Dan Marino is questing! Episode 1/25

Bambi was excited as she stared out her window at the full moon. This was going to be the best Halloween ever! Finally her mom was allowing her to go trick or treating alone with her friends! She was 15 after all! It’s about time!

Dan Marino is questing! Episode 2/25

She glanced over at her closet and chuckled to herself. This is the perfect costume! It is going to scare everyone. At least mom is letting me pick out my own costume too. Finally I get to be Little Red Riding Bunny my way! None of this cutesy stuff any more. Espresso and Dan Marino aren’t going to know what hit them when they show up.

Dan Marino is questing! Episode 3/25

“Bambi! Dinner!”

“Awww, mom! Do I have to have dinner? I’m going to get so much good stuff tonight…”

“Yes, Bambi. Now sit down and eat your veggies like a good girl.”

A heaping plate of steamed vegetables were presented in front pf Bambi much to her dismay.

DING DONG

“Yay! Espresso and Dan Marino are here! Let me get in costume and answer the door!”

Dan Marino is questing! Episode 4/25

“Hey guys! How goes it! Wait a second, where are your costumes?”

The 2 friends stood at Bambi’s door.

“I’m going as a big black void.” Replied Espresso.

“Teehee!” giggled Dan Marino. “I’m going as the bane of my teacher’s existence.”

“You guys are so lazy!” sighed Bambi. “Let’s go get candy!”

Dan Marino is questing! Episode 5/25

“Do you see that in the distance? The weird shimmery light thing?”

“I wonder what it is…”

The group approached it not knowing and suddenly…

Dan Marino is questing! Episode 6/25

POOF!
“Where are we?!?!”

“Look at the sky! It’s dancing!” exclaimed Dan Marino

Dan Marino is questing! Episode 7/25

“Is anyone else feeling a little cold?” asked Espresso.

“Well if you had worn a costume you would have been fine.” Replied Bambi. “Let’s go explore this place it looks kind of neat. I think I see something in the distance.”

“Sounds better than standing here. I swear I can hear the sky.” Said Dan Marino

Dan Marino is questing! Episode 8/25

The friends carefully climbed over the snow and ice.

“Look! In the distance! In the water…or I think it is in the water still. I think I see a ship! A real ocean going ship!” Bambi was giddy. “We so need to check this out!”

Dan Marino is questing! Episode 9/25

As they got closer things got a little spookier. There were piles of bones around and it appeared as if this ship had been abandoned.

“I am not so certain about this Bambi. This looks a little creepy.”

“What are you, a chicken? I thought you were a big black void?”

“Fine! But if anything happens I am holding you responsible!”

Dan Marino is questing! Episode 10/25

Being bunnies Bambi and Espresso were able to make their way onto this ship to start exploring quite readily. This left poor Dan Marino to find their own way to scramble aboard the wreck.

“Do you really think this is safe Bambi?” asked Dan Marino.

“Of course! This ship is long abandoned. Let’s have some fun.”

“But it looks so easy to get hurt. It could fall apart at any moment!” stated Espresso.

“WHO GOES THERE?” boomed a bold voice.

“WHA?!?!” they all stuttered.

Out waddled the strangest penguin they had all ever seen.

Dan Marino is questing! Episode 11/25

“Who are you?

“What are you?

“We are sorry we thought this place was abandoned!”

The three friends were talking over one another in fear seeing this newfound critter appear. They did not know what to make of it.

Part penguin. Part skeleton. 100% frightening.

“Are you all here to be my friends?”

Dan Marino is questing! Episode 12/25

“What?!? You don’t want to eat us?” asked a dumbfounded Espresso.

“Me? Eat you? Gosh no! I prefer fish and krill when I can get it but the weather here is so tempermental it can be tough some seasons. Hence why I am so thin.”

The friends looked at the newcomer dumbfoundedly…

“I’m joshing with you….really I am but a figment of your imagination, a ghost, a skeleton, a spirit! A random being if you might.”

The friends looked at one another.

