Taiko was a black Wyrae. At least, that's what she was NOW. She used to be......she couldn't even remember any more. She had 'transformed' so long ago. Now, she lived a secretive life in a dark cave on Reiflem. Nobody would ever come looking for her there.

Sometimes, though, she would have to come out of the cave to find food. When she did, everyone ran screaming in terror. They all thought that Taiko was a monster. She wasn't a monster, she was one of the kindest and bravest creatus of all. But because everybody ran away at the sight of her, poor Taiko got terribly lonely and longed for some friends to talk to.

One day, Taiko was sleeping in her cave when she was awoken by a scream outside. She stood up and yawned.

"What was that?" she muttered, moving to the cave entrance to see what all the noise was about. She soon found out. There was a young Iluvu being attacked by two Verams. One grabbed her and tossed her against a rock. The poor Iluvu slumped to the ground and didn't move. Taiko watched on in horror as the Verams closed in for the kill.

"I've got to help them!" she cried, and with a tremendous roar she charged forward, knocking the Verams away. Taiko used her long, whip-like tongue to trip one up before it could take off. The other dive-bombed Taiko, but she was too quick. The second Veram soon joined it's partner in crime on the ground. They eventually got to their feet and fled, absolutely terrified.

"And don't you come back!" Taiko screeched after them. The little Iluvu groaned. Taiko went over to it and looked at it closely.

"Th.....th.....thankyou..." it managed to say.

"You don't have to speak. Don't worry, it's ok. Those Verams are gone now." Taiko assured. The little Iluvu stood shakily to it's feet.

"Then.......then I must go..." it whispered. Taiko's eyes (all four of them) widened.

"But you can't go while you're so weak!" she said. "You need to rest."

"No, you don't understand..."the Iluvu said. "My name's Herzklopfen. I was trying to find my best friend, Tozoku. He's an albino Iluvu. He's been missing for months now and I have been worried sick about him. But then another good friend of mine, RyouBakura, said that he might have seen him near the Otroe Circle. I was headed there when those Verams attacked me." Herzklopfen began to cry. Taiko tried to comfort her.

"It's ok.." she said, soothingly. "Look, I'll help you find Tozoku." Herzklopfen looked up and a huge smile krept onto her face.

"You'll help me?" she cried. "Thankyou so much!" Taiko smiled.

"No problem!" she said. "But take it easy, ok?"

And so, the two headed off for Otroe Circle. Taiko tried her best to ignore the screams all around them. Herzklopfen was the only one not terrified by Taiko.

"Why are they screaming?" she asked. "You're not scary, or anything. You're one of the nicest creatus I've ever met!" Taiko grinned inwardly.

"Thankyou." she said, simply. The two carried on.

Taiko and Herzklopfen arrived at Otroe Circle. Sure enough, after plenty of searching, they found Tozoku. After the two Iluvus were reunited, they promised to Taiko that they'd visit her every day. The word soon spread around that Taiko wasn't a monster, after all. Many creatus came to her cave to talk to her. Sometimes Taiko would play with some of the children. At last, Taiko was happy. She had found what she had always wanted.....

.......friends.

Starring Taiko, Herzklopfen, Tozoku and RyouBakura, the precious pets of Taiko.