Arctic_Spirits - My Story by flamefrolics |  |
I was part of a wild Lupe pack, before a lot of Lupes
became pets. One night I went to my favourite spot in all Neopia; a tall cliff
overlooking Neopia Central. I watched the owners and pets walking home happily,
some tugging along groceries, others slurping slushies (we Lupes have very,
very good night vision). I hadn't told anyone in my pack that I longed to be
like those pets. A sure home, an owner to love me, be my friend. I looked up
at the moon. Then I looked down at Neopia Central again and I saw a sight that
dismayed me: an teen boy dragging a young Moehog along on a leash, not stopping
when it fell down. They were heading to a smallish, dingy building and they
went in. A bad feeling came over me... I waited a few minutes...and the boy
walked out again. Without the Neopet. I knew what had happened. He had left
that poor pet at that old, deserted-looking place. It shocked me. An owner could
just leave a helpless Neopet somewhere...what kind of owner was that?
I walked back to the camp about an hour later.
I had been thinking. What if the owner I longed to have so much was like that
boy? A real life until they decided they didn't like me anymore and threw me
away? Without companionship, or even love, I think I would die... I didn't think
I could bear bear what happened to that poor Moehog. So I decided to push my
feelings out of my mind. To not think of wanting an owner ever again. As I neared
the campfire, I almost ran into our leader, Swiftpaw. He must have sensed my
feelings or seen them on my face because he pulled me over to an enclosed area
to talk.
"You've been thinking about something, young
one. You look troubled," he said.
"Well, I've been looking out over Neopia
Central, and, I, well... I saw a boy drag his pet into this dirty little building,"
I muttered, not wanting to reveal I'd been thinking about having an owner. Swiftpaw
would surely have punished me, for wild Lupes are supposed to live up to their
name, and stay wild. To want to be a tame pet would put disgrace on the whole
pack.
A stony look came into Swiftpaw's eyes. "The
Pound," he whispered.
"What?" I asked.
"The Pound. It's a horrible place. Owners
go to abandon their unwanted pets."
I was puzzled at the stony look in Swiftpaw's
eyes. Then, suddenly, I understood. "You were... were abandoned?"
I said quietly, not used to the word. I knew what it meant, of course. But it
was not a word often used among free Lupes
"Yes, a long time ago. It is not an experience
I wish to relay. Or repeat."
"Okay. But why would an owner ever want
to abandon a pet?"
"Because they feel the need to get rid
of it. I don't know, really. I think it's just something cruel-hearted owners
do."
"But that's not fair! Don't the pets get
any choice in this?" I said again.
"No. No choice at all," he said darkly.
"I know it isn't fair, but life isn't always
fair. Remember that. I hope you'll excuse me little one... I feel tired... Good
night," Swiftpaw said, rubbing his eyes.
I walked off to my sleeping place and lay down
and closed my eyes, but didn't fall asleep for several hours.
***
Every fortnight my pack would gather in a circle and give a long, heart-filling
howl to the stars. I watched sadly, and I went back to the cliff and stared
at the waning moon, pondering the conversation Swiftpaw and I had had that night,
when a strange feeling filled my throat. I knew I was trying to howl. But there
was one problem. I couldn't. I had never howled in my whole life, as far back
as I could remember. It wasn't fair, it wasn't! I couldn't understand why I
couldn't even squeak. The thought filled my eyes with tears. All I wanted to
do was express my emotions! And I couldn't even do that. Then I recalled something
Swiftpaw had said the other night: "Life isn't always fair..."
And I started bawling. I was still sniffling when a teen girl stumbled out of
the bushes. I had never seen a human up close and was afraid of what she might
do to me...(Though she did look a bit funny.) I sprang up, on guard at once,
growling.
"Hello," she said politely, eyeing my
fangs. "I didn't mean to disturb you, but I was taking a hike through the
woods behind my NeoHome and got lost. Then I heard someone crying. I came over
to look closer... And tripped on a Slorg."
