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A mutant Kougra gazed silently at the giggling popular girls
that sat around the cafeteria table. She looked down at her gnarly paws and let
out a light sigh. The popular girls had Faerie wings or a fiery coat. Not a single
popular girl had mutated fur or an ugly face. She got up slowly, casting her eyes
upon her uneaten Pound food. Very slowly, she picked up her tray and shuffled
over to the garbage can. As she let the food drop into the can, she watched as
every pet chatted with their friends.
This Kougra's name was Kayinna. Nobody liked
her very much, but it was only because of her look. Once ago, very long ago,
her previous owner had made her drink a Kougra transmogrification potion. Before
she had been a perky Acara, making friends this way and that wherever she went.
But as soon as she drank the potion, her looks changed and her personality did
too. Now she was a gloomy, antisocial Kougra not looking for friends and despising
everybody.
"Move," a voice commanded. Instantly, Kayinna
moved out of the way of the popular girls. They too were clearing their trays.
"Well if it isn't Miss Hideous," the voice sneered. Kayinna's gaze settled on
Tracie, the most perfect blue Uni at the Pound. Nobody quite knew why she wasn't
already adopted, but no one questioned her either.
"Hello Tracie," Kayinna replied sullenly. Tracie
cast her a glare. She hated anyone that was 'unworthy' that used her name. Instead
of waiting for Tracie's remark, Kayinna turned and shuffled away.
She heard the sprouts of laughter and the loud
giggles, no doubt. She felt her mutated cheeks grow red with agony and embarrassment
as she left the cafeteria. She marched quietly to her dorm, looking straight
ahead of her. When she reached the scratched and damaged door, she pushed it
open softly and heard it creak. Inside, a small four-poster bed was pushed in
a corner. A small rug lay on the floor. Sunlight streamed into the room through
a very small window. Kayinna dropped onto her bed with discouragement. She propped
her elbows up onto her ratty pillow and gazed out at the window.
After a few minutes, she realized she was looking
at someone else. Instantly, she sat up straight, her head hitting the low ceiling.
She peered back the person and slowly crept up to the windowsill. The person
had dark purple eyes and a sullen yet eager expression. Her nose was pressed
up to the window as the person looked back at Kayinna. Suddenly, the person's
face disappeared.
Kayinna looked at the dusty window, puzzled.
She sighed again and lay down at the foot of her bed, her head resting on her
paws. Then, she closed her eyes.
*****
"You don't want Kayinna," an urgent voice said loudly. The mutant Kougra opened
her eyes and her ears perked up, straining to listen to the conversation.
"Yes I do," a snappy voice answered back. "I
saw her through her window and I'm positive I want Kayinna. I've been on Neopets
since it first started and I overpower you, do you know that? Now I want Kayinna!
Please," the person added. Kayinna closed her eyes to pretend as though she
was asleep as she heard footsteps coming toward her door.
"Here she is," Hannah, the red Uni, said bitterly
as Kayinna's door opened. Kayinna's nose wiggled as she smelled the scent of
the adopting person. She was tempted to open her eyes, but she knew she couldn't.
"Are you positive you want to take Kayinna?" Hannah added another time.
"Yes," the person replied impatiently. "But
I mustn't wake her from her sleep. I'm positive I want Kayinna and I'm willing
to pay as much as you want for her." Kayinna's eyes shot open as and she saw
the back of a person in a purple gown. She had lilac colored hair that flowed
freely to her shoulders. Her hands were placed swiftly on her hips as she demanded
to take Kayinna.
"I'm awake," Kayinna said meekly, hoping to
catch the person's attention. The person whirled around and Kayinna gaped as
she came face to face with the dark Faerie, Maelstra.
"Hello sweet pea," Maelstra said, her anger
dissolving and her expression softening. Kayinna growled under her breath reluctantly
as Maelstra said 'sweet pea'. Kayinna watched as Maelstra handed Hannah a thousand
Neopoints. "Keep the change," she added bitterly as Hannah gaped at the large
amount of Neopoints. Kayinna slowly leaped off her bed and crept up to Maelstra,
unsure of what was happening.
"It's okay," Maelstra said soothingly. "You're
coming home with me now." She winked at her new pet and Kayinna nodded, her
throat too soar for words. Maelstra picked Kayinna limberly into her arms and
passed Hannah. Before Kayinna knew what was happening, she was looking back
at the Pound doors.
During their trip to Faerieland, Kayinna gazed
outside through the window. There were so many things in Neopia to be discovered,
things Kayinna had never dreamt about before. "Why did you want me?" Kayinna
blurted out quietly and suddenly. Maelstra looked at her, surprised.
"Didn't you want to get adopted?" Maelstra asked
her. Kayinna shrugged. She truly didn't know if she had wanted to be adopted.
As much as her rotten life at the Pound was, she felt secure and safe there.
"Well, I adopted you because I wanted a pet. And I've been watching you with
my own two eyes for quite a while now and I've seen your misery. That's why
I adopted you." Kayinna stayed silent and looked out the window again. "Kay?
I mean, can I call you Kay?"
Kayinna jerked her head toward Maelstra with
viciousness. "I'd prefer not," she growled. But her anger slowly disappeared
and she added, "Unless you really want to."
