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It had a broad, brown head topped by a fearsome pair
or sweeping horns and tiny red eyes like hot coals that glinted evilly as it
regarded them. Its body was thickset and bulky; its tail a fiery plume of flames
that had scorched patches in the grass behind it. The white-belts hadn't seen
much of Neopia as compared to older, wiser pets, but this was a creature of
nightmares, one that is the first thing owners and older pets warn newbies and
youngsters against, as it would most likely be their doom.
"Don't do that, or the Monocerous will get you!"
was a popular call-word among experienced owners with young pets to make them
behave, but it would never truly work for them unless they had encountered the
real thing. And if they had, and lived to tell about it, they would probably
not dare to use its name so lightly.
Monoceri were rare creatures, but very dangerous,
and this one was not an inexperienced youngster. It was large and fully formed,
and before the white-belts or the Anubis could do anything it opened its huge
mouth and roared its infamous cry straight at them, the cry that would render
any creature in its path instantly petrified.
Mandrake looked round in horror at the state
of his companions. Aragon and Keota were crouched on the grass, their fur and
feathers bristling, their eyes wide, their bodies quivering, paralyzed by the
sheer force of fright they felt at that dreaded sound. Even the stalwart Didicus
seemed frozen in shock, his jaws apart, one paw uplifted. The roar had doubtless
frightened the Jubjub, but for some reason he was by no means completely immobile.
The Monocerous advanced triumphantly on its hapless prey, not seeming to notice
that its cry had had no effect on Mandrake. The Jubjub acted instantly as the
huge brown head lowered itself to them; he opened his mouth and shrieked the
piercing cry that was so famous to his own species.
Shocked by the sudden shrill scream, the Monocerous
retreated, alarmed. The cry also shook Aragon, Keota and Didicus out of their
trance. They shook their stiff bodies and looked wildly around. Seeing that
his prey had come back to life once more, the Monocerous gave an enraged grunt
and sucked in breath, ready to roar again. Thinking quickly, Aragon tore pawfuls
of grass from the jungle floor and tossed them to Keota and Didicus. "Stuff
these in your ears," he yelled. "Don't let him catch us again!"
Startled, all did as they were told, and sure
enough, the creature's roar had no effect on them, even though their hearing
wasn't completely blocked. It seemed only the unmuffled cry would have the full-blown
effect.
The Monocerous roared again, in sheer fury this
time. Lowering its head, it prepared to charge them. Aragon grabbed Mandrake
and Didicus in his jaws one by one and tossed them into a nearby tree with low
branches. "Climb up," he called. "Get away." He turned to Keota and pushed her
hard. "Go," he yelled loud enough for her to hear through her earplugs. "Fly.
Get Aihami-Master and Marko-Senior. Go, now!"
Nodding her blue head resolutely, Keota took
to the air. All traces of fear were gone from her, and now she knew what to
do; knew she had to get help. She disappeared above the canopy of leaves as
the Monocerous hurtled forwards. Mandrake looked down, horrified, at Aragon.
He was preparing to take the thing on himself. Didicus looked as dismayed as
he felt.
The Monocerous, expecting to meet resistance
and send the Lupe cub flying, encountered only empty air as Aragon rolled to
the side. It was impossible, for him, to do a paw-lock or a throw on this creature;
the only thing would be to keep moving, keep rolling and breakfalling, keeping
one step ahead of the behemoth. As long as he was never still he'd be fine.
But the Lupe cub's inexperience was beginning
to show. More than once he misjudged the speed of its coming or was a second
too late in responding; as a result he was getting several nicks from its horns
and hooves, as well as singes from the tail of flames. And Aragon's strength
was ebbing fast.
Mandrake and Didicus watched helplessly from
their tree. "I want to help," the Jubjub cried out in anguish as he watched
his friend tire in his battle, "but I can't do Neo-Kido throws or paw-locks!
And the Jubjub ones wouldn't work for a Monocerous..."
Didicus looked up at him. Then Neo-Kido is
completely about moves, and it won't ever be of any use except in a street fight.
