When darkness surrounds you, and you lose your way,
You have your own compass that turns night to day.
And it's even with you before you depart,
Be still, hear it beating,
It's leading you, follow your heart.
New page coming soon.
Standing in the middle of a pitch-black arena, your spine tightens. 'How did I get here?' you wonder, searching the darkness for any shred of light. Looking up, you see neither stars nor moon. The black is so thick, you can't even tell if a ceiling of some sort hung over your head. Suddenly seized by a tensing stroke of panic, you stagger directly ahead of you, arms straight out like an undead zombie. You walk at least fifty paces before stopping in your tracks and looking behind you. Just more black.
Your ears burn as a sense of entrapment washes over you. Your heart races six miles before you finally cry out at the top of your lungs: Somebody help me! You wait to hear a response, anything. But nothing is there; not even an echo. Someone, help! I'm lost! Wishing to just be free of this limitless darkness, you drop to your knees. Maybe there's a trap door below you...
Calm down, a scornful voice erupts from behind you. Heart leaping into your throat, you sit up at the sudden reply and spin around. You hadn't noticed while you were scrambling on the floor, feeling around senselessly, but something lit the dark atmosphere. Three orbs of light hung in mid-air, two smaller than the first. Laying just below them, a dark grey lump... With ears and a tail. It sighs. You're not lost, the door's just behind you, she says. Sure enough, you carefully reach behind you-- it lands right on the round knob of a rickety, old door. Staring dumbfounded at the creature on the floor, you try and make out its shape. Apparently it's sitting with its back facing you, but it's still difficult to tell.
Who are you? you ask delicately, as not to aggravate the creature even more. Where did you come from? Where am I? She turns her head, but doesn't look at you. Not for a while. Finally, her silver eyes peer up at your pale face. She squints, trying to see you in the darkness.
I'm Emsohl. she says, her eyes aglow. I am from Shukumei. And you are in my home.
You want to hear more about me? She stares up at you in disbelief. At this point, you've made your way squarely in front of the small Lupe, admiring her miniature size. Nodding affirmatively, you give her a rather large, cheeky grin. Wincing at your beaming smile, she sighs. Alright, she mumbles quietly, I suppose I can tell you a bit more about myself. A smirk cracks her lips. Finally, she smiles! After all, the door's locked, she chuckles. From deep within her laugh, you hear something familiar.. something in your every-day-life. Was that a hint of happiness? Truly, deep down, this is one giddy Lupe. Or was. And the key is on the other side. Rising to all four feet, Emsohl stretches her spine and hind legs. Under her lay a plushie, a plushie Spyder... Wait-- did it just twitch? Come on, she nods her head invitingly over her shoulder. Gently she picks the Spyder up, carrying it by two of its many legs. I'll show you around.
[ Persona and Statistics ]
.[ Name: Emsohl
.[ Nickname: Em, Empers
.[ Pelt: Coal
.[ Marks: Silver
.[ Eyes: Silver
.[ Nose: Black
.[ Ears: Large
.[ Figure: Unrefined
.[ Faults: Slow-legged, Small, Over-Optimistic
.[ Tail: Large
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.[ Species: Lupe
.[ Brush: Shadow
.[ Gender: Female
.[ Age: 23
.[ Type: Midget
.[ Mood: Lonely
.[ Personality: Loving, Annoying, Over-Caring
.[ Owner: Abra
.[ Petpet: Plushie Spyder
.[ Spyder's: Langley |
Turning around to face you, Emsohl gently removes the plushie from her maw and holds it up to you. You stare at it for a moment before it-- turns its head and looks right at you?? Jumping back a few feet, you let out a sharp cry. So! Apparently, it was alive. The Lupe fell into hysterics. Don't be afraid of him, she assures you, Langley's harmless. Apprehensively, you take her word for it and scoot closer. Deciding that you've proven yourself enough of a coward for today, you slowly reach your hand out and pat Langley on the head.