“Ack! You all look too nice. Look don’t worry. I have not had a meal in years. You are safe. What do you say we go explore this area and meet some of my friends since you are here and you can tell me how you even came to be here. I’m Skelly by the way.”

Dan Marino is questing! Episode 13/25

With Skelly leading the way the friends headed back into the cold.

“Skelly, can I ask where we even are?” asked Bambi.

“You are all in Antarctica silly! It has just turned to spring here so it is warming up a bit but I’m still chilled to my bones.”

“Can I ask what is up with that creepy sky? I swear I can even hear it!” exclaimed Dan Marino.

“Easy. That is just the aurora australis. The southern lights. Some pets do claim they can hear them. The sun is having lots of flares and coronal mass ejections lately as it is in a very active period of its cycle so the sky here has been quite the canvas for us all. Just look at that beauty.”

They all stopped and looked up at the dancing sky.

Dan Marino is questing! Episode 14/25

The friends carried on walking over snow and ice with Skelly along the water’s edge.

“So can I ask how you all arrived here and did not even know where you were?”

“Well back home it is Halloween,” replied Bambi. “Hence why I am dressed as such. We were headed out trick or treating to get all kinds of candy. My mom only serves me veggies. ICK! In front of us was this shimmery cloud that we approached…”

“And it sucked us in!” cried Dan Marino.

“All of a sudden we were standing on an icy water’s edge with a creepy sky above us and nobody around!” added Espresso.

“Was it a full moon?” asked Skelly.

“How did you know?”

“I always thought it was a myth but perhaps not. I’ve heard that on full moons a portal opens in the northern hemisphere to try to trap more pets here in the south to feed the monsters.”

“MONSTERS?!?!”

“I’ve never seen one but this is the legend of the Southern Polar Gateway. It must have caught the 3 of you.”

Dan Marino is questing! Episode 15/25

“Ahhh here we are. We are at my friend’s place now.”

“Ummm, all I see is water and ice.” Said Bambi.

“Just give her a moment. She is sometimes shy.”

Suddenly the friends heard some splashing in the water.

“That must be her!”

Before their eyes out popped the scariest monster they had ever seen.

“ARRRGH! Please don’t eat us!”

“Goodness no! I would not want to eat you. You all look too cute and cuddly! Has Skelly here been telling ghost stories again?” said the Foxmaid.

Dan Marino is questing! Episode 16/25

“Don’t listen to Skelly here. She likes to scare pets about some haunted story about them being brought here for food. Now if you had candy I would eat that.”

“Sorry, we don’t have any candy. The strange portal took us before we could get any. I might have a carrot.” Said Bambi looking through her pockets.

“Vegetables?!?! ICK! What do you take me for?!?!”

“I know. I much prefer candy too and I try to hide the veggies my mom makes me eat.”

“If only Bob was here. He always has candy and cheeseburgers. I don’t know where he hides it all…it’s like they appear out of thin air!” said Dan Marino.

“Anyhow, it was nice meeting you and seeing where you live. We should probably move along and who knows, maybe we will find a way home.” Espresso was ever optimistic. And cold.

“Why don’t you take a toque with you little one? You look a lil chilled.”

Dan Marino is questing! Episode 17/25

“You know as we are wandering back to my ship we are passing by me dear friend Cthulwho’s cave. It is just over yonder. We should stop in and say hello.”

“I don’t know Skelly. With a name like Cthulwho I get the feeling your friend will want to eat us!”

“Nah! He is as friendly as the neighbourhood pet human.”

“Probably one of those ankle biter ones that thinks it stands 6’ tall and weighs 300lbs.” muttered Dan Marino.

“C’mon! His cave is right there. I think I see him at the entrance. I promise he is really friendly.”

Dan Marino is questing! Episode 18/25

“Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! I see Skelly has brought some new friends for a visit! Oh how I want to wrap you all in my wings!”

The friends shuddered in fright. Wrap them in his wings? Wasn’t that the first step towards being eaten? Didn’t Skelly promise Cthulwho was friendly? Were they deceived?

