and being reprimanded by Kudor for following Kulado's order's instead of his didn't help much. The air was thick with tension in their little group, so Kudor stopped them to have a little conference.

"Hold on guys. And girl." Kudor said, glancing at Kumata. "We've got some problems here and we need to work them out."

"Look, what do you think you're doing! We have a search to get on with, and I'm not stopping to have some talk! Keep moving!" Kulado ordered.

"Kulado! Have you forgotten who's in charge again, kupo?" Kumata asked.

"No, I'm in charge now. Anyone who wants to stay with Kudor and his girlfriend can. The rest of you, follow me." Kulado challenged, staring at Kudor. Kunoro and Kupiku moved to beside Kulado.

"Hey! I'm not his girlfriend, you stupid jerk! And you couldn't lead a troop of moogles out of a chocobo stable, kupo! Kumata countered.

"Watch your mouth or you'll regret it." Kulado challenged her.

"Yeah, you're right. It WOULD be hard to get your blood out of my fur."

Kulado unsheathed his sword. "Then face me."

Kumata unsheathed her's also. "Fine. Your death will be your own fault."

Kunoro and Kupiku moved to the side of their new commander. "Sir!" Kunoro said. "We need to search for Kuralov. She can wait until later."

Kulado put his sword away and began to leave, Kunoro and Kupiku close behind.

"Coward!" Kumata called after him.

"Now what do we do, kupo?" Kudor asked aloud as he watched the three walk away.

"The way I look at it, we could: A, chase down Kulado and kill him; B, head home to Elf Grove in defeat; or C, Keep looking for your brother. I'd rather go with A, but it's your call."

"Something isn't right about this. Why did Kunoro and Kupiku follow Kulado so willingly?"

Kumata stared at him, confused. "Kupo?"

"Oh, nothing. Let's find my brother." Kudor said, and the two walked off into Narshe.