A door opened in the bush and Justin starred at the site before
him. It looked like Thorn Valley. It had tree's here and there and a stream,
the same that ran through Thorn Valley. Rats and mice walked in and out of
building made of what looked like brick and cement. There were rats and mice
everywhere and they were walking and talking as friends.

" What is this place?" asked Justin as he walked next
to Janel do the street.

Everyone around them greeted them and didn't seem surprised to
see Justin.

" This is a place where our dreams came true. This is
Crescent Valley," she said as they walked up the stairs of a large
building.

When they opened the door several people ran up to them. One was
a small mouse with brown fur and wearing a green shirt. Another was a large rat
with black fur and a white shirt. Janel talked to them as Justin looked around.
The building was obviously the meeting hall. The walls were made of brick and
the ceiling was made of something he had not seen before.

Then Janel grabbed his arm and pulled him into another room
where the council sat.

" Guys, guess who I found!" she said happily.

" Justin!" they cried.

" Yup, that’s Justin." she said as she walked to her
seat.

" We haven't seen you in ages." said a mouse.

" How is everything at Thorn Valley?" asked a rat.

" How is Nicodimus and Mrs. Ages?" asked another.

" Stop with all the questions." said Janel, " I
think we need to let him get used to his new surroundings."

" Janel is right as always." came a voice from behind
them.

Janel crossed her arms and got an angry look on her face as two
rats and a mouse walked in. She stood and walked next to Justin, grabbing his
arms. She obviously did want Justin to say anything.

" Welcome back." said one of the rats.

" What do you want Vulture?" she asked angrily.

" Now Janel you know better then to lose your temper to
me." he said.

" Forgive me I had a sudden burst of intelligence."
she said with mocking anger.

Justin laughed and Vulture looked at him.

" And this must be the famous Justin. How do you do?"
he said.

Janel pinched his arm and Justin understood that he was not to
trust him.

" I'm fine." was all he said.

" I ask again Vulture, what do you and your common friends
what in front of the council?" she asked.

" Common!" cried the mouse.

" Calm down Jade." said the other rat with them.

" I will not calm down Arin! I am no commoner!" she
cried and drew her dagger.

Justin drew his and jumped in front of Janel as Vulture grabbed
Jade's arm.

" No Jade." he said and they left.

" Who was that?" asked Justin as he put his dagger
away.

" That was Vulture, Jade, and Arin. The towns bad seeds."
said Janel and then walked back up to her seat.

The rest of the day Justin spent answering questions and talking
to the council. By know Justin had some question of his own.

" How is it you come from N.I.M.H.?" he asked.

" That’s a long story," said one of the rats as they
all looked at Janel.

" I guess I'll tell it, seeing as to how I was the first
one there." she said and walked over to Justin.

" Well we were taken to N.I.M.H. the very first day it
opened. Before you were there. We were given some other things that you were
and one that you weren't. When you were brought to N.I.M.H. the scientist would
test us together. They'd put one rat or mouse from our group with one from
yours. We would be put throw tests and other things. That's how we meet
Nicodimus and Jonathan. I was tested with both of them. We became friends and
planned to escape together." she said.

" I remember Jonathan talking about another group of rats
and mice," said Justin.

" The night you had planned to escape we were taken away.
We were put into another room because we had been found to have something that
you did not," she said.

" And what was that?" asked Justin.

" We were 'accidentally' injected with a chemical that you
weren't. Called A1-17, a chemical only meant for humans. It made us faster,
stronger, and our senses were heighten ten fold," she said.

" So that means what?" asked Justin.

" It means that we are stronger, faster, and can see, hear,
smell, taste, and feel things you can't." she said with a smile.

" They make it sound so incredible." came a voice
which made Justin freeze.

" Jonathan." he said and turned.

" So Justin, you finally found me," said Jonathan with
a laugh.

Justin just starred at him in shock. He walked over and touched
him to make sure he was not dreaming. Jonathan stood there same as ever,
wearing a brown vest and a smile on his face.

" How?" asked Justin quietly.

" Well, when Dragon chased after me, I hid behind the bowl.
The next thing I knew I was standing next to Janel. You probably looked back
when Dragon had started eating that’s what he was chewing not me." he
smiled.

" I can't believe it," he said.

" You should. I'm right here, in the fur." he said.

" Jonathan don't you think its time to get you home."
said Janel.

" My family. Lets go." he said and they followed him
outside.

They walked outside and saw it was dark. They decided to wait
till morning. They showed Justin were he could sleep and then went to their
homes. Janel and Justin woke up to screams. They ran outside and almost ran
into each other.

" Who's screaming? Where's it coming from?" cried
Justin.

" Jonathan!" cried Janel in a panic and ran off.

They ran to Jonathan’s house and up the stairs. But they were
too late. When they got there they found it completely destroyed. Janel called
for Jonathan but there was no answer.

" He's...he's...he's gone." she said surprise.