~'Prologue'~
A Past Life

A lonley meerkat wandered though a desert. Normaly they live in large family groups, but this one had been cruely evicted from her group. She was trying to find food, but it wasn't easy because it was the dry season, when food is scarce.

She then started digging, hopefully to find a tasty bug underneath the soil. Then, a hawk appeared. The hungry meerkat was unaware of the approching danger; there were no other meerkats around to warn her. She didn't know about the approching hawk untill she heard a screech.

Then she turned around and saw the hawk, heading straight towards her! The meerkat immediatly made a run for it. She tried to outrun it, but the hawk was getting closer. Then, claws out, the hawk swooped in and grabbed her in its talons.

Then everything went black....

~'Chapter 1'~
A New Begining

Then she awoke, and saw that she was not in the desert anymore. She was in what looked like a forest. Plus she was no longer a hungry lost meerkat. She looked at herself, and saw that she resembled a squirrel. She tried to stand up but a funny feeling came over her and she collapsed. So many thoughts were rushing through her mind. "Who am I? What am I? How did I get here? Did I used to be something else?" She looked around, then she stood up and saw the edge of the forest. "Maybe i'll find some answers out there." She thought to herself. Then she walked out the forest to explore this new, strange world.

For weeks she searched, trying to find answers to her questions. But she didn't have any success. One day she bumped into a human, who asked her "Hello. What's your name?" The xweetok answered "I'm not sure. I can't remember..." The human, now with a puzzled look on her face, then said "Would you like to stay with me for a while?"

Umm...okay."

~'Chapter 2'~
A New Home

The next morning, she woke up in a lovely neohome. She was in a basket near a cozy fireplace. The bright flames seemed to enchant her, and she slowly moved forward to them. "Gotcha!" The human said as she picked her up. "Since you don't have a name how about I give you one? How about...Tosca? Yes, that name's perfect!" "Tosca," the xweetok though to herself. "Why does that sound familiar?"

Before she could say anything, a green acara walked into the room. "Wow!" she said "Is that your new pet, Sarah?"
Yep," Sarah replied, "She's a xweetok. Her name's Tosca." "Xweetok..." Tosca though to herself "Is that what I am?" The acara then walked up to her and said "Hello, Tosca. My name's A.J."

A.J.!!!" an angry voice shouted. Then another green acara walked into the room. Tosca was suprised to see she looked just like A.J., except someone drew a mustache on her face. "That's Aly." A.J. said to Tosca. "She's my twin sister." "Did you doodle on my face while I was sleeping?" Aly shouted. "Yes" A.J. giggled "I thought it would make you look silly. And I was right!" After saying that, A.J. took off. "Oh, no you don't!" Aly shouted, chasing A.J. "Come back here and wash this mustache off my face!" Sarah chuckled and said "I hope A.J. didn't use permanent marker or she's really in for it!"

~'Chapter 3'~
A Trip to the Pound

Later that day Sarah and Tosca went to the pound. She wasn't going to dump her there; they went there to adopt a pet or two.

That's where they met Lichoni and Dragon. Sarah saw them in the Pound and she adopted them. Dragon is a green zafara who loves to go exploring, and he wants to be painted plushie. Lichoni was a lonely yellow bori when Sarah adopted him. Now he's not so lonely and he's a christmas bori. Sarah also wrote a story about him. (Click here to read it)

~'Chapter 4'~
A Vegetarian Lupe?

One day Tosca was playing Cheat! with Lichoni when Sarah came home with a blue lupe standing next to her. "This is Thylacine" Sarah said "He'll be staying with us." What sets Thylacine apart from most other lupes is that he's a vegetarian. He prefers vegetables rather that meat. But don't let that make you think he's a softie: He's a fearsomely loyal guard lupe and he will do anything to defend his friends and family!

So...Thylacine." Tosca asked "Why are you a vegetarian?"
Because I think it's wrong to eat other animals." Thylacine said. "I think chias are too cute to be snackfood. I've always been a vegetarian. I used to be a member of a lupe pack. Lupus, the pack leader, considered me a burden to the pack, and he eventually kicked me out."

Kicked out, huh? I kinda know the feeling."

Really? Why?"

I don't know...I just do..."