[ Langley ]
This is Langley, my Plushie Spyder. He doesn't talk much, but he's still very nice. I take him with me where ever I go, ever since I lost Rondue my Black Gruslen.. Well, he ran away one day and I never found him. When no one else is home, Rondue's usually there to talk to. So I guess I just started getting lonely... But while in search of him, I came across a discarded Plushie in an alleyway... Its front leg was ripped off, and the rain certainly drained a lot of its color. Even still, it wasn't until he started to scuttle away I realized he was alive. With that torn leg of his, he could barely walk. Stumbling and rolling around, he squealed a frightful noise and hid in the darkness. I had no idea it wasn't really a plushie. Sort of scared and too bewildered to move, I wasn't sure what to do. But I couldn't just leave him there.. Alone, cold, sopping wet, under a dumpster. So.. I coaxed him out from under the dumpster. I spent nearly an hour trying to get him out of there, but he finally realized I wasn't going to hurt him and crawled out himself just before I was about to give in. I took him home and sewed him back together. His leg is a little flimsy and comes off every now and then.. But there's nothing a little needle and thread can't fix, eh? And, well, ever since, he's been sort of my 'comfort zone.' For when I get lonely. I love Langley.
Feeling somewhat moved by Langley's story, you can't help but give him a few more strong pets. Langley coos softly and scuttles into the palm of your hand. Purring softly, he buckles his legs and settles down for a nap. Emsohl smiles. Well, he certainly likes you, she admitted, quirking an eyebrow at the dozing Spyder. He's great, isn't he? she looked up at you hopefully, eyeing you for an agreement. As if you wouldn't.
Smiling down at Emsohl, you keep petting her Petpet. He's pretty cute, you agree, And warm! Emsohl snorts quietly and folds her ears back, giving you a 'No duh,' look. ...Oh. Right. She had been laying on him all the while before you arrived. Gotcha. Well, you start, quickly changing the subject, what about you? Emsohl quirks her ears forward now, peering up at you strangely. What's your story?
It takes a while before she responds, but after a heavy sigh and a bright smile, Emsohl finally looks back up at you and replies: You want to know my story? she asks rhetorically. Alright. I'll tell you 'my story. Laying down, she prepares her epic monologue in her mind. Cogs turn, reeling a heavy timeline. It pauses for a short while, and Emsohl clears her throat, ready to share a short segment.
[ Memorable Story ]
I was, obviously, the runt of the litter. And as tales often tell, the runt is usually left to wander until picked up by some predator somewhere in the wilderness. Fortunately enough for me, I lived on Krawk Island at the time and there wasn't very much wilderness to have been stalked in. So, I simply lived in a grassy reservoir just behind the 'Little Nippers' petpet store. I'd often sit on a barrel by the window and watch the Weewoos that they had admiringly, falling asleep to their calm, soothing 'wee-woo' song at night, every night for nearly a year.
It wasn't until maybe when I was about eleven months old when the shop keeper hobbled out on his peg leg to dump out a bucket of slop off the pier when he noticed me. He stopped to stare at me and slowly put down his bucket, dropping to his knees. He clicked at me and called me over. "Here puppy, puppy.. Here, puppy.
Naturally, thinking that maybe he would take me in and feed me (so I wouldn't have to dig through the trash for old potato skins anymore), I slowly made my way over to him, wagging my tail as soon as I got within an arm's length distance from him. He patted me on the head for a moment, but as fast as lightning, grabbed me roughly by the scruff of my neck. I yelped in sudden surprise as he picked me up, looking me over. "What kind of petpet are you?" he muttered curiously. Too choked and afraid to speak, I merely gagged out another cry for help. I couldn't believe it! He thought I was a petpet! Being a dwarf really wasn't the best way to live. "No matter," he grinned. "I'm sure you'll bring a fetching price! Now what to call you.." he pondered for a moment, staring into my silver plated eyes. "Ah, I know!" his face lit up with delight. "The 'Demiloop, if you can figure out how, maybe it'll turn into a Lupe!' Haha, brilliant!" He tossed me into the air and caught me again. "And since there's only one of you, you'll sell better than my Krawks!" He laughed again and brought me inside, the bell above the door jingling menacingly to join the blue Kyrii's mischievous laugh that would last for days..
Nearly four months later, I grew tired of sitting in my cage, watching people gawk at the "five hundred Platinum Dubloon coins" priced sign resting above my coop. At first, I wasn't sure how much that was, but I soon found out as an outraged customer shouted in dismay 'Five hundred Platinum Dubloons? Aye, that be 550 million neopoints!' And according to that particular customer, no one in the world of Neopia was that rich.
