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Neopia's Fill in the Blank News Source | 28th day of Running, Yr 26
The Neopian Times Week 148 > Short Stories > Jack's Redemption

Jack's Redemption

by 4zure

Xenon carefully polished his new trophy. The Kyrii had just won his first Beauty Contest. They were now 5,000 Neopoints richer because of his victory. Chelsea had told him that she wanted to get him something special to celebrate. Xenon thought about all of the stuff he wanted as he continued to shine the trophy. At first he thought about having Chelsea save the Neopoints in the bank and getting him a paint brush when they had enough. Yet he didn’t want to be painted for some reason, and the idea was quickly discarded. He thought about having Chelsea get him a lot of books and toys, but he knew he'd get bored with them quickly. Gourmet foods, perhaps? Naw. Fancy food wasn't a good enough reward for him. Then he remembered how lonely he often got. Why not get a petpet? thought Xenon with a smile. "A cuddly little critter for me to take care of and keep me company." His mind made up about this, he told Chelsea what he wanted.

     "What species would you like?" Chelsea asked.

     Species? Xenon hadn't considered this. "Er, just get one," he replied.

     "Alrighty, I'll be off to the Marketplace then," said Chelsea as she headed out.

     I hope I made a good decision.... Xenon thought worriedly.

     At the time, Xenon did not know that he had just made one of the best decisions of his life.

***

Chelsea arrived back home a few hours later with a large box in her arms. It shuddered violently as she placed it on the floor at Xenon's feet. The rest of Chelsea's pets stood close by watching intently. Xenon slowly got to his knees and carefully opened the box. Before he could get a good look at it, the thing in the box launched itself into Xenon's chest, knocking him flat on his back and leaving him quite winded. Before he could catch his breath again, the thing began to lick his nose enthusiastically.

     "Aww, he likes you!" one of the watching pets gushed.

     "Get.... it.... off!" Xenon gasped between licks.

     Chelsea picked the wriggling petpet up off of his chest and he was able to breathe again. Once Xenon's breathing rate had returned to normal, he looked at the creature Chelsea held in her arms. It was a very scrawny, sort of scruffy looking Anubis. It cocked its head to one side and surveyed its new owner curiously. As Xenon reached out to take it from Chelsea, it began to wriggle more, its tail wagging furiously. It barked happily and received a chorus of "Aww!"

     "Watcha gonna name him?" Chelsea asked.

     Xenon tried to think of a good name as he struggled to keep the overexcited petpet in his arms. He finally gave up trying to restrain it and let the Anubis drop to the floor. It proceeded to run around Xenon's legs and bark loudly.

     "Well....?" Azure asked impatiently.

     "Jack," Xenon said simply.

     "Jack," echoed Chelsea. "All right then. Welcome to the family, Jack!"

     Jack replied by running over to her and trying to lick her fingers.

     Jack wasn't doing Xenon much good. The little Anubis was always doing something to annoy him. He would hop up on Xenon's lap during meals and try to eat some of the food off of his plate. He would hop up on Xenon's bed every night and try to sleep next to him. This didn't go over too well with Xenon as he tended to roll over on him frequently.

     "Get OFF!" Xenon barked as he kicked Jack off of the bed yet again. Jack gave him the traditional reproachful look and ambled over to a corner to sleep.

     Stupid petpet, Xenon thought irritably. Can't he ever do anything useful?

     Xenon was about to get his answer.

     The next morning, Xenon took Jack out for his regular walk. Bored of the route they usually took, he decided to head for a more remote place he had never been to before. It was a nice area, full of trees and other greenery. The air smelled strongly of pine. Xenon could here little Pteris chirping all around him. A distant glint suddenly caught his eye. Curious, he started to walk towards it. Jack ran in front of him and started barking madly. Xenon tried to move around him, but the little Anubis kept moving to block his path.

     “Move it and shush!” he hissed, but Jack continued to bark and get in his way. Xenon sighed, picked up Jack, and continued on his way.

     “I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but whatever it is I ho– AGH!” he yelped as Jack sunk his teeth into his hand. “Honestly, what is your–“ Before he could finish his sentence, he was taken aback by what stood before him. It was a giant spider web strung between two large trees. The glint he had seen was the beads of morning dew shimmering on its strands. A spine-chilling hiss from above pierced the air. Xenon looked up and froze with fear.

     Staring down at him hungrily from the top of the web was the Spider Grundo. He tried to scream. He couldn’t. He tried to run. He couldn’t. His muscles couldn’t do anything. They refused to do anything. Jack barked loudly and brought him back to his senses, just in time too. The Spider Grundo had begun to descend on a long, silky thread. Xenon instinctively turned and ran with Jack at his heels. The Spider Grundo followed close. Xenon did not know where he was running. He just ran. He ran and ran and ran until he reached the edge of a cliff. The Spider Grundo had him cornered. Xenon turned to face the beast. It bared its fangs at him and hissed again. Jack ran between the two of them and barked at the Spider Grundo. It made to pounce on him, but Jack was too quick. He galloped around and grabbed one of its hairy legs in his mouth. The monster shook him off, but before it could do anything more, Jack had reattached himself to another of its legs. This tug-o-war lasted for several minutes.

      The Spider Grundo suddenly threw Jack off and pinned him down before the little Anubis could make his move. As it lowered it fangs towards him, Xenon grabbed a heavy rock and chucked it as hard as he could. It hit the monster right in the head. It let go of Jack and made for Xenon. It was almost on him when Jack pounced on it and sunk his teeth into the delicate skin on the back of its neck. He jumped off before it could reach back and pull him off. He retook his place between it and Xenon and roared. The roar shook the ground beneath their feet and rolled over the land like thunder. The Spider Grundo had had enough. It turned and retreated back to its web. Xenon picked up Jack and scratched him behind the ears. Jack nibbled at his fingers affectionately.

     “I guess you aren’t a useless petpet after all.”

The End

Since that morning, Xenon and Jack have become very close. Xenon now lets Jack eat whatever he wants off of his plate at meals (as long as he doesn't eat it all). Jack now even has his own little pillow on Xenon's bed.


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