Soon Maelstra jerked to a stop. "Well, here
we are Kay," Maelstra said cheerfully, slowly getting out of the purple jeep.
Kayinna slowly jumped out and landed softly onto the grim ground. She swallowed
as she looked at her surroundings. Dead trees lingered over the small hut and
fallen leaves hid the murky, dirt ground. Kayinna forced a smile and followed
Maelstra into the hut.
"I know it's not much," Maelstra added grimly
as the two walked into the cabin. The Faerie turned on a cord and the one-room
hut lightened by the bare bulb. Kayinna looked around, surprised and saw a rug
placed neatly onto the hard wood floor. An antique bed was pushed to one corner
and was furnished with pillows and warm comforters. Kayinna saw Maelstra wave
her hand and soon, another antique bed appeared in the other corner. "For you,"
Maelstra said happily. She pointed to the small stairway that led downstairs.
"That's the family room. There's all sorts of games and neat stuff down there.
You can get settled here for now. I'm going to go downstairs and make some peanut
butter and jam sandwiches."
Kayinna watched as Maelstra trotted down the
stairs, disappearing from view. Unsure, Kayinna crept to her bed and propped
her front paws on the clean sheets. She looked out of the window and watched
as the wind howled ruefully. After a few minutes, Maelstra called, "It's ready!"
Immediately, Kayinna ran down the stairs, tumbling
down the last few steps. She got up, dazed at what had just happened. Maelstra
laughed and helped her up. "You okay?" she asked Kayinna. Kayinna nodded her
head and let herself be led by Maelstra to the table. Slowly, her vision became
normal again and she saw a steaming cup of hot borovan in front of her. Maelstra
was already sipping at her drink and had finished half of her sandwich.
"Thanks," Kayinna said slowly, drinking her
chocolate. Maelstra just smiled and Kayinna looked at her surroundings again.
She was seated on as wooden chair at a wooden, square table. Toys were piled
up in one corner and Kayinna saw a door lead to the kitchen. There was a dresser
and other 'neat' items. Silence settled over the two. Finally, with her courage
ready, Kayinna asked bravely, "What part of Faerieland is this?"
Maelstra looked at her wearily. "This is the
part of Faerieland where it isn't explored. Fyora has her Hidden Tower and this
is the hidden part of Faerieland where I won't be bothered. Nobody, of course,
knows how to get here expect myself and Fyora."
Kayinna fell quiet. She looked at Maelstra for
a second and finished her borovan slowly. Finally, she cleared her throat a
little more loudly then she intended to and said quietly, "I better get off
to bed. I've never slept in a warm bed before so I'd like to try it out."
Maelstra nodded and Kayinna retreated upstairs.
Slowly, she crawled under her big covers and closed her eyes. The rhythm of
the wind gradually drifted the young, mutant Kougra to sleep, making her dreams
wonders…
*****
"Look!" Kayinna exclaimed excitedly, pointing to the poster pinned up on the
Faerie Castle doors. Maelstra chuckled and nodded her head.
"Yup, this is where we're going. Now don't get
overly excited. Remember, Fyora is looking for an assistant to look after her
castle while she's gone away on business to talk to Dr. Sloth," Maelstra said,
but Kayinna had already pushed open the castle doors and had run inside.
"Wow," Kayinna said, looking around with a glazed
look over her eyes. The castle's walls were covered with ancient and rare pictures,
mostly of the old Faerie queens. Kayinna gazed around the big hall which was
bigger than their hut. The ceiling was sparkling and shimmering and a large
chandelier hung overhead. "This is amazing!" Kayinna exclaimed again, looking
around at the red oak doors. Maelstra nodded her head and walked over to the
biggest set of doors.
"We're early," Maelstra said, pushing the doors
open, "but Fyora won't mind."
Both walked into the room and Kayinna gasped
at the sight of Fyora herself. She was gowned in a purple velvet dress, her
hair high up in a tiara. A Kadoatie gingerly leaped off Fyora's lap as Fyora
stood up, welcoming her guests. "Welcome," Fyora said sweeping down the red
velvet walkway, "to my humble home."
Maelstra curtsied graciously. Kayinna tried
too, but instead, she tumbled down onto her head and fell onto the hardwood
floor. Fyora chuckled lightly as Kayinna got up, shaking her head. "Hi," Kayinna
mumbled, quite embarrassed.
"Hello Maelstra," Fyora said, turning her attention
to the Dark Faerie. "I see you've finally got yourself a pet."
Maelstra nodded her head and put her hand on
Kayinna's shoulder. "I adopted her from the Pound. I'm glad I did. She's wonderful
company." Fyora nodded her head and walked back to her throne.
"Well the other faeries should be arriving soon,"
Fyora said, settling herself in her chair. Her Kadoatie leaped up back onto
her lap and Fyora waved her hand, a whole set of comfortable looking chairs
appearing. She waved her hand again and a banquet of food appeared in the other
corner. "Help yourself," Fyora said kindly. Kayinna nodded her head politely,
inching her way toward the food but Maelstra stopped her. The Dark Faerie laughed
and picked up the Kougra, seating her in one of the chairs.
"Maelstra…" Kayinna began her whiny tone. But
suddenly, the doors flew open.
To be continued…
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