It is time, theres fog hanging heavy in the air, the day time slowly turns to night and it seems impossible for the daylight to return anytime soon.  Rumors go around about seeing a strange patch-work nebulruff toting a cart around town explaining a holliday known as "Howloween". 

"Maddox, I was able to score some tickets to the Howloween Carnival this year! and youre invited!" the cheerful Amber explained, she handed the fox two brightly colored orange tickets that had a pumpkin print on it.

"Oh, thank you Amber! I'm sure Percy will enjoy this, I havent been to a carnival in a while." Maddox said with genuine happiness in his voice

"One more thing- is uhm... By any chance, Cherry coming with us?" Maddox said with slight hesitation hung up in his voice.  Hes grown to admire the malamutes companionship and generosity towards him, he hadn't felt that way towards anyone in a long, long time.  Of course, he loved him son Percival, but this was a different feeling he had for the fluffy dog, Maddox isn't entirely sure what it is but he knows he would do anything to make her happy.

"Yep! I already invited Cherry, Yippers, and Kip is coming with me aswell!" Amber replied.

"KIPS COMING!?" A loud voice yelled from the back of Maddox's tent, a young yet somewhat older scruffy gray fox came bounding between boxes to rush up to Amber, tail wagging a mile a minute.

"Percy! were you easedropping?" Maddox scolded

Percivals ears went low as he sat down, avoiding his fathers eyes, "Sorry, papa." He sounded despondent, before his ears swiveled back up and he gave Amber a hopeful look.

"Yes, Kip will be joining." Amber said, her voice sounded so happy and you could tell she had genuine love for her friends.

"Alright, thank you so much Amber, and when is this carnival?" Maddox asked

"October first! its here all month!" Amber replied to his question, she was just as eager as Maddox to go this carnival.

---

It is now October first, the carnival has been preparing for its grand opening to the citizens of this town, and a strange patch-work dog has made her appearance once more.  This year, she decided to set up store at the carnival.  Whats odd about her, besides appearance, is that she refuses star tokens from other nebulruffs, instead she insists on trick or treat candies.

Out of the carnival entrance, stands our group.  Kip and Percy already getting dressed up for Howloween, Percy claims hes a "monster hunter" who catches creatures inside of balls and uses them to fight for victory.  Kip explained (many times to Amber) that he is a dragon-frog who is purple, and orange, and green, and can breathe fire and survives off of Howloween candies.   Amber and Maddox stood by the entrance together, waiting for Yippers and Cherry to show up.

"Where are they?" Maddox asked for the hundreth time.  

"I dont know, maybe they slept in late?" Amber replied, she doesnt lose her temper easily but she was finding Maddoxs questions a tad annoying, as she had no answers for him.

Maddox looked at the kids playing together, they chased each other and seemed to have no concerns over the other half of the party not showing.  Had Cherry changed her mind? Maybe she didn't want to be seen with a fox afterall 

no, thats not like Cherry! She doesnt care that i'm a fox, right? Maddox thought to himself, doubt creeping in to the backs of his mind.  He sighed and looked at Amber.

"We can text them saying where we are at in the park, if they show, they can meet up with us there, but the line to get in is only going to get longer, lets just go inside now."

"I dont like the idea of ditching them, but..." Amber sighed "Yea, ok good point, lets go." She got up and beckoned the kids to follow her. 

Inside the carnival, were loud attraction noises and bright lights, the sun had already started setting an hour ago and the entire area had been lit up with jack-o-lanters, ghost lights, lamps, and other decorated items to keep the festivities in place.  Amber noticed how even the trees had fake plastic bats hanging from them.  The night was cold but because of all the nebulruffs in one spot, they were able to keep warm.  The atmosphere seemed surreal, as if they had walked through a portal to a howloween dimension.

"You see that weird looking neb back there?" One nebulruff said to their friend as they passed by the group

"Yea! she was totally scary! I'd never seen a nebulruff look like her!" They replied

"And who doesnt take star tokens?"

"Right!?"

Amber didnt like it when nebs judged other nebulruffs for their appearance, she felt bad for the mysterious girl and she decided to be on the lookout for an odd looking nebulruff that refused tokens.

---

Off in the distance,  a giant fluffy nebulruff with overgrown teeth gruffed towards a smaller, just as fluffy, nebulruff.  Her tail wisping away like smoke, electricity enveloped her tail as she maniacally rubbed her paws together, the once bright pink dust now turned into a red-orange.  The heart on her chest flipped upside down, this was Sherry, Cherrys alternate self that only appears during the month of October.  Last year, Cherry and Yippers were struck by lightning which caused this change in them.  The once tiny yellow dog was now the size of a bear, Massive paws and thick strong legs, this was Barkers.  Barkers does not have the ability to talk, instead he makes gruffing noises and howling sounds.  He is intimidating for other nebulruffs but be not afraid, its still Yippers in there.  

"Barkers this year, were going to make it howloween, FOREVER!" Sherry cackled maniacally "Each day on this calendar, we are going to ruin the fun and make howloween rein supreme for years to come!"

"Grrft" Barkers agreed with a gruffing noise

"Just you wait, Barkers, today we will ruin the carnival!"

"Grrft" 

"Yes, I agree with that plan." Sherry nodded her head and ran off into the distance, the big fluffy dog slowly following behind.

---