Prologue

I wasn't supposed to be here.

 Not in this forest.

 Not in this family.

 Not in this story.

 But here I am tail singed snack bag empty and somehow.... heart full. 

I've got a dragonet who thinks I'm his dad, a pack made of total misfits, and a life I never asked for.

Because in this wild, glitter covered, kazoo blasting world... I finally belong.

.

                           CHAPTER 1 Told by Togo

Togo the wolf did not like surprises. Especially ones that crash-landed in the middle of his territory trailing glitter and kazoo music.

There, in a clearing, stood a dragonet- humming off key. chewing a marshmallow that had definitely seen better days.

Me: [growling] You're trespassing.

Dragonet: You're welcome.

Me: [narrowing my eyes] You're not funny.

Dragonet: I'm hilarious. [pulls a kazoo from under his wing like it's a sword] Also, I'm building a pack. You're my first pick. I'm Ember by the way.

Me: I don't do packs.

Ember: Perfect. Neither do I. That's why I'm making one that actually works.

We sat in sat in silence. I stared at the trees like they'd personally offended me.

Ember: No rule. No ranks. Just loyalty, snacks, and the occasional glitter bomb.

Me: Are you serious?

Ember: Deadly. Also, I have marshmallows.

I didn't answer but I didn't leave either.

                  CHAPTER 2 Told by Ember and Togo

The next morning, Ember found a marshmallow and a note

Note: Fine. As long as there is NO GLITTER. - Togo

Ember grinned. ''You don't need glitter'' he whispered to the note, ''You just have to stay''

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Togo and Ember agreed: no glitter. So naturally, Ember brought three pouches of it.

As Togo stepped in the clearing, a cascade of glitter

rained down from what appeared to be a banner gone rogue.

Ember: I was trying to make a welcome sign, but the wind had... other plans.

Togo: [emerging from the bushes, sparkling like a disco ball] you're lucky I haven't eaten you.

Ember: You'd miss me.

He wasn't wrong.

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Later, Ember laid out his plan.

Ember: First, we find one pack member together. Then we split up, each find one more, and meet at the pond at dawn.

Togo: No one's going to join this ridiculous pack

Ember: Hey, you joined.

Togo looked like he didn't know what to say.

I didn't say it out loud. I thought no one would join this pack. Togo would leave and I would be alone again.

                     CHAPTER 3 Told by Togo

Me: Why are we going to the savanna?

Ember: Because banana, Dad

Me: .... What?

I should've known something was up. Turns out, Ember wanted to recruit a lion. A lion. My worst enemy. Rude. Sarcastic. Vicious. And worse it was a lioness.

Me: You didn't say anything about a lion.

Ember: Uh... surprise?

The savanna was hot. Too hot. No shade, no hiding spots

Just heat and sky. It made me feel small.

Then she appeared

Lioness: Can I help you?

Ember: YES! WE'RE BUILDING A PACK! WANNA JOIN??!!

We both blinked. She probably wasn't a glitter- covered wolf and a dragonet yelling at full volume

Lioness: Are you the dragonet who sings to squirrels, falls out of trees, calls me banana, and is 

an orphan?

Ember: That's me! Banana! And this is my dad.

Lioness: ...How sweet. Okay, I'll join. Name's Nira.

Me: I'm not- ugh. Whatever. Meet you at first dawn.

And with that, I left to find more pack members.

Because apparently, this glitter cult was growing.

                    CHAPTER 4 Told by Ember

I LOVE THIS. I'm getting a PACK. Togo is, like, so serious-but also the BEST. A perfect father. WAIT. There's something in the bushes.

NEW FRIEND, HERE I COME.

It was a black dragon. With purple eyes. He was just... relaxing. Like, actually calm. He must have good snacks. He definitely belongs in the pack.

I sat next to him and tried to relax too. But then I sneezed.

Dragon: Bless you.

Me: GUESS WHAT! I'M MAKING A PACK. WANNA JOIN??

Dragon: You're loud...

Me: I'm Ember.

Dragon: I'm Endy.

Me: SO BASICALLY, YOU SAID YES!! HOORAY!!

                                   CHAPTER 5 Told by Nira

    I know the savanna. And since I joined this glitter- fueled chaos of a pack, I knew exactly who to invite next: Setty.

Setty was... a turkey. A snotty, feather-obsessed turkey hen who always spied on me. What could possibly go wrong?

I found her preening in the sun. 

Me: Would you like to join my pack?

Setty: Hmm... maybe. What conditioner do you use?

Me: [annoyed] I roll in the mud.

Setty: [visibly horrified] Interesting.......

Me: So, are you joining or not?

Setty: I'll join... If you tell me your fur treatment schedule.