“Oh stop being so scared you guys! I see you must have arrived here in Antarctica by the Southern Polar Gateway on All Hallow’s Eve of all nights. Did you get any candy at home?”

“Umm, no sir…” stuttered a frightened Bambi.

“Here! Dig in!” And with a fling of his wings Cthulwho exposed the most extravagant display of candy the friends had ever seen.

“GASP! We can eat this?”

“Oh course! Dig in!”

“Ooooh if my mother could see me now….”

Dan Marino is questing! Episode 19/25

BURRRRRRP!

With full bellies the friends realized it must be getting late.

“Skelly, we really must be getting back and trying to find a portal back home. It has been fun and this candy from Cthulwho has been amazing (Thank you kind Sir) but really our parents will be getting scared.”

“Fill your bags! Take some candy for your journey home.”

“Really?” asked a wide eyed Bambi. She was not accustomed to getting candy.

“Of course, I have more than enough. The crystals of this cave produce more than I can eat.”

The friends quickly filled bags that Cthulwho gave them and they got ready to take their leave.

Dan Marino is questing! Episode 20/25

“How long of a hike will it be to get back to the ship Skelly?” asked Dan Marino. “I am getting quite tired and I think I feel a candy coma coming on.”

“Oh, we just need cross a couple crevasses and go over the mountain there in the distance.”

“Wait! What? Aren’t crevasses dangerous?”

“They are nothing to worry about. Just look for the difference in the snow and ice colour. I will lead the way. We just need pass through the bone field there ahead. Avoid the bones and you will avoid the crevasses. It’s simple!”

“So you say…” muttered Espresso looking in the distance.

Dan Marino is questing! Episode 21/25

Skelly and the friends were carefully traversing the bone field with skill.

“See, you just need watch where you are placing your paws and flippers and it is easy going.”

“Says you!” yelped Bambi as she slipped and near fell in a crack.

“Look! The base of the mountain is just ahead. It is only a little further. You can all make it!” encouraged Skelly.

Dan Marino is questing! Episode 22/25

Finally the friends had made it safely through the bone field and crevasses and were facing a mountain of epic proportion.

“We need climb that to get back?”

“It’s easy. There are holds all the way up and on the other side it is a quick belly slide to the ship! I promise this is the fastest way back.”

With a sigh the friends began climbing.

Dan Marino is questing! Episode 23/25

And there it was! The ship they were looking for! If the Southern Polar Gateway had landed them essentially at the foot of the ship there must be a way home from there. Quickly they all dropped to their bellies and began sliding down the slope. They wanted to get home. Sure it was fun here in Antarctica but they missed home and their parents must be worried by now.

“Don’t let any of the candy spill!” cried Bambi.

Dan Marino is questing! Episode 24/25

“We made it!” exclaimed Bambi. “Now to find the way home.”

“It must be around here somewhere. Do you know Skelly?” asked Dan Marino.

“I might be wrong but there is an extra shimmering over yonder…”

“That’s it!” cried Espresso. “It looks like what caught us back home! Thanks Skelly! That must be the way!”

The friends began running towards the strange shimmering in hopes of getting home.

Dan Marino is questing! Episode 25/25

POOF!

“Are we home? Is that the moon?”

“I think it is! We made it guys!”

“Umm, guys, there is something extra in the candy bag.” Said Espresso. “Look!"

The friends all peered in and Espresso then pulled out a special funny looking egg.

“What is it?”

“I don’t know. It looks strange and reminds me of the sky from where we were. I certainly don’t want it. Here you take it Bambi!”

“No way! If mom ever saw that she would get mad! You know her and her strict vegetable only diet! As it is you guys are going to have to keep my share of the candy hidden for me! You keep it Dan Marino!”

“Awesome! This has been the best Halloween ever! Thanks guys!”
Dan Marino has enjoyed his Halloween Adventure. Please select another pet as visitor, so it can join in the fun!