//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2: First Encounter 
// Story: A Stampede to Remember 
// by ShadowGear 
//------------------------------//

	In the wilderness there was a large bonfire with Tepee tents surrounding it. Their leader Chief Thunderhooves was giving an announcement. "Now as you all know next week we will have our annual stampede and..." Little Strongheart, the Chief's daughter quickly got bored of his announcement and ran off in the direction of the stampeding grounds. Little Strongheart was always strong spirited and loved going on these kinds of adventures so none of the other buffalo attempted to stop her or persuade her into staying. When Chief Thunderhooves saw his daughter running off he continued his speech but thought to himself, "She's so young and spirited. Just like her mother."

When Little Strongheart arrived she felt calm from the sound of the river's flowing water. Then suddenly four black figures flying in the air arrived and landed next to the river. She could hear something going on between the strange creatures but it was too hard to make out the words. She then decided to have a closer look and jumped down to a lower section of the cliff with a large group of rocks and quickly hid behind a rock as one of the creatures turned its head in her direction.

"Hey guys! Did you see that? I saw something move over there!" one of the creatures said.

"Well... go check it out," another one replied.

Little Strongheart tensed as she heard a buzzing sound that was slowly getting louder. She quickly dashed away and ran behind another large rock. The buzzing sound suddenly stopped and she peaked out from behind her cover to look at what happened. The creature had landed and was looking around the environment, probably trying to find her.

"Hello!?" it called out as it stepped around a rock. When the creature started coming in her direction. Little Strongheart chose to run in the direction of another rock. The creature noticed her and shouted, "Wait!" Before it chased after her. It followed her everywhere until Little Strongheart ran into a corner where the creature stopped and started panting. "Wait... I am... not... going to... hurt you... I just... want to know... who you are..." it said in between breaths.

Little Strongheart was just shocked by this creature. It had a black body with holes in its legs and wings. Its fangs looked sharp enough to cut stone just like how the stories created by her ancestor's stories described them. They must be wrong though because its eyes and chitin were blue not red. More importantly why isn't it attacking?

The creature had finally caught its breath and started speaking regularly again. "Do you understand me?"

"Yes" Little Strongheart responded.

"Can I ask for your name?"

"Little Strongheart. How about yours."

"I am Private Sclerite. Were you spying on us?"

"What? Oh no I just wanted to see our sacred stampeding grounds."

"Okay... well it was nice meeting you but I have to get back to my comrades." Sclerite said as he turned to fly off. Little Strongheart grabbed one of his back hooves and he looked back at her.

"Do you want to come see my village?" she said with pleading eyes.

Sclerite thought for a moment. He could go and visit this village but if Carapace came back before he returned he would be furious about him deserting his post. At the same time he was really curious about Little Strongheart. Just what is she exactly? Maybe he would get the answers if he came with her.

"Well... alright. I suppose I have some time," he said.

"Well come on then! The village is this way!" she said as she began climbing up the cliff with Sclerite hovering behind her.