Zs99: Okay, just a quick note. This is my Happy Tree Friends story. It revolves around Flippy, so I guess you can call it a Flippy Story...anyway, I do not own Happy Tree Friends, Flippy, Handy, or any other HTF character. I do own Ryne (pronounced Rain), Fyre (pronounced Fire), Sarge, Alam, and Viktor, plus a few more. Now, Alam and Viktor do not look like Happy Tree Friends characters. Instead, they look like normal dogs, and if anyone has seen/read Ginga Nagareboshi Gin or Ginga Densetsu Weed, then you kind of get an idea of their shape. Other than that, enjoy! Oh, Ryne is a red akita, Sarge is a white German Shepherd, and Fyre is a light gray tora-ge(tiger striped) akita with silver stripes.

(Story Begins)

Ryne lifted her head and looked at the sky. It was a strange purple black color, which signified an approaching storm. In the distance, she could hear the thunder and a bolt of lightning flashed momentarily. Over the hour the wind had been steadily picking up speed, making the trees bend and sway fitfully. Ryne pushed her hair out of her face as a fork of lightning flashed close by, followed quickly by a boom of thunder. Huge drops of water started falling as the thunder and lightning increased in frequency.

Since Ryne was under an overhang of a porch, she remained dry, except for the times where the wind blew the water at her. She leaned up against the wall and watched the weather.The door next to her opened and out walked a German Shepherd. His fur was white from ear to tail with a crest of silver hair between his ears. His left eye and ear were shredded thanks to several slashes across his head. About a year ago, he had lost both his eye and his ear to a monstrous bear named Madara. He was lucky, almost half of his platoon had been killed.

He walked and leaned on the wall next to Ryne. "So, I guess Fyre was right about there being a storm coming, right?" Ryne nodded her head. "Yeah, he's seldom wrong about stuff like that."

There was silence after that, broken only by the crash of thunder. "Sarge, tell me again what we're doing tomorrow." The white dog looked at the fiery red akita. "Again? Sheesh, alright."Sarge pulled a slip of paper from his jacket pocket and unfolded it. "It says that we have to go pick up two new members for our squad-" Ryne cocked her head to the side and, continuing to watch the rain, remarked. "So, they found two more members for the 'Suicide Corps.', eh? Who'd be crazy enough to join?" Sarge looked up, amused. "Well, you were, for one." Ryne grunted and remained quiet. Sarge was about to continue, but Ryne interrupted again. "Do they have any know-how about fighting bears?" Sarge scratched his head. "I don't think so, but I think one of 'em is a bear."

Ryne turned and looked Sarge straight in the eye. "You know that only a dog can fight against a bear and hit the weak spot." Sarge sighed. "No, it's not only dogs that can do that. True, only dogs can hit that particular spot with their fangs, but any others could just use weapons."

Ryne stood straight and started walking inside. She stopped in the doorway. "Then let's hope that we have enough weapons." She walked in and the door shut quietly. Sarge shook his head and folded the paper back up before heading in.

(Timeskip--the next day)

Ryne sat in the cockpit of the helicopter as she and Sarge made their way to a military Green Beret training camp. Sarge landed the chopper and switched it off. Ryne climbed out and looked around. Everything was just the way she remembered it from when she was in training. "Hey, Ryne. Stop spacing out and come over here."

Ryne blinked and turned to Sarge, then followed. She looked side to side. "So, where are the new members?" Sarge shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know." Ryne cut a glance at him, but made no comment.

Sarge walked up to someone. "Excuse me, where can we find the two recruits for the Suicide Corps." The person, a orange beaver, thought for a moment, then spoke. "You must be talking about Flippy and Handy. Your best bet for finding Flippy would be the obstacle course." Sarge looked to where he pointed and saw it a little ways away.

Before Sarge could speak, Ryne interrupted. "So where's the other one?" "Actually, I'm Handy." Sarge shook his hand (yes, he still has them at the moment). "Well, nice to meet you. I'm Sarge and this is Ryne, the leader of the Suicide Corps." Handy blinked. "The leader is a girl?" Ryne walked over and stood eye to eye with him. "Listen, if you know what's good for you, you won't make a big deal of my gender, understand?" He shrugged, then nodded. "Yeah, I never meant anything by it. I've only ever seen male leaders." Ryne nodded and looked towards the course. "Okay then. Sarge, I'm going to find the other one." "You mean Flippy?" Ryne nodded and started over.

Ryne walked over to the course and looked around. So far, she had seen neither hide nor hair of whoever Flippy was. 'Well, I guess it wouldn't have hurt to ask what he looked like...' She thought as she walked over to the starting line. As she gazed over the course and obstacles, she was gripped by a sudden surge of instinct. Her heart beat slowed down as her mind started to prepare for what was ahead. She hadn't worn any boots today, so she was unhindered. Ryne closed her eyes for a second, then opened then, dashing across the line in the same instant.

