"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want to do," CJ said to himself.

A few Ponka could be heard in the distance, followed by the caw of a Tuceet. It was strange to hear the cawing of Tuceets, as it meant that a Croclu or Taigar had almost succeeded in sneaking up on him. A small smile crossed the Kyrii's face, however.

"I still can't believe everything that's happened since I got here," he said to himself.

CJ leaned back on the blanket, watching the sky grow darker as he thought back to the start of the summer season. So much had happened after he first stepped off that ferry all those weeks ago...

The sounds of the natives really brought the island to life -- music cascading through the winds, the hustle and bustle of the market areas, even the majestic volcano of Techo Mountain seemed like something out of a dream.

Throwing his luggage onto one of the nearby carts, he couldn't help but laugh. "This is absolutely amazing!" he chuckled under his breath. "I could totally live here!"

Following the path toward his hotel, CJ delighted in the scents of the flowers and food all around him. It was just as he turned a small curve in the trail that something suspicious caught his eye...

Well, he thought, now isn't the time for an adventure. I'll have to come back after I've settled into my room.

While staring down the separate path he could have sworn he saw rustling in the bushes, but he reassured himself it was probably just some local wildlife. After all, the island is a popular vacation spot -- how could anyone forget to mention an abandoned pathway?

The weathered sign and forgotten pathway were at the forefront of his mind for the next few hours...

That mysterious pathway was out there, an adventure waiting to happen. He couldn't stand it any longer. CJ pulled on his satchel with a flourish and burst out of his room toward the coast.

It didn't take him long to reach the spot and he slowed to a brisk walk as he approached. As he drew nearer, the Kyrii's large ears picked up hushed voices.

"Hidden in the lost ruins of..." the low, gruff voice said, barely carrying through the trees. CJ held his breath and slunk into the shadow of a nearby tree, straining his ears to make out the words.

"I just know we'll find it this time, sir!" a much higher voice piped up. "This time you have THIS!"

CJ couldn't help himself; he peered cautiously through the foliage and what he saw made his eyes grow wide...

"Be quiet for once in your life, Gregor," he commented nonchalantly, resting his elbows upon bent knees. His expression was as cold as the cracked rock he sat upon; although he wore the same clothes as the Grundo, the two seemed opposites. "It was a long enough trek to reach this isle, and I plan to relax... I advise you do the same." Gregor's hands came to a standstill at that reply.

"Kyren, we are on the verge of a discovery," he said and then paused dramatically, and was at the Mynci's side in a long step. "Not just any discovery, however -- this will be the headline of the Archaeological Digest for years to come and I am appalled to think that you would rather spend this opportunity resting than exploring new frontiers!" The Mynci's expression remained frosty.

"I've told you time and time again that this island is a popular tourist attraction -- there is no possible way the Ruins of Sehkta would have gone undiscovered for so long! They'd just as likely be resting in the middle of Mystery Island, going by your lo--"

"Unless they're hidden under the earth's surface," CJ found himself muttering, then announcing in a steadfast tone as he stepped from his hiding spot...

The Grundo, Gregor, said, "How long have you been listening to us? You have no business--"

"It's not a problem, Gregor," Kyren said, interrupting. Kyren then said, "So, if you don't mind explaining yourself..."

CJ nodded and said, "I was planning to explore this path. I heard you talking about the ruins of Sehkta. I also heard your disagreement. I personally think that the ruins could be underground."

Kyren seemed to think a moment before replying, "I'd never though of that. Maybe they could be. If we split the treasure with you, will you help us? You seem to have all kinds of ideas about this place."

Gregor seemed displeased and said, "Why should he help us? How do we know he won't just run off with all of the treasure? He could steal it and get all the glory!"

Kyren shook his head. Gregor was about to go on another tirade when CJ interrupted.

"I would like to go for the adventure. I wouldn't be in it for glory or treasure, anyway. I can help if you want."

