'Twas a cool and misty morn, there were birds chirping in the trees and 
muffled sounds of movement from within the wood wherein the denizens of 
the land of Fanfiction dwelt. Many were wide awake, disregarding the 
early hour, and there was a ball of chaos wandering amongst the trees who 
claimed it was already evenfall.
	Mouse was prancing alongside a wide, rushing river, laughing with abandon 
at the pleasure his newfound home had provided him. There were so many, 
many tales to be read! There was never time enough to read them all but 
the stories were there just the same. Mouse was filled with joy.
	By and by he came upon a tattered parchment which had been nailed to a 
gnarled oak tree. "BOUNTY!" it read. "The Blue Tigress, 1000 crowns on 
account of a long postponed chapter of Bubblegum Warners! The Panda, 800 
crowns on account of a long overdue chapter of Bubblegum Cross! (200 crown 
deduction for extenuating circumstances) Foxtrot, 1000 crowns on account 
of a long awaited chapter of The Nature of the Hentai! Bobkat, 5000 crowns 
on account of vanishing without a trace without finishing any of his 
stories! Bounty to be awarded upon receipt of hide or story!!"
	Mouse tugged thoughtfully on his whiskers. "A bounty hunt for the four 
miscreant authors? It shall be done!" Gleefully he tracked off into the 
forest, intent on his defenseless prey.
	The wood was thin and the ground was hilly when Mouse finally happened 
upon the den of Foxtrot. She was not in sight though so he hid himself 
among the leaves of the forest floor and drew forth his feared remote 
control to await her return from her distant roamings.
	Within the hour she had returned carrying a ripe lemon in her teeth. 
"Perhaps it is an ingredient of the tale which has simmered long, unseen 
and unheard," Mouse whispered to himself, and did wait until she had 
disappeared into her den.
	From within issued the sounds of clanging kettles and pots, the odors of 
simmering meat and broth, and the curses of a sharp tongue as Foxtrot's 
recipe was tested and found disfavorable. "Why can't I get it right?" 
Foxtrot was heard to mutter in despair. After another moment the den was 
quiet again.
	Mouse considered the plight of Foxtrot and decided to be merciful, 
"Better a finely crafted stew than a half-baked gruel," he thought, 
reluctantly turning to search for his next bounty.
	He wandered far into the depths of the forest, where the trees grew close 
and the underbrush grew thick, searching for the elusive Blue Tigress' 
den. 
	The Tigress' den was under a thicket of brambles, hidden from view by 
most passerby. This did not stop the Mouse because of his tiny size, still 
he knew that he was easy prey for the large cat if she should chance to be 
hungry.
	By chance or luck, the great cat was asleep! Yet, the Mouse was well 
prepared, he had brought with him a tale spun by the venerable Mike Loader 
to while away the time. Still it was not long before the Blue Tigress 
stirred.	
	She yawned widely, showing her sharp teeth, and promptly asked the Mouse 
if he might stay for lunch. He was quick to decline her gracious 
invitation, then he asked her of her long forgotten story.
	" I have handed the next chapter over to my sister," the Tigress said 
after another mighty yawn.  " I've told her that she could do just about 
anything she wanted as long as it doesn't mess up the ending I'm 
planning."
	The Mouse replied, "Thou'rt still responsible for thy tale! Thy sister 
may finish it, but I shall prod both if nothing is written by and by!"
	To that, the Tigress only smiled and began to hunt about for her knife 
and fork. The Mouse hurriedly bade her farewell, and began the long trek 
up into the mountains to search for the elusive BobKat.
	High and low the Mouse did search, but BobKat was not to be found! 
Thrice did his calls echo in the crisp mountain air, but no answer 
returned. With sorrow did the Mouse choose to desist, another author was 
lost to the four winds of heaven.
	With heaviness of heart did the Mouse venture forth once again to begin 
his hunt for the last author on his list, the Panda! Panda-kun dwelt in a 
place called the Beijing Zoo which was not in the land of Beijing but was 
merely a distant corner of the forest wherein the Fan Fiction Mailing List 
dwelt.
	The Mouse bravely approached the cage of the Panda who was happily 
munching on a bamboo shoot, and he offered the Mouse a tiny chair in which 
to sit while he regaled him with the tale of his stories of yore.
	"As for my fanfics," said he, "Bubblegum Cross is proceeding but it will 
still be some time yet before it is done. Nothing will be forthcoming 
until the story is completed, hopefully before the end of this year. The 
other stories, 'The Dragon's Tower' and 'The Dark Traveller', are on the 
back burner until Cross is finished."
	"Why do you not bring forth the finished chapters of Bubblegum Cross for 
all to enjoy?" asked the Mouse plaintively.
	Answered the Panda, "I'm far too busy to work on it too much, and people 
tend to forget what's been written in the previous chapters by the time 
the next one is ready, so I'm going to wait until they're all finished, 
okay?"
	Very reluctantly, the Mouse acquiesced. "'Tis a shame that none of the 
authors that I am prodding are forthcoming in their stories. I cannot 
collect bounties on promises!"
	To that the Panda laughed, and kindly bid him farewell and good luck.
	The Mouse was unhappy, his job was at stake! Nary a story was he able to 
bring forth, and all of his authors were troubled by trials, unable to 
requite his time spent on his fruitless journey. Yet, there were many more 
authors who dwelt in the forest! All was not lost!

	To all authors, if you desire to be added to our prodding list, please 
contact the Mouse forthwith! He and the other Taskmasters are desirous of 
your company and your tales! You shall not regret it! ^_-

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~ Squeek!  Pass the cheese...        ~
~ The few, the proud, the DBTFH! ^_^ ~
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