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STORY

The sun was nowhere to be seen, yet it didn't seem like nightfall. The appearance of the overcast sky was like that of a pale reflection off murky waters. In the timid light the trees and grasses covering the rolling hills were grayed into shadow as the usual bright greens were muted and dulled into colorless hues. As a shifting mist on the horizon loomed ever closer it seemed to take on a life of its own. In this dismal scene the skeletal and empty woods to the east seemed to go on forever until the living wall of fog began to consume them in the distance.

With the mountains stark and barren the earth and sky began their lazy dance, coming together in a grayish haze. In this land that seemed so void of life it was not hard to believe the terror-filled tales that surrounded these places.

Perhaps these stories began around campfires as travel weary folk exchanged tales of their adventures. These very same stories might have been used to frighten children into staying in bed. Nonetheless, they were passed down from generation to generation. There's one tale in particular that has always frightened me . . . always left me looking over my shoulder . . . and always sends chills down my spine.

This story is not for the faint of heart, so if you frighten easily, read no further!

For those select few whom are brave enough, sit back and make yourselves comfortable and I'll tell you a story I heard long ago.

It's about a huge ferocious beast that's said to dwell within the Haunted Woods, where even brave men dare not venture. It's said this monster kills not only for food but fun. With blood red eyes filled with such hatred, they turn flesh to stone, and large poisonous talons that if they pierce the flesh could kill a man within seconds.

It's also said that it's like nothing anyone's ever laid eyes upon. They say this freak of nature looks like a Lupe, but much larger, with great spines running down the back, and horns that could pierce anything, encrusted a great cranium. Worst of all, it had sharp venomous teeth protruding from its mouth. I remember many nightmares that revolved around this beast . . . many, many nightmares.

Though this may only be a scare tactic tale that parents tell their children to get them to stay in bed, it always made me curious, perhaps too much so.

One day it became necessary for someone to speak with King Sutek, about a strange illness caused by the bite of a Selket. We needed a cure, and it seemed that he would be knowledgeable enough to help. I of course volunteered to make the journey.

Normally to get to the Lost Desert, neopians took the route of the sea. After all it was the only way to avoid the Haunted Woods.

I started making arrangements to charter passage by ship when I suddenly had a crazy idea. It was so crazy in-fact that even I, the biggest risk taker in our village, almost dismissed the idea entirely . . . almost.

Much to the surprise of the ship's captain, I announced that his services would not be required. I would be venturing a faster and more direct route . . . through the dreaded Haunted Woods.

The "short cut" wasn't the only incentive for taking this route. Oh-no! I had to find out for myself if the stories I'd heard since childhood were true, so I passed out of Neopia Central and began my journey down to the Haunted Woods. I noticed that the closer I came to the Haunted Woods, the thicker the air became. Blue sky's turned to a grayish haze. The only way to tell the difference between night and day was by the moon, which dim light barely lit the paths. As I reached the skeletal woods a feeling of dread hit me like a brick. Too late to turn back now, I thought stubbornly, and passed within the forest alive with eerie sounds.

I hadn't gone very far when suddenly the mist shifted, revealing a great Lupe's head. It was studded with spikes that crooked awkwardly in places, and bony ridges ran in a parallel line down his broad back. His cranium was tucked restfully between his forelegs. When quite suddenly the great horn-encrusted head lifted, the snout swung about and its maw split wide into a hiss. Rows of ivory teeth revealed themselves and a gaping throat as black as pitch pulsed and shimmered. Completely and utterly terrified I stopped dead in my tracks. Time seemed to freeze as we looked at each other and I began to wonder if I had been turned to stone.

Just as I was regaining my senses the massive creature began prowling towards me growling with every breath. Suddenly I found my self speaking out loud . . . pleading "please don't kill me" over and over again, knowing deep down that I was going to die. The lumbering beast continued his approach, seemingly in slow motion.

It's strange how my thoughts bombarded me in this time before my death. I thought of the wife and kids I would never have. I thought about the sick people who were counting on me . . . how could I have taken such a fool-hearty risk when so much was on the line. My final thought was really strange. I had left my home in a disheveled mess. If they thought me dead, someone would enter my dwelling and see it. I shuddered at the thought. What would people think? It was like having an accident and having the doctor catch you in dirty underwear. Ughh.

I decided that I couldn't watch my impending doom approach any longer, so I closed my eyes -no- I squeezed them shut. With any luck at all, my death would come on swift wings, and I wouldn't be plagued with anymore confusing and toxic thoughts.

It was just then I heard a voice that must have come from my head telling me I wasn't going to be killed. Suddenly there was maniacal laughter filling my ears, was it me. It didn't feel like I was laughing . . . it couldn't be anyone else I was alone. It must be in my head, I felt as if I was going insane! My eyes flew open to find the monstrous beast still standing before me still, but it no longer seemed threatening, in-fact that was where the laughter was coming from. How could this be? Clearly this was the beast I had heard of since childhood, so how could it be that it was standing before me laughing hysterically. It was such a bizarre moment that before I knew it I was laughing right along with it.

