Why There Are No Black Lupes

Part III: Silver

by Silver

At long last, after five unbearably lengthy days, the Lupes broke through the trees and found themselves facing a cliff. The cliff rose over 1,000 feet above them; there was no way to climb it or to go around it. They would have to go back. Galilobo sighed heavily and faced the pack, ready to give the order to turn around.

Suddenly, his lightening bolt began to glow softly. Galilobo didn't realize this until Celest's voice spoke in his mind: What's wrong? Why is your scar glowing?

Startled, Galilobo strained his eyes upward until he saw a gentle radiance coming from his forehead. He was momentarily confused. He wasn't feeling any overly strong emotions; the only thing he felt was exhaustion, and that wasn't enough to make the lightening bolt shine. After pondering for a moment, he decided that there was only one possibility: that they were near Silver.

Silver had placed a spell on his scar years earlier to make sure that, whenever they were separated, Galilobo would always know how to find her. Then he remembered that, once, she had mentioned to him that she liked to camouflage her surroundings, so that nothing bad could seek her out. "We aren't going anywhere!" he called to the other Lupes, his voice more cheerful than it had been in the five days of the journey. "Silver's home is right here!"

"What are you talking about?" Blade demanded.

"There's nothing here but solid rock!"

"I'll bet that it's enchanted rock, though," Galilobo exclaimed.

"Silver colored it with magic so that no one would know that she's here!"

"Sure did a good job," muttered Blade. "Just why are you so sure that she's here, in a wall of seemingly solid granite?"

"Look at my scar," Galilobo said excitedly. "It's glowing! It only does that when I'm feeling emotion… or when Silver's near."

"Terrific. Just terrific," shot back Blade. "Well, if you'd like to try and force your way through that cliff, go right ahead. I'm staying right here; maybe a lump on the head will make you come to your senses."

"That's enough, Blade," scolded Celest. "If Galilobo thinks that he can go through solid rock, then… well, I for one fully believe that he can." She smiled at her mate. "You've led us through dark forests, you've stayed calm in the face of disaster, you've escaped a powerful drowning spell… and all within a week. I trust you to do whatever you think is right," she concluded firmly.

Petal looked up at Galilobo with admiration. "So do I, Daddy," she yipped. "Show Blade who's boss!"

The pack laughed at her meager attempts to defend her father. Then Willow spoke up. "Well, I'm with Celest."

"So are we," chorused Tide and Granite. "You should do whatever you think will work!"

The rest of the pack howled agreement. Galilobo grinned, thanked them, and turned toward the cliff. He took a deep breath, set his jaw, and walked steadily toward the wall of rock. He knew that if he didn't hurry, he'd lose his nerve; so, he ducked his head and ran head-on toward it. He heard gasps from the other Lupes. Inches before he was to run into the wall, he squeezed his eyes shut…

… and kept on running! Nothing had stopped him. He skidded to a halt and turned around. There behind him, he could clearly see the pack; but also, all around him, was the mountain! It looked exactly like he was in a cave, and the other Lupes were still outside. Wow! he thought, impressed at his pet's magic. Silver really did a good job on this one! He raced outside again to tell the pack about his discovery.

They gasped again as he came rushing toward them. "Galilobo!" cried Blade. "You - you went straight through the rock!"

"It's not really rock, Blade," Galilobo explained. "That's was I was trying to tell you all along; it's a spell to make the mouth of the cave look solid, so no one can find Silver's home."

Murmurs came from the pack. "Follow me!" called Galilobo boldly. He ran straight into the wall again without a moment's hesitation. Because they were all desperate to leave the still-growing spiral behind them, the pack followed - a bit more cautiously; but when they found that it really was just a mirage, they forged through as well.

The Magical Lupes walked down twisting tunnels and corkscrew crawlways. They would have gotten completely lost had Galilobo not realized that his lightening bolt got brighter when they drew near Silver. By judging just how bright the glow was, they could tell which passageways to take and which to not.

Finally, they emerged from the tunnels into a huge room. Its ceiling was made of polished glass; Galilobo could tell that it was enchanted because, though they were deep inside the mountain's heart, they could see the sky. The dreadful spiral was still there, but at least it couldn't see them.

