The Mutated Purple Moss

**The Mutated Purple Moss** appears in the episode Bravery Badge.

The Moss has existed at least since the 1980s. It has the ability to play a quiet tune and multiply, infecting peoples brains through attaching itself to their ears. Once someone is infected by the Moss, they lose all control over their mind and become mindless singing zombies, singing the tune the Moss uses until they can be freed from its control.

During a camping trip, an old Hedgehog Rangers Troop known as the ‘Lidland Troop’ stayed in a forest that The Moss inhabited. The troop were all infected by the Moss and began wandering the forest, singing the tune with the person’s voice. Despite being infected, it didn’t stop the Troop from ageing.

30 years later, another Hedgehog Rangers troop went camping in the same forest. During the night, one of the members, Arlene, went to the toilet. As she was returning to her tent, the Moss infected her. In the morning, a young girl named Jo sharing a tent with Arlene announced that she was missing. The woman in charge of the troop, Leader Paxton, split the troop into two groups, one led by herself, the other by her Second-In-Command, Janie. Janie, Jo and a girl who didn’t want to be camping called Dent, along with the rest of the group searched the forest. They noticed that Leader Paxton’s group was acting strangely: first shaking in pain shaking their heads, then singing the Moss’s tune and smiling weirdly. Janie reported it to Paxton, who was stood watching the lake. However, as Paxton turned around, they realised Paxton and her group were zombies. They were cornered by most of Paxton’s group. However, Dent, Janie, Jo and another girl escaped, however the rest of their group became trapped and infected by Paxton and her group. Though they escaped, as Dent was saying that the Moss was contagious, the girl who escaped with them became controlled. Dent, Janie and Jo ran away.

They stumbled upon an old campsite. While Jo kept watch, Janie and Dent checked the tent. They noticed written on the walls of the tent were “WHATEVER YOU DO DON’T LET It GET YOU!” They then read through an old diary belonging to one of the ‘Lidlands’ about the Moss and how it slowly began infecting their troop. Jo finds a box that is a specimen of the Moss and opens it. She is subsequently infected by the Moss. As Dent tells Janie she is going to leave the forest, Janie asks for Dent’s headphones. She started hearing the tune when Jo was infected, but suppressed it. She now realises it is too strong. Before Dent can help her, Janie is infected.

Dent runs to the MiniBus belonging to Paxton. As she tries to get the vehicle working, Janie, Jo, Paxton and the whole troop began walking towards the MiniBus. They try and force themselves in. As they enter, Dent realises she is becoming infected herself. She removes her headphones from her phone so she can play her loud music. The music manages to save her from the Moss and everyone is freed from it’s control.

Dent sends her music to everyone else’s phones so if they hear the tune again they can defend themselves. However, Arlene and the ‘Lidlands’ find them. Janie is shocked to realise what has become of the ‘Lidlands’. Though they are still wearing their Hedgehog Rangers uniform (which are ripped and dirty) and still controlled, they are now middle-aged women. The troop get out their phones and begin the music, attempting to free Arlene and the ‘Lidlands’ from the Moss.