Being as the ghastly noises of the forest had stopped our laughter echoed eerily through the woods. Just as my belly began to hurt from laughing so hard my insane giggling was quickly snuffed out when I heard a voice. I turned and was so shocked by what I saw I actually stumbled backwards and landed right on my rear. It was clear now that I had gone completely insane. That or the very air within the woods was causing me to hallucinate, for there before me was truly a sight to behold.

THE BEAST SEEMED TO BE TALKING TO ME!

Still on my butt, I tried scrambling backwards, but was soon stopped by two large trees. I must have been quite a sight, let me tell you. Shaking like a leaf, dirty as a pig, scrambling like a crab, and blubbering like an idiot. It was no surprise at all that the creature laughed at me. No surprise at all.

Not wanting to die lying down I struggle to my feet. It was during this time that I once again heard a voice. It sounded much like the one I had heard earlier in my head saying "I won't kill you." Only this time the words spoken were much louder and very clear "well you're a strange sort of creature aren't you?" Quickly I darted my eyes left to right to try to find the source of these words. Yet there was no one to be seen. Looking back on it now I knew deep down where that voice was coming from. But as folk say "seeing is believing," and I needed to see this for myself. Righting myself with the support of the trees behind me I studied the creatures face carefully and asked "If I'm a strange sort of creature, what exactly does that make you?" I studied him closely and to my horror found that my suspicions were correct. The beast could speak. Its response was extremely curt "I'm the Lord of this place, and I rule all living things that dwell within."

I asked him if he was going to kill me and he simply replied that he had no reason to, but since I had entered his domain he now ruled over me. He then instructed me to sit down with him so that we might get to know each other better. He explained that it had been a long, long time since he'd had anyone to talk to and that he was rather enjoying my company.

After all the horror stories I'd heard about this beast, to now be sitting beside it seemed a small miracle. But I wasn't only sitting here beside it I was having an intelligent conversation with it. He was unlike any Lupe I had ever seen before and clearly none of the Lupe's I had come across could speak. Maybe this was a new species. After sharing a few uplifting words with my new companion, I decided to go ahead and ask how he had come to be.

The story was unlike anything I had expected. Apparently he had been just a regular everyday Lupe. It was his wild adventures which led to his current life. He could not recall how long ago it all began, as he stopped counting the years long ago. Upon his last calculation his age was an astounding one-hundred and seventeen. Most of which, according to his long and sad tale was spent in solitude.

I told him of the stories I had heard about him, and half way expected him to get upset. He instead responded with hysterical laughter. He said that for years he had scared people time and time again so that he would not be hunted, so the stories came as no surprise. He told me that out of everyone he had frightened I was the only one who first didn't turn and run and second spoke to him. He said that hearing my words was like taking a cool drink on a very hot day.

As we conversed the sun began to wane so I started a fire so that we could continue to chat. As the fires light cast dancing shadows into the trees around us, this fantastic creature began to tell me how he came to be.

It all began years and years and years ago when his owner bought charter on a ship to Mystery Island. During the trip they were first struck by a horrendous storm and then raided by pirates. In all the chaos he was tossed helplessly overboard. As he struggled to keep his head above water, he painfully watched the two ships drift away and disappear into the horizon. He had barked and howled for hours to no avail. No land was near and no-one came. All he got for his efforts was mouthful after mouthful of seawater.

As days passed he began to lose hope he had never felt such pain or sheer exhaustion in his life. Though he did not want to die, he had no fight left, so with a whimper he sunk below the waves. The sadness in his eyes was overwhelming as he spoke of these trying times and I found myself tearing up throughout his tale.

Everyone knows that the world of Neopia is filled with surprises, miracles, and tragedies. It is one of the few places where the unbelievable happens, I have always been aware of this fact. However, as he finished his tale, even I found parts to be unbelievable. He assured me though, as I am now assuring you that every detail of his adventures is true.

Shortly after his head sunk below the waves, the mysterious water faerie came to his aid. She had apparently been watching his whole ordeal since the beginning of the storm, but had done nothing until the moment of his death. It was during this time that she witnessed his strength and his willingness to survive. In the end she found him worthy of her blessings, so she scooped him up and brought him back to the surface of the water. Upon reaching the top she began to sing and within minutes dozens of sea creatures surrounded them. They grouped up together and -invalid_word-ed a makeshift raft which ultimately saved his life. Riding on this living plat-invalid_word- the water faerie asked him what he wanted most in the world. She explained that once a year she is able to give one being three wishes. Luckily for him she had chosen to bestow these gifts to him.

It didn't take him long to come up with the first wish, it was simple, he didn't want to die. To his surprise she announced that my first wish had been fulfilled and that I would never die. It was at that moment that the living raft dissipated beneath him in fear he struggled. Was this an evil trick? He was still exhausted from his previous efforts, yet he found the strength to begin dog-paddling again. He looked down in horror at his paws to discover that they were much larger than normal and were webbed. His fur had changed color and was no a dismal shade of purple with scales hidden deep beneath the fur.