Her explanation made me giggle, and she relaxed
somewhat. "What are you doing here?" I asked. "Really?"
"Well, I'm not really lost, but I did
trip over a Slorg. I've been watching you for a few days. Sorry," she said
sheepishly, shuffling her feet "And you seem really nice, but sad. Would
you like to talk?"
Taking this as an offer of friendship, I agreed.
We talked about the stars, and it turned out Iglootik, as she said she was called,
loved to look up at them too. We had a lot in common. We were just talking about
the moon's phases when I heard someone from my pack calling my name. I was afraid
they'd hurt Iglootik, because wild Lupes, strictly speaking, never talk to humans.
It was because of pride. Anyway, I was afraid for her, so I said hurriedly,
"Iggy! Someone's looking for me. Wild Lupes aren't supposed to talk to
humans! They might hurt you, you'd better go now."
"Okay, but when will I see you again?"
"Tomorrow night, same time same place, okay?
Now go. Hurry!"
"Goodbye, Arctic_Spirits!"
***
The next night I made my way to the secret spot Iggy and I shared. She was
there waiting. We talked about our families... I told her I couldn't howl. I
couldn't help myself. I had to be truthful, I had to. I knew she was
being honest with me. When I said I couldn't, she looked up in surprise.
"I thought all Lupes could howl. Why can't
you?"
"I dunno, really. It's been that way as
long as I can remember."
"Oh.... Well, I suppose I should be going
now, it's getting rather late."
"Okay. Goodbye, Iglootik. Be careful!"
I said as I hugged her. "I feel closer to you than anyone in my Lupe pack."
"Really? Wow, thanks. I feel close to you
too. I'll see you later then?"
"Yeah."
***
We met like that for at least a month, talking and growing closer each day.
After awhile my pack became aware of the meetings, and I'm pretty sure they
plotted some way to break Iglootik and me away from each other, and it confirmed
my thoughts when Swiftpaw pulled me aside and asked me if I'd been seeing anyone.
I said no, fearing the worst, but all he did was shrug and walk away.
***
One particularly warm, pretty night, Iggy surprised my with a question I never
expected. But I think deep inside I wanted her to ask it.
"Arctic?"
"Hmm?"
"I was... well, I was wondering... I am
looking for my first pet... and I think you'd be perfect, and I was wondering....Would
you be my Neopet?
As soon as she said the words there came a bark
from the grove of trees behind us. It turned out that my pack had followed us
and planned to break us apart that very night!
One half of the pack chased me toward the camp
and the other half chased Iglootik. I couldn't stand it anymore! I ran as fast
as I could to the spot on the cliff where Iglootik and I had first met. I could
hear her screaming and felt my heart wrench as the only true happiness I had
ever found was run out of my life. Iglootik was my friend... I thought
sadly, tears streaming down my face. I looked up at the moon and a tingly feeling
encased my throat.. And I let out the longest, most mournful howl that I'm sure
any of the Lupes in my pack had ever heard. When I couldn't hear Iggy scream
anymore I turned around thinking the worst. What if they had harmed her?
Is she hurt? I turned around and saw that the Lupes had stopped dead in
their tracks. Then they came toward me, and Iglootik was among them, unhurt,
a look of surprise on her face, unharmed. Swiftpaw came up to me and said that
the howl I had used, my first howl ever, was that used by Lupes, Gelerts, and
Poogles when they were truly heart broken. He said that since I cared so much
about her, I could go with her.
The next day I said my goodbyes, tears once again
streaming down my face. Yet this time they were tears, not of despair, but of
happiness.
And that is my story.
The End
I hope you liked that story ^_^ This is the real story of Iglootik and Arctic_Spirits,
go check out her petpage! (Arctic_Spirits, not Iglootik.) Thankies Iggy for letting
me be the one to write it!! Feel free (as always) to Neomail
me with any feedback, ‘cause I need feedback to get better. Well, it's
me, flamefrolics, signing, off! |
