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Breathe...
For the air on this mountain is fresh and nourishing. The sky is warm blue with cotton fluff clouds seeping in and out across the sun. The ground a soft rubble with newly seeded grass blades reaching through the moist dirt.
Patches of grass lay all about the mountain and you sit to rest your legs. A figure walks up to behind you and calmly states "It's beautiful isn't it?" You turn to face a young looking red Kougra with soft gleaming fur. Leaves are tied to its slender neck to make it look more like a native.
It smiles into the sun. "I'm glad you have come. The air here freshens the mind, brings inspiration. I come here to think..believe." Looking back to you, it says, "Oh, I'm sorry. I sometimes become lost in thought. My name is Lightwave57 and welcome to the Mystery island mountains! May I ask of your name?" You stumble to your feet, but softly reply "..guest.."
Story
It was a muggy, rainy day on Mystery Island was when I was born. The trees scratched together in that same wind that carries a whisper. A whisper too jumbled to understand yet too troubled to ignore.
I grew up here. My entire childhood behind the walls of a zoo. My mother gave birth to twins, (my sister and I) but sadly, she was stillborn.
Eventually growing up into a cub, my fur was the fresh red of my father and the lovely blue patterns of my mother. My father didn't seem to want to put up with me. He acted as if I was an endless itch, eating away at his skin.
Strange pale faces of humans seemed to stare at me through the bars which enclosed us. Some had furry animals trailing behind them. My mother told me these were the users. The users of Neopia. I didn't have a clue what she was talking about. My father just chewed on a meatless bone, refusing to even look up at us.
Month after month I watched the faces of young and old reach their little fingers through the bars and try to touch. I'd creep over to the walls of my prison, hoping not to startle them. Most pull their arms back through the bars, thinking I will bite. A handful of others reach forward all the more, hoping that if I would just come closer, they could pet my fur.
Before they can blink, my head nudges against a willing hand. The face is older, maybe about 18 years old. She scratches just behind my ear and my tail wafts from side to side.
Seeing that I won't cause any harm, the other faces engulf the hers. All wanting a touch aswell. The face frowns as the hand following it disappears into the crowd. I wish it back.
The night comes and I see a shooting star. I don't make a wish, because my mother sees it also. I let her make it. I just hope that little star had enougth magic. She deserves every ounce. My oh-so emoutional father sleeps in the corner with his mouth open.
The next morning, I wait for the face to return. I'm so sure it will. But it never did. Other children return from yesterday though. They wave their hands through the bars. I smile, stand to my feet and walk over.
It was 'Thankgiving' as the humans call it, and the zoo was closing early. I was buzy chomping down on a juicy steak. It was so big, I couldn't finish it. I gave it to my mother whom in turn gave it to my father. She wasn't all that hungry. But my father gulped it down without as much as a thank you.
Just behind the bars, minutes later, I saw a figure. It was that face. I trouted over to her and knelt my head, preparing for a touch. She laughed.
I couldn't stop thinking about you. So, I got a kougra just like you." She held up a small female Kougra cub that somehow made me smile. Cubs are always cute. I licked the kougra's tiny nose and she purred.
Her name is Kateialia," The face said. " and this is her little friend Yumi." A fox-like rodent with brilliant blue eyes, and a black headband stood before me. She seemed scared, but brave at the same time.
Well, I just wanted to come by and wish you a happy Thanksgiving, and give you this. Don't worry, the zoo staff said it would be ok as long as it was a one time thing." She held up a small turkey leg and put it into my cage gentally.
Still full from the steak I didn't wish to disaappoint her, so I nibbled it. She smiled and walked away with the cub in her arms and the fox petpet running after.
The next few weeks were hard. My mother became very sick. I never left her side. Tears kept falling and her breathing sounded painful. She told me she would never ever leave me and I believed her. The next night, she went to sleep and never woke up.
I stopped moving, eating, but never really stopped thinking. I could feel my ribs trying to reach through my skin. The many faces of the children shouted for me to come over but I lay still. My dad just yawned himself to sleep.
Month after month the zoo started losing customers, the lead zoo human decided to replace me with a younger Kougra. One younger and happier to replace my father and I. My father was sold the first day to a family of rich snobs. They said I wasn't a pure breed kougra. Too mixed with my ugly patterns. Well whatever. The perfect family for my father I guess.
No one seemed to want me. They said they might put me to sleep whatever that means. I could probably use a nap.
But then, the face appeared. She frowned when she saw me, but talked to the big zoo man. He nodded and gave my rope to her. She continued to frown. She must have known about my mother and wept with me. She apologized for me, but to this day, I never understood why. She never did anything.
We walked quite a while before passing a house with a dark blue roof. We kept walking alittle more, and onto the top of a grassless hill overlooking the setting sun. She told me that all the spirits of the dead travel within our dreams and through the warmth of the setting sun. I smiled.
Well, when your hungry, my house is just down there." She pointed to the house from earlier. "Oh, and my name is Mace, and I hope, through time, your wounds will close. But I'd never expect them to heal completely. Everyone deserves their mother." And with that, she walked down the hill with her long curly hair blowing in the wind.
Mace" I repeated in my head. A sat on that hilltop breathing in the freshness. Pondering the words of her wisdom.
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