Though seeing these atrocities frightened and confused him, they appeared to be helping him stay above water. Breathlessly, he asked the faerie if he was going to be this way forever. Her answer was hauntingly clear . . . yes he would. That was the price he had to pay for surviving. He knew there had been other changes made to his body but at this point he didn't care. He was beginning to wonder if the water faeries wishes were a blessing or a curse.

She asked him if there was anything else in the world he wanted, so he thought hard to try to think of something she could not twist around. It didn't take him long to decide on his second wish. He did not like being a pet and being subservient to an owner, so he wanted to make sure that he was in charge of his own life. He explained this to her and said that his second wish was to rule over his own kingdom.

Suddenly, the waters rose up into a gigantic funnel. Once again he feared for his life and tried frantically to swim away. His efforts were in vain however as the cyclone-like anomaly sucked him in. Surprisingly, it was not as horrific as he thought it would be. As the water funnel spun he remained suspended in the center, and for a while felt like he was floating. As quickly as the ride began, it ended. The waters receded and he found himself well in the folds of the Haunted Woods.

Once again the water faerie appeared in front of him. Concerned with his surroundings, he asked her why they were there. Once again her words were hauntingly clear. This was his realm to rule over. This land which was filled with creaking trees and chirping crickets was now his kingdom. His servants would be all the living things that dwelled within, from the tiniest spyder to the largest Kau within the forest.

Needless to say, he was extremely distressed over these "blessings" from this trickster. There was no way he could undo the wishes and she would not leave him alone until he made the final wish. He thought long and hard once again. This time his wish needed to be well thought out and hopefully, would aid him in dealing with the previous wishes that she granted. The pressure was overwhelming, but after some time he finally came up with the perfect wish. He wanted to be the most intelligent creature on the face of Neopia. In the blink of an eye, he understood everything and found himself speaking to her not only in thought but with words.

Upon granting this last wish, the water faerie disappeared into a wall of mist. Leaving him alone to rule over his new found prison. He had spent years trying to keep people away because he was ashamed of what he had become. After so many years in solitude, and coming across a creature such as me, he had a change of heart. He no longer wanted people to fear him so he had chosen me to tell a new story . . . the truth.

Since I have started telling this tale there have been a few that have ventured into the woods, and I'd like to think there the better for it. At the very least, my hope is that the next time you hear his mournful cry in the dark of the night, you'll respect and admire our neighboring king.

ODE TO RAGNAIR

he may be big and scary
for he was cursed by the faerie
he was blessed with words spoken
but was cursed with heart broken

he'll live on forever
cursed with scales, spines, and feather
his intellect never ends
now what he longs for most are friends

Name: Ragnair (Rag-Naar)
Alias: N/A
Age: I'm reckoning about 117
Companion: Drake
Siblings: dead
Sire: departed
Dame: Deceased
Personality: despondent/Mysterious/Lost/Cunning/Forlorn/Valiant
Desire: no one

Love: nobody
Offspring: none
Gender: Male
Pelt: Dark purples, deep ceruleans, and black
Markings: are shown on the reference sheet (link goes here)
Species: Mutated Darigan Lupe
Eyes: Emerald
Accessories: None to be had
Extras: The spine runs from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail.

Passion
PASSION

I may be undying in life but like any other I do yearn for some things, could this be one, maybe. . . But it is impossible, for I am a massive monstrous beast with everlasting life. So its better off any seeking that steer clear of me, I could only do them harm.

ALLIANCES
True friends are hard to find, very elusive. I haven't yet met any that I myself would consider a true friend.

KIN
My real family died long ago, since then I have met Vittorio my caretaker, along with the many others she takes care of. I have come to consider them family, for their kindness, compassion, and un-dying understanding.
Vittorio - Well there's Vittorio, the she's my caretaker. She's a shape-shifter, not a werewolf, but a werecat, they are very rare around Neopia. Actually she's the first I've met so far.
(Insert picture here) - Elm- Is unique to say the least, I heard about his past from Vittorio. His family was slain, by whom she would not tell me, but it left him and his sister Naibree to fend for themselves at a very young age. Vittorio had found them, wandering alone, starving and exhausted. I cannot tell you anymore, for I know nothing more. I have not met him yet, for he is out on his own adventure.
- Nai- Elms sister, same troubled past but it seems to have affected her more than him. As well as very abnormal characteristics for Lupe's she also suffers from short-term memory loss, and is also Bi-polar (which basically means she suffers from severe mood-swings) She took off with her brother, I dont know exactly where they went, but I hope to meet them soon.

LIKES
Drake
Darkness
Twilight
Misty nights

LOATHS
Bugzilla
Being a monster
Immortality
Demons within

Wall of Shame.

This is where all those art thieves, design thieves ect. Ect., will go.

None – Thank goodness now lets keep it that way shall we ^^

NEXUS

Ragniar