What Matters

by pet__adopter

Kira ran and hid in a large cave. Her short blue fur, characteristic of Acaras, reflected off the icy walls, casting a blue tint to everything in it. She peered into the game panel that was attached to the cave wall, and hit the "ready" button. A black curtain rolled up, allowing Kira's owner to see the icy terrain.

Across the glass barrier that separated Kira and Siane (Kira's owner), Siane looked down at a touchpad. Drawn on the touchpad was a rough image of the small landscape. She paused for a moment, contemplating, then lightly pressed the touchpad, over the image of an igloo. A video screen next to the touchpad lit up, revealing Kira's grinning face.

"Sorry," she said, "I'm not hiding there." Siane pressed the touchpad again just as the screen turned black. This time the tree stump was the one chosen. Back in the cave, the image of the tree stump lit up on a screen identical to Siane's. Kira looked into her video screen to respond.

"Getting warmer," she said, pleased. Siane thought a minute, then pressed down on the image of a cave.

"You got it mom!" Kira said. The console elected 24 NP which came to rest in a little copper tray. Siane picked them up and put them in her pocket with the rest they had earned when a voice broke into her thoughts.

"Hey mom, I'm getting kind of bored. Can we go to the next game now?"

"Sure, Kira dear. Come on out." Kira came running out of the door, an excited gleam in her eyes.

"Can we go to play Poogle solitaire next?"

"Sure," Siane said. "Come on."

Kira and Siane stepped up to the board. After they handed the person in charge the NP, he flicked a switch and the crystalline game pieces glowed blue, indicating they could now be moved. Kira made each move with total confidence it was the right one, reflecting her IQ of 90. Since she was Siane's only pet, she was rather spoiled, getting any book or toy her heart desired. Her face beaming with pride, she finally made the final move, maneuvering the last Poogle into the center.

"Congratulations," the game keeper said, handing Kira and Siane 750 NP and a magical yellow Poogle toy. "You're one of the lucky ones." Kira and Siane happily received the prizes, the left the games building.

After a short walk they arrived at their NeoHome. It had 10 rooms, and all of the upgrades that were available.

"Mom, what's for dinner?" Kira asked, her voice nearing a whine.

"I don't know. What would you like?" Siane said as she plopped down onto their couch.

"Could I try some of that new Faerie food? It looked so good when we saw it in that one shop a while back."

"OK Kira. But we'll have to get it from one of the shops in the market. There is always such a rush to get it at the store that it'd take hours to actually manage to get some."

"Can I go get it?"

"Sure. Here are some NPs. Make sure you don't take too long; I'm getting really hungry too."

Kira got back in a reasonably short amount of time. She and Siane ate, enjoying themselves greatly. Then it was time for Siane to go. Kira didn't understand very well, but all Neopian pet owners only stayed for several hours at a time, before they had to leave for some mysterious place where pets weren't allowed. Kira didn't like the fact that there was somewhere where pets weren't allowed, but Siane had to leave anyway. So she left, leaving Kira tucked into bed.

Deep into the night, Kira woke up. She could hear someone downstairs. She raced down the steps, wondering who it could be. A boy stood up, shining a flashlight at Kira, blinding her.

"Just what do you think you're doing," he demanded.

"You mean what are *you* doing in *my* house!" Kira shouted back.

"Isn't it obvious?," he said, a cruel grin forming on his face.

"You're bad news!" Kira exclaimed, finally coming to the horrible realization. "Yeah, now shut up. I've got what I've come for, so now we're gonna take a little trip." He grabbed Kira, and dragged her out of the house, all the way to the adoption center.

"How much to get rid of this brat," the bad person asked Dr. Death.

"81 Neopoints."

"Fine. Here, she's yours," the bad person said, handing Dr. Death the required NP Dr. Death picked up Kira and carried her back to the holding area. He shoved her in one of the empty cages. The cold metallic surface was a bitter welcome to her new life, but she laid upon it and cried herself to sleep, not wishing to talk to any of the pets around her.

The next day she was adopted by a young girl and her Aisha. The girl was a new user and didn't have many NP, but cared the best she could for her Aisha and Kira. But Kira was spoiled, and complained all the time. The girl was kinder all the more, but when Kira flippantly remarked that the pound was better than living in such conditions, she was brought back to the adoption center.

She stayed in the cold cage for days, which turned into weeks. A family of a boy and his two Skeiths came and adopted her, but she did not get along with the Skeiths at all, so it was back to the pound for her.

The weeks fast melted into months, and Kira lost hope of ever being adopted. Finally, she was greeted one morning by her old owner, Siane. After finding her account had been hacked, she had tried to get the password many ways, but had no luck. She finally created a new account, and came looking for Kira. Much to her relief she hadn't been trapped in the old account.

Kira and Siane made a fresh start. They didn't have as many luxuries as they used to, but they had each other, and that was enough.

The End