How could he have lost his head? He had to do
what he could.
Mandrake closed his eyes hard to concentrate,
pushed down the fear he felt for Aragon, clearing the tension out of his system
as best he could. He needed to work quickly, Aragon's gasps of fatigue were
coming faster, but the Lupe was still in the fight, still dodging and rolling
out of the creature's way.
Mandrake couldn't see his lifeforce but he could
feel it within him. He opened his eyes. All the forest sounds and sights were
clear to him again. He felt for wild Petpets, stretching his awareness. He didn't
want any of them to get hurt but he had to do something for his friend. He needed
one that was big and strong. He called.
"Monocerous...need someone to battle a Monocerous...
hold him at bay... please... my friend won't last much longer... please..."
He felt the fear rise in some of them at the
name Monocerous, but a single bit of anger flared. A reply floated to him, a
deep, low growl in his consciousness.
We will. These things have plagued us all
for too long. Where are you?
"Here... come. Follow my voice."
He heard crashing and smashing among the brush,
then angry words. Keep talking! Where are you?
"Here, here!"
A large Bearog burst out of the trees, all her
three large heads snapping and snarling with battle light in their eyes. She
charged at the Monocerous and hit it hard. Turning to face this new enemy, the
Monocerous opened its mouth to roar, but was cut of by a vicious attack from
the Petpet that sent it struggling backwards. The Monocerous came at it again,
snarling its dreadful rage. The two battled while the green Lupe, exhausted,
collapsed on the grass. Mandrake, gripping a vine with his toes, shinnied down
the tree, aiming to drag his friend out of harm's way.
As his senses reverted to normal, with the last
threads of his decreasing awareness he felt help coming at full speed through
the undergrowth, making barely any noise. He saw Aihami-Master and Keota as
they burst through the bushes and gazed in horrified wonder at the scene that
greeted their eyes; the Bearog and Monocerous locked in combat.
"Call the Bearog off, Manny," Aihami shouted.
"Call it off!"
The Aisha had been aghast by Keota's news. They
had just discovered the three were missing, when Jitterbug owned up that Aragon,
his responsibility, had confided to him he was going to find Manny, who had
run off. Then Keota herself had come soaring in and delivered her news calmly
and clearly, though her voice shook. Upon hearing there was a Monocerous about,
Aihami had given strict orders to Marko to take the other white-belts back to
the training hall until she returned, and after stopping her ears with grass
under Keota's direction, asked the Eyrie kit to quickly lead her to the place.
Coming upon the scene, she had guessed in a heartbeat
what had happened. She knew the Jubjub's tie with Petpets was unique, and steadily
getting stronger, but she hadn't known it would escalate to quite those proportions.
She saw the Jubjub open his mouth in words she
couldn't quite hear through her muffled ears, but the Bearog apparently could,
because after a while she dropped sullenly away. The Monocerous, blinded by
frustration and fury, flew at the first thing it saw: Aihami.
The Aisha pivoted swiftly around without effort,
and the Monocerous found himself, again, meeting empty air. But, unlike Aragon,
Aihami had purposely placed herself in front of a very large, very old, very
solid tree.
With a sickening thud, the Monocerous met the
wide, gnarled trunk of the tree head on and sunk to the ground, unconscious.
The tree shivered slightly. Green clouds of leaves floated down from the high
branches above. Leaving the lifeless brown form, Aihami turned to the white-belts,
her calm face serious. "What were you all doing here?"
Keota burst into tears, Mandrake and Didicus
looked from one to the other, not knowing quite what to say, the Bearog panted,
tired, some distance away, and Aragon only raised his head slightly. The Aisha
sighed gently and smiled. "There, it's alright, Keota. Stop your crying. Aragon,
are you alright? Manny, Didicus, come now, you can bring your...new friend with
you. Could you ask him if he would allow Aragon on his back, please? The poor
Lupe's too tired to move. Let's get back home. You can explain all of this when
you've had a rest and some food."
To be continued...
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