My name is Braver. I'm an explorer. I woke up to an excited start today when
my owner checked the mail. "Braver! I think you'll want to see this," he said
in a cheery tone. It turns out, a rich Acara paid a large sum of Neopoints in
order to fund an expedition of the Beast's
Lair.
I long wondered what lay inside this cave. Once when I was only about a few
days old, my owner took me for a stroll in the Tyrannian Plateau. He looked
around everywhere, and still knows his way around today. We both traveled into
the Beast's Lair like many before us. I admit that I was acting a bit cowardly.
My owner thought it was pretty funny. "Come on, Braver! I named you Braver for
a reason!" he had said while laughing very hard. I jumped at every little sound.
It's a little dim in my mind, but at the end of the cave, we spotted a Pterodactyl
as my owner called it. It was screeching so loud that my ears popped. "Please!
Let's leave NOW!" I begged him. He didn't make me do anything I didn't want
to, so we left in a hurry (or at least I did).
"Braver? Why are you shivering? The sun's out. It's so hot here!" he exclaimed
when we got out. Of course, I was actually shaking with fear. I try to live
up to my name now, though.
The expedition began some months later, which were used for preparation. Other
Lupes from my pack were happy to follow. I led the team to the Tyrannian Plateau.
We each took a piece of omelette from the giant egg that was baking in the sun.
Sabre-X watched us all carefully to make sure we didn't sneak another piece.
"You there! What are you trying to do?" he shouted at a Lupe who attempted to
take another piece in vain. We didn't get a good first impression.
"It won't happen again, Sabre-X. I assure you," I said to him. Sabre-X made
no reply except for an expression filled with fury.
"We should ask the leaders of the village for some advice," suggested one of
the Lupes. That seemed like a good idea at the time. The leaders didn't share
the same interest in the expedition that we all did.
"You'll all perish! You shouldn't trespass on that animal's territory! It's
just like how you Lupes don't want strangers just walking around in your territory!"
an angry leader spat at us.
I sighed in disappointment. They weren't any help at all. Some Lupes complained
along the way to the Beast's Lair. "Who do they think they are? We're a lot
more modern, and a lot more smarter than they are."
We entered the cave, and the familiar noises brought back memories of my past
journey here. "This is more like a cavern rather than a cave. Watch where you're
going. I'm sure you don't want to hit a stalagmite or a stalactite. Don't breathe
too fast either. The air in here isn't as healthy to breathe as the air outside,"
I warned them. The dripping of water was everywhere. The sound of heavy breathing
got louder.
"That doesn't sound friendly. Do we have any defence at all?" some Lupes asked.
I rolled my eyes. The Lupes that were anxious before were now showing signs
of fright.
Then, we reached the old rope that another NeoPet had tied to a stone so long
ago. No one knows the outcome of its quest here. "All right! We're very close!
Let's go one by one. Anyone want to go first?" I asked already knowing the answer.
The Lupes looked uneasy. "Suit yourselves." I took a hold of the rope and climbed.
I looked at the Lupes that followed.
I cocked my head to the direction of the sound and saw the Pterodactyl-the
point of this expedition. It looked at us one by one. I closed my eyes hoping
it wouldn't screech. It did. "Ah! Run! It's gonna eat us for lunch!" said many
Lupes in unison. They started running around in circles.
"Stick together! Believe me. You'll be a lot safer that way. No sudden movements
or loud noises! You'll scare it," I said to them.
"Us scare IT?" a Lupe asked. The Lupes began talking in lots of whispers, but
stopped when the Pterodactyl starred at them some more. It wasn't screeching
anymore. "Thank goodness," I whispered to myself. The Pterodactyl had calmed
some. "Let's take notes now so we can compare them later!"
The Lupes had stopped stirring and settled. They fumbled in their backpacks
and took out little notepads and ink bottles. They dipped a claw in the ink
bottles and took their notes, writing with their claws, observing the Pterodactyl
closely, which seemed confused. I smiled. "See? That wasn't so bad, now was
it?" I asked. The Lupes didn't answer. They were busy admiring the Pterodactyl
to talk. There were many numerous "awes" at the Pterodactyl's behaviour. All
was going well.
But then, disaster struck. The Pterodactyl opened its wings and a Lupe got
closer to measure the wingspan, but that was too close for the Pterodactyl.
It hit the Lupe upside the head, and he was knocked cold. "Uh oh," I said in
a voice shaking slightly. The Pterodactyl screeched at the top of its lungs.
It was louder than I had heard from it from ever before. As a matter of fact,
it was louder than ANYTHING I ever heard before was. "Let's get out of here
NOW!" I shouted to the panicking Lupes. We rushed out in a dash for our lives.
"You there! Help me carry the unconscious Lupe!" I ordered.
The Lupe I addressed didn't seem to want to do it, but did as I asked. We climbed
the rope and raced out. The light that marked the entrance came closer and closer.
My heart was beating so fast I probably couldn't have even counted the beats.
I'm sure that was the same for the other Lupes.
I was one of the last ones due to the fact that I was carrying a Lupe. The
Pterodactyl was still screeching loudly at that moment. When I approached the
exit, it started to cave in because of the Pterodactyl's screeching. I shoved
the knocked out Lupe and the other Lupe that helped me carry the knocked out
one out of the hole, lunged forward at the exit, and leapt out in a blur of
blue fur. I rolled over onto my back in the dried up ground panting hard.
Everyone was there starring at us. A rich Flotsam stepped up to me and asked,
"Would you like to lead an expedition I'm planning into the Haunted Woods?"
All the Lupes fainted.
"Sure. No problem. I even have a team assembled already," I told him. All the
Lupes on the ground started having seizures the instant I said this. I just
grinned.
The End | 