Later during the month of Sleeping, there was a particular Weewoo that was put in the cage next to mine, who didn't seem to be like an ordinary Weewoo. Not once did I hear that magnificent creature sing; not even a simple peep. His feathers and bill were much darker than the other Weewoos that would often be purchased, and he seemed a little bit bigger than the others. After a while, no one even looked at him anymore; it was almost as if he was invisible.. But after watching the poor creature for days, I finally spoke for the first time in six months. "Hey," I whispered to him, prodding my paw through the bars of our cages to poke at his tail feathers. He quickly turned his head to look at me, tilting it slightly. He blinked, but said nothing. I returned the glazed stare, wondering what it would be like to have a petpet like him; quiet, majestic.. big. "Hey," I whispered again to hear the sound of my own voice for the first time in half a year. The Weewoo continued to watch me, but switched his gaze to the store keeper who was now haggling with an Owner who was trying to simply buy a Snarhook for her Faerie Aisha. At that instant, I thought I might have been devastated for life. The Weewoo looked back at me, now stiff, looking emotionless. He slowly began to tip over and fell to the bottom of his cage. Dead.
Nearly mortified, I stared at the poor creature that lay on the bottom of his cage, webbed feet curled slightly, his tail feathers closed behind him. The shop keeper looked over and shook his head. Turning back to the Neopian, he held out his hand to receive the Dubloons offered. "All right, two dubloons, fine.. Now get out of my store!" So, slightly bewildered, the Neopian took the Snarhook and left with her well-groomed Aisha who was, unsurprisingly, oblivious to everything that had just happened.
The shop keeper walked over to the dead Weewoo's cage and looked at me, grinning. "I bet you're 'ungry, aye?" he chucked a bit and opened both of our cages, and reached in to pick up the Weewoo. Eat that majestic creature? It made me want to never look at another bowl of food as long as I lived. From then on, as long as I knew where my food came from, I would eat it. Like maybe.. potatoes, for example.
But as soon as the Weewoo in the shop keeper's hand was lifted past my cage, I stared so hard into the Weewoo's eyes, I thought I was going crazy. ..Did it just blink? Well, that's a waste of a hundred and fifty dubloons.. I could'a sold you for a hundred and sixty five, ye stupid bird," the blue Kyrii growled, ready to drop the stiff body into my cage. But- in the blink of an eye- the Weewoo let out a loud screech, confusing and bewildering the shop keeper, causing him to drop the petpet. The giant Weewoo leapt into the air, kicking the Kyrii in the jaw with his rock-hard feet, landing just behind him on the floor. The shop keeper stood there, dazed for a minute, and fell backwards, out cold.
With my mouth hanging open, I watched and stared in amazement. The Weewoo looked back at me and let out the most haunting, beautiful 'weewoo' that I had ever heard, echoing throughout the whole of Krawk Island.
Weeeeeeee......woooooooo.........
A cluster of nearby Pawkeets chirped in terror outside in a tree, the frantic sound of their weak wings flapping pathetically to get away. The song sent chills down my spine, but warmed my heart so much, I didn't know what to do. It was then that I realized that the lid to my cage was still open; the shop keeper lying on the floor, drooling with two red webbed-feet marks on his chin. I hopped out of my cage, landing on the Kyrii's stomach, noticing that the Weewoo had begun to run away. I dashed out the door after him, straight to the edge of the pier. He leapt into the air, letting out a melodic chirp, and dove into the water, bill first.
I ran to the edge of the dock, ready to jump in after him, but then I remembered; I couldn't swim. I stared into the water, watching the last few bubbles pop on the surface, my sad, free reflection rippling away with the tide. That was the last I ever saw of the most majestic creature ever to walk the planet.
-Story by Lachtaube
Staring at Emsohl's face all the while she told you her story, it takes you a moment before realizing that her tale is over. Neither of you say a word. That's best when a good story is told.. to sit in silence after. And even in the darkness of your enclosed space, with nothing but the orbs to light your way, you thought you could hear the birds outside the million-inch thick walls of black...
Weeeeeeee......woooooooo.........
...I lost most of them.
But I've found a few! Help me find more?
[ Lost & Found ]
A thousand thanks to everyone who has been helping me re-build my collection! It's very much appreaciated.
Walking silently alongside each other, you begin to feel slightly awkward again. After all, you did stumble into someone else's home. Emsohl? you find yourself addressing the Lupe by her name now. You said something earlier about being from some place called Shakane? guessing by Emsohl's sudden stop and look of confusion, 'Shakane' wasn't quite the word you heard her use. Well, something like that, you add on. Your ears boil in embarrassment.
Oh, she agrees in realization of what you're referring to. Yes, Shukumei? It means Fate in Japanese. starting to walk again, Emsohl remains quiet. You quickly follow and tag alongside her, bubbling with more questions.
