Past Collar and Leash: Part Three by moonstripe |  |
City life was a whole different, strange, world. Kyro had been to Central Neopia
thousands of times, but he’d never really lived on the inside…
Musty city air drifted about him, as Kyro rolled restlessly in his sleep. He
rubbed his eyes and sat up, before he had forgotten that he was far from his
cozy bed back at his house. With a lurch he toppled forwards from the old tattered
hammock and to the paved ally floor.
Sleepily rubbing his bruised elbow, he stood up. Slowly it came back to him
and he realised where he was… the great day he had had before was slowly recovering
itself in his memory. The others still slept, stretched across bags and mats,
despite the fact that it was nearly noon.
Yawning, he shifted over to the fence, and slipped through the hole and out
into the street. Sitting himself on an old crate, he looked out into the busy
street, and all it’s happy NeoPets and owners. Would he ever walk those streets
again? Would Tye be walking along side him?
He sat there for a while, trying to reassure himself; Tye’s still out there.
Suddenly, his thoughts were broken, as the beating of wings were heard. Looking
up and over the fence, he saw as a group of shadowy figures swoop into the alley.
Standing up, he slipped back through the entrance to see who it was.
The others were slowly awaking, as the intruders prowled around the dark lane,
crowded with bags and boxes. They were a tough bunch of Eyrie’s, soot covered
and scarred. They had sinister sly looks about them. That was when Kyro noticed
The Gang; they cowered in the shadows, and remained motionless.
A bulky yellow male, ridged with healed slashes and cuts, stood framed in the
little bit of light at the end of the alley. His face showed no mercy, and his
sinister beak was sharpened to a blade. His iron claws gripped the steel of
the garbage bin he was standing on, as he began flexing his wings. Wrapped around
his neck was a spiked steel restraint collar.
Though he struck fear into his heart, Kyro couldn’t help admiring his form.
He clacked his beak, and two roughed up Eyries were at each of the young Kyrii’s
shoulders, their glinting eyes highlighted in the dusk.
"Who’s the Housey?" he asked, ruffling his feathers and glaring at Rieni. She
slumped down into an empty hammock, easily the least terrified by the swarm
of Eyrie’s, "What’s it to you Scabiar? Kyro and Paroko are just as welcome to
hang in the alley as anyone." The Eyrie Leader, Scabiar, flew forward, landing
in front of Kyro, "Kyro? What kind of a name is that?!?"
Kyro hid his fear and matched Scabiar to the eye, "My kind, and I’ll thank
you to leave it alone, feather-bottom!" Scabiar was about to make a remark,
when Paroko landed in front of Kyro and the guards, "‘Ey man! You leave ‘im
alone! Whachoo want ‘ere any way?!?"
The great Eyrie sneered tauntingly, "Dust-balls like this shouldn’t even be
allowed to have the honor of flying in Neopia. "Scabiar's followers laughed
and snickered. Paroko flashed red, and cawed angrily, "Why you two bitten… I’ll…
I’ll peck yer eye’s out!!! Yew jus’ see if I don’!!!"
Scabiar turned to face Rieni again, "Listen sweet heart. Me n’ my guys here
bin lookin’ for a place ta stay. And we kinda like it here… Eh boys?!?" The
other Eyrie’s squawked with laughter. Scabiar smiled, and brought his face close
to Rieni’s, "So clear out, toots!" Rieni stood up, and was about to say something
when from behind Scabiar, Kyro yelled, "This alley belongs to The Gang!!! If
you want it you’ll have to take it!"
Scabiar wheeled at him, "Then maybe we will! I’d like to see a Housey like
you try and take me on!" Rieni’s face broke horror and concern. She stood up,
"No one’s fighting anyone. We’ll leave Scabiar."
Kyro was angry and confused. He watched as The Gang edged their way to the
entrance, and filed out. Even Paroko slumped out, not daring to risk endangering
Kyro, who hadn’t moved. Rieni was the last out, and gave an apologetic glance
Kyro’s way before she left. When they were gone, Scabiar dismissed his followers,
and they began to make themselves comfortable.
"I admire your front, Housey, but the fact is… you’re nothing but a pedigreed
Usul." He was about to walk away, when he said, "And Rieni’s mine, keep out
of it." Kyro snapped, "I’ll do what I want! Who are you to boss me around!!!
I’ll take you any day!" Scabiar stopped dead, "I wouldn’t do that if I were
you." Kyro fisted his paws and said, "Ya, well you’re not me! I’m not just some
small time chum, like the one’s you’re used to bullying. What’s the matter Scabiar?
