I Never Promised You Forever by shidi |  |
Summer rain was falling in light, drizzly haze outside the windows of the small
NeoHome in which the Korbat dwelled. Her golden wings shone brightly, even in
the dimmest illumination of the candles her owner had lit a few moments earlier.
A pleasant scent of sandalwood drifted from the candles, making for a perfect
accompaniment to the gentle patter of raindrops against the glass.
Korbat should have been content in this, the sight and sound and smells of
another Neopian day dawning. She was a beautiful creature, after all - well-blessed
by both faeries and Coltzan and trained to perfection by Captain Threelegs and
Ryshu the Nimmo. Her golden good looks had won her many trophies at the Beauty
Contest, and her intelligence was so high that she had received a much coveted
trophy in that competition as well. Owner had been proud that day, loving and
sweet, playing toys and taking the Korbat for a well-deserved treat at the Golden
Dubloon. All this, and more, should have made her happy.
But sorrow was in the eyes of the Korbat, as her face pressed against the
glass, and heavy was her heart as she thought of Owner. With the passing of
the seasons, she had become more distant and distraught. Nothing the Korbat
could do seemed to cheer Owner, anymore. Where once they played, they only sat,
and stared at each other, and pondered the point in it all. Owner still walked
the streets of Neopia, but restlessly, stopping only briefly at each of the
usual places on what had once been an enjoyable walk.
And last night, dreadful night that it was, Owner had been crying. Korbat
had tried to comfort her, bringing a cup of tea and a warm hug-but this only
seemed to serve in making owner cry harder. The Korbat had fled the room in
tears of her own-tears that threatened to return now, as she heard Owner's footsteps
on the stairs. Slowly she turned from the window, lifting her round face to
peer hopefully towards the approach, her large keen ears listening for the slightest
call of her name.
Owner did not call the Korbat's name, nor did she pause long upon reaching
the bottom of the stairs. A worn backpack was slung over her shoulders, and
a hardened look was in her eyes. "I am leaving this place," Owner said, "And
I shall never return."
"What?" cried the Korbat, a mixture of horror, anger and fear rising like
bile in her throat, choking off any other words.
"You heard me. I'm too old for this place. I've grown up, and I no longer
need you. I want to find a new world… where I can be happy. I'm so bored, and
restless, and I need to spread my wings and fly far away from the things that
tie me down."
Shimmering tears rolled down the golden furred cheeks of the Korbat as she
struggled to form words. A shuddering gasp of a cry escaped her, and she made
a desperate grab for the Owner's leg, little claws digging in for all she was
worth. "Don't leave me!" she begged, finally finding her voice.
Owner seemed annoyed, and shook her once precious pet off like a useless thing.
"I want to disconnect from this reality that binds me… I want to move on to
better, brighter places. There is nothing here for me now, nothing at all."
And with that, she opened the front door. A rainbow was shining through the
clouds that had darkened the sky, but she paid it no heed, only caring for the
open road that stretched from the NeoHome into the world beyond. Freedom was
within her grasp, and she would never come back.
"I'll die without you! Who will feed me? Who will play with me? What will
I do?" Korbat cried despondently, crumpling into a little golden heap on the
floor. Her wings felt leaden, and unable to lift them to fly, she folded them
around her in an attempt to ward off the feelings.
"Don't be silly. Neopets can't die." The Owner shook her head, and started
down the path, ignoring the rain and the rainbow alike for the foolishness of
childhood that they were. She was free, and that was all that mattered.
"But… you said you loved me! You said you loved me…" the Korbat repeated,
over and over, as Owner's footfalls faded into the distance.
"I never promised you forever…" Owner said, not looking back, as she became
one with the horizon, and faded from sight.
Korbat wept.
The End |
