A Battle Worth Fighting

by Panthea_Guthrie

Thunder pounded overhead, awakening the huddled mass, causing it to whimper. It shifts, causing the cardboard to crinkle under the weight, stretching its massive paws out in front. Laying its head in between the paws, it sighs, eyelids dropping back over the tired, lonely eyes, falling asleep again.

***

As the morning sun dried the previous night’s rainfall, the huddled mass started to stir. Rising to its massive paws, it arched its back, raising its hind into the air, groaning in stiffness. Its mouth parts, a long pink tongue rolling out then curls upwards, before disappearing back into the mouth.

Stepping forth from the dark alley, the being makes its way towards its daily morning stop, the Bakery. Placing a blackened paw before it, the somewhat hidden claws making a soft ‘click’ sound, it starts its mini-journey. The morning sun peeks over the edge of the sky, awakening the sky and NeoPets. Its ears twitch slightly, stopping to hear that wonderful sound, ‘Ding’. Increasing its pace, the paws pound against the stone road, the pink tongue appearing again as it pants.

Skidding to a stop, a smirk appears upon the young being’s features, pleased to see the Bakery open, and empty. Padding in slowly, its nose takes in every smell, its eyes staring hungrily at the fresh Gingerbread Lupe Treat, in the wonderful shape of a Chia. Grinning, it looks up at the Breadmaster, a blue Kacheek, and licks its lips, awaiting the daily treat.

“Oh No, not you again,” groans the Breadmaster.

“What? No Hello?” replies the being, sitting back on its hunches.

Smirking, the Breadmaster shakes his head, and grabs a Gingerbread Lupe Treat, and tosses it into the air above the beings head. Jumping up at the treat, it catches it in its mouth, snapping hungrily at the head. Munching away with a grin on its face, it thanks the Breadmaster.

“Look Scuzzewolf, I’ve done a lot for you the past three months, but you need to stop coming in here and taking yesterday’s leftovers! It’s not healthy for a growing Lupe to eat leftovers!”

Grumbling, the scruffy Lupe nodded his head, swallowing the remains of the treat.

“I know, but I have no other way of getting food!”

“Get an owner.” The Breadmaster said sternly, putting down the fresh doughnuts.

Turning on his paws, Scuzzewolf left, his tail flicking angrily from side to side. Padding along the cobble stone road, Scuzzewolf looked ahead to see the streets crowding with tons of NeoPets, all happily along side their owner, begging them to buy this or that. Walking right by them, he pretends not to hear them, walking straight towards the Wishing Well.

Seeing this great well made him jumpy, wanting to run up there and throw himself into the well, wishing to be owned again. Calmly, he pads up to the edge of the stone circle, and peers down into the darkness. He sees nothing, only the eerie darkness which seems to last forever. Taking out a Neopoint, he places it on the edge, his paw waiting to push it over.

Silently, he moves his mouth, whispering his wish, as his paw pushes the coin into the darkness below. He stops breathing, waiting for the familiar splash of the Neopoint, and hoping it would hit this time.

Thonk.

“Thonk?” Scuzzewolf said puzzled, not really sure what just happened. Picking up a nearby rock, he tossed it into the well. Thonk. Growling angrily, he turned around again, looking around briefly before running towards the gardening shop. Walking up to the counter, he asks the Blumaroo, “Do you sell rope?”

“Why, yes we do!” the Blumaroo replied, handing him the rope carefully.

“That’d be twelve Neopoints please.”

“Err…” Scuzzewolf patted himself down, finding only paper clips and lint.

Taking the rope in his mouth quickly, he sprits out of there, his paws barely even touching the ground as his ears are pressed against his head, refusing to hear the disgruntled cries of the shopkeeper. Reaching the Wishing Well rather quickly, he tied the rope to the top of the well, tugging on it to see if it was enough support. Looking over his shoulder, he sees the shopkeeper running towards him, waving a pitchfork in the air angrily. Grasping the rope in both front paws, he jumps down into the well, his paws not able to hold onto the rope very well. Frantically, he looks around; trying to see in the eternal darkness, looking for something he can grab onto and stop his constant falling. Finally, the rope pulls taunt, flinging him upwards roughly, slamming him against the stone sides. Clutching his sides in pain, Scuzzewolf accidentally lets go of the rope, and starts to fall again. Falling, forever falling. He can see no end to this black pit, his body hitting against the rough edges of the well. Finally he hits the bottom; a sickening thud can be heard all the way up to the shopkeeper. Everything stays dark…

***

Warmth, Constant heat. Glowing, something is glowing in his eyes, but he isn’t sure what. Then pain, sharply ripping at his sides and head, reminding him of his dreadful fall he must have survived.

Lifting his head, blinking a few times, he finally fully opens his eyes, trying to ignore the constant throbbing inside his head. Slowly standing on all fours, he looks up towards the heat, seeing a bright light of green, blinding him briefly.

“Ah!” He screams, his paws finding a place over his eyes, shielding them.

“So you have awoken, Scuzzewolf. So nice to see you again…” replies the green glow, the voice heavenly, seductive almost. “Awwh, am I blinding you? Here, let me turn down my Headlights,” she replies sarcastically, her voice now thick with hate.

