Moon Stone slammed down an almost empty basket of herbs. Onto the large wooden table that sat in the middle of the room. Aristaeus, a blue and white Tsabhua welp, leaned over the table to see what was inside. He recognized what used to be the soft green of mint even though it was wilted.

"The Jaebo have gotten into the garden again. They are worse than the rats!" Moon Stone said through clenched teeth. "Just look at what they did to my herbs!" She indicated the sad looking herb lying in the bottom of the basket.

Just then Alexander and Dionysus walked through the open door. Dionysus had to duck his head to avoid the top of the door frame and his brown wings tucked tightly against his side.

"What's this about Jaeboes and the garden?" Alexander said. He peered into the basket. "Oh that is bad. Are all the herbs like this?" he asked as he pulled out the wilted plant to get a better look at it.

"Yes, well almost all," Moon Stone said as she gently took the plant back from Alexander and placed it back in the basket.

"We will just have to make the place more secure against Jaeboes. Maybe a fence that is higher than they can jump and bury the fence deep under the ground. So they can't dig under it." Aristaeus said as he thought out loud.

"We could-" Alexander agreed. "But we could also trap them and thin them out."

"They do make tasty snacks," Dionysus said as he licked his lips.

Moon Stone looked at the others in the room. "I guess it wouldn't hurt to try."

The next day Moon Stone left her cosy little house and made her way to her herb garden. Big Brother had just crest the tall black mountain. The large sun showed its light and the tall trees cast long shadows on the ground below them. Moon Stone shouldered her pack and started down the path that wound its way through through the tall evergreen trees.

When she finally got to her garden, Alexander, Dionysus and Aristaeus were already there. A pile of logs and wooden planks lay on the ground next to the plot of land she had designated to be her garden. There were not very many plants left. The plants that had been left were now mostly gone. Those that were left had what looked like bite marks and lay strewn across the ground like something had pulled them up by the roots.

"Ah Moon Stone, good you are here." Alexander said as soon as she walked up to them.

"You guys didn't have to wait for me." Moon Stone chuckled. "It looks like you got all the supplies."

"Ah yes. We were wondering if you could dig out the trench we will need for the fence. You being a Belemoid would be better suited for it. And this way we will know where exactly you want the fence." Dionysus pointed out wisely.

"I guess I could. But I don't think I can do it by myself. I can do a shallow trench and then you guys can help. "Moon Stone answered.

"You three go ahead. I am going to make the traps." Aristaeus said from where he was examining little bits of wood and twin and short metal wires. He gathered up the small pile and moved off to where he could sit under the shade of an evergreen tree and started to build his trap.

Moon Stone got busy digging the trench. She used her strong front claws and dug into the packed dirt. She quickly dug a shallow trench around the original garden and then started digging it deeper. Alexander grabbed a shovel that was leaning against the building and started digging. Dionysus went to the opposite side and started digging with his large claws. His trench digging was much quicker then Alexanders and he easily caught up to him.

The suns were high in the sky by the time the trench was done. Aristaeus walked over from where he was working with one of his contraptions.

"Got a couple done. " He said as he held up the trap for Moon Stone to see. It was a very simple trap but it looked like it would catch a Jaebo.

"Good job!" Moon Stone patted Aristaeus on the head. "Go make a couple more. We will put them out when we stop for the day. I don't think we are going to finish the fence tonight."

Aristaeus nodded his head and went back to sit under the tree. Dionysus and Alexander got to work putting in the big posts at the corners; they had to dig a little bit more before they were satisfied. By this time Big brother was almost touching the tip of the black mountain and it was time to stop.

Aristaeus came over and placed all his traps around the garden. And Moon Stone went into her clinic and brought out some of the herbs she had collected.

"I think these will do nicely for some bait." Moon Stone said as she handed them over to Aristaeus who placed them where they would do the most good.