Meet Flame the Tame

by dameraven

It was a calm morning when raven_tribble the Jubjub and her friend Nathaniel_the_Kougra went out wandering the lands of Neopia. The sun had risen over the mountains and it was what looked to be a very promising day to do some exploring. This was something both of them loved to do on their free time.

They were given the day to wander by me, their owner, Dame Raven. I had packed them a basket filled with goodies and off into the wild they went.

Raven_tribble loved to run through the grassy fields as did Nathaniel_the_Kougra, but today they had a certain mission in mind and they had not told me anything about this, until much later of course. All they had asked that was in the basket lunch I packed for them, which included five books to read when they stopped to eat.

I love my pets very much so I did this without question. I just smiled and picked five very special books and tucked them neatly into the basket. I did not ask a single question, leaving them to their special day alone. The two traveling companions covered much ground but after a while they stopped to take a break. Nathaniel_the_Kougra suggested to raven_tribble to stay with the basket for a moment while he scouted the area. He was trying to pick up the scent of which they were looking for. He moved ahead a few paces and dropped his nose to the ground, sniffing carefully through the blades of grass as they tickled his fur.

While Nathaniel_the_Kougra was busy scouting ahead, raven-tribble tumbled in the grass doing somersaults and giggling loudly. Nathaniel_the Kougra stopped and looked up then called back to raven_tribble and said, "please get the basket and come this way." Raven_tribble rolled right-side-up from the somersault, grabbing the basket and ran to her friend.

Off they went following the scent Nathaniel_the_Kougra had just picked up on. The path headed right into a forest area, making raven_tribble stop dead in her tracks.

"You really want to go in there?" she asked.

Nathaniel_the_Kougra replied, "We have to, this is where the trails goes."

"You lead, I will follow," said raven_tribble.

They stood and stared at the forest that was ahead of them and raven_tribble still trembled with fear. Nathaniel looked down to his friend, reassuring her that all would be fine. The two adventurers took a deep breath and set off into the forest to look for the treasure they sought. As they walked deeper into the forest, it started growing darker and darker. The trees were enormous, they stood taller than anything raven_tribble and Nathaniel had even imagined possible. The branches were blocking every possible beam of sunlight. This made it very hard to see where they were walking, and more than once raven_tribble almost fell over a log, which nearly tripped Nathaniel in the process.

The forest had many noises that raven_tribble and Nathaniel were not used to either--each footstep they made creaked under them, making them jump. The dried leaves and broken branches mixed with the calls of strange birds was really freaking out raven_tribble at this point--she just wanted to go home. Nathaniel stopped for a moment to see if he could get a handle on their direction. Raven_tribble bumped into Nathaniel sending him flying over a fallen tree. She had been too scared to do anything but watch her own feet while walking and did not see him stop...it was then when it happened.

Raven_tribble ran to the place where Nathaniel now was in a heap and tried to help him, and when she did she noticed, his ears perked up. Nathaniel had heard something in the distance--it was a mixture of a crying and a howling. He looked to raven_tribble and said, "Quick, this way!" Raven_tribble was not sure what was happening...were there monsters she did not see and/or are they in danger? She grabbed Nathaniel's hand and ran off with him leading the way.

He had something to follow now, he had to follow the howling. His senses lead him through the forest at top speed (both raven_tribble and Nathaniel have mach2 speed and can travel fast). And then the forest began to thin, the light broke through the trees. Raven_tribble let out a sigh of relief when she saw a meadow and knew that no more dark, cramped, scary forest was in the future for her right now. They ran into the middle of the meadow and stopped to catch their breath. When they had a moment to do so, they both noticed the most amazing sight.

Just beyond the meadow was a small cliff wall with a series of cave entrances. This made them both jump and dance for joy. Raven_tribble dropped the picnic basket and started doing somersaults...one after another. Nathaniel was running in circles howling and chasing his tail. They could not have been happier, they found their place of magic.

Nathaniel looked to raven_tribble and said, "Well what do we do now?"

Raven_tribble replied, "Let's get closer and have a look before we decide."

They gathered their belongings and started running off again to the other end of the meadow. Nathaniel became very nervous because he was about to meet someone he has heard so much about (that is, he hopes he is about to meet this special someone). Raven_tribble said, "Why not let out a Kougra Roar of Hello."