He feels the warmth decrease, and he looks directly at the source. He is quickly angered, seeing the one who has mocked him for what life has done to him, and everything he has lost, refusing to help. Seeing the Earth Faerie was not something he wanted to do.

Seeing his anger, she smiles warmly, her slender hand reaching out and caressing his fur on top of his head. Sighing slightly, she replies, “You are so dirty since the last time I saw you. So… thin. Is this because you have no owner? No one to love and cherish you? Are you forced to beg for scraps of the more fortunate?” She chuckles, seeing the anger build in his eyes, she stops, her hand falling off his head.

“You disgust me, Faerie. You are supposed to help the ones, who are helpless, not tease them until they want to rip your wings off!” Scuzzewolf growls, backing slowly from the Faerie. Rolling her eyes, the Faerie merely snaps her fingers, her magic working at an awesome pace, leaving Scuzzewolf ‘bound’ into the air. His eyes now wide with fear, he listens to her argument, thinking maybe he can escape later on.

“Now listen, you bag of fleas. I didn’t have to make you want to come down here, but I did. The Faeries and I are very, and I mean very, bored with abandoned NeoPets. So we have decided to let you fight each other for an owner.” Her lips curve into a smile, her eyes sparkling in her own glow.

“Who says I want to do this any ways?” snaps Scuzzewolf.

“Hey, I don’t have to help your fiery butt, but I am. So take it as a compliment.”

“I’ll do it,” replies Scuzzewolf, as she waves her hand again, releasing him from the air. He lands softly, barely making a noise. She looks him over again before replying.

“You will be transported into the Ice Dome in less than five minutes, where you will fight with a Chia about your status, whose owner was also frozen in time due to cheating. Then, when there is winner, you shall be immediately transported into your new home. We are NOT allowed to tell you whom you are fighting for, whether they are good owners or horrible ones. But, I can tell you this much. If you lose, you are not going back to the streets like before. You are going to the pound this time.”

And with that, she disappeared, and Scuzzewolf did as well, the blackness swirling around him at a speed unknown to him. Suddenly, he falls face down into the ground, the dirt getting in his mouth. Everything stays black for a while…

***

When he lifts his head again, he finds everything is a lot colder here. His eyes adjust to the light, even though it is cloudy overhead. Crawling onto all fours, he turns his head towards the crowded arena, seeing it jam packed with Faeries, Island Natives, and a lot of Blumaroos. Turning, he sees a large purple Chia, banging upon his chest, getting the crowd to cheer for him.

“Barbarian!” Scuzzewolf screamed in his direction, wanting him angry. The purple mass turned to him, his beady little eyes staring back at the Fire Lupe. His mouth parted, slobber pouring from it, as he replies, “You wanna fight dog? Then, let’s git it on!”

No wonder no one wants him! The darn thing is uglier than a Mutant Elephante! he thought.

Quickly springing to his paws, he uses the Sword of Domar, chopping angrily at the Chia Even for its size, the Chia moved out of the way faster then he thought and used the bubble gun. Falling onto the ice-laden ground, Scuzzewolf slid a good two feet, his side hurting more. Shaking his massive head, he turned again, pulling out his Black Frost Cannon, and using it with such force, it knocked him back a foot. He watched in pure pleasure as it hit the Chia, sending him sprawling against a nearby chunk of ice.

Quickly thinking, Scuzzewolf then charged him, his claws extended, scraping against the surface of the Ice. As he tried to jump to him, the Chia moved, Scuzzewolf flying into the ice, hard. He hit with a WHACK! His neck feeling as if it had broke in several places. He falls onto the ice, his paws twitching slightly with the impact. His eyes shut, as his breath becomes ragged. He feels a breeze slightly as the Chia stands over him, his breath causing Scuzzewolf to choke slightly.

“You are the weakest Pet. I shall earn the Owner.”

Something snapped inside of Scuzzewolf. Built up rage, seeing his former owner being froze before his very eyes had made him angry, wanting revenge on the Faeries who did this, but until now he had not let it get the better of him. Using the last bit of strength he jumped up, grabbing the Sword of Domar, thrusting it towards the Chia He heard the scream as the Chia blocked it, and he continued his constant jabbing, his claws angrily slashing at his face and legs. The rage subsided as he saw the Chia fall down, defeated. His chest heaved up and down for the longest time, as he watched the Chia lay there, motionless. Collapsing, Scuzzewolf closes his eyes in victory, but physically he lost. He still felt empty inside, even though he knows he had won him an owner worthy of a Lupe like himself. Slowly, the darkness swallowed him whole again, swirling around him faster and faster. He saw the face of Grrrrpets, his former owner, a smile placed broadly on her face. He swore he heard her say she was proud, but he wasn’t sure. Finally, he felt someone hold him, stroking his fur just the right way. Opening his eyes, he sees another face, one exactly like Grrrrpets. “Laura!” Scuzzewolf exclaims. The smile fades slightly, as she looks at him oddly.

“My name is Panthea Guthrie, and I am your new owner, Scuzzewolf.” But she looks so much like Laura that he doesn’t care. He lays at her feet, closing his eyes, happy to be owned, and happy to feel like he is home.

The End