I rolled my eyes. She was in. Gobbleton help us all.

                              CHAPTER 6 Told by Togo

I finally got all the glitter off of me. It only took four hours of swimming. Totally worth it.

Now, time to find a pack member.

I was walking though the plains when I saw something rustling in the tall grass. I crouched low, ready for anything.

Then it burst out

A chicken. Wearing a salad bowl as a helmet. Wielding a 

spoon like a sword.

Chicken: FOR HONOR!!

I laughed then he bonked me on the head.

Me: OW!

Chicken: [bonk]

Me: Seriously?!

Chicken: [bonk bonk bonk]

He wasn't stopping. This chicken was relentless.

Me: Okay, okay! You're in the pack!

Chicken: En Garde, foul beast! You shall taste the wrath of Sir Clucksworth!

I was on the ground, laughing so hard I couldn't breathe

Me: You brought a spoon to a wolf fight

Clucksworth: A sacred spoon.

Ember: [from the distance] Wait- is this a real fight should I bring popcorn or a first aid kit?

I rubbed my head and groaned.

Me: You hit hard. Want to be friends?

Clucksworth: Friendship accepted! I hereby dub you thee.... Sir GrumpyFace!

Me: I'm never going to live that name down, am I?

                                      CHAPTER 7               

          Told by some random narrator [Apparently]

The pack was united. A wolf that had been whacked pretty hard, a spoon wielding chicken, a tea loving dragon, a diva turkey, a sarcastic lioness, and a dragonet with more energy than sense.

What could possibly go wrong?

They each had their own reasons for staying. Some came for friendship. Some came for feather treatment. And somehow are a pack.

A weird, chaotic, snack-filled, glitter-exploding pack.

And they would be friends forever.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Note to the Author Why am I 'some random narrator' I have feelings, you know. I deserve a name. Maybe something cool like ''Super Narrator'' or ''Voice of Destiny'' You can go your own way.

Note from the author Technically, you're going your own way. Not me.

                          CHAPTER 8 Told by Togo

It was a normal day. Then Nira had a terrible idea.

Nira: What if you and Ember take the day off and go to the mountains.

Ember: AGREE!

Me: Why?

I didn't want to go to the mountains with this glitter trailing dragonet. But the pack voted. I lost. Great.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------We started climbing. Ember was unusually quiet. Then I noticed something.

He couldn't fly

Wolves howl. Birds sing. Lions roar. Dragon's... fly.

And Ember couldn't

For the first time, I didn't feel annoyed. I felt something else.

Pity? No something deeper.

Maybe... I could teach him. Somehow.

                             CHAPTER 9 Told by Ember

Once we reached the peak of the mountain, Togo turned to me.

Togo: You want me to teach you how to fly?

Me: Not that I'm doubting your ability... but how would you do that?

Togo: Well, if you don't want me to-

Me: [grabbing his leg] Please, please, please, PLEASE teach me

He smiled. That rare quiet smile that meant more than a

thousand words.

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We walked to a grassy ridge. Togo watched the sky, then turned to me

Togo: Lift your wings to the breeze. Feel the wind.

I did it caressed my wings like a whisper.

Togo: Angle your wings until the wind feels strongest.

I adjusted. And suddenly-I was in the air.

I was flying.

It didn't last long. I crash landed in the grass, wings tangled, tail in a bush

Me: DID YOU SEE THAT?!

Togo: I did. It was great. Let's keep working on it.

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We tried it again. And again. Different angles. Flapping.    Gliding. I realized something: I didn't fly like birds. Or dragons. Or anything really

I flew like... me

And if it weren't for Togo, I might never have flown at all.

                    CHAPTER 10 Told by Togo

After Ember's first flight lesson, I figured it was time for something a bit more... grounded.

Me: Time to hunt.

Ember: I know the perfect bait. Glitter!

Me: No glitter.

Ember: Please?

Me: Still no. Have you ever hunted before?

Ember: Nope

Me: Want me to teach you?

Ember: YES.

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We crouched low in the meadow. I spotted a hare.

Me: Stay quiet. Watch. Wait. Then pounce.

We were just about to spring when-

Ember: GLITTER STORM!! [He threw glitter in the air like it was confetti at a birthday party.]

The hare bolted. I chased it, trying to circle around. Then

                                          Snap!

Pain exploded though my leg.

I stepped in a trap. A coil-spring trap. Man-made.

Every animal's worst nightmare

I collapsed. My leg throbbed. I couldn't move. For the first time in years... I was afraid.

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Ember found me

Ember: TOGO?! ARE YOU OKAY?! I ONLY HAVE GLITTER, CLAWS, AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT!!

