“Did you get everything?” Rune Glare asked her brother as they snuck through the bushes just outside the Kirin Village.

“Two specially carved masks from Zebrica,” Dust Glint said with a grin, holding up a sack.

“Perfect,” Rune said, darting into a bush and followed by her brother. “Creek and Pile should be coming back from their hike any moment. We’ll put these masks on and jump from the bushes and scare them.”

“You’re sure it’s alright?” Dust asked as he reached into the bag. “Won’t we get in trouble with Rain Shine?”

“It’s just a harmless prank, Dusty,” Rune replied, waving a dismissive cloven forehoof. “Besides, remember last year when Creek got both of us?”

“Pure lemon juice instead of lemonade, yuck,” Dust replied, briefly sticking out his tongue. “I don’t think my muzzle has ever scrunched so hard before in my life.”

“Exactly! This is just returning the favor. After this, we’ll be even.” Rune peeked out of the bush. “Now, you’re sure you weren’t spotted with the masks?”

“Pretty sure,” Dust replied, pulling out the first mask. He admired the craftsmanship, running a hoof over the brightly painted face and the Cheshire grin. “You know, this mask is actually supposed to mean ‘hello’ in Zebrican culture.”

Rune took the mask and raised an eyebrow at it. It was a questionable design choice, in her opinion, but expertly made. “Funny way to say ‘hello.’ What’s the other one look like?”

Dust pulled out the second mask. While the first had been slender and tall, this one was squat and square. The mask’s eyes were shutting in grinning glee, a series of warm colors used to paint this mask’s face.

“I think this one was meant to be a ‘wishing you well’ sort of mask,” Dust explained, taking it for himself.

“Are you sure you can wear these?” Rune asked, slipping hers on and frowning behind the wood. “Marvelous smelling wood, but… where’s the eye holes?”

“I think they’re just meant for decoration. It would, ah, explain the strange look Zecora gave me when I asked for the straps,” Dust admitted sheepishly.

“No matter, we’ll just jump out in front of them and make spooky noises, and take them off. Should be easy.” Rune shrugged, taking hers off for the moment and shaking out her floof.

“I think I hear hoofsteps,” Dust hissed, ears pivoting towards the forest.

“Hide!” his sister whispered, the two of them ducking back into their bush and donning their masks.

They waited with baited breath as the hoofsteps approached, and when they seemed to almost be next to them, they jumped from the bush and waved their arms, howling and screeching.

Creek Shine let out a scream and jumped back, before her face contorted into a scowl as her two friends took off their masks and laughed.

“Rune Glare! Dust Glint! What was that for?” she snapped.

“The ‘lemonade’ last year,” Rune said, sticking her tongue out at Creek.

“Hoof-crafted Zebrican masks,” Dust said with a grin, holding his up proudly. He soon frowned as he looked around. “Hey, where’s Pile at?”

The bushes nearby rustled, and out jumped a massive Usra Minor, snarling and roaring at the two kirin. Rune and Dust both screamed in horror, tripping over themselves as they ran back to the village.

Creek giggled and patted the bear on one of its front legs. In a burst of green flame, Pile transformed back to normal, snickering.

“Thanks love,” she said.

“Had a feeling they were up to something when I saw Dust sneaking through the village with his bag,” Pile remarked.

“Although, now I wonder what they’re going to try next year,” Creek sighed.

Author's Note

Rune Glare: Female, Kirin

About: A friend of Creek Shine's with a shared interest in kirin history and the sister of Dust Glint. Rune Glare still lives in the Kirin Village, where she attempts to locate historical kirin sites in the jungles of the Peaks of Peril.

Appearances: Daring Do and the Legend of the Kirinstone

Dust Glint: Male, Kirin

About: A friend of Creek Shine's with a shared interest in ancient things and the brother of Rune Glare. Often called "Dusty," he's since moved to Klugetown and opened an antiques shop there, always eager to see what might come through his door next.

Appearances: Daring Do and the Legend of the Kirinstone