Nathaniel looked at raven__tribble and nodded before puffing out his chest and letting out a big healthy "ROOOOOOOOOOOOARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"

Raven_tribble had never heard her friend Nathaniel do that before. Her hair was all a mess as she shook her head and said, "Wow, who knew you had it in you?" Raven_tribble started to giggle.

From the cave they heard movement. Both raven_tribble and Nathaniel started to pace in their spots, moving back and forth from one foot to the other. Raven_tribble decided to start to set up the picnic they brought for lunch. She opened up the basket and set out the blanket and got out the five books and placed them aside. Then the special snacks I set aside for them. She looked to Nathaniel and still no one emerged from the cave. "Try it again," she called out. Nathaniel nodded and let out another mighty ROOOOOOOARRRRRRRRRRR!

At that moment the loudest, most earthshaking ROAR was heard echoing from the cave. Rocks shook, trees bent, and the blades of grass in the meadow seemed to move from the force of it. Raven_tribble and Nathaniel could not believe they found him. And as they looked toward the caves, they could see the wisps of yellow, orange, red, and blue. The colors of Flame the Tame shining forth as he stepped out of his home. "Who comes here to seek me," he said.

Raven_tribble and Nathaniel started to get scared even though they both heard he was very nice. Nathaniel moved forward and said, "I do, sir. We came because we heard you love to read...yet you can not hold a book without burning it. So we brought a picnic lunch and some books to share with you, that is if you would like us to read to you."

Raven_tribble picked up the books to show Flame the Tame they were telling the truth. Flame the Tame looked to the books, then to Nathaniel. He was so touched by their gesture. "You two did this for me? You came all the way out here just for me???" he asked.

"Why, yes we did," replied Nathaniel.

Nathaniel said at that moment you could see what looked like a tear of fire falling from Flame's eye. "Will you join us?" said Nathaniel.

"Of course I will," said Flame the Tame.

And together Nathaniel and Flame the Tame walked toward the picnic lunch. Raven_tribble had everything ready for them when they got there.

"Hi, I am raven_tribble the Jubjub. It is a pleasure meeting you," said raven_tribble.

"The pleasure is mine."

They decided to eat some food first because it had been a very long walk for raven_tribble and Nathaniel. Next was the fun part: the reading of the books they brought. Raven tribble picked up the first book, one of her favourites and started to read. It was called Faerie Tales. The three friends had a fun time enjoying that story and decided to read another one. Nathaniel was to read the next one, and he picked Watch Out! That was also a great story. After that one was done it was time for a short snack break and a game of tag.

The group rested for a short time and went back to another book. This time it was BIG Book of Puzzles. All three of them had a great time working on the puzzles. Nathaniel read next: NeoFashion. This let Flame the Tame know all about what was "in" and what wasn't "in" in Neopia. He really enjoyed that. But they had a special treat planned for the last book, one of Nathaniel's favourites, Kougra Classics. Flame the Tame was waiting to see which of them was gonna read next and neither of them had yet to start, so he decided to ask, "So which of you is going of read the last book today?"

Nathaniel replied, "You are."

Flame the tame said, "No, I cannot do that...I will burn up your precious book." Flame began to cry again.

"Not if we hold it for you."

That is when Flame the Tame cried another flame tear. Both of my pets saw it. Nathaniel just looked to Flame the Tame and said, "Do not cry, it is all right. If we hold the book you can read it to us. Okay?"

To this Flame the Tame replied, "This is not a tear of hurt, it is a tear of happiness. No one has done for me in a lifetime what you two have done in one day."

Raven_tribble and Nathaniel just smiled and wiped their own tears of happiness. They both held open the book for Flame the Tame to read. Nathaniel helped by turning pages and the three of them had a wonderful day. When Flame the Tame finished the book, raven_tribble offered to pack up the basket while Nathaniel walked Flame back to his cave. She said her good-byes and made a promise to return again soon and read with him.

Nathaniel and raven _tribble began to run home, knowing the hour was late. When they got to the beginning of the forest they stopped and turned to see Flame the Tame waving good-bye outside his cave. He let out a mighty roar that shook the meadow and the nearby forest. Nathaniel returned it with one of his before they slipped back into the forest.

When they got back to Neopia they told me all about the adventure. All I can say is I am happy. I have pets that are so caring. They take their only day off to spend time with those who need a friend.

The End