But, in your story, you didn't say a word about it, you press. Emsohl glances up at you suspiciously. You said you were from Shukumei. stopping in your tracks, Emsohl is forced to follow your lead. She turns around with a light smile and shakes her head.
That's just my, sort of, 'pack,' if you will. sitting down, she lifts her hind leg and gives a few quick scratches behind her ear. I live there when I'm not here, she confirms. Lots of other creatures and neopets live there too. Have you ever heard of Zuchiney, Harkenten, Gelinah, Mohabi..? Any of them? assuming from the blank look on your face, Emsohl heaves a sigh and continues. Hark, Zuch, Moha-
No, you squarely interrupt her, I know who they are. Somewhat taken aback by your sudden outburst, Emsohl stares at you. Giving you a quick smile, she hops to her feet, tail wagging.
Good! Then let me tell you about the place...
[ Shukumei ]Shukumei is a sort of interesting place; its lush plains and soaring mountain tops are only symbolic metaphors for its inhabitants. Great creatures from all over come to settle in Shukumei, big and small. Lupes, Draiks, Krawks, Wockies, Cybunnies, Kougras, you name 'em, we got 'em (though of course the majority is of the Lupe species.) The Willow is the heart of Shukumei; it pulses its magic throughout the entire land. ... Well, almost the entire land...
As of late, something in Shukumei caused the ground to split. A giant Gorge formed in the South. Its magic is very different from Shukumei's. The Councils are trying to figure out what's going on. Apparently, the Shadowlands, or so they're called, were created as an exact opposite of Shukumei to.. this is my own theory, to make the land whole. A sort of.. ying and yang thing. Shukumei versus Shadowlands. Are you following? Well, none of Shukumei's magic can go into the Shadowlands-- likewise, nothing can come out of the Gorge. But, I've heard rumors of some creatures from Shukumei descending into the Gorge... Obviously, they can't be of Shukumeian magic. But that doesn't mean they don't belong. ...Does it?
I've been to the gorge. I've seen what a wasteland it is. I don't understand why the Shadowlands decided to come now... Maybe Shukumei was already perfectly balanced. I always thought it was. I think something might be disturbing the balance.
[ Comrades ]
I have none.
Walking along once more, the usual silent tension is broken by a quiet twang. It doesn't take you long to notice the show-case of trophies and awards embedded into the wall. Are those yours? you question Emsohl, coming to a stand-still.
Emsohl halts and looks over her shoulder. Smiling lightly, she turns around and takes a seat. Yes, I won those, she informs you pleasantly, from contests and other kind Neopians. The gleaming gold behind the solid glass shone devilishly into the pupils of your eyes. I've won three bronze awards, she begins explaining for the absent trophies, from the weekly Beauty Contest. The ones you see in this case are just Page Awards.
[ Petpage Awards ]
Sitting with Langley in her paws, Emsohl doesn't pay heed to your presence. You stand there somewhat awkwardly, sensing the end of your little tour is drawing near. Silently, you shift your weight and slide your hands into your pockets. Leaving already? Emsohl's voice slithered calmly up a nearby wall. It echoed. You don't reply, but you simply smile as she turns her head in your direction, holding out a black, iron key. Here you go. Hesitantly, you step forward and carefully grab onto the key. Slide it under the door when you're done-- after you lock up, she warns in her original, cold voice. But a warm smile overflows her joke a few moments too soon, catching you off guard. You chuckle lightly and take the key from her. Take a souvenir? she offers, nodding to a pair of plaques on the wall. It's the least I could offer, after dragging you all the way down here, she smiles.
Thank you, you finally say as you brush past her, taking all that you need. Inserting the key into the door lock ahead of you (though it takes you a few tries because you can't see it clearly in the dark,) one turn to the left is enough for the heavy, wood door to yawn open. You turn around to say your last goodbyes, but no one is there. Nothing is there. Just darkness. Pitch-black darkness.
[ Link Here ]
[ Link Away ]
With the coming of every new year come new petpages, and with the end of the old year, so others end too. As my New Year's resolution, I will re-link to other far-away lands, but only upon request or to places I find appropriately fitting. If you want your homestead to be linked from my chamber, you would do well to neomail Abra about it.
[ Headless Plushie Adoptables ]
I will not be making customs or trade, sorry. Please don't remove my username or submit these in contests. Thank you.
These are out of date... They may explode at any moment...
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[ Painted ]
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[ Since August 20, 'o6 ]
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