Gregor seemed against it, so Kyren said, "Let's take a vote. All in favor, raise your hand."

Kyren and CJ raised their hands. "All opposed?"

Gregor raised his hand, but knew that he'd already lost.

CJ then asked," So, where are we going?"

Kyren replied hesitantly, "Well..."

CJ glanced at the map, trying his best to conceal his excitement. This was exactly the kind of adventure he was hoping to find, except the adventure had found him.

He saw that the drawings upon the parchment were faded. He noticed hundreds of little triangles, probably indicating the trees, and a small square labeled "The Sand Bar Resort," which was where he was staying. The paths from the beach inland were clearly marked with thick lines snaking across the page, but their particular path, CJ noticed, was not indicated but for a tiny “X” placed roughly near the spot they were standing.

"Where did you get this?" CJ wondered aloud. It looked like something a baby 'pet might have drawn up at a dinner table while waiting for the food to arrive. He thought his guess wasn't too far off when he glanced up to notice the peculiar look Gregor and Kyren were sharing.

"Our sources will remain confidential," Gregor said, folding his arms. "Do you want to help us or not?"

"We need to look for an X," Kyren said.

"Like that one?" CJ asked, pointing to a spot some ten feet behind them. Two rather large branches had been placed across each other quite obviously in the middle of a clearing.

"You call yourself an explorer!" Kyren hissed, punching Gregor on the arm.

"You didn't see it, either," Gregor squeaked, returning the gesture.

The three Neopets approached the spot cautiously. Gregor mumbled something that sounded like "scaredy-Kads" before reaching down and touching one of the logs.

That's when they heard a groan...

"Nice boy, good boy... we're not going to hurt you," CJ said in his most soothing voice.

Gregor looked to Kyren and whispered, "It's strange seeing a Blugar so far from Geraptiku." Kyren nodded in agreement.

CJ heard them behind him as he began to calm the Blugar down. Once the Blugar went back to sleep CJ turned around again.

"Do you think this Blugar has anything to do with the map?" the Kyrii asked. "After all, he was right in the middle of the tree's X."

"Hmm... you may be onto something there, lad. It could be a clue or it could just be an unusually tempermental Blugar." Kyren replied while giving Gregor a wink.

CJ shook his head as he examined the map again. He noticed a small spotted pattern that he had, at first, thought was footprints, but he now knew it was the print of a Blugar and that it was leading somewhere.

"Look here... I just know it means we have to follow the Blugar. Maybe its home is where we're suppose to look next?" CJ told the Grundo and Mynci.

"I think we need to officially hire you as our navigator," Gregor said with a smirk.

Kyren nodded again. "I concur. Now, let's wake that Blugar up and get going..."

"Oh, please. Don't tell me you're afraid of a little Blugar!" Kyren exclaimed, rolling his eyes. "They're practically cuddly!"

"If they're so harmless, then why don't YOU wake it up?" Gregor said.

"I'll take care of it," CJ replied, climbing the stout island tree on which the Blugar was resting. He crawled nimbly onto the thick branch, hearing the quiet purring of the Petpet in its slumber. Gregor and Kyren watched anxiously from below as CJ attempted to gently coo the creature awake.

"Hi, there," the Kyrii said softly. "Sorry to interrupt your nap, but I'm afraid my friends and I need your help with something..."

The Blugar slowly opened its eyes, baring its teeth in warning and flicking its tail in agitation.

CJ gulped and continued on. "We mean no harm, I promise... it's just that we have this map here that leads to the Ruins of Sehkta and you happen to be sleeping right--"

The Blugar's demeanor seemed to shift instantly upon hearing the word "Sehkta," almost like it understood. It leapt from the branches onto the ground below and began walking off, turning its head and perking its ears as if signalling for the others to follow. The Kyrii scurried clumsily down the tree, heart pounding with the anticipation of adventure.

