"How many days until we go to Terror
Mountain?" My Fire Shoyru was staring at me from the top of his open
book. My Faerie Kougra raised her head and perked her ears.
I sighed. "As I've told you, we're leaving tomorrow. You and your sister cool
your Jetsams." I smiled. "Is anyone hungry?"
Getting up and heading towards the kitchen of my six-room NeoHome, I said loudly,
"And Zippo (my Shoyru), you better clean your room! I tried to pack your suitcase
and couldn't find a thing!"
"Okay, Mom. I'm sorry I got so careless... and..." He stared up at me with
huge eyes, and I laughed.
"You little sneak!" I kissed him lovingly. "I'm glad you're sister isn't as
good at acting as you are! I'd..."
"I'm much cuter than he is, so I don't need to act," Fly_Gurl (my Kougra)
said, batting her eyelashes.
I laughed, wiping tears from my eyes. "All right. What do we want?"
"Will we get to play Cheat at Terror Mountain?" Zippo tugged at my pant-leg.
"How about..." I searched my cupboards, "... we got to the Pizzeria to eat?"
"Yay!" Fly_Gurl was cheering. I smiled, closing the cupboard.
"Okay then, let's go!" Pulling on a jacket, I locked the door and headed towards
the best place in all of Neopia to get pizza- the Pizzeria!
As we entered the restaurant, the aroma of made-from-scratch pizza flowed
into my nose. A bell tingled above the door as it closed. I found an empty table
and helped my NeoPets into their chairs.
"Welcome to ze Pizzeria!" A Blumaroo with a thick black mustache stood next
to our table. "How may I help you?"
"I want a Raspberry Neocola!" Zippo cried, and Fly_Gurl blushed.
"I'll have a Raspberry Neocola too, please. Thank you." She glared at an unaware
Zippo.
"I'll have a water, please." I smiled at the water, who nodded and hurried
away. "Zippo, Fly_Gurl, what kind of pizza would you like?"
"I want a Meat Lovers Pizza!" Zippo was practically bouncing in his seat. I
turned to Fly_Gurl.
"I'd like... a Split Pizza!" Her eyes brightened, and you could tell she was
losing her public tension. "What are you having, Mom?"
"Hmm... I stared at the menu. I think I'll have a Split Pizza as well. You
two, go wash up I'll go pay for the Pizzas..." The two got out of their seats
and headed for the bathrooms.
"Katie!" I turned at the sound of my name. My best friend, Victoria, was waving
from the door. "Have you heard?" she plopped down in the empty chair, placing
her Jubjub on her lap. "The Ghost Lion has attacked another person!"
I froze. I had heard of the Ghost Lion a few times. He attacked people and
took their NeoPets... He was in the Gallery
of Evil. I had taken my two NeoPets there and we had seen his picture.
"Where is he?" It came out in a weak whisper.
"No one's sure, but there have been repeated sightings in...."
"Where is he?"
"Terror Mountain."
The words hit hard, and I sat there stupidly for about a minute, finally saying,
"Where did you say?"
"Terror Mountain... why? That's across the ocean..."
I got up, lay ten Neopoints on the table, picked up my NeoPets from the bathroom,
and walked hurriedly home. I could just see the Ghost Lion stalking me behind
my back, getting ready to strike... to take my NeoPets... I clutched them tightly
to my chest.
"Why didn't we get our pizza?" Zippo whined.
"I've suddenly lost my appetite."
I flew into the house, put my NeoPets down, and locked the door. "What's wrong?"
Fly_Gurl looked concerned.
"The Ghost Lion!" I gushed. "He's loose in Terror Mountain!"
My NeoPets stared at me, eyes wide. "He attacked a person, and probably stole
the NeoPets!" I drew my two close. "I don't want to lose my babies... Not again..."
Tears streamed down my face at the memory of Nimbus_3, my Cloud Kau, who had
been carried away by the Pant Devil three years ago. No, that wouldn't happen.
No, not again...
A year later
"Zippo! Wake up! Fly_Gurl! Are your suitcases packed? Come on you two! We're
off to Terror Mountain!"
I handed each of my NeoPets an omelette. And took a bite of one myself as we
hurried towards the docks. We just barely boarded our boat before it was off.
To be continued... | 