The walls were polished marble. It was really one wall, since the room was as round as an egg. The floor was covered in a thick velvet carpet. Their paws sank into it; they all felt as if they were walking on air. In a fireplace, a fire of white flames leaped and crackled, sending warmth through the cold and aching bones of the Lupes. There were beanbag chairs everywhere, and a lava lamp that was magically floating in the air and the enchanted ceiling was giving off a soft purple glow. The room was beautiful; but the pack was too tired to do anything but sit down on the beanbags and wait for Silver to appear.

They waited for over an hour. Some of the Lupes had just started to close their eyes for a nap when Galilobo's lightening bolt grew brighter and brighter, until the room seemed to erupt in a brilliant flash of white that blinded them all. Then the light from his forehead faded, and there in a doorway stood Silver. She looked just as Galilobo remembered her. It had been many months since they had seen each other, but when he last left her, she told him that he and his pack were welcome anytime in her home. "You must forgive my tardiness," she said in her low, strong voice, "for I was casting a rather complicated spell and could not stop until it was competed."

Galilobo barked happily and trotted up to her. He nuzzled her hand with his nose; his plumed tail was wagging at a breakneck speed. She laughed and greeted him with the same amount of affection, kneeling and putting her arms around his throat ruff in a tight hug.

Celest cantered up to her next, Petal tagging reluctantly behind her mother. She licked Silver's hand and said hello. Silver smiled and replied that she had missed her. Then Celest called Petal up to her. Petal crept forward hesitantly, but obediently. Celest said, "Petal, this is your godmother. Well, one of them, anyway...you have two."

Petal looked at Silver and said to Celest, "Where's the other one?"

Galilobo chuckled. "Is that anyway to treat your godmother? I think not! Where have your manners gone, my little cub?"

Silver reached out her hand. Petal sniffed it, then tentatively licked a finger. Silver pet Petal's soft pink fur, then looked up and said, "Why, Galilobo, she's beautiful! You didn't tell me how lovely she was."

"Well, I don't like to brag, but… she is sure going to be one gorgeous Magical Lupe when she grows up! The very first pink one, too!" Galilobo boasted.

Silver smiled. "So tell me - what brings you to my humble abode? Had it been any other living creature, I would have said that I was amazed that you got through my cliff illusion - but then, you're not "any other living creature", are you now? It doesn't surprise me one bit that you were able to puzzle that out."

Galilobo explained the whole situation thus far, and the rest of the pack jumped in with their opinions and little additions to the story.

"My! That's quite an adventure! Well, all of you are welcome to feast to your hearts' contents. I'm sure you must be rather hungry after all that excitement." She waved her wand, and a huge table heavy with food and drink appeared in the center of the room. The Lupes yipped their thanks and dove into the food without another word. Silver gave them a broad smile and left the room.

When they had eaten, the pack stretched and dozed off. Only Galilobo remained awake. He couldn't seem to get to sleep, tired though he was. There was just too much to think and worry about.

"Galilobo," Silver called softly from a doorway. Galilobo looked up, startled; he hadn't notice her reappear. He stood up and went to her. "I see you are tired, my friend," she commented. "Why do you not slumber with the others?"

"I'm too worried, Silver," Galilobo admitted. "What am I going to do about Shadow? He's a black Lupe, and will not stop until he gets revenge upon the whole pack! We cannot stay in your home forever, nice as it may be. We need to get back to our meadow and not have to worry about Shadow's wrath for the rest of our lives!"

"Hmm," Silver said to herself. She looked up toward the ceiling and asked, "What do you think?" She listened for a moment, then slowly nodded her head. She gazed at Galilobo for a moment, then said, "How would you like to meet the very first Lupe in Neopia?"

Galilobo heard her words, but they didn't quite register. "What do you mean? Element left us a millennia ago."

"Exactly," Silver whispered. "We'd have to travel back in time. You up for that, my friend?"

He closed his eyes for a moment. It's the only way, he told himself. He opened his eyes and smiled bravely at his pet. "Let's go."