A little nervous?"
Scabiar turned around, fire shining in his eyes, "Let’s settle this once and
for all! No one talks to me like that and gets away with it!!!" Kyro locked
eyes with him, "Bring it on."
***
It was a moonless night. Kyro shivered as he reached the sidewalk, leaving
the blinding car lights of the streets behind. The street lamp above flickered
and went out. An uneasy feeling closed itself around the Kyrii… his stomach
flopped as he asked himself if he really wanted to be there.
"Hey Housey, over here!" It was Scabiar, his eyes shining in the darkness of
the small crowded alley, not as tidy as their own. Kyro scuttled over and slide
into the dim, where he could sense the other Eyrie’s of Scabiar's gang were
gathered. "I’m here, so what’s this all about?" Kyro asked, trying to stay as
far away from the others as possible.
Scabiar shuffled to the entrance, "Ya see this here house? Old Man’s Skeith
live’s ‘ere, guarding the most valuable Codestones in Neopia. Luckily, I ‘appen
to know the geezer’s away on ‘oliday. The first to get back with one wins, and
gets the alley."
"And Reini," Kyro said. Scabiar ignored him, "The only way into the house
and at those stones is past that Skeith." He stepped out of the dark and into
the flickering street light. Kyro followed, saying, "The front door’s locked,
how are we supposed to get in?"
Scabiar walked to a bush at the base of the old stone house. With a claw he
pushed away the shrubbery to reveal a trapdoor, bolted up tightly. "How’s that
supposed to help us?" Kyro asked. The Eyrie took his huge claws, and with one
powerful swipe, severed the somewhat rusty iron lock, "That’s how. Now are you
ready?" Despite the fact that he was terrified, he wouldn’t let Scabiar see
his fear. His eyes burned determination, and he nodded, "I’m ready for anything."
Kyro entered first, pawing his way through the dark and cautiously down the
rough stone steps. Musty dust wrinkled his nose, and he could smell old stale
vegetables and rusting iron. It was silent, accept for the people walking by
on the street above and the wind howling past the trap door. This was some kind
of root cellar… but at least there was no scent of Skeith.
Unexpectedly, the door above creaked, and slammed shut with a bang. Kyro turned
around and looked up, but he was in total darkness. What happened? Why didn’t
Scabiar follow him? Was he taking a different route? Was this all a trick? Was
he locked in here for good!?!
Panic-struck, he stumbled up the stairs. He began thumping on the heavy wooden
door above his head, and pushing up with all his might. It was no use. Within
moments he slumped down, breathing heavily. Why had he been so dumb as to trust
Scabiar?
He lay there motionless, listening to the sounds of the street outside. Soon
he had gripped himself again; he knew he couldn’t just sit there, he had to
finish the dare and get the alley back for The Gang. Picking himself back up,
he began to make his way around the dark room, tripping over boxes and getting
tangled in bags. Finally, after making it around a self of strange objects,
all in jars, he saw a sliver of light ahead of him. Scrambling over to it, he
realised it was a door.
After fingering around for a moment, he finally found the doorknob. Turning
it, the door swung open, and he dropped on all fours to the cold tile floor.
Blinking in the light, he saw he was in a kitchen, the dining room light was
on over the table. As his eyes focused, he froze in horror; a huge red Skeith
was wobbling out of the hall, stupidly patrolling the house. He hadn’t noticed
him yet, but it was only a matter of time.
The beasts dull gray eyes landed on him, and Kyro stared back, almost uncertain
what to do. He stayed perfectly still. It took the Skeith a moment or two to
realise what was happening. It growled, and began to hurtle towards the red
Kyrii. Kyro didn’t wait; his legs sprung and he tore off to the left, into a
dull-lit room. It was a dirty room, with tattered curtains and one bed, but
Kyro didn’t have much time to stop and smell the flowers. He scrambled up a
dresser, pushing empty flowerpots and papers to the floor. The Skeith was right
behind him, and was soon reared up with his two claws on the dresser top, slobbering
and roaring as Kyro pushed his back against the wall, petrified with fear and
dread. The beast seemed too dumb to notice it had wings, and continued to claw
the dresser and try to take it’s huge bulk up to Kyro. The dresser rocked and
Kyro dug his claws into the rotting wood, now on all floors. His heart pounded,
and his eyes matched that of his enemies… a thousand thoughts raced through
his mind… Tye… Reini… Paroko, The Gang… would he ever know it again?
To be continued... |