Sarge stepped up to the course. He had been looking for Flippy, but had no such luck. He watched as Ryne easily made her way through the course. 'Well, there's no doubt in my mind about why she's leader...well, joint leader.' "Hey Ryne!"

Ryne crouched up on top of a wall and stared at Sarge. "What?" "You find him?" She shook her head. Sarge scratched his head. "Wonder where he is..."

"Hey, are you looking for Flippy?" Sarge turned to see a dark blue badger looking at him. Sarge walked over. He heard a thud behind him and knew Ryne had jumped down. "Yeah, do you know where he is?" The badger nodded. "He left about an hour ago. He said he'd received something and had to leave." Ryne stepped forward. "Which direction?" The badger nodded to the west. "Just over there. Don't know where he was going though. He just packed his stuff and left." Ryne turned to look west, then at Sarge. "Do you think he went to our camp, it's to the west." Sarge shrugged. "Don't know, but maybe."

Sarge turned back to the badger. "Thanks for the help. Ryne, can you walk to the camp? I have some business to take care of here." Ryne nodded and started off with out question.

(Timeskip--whenever)

Ryne carefully walked through the forest. So far, everything was silent. And that was the disturbing part. 'No bird song.' She thought as her red eyes looked around. Suddenly, she saw a flicker of movement from some bushes to her right. Slowly, she pretended to pull her jacket tighter, while she unclipped her knives. 'Whoever that is will be in for a big surprise if they think they can rob me...' An evil smile almost played across her face, but she shook her head and stopped. Something seemed to be striving to get out and, instinctively, she knew it wasn't good. Luckily, the feeling cleared out, but some sensation of it remained.

Ryne started walking again, this time being more watchful. 'Whoever it is, they can move stealthily...could it be...?' She stopped and watched as the movement stopped too. "Okay, whoever's out there, come out now!! I know you're there!" There was silence. 'If you won't come to me, I'll come to you.'

Ryne started walking again as she carefully observed her surrounding. The second she saw the movement, she bolted for it. Whoever it was, he was taken by surprise as she bowled into him, sending both of them down a slope. Ryne barred her teeth and snapped at his throat. She heard him gasp and felt a fist punch her hard on the side of her face. She retaliated by smashing her head against his. Even as rocks and stones gouged as her, Ryne kept her grip as they continued falling.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of falling, their rolling was ended by a large tree. Ryne felt pain shoot through her as her back smacked into the trunk. She was winded, but she still had strength. Ryne kicked out, catching her opponent in the stomach and sending him away. Her eyes flashed red as she stood and stalked over to him. He was a light green bear with a camouflage jacket on. She placed her foot on his neck. "So, you thought you could attack me, huh? You don't know me very well, do you?"

He glared up at her and tried to say something, but she pressed her foot harder. "I'll tell you who I am. I'm Ryne, the leader of the Death Squad!"

He stopped glaring and tried to say something, but Ryne prevented him from speaking. "I'm going to let you up now, but if you try anything, no one will ever find your body, understand?" Since Ryne's claws were still pressing on his throat, all he could do was nod.

Ryne backed up and let him sit up. "Now, who the hell are you and why were you following me?" He rubbed his throat and stood up. When he spoke, his voice was rough from where she had stepped on his neck. "I wasn't following you." Ryne glared. "Ok, so I was, but that gave you no reason to attack me." Ryne grunted. "Huh, so what WERE you doing out here?! And who the hell are you anyway?!"

The bear saluted. "I've been trying to get to the camp of the Suicide Corps." Ryne blinked. "Let me guess, your name's Flippy." He nodded. "It's about time I found you. Sarge and I have been all over the training camp and we saw neither hide nor hair of you! For all I'd known, you could've gone AWOL!!"

(AWOL) (Away Without Leave) (A very bad thing in the Army)

Flippy stayed quiet and just seemed to stare. Ryne twitched her tail and laid her ears back in agitation. "Well?! What are you looking at?!" He shook his head, as if coming out of a daze. "Nothing." Ryne sighed. Just then, a crack of lightning split the sky and rain started pouring down. Instantly, they were both soaked to the bone.

Ryne closed one eye and looked to the now black sky. "Damned storm. Well, Flippy, not that I need to introduce myself, but I'm Ryne, Leader of the Death Squad, as you should know. Follow me back to our camp." Ryne walked off and started to trudge up the slippery hill. Flippy was once again standing still and staring. Ryne turned back and snorted. "What's wrong with you? Come on before you get sick." He blinked a few times, then followed Ryne.

Overhead, lightning tore ravenously through the sky, as if foretelling a terrible tale.