Gregor and Kyren exchanged a surprised look and the trio wordlessly followed the mysterious Geraptiku Petpet through the woods, oblivious to what awaited them.

The patterned Petpet led them expertly through the lush overgrowth of the unknown forest, weaving quickly and carefully through the thorny brush and tangled bramble. After a while, though, the adventurers began to grow weary, panting from the humidity and stumbling over the labyrinth of tropical plant life. They were almost ready to give up when the trees around them gradually began to seem increasingly more dark and dreary.

"We must be entering Geraptiku!" Kyren said with a newly-discovered energy. "That must mean we're close."

"I hope so," Gregor said, slumping behind the other two explorers. "I can hardly take another step."

"Look!" CJ said. They were approaching what looked like an abandoned shrine, which was worn down and partially sunken into the ground. It was teeming with sinister plant life -- spiked vines wrapped tightly around the stone tile and a canopy of dark leaves from drooping trees shrouding the area in near-complete darkness. Upon closer inspection, they found that intricate symbols like none they had ever seen had been carved into the door.

"This must be some sort of puzzle," Kyren mused. "You know, a way to keep intruders out. I've studied plenty of lost languages and symbols in my lifetime; I'm sure I can figure this out quite easily. Here, I think I know what to do."

CJ and Gregor watched as Kyren spun the symbols around, mumbling to himself. It didn't make much sense to either of them, but the Mynci appeared to know what he was doing so they didn't say anything.

"There we go!" Kyren said. "See, the smaller symbols combine to form a... an... uh, some kind of swirly thing. Perhaps it was an important symbol in their culture? Now, all I have to do is press the button in the center and--"

His sentence was cut off by the sudden opening of a trap door underneath, plunging the three 'pets deep under the soil. CJ was silent as Kyren and Gregor yelled wildly, flailing about in the abyss. The Kyrii felt a sense of contentment as he fell, almost excitement. The last thing he saw before landing was the glowing eyes of the Blugar watching him intently from above...

"This must be it," he heard Kyren whisper.

"Are you daft?" Gregor hissed. "Obviously, your tampering with the ruin has caused some trap door to swallow us, and now we have no idea where we are!"

"Well, there's only one way to go," CJ said firmly, putting an end to their arguing. He pointed toward the far end of the cave, where an entrance to a dark tunnel could be seen.

Kyren gave Gregor a soft shove. "You first."

"You first. You got us in this mess."

"I'll go first," CJ volunteered. In truth, he was actually kind of excited. He glanced back up once more to the opening above them, but the tiny head of the Blugar had disappeared. He'd probably gone off to resume his nap.

The three Neopets ventured into the tunnel, CJ in the lead. He was surprised that, despite the absence of light, the tunnel was still somewhat lit, since the symbols around them seemed to give off a luminescent glow.

"Do you think we'll find the treasure?" Gregor asked.

"There's a light ahead," Kyren muttered.

He was right. As the tunnel began to ascend, they saw a dim light that was in the shape of a door. Without waiting for his companions to contemplate further, CJ pushed it open and the three Neopets shielded their eyes from the bright light that met them.

"Are we... in the ruins of Sehkta?" Kyren asked.

CJ looked around. They were back in the trees, near the spot where they'd started. Was that... the Blugar? Yes, he could see the Petpet's tail flickering lazily from the branches. He turned around to see that they had come out from a cleverly camouflaged door in the foliage.

"We're back where we started!" Gregor cried.

Kyren moaned. "I told you this was a waste of time."

As the two began to bicker, CJ actually smiled, and thought that he saw the Blugar give him a wink.

CJ grinned again as the last rays of sunshine fell upon him, reminiscing about his "adventure" at the beginning of the summer. So he hadn't found any treasure, but he'd made two friends along the way and, after that day, the three of them had continued their search for the ruins.

Tomorrow he'd have to leave Mystery Island. He knew, however, that somewhere out there was a Blugar who was having a lot of fun.

The End