Hidden Glitches (Animal Jam)

Aparri

The sky was dark, the woods whispering with strange sounds. The howl of a werewolf made Aparri's blood turn cold. He froze, paw in mid-step, eyes wide as the trees; their branches like claws, seemed to close in around him.

A bat squeaked and flapped past his muzzle. Aparri let out a grunt of surprise and tripped on his paws, his red top hat toppling off his head.

The bat flew off, a shadow in the full moon. Aparri picked himself up, mumbling under his breath.

Halloween in Jamaa was always so creepy; and it annoyed him that he was scared by a tiny bat. Picking up his top hat, he set it back on his head and stalked away through the trees.
Surely Sarepia forest ended at the border to Jamaa township.

I've been walking through this stupid forest long enough...

Even in his bad mood, the thought of visiting Wisteriamoon made his heart lift. Perhaps walking to her den was worth it.

Suddenly he heard the buzz of a phantom. He tensed, seeing the bamboo forest ahead of the path. Jamaa township was just ahead. He sprinted, ignoring the sounds of the phantoms closing in around him, is Jamaa being attacked? He put on a burst of speed, What if Wisteria is hurt?!

A line of phantoms whipped into his path, blocking him from the township, their giant eyes gleamed with hatred. Aparri growled, whipping around to see he was surrounded. A yowl of fear made him turn at once.

Wisteriamoon was backed against a stone, Phantoms closing in on her. Aparri's heart plummeted,

"No, Wisteria!" He leaped forward, but the phantoms blocked his way, buzzing as electric shocks crackled around their black bodies.

Aparri bared his teeth, his eyes flaming with fury. If only he had a boomseed. If only the alphas were here. Then the nearest phantom leaped at him, throwing him to the ground as he convulsed with its shock. He felt a heavy weight on him and Wisteria's yelp of terror as darkness closed around him.

"WISTERIA!" He snapped awake, a white fox was staring down at him, her paws on his chest.

"Aparri, goodness sake; you've been screaming in your sleep; are you okay?"

Aparri blinked, instantly embarrassed. He scrambled to his paws, looking down at his little sister, Bepper.

"Yeah I'm fine. Just a dream." He gave his pelt a shake. Bepper cocked her head,

"Was it about Wisteria?" There was a teasing tone in her voice. Her little dog, Ultrapuppy, yipped beside her. Aparri snorted, looking away; but didn't answer.

"Anyway," Bepper adjusted her furry magenta hat on her head. Aparri guessed this one's name was Sebastian. He didn't know how she could tell her two beloved hats apart.

"You'd better get dressed, I wanna see what the new update is." She stood up and walked away.

Aparri was usually excited for the update, but he knew this one was the Halloween update; and the thought of his dream made him shiver. He stood up, I'll never let Wisteria ever be harmed by a phantom! Then he laughed to himself, realizing how stupid he sounded. Jamaa wasn't being attacked, and Wisteria could probably take care of herself; knowing her.
He ignored his fear and put his top hat on, clipping his elf bracelets on and throwing the worn over his back. Whatever happened, he wasn't going to let anyone know he was afraid. Especially not Julian.
He sniffed as he thought about the know-it-all 'bean'. He thought he was so good, and Aparri was not about to let Julian have another reason to accuse him.

Bepper bounded out of her room, talking to herself, dressed in a witch suit. Aparri smiled in amusement.

"Lets go Aparri!" She whipped her tail in his face and raced out the door. Giving himself a shake, Aparri followed.

As soon as they entered Jamaa, creepy music filled Aparri's ears. The sounds of cackling witches and howling werewolves echoed from the speakers situated among the eaves of the buildings. Jamaa township was packed, and; as usual, they all freaked out when they noticed Bepper and Aparri.

"OMG AUTO PLEASE!" a bright pink arctic wolf yelled from the crowd. But Aparri and Bepper ignored them as they read the update.

"Eek! PET PHANTOMS!?" Bepper screeched, reading through the paper; her eyes glittering with excitement. Aparri was reading out loud, already beginning to tell his fans about it and planning what to do next. When he looked up, Bepper was already bounding away to the diamond shop.
Aparri rolled his eyes and set off to get a new animal. The new name update was going to be epic. Swaggy? Kawaii? This was going to be awesome.

After finishing his update performance he went to find Bepper. She was in the pet stop with her new pet phantom. Aparri knocked on the door and she swung it open, a tiny phantom following her. Aparri had already gotten one, but the tiny phantom still made him shiver. He was determined to keep a close eye on the pets; he didn't trust them completely.

Bepper, meanwhile; was ranting on about how cute the pet's certificate of adoption was. Aparri wondered if this phantom would replace Ultrapuppy. He highly doubted it.

"Oh and Aparri, I told Wisteria we'd be around her place by two." Bepper said as she began to walk out.

Aparri tore his gaze from the phantom and stared, "What?"

Bepper groaned, "Weren't you listening?" She rolled her eyes at him; "I told you Wisteriamoon's hosting a Halloween party at her den, and we'd be there at two."

"Oh" Aparri wondered for a moment if Julian was going to be there before he followed Bepper as she raced away towards home.