-

He tried to pry the trap open, but it wouldn't budge.

I was stuck. Hurt. Helpless

Would I ever be free?

                         CHAPTER 11 Told by Ember

Togo was stuck in a trap. WHOEVER SET IT WAS A JERK.

I tried to claw it open, but it wouldn't budge.

Me: Hold still! I've read a survival scroll before... Or was it a cooking scroll?

Togo: [groaning] Can you just get it off?

I panicked. Then I had an idea. A terrible, wonderful, pudding-based idea.

Me: I know what will work.

Togo: What?

Me: Pudding.

Togo: ...What?

I grabbed a giant pot of pudding. [Don't ask me where I got it. I made it. Obviously.]

I dumped it on the trap. It exploded.

Togo: Remind me to never trust your cooking.

Me: [grinning] You're welcome.

Togo inspected his wound

Togo: Nothing too bad. I'll limp for a couple weeks. A wolf can live on three legs. And... thank you. For saving my life. I owe you.

Something warm bloomed in my chest. It wasn't glitter. It was love. 

                 CHAPTER 14 Told by Ember

I love this pack it's like a family I never had. Enough emotional sappy stuff. 

WE HAVE A PARTY TO THROW PEOPLE!!!! 

For Togo surviving 

He DESERVES a party. 

First let's make a list of what we need.

1. Glitter at least 53lb. [Don't tell Togo]

2. Banners [With glitter. Obviously]

3. Steamers [or toilet paper is there a difference?]

4. Snacks [Obviously]

5. The pack [INCLUDING you Togo! And all of you reading people.

6. Racoons to play music

7. A feather from Setty [To see if it is actually made of gold]

                      NOTE TO THE PEOPLE Told by Ember

Well, this party's going to be the best, people. You people are also the best for reading this and stuff.

 Glitter's the best.   

What else am I supposed to say?

Author: I don't care.

Random narrator: See she doesn't care about anyone.

Author: You be quiet, Ember you're the spotlight.

Ember: Am I famous yet.

Author: Yes, in a way.

Ember: I'll take that.

Author: And they are readers not people.

Random narrator and Ember: WHAT?!!

Author: [Smacks face] Never Mind.......

Ember: Well, readers, people, aliens, or whatever you are. You're part of the pack now.

                       CHAPTER 15Told by Togo 

I had a feeling....

 Are we being watched? 

                               Suddenly! 

                                There!    

On the branches from above a giant black figure ready to pounce. 

                                    Panther! 

             Heading straight towards Ember!

 I had to get to my friends. Before the panther could reach my friends.

                                        Friends.

The word echoed in my mind. At last, I had them.

The panther was running straight towards them! Then Clucksworth charged AT the panther

Panthers are ten times worse than wolves. Unlike me the panther will definitely kill him

Clucksworth: FOR HONOR!!!

He deserves to die. But for some reason I ended up running to save him.

         Friends stay together. No matter what.

I couldn't get there in time. The panther whacked Cluckworth like he was nothing. Leaving him in a sad heap.

                                     Hurt, helpless,

                                    Dishonored

 I charged straight for the panther.

Me: FOR MY BEST FRIENDS!!!!!  

I scratched the panthers face with all my might. Having a new feeling.

For the first time I did something brave.

 What was that feeling? Honor? 

The old Togo was yelling ''You idiot, you could have survived. Now you're going to die. Cats are vengeful''

 a new Togo said ''You were brave, stood up, for your 

friends''

Togo realized he was different from before Ember came crashing into his life. Both literally and metaphorically.

Ember may never know I love him like a son.

                          CHAPTER 16 Told by Togo                           

The panther started to circle me. I stood my ground. Fangs bared. Ready to have my last battle for my friends.

Panther: Fool, I came here for the dragonet.

Me: What do you want from them?!                     

Panther: Not me. Someone more powerful wants him. Since you ruined my face, I will kill you.

I saw him ready to pounce so I had to tell Ember something.

Me: Ember I-

Ember: GLITTER FOR EVERYONE!!!

Suddenly 53lb of glitter DUMPED on the panther.

[Where did you get that Ember?!]

Well, wherever Ember got the glitter. It saved my life.

Even though I look like a disco ball again.

The panther looked worse though.

Wait, Is that PINK glitter?! EMBER!!

 Then Ember was toilet paper flinging all over the panther.

 That wasn't it. Racoons were crawling all over the panther whacking him with kazoos, Nira, was throwing snacks, Endy was dumping boiling tea on the panther, and Setty was squirting lotion on the panther.

The pack surrounded the panther.

The pack had overpowered the panther. 

They could have left and let me die and live themselves. 

I truly have friends.........

For the first time true friends, a pack, a family.