~'Chapter 5'~
Strange Dreams

Tosca had been having some strange dreams. Curious, she decided to get some help from Peri, the family genius.

So, what are your dreams about, Tosca?" Peri asked. "Well," She said "In my dreams i'm this lutari-like animal, and i'm being chased by this pteri-like thing. And as soon as it grabs me, I wake up."

Hmm, maybe your dreams mean something."

What?"

Maybe you used to be something other than a xweetok...I think..."

~'Chapter 6'~
Discovery of the Past

Sarah is a walking animal encyclopedia: you ask her about an animal and she'll tell you everything she knows about it. Her knowledge of animals comes from reading books, which she would sometimes bring with her to her pet's neohome. One day, she went to her dad's house(like she does every other weekend) and left behind one of her books. Curious, Tosca decided to take a look at it. She flipped through the pages and read about many interesting animals. Then she found a page that was about an animal called a meerkat. As she read about this animal, Tosca noticed that this seemed familiar somehow. Then it all started to come back to her...the fight...the eviction...the hawk...Tosca realized she was once a meerkat, who was killed by a hawk, and reborn as a xweetok. "I must go to Sarah's word," Tosca thought to herself "and find those meerkats to learn more about my past. But how?...Oh, wait! I could teleport there!"

I bet you did know Tosca had teleportation powers, did ya? Tosca found that out one day when she was playing tag with Thylacine. Just when he was about to tag her, she vanished, then reappeared behind him. At that time she could only teleport short distances, but after some practice she can now teleport to Shenku if she wanted!

Tosca decided to go to Sarah's world and find these meerkats. Before leaving, she left a note:

Dear Family,

I have decided to go on an adventure. Don't worry about me. I'll be back soon.

Love, Tosca

After finishing the note Tosca packed some things: some berries to eat, a map of Sarah's world (which she also left behind) and the book. She also decided to bring Blossom, the altalaphus Sarah got her, as a companion during her journey. She then walked outside, took a last look at her neohome, and held on tightly to Blossom. Then, both of their bodies began glowing. Then, they vanished into thin air...

~'Chapter 7'~
The Human World

When Tosca opened her eyes, she realised she and Blossom were no longer in Neopia. To her suprise, they were right in front of Sarah's home! It was just as Sarah described it: "a peach colored house with an apple-red roof and a large backyard."

Tosca then pulled out the map. "Let's see, we're right here," Tosca pointed at the part of the map where Sarah lives "And according to this book, the meerkats live way over here." She then pointed at Botswania, a country in africa. "We've got a long way to go, Blossom." Tosca said "Let's get some sleep for tonight. We'll start our journey in the morning."

Tosca and Blossom then found a tree in Sarah's backyard to sleep in. As she fell asleep, Tosca thought of all the things she might see on her journey to find the meerkats.

~'Chapter 8'~
The Journey Begins

The next day Tosca woke up to see Blossom licking here face. "Good morning, Blossom." Tosca said "Let's get going."

Tosca then climbed down the tree. She reached to grab her map, then suddenly a raven swooped in and grabbed it! "Hey!" Tosca shouted "Give that back!" Tosca and Blossom then began chasing after the raven. Tosca jumped, trying to reach the bird, when suddenly she started floating. "Huh? I can fly?" she said in amazement. Then she flew after the raven, and snatched the map from its beak.

Now that she had the map back, their journey began. Tosca and Blossom flew through the sky, looking down to see the many towns below. They would eventually land to eat and rest, then continue flying in the morning.

~'Chapter 9'~
Back at the Desert

After a couple of days, they finally reached their destination.

Tosca looked around. As she looked everything in her past life came back to her. All she had to say was "...Wow."

Tosca and Blossom began searching the desert, looking out for any meerkats. Then she heard a screech. Tosca turned around and she saw a hawk. She remembered that this was the same hawk that killed her in her past life. She decided to face the hawk. She then flew towards it. Blossom watched as the too of them flew around and attacked each other as if they were fighter pilots. Tosca had the advantage: She could teleport behind the hawk for a suprise attack. Eventually, the hawk gave up and flew away. Tosca had won...for now.

Blossom then tugged on her shoulder. "What is it?" Tosca asked. Blossom then led Tosca in the opposite direction. When she stopped, Blossom ponted ahead. Tosca was amazed. Blossom had lead her to a pack of meerkats. Another memory appeared in her head: this was the same group she had been a member of.

Tosca quietly moved towards the meerkat group, trying to avoid being seen. Then, one of them approached Tosca. She then ran behind a bush. The meerkat approached the bush and said "Um...hello." Tosca then looked and said "Hi."

My name's Mitch." the meerkat said. "And you are?"
I'm Tosca." Tosca said. "Tosca," Mitch replied "That was my sister's name. By the way, what are you, exactly? Are you a ground squirrel?"

No. I'm a xweetok."

What's a xweetok?"

Tosca then told him about what xweetok is and about her life in Neopia. As soon as she was finished, the sun was just about to begin to set. "By the way," Tosca said "You said your sister's name was Tosca. Cold you tell me about her?"

Sure. My sister used to be a member of my group, but one day something happened causing the group to be sepperated in two. My sister ventured over to the the other half, and she lead the half. But then the leader and her small group appeared, and she wasn't happy to see my sister leading the group. My sister was kinda the rebelious type, so she fought her for leadership. Sadly, my sister lost, and she was evicted from our group. That was the last time I saw her."

I know what became of her. She was killed by a hawk."

Oh...wait, how did you know that?"

Because....I'm her."

Mitch gasped and said "No, that's impossible!" Tosca then explained how she was reborn as a xweetok after she was killed by that hawk. After she was done explaining Mitch rushed towards Tosca and hugged her. "I can't believe I was actually talking to my long-lost sister." Mitch said. He then looked at the sky and said "The sun's setting. And it looks like my group has already headed home." Tosca then asked "Do you want me to walk you home?" Mitch then said "Sure...sister."

Mitch then pointed where his burrow was, and Tosca then headed in that direction, with Jougu following. While they we walking, Tosca asked "So, Mitch. Where is this 'leader' that evicted me?" Mitch frowned and said "Oh, she's...um...she's dead."

Why?"

A cape cobra bit her in the head. She died not long after. The venom of those snakes is very deadly to us meerkats."

Oh."

We now have a new leader. I hope she'll be as good as our old one..."

Then they found Mitch's burrow, and his group was there waiting. Mitch then said goodbye and Tosca said "Don't worry, Mitch. I'll come back to visit." Then he said "I'd really like to come to your world someday." Then he turned around and headed home. As soon as Mitch was out of sight, Blossom appeared holding Tosca's bag. "Let's go home, Blossom." Tosca said. Then she held on to Blossom, began glowing, and then they dissapeared.

Seconds later they appeared in front of their neohome, where everyone was waiting. "Tosca!" Lichoni shouted "We were so worried! Where have you been?"

Tosca smiled and said "You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you."

Try me."

The End

Thylacine
This is Thylacine. Unlike most lupes, he doesn't eat meat. He's a vegetarian. Or was it vegan? Or maybe both.

Lichoni
Lichoni is one of my 2 adopted brothers. He also happens to be the oldest of Sarah's pets. He had a rather interesting past, which you can read about on his petpage.

Dragon
Dragon is my other adopted brother. He's a green zafara who loves music and omelettes. He wants to be painted plushie.

how can you see into my eyes like open doors
leading you down into my core
where I've become so numb without a soul my spirit's
sleeping somewhere cold
until you find it there and lead it back home

(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
before I come undone
(Save me)
save me from the nothing I've become

now that I know what I'm without
you can't just leave me
breathe into me and make me real
bring me to life

(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
before I come undone
(Save me)
save me from the nothing I've become

Bring me to life
(I've been living a lie, there's nothing inside)
Bring me to life

frozen inside without your touch without your love darling
only you are the life among the dead

all this time I can't believe I couldn't see
kept in the dark but you were there in front of me
I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems
got to open my eyes to everything
without a thought without a voice without a soul
don't let me die here
there must be something more
bring me to life

(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
before I come undone
(Save me)
save me from the nothing I've become

(Bring me to life)
I've been living a lie, there's nothing inside
(Bring me to life)

Customs:

Non-customs:

DISCLAIMER: Tosca isn